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ST. MARY'S MATTERS

Chippy North small group celebrate National Burger Day with a barbecue.

Dear Friends

This month we have huge cause to celebrate and give thanks, as the Branch project reached two major milestones - firstly having been granted planning permission, without having to make any major compromises to the plans, and also having raised, in gifts and pledges, 50% of the funding target for the build phase. How fantastic!

Looking back in my prayer journal for 2019, back before the world turned upside down, I can remember writing those words that perhaps many of us had been meditating on:

"Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labour in vain."

and wondering, and hardly daring to hope that one day the vision for The Branch might become a reality.

Since then, after so many people's faithful prayers at Setting a Watch, Monday lunchtimes, and other times too; and after all the generous and faithful gifts and pledges; and after all the meticulous and relentless work, late nights, early mornings, difficult decisions and tricky negotiations by the amazing Branch team, we find ourselves in this place where, although there's still a long road ahead, it's a remarkably long way we've travelled together.

I don't understand quite how things things relate to each other, when it comes to hard work and prayer, and God's will and our will. Do we make things happen or does God make things happen? Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3 says this: "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow." Maybe that sums it up, actually!

There's still a fair few obstacles ahead, but Jesus reminds us in Luke 18 that where prayer persists, God won't fail to bring justice. So we keep on praying, for our church and our town: "Your will be done".

Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.

Isaiah 40:4-5

Setting a Watch

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

Meeting ID: 884 8969 0256
Passcode: SetAWatch

PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED FOR THE BRANCH!

After over two years of planning and 18 months of fundraising, The Branch Trust has been granted planning permission to make all the changes necessary to develop The Branch into a thriving community hub that will serve our community for generations to come! After an 'extraordinary' meeting of WODC Planning Committee on 9th August (which included a site visit), the application was met with unanimous approval with only very minor tweaks to sight lines on the proposed rear extension. Chipping Norton District Councillor (and Committee member) Geoff Saul said he took the view that on balance the community benefit outweighed any harm to the neighbours’ amenity. The official planning notice was issued on 23rd August!

This is a huge turning point, and comes as gifts and pledges towards the Building to Serve project have reached just short of £3million, with 50% of our funding target for the build phase for The Branch being raised. The timing is a huge answer to prayer, coming just before we submitted our first application for a capital grant from a Foundation who will only consider supporting capital projects with 50% of funds already raised and planning permission in place.

Our prayer now is that this paves the way for other grant applications (many of which have similar conditions) and gives major donors we have been speaking to the reassurance they need to make substantial donations, confident that the project has official authorisation to go ahead. With our first (frequently postponed due to covid) major fundraising event taking place this coming week - Friday 3rd September - we would be so grateful for your prayers.

With planning permission in place, we can complete the designs for the building and grounds ready to move into the ‘build phase’. The capital works are now on track to go to tender in the late Autumn with building work set to commence as early in the New Year as possible, providing the funding is in place.

Thank you for your continued support and prayer for this extraordinary project. Please pray, with us, that the Lord will continue to go before us, opening doors and bringing down barriers so that His work can be accomplished.

If you have any questions, would like to join in with the Watch of Prayer emails or our weekly Monday midday Building to Serve prayer meeting (recommending on 6th September), or if you are considering a donation please do get in touch. Email me at campaign@stmaryscnorton.com or contact the church office. It would be lovely to hear from you.

STAFF NEWS

As many of you now know since it was announced at the beginning of last month, myself and Emma will soon be leaving Chipping Norton so that I can take up my new role as Vicar of St Mary’s Attenborough, Nottingham. As we approach the end of August, my time to end things here at Chippy is quickly drawing to a close, and so I wanted to let you know that our last Service at St Mary's will be on the 12^th of September.

We are excited to be moving on into this next chapter but will miss the community here at St Mary's. We would very much value your prayers as we plan to move, and particularly for Emma as she looks for new GP work, whilst continuing to be very busy at her current practice. In the meantime, we continue to make the most of being able to worship with you until then.

-Toby and Emma

CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST!

Over the last year or so, there have been many events and special times that we have either missed or that have taken place in a restricted way.

Here, Sherry, one of our dedicated team who help look after the church building, shares a heart-warming story of a family making up for one of those lost occasions.

Read Sherry's story

YOUTH WEEKEND AWAY - LAST CALL FOR SIGN UPS!

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

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

CHURCH AWAY DAY

Let's Celebrate Being Together!

WATCH THIS WEEK'S AWAY DAY VIDEO

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. Bring camping chairs/blankets and 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

The church communities in the Cotswolds around the historic towns of Chipping Norton, Hook Norton and Charlbury, have joined together to develop a network of ‘pilgrim paths’ throughout the area.

Join our experienced guides, who will lead you through beautiful Cotswold countryside, exploring some well-loved psalms.

Click below for more info.

September walk booklet

September walk poster

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Connect Café	Tue 16th Apr	The Parish Rooms	More info
Minis	Wed 17th Apr	The Parish Rooms	More info
Thursday Worship	Thu 18th Apr	St Mary's Church, Chipping Norton	More info
View the full calendar