How to have a great Christmas

Dear friends,

Many thanks to those of you who contributed to my recent appeal for the schools in Checkendon and Stoke Row. The weighty “results” will be presented tomorrow, after their respective Christmas services (zoom, of course). It is great to be able to give a little encouragement to those who do so much to sustain our communities.  Steve Daniels has also asked me to thank all of you who regularly donate to the Checkendon church Food Bank collection, but needs to let you know that collections are going to be suspended until at least New Year. The Wallingford Food Bank has been overwhelmed by people’s generosity of late, and cannot accept any more donations  until current stockpiles are used. Thank you one and all !

The viral trends at the moment are disconcerting. Please be very careful if you have to be out and about. If you can avoid mixing with other people this would seem to be the safest precaution to take. The new viral variant is showing a fearsome degree of contagion. It is a sign of the times that the way to have a great Christmas appears now to behave like Scrooge, by staying in, and stopping our giving to the needy. But we are finding other ways to keep in touch and be generous.

Carol Services on Sunday 20th December. Just like Radio 4, but better….

Pre-recorded Carol Service in Church at 3pm, 4pm and 5pm.

Booking is essential via sj.endacott@googlemail.com as you will be allocated a pew. Come and enjoy a 35 minute Carol service in the decorated and Covid-secure Church.   Please make your booking soon, as there is a limited capacity for each service. Note this is a recorded service, in audio format only.

Carol Service on Zoom with Revd Kevin  6.30pm  636 645 195  and 000162

Bring your own mince pie, mulled wine and candle! A one off chance to hear the recorded service from church over the internet. Note the service is in audio format only, and note the later time.

For the other services this Sunday across the Team ministry, please see the Team website    It is absolutely OK to invite friends and family to join us via zoom. Do share the zoom codes with them. Please don’t however publish them on social media.

Your church continues to need your support as the pandemic has halved our income, whilst the expenditure has stayed the same: Checkendon’s online giving page can be found here.   Thank you!

The Christmas Codes

No, not a Dan Brown novel, but I thought I’d remind you of the two main services I will be leading this Christmas, both on zoom. The codes are different for each service and you may share them freely with friends and family.

Christmas Eve 4pm. Christingle Service. 823 2226 2104 and 609 662

Christmas Day 11am. Christmas Communion 819 5724 2067 and 865581

Our Advent Pilgrimage continues each day up until Christmas Eve. Do join us, or drop in when you can as we meet Bible characters on the road to Bethlehem.

The Advent Journey devotional ten minutes  every day at 8.30pm       842 3891 2144 and 123165

May the Lord bless us, and keep us in His love. Peace be with you all.

Revd Kevin Davies.

PS:  An insider tip: Watch out for my brand new Christmas Story, appearing in the Christmas Day edition of the Henley Standard.