Category: Church

Services given below are all in Duns Tew, unless stated otherwise. Details of all Duns Tew services and church activities can be here https://dunstew.com/church/, or www.bartonbenefice.org.uk for all services in the benefice.

05.01.2020	17:00 at Steeple Barton	Benefice Evening Service
12.01.2020	11:00	Morning Worship
19.01.2020	09:00 Breakfast 09:30 Service	Family @church Breakfast Service
22.01.2020	10:30	Holy Communion Bon Accord, Middle Barton Road, Duns Tew
26.01.2020	11:00	Eucharist, refreshments afterwards

This month

This month our Sunday evening service will be a benefice service and take place in Steeple Barton at 5pm.

After last month’s Christmas celebrations, we will be resuming our monthly Family@Church service, which starts with our usual communal breakfast at 9am, on Sunday, 19 January. Do come and give it a try!

Thank you

A big, big thank you to everyone who was involved in the Christmas festivities. We couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks to the flower arrangers, tree decorators, to John and Margaret Gordon for donating the tree and to Tom Reeve, Robert Knight and Chris Drake for transporting and erecting the tree. Thanks to the bell ringers, benefice choir, singers, musicians and our organists who kept us in tune.  Thanks to the actors and animals who took part in the nativity story at our carol service. Thanks also to all those who provided refreshments especially to Martin Fairfax-Cholmeley for brewing up the Christmas punch after our carol service and to Jon Burgess for organising the mulled wine at our carol singing in aid of the Children’s Society event. Above all, thanks to everyone who came.  

News about funds raised at services for other charities will be in next month’s newsletter. 

Advent Supper A huge thank you to everyone who cooked, helped and attended the supper in aid of the Romanian Foyer Trust.  

Advent Calendar – Thank you also to everyone who has supported this idea to collect presents throughout December to give to those in need in Banbury and helped every day by Polly. Polly was very touched to know we were organising this scheme. All the gifts were delivered to Polly on 23^rd December, but anything received after this time will be delivered to Polly in the New Year and won’t be wasted!

Churchyard tidy-up

Thank you to everyone who came to help us to tidy-up the churchyard on a sunny Saturday morning in December.   We rely on volunteers to keep this very special space in good order.

HAVING A POST-CHRISTMAS TURN-OUT?

We can turn your unwanted clothing into cash for the church building. All cash raised will go towards maintaining our village church. 

Bring any unwanted clothing/accessories/shoes/sheets to the church. The church is open during the day. Items must be clean, free of stains, in other words, saleable. Clothes are sold on to market traders in various different countries.

If you prefer your unwanted items to go to Polly’s homeless and needy people, please just label the bag “Polly”, so we know. Thank you in advance. Clare Burgess 01869 347382

Dates for the Diary

Friday, 6 March The Women’s World Day of Prayer will be held in the church starting at 7pm. This year the service has been prepared by the women of Zimbabwe.  

Saturday, 25 April A concert by the group Moonrakers will be held in the church; details in next month’s newsletter.

Our Charities

Charity of the Quarter

Our charity for the quarter (January, February, March) is TZABA’s Medical/Orphan Project (MOP). This charity supports a small number of orphaned children in a dilapidated diocesan orphanage by paying their school fees and, now that life is so difficult in Zimbabwe, sending funds for basic foodstuffs and so on.  Monies (if available) are also sent to a larger ‘family’ centre in Harare itself, which works wonders with almost nothing, helping young people and their families cope with their education and life plans.  With unemployment rampant, food scarce, and a government which shamelessly appropriates any money it can from personal bank accounts, our support is badly needed, particularly at this time.  Please give generously – the charity plate is available for donations at the end of each service. If you wish to donate at any other time please place money in an envelope marked TZABA and give to Carol Rigby (Nonesuch, Hill Farm Lane). Further information about the work of TZABA can be found at  www.tzaba.org. or contact Jo Barton on 07929 143519.

