West Challow DECEMBER 2020

The Churches of the

Ridgeway Benefice

Childrey: Kingston Lisle: Letcombe Regis: Letcombe Bassett:

Sparsholt: West Challow

DECEMBER 2020

Revd Leonora Hill Rector of the Ridgeway Benefice

[email protected] 01235 760112 Rest Day: Saturday

Revd Andrea Colbrook [email protected] Tel: 01367 820553 Rest Day: Friday Study Day: Tuesday Dear Friends,

Don't it always seem to go “That you don’t know what you got till it’s gone”, words from Joni Mitchell’ song Big Yellow Taxi seem strangely appropriate today. Like Jesus, Covid has turned a lot of things upside down, but mostly not in a good way. Advent and Christmas will have a very different shape this year and are approaching surrounded by uncertainty. It is my hope and prayer that one result may be that many people will rediscover the true meaning of Christmas as commercialism is, by default, taking a back seat.

“Mind the gap”, are words you hear on the London Underground and the challenge for the Churches is to mind as many of the gaps that are appearing as is possible. The Ridgeway Benefice has so far done just that. Our online services, prayer and book study have combined to provide a framework which

has unified the six churches and encouraged a new level of fellowship. This has

to be welcomed and built upon. Of course we will be delighted when it is

eventually possible to return to regular worship in our beautiful church buildings,

but I believe it is important to continue to use the new things that we have

discovered.

Peter Cook

************************************************************ **************************** FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS

FUNERAL & BURIAL th Philip. Charles Lester 28 October 2020 West Challow ******************************************************************************************* Christingle ‘A Christian Guide to Sunday 13th December at 4pm. Environmental Issues’ by Margot Hodson.

We have been enjoying our midweek study group on zoom based on this book. The group is open to anyone who would like to join in and you would be most welcome! Our annual Christingle service has been a It is a “join us when you can” group and if real highlight over the years and raises you would like more details and/or a copy of the valuable funds for the Children’s Society. book, please do email Andrea on Because of pressure of numbers, it won’t [email protected] or be possible to have a service in church, so ring her on 01367 820553 we invite as many families as possible to We look forward to seeing you on Zoom! join us on Zoom on Sunday 13th December at 4pm. We’ll be making the Christingles in our homes during the Zoom Hope in Advent, Joy at Christmas service. You’ll need an orange, a red and Peace for our World ribbon, some cocktail sticks and some Christmas Greetings and small sweets. Candles will be provided - more details on collection points for the Blessings for 2021 candles to follow. For zoom ID please do from Rector Leonora and email Andrea on [email protected] or Andrea (Curate) phone her on 01367 820553

DECEMBER DIARY DATES Friday 11th December – A Christmas Tree kindly donated by the Childrey Parish Council will be decorated by the children from Ridgeway School at 11am and blessed by Revd Mary Harwood on the village green. Saturday 12th December 6pm - A recital of organ music by Joe Barber at St Andrews, Letcombe Regis, playing a varied programme to suit all tastes, lasting an hour. A former organ scholar at Balliol College, Joe needs little introduction in Letcombe and has been a regular organist at St. Andrew’s. Tickets (£12.50) will be limited to allow seating at appropriate distances according to government guidelines for December. For tickets, please contact Christine Birch in advance by email: [email protected]: or phone 01235 763529.

Saturday 12th December – Christmas Lanterns Festival at St Mary’s Childrey. The Christmas Tree Festival is being replaced this year with a Pop-Up Christmas Lanterns Festival outside, in the churchyard from 4pm – 7pm. Look out for more info on social media and posters! Sunday 13th December at 4pm – Christingle Service on zoom – see details above! Wednesday 16th December – Advent Quiet Morning 10am – 1pm. Following morning prayer (on zoom 9.30am – 10am), an opportunity for a reflective time on an Advent theme. All welcome. For further details email Debbie Webb : [email protected] or phone on 01235 760973. AND BY THE WAY....!! St Andrews, Letcombe Regis would like to let you know that they will be having their annual Gift Day to mark their Patronal festival on November 30th. However, due to current restrictions letters will be sent out in the village and will give the names of those to whom the Gift envelopes may be returned. There will be a Christmas tree in the church as usual and once again we would appreciate gifts of clothing, toiletries, etc., wrapped and suitably labelled or food items for the Wantage food bank. Thank you.

LITTLE DONKEY, LITTLE DONKEY ON THE Maybe RIDGEWAY ROADS… Maybe it is in the waiting for God,

not in the wandering from store to

Can you look after Mary, store,that we find our way.

Joseph and their donkey

for a night? We all know Maybe it is in the friendship of God,

that on Christmas Eve there was no not in the frenzy of the crowds,

room at the Inn and they do need shelter that we are led to the manger.

on their journey to Bethlehem. If you

can offer a place to stay, please can you Maybe it is in the steadfast love of

display them in your window overnight God,and not in the pile of stuff under

and hand them over to the next host the tree, that we find what we have

household the following day. Each host been searching for all our lives.

will receive a little symbolic star for their

Christmas tree. Maybe, just maybe, God of Advent,

this year will be different.

If interested please contact me on

[email protected] or ring 07951 Maybe, just maybe,

065141 and I will pass your details to the we will let you lead us to Bethlehem.

appropriate village coordinator.

Thom M Shumen Sue Worth

Ridgeway Church Services December 2020

6th 13th 20th 27th 3rd December December December December January 2nd Sunday of 3rd Sunday of 4th Sunday of John, Apostle & Epiphany Advent Advent Advent Evangelist Childrey 8:30am 10:00am 10:000am 8:30am with West Holy Holy Holy Holy Challow Communion Communion Communion Communion (West Challow) (Childrey) (West Challow (West Challow Letcombe 8:30am Bassett Holy Communion Letcombe Regis Sparsholt 10:00am 10:00am with Holy Holy Kingston Communion Communion Lisle (Kingston Lisle) (Kingston Lisle) Zoom 10:00am Holy Communion

Evening Prayer BCP : Mondays 7th & 14th December 3pm St Andrews,L/ Regis Our prayer stations in December will be on the theme of Comfort and Joy Churches open for personal prayer 9:30am – 4:00pm St Mary the Virgin, Childrey Saturdays St Laurence, West Challow Wednesdays St Andrew, Letcombe Regis Mondays The Church of the Holy Thursdays Rood, Sparsholt St John the Baptist, Tuesdays St Michael & All Angels, Fridays Kingston Lisle Letcombe Bassett

NATIVITY: 4:00PM CHRISTMAS EVE VIA ZOOM

This Christmas is going to be different. We are going to tell the wonderful story of Jesus’ birth on Zoom. It does not matter how young or old you are we want you to dress up

and be part of the story. Now if you don’t like dressing up that is ok but do still join us if you can. Invite your family, friends and neighbours too. We may not be able to have our loved ones to stay over Christmas but whether they live near or far, next door or overseas they are welcome to come to the Nativity. Please contact our Curate

The Revd Andrea Colbrook for details [email protected] or 01367 820553