#225 : June 2011

NewsHomes for the homeless inBuckingham PAGE 3

News

Paddling from Witney toWestminster PAGE 5

Spotlight onPentecost PAGE 6

WinGod Lost and Found -Bishop John’s new book

PAGE 7

ArtsOxford and the making ofthe King James Bible

PAGE 15

God in the Life of

Dr Gwen Adshead - amender of minds

PAGE 20

Inside:Reporting from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire www.oxford.anglican.org June 2011 No. 225

The Archbishop’s visit in pictures - pages 10 and 11

Smiling in the rain

Archbishop Rowan with his chaplain, the Revd Anthony Ball. Pic: KT Bruce

theDoor JUNE 2011 2

Prayer & reflection

It’s important to remember thatthe Psalms aren’t just a series ofpersonal poems. They’re alsothe songs of a whole community.And it seems as if all of them

would be sung in worship in Jerusalem.That means that part of public worship inancient Israel was lament. It was theacknowledgement of darkness.

Some people think Psalm 88 mighthave been sung during a nightlongordeal for a new king or a new highpriest who had been locked up in a cavefor the night.

But the thing was that that personwould be speaking on behalf of thewhole community – as it were givingpermission to a whole community tolament or protest – so it’s not just howsomebody happened to be feeling on a

bad day. The really significant thingabout the psalms is this givingpermission: you can say these things toGod.

It’s a bleak Psalm. But do you personallyfind it helpful?

It is helpful in just that sense that it tellsme, however angry I feel or lost, I can saythat and God won’t go away. I think hereof some of the 17th century poems ofGeorge Herbert, great priest and mystic.Some of those are poems of

extraordinary anger, hitting out at God.Herbert shouts at God until he getshoarse. Then he stops and God’s stillthere, and he’s still there and somethingabout this psalm gives me that sense. Yousay everything you can possibly think of,and when you’ve run out of rude epithetsto call him, he’s still there and you’re stillthere.

We view the Psalms through the lens of ourown experience and history. I think of theJewish contexts in the Holocaust, saying the

Psalms in the camps. Does this resonate withyou?

Yes. I think that if people said a psalmlike this in the camps, then they meantwhat they said. Some of you might haveseen on TV a few years ago that drama setin Auschwitz with Anthony Sher playing aRabbi. It was the occasion when some ofthe Jews in the extermination camps putGod ‘on trial.’

This play recreates such a moment,when an elderly Rabbi is brought in. Formost of the play he says absolutelynothing. But just before the end, wheneverybody has run out of things to say, hegets up and he draws it all together in afinal statement of passionate indictmentof God. He’s absolutely furious.

It’s the one speech that bursts out. It’sincredibly moving and then he falls silentand then they’re all summoned to go outinto the gas chambers and as they go oneor two begin to murmur the Kaddish andone after another they cover their heads,as if with a skullcap, as they go into thechambers.

Now that’s one context for reading itand it’s one of those things that makesyou realise the absolute uselessness of anyarguments about God and suffering. Thefact is suffering absolutely destroys somepeople’s faith and other people live faithin the depths of it all. And I don’t knowhow you argue about it.

©Rowan Williams 2011You can listen to Dr Williams’s reflectionsin full on our website:www.oxford.anglican.org

Psalms of lament and angerThe Archbishop ofCanterbury, Dr RowanWilliams, reflected on Psalm88 at the ‘After Eight’ serviceat Christ Church Cathedral.

June prayer diary compiled by John Manley (The following is for guidance only, please feel free to adapt to local conditions and, if you wish, produce your own deanery prayer diaries.)

SSUUNNDDAAYY 55 OOxxffoorrdd DDeeaanneerryy:: Area Dean Anthony Ellis, lay chairPeter Bridges, secretaries Janet Warren & Anthony Rustell(assistant), treasurer Diana McMahon, LLM Bruce Armour;EPMMs Allan Doig, Gerald Hegarty, Elizabeth Hoare, CharlieKerr, Lister Tonge, Simon Vibert; chaplains to the Oxford DeafChurch Ben Whitaker & Roger Williams. The people, wardens,PCCs and support staff of the deanery. The AnglicanCommunion Environmental Network as it promotes localinitiatives to become better stewards of God’s creation. Thediocese of Nsukka (Niger, Nigeria).

SSUUNNDDAAYY 1122 ((PPeenntteeccoosstt)) The local government staff andcouncillors serving the people of the Deanery of Oxford. TheBishop of the Diocese, John Pritchard; the Area Bishops: ColinFletcher, Alan Wilson, Andrew Proud; Archdeacons: NormanRussell, Julian Hubbard, Karen Gorham; Honorary AssistantBishops.

TRINITY SUNDAY 19 Mursley Deanery: Area Dean LaurenceMeering, lay chair Bobbie Ward, secretary Geoff Ball, treasurerJeremy Hopkinson, ecumenical representative Siv Tunnicliffe. Thepeople, wardens, PCCs and support staff of the deanery. TheDiocese of Okinawa (Japan); those brave people struggling tomake the nuclear reactor at Fukushima safe; the people of NorthEast Japan rebuilding their lives after the tsunami earlier this year.

SSUUNNDDAAYY 2266 The CofE Guild of Vergers (Oxford diocesanbranch) chairman Tim Woods and staff. The Thames Valley Policeand the Fire and Rescue Services serving the people of thediocese. Local councilors and MP serving the people of thedeanery of Mursley. The Diocese of On the Niger, (Niger,Nigeria).

Pray to the Father through the Son inthe power of the Spirit for:

WWEEDD11 KKiiddlliinnggttoonn wwiitthh HHaammppttoonn PPooyyllee::clergy Anthony Ellis, Hilary Campbell,William Whyte, Gillian Straine; LLMLesley Heffer.

TTHHUU 22 OOssnneeyy ((NNoorrtthh HHiinnkksseeyy,, BBoottlleeyy,, SSttFFrriiddeesswwiiddee,, BBiinnsseeyy)):: clergy AnthonyRustell, Rodney Hill, Judith Brown,Martin Henig. North Hinksey (VC)School.

FFRRII 33 OOxxffoorrdd SStt AAllddaattee:: clergy CharlieCleverly, Alan Ramsey, Philip Atkinson,Christian Hofreiter, SokHan Yong; laypastor Anita Cleverly; student pastorsMichelle Tepper, Peter Tepper; worshippastor Martyn Layzell; youth pastor OliBenyon; children’s pastor Rachel Smith.

SSAATT 44 OOxxffoorrdd SStt AAnnddrreeww:: clergy AndrewWingfield Digby, Jonathan Mobey, PeterScamman; LLMs Donald Hay, DavidWright; youth worker Andy McConville.Oxford St Frideswide (VA) School.

MMOONN 66 OOxxffoorrdd SStt BBaarrnnaabbaass aanndd SStt PPaauull::clergy Jonathan Beswick, Miles Maylor,Dennis Mason; LLMs Maggie Ellis,Susan Gilllingham. Oxford St Barnabas(VA) School.

TTUUEE 77 OOxxffoorrdd SStt EEbbbbee wwiitthh HHoollyy TTrriinniittyyaanndd SStt PPeetteerr llee BBaaiilleeyy:: clergy VaughanRoberts, Suresh Menon, PeterWilkinson, David Reid, Philip Jack; LLMAl Horn.

WWEEDD 88 OOxxffoorrdd SStt GGiilleess aanndd SStt PPhhiilliippaanndd SStt JJaammeess wwiitthh SStt MMaarrggaarreett:: clergyAndrew Bunch, Sally Welch, Nicholas

Bradbury, Bernard Silverman; LLMsPaula Clifford, David Longrigg. OxfordSS Philip & James (VA) School.

THU 9 OOxxffoorrdd SStt MMaarryy MMaaggddaalleenn:: clergyPeter Groves.

FFRRII 1100 OOxxffoorrdd SStt MMaarryy tthhee VViirrggiinn wwiitthh SSttCCrroossss wwiitthh SStt PPeetteerr iinn tthhee EEaasstt:: clergyBrian Mountford, Charlotte Bannister-Parker, Jonathan Herapath.

SSAATT 1111 OOxxffoorrdd SStt MMaatttthheeww:: clergy SteveHellyer, Tim Bradshaw, Jane Sherwood,Jon Williams, Mike Rayner; LLM JaneUsher; youth minister Yvonne Morris.Oxford St Ebbe’s (VA) School.

MMOONN 1133 OOxxffoorrdd SStt MMiicchhaaeell aanndd SSttMMaarrttiinn aanndd AAllll SSaaiinnttss:: clergy Bob Wilkes,Gregory Platten.

TTUUEE 1144 OOxxffoorrdd SStt TThhoommaass tthhee MMaarrttyyrr::clergy Jonathan Baker (Bishop ofEbbsfleet – elect).

WWEEDD 1155 SSoouutthh wwiitthh NNeeww HHiinnkksseeyy:: clergyJames Wilkinson, Balwant Singh. OxfordNew Hinksey (VC) School.

TTHHUU 1166 SSuummmmeerrttoowwnn:: The leaders andcongregation at Summertown.

FFRRII 1177 WWoollvveerrccoottee aanndd WWyytthhaamm:: clergyMark Butchers, Jo Coney, Viv Bridges;LLM Tony Lemon; children’s worker AnneBarker.

SSAATT 1188 CChheeddddiinnggttoonn wwiitthh MMeennttmmoorree::clergy Derek Witchell, Robert Wright.

MMOONN 2200 IIvviinngghhooee wwiitthh PPiittssttoonnee aannddSSllaappttoonn aanndd MMaarrsswwoorrtthh:: clergy TraceyDoyle, Carole Peters; LLMs Barbara deButts and Sandra Green. Marsworth

(VA) School.

TTUUEE 2211 NNeewwttoonn LLoonnggvviillllee,, MMuurrsslleeyy,,SSwwaannbboouurrnnee,, LLiittttllee HHoorrwwoooodd aannddDDrraayyttoonn PPaarrssllooww:: clergy LaurenceMeering, John Saunders, Jackie Brown;LLM Judith Saunders. Newton Longville(VC) Mursley (VC) and Swanbourne(VA) Schools.

WWEEDD 2222 SStteewwkklleeyy wwiitthh SSoouullbbuurryy:: clergyPeter Lymbery. Stewkley St Michael’s(VC) School.

TTHHUU 2233 TThhee BBrriicckkhhiillllss aanndd SSttookkeeHHaammmmoonndd:: clergy John Waller; LLMJeremy Hopkinson. Bow Brickhill (VA),High Ash (VC) Schools.

FFRRII 2244 WWiinngg wwiitthh GGrroovvee:: clergy DerekWitchell, Siv Tunnicliffe.

