St John’s Stoke Row are going to be celebrating the completion of their kitchen and toilet expansion wit Bishop Colin, who is coming to the church on Tuesday 10th November at 9am to share with children from Stoke Row School a little of our happiness and joy as our reordering comes to an end Anyone from across the Team is welcome to come along and share in this short service and to greet Bishop Colin who has wonderfully carved a little time out from his busy schedule as acting Bishop of Oxford. Please make a note in your diary of the date!

We welcome Chris Bradish again to Checkendon this morning where he will be leading our worship as part of his third year ordination training placement programme.

Please could I ask for your prayers for three of the seven benefices in our Henley deanery: for Shiplake, and Kidmore End, where there are interregna, and for Nettlebed and Greys, where Revd Andrea Williams is undergoing treatment for cancer.

Give thanks to God for our schools, as they approach half term. All our local schools rely heavily upon the service of volunteers from the community to maintain the quality of their leadership and management, and the church (for Church schools) has a role in the appointment of governors to help run the school. If you would be interested in being considered for such a role (usually for three or four years) please do speak to your minister or the Rector. The Church schools in the Team are at Checkendon and Stoke Row, but members from anywhere in the Team area would be eligible to serve on the governing body of these schools.

“Deliverance belongs to the Lord; may your blessing be upon your people!” (Psalm 3:8)

Your Rector and Area Dean

Revd Kevin Davies