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ST. MARY'S MATTERS
Shared by a happy family from their wellbeing pack
Dear Friends
It's nearly Easter and we're so delighted that the church doors will be open on Easter Day, (4 April, a week from this Sunday) for our 10.30am family service. If you've joined us "virtually" sometime in the last year but are less familiar with Sunday services at church then this would be a great time to come along as all of us will be finding our feet again after being at home on Sundays. We'd so love to meet you in person.

This one is a family service so everyone is welcome. If you have children who never seem to sit still or stay quiet then we'd love to have you along. If you're nervous about arriving on your own then hopefully you won't leave feeling alone.

After Easter Sunday we'll be back to pyjama Sundays for another couple of weeks, but hopefully moving to regular in-person services with children's provision from 25 April... that's the plan anyway, but James will be recording a message to tell you a bit more once we're more certain of things.

How is everyone doing? This week in the staff team we shared our highs and lows from the last year and it occurred to me that it's sometimes only when you pause and take stock that you really feel the weariness or grief. But it's after that that God can start to heal and build us up again. 

The Bible tells us to "not become weary in doing good" (Galatians 6:9) and yet we do become weary. We read that Elijah cried out “I have had enough, Lord,” (1 Kings 19:4). God lets Elijah rest (v.5), brings him a care package (v. 6-8) and listens while Elijah pours out his heart (v.10).

I'm so grateful to people in the church family who have done similar things for me when I've been at a low ebb. One of the things I love about church family is that we can give without it feeling awkward - something it's not quite as easy to do in mainstream culture! Is there someone who you could bless this week?

He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

1 Kings 19:10-11

Clocks Change

 

This Sunday 28th March

Easter Day

Easter Day, Sunday 4th April, 8am
Holy Communion in church

 

Easter Day, Sunday 4th April, 10.30am
Family Service in church

 

Sundays

 

We're hoping to resume regular physical services on 25 April

 
Until then, each Sunday we'll be posting a Virtual Sunday video on our website and YouTube channel.
 

Thursday Services

 

Maundy Thursday, 1st April, 11am, Holy Communion in church

 
Apart from this, regular Thursday services are on pause, but we'll keep you posted.
 

Prayer meetings

 

Setting a Watch

Continues daily at 6am and 6pm, via Zoom (link below)

Building to Serve Prayer Meeting

Continues every Monday at 12.15, via Zoom

Lectio Divina

12 noon every weekday via Zoom (link below)

WELLBEING PACKS: FAITH

This week's wellbeing pack has all things Easter, including ideas for Easter cards, delicious Easter nests, Easter wreaths and a look at the Easter story.
Virtual Wellbeing packs

GIVE HOPE
We are so excited and feel very privileged that we have been chosen as one of Kintsugi Hope's 'Hero Churches'  as part of the 'Give Hope' campaign being run through Lent by Stewardship and Your Neighbour.  

The 'Give Hope' campaign is celebrating those churches committed to giving hope and responding to the needs of our communities at this time.  Each week has had a different focus - including the vaccine, vulnerable children, debt, employability, and this week the focus is on wellbeing. 

 As we have seen the need for practical support grow here in Chipping Norton due to the pandemic,  so to have we seen an increased need in terms of mental and emotional health and wellbeing. As well as anxiety, worry and stress, many in our community are struggling with isolation and loneliness as well.  
We are committed to launching wellbeing groups, working with amazing charity 'Kintsugi Hope', here in Chipping Norton as part of our overall response to this growing need. A response that has also included our weekly wellbeing packs,  1:1 mentoring for both adults and youth, the phone web, and our awesome Mongolian Yurt which we wrote about a few weeks ago.

