A romantic escapeor real hope?READ THE BISHOP OF OXFORD’SCHRISTMAS MESSAGE ON PAGE 2

theDoorDIOCESE OF OXFORD REPORTER IN BERKSHIRE,BUCKINGHAMSHIRE & OXFORDSHIRE DECEMBER 2004 No 158HAPPY CHRISTMAS! www.oxford.anglican.org

Buy a futurethis ChristmasWHY CHICKENS ARE ON ONE TEENAGER’S CHRISTMAS LIST PAGE 15

It happened thirty-three years ago — and yet…It seems like yesterday.There he was at last… my baby… a son…He and I were alone for a few minutes…No-one else was there.I didn’t have to share him… yet…

I remember…I picked him up and held him close…

I felt his strong little body close to mine…Just a short while ago he had been cocooned inside me.

Now he was a separate small person.

What would be his future? I wonderedI gazed at his face still crumpled from the birth-struggle…I tucked my cheek close to his… and felt his

warmth…I felt the softness of his dark hair… now dry and soft…

Soft as thistledown…As soft and dark as a baby duckling.

I whispered his name…

I looked at his hands… like little starfish…Spread out… and perfect…Each finger… each tiny fingernail… perfect… a wonder…How perfect!I put my finger into his handAnd his fingers curled tightly around my finger.Such a strong grip! What strength!He held me as I held him.

And his feet?He thrust his feet out of the shawl… such strong legs…How strong!And his feet?I held them in one hand.He pushed his feet against my hand.Tiny pink heels… perfect pink toes…How wonderful!

I thought, ‘For these few moments he is mine, totally mine’.

He opened his eyes and gazed up at me…Our first shared look.His eyes were dark and deep with knowingWe shared a long deep gaze…Already we had shared so much.How much more would we share?How much?

But then I became conscious of noise and movement.The world was beginning to crowd in on us.I hugged him close to me… and knewI had to start letting him go…Letting him go.So soon?

The Birth of a Son

The author of this poem, Amy Perry, is a licensed layminister in Burghfield, Berkshire. When her son wasborn 33 years ago he was a ‘perfect’ baby but he latersuffered profound brain damage. She says: ‘I havelearnt a great deal through my son and through theexperiences I have had because of him.After a strug-gle I joyfully came to a greater faith in God ... in fact Imet God's Son in a wonderful way through my son.’

PHOTO REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

THE Bishop of Reading is holding amemorial service for all those involvedin the train crash at Ufton Nervet, nearReading in November. Seven people,including two children, lost their liveswhen a train hit a car on a level crossingjust outside Reading.

The service is for family and friendsof the bereaved and injured, passengers,members of the emergency services, railstaff, people from the local communityand the many agencies and caringgroups involved. It will be held on 8December at 2pm in the MinisterChurch of St Mary, Reading.

Clergy and laity from many differentchurches were amongst the first torespond to the crash, said RevdRichard Thomas, communicationdirector for the Diocese of Oxford.

‘Many worked for the emergencyservices. There was an Anglican Prieston the train. The Railway Mission senta team of Chaplains to the site, andthey were present every day. The AreaDean, Jo Loveridge, was present at thecasualty station on the first evening.Hospital Chaplains were called in tothe hospitals nominated to receivecasualties. And the Bishop of Readingvisited the responders at the crash siteand many of those admitted to hospi-tal on the Sunday. Our task was to sup-port them in prayer, to make present

the crucified God in the midst of thepain, and to assist in the recoveryprocess.’ First Great Western and FirstGreat Western Link are offering freetravel to those attending the service.For more details see our websitewww.oxford.anglican.org

A NEW Anglican organisation hasbeen set up to help encourage renew-al and mission in churches.

ReSource was launched with aspecial commissioning service of theteam at the Benedictine Priory inBurford, led by the Archbishop ofCanterbury, before an open serviceof celebration in the parish church.

The parish church was packedwith supporters and clergy from

across the diocese.The Archbishop welcomed the

launch of ReSource, saying it was a‘refreshing addition to the supportfor the Church as she moves ingrowth and renewal’.

He said: ‘Among other things, Iam glad to see the emphasis onScripture and prayer, on proper the-ology and the prophetic – and thebreadth of the approach of this

initiative.‘I believe that the combination of

renewal and mission, Word andSpirit, are key to the communicationof the Christian Gospel in this gener-ation. I see ReSource as one of themany streams of development whichare beginning to flow together at thisimportant time in the life of theChurch.’

Martin Cavender, previously headof Springboard, the formerArchbishop of Canterbury’s evangel-ism initiative, will head up ReSource.

He said its launch was timely asthere were ‘stirrings in the Church ofa massive reformation and renewal’.

‘The sense of unity with groupsand agencies working in Christianrenewal, such as New Wine, Alpha,Soul Survivor and other agencies, aswell as other denominations, is wonderful,’ he said.

It will provide theological and pas-toral support to churches, diocesesand individuals.

Events are to be held across theUK in the coming months, starting inYork Minister.

News2 T H E D O O R : D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 4

The Door is published ten times a year. 40,000 copies aredistributed in the Diocese of Oxford with the help of volunteers.

Editor Rebecca Paveley Telephone: 01865 208227Assistant Natalie Abbott Telephone: 01865 208225Photography Frank BlackwellDistribution manager Peter ChapmanEditorial group David Shepherd (Chairman,Woodstock); ColinFletcher (Bishop of Dorchester); Clemency Fox (Marston), KeithLamdin (Director of Training), Richard Thomas (Diocesan Directorof Communications), Peter Chapman (Deddington), Philip Hind(Web Editor), Revd Ian Cohen (Chalgrove), Revd Ann Douglas(Woodley), Becky Bevan (Cold Ash).Editorial address Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford,OX2 ONB. Fax: 01865 790470. e-mail: door@oxford.anglican.orgProduction Esar Graphic Design Ltd.Telephone: 01527 402758e-mail: esar.graphicdesign@virgin.netAdvertising address Sue Williams,The Old Bakehouse, 1242AEvesham Road, Astwood Bank, Redditch,Worcestershire B96 6AA.Telephone 01527 892945 Fax:01527 892152; e-mail cross.publica-tions@virgin.net The DOOR is published by Oxford DiocesanPublications Ltd (Secretary Mrs Rosemary Pearce).The registered officeis Diocesan Church House,North Hinksey,Oxford,OX2 ONB.Tel:01865208200.Deadlines for FEBRUARY 2004 DOOR:Features 5 January; Letters & What’s on 13 January; News 18January Published 24 January. NOTE:THERE IS NO JANUARY ISSUEWhile every care is taken to ensure the reliability of our advertise-ments, their inclusion in The DOOR does not guarantee it or mean thatthey are endorsed by the Diocese of Oxford.Photos which appear in The DOOR can be purchased by contactingFrank Blackwell on 01865 341013 or frankblackwell@btopenworld.com

behind theDoor Bishops and ArchdeaconsBISHOP OF OXFORD The Right Revd Richard Harries,Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford, OX2 ONBTel:01865 208200. Fax: 01865 790470.E-mail: bishopoxon@dch.oxford.anglican.orgARCHDEACONRY OF OXFORDBishop of Dorchester The Right Revd Colin Fletcher, Arran House,Sandy Lane, Yarnton, Oxford OX5 1PB Tel: 01865 375541.Fax: 01865 379890. E-mail: bishopdorchester@oxford.anglican.orgArchdeacon The Venerable John Morrison, Christ Church, Oxford OX11DP Tel: 01865 204440. Fax 204465.E-mail: archdoxf@oxford.anglican.orgARCHDEACONRY OF BERKSHIREBishop of Reading, Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell,Bishop’s House,Tidmarsh Lane,Tidmarsh, Reading RG8 8HATel: 01189 841216. Fax: 0118 984 1218.E-mail: bishopreading@oxford.anglican.orgArchdeacon The Venerable Norman Russell, Foxglove House,Love Lane, Donnington, Newbury, Berks RG14 2JG Tel: 01635552820. Fax: 01635 522165. E-mail: archdber@oxford.anglican.orgARCHDEACONRY OF BUCKINGHAMBishop of Buckingham The Rt Revd Alan Wilson,Sheridan, Grimms Hill, Great Missenden, Bucks HP16 9BD Tel: 01494 862173. Fax: 01494 890508.E-mail: bishopbucks@oxford.anglican.orgArchdeacon The Venerable Sheila Watson, Bede House,Paul’s Hill,Penn, High Wycombe, Bucks HP10 8NZ Tel 01494 814571.E-mail archdbuck@oxford.anglican.org PROVINCIAL EPISCOPAL VISITOR Bishop of Ebbsfleet The Right Revd Andrew Burnham,Bishops House,DrySandford,Abingdon,OX13 6JP Tel:01865 390746E-mail:bishop.andrew@ebbsfleet.org.uk

Sight impaired people can nowget a free audio version of TheDOOR by contacting GrahamWinterbourne on 01884 840285.

THIS Christmas, the world seemsan even darker and more dangerousplace than it did last year. The con-flict in Iraq grabs headlines, butmasks other equally difficult con-flicts. Afghanistan continues to suf-fer, and many of the African statescontinue with seemingly intractableproblems. Morally, we seem to havemade little progress. Despite the

foxhunting debate, we continue totreat animals with little respect ordignity, and our sense of moral pro-portion seems curiously distorted.

