July already!

Dear friends,

Thank you all so much for your support and care in so many ways throughout this pandemic. We are making plans now to move (?forwards?) as the regulations change or fade away. Many of the staff team will be taking long overdue leave throughout the coming holiday period and so our provision will reflect this. For August the service options available will be the 9am short live service at Checkendon; the 9.30am live service at Stoke Row, and the 10am zoom service hosted by St Leonard’s Woodcote. The 11am zoom service will be suspended at the end of this month.

From September we are hoping to return to an 11am worship pattern at Checkendon; Stoke Row will remain at 9.30am, and a regular zoom option will be offered in due course after consultation across the wider team. Of course, we are now experts in the art of flexibility, and once the pronouncements have turned into the usual “guidance” we too will be able to offer a little more detail. We are determined to make sure that each of our Team churches offers worship that is as safe as we can make it. But we are also going to be making the most of every freedom. One thing is becoming clearer; we’re not “over it” but are going to be “living with it” for quite some time. Support, compassion, and encouragement will if anything become more important if our society is to remain cohesive.

Worship for Sunday 11th July

9am Short said service at Checkendon Church, led by Revd Kevin Davies. Please wear your mask, and remember social distancing is still required. No need to book.

9.30am Morning Prayer at St John’s Stoke Row, led by Revd Angela Linton. Please wear your mask, and remember social distancing is still required. No need to book.

11am Holy Communion (via zoom) with Revd Kevin. 636 645 195 and passcode 000162.  A formal service, with hymns, readings, and a sermon.

It is absolutely OK to pass these details onto friends and family, who are very welcome to join us. Other service options can be found on the Langtree Team Ministry Churches website.

You can support Checkendon church and  Stoke Row churches via dedicated and secure online card donation pages. Just click on the link. If you’ve not tried this way to make a donation, please give it a go. It is very secure.

Prayers and thanksgivings.

Let’s rejoice for Mark Kennedy and Megan Lawrence, who are being married at Checkendon on Friday this week. Like all our couples this year, Mark and Megan have been patient, flexible and had to change their plans several times. We wish them every blessing as they begin their married life.

We also give thanks for the life of Stan Wilcox, whose funeral will be held a week today. We offer Pearl his widow our sincere condolences.

“Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield. Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” Psalm 33:20-22

with every blessing, your Rector, Revd Kevin.