SAT 25 WWiinnggrraavvee wwiitthh RRoowwsshhaamm,, AAssttoonnAAbbbboottttss aanndd CCuubblliinnggttoonn:: clergy DerekWitchell, Siv Tunnicliffe. Wingrave (VC)School.

MMOONN 2277 MMiissssiioonn iinn WWoorrkk aanndd EEccoonnoommiiccLLiiffee:: chaplains Susan van Beveren,Stephen Norrish and Linda Hiller.

TTUUEE 2288 HHoossppiittaall CChhaappllaaiinnss in Oxfordand Reading areas plus Almhouses.

WWEEDD 2299 HHoossppiittaall CChhaappllaaiinnss inAbingdon, Banbury, Broadmoor,Buckingham, Milton Keynes, Nettlebedand Windsor areas.

TTHHUU 3300 TThheeoollooggiiccaall IInnssttiittuuttiioonnss:: the staff& students of the Culham Institute; theOxford Centre for Mission Studies andPusey House.

SundaysDivided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and atongue rested on each of them. All of them filled with theHoly Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as theSpirit gave them ability. (Acts 2:3,4 NRSV)

‘Then he stops and God’s

still there, and he’s still

there and something about

this psalm gives me that

sense.’

During the ‘After Eight’ service, candles were lit. Pic KT Bruce

3

NNeeww YYeeaarr HHoonnoouurrssCONGRATULATIONS to thosefrom the Diocese who wereincluded in the New YearsHonours list.Among them was MarySaunders, who was awarded theMBE. Until her retirement in July2009 was Secretary to theDiocesan Advisory Committee(DAC) and the Diocesan PastoralCommittee (DPC), roles that she

had held for 20 years. John Tyzack, chairman of the

governors of Enborne CofEPrimary School and WillowPrimary School, Newbury,Berkshire, was also awarded theMBE for services to education.Nora Schneider, 94, a member ofSt Nicolas Church, Newbury,was awarded the MBE forservices to the community. TheDean of Windsor, the Rt RevdDavid Conner, who served asBishop to the Forces from 2001to 2009, was awarded theKCVO.

BBrreewwiinngg uupp CHURCHES and schoolsacross theDiocese areurged to takepart in thisyear’s Big Brew.For moreinformation see

wwww.traidcraft.co.uk. If you areholding a Big Brew event, pleasesend details and photographs to

[email protected].

CChhrriissttmmaass ssuurrvveeyyWe want your views on ourChristmas publications.Open Door is an A4 newsletteraimed at families on the fringesof church life. Stable Door wasan extra Door, published justbefore Christmas and aimed atoccasional churchgoers. TheChrismas Ingredients campaignaimed to connect people withthe Christian festival through aseasonal treat. To give us your views [email protected] or call 01865208225.

NewstheDoor JUNE 2011

Vows broadcastAs part of the build up to theroyal wedding ITV’s Daybreakprogramme arranged a liverenewal of wedding vows for100 people (50 couples) in theGreat Hall at Blenheim Palace. Canon Adrian Daffern, TeamRector of the Blenheim Benefice,officiated at the ceremony. Adriansaid: “I was impressed by theseriousness with which theprogramme team approached it– this was no mere stunt, but areal opportunity to celebratemarriage, and provide a uniquecontext for the couples involvedto renew the promises they hadmade. The vows can be viewedat the programmes website:http://www.itv.com/daybreak

It’s showtimeTHE ecumenical WitneyInterchurch Singers choir ishunting for a new MusicalDirector. The choir’s founder andcurrent director Paul Herrington,will be stepping down after the2011 summer concert Snakesand Ladders by Roger Jones. The show traces the story of sinand redemption through the biblefrom Adam and Eve to theresurrection. It will take place on18 and 19 June at High StreetMethodist Church, Witney. For moresee www.witneyinterchurchsingers.org.uk

New director ANNE Davey has beenannounced asthe newDirector ofEducation forthe OxfordDiocese. Anne will takeover from LeslieStephen, who retires thissummer. She is currently DeputyDirector of Education at theDiocese of Salisbury.

Love OxfordAS the Door went to presschurches across Oxford weregearing up for the annual ecumenical Love Oxford event. Hundreds of people wereexpected to flock to South Parksover the weekend of Saturday 21and Sunday 22 May. This year isthe sixth time the event, whichaims to pray for the peace of thecity of Oxford, has taken place. The Saturday included an all agefun day and a talk by Prof JohnLennox in the evening, followedby the main open air service onSunday and an evening celebration and healing service inthe evening. See www.loveoxford.org.uk/ for more.

HOMELESS families are beinghoused and given help to turntheir lives around thanks tovolunteers from churches inBuckingham.The scheme began when acongregation member at St Peterand St Paul’s, Olney offered£250,000 to buy two properties. The Revd Claire Wood, rector,said: “There was no paperwork,just a promise. Another manthen offered professionalhousing advice, and yet anotherexpert was consulted, the CEO ofa Christian housing project whoagreed to provide matchfunding, which allowed thepurchase of two more homes.”From there Claire contacted thetown council, who backed thescheme. Aylesbury Vale Councilagreed to furnish the houses,helped with money to buyanother two properties and helpwith the legal work. Since thenStephen Townsend has beenappointed manager of the sixhouses. He has helped recruitvolunteers from across the town’schurches. Those volunteers help residentswith everything from budgetingand debt management throughto cooking and parenting.Stephen said: “It’s not aboutputting a roof over people’sheads, although that’s somethingwe do. We are much moreinterested in supporting thefamilies to gain the skills theyneed to live in the community.They may have become homelessfor a variety of reasons. “They may not be good atbudgeting or may have family orrelationship issues. Some of themmay not have cooking skills andmay be having debt problemsbecause they are buying readymeals from Waitrose. Whateverneeds they have we can matchthe right volunteer to them. “One thing we are very keen to

do is to get tenants involved inthe community and that’s beenvery successful.” The tenants arereferred by social services inAylesbury, or other agencies andstay in the houses for up to twoyears. When they move on tonew, more permanent homes,support is still there for themfrom the volunteers if they wantit. Since the first tenants movedin March last year, one family hasalready moved on and another isdue to move in May. “The important thing is findingvolunteers, especially throughthe churches and I’ve beenamazed by the number of peoplewho have come forward,” saidStephen. Some tenants have even joinedchurches after receiving supportfrom the Christian volunteers.“We are not setting out tellingtenants they must becomeChristians but if they show aninterest they are welcome tocome along.”One 23-year-old single father,who asked not to be named, saidhe had been thrown out of hisdad’s house because he was a ‘bitof a trouble maker’. He wasmade homeless and ended up ina hostel in Aylesbury, beforebeing placed in one of thehouses last June. “The support people here havebeen really good. I had nogardening equipment and theyorganised for me to have a lawnmower and strimmer to do thegarden, he said. He has also beenhelped with budgeting and withleaflets for the painting anddecorating business he is settingup.He added: “Having this houseand the support of people herehas helped me get back on myfeet really and made me strongerto survive on my own in thefuture. It’s given me themotivation to do the things Iwant to do.”

IN BRIEFHomes for the homeless

MORE than 100 people attended the launch of the diocesan Olympicsproject last month. The event, held at the Said Business School inOxford, was an opportunity for people to find out how churches canuse the Olympics and Paralympics Games to engage with the localcommunity.The guest of honour at the event was Sir Roger Bannister, who spokeabout the qualities of true sportsmanship, and said that he applaudedthe involvement of the Church.The diocese has its own Olympics chaplain, the Revd Janet Binns, anda planning group drawing together ideas for Olympics relatedactivities. The group is working closely with ‘More than Gold’, anecumenical agency involved in Christian mission at successiveOlympics and Paralympics Games since 1996.The ‘Challenge 2012’ planning group has produced leaflets, posters,and a DVD (adapted from a More than Gold resource), all of whichare designed to help people understand the possibilities offered by theGames and begin to make plans. There is also a brand new website,www.racebeforeus.org.uk. “Our three themes are community, hospitality and service,” said Janet.“There are lots of resources on offer through our website and fromMore than Gold. But it’s local churches who will know what will workbest in their community.”

New bishop takes up his staff

Churches urged to get sporty

The Rt Revd Andrew Proud is installed as Bishop ofReading in a ceremony at Reading Minster. pic: KT Bruce

By Jo Duckles

A JUBILEE fund at St Clement’sChurch, Oxford, set up as aresponse to the growingproblem of personal debt in theUK turns 20 this year.The fund aims to encourage usto consider how we can best useour financial resources enablesbetter off members of thecongregation to help those infinancial need. It has acted asbroker between members of thecongregation enabling loans tobe set up for, for example, forthe deposit for a house and theinstallation of central heating.Fund managers are available foranyone wanting furtherinformation on a biblical

perspective on handling money,budgeting or debt. A moneyinformation sheet is available

for those concerned about theirfinances and for those seekingto be good stewards of whatthey have. The churchencourages anyone concernedabout their finances to seekhelp and has information aboutfree helplines that are available. Since early 2010 St Clementshas also been running the free“CAP Money” course fromChristians Against Poverty whichteaches a simple method ofbudgeting. The next courses arein Oxford on Thursday 9 Juneor in Wheatley on Tuesday 28June.

A SPECIAL Evensong in GreatHaseley, sung by the choir ofMagdalen College will celebrateJohn Harding, the parish’sformer rector and one of the 47scholars who translated the KingJames Bible 400 years ago. While rector of the parish, Johnwas Regius Professor of Hebrewat the University of Oxford. In1607 he took charge of the FirstOxford Company of translators,with the task of translating fromIsaiah to the end of the Old

Testament. He was alsopresident of Magdalen Collegefrom 1608 until his death in1610. He married Isabel Clarke,a widow from Great Haseley in1598. They had seven children,one of whom later becamefamous as the translator of thealchemist Paracelsus. The Evensong takes place onJune 26th, the nearest to thechurches patronal festival, StPeter’s Day on June 29, at3.30pm.

Jubilee fund’s 20th birthday

Great Haseley’s King James link

ONLINE

@See www.capmoney.org or call01865 246674 for more

Summertime provides a wonderfulopportunity for catching up with reading. Ifyou are going away the travelling time byrail or plane offers plenty of time to sit backand relax with a book. If you are staying athome, time in the garden can be well spentreading. Many people like to get hooked ona thriller or romantic novel but have youthought of using the time wisely with a Christian book?