So it is easy to dismiss theChristmas message of hope ashopelessly optimistic. Yet this child,whose birth we celebrate on 25thDecember, was born into a troubledworld. His early life was spent as a

refugee from state sponsored vio-lence. He knew what it was like tolive in an occupied country. And forthat reason his life, as well as histeaching, shines as a beacon of hopefor all of us who want to change theworld for the better. He called us tolove our enemies and pray for ourpersecutors. He showed us how tolive in dependence on God, rather

than on our own wealth or power.Even the title he chose for himself,Son of Man, makes a statement ofsupreme ecological value. TheHebrew Ben Adam means, literally,'Son of the one hewn from theearth'.

Christmas can be a romanticescape from the horrors we havecreated for ourselves. But it can also

be a celebration of hope, a recogni-tion that if we want to find a wayout of the mess, there is someonewho can show us the way.

Memorial service forReading train crash victims

Jesus’ life is a beacon of hope for all who want to change the world for the better

Archbishop welcomes initiative toencourage growth and renewal

Stephen Hines, from the LondonAmbulance Service, lays a wreath inmemory of the lives lost at the UftonNervet rail crash, during a special serv-ice of remembrance held at St Mary'sChurch in Sulhamstead Abbots nearUfton Nervet in Berkshire. PhotoJohnny Green/PA photo.

Pictured from left to right Abbot Stuart Burns OSB, Archbishop RowanWilliams and Martin Cavender, Director of ReSource pictured before the cele-bration service in Burford parish church. photo Frank Blackwell

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News3T H E D O O R : D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 4

Rebuilding church for theemerging generation

ST LAURENCE Reading is anancient building in the heart ofthe town, which is seeking tolive a new vision in new ways.Originally part of the abbey,this wonderfully historicmedieval building has had aprestigious history. But due tochanges in demographics in thetown centre and other factors,there was a steady decrease inthe weekly congregation, reach-ing around 12 adults at the endof the nineties. Bravely theincumbent and area dean,Canon Brian Shenton, took theriskiest option available; he puteverything up for grabs andheld a deanery review to seekthe right way forward for thischurch.

The review group made thespecific recommendations thatSt Laurence’s future lay in giv-ing itself to ministry withyoung people who had no con-

tact with church. In early 2001I was appointed as associate

vicar, and gathered around mea team of adults who werecommitted to give everythingto serve the vision of thechurch; to see non churchyoung people come to faithand build new models ofchurch with them. We knewthat relationships were key.So our work in local schoolshas always taken on the roleof actively pursuing possibili-ties and openings which offerthe most empowering andhealthy relationships withyoung people. Our intentions

are always to seek to offer theyoung people good relation-ships with adults, whichenable them to take goodresponsibility for their lives.All this work is essential towho we are as church; it is theunconditional work of theKingdom of God.

More than a youth groupIf that is one essential arm ofour ministry as church theother essential arm is activelyand purposefully buildingchurch with young people. Weare not a youth church or aglorified youth group. This ischurch in a particular culture.Doing everything in contentthat Anglican churches havealways done, but in the formwhich reflects the emergingculture. Our contention isthat life as church shouldalways be orientated aroundothers. At St Laurence we tryto continually ask and live outbeing orientated round thosewho are not yet part of thelife of the people of God.Whilst the mandate is particu-lar to us as a church, webelieve the principle of beingmissiologically focussed on

others, is not. So anyone iswelcome to come along andbe part of the life of God here;but throwing your lot inmeans you throw your lot(time, prayers, money) intothe particular vocation of thischurch. Being part of churchisn’t about attendance atmeetings, but about belongingto a group of people, a com-munity, committed radicallyto God and each other. At thetime of writing there are 50 ofus at the core of the church’slife of whom around 30 are

teenagers who previously hadno contact with church andtwenty are the team of youngadults who live and breathethe vision. We have wider con-tact with some 100 otherteenagers. The particular newthing for us is that after 18months of work to re-orderthe interior, the building is

now operational. The re-ordering is quite amazing,using stainless steel glass andwood in this ancient Grade Alisted building to provide otherspaces. This is a wonderful giftand opens up huge possibili-ties. But we are under no illu-sions. We know that in and ofitself the building will do noth-ing, and so we are committedto praying and investing evenfurther and deeper in the livesof these young people.

Partnering GodThe last three years have notalways been easy, we havelearnt painful lessons, but theyhave been thrilling in manyways. Our greatest thrill todate isn’t having a wonderfulbuilding but having the privi-lege of being co-partners withGod as he works to transformlives; as we see young peopleset free from things that heldthem, as we see lives set on firewith love for Jesus, as we seenew expressions of worshipand praise to God, as we see asense of belonging and selfworth when there was just iso-lation. Just last night 13 saidthey wanted to be baptized.

We have been given themost wonderful heritage, interms of our church building,location and resourcing. Butthe greatest privilege is ourinclusion in the work of Godin teenage lives. He is a Godwho changes lives, and he hascertainly changed ours as we havegiven ourselves to see his trans-forming love in the lives of others.

The church of St Laurence, Reading has recently re-opened as a church for ‘the emerging generation’. Its transformation cost £500,000, and was ‘driven by the vision’of creating a church for young people who had no previous connection with the Church.The present congregation of 50 are all under the age of 35 and most come from non-Christian families.The Revd Chris Russell writes about his work in the new St Laurence,which was formally opened by Paul Boateng, chief secretary to the Treasury,at the endof last month.

A modern church: a view of the amazing new interior of St Laurence, Reading. Some£500,000 has been spent on transforming the church, which was officially re-opened at theend of last month. Photo Paul Clowney

The greatest privilege isour inclusion in thework of God in teenagelives

Being part of churchisn’t about attendanceat meetings, but aboutbelonging to a group ofpeople, a community,committed radically toGod and each other

Another view of the new interior at St Laurence. Photo Paul Clowney

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14-20 March 2005

“Pathways to Prayer”Walking and prayer retreat

Canon John Crowe

27-29 May 2005Sons and Daughters of Abrahamconference - A Christian, Jew andMuslim in conversation. Speakers:

Ibraham Hewitt, Niles ElliotGoldstein and Garth Hewitt.

People & places4 T H E D O O R : D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 4

Subscribe to the Door – andhave £5 sent to your church

OVER 400 people gathered atthe Marlborough School,Woodstock for CelebrationPraise, a day of talks and work-shops on the theme of worship.

They also gathered to bidBarbara Doubtfire God speedas she retires from her role ofparish development adviser inthe archdeaconry of Oxford.

In his talk the Bishop ofCoventry remarked that whenhe was the vicar of St. Andrewshe had met Barbara, atSpringfield St. Mary and shehad managed to get him towear a chasuble for the firsttime.

At the end of the day BishopColin added his personalthanks, and Keith Lamdin pre-sented her with a painting of St.Mary’s Kidlington, and acheque.

In making the presentation hereminded people of some ofBarbara’s involvement in the lifeof the diocese over the last 16years, including her ordinationto the priesthood at the firstordination of women priests inOxford. He wondered how

many ‘first time we had awoman preside at the Eucharist’Barbara had heard, as she trav-elled round the churches of thearchdeaconry. When mention-ing her propensity for fast driv-ing Bishop Colin handed her hisstaff so she could keep somecontrol of the proceedings. Ona more serious note people werereminded of her gifts:

• Her real understanding ofhumankind, and the puzzlesand fixes we all get ourselvesinto.

• Despite all that and manyof the problems faced bychurches set in small rural com-munities her real and deepeninghope for the church.

• Her passion for God andher holding together spiritualityand issues of justice.

• Her ability to be a criticalfriend, speaking the truth withlove.

While Barbara Doubtfire isretiring from her role at PDA,she is continuing to lead thediocesan work in SpiritualDirection and can be contactedon spidir@oxford.anglican.org.

Eco-columnWe face global problems: the whole world, fromthe polar caps to the tropical savannahs, from thegrain baskets of North America to the Steppes ofAsia, is vulnerable to the climate change broughtabout by human action. The causes of climatechange are whole societies and their life styles,nations and multinational institutions and thetrans-human forces that drive them. What can we,so small, so insignificant in the scheme of things,do to help? Perhaps it is part of our decadentwestern mindset to despair. But of course allhuman activity is the sum of actions, ofteninsignificant, on the part of billions of people. AsI write this, we have just been witnessing the longqueues at American polling stations, long queues

of people who thought their vote counted, mightreally change the outcome of an election. AsChristians, we are called to pray and to act, nomatter what the odds against success might seemto be. We are called to be beacons of hope to theworld. Changes will only happen if people ofgood will make them, and lead others by theirexample. We can all take action, whether it is bycutting down on unnecessary travel, insulatingour houses, or taking care with our shopping tobuy local produce. To find out more, come to anecumenical conference, organised by theDiocese, on ‘Climate change – how Christiansrespond’ on 26th February 2005. Latest detailsare on our website www.sageoxford.org.uk/cli-matechange.htm. We are challenging every parishin the Diocese to send some one to the confer-ence!

Revd Professor Ian James is DiocesanEnvironment Advisor, and Head of the School ofMathematics, Meteorology and Physics atReading University. Contact him by e-mailingDr.I.N.James@Btinternet.com.

SHELLINGFORD Church of England primaryschool is celebrating coming out of specialmeasures – after just nine months.

The school was put onto ‘special measures’by Ofsted in January but it has been turnedaround by new headteacher Fiona Craig.

Diocesan director of education, LeslieStephen, said the nine month turnaround wasone of the fastest in the country.

He paid tribute to the staff, the parents andthe community at the small school.

The Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd StephenCottrell, held a service of celebration in St

Faith’s Church before blessing a new founda-tion stage playground. The church was packedwith children, villagers and parents and friendsof pupils.

Currently the school has just 26 children onthe roll, but its success means it is already over-subscribed for next year.

Governor Tim Green said everyone at theschool had worked ‘incredibly hard’ in the lastfew months.

‘We are very lucky to have Mrs Craig. Theschool has come on tremendously and everyonein the community has really rallied around.’

WOULD you like to be the first inthe queue to get The Door eachmonth? Readers can now sub-scribe to ensure they get their copyof the only Christian newspaper toserve Oxfordshire, Berkshire andBuckinghamshire on time eachmonth. It costs just £10 a year andhalf of that will be sent back bythe Diocese of Oxford to a church

or church project of your choice. For an order form, go to

www.oxford.anglican.org/doorand click on Subscribe Today atthe bottom of the page. Or phoneNatalie Abbott on 01865 208225for more information and ways topay your subscription. It couldmake the perfect Christmas present!

Its farewell to one friend ... Perfect Christmasgift for friendsThe first selection of favouriterecipes of Sou th BucksMothers Union members(including starters, mainmeals, desserts, cakes and bis-cuits} – one each from 50 dif-ferent members – have beenput into a booklet by MaryLane of Hedgerley. It is now onsale for £1. Copies will be onsale at diocesan and deaneryMU events in the diocese. Toobtain a copy, contact BNeilson on 01753 651670. Allproceeds from the sale of thebooklet will go to the MU adultliteracy and developmentscheme which has done so wellin parts of Africa that theyhope to extend it.

BBC’s SundayBreakfast relaunch

Keith Lamdin, director of Stewardship,Training, Evangelismand Ministry, says goodbye to Barbara Doubtfire

...and goodbye to another parishdevelopment adviserJUDI Hattaway is also on herway, at the end of December,having served a sterling sevenyears as PDA for Berkshire.Having worked for ICI and theScripture Union as a trainerJudi brought a wide experience

to the post. Judi has beenappointed as the SpecialEducation Needs Mediationand Tribunals Officer forWokingham District Council.There will be a party in thearchdeaconry to wish her well.

Schoolmarks successwith service ofcelebration

Bishop Stephen talking to children at the serviceof celebration. photo Frank Blackwell

BBC Radio Oxford’s Sundaymorning programme hasrelaunched with JonathanHancock as its presenter. Theshow, which is broadcast from6am until 9am on 95.2FM isa mix of topical discussions,indepth interviews and music.For more on the man behindthe show, see the next issue ofthe Door, published inJanuary.

Anglican cursilloOxford Anglican Cursillo haveannounced the dates of the firstCursillo weekends as part of the2005 launch of Cursillo in theDiocese of Oxford.

Cursillo is a movement of theChurch, providing a method bywhich Christians are empoweredto grow through prayer,study andaction, and enabled to shareGod's love with everyone. TheBishop of Dorchester, who him-self went on a Cursillo weekendin another Diocese in November,said: ‘I am glad to commendCursillo warmly in theDorchester Area and in theDiocese as a whole.’

The dates of the weekends are21-24 April and 27-30 October.Leaflets, booking forms and fur-ther information are availablefrom Andrew Garrett, 5 ThePaddock, Kennington, OxfordOX1 5SB.Tel. 01865 739943

Competition winners: Catherine Turnbull-Ross, Aylesbury; Brian LHarris, Chichester, W Sussex; Mrs U. M. James, Aylesbury; Revd MaureenDevine, Earley, Berks and Mrs W D Slaymake, Headington, Oxford wincopies of Sharing Life Through Advent by Jenny Hyson and David Winter

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Feature5T H E D O O R : D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 4

Call for change in abortion law

I AM currently happy to be 23 weeks pregnantwith my third child. We already have two littlegirls, Emily who is four, and Ruth who is three,so we are going to have our hands full!

However, under the existing law in the UK, Iwould be entitled to have an abortion for‘social’ reasons up to 24 weeks, despite the factthat my unborn child is in good health. ShouldI unexpectedly go into labour this week, theadvances in neonatal care are such that mybaby would have a chance, albeit slim, of sur-viving and going on to live a normal life.

The paradoxical situation we have in thiscountry is that we are fighting to keep alivesome 23 week old babies in our neonatal unitsand giving them the right to life, whilst at thesame time in abortion clinics and hospitals we

are disposing of other 23 week old babies, aswe uphold the mother’s right to choose.

Last year in the UK there were a record 182, 000 abortions performed. The vast major-ity of these, over 90%, were for ‘social’ rea-sons. As many as one in three women now haveat least one termination in their reproductivelife. Abortion takes a personal toll on themother, both emotionally and physically.

All this leads me to ask the question – whoselife is it anyway? It seems to me that we need toreconsider the case for the rights of the unborn.The vociferous pro-choice lobbyists seem to bedrowning out the voices of those who wouldspeak up for the rights of the unborn.

The activities of one pro-choice charity, theBritish Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS)seems to be going to new extremes. It has beenreported in the Daily Mail that the BPAS hasbeen advising women to go to Spain for abor-tions up to as late as 30 weeks. If this is true, Ifind this advice distressing as our daughterEmily who is a lively and healthy four-year-old,was born prematurely, at 29 weeks.

Emily, who was born weighing just 2lbs 3oz,spent several weeks in an incubator, and twoand a half months in total in the special care

unit. Despite the many ups and downs of hertime in there, and the emotional rollercoaster forus, we were delighted to take her home with nolong term medical problems. This is thanks tothe excellent neonatal care which she received inhospital, and the many prayers of family, friendsand church members. She is now full of life, andhas started school this term, which she is greatlyenjoying. It’s awful to think that a baby likeEmily who has done so well could have beenaborted at the clinic in Barcelona.

The case for late abortions for ‘social’ rea-sons has recently come into question followingnew scientific evidence showing 3-D images offoetuses as young as 12 weeks moving theirlegs, seemingly practising walking in thewomb. Given the captivating coverage on TVof these images, perhaps our collective con-science has been disturbed enough for us to bechallenged to think again about what we areallowing in permitting ‘social’ abortions up to24 weeks. Even David Steel, who introducedthe 1967 Abortion Act, is now in favour ofreducing the upper limit for social abortion.Tony Blair is also in favour of a review.

Those of us who hold the traditionalChristian view of the sanctity of human life,and the belief that all human beings, includingthe unborn, are created in the image of God,will see this latest scientific evidence merelyconfirming what we already know to be true:these are tiny babies, of eternal significance andinestimable value, who have a right to life.

The law is flawed and dated, and urgentlyneeds reviewing. Now is a good time forChristians to stand up and to lobby for thatlaw to be amended.

As we approach Christmas, and are remindedof the birth of Jesus Christ, let us reflect on oneof the most striking and powerful passages ofscripture as it relates to the unborn, LukeChapter one verses 39 – 45. Here, Mary, preg-nant with Jesus, visits Elizabeth, six months (24weeks) pregnant with John the Baptist. Elizabeth,filled with the Holy Spirit says to Mary, ‘For assoon as I heard the sound of your greeting, thechild in my womb leapt for joy.’ (Lk 1:44)

It’s time for us to call for a major publicdebate on the subject of abortion, and for thevoices of those who would speak up for therights of the unborn to be heard.

It’s awful to think that a baby likeEmily who has done so well couldhave been aborted at the clinic inBarcelona

Revd Christine Beecroft’s eldest daughter was born at just 29 weeks and spentmonths in intensive care. Christine was shocked by recent reports that Britishwomen up to 30 weeks pregnant have been advised to go to Spain for abortions.Sheexplains why she wants Tony Blair to change the law on ‘social’ abortions.

Revd Christine Beecroft, from Warfield St Michael, Bracknell with daughter Emily.Photo Frank Blackwell

Celebrating fairtrade fashion winby Natalie Abbott

THE Bayer family, fromOxford, were the winners ofthe Door’s fairtrade competi-tion (October Door). MumEsther won £100 of fairtradeclothes from fairtrade@stmichaels in the Cornmarket,Oxford.

She chose a skirt, top, scarfand hat for herself (picturedleft) and bought husbandWalter a shirt.

Esther said: ‘We’ve alwaystried to buy fairtrade foodbefore, but having seen whatis on offer, we will definitelylook to buy fairtrade clothesin future.’

Fairtrade@stmichaels recent-ly celebrated its first birthday.

Esther Bayer with sons James and Simeon and husband Walter.Photo Frank Blackwell

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James BeckParish: WarfieldI am from the congregation ofSt Peter Warfield. I am mar-ried and just about to becomea Dad – and I am aManchester City supporter!I’ll be serving in any way Ican, leading worship, especial-ly all age services, preaching,outreach... and continuing tohave great fun doing it.

Anne BellParish: Shrivenham andAshburyI come from a background ofnursing in many different dis-ciplines, and am a mother ofthree and grandmother oftwo. I did my training onSAOMC and will be serving aspart of the Ministry Team in

the Shrivenham and Ashburybenefice as well as assisting asa Chaplaincy representative atthe Great Western Hospital inSwindon.

Fran ChildsParish: St Peter’s DidcotI am looking forward to beingan LLM at St Peter’s Didcotwhere I have worshipped forover 20 years. I am also aFranciscan Tertiary. Althoughthe main focus of my ministrywill be at Sunday Services, Iam looking forward to helpingplan our Advent and Lentgroups. I work as a SafetyAdviser at the RutherfordAppleton Laboratory and mymain leisure activity is horseriding.

