Dear friends,

A very warm welcome to this service, wherever you are worshipping in the Langtree Team Ministry area this morning. May the peace and joy of Jesus Christ be with you all.

I’m pleased to report that I am safely returned from Bishop Andrew’s pilgrimage to Ethiopia, with numerous discoveries, adventures and surprises to share with you over the course of the next few weeks and months. Ethiopia is a huge, fascinating, and complex country, with diverse geography, ethnic, language and religious groupings and a fascinating history. The Christian faith has been in the country since the 4th century, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is soon to overtake the Russian Orthodox as the largest orthodox church in the world.

Thank you to everyone involved in the delivery of the Jazz Night at Checkendon on Friday when we welcomed the Oxford University Jazz Orchestra for one last reprise of astonishing virtuosity. Members of Checkendon PCC are reminded that there is a PCC meeting this coming Tuesday in the School at 8pm.

Finally, take a good look around you. There are people, and systems, and infrastructure, that you are taking for granted. Can you spot them?

“God my King is from of old, working salvation in the earth. Dividing the sea by His might, breaking the heads of the dragons in the waters.” (Ps 74:12-13)

Your Rector. Revd Canon Kevin Davies