The earth shook

Dear friends,

…but it was not for the Lord’s return, rather the sound check for the PA system ahead of the CheckFest on Saturday. A small event this time last year, with one band, a bar and some food, grew to two bands, and more stalls, a larger bar and an almost exponential increase in the numbers attending, much to the delight of the PTA, and all supporters of the wellbeing of Checkendon School. There was a great vibe and a very wide cross section of our whole community who came for an enjoyable evening of outdoor music and a welcome chance to socialise. I have yet to check however to see if the churchyard moles have been forced to relocate by the thumping of the bass drum and the pounding feet of the leaping dancers in the adjacent field.

There is plenty going on, as you can see by the list of dates below. Having a rhythm, not just in our music, or social calendar, but in our prayer and our worship is just as important for our spiritual equilibrium as a good night out is for our social skills.

Worship Services for Sunday 9th July

9.30am Morning Prayer at St John’s Stoke Row with Canon Kevin Davies

11am Holy Communion at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Canon Kevin Davies

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

Looking on

The Revd David Benskin is to be licensed by Bishop Gavin as the next Team Vicar for Woodcote at a special service at St Leonard’s this Thursday 6th July at  7.30pm. Please join me in prayer for David, Alice, and their three girls, as they prepare for their move to Woodcote, and the start of his ministry in the Langtree Team. There are seats available, so representatives from the other churches in the team are most welcome if you would like to attend.

You are invited to join Checkendon School from 1pm on Monday 10th July for their end of year production “Cinderalla and Rockefella”, in the school hall. Please email office@checkendon.oxon.sch.uk to RSVP. There is also an open invitation to the school End of Year pupils concert in the school hall at 1.30pm on Friday 14th July. Tickets £2 on the door. Just turn up for a glorious hour of children’s music and song

There is to be a PET SERVICE at St Peter & Paul, Checkendon, on Sunday 16th July at 11am. Please mark this important day in your diary. (and in your pet’s diary, too!) We are going to celebrate and give thanks for our companion animal friends, and pray for their welfare. All pets will be welcome to church on this occasion; dogs must be kept on leads, please.

Revd Angela Linton’s final service in the Team Ministry is the service of Holy Communion at St John’s Stoke Row on Sunday 23rd July at 0930 hrs. If you’ve not been able to say goodbye to Angela at one of her other services this month, this will be your very last chance to do so. We wish Angela every blessing and much joy in the years ahead. This Gaelic Blessing by John Rutter summons the whole Creation to pray for peace, using modern words from the Iona Community, written in the style of St Patrick. Although there is a line in this which prays “deep peace of the quiet earth to you” and which maybe Mr Mole is muttering to himself as the school field returns slowly to its customary tranquility.

Your Rector, Canon Kevin.