As August draws to a close we can look back on a fairly quiet month in the church diary with most people taking advantage of the generally warm and sunny summer to enjoy holidays or spend time with friends and family. However we did have two very happy occasions when Sarah and Callum were married at the beginning of the month followed by the wedding of Ross and Deb a couple of weeks later. I am sure we all wish our newly weds great happiness in the future.
Looking forward to September we start off with another wedding for a lovely couple from Carterton and then move into the regular slot for the Ride and Stride event on Saturday 10th. This is an annual event to raise money for the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust so if you feel like joining in Nikki Holmes can help with all the details.
We will also be re-starting Bible Study on Wednesday 7th September at 5 p.m. in church so if you are free and would like to learn more about the readings we hear in our church services then do join us. Each session lasts about 45 minutes and is a very informal gathering to talk about the gospels.
I am also pleased to tell you that we are pressing on a-pace with the renewal of the heating since our old boiler passed away and hope to get started on the installation in a few weeks time. Lawrence has also obtained quotes from the architects for the implementation of converting the cupboard and vestry into a toilet and kitchenette so this next few months will be busy raising the money and researching the grants available to us.
To help this all along we are planning a Christmas Bazaar on Saturday the 19th of November. This will be an opportunity for neighbours, friends and family to get together and enjoy the array of gifts and produce on sale, to raise much needed funds for our beautiful church. Refreshments will also be available. Before we go any further we need to establish how much interest there is from within our community. Please can you email wtaylor14019@gmail.com or eileen.wojciechowska@outlook.com by Friday 23rd September, advising whether you would like to donate items for the bazaar. This can be anything from jams, chutneys, crafts, produce, books and miscellaneous bits and pieces. Alternatively if you would like to donate sweet treats to accompany tea and coffee or help on the day please let us know.
Lastly, I would like to say welcome to our new curate Rev Katie Welborn who has recently joined the Team Ministry and has already attended some services at St Mary’s. She is married to Miles, the curate at Bampton and they are shortly moving into their new home in Carterton. We wish her an enjoyable and fulfilling curacy in the benefice and hope that she can stay for many years to come.