Gill DavisParish: Ray Valley BeneficeI am a member of the RayValley Benefice which is quitelarge. My main ministry is inPastoral Care with emphasison healing.

Don MasonParish: St John and St Stephen,Reading

I have served Christ and hispeople in Britain and inAfrica. I came to Anglicanismvia the Baptist, Methodist andBrethren Denominations, andhave been enriched at eachstep of the journey.

I will be working in myparish in East Reading, andwill also be involved in pas-toral work among deafenedpeople.

Michael MorecroftPari sh: Hunger ford wi thDenfordI will be LLM at St LawrenecHungerford, where I live withmy wife Charlie and my 14month old son Matthew. I aman environmental scientist byprofession and am alsoinvolved in Christian environ-mental initiatives.

Margaret PyeParish:Worminghal l wi thI c k f o r d , O a k l e y a n dShabbingtonI am a co-ordinator atWestminster Institute ofEducation Oxford BrookesUniversity. I am looking for-

ward to continuing my min-istry in my Benefice and will,as always, be supported byGeorge, my three children andfriends and family.

Marion PykeParish: St Peter’s CavershamI am a retired PsychiatricSocial Worker and I am lookingforward to being Licensed to StPeter’s Caversham and StMargaret’s Mapledurham. Ihave lived in Caversham forover 40 years with my husbandJohn, and I am also a busy and

involved grandmother.

Vicky SouthbyMilton Keynes General HospitalI am looking forward to beingLicensed to Milton KeynesGeneral NHS Trust as my firstfocus of ministry – as well asserving the people of theBuckingham Benefice.

Judy StotterParish: SS Mary and George,High WycombeI am being licensed to St Maryand St George Church inSands, High Wycombe.

I am a retired Social Workerand have two delightful grand-sons. I am looking forward to acollaborative ministry whichwill include co-ordinatingyouth worship.

Duncan WhiteParish:Tylehurst St GeorgeI am fortunate in being Licensedto the parishes of StG e o r g e a n d S t M a r yMagdalen, Tilehurst. I look for-ward to developing my ministrythere giving thanks and praisefor God’s gifts.

MinistryT H E D O O R : D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 4 7

Licensed toserve: our newlay ministersA dozen people from across our diocese, with varied backgrounds and expe-rience, were admitted as Readers in the Church of England and lay ministersin the diocese of Oxford in a service led by the Bishop of Buckingham, the RtRevd Alan Wilson. Read their short biographies below and please pray forthem as they begin their ministry among us.

1. Duncan White2. Gill Davis3. Fran Childs4. James Beck5. Janet Bayly6.Vicky Southby7. Judy Stotter 8. Don Mason9. Anne Bell.10. Marion Pyke 11. Margaret Pye12. Michael MorecroftPhoto Frank Blackwell

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Church Can’t Ignore Issue of DivorceThe high rate of divorce in this country is wellattested. Statistics show that 30% of first marriagesand 50-60% of subsequent marriages fail. Humanmisery engulfs not only the couple involved, but anychildren from the marriage and the wider family.

Divorce is recognised as one of the most stressfulof life events, people experiencing marital breakdownbeing ten times more likely to commit suicide thanthose in intact marriages.

Given the Christian perspective that marriage is asacred institution, ordained by God himself, Christiansare inevitably saddened by such statistics. Regrettablyhowever, this has led to some churches taking ajudgemental stance. But Christians themselves arenot immune from relationship breakdown andChristian couples struggling in their marriages oftenhave to deal not only with the pain of the breakdown,but with rejection from the church as well. People insuch situations are often desperately lonely and deeplyhurting, says Jim Wheeler, Chief Executive of theAquila Care Trust, a national Christian-based charityestablished in 1991 to support people going throughseparation and divorce. Whether we like the reality ofdivorce or not, it is there; we seek to redeem suchsituations by extending the love and healing power ofChrist.Through its 8-week and weekend self-helpgroups, Aquila provides people with the opportunity toexplore the emotional, practical and spiritual issuesassociated with relationship breakdown.

To find out more about Aquila telephone 01892665524 or email Annette@aquilatrust.org

View from here8 T H E D O O R : D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 4

May 24: 7pm.Am going withJude, Tom andVile Richard toAlpha evening.Is apparentlyfree dinner ‘withreligious dimen-sion’. VileRichard is now‘born again’ andtasked withinfecting rest ofus in manner ofpyramid sellingor Time Share offers.Anticipate shepherds pieand carrots in dark, coldhall. 7.30pm: Just leaving house.Late due to major clothing-choice crisis. Never been toanything with ‘religiousdimension’ so v.difficult tosettle on appropriate outfit. 8pm: Burst into room whichis eerily quiet. Very good-looking man in chinos withbroad shoulders, squarechin and perfect teeth is justsaying ‘Amen’ as I say loud-ly ‘Sorry I’m Late’. Smileygirl in flowery dress calledSarah shows me to my seat.Was wrong about venue. Isnot dark hellish ante-cham-ber but large, airy, Fung-shuied room with minimal-ist décor of chrome andcream. Very Conran.8.30pm: Hurrah! Am alsowrong about shepherd’s pieand carrots, and the hunk(Christopher) is on mytable! Is very attentive andasks me all sorts of ques-tions over the salad tricol-ore. Also makes sure I getmore than my fair share ofthe Chablis! Imagine seduc-tion scene with Christopheras religious superhero. Hasprobably got excellentgenes too and would makev.g parent. But Christopheris vicar. Should not beimagining shagging vicar.9pm: Aha! Have establishedthat Christopher is not

vicar after allbut ‘lay assis-tant’ (soundspromising!).Vicar is mucholder and uglierperson who onlycomes out forweddings andfunerals. May 31: Havefinally foundmeaning andpurpose to lifeafter second

free-dinner-with-religious-dimension. No longer wan-dering nomad and fecklesssinner in manner of very-thin-and-beautiful-super-stars (eg Jennifer Aniston),who may seem happy butare not really. Apparently.According to Christopher. June 2: 9st 3, but not per-turbed. No need to diet.Jesus loves me AS I AM!Hurrah! Can eat as manypain au chocolat as fancy. June 3: 8am. Very pleasedwith self. Woke up forQuiet Time, making signifi-cant spiritual progress byimagining myself locked inclose but asexual embracewith Jesus. PhonedChristopher twice yesterdayand he said that’s what Ishould be aiming for. Thenimagined self locked in verysexual embrace withChristopher, which madequiet time go very quickly….June 4: 11pm. Nightmareday! Have lost faith, alongwith new spiritual under-pinning of life. Found outChristopher has been seeingTom! No sex allowed,apparently, so can’t last.But even so, feel spiritualcommitment must bereassessed in light of thisnew information…

Alison Webster is a SociallyResponsible Adviser to theDiocese of Oxford, and willreturn to her normal personalityin our next issue. Possibly.

‘We never had counselling in my day’Bridget Jones gets religion (but not for long)

RECENTLY in the Archers, Peggyexpressed the view that we all copedwithout counselling during the war, at atime when things were tougher than theyare now.

This is a serious point. We do, as aspecies, cope better when things aretougher. The churches seemed to get fullerduring the Iraq invasion last year, and atthe Oxford Christian Institute forCounselling there was a brief lull in thepeople applying for counselling.Conversely, it is accepted that Christmasis a time of depression for many people.

I cringe when I hear, after a major dis-aster, that ‘counsellors are standing by’. AtOCIC we do not specialise in post-traumacounselling, but we do see people whohave suffered from abuse or violence: werecognise the dilemma that the sufferer ishelped by telling the story of what hashappened, yet faces the risk that in re-telling it, it can feel like re-living it. Thecounsellor has to be especially sensitive atsuch a time to the needs of the client.

But most people come to OCIC forcounselling with a different kind ofdespair, which may indeed be more preva-lent in ‘the weak and piping times ofpeace’. Our prosperous, high pressure,competitive, secular society is a hostileenvironment. We can find it difficult notto measure ourselves by the standards ofsuccess in this world, and then we seem tobeat ourselves up (another kind of abuse)when we fail by those worldly standards.

The role of a counsellor is (contrary to

the Peggy Archer view) to help the suffer-er to take responsibility for themselvesand for their own changing health – notto offer a spurious comfort. We aretrained thoroughly in one or other theo-

retical framework, but neither the clientnor usually the counsellor is aware of itduring the counselling session: there is nopsychobabble. The client becomes awareof being in a safe place where it is ok tosay things they might find difficult to sayeven to their dearest friend. We neverjudge a person, whatever they bring to us,but counselling is sometimes challengingbecause we may help a person to confrontthemselves for the first time.

For the counsellor who is a Christian,Christ is at the centre of this process ofchange. My own experience is that thehealing seems to come not from me, stillless from any technique or theory, butfrom within the client. That is the mira-cle, and it is our wonderful privilege to beallowed to work in this way.

Giles Charrington is director of OCIC, theOxford Christian Institute for Counselling,at First Floor, 119/121 London Road,Headington Oxford. 01865 308889 coun-selling@ocic.org.uk

Giles Charrington, director of the Oxford Christian Institute for Counselling, on the privilege of helping to heal

by Alison Webster

For the counsellor who is aChristian, Christ is at the centreof this process of change

I LOOKED in the mirror today. I saw mylaughter lines etched a little deeper, andmy hair becoming increasingly grey at theroots. Ageing; not much fun is it? I washeartened by an Evening Post report intoan upcoming WI calendar asking men to‘bare their bits’ in an attempt to get moreof them to sign up to the group. As onewise WI leader remarked: ‘we are oftenperceived as older, but we have not passedour ‘best before’ date yet’.

