Seven Parishes in North Oxfordshire

There is a Zoom service each Sunday at 1000.   Email akemanbenefice@Gmail.com for joining instructions.

It is good that people can now go into churches and throughout the benefice the churches are open for private prayer and quiet time. There are notices both inside and outside the churches outlining protocols to follow. Please make sure to sanitise your hands on arrival and departure and try your best to avoid touching things.

Thank you for your co-operation.

The Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of England urge everyone to follow government advice,  in a national effort to limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Please continue to pray, to love, to care for the vulnerable, and build our communities, even while separated.

There will be no church weddings or baptisms at the current time – this will be reviewed on 2 December.  Funerals with a small number of people or at the graveside or in crematoria can still take place, but only in line with government advice.

Volunteer in your Community

If you would like to volunteer to help care for the vulnerable in your village by assisting with shopping, donating food, or volunteering to stay in touch by phone or online, please see the Pastoral Care and Support section below with a list of contacts and phone numbers.

Digital Resources / Prayer & Support at Home

There are a number of ways to stay in touch with the community during these difficult and challenging times, please below and attached some resources –

Benefice Zoom Service each Sunday at 10am.  Please email akemanbenefice@gmail.com for joining details.

Weekly Broadcasts – available each Sunday on the Church’s facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/thechurchofengland

The Diocese of Oxford will be live-streaming a service at 10am on Sunday 29 March:
https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19/livestream/

Time to Pray app – download for free here: https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/apps/time-to-pray

Daytime prayer and Night prayer service audio – prayers for each day to listen to online: https://soundcloud.com/user-600495787

Livestream services from Churches – AChurchNearYou.com lists hundreds of churches offering livestreams of services across the country: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/live-stream/?tags=Live_stream

Prayer for the Day – daily prayer from the Church of England via audio and text: https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayer/todays-prayer

Smart Speakers – daily prayer and #LiveLent available through your smart speaker: https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/our-smart-speaker-apps

Mental Health Reflections – 13 Daily Reflections to provide hope and support: https://www.churchofengland.org/faith-action/mental-health-resources/supporting-good-mental-health/supporting-good-mental-health

Loneliness and Isolation 5 Tips: https://www.churchofengland.org/faith-action/mental-health-resources/dealing-loneliness-and-isolation-five-top-tips

If you have information about a safeguarding situation where a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention call the emergency services on 999. Do not delay.

For all safeguarding concerns in the Akeman Benefice please immediately inform the Benefice Safeguarding Officer, Nicky Donne, at safeguarding.akeman@gmail.com or on 01869 350224.

Alternatively please contact the Akeman Benefice Rector, The Rev’d Gareth Miller, at akemanbenefice@gmail.com or 01869 350224 or the Oxford Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor at stuart.nimmo@oxford.anglican.org or 01865 208290.