News

St Mary’s Church was delighted to celebrate Mike’s 60 years of ordained ministry on Sunday 29th June (traditionally the time of ordinations in the Church of England). Mike was accompanied by Cara and their family who provided sumptuous refreshments after the service.

Also celebrating 45 years of ministry is the Revd Ian Arthur, and together with Mike Fergus, Elizabeth, Brian, Jan, and Judy, the gathered priests shared the blessing at the end of the service. Between them they represent 209 years of ordained ministry!

Mike and Ian were each presented with special cards to mark the occasion, and flowers were presented to Mike and Cara ahead of their special wedding anniversary later this year.

For week beginning Monday 30^th June, 2025     
Transforming Grace

Titus 2:11-14

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, ¹² training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

^v11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all’ speaks of Jesus coming to earth in human form to reveal God’s love, to forgive and redeem those who truly repent, to fulfill prophecy and found the Kingdon of God triumphing over death. 

Summer is here and whether we prefer heat or a cooler clime, when the sun shines it seems to put a smile on faces!  Flowers bloom, trees sway gently as though in hushed communication, as rabbits and deer wander quietly among them enjoying the shade. 

Whatever the weather, sometimes the busy-ness of daily routine leaves little time to take a moment to just ‘be’ rather than always ‘do’.  For those holding down a job, running a house and caring for children or others, it must feel as though there is barely enough time for conversation, eating and sleeping, let alone for just ‘being’ in the moment, but that moment of focusing on where God is in our lives helps us to be more open to receiving His transforming Grace in us and in our lives.   A moment when we may be filled afresh with the fruits of His Spirit, recharging and enabling us to move forward in His strength.

²² ………. the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control.  Galatians 5:22-23  

I wish you a summertime filled with fun, laughter, Joy and love, and pray you will take time to take a moment and be re-filled with the peace of Christ. 

This is the last weekly offering on the website.  Going forward,  I hope to offer a monthly thought/reflection.  My thanks to anyone who reads them!  God Bless.

Revd Tish Bird

See previous Reflections here

The Charlbury Beer Festival was very successful this year and the weather was glorious. St Mary’s church set up and ran the Tea/Coffee/Cake tent. Many thanks to Daniela for her amazing organisation and to all of her helpers who worked so hard to make it fun for all. Special thanks to all the cake makers, not only for baking a huge number of cakes for the fete last week but doing it all over again for the tea tent this week! The event raised £1640 for the church.

Paddy Gallagher

The church fete was an enormous success. It was a very enjoyable occasion for the people of Charlbury and It certainly achieved its three main aims.

1. To give the good people of Charlbury a really fun afternoon.
2. To assemble a team of volunteers from the congregation of St Mary’s and to see them working as one
3. To help raise funds for St Mary’s (£3,000)

The amount raised is record for the church. It would not have been possible without a lot of very hard work by a large number of people. Many thanks to all of you that helped in your many different ways. We are a formidable team. Let’s look forward to next year.

Paddy Gallagher.

We are delighted to report the success of Twelfth Night By William Shakespeare, held in the garden of the Old Rectory on 11th June. Some 175 people were welcomed to this outdoor production, brilliantly performed by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, who made the whole evening such fun.

Thanks to the generosity of so many, over £6500 was raised for our two churches All Saints Shorthampton and St Mary’s Charlbury. Our grateful thanks to Bill and Tonya for the use of their lovely garden, to the Friends of Shorthampton for organising the event, to the cast and ‘crew’ for their performance and hard work in bringing us a wonderful slice of Shakespeare to enjoy.

A series of talks and discussion on women and the Bible for one hour in St Mary’s Church on the first Monday of every month.

The Women & The Bible series offers a meaningful opportunity to explore how the Bible engages with the lives of women, both in ancient stories and in today’s world. Through biblical narratives, personal experiences, and discussions on topics that affect us all, this series invites deeper understanding, reflection, and connection.

For further information please contact Anna Boardwell annaleaboardwell@gmail.com

Churches Together Holiday Club 2025 will be held on Tuesday 5^th – Friday 8^th August 2025 in St Mary’s Church followed by a service on Sunday 10^th August at 10am.

For Foundation to Year 6 pupils. £25 per child – siblings can attend for £20.

Optional sports afternoons available each afternoon – £15 per session. 

Please complete the registration form and permission form (plus Community Centre enrolment form if booking the afternoons), include payment and return to St Mary’s Church (place in the box on the shelf) or to Cornerstone marked for Jo Paton. A confirmation email will be sent once your booking has been processed. 

Any queries please email Jo on cornerstone@charlburychurch.uk