Polly

As always you can leave in-date food donations, or shampoo/toothpaste etc, in the basket in church for Polly.  Thank you to everyone who supports Polly’s work with the homeless. Clare Burgess 01869 347382

2020 January Church newsletter Download

Services given below are all in Duns Tew, unless stated otherwise.  Details of all services in the benefice can be found at www.bartonbenefice.org.uk. 

01.12.19	5pm	Benefice Advent Carol Service followed by Advent Supper at 6pm in the Village Hall
08.12.19	4pm at Sandford St Martin	Benefice Christingle Service
15.12.19	4pm	Service of Lessons & Carols with baby, donkey and sheep
21.12.19 (Sat)	6pm	Carols in the Churchyard in aid of the Children’s Society
22.12.19	3pm at Steeple Barton	Benefice Service of Lessons & Carols with Choir
24.12.19 (Tues)	4pm at Westcote Barton 11.30pm at Duns Tew	Benefice Crib Service  Christmas Eve   Midnight Mass
25.12.19 (Wed)	11am	Christmas Day Eucharist
29.12.19	9.30am	Benefice Eucharist
31.12.19 (Tues)	5 pm at Westcote Barton	New Year’s Eve service Followed by drinks at the Rectory

Don’t carry cash?  Try out our new Debit Card Reader at selected services

Benefice services over the Christmas period

Benefice services – Christmas 2019 Download

This Month’s Events

Sunday 1 December at 5pm – Advent Carol Service with benefice choir, followed by Advent Supper in Village Hall at 6pm. If you would like to join us for supper then please contact Martin & Karen Fairfax-Cholmeley (347106) (karencholmeley@yahoo.co.uk). 

The supper is in aid of Romanian Foyer Trust which supports young people who receive no state help on leaving orphanages in Romania. Adults £7.50, Children £4.00, Family £20 (2 adults+2 children).

Saturday 7 December at 9am – Churchyard Clear-Up Come and help us tidy up the churchyard for Christmas, a time when many come to visit their loved-ones who are buried there. 

Sunday 8 December at 4pm – Christingle Service The benefice’s Christingle Service will be held at Sandford St Martin.  Gifts donated will be given to the Sunshine Centre in Banbury and the offering will be shared between the Sunshine Centre and the Children’s Society.

Saturday 14 December at 10am – Decorating the Church Christmas Tree Do come and help us decorate our tree for Christmas. All welcome.

Sunday 15 December at 4pm – Service of Lessons and Carols Come and join us for this very popular Christmas Carol Service.  Watch the Christmas story being acted out by local children, helped by a baby, George the donkey and some sheep, and accompanied by the recorder group, ‘Fumb and Forefinger’.  Then stay afterwards for mulled wine, mince pies and other refreshments!  

If you are under 18 and would like to take part, please contact Stephanie Lacey (stephanielacey@btconnect.com or 347350). The actors just have to dress up and walk about and we also need some children to read some short passages from the Bible.   

Saturday 21 December at 10am – Christmas Decorating The flower arrangers will be decorating the church for Christmas.

Saturday 21 December between 6pm-7pm – Carols in the Churchyard in aid of the Children’s Society.  Instead of singing at different points around the village, we will be inviting everyone to gather in the churchyard either to listen to or to sing their favourite carols. Mulled wine and other refreshments will be available for a suggested donation of £3 (in aid of the Children’s Society).  Carol sheets will be provided but do bring torches and wrap up warm. If it is raining on the night, we will sing inside the church. If you could donate mince pies or any savoury food for the event, please contact Clare Burgess (contact details below).

**Calling all musicians: it would be wonderful if we could have some musicians to keep us all in tune, if you could help please contact Clare Burgess 347382, clarebugress@gmail.com.

Don’t carry cash?
  
Try out our new Debit Card Reader!

The Children’s Society supports vulnerable young people, young carers and runaways (https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/).  For more information about the event or if you would like to donate to the Children’s Society but are unable to attend, please contact Clare, who has gift aid envelopes for the Children’s Society. Clare Burgess 347382, clarebugress@gmail.com. 

