DearFriends,

Ardley With Fewcott

St Mary

Fritwell

St Olave

Heyford Park

The Chapel Lower Heyford & Caulcott

St Mary Somerton

St James Souldern

The Annunciation Upper Heyford

St Mary

The Cherwe l l Va l l ey Benef ic e in the D iocese o f Ox ford

www.che rwel lv a l l eybenef ic e.o rg .uk

S t e p p i n g S t o n e s : B e n e f i c e N e w s l e t t e r

I s s u e 8 : J a n u a r y 2 0 1 6

Cherwell Valley Church

Dearfriends,

Bynowwewillalreadybewellinto2016,butmayIwishyouallaHappyNewYear.Andwhileit’sstillfreshinmymindI’dliketosaywhatapleasureitwastotakepartinsomanyjoyfulandwell-attendedChristmasservicesaroundourbenefice.Thankyoutoallwhohelpedpreparedfortheseservices,throughmusic,refreshments,flowers,readings,performancesinnativityplays,lightingcandlesandclearingup.It’salwaysadelighttoseeourchurchesplayingtheirpartincommunitylife,especiallyatChristmas.

AsIreflectbackontwoyearsofministryasTeamRectorIamstruckbyhowmanyconnectionsexistacrossthevillagesofthebenefice.It’ssomethingthatisarealstrengthofthisarea.Therearefamilytiesbetweenthevillages,participationinsocialgroupsandclubs,peoplevisittheshopsandcatchuponlocalnews,theschoolsandchurchesdrawtogetherpeoplefromthevillages,playgroupsandtoddlergroups,pubs,socialmediagroups,sportsandscouts,fetesandparties,poetryandartgroups…thelistcouldgoon.Theyallplaytheirpartinkeepinguslivingandworkingtogether.It’seasytooverlookhowimportanttheseactivitiesareforus.Aswithmanyaspectsoflifewesometimestaketheordinarythingsforgranted,butwouldreallymissthemiftheyweregone.Noneofuswanttofeelisolated,andevenifwedon’tparticipateactivelyinmanygroupsit’sgoodtoknowthattherearethingsgoingonwhichkeepcommunityspiritalive.

Ioftenhearpeoplesayhowtheymissthecommunityspiritofthepastwhenpeoplewere‘realneighbours’andmanyvillageswerelargelyself-sufficient.Inmyexperienceallisnotlost.Thereisstillatremendousamountofgoodwilltobehadifweplayourpart.Butwehavetocometotermswiththefactthatourlivesaremuchmorespreadoutthaninthepast.Webelongtofamiliesscatteredalloverthecountry(orworld),doourshoppingmilesawayoron-line,andformouropinionsfromaglobalperspective.Yetwestilllooktothelocalcommunitytoprovidecertainimportantaspectsofourlives.Aninternetchat-roomcannotreplaceareallive‘hello’aswewalkdownthestreet!

Inmostofourvillagesnewpeoplemoveinfromtimetotime.Ithinkthetruetestofcommunityspiritishowwellwewelcomethosenewpeople.InfactIbelievethetruetestofanyorganisationorinterestgroupishowwellitwelcomesthenewcomer.AformerArchbishopofCanterbury,WilliamTemple,said‘TheChurchistheonlysocietythatexistsforthebenefitofthosewhoarenotitsmembers.’Weshould

alwaysbeoutwardfacinginourministry.I’msurewecanallrememberoccasionswhenwevaluedafriendlyfaceorhelpfulinformationwhenwefacedanewstartinlife.Couldyoutaketheopportunitytobeafriendtoastranger?Whatdoyouvalueinyourlifethatyoucouldshare?Perhapsyoucanextendaninvitationtothelocalpub,orachurchservice,orsocialgroup?

BuildingupcommunityspiritthroughfriendshipandinclusionisonesmallbutsignificantwayofkeepingourChristianvaluesalive.InthelifeandteachingofJesusChristweseehowGodinvitesallpeopletoshareinhisblessings.Thisisoneofthemostpowerfulwaysofworkingagainstthedivisionandhatredsooftenseenatworkinourworld.Anditisaworkthatcanbeginonourdoorstep.