In a society that appears to value youthabove experience, and superficial beautymore than internal wisdom, it is tough tobelieve that God’s values are different. We,it seems, will do all we can to avoid con-sidering our own mortality. Sadly, ‘eternallife’, does not accurately translate as ‘eter-nal youth’, although if you’re seventy andset on starting your own hip-hop band,why should anyone persuade you out of it?

The Reading Chronicle reports on

rumours that popstrel Kylie Minogue hashad cosmetic ‘help’ to preserve her amaz-ing looks, ‘she appears to have a muchfuller top lip than before, giving her thatperfect pout’. Cosmetic surgery used to bean oddity, now, if you believe the celebritypress, it is a common occurrence. At theheart of the Christian faith, for me, is theprofound belief that God accepts us forwho we are, whatever our age, lip size orbra cup. But how many of us, really, deepdown believe that? How easy it is to beseduced into thinking that the perfect job,

man, woman, hairstyle or six pack stom-ach will validate our existence. When Ipray, I want to feel God’s love for me.When I engage with other Christians, Iwant to experience some kind of uncondi-tional regard. Knowing, intellectually, that

God designed us and is pleased with hiswork and not disappointed with the flaws,is no good. I want an emotional and spiri-tual encounter that confirms it. This takes,on occasions, a giant leap of faith.Increasingly I am slowly getting what I askfor, but only after a great deal of surren-dering and soul searching combined.

This giant leap became literal recentlyfor one reluctant parachute jumper. TheBucks Free press reported, in October, how47 year old Peter Robinson from Marlowplummeted from a light aircraft in the sec-ond leg of a triathlon challenge. Hisbreathless comment, ‘it’s all about con-quering fears and this is just another one’.He’s spot on, of course. Fear, particularlyof being abandoned by the creator, for me,is the crux of it all. For today at least, Ihave faith that God will keep my para-chute open, and that I don’t – a la BridgetJones in her new film – land, metaphori-cally at least, in a pile of excrement. Clare Catford presents BBC RadioBerkshire’s Sunday morning programme

Unconditional love and Kylie’s perfect pout

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Horror at foxhuntingclergy articleI feel great anger (and not a lit-tle incomprehension) in read-ing (Nov. Door, page 3):‘Sometimes I see the huntedhare or fox and I think ofChrist. Sometimes I think ofChrist and I see the hound ofheaven, doggedly and deter-minedly pursuing me ‘downthe nights and down the days’.’

Can I suggest that it maymake better reading (and alot more sense to your read-ers) if that bit was substitutedby: ‘Sometimes I see the hareor fox and think of theslaughter of the innocents,the abuse of God’s powergranted to us and, upon see-ing God’s creatures ripped toshreds in the name of sport, Isit and cry thinking how fool-ish that the Church ever gottied up in this cruelty.’I cannot understand how you

give valuable space (and frontpage news) to this offensivearticle. There is so much morethat needs to be said than pick-ing up on one misguided ex-clergyman's views. Why thishighly charged political issue–and why now?Colin AlboroughBy email

As a Christian I cannot sup-port hunting nor any otherfield sport. I am not squeam-ish but opposed to all formsof cruelty to man or beast. Isee nothing ‘sympathetic’ inhunting. The reduction of thenumber of foxes by hunting isa myth – hunts build artificialearths, complete with foodand water, to encourage foxesto breed to keep the numbersup for hunting!

Hunting is a satisfaction ofblood lust. I know of a foxbeing dug out after going toground then held by its tailfor the hounds to tear apart!

The exhilaration of ridingacross countryside can beexperienced by draghunting

which does not involve theinvasion of private land byhuntsmen and hounds withfrequent damage and violenceto domestic animals.

Inflicting unnecessary suffer-ing on living creatures is wrong.The RSPCA believes that thehounding and killing of wildanimals is cruel and unaccept-able in a civilised society.

Still on the subject of animalsI support the statements madeby Marion Lawrence when shec o m m e n t s o n A n i m a lBlessings. Like her, I supportboth human and animal chari-ties. Those who are only con-cerned for humans shouldknow that those who abusepeople start off by abusing ani-mals. Animal Welfare Sundayis now, thankfully, formalisedin England by an ecumenicalinitiative on the part of‘Catholic Concern forAnimals’, the ‘AnglicanSociety for the Welfare ofAnimals’ and ‘QuakerConcern for Animals’.Marcelle WilliamsWokingham

I read with dismay the articledefending hunting by RevdPhillip Martin. As a Christianwho has worked in the fieldof animal welfare for over 20years, I of course know of theexistence of pro-hunting cler-gy and Christians but readingin a diocesan paper, theattempted justification of thiscruel activity by a member ofthe clergy is still both shock-ing and depressing.

So, St Hubert hunted a stagdid he? Well, where does StHubert feature in the Bible? StHubert might have been a manof God but we all fall short!The God I worship is a God of

compassion. He made the ani-mals that inhabit this earth aswell as human beings – in fact,according to Genesis, he madethem on the same day! Hewants us to be wise stewards –not cruel despots who exploit

the weak and vulnerable simplybecause we are able to.

The question we need to askourselves is would Jesus be outon the hunting field if he cameback to earth now in 2004? Ibelieve the answer to this ques-tion is pretty obvious No!Jesus was a champion of theweak and the vulnerable – hehated hypocrisy. Is there any-thing more hypocritical thanthose who profess to be 'sym-pathetic' to animal welfare andyet are involved in an activitywhere a species of wild animalis pursued for hours by a packof hounds until exhausted andterrified it is killed – not forfood, but simply because it is a'jolly good day out' for agroup of people with nothingbetter to do!Samantha ChandlerHartley Witney, Hampshire

In support of hunting It was a great pleasure to readthe Rev Philip Martin’s articleabout foxhunting. Theauthor explains the country-side and the place within it offield sports so clearly.

Thanks to you for publish-ing the article and to MrMartin for writing it.Gillian OldfieldCombe, Witney

Model MarriagesI was delighted to see the arti-cle Lessons in Friendship fea-tured on the front page of theOctober issue. The experienceof taking part in a wedding cer-emony is a very powerful wayfor children to learn. We usesimilar experiential learning inour work in secondary schoolsin the Diocese, in which wetake married couples intoschools so the young peoplecan talk to them. StudentsExploring Marriage offersyoung people in schools andYoung Offenders Institutionsthe opportunity to ask marriedcouples any questions theywish about marriage. The cou-

ples offer their stories as aresource to the students.

Just as the Revd Lynn wasobviously struck by the chil-dren's awareness of what hus-bands and wives, mums anddads should be, we find theyoung people are very percep-tive about marriage and comewith a wealth of questionsrevealing their interest andconcern for how to buildstrong marriages and familiesin the future.There are two groups working

in the diocese, one centreda r o u n d O x f o r d a n dBuckinghamshire and the otherin Berkshire. We always wel-come further support organis-ing the programmes, makingcontact with schools or as cou-ples willing to share the storiesof their married life with theyoung people. Anyone inter-ested should contact JimLeftwich, 01494 449232(Oxford & Bucks) or JohnKent, 01491 680 288(Berkshire).Liz Percivalby email

Dorchester’s forgottenwar heroMay I be allowed space tocorrect two inaccuracies inthe above article whichappeared in the Novemberedition of ‘The Door’.

Frederick Selwood’s parentsdid not refuse the offer of aheadstone in memory of theirson. They did not respond tot h e i n v i t a t i o n o f t h eCommonwealth War GravesCommission to erect a head-stone – reasons unknown.Only with the permission ofdescendants still living inDorchester has the event, sokindly reported, been madepossible.Don McGregorDorchester-on-Thames

For more letters on foxhuntingand other issues, see our web-site www.oxford.anglican.org

Comment Letters to the editor9T H E D O O R : N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 4

Bloodlust or sport? Disputing the faith in foxhunting and other letters

Revd Antonia Cretney, retiredPriest, to be Deanery Adviser forVocations, Prayer and Spirituality,Wantage; Revd Ron Curtis, NSMCurate, Shipton under Wychwoodwith Milton Under Wychwood,Fifield and Idbury, to be Priest-in-Charge, St Thomas, Stourbridge,Worcester; Revd Alan Garrow,NSM, to be Director of Studies, StAlbans & Oxford Ministry Course,Ripon College; Revd MartynGriffiths, Vicar of Preston, to beRector of Henley St Mary; RevdDavid Kaboleh, NSM, St Aldate,Oxford, to be House for Duty

Priest, Akeman, Bicester and Islip;Revd John Marsh, leaves asHouse for Duty Priest, Iffley; TheVenerable John Morrison,Archdeacon of Oxford, is to retire;Revd Andrew Parkinson, Curate,Lancaster Christ Church, to bePriest in Charge, Yarnton withBegbroke and Shipton onCherwell; Revd Emma Percy to beActing Chaplain of WadhamCollege; Revd Canon Dr MartynPercy to be Principal, RiponCollege Cuddeston; Revd MarcusSaville-Dean has died; RevdHazel Scarr, NSM, ChaseBenefice, to be House for DutyAssociate Priest, Hardington ValeBenefice, Bath and Wells.

Clergy News

Let’s drop the ‘nice’ act

Why do peoplethink Christiansshould only be con-cerned with ‘nice’things? Where didthe idea come fromthat to be a Christian meansyou don’t get involved in theworld of murky, nasty politicsbut instead inhabit a cosy cor-ner, all ‘jam and Jerusalem’?I’m pretty sure that Jesus did-n’t use the word nice, or theAramaic equivalent, at anypoint. Love, yes, but sincewhen was loving a nice, safeoccupation?