Monday 23 December– Deadline for bringing your reverse Advent Calendar Boxes to church. In other words – the reverse of those Advent Calendars where there’s a chocolate behind each door.  These boxes will be donated to the homeless and vulnerable through Polly. The idea is to remember those who don’t have as much as we do by finding them a gift for every day of December. All you need to do is get a bag or box and fill it with items for the homeless and those in need, who are helped by Polly in Banbury. Feel free to decorate the bag/box, but please don’t gift-wrap the items. Anyone can join in – just pick up a list of suitable gifts (such as an item of food or toiletries) from the table just inside Duns Tew Church. The list of suggested items will also be available on www.dunstew.com, under the Church tab. 

All help will be gratefully received – whether it’s one gift or twenty-four – all you need to do is take them to the church by Monday 23rd December and they will be delivered to Polly for her to distribute before Christmas. Thank you for your help. For more information, contact Clare Burgess 347382.

Our Charities

Church Charitable Giving during December

The Collection Plate cash collection taken during the December services will be donated to the following charities:

Carol Service, 15 December: Open Doors is an international ministry serving persecuted Christians; our donations will go particularly to support families in Syria and Iraq.
Midnight Mass, 24 December: Home-Start (Banbury & Chipping Norton Branch) 

Home-Start is a voluntary organisation offering support, friendship and practical help to families at home with at least one child under 5Christmas Day, 25 December: The Children’s Society which fights child poverty and neglect, and helps all children have a better chance in life.

Charity of the Quarter – Katharine House Hospice 

In December we will be supporting Katharine House Hospice, Adderbury (www.khh.org.uk). This charity provides specialist palliative care for adults who live locally with life limiting conditions as well as support for symptom management and pain relief.  Please give generously – the charity plate is available for donations at the end of each service. If you wish to donate at any other time please place money in an envelope marked Katharine House Hospice and give to Carol Rigby (Nonesuch, Hill Farm Lane).

Polly

As always you can leave in-date food donations, or shampoo/toothpaste etc, in the basket in church or take part in our Reverse Advent Calendar Boxes for Polly (see above).  Thank you to everyone who supports Polly’s work with the homeless. Clare Burgess 347382  

Combat Stress and the Royal British Remembrance Sunday

Following the Remembrance Sunday service, donations of £66.85 each have been sent to Combat Stress and the Royal British Legion.

Christmas Cards

In support of St Mary Magdalene, Duns Tew by local artist Ann Weighell

5 cards for £2.00

‘3 Kings’ A6 Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year	‘Snowdrops’ A6 Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

Order form in the Church or contact: Carol Rigby nonesuchcarol@gmail.com (01869 340632) or Stephanie Lacey stephanielacey@btconnect.com (01869 347350)

2019 December Church newsletter Download

Services given below are all in Duns Tew, unless stated otherwise. Details of all services in the benefice can be found at dornandridgebenefice.org.uk

02.11.2019	16:00	All Souls’ Service at Westcote Barton Church
03.11.2019	17:00 note new earlier time for the winter months	Evening worship
10.11.2019	10:50 note earlier time for the Silence at 11:00	Remembrance Service
17.11.2019	09:00 Breakfast 09:30 Service	Family @ Church breakfast service
24.11.2019	11:00	Eucharist followed by refreshments
27.11.2019	10:30	Mid-week communion Venue TBA

News and Events

Benefice All Souls Service on 2nd November at 4pm

Westcote Barton Church: If you would like to add a loved one’s name to those being remembered during the service, then please contact Jane Wright 01869 340510, clergy.bartonbenefice@outlook.com) or Stephanie Lacey on 01869 347350 / stephanielacey@btconnect.com

Family@church on 17th November at 9am

Activity – Can you get an empty box from the supermarket and bring it to church? We will be decorating them during the service. Then you can take it home and during December you can fill it with items for the homeless and those in need, who are helped by Polly in Banbury. There will be a list of suitable gifts to take home too. In other words, it will be the reverse of those Advent Calendars where there’s a chocolate behind each door. The idea is to remember those who don’t have as much as we do, by finding them a gift for every day of December.