Withallgoodwishesfor2016.

YoursintheserviceofJesusChrist,

Stephen

Upcoming Dates

Wednesday 20th January Churchwardens Meeting at St. Mary’s LH 7.30pm

Wednesday 10th February 10am St. Olave’s Fritwell and 7.30pm St. Mary’s Upper Heyford:

Holy Communion with Ashing

Thursday 18th February – Thursday 17th March Lent Course

Tuesday 23rd February Youth and Children’s Leaders Meeting 7.30pm at HPC

Tuesday 1st March Men’s Forum Meeting 7.30pm Upper Heyford Reading Room

Monday 21st – Friday 25th March Holy Week Services (see addition information)

Tuesday 19th April Deanery Synod at St. Mary’s Launton 7.30pm Advent and Christmas 2015

Above:AdventWorkshopatHeyfordParkChapel

FromHeyfordParkFreeSchool:

In therunuptoChristmasourYear7studentshadtheopportunity tovisit theChapel inUpperHeyfordforamorningofpresentations,drama,artsandcraftsrelatingtoadventandthe nativity story. While some groups dressed up (as pictured), others made Christmasdecorationsandlistenedtostories.Thebehaviourofourstudentswasexceptionalandtheywerereallyengagedthroughouttheworkshop.Onestudent,MasonScarlett,commentedthatitwasa‘funandcreativemorning’andKordellNelsonsaid‘myfavouriteactivitywasthegoldfishstory.Iwouldlovetovisitagain.’AhugethankyoutoGeoffandHopePricefororganisingsuchanenjoyableandeducationalevent.

OtherChristmasServicesandActivities:

Itseemed likeabumperyear forChristmasservicesandactivitiesaroundourbenefice.Ahugeamountofworkwasputintothenativityservices,carolservices,musicaleventsandcelebrations.Thankyouallverymuchforyourhardwork!Attendancewasupeverywhere,withextra seatingneededandstanding roomonlyat someservices. I think themidnightChristmasEvecommunionserviceatArdleydeservesaspecialmentionwherethebalconyhadtobeused(arareoccurrence!)

Genesis 1:1–25

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was

formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God

was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5

God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was

evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Good and pleasing

The opening chapter of Genesis tells us that all of creation was spoken out of

nothingness by God. It tells us seven times – the Hebrew number of perfection – that

the creation is good, and pleasing to its Maker. The teaching of Plato has led to a

tendency to view the physical world as inferior to the non-material, leading to a

careless and destructive use of the earth’s resources. In Genesis, God’s love for his

creation is clear.

Eternal God

We can also learn much about God from this account, particularly in the ways it

contrasts with other ancient creation stories. God existed before anything, is without

beginning or end – an eternal, self-sufficient being, rather than being given birth to

along with the rest of creation. God is the only God, the God to whom all created

things are subject – planets, weather systems, oceans and living creatures – rather

than one among many gods worshipped in the Ancient Middle East.

Respond

What is your attitude towards God’s good creation? Do you care for it as he does? Does

it speak to you of his character? Spend some time in prayer, repenting of ways you

have mistreated the earth, and thanking God for the gift of his creation.

IfyouarelookingfordailybiblereadingsandinspirationtrytheresourcesproducedbyUnitedChristianBroadcasterswww.ucb.co.uk/word-for-todayorScriptureUnionwww.wordlive.org.Bothofferwrittenandonlineresourceswhichcanbedownloaded.

STARTINGOUTINPREACHING

Saturday12thMarch201610am-4pm

Pleasebringapackedlunch

£20

StPaul’sChurchWarwickRoadBanburyOX162AN

VenGordonKuhrt(formerlyDirectorofMinistryDivision,Archbishops’Council)

Coursebookings:http://ldm.eventbrite.co.uk

Forqueriespleasecontact:CarolynMain

carolyn.main@oxford.anglican.org

01865208257

www.oxford.anglican.org/our-faith/lifelong-learning

Thiscourseisintendedforthosewhoarebeginningtopreach.

