Diamonds on the gate

Dear friends

There were autumn jewels festooning the church gate at St John’s on Remembrance Sunday, which halted me in my hasty tracks to the morning service there. Dewdrops on the cobwebs garlanded the Commonwealth War Graves notice and sparkled in the morning light, which was angled just right at that moment. Nature still notices, I thought. The earth remembers, even as fickle humanity forgets. In these days of crumbling institutions and seemingly ineffectual governance, it was good to be reminded of the quiet and unassuming work of the War Graves Commission, caring for the graves and memorials of almost 1.7 million Commonwealth casualties of the two world wars, in over 23,000 cemeteries around the world. All of the Team Ministry churchyards have a number of war commission graves; not one is uncared for. On this Armistice Day I do warmly commend their work to you, whether you are a professional historian, or curious layman, or have a loved one in “some foreign field”, the CWGC.ORG website is a good place to start. And, next time you are in our churchyard, do seek out the white headstones, and pause for a while.

Thank you all for your support for our Remembrance Services this year. Like love, remembering is a work, something active, which won’t happen unless we make an effort.

Worship Services for Sunday 16th November 2025

9.30am Informal Worship at St John’s Stoke Row with Mr Peter Ferguson

11am Percussion Praise at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Canon Kevin Davies. A friendly and informal service, with a chance to try some exciting percussion instruments, and refreshments afterwards.

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

Don’t miss

Percussion Praise at Checkendon Church next Sunday at 11am! This continues our autumn series of “one off” special services, and is suitable for anyone.  We’ll be working together on a variety of rhythms from around the world, adding them to familiar worship songs, and learning some new praise chants too. Again, this interactive time is suitable for all ages. The only qualification required is a willingness to “have a go”!

Some exciting news; children from Checkendon School Choir are taking part in a special “Music at Oxford” concert this coming Saturday, joining the massed children’s choir performing at St Edward’s School. They are helping to celebrate composer Arvo Part’s 90th birthday, singing the work he composed specially for children: “Our Garden”. If you’re interested to know more, (the family friendly performance is between 5 and 6pm, in Oxford) details and tickets can be found here.

In other school news, this year Checkendon School PTA are hosting a laser light show (fireworks sadly became uninsurable) on the early evening of Friday. (14th November). Details and tickets are here.

Lastly, in these days of dissimulation, misremembering, spin, bias (conscious, unconscious, malicious, delicious, or just editorial), flannel, fury, fluff and froth, I commend to you St Paul, in 2 Corinthians 4:1-6.

May the peace of Christ be with you.

Revd Canon Kevin Davies