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Following last year’s successful first festival, St Mary’s Kidlington will once again be hosting its Christmas Tree Festival in December – Saturday 14th (10am to 4pm) and Sunday 15th (11.30am to 5pm – followed by the Community Carol Service at 5.30pm). We hope this will bring together many local organisations, schools, businesses and individuals, to celebrate the joy of Christmas and to raise money for SANDS which supports those affected by the death of a baby, and Edukid, which works to remove the barriers to education faced by children living in poverty and conflict.

During the festival there will be live music featuring The Belles of St Mary’s, a Quartet of Ladies’ Voices, a Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Quartet (singing), The Grand Islip Parp Brass Ensemble, The Stormy Tuesdays blues band, Viola and Harp and more – more details soon. If you would like to sing or perform some music whilst the public enjoy the festive spirit do let Malc know on office@kidhp.org.uk

Help needed
We do need volunteers to help over the weekend, as well as donations of cakes and mince pies etc. We are looking for volunteers to help with the arrangements the day before it starts, and then as stewards over the times the public access. PLEASE DO OFFER TO HELP IF YOU ARE ABLE.

Before and after the event: We need a team of people to help us put the 28 trees in stands and place them in church on Friday 13th December from 8am. With enough strong hands and backs, it takes less time than you might think. After the Community Carols on Sunday 15th December, some of the trees will be taken by the tree sponsor; the rest will be sold to the general public for £5. Any trees left need to be carried out of the church.
Stewards duties / refreshments / cake making: on the public days we need a few people per hour to welcome the community and to help serve refreshments. Can you make a cake or mince pies for this event?
If you can help in any way, please sign up on the sheet at the back of the church or contact Malc on
office@kidhp.org.uk or 01865 375611. Thanks

Sponsor a tree
If you would like a tree (5ft) to be in situ, in a stand, and ready for you to decorate then please follow this link or use the QR code on the poster above. https://forms.gle/JkRkZ5oyq2QavrvV8. Only £22 for non-profit individuals or community organisations (to cover the cost of the tree, no profit is made by us at all), and £30 for businesses.
Bring your own tree
You are more than welcome to bring your own tree as some of you did last year. We ask for a minimum donation of £10. Please email me on office@kidhp.org.uk for details. Thank you all for any support you can lend this event- there will be live music and refreshments so please come and enjoy and drop some money in a bucket somewhere.

Any questions at all, no matter how big or small, feel free to email me on office@kidhp.org.uk
Thanks all, Malc

A Letter from the Team Rector, Safeguarding Officer, and Leadership Team
in response to the Makin Report and Resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby.
15th November 2024

Dear Friends,
The Archbishop of Canterbury is resigning in recognition of his own failure and the failure of the wider church across 50 years to stop a predator from abusing vulnerable people. The Makin Report makes shocking reading in the way the church did not act to bring the perpetrator to justice. We wish to state in the clearest possible terms our commitment to stand with all who have been abused or hurt, to listen, and to act to protect vulnerable people whenever it is necessary. Two weeks ago Richard Sewell (Dean of St George’s College Jerusalem) spoke in St Mary’s of having the courage to stand up and name evil as evil. As church leaders we name as evil the actions of John Smyth and we stand against all forms of abuse. Those who abuse must not be protected from the law- it makes no odds who they are.

Our prayers now are for those who have been harmed by his actions.

Scripture could not be clearer about the special place in God’s heart for vulnerable and voiceless people. All through the Bible we read of God’s special concern for poor and marginalised people, outsiders and oppressed people, widows, strangers, orphans, and all without social power. Jesus Christ crossed boundaries to be with people who society did not listen to or see. Nowhere do we see a God who cares more for institutional reputation than for the protection of the vulnerable. When our church has failed over so many years faithfully to follow God’s way in this regard there is need for repentance and change. Archbishop Justin’s resignation is part of this repentance and, we pray, the beginning of a further chapter of deep reflection, learning, and change. Repentance is not repentance unless there is change.

