The Call

Dear friends,

Yesterday (Monday 29th June) was a “double Feast” day. It was the day when you could celebrate St Peter and St Paul together, as we might do at Checkendon, or just St Peter by himself (which is called Petertide). This latter feast is perhaps more widely celebrated, not least because it is the main season in the calendar when new clergy are ordained. For example, this coming Saturday, at Christ Church Cathedral will see the ordination (“deaconing”) of nineteen individuals by two of the area bishops of the Diocese. This will be a tremendous occasion of joy, as these ordinands’ paths of faith, learning and discipleship are acknowledged by the Church, the grace of the Holy Spirit is prayed for, and they are consecrated for a life of service. They will enter the Cathedral as ordinands, and they will leave it as “Reverends”, each to continue their discipleship journey as a “curate” under a training cleric in a church or group of churches. The service in the Cathedral is a significant transition point in their lives, as they leave “civvies” behind, and put on their clergy shirts, collars, and robes for the first “official” time. Daunting doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Please can I ask for your prayers for these people whom God is calling into his service, and for the parishes that they will join as curates in the coming months. You can read something about them here. Do look, as their stories are very different, and practically none of them will fit any kind of stereotype for a “vicar” that you might have in mind. Two of them are coming to serve at churches in the Henley deanery. Can you discover who?

The short answer to the question “how do you make a vicar?” is that you need a Bishop, a Cathedral, a lot of training, a family, some friends, a large crowd of supportive people and someone who is very brave. The longer answer is that it needs as long as you’ve got, and as much as you can offer.

Worship Services for Sunday 5th July

9.30am Baptism Service at St John’s Stoke Row with Canon Kevin Davies

11am Morning Prayer at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Canon Kevin Davies

Midweek zoom service: Wednesday Evensong at 5.00pm  410 935 129

Keeping Mum

I thought I’d done quite well in not letting any cats out of bags regarding the celebrity wedding at Checkendon last weekend. However the appearance of a nationally renowned florist at the church on Saturday morning set pulses racing amongst those in the horticultural know, and a glimpse inside St Peter and St Paul’s gave the game away that something very special was going on. My thanks to all the Checkendon “team” – the bellringers, Steve the verger, and Mary the organist, for helping me to keep it (just about) together on the day. We send our love and prayers to Lily and Tawanda for a long and happy life together.

As well as your prayers for those getting married in the churches of the Team over the summer, and for those being ordained in Oxford on Saturday, please pray for baby Charlotte White, who is being baptised at Stoke Row on Sunday. She too is on a journey of faith. May she know God’s love and truth throughout her life. God calls us, every day, to live for Him, and to rejoice in His love. Give thanks.

Your Rector, Canon Kevin.