December 2018/January 2019
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Dorchester News Free to every home in the parish 1 Dorchester News December 2018/January 2019 In this issue DoT view Dorchester Abbey Local government December is when everything reaches Christmas Services in the Abbey 3 Parish Council Notices 21 a sort of crescendo of events and Christmas Tree 3 From your County Councillor 23 celebrations, community, spiritual LIGHT Epiphany Event 3 From your MP 25 and family, culminating in New Follow the Star and the Posada Party 3 Year’s Eve, and then crashing back From the Rector 3 down to earth on New Year’s Day Service for the Team 30 December 3 with a jaded feeling and, just possibly Talking Point 3 Community and charity for some of us, a hangover. Posada 4 Footsteps, Fireworks and Raffle 10 Clifton Hampden Surgery 15 Christmas Cards 7 Looking at the Dorchester Diary on Warm Home Discount (CAB) 15 HfT Carol Concert 24 pages 29 and 30 it is clear that so much is happening in December that Victims First 24 Clubs, Societies and Sports Wallingford Community Fridge 24 it barely fits onto the page, whilst in Dorchester Lunch Club 4 January the village events cover little DoT Historical Society 4 more than half that. The events WI 4 Wallingford listed on these pages are just the Culham Horticultural Soc 5 Wallingford Corn Exchange 26 public or society events, and many Hempcroft Allotments 5 Wallingford U3A 26 of us will find ourselves involved or Oxfordshire Art Weeks 5 Wallingford Archaeological Society 27 inveigled into private functions, dinners Dorchester Football Results 15 Wallingford Art Club 27 and work parties as well. In the Dorchester Golf Society 15 Wallingford Museum 27 social media age, it is easy to think that everyone else is having a better Advertising time than we are, because few of us Village news/articles Advertising in Dorchester News 21 post, or should that be boast, the times that are not so good. There Village Carol Singing 4 Index of advertisers 31 are, however, almost certainly people Fishmonger 5 who will not be having such a busy Birthday Greetings; Maurice Day 9 Cover picture: Dorchester Abbey in the snow, by time as you, and we should think Footpath re-opened 9 Tenpenny Friends 9 Gordon Roberts about those. If ever there is a time Brilliance 13 of year to remember our neighbours Remembrance 2018 16/17 it is now, especially if they are on Festival News 19 Deadline for their own. Whilst we may be attending Festival of Flowers 30 carol concerts, music events, plays, February and Christmas parties there are Dorchester News people in the village who will welcome Pastimes just a visit and a mince pie with someone. Crossword 21 Add that extra appointment into your February December calendar, and then come Schools and education January you can just veg out, or you Pre-school news 7 Friday can make that visit again. St Birinus School news 7 School admissions 21 11 Jan Ian Brace St Birinus Open Mornings 21 Editorial Team Ian Brace, Megan Parry Tributes Distribution Co-ordinator Mark Mattock 18 email: Maurice Day [email protected] Printed by: Higgs of Henley Dorchester News December 2018/January 2019 2 I’m sure it’s no mistake Talking Point Canon Sue Booys that the period of the year that runs from the end of October sages to the birthplace of a new and new kind of light in the to early March is riddled with Festivals different kind of king. ‘Follow the star’ is context of the creation that focus on light. These festivals come a central theme for Christmas and those of the cosmos. This is a from all faiths and from the earliest days words occur in pretty much every Nativity human light to shine in of our country – or the smaller kingdoms play! the darkest corners of human existence that made it up. Of course it depends on In John’s account of the birth ‘The light and of the human heart. your perspective whether you regard shines in the darkness and the darkness This new creation brings a new under- this as evidence of a human response to has not overcome it’ mark the beginning standing of faith and the light it can the lack of light, believe that the old of the earthly life of Jesus. John’s story bring to individual lives. At a christening faiths were the true ones or doesn’t begin with shepherds, angels service we say to the newly baptised acknowledge that all religions depend and stables nor even with the birth of a ‘Shine as a light in the world’. It is that on the natural world for their inspiration. child to a virgin. Instead John draws his simple. Jesus came to bring light into the For me it is the last of these. If you are mystery from the cosmos, from what he dark places