Our church is wounded by this and by other institutional failures and we understand that very many people no longer see the C of E as a trustworthy body. ‘Trust’, they say, ‘leaves on horseback and returns on foot’. Some of us will take a long time to begin to trust the church again; some may never manage to do so. Others of us are angry at senior leaders and the national organisation which seems to undermine the safe, valuable work carried out in parishes every day by clergy and lay people in faithful service. Others are simply devastated that a community that preaches healing and the Kingdom of God has been proved to be anything but safe. Whatever our position it will be a long journey before we can talk meaningfully of healing.

In any gathering there are as many stories as there are people and some of our stories will be of deep hurt which we may never have shared with others. The recent events may well have triggered some of us to relive painful experiences and memories. We need to be gentle with each other and not assume things of each other, whoever we are, including our leaders. If you need to talk we promise you that we will listen, not make assumptions, believe you and not judge you. We will report all concerns about anyone’s safety every time that this is necessary.

Our parish Safeguarding Officer is Yo Davies who works constantly to ensure that our safeguarding policy is fulfilled. The Smyth case shows what happens when processes are not followed. As a church we work together to put in place all the safeguards we can and to educate volunteers. This training helps us all and ensures that everyone who volunteers knows the right processes if they have any concerns. We want curiosity and concern for others. All situations that we are alerted to, however small or even seemingly trivial are treated with care, confidentiality, support for the concerned person and the person about whom the report is made.

This diocese also has a good, experienced team who do deal with things effectively and who work with us. It has learned from previous mistakes and a recent independent audit has praised its efforts.

As church members you know just how much work we do with many different groups of people of all ages and vulnerabilities, from toddler groups to the Big Sing, from choristers to housebound visits, from TIG to the lunch club… All of these and more rely on generous volunteers. Thank you to everyone who gives of your time to show out the love of God in these diverse ways. Thank you too that you have taken part in DBS checks, safer recruitment processes, and ongoing safeguarding training. It can seem laborious but it is all part of our commitment to being a safe church for all.

To see national leaders not listening and not acting on reports of abuse does shake our trust but we hope that you will see that we are committed to keeping everyone safe and to supporting victims and survivors of any sort of abuse wherever and whenever it took place.

A Prayer for all abused or wounded by the church:
Broken hearted God,
You hear the voiceless
and see the people who we have made invisible.
Your wounded Son came that all may have life in abundance
And died that all may receive new life.
Enfold in your love and surround with your protection
All who have suffered abuse, violence, or the wrongful use of power,
And teach us to build communities of safety, healing and truth
Where everyone can flourish in safety.
In Christ who was broken that we might be made whole. Amen

On Sunday 24th November we will mark Safeguarding Sunday at our joint 10am service at St Mary’s on the theme: ‘Lets Talk About It’. Please come and be part of it.

If you would like to talk to any of us please do not hesitate to be in touch. We are all available and we are not too busy. Thank you for the privilege of serving God’s people with you in this community,

The Rev’d Canon Felicity Scroggie (Team Rector)
Mrs Yo Davies (Parish Safeguarding Officer)
The Rev’d Paul Charles, The Rev’d Paula Clifford, The Ven David Meara, The Rev’d Marian Needham, The Rev’d Sarah Sewell, The Rev’d Katie Tupling

You can download this complete letter here.

The third talk in the Autumn Speaker series organised by the Friends of St Mary’s Kidlington is this Saturday, 16th November, at 6pm.

An Oxford Times article once described Debbie as ‘the Gatekeeper to the city’s heritage’ but for Debbie, that felt a bit of a negative statement, for chat with her for a moment and it becomes clear that she is not about simply ‘preserving Oxford’.   For Debbie it is all about making a difference.  She started her career here as a commercial chartered surveyor, and over the years has developed a deep knowledge and understanding of the city, town and gown, and how it all ticks, or does not… Her love of Oxford is palpable and is fascinated by its diversity, its great privilege, and its everyday life, and communities, many of whom have struggles to deal with.   

