Meet the Bishop Dear friends, This Wednesday (tomorrow)  you have an opportunity to meet and question Bishop Stephen Croft, Bishop of Oxford, at Shiplake Church, from 7.30pm. Whether you want to ask him about his priorities for the Diocese, the Christ Church affair, or how the economic crisis is affecting your church, do take this opportunity to have your say. Parking for…

Dear friends, Sometimes there are good days. Early on Sunday morning a large owl flew majestically and gracefully across the road only a few yards ahead of me. I had a superb view of him (?her) for a good four seconds. Huge eyes in a great round face, matched only by my open-mouthed wonder. Everything, it seems, is out and about in…

Easter, ongoing Dear friends, Easter is a longer “season” than Christmas. Six, sometimes seven weeks when daily readings and prayers remind us that Christ is risen, and that hope is never wasted. The Easter season ends on Pentecost Sunday, which this year falls on 5th June, the culmination of her Majesty’s Jubilee weekend. On the way to the party, let us daily…

Dear friends, The gritty reality of an Easter with a war in Europe is not something anyone anticipated this time last year. We looked forward to the taming of Covid, and the return of social fellowship in all areas of life; education, emplyment, healthcare, Church, leisure. Society has returned, but every area is struggling to be “normal” with possibly staffing, or supply…

Dear friends, Easter draws near. Next Sunday marks the start of Holy Week, when we commemorate Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, not in a tank, but on a donkey. He did not plan to abduct, torture or kill others, rather this was to be his own fate. The crowds welcomed him with branches and cheers, but in the end even his own followers…

Dear friends, Our Lent Journey online pilgrimage is now in its fourth week. We’ve been enjoying exploring “forty words” of Jesus from the New Testament for a few minutes each evening; “Peace”; “Freedom”; “Fear”; “Forgive” being just a few. The good thing about the format is that you can drop in for a day or two as your week permits, or not…

Jump in! Dear friends, Baby Vincent Kaye had a message for us all at his baptism service on Sunday. (No, not a verbal one!) He was just excited! Once he saw the water being poured into the baptismal bowl his arms and legs began to wave about. Laura, his mum, had to hold on tight. He looked to me as if he…

Sanctuary Dear friends, If like me you are wondering about what it might mean to offer to sponsor a Ukrainian refugee under the newly announced Government scheme, do have a look at the website www.sanctuaryfoundation.org.uk  . There is also a helpful video interview there. The important things to note are that, at the moment, “stuff” is not needed; money is and will…

Pray, and prepare Dear friends, It appears that Covid was just the rehearsal. Lessons we learnt during the last few years now need to be applied as the convulsions and violence in Eastern Europe send shock waves through the economy, and the infrastructure of the world order as it has been. Everything continues to change. We have learnt the priority of prayer,…

Naboth’s blood Dear friends, The first book of Kings, chapter 21, tells the story of how King Ahab covets his neighbour’s vinyard; ideally situated next to the palace, fertile and productive. Ahab wants to grow vegetables there. He offers Naboth, the owner, a fair price. Naboth refuses. It is his family inheritance, he says, so he will not sell. Ahab sulks. Jezebel,…