Anyone can join in; you don’t have to come to church. Place your filled boxes in church by Monday 23rd December and they will be delivered to Polly for her to distribute before Christmas. I hope you’ll be able to help. For more information, contact Clare Burgess 01869 347382.

Harvest Lunch 2019

Thank you to everyone who came to our Harvest Lunch and enjoyed a convivial and delicious meal. This year’s organisers, Sarah Taylor and Clare Burgess, would like to thank those who cooked, served, and helped to set up. Thanks also to Clive Tompkins & Cherwell Graphics, for printing the beautiful invitations. We would also like to thank the donors and the Poor’s Land Trust for supporting this event.

Harvest Family @Church

Thank you also to those who decorated the church for harvest and brought fresh produce, food and flowers for our Harvest Family @Church Service. The edible produce will be donated to Polly.

Ride or Stride 2019

The final figure collected for this year’s Ride and Stride was an amazing £735. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the annual Churches Bike Ride which took place on 8th September. As usual, half the amount raised will go Duns Tew church and half to the Historic Churches Trust which provides grants for repairs to churches. Thank you once again to our Riders: Chris Drake and Clare Burgess.

Dates for the Diary

Sunday 1.12.2019 Advent Carol Service (with Benefice Choir) followed by Advent Supper in the Village Hall, in support of the Romanian Foyer Trust. Please come and join us for a sociable supper at 6pm. Bar available. Adults: £7.50 – Children: £4.00 – Family £20 (2 adults+2 children). Please give names to Martin & Karen Fairfax-Cholmeley (01869 347106). The Romanian Foyer Trust supports young people who receive no state help on leaving orphanages in Romania.

Sunday 8.12.2019 Christingle Service at 4pm. The benefice’s Christingle Service will be held at Sandford St Martin.

Sunday 15.12.2019 Christmas Carol Service at 4pm As well as children acting out the Christmas story we have again booked George the donkey and some sheep to join us for our carol service this year. If you are under 18 and would like to take part, please contact Stephanie Lacey (stephanielacey@btconnect.com or 01869 347350). The actors just have to dress up and walk about, and we also need some children to read some short passages from the Bible.

Saturday 21.12.2019 at 6pm Carol Singing for the Children’s Society in the churchyard (church if wet). Join us for our annual Christmas fundraiser for the Children’s Society. Bring your relatives and friends for a great start to the festivities. Mulled wine, mince pies and lots of singing!

Our Charities

Katharine House Hospice – Charity of the Quarter

In November, December and January, we will be supporting Katharine House Hospice. This charity provides specialist palliative care for adults who live locally with life limiting conditions as well as support for symptom management and pain relief. The care is offered throughout the local community both at the hospice, in Adderbury, and also in people’s homes and care homes. For more information please visit their website www.khh.org.uk.

Please give generously – the charity plate is available for donations at the end of each service. If you wish to donate at any other time, please place money in an envelope marked Katharine House Hospice, and give to Carol Rigby (Nonesuch, Hill Farm Lane).

Children’s Society

We will be carol singing to raise funds for the Children’s Society on Saturday 21 December at 6pm in the churchyard. The Society supports vulnerable young people, young carers and runaways. More information at https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/

Polly

We raised £222.50 for our charity of the quarter collection, July-Sept. However, it’s not too late to support this wonderful charity as you can always leave in-date food donations, or shampoo/toothpaste etc, in the basket in church. Thank you to everyone who supports Polly’s work with the homeless. Clare Burgess 01869 347382

Christmas Cards

In support of St Mary Magdalene, Duns Tew by local artist Ann Weighell

5 cards for £2.00

‘3 Kings’ A6 Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year	‘Snowdrops’ A6 Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

Order form in the Church or contact: Carol Rigby nonesuchcarol@gmail.com (01869 340632) or Stephanie Lacey stephanielacey@btconnect.com (01869 347350)

