A Thousand Miles for God

Dear friends,

Small steps add up. Yesterday I celebrated “day 264” of doing a local walk in the lanes round Checkendon which I have somehow managed every single day since last May. The circular route has stayed the same, although I do alternate the direction. Anyway, yesterday was significant as a personal milestone, because as the route is 3.8 miles, day 264 meant that, overall, I have notched up a thousand miles ! (264×3.8=1003.2). So, celebrate with me. I certainly did not set out to walk this far, but, as we are discovering together, this journey is full of surprises, not least what we are finding within ourselves.

Worship for Sunday 14th February

You will need the zoom app installed on your device (laptop, tablet, phone or PC) – download from https://www.zoom.us.  Just before the appointed time, run the app, click on “join meeting” and enter the meeting number and passcode below.

11am Holy Communion with Revd Kevin. 636 645 195 and passcode 000162   A brief interlude of “Ordinary Time”, and a sermon from Bishop Olivia Graham

It is absolutely OK to pass these details onto friends and family, who are very welcome to join us. Please don’t however post them on social media. Other online service options can be found on the Langtree Team Ministry Churches website. All live services across the Langtree Team have been suspended for the present. Checkendon and Whitchurch both remain open for private prayer on Wednesdays and Sundays.

You can support Checkendon church and now, Stoke Row church via dedicated and secure online card donation pages. Just click on the link. If you care about your church, please don’t stop giving. Its really important. Please also Gift Aid your donation if you pay any income tax. Thank you !

Ash Wednesday and beyond

Ash Wednesday (17th Feb) marks the next milestone on our pilgrimage together through this time. It is the beginning of Lent.  We are holding an online Team service at 7.30pm – the Zoom numbers  are 879 8030 1356 and 046897. The service will be led by Revd Kevin; there will be a special performance of Allegri’s miserere by Ipsden choir, and the preacher will be Revd Angela. Don’t miss this opportunity to worship together as our Lent journey begins.

The Lent Journey continues thereafter daily from Thursday 18th Feb at 8.30pm for a ten minute devotional; readings, prayer, music, input from Revd Kevin and Revd John. Join us daily, or when you can. Its up to you. The zoom numbers are 842 3891 2144 and 123165. Do make a note of them in your diary.

Finally, if you are beginning to wonder about when our churches might re-open for worship, there are a number of principles your church councils are taking into consideration: (1) At what point the “at risk” groups are likely to all have been vaccinated (2) The risk profile of your particular building  (3) The risk to clergy and worship helpers such as sidespeople and musicians. The Diocesan and National Church leaderships continue to urge caution.  When we do consider it safe to recommence live worship in our buildings, we will do so. It is likely that this will have to be a gradual process; starting with simple said services, and then gradually adding in lay participation and music, as rotas get rebuilt. The coffee and refreshment rota will be vital, methinks. Won’t it be good to meet again for a chat?

Thank you to you all for your love, support and care. Don’t forget that you can leave tins packets and jars in the Checkendon Lych gate for the Wallingford Food Bank.

Revd Kevin