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In common with all other charitable bodies the parish has to have an annual (general) meeting in which we present our finances and a report on the year and also elect our church officers. This year our APCM is at 8pm on Wednesday 8th May at St Mary’s Kidlington. We will be electing a new warden for St Mary’s Kidlington and several PCC members, receiving the electoral roll, and holding a very brief first meeting of the new PCC in which we appoint the Lay Chair, Treasurer and Secretary and set dates for the year ahead. Wine and soft drink will be available.

If you are on the electoral roll please consider if you would like to stand for election to any of these roles and let one of the wardens or clergy know so that we can help you fill in a nomination form – we need all three churches well represented.

You can find out more about the meeting and access all the papers here.

What a fabulous fun day. To read more about it and see just a selection of photos go here.

Our Summer Sunday Teas season starts on 5th May. Do come along to the Refectory at the back of St Mary’s Kidlington, 3pm to 5pm, any Sunday up to 8th September – tea (or coffee!), homemade cakes and plenty of chat. And for the first two weeks you can also enjoy the Artweeks exhibition in the church.

Please come and join our ‘Joseph Challenge’ day of fun and fellowship on Sunday, 21st April 2024, St Mary’s Kidlington, 11am to 5pm

The focus is on fun and fellowship. Everyone from our three churches is invited. Everyone will be able to get involved. You can choose what you do.

Here are a few ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ for the actual day:

• Don’t wear anything special – just your normal clothes.
• Do come and join us – no pressure – stay as long as you can. (We start at 11am and finish at 5pm).
• Do bring something to share with others for lunch.
• Do let us know that you are coming (if you can). If you haven’t already signed up, please email mrs.clare.morgan@googlemail.com to say that you intend to come.
• Do bring your parent/carer/helper to stay (and get involved) for the day if you need help and support or supervision. (We can’t take responsibility for any under 18s on the day – children must be supervised at all times).
• Do bring laughter, your sense of humour and your best smile. You will need them. There will be times to listen, wait and be very patient as we work together to get organised.
• Do bring a copy of the music (if you have one). We will have words for everyone and some music copies for those who want it.
• Do bring a cake (as well as lunch) if you can.

Everyone is invited. Everyone will be able to get involved, whether you are nearly nine, ninety-nine or anywhere in-between. We’ll start working at St Mary’s Kidlington after the morning services with breaks for a ‘Bring and Share’ lunch and some cake in the afternoon. We’ll have our final run through at around 4.30pm.

Artists at St Mary’s are thrilled to be able to exhibit for Oxfordshire Art Weeks Festival 2024. They are a large group of local artists (including some new members for 2024) who for the last 10 years have been exhibiting together for the festival in St Mary’s Kidlington. They bring together a diverse number of mediums and talents from watercolour, oils, acrylic, textiles, collage and mixed media. There will be something to suit every taste and pocket. Come and stock up on unique greetings cards or treat yourself to some art by a local artist. All major credit and debit cards can be used for purchases.

Why not make an outing of it and have stroll through the ancient water meadows of Kidlington’s green belt down to the picturesque River Cherwell and back to St Mary’s for tea, cake and art?

St Marys Church Kidlington 4 May – 12 May. 12-5pm venue 151

Nineteen artists will be exhibiting their work in the nave and chancel of this inspiring Grade I listed building in Kidlington. 

During the course of this year’s exhibition there will be extra events, open to all.  Talks are free, workshops cost £5 each to cover cost of materials.

Sunday 5 May, 6pm: Artists Talking

Katherine Shock (painter/garden designer) will discuss with three of the artists their sources of inspiration, how they paint and how their creativity has developed. Steve Daggitt, James Hamilton, Elizabeth Kirkham.

Monday 6 May, 2-4 pm: Workshop

Pasta Press Etching with Charlotte Orr (illustrator and teacher of Art and Design). Create your own mini etching print using recycled materials (5 places).

Tuesday 7 May, 6pm: Concert 

Gosford Hill School Choir and Orchestra.  Conductor Andrew Purtell. Featuring music by John Rutter, Sarah Quartel, Bob Chilcott, Jonathan Larson, Monty Norman, Hans Zimmer … and Abba.

Wednesday 8th May, 2-4 pm: Workshop

Doodle stitch- Mindfulness with a needle with Lynn Pilgrim (media and textile artist working with layers and textures (10 places).

Friday 10 May, 1pm to 2.30pm: Concert 

Jonathan Wiseman (Award-winning classical guitarist from Kidlington).

Friday 10th May, 2-4pm : Workshop

Screen printing on fabric with Rosemary Meara (textile artist and teacher of Art and Design).  Use paper stencils to create an individual tote bag (5 places).

NB: workshops: no previous experience necessary, cost £5 each place. Places are limited so please apply to stmarysartists@gmail.com

For further information please contact Richard Friedemann, stmarysartists@gmail.com

Choral services at St Mary’s Kidlington this week

This week is a busy one for our choirs! This Sunday 11^th February the choristers are singing at the 10am service, including Vaughan Williams’ “Come my way, my truth, my life”. On Wednesday 14^th February the adult choir will be singing at our 8pm Ash Wednesday service, including the Byrd 4-part Mass and Byrd “Miserere Mei”. Then on Sunday 18^th February the adult choir will be singing at our 5.30pm Choral Evensong, including the Gibbons Second Service and the Purcell “Hear my prayer, O Lord”. A feast of Lenten music to mark the season!

Starry Starry Nights

We are planning an Astronomy evening at St Mary’s Kidlington led by retired Professor of Astrophysics Roger Davies. It’s hard to say when exactly as it will depend, of course, on there not being cloud cover. So the way we are approaching it is to ask anyone interested to register using this form. No internet, no problem, just ring Andy on 01865-985242.

Jesus Christ, Superstar

A church outing to the theatre – Superstar will be coming to the New Theatre, Oxford, on 6th to 12th May and we are planning a Parish Outing. If you want to come, express your interest here. Again, if you have no internet, just ring Andy on 01865-985242

St John’s Church, 3pm, Sundays 28th January, 11th February, 10th March

Our series of Winter Tea Talks is well underway. We started in January with our very own Andy Pedley talking about his love of bees.

Following soon after, on Sunday 11th February, David Meara talked about one of his old haunts – St Bride’s Fleet Street.

Finishing on 10th March with , ‘Rolled, flat or folded? – The presentation and preservation of traditional Japanese paintings’, where Philip Meredith, the Higashiyama Kaii Conservator of Japanese Paintings Emeritus, Museum of Fine Arts Boston USA, will explain the specialized techniques used to present and display Japanese paintings.