The distaste for Christiansto get involved in politics(with a capital P) is wide-spread. Now I’m certainly nosupporter of George Bush(oops, another political opin-ion) but I found the amount ofcolumn inches and TV hoursdedicated to his support fromthe ‘religious right’ disturbing.The British media jumpedwith alacrity on the idea thatBush was put back into officethanks to the heavy (around30% of his vote) support ofevangelical Christians: it wasused to give a sinister edge tohis campaign. Of course, in

the UK politi-cians are terri-fied of appearing‘too Christian’as it is seen as avote loser. Tony

Blair was furious to be askedby Jeremy Paxman whether heprayed with George Bush (theanswer, I hear is yes, but not inthe free-flowing style Bushwould be familiar with, insteadfar more of a awkward, somewould say Anglican, mutter-ing). Politics and religion areportrayed as very sinister bed-fellows.

But surely believing in anincarnational God means thatwe have to be out there: inand among the murkiness ofevery day life, challenging theworld’s assumptions, takingon the politicians (as RevdChristine Beecroft does, page5) or even becoming one, ifnecessary. It means engagingand with and confronting theissues of the day, whether theybe foxhunting, abortion or theslaughter of thousands ofinnocents in Iraq. Now thatreally would upset anyonewho wants us to stay at homeand make jam.

BY THE EDITOR

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OSJMusic in the Abbey

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Rachel Nicholls, Soprano Jonathan Gunthorpe, Baritone Hilaryjane Parker, Violin OSJ VoicesDorchester Abbey, Dorchester-on-Thames, OxfordshireSaturday 18 December 2004 ~ 7.30pmCorelli Christmas ConcertoFlecha Riu, riu, chiuWarlock The First MercyBenjamin Wallfisch A Winter’s Tale (Commissioned to celebrate OSJ

Voices’ 10th Anniversary)Vivaldi Winter from The Four SeasonsBridge Sir Roger de CoverleySibelius Five Christmas SongsPoulenc Quatre motets pour le temps de NoelFinzi In terra pax

Tickets range from £10.00 - £25.00Box Office: 01865 305305www.ticketsoxford.com

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best for him and his motherwhilst I can. I'm sure there issomething special about thebaby.’ I knew he was right. I havenever been affected by the sightof a baby as I was in that stable.Immensely different, even fromwhen I first looked on Reuben –and he was my first born.

We crossed over to the fardoor and I led him to the stallswhere we keep our beasts. Nogood offering him a horse,though it would travel quicker.Yusef wouldn't be able to han-dle anything bigger than a don-key so I took him to where wekeep the best and most reliabledonkeys. ‘How about thatone?’ I said. Yusef went up to it,and looked it over quite knowl-edgeably. I could tell he liked itbut he turned to me and shookhis head, ‘I couldn't afford thatone – it is so much better thanmy beast.’ It was, indeed, the

best one we had so I knew I hadto be firm with him. ‘Never youmind,’ I said, ‘that is the oneyou are having – and you arenot paying anything for it.’

‘But the money’ he said. Wewent on with a sort of topsy-turvey bargaining – just theopposite to what I used to do. Ionce had the reputation of ahard bargainer and indeed Iwas. So Yusef had the donkey.Thus, he got a fresh strong don-key as a straight exchange and Iwould have to explain toReuben when he returned.Meanwhile Yusef was gettingquite excited, patting the don-key and talking, partly to it andpartly to me. ‘I've prayed to theLord for you,’ he said, address-ing the donkey and quoted fromthe psalms, Hear me for I ampoor and in misery. Then, turn-ing to me he said, ‘And the Lorddid hear me. He sent me to

you.’ It was a strange feeling,there was I doing Yahweh's willand not knowing it! The firsttime in my long life, I'm sure.

It was getting quite dark so Iwasn't surprised when Yusefsaid he wanted to go back toMiriam and the babe. ‘For,’ hesaid, ‘I think we'd best start forEgypt in the morning.’

* * * * * * * * * *I WAS recording the transac-

tion as we always do when inwalked Reuben. He had notenjoyed himself so we turned tobusiness. Earlier, I'd sold a loadof fodder at our usual price,then I had to tell him I had donea straight exchange over twodonkeys. I couldn't tell himabout Yusef, Miriam and thebaby, less still that I'd met holi-ness in that stable. He wouldhave said that sort of rigmarolewasn't business, as I might have

said at his age. So I couldn'texplain and after he had seenYusef's donkey he made it plainhe was not pleased. He wasn'tdisrespectful but he let me knowhe wasn't going to ask me for myhelp in future. It was a distressingend to the day.

* * * * * * * * * *THAT night I didn't sleep well.

I thought of Yusef and Miriamwith the babe getting ready toleave for Egypt, I felt I must seethem again. I got up early andcreeping out of the house I set offfor the stable at the inn. I hurriedbut at my age got out of breathand when I got to the stable Ifound they had gone.

Esther, who looks after the innwhen her husband is working onthe farm, told me they had leftbefore dawn so I couldn't catch upwith them. She believed in Yusef'sdream as much as I did and wasconcerned lest the authoritiesshould come looking for Miriam'schild and mistake her young sonfor him. I saw the danger and

agreed with her husband's advicethat she should take the boy andstay with her married sister wholives in Bethany.

I left her making her prepara-tions, wished her well, and slow-ly, disappointedly made my wayhome. When I got there it didn'tseem like my real home and notonly because I was excluded fromthe business. Everything seemed

different after being with Miriamand her little lad. Yes, and beingwith poor worried Yusef too.

* * * * * * * * * *IT took me a day or two to

decide but here I am, stayingwith my young cousin who liveson the Jerusalem side of theMount of Olives. He had often

invited me to stay with him andafter talking it over with ReubenI decided to come. The daybefore yesterday a small body ofHerod's troops passed, goingsouth, towards Bethlehem. Ihoped they were not going insearch of Miriam's child. If theywere at least they won't find himbut what will they do then? Iwouldn't trust anyone connectedwith Herod.

Tomorrow my cousin is takingme to see Simeon. My cousin hasheard the story about Simeon say-ing that a baby boy brought to beredeemed by a sacrifice was to bethe Messiah. But my cousin can'tfind anyone who knows who theparents were, even though themother was there for purifica-tion. I'm hoping Simeon, whothey say is getting frailer thanever, will be able to tell me themother was Miriam and thebaby boy her baby. If it was, itwould explain everything. I'mlooking forward to seeingSimeon, and hearing what he hasto say. I am. Very, very much.

THE door rattled. It was a bit late inthe day for a customer in our line ofbusiness: Goods Carried – PackAnimals for Hire or Exchange. Itwas mine, but I've got too old, wellover my three score and ten. SoReuben, my son owns it. He'd want-ed to go out and I was left in charge.I listened again, then came a gentleknock. I shouted ‘Come in’. Thedoor opened, very hesitantly. Asmallish man came in. At first Ithought him very elderly but as hecame nearer I could see he was noth-ing like as old as me. There he stood,rather diffidently, not the moniedtype I used to prefer to do businesswith, but since I've had more time tothink, things look different. Somefriends and I study the Law and theProphets and think about Yahweh'scommands and how He wants us tolive. I murmured to myself a versefrom the psalms: How I delight inyour commandments and howdeeply do I love them. Lots of thingsI wish I hadn't done, but the Lordhas given me time.

So I began by having a chat withthis little man. He said he had comefrom the North, I could tell thatfrom his accent. He seemed to lead abusy life, hard working. What'smore, not long married again. ‘Yes’,he said, ‘a young woman’. Then hewent quiet. I didn't know quitewhat to say but eventually I said‘She's alright, isn't she?’ ‘Oh yes’ hesaid, hesitated again and said ‘she'sjust had her first baby, a son – alovely little chap’, ‘That's good’, Isaid ‘a child for your old age’. Hesmiled for a moment then wentdeadly serious. ‘We are in danger.The Lord warned me in a dream. Idon't understand. I've never under-stood properly. But I must protectthe child. We must move, travel fur-ther south, even as far as Egypt,away from the authorities.’

‘But’, I said ‘the authorities can'tbe agin a little baby? You're not aZealot or one of those troublemak-ers. You look a craftsman’ (I'd seenhis hands).

‘Yes’, he said ‘a carpenter’.‘Surely, then your wife and baby

should be alright?’‘But the Lord told me.’He spoke in such a way I felt I

couldn't argue. He stood there and Isat at the desk and for a fewmoments we didn't say anything. Ibroke the silence with my old busi-ness approach. ‘Can I do anythingfor you?’

‘You may be able to,’ he replied,more diffidently than ever. Then, atlast, he began to explain, ‘I had toregister here, in the town of David.’I nodded and he continued: ‘It was along way to come. The donkey, it'smy working animal, just managedit. When the time came, after thebaby was born, for my wife's purifi-cation and to make the sacrificesrequired for the boy, it seemed right,

being so near, to go to the Temple.The donkey carried her and thebaby alright but coming back itstarted to stumble. At home I wouldput it out to grass for a few weeksbut we can't wait, we must go, it'sthe Lord's command. And the don-key is in no condition to carry mywife and child to Egypt. Could’, healmost stammered, ‘could youexchange it for a fresher animal?’

