| "Christian Aid Week, 2010 is from 9th - 15th May. The theme for this year is: 'POVERTY, LET'S END IT'. We are all asked to use the talents that God has given us, to make some money and then give it to Christian Aid to help provide clean water and adequate sanitation for the poorest communities. in the world.
In Longworth, gift envelopes will be distributed to all houses north of the A420 and we ask you to put a contribution in and return them to either Susan Houlton in Princes Row, or Joan Plumptre at Warren Cottage on the corner of Pinewoods Road. Thank you"
| | | | Eight of us from the Benefice attended the Men's Breakfast group held at Carswell Golf Club on Saturday morning, 6th February. It was a privilege to be part of a 60-strong gathering of Christian men at an event held in the Benefice of Cherbury and Gainfield.
After an excellent cooked breakfast, General Surgeon Peter Saunders from St Albans, the Director of the Care Not Killing Alliance and General Secretary of the 4,500 members of the Christian Medical Fellowship, carefully explained to us the implications of changing the present law on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. It soon became clear that any such change, making it easier to assist in suicides, was a long slippery slope that could end with questions being asked about the value of a person's life. If your life is to be valued in purely economic terms, then the present laws - the Suicide Act of 1961 and the Murder Act of 1965 - were all that stood between you and someone, not necessarily a close and loving relative, making the decision that your life was not worth preserving!
Peter Saunders highlighted a number of cases that had featured in the media recently. They had resulted in low penalties for those who had assisted a close relative to terminate their existence. However, he explained it was relatively simple to get painkilling medication exactly right to remove all pain and yet not render the patient to a life of drowsiness. He admitted that properly carried out palliative care would be more expensive than allowing or assisting someone to commit suicide, but, as a Christian doctor, he was against killing anyone. It had been demonstrated that the number of requests for euthanasia dropped when a proper palliative care regime was put in place. However, some medical practitioners were beginning to hint of a lack of NHS funds for chemotherapy being replaced by other funds which might be available for assisted euthanasia!
He claimed the media, led by the BBC, had taken notice of the "Lumley" effect and had recently started to use celebrities to champion the cause of assisted suicide. Namely, Joan Bakewell, John Humphries and Terry Pratchett.
Those who were disabled were beginning to worry about their future and anyone who was over 60, who had ceased to be productive in terms of work, would have cause to be concerned if the law changed. They would become the new immigrants in a society that was worried about the rising numbers of elderly people.
This was a thought-provoking message and it led to numerous questions.
The next Men's Breakfast event will be on 8th May when Prof John Lennox will talk on Faith & Reason. Contact Nick Hance on 01367 870618 for details.
| | | | It may surprise you to know that in spite of having to appeal for money to maintain their presence in the villages our seven churches also donate money in support of 19 charities. Some of the charities are very close to home - the schools at Longworth and Buckland are supported; some charities are quite local such as hospices in Oxford; some are national such as the Children's Society and the Royal British Legion and some are international as with the Joshua Orphan Care Trust in Malawi. Our children and youth groups also give to the Shalom Centre in Tanzania.
The Benefice Council wishes the local community to be aware of our churches' outreach through charitable donations and so have taken the following snapshot in time to let you know of the extent of this work:
Buckland School
Longworth School
Kingsmoor Day centre
Helen and Douglas House, Oxford
Emmaus Oxford
Oxford Historic Churches Trust
Home Farm Trust, Milton
The Royal British Legion
Christian Aid
Riding for the Disabled
The Children's Society
Wantage Overseas (for work in Botswana)
African Children's Fund
Food for the Hungry
Church Mission Society
Joshua Orphan Care Trust (Malawi)
Y-Care International
Shalom Centre, Tanzania
Diocese of Butere, Kenya
Several of the above are supported by more than one parish consequently there are 27 donations from the seven villages to these named 19 charities. | | | | Anyone holding a Vale of White Horse District Council Bus Pass can travel on the Community Bus free of charge.
The "RWMT" bus travels every Tuesday and Friday morning for Faringdon. It picks up passengers in Hinton (High Street at 9:30), Longworth (Bus stop at Bowbank 9:38); Buckland (Car park at 9:50) and Littleworth (Bus stop at 10:00) arriving in Faringdon at 10.05 am. Passengers can be taken to the Health Centre and picked up there by arrangement with the driver.
Monthly the 'bus goes on, after its Faringdon trip, to Wantage (2nd Tuesday) and to Witney (4th Tuesday) returning approximately 90 minutes later.
The return fares (for non-Pass holders) are £3 to Faringdon and £4 for Wantage/Witney. We can help anyone aged 60+ to get a Bus Pass and advise on other eligible categories.
The Minibus is available for private hire in its spare time - please ring Trish Adams. If anyone would like to drive the bus occasionally, please ring Nick Hance.
Contact details: Nick Hance on 01367 870618 or Trish Adams on 01367 870674 for further details. | | | | The church choir meets for rehearsal in St Mary-the-Virgin, Buckland on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm and provides worship support to the congregations at their Sunday services in Gainfield (Buckland, Littleworth and Pusey). All singers are warmly welcome! Please contact the Benefice Organist, Bernard Martin on 01865 862310 for further details.
| | | | Please note that every Wednesday the Tesco Free bus service starts in Longworth, passes though Hinton before coming to Buckland, it then goes to Gainfield and Standford In The Vale before proceeding to Abingdon to the Tesco Store.
For Buckland users it departs from The Lamb corner at 10:45 am, returning at 1:15 pm. | | | | Hot lunches and excellent company provided on the Third Wednesday of the month in the Memorial Hall, Buckland. Lunches are served from 12:15 to 2 pm. Anyone can come!
Two courses with coffee/tea for only £4 profits going to support the work for children in the Benefice. | | |
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