Celebrate and give thanks.

Dear friends,

The coming half term/bank holiday/Jubilee week brings two opportunities at least for us to gather and celebrate, both Her Majesty’s faithful service and witness and also God’s gift to his people of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus promised those who followed him that they would not be “left comfortless” (two words which could well describe the global and national situation at the moment). A “helper” would be given, who would guide, equip, inspire, hold, guard, and challenge. The Sprit of Christ was poured out on the disciples at the first Pentecost in Jerusalem, then again in the house of the gentile Cornelius through the ministry of St Peter, and again in the city of Ephesus through the ministry of St Paul. Indeed in every generation since the time of Jesus, including our own, the Holy Spirit continues to work, bringing glory to Christ, grace to his people and renewal to the Church. Comfort, grace, renewal – in this time of national emptiness, who is not ready for a measure of the wonder of God?

Worship Services for Sunday 29th May

10.30am Team Service of Holy Communion at St Leonard’s Woodcote, led by The Revd Linda Smith and Canon Kevin Davies

6.30pm-7pm. Together at Home. An online evening service with Revd Kevin Davies.  Zoom numbers 636 645 195 and passcode 000162. Music, prayers, and a word from Mark’s gospel.

Worship Services for Jubilee Sunday 5th June

9.30am Jubilee Celebration Service at St John’s Stoke Row, with the Revd Angela Linton

11am Holy Communion for Pentecost and the Jubilee at Checkendon Church with Canon Kevin Davies. A thanksgiving, with hymns and a sermon. Bring your picnic to the village green afterwards.

6.30pm-7pm. Together at Home. An online evening service with Revd Kevin Davies.  Zoom numbers 636 645 195 and passcode 000162. Music, prayers, and a word from Mark’s gospel.

Other service options for elsewhere in the Team can be found on the Langtree Team Ministry Churches website. Do join us for worship either in person, or online, or both. Don’t forget that you now can support both Checkendon  and  Stoke Row churches via dedicated and secure online card donation pages. Just click on the link. It is very easy! Thank you for your support.

Food bank collections

A few weeks ago, an average packet of butter was £1.49. Now it is £1.79. Price increases are spreading out through the economy in waves as the costs of energy increases are beginning to be factored into the manufacturing sector. Please, as you wince at the changes in your own expenditure, don’t forget those who are already struggling to make ends meet. There are collection points for the Wallingford food bank in all of our churches, where tins, packets, jars, tea, soap may be left. The Lord bless you.

There won’t be one of these missives next week, by the way. I shall be in the garden, doing battle with the gooseberry sawfly, on patrol against blackbirds and pigeons, and performing “due diligence” with the slugs, snails, and squirrels. In your prayers, give thanks for the return home of Mike Lee, remember Charlotte Snowdon in Stoke Mandeville Hospital, pray for those known to you in Care Homes and Hospices, and give thanks for the staff and pupils at your local schools. May the coming week of holiday bring a blessing for us all.

Your Rector, Revd Canon Kevin.