‘Well’, I said ‘can we go and see it?’“I suppose so’ he said, ‘we're only

humble folk and it was good ofthem to put us in the stable. Noroom we could afford. So that'swhere we are. The donkey too.’

* * * * * * * * * *WHEN we got there I didn't like

the look of the donkey. Take weeksto get it into shape. And plenty ofexpensive fodder. That would meanquite a fee for a beast strong enough

to get to Egypt, even using thecoastal route. I was about toexplain, as gently as I could butthere was the little man beaming atme. ‘Come and see Miriam and thechild.’ He grabbed me by the elbowand pulled me to what must havebeen a stall. There was plenty ofstraw and she sat on a stool, feedingthe baby.

‘The blessing of Yahweh be onyour child,’ I said, as I would do toany mother with her baby but then Ifound myself adding ‘and on youtoo, my dear.’

‘I thank you for us both,’ she said.She took me by surprise, I didn't

expect anyone who would lookquite like she did. She must havebeen fairly young but it wasn't heryouth which impressed, as withmany mothers and their first born.Nothing fragile about her. Indeed, itwas as if her whole being radiatedstrength and certainty. I would nor-mally have said a few pleasantthings about the baby as she laidhim on the straw in what I first

thought was a cradle then realisedwas a manger. By then I knew thatall ordinary praise would, somehow,not be good enough. She spoke afew words to the child, smiling allthe time. Then, for a moment hereyes met mine. As she turned oncemore to the baby and I looked atthem both I felt a glow of peace,such peace I couldn't understand itbut I wanted to go on looking atthem for ever. My heart wanted tosing praises to the Lord but nowords came. Instead I went downon my creaking knees and touchedhis little hand. How long I kneltthere I don't know. I wanted to stay,just kneeling.

Miriam helped me up and stead-ied me. I was conscious of herstrength again. She smiled at me andI smiled back in thanks. Her hus-band looked on, caringly and repletein his happiness. He put a stool forme to sit on. I couldn't have stood,my legs seemed to have lost thepower to stand. As I sat, waiting forthem to feel strong again, a curiousthought came into my mind. I felt asif a temple priest had taken me intothe Holy of Holies – I know it isn'tpermitted but the more I looked atthe baby the more I felt it. I couldn'tcontain what I felt, a kind of joy I'dnever known before and tears beganto trickle down my old wrinkledcheeks.

Eventually I turned to Yusef (thatis what Miriam called him) ‘You'vegot a long journey ahead of you.We'd best go back and a choose agood donkey for you, Bring yourbeast along and we'll see what wecan do!’ Miriam's smile seemed tocontain a prayer. Whether mine did,I don't know, but I wanted it to.

* * * * * * * * * *IT seemed a long way back to our

place, with Yusef leading his donkeyand my legs still a bit shaky. I start-ed to wonder what I could do for thelittle family but Yusef broke thesilence: ‘I wasn't prepared for thisexpense. I've not got much money.Perhaps I could sell something whichwas given to the child.’

‘No!’ I said firmly and I saw himflinch as if I'd hit him. ‘If we can't doa deal...’ he was saying, but I inter-rupted him ‘We'll do a deal alright.I'll see you and Miriam and thechild get started for Egypt. I'll findyou a decent animal, strong but gen-tle, Don't you worry.’

‘But I do’, he said ‘I've had suchworry ever since Miriam and I werebetrothed.’ I suppose I looked puz-zled but he went on: ‘So much hashappened. Many things. Some sostrange, so unbelievable I dare nottalk about them.’

I wanted to ask him more butbeing in business I had learned notto be too inquisitive with customers.However, he continued: ‘One bit Ican tell you. Lots of people were

close to us in the Temple. We'dtaken the little lad there to make thesacrifice according to the law andI'd paid for the two pigeons.’Pigeons, I thought. When Reubenwas born I'd been able to afford alamb without blemish. ‘When thepriest had finished,’ he continued,‘along comes a very old man, whomeveryone seemed to know, and hebegan to speak such wonderfulwords. If Miriam was here she'drepeat them to you, word for word.

She's got a wonderful way withwords herself and remembers betterthan I do. But I do remember thatSimeon, the old man, turned toMiriam and said that when the childbecomes a fully grown man he wouldmeet terrible opposition and thatMiriam herself would be pierced tothe very soul. So not only do we haveto go to Egypt to keep out of Herod'sway but there is going to be troublewhen the boy grows up. I may wellhave died by then so I want to do my

10 T H E D O O R : D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 4 11T H E D O O R : D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 4

Christmas story Christmas story

Preparation for a journeyA short story for Christmas by Door reader ValentineHulse from Wantage. Illustrations by Patricia Drew

‘We are in danger. TheLord warned me in adream. I don't understand.I've never understoodproperly. But I must pro-tect the child’ said Yusef

‘Everything seemeddifferent after beingwith Miriam and herlittle lad’

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Treat yourself - or family and friends to a newly published copy of

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Publishing - compiled by Derrick HansonThese beautifully presented books cover the

stories of the hymns, their meaning, their authors and their music. Each volume has a complimentary CD with choral recordings of the hymns. Priced at £16.00 each, there is a discounted price of £14.00 each for orders of

two or more books - postage and packing free.Further details of Hymns for Christmas

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ReSource is a new initiative, based in Abingdon, whichhas grown out of the long and faithful work of Anglican

Renewal Ministries. Its vision is for renewal for mission inthe power of the Holy Spirit.We seek an experienced

Administrator to work alongside the Director, and withSecretarial support.

The Administrator will be responsible for the day-to dayoperation of ReSource, management of the office andoversight of the finances, and will be self-starting and

motivating, relating to a Team of Associates andMissioners as well as to Dioceses, churches, agencies andindividuals with whom ReSource works. Details of salaryscales with a full job description and person specification

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Sat 4 Dec Quiet Day forWorking People Oxford Indus-trial Chaplaincy, Stanton House,Stanton St John, 10am– 4pm £12Barbara Hayes, tel. 01865 245349,e-mail <barbara.hayes@talk21.com>

DECEMBER Wed 1 OXFORD Advent Hope:service to mark World AIDS Day7pm for 7.30pm Christ ChurchCathedral. Invitations, posters<PLangley@christian-aid.org>. Sat 4 BANBURY BanburyChoral Society with The CherwellOrchestra, Haydn, Vivaldi, StMary’s Church, Horsefair,7.30pm. Tickets 01295 720082. Sat 4 HOOK NORTONChipping Norton Choral SocietyVivaldi, Hummel, Haydn, StPeter’s Church. Tickets 01993830775, <tickets@cncs.org.uk>. Sat 4 TUBNEY ChristmasBazaar, Tubney Church, OxfordRd, 2pm. 01865 390803. Sun 5 LOWER BASILDON

Music at Christmas by Candlelight,St Bartholomew’s Church 3.30 pm.Tickets 01491 671227 or at door. Sun 5 MILTON KEYNESMonteverdi Vespers, CornerstoneChamber Choir & Orchestra,7.45pm City Church. Tickets01908 246486 or 07961 348697.Sun 5 READING York NativityPlay, performed by AldermastonParish Church at Reading Minster,6pm. SAE for free tickets to YorkNativity, St Mary’s House, Chain St,Reading RG1 2HX. 0118 957 1057. Sun 5 SUTTON COURTENAYAdvent Concert: ‘75 Years of GreatBritish Choral Music 1875-1945’,All Saints’ Church, The Green.Tickets on door or 01235 848205,848719, 848997. Sat 11 OXFORD (Botley)Cumnor Choral Society: Purcell,Faure, carols for choir and audi-ence, St Peter & St Paul Church

7.30pm Tickets 01865 553268. Sat 11 HARWELL Christian MusicFellowship Christmas Concert,Parish Church 7.30pm. Free; retiringcollection. 07855 865194. Tue 14 HIGH WYCOMBE Tradit-ional Carols by Candlelight in aid ofShelter, St Mary & St George’sChurch, 7.30pm. 01494 471545. Fri 17 FINGEST Healing servicewith laying on of hands andanointing at Holy Communion,10.15am. 01491 571231. Fri 17 MILTON KEYNES WorldChurch Christmas Service, Churchof Christ the King, Kents Hill,7.30pm. 01908 246486. Sun 19 MILTON KEYNESChurch of Christ the CornerstoneCarol Service 6pm. 01908 246486.

JANUARYSun 9 MILTON KEYNESEpiphany Carol Service, Church

of Christ the Cornerstone 6pm.01908 246486. Tue 18 MILTON KEYNESWeek of Prayer for Christian UnityService, 7.30pm Our Lady ofLourdes, Lloyds, Coffee Hall. Fri 28 FINGEST Healing servicewith laying on of hands andanointing at Holy Communion,10.15am. 01491 571231.

December 2004‘The glory of the Lord shall berevealed, and all mankind shall seeit’ Isaiah 40:5In the power of the Spirit and inunion with Christ, let us pray to theFather.