2019 November Church newsletter Download

Services given below are all in Duns Tew, unless stated otherwise. Details of all services in the benefice can be found at dornandridgebenefice.org.uk

06.10.2019	18:00	Evening worship
13.10.2019	11:00	Lay-led morning worship
20.10.2019	09:00 Breakfast 09:30 Service	Family @ Church breakfast service
23.10.2019	10:30	Mid-week communion. Venue TBA
27.10.2019	11:00	Eucharist followed by refreshments

Harvest Lunch – Saturday 12th October

The invitations to the Duns Tew Harvest Lunch have now been delivered, so if you are new to the village, or haven’t received an invitation, and are 65+, do let us know! For further information please contact Sarah Taylor (01869 340827) sarah.taylor27.st@gmail.com.

Saturday, 19 October at 10am Church Decorating for Harvest and Sunday, 20 October 9.00am Harvest Festival and Family@Church

This year we will be decorating the church for harvest at the later date of Saturday, 19 October. Please bring your gifts along to the Church by 10am on Saturday 19 October, if you want them incorporated into the decorations, or to the service on Sunday 20 October at 9am. Fresh vegetables/fruit as well as tinned/packet food welcome. Gifts will be donated to the homeless of Banbury (through Polly).
Craft Activity 9am to 9.30am for the children. Come and find out more!

Ride & Stride 2019

Thank you to everyone who took part in the annual OHCT Churches Bike Ride on 14th September. The total amount raised will be given in November’s newsletter. It’s not too late to sponsor our riders/striders: Chris Drake, Clare Burgess. If you have already sponsored one of us, THANK YOU.

Thank you, too, to all the volunteers who manned the church that Saturday. If you were riding in aid of Duns Tew church, please could you let me have your sponsorship money by 12th October latest (2 Long Field). Thank you. Sarah Taylor 01869 340827 or sarah.taylor27.st@gmail.com

Dates for the Diary

03.11.19 – Evening Worship– the time of service will move to 5 pm for the winter months 02.11.19 (Saturday) – 4 pm – Benefice All Souls Service at Westcote Barton Church If you would like to add a loved one’s name to those being remembered during the service, then please contact Jane Wright (01869 340510 / clergy.bartonbenefice@outlook.com) or Stephanie Lacey on 01869 347350 / stephanielacey@btconnect.com

10.11.19 – Remembrance Day Service – 10.50 am – Duns Tew

1.12.19 Advent Carols followed by Advent Supper in the Village Hall-in
support of the Romanian Foyer Trust

Charity of the Quarter – Polly

Polly’s work with the homeless is the PCC’s charity of the quarter, August/September/October. In addition to taking hot meals, snacks, groceries, clothes, shoes, toiletries and other essentials to Banbury’s rough sleepers every single day Polly also offers them trust and friendship, helping people in the depths of despair to regain their self-belief.

If you have any men’s/women’s clothes which are suitable, please leave them in a bag in Polly’s basket in the church. The people she helps would be very grateful. Packaged and in-date food donations are also welcome, as usual. Cash should be put in the charity plate at the end of a service, or placed in an envelope marked ‘Polly’ and delivered to Clare Burgess at 5 Hill Farm Lane. If you have any queries about the suitability of particular items for Polly, feel free to check with Clare Burgess first. Tel 01869 347382 or clarebugress@gmail.com.

Spare wool If you have any spare knitting wool (double knitting preferably), please let me know. Someone in the village has offered to knit garments for Polly’s homeless friends so any donations of odds and ends of wool would be hugely appreciated. Please deliver to Clare Burgess, 5 Hill Farm Lane, phone 01869 347382. Thank you in anticipation.

Easy Fundraising

RAISE MONEY FOR OUR CHURCH WHEN YOU SHOP ON LINE OR MAKE AN ONLINE SEARCH

Whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be collecting free donations for Duns Tew PCC. Over 3,000 shops and sites are ready to make a donation, including Amazon, John Lewis and Sainsbury’s – it doesn’t cost you a penny extra!