Itwillprovideahelpfulintroductiontothetheologyandpracticeofpreachingandwillincludeopportunityforpracticallearning.

Benefice Children’s Work

Messy Church at Fritwell has been going 8 months!

Come along and find out why it’s so good! Messy Church is for all the family and includes fun activities based around a

bible story or theme, with songs, stories and food! Every second Sunday of the month at St. Olave’s Fritwell 4pm-5.30pm

Contact Grace Williams 345870 or Anna Simpson for more information annaandcolin@googlemail.com

If you’d like to explore having a Messy Church group in your village please speak to Stephen

Family Worship and Family Communion

held on the first, third and fourth Sundays of the month (see Three Parishes and Valley News for locations)

Sunday Club at Somerton Second Sunday of the month 9.30am. Open to all throughout the Benefice.

Contact Anna Simpson annaandcolin@googlemail.com

Heyford Park Chapel Toddler group Wednesdays 10am

Kidz Church Fridays at 4.30pm (reception-yr 5) Frenzy Fridays 7pm (9-12 yr olds) Youth Group Wednesdays 6pm

Messy Church Logo Copyright The Bible Reading Fellowship © 2016

Lent, Holy Week and Easter 2016

The focus of the early part of the year is the season of Lent. This is the great prelude to Easter when we celebrate the living heart of

our faith, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Ash Wednesday 10th February 10am Holy Communion with Ashing at St. Olave’s Fritwell 7.30pm Holy Communion with Ashing at St. Mary’s Upper Heyford Lent Course – Anglican Spirituality Past and Present (beginning with compline) Thursday 18th February 7.30pm at St. Olave’s Fritwell Thursday 25th February 7.30pm at St. Mary’s Lower Heyford Thursday 3rd March 7.30pm at St. James’ Somerton Thursday 10th March 7.30pm at ABVM Souldern Thursday 17th March 7.30pm at Heyford Park Chapel Holy Week Monday 21st March 10am Holy Communion at Heyford Park Chapel Monday 21st March 7.30pm Compline at St. Mary’s Upper Heyford Tuesday 22nd March 10am Holy Communion at St. Mary’s Lower Heyford Tuesday 22nd March 7.30pm Compline at St. James’ Somerton Wednesday 23rd March 10am Holy Communion at St. Olave’s Fritwell Wednesday 23rd March 7.30pm Compline at ABVM Souldern

Thursday 24th March 7.30pm Holy Communion and washing of feet at Heyford Park Chapel Good Friday 25th March 10am-12noon Children’s Activity Workshops at Heyford Park Chapel Good Friday 25th March 4pm Quiet Prayer and Reflection at St. James’ Somerton

OverthelastyearwehavecoveredavarietyofinterestingtopicsincludingTheCreeds,TheCommandments,TheBeatitudesandTheEucharist.Pleasejoinatthefollowinglocations:

• Thursdayafternoons2pm(1stand3rdThursdayofthemonth)at6CastleFieldsArdley.

• Thursdayevenings7.30m(inschooltermtime)atHeyfordParkChapel.This

termtheeveninggroupislookingat‘ChurchandKingdom’.

‘ThePilgrimcourseisajourneytotheheartofGodandtoa

living,personalrelationshipwithJesusChrist.’

TheArchbishopsofCanterburyand

York

In January the Primates of the Anglican Communion met in Canterbury. ThePrimates are the senior archbishops of each Province of the global Anglicanfamily.Therewasmuchspeculationbeforeandduringthemeetingaboutwhattheoutcomewouldbe.WouldtherebeafuturefortheAnglicanCommunion?Would they find sufficient common ground to keep going on the journeytogether?Woulda looserfederationofchurchesemerge?Wouldtheybeabletounitearoundasharedunderstandingofthebible?

