Seven Parishes in North Oxfordshire

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.

Thank you for your co-operation.

The Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of England urge everyone to follow the advice of the Prime Minister 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. Funerals at the graveside or in crematoria can still take place, but only in line with the Prime Minister’s 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 Christian community during these difficult and challenging times, please below and attached some resources –

Weekly Service 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

#LiveLent: Care for God’s Creation – the Church of England’s Lent campaign 2020. Weekly themes and daily audio content available via the app or daily emails. BBC radio programmes will also be using this app. Sign up for free: https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/living-out-our-faith/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-care-gods-creation

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

PASTORAL CARE AND SUPPORT

Our villages are all rallying round and finding imaginative and inventive ways of supporting one another, especially the frail and vulnerable, during the current health crisis.  Local schemes are being advertised elsewhere in village magazines, notice boards and on social media.

Furthermore, in each village two people have kindly offered to act as channels for communication between the village and the Benefice Ministry Team.  These people will be keeping their eyes and ears open for people who may be in need of support and will communicate information to the Ministry Team.   If you know of anyone who would value a call from one of the team please contact one of those listed below:

Bletchingdon:
Fiona Teddy 01869 350034 or f.teddy@btinternet.com
Andrea Cobern   01869 350739 or amfrohlich@gmail.com

Chesterton:
Jill Peck   01869 244256 or 07926 497300 or jill@chesterton1.plus.com
Marilyn Simpson   01869 243477 or marilyn_simpson@ymail.com

Hampton Gay:
Julian Bagwell   01865 378012 or julian@bagwellfamily.co.uk

Kirtlington:
Gemma Maybank 07765 104253 or gemmavmaybank@gmail.com
Gill Summerfield  01869 351537 or 07743 194636 or gilliansummerfield@gmail.com

Middleton Stoney:
Jennifer Hughes   01869 343471 or jennifer.hughes3@icloud.com
Simon Pettit   01869 343134 or 07502 393434   or sjpettit67@gmail.com

Wendlebury:
Julian Cordy   07788 568281 or julian.cordy@fieldsalessolutions.com
Jackie Hucker    07753 224880 or jackie.m.hucker@btinternet.com

Weston:
Louise Talbot 01869 351641 or 07946 640255   or ptandlou@aol.com
Peter Driver 01869 350569 or 07488 377157 or  peterwdriver@btinternet.com

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.