A Journey Towards a Common Vision by Jillian Moody Scheduled Before the End of June
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www.oxford.anglican.org June 2017 no 292 thedoor Lighthouse livens up the summer holidays - pages 8 Dr Keith’s passion for Meet our new Generous Bishop Steven’s tour and 9 Africa - page 16 Giving Adviser - page 11 continues - page 7 From Cookham to Ethiopia A journey towards a common vision by Jillian Moody scheduled before the end of June. The visits have taken in schools, churches, foodbanks, AROUND 120 people from across the businesses, a therapeutic gardening project, Oxford Diocese met last month to farms, a brewery and a community shop. start the formal process of exploring (See page seven for a round-up of the future direction for the Church Bishop Steven’s latest visits). in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Bishop Steven preached on the themes of contemplation, compassion and courage It builds on Bishop Steven’s year of and talked of how the church was at its best listening (blogs.oxford.anglican.org/a- when it is a community of the vulnerable. year-of-listening/). The group is made He said: “The more we dwell in Christ and up of people from across the leadership are contemplative, compassionate and community within the Diocese and from courageous, the more positive and hopeful specific areas of the church such as minority the future looks.” ethnic groups and larger churches. Bishop Steven said: “It’s going to be a privilege for me to listen to what people “I hope together we will think about the Diocese and how we can build on the huge amount of good that’s be able to build on the happening across our three counties. legacy of Living Faith...” During my deanery visits I have asked Children from Ethiopia celebrate the link with Cookham. Photo: Caroline Field two questions: what kind of Church is The conference, called Towards a God calling us to be and what are we A PARTNERSHIP between Holy Trinity CE School in Cookham and the Gende Tesfa Common Vision, started with worship. The therefore called to do together? Our call is School in Ethiopia is going from strength to strength. Archdeacon of Berkshire, the Ven. Olivia to be a Christ-like Church, a Church of the Recently two initiatives have been launched for the charity Partners For Change Graham told the group: “For these three Beatitudes. I hope together we will be able Ethiopia (www.pfcethiopia.org). Over Lent children were encouraged to donate days we will form a temporary group of to build on the legacy of Living Faith to find pennies for the Breakfast Club at Gende Tesfa. A Spring Clean for Ethiopia saw pilgrims. Together we will pray, listen, laugh good ways forward for the future.” 281kgs of clothes handed in, which raised £112.40. and exhibit compassion and courage from The link between Holy Trinity School in Cookham and Gende Tesfa School was The process of discerning the direction of a contemplative bedrock.” In his opening initially set up two years ago by PFC Ethiopia Ambassador Sarah Parfitt whose the Diocese for the next few years will take address Bishop Steven asked people to sons Joshua and Jack attend the school. Sarah first visited the community of place over the next six months or so and consider what God is doing in the Diocese Gende Tesfa in March 2015 and returned in November 2016. Since then the school, will include opportunities for clergy, laity at this time and said he had seen a huge Holy Trinity Church, Cookham Methodist Church and individuals have organised and others to help shape that direction. amount of good happening. 14 fundraisers and raised over £14,000. A #woman2woman2017 campaign was launched by PFC Ethiopia on International Women’s Day. Sarah says: “The idea is to Over the three days delegates took part offer small business training and a recyclable loan to all the parents of the children in discussions and workshops, with the at Gende Tesfa Breakfast Club. A donation of £100 funds a woman’s small business Bishops keen to hear people’s views on training and gives her a recyclable loan.” how the Church should move forward. Resources and updates will be If you are interested in becoming an ambassador, please contact Pete Jones Bishop Steven also shared some of what posted on a special diocesan web on [email protected] or call 07506 445515. To make a donation go to he’s heard since his deanery visits started page www.oxford.anglican.org/ uk.virginmoney.com/woman2woman. in December. The Bishop has so far made commonvision 21 deanery visits, with another eight One place; many ideas: Hand made One Village Worldshop ceramics from ON THE A44 IN WOODSTOCK Palestine OR SHOP WITH US ONLINE 2 News Eco classroom kickstarts school expansion Grants of £2,000 for by Jo Duckles church