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/

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