We have been working in partnership with Kintsugi Hope since October last year to run the wellbeing groups.  Kintsugi is a Japanese technique for repairing pottery with seams of gold.  The word means 'golden joinery' in Japanese.  This repairs the brokenness in a way that makes the object more beautiful, and even more unique, than it was prior to being broken.  Instead of hiding the scars, it makes a feature of them.  The groups are for anyone who is feeling, or has felt, overwhelmed; and provide a safe and supportive environment for people to flourish and invest in their mental health and wellbeing.  Maybe you, or someone you know, would really benefit from one of these groups.  Do get in touch with me to find out more, I would love to hear from you - hannah.charles@stmaryscnorton.com
-Hannah

To follow the 'Give Hope' campaign check it out on Instagram and Facebook or go to www.yourneighbour.org or www.stewardship.org.uk.
See us featured on the Your Neighbour website at 
St Mary’s Chipping Norton — YourNeighbour.org | Equipping Churches in the Covid-19 Crisis

MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE
Our Maundy Thursday service will take place on 1 April at 11am in St. Mary's Church.

We'll be remembering the time when Jesus celebrated his final Passover with His disciples, by sharing Holy Communion together.

If you're over 18 you'd be very welcome to join us.

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE OF PRAYER AND REFLECTION
On Good Friday, 2 April, we invite you to spend time in quiet prayer and reflection.

The church will be open from 12noon until 3pm with periodic readings, prayers, music and silence. We'd love you to come for all or part of the time, choosing when you arrive and leave. 

YOUTH BBQ AND WALK
If you're in Youth then there is a barbecue and walk, meeting at the Vicarage on Good Friday 2 April and running 12 noon until 4pm.

It's an outdoor event so bring a decent coat and footwear as well as a chair or blanket to sit on. (If it's very rainy we'll have to postpone.) 

Covid restrictions apply so it is essential that you let Joel know that you're intending to come. Please also let Joel know any dietary requirements. Thank you!

Email: Joel.reed@stmaryscnorton.com

Phone: 07534 439472
Contact Joel

EASTER FAMILY SERVICE
We're so delighted to be able to invite you back into the church building on Easter Day 4 April to celebrate together.

Our family service starts at 10.30am and everyone is invited. Whether you're new, well-known, visiting, arriving on your own, or with energetic children in tow, we'd so love to see you!

WE'RE RECRUITING!

Are you passionate about transforming the church to engage in a digital era?

St Mary’s Chipping Norton is looking for a creative and motivated Design and Communications Officer (Part-time, 10-14hrs/week).

  • to join our supportive team at an exciting time of new opportunity for the church;
  • to help us to use different media to further our mission to Live IN God’s Love and to Live OUT God’s love;
  • to develop both internal and external communications;
  • to help us to establish a more solid digital foundation for our ministries.

Please click on the links below to download a Role Description and Application Form 

Applications to be returned to:

St Mary's Church Office, Church Street, Chipping Norton, OX7 5NT, Telephone:  01608 646202. Email:  emily.oshea@stmaryscnorton.com

Click here for Role Description

Click here to download Application form

Shareable job advert

LECTIO DIVINA
We'd like to offer the opportunity, for anyone who would like to join us online, to pause at midday of every weekday in Lent and engage in 15 minutes of Lectio Divina. We'll listen to a passage of Scripture being read slowly two or three times, taking note of any specific words or phrases that God spotlights to us as being particularly relevant to our lives in that moment. 

Do join us as often as you would like. There’ll always be someone leading a session, Mondays to Fridays from Ash Wednesday (17th February) up to Wednesday 31 March.

Topic:  Lectio Divina
Time: 12:00 PM London
        
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84954482956?pwd=MU9TNVZ5cUthRFI0Zm9aaGwwUHJwdz09

Meeting ID: 849 5448 2956
Passcode: 134711

SETTING A WATCH
We'll be continuing to meet to pray via Zoom at 6am and 6pm daily for Building to Serve, as well as our world, nation, community, church and each other.

Topic: 'Setting a Watch' prayer time

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98265036092?pwd=VEZqNEl5K0t2T1NYU1k0OXBkV0NIUT09

Meeting ID: 982 6503 6092
Passcode: SetAWatch

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/a1VRI10kA

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK
Look out for our brilliant Easter Trail... details to follow early next week!
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What's happening soon?

Connect Café Tue 9th Dec The Branch, Market Place More info
Minis Wed 10th Dec The Branch, Market Place More info
Thursday Worship Thu 11th Dec Parish Rooms More info
View the full calendar