Session One: Praying through life

Session Two: At home and at work

Session Three: Living generously

Session Four: In all my relationships

Session Five: Confronting injustice in the world

Session Six: Treading lightly on the earth

Onecurrentparticipantsaid,‘WehaveagreattimeatPilgrimdiscussinghowfaithisrelevanttodayandweenjoyfriendshiptogether.TopicsrangefromwhattheChristianfaithistoexploringwhywetakecommunion.Thereislotsoftimefortalking,sharingandquestions.’

ThereisalotthatcouldbesaidaboutthestrengthsandweaknessesofthewaythattheAnglicanCommunionisstructured.Ithasevolvedinaratherunplannedway.ThereisalotofindependenceforeachProvince.ThereisnoPopetoissuea single global understanding on any particular subject. There is friendship,affection and a certain amount of shared liturgical style.Many Provinces stillvaluethehistoricteachingoftheBookofCommonPrayer,the39Articles,andthe more recent statements from the Lambeth Conferences. For some theAnglicanCommunionisverymuchworthsaving.Butithasforcedmetoaskthequestion if andwhyaglobal expressionofAnglicanism is important.Herearemyreflections:

1) Wehaveaglobalmission.Weare farstrongerasachurchwhenwecanwork together to face the issues of the day. Thismight be the need tobring the good news of Jesus to an unreached country, or support thepersecutedchurch,ortackleinjustice,orprovideaid.Asingleprovinceordiocese can do some good, but a united global church can make a bigdifference.

2) Weneed theperspectiveofothers to keep focussed.Weall suffer fromblindspotsandthechurchisnoexception.EvenalargeAnglicanprovinceneeds to be accountable to fellow Christians from other cultures andtraditions. Cutting loose for the sake of greater independence is a riskymove, as we lose not only accountability but the opportunity to beenrichedbyothercultures.

3) We share some common challenges. The next few decades will bedominated by the progression of secularMarxist values and the rise ofmilitant Islam. Presenting a united global Christian front on these twoissueswillbevital.It'snotthatAnglicanismistheonlyanswer(weneedastrongecumenicalvoiceandrobustacademicapproachtoo)butit ispartof the answer. If 80 million Christians across 165 countries can unitearound a loving, Christ-centred vision for a humane and peaceful worldthenwehavesomethingtooffer.

If those three elements of global Anglicanism are worth saving, then thePrimates(andindeedallAnglicans)willneedtoworkoutwhatisgoingtobringusintoharmonywithoneanother.Iwouldsuggestthefollowingcommitments:

1) Arediscoveryoftheclarityofscripture.Thechurch'sfoundingdocumentisthebible.ItisherethatwemeettheChristwhocallsandlearnwhattobelieve. Contrary to popular belief the bible cannot be made to saywhatever we want it to say. Anglicanism was founded during theReformation.AkeytentoftheReformationistheunderstandingthatthetruthofthebibleoverridesthetraditionsofthechurch,thewisdomoftheage,theopinionsofseniorchurchmenandwomen,andtheinterpretationof our experience. The application of the bible is complex, but is clearenoughtobeabletounitetheAnglicanCommunion.

2) Adistinction betweenmatters of first, second and third importance. Aglobalchurchneedstobefullyunitedaroundmattersoffirstimportance.TheseincludetheuniquesavingpowerofJesusChrist,theneedtosharethegospelwithallpeople,thecalltoholiness,andmattersofsexuality.Onmatters of first importance we must agree if we are going to have apositive global impact. On matters of second importance Christians canagree to differ, perhaps on whether clergy are priests or ministers,whetherwomencanbebishops,whetherChristiansshoulddrinkalcoholetc. On matters of third importance it really doesn't matter what webelieve, such as what kind of hymns we sing, or what time the churchservice is,orwhatcolourtheparishteacupsare.Thiskindofdistinctionbetween the importance of issues creates the necessary freedom, trustandgoodwillweneed.