Wed 1 Andrew the Apostle.Aylesbury Deanery. Area dean –Timothy Higgins; associate areadean – Tina Stirling; synod lay chair-man – Roger Harwood; clergy –Nancy Wallace, David Wallace:licensed lay minister – Reg Taylor.World AIDS Day Thu 2 Aylesbury with Bierton andHulcot: clergy – Timothy Higgins,Julia Wright. Aylesbury St Mary:clergy – Timothy Higgins, DianaGlover, Julia Wright. Bierton StJames the Great and Hulcott AllSaints: churchwardens during vacan-cies. Quarrendon St Peter: clergy –Peter Atkinson. Aylesbury DeafChurch: chaplain – Roger Williams;licensed lay ministers for the deaf –Ursula Coles, Mary Lovegrove.Fri 3 Walton: churchwardens dur-ing vacancy. Walton Holy Trinity:clergy – Andrew Blyth; ChurchArmy – Rupert Hankey; lay pastor –Roger Axtell; licensed lay minister –Martin Roper; reader emeritus –Betty Schweir. Southcourt, Churchof the Good Shepherd: clergy –David Lawton; licensed lay minister– Alan Foster.Sat 4 Broughton: clergy – LaurenceMeering. Bedgrove Holy Spirit: cler-gy – Laurence Meering; licensed layministers – Marie Carey, Joe Groat.Bernwode, Brill All Saints (LEP),Boarstall St James, Chilton St Marythe Virgin, Dorton St John theBaptist, Ludgershall St Mary theVirgin, Wotton Underwood AllSaints and Ashendon St Mary: cler-gy – Tina Stirling, Antony White.Sun 5 Second Sunday of AdventThose who entertain us locally. Allwho work in radio, television andtheatres, especially those sharing aChristian messageMon 6 Long Crendon with Chearsleyand Nether Winchendon: clergy –Roger Jackson, Arthur Taylor.Tue 7 Haddenham with Cudding-ton, Kingsey and Aston Sandford:clergy – Chris Denham, John Race;licensed lay ministers – PamHalliwell, Colin Faiers-Nicholls,Jennie Rake; youth worker –Madeleine Williams.Wed 8 Risborough: clergy – PaulFiske, Mike Withers, Lissa Gibbons,Moira Spence; licensed lay minister– Geoffrey Stevens. Bledlow withSaunderton and Horsenden: clergy -David Dewick. Lacey Green St John the

Evangelist: clergy – Denise Critchell,Mike Withers; lay worker – NormanCritchell. Monks Risborough StDunstan: clergy – Andrew Meynell,Moira Spence. Princes RisboroughSt Mary Ilmer: clergy – Paul Fiske,Lissa Gibbons.Thu 9 Stone St John the Baptist,Dinton SS Peter and Paul andHartwell: clergy – David Cooke;licensed lay minister – Avril Clark.Worminghall with Ickford, Oakleyand Shabbington: clergy – LauraWilford; licensed lay minister –Anthony Gibson.Fri 10 Chipping Norton Deanery.Area dean – Stephen Weston; synodlay chairman – Ian Henderson.Sat 11 Ascott-under-Wychwood andThe Chase: clergy – Mark Abrey,Hazel Scarr. Charlbury St Mary theVirgin: clergy – Judy French; licensedlay minister - Penny Nairne. Sun 12 Third Sunday of AdventThose who work in the medicineaspects of health care: the pharma-ceutical industry, pharmacists and allworking in chemist shops servingour local communities.Mon 13 Chipping Norton Teamministry: clergy – Stephen Weston,Hugh Williams, Tony Cannon,Nigel Hawkes, Stephen Hayes;licensed lay minister – ElizabethMann. Chipping Norton with OverNorton, Chipping Norton St Marythe Virgin: licensed lay ministers –Elizabeth Allen, John Forrest, JennyAlidina. Kingham and Daylesford,Kingham St Andrew: licensed layminister – Mike Hall. LittleCompton, Little Compton St Denys:licensed lay minister – Stephen Freer.Tue 14 Great Tew with Little Tewand Over Worton with NetherWorton: clergy – Abbott Conway.Wed 15 Hook Norton with GreatRollright, Swerford and Wigging-ton: clergy – John Acreman,Christopher Turner, Wendy Cun-ningham: licensed lay minister –Janet Collins.Thu 16 Ramsden, Finstock andFawler, Leafield with Wychwoodand Wilcote: clergy – Jane Knowles,Sarah Jones, Brian Ford.Fri 17 Shipton-under-Wychwood w.Milton-under-Wychwood, Fifieldand Idbury: clergy – Wendy Callan,Ron Curtis, A. Hartley; licensed layministers – Anthony Cable, BobForster.Sat 18 Bradfield Deanery. Givethanks for those new to the deaneryin the last year and pray that all mayshare and promote our vision of a‘mission shaped church’. For ourappointment of a deanery youthofficer and discussions on this vitalpart of our mission. Theale parish

and its massive building repairs. Allwith extra responsibility duringvacancies. All involved with ourchurch schools. Area dean – JoLoveridge; synod lay chairman –Andrew Bond.Sun 19 Fourth Sunday of AdventAll who provide food and accom-modation for those in need. All whowork in the hotel and catering indus-try, serving that others may haveleisure. Mon 20 Bradfield and StanfordDingley: clergy – Eddie Marquez,Raymond Obin, Rosemary Green;licensed lay minister – Brian Norris.Bucklebury: clergy - Eddie Marquez,Raymond Obin; licensed lay minis-ters – David Sammon, MichaelKerry.Tue 21 Aldermaston with Wasingand Brimpton: clergy – Pete Steele.Bucklebury: clergy – EddieMarquez; licensed lay ministers -David Sammon, Michael Kerry.Wed 22 Basildon with Aldworthand Ashampstead: clergy – AlanHogarth, Charlie Vere Nicoll, AnneKiggell; licensed lay ministers –Margaret Davey, George Hudson.Thu 23 Sulhampstead Abbots andBannister with Ufton Nervet: clergy– Peter Dewey. Theale with Engle-field: clergy – Geoffrey Borrowdale,Tom Ekin; licensed lay minister –Chris Braddock.Fri 24 Woolhampton withMidgham and Beenham Valence:clergy – Elizabeth Oke, JohnWebster; licensed lay minister –Hanslip Long: churchwardens dur-ing vacancy.Sat 25 Christmas Day Thanksgiv-ing for the mystery of the incarna-tion. Those for whom today bringssorrow instead of joy, especiallythose who are lonely and think noone cares or prays for them.Sun 26 First Sunday of Christmas– Stephen, Deacon, First MartyrThose in our communities who areintimidated because of their faith inJesus Christ, those seeking refugefrom persecution and all efforts inthe diocese that support the perse-cuted church throughout the world.. Mon 27 John, Apostle andEvangelist Those in the diocesebeing called to evangelise, initiativesfor outreach and each of us that wemay witness in our lives to the com-ing of the King of kings.Tue 28 Holy Innocents Vulnerablechildren and adults. All statutoryand voluntary agencies that relievethe pressures of families in distress.For more workers in the field ofpractical care. Children and parentswho cannot be together during theChristmas celebrations.

Wed 29 Burghfield: clergy – JoLoveridge; licensed lay minister –Amy Perry.Thu 30 Stratfield Mortimer andMortimer West End with Padworth:clergy – Paul Chaplin, ChristopherLea, Juliet Straw.Fri 31 Pangbourne with Tidmarshand Sulham: clergy – John Staples;licensed lay minister – MarionCollier. Purley: clergy – RogerHowell, Jean Rothery, AndrewMackie.

January 2005‘God’s love for us was revealedwhen God sent his only Son into theworld, so that we could have lifethrough him’ 1 John 4:9

Sat 1 Naming and Circumcision ofJesus Buckingham DeaneryGroup Ministry. Area dean – KevinAshby; synod lay chairman – JulietRudolf; ecumenical representative –Valerie Rushton.Sun 2 Second Sunday ofChristmas All connected withwood for their employment, creativ-ity and worship. For sustainableforestry and recycling initiatives.Mon 3 Lenborough, Adstock,Gawcott, Hillesden, Padbury: clergy– Tom Gibbons, Jenny Shields.Tue 4 Buckingham –Beachampton, Buckingham SS Peterand Paul, Radclive cumChackmore, Thornborough,Thornton with Nash, Waddon: cler-gy – Kevin Ashby, Michelle Morton;licensed lay ministers – PatFaulkner, John King. Radclive cumChackmore and Thornborough:clergy – Philip DerbyshireWed 5 North Buckingham –A k e l e y, L e c k h a m p s t e a d ,Lillingstone Dayrell, LillingstoneLovell, Maids Moreton withFoscott: clergy – Jean Price; licensedlay minister – Margaret Culley;churchwardens during vacancy.Thu 6 The Epiphany Our BishopsRichard (Oxford), Alan(Buckingham), Colin (Dorchester),and Stephen (Reading).Fri 7 Stowe: clergy – Ron Bundock.West Buckingham – Biddlesden,Shalstone, Tingewick, Turweston,Water Stratford Westbury: clergy –Liz Simpson.Sat 8 Cowley Deanery. Area dean– Elaine Bardwell; synod lay chair-man – Patricia Michael; clergy – IanAdams; licensed lay ministers –Philip Clayton, Alan Wakeley: ecu-menical representative – DavidOwen.Sun 9 First Sunday of Epiphany –Baptism of Christ Those who areto be ordained today as deacon or

priest and the parishes where theywill serve. Those who were baptisedin the previous year and their fami-lies. All who are godparents. Mon 10 Cowley Team Ministry:clergy – Stephen Hartley, LorneDenny, Wazir Chand; licensed layminister – Eric Uren. Tue 11 Blackbird Leys LEP: clergy– David Parry, Fleur Houston,Patrick Mukholi; community work-er – Jim Hewitt.Wed 12 Cowley St John – SS Maryand John, St Alban the Martyr, StBartholomew’s Chapel, St John theEvangelist (St Stephen’s House):clergy – Adam Romanis, KeithLamdin, Margaret Anne ASSP,Alwin Samuel; licensed lay