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…
1) Go to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stmarydunstew/ and join for free.
2) Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping. You can install a donation reminder!
3) After you’ve checked out, that retailer will make a donation to the PCC for no extra cost whatsoever! There are no catches or hidden charges.

Whether it is 1p donated for a book bought on Amazon or 80p for a pair of shoes every penny adds up. In 2017 Duns Tew Church PCC received £78 from Easyfundraising.

For more information contact Carol Rigby nonesuchcarol@gmail.com (340632)

Services given below are all in Duns Tew, unless stated otherwise. Details of all services in the benefice can be found at www.dornandridgebenefice.org.uk/

01.09.2019	18:00	Evening worship
08.09.2019	11:00	Morning worship
15.08.2019	09:00 Breakfast 09:30 Service	Family @ Church breakfast Service and Eucharist
22.09.2019	11:00	Eucharist followed by refreshments
25.09.2019 Wednesday	10:30	Mid-week communion Bon Accord, Middle Barton Road
29.09.2019	11:00	Benefice Harvest Festival at Sandford St Martin

Thank You

Charity Coffee Morning for Katherine House Hospice

A massive thank you to all the donors, helpers and everyone who came to the Charity Coffee Morning on Saturday 3 August. Our efforts raised a magnificent £377 for Katherine House Hospice.

Progressive supper

We would like to thank Carol Rigby and Steph Lacey for organising this year’s Progressive Supper and for ensuring that we all had a very enjoyable evening and truly delicious food. We raised over £900 towards the upkeep of the church. It’s not too late to make a donation for wine, if you haven’t done so already! A very big thank you also to all who hosted, arranged flowers, donated delicious homemade desserts and/or helped to set up the hall and clear up afterwards.

Church Fête

Great memories of 2019 Church Fête – Photo Gallery. Thanks to Harriet Stapleton for the photos.

Church and Churchyard Cleaning

A big thank you to all who gave up a Saturday morning on 10th August to tidy up the churchyard. Apart from the professionally mown grass, we rely on volunteers to make our churchyard a special and peaceful place. We will be planning another churchyard clear up in the autumn so if you can spare an hour or two then why don’t you come and help us in maintaining this very special place. Keep an eye out for dates in future newsletters

Cleaning Rota Volunteers

We rely on a group of volunteers to keep our church looking nice for Sunday services and any funerals and weddings which take place. We clean one section of the church each week on a rota basis, this takes about an hour every 6 weeks and can be done at a time to suit you – the church is usually open 8.30am – 6pm. Could you join our rota? For more information please contact Sarah Taylor (sarah.taylor27.st@gmail.com 340827) or Clare Burgess (clarebugress@gmail.com 347382)

Dates for the Diary

Saturday, 14 September Ride and Stride 2019 This year’s Ride or Stride takes place on Saturday 14 September. Have you ever considered planning a route to take in a some of our interesting and beautiful historic churches, getting some sponsorship and then enjoying a lovely walk or bike ride, with delicious refreshments provided by many of the churches on the way? If so, then contact Sarah Taylor or further information and sponsorship forms (01869 340827), sarah.taylor27.st@gmail.com or sign up online at ohct.org.uk/ride-andstride/take-part/.

Half of any money raised goes towards the Trust which helps preserve these special buildings, and half to the church of your choice (hopefully our own St Mary Magdalene, Duns Tew).

If you don’t feel so energetic then why don’t you sponsor Clare Burgess or Chris Drake who will be taking part in the event, please contact them direct (if they haven’t asked you first!). (Clare 347382, Chris 340057)

As we are one of the churches participating in the Ride and Stride, we will also need people to welcome riders and striders to the church on the day of the event. If you can spare an hour then please could you contact Sarah Taylor (01869 340827), sarah.taylor27.st@gmail.com.