Whilst many people see summertime reading as possibly gettinglost in a novel at the airport,on the plane and then the beach, thereare all sorts of other books to get into, the time awayoffering the chance to study a little deeper, maybereflect a little more without the distractions of normalday to day living.Not all Christian books are study books and yourChristian bookshop probably has a selection of fictionwith a Christian theme running through it. TheHighland Press has some great Summer Fiction onoffer for you to read at home or take on holiday withyou.It's never to young to start reading and Christianbookshops will have a good selection for children andteenagers to choose from, covering everything froman introduction to the Bible to various life skills. The summer is also a good time to look at the newacademic year that starts in September, as it does formany church organisations meeting up again aftertheir summer break. Study and preparation at this timecan lead to a more relaxed start to the new year.In a society in which there are more people over 50than ever before many of us could do with a little helpon how we see old age. There's talk of us not onlyworking for longer but living more fulfilling lives whenwe retire. Help is at hand with a great new book from

the Canterbury Press looking at 'The Contented Life'. There is a tremendous selection available from your local Christianbookshop or direct by mail by phone or website. Christianbookshops do a wonderful job of outreach keeping all sorts ofbooks available for those who are searching and maybe on the firststeps towards a real faith, remember them when you are looking foryour post cards or gifts as your custom helps to keep them aliveand in business.Some readers may also be interested in spending the time, puttingtheir own thoughts or memories to paper and start on creating awork of their own. It is often said that we all have a book within usyet very few of us search it out. You can prepare it yourself on yourPC and get it printed in a local digital print shop or its possible tocall on the help of one of this country's self publishing companies. Ifyou are thinking of self publishing carefully check out the costs inadvance and remember that not all books make a profit.

A tsunami could hit Iona!Climate change is happening; while this may not

snraw ekauqetnalP ,dnaltocS rof swen dab hcus ebthose of ecological bent how climate awareness could either bring better politics or an opening for scheming wannabe dictators. Umoya Lister (a pen name out of Africa) imag-ines a sudden, worldwide famine triggered by an earthquake and its ensuing air pollution that circles the globe. Hunger wars soon follow: published in 2011 but written in 2009, the book has proven re-markably prescient so far (food prices, earthquakes,

Readers have an authentic ‘whiff’ of the processes -

rial get togethers where things can get physical…) ,haoN :siseneG llacer swobniar nekorb s’retsiL

Pharaoh stockpiling cereals. He takes some risks

itself, portrayed as a creature who obeys God and speaks to mankind. Second, nation states – hard for

-ers. Third, an academic couple features, trying to juggle two nationalities, two careers, two children and one faith. The villain is a charmer, who is a convinced fol-lower of folk beliefs. Dreaming of creating a world-class empire in Southern Africa, his moral error is interesting: his political campaign correctly blames rich nations for the pollution and notes that most problems hit already-poor regions at risk of deser-

entitled to ignore any duty to reduce emissions. Many novels work through emotion and social observation. This one is cerebral and strategy-driven: Prospective readers could think in terms of John Buchan’s Prester John plus some Hofstadter (Gödel, Escher, Bach) and moral philosophy that could grace Dostoesky or Milton. The spiritual sub-text is the abiding fruit of 19th-century missions to Africa versus the West’s loss of moral compass.

Summer FictionThe novel Planetquake shows how democracy and dictator-ship both struggle in the face of a global food shortage. Only those with spiritual wisdom (OK, plus some smarts) can ac-tion the right response.

978-1897913-840

p/b 512pp £9.99

978-1897913-864

p/b pp320 £6.99

A sabbatical that rocks (the boat?). Daydream Believer has

.straeh larotsap ot skaeps tahtInstead of studiously compos-

on Timothy or visiting your so successful pastor in the USA, this minister escapes from his dog collar by touring with an amateur band…

highlandbks.com

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theDoor JUNE 2011 4

theDoor JUNE 2011

News5

Witney to WestminsterNew Bishop announcedTHE Revd Jonathan Baker is to beconsecrated as the new Bishop ofEbbsfleet – the bishop who looks afterclergy and parishes opposed to womenpriests.

Fr Jonathan, who is Principal of PuseyHouse in Oxford, succeeds Bishop AndrewBurnham in his new role. He will work withdiocesan bishops to ensure that ‘theintegrity of differing beliefs and positionsconcerning the ordination of women to thepriesthood should be mutually recognisedand respected’. He said: “I look forwardimmensely to serving as Bishop ofEbbsfleet and to leading the clergy and laypeople in my care to have confidence intheir faith and in proclaiming the Gospel toall.”

Throwing open the doorsMORE than 100 churches offered everythingfrom cream teas to guided tours, extensiveexhibitions and concerts during the CotswoldChurches Festival.

Events from a singing workshop at St Mary,North Leigh, Oxfordshire and a talk by theDirector of the National Portrait Gallery at AllSaints Faringdon were part of the festival lastmonth. Meanwhile St Mary the Virgin inCropredy celebrated the life of the little knownSt Fremund. The idea for the festival originatedin the Diocese of Oxford, but the event hasincluded churches from Gloucester, Coventryand Worcester. Pictures from the festival are atwww.cotswoldchurchesfestival.org.

All aboard for Moment on Mondays

The intrepid paddlers arrive safe and dry in London. Pic: Adventure Plus

IN BRIEF

THE blast of an air horn from the Mayorof Witney marked the start of a six-daycanoeing journey along the Thames toWestminster.

The trip was to raise funds forAdventure Plus, which turns 21 this year,and works with young people to provideoutdoor activities in a positive, Christianenvironment. It is hoped the event willhave raised funds for an Adventure Basewhere young people can experienceclimbing walls, ropes courses, watersports, bushcraft and archery, amongother adventure sports. The charitycurrently works from rented premises inWitney.

Jon Cox, Executive Director, said: “Abig thanks to everyone involved,especially our 30 paddlers, aged 12 toover 60, who kept smiling and paddlingdespite aching arms, cramped paddlingpositions and consistent head winds. Itwas a real privilege to be part of the team.Thanks also to our land support crewwho tracked us down the river, meetingus at strategic points with collectionbuckets, ice creams and chocolate.”

@For more seewww.adventureplus.org.uk. To donatevisit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JonCox

ONLINE

A CHURCH has teamed up with Age UKto provide transport and the chance tojoin in worship and fellowship in northBuckinghamshire.

The idea came from Rena Partridge, aLicensed Lay Minister at St Peter and StPaul’s Church, Olney, who planned it as away to reach out to older people,especially those with mobility issues, inher community. Now the monthlyMoment on Monday event has beenrunning for four months and is a hugesuccess.

Rector, the Revd Claire Wood, said:“The Age UK mini-bus picks the peopleup just before 11am each month. Wehave a time of worship followed byfellowship and they are taken home justafter 1pm. “It’s amazing as some of them

have worshipped here for years, but findit hard to get here now. Some of themused to be church wardens here and it’simportant that they are worshipping as abody again.”

Rena said: “I got talking to the driver ofthe bus and arranged for her to collectthe people. Most of them are formerchurch members who have stoppedcoming.

“It’s not a big group of people, but agood number of regular church goershave been supporting it too.

“There’s a real sense of welcome andthe people have been so delighted tocome back to church. The last meetingwas lovely. Claire led a beautifulcommunion service and we got themtalking about their memories.”

Pic: Claire Wood

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theDoor JUNE 20116

Pentecost

Spotlight on...

Did you know that the word epiousiosin the Lord’s Prayer, which weoften translate ‘daily’ only appears

twice in the whole of the Greek language,and that’s in Matthew’s and Luke’sGospels? Or that early Christiansinterpreted ‘your kingdom come’differently when they used the Lord’sPrayer? There was a debate over whetherJesus was referring to something earthlyand imminent, or eternal and moretranscendent.

These are some of the themesincluded in five discipleship coursesdevised by The Revd Teresa Morganfrom St Mary and Nicholas, Littlemore,Oxford. The courses will be available todownload after Pentecost (Sunday 12June).

Teresa says she has been running thecourses for a few years in Littlemore,and will be putting them on thediocesan website to link in with our Yearof Making Disciples. They were inspiredby the American Episcopal Church’stradition of having a season ofPentecost, when churches focus ongrowing as disciples.

The first course is based on the Lord’sPrayer and is for relatively newChristians. It uses early commentatorsincluding Tertullian from the secondcentury, Origen from the third century,Gregory of Nyssa and Augustine fromthe fourth and St John Cassian from thefifth, along with later spiritual writersThomas Aquinas and Teresa of Avila.

“I’m introducing people tocommentators they are less likely tocome across by themselves, and helpingthem to realise that a familiar part of theBible may have more than oneinterpretation. Commentators aredivided particularly on the issue of thekingdom, but also on what Jesus meantby forgiveness,” says Teresa.

John Cassian’s Eight Passions form thebasis of the next course; TacklingUnhelpful Passions. “It’s looking at things

in us that block the spirit living throughus. The word ‘sin’ has such badconnotations but John Cassian’s eightpassions are very similar to the sevendeadly sins.”

Ways of Believing is the next course. Itfocuses on the Greek word pistis in theNew Testament, which we translate as‘faith’ or ‘belief’, but which also means‘faithfulness’ and ‘trust’ with overtonesof obedience. “Faith in the NewTestament isn’t about believing siximpossible things before breakfast,” saysTeresa. “It’s about trusting God, havingconfidence in God, obeying and beingfaithful to a faithful God as well asbelieving certain things about God andChrist. It can be the opposite of fear,doubt or scepticism.”

There are then two courses for moremature Christians – one based on Jesus’scommand to the disciples apostello “Isend you out.” This looks at how everyChristian can minister in everday life, bylistening to people, being prophetic andfostering forgiveness and reconciliation.

The next is Speaking of Faith, which

examines how we communicate ourfaith. “It’s about being able to say ‘I’m aChristian and I believe X’ and beingable to explain what that means and putit across in a way which willcommunicate with people who don’tknow much about Christianity.” Thecourse looks at speeches by the ApostlesPeter and Paul, and more modernexamples including Vincent Donovan’sMaasai Creed – an adaptation of theNicene Creed for the Maasai of Kenyaand Tanzania, and some Water BuffaloThelology – Asian Christian theology inthe context of Thai Buddhism.

@ONLINEThe courses will be available todownload fromwww.oxford.anglican.org/living-faith-for-the-future/making-disciples/from Pentecost Sunday (12 June).

Delve deeper with five new courses

Preparing for the Wave of PrayerThe Mothers’ Union Wave of Prayer will sweepthrough the Diocese of Oxford duringPentecost (from Sunday, 12 June) During thattime we are encouraged to pray for MUOxford’s link dioceses. In those dioceses MUmembership is seen as a privilege and isincreasing and candidates are examinedclosely on their Christian faith, lifestyle, andcommitment to the MU’s aims.

