DECEMBER CHURCH SERVICES
6th December
9.00 am Holy Communion (BCP), St Andrew's Kingham
10.45 am Morning Prayer, All Saints' Churchill (Activities for children)
13th December
9.00 am Holy Communion (BCP), All Saints' Churchill
10.45 am Holy Communion, St Andrew's Kingham (Activities for children)
20th December
9.00 am Holy Communion (BCP), St Andrew’s Kingham
10.45 am Crib Service, All Saints’ Churchill
24th December
5.00 pm Carols by Candlelight, St Andrew's Kingham
11.00 pm Midnight Communion, All Saints' Churchill
CHURCH NEWS
The Parish Churches of Kingham and Daylesford, and Churchill with Sarsden
www.kinghamchurches.org.uk
At the heart of the
village,
sharing the Love of
Christ ...
DECEMBER 2015
25th December
9.00 am Traditional Christmas Communion (BCP), All Saints' Churchill
10.45 am All Age Christmas Communion, St Andrew's Kingham
27th December
9.00 am Holy Communion (BCP), All Saint's Churchill
10.45 am Benefice Service, St Mary's, Chipping Norton
DECEMBER PRAYER MEETINGS
Weekly prayer meetings at 7 am on Tuesday mornings the 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd
(not on 29th ) December in St Andrew's Kingham
4.45 pm on Wednesdays in All Saints' Churchill on the 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, (not
30th ) December.
Contact Numbers
Ministry Team
Revd David Salter (Team Vicar)
658852
Revd James Kennedy (Team Rector)
642688
Associate Minister Revd Jackie Jones
658616
Jonny Lowe, Benefice Youthworker jonny.lowe@stmaryscnorton.com
Churchwardens (Kingham)
Mr Charlie Care
Mrs Margaret Shaw
658108
658006
Churchwardens (Churchill)
Mr John Armstrong
Mr Jon Uglow
659250
658483
Methodist Minister – Rev Sobanathasar Sinnathamby 642256
JANUARY CHURCH NEWS. Please send your contributions to
Belinda Armstrong at armspam@btinternet.com by the 15th December.
Please visit our website at www.kinghamchurches.org.uk
“DARKNESS CANNOT DRIVE OUT DARKNESS: ONLY LIGHT CAN DO THAT.
HATE CANNOT DRIVE OUT HATE: ONLY LOVE CAN DO THAT.”
M ARTIN LUTHER KING
The attacks by gunmen in Paris on Friday 13th November shocked the western world.
They took place shortly after the bombing of the Russian airliner on 31st October,
which caused the death of all 224 on board. Some people ask, ‘Where is God in all
this?’ and ‘Why doesn’t he do something?’.
Firstly, when asking, “Where is God?” it is useful to be reminded of the Christmas
story. We remember that Jesus was born in Israel when it was occupied by the
Roman army. Furthermore, when King Herod felt insecure about Jesus’s predicted
birth he lashed out, killing all the young boys in the region. Jesus escaped to Egypt
with his parents as refugees and had to stay there until the king had died. The
wonder of Christmas is that God knows about the trials of human life because he
chose to enter into it, to experience it first hand – to know what it is to be weak and
vulnerable, homeless and threatened. Technically this is called incarnation, the
mystery that God experienced human life in its fullness. He understands what it’s like
for us and can help us.
‘So why doesn’t he do something?’ The answer is in three parts. Firstly, he doesn’t
‘wave a magic wand’ and cure all the evils of the world. Doing so would deny our
freedom and responsibility as human beings to make decisions and to live with them.
Rather, during his earthly ministry Jesus established the Kingdom of God, inviting
people to follow him in his teaching and his way of living. The gospels are full of the
contrast between those who accepted this invitation and those who declined it.
Accepting his invitation and joining the Kingdom of God does not necessarily make it
easy for us, but we choose to follow Christ’s instructions as best we can, knowing he
will forgive us when we get it wrong. We grow to recognise his Holy Spirit’s presence
with us too, gently prompting us and strengthening us to do what is right.
Lastly, the Bible reminds us of the promises of God, that one day everything will be
put right and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. That is when
God’s kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven, as we pray in the Lord’s Prayer.
So, as we celebrate Advent and Christmas with light and love, let us not be afraid of
the dark, but follow Christ’s example and go, strengthened by his Spirit, taking his
love to all who need it.
Rev David Salter
TGI FRIDAY - Thank God It's Friday
Come & join us for our Advent Carol Service at St Andrew's Kingham
@ 6 pm on Sunday 29th November to celebrate the beginning of this
season of preparation for Christmas. Sing traditional Advent carols
and enjoy warm mince pies and some mulled wine afterwards.
