Newsletter for Feast of The Blessed Virgin Mary (Sunday 15 August 2021) Services this week Please click here to find out more about how to practise Lectio Divina following last Sunday's sermon. Click here for this week's service sheet Monday 16 August 9.30am Mass (Parish Church) Tuesday 17 August 7pm Mass (Holy Trinity) Wednesday 18 August 9.30am Mass (Parish Church) Thursday 19 August 9.30am Mass (Parish Church) Friday 20 August – Bernard, abbot 12pm Mass (Parish Church) Saturday 21 August 5pm Vigil Mass (Holy Trinity) SUNDAY 22 August – 12th Sunday after Trinity 8am Mass (Parish Church) 9.15am Mass (Holy Trinity) 10.30am (Parish Church) Sacrament of Penance (Confession) is arranged by appointment. 1 13/08/21 2 13/08/21 Interregnum News Issue 1 We travel the Interregnum road together with courage, compassion and contemplating future opportunity. This is the first of what will be an irregular series of updates, seeking to keep you abreast of developments during the interregnum and our search for a new Parish Priest. The Churchwardens and Bob Chaplow (as PCC Secretary) had a productive meeting at Holy Trinity Church on Wednesday 4th August with the Ven. Judy French (Archdeacon of Dorchester), the Revd Charles Chadwick (Parish Development Advisor), and the Revd John Durant (Area Dean). We were reassured by the helpful and constructive approach by the representatives of the Diocese, and with their assurances that they would stand with us and support us through the process to appoint a new Parish Priest. We discussed the process. It is governed by legislation and once it begins, by a formal letter to the Parish, we have six months to undertake the process of consultation, preparation of a Parish Profile (our prospectus to present ourselves to prospective applicants), and to hold two formal meetings (Section 11 and Section 12 meetings). Our expectation is that the process will commence on 1st September 2021. One of the first tasks will be to consult with the PCC, church congregations and wider stakeholders in Wantage. The consultations will seek to establish a consensus on what we are looking for in our new Parish Priest. The Churchwardens will come forward with proposals on how best to organise these consultations. The Section 11 meeting is to allow the PCC to appoint its two representatives who will sit on the interview panel, and to approve a final draft of the Parish Profile. The subsequent Section 12 meeting sets the scene for all that follows in the appointment process. The meeting will be chaired by either the Bishop or Archdeacon of Dorchester and attended by various senior members of the Diocesan and Deanery Clergy. This meeting formally approves the Parish Profile, and agrees a timetable for advertising the vacancy, short-listing of applications, and eventually agreeing a timetable for interviews of shortlisted applicants. We realise the timetable may seem frustratingly slow, but it is a legal process that must be followed to the letter. This is all the detail we can cover in a short bulletin. If anything is unclear, please ask a churchwarden (Jan Ralston or David Richardson). 3 13/08/21 Newsletter This Newsletter Items for inclusion should be sent to the Parish Administrator by 9am on Thursdays. Please send email, or telephone 01235 764533. The church is open The Parish Church will now be open from 10am until 12noon every day. This is primarily for private prayer. “Dear Parishioners of the Parish of Wantage – please be assured of my prayers and those of the Wantage Deanery for you all as you adjust to the news of Fr Philip’s resignation and as you seek the Lord’s will for the future.” – Rev John Durant Area Dean Flower donations Any weekly donations of garden flowers and/or greenery for either church by Saturday morning would be gratefully received. For further details contact Fr Benji. Confirmation On Sunday 26th September the Parish Church will welcome the Bishop of Dorchester who will be confirming candidates from Wantage and The Ridgeway Benefice into the Church of Christ. This will be at the 10.30am mass. There will be three preparation sessions: on the 7th, 14th and 21th September in the evening, and all will be welcome to join the candidates. If you have not received the sacrament of confirmation and would like to know more about what this faith step means, please do speak with Fr Benji. Music We shall not yet resume congregational singing but will keep this under review. The choir will offer music as part of worship on 15th August and 22nd August. Wantage & Grove Street Pastors Click here for a copy of the WGSP’s Quarterly News bulletin in which you will find all the latest information of what they achieved since May, changes in WGSP and Ascension Trust, and what to look forward to in forthcoming events. Ride+Stride Anticipation for this year’s Ride+Stride mounts, and we are hoping for another bumper year. On Saturday 11th September from 10am until 6pm you can walk, bike- ride, scoot or buggy-push to visit churches in the area or further afield. Get sponsorship and raise money, half or which goes to the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust (which gives grants for church repairs) and half for our own churches. Alternatively, you can help by welcoming participants into the churches, offering a drink and biscuit, and signing them in. You can use the website to download all the paperwork. We very much hope that your church, a neighbour or family member might be able to help if you don’t have a home printer – or please contact Ann and Andrew Gregory for assistance and any queries. 4 13/08/21 Little People Needed: a good single bed, with a clean mattress, for a lady who is currently sleeping on a sofa. And: double duvet covers, double sheets and pillowcases in clean usable condition. Also wanted: Clothes for girls: 4-5 years, 7-8 years and 9-10 years. Clothes for boys: 5-6 years and 8-9 years. Shoes for girls: child size 10, child size 12 and adult size 2. Shoes for boys: child size 12 and child size 13. All MUST be in clean and wearable condition. Please contact Jacky Mattam if you can help. Prayer (for inclusion, please contact the Parish Administrator) Janice, John, Sarah, Cohen, Howard, Michael, Angela RIP Joy Ripley 5 13/08/21 .