Some common objectives in our MU linksare developing small-scale businesses,HIV/AIDS/sexual health awareness and basicchildcare and health and hygiene training. Theytend to be poorer countries where there areconstraints around transport, communicationand finances. Here is a round-up of what’shappening in those dioceses:DDeemmooccrraattiicc RReeppbblliicc ooff CCoonnggoo::MU’s offices are in Uganda. It works on thechurch-led National Reconciliation programme(ENP) and helps the victims of violent sexualassaults including rapes. Diioocceesseess:: ARU’s focus is preaching, Eucharistic servingand extending the MU’s Literacy training. BOGA is building a training centre for widowsand orphans.KISANGANI concentrates on evangelising and

health and nutritionprogrammes for theelderly andHIV/AIDS/STI victimsin hospitals. They alsoface entrenchedtribalism.NNIIGGEERRIIAA:: Growth continues butinflation is anadditional concern.OKIGWE NORTHtrains new memberson family life. Theyhold annual Studentand Girls’ GuildRallies.OKIGWE SOUTHanchors its evangelismand help to thedestitute on a shared Christian life throughBible study and worship.ORLU celebrated 25 years of spiritual andpractical help for others with extended trainingbuildings and church visiting. They aredeveloping local projects to fund businessloans, sponsor skills training and providescholarships for secondary education. They

want to develop their financial managementskills.OWERRI trains clergy wives in two trainingcentres and women in small-scale craft work.They give small start-up businesses loans,support indigent rural women and sponsorchildren through school. Their Youth Ministryincludes a vacation programme and the MarySumner School.

MU members join in a parade for InternationalWomen’s Day in Bunia in the Boga Diocese. Judy Rous

Maasai tribe members visited the diocese last year. The Maasai Creed is oneof the elements included in the Speaking of Faith course. Pic: KT Bruce

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FeaturetheDoor JUNE 2011

God: Lost and Found

7

She was eighteen months oldand raced around with a lookof delighted concentration onher face, and then fell over.Then came the tears, but it was

soon over. It’s amazing what a cuddlecan do to put the world right. Toddlersgive us a picture, of what we are all likeboth when times are glorious and whentimes are hard. So it’s the tragic facts oflife that often damage our awareness ofGod’s presence

It happens with illness. Evensophisticated believers can lose theirbalance when faced with serious illhealth. Depression, in particular, canstrip our sense of self-worth as we slideinto the long velvet darkness known byso many people. A friend said it was likethis when depression overwhelmed her:“When the universe is shuttered andsilent, when the light appears to havebeen extinguished and one finds oneselftrapped in darkness and emptiness, theworst fears – real and imagined –emerge.

“The heart gives up its (unknown)secrets – secret rage, secret jealousiesand envies, secret fear, self hatred – andmixed in are feelings of nothingness,meaninglessness and worthlessness. Do Imatter? Do I count? Does anyone care?The questions seem only to reverberate,unheard. The lack of response isdeafening. The noise of one’s paindrowns out any answer or holding thatmight be offered. Rigid defendednessdoesn’t allow relaxing into the hold ofGod.”

For a believer, the lack of responsefrom God is the hardest cut. But it’s anexperience that has been shared beforewe ever get there. As that friend went onto say, ‘Where can one go in derelictionexcept to the foot of the cross?” Jesusfound that the silence of heaven didn’tstop him calling out into the desertedspace, putting the question for allhumankind, “Why?” Why have youforsaken me at my lowest point?

Stress can have a similar, if shorter andless dramatic, effect. I remember that inmy own brush with nervous exhaustion Ino longer had any awareness of God justwhen I needed him, and had to rely(gladly) on the prayers and love ofothers, who mediated God’s care to me.I had come to the end of my resources,expending every ounce of personalenergy on a particular project until mybattery was completely flat and my bodysent out alarm signals in all directions. Ineeded the wise ministrations of aChristian doctor to explain what washappening and to get me to build up

the reservoir of energy with largequantities of rest, but I found italarming not to have any live contactwith my spiritual HQ. All the lines weredead.

These personal facts of life can send abeliever in one of two directions. Theycan take us further into the securereality of God or they can drive us away.No one can tell which way they or otherswill respond when ill chance comesknocking. However, for those who dareto trust that God is still good, some partof the mental furniture may have tomove. After personal loss and tragedy Ihave often heard people say somevariation on the words, “There musthave been a reason,” or, “God’s ways arenot our ways.” But this won’t do. Wecan’t retreat in to religiousobscurantism. We need someunderstanding of God and the worldthat allows for disaster withoutcrumbling into blind fatalism.

There is a commentary over the startof the film Love, Actually in which thecommentator says: “Whenever I getgloomy about the state of the world, Ithink about the arrivals gate atHeathrow airport... love is everywhere…Fathers and sons, mothers anddaughters, husbands and wives,boyfriends and girlfriends, old friends.”

Yes – and Christians try to encourageour culture to believe that love is indeedthe irreducible minimum. Nevertheless,the picture of a plane set against a clearblue sky, just about to fly into one of theWorld Trade Center towers, still chillsthe soul.

And yet the human spirit often seemsto rise still higher than these terriblesituations and tragic events. I amimmeasurably moved by the story of YoslRakover, one of the last survivors of theWarsaw ghetto in the Holocaust.Rakover realised that he would die andin his final hours wrote: “I have followed

Him, even when He pushed me away. Ihave obeyed His commandments, evenwhen He scourged me for it. I haveloved Him, I have been in love withHim and remained so, even when Hemade me lower than the dust,tormented me to death, abandoned meto shame and mockery . . . But I dieexactly as I have lived, an unshakeablebeliever in You.”

How can you respond to suchextraordinary faith? It echoes exactly thewords of Job, “Though he kill me, yet Iwill trust in him” (Job13.15). The atheistmust despair of such apparentlyirrational trust.

One further type of experience needsmentioning. People can find their trustin God badly eroded by communaldisappointment. A church community –large, vibrant, well led, and full of faith –was hit by personal tragedies thataffected everybody. First a little boy wastaken seriously ill. The church prayedand fasted; there were half-nights ofprayer; there were great statements offaith and prophecies that the little boywould be healed. The little boy died.Not very long afterwards the assistant

vicar’s husband became seriously ill withcancer.

They had young children and he waswell known and much loved in thechurch. Again the faithful resources ofthe church were turned on but the mandied.

The result of these tragic facts of life,whether personal, global or communal,is that many people are thrown intospiritual confusion.

Searching for intellectual answers isbeyond us in such situations. It’s not atime when we can cope with the idea ofa God who, in the act of creation – as inevery act of creativity from pottery tochildbirth – has to limit himself in orderto bring into being the thing created.

When God creates a universe it worksaccording to these principles, not someother hypothetical ones. Worthwhileexistence requires genuine freedom notjust for humans but also for the physicalenvironment in which, and out of which,they have evolved. But following thatargument through makes the brainache, and at the time of distresseverything else is aching quitesufficiently without looking for any morebewilderment.

What Paul says of the whole body ofChrist also applies to the individualChristian who follows him. “If onemember suffers, all suffer together withit” (1 Cor. 12.26). If one part of us hurts,so do the other parts. We may wish itcould be otherwise and that the tragicfacts of life would call out our mostrobust faith and our most vividawareness of God, but the truth is thatsuch heroics might often be quite short-lived or shallow.

We usually have to suffer the weight ofthe problem before God can begin toinfiltrate our new mental and emotionallandscape. We usually have to besubmerged before we can re-emergewith him again. After all, that was theroute Jesus himself had to take all alone,one desperate weekend in Jerusalem.

The Rt Revd John Pritchard is Bishop of Oxford.Above is an edited extract from God Lost and Found.SPCK. ISBN 978–0–281–06352–9

John Pritchard offers aperspective on surviving andgrowing through some oflife’s darkest times.

‘Where can one go in

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‘We usually have to be

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re-merge with him again.’

Win: God Lost and FoundTHE Door has three copies of Bishop John’s new book,God Lost and Found to give away in this month’s prizedraw.

The book addresses how, if you dig below thesurface, you are likely to discover that many of us whoattend church regularly feel we have lost touch with aliving experience of God. Indeed, we may find we nolonger believe in God at all. Bishop John draws on hisown experiences to shed light on what we may be goingthrough, then offers starting points for us to re-imaginea more realistic faith in God.

To stand a chance of winning simply send your nameand address to God Lost and Found draw, the Door,Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford, OX20NB. The closing date for entries is Friday June 10.

theDoor JUNE 20118

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FeaturetheDoor JUNE 2011 9

Growing as disciples

These courses take place in arange of venues around theDiocese, mainly on weekdayevenings but sometimes onSaturdays. They cover topics

such as the Bible, prayer, mission andevangelism, pastoral care, thinkingtheologically, leading worship andpreaching, and church history.

Sessions include a mix of input fromthe tutors and opportunity to engage indiscussion of the topics. The courses areopen to anyone who would like toparticipate. Some who come aretraining for ordination, for Licensed LayMinistry or as part of authorisation topreach in their parish. Others areexploring their vocation. But many justwant to learn more about their faith.Each course stands alone, so you cansign up for anything that looksinteresting. But be warned – manypeople find them addictive and keepcoming back.

On each course assignments aresuggested for those who want to dofurther work. There is a new option ofgaining a Bishop’s Award in Theologyand Ministry if you attend a number ofcourses and do the associatedassignments. However most people whoaren’t training for a particular ministrychoose just to learn from the sessionsand not to undertake the assignments.

Here are some views from those whohave attended the courses:

Karen Laister from Sunningwell nearAbingdon says: “I have found theexperience of study immenselyrewarding and found myself beinginvolved in church life as a layperson inways I would have never imagined… Ihave found I have been stretched andchallenged by what I have learnt and theknowledge I have acquired.”

Ross Martin from Chalgrove said: “Ibegan 18 months ago as an‘independent learner’ on the Spiritualitycourse – drawn in by my calling and‘inward journey’. Since then I havecompleted a number of essays andmodules learning about God,Christianity and about myself so thatnow I am completely hooked! Regularattendance on courses provides me witha sense of being active in my faith (2Peter 1:5-7) and living out God’spurpose.

“I began with a focus on licensed layministry. The course has helped meunderstand what gifts I have to offer andhas helped me move in a new direction.”

And Estelle Fourie from the Kimblesnear Aylesbury says: “It was September2007 when I recommitted my life to

Christ. Since then I have undertaken aspiritual journey which has includedreading numerous spiritual books,fasting, meditation and generally takinga more intense interest in my religion.Our vicar, Jan Henderson encouragedme to think of my vocation to theministry and gave me the Learning forDiscipleship and Ministry course list forthe spring term 2010. I completed myfirst course at the St James Centre onspirituality and well, that was the start ofa new walk with my God, and I am nowdoing the eighth.

“I am authorised to preach and leadservices in our Parish church and thecourses I have attended haveundoubtedly helped and prepared medo this. I think most of us who arepursuing our vocation and trying tounderstand what God is calling us to do,find it a bit of an emotional roller-coaster.

