Recent Comments

How not to be an alien
Posted in: the Door 30th August 2006
'God has made of one blood all nations upon the earth,' writes Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham

re -one blood-medically there are many blood types and I dont think we know enough about the different species to be absolutely certain on the subject of racial integration-which is different to racial tension. Blood type being the same -in the kingdom an equal experience of suffering-over to you..(and we dont need to all breed!) JMR
JMRedgrave

PCC Secretaries Letter
Posted in: Administration 10th October 2006
A letter from the Diocesan Secretary to PCC secretaries in the Diocese.

PCCs are supposed to comply with the Church Representation Rules yet these are not available on-line. They also change regularly so any hard copy is quickly out of date making on-line versions the only sensible form for use. This is crazy
Diarmuid MacDougall

Welcoming 'Honest John'
Posted in: Not So Long Ago 7th June 2007
Why the enthronment proved an inauspicious start for the last Bishop John

i have a book by john feilder "helps to worship" does anyone know anything about it?
john

Mental Slavery
Posted in: View from here 2nd March 2007
Two hundred years from now, how will our descendants-in-faith judge the way we engage with the normative values and assumptions of our age?

We are still slaves of the political system, poverty and pain of the poorer people in African countries
Internationalist

What a Job!
Posted in: Bishop of Oxford 20th March 2008
Sermon given by the Bishop of Oxford at the blessing of the Oils, Maundy Thursday : 20th March 2008

Excellent stuff, and a real encouragement to those not able - without almost insuperable difficulty - to get to an Oils Mass with our Bishop, in the Diocese in Europe. Thank you for reminding me in a special way of the moments of ordination, 20+ years ago; and for putting in context afresh the reasons why I so enjoy funerals.
The Revd Peter Edwards

Where is the Church?
Posted in: Letters to the Editor 20th August 2004
...many in the church campaign for changes in the law rather than hearts.

I couldn't agree with this well-thought and well-stated article more, but has not God warned us of this in His Word by His prophets? And it will only get worse.

But, we know there is good news also.

Daniel 2 speaks of the last kingdom in the world which is "part iron and part clay" and other prophesies speak of the wickedness of this generation, but the good news is the same chapter of Daniel speaks of the kingdom of God which He is building at the same time, which is a "stone" made without hands, which grows until it becomes a mountain and consumes the whole earth.

The Kingdom of God is invisible (Luke 17:20) and is built upon the "rock" of revelation (Matt 16:18) that Jesus is the incarnate son of God and that the same Spirit which birthed Him through a virgin and raised Him from the dead lives on the inside of any who will receive Him, and equips us with the power to do the same works that He did (John 14:12) to bring others into the Kingdom of God. If we all will be about our Father's business of bathing in His Presence until the anointing works through us to heal the sick and deliver the oppressed, lost and deceived (II Cor 3:18), and loving His lost sheep into the Kingdom, and preaching this "gospel of the Kingdom" to every creature, then the "end" will come (Matt 24:14) and Jesus will return. Let's get to it!!!

But I am singing to the choir here. :)

God bless you from America.
Suzanne Bower

Loving our neighbours as ourselves: why we should buy Fair trade
Posted in: the Door 4th February 2004
by Maranda St John Nicolle, diocesan world development adviser and coordinator of Christian Concern for One World

Absolutely unbelievable! I am so thankful I stumbled across this page! I am trying to convert my church to fairtrade and this is so exciting to read about!!

Thanks!
Melissa

The True Meaning of Easter - A Children's Tale
Posted in: the Door 4th March 2008
Bishop Stephen's morality tales for children, called 'Naughty Nora'.

its a good story for little children
latia

May I comment to "limepickle"?

To post a criticism of this nature sounds as if you have been sucking on a lime pickle, perhaps that is the intention. This is very sad.

There are some people that refuse to be pleased, encouraged or delighted. It is said "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". So is joy. Drink of the river of living water that flows from Christ and be refreshed, and then you will see the joy around you instead of the faults.
Suzanne Bower

A truly wonderful story. We're using it for our special children's Easter service on Easter Saturday down here in Cornwall - thanks!
Kathryn Carnegie

I think it's great, I'm going to use it this Good Friday.

