Author: Jo Paton

In our lent talks this year we will be meeting some of the charities and organisations set up to help people with their problems. These are acting as ‘Good Neighbours’ to many people struggling with inadequate housing, the cost of living crisis, applications for asylum and other difficulties. Through them we too can act as good neighbours to people we may never meet.

The speakers will represent local organisations and national organisations acting locally. We have invited contributions from the Big Issue, Asylum Welcome, the Porch day centre for homeless people and the Branch, a community welfare organisation in Chipping Norton.

Churches Together is also holding soup, bread and cheese lunches in local churches on Fridays in Lent.

Friday 3^rd March at 11am – World Day of Prayer service in St Teresa’s Church

Monday 6^th March at 7.30 pm – Lent series ‘Good Neighbours’ in the Friends Meeting House

Friday 10^th March, 12 to 1.30 pm – Lent lunch, soup bread and cheese, in St Mary’s Parish Church

Monday 13^th March at 7.30 pm – Lent series ‘Good Neighbours’ in the Friends Meeting House

Friday 17^th March, 12 to 1.30 pm – Lent lunch, soup, bread and cheese, in the Friends Meeting House

Monday 20^th March at 7.30 pm – Lent series ‘Good Neighbours’ in the Memorial Chapel, St Mary’s Church

Friday 24^th March, 12 to 1.30 pm – Lent lunch, soup, bread and cheese, in the Methodist Church

Monday 27^th March at 7.30 pm – Lent series ‘Good Neighbours’ in the Friends Meeting House

Friday 31^st March, 12 to 1.30 pm – Lent lunch, soup, bread and cheese, in the Baptist Church

Please do join us at any of our Easter services:

Sunday 2nd April 9.45am Palm Sunday service, St Marys

Sunday 2nd April 11am Annual Parochial Church Meeting, St Marys

3rd 4th 5th April 7pm Compline, St Marys

Maundy Thursday 7.30pm Holy Communion service, St Marys

Good Friday 9am Holy Communion, St Marys

Good Friday 10am Messy Church, St Marys

Good Friday 2pm Last Hour at the Cross, St Marys

Easter Day 8am Holy Communion, St Marys

Easter Day 9am Holy Communion, All Saints’ Shorthampton

Easter Day 9.45am Easter Parish Communion, St Marys

Join us at our regular contemporary worship service to praise God.

Next service is on Sunday 12th March at 6pm in St Marys. Join us at 5.45pm for refreshments and chat.

This is the 4th Christmas tree festival and as in past years, aims to reflect the fabulous diversity of our very special Charlbury Community. It will be a wonderful way to support the St Mary’s building appeal.

It runs from Thursday 8 to Wednesday 28 December. There will be a ‘Jazz&Trees’ bubbly & canapé party on Friday 9th December and the Wychwood Chorale will be holding their Christmas concert on Saturday 10th December. The ‘Jazz&Trees’ will be a ticketed event, with tickets available from the Cornerstone from early November.

We do hope you feel able to take part or come and support this special event.

Hilli Waller

You may have noticed that along with the Community Centre we have a Christmas Tree in Cornerstone. This is decorated with tags marked with Christmas hamper items. You can take a tag and bring us back the Christmas foods which will go towards making up Christmas hampers. This is being run by the Branch charity in Chipping Norton and hampers will be provided to households in need including those we support in Charlbury. 

We will also be distributing vouchers to our families to help them purchase gifts for their children, and we will do an extra food parcel for Christmas. If you would like to help us financially with this, please do come in and donate in store. 

A number of people have been kind enough to donate us their energy rebates – we are very happy to receive more of these. Details of how to donate can be found at https://www.charlburychurch.co.uk/cornerstone 

Finally, we have Christmas cards for sale in Cornerstone so do come and have a browse. 

Many thanks all 

The RBL Remembrance Parade and Service will be held on Sunday 13th November 2022, parade at 2.30pm and service at St Mary’s Church at 3pm. Refreshments at The War Memorial Hall, Charlbury afterwards. All welcome.