“I found that by attending the courses,not only did I gain the knowledge andskill from experienced and professionaltutors, but we shared our experienceswith each other in our groups – the

good and the bad.’If you would like to know more

contact Revd Dr Keith Beech-Grunebergat Diocesan Church House (01865208282; [email protected].

The autumn term programme will besent to all parishes in the Department ofMission June mailing, and will be on the

diocesan website from then. Coursesare also advertised in the Door.

Evening courses offered in eacharchdeaconry include ‘Planning andLeading Worship’ and ‘Introduction toPreaching’. There will also be one-offSaturday courses on pilgrimage and onan introduction to the Church ofEngland.

Curry or a pint with your Alpha?AN Alpha course has been served withpoppadoms in Warfield, with peoplegetting to talk about the meaning of lifewhile tucking into a curry.

The event, which is now held in apub, was started by the Revd Chris Hillalong with volunteers from EternityChurch. “We held the course in a curryhouse, and later in a pub. Each timewe’ve done it it’s finished bigger than itstarted,” said Chris.

“We’ve sent people ahead to build arelationship with the venue so we havefound people who are good at that. Atthe curry house we got to know theowner really well. It’s a morecomfortable place, better than a parishhall and there are people who havedone the course and joined the church.

“We are strategic with the people weinvite. We invite people one to one, andthey tend to bring friends.

What advice would Chris give toanyone thinking of doing somethingsimilar?

“The people who lead and host it arereally important. You have to havepeople who are really comfortablebeing with people and inclusive, reallygood welcoming types.

“The second thing not to tell peopleit’s a 13 week course.’ Culturally that’sdifficult to ask someone to commit to.We just do it a week at a time, tellingpeople it is going to run every week,and people then stay. The third thingwas a critical mass issue.

“If there are a lot of people it’s easierfor people to come. A lot of peoplefrom church came and ate and some

stayed and listened to the talk. Therewere a couple of tables where peoplewere eating who weren’t really part ofthe course.”

Paul and Debbie Copping werechurch members involved in getting toknow owners of the venues and settingup the courses. Paul said: “In thePassage to India restaurant we got veryfriendly with the owners and weredealing with the Pakistani staff whowere very interested. We then used theOld Manor, a Wetherspoons pub, wherepeople cold get a pint and a steak for£5.99.

“We found them very welcoming butalso happy to have the trade,particularly when people aren’tspending much. They wanted us to goback on a regular basis. People are far

more relaxed in a commercialenvironment than if you have a meal ina private home or a parish hall. In thepub people got to know each otherpretty well and it became a morerelaxed, buzzy atmosphere.

“In terms of what we got out of Alpha,we have seen people come along whomay still be church members, butafterwards they are more informed,more engaged and better connected.They are also more committed in aspiritual sense because they haveinvested in their search and are moreserious about what it means to have arelationship with God.

“For many people Alpha is animportant stage for them. It’s a series ofreally positive experiences in a relativelyshort period of time.“

Would you like to learn more about your faith? As part of itssupport for growth in discipleship the Diocese offers coursesfor anyone interested in going deeper. Keith Beech-Gruneberg tells us more.

‘I have found I have been

stretched and challenged by

what I have learnt.’

I:stock

I:stock

FeaturetheDoo10

When the Arch

Visit to HMP

Dr Helen Moore and Richard Ovenden show Dr Williams around the King James Bibleexhibition at the Bodleian Library.

Dr Williams attended Buckinghamshire New Ruth Farwell and Dav

Dr Williams visited Christ Church to speak to ordinands (left)and again as guest speaker for ‘After Eight’ (see page 2).

The Diocesan Eucharist at St Mary’s, Banbury on the Saturday was the centrepiece of the Archbishop’s four-

The diocesan rural team gave Dr Williams Sunday lunch.

During his four-day visit, Dr Williamsalso met community leaders at a dinnerhosted by Bishop John, blessed the siteof the new Emmanuel Church at BurePark, Bicester, met a small group ofpeople involved in global and localmission, and paid a whistle-stop visit toDiocesan Church House. You can listento all Dr Williams’s sermons andaddresses through our websitewww.oxford.anglican.org. Photographsare available at www.ktbrucephotography.com (go to Gallery/Event/Thumbnails). CDs of pictures fromevents are £10 [email protected].

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-day visit.

Visiting the John Madjeski Academy in Reading to speak on faith and education and later at ReadingUniversity where Dr Williams spoke on global citizenship. Pics by KT Bruce

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theDoor JUNE 2011

TTHHUURRSSDDAAYY 22 JJUUNNEE

BOARSTALL: David Stirling Golf Day, inmemory of David, at Magnolia Park Golfand Country Club. Further details from01844 237185.

FFRRIIDDAAYY 33 JJUUNNEE

OXFORD: Mendelssohn’s oratorio St Paulperformed by East Oxford Communitychoir and Ensemble Vocal Interlude fromGrenoble at 7.30pm. Tickets from 01865305305 orwww.oxfordplayhouse.com/ticketsoxford

SSAATTUURRDDAAYY 44 JJUUNNEE

HUGHENDEN: A flower festival ‘Carnivalof Animals’ at St Michael and All Angelsfrom 12 noon to 6pm today and 12.30pmto 5.3pm tomorrow. Details 01494563470.

BECKLEY: Oxford and District OrganistsAssociation are holding a workshop forreluctant organists at the Parish Churchfrom 2.30pm - 4.30pm. Fee £15. Detailsfrom [email protected]

WEST WOODHAY: Garden show at WestWoodhay House today and tomorrowfrom 10am - 6pm. Detailswestwoodhaygardenshow.co.uk

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FLAUNDEN: Enjoy walking in thecountryside near Chesham and stop for adelicious church tea at St MaryMagdalene Church, Flaunden Hill HP3from 3pm - 5pm every Sunday and BankHolidays.

DROPMORE: St Annes Church will beholding weekly cream teas every Sundayfrom 3pm - 5pm.

GREAT MISSENDEN: St Peter and StPaul Parish Church are holding creamteas every Sunday from 3pm - 5pm.Details www.missendenchurch.org.uk

WWEEDDNNEESSDDAAYY 88 JJUUNNEE

OXFORD: Lecture by Melvyn Bragg onhis new book at 6pm at University Churchof St Mary the Virgin. www.university-church.ox.ac.uk


FARINGDON: The Oxfordshire HistoricChurches Trust Church Monuments Tourbegins from the old church . Details01235 868131.

OXFORD: The Retired Clergy Associationmeeting at Christ Church Cathedral.

Coffee in the Priory Room at 10.15am.Talk from Dr Andrew Gosler ‘Because theHoly Ghost over the bent World broodswith warm breast and with ah! Brightwings’.


MILTON KEYNES: Harp concert at StGeorge the Martyr, Wolverton at 7.30pm.Details 01908 262250.

CROWMARSH GIFFORD: Flower festivalon at St Mary Magdalene from 10am-6pm today and 12.30pm - 6pmtomorrow. Details 07770 930756.

BECKLEY: A cello and piano recital at StMary’s Church at 7.30pm. Details 01865351270.

ALDWORTH: Flower festival ‘Biblestories’ at St Mary’s Church from 11am to5pm today and tomorrow. Details 01635578791.

TTUUEESSDDAAYY 1144 JJUUNNEE

OXFORD: Council of Faiths friendshipwalk at 6.30pm from Oxford Synagogue.Details 01865 557947.

SPELSBURY: Oxfordshire HistoricChurches Trust Church and Garden visitfrom All Saints Church at 11am. Details01993 824196.

WWEEDDNNEESSDDAAYY 1155 JJUUNNEE

OXFORD: Council of Christians and Jews- Vicars and Rabbis quiz challenge at7.30pm at Friends’ Meeting House, StGiles. Details 01865 343309.


DORCHESTER ABBEY: Lecture by LordStern ‘Building a low-carbon world: thesixth industrial revolution’ at 7.30pm.Tickets from 01865 341066.


ABINGDON: St Ethelwold’s House ‘TheTruth will set you free - Jesus through theeyes of the East’ led by Brother Martin (anIndian monk at Shantivanam Ashram.Details 01235 555486 orwww.ethelwoldhouse.org.uk


DOUAI ABBEY (Nr Reading): BerkshireVocations Fellowship Quiet Day from10am - 3.30pm. [email protected]

DORCHESTER ABBEY: Concert by theIonian Singers. Tickets £12 (students £6)

including wine. Buy at the door or phone020 8693 1051.www.ioniansingers.co.uk

HEADINGTON QUARRY: Summerconcert at Holy Trinity Church at 7.30pm.Music and the life of C S Lewis. Freeentrance.

BANBURY: ‘Mining the Treasures of theBible’ study day with Canon TrevorDennis. Email for [email protected]


LOWER BASILDON: St Bartholomew’sChurch 3pm - 5pm. Tea and cakescelebration followed by Evensong.

TTUUEESSDDAAYY 2211 JJUUNNEE

MILTON KEYNES: ‘Godspell’performance at MADCAP Theatre,Wolverton until 24 June. Tickets from01908 262250.


HAMBLEDEN: Church choir will singHaydn’s Little Organ Mass at 7.30pm.Details 01494 883112.


FINGEST: Hambleden Valley, nearHenley - healing service with laying on ofhands and anointing at Holy Communionat 10.15am. Details 01491 571231.


DORCHESTER ABBEY: Concert byOxford Villages Choir ‘Rutter Requieum’in aid of Helen and Douglas House at7.15pm. If you want to sing then registerat village hall at 10.30am. Details 01491613152.

KINGHAM: Community fun day atKingham Hill School from 12 noon - 9pm.Details www.kinghamhill.oxon.sch.uk

COTTISFORD: St Mary’s Church flowerfestival in celebration of the King JamesBible 400th anniversary. Free admission.


GREAT HASELEY: Evensong at StPeter’s at 3.30pm sung by MagdalenCollege choir to commemorate the workof John Harding. [email protected]

STONE: Gardens open day from 2pm -5pm. Church open for teas.

The DoorpostThe Doorpost is a free service for churches to advertise their events and is designed to be hung on churchnoticeboards. Please send your events to [email protected] or by post to Church House. Thedeadline for the next issue is Friday 3 June.

Courses, training, conferences & workshops in June 2011.

13

INTRODUCTION TO PREACHING:Saturday 4 June at St James ChurchCentre, Woodley RG5 3LH from 10am -4pm. The course is for those who arebeginning to preach as AuthorisedPreachers. It gives useful advice onpreaching and provides an introduction tothe theology of preaching. Cost £18.Details and booking form [email protected]

MEND THE GAP: A day for anyone andeveryone interested in starting,developing or sustaining work andministry with the younger generations.Saturday 18 June at The King’s Centre,Oxford from 10am - 3.30pm. For detailsand to book your place [email protected] or01865 208257.

INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUALITY:Saturday 18 June at st James Church

Centre, Woodley RG5 3LH from 10am -4pm. This course explores differentapproaches to prayer. Details andbooking form [email protected]

CAP MONEY COURSES: Freebudgeting courses by Christians AgainstPoverty. In Oxford on 9, 16 and 23 Juneand in Wheatley on 28 June and 12 July.Details and registration form fromwww.capmoney.org or [email protected]

DAYS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FORWOMEN AT HIGHMOOR HALL:Thursday 30 June with Annie Hughes - ahealth care chaplain, working withpatients and encouraging doctors torecognise spiritual needs. Details 01491 641112 or [email protected]

Courses & special events

Sundays: 8am Holy Communion;10am Matins (coffee in PrioryRoom); 11.15am Sung Eucharist;6pm Evensong.

Weekdays: 7.15am Morning prayer;7.35am Holy Communion; 1pm(Wednesday only) Holy Communion;6pm Evensong (Thursday SungEucharist 6pm).

After Eight: Time to reflect, time topray. Contemporary liturgies for mindand spirit on Sundays at 8pm.

Tel: 01865 276155www.chch.ox.ac.uk

Services at ChristChurch Cathedral

Places to visit & Things To do -

Pages 14/15

PPEENNIINNSSUULLAA YYOOUUTTHH OORRCCHHEESSTTRRAA

ffrroomm CCaalliiffoorrnniiaa,, UUSSAA

PPEENNIINNSSUULLAA YYOOUUTTHH OORRCCHHEESSTTRRAA

ffrroomm CCaalliiffoorrnniiaa,, UUSSAA

OOXXFFOORRDD TTOOWWNN HHAALLLLMMOONNDDAAYY,, 2200TTHH JJUUNNEE –– 77..3300 PPMM

The senior-high PYO, under the direction of MitchellSardou Klein, has toured extensively and receivedthe prestigious 2000 ASCAP Award for AdventurousProgramming of American Music on Foreign Tour fortheir Japan Tour. PYO was named ShowcaseOrchestra at the Australian International MusicFestival held at the Sydney Opera House in 2001,toured Northern Italy in 2003, and in 2005 performedconcerts in Southern France and Spain. During2007, in conjunction with PYO's 10th anniversarycelebration, the orchestra toured Eastern Europe,performing in world-famous Dvorak Hall and LisztAcademy. Most recently PYO performed in Paris,Normandy, Bruges and Amsterdam during its summer 2009 tour.

June will see the Orchestra’s first tour to Englandwhere 80 talented young musicians will beperforming concerts at Cheltenham Town Hall,Oxford Town Hall and St Sepulchre Without Newgatein London.

Tonight's concert features works by Beethoven,Vaughan-Williams, Nicolai, Holst, and the Europeanpremier of American composer Ron Miller's latestcommissioned work, Gears.

Ticket Prices: £8 / £4 concessions

For more information on tickets please contact Oxford Town Hall

St David’s CathedralPembrokeshire

The building dates back from 12th centuryand the ceilings are ofspecial interest.■ DAILY SERVICES■ BOOKSHOP■ CONCERTS■ GUIDED TOURS■ DISABLED ACCESS

Open 8.00am to 6.00pm

☎01437 720199www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk

This prestigious West Wales International MusicFestival provides Choral, Orchestral and Chamber

Music in beautiful venues in and around Fishguard.Artists include:

Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, conductor - Owain Arwel Hughes, Peter Donohoe, St.

Petersburg String Quartet, Sir Richard RodneyBennett and Claire Martin,Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra

with Tony Jacobs and Catherine Sykes, John S. Davies Singers,

Orchestra of the Swan with Julian Lloyd Webber and Jiaxin Cheng (‘cellos) and David Curtis, Frith

Piano Quartet, Richard Jenkinson (CBSO), RichardParry, National Youth Choir of Wales, YoungMusicians’ Platforms, Rodolpho Bonucci and

Dorothy Singh and more....

July 22nd - July 30th Brochure - May 2011Box Office 01348 875538 (mid June)

Enquiries: 01348 891345 (Alan Caunce Artistic Director)

01348 891226 (Chairman)www.fishguardmusicfestival.co.uk

The Festival celebrates its 42nd year in 2011

Music and events in Fishguard, Goodwick, St. DavidsCathedral, Rhos-y-Gilwen Mansion and Newport

Oxford Town Hall plays host to the Peninsula Youth Orchestra from Californiaas a part of the choirs first visit to the UK. The 80 strong orchestra will beperforming pieces by Beethoven, Vaughan-Williams, Holst and includes theEuropean premier of a commissioned piece by Ron Miller. Tickets from01865 252351.Thoughout the country there are events to celebrate the 400th anniversary ofthe King James Bible. St Aldates Church in Oxford is the venue for a Celebration of the KJV on13th July. Organised by Wycliffe Hall, the key speakers at the event includeEddie Arthur of Wycliffe Bible Translators, Chris Neal of the CMS, JonathanLamb from the Langham Partnesrship, and Krish Kandiah from theEvangelical Alliance. Representing Wycliffe Hall itself are Richard Turnbull,Peter Walker and Benno van den Toren. Booking for the event is essential,telephone 01865 284876 to avoid disappointment.The well respected Creation Theatre continue their production of Tales fromKing James at St Barnabas Church, Jericho until 11th June. Colourful.Condensed. Quirky is how the company have described the production. Aboat big enough for every animal, a sea parted in two and a man swallowedby a whale… just some of the extraordinary tales you’ll see burst into life withenergy, comedy and insight. Director: Helen Tennison, actors: RaewynLippert, Tom Peters, creative producer: David Parrish. Creation is delightedto be performing Tales from King James at St Barnabas Church, a venuenew to the company. This beautiful Italian renaissance style church was builtin 1868/9. Situated in the heart of Jericho, it’s landmark tower overlooks theJericho boatyard and the Oxford Canal. If you haven't already seen theproduction then now is the time to secure your tickets.The Lambeth Palace Library in London is currently holding one suchexhibition and is open until 29th July. 'Out of the Original Sacred Tongues'The Bible and translation is on show at the Great Hall. You can visit fromWednesdays to Friday's between 11am to 4pm (also Saturdays from July)pre-booking is essential. Visit the website on www.lambethpalacelibrary.orgor telephone 0871 230 1107.There are plenty of other places to visit and things to do both near to homeand further afield.Cathedrals everywhere have entertained pilgrims and travellers for centuries,their history and beauty continue to attract thousands through their doorsyear after year. Not so far away, Rochester Cathedral has a wealth of historydating back 1,400 years! Whilst individuals are welcome to visit free ofcharge the cathedral has all sorts of packages available for larger groupsincluding a Pilgrimage package, which offers personal welcome to your groupby the Canon in residence, the reflective audio tour, cream tea and you canjoin in the Eucharist or Evensong depending on your choice of time and day.Also on offer are bespoke tours tailored to your needs, from Benedictinemonasticism to Norman architecture, graffiti to memorials and textiles. The

Guild of Embroiderers welcomes visitors, though these times are limited.Just ask and we will book a tour to suit the interests of your group. Whilstyou are there you might consider refreshments in the Tea Rooms - located inthe 18th century Deanery . The Gardens - one of Rochester’s best-keptsecrets with its majestic Magnolia Grandiflora and view across what wasoriginally the monastic herb garden. In this area visitors can now see thenewly restored section of the Roman Wall, dating from c200AD, that oncesurrounded the Roman City of Durobrivae and was incorporated in the laterbuildings of the Monastery. Although only yards from busy Rochester HighStreet, the peace and tranquillity of the garden provides a sanctuary for wildbirds, squirrels and foxes, and, weather permitting, visitors to the Tea Rooms.Next month sees the return of the Fishguard International Music Festival,now in it's 42nd year. Running for just over a week, the festival can be adestination itself or as a place to visit as a part of a holiday in Walesincluding a visit to the 12th century St David's Cathedral. Running from 22ndto 30th July artist appearing include, West National Opera, St PetersburgString Quartet, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett and Claire Martin. Julian LloydWebber appears with the Orchestra of the Swan and Jiaxin Cheng. A host ofvenues throughout Fishguard and beyond have helped to establish thisimportant and long lived event.

Advertising Feature

Great Days ahead this summertime!The year has got off to a great start, with a brilliant Eastertime followed by theRoyal Wedding. For many April offered an early break and a time for communitiesto get together with street parties and much more. The summertime lookspromising too with all sorts of opportunities with places to visit and things to do.

theDoor JUNE 201114

ArtstheDoor JUNE 2011 15

Alleluia - all hail to the One who is

In the introduction to For all that hasbeen, thanks, Joan Chittister, anAmerican Benedictine nun,

translates ‘Alleluia’ as ‘All hail to theOne who is’, and describes it as the basisof contemplation and the ‘arch-hymn ofpraise’.

In her book, written with ArchbishopRowan Williams, we are called to sayalleluia not just for the obvious: faith,wealth, saints, but for their opposites:doubt, poverty, sinners, all that we wouldnot readily praise God for. Each shortessay considers one aspect of life forwhich we should say ‘alleluia’, andtherein lies a problem: there are 23reflections. Can we really learnsomething new and striking about ourresponse to doubt in six pages?

It’s an uneven book. There are someattractive insights: ‘the purpose ofwealth is reckless generosity’ and‘complacency in untested faith [that]leaves us vulnerable’. But there are alsomore questionable moments: ‘povertybrings with it a spiritual vision’, JoanChittister writes. Does it? Always? ‘Whenwe see trouble coming, that is notdarkness’, she declares.

Unsurprisingly, she does not mentionthe paralysing darkness of a depressionthat the sufferer sees approaching butcan do nothing to stop. British readersmay sympathise with her obvious dislikeof George W Bush, but may still be takenaback by her comments. During histerms of office, did Americans generally

spend endless time stretching their ownsouls in an attempt to tell the differencebetween genuine conviction and bittercriticism? Perhaps.

Then there are three longerreflections, all by Rowan Williams, thatseem to come from a different book.Genesis considers how we become whowe are, emphasising themes of exile andcovenant, and Exodus asks why, when weare given freedom, we fail to cope withit. Both are challenging. My favouritereflection is Friday, which begins with alight-hearted look at the Jewish-Christiangift to the world of weekends, andmoves, by way of a helpful comment onthe exhaustion we feel after the ThreeHours devotion on Good Friday, to anawe-inspiring description of thehumanity and divinity of Our Lord - anattempt to describe the indescribable.

‘As a human being, he [Jesus] haswalked into the fire of God’s presenceand lived. As a divine being, he haswalked into the fire of human violenceand untruth and lived. On Good Friday,these two fires meet, indistinguishable,on the cross.’ Alleluia indeed.

Joan van Emden is a lay member of the MinistryTeam at Christ Church, Reading.