of the world so that we an inhabitant of the earth the light is perceives as an eternal battle between would know how to do it too! important to you; the agents that bring light and darkness. We have been Christmas in our day is characterised by light and the contract between light and reminded of the smallness of our two extremes – excesses of all kinds of darkness are important and significant. individual journeys and the strength we unnecessary ‘stuff’ and a spike in So, it follows that something which is can gain from one another as well as generosity with people keen to give to special and good will be associated with from solitude by Adrian Brookes’ and others. This isn’t the place to ask in detail light. In most places in our world light Tim Cook’s wonderful and thought provoking why the inequalities between people and darkness become motifs for what is exhibition in Dorchester Abbey Cloister that make this giving necessary cannot special and hopeful and what is potentially gallery which remains there until the be ended – but the question needs to be threatening whether physically or Epiphany. As someone who knew the asked. spiritually. spiritual account of creation from the For the moment I want simply to give Light is the common theme in all the Jewish tradition in which God created thanks for the light shining in the darkness accounts that try to explain the confused light, John looks to explain the that brings people together, warms their events of the first Christmas. The star extraordinary nature of Jesus not in a hearts and seeks to shut out the dark that shines in the darkness is at the fore- back room birth in the ‘hard but homely’ and cold of a spiritual winter as well as front of these – leading shepherds and Bethlehem slums but in the kindling of a the physical one. LIGHT Epiphany Event Christmas Services in the Abbey We are hoping to end the LIGHT exhibition with a special final We are looking forward to welcoming you to celebrate Christmas Epiphany event with music, food wine, and a final opportunity with us this year whether we see you often or as occasional to see the installation. Please look out for details on notice- visitors. Come and celebrate in traditional style by listening to boards, social media and in your inboxes! Do contact us if you our Choir and singing Carols by Candlelight on Sunday 23, would like to know more! join in the excitement of the Crib service at 4.30pm on Christmas Eve or the awe of Midnight Mass which begins at 11.30pm. #FollowTheStar and Everyone is welcome to celebrate on Christmas morning quietly The Posada Party at 8.00am or with the whole family at 10.30am. As usual children are invited to bring a favourite present to show Reverend Sue Every year the Posada – the Holy Family Mary and Joseph – and you are welcome to come and go as suits your family travel around our community (see details on page 4) in preparation needs - late arrivals and early departures are fine. We would for Christmas. At the Posada Party we’ll welcome them to the love to see you to say Happy Christmas. Abbey before they begin their final journey along the High Street preparing for the birth of the Baby at Christmas. Christmas Tree #FollowTheStar will be our Posada theme as part of a special This year the Abbey Christmas tree will be put up on Saturday way of looking forward to Christmas and celebrating across the 8 December – please come along to help decorate from whole country. Look out for special #FollowTheStar pop up 10.00am. There’s a real need for a team of ‘strong arms’ from events here and everywhere especially on 21 December! about 9.00am please come and help – there will be people on hand to occupy children before decorating commences about From the Rector 10.00am. I am really grateful for your support kind wishes and cards whilst I have been unwell. I am looking forward to a happy and Service for the Team, 30 December healthy New Year and wish you one as well. I am expecting to We’ll be having a quiet Sunday on 30 December. There will be well enough for our annual ‘Open House’ on 21 December be the usual service in the Abbey at 8.00am and at 11.00am a from 6.00pm – 8.00pm and hope to see you there. service for the whole Team family at Berinsfield Church. 3 Dorchester News December 2018/January 2019 Village News Village Carol Singing Dorchester on Thames Wednesday 19 December 6.00pm Historical Society Come and have great fun singing Wednesday 23 January 2019 carols around the village with the 7.30pm, Village Hall Back Room Members free, Visitors welcome (£3) Abbey choir to raise money for To be followed by a short AGM ABCD - Action Around Bethlehem Children with Disability.