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Thursday 18 December 2014

Christmas Eve Crib Service


3pm Christmas Eve

St Nicholas Church


Christmas is very much a festival for children and this informal service is arranged especially with them in mind.  John Wynburne will be leading the service which will include lots of children's carols and the Nativity Story told through wooden spoon puppets, made by the congregation.  Everyone is welcome, whether you're a child or just young at heart!  If you would like to come in costume there will be an opportunity to take part in the Nativity Tableau and have a photo taken.  

Tuesday 16 December 2014

Sunday 14 December 2014

Christingle





A large sphere or “orange” is given to each child to represent the world.  Four sticks bearing fruit represent the seasons and a red ribbon around the orange is for the sacrifice Jesus made.  A candle in the middle is for Jesus, the light of the world
We praise you, O God, that the Light of Christ shines amid the darkness and trouble of the world and that the darkness and troubles have not overcome it; and we pray that through this Christingle Service, your light may shine more and more brightly in our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Saturday 6 December 2014

Congratulations to Hayley and Richard

Warmest congratulations to Hayley and Richard who got married today at 1 O'clock.  Although they do not live in the village, they have been regulars at our little parish church for a long time now.  It was wonderful to share their very special service, led by John Wynburne, with Jeremy on the organ and some stunning flower arrangements by Joy.


Monday 1 December 2014

Tuesday 25 November 2014

Confirmation 23rd November 2014


There was a proud vicar and some very proud parents on Sunday, at St Dunstan’s Church in Monks Risborough, as 19 children from the Benefice, including 11 from Chearsley, confirmed their Christian faith.  Some of the children were invited to help ring the bells before the service in this beautiful 11th century church, which added to the lovely atmosphere. 

 
 

The service was led by Bishop Henry Scriven, a very warm and “human” Bishop who gave us a thought provoking sermon based on the “Great Commission”
I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,  and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.

 
Many thanks to Vicar John for running the confirmation classes, to Paul & Ann for lending us their upper room and to all those from the Benefice who came along to support our children. Thanks also to the congregation of St Dunstan’s who were so welcoming, laying on cakes and refreshments both before and after the service.
 
And to Jack, Alex, Oliver, Rory, Tory, Grace, Maddie, Amy, Isabelle, Libby and William, we are very proud of you.

Thursday 20 November 2014

Friday 31 October 2014

Bell Casting


3 New Bells for Chearsley ~ The Die is Cast!


On Friday 17th October, three new bells, which will soon hang in the bell tower of St Nicholas’ Church Chearsley, were cast at the historic Whitechapel Bell Foundry, in the East End of London, witnessed by a small group of parishioners, the Vicar and Churchwardens. It was a unique and awe-inspiring experience.

Whitechapel is the world’s most famous bell foundry, makers of Big Ben and the Liberty Bell, and more recently, the “Royal Jubilee Bells” which led the procession of boats in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee flotilla in 2012. They continue to produce and export bells throughout the world to this day.

The Foundry buildings date from 1670, four years after the Great Fire of London, and over the years, it has found itself in the midst of other dramatic events, not least of all when Jack the Ripper was committing his grisly murders in 1888, as well as surviving the Blitz during World War II.

Bell making is an old fashioned craft, not a modern production line process, each bell being individually made. Before going into the workshop to see our bells cast, we were given a brief lecture on the process leading up to the moment when the molten metal, a mix of copper and tin, is poured into the loam moulds. These are made of an interesting recipe of horsehair, sand, clay and manure!
 

All the inscriptions are pressed into the moulds at this stage so they are cast into the bells and will appear as raised lettering, and not engraved after the bells are made. The inscriptions are:

Bell 1
(front)

Elizabeth R
(reverse)
Three new bells were added to make a ring of six
in the year AD2014, the 63rd year of her reign
Revd Canon John Wynburne – Vicar
Alicia Howard and Joy Payne – Churchwardens

Bell 2
(front)

Nicholas
Patron Saint of children and this church
(reverse)
The children of Chearsley, past present and future

Bell 3
(front)

Oliver
(reverse)
Donated by family, friends and customers
of “The Bell” in memory of Oliver Babington
1974 – 2012

 

As we entered the workshop, we were transported back in time. The traditional craft, though aided now by modern technology, has largely remained the same process over the centuries. The furnace had been fired up at 6.00 that morning, with metal reaching the required temperature of 1,150 degrees Celsius for casting at 11.45 am. An intensely focussed team of eight men, dressed in protective clothing and space helmets, barely spoke, as they concentrated on skilfully transporting the red hot metal from the furnace to each of our three bell moulds, then pouring a steady stream of glowing liquid with occasional dramatic flurries of sparks and smoke. It was extremely exciting, and moving too, knowing that these bells will reside in Chearsley for centuries to come.