By Joan van EmdenFor all that has been,thanksRowan Williams and JoanChittisterCanterbury Press £9.99

The Making of the King James Bible

Competition WinnersThe following were winners of the competition that appeared in May’s Door: Marion Harrisfrom Cookham; Vicky Clayton from Slough and Alexandra Green from Abingdon. They haveall won a copy of ‘Pocket Prayers for Pilgrims’ by the Bishop of Oxford.

THE only surviving copy of the 1602 Bishops’Bible - one of 40 sent out to translators is justone of the original materials on display in aunique exhibition at Oxford’s BodleianLibrary.

Manifold Greatness: Oxford and the Making ofthe King James Bible sheds new light on thecreation of the KJV. It includes Anne Boleyn’svelvet bound 1534 copy of William Tyndale’sEnglish Translation of the New Testament.Anne showed considerable courage in receivingthis politically charged edition which had beenbanned by Henry VIII but resonated with herown Protestant sympathies. Two years later herhusband executed her and was complicit inTyndale’s arrest and death.

There is also a rare copy of the Wicked Bibleof 1631 which omits ‘not’ in the seventhcommandment, thus reading ‘Thou shaltcommit adultery’. The error put the printer outof business and he died in debtors’ prison.

The idea for a new English version of thebible was an Oxford idea. It was presented to King James 1 in 1604 at theHampton Court Conference by John Rainolds, president of Corpus ChristiCollege. The Bodleian Library was established in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley, amere two years before the translators began their work. It held manuscriptsconsulted by the translating committee and five of the Oxford translators werereaders in the library.

The exhibition, which celebrates the 400th anniversary of the KJV, runs in theexhibition centre at the Bodleian Library, Old Schools Quad, Catte Street,Oxford, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 4.30pm and Sunday,11am to 5pm. For more information see www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Henry Savile, Bible translator. BodleianLibrary.

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theDoor JUNE 2011 17

AAt Cross Rhythms we haven’t, in fact we’re doubling ourefforts to reach a younger generation. But we need you,the parents and grandparents, to push with us to reachand rescue our children’s generation.

We all know the scripture in Malachi that the Spirit of Elijah will ‘turn thehearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children totheir fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse’. It is vitalfor our nation’s future that there is a greater turning of the hearts of theold to the young and the young to the old, and it is incumbent upon theolder generation to take that lead.

Cross Rhythms is a ministry that since 1983 has been reaching today’syounger generation and the people of our cities through media.And let’sface it, if you want to reach young people, where will you find them? Only asmall proportion can be found hanging around our churches, but the vastmajority are immersed in today’s media – building their lives, fixing theirvalues and shaping their identities through online communities, websiteimagery, music idols, movie icons, mobile interaction, video footage, radiopersonalities…Yep, if you want to find today’s youth, you will find them intoday’s media culture - just where Cross Rhythms has taken it’s stand!

Originally born out of a prophetic word givento Cross Rhythms Founder Chris Cole to‘reach millions for Christ throughmedia’, after 27 tried and tested yearsCross Rhythms has grown from just ahalf hour radio show to three fulltime FM radio stations in UK cities.Youth programmes are syndicatedto more than 50 stationsworldwide and our youthengaging website is one of thebusiest in the UK, tacklingissues such as

Testimonies...“I have been checking xrhythms whilst driving around Stoke. Nowdon’t get all enthusiastic here, but I think the quality of theshows/tunes is pretty good – as for the message I have to say I’ma floating voter – however I am also the owner of a local livemusic venue and would be willing to put together a show to helpraise funds for the station.You must be doing something cool as it’sthe first time I’ve taken any notice – good luck with the station.”

Buff, 2002

“I am neither a Christian nor a member of any other religion…Iapproach religion with a high degree of cynicism. In the case ofCross Rhythms I am entirely happy to say that such cynicism isentirely unfounded. I believe your radio station has played animportant role in entertaining local people and also in counteringthe needlessly negative messages of other local media.You haveinjected positive criticality into many civic debates and have heldmyself and other local politicians to account in a way that hasenabled us to explain ourselves rather than sought merely to trickus into sound bites.”

Mike Wolfe - Elected Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, 2004

“I can speak from experience of both listening to and from theperspective of Staffordshire Police contributing to regular featureson Cross Rhythms.The radio station undoubtedly promotes unityand highlights the valuable work that is being done withincommunities.”

John Wood - Chief Superintendent, 2004

“Hi Shell! I downloaded your podcast on self harm after my friendsent it to me thinking it might help me. I have self harmed for 9months. I have good times and bad times. I have been trying to tellsomeone. I listened to your podcast nightly for the last few nights.Although I’m not a Christian, it really helped me. I booked with thenurse to see the counsellor again and told her. It feels so muchbetter.Thank you so much you have helped me heaps.”

N, 2009

“Hi Chris, I have some exciting news. Me and Ben have beenspeaking to a girl who’s gotten pregnant and the guy doesn’t wantto know her anymore (she isn’t a Christian).Well today she saidshe heard the Policeman story on Cross Rhythms last night andshe gave her life to God!!!! Sooo excited.”

V - Stoke-on-Trent, 2009

“This time last year, I was only a couple of months on from theoverdose I had taken.The night before my 24th birthday, the nightwe spoke on the phone, I was in such a dark place still, that I wasseriously contemplating trying again and doing a better job. I didn’tfeel I had any rope to hold on to and it was all pretty bleak. I wantyou to know that the very fact that someone was on the end of aphone, that night, and willing to talk with me, and pray, and notmake me feel like an outcast or a freak was a lifesaving piece ofrope. It gave me the rope I needed to hold on to, to make itthrough that night.Without doing something that would have beenunwise. It was you displaying the kindness and love that made mesee Jesus.”

Helen - 2009

By Jon Bellamy, CEO of Cross Rhythms

How you can help...I want to reach the youth of our nation

through Cross Rhythms

I would like to give a one off gift of £________________

I enclose a cheque/postal order (made payable to ‘Cross

Rhythms’)

Please debit this sum from my VISA/MASTERCARD/MAESTRO

as a one off gift

Card number

Issue number_______ Expiry date

Please send me information on becoming a regular

supporter of Cross Rhythms

Please add me to the Cross Rhythms mailing list

Name:_________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________

______________________________________________

Postcode:_________________Tel:___________________

E-mail:_________________________________________

Please cut out this form and post it to:

Cross Rhythms, PO Box 1110,

Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 1XR.

Alternatively you can call 01782 251000 to make a donation

or go to www.crossrhythms.co.uk/donations ✁

pornography, self harm, addictions, eating disorders and offering teaching,testimonies and prayer.The site is reaching more than 800,000 uniqueusers a year, 70% of whom are under 35.

In addition, our model of FM community radio has proved a greatsuccess with Ofcom and local communities: engaging with everydayissues and serving local communities at all levels, practically, emotionallyand spiritually. Its success has enabled four such stations to gain FMlicences, and our goal is to see 10 such stations across the nation.

We are truly fulfilling our positioning statement to,

‘Impact Youth and the Wider Community For Good ThroughFM Radio, Contemporary Christian Music and a GloballyInfluential Website’.

Building on all this, from January 2011 we started a brand new five yearlicence awarded to continue reaching the people of Stoke-on-Trent onFM radio until at least December 2015!

It is amazing when we look back to see how far God has brought us, whathe has established through us, and to be encouraged to go further still!

We have just launched Cross Rhythms radio so it can be heard onmobiles and smartphones; we re-launched our Twitter and Facebookinteraction to great effect; and we are developing brand new youth programming with Chip K and Shell Perris - role models to a younger generation.

We are also setting up a media training academy to raise up the nextgeneration of Christian media voices and we are in discussion with severalgroups for possible stations in their cities, including one for Bethlehem!

To achieve our vision will require experience, perseverance andboldness.All these we have.

To achieve our vision will also require expansion, growth,increased manpower and added resource.

As you read just some of the testimonies from the last 8 years of FMbroadcasting, imagine this being repeated and multiplied time after timeall across the UK in the coming years.With your support it can.

Cross Rhythms is much more than a team of 9 employees, 4trustees and 30 volunteers. It is a team of hundreds of partnersall giving where they are called to give and standing together to see thesame vision come forth in our nation today.

Today we are looking for many more parents and grandparents to join usto reach our children’s generation through media.We are asking you,would you join our growing army of partners, who are just as vital amember of the Cross Rhythms team as myself and Heather,Tony &

Maxine,Angela, Chris, Richard, Rob, Peter?

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely

Jonathan Bellamy Cross Rhythms CEO

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theDoor JUNE 201118

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“You will receive power when the Holy Spirithas come upon you.” Acts1:8

Pentecost, which this year falls on 12June, marked the Jewish feast ofWeeks. Originally it was an

agricultural festival, but later it becameassociated with the giving of the Law onSinai. This took place, according totradition, fifty days after the originalPassover. Thus it was that fifty days afterthe resurrection of Jesus, which occurredat the Passover, the disciples weregathered in their ‘upper room’ for thefeast of Pentecost.

As they did, various dramaticphenomena occurred - the ‘rush of aviolent wind’ which blew through thehouse, and the appearance of ‘tonguesof fire’, which rested on each apostle.They then found themselves speaking in‘other tongues’, actual, recognisablelanguages, which enabled them to gooutside and preach to people frommany different countries, each of whomcould hear their message in their ownlanguages.

Peter took the lead, and Luke gives usin Acts the substance of his speech. Notsurprisingly, its main theme was theresurrection of Jesus and the fulfilmentof the promise made by the prophetJoel long ago, that in the ‘last days’ Godwould pour out his Spirit upon ‘allflesh’. That was what they were nowseeing, and Peter urged his hearers toaccept Jesus as their Lord and Messiah,and so receive this wonderful gift. Hecalled them to repent, to be baptized inthe name of Jesus Christ for theforgiveness of their sins, and to receivethe gift of the Holy Spirit promised to

them and their children. According toLuke, 3,000 people - most, if not all ofthem, one assumes, Jews who had madetheir way to Jerusalem for the festival -responded and were baptized.

In that sense, Pentecost truly is the‘birthday’ of the Christian Church. Butif it is, we need to remember what thebirthday present was, because for longstretches of church history it seems tohave been largely overlooked. God gavethis new community the helper,advocate and counsellor of whom Jesushad spoken, the Holy Spirit. Only withthat help and counsel, only with the‘power’ which Jesus had promisedwould accompany his coming (Acts 1:8),could the Church ever hope to fulfil thedaunting task he had set it: to ‘makedisciples of all the nations’.

Pentecost reminds us that we aremembers of a body which is alive withthe life-giving Spirit of God. We are notonly an ‘Easter people’, living in thelight of the empty tomb, but apentecostal people, living with imagesof wind and fire. Week by week we aresent out ‘in the power of the Spirit’ tolive and work to God’s praise and glory.Week by week our worship is called tobe ‘in Spirit and in truth’. Day by daythe Christian life is life ‘in the Spirit’.