projects WORK on an innovative, modular eco- ANDREWS Charitable Trust (ACT) has classroom as part of a plan to expand an 20 Christian Innovation Grants of ‘outstanding’ church school in Oxfordshire £2,000 on offer for new community is well underway. projects led by local churches and Terry Morris recently joined the children Christians. to dig the first foundations of the new Each grant will provide essential classroom. Terry attended the school as seed funding for the 20 best ideas to a young boy, as did his father, son and come to life and grow, creating new grandson. ways for churches to engage with their local community. St Peter’s CE Infant School in Alvescot Successful applicants in the only caters for children aged four to seven. past have gone to be part of the Under the expansion plans, St Peter’s will Cinnamon Project Incubator, where become a full primary school, with pupils they received training and support staying until they are 11 and ready to move to help them grow to a point where up to secondary education. The school they can be replicated many times currently has 58 pupils from Alvescot and over. the surrounding villages and towns. A spokesman said: “We are looking As an infant school, in the past children for project ideas that offer better have had to leave St Peter’s when they solutions to local problems that make were seven and have transferred to many a positive difference to the most different schools. This means that after vulnerable and express the love of three years in school, pupils “may be split Jesus beyond church and out into the From left, Tom Fry, Building Surveyor for the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education, Darren from key friends, and the support and community.” security that they provide, as they move Pace, David Waters, Kerry Cook, Sam King, headteacher, Terry Morris and some children at the start of the building work. Photo: St Peter’s Alvescot. This year ACT is inviting churches on to their new school,” the report states. to take part in two rounds of This can also mean that two siblings can plans, which will be funded by the school learning.” applications. The closing dates for end up at different schools, making life and the Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust applications are midnight on Monday complicated for families. Sam King, headteacher, said: “This is (ODST) a very exciting time for St Peter’s as we 3 July and midnight on Monday 27 November. The school, which has been ranked as The report added: “Admission numbers prepare to become a primary school. We Go to andrewscharitabletrust. ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED for the last over the past 10 years demonstrate the are delighted that the building work has org.uk/christian-innovation- decade, will be transformed into a full school’s ongoing appeal to local families begun on our new classroom and that we grants-2017/ or call 0117 946 1834 primary school, with four classes over the who value the school’s ethos, their will be able to provide our children with the to find out more. next four years. The school’s admission commitment to the individual child and the opportunity to remain at St Peter’s for all number will rise from 75 to 105 in the importance placed on developing a love of their primary years.” Tea parties “fill the gap” in NHS provision Bloxham School blossoms with success A HUGE array of cakes are on offer as fill the gap and gives people the chance to BLOXHAM Primary a variety of people, many with mental socialise informally, without nurses and School is celebrating health problems, relax and chat together other health professionals around.” a string of national at Alice’s Mad Hatter Tea Party in Oxford. awards and the opening The tea party takes place on the second of its new Cherry Tree Alice Hicks, who herself has a diagnosis Tuesday of every month, 3pm to 4.30pm. Centre for families with of bipolar disorder, set up the monthly children under five. party at the Richard Benson Hall at St Mary and St John’s Church on Cowley First, an OFSTED Road. “It’s for anyone but most people inspection found the here are living with mental health issues school good, saying it in their lives,” said Alice. Read a fuller story by clicking on: had a “warm, open and www.oxford.anglican.org/teaparties supportive culture that Jenny, one of Alice’s friends and a enables staff and pupils regular at the party, said: “There have to develop confidence been cuts to day services and this helps and succeed in their work.” Matthew Ingall, head teacher, Michell Coles, Year 3 teacher and Tackling homelessness in the Thames Valley Then, less than a school music teacher with the Artsmark Gold Certificate, Julie fortnight later, the ACTION must be taken to tackle the hook.