Good News Reports

GOOD NEWS REPORTS

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Richard's Message:

As I potter around the Circuit it would be so easy to be weighed down by talk of numbers, level of assessment, lack of people to hold certain roles and I know these concerns are real.
Instead, I would much prefer that these weekly offerings allow us to focus on the positives and build our awareness of where our God is at work. We all need to hear of where the new have arrived and helped transform, where faith has been deepened, where music has touched, where the Gospel is being lived out or a reminder of where God has touched in the past which then informs our present.
What stories can our people share?
It would be great if Pete Honeyball, who collates these weekly offerings, was inundated with suggestions of who to ask or even better with a piece of proper good news.
There is so much good news happening in our church which too often we do not share.
So, a few signs of good news in our midst:

• An ecumenical Christianity Explored course.
• New people arriving and staying in some of our churches.
• Times when the church acts through lunches, coffee mornings and such, and brings love and hope into lives.
• Where the church speaks for justice.
• Rooms full of excitement at Messy Church or toddler group.
• Any time faith is discussed.
• Where worship touches, where words inspire, where prayer is shared, where meaning is discerned, where tears or laughter are shared.
• Where we know Christ in our midst.

What good news is there that it would do your family in the Circuit good to hear?
Could you pen a few words to share with others?
Blessings
Richard
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Previous 'Good News' reports are now archived and will be kept for 12 months.
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This Sunday, 26 October, the focus of our Circuit Prayers falls on Stone

Dear All
Sue brings us up to date on some of the ways that Stone is serving Christ in the community and further afield. I am continually impressed with what some of our smaller chapels achieve in their communities. The shoeboxes that Sue describes below bring a beam of joy and hope to families that are struggling and the message that someone, somewhere cares enough about them to go to the trouble of filling a shoebox with gifts is heart-warming.
Please pray for the recipients of these boxes, and for the lovely people of Stone, especially when their Church Council meets soon to discuss the way forward. We pray that they will feel the love and support of the Circuit behind them.

Pete

Sue writes:

Stone is very much involved with the Link to Hope Shoebox Appeal 2025.
This is the 21st year of the Chapel members fronting the village appeal and we have sent some 500 shoeboxes over that time.
This year we have filled 25 boxes and will be delivering them to Margaret Miskin for collection early November. Each of our boxes contains something for everyone in a family – warm gloves, hats and socks, soap, flannels, toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo, candles and holders, not forgetting toys and playing cards with colouring books and pencils.
We add a handwritten Christmas card with CRICIUM FERICIT Happy Christmas from Stone Friends.
I know that many of the Circuit Churches do the same and we are proud to be part of this loving partnership. For real inspiration I urge everyone to access the LINK TO HOPE website to see the full scope of the Charity's work and the videos of the joy the Christmas boxes bring.
And can I ask that our Circuit friends pray for our little cause here, that at our Church Council meeting in a few weeks' time we may be guided to make important decisions about the future of our witness in the village.

Blessings to all,

Sue xxx

On Sunday, 19 October, the focus of our Circuit Prayers was on Stewkley

Dear All

Appropriately for this season, Lynda shares how they celebrate the joys of Harvest. At Harvest time we automatically express our thanks to God for the demonstration of his goodness to us as seen in the Harvest gifts we share. Lynda talks about celebrating Harvest and 'special times throughout the year', reminding us that God looks after us and showers us in his bounty every season of the year and not just during Harvest time.
Please pray for the lovely people of Stewkley this week, and for all those who lives are continually enriched by God's goodness.
Jane
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Lynda says:

This a story about Harvest at Stewkley High Street Chapel.
Harvest is part of the Chapel's year and is celebrated each year at the beginning of October. It was always the Sunday nearest to the 10th of October but always the one before the 10th. This was known locally as the Stewkley Feast. We now usually celebrate Harvest on the first Sunday in October which we did this year on 5th October.
As a child I helped my aunt Flo with the text which she choose each year from the Bible or from a hymn. This tradition had been passed on to her from May Mead and we still carry this on today, firstly with myself and now with my daughter Cathy.
It was also the tradition to collect Harvest produce from most households in the village. On the Friday before the Harvest the men would go round to the houses in the village and be given items for display which the ladies put together on the Saturday afternoon. These were later put in the Harvest sale on the Monday evening after the last services of the weekend celebrations. It was the time to be thankful for the Harvest and I believe it was one of the ways that the funds were raised to pay for the building and up-keep of the chapel.
Today we support the local food bank with gifts that are brought into the morning service.
This year we opened up the chapel on Sunday afternoon so visitors could look at the displays celebrating Harvest and special times throughout the year. Evening saw family and friends singing as many Harvest songs as we could fit in, ending with "Come you thankful people come", which was the top choice.
But we did not finish there. On Monday morning we welcomed the local school, St. Michael's and their parents (over 180 children plus parents). The children had even grown some of the many Pumpkins that we had on display. Later that day we enjoyed a wonderful Harvest supper followed by the auction sale of goods.
We have a number of farming families which support these celebrations and we welcomed all those, from those aged over 90 years to those who were a few weeks old. The sermon on Sunday by Rev. Arthur Cowburn encouraged us to work with the community and I believe this was a very good way to show our love for all.
This is our story, this is our song, Praising our Saviour all the day long.
Finding ways to work together, to be together and help each other in God's name.

Love to you all
Lynda Hart

The focus of our prayers this Sunday, 12 October is on Princes Risborough

Dear All,

David shares his journey with us. For most of us our journey with Christ is not a Damascus Road experience but a gradual understanding or realization of the love of God. Please pray this week for all the lovely folk at Princes Risborough and also for those who journey along, searching for the love of Christ.

Jane

David writes:
My connection with the Methodist Church commenced in my early days in a small village seven miles north west of Banbury. The village had a strong Methodist community and I attended each Sunday service with my parents. Sunday school was in the morning and I remember doing the Scripture exams. One of my duties at the service was to pump air for the organ.
My real beginning into the Christian faith came when we had a team from Cliff College visit the village for a week. From this visit it increased my understanding of the message within the Bible and the love of God. From this point my Christian life grew. I became a King's Messenger, helping taking reading services in the Banbury circuit.
My journey of faith continued when I married and moved to Risborough in 1970 to share in the fellowship and witness of the Church here in Risborough and share in many aspects of the Church life and fellowship.
Looking back over the years my faith has been increased by the fellowship and the message of the Church, and the infinite way that the hand of God has guided me through good and bad times of life.
God moves in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.
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On Sunday, 7 September, the focus of our Circuit Prayers was on Chinnor

Dear All

Sally shares her story with us. Sally says that "her move has been made easy thanks to friends at the church". Our prayer is that everyone may feel that same warmth when they step inside a holy place where we meet to worship God, but sadly it is not always so. Jesus always welcomes us with love and we are tasked to do the same. Next time someone steps over that threshold into our midst, please take time to welcome them and make them feel among friends, it means so much!

Pete

Sally writes:

I came to Chinnor from Princes Risborough just over 2 years ago and found a church family ready to welcome me at the Chinnor Methodist. The Sunday services led mainly by lay people are mostly very helpful. I sometimes read the Scriptures at home and at the moment all the familiar passages I know seem to come alive and are fresh almost as if I'm reading them for the first time.
Following Jesus Christ and His teaching has been quite a challenge. The church has always been very important to me to help and encourage me to keep persevering and, perhaps over the years, I might have done the same for others. I was converted around the age of 21 and feel privileged to have eventually encountered God through Jesus Christ, His life, death and resurrection. My move to Chinnor has been made easy thanks to friends at the church.
The last verse of William Cowper's hymn 'Hark my soul! It is the Lord' is a good ending:

Lord it is my chief complaint
That my love is weak and faint;
Yet I love Thee and adore;
Oh for grace to love Thee more. Amen.

Thanks
Sally

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