Without the Spirit our buildings areempty shrines, our praises are simplyreligious concerts and our struggle tolive as disciples of Christ is fatallyflawed. Jesus promised his first disciplesthat they would receive ‘power’ throughthe Holy Spirit - power in the sense ofdynamic enabling. In that power theywould be his witnesses in their ownbackyards and to the ends of the earth.That is his present to the Church on itsbirthday.

The Revd Canon David Winter is a formerDiocesan Adviser on Evangelism, former BBC headof religious affairs, a broadcaster and author.

Letters & commenttheDoor JUNE 2011

‘Well said Bishop John’Congratulations to the Bishop for hiscomments on Church of England schoolsadmissions. Attending the Cropredy CofEschool when I was a boy set me on theChristian path.

I owe more than I can say to the thenclergy of St Mary’s Church Cropredy,Maurice Turner and Ian Upton who taughtme about Jesus. Church schools can be awonderful ministry opportunity which mustbe used to the full. William Temple veryfamously said: “The Church is the onlysociety that exists for the benefit of thosewho are not its members.”

I consider that to exclude non-Christians from CofE schools to be theopposite of what Jesus would do. Acommentator once compared Jesus to thePharisees, who avoided contact withthose they considered unclean, whereasJesus walked through the market placehealing all kinds of people. In havingschools closed to non-Christians, we havebehaved more like the Pharisees.

However you need to maintain theChristian ethos of church schools. Thismeans having Christian governors. headsand as far as possible, teachers andaccess to clergy for the children. It meansready two-way involvement between thechurch and the school. Thanks again toBishop John for his bold move.

Richard Hudson, Hemel Hempstead.

Using your LOAFI was interested to read ‘A climate scientist’(the Door, May 2011) about the Revd DrGillian Straine, who has co-written ForCreed & Creation, a guide for makingchurches more environmentally friendly.

I’m a member of the charity ChristianEcology Link, who encourage Christians touse the LOAF principle when shopping –Locally produced, Organic, Animal Friendly,Fair-traded. If we neglect the environmentthen people suffer. Government statisticsshow that 24,000 early UK deaths a yearare caused by air pollution. The EU nowadmits that tens of thousands of chemicalswere allowed into common use but werenever properly tested.

Breast, testicular and prostate cancershave risen several-fold. UK breast cancerrates were 25,000 a year in the 1980s butthis has now risen to 41,000 UK cases ayear. I read in the article that Gillian herselfsuffered Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer.Oestrogen-mimic chemicals from plasticsand pesticides can disrupt hormones.Dioxins from incinerators and benzene areproven to cause cancer and birth defects.When we allow preventable illness webreak Jesus’s command to love each other.I wish Gillian well in her important work.

Ann Wills, Middlesex

LETTERS

Audio version

by John Pritchard

There’s nothing like education tostir people’s passion. I hit thatbutton recently with comments on

admissions to church schools. We havelong said that church schools are centralto the mission of the Church. I want towork that out in practice rather than inrhetoric. I believe church schools havesomething very special to offer to thewhole community, something too goodto keep to ourselves.

We have to maintain a balancebetween being distinctively Christianand also inclusive of the communitieswe serve. I think Christiandistinctiveness lies mainly in theinfluence of the headteacher, the staff,the governors and the clergy. So whatproportion of children from Christianhomes will also be needed to maintainthat distinctiveness? I have a hunchabout that but it’s up to the schoolgovernors to decide.

On the other hand, ArchbishopWilliam Temple said that the Church isthe only society that exists for the sakeof those who are not its members. This,then, is the call to be inclusive. It meanswe can take the Christian story to thosewho otherwise wouldn’t hear it or see itlived out. There is a further questionand that is: what responsibility tochildren from Christian families doesthe school have? Here the Church ofEngland has taken a different routefrom, say, the Roman Catholics. Forthem, the key role of the church schoolis the Christian nurture of their ownchildren.

The C of E has said for 200 years thatchurch schools are for the localcommunity, particularly for the poor.Clearly they do have a responsibility tochurch families but the task of nurturerests mainly with the congregation.

Eighty per cent of the population hasno regular contact with the church sowhat an opportunity we have in ourschools! At this crucial time ineducational reform we need to be clearwhat church schools are for, and, Ibelieve, to be recalled to our core valuesas a Church with a mission to thenation. I haven’t even mentionedacademies and free schools, the crisis inRE, the Higher Education fees issue andmore. As ever, it’s education, education,education.

The Rt Revd John Pritchard is the Bishop of Oxfordand Chair of the National Society of Church Schools.

Comment

Thought forthe month

by David Winter

19

Sight impairedpeople can nowget a free audio

version of The Door bycontactingGraham

Winterbourne on01884 840285

Comings and Goings -The Revd Pads Dolphin will take up postas Priest in Charge at Reading StMatthew; The Revd Sally Lynch will takeup post as Vicar at St Luke Maidenhead;The Revd Leslie Jesudason will take uppost as Team Vicar of Bracknell TeamMinistry; The Revd John Burrell will takeup post as Vicar of Benson; The Revd DrMark Clavier will take up post as Priestin Charge at Steeple Aston with NorthAston and Tackley; The Revd Janet

Russell will be leaving her post as ParishDevelopment Adviser; The Revd DavidParry will be retiring from his post asVicar at Blackbird Leys; The Revd MoiraAstin and The Revd Dr Tim Astin willboth be leaving the diocese to move tothe Diocese of Lincoln. We recall with sadness the deaths of The Revd Christopher Jones; The RevdEdward Rainsberry; The Revd EdwardMorris; Canon Geoffrey Shaw and TheRevd Michael Vine.

Editor: Jo Duckles Tel: 01865 208227Email: [email protected] Assistant/Distribution: Debbie DallimoreTel: 01865 208225 Email: [email protected]: Roy Perring Tel: 01752 225623 Email: [email protected] for July/August 2011: Friday 3 June 2011.Published Monday 20 June 2011.

The Door is published by Oxford Diocesan Publications Ltd (Secretary Mrs Rosemary Pearce). Theregistered office is Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey Lane, Oxford, OX2 ONB. Tel: 01865 208200.While every care is taken to ensure the reliability of our advertisements, their inclusion in The Door doesnot guarantee it or mean that they are endorsed by the Diocese of Oxford.

Schools on a mission

Churches in High Wycombe handed out hot cross buns to passers-by during a Holy Weekoutreach. Pic: Debbie Orris

God in the life of... theDoor JUNE 2011

Imet Gwen in her office atBroadmoor, a long, rectangularroom piled from floor to ceilingwith books. We chatted overcoffee as Gwen described her

work as part of a team of skilledpsychiatrists who work to restore themental health of patients. Some of themen they work with have committedhorrific crimes. The patients arereferred from prisons or less securemental health services where they maybe proving difficult to treat and managesafely.

Gwen, 50, says: “Most of our peoplehave serious and complex disorders. It’simportant to acknowledge we all have apart of ourselves that’s cruel and nasty.Most of the time it’s dormant, and it’sbalanced by feelings of love, compassionand regret. Most importantly for most ofus who live ordinary human lives, wehave a high capacity for self reflection sowe can think about our mistakes. Thepeople here are locked into cruel andunusual states of mind. They don’tperhaps have access to those feelings ofempathy, warmth and compassion.”

Gwen says that violence is an oddthing for people to resort to. Only 20per cent of crimes in the UK are violent.Broadmoor patients are those whoseviolence stems from severe or multiplemental disorders and Gwen comparesthe hospital to Royal Marsden, whichtreats patients with rare cancers.

“We provide a similar service but forvery damaged people. Our work is aboutrestoring their mental health, but alsoreducing the risk they pose, which

means looking at their offences in somedepth.” Gwen’s team focus on howoffenders became offenders, which isoften to do with early trauma. “It’sDesmond Tutu’s ubuntu – people arepeople through people. Some of ourpatients have lost their peoplehoodthrough what they’ve done.”

So how does all this link to faith?Gwen says: “The first thing is most ofthe world’s faiths have an account of ourcapacity for evil. So straight away wehave a whole literature and anintellectual community to draw on. Formillennia people have struggled to makesense of man’s capacity for cruelty andthe world’s religions represent the mostenduring accounts of that moralphilosophy. The Greek tragediesrepresent an early way that humans

grappled with the question of whatmakes a woman slaughter her husbandand children, or causes a man to blindhimself.

“Most faith based communities havethe idea of metanoia – you can’t changemuch in the world around you but youcan change yourself. By looking at thedarkness in your own heart, you can tryand change every day. It’s a vision thatspeaks directly to the forensic psychiatryvision. The Christian account inparticular sees that all of us have thepower to become a son of God.

“Our people have spiritual lives; theyaren’t without an interest in thetranscendent. Some have had religiousupbringings or traditions but for someof them there is a much morefundamental question – ‘am I

abandoned by God, however I conceiveof him, because of what I have done?’The hospital has a strong multi-faithchaplaincy and it’s part of the serviceprovision to take the spiritual needs ofour patients seriously.”

Gwen describes her own faith journeyas an ordinary one. Her mother was anAnglican and her father converted toCatholicism as an adult. “Issues of faithand religious belief were present in myfamily of origin. They were assumed tobe of interest; they didn’t dominate butwere omnipresent. I was raised in ahousehold where Christian values weretaken as read and I’m very grateful forthat. I used to hear my parentsdiscussing the fact my father wasconverting. He’d always been interestedin the Catholic tradition. He had manyfriends who were Benedictine monksand if he’d been in another time andplace he might well have been drawn tothe contemplative life.”

She attended two Church of Englandschools. She says: “The liturgy, theGospels, and the Psalms and the churchyear have all been part of my life. I haveseen no reason to jettison it, but thatdoesn’t mean I haven’t questioned it.”

She has recently read William Watts’translations of St Augustine’s Confessions.“It got me thinking about that personaltransformation and the question ofwhether your faith is part of you orbigger than you. It may not be aresolvable question. It really is about aconstant engagement with the questionof the Word made flesh. It has to beengaged with on a daily basis ratherthan in a done and dusted way.

“I see myself as a pilgrim in the JohnBunyan sense marching along a longroad, some times going on detours,walking the path, sometimes struggling.It’s just an ordinary Christian journeyreally.”Gwen’s hobbies include singing in her local churchchoir, pottering in her garden, reading and writing.

Dr Gwen Adshead tells JoDuckles how anunderstanding of spritualityhelps her work with patientsat the Broadmoor HighSecurity Psychiatric Hospital.

20

Dr Gwen Adshead. Nigel Bovey/War Cry

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#225 : June 2011

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Transcript of #225 : June 2011