Saturday, 12 October Harvest Lunch Once again the PCC will be organising this year’s Harvest Lunch. As usual, the Harvest Lunch will be held in the Village Hall and invitations will be sent out nearer the time. If you are new to the village and are 65+ then please do let us know so we can send you an invitation too. For further information please contact Sarah Taylor (01869 340827) sarah.taylor27.st@gmail.com.

Saturday, 19 October at 10am Church Decorating for Harvest and Sunday, 20 October 9.00am Harvest Festival and Family@Church This year we will be decorating the church for harvest at the later date of Saturday, 19 October. Please bring your gifts along to the Church by 10am on Saturday 19 October, if you want them incorporated into the decorations, or to the service on Sunday 20 October at 9am. Fresh vegetables/fruit as well as tinned/packet food welcome. Gifts will be donated to the homeless of Banbury (through Polly).

Charity of the Quarter

For August/September/October, the PCC will be collecting donations in church to help Polly. For those who don’t know, Polly has been taking hot meals, snacks, groceries, clothes, shoes, toiletries and other essentials to Banbury’s rough sleepers every single day for the last 31 years. Equally importantly, she offers them trust and friendship, helping people in the depths of despair to regain their self-belief.

Recently a man came to Polly who had recently lost his flat because he’d lost his job. After a few weeks staying on friends’ sofas, he had to sleep rough and he found it difficult to keep clean and especially keep his clothes clean. It was therefore impossible to make a good impression at interviews for a new job. Polly asked me (Clare) if I could get some clothes for him so that he could try for another job. My network of helpers in Duns Tew donated some suitable clothes and the man was able to get back into work. This is the sort of positive outcome that Polly’s work can lead to. So, thank you everybody!

If you have any men’s/women’s clothes which are suitable, please leave them in a bag in Polly’s basket in the church. The people she helps would be very grateful. Packaged and in-date food donations are also welcome, as usual. Cash should be put in the charity plate at the end of a service, or placed in an envelope marked ‘Polly’ and delivered to Clare Burgess at 5 Hill Farm Lane. If you have any queries about the suitability of particular items for Polly, feel free to check with Clare Burgess first. Tel 347382 or clarebugress@gmail.com.

Spare wool If you have any spare knitting wool (double knitting preferably), please let me know. Someone in the village has offered to knit garments for Polly’s homeless friends so any donations of odds and ends of wool would be hugely appreciated. Please deliver to Clare Burgess, 5 Hill Farm Lane, phone 347382. Thank you in anticipation

2019 September Church newsletter Download

All services at Duns Tew, unless stated otherwise. Details of all services in the benefice can be found at www.dornandridgebenefice.org.uk/

07.07.2019	18:00	Evening prayer
14.07.2019	11:00	Lay-led morning prayer
21.07.2019	09:00 Breakfast 09:30 Service	Family @ Church breakfast Service
21.07.2019	15:00	Ledwell open air service
24.07.2019	10:30	Home Communion (venue tbc)
28.07.2019	11:00	Eucharist followed by refreshments

Family @ Church Breakfast Service Following a very successful event in May, we will be holding another family breakfast service on Sunday, 21st July at 09:00. The event will begin with breakfast at 09:00 after which there will be a short simple service at 09:30. A Eucharist service will follow the short service, for those who wish to stay. If you would like further information or would like to help with the breakfast service then please contact Clare Burgess (01869 347382, clarebugress@gmail.com). If you prefer to join the service just for communion, please join us at 09:30 or at 10:00. All ages welcome!

Our Charities

Christian Aid Week

In May we raised a total of £1058 – with a further £182 to be claimed in gift aid. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this collection, and to everyone who gave up their time to distribute and collect the envelopes.

Charity of the Quarter

For May, June and July the PCC will be collecting donations via the charity plate near the door of the church, to help the work of the Banbury branch of The Samaritans. Nationally, the Samaritans receive 600 calls every hour from people who are struggling to cope. For more information please go to: www.samaritans.org. Please give generously. Thank you to Kate Wait for telling us about the charity on 23rd June.