 
During the next few weeks, the bells will be cooled and tuned to blend perfectly with our existing bells. They will then be transported to Whites’ workshop in Appleton, on the far side of Oxford, where the bell frame will be constructed and the fittings added. It is possible that a trip to Appleton may be arranged while the bells are there. Hopefully, they will arrive in the village in time to be rung at Christmas. Prior to hanging, they will be briefly displayed in the church for all to inspect! In early 2015 there will be a special service of dedication and celebration to which everyone will be welcome.

We still need to continue to raise funds – as our target display board shows, we are about £10,000 short of the total required. Please check out the notice boards and Chearsley website for future events. There has been amazing support for this project over the past two years, both from the local community and beyond.

A great deal of time and expertise has been freely given to making applications for possible grants – some successful, others not. Donations, large and small, have been received from the local community, including the Babington family and customers at “The Bell”, also from visitors to the church from all over the country, who have perhaps enjoyed a family wedding or a baptism at St Nicholas’, or just recall happy memories of times spent in Chearsley, plus the wider bell ringing community who see this as a worthwhile venture. “Thank you” to everyone who has contributed, and to those who have come along and enjoyed the various fund-raising events that have been arranged in the village –please
keep coming!

This remarkable fund-raising effort has not affected the regular charitable giving to which the PCC and congregation at St Nicholas’ is strongly committed – this year supporting Christian Aid with a door to door envelope collection and soup lunch, and the Gaza crisis appeal, The Children’s Society Christingle collection, Cystic Fibrosis and DEBRA carol singing collection, Florence Nightingale Hospice, Mix 96 Christmas toy appeal, Steppin Stones shelter for the homeless, and sending a cow and several goats to Africa.

A key element to this project has always been education, and it is wonderful to report that during the past two years, five adults and seven youngsters have been taught the art of bell ringing. When the new bells are installed their repertoire will be widened and their enthusiasm and commitment will be rewarded.


 If you are interested in seeing the fascinating process of making a bell,
there is an excellent U-Tube video filmed at Whitechapel, at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW2Vwq6qco0

Beryl's Blankets


Toy Service


Friday 24 October 2014

Wednesday 10 September 2014

Sunday 7 September 2014

Confirmation Classes


A Message from The Vicar

Confirmation

Would any young person who is interested in Confirmation please come to The Vicarage on Sunday, September 14th at 12.00pm? I am thinking of 12yrs upwards but there may be a younger group. This meeting will be for 45 minutes max and the purpose is mainly to fix up future times that best suit the majority. Mum's and Dad's would be welcome to come and have a pre-prandial drink separately. An idea of those children coming would be helpful.

I am also calling an initial meeting for adults (Confirmation) for Thursday September 11th at 8.00pm at The Vicarage.

John

Tel: 201424 

Saturday 12 July 2014

Picnic - no rain forecast anymore!


The forecast for tomorrow is no longer rain.  Yeh!  So do come along and join in our bring & share picnic after church (about 11am) in Paul and Ann's garden in Long Meadow.  Hope to see you there.

Wednesday 25 June 2014

This Sunday - 29th June


 
There will be a United Benefice communion service in St. Nicholas Church, Chearsley at 10 am on Sunday 29th June.  Our vicar, John Wynburne will be leading this St Peter’s Day service and the Benefice Choir will be singing to mark the occasion.

Tuesday 17 June 2014

Bells Update

We are over half way to raising the money for 3 more bells.  

And our group of trainee bell ringers are now sounding so good, that they are practicing on a Monday night without silencing! 

Well done everybody!

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Picnic - 13th July


After the Morning Celebration service on Sunday 13th July, we will be having a bring and share picnic. Paul and Ann have very kindly offered us their garden and we will  be organising games for the children.  So please come along with your blankets and picnics and join in the fun.  Please let Sharon know what food you are planning to bring on 208740 so that we do not have too many salads or too many cakes (if that is even possible!).


Send a Cow


Morning Celebration have launched a project to raise £750 to buy a cow for a poor family in Africa.  This will have many benefits:

- it will enable the family to improve their health by drinking the milk
- allow them to grow more food with the help of the manure 
- raise money by selling milk and vegetables
- send their children to school with the extra money

 
 
 
Our gift will keep on giving as the family will give their first female calf to another poor family.
To hear more about the charity watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lECEmAQ6nzg
 
 
And now for our cow Totaliser:


 
If you would like to get involved, why not grow a beard, have a cake stall, polish shoes or pet sit to raise some money for Send a Cow?
 
If you would like more information contact Sharon on 208740.
 
 

Thursday 5 June 2014

Tuesday 20 May 2014

Pet Service - 10am This Sunday



Barking Blonde, Anna Webb, will be joining us at the Pet Service on Sunday. 
As a dog expert she's contributed to a host of BBC radio including BBC Scotland, BBC Oxford, Radio 4 and 5 Live. And contributed to CBBC's Underdogs Show, Animal Planet's Top Dog and Dogs 101 as a dog expert.

