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ST. MARY'S MATTERS
The church after Sunday's snowfall
Dear Friends

What an amazing gift the snow was last Sunday! Hopefully you had as much fun as we did. Maybe you were out sledging, or maybe you got some great photos from your grandchildren, showing off their snow creations. Perhaps you were out walking, just enjoying the sparkle and the change in the landscape.  (If you're a key worker and had to go to work, then commiserations, but a BIG thank you from everyone for keeping things going despite the additional obstacles.)

But if you want to know what our Vicar got up to then please click below!
James's snow activity
Praying this week that our trust in God continues to grow, as we journey on in his steadfast love.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

 

Sunday Services

Sunday services in church are on pause until further notice.
Each Sunday we'll be posting a Virtual Sunday video on our website and YouTube channel.
 

Thursday Services

On pause until further notice
 

Setting a Watch

Continues daily at 6am and 6pm, via Zoom

Building to Serve Prayer Meeting

Continues every Monday at noon, via Zoom

THE BRANCH GARDEN HAS A YURT!

We have been offered a great opportunity to expand our facility to host groups and one-to-one work during this third lockdown. A local business have allowed us use of one of their Mongolian Gers, which we assembled in The Branch garden late last week.

The vision behind the Ger is to provide a cosy, spacious, and open place to be able to safely continue serving our community as the hands and feet of Jesus. 

It has already gained the praises (and excitement) of the local schools, with some asking if they would be able to make use of it as well! It also comes with a log burning stove which will provide much needed heat, as well as the fun of cooking together.

We’re really excited by this opportunity, which only adds to the fantastic work being done in and through The Branch. Just imagine what God will do in our town when we’re “fully operational”!

-Joel

The team that built the yurt did such a fantastic job! Click below to see how they did it!
Building the yurt

1ST PRIORITY PRAYER &
24 HOURS OF PRAYER
This month, our 1st Priority Prayer (7.30pm, Wednesday 3rd February), will form part of a local initiative, prompted by Wychwood Baptist Church, to call people from across the churches in the North Cotswolds to join together for 24hrs of continuous prayer for our local communities and our nation in this time of crisis.

From 8am on Wednesday 3rd to 8am on Thursday 4th February, please join in by choosing a 30 minute time-slot during the night or day to suit you, and then simply committing yourself to praying when that time comes. (You can indicate your slot on the Doodle Poll , to help ensure that all the times will be filled.) If you are able, it would be wonderful if you could click on the Zoom link (click "Zoom details" below) while you are praying so that you can pray together with anybody else who happens to have chosen the same time slot (for suggestions about how to pray, visit: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/prayer-nation). 

At various intervals during the day, a half hour of prayer will be hosted by one of the local churches, so if you prefer to pray in company (using the same Zoom link), details of those times are as follows: 

Wednesday 3rd
8am - 
11am - St. David's, Moreton-in Marsh
2pm - St. John the Baptist, Burford
4pm - Evenlode Vale Churches
7.30pm - St. Mary's, Chipping Norton
8pm - St. David's, Moreton-in Marsh
  
Thursday 4th
7am - Wychwood Baptist

For more information visit the NCGP website.
Zoom details

UNITED SERVICE THIS SUNDAY

Once a year we join with the other churches in Chippy to worship together and affirm our unity in Christ. This year’s United Service is by video, available on our website and YouTube channel from 10.30am on Sunday.

We look forward to seeing some familiar faces and new ones too!

COFFEE AND CHAT
Coffee and Chat happens each Sunday morning at 10am. It's a chance to catch up with each other and enjoy being church on a Sunday morning. Whoever you are you'd be so welcome. Bring a drink, your children... even your pets! We'd love to see you.

PANCAKE ZOOM
On Shrove Tuesday (16th February) we'll be holding a Zoom Pancake Party for the whole church family. We'll let you know more details next week, but in the meantime, whether you're older, younger, or somewhere in the middle, feel free to put the date in your diary and start deciding on your toppings...

SETTING A WATCH
We'll be continuing to meet to pray via Zoom at 6am and 6pm daily for 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
Lectio 365 app - recommended by Toby

"The Lectio 365 is a really helpful app that helps you to pause for a few minutes, focus on the presence of God and be inspired and encouraged through scripture. There’s a different devotion each day, with a simple structure, which you can read through or listen to. If you struggle to find time or discipline for daily devotional apps this makes it really easy to pray and read scripture with no need to plan or organise, and it doesn’t take long. Equally if you just want to try a different style of devotion check out this app too!"
Lectio 365
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What's happening soon?

Thursday Worship Thu 23rd Jul St Mary's Church, Chipping Norton More info
BCP Holy Communion Sun 26th Jul St Mary's Church, Chipping Norton More info
Sunday Service in Church Sun 26th Jul St Mary's Church, Chipping Norton More info
View the full calendar