Services given below are all in Duns Tew, unless stated otherwise. Details of all Duns Tew services and church activities can be found at www.dunstew.com under the church tab or at www.bartonbenefice.org.uk which also includes details of all services in the benefice.

Lent

The Lent book chosen for this year will be ‘Let Me Go There (The Spirit of Lent)’ by Paula Gooder. You can order your own copy at £7.44 from Amazon.

A number of lent study groups and lent lunches will be taking place during March and April. Information on lent groups can be found on the weekly notice or on the benefice website www.bartonbenefice.org.uk. Lent Study Groups will be held between 8pm-9pm on the following dates; Wednesday
4March, Tuesday 10 March, Thursday 19 March, Friday 27 March, Wednesday 1 April. The first meeting will be at the Rectory, other venues tbc.

Lent Lunches will be held on the following dates, between 12.30pm-2pm, (please check benefice website or weekly church notice sheets for further details);

• Thursday 5th March in Duns Tew (Speaker Kate Wait for Samaritans). Venue – 2 Longfield, Duns Tew
• Thursday 12th March in Steeple Barton (Speaker Nick Westbury for Bloxham Boys’ Brigade). Venue – Church Farm, Steeple Barton.
• Wednesday 18th March in Over Worton/Nether Worton (Charlie Barwell for Middle Barton School). Venue – The Grange, Over Worton.
• Thursday 26th March in Westcote Barton (Speaker tbc for Seesaw) Venue – Alice Marshall Hall.
• Thursday 2nd April in Sandford St Martin (Speaker Jill Edge for The Sunshine Centre, Banbury). Venue – The Parish Hall.

‘Save Our Angels’

Over the years the stained-glass windows in the church have taken some battering since their installation in the 1860s. They have not only accumulated dirt but some of the beautiful paintwork has faded, glass has cracked and the grilles protecting the east window have deteriorated to the extent that they are compromising the integrity of the stained-glass and the surrounding stonework. The work required to restore the windows is highly skilled and therefore, for example, to re-paint one face of an angel using the latest approved conservation techniques will cost around £250. We are therefore launching a new exciting “Save Our Angels” fundraising campaign which aims to raise £15,000 through grants and donations towards the repair and restoration of the stained-glass windows in the
church.

The “Save Our Angels” campaign will be formally launched at the coffee morning on Saturday 7th March (10.30pm-12.30pm) in the village hall. On that day we will have displays and information on the history of the windows (they were designed and manufactured by the leading firms of their day who were also involved in the design and production of stained-glass in the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey) and also on what we are trying to do to restore them. Hopefully you will be able to pop by the village hall to have a look and may be even help us with some ideas for fundraising.

Churchyard Tidy-Ups

Easter is often a time when people come to visit our churchyard. This spring we will be carrying out churchyard tidy-ups over two Saturdays; 14th March and 28th March, both at 10am. We rely on volunteers to look after our churchyard and make it the peaceful and beautiful place that it is, so please do come along and give us a hand.

THIS MONTH’S DATES FOR THE DIARY

Friday, 6th 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, 7th March, ‘Save Our Angels’ Coffee Morning in the village hall from 10.30am to 12.30pm – Come and find out about the history of the stained-glass windows in the church and what links them to such diverse locations as the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Also learn what urgently needs to be done to preserve them.

Saturday, 14th March, Churchyard Tidy-Up at 10am.

Sunday, 15th March, Annual Parish Church Meeting (APCM) This year’s APCM will be held in the church at approximately 10.45am, following the 9.30am Family@Church Service.

Saturday, 28th March, Churchyard Tidy-Up at 10am.

FUTURE DATES FOR THE DIARY

Saturday, 25th April 7.30pm , Moonrakers Concert in the church – the Oxford based group of four musicians are again bringing traditional and contemporary folk music to Duns Tew. More details next month. Tickets £12 from Clare Burgess (347382) or clarebugress@gmail.com

CHURCH FETE 2020

The Fete will be held in the Manor Gardens on Sunday 21st June 2020, 1-4pm. Please put the date in your diaries and start saving any unwanted books, bric-a-brac and plants for sale at the fete. More details will follow. If you have any ideas for new stalls, or would like to run a stall, please let me know. Thank you. Clare Burgess 347382, or email: clarebugress@gmail.com (please note the spelling).

Thank you once again to Gavin and Fiona McAlpine for hosting this important village event.

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 07929143519.

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 347382

SPRING CLEAR-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 347382