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.

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