3) AsecondlevelofAnglicanaffiliation.Thissolutionalreadyexists inpart.TheFellowshipofConfessingAnglicans(FCA)wasfoundedin2008andhasprovidedarallyingpointforAnglicansaroundtheworldwhoholdfasttothe biblical roots of Anglicanism. It has united people from 27 of theAnglican Communion’s 38 provinces. Numerically the vast majority ofglobal Anglicans are affiliated to FCA. The Anglican Communion has, foronereasonoranother, lostmembersofthefamily inthepast,butneverhave somany Anglicans sought alternative oversight in thisway before.For many years the Archbishops of Canterbury were able to bring theAnglican family together, mainly because the Provinces had somuch incommon.WithsomuchdisagreementbetweenProvincestheArchbishopofCanterburyeitherneedstousethelittlepowerthathehastocreateastrongercentregroundofagreement,orfacilitateadignifiedlooseningoftiessothatourAnglicanheritagecanevolveindifferentwaysindifferentProvinces. If the latter is the case it's likely that the FCA will unite one

group of Anglicans and Canterbury the other.Even in the Church ofEngland somewould rather look to the FCA rather than Canterbury fortheirspiritualoversight.

Ibegantowritethisarticleasawayofclarifyingmyownviewsonthefutureofglobal Anglicanism.My head for history longs for the historic bonds of globalAnglican affection centred on the ancient missionary see of Canterbury toendure.Butmyheartforaclear,bible-basedministryacrosstheglobetellsmethatFCAhascorrectly identified the issueswe face in thecominggenerationsand isdoing somethingabout it. Themainoutcomesof thePrimatesmeetingwere:

1) a commitment to keep the Anglican Communion together for theimmediatefuture

2) a ‘sanction’ or ‘consequence’ for the American Anglicans who havechangedtheirdoctrineandauthorisedasame-sexmarriageservice.Theywill be excluded from the committees and councils of the AnglicanCommunionforthreeyears.ThiswillalsoapplytootherProvinceswhichmakeasimilarmove.

These outcomes (and the others in the communique that followed theconference) indicate that the centre ground of Anglicanism remainsconservativeonmattersoffaithandsexuality.FormethisisgoodnewsthattheAnglicanCommunionmightyethaveaglobalcommissiontofulfil.

A prayer for the Anglican Communion

Eternal Father, who wouldst make the Church of thy dear Son a city great and fair,

the joy of the whole earth: we beseech thee, by the sending of thy Holy Spirit,

direct its counsels in all manner of wisdom, love, and might; remove perplexity, establish concord, kindle flame,

and gather a people single and strong of faith; to the praise of him, who with thee and the same Spirit

liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end.

Lambeth Conference 1930

Do you like good coffee? A 24 year-old friend of ours in Rwanda posts us high-quality, Arabica ground coffee for filters and cafetieres. It is straight from the producers, so couldn't be fresher! This young man, Confiance, is an orphan of the Genocide, selling coffee and tea to support his extended family, who have health and education needs. At £3.50 per bag you get slightly more than the average supermarket size packet. Please contact us on 01869 346262 or 0779 555 4102 if you'd like buy some good-value fresh coffee.

Geoff & Hope Price, The Vicarage, Fritwell

New to Church? The good news of Jesus is for all people, at all times, in all places. We’d love to help you discover more about faith in him. How can we help you? □ I’d like join a ‘Pilgrim’ group □ I’d like to see one of the ministers □ I’d like to know more about mid-week social groups □ I’d like to know more about activities for children □ I’d like some information about baptism/confirmation □ other…………………………………………… Please hand in your completed form to your local church or one of the churchwardens or send it to the address below. Thanks! Your name(s)............................................................................................... Address....................................................................................................... Phone/email................................................................................................ The Benefice Office The Chapel, Heyford Park, 572 Brice Rd, Upper Heyford Bicester, OX25 5TE 01869 233687 barbara@cherwellvalleybenefice.org.uk