The Ridgeway Churches

Childrey: Kingston Lisle:

Letcombe Regis: Letcombe Bassett: Sparsholt: West Challow

SEPTEMBER 2020

Revd Leonora Hill Rector of the Ridgeway Benefice [email protected] 01235 760112 Rest Day: Tuesday

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Revd Andrea Colbrook [email protected]

Tel: 01367 820553 Study Day: Tuesday Rest Day: Friday

Dear Friends,

As the summer months draw to a close and we anticipate the beginning of a new academic year and the return of our children to school there is much to share with you.

It was a delight to welcome Colin to Sparsholt Church on 13th August to commission Gill Thompson as an Anna Chaplain to the Ridgeway Benefice. This is an exciting new venture for Gill and the benefice and we hope that through her passion and commitment Gill will be a catalyst for Anna Chaplaincy in the Deanery and the Diocese www.annachaplaincy.org.uk

The Right Revd Colin Fletcher: Bishop of Dorcester will be retiring in October after serving as Bishop in the for twenty years. Bishop Colin has been a great supporter of rural ministry and he has welcomed a number of opportunities to join us to celebrate, consecrate and commission. We extend our thanks and love to him for his encouragement, support and blessings and wish Bishop Colin a very happy retirement.

We are delighted that Andrea now has a date for her to the priesthood. Andrea has been a wonderful blessing to us all and I am sure that you will want to join the livestreaming of the ordination service in Dorchester Abbey on 20th September. Please see September services for more details.

A big thank you to Andrea for the questionaire that was sent out to everyone to seek thoughts and comments about church services. Thank you to everyone who has responded. Your comments will help to inform our service planning for the coming year. In the meantime we have dispensation from Bishop Colin to suspend church services until the end of September. A big thank you to the team and everyone who has supported our Zoom services.

Over the last few months you may have seen Leila

sketching the churches of the Ridgeway. Postcards are now available at Childrey Stores and a 2021 calendar,

focusing more on Childrey and St. Mary’s will soon be available too. A small donation to our churches will be made from every purchase. Huge thanks to Leila for supporting the churches in this way.

Keep safe and well. Love and prayers, Leonora

It’s Ride n’ Stride time again! Book Club via Zoom is coming back! Saturday 12th September On Wednesday 30th September at

7.45pm, we are delighted to be Oxfordshire Historic Churches welcoming Margot Hodson to chat Trust. with us about her book “A Christian The OHCT has supported many of Guide to the Environment”. our local churches who, over the Margot is Associate Vicar for the

years, have received impressive Shill Valley and Broadshire Benefice, having previously been grants for essential restorations and repairs. Let’s help them to continue Rector of Wychert Vale Benefice this generosity! Families, groups, and Chaplain of Jesus College, individuals are all invited to join in Oxford. She is also Director of by cycling, walking or riding Theology and Education for the John between local churches. Ray Initiative, an educational charity seeking to link faith and environment. If you would like a sponsor form We do hope you will join us for what please contact Bryan Winsley promises to be a fascinating chat with 01235 751280. More info on: Margot. https://ohct.org.uk/ Please contact Andrea for further details and Zoom info!

Ridgeway Benefice Autumn Challenge

“HARVEST”

https://ohct.org.uk/

What images does the word ‘harvest’ conjure up for you? Perhaps you think of combine harvesters, fields of wheat, baskets of fruit or rows of potatoes in supermarkets. Whatever it is, take a photograph of harvest in our benefice. You can submit up to 3 images. Please send the images to us by Monday 19th October 2020. We will include some in our November Signposts, use some on our social media feeds and print some for display too! We look forward to seeing ‘harvest from around our benefice’. Photographs can be sent to: [email protected]

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Please send any items for Signpost by the 15th of each month to Chic Cook at [email protected] or ring 01235 751078

SEPTEMBER SERVICES 2020 Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday 6th September 13th September 20th September 27th September 10:00am: 10:00am: 10:00am: 10:00am: Celebration of Coffee followed by Harvest Festival, Holy Communion Education Sunday Livestream of Andrea’s Gabbits Copse, via Zoom together with Ordination Kingston Lisle. Ridgeway School will Arthur Marment, be a wonderful way to 10.30am: The (Church Warden, celebrate all that the Ordination of Priests, Kingston Lisle) has children and their Dorchester Abbey kindly offered his field teachers achieve so that we can all get together within our 4:30pm Do join us for together (social community. The a celebratory “Bring distancing rules will service will be your own Socially apply) to celebrate via Zoom (not a HC distanced picnic!” on Harvest. Huge thanks service) More details Childrey Playing to Arthur & Vanessa. out soon Fields.

6:00pm Holy Communion at St Mary’s Childrey, where Andrea will preside for the first time.

CHURCHES OPEN FOR PERSONAL PRAYER 9:30am – 5:00pm (throughout September) St Mary the Virgin, Childrey Saturdays St Andrew, Letcombe Regis Mondays St John the Baptist, Kingston Lisle Tuesdays St Laurence, West Challow Wednesdays The Church of the Holy Rood, Sparsholt Thursdays St Michael & All Angels, Letcombe Bassett Fridays

September Prayer Stations: Harvest Visit each church to ’Experience Harvest’

Morning and Evening Prayer via Zoom Do contact Andrea to access these services. Via Zoom 9:30am - Morning Prayer 4:30pm - Evening Prayer Mondays Andrea Colbrook Andrea Colbrook Wednesdays Leonora Hill Leonora Hill Fridays Gill Thompson Mary Harwood

Bishop Peter’s Pilgrimage Prayer

O Lord God, from whom we come, in whom we are enfolded, to whom we shall return: bless us in our pilgrimage through life; with the power of the Father protecting, with the love of Jesus in dwelling, and the light of the Spirit guiding, until we come to our ending, in life and love eternal. Amen