The Ridgeway Churches

Childrey: Kingston Lisle:

Letcombe Regis: Letcombe Bassett: Sparsholt: West Challow

OCTOBER 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

Rest Day: Friday Study Day: Tuesday Dear Friends,

The wonderful news is that Andrea is now priested. I was privileged to attend the service at Dorchester Abbey and I know many of you watched the livestreaming. There were only a few of us present but it was very initmate and special. In the evening Andrea presided for the first time at St. Mary’s, Childrey and that was wonderful too. Now Andrea is priested she will also be able to conduct baptisms and weddings.

I am delighted to confirm that Andrea will continue to be our for at least two to three years. At the moment it is easier to make that announcment than to let you know what we are planning for Christmas! We had been looking forward to on open-air Harvest Festival thanks to the generous spirit of Arthur and Venessa Marment. Unfortunately that has had to be cancelled due to the latest government restrictions. What is becoming increasingly clear is that we are going to have to take one step at a time for the forseeable future. We will continue with our prayer stations and opening one church in the benefice each day of the week. This is in line with the 72 hours closure advice and ensures that we do not place extra pressure on those who admirably volunteer to clean our churches.

Thank you to everyone who completed the questionaire that Andrea sent out in the summer. The results have now been analysed and we will be presenting the findings at our Annual Parochial Church Meetings. One thing is clear is that our Zoom services during lockdown have been well received and we will continue to include two such services a month in our service rota. From the 4th October one parish each week will host Holy Communion. At 3:00pm on Sunday 4th October Colin’s retirement service will be livestreamed from Dorchester Abbey. There will be more news about our November services in next months Signpost. Until then it is hoped that our ’pastoral pilgrimages’ will enable us to have a greater presence in our communities. More about that another time...

Keep safe and well, God bless, Rector Leonora

******************************************************************************************* Blessings, PARISH REGISTERS MARRIAGELeonora Benjamin John Oliver Prior & 12th September 2020 Letcombe Regis Melissa Jane Downing

Ann Williams is stepping down as Tower Captain of St. Andrew’s, Letcombe Regis. Ann was first approached to be Tower Captain in 1982 and she has taught and encouraged a whole generation to ring and celebrate our festivals and life events. It was in January 1999 that Ann recruited a new team of bell ringers to train and ring for the new millennium. She has been bell ringing off and on since 1955!

Ann, you are an inspiration to us all. Congratulations and thank you so much for your contribution to the life and worship of St. Andrew’s Church over so many years.

SUMMER CHALLENGE – Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Summer Challenge. We are sure that the last few months has caused many of us to reflect on our current situation and hopefully we have all found strength and comfort in these words and pictures. These are all available to all to see now on the Prayer Stations in each of the Ridgeway Churches. PS Look out for the next Challenge coming soon!! SOME DAYS ARE SPECIAL!!

Sunday 20th September was just such a day! An early start saw both Rector Leonora and our Ridgeway Curate Andrea enter Dorchester Abbey where Andrea was priested by Bishop Colin Fletcher. This means she can now lead services and, no time was wasted, as at 6pm a gleaming and flower decked St.Mary's hosted Andrea Colbrook's first Holy Communion, and the first such service across the Benefice since lockdown. The bells rang out as friends from all 6 churches were present to join in the celebration. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

RIDE N’ STRIDE !! Which is just exactly what a number of folk from the different churches in the th Ridgeway Benefice did on the 12 September last. They were blessed with perfect weather for their challenge, some cycled, some walked and some rode on horseback! Over £1,000 has been raised in aid of the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust who, over the years have supported us with grants for essential restorations and repairs. Thank you to all who took part, including five dogs!! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%% Hallo! I thought I would write to introduce myself to you and tell you a little about my role in the Ridgeway Benefice. My name is Gill th Thompson and on Thursday 13 August 2020 I was commissioned by the , Rt Revd Colin Fletcher OBE, as an Ann Chaplain working in the churches of the Ridgeway Benefice.

An Anna Chaplain’s role is to come alongside those who are older, irrespective of their faith, in order to promote the spiritual well-being of people in their older years. They can be involved in pastoral visiting, taking a care home service or organising a Dementia Friendly event and are always available with a listening ear. The name Anna is inspired by the older woman in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2: 36-40) recognising Jesus as the hope for the nations. Anna blesses the baby when Joseph and Mary bring him to the Temple for the customary dedication and, like the widow Anna, the Anna Chaplain seeks to reflects God’s love and hope to those in their older years. At present due to the pandemic restrictions, it is harder to meet in person, but if you would like a chat, I can be contacted on [email protected] or 01235 760782

Ridgeway Church Services October 2020 4th October 11th October 18th October 25th October The Seventeenth The Eighteenth St Luke the The Last Sunday after Sunday after Evangelist Sunday after Trinity Trinity Trinity Childrey with 10:00am Holy West Challow Communion Childrey Letcombe Regis 10:00am Holy Communion Letcombe 8:30am Bassett Holy Communion

Sparsholt with 10:00am Kingston Lisle Holy Communion Kingston Lisle 10:00am 10:00am Zoom Holy Communion Service of the Word Additional 3pm Bishop Colin Services Livestream from Dorchester Abbey

CHURCHES OPEN FOR PERSONAL PRAYER 9:30am – 5:00pm (throughout October) ANNUAL PAROCHIAL St Mary the Virgin, Childrey Saturdays CHURCH MEETINGS 2020 St Andrew, Letcombe Regis Mondays These meetings will now take place on Zoom at 8:00pm St John the Baptist, Kingston Tuesdays Lisle Monday 12th October : Parish of St Laurence, West Challow Wednesdays Sparsholt + Kingston Lisle The Church of the Holy Rood, Thursdays Sparsholt Wednesday 14th October: Parish of St Michael & All Angels, Fridays Letcombe Bassett Letcombe Bassett Morning and Evening Prayer via Zoom Thursday 15th October: Parish of Childrey Do contact Andrea to access these services with West Challow

Via Zoom 9:30am – 4:30pm – Wednesday 21st October: Parish of Morning Evening Letcombe Regis Prayer Prayer Monday Andrea Andrea For all other details including Electoral Roll Colbrook Colbrook details please see notices at each church or Wednesday Leonora Hill Leonora Hill contact The Rector on revd.lahill@btinternet Friday 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