News

Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect." – Oren Arnold

https://www.southernliving.com/christmas/christmas-prayer?slide=599e6b83-6de8-4989-929b-f36c1cf2c39d#599e6b83-6de8-4989-929b-f36c1cf2c39d
When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with the flocks, then the work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, to heal those broken in spirit, to feed the hungry, to release the oppressed, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among all peoples, to make a little music with the heart. And to radiate the Light of Christ, every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say. Then the work of Christmas begins.-Howard Thurman

"The earth has grown old with its burden of care
But at Christmas it always is young,
The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair
And its soul full of music breaks the air,
When the song of angels is sung."

• Phillips Brooks

Harvest Bubbles at Chinnor Methodist Church Autumn 2020
When it became clear that the traditional Harvest Festival Service and Supper wasn't going to happen this year, friends and members of Chinnor Methodist church decided to set up an alternative. At the time when up to 6 households could meet socially distanced in gardens, these bubbles met for tea, cake and prayer in several gardens in the village. All felt that this year, there had been greater awareness of the changes in nature through the seasons, and in our prayers we thanked God in particular for "rain and sun and insects to pollinate crops; for farmers who work with nature and preserve the beauty and diversity of God's creation; for wild creatures which enjoy the harvest of berries, nuts, grains and seeds and for the soil, rich and precious, home to countless living creatures which maintain fertility and give us food and life". We prayed for the future, "for growing awareness that we all depend on the earth for our daily food and fuel; for the increasing numbers of people who want to eat local food and have closer links with food producers and for wisdom to live in ways that will slow down climate change and keep the rains falling in their due season". Several boxes of tinned and packet foods and toiletries were collected for "The Porch" in Oxford who support the homeless and vulnerable in the area.

The groups were blessed with sunny weather and enjoyed meeting face to face and chatting together. We look forward to being able to meet again regularly in the church for worship and activities in the future.

CHINNOR METHODIST CHURCH REFURBISHMENT

We are delighted that the refurbishment of the chapel is complete.
The intention of the architects was to make an area that looked renewed and bright but kept the essentials of the historical building. The last item to be completed was the handrail for the new disabled access ramp. We now have level parking in front of the building, with a choice either of steps or a gradual ramp to the new automatic doors.
Our first service was held on Sunday 15 January and there was general approval of the new look. We would like to express our thanks to Tom Chamlet and his building team who have completed the job ahead of schedule and with unflappable good humour. It is a crowning touch that, having six foundation stones with the Croxford name, the latest generation of the family laid the screed in the porch.

...CLICK HERE ) for report.