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

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)