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ST. MARY'S MATTERS
Healthy snacks at the holiday club Lido event!
Dear Friends
If you think that young people spend all of their time lounging around looking at screens... well you wouldn't be completely right!

This week we've got some great photos from last week's youth hike, as well as a plug for the ever-popular Full Moon Hike later this month. If that's not enough, Joel invites any of our young people to an action-packed weekend away, which is guaranteed to leave attendees spiritually, as well as physically fitter!

Whatever age you are, you'd be so welcome to sign up to our Church Away Day. The sign-up link is below. If you're worried about how to get there then Philip Sharman offers the perfect solution...

Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.

Isaiah 40:30-31
Building to Serve Prayers on pause

Please note Building to Serve prayers are now on pause until 6th September. We look forward to meeting again once the new term starts.

Setting a Watch

continues daily at 6am and 6pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88489690256?pwd=RG85M1pPbGRnbkhEaFVlKytCZmhTdz09

Meeting ID: 884 8969 0256
Passcode: SetAWatch

PICTURES OF THE WEEK
Great day on the Youth Hike. Lots of laughs, beautiful route, fab picnic spot and lunch and only a few "how many more fields to go?!" Several grateful messages from parents. Thanking God for the gorgeous weather.

STAFF NEWS
More change in the staff team in the Autumn…

The season for change is certainly upon us in the staff team! After 6 1/2 years, during which she has completely transformed our financial administrative systems, and blessed us all at St. Mary’s in countless other ways (not least, more recently, with the introduction of Mary's Matters!), Emily O’Shea has been sensing that the time is right for her to pass on the baton and take on a new challenge for herself.
 
She will continue to serve in her current role until November, but will then take up a new post working for a firm of accountants based near Witney. We will all be so sad to say goodbye to her in the office, but please join us in praying for her as she prepares to move into her new role, and also for us as we seek to recruit the right person to follow on in her finance role here at St Mary’s (see below for more details).
-James

YOUTH WEEKEND AWAY
Hope you’re doing well and enjoying the summer holidays so far.

We are having a youth weekend away at Viney Hill Christian Adventure Centre at the end of the October half term.

The plan is to leave Chippy at 16:00 on the Friday in a coach and head down to Viney Hill (near the Forest of Dean). Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be included in the cost. We also have lots of activities for the young people to enjoy such as: Archery, Bridge Building, Introduction to Bush Craft, Crate Stack, Low Ropes, Team Building, Abseiling and Canoeing. Each day we will have a time of prayer, sung worship and a sermon each day where we can join together as a group to worship our Lord, hear the word and be spiritually fed. We will set off after lunch on the Sunday and be back in Chippy by 15:00.

I am praying that this will be a weekend which brings people together, deepens and strengthens their faith, and creates a space for everyone to really enjoy themselves. After what has been a really tough 18 months for everyone, particularly those in school, I am really excited to be able to go away for the weekend together and see what God has in store for us.

The cost of this weekend is £50 per person, and is available for anyone in school years 7-13. If the cost is going to be difficult then please speak to me, we don’t want money to be a barrier for this weekend.

If your child would like to come along then please email me on youth@stmaryscnorton.com and let me know by Thursday 2nd September.
-Joel
Contact Joel

FULL MOON HIKE
Sunday 22 August marks the return of our ever-popular Full-Moon Hike! 

This time we start from the Parish Rooms, Church Street, at 8.00pm, walk via Salford and Little Rollright and return around 12.00 midnight! 

Drinks and hot-dogs will be provided halfway round the 7-mile route.  To confirm a place for this event, please contact John Marshall (07733 036741 marshall.john@outlook.com).
Info and consent form

CHURCH AWAY DAY
If you'd like to come to the Away Day but don't have transport then no problem! Philip will be giving lifts in the Chippy Shuttle Bus.

(If you can, please let Yvonne know if you'd like a space on the bus, or mention it when you book.)

WATCH PHILIP'S BUS DRIVING SKILLS

The church Away Day is a chance to relax, eat and worship together, away from the usual routine of church. With crafts, creativity, climbing wall and bouncy castle, lawn games and tea & cakes.

Everyone is welcome and we'd love you to join us. Come ready to celebrate!

Sign up using the link below.
Sign-up for the Away Day

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

1. Creche Worker/Caretaker role

At The Branch we aim to provide spaces where people can grow, connect and step into playing a meaningful part in their community.

We are looking for an individual who can be a part of this work by helping to create a clean, safe and welcoming space for those joining our courses and activities, and by caring for our visitors’ pre-school children.
 

2. Finance role/s

St Mary’s PCC and The Branch Trust are seeking to appoint either the same person (to a combined role), or two suitably qualified people (one to each role) who will enjoy: 

i) playing a full part in our church life while taking on and continuing to shape our day-to-day financial administration at St Mary’s Church (14 hours per week) and/or 

ii) taking on the day-to-day financial administration and helping to shape the financial systems for The Branch Trust (8 hours per week).

Please click on these links to see more detailed role descriptions or pass this email on to anyone who you think might be interested.
Find out more and apply

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

Book: Perelandra by C.S. Lewis

This is the second novel in C.S. Lewis's science-fiction themed "Cosmic Trilogy". (The books can be read as a set or separately.) In this story, C.S. Lewis, with vivid powerful imagary, describes a beautiful, but threatened, new world; the Eden-like planet of Perelandra. The book explores themes of good and evil, dealing with temptation, spiritual beings and spiritual battle. It's an unusual book, a little hard to get into in some places, but the rewards are great! This book gave me real encouragement, and motivation in my journey, and in several places I had to put the book down and pause just to take in and savour the immensity of what I'd just read! Well worth a read this summer.
Perelandra
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What's happening soon?

BCP Holy Communion Sun 21st Apr St Mary's Church, Chipping Norton More info
Sunday Service in Church Sun 21st Apr St Mary's Church, Chipping Norton More info
Welcome Lunch Sun 21st Apr The Parish Rooms More info
View the full calendar