SUNDAY 30 SEPTEMBER Bishop of Oxford ordains 23 deacons The Bishop of Oxford will be ordaining 23 new Deacons this weekend at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford – so many, in fact, that there will be two separate services. Please pray for: Mike Rayner (St Matthew's, Oxford); Jane Sherwood (St Luke’s, Oxford); Jenny Alidina (Chipping Norton Benefice); Peter Ball (Hanborough and Freeland); Sue Burchell (St Leonard's, Banbury); Tessa Kuin Lawton (Bampton, Aston, Clanfield, Lew and Shifford); Brian Wood (Woodstock, Bladon, Yarnton, Begbroke and Shipton-on-Cherwell); Rebecca Bevan (St Mary's, Thatcham); Lorraine Colam (St Catherine of Siena, Tilehurst); Mary Harwood (St Mary the Virgin, Burghfield); Christopher Hill (Warfield); Eddie Orme (St Agnes with St Paul and St Barnabas, Reading); Duncan White (St George’s and St Mary Magdalen, Tilehurst; Elizabeth Baker (Watling Valley Ecumenical Partnership); Janet Binns (St Paul’s, Slough); Dave Bell (St James’s, New Bradwell); Ruth Boughton (Chenies and Little Chalfont, with Latimer and Flaunden); Alan Crawley (Great Marlow with Marlow Bottom, Little Marlow and Bisham); Jenny Edmans (Bernwode Benefice); Lesley Fellows (Bernwode Benefice); Jonathan Hawkins (Church of the Good Shepherd, Aylesbury); Kay Peck (Swan Team); Tim Yates (Emmanuel Church, Great Chesham). ================================ THEFTS FROM CHURCHES The theft of lead and copper from church roofs and commemorative name plaques are on the increase. Garsington Church and Oxford Crematorium have been the two most recent victims in Oxfordshire. So what can you do? If you see anything suspicious or have any information that may help with the investigation of these crimes or you are a victim of contact Thames Valley Police immediately on 08458 505 505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. As a matter of priority please sign up on line to community messaging and receive updates and crime reduction advice from Thames Valley Police on these and other crimes: www.tvpcommunitymessaging.org (in the comments field please write Church Watch). Contact your local Crime Reduction Advisor for further information on church security by calling 08458 505 505. ================================ ARE YOU NEW TODAY? It may be that you have come to church today as a result of an invitation from a friend or neighbour. More than 125 churches in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire are taking part in ‘Back to Church Sunday’ today when we make a particular effort to be extra welcoming to newcomers or visitors. If this is the case for you, welcome! If you are a host church, please make sure you send us your feedback afterwards. Email ruth.wilson@oxford.anglican.org. ================================ SHARING THE HARVEST The Times is looking for harvest festival pictures to display on its website, www.timesonline.co.uk/faith. If you have digital pictures of your Harvest Festival you can email them to faithcentral@timesonline.co.uk, giving your name, home town, and the location of your harvest festivities. ================================ Reflection – Canon David Winter ‘The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, to the east.’ That’s part of the beautiful story in the Bible about the creation. In that garden of Eden he placed the man he had made (later he's named as ‘Adam’) and told him that the garden was his to look after. It seemed to have everything: trees were all around, fruit hanging from the branches, delightful to the taste and pleasing to the eye. There were other living creatures too, and Adam gave them names. ‘You’re a pig, you’re a donkey.’ One thing was missing, and that was the love and companionship of another person, so God created a woman (‘Eve’). Now, surely, everything in the garden was lovely: food to eat, satisfying work to do, lovely things to look at and an uncomplicated, intimate and innocent relationship of love to enjoy. So what has happened to the garden of the earth? Why foot and mouth and blue tongue disease? Why hunger and injustice and exploitation? Why broken relationships, anger and hatred? Where did it all go wrong? The next chapter of Genesis tells us – the man and the woman thought they knew better than God. So they broke his one simple restriction on their lives – and found they had lost the lot. In the garden of earth, just as in the garden of Eden, it’s always wisest to follow the Maker’s instructions. Prayer: Lord help us to be better gardeners and stewards of this beautiful garden in which you have set us, and in our lives always to seek to do the Creator’s will. Amen ================================ COMINGS & GOINGS We say goodbye to: The Revd Malcom Macnaughton, Rector of Hambledon Valley and Area Dean of Wycombe, who is to be Chief of Staff to the Archbishop of York, to the Revd Guy Harrison, Chaplain for Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust who will be Chaplaincy Team Leader for West London Mental Health NHS and the Revd Canon Charles Parry, Associate Vicar, St Peter’s Furze Platt, Maidenhead and Windsor Deanery, who is to retire. ================================ PRAYER DIARY Sun 30 Back to church Sunday: We pray for all churches taking part in Back to Church Sunday: for members of the congregation inviting friends and neighbours that they would be bold and courageous; for newcomers to churches, that they would feel welcomed; and for all those taking part in services, that the Lord would speak through them and reach out to all those present. Mon 1: Abingdon Deanery. Please pray for the ministry of John Cooper on his retirement as area dean and for his successor; synod lay chairman – Joanna Birkett. Tues 2: Abingdon Team Ministry: clergy – Charles Miller. St Helen: clergy – Timothy Hewes. St Michael and All Angels: clergy – Peter Doll, Laura Hodges. St Nicolas: clergy – Peter Doll, Laura Hodges and Christopher Walker; licensed lay minister – Tony Richmond. Christ Church: clergy – Tim Davis, David Archer, Ron Bushyager; licensed lay minister – Barry Taylor; youth pastor – Andy Murray; children’s coordinator – Valerie Challis. Long Furlong: licensed lay ministers – David Lever, Anne Taylor, Derek Walker. Wed 3: Abingdon Peachcroft Christian Centre: clergy – Stephen Godfrey. Thu 4: Appleton and Besselsleigh: clergy – Lyn Sapwell. For members of the Third Order of the Society of St Francis, area ministers and formation guardians. Fri 5: Cumnor: clergy – Geoff Maughan, Helen Azer; licensed lay minister – David Henderson Slater, Eve Lockett, Terry Sharp: youth worker – R Hulse. Sat 6: Fyfield with Tubney and Kingston Bagpuize: clergy – Keith Triplow: licensed lay minister – Ian Bensted.