NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF OXFORD SUNDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2007 BULLETIN ========================= CHURCH’S MINISTRY TO THE ELDERLY In a society where many older people feel isolated and alone – in their own homes or in residential settings – visiting is a crucial part of the Church’s ministry. But what are we doing when we visit older people? Why are we doing it? What constitutes good practice? Spiritual Care of Older People is holding a resource day on Tuesday 2 October, 9.30 – 3.30 at Church House, Oxford on the theme of visiting older people. It will be a repeat of the oversubscribed one held in April 2006. Again it will be resourced by Canon Vincent Strudwick (Fellow of Kellogg College and the Faculty of Theology of Oxford University) and other members of the SCOP team. It will be an opportunity to share ideas and stories of good practice. To register, please phone Alison Webster, Social Responsibility Adviser, on 01865 208213, or email alison.webster@oxford.anglican.org. Cost of the day will be £10, tea and coffee provided. Please bring your own lunch. Deadline for registrations is Monday 24 September 2007. ========================= AT A CHURCH NEAR YOU… Look out for the new Bishop of Oxford who has begun a tour of the diocese. Over the next six months Bishop John will spend a day in each of the 29 deaneries of the diocese. ‘The primary purpose of these visits is to listen to the voice of the church at the grassroots,’ says Bishop John. ‘I am very much looking forward to meeting the people of the different deaneries, celebrating their achievements and learning more about their concerns.’ So far he has visited the deaneries of Newport, Milton Keynes, Woodstock and the Vale of the White Horse. A fuller report will appear in the October DOOR. ========================= PREPARING FOR HARVEST As you prepare for Harvest Festival this year, you will no doubt be aware that British farmers are facing significant challenges made worse by the summer flooding and heavy rains. After the debate on local food at the June Diocesan Synod, at which synod pledged to ask all churches to use local produce and services wherever possible, you might like to consider using local food for harvest meals. It's also British Food Fortnight (www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk) from 22 September – 7 October. For more ideas on celebrating Harvest, see www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk and www.oxford.anglican.org/rural. ========================= REFLECTION Revd Sally Dakin Don’t count sheep; talk to the Shepherd’ said a poster on our URC church noticeboard recently. Perhaps there’s a special prayer ministry for insomniacs? If you’re one of them – even occasionally – here are a few ideas to while away the minutes (or the hours) as you lie awake in the dark: – pray for people you know, or for public figures, in alphabetical order: Anne, Brian, Caleb…; – pray round the neighbourhood in your mind, focusing on one household in each road; – pray for others you know who are awake because it’s daytime in their part of the world! – pray for those who work night shifts, in the emergency and health services, for example; – pray for those who can’t sleep because they are in pain, or too anxious to sleep; – pray for those who are dying, and the ones who love and care for them. ‘Comfort every sufferer watching late in pain; those who plan some evil from their sin restrain.’ (S. Baring-Gould 1865) ‘By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life.’ (Psalm 42:8) ========================= PRAYER DIARY This week please remember in your prayers the ministry of the clergy in the Wycombe Deanery: Sun 16: Please pray for deanery chapters, especially the clerks, and their opportunities to serve clergy. Mon 17: Members of the clergy at Hazlemere – Clive Collier, Bill Mason, Alan Garratt, John Wigram, Rachel Wigram; pastoral worker – Derek Hopwood. Tue 18: Hedsor with Bourne End clergy – Ann Trew, Rosemary Payne. Wed 19: For the High Wycombe Team Ministry. The clergy of All Saints – David Picken, Nicky Skipworth, Paul Willis, Joan Arthur; lay pastor – Jackie Lock; licensed lay ministers – Maureen Lampard, Noreen Talbot; licensed youth minister - Sarah Brush. Thu 20: St Andrew's clergy – Elaine Carr; licensed lay minister – Barbara Prior; pastoral assistant – H Graham. Fri 21: St Anne and St Peter clergy – Mary Gurr. Sat 22: St Birinus and St John clergy – Stephen Whitmore, Peter Viney, Marie Jackson, Ruth Wooster;: church army – Joe Farnand; licensed lay ministers –Josie Martin, Allison Smale; pastoral assistant – Janice Allerston. ========================= COMINGS & GOINGS We welcome: Revd Lyn Sapwell, to be Priest in Charge, Appleton and Besselsleigh; Revd Charlie Kerr, to be School Chaplain, St Edward's, Oxford On the move: Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, Assistant Curate, Wheatley, who will be Assistant Curate, Littlemore and a Tutor at Ripon College, Cuddesdon; Revd Shaun Henson, Curate, Blenheim Benefice who will also be Chaplain, St Hugh's College and Revd Judy French, Vicar, Charlbury St Mary the Virgin, who will also be Area Dean, Chipping Norton.We say farewell to: Revd Alan Barnes, Vicar of Calcot St Birinus who has retired; Revd Jo Loveridge, Priest in Charge of St Mary the Virgin Burghfield and Area Dean of Bradfield Deanery, who will be Priest in Charge, All Saints Hertford, Revd Doug Loveridge, Assistant Chaplain at Royal Berks & Battle NHS Hospital Trust, moving to be Chaplain at Chelmsford Hospital and Revd Nick Stuart-Lee, Team Rector, Thame St Mary the Virgin who has resigned. Our thoughts are with the family of Revd Prof Abbott Conway, Priest in Charge, Great Tew with Little Tew, who has died.