Debbie was the Director of Oxford Preservation Trust until the end of last year, and some of the highlights during her time, included restoring the Martyrs Memorial, opening up the Castle for the first time in its 1000 year, including the 12^th century St George’s Chapel, recorded in a much heralded Son et Lumiere in 2021. She’s been active in securing the future of the Covered Market, and influencing countless planning and conservation projects along the way.   Passionate about the countryside around the city, Debbie has helped the Trust to acquire over 300 acres of green space and, with her passion for sharing with others, brought us Oxford Open Doors. The annual event, where local people are invited to be a tourist in their own city, began with her address book and lots of arm-twisting, and today is the most successful heritage open days event in a historic UK town and this year attracted 35.000 people to 150 events.

Since standing down from OPT Debbie has taken on various roles including Chair of the Board at the Oxford Playhouse, and Chair of the Buildings Fabric Committee of Christ Church Cathedral.  Her continuing interest in churches and their use, both locally and nationally, is shown by her various roles including as a churchwarden, as a Trustee of the Churches Conservation Trust and Chair of the Historic Chapels Trust, both of which look after closed churches, and her current membership of the Church of England’s Church Buildings Council. She is also appointed by the DCMS to the CofE Statutory Advisory Council to advise on churches who are looking to close.

And in her other spare moments she continues to write for the Oxford Times and has embarked on a DPhil in architectural history at St Catherine’s College, Oxford.   

3rd November, 5.30pm, St Mary’s Kidlington
On Sunday November 3rd the All Souls Service is a special service of remembrance and thanksgiving for the lives of those who are dear to us. This is a gentle time with some singing and readings, a brief talk, reflection and a chance for everyone to light a candle. This service gives us a safe space in which to name our losses and recognise how we really are. It is a time where you do not need to pretend to be ‘ok’: it is fine just to be how you are and who you are. In this service we also read aloud the names of those who we are remembering this year. We have already included those who have passed away over the last two years in our list of those names to be read aloud but if you would like us to include other names please contact Malc in the office on office@kidhp.org.uk. You can also write names by hand on the list as you arrive.

Bring a flower
This year you are also invited to bring a single flower for each person you are remembering. Any size, any colour, any variety is good. We will use them to make instant flower arrangements as a tribute to all those we remember during the service. If you forget or can’t manage it, don’t worry there will be extra ones to choose from in the porch.

We will be celebrating Harvest (physical and spiritual) in all three churches on Sunday 6th October – with each service having its own special flavour:

10am in St Mary’s Kidlington – Holy Communion

10am in St John’s – All Together

5pm in St Mary’s Hampton Poyle – traditional village Harvest celebrations

All donations of food are very welcome, and will be passed on to our local Foodbank.

You can see more about them here.

The next talk in the series organised this Autumn by the Friends of St Mary’s Kidlington will be on Saturday 19th October, 6pm in St Mary’s. Prue Leith will be in conversation with Joanna Foster, recounting many colourful stories of her life, which has ranged from running her own cooking company, appearing in Bake Off, writing novels and much more besides.

Book through Eventbrite here:

Doors open at 5.30pm with talk beginning at 6pm. Refreshments will be available. Please note that booking is essential – see https://fosmk.org.uk/philip-pullman-talk/

Further talks will be by Prue Leith (19th October) and Debbie Dance (16th November). Further details are available at https://fosmk.org.uk/future-events/.

5.30pm at St Mary’s Kidlington

This Sunday evening the choir and choristers will be leading Choral Evensong, which will feature some fantastic music including the Ayleward responses, Stanford in C Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, and the majestic Collegium Regale (King’s College) setting of the Te Deum Laudamus by Howells. There will be two uplifting congregational hymns and the organ voluntary will be the third movement of Trio Sonata No. 5 in Cmajor by J.S.Bach. This is our final choral evensong before the choir takes its summer break, and after the service the congregation is invited to join the choir for a celebratory end-of-term glass of wine!
All welcome

On the first Wednesday of every month a crowd gathers in St John’s for a “Big Sing”. People come because they like being sociable and enjoy singing (or listening to) popular music. Everyone is welcome, with or without any singing ability, and there’s lots of coffee/tea and cake to keep the throat lubricated. This was first set up by our Curate Susy but is now well-established, thanks to her careful planning, and will continue after she leaves us – the wonderful team of helpers is all set.

If you enjoy a good sing, then do come along to join us, 10am to 11.30 am, first Wednesday every month.