We meet again on Friday 4th December 6.30pm at All Saint's Churchill (not the
Village Hall). For all children in school years 3-6 (aged 7-10). Learn about living as a
Christian through craft, games & talks. Contact Sally/David Salter on 658852.
YOUTH ACTIVITIES - SPARK & IMPACT
SPARK - A group for boys at secondary school years 7-11 meets each Wednesday
evening 7.15-8.30 pm at All Saints' Churchill. Contact Jonny the benefice
youthworker on jonny.lowe@stmaryscnorton.com for more information.
Zion, our group for girls school years 7-11 is now IMPACT and meets on Sunday
evenings (in term time) 6-7.30 pm led by Katie Lowe: youth@stmaryscnorton.com.
A Festive Celebration Concert - All Saints' Churchill
Katharine House Hospice warmly invites you to a very special Christmas concert –
on Tuesday 8th December at 7.30pm.
call the Fundraising Department on 01295 816484 to book your tickets @ £20 per ticket
HOME GROUPS
Carols around the tree
Come and join us for carols around the tree on
Monday 7th December @ 7 pm by the Fountain in Churchill or
Sunday 13th December @ 4.45 pm on Kingham Green.
Festive refreshments after a good sing.
The Tuesday morning fellowship group meets from 10-12 noon at 2 Blacksmith
Court, Kingham, home of Brenda & John Ingram on the 1st, 8th & 15th of December.
The Thursday evening Home Group meets at 15A, West Street, Kingham, home of
Margaret Shaw, at 7.00 pm on the 10th December. This will be the last meeting until
after Easter 2016.
Come and join in our Crib Service on Sunday 20th December
@ 10.45am, All Saints' Church, Churchill. Come dressed as
an angel, shepherd or wise man! If you would like a bigger
part contact Sally Salter sally.m.salter@btinternet.com /
01608 658852 as we will be practising beforehand.
LUNCH CLUBS
Kingham Lunch Club Christmas Lunch will be at 11.45 am Thursday 10th
December in Kingham Village Hall.
Churchill ,& Sarsden Luncheon Club will meet for their Christmas Meal on
Tuesday 15th December at 12 noon for 12.30 in the meeting room of All Saints'
Churchill. Sherry on arrival and a little light entertainment after lunch. Please book
with Joyce Woods (658738).
TUESDAY CIRCLE
The group for ladies of all ages will meet again on Tuesday 1st December at
2.30pm in the Methodists Church, Churchill. This will be a communion service led by
Rev David Salter.
FROM THE REGISTERS - KINGHAM & CHURCHILL
On Sunday 1st November we welcomed Mariella Bloor in baptism at St Andrew's
Kingham.
On Monday 9th November we gathered at All Saints' Churchill to give thanks for the
life of Lionel Jones. He was an altogether generous, gifted man who helped many
people and village societies behind the scenes and he’s greatly missed.
On 10th November we held the burial of Audrey Hopkinson laid to rest next to her
late husband John.
FELLOWSHIP EVENTS
Friday
December: ‘Men United’ event in Chipping Norton – Whisky Tasting
7.30pm venue tbc but contact David Salter if interested.
Christmas Create - Wednesday 9th December at St Mary's, Chipping Norton,
7.30-9.30pm Ladies, come and join us for an evening of getting into the Christmas
spirit, enjoying a mulled wine, stollen & a five minute "thought for Christmas" whilst
making a Festive Door Wreath. All the materials will be included in the ticket price of
£5, for you to make something beautiful to adorn your front door. Please email if you
would like to book a place emma.kennedy@stmaryscnorton.com or 01608 646202
4th
YOUTH
YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARTY
Friday 11th December 7-9 pm @ St Mary's Church, Chipping Norton
(for school years 7-13).
Dress Code - Dodgy christmas jumper or hat (prize for the best). For more
information contact www.stmaryscnorton.com or youth@stmaryscnorton.com
METHODIST CHURCH - CHURCHILL
Our December services are at 11 am unless otherwise stated and are as follows:
6th December our communion service will be led by Rev Soba Sinnathamby
13th December worship will be led by Mr. Michael Trinder of Kidlington.
20th December at 2.30 pm we are holding the Traditional Carol Service which will be
led by Mr Bob Forster, everyone is invited to come and sing carols and listen to the
familiar Christmas readings.
At the time of going to press the arrangements for Christmas Day have not yet been
finalised. They will be posted on the Church Notice board nearer the time
27th December at 11 am our worship will be lead by Rev Soba Sinnathamby
On the Sunday evening of December 6th there will be celebratory service at 6p.m. to
mark the conclusion of the Christmas Tree Festival in Chipping Norton Methodist
Church.
Craft Fellowship will be held on Tuesday 8th December at 2.30 p.m. There will
be no BookswapCoffeeshop this month as it is Boxing Day Bank Holiday.
We welcome you to all or any of these events.