Anna met Jo Good filming a documentary for BBC Inside Out.  Their friendship led to the Sky series "A Different Breed", a weekly blog in The Independent, a book and the weekly radio show for dogs - BBC London's "The Barking Hour", as well as regular pet experts on ITV's Alan Titchmarsh Show.

Anna moved to Long Crendon to give Molly and Gremling their cat a better life and better air!

Do come along with your pets to celebrate all of God's marvellous creations.

Tuesday 6 May 2014

Pet Service

 
 
Sunday 25th May
10am St Nicholas, Chearsley

Back by popular demand....  a PET SERVICE! 
Our vicar John will be leading a Pet Service, on 25th May, in church, so bring along all your pets and let's celebrate all of God's creation together.

Monday 31 March 2014

Thursday 6 March 2014

Wednesday 5 March 2014

Maundy Thursday



April 17th

Holy Communion 8.00pm at Nether Winchendon

 

This day commemorates two of the most significant actions of Jesus. It is the night on which Jesus had a last supper with his friends and commanded us to remember him each time we share bread and wine. Here the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus are made present. Here heaven and earth, the divine and the human are brought together. At the end of the service, the frontal of the altar all the adornments of the sanctuary are removed, symbolising Christ’s separation from God as he enters his passion and takes to himself the sin of mankind.  


Compline



MONDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
OF HOLY WEEK
 
Compline will be said at 8.00pm with Meditations
 
Monday        April   14th                Nether Winchendon
Tuesday       April   15th                Chearsley
Wednesday  April   16th                Long Crendon
                     
Compline is a quiet and exquisite late-night service that traditionally ends the day in convents and monasteries.


Monday 3 March 2014

Congratulations

John and Alicia Howard proudly announce the arrival of grandson number 2, safely delivered to Johnny and Claire in France this evening – a brother called Tom for Charlie!

Friday 28 February 2014

Ash Wednesday - March 5th

 
Holy Communion 
11.00am at Long Crendon
 8.00pm at Chearsley
 
This day marks the first day of Lent. At the service, ashes from last year’s Palm Crosses, which have been burnt, are gently put on the forehead in the sign of a cross (only for those who wish it). Ashes are a very ancient symbol of penitence. They also remind us of our mortality; that the end of our human journey is the dust of death.  We have all, in the words of the Prayer Book,‘erred and strayed like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things we ought to have done and have done those things which we ought not to have done’. Penitence involves a change of heart and a turning again towards God in whom alone is our healing and our wholeness.

Friday 21 February 2014

START




The Road Ahead
Where is my life leading?
An opportunity to ask "What am I living for?"


 is a friendly and informal way for anyone to investigate Christianity, or just brush up on the basics.  With the help of a DVD it explores who Jesus is, why he came and what it means to follow him.

You don't need to know anything about the Bible
You won't be asked to read aloud, pray or sing
You can ask any question you wish.

The series will run for 6 evenings on Wednesdays from 5th March in the Long Crendon Village Centre.  Itwill begin with refreshments at 7.30pm, the programme will start at 8pm and will always be finished by 9.30pm.
    • March 5th       Life is for Living    
    • March 12th     Oh my God!
    • March 19th     Jesus who?
    • March 26th     What’s gone wrong? 
    • April 2nd        Dying to save us
    • April 9th         Into the arms of love
For further details contact Rev Canon John Wynburne 201424 or Darren Sampson 208740

Build on the Rock


You are invited to a Lent Group in Chearsley on Wednesday evenings from 8.00 to 9.30 pm.
 
“Build on the Rock” starts by looking at faith and doubt. Is it wrong – or is it normal and healthy  - for a Christian to have doubts?  Is there any evidence for a God who loves us? We hear from many witnesses. At the heart of a Christian answer stands Jesus himself. We consider his “strange and beautiful story”, and reflect on his teaching, his death, his resurrection and his continuing significance.
    • 12/3           Believing and doubting
    • 19/3           Jesus - our teacher
    • 26/3           Jesus - our saviour
    • 2/4             Jesus - conqueror of death
    • 9/4             Jesus - Lord and brother
Please contact Geoff on 201197 or ga.hogbin@btinternet.com  for more information.

Tuesday 11 February 2014

Beryl's Beautiful Blankets for the Bells


Beryl Wright has crocheted some gorgeous blankets and would like to sell them for the amazing price of £15 each.  They are acrylic wool and about 1m x 2m, washable and warm and as you can see, come in some beautiful colours.  They would look great on a sofa or bed.  All proceeds will go towards the new bells. If you would like one, please phone Beryl on 208607.