#507 Every mouse will do his duty
As I helped him put this newsletter together, I read in Fr Sam’s section about the next Bishop of Oxford and a consultation about what we want. I know what I want in a bishop: cheese after every service and a reform of the Church Representation Rules to give democratic rights to rodents.
I’ve done my duty. I don’t know if they’re interested in non-human opinions, though…
Fr Sam writes
You may be aware that the Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, is retiring this year. He has been our bishop for the last decade and has become a significant figure in the campaign for a more inclusive Church of England.
As he approaches retirement, the diocese is consulting about what we want from our next bishop. There is a consultation form where we can contribute our thoughts.
I would strongly encourage you to fill this form out. If you would like the next Bishop of Oxford to be in favour of women’s ministry and a fuller inclusion of LGBT+ people in the Church, please do mention those things. There will inevitably be a strong movement by conservative churches to make sure their voices are heard, so it is very important that all of us at inclusive churches like ours make sure we express our hopes and expectations.
The form only takes a few minutes to fill out and can be found here on the diocese’s website.
This Sunday: waiting for light
This Sunday is Candlemas, the fortieth day of Christmas, when the Church recalls how Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem and presented him to God. This is a day when candles are blessed and taken into our homes as a sign of Christ’s light shining there and everywhere.
If you are coming to the 9.30 mass at St Paul’s, do bring a (freestanding) candle to place on the altar to have blessed and then take it home with you.
Our first reading is from the prophet Malachi, and speaks of the Lord who will come to his temple. The gospel reading is the story of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, and their encounter in the Temple with Simeon and Anna.
Services this Sunday
| 8am | St Paul’s | BCP Mass | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| 9.30am | St Paul’s | All-Age Parish Mass | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| Organ prelude: Offertoire sur l’antienne: Lumen ad revelationem gentium – Guilmant Anthem: Fugue sur l’antienne: Lumen ad revelationem gentium – Guilmant | |||
| 10am | Woosehill Church | Morning Worship | Revd Cara Smart |
| 11am | St Nicholas’s | Community Eucharist | Revd Judi Hattaway |
Taizé service
Our next Taizé Service will be held on Sunday 8 February, 3.00pm in Emmbrook Village Hall. Everyone is very warmly invited to this peaceful, reflective service.
The service will be led by Susannah and Vernon. There will be tea, cake and fellowship afterwards. Do come along if you can.
Woosehill Magazine
The latest Woosehill church magazine can now be downloaded. There will be some hard copies at the back of church in St Paul’s from this Sunday.
This week’s calendar: the King and Martyr
On Friday 30 January, the Church of England observes the anniversary of the execution of King Charles I in 1649 after his defeat in the English Civil War. He was not a good king, but he was certainly a pious Christian and faced his execution with faith, integrity and courage.
This anniversary is an occasion to pray for our leaders, especially our King who bears his name, and to pray for peace in our land and throughout the earth.
