Autumn 2018 Thedoor
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Autumn 2018 thedoor Remembrance page 11 Disinvestment page three Creationtide centrespread Dunc’s story page 16 Ordinations 2018. Meet our new deacons in our special souvenir pull-out supplement. Photo: Tom Pilston 2 News 60 new people join Diocesan Synod MORE than 60 new people have been elected to Diocesan Synod – the governing body of the Diocese of Oxford. The new members are lay people and clergy who have been elected to the synod, which meets three times a year – usually on a Saturday – to discuss issues facing the Church and to share their experience. The Rt Revd Steven Croft, the Bishop of Oxford, said: “This is a great moment for anyone wanting to see the Church respond to the challenges that face us all. The start of a new triennium (new members are elected every three years) aligns with the next stages of the Common Vision process as we journey towards a more Christ-like Church… the best Church we can be for this generation.” Contact details for synod members will be available on the diocesan website in September. Keep up with the work of Diocesan Synod here: oxford.anglican. org/diocesan-synod Burghfield School Craft days in Little Chalfont. Photo: Chess Valley Churches Together Pastors celebrate fifth anniversary Thousands enjoy church based summer BURGHFIELD and Area School Pastors celebrated their fifth anniversary this month with over 60 guests including holiday clubs church leaders, police officers, local dignitaries, parents, students and staff of THIS summer around 7,500 children from St George’s Anglican Church, Little Similarly, in Warfield, Berkshire, a two- The Willink School. attended holiday clubs and activities Chalfont Methodist church and possibly day Holiday at Home club starts with tea, School Pastors is a national initiative run by more than 3,000 volunteers from from St. Aidan’s RC Church and Chenies coffee and biscuits, before mosaic making from the Ascension Trust – the churches across Oxfordshire, Berkshire Baptist church. and other crafts, nail painting, and other organisation that oversees Street Pastors, and Buckinghamshire. Churches Together in Bicester, activities in stations around the church. Rail Pastors and Response Pastors. The And, while youngsters were having a Oxfordshire, run their holiday clubs “People can go from one to the other, anniversary celebration was held at great time at clubs aimed at them, older across four venues, all following Scripture or sit and watch,” says Serena Parsons, the Mortimer West End Chapel, which was people were also enjoying ‘holiday at home Union Groundbreakers activities. organiser. A home-made lunch is provided decorated with bunting made by the clubs’ in churches, with crafts, games and Volunteers from most of the town’s before afternoon activities which include Willink Christian Union. Home-made other activities. churches help at the holiday clubs bingo, singing around the piano and a quiz. cakes and refreshments were prepared by In Little Chalfont in Buckinghamshire, that take place in Emmanuel Church, The initiative was spearheaded by friends and supporters. family craft days attracted 25 to 30 children Kingsmere, Longfields School and the the Revd Janet Taft, who used to be an James Puxley, Lord Lieutenant of on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout Methodist Church. Longfields School and associate minister at Warfield and started Berkshire, cut the cake alongside Cllr August. “They come with their carers, Emmanuel Church host children who are the Autumn Club, a group for older Carol Jackson-Doerge, Chairman of West dog-walkers, grannies, child-minders dropped off by their parents or carers, members of the church. Berkshire Council, and Libby Hawkness- and drop in for crafts and refreshments, to be picked up later. Kingsmere hosts a Smith, the Burghfield and Area School including home-made cakes,” says Ann holiday club for children to attend with Pastors Coordinator. Chapman, one of the organisers. their parents. This event hosts children Read more at oxford.anglican. Libby says: “We continue to make “We have funding from Skipton from 0 to 12. When they turn 12 they are org/holiday-clubs-for-the- connections with students and staff at Building society and Chiltern District invited to become young leaders. elderly and oxford.anglican. The Willink, and are slowly becoming Council that enables us to offer Bicester also runs a Holiday at Home Club org/holidayclubs better recognised across the whole school everything free of charge.” Voluntary for older people which is now in its fourth community. Most lunchtimes, we’ll talk donations give the organisers the chance year. LLM Elizabeth Taylor started the Listen to a BBC Radio Oxford to between 40 and 70 students. to donate funds to the parish council, scheme when she returned from overseas interview on church holiday Read a fuller story and see photos which allows them to use the Westwood and wondered how she could get involved clubs here: tinyurl.com/ here: oxford.anglican.org/burghfield- Park during the holidays. The scheme is in church. “Everything I heard on the radio ybh6353u school-pastors organised by the Chess Valley Churches was about the loneliness of the elderly. We Together – usually including volunteers started a weekly tea and coffee club.” Thank Your Vicar Week SHOW your appreciation for the clergy Get set for the Ride and Stride who work hard in communities across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire THOUSANDS of people are expected to join the 2018 Ride and Stride to by getting involved in Thank Your Vicar raise money to protect our historic churches. Week. The event sees people walking or riding cycles, horses and even Schools are invited to hold assemblies tractors as they visit as many historic churches as they can on Saturday and parishes to organise services during the 8 September. The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Steven Croft, is set to week, which takes place between 14 and 21 join the Ride and Stride as part of his pilgrimage prayer walk through October. Oxfordshire. St Luke’s Healthcare, a charity that cares for clergy health and wellbeing, has put More here: together a host of resources including a Oxon: ohct.org.uk/ride-stride short film, posters, and content ideas for the Berks: berkschurchestrust.org.uk/ride-and-stride-2 week. Bucks: bucks-historic-churches.org/ride-stride See stlukeshealthcare.org.uk/events for more. News 3 Oxford Diocese helps Church move forward on disinvestment from fossil fuel companies A MOTION from the Diocese of Oxford Goddard and voted in when the General companies what their plans are for the moral leadership depends on aligning our was instrumental in moving forward Synod met in July, as: “…a considerable reduction of carbon emissions by 2050. investment practice and our lifestyle with national discussions on the Church and step forward.” “We have a very serious issue before us the global vision for a net zero carbon disinvestment. In his address to Synod, Bishop Steven as a Church. Achieving the aims of of the world by 2050.” The General Synod, the Church’s said: “The world is on a trajectory to Paris Agreement requires 30 per cent of oil Read Bishop Steven’s full address to national governing body, has called for catastrophic climate change if nothing and 50 per cent of known gas reserves to General Synod here: blogs.oxford.anglican. disinvestment to be completed by 2023 more is done. We need a much greater remain unburned. If we continue to invest org/general-synod-and-the-oxford- at the latest, if those companies are not urgency in this debate, grounded in a hope in these companies we will be making amendment/ The piece includes links to prepared to align their plans with the that things can change.” money from practices which will harm the detailed further reading about fossil fuels, Paris Agreement and a carbon zero future. He told Synod members: “Any company poorest people on earth and the planet disinvestment and the Church. The Paris Agreement was made after an making 40-year investments that does not itself.” international summit held in December have a plan for net zero by 2050 is either He added: “The Church of England has 2015 in the French capital. counting on Paris goals not being met or a responsibility to lead on this issue within For more on the importance of The Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft described neglecting its duties to its shareholders.” the United Kingdom and internationally protecting the environment, turn to the measure, put forward by Canon Giles He said that the Church must ask through the Anglican Communion. That the centrespread. Light floods through “transformational” new doors at All Saints’ NEW glass doors have transformed the entrance to All Saints’ Church in Emberton, Buckinghamshire. Light can now flood into the church, making the building more welcoming. Tracey Sheppard, Fellow of the Guild of Glass Engravers, was commissioned to engrave the glass doors with a design that was inspired by the rural setting of All Saints’ church. The PCC felt her design was both beautiful and spiritual while respecting the history of the church. The Diocese of Oxford supported the project along with a private donor. Tracey says: “The guidebook states that All Saints’ church ‘…has stood with its commanding view of the village and surrounding countryside through six-and-a-half centuries of change’. In Christian art, a church standing on a hilltop can be seen as a symbol of heaven. The view of All Saints’ is the starting point and from its door flows all the other elements of the engraved design. “There is a particularly lovely lychgate at the entrance to the churchyard. The gate has a number of symbolic meanings in Christian art—in this design, it represents the entrance into the heavenly Paradise.” Read more and see more photos here: oxford.anglican.org/ Stylised waters of the Great Ouse suggest the cleansing waters of baptism and the Waters of Life.