From Fr James Wilkinson, the Vicar

Harvest Thanksgiving

This year Sunday 5 October sees our annual thanksgiving for the harvest, our 9.15am Eucharist at St Laurence on that Sunday will have all the traditional hymns as well as harvest decorations. We will also have as our preacher the Archdeacon of Oxford Fr Martin Gorrick. Later in the morning following the 10.30am service in St John’s New Hinksey the harvest lunch will follow. This will be a wonderful curry cooked by the Singh family. If you would like to come to the lunch let us know.

In church we use many words for the service often called Holy Communion. Eucharist is one such word which comes from the Greek word for thanksgiving, we offer back to the Lord bread and wine in the spirit of thankfulness and the Lord returns to us his Son Jesus Christ.

During harvest time we traditionally think of the products from the land, but it is also a time to give thanks for all the things that sustain us.

A prayer for use at Harvest time,

Eternal God,
you crown the year with your goodness
and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season:
grant that we may use them to your glory,
for the relief of those in need and for our own well being;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

All Souls

This year we will be keeping our annual service to remember the departed on Saturday 1 November at 11.00am.  There will be a Eucharist in church followed by the blessing of graves in the churchyard and burial ground.  Please feel free to come to the service, or simply join us for the blessing of the graves at around 11.45am.  During the service you will have the opportunity for your departed loved ones to be remembered by name and to light a candle for them.  You may also like to decorate the graves you are associated with.

Advance notice of… Christmas!

This year our service of Carols and Readings will take place on Sunday 21st December 2014 at 4pm.  There will be carols and readings and poetry, all by candlelight.  We would like to involve you so if you would like to read, or sing something, or help with the decoration of the church please let us know.  Children will be invited to come dressed as a character from the Nativity – Mary, Joseph, shepherd, wise man, angel, sheep, donkey, Ox, or even the baby Jesus…