Dear friends,

When TV presenter and celebrity Carolyn Flack took her life in February 2020 the world was shocked and saddened. How could someone so young, beautiful and successful do such a thing? It seems that the pressure of an impending court case, the vitriol she received online, and her own inner pain had become too much for her.

Shortly before she died, she posted on social media, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

These simple words are a call to our society to become more caring and careful in the way we treat each other. There is too much unkindness about, especially on social media where unkind words are so common and can be so destructive.

Kindness can be defined as the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate. It is shown through our words and by our actions, an everyday sort of quality that is not spectacular but which when we encounter it can lift our spirits.

It is above all a Christian virtue that ought to be demonstrated in great measure within Christian communities. It is a fruit of the Spirit, an attitude that is formed within us when the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives (Galatians 5:22). It is an aspect of love for love is patient, love is kind (1Corinthians 13:4). Yet sadly, the Church is often no different from the world. Congregations can sometimes be anything but friendly, generous and considerate.

Why not try a little kindness this week? Do something spontaneously to help another person. Reach out in friendship to someone who seems lonely, if only by phone! Speak some kind words to those around you. You will feel better yourself, and you will be making the world a better place.

Yours with much love in Christ,

Jonathan.

Jonathan Widdess

Vicar of Cumnor

01865 863702

Here is this weeks news…. 

Morning Worship – Sundays at 10:30am in St Michael’s

We will be gathering in St Michael’s each Sunday in August at 10:30am for a service of Morning Worship. 

Please wear a face covering in church unless you have a valid reason for exemption.


If you’re wondering what it’s like to worship in church at the moment, Eve Lockett has written a helpful account of her experience of attending services back in church under the current restrictions. https://cumnor.org/eve-locketts-experience-of-gathering-for-worship-again-after-lockdown/ 

Sunday Service Online

On Sunday 2nd August there will be an online service led by Jonathan who will be preaching from Genesis 32. Jean and Colin are leading our prayers, and the St Michael’s choir sing “All People That On Earth Do Dwell”. It will be available on our website from 10:00am on Sunday at https://cumnor.org/sunday-service-online-2nd-august-2020/, or as usual you can listen in by phoning 01865 920993. A service sheet is available on the link above.  

On Sunday 9th August and 16th August our Online Service Team is taking a well earned break.

There will be live services in St Michael’s on both Sundays at 10:30am.

There is an online service available from a church in Oxford Diocese available here: https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19-2/livestream/ or you could try the Church of England weekly online service here: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online/weekly-online-services 

The Zoom Coffee Time is taking a break too!

Normal service will be resumed on Sunday 23rd August.

You can also listen to daily hymns, prayers and a reflection by telephone each day by ringing 0800 804 8044

After Service Coffee Time

After the service on Sunday 2nd August at the new time of 11:45am, we will again be gathering together on Zoom to catch up with one another.  If you’re not used to using zoom, there is a handy guide here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting 

Simply click on this link to join in: 

https://zoom.us/j/93248933388?pwd=WG9vekgvWk1hNXFsdlFFOUlXY0F0QT09

Meeting ID: 932 4893 3388

Password: coffee

PLEASE NOTE: On Sundays 9th and 16th August there will be no Zoom Coffee time.

Online Taizé Service for August

The team who run our monthly Taizé service  have released a new service for August. There are readings, prayers, Taizé worship and videos for contemplation. 

If you’ve never tried Taizé worship before, why not give it a go?

It’s available at https://cumnor.org/taize-service-online-august-2nd-2020/ 

Service at St Andrew’s

On Sunday August 16th at 4pm St Andrew’s will be holding a  short  ‘Midsummer Praise and Prayer’ service, possibly outside (weather permitting).   Space will be limited,  as we will be following safety guidelines on social distancing and other things.

Oxford Food Banks

The food banks need your help more than ever! The Community Emergency Foodbank in Cowley (which we have been supporting) is now delivering pre-packed food parcels. The Oxford Foodbank in Botley is still collecting surplus food from supermarkets and passing it on to other charities including CEF; it also has a box in the Co-op for food donations. The Botley Community Fridge (supported by a grant) is now doing a food parcel delivery service, currently from Seacourt Hall.  

Financial donations can be sent to: CEF: cheques to CEF, Rectory Farmhouse, 2 Church St, Bladon, OX20 1RS); or via www.justgiving.com/communityemergency-foodbank  –  Oxford Foodbankhttps://oxfordfoodbank.org/donate/

New Wine, Online

If you’ve ever wanted to go to New Wine but have been put off by camping then this year you can join in online! Great teaching, worship, prayer for old and young alike! Starts this Thursday 30th July till Monday 3rd… everything’s online and it’s all free!
Details at https://breaksout.new-wine.org/

Sasha’s Cycle for Shelter

Sasha Bond should be finishing his epic bike ride from Land’s End to John O Groats this weekend! He’s raising money for Shelter. If you would like to donate, please use the link to his Just Giving page below; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sashabond

Pathways – Diocesan Magazine

The latest edition of Pathways – the Magazine for the People of the Diocese of Oxford is now available online. This Summer 2020 edition is only available online.

https://www.oxford.anglican.org/pathways-pdf-version/      The Pathways team hope to be able to produce a printed magazine again in the Autumn.     

Zoom Weekly Prayer Meeting 

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14

Our weekly prayer meeting continues through August on Mondays at 10:30am. Join us as we gather together online to pray for one another, our families, friends and neighbours, our parish, our nation and the world.

For more details on how to connect, see this web page. 

Please Continue To Pray For…

  • Sarah and her family as Phil continues treatment for his cancer.
  • The St Andrew’s Rebuilding Project.
  • Those who have lost loved ones recently, and especially the family of Margaret Barber.
  • Those who have lost their jobs, and are facing an uncertain future.
  • All those struggling with loneliness and isolation.
  • All those who are ill or growing frailer.
  • Our CMS mission partner Bia.
  • Jonathan and family.