Polly

As always please leave in-date food donations in the basket in church. Thank you to everyone who supports Polly. Clare Burgess 01869 347382.

Church Fete

The Church Fete on 16th June was a great success despite the weather! A big thank you to all our visitors, donors and to everyone who helped before and on the day. The amount raised was £5,360 and, although there are a couple more expenses expected, this is an amazing total. This is the church’s major fund-raising event of the year and makes a vital contribution to the running costs of the church. THANK YOU!

Competition Winners

Tug of War – Duns Tew was soundly beaten by North Aston once again. Sadly at least 4 strong team members couldn’t make it on the day. Come and support our team for a second chance at the North Aston Fete on 13th July. If anyone can be part of the team on 13th July, please contact Marshall Brooke. marshall.brooke@gmail.com

Guess the Number of Sweets was won by James Marsden with his guess of 320. The actual number was 337

Welly Wanging – Male: Charles Stapleton, Female: Ellen Smith, Child: Theo Rittson-Thomas

Paper Plane – Ethan Birch’s plane flew the furthest – a massive 1080cm. Well done, Ethan. We have your prize waiting for you if you’d like to contact Clare Burgess 01869 347382

Fun Races – Egg & spoon, sack race and three-legged races were very popular once again. A big thank you to Jon Burgess for organising these for us.

Silent Auction for 15 tonnes of Aggregate, courtesy of Smiths of Bletchingdon: highest bid was from the Hall family.

Congratulations to all. Thank you to everyone who joined in the fun.

We are extremely grateful to everyone who made the fete possible, particularly:

Fiona and Gavin McAlpine for their generosity and support, particularly for the use of the Manor Gardens, hiring the large bouncy castle, organising our outdoor power circuit, and much more, all of which ensured a fabulous afternoon.

Clive Tompkins (Cherwell Graphics Ltd) for printing all the raffle tickets, banners, signs, leaflets, raffle tickets, and for putting them all up.

Charles & Caroline Landless for storing the fete equipment for us

David and Margaret Goundrey for giving up their garage space for White Elephant

The White Horse, Duns Tew for the donation of burgers and buns

Moore & Lyon, Middle Barton for the donation of sausages

Smith & Sons of Bletchington for donating 15 tonnes of aggregate (Silent Auction)

PLUS the following organisations for their support in donating Raffle Prizes:

A big thank you to everyone who donated anything to the fete and to all the stallholders for their preparation work beforehand and everyone who set up/cleared away on the day.

Thanks, too, to our 2019 Fete committee: Marshall Brooke, Nicky Brooke, Clare Burgess, Helen Hammond, Clare Howard, Chris Keeping, Steph Lacey and Sarah Taylor.

Advance notices

Progressive Supper – Saturday August 17th

The Progressive Supper is a great way to meet fellow villagers and enjoy a fun evening moving between a number of venues in the village.

The evening starts with drinks and canapes, moves on for a starter, then a main course and the evening ends in the village hall for dessert and coffee. If you are willing to host a course or help with the cooking, or if you are new the village and would like more information please get in touch with either Stephanie Lacey 01869 347350 stephanielacey@btconnect.com, or Carol Rigby 01869 340632 (nonesuchcarol@gmail.com)

Special diets can be accommodated if we know in advance. Tickets at £27.50 each are available from Steph and Carol – the profit is used to support the upkeep of the church.

Ride or Stride 2019 – Saturday 14th September

Would you like to spend an enjoyable afternoon in the countryside and raise some money for the ancient churches of Oxfordshire – including our very own St Mary Magdalene, Duns Tew?

If you do, then why don’t you consider getting someone to sponsor you to cycle or walk around the churches of Oxfordshire. If you don’t wish to be so active you can still support by volunteering an hour of your time to welcome walkers and cyclists to our church. This year the Historic Churches Bike Ride will be held on Saturday 14th September.

For more information, contact Clare Burgess clarebugress@gmail.com or 01869 347382

2019 July Church newsletter Download