Churn Youth Group

Sunday 19^th September at 7pm in the Benefice Centre

All young people of secondary school age are welcome to come along.

We meet on the third Sunday of the month from 7pm to 8.30pm at the Benefice Centre or other venue depending on what activity we decide to do.

Christian Fellowship Group

- for Mums with young children who meet together to grow in faith and take something of what they experience to their families.

The next meeting is on Tuesday 28^th September, 8pm at Torpids, High Street, Upton.

"Bringing the Bible Alive" - The parable of the Wise & Foolish Men.

Contact for information or transport: Justine 510864; Revd Louise 851011

Benefice Prayer Initiatives - an update

Exploring Silence

The sessions on Tuesday evenings at 6pm in Upton church continue. Up to 9 people have been meeting and are beginning to find this stillness leads them into a closer relationship with God. We are all learning by experience.

Christ in Quiet

This monthly half hour service has been held in turn at Aston Upthorpe, Blewbury and Hagbourne. At each venue a prayer station has been left as a guide to others. On Saturday September 25^th the service will take place at 9am in North Moreton church. A time to listen to God through music and words of scripture.

The CHURN Branch of the MU

The next Pram Service will be on Wednesday 1^st September at 12.15pm in the Vale Room, Blewbury Village Hall. ALL AGES ARE WELCOME.

A sandwich lunch is provided by the Mothers Union after the service. This is a short Eucharist service ideal for pre-school children to bring parents, grandparents, carers to.

PASSIONATE about PARENTING

This Autumn a group will run for parents caring for children of 0 - 6 yrs. This will be a time to share the joys and challenges of being a parent and cover subjects such as effective communication, building confidence, setting boundaries etc.

DATES: Tuesday evenings, 8-10pm for 6 weeks from October 5th (break for half-term)

VENUE: Blewbury Benefice Centre

BOOKING FORMS from: Louise Butler, louisegbutler@aol.com  851011, Jenny Balshaw, jenny.balshaw@googlemail.com  815452

Some changes to midweek services - starting in September.

Our pattern of midweek services on Tuesdays and Fridays will change; Wednesdays and Thursdays remaining the same.

The schedule from September will be as follows:

TUESDAYS at St. Mary’s Upton (from 7^th September)

9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Holy Eucharist 5.30pm Evening Prayer 6pm Silent meditation

WEDNESDAYS at St. Andrews Hagbourne

9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Holy Eucharist

THURSDAYS at St Michael’s Blewbury

9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Holy Eucharist

FRIDAYS at All Saints’ Aston Upthorpe (from 3^rd September)

8.30am Morning Prayer 9am Holy Eucharist

The Parochial Church Council (PCC)

BRIEF HISTORY

In the history of the Church, the Parochial Church Council (PCC) is fairly new. Up to the early 1900’s the administration & finances of the parish were the legal responsibility of the rector & churchwardens. The congregations had virtually no say in church matters, apart from electing churchwardens.

However in 1919 Parochial Church Councils were given legal status. Subsequently, there have been various Acts of Parliament, which have laid out the composition, functions, rights & responsibilities of the PCC.

WORK OF THE PCC

The Synodical Government Measure 1969 clearly states: It shall be the duty of the incumbent and the PCC to consult together on matters of general concern and importance in the parish.

It sets out a number of functions for the PCC, one being: Co-operation with the rector in promoting in the parish, the whole mission of the Church - pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.  (We are all relieved that it is explicitly NOT the PCC’s brief to pronounce on the doctrine of the Church. So no one is going to pontificate on religious teachings.) The Rector & the PCC have particular rights & responsibilities in the daily work of the church; with the emphasis on co-operation.  The PCC is responsible for the maintenance of the church buildings, churchyard and surround: and (with the incumbent) for deciding how the church’s money is spent. The PCC is solely responsible for money; and no others have legal access to these moneys - including the Rector. (The PCC is also formally the employer of any paid workers, like painters etc. who are employed to come for maintenance etc.) The PCC has the right to be consulted about major changes to the forms of worship used in our church, & about the appointment of a new incumbent. The PCC has no authority or rights to stipulate the form of any service.  The PCC is also consulted regarding any pastoral activities, which may affect the parish: our ministry team, one of our members can represent us at the deanery synod, and so forth.  The deanery synod is supposed to link our parish with other parishes & the whole diocese, but this point is debatable.

PCC COMMITTEES

As we are a small village, the PCC does most of the work on its own. There can be exceptions, and certainly larger villages would need sub- committee’s - each would deal with a particular aspect of the parish. Each committee usually has at least one PCC member on it. We have one remote committee, for parish events, namely the Church annual fete; which is out main fund raiser for the year

PRESENT MEMBERS OF THE PCC

In the Parish of UPTON, the deanery of WALLINGFORD &the diocese of OXFORD are available upon enquiry at Church.

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE PCC

Don’t stand still after a service.  However, if you really are interested in serving the community, the PCC is always looking for help. You can contact any of the present committee; who can advise you.

HOW TO CONTACT US

Talk to anyone after Church, contact the Benefice Office in Blewbury 850267, and speak to Dawn.

PRAYER STATION

We have the Church open between about 9:00 am and 3:00 pm, and there is a prayer station there, currently for Thailand, previously Poland, and future our forces overseas.

Austin Maytham

We are very grateful to various organists who help us out from time to time.  We are still trying to find people who would commit to playing for us on a rota basis. Adverts are being placed in the Door as I type this note - so watch this space. If you’d like to join the organ rota please let me know.

Clare Lightfoot 850486

Since the death of our dear organist Tony, we have been grateful to various volunteers for accompanying our services. Some weeks however we sing unaccompanied as no organist is available. We would like to hear from anyone who could help us by playing, perhaps once a month, on a rota basis.  If there is a keyboard player who would like a bit of help in the transition to our organ that can be arranged.   We would be happy to cover expenses.  Please get in touch if you know anyone who could help.   

Clare Lightfoot. 850486    PCC Secretary.

A couple of special Christmas services at St Marys’s:

• Sunday 23 December at 10.00am - Crib and Carol Service, followed by refreshments. Everybody welcome.
• Tuesday 25 December at 9.00am - Sung Eucharist

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Fr Anthony sends to the village his Chistmas Greetings.

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The Revd Jason St John Nicolle has been appointed as the new rector for the Churn Churches.

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An invititation to all pre-school children and their parents from the Churn Benifice to a lunchtime activity session based on Harvest on Tuesday September 25th from 12.30pm at the Centre for Reflection, Aston Tirrold.

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RIDE or STRIDE is an annual sponsored event to raise money for the Historic Churches Trust and a church of your own choice by visiting as many churches as possible during the day.
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Church Concert featuring the Eliza Tones Flute Ensemble and Geoff Summers.

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