Charmaine Host

sadly boring!why should christian creative work be so lacking?gr8 theme but badly told
limepickle

What a wonderful way to tell the Easter story. More please
Helen Arnott

Paradise Restored
Posted in: the Door 4th March 2008
It was a day off and it wasn't going well.

It is good to be reminded that we do have a choice,dark and light, crocuses or sirens, Good Friday or Easter Sunday. G K Chesterton said that if we don't like the circumstances that we find ourselves in then we need to change our attitude. It is a really brilliant way to live because you can always find the good or better things if you stop and look and choose. Thank you Bishop John for reminding us to look at the crocuses and to choose.
K T Bruce

Tax Changes Could Cost Churches Millions
Posted in: the Door 3rd March 2008
Cuts to the basic tax rate next month mean that churches and charities could stand to lose out on millions of pounds.

The poorest of our parishioners may also be worse off when the 10% rate disappears. We mustn't hassle them for more when they may have less


Annie Cooper

Butter Shortbread
Posted in: Recipes 18th February 2005
A recipe guaranteed to crumble your New Year's resolve!

at gas mark 2 these biscuits took 45 minutes to cook.
Will it ruin things to turn the heat up slightly?
Tania

Fernham Church's Bid Wins Popular Vote
Posted in: the Door 22nd January 2008
Public voting power has secured an exciting future for a Victorian church building in Fernham, Vale of the White Horse.

I have just read with horror in the Oxford times neil sutherland and steven flints comments about applying for a licence to sell alcohol at St.Johns in Fernham with your backing,this is very worrying as we live next door to the church and think once the scheme is complete it will be hell on earth living here.
michael b.fensome

Halloween Podcast
Posted in: Communication 23rd October 2007
Hedley Feast leads a discussion about the challenges facing parents and the church as we approach an ever more commercialised Halloween...

I thought the podcast gave a balanced view of how a person who has a learning disability is part of our one big church family. Well done.
Gail Robinson, Lay Chaplain for Deaf & Disabled People, Diocese of Chester,
Gail Robinson

Learning Disabilities Podcast was very interestimg and treated the subject with great sensitivity. would have liked to have been able to read a transcript of it as there was lots of good information and comments.
Margaret Hodder

Lent
Posted in: the Door 23rd January 2008
Has Lent become little more than a six week diet plan? Martyn Percy looks at the history of fasting in Lent and modern-day observance, and asks what else the season has to offer.

I agree with a lot of the content of this article. The turning 180 degrees. The giving up and taking on new ways of life to deepen the relationship with God. I also agree the world gives us so many temptations it is almost immpossible to do and certainly impossible if we try, and i do, to take short cuts.
Our Christain way of life is to take short cuts and our teachers do not do anything to prevent this. But that is the way of the Church and not the way of Jesus Christ. Bless you. Amen
Alex Eaden

HI-DE-HI
Posted in: Resources 2nd January 2007
Many organisations offer activity holidays for children as young as 8. These holidays can offer so much for the development of young people in lots of ways. If you or your young person is looking for a holiday to go on this summer but doesn't really know where to begin, this page can get you started.

I would strongly recommend children's holiday camps. Our 3 boys have all attended Scripture Union camps. They all had a wonderful time, with lots of indoor and outdoor activities, and the leaders related very well to the children. They also grew spiritually and met with God in significant ways.
Rev John Castle

Good News for the Poor
Posted in: Thought for the Month 10th October 2005
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor’ Luke 4:18

the difference between Francis of assisi is that he chose to live in poverty and could have left that way of living whenever he wanted to. Those facing poverty in India and Africa is that they have no choice but have to suffer this humiliation while those in the west prosper in riches.
john Blakeston

Ministering Through Weakness, Spreading Joy
Posted in: the Door 23rd January 2008
Michael Wenham was diagnosed five years ago with the terminal degenerative condition, Motor Neurone Disease. Michael is still preaching weekly in Stanford in the Vale, West Oxfordshire and Rebecca Paveley went to meet him and his wife, Jane.

May I send my very best wishes to Michael - what an inspiration this man is. Someone who is really living his faith.
Marion

We would like to thank Michael for sharing his journey with MND and helping to raise awareness of this disease. Michael’s story is a moving one and one he tells with grace.

Michael talks about his fear of suffocation. Many people with MND fear they will suffocate or choke to death. This happens rarely, and by making preparations, the risk can be reduced still further. The MND Association produces a leaflet for people with MND and their carers entitled How will I die which separates the myths from the facts.

The MND Association is here to help people living with MND secure the care and support they need. MND Connect is an information service by the Association which offers access to advice and practical and emotional support - 08457 62 62 62. For more information about MND you can go to www.mndassociation.org.

Mel Barry

Meeting the Needs of the Older Generation
Posted in: the Door 22nd March 2006
Janet Parker explains why and how churches should reconsider ministry to this growing section of the congregation.

I agree that the church needs to give spiritual support to the elderly. Trouble is in a lot of churches the focus is on the youth and the older ones can be left out. What happens when the music is geared to the youth and the older ones cannot understand it or find it too loud? Often there is not a compromise and elderly lose out. Can you appoint someone on church leadership teams who champions the needs of the elderly in our congregations?
Looking to make the Gospel relevent to our world today.
www.hopeonthestreet.com
colin johnson

Hope
Posted in: Communication 7th December 2007
The second of Bishop John's Advent podcasts

And 'hope' must be extended to the realisation that global warming exists, and that if we don't do anything, our family trees are likely to come to a grinding halt not long in the future.
Bob Saunders

Christmas Message from the Bishop of Oxford
Posted in: Bishop of Oxford 18th December 2007

Just right congratulations
Martin Chandler

Understanding Religion
Posted in: View from here 6th March 2006
As a society, we are not very 'literate' about religious identity...

there is a lot of argument between the big bang and the lord creating the planet and everything around us but as a 15 yr old i asked the question where does god himself come from can you possibly answer this because my children are now asking that same question
claire

Lemon Fluff
Posted in: Recipes 3rd May 2005
The perfect summer dessert.

Thank you for this recipe--I used to know it off by heart years ago but have not made it since. I have been 1hr searching till finally you came through for me.
This is a British recipe.
Sue Flanigan-Taylor

Between Advent and Advent
Posted in: Communication 13th December 2007
A reflection for the third week of advent

Very Helpful: did you hear the discussion on the R4Today program this am on Green v Economic growth? We still wont accept that there is a sacrifice necessary at the heart of things. Brian Taylor: Shaw
Brian Taylor

Glebe land: helping to pay for today’s church
Posted in: the Door 5th October 2005
Roger Harwood, head of glebe and buildings, explains why glebe land is still so important today for the Diocese.

We have been as a tennis club on Church land for eighty years. We have been totally self supporting and spent large amount to have three superb courts. We pay a donation to the Church every year and support other activities within the Church. Now because the Church of England is strapped for cash they wish to lease the land to a developer. In the original title deeds of 1932 it states that the land purchased was specifically . Does this hold any water ?
Gemma Jackson

Glebe land is being sold in our village Hedgerley, Bucks, with a proviso that the covenant against development will be lifted if planning permission is secured and 50% of these profits would then go to the diocese.
Currently the land is derelict and brings no income. It needs several thousand spent on clearing and fencing and rebuilding the field shelter if it is to bring in even any grazing rent.
Ours is a small struggling church in a conservation area. I would like to make two points:
1. If the land can raise capital now then part of this could go towards Hedgerley's parish share.
2. At least some of this hypothetical, and I hope unlikely, profit out of future development should go to the church here if it is still funcioning. This should be written into the sale agreement.
Sue Cooper, parishioner
Sue Cooper

Make A Christmas Angel
Posted in: the Door 26th November 2007
Follow the instructions to make an angel for your Christmas Tree - a great challenge for Junior Churches and Schools.

You can personalise your angel even more by adding in a photo of the head of the child as the head of the angel! They can all be little angels!! Be careful about parental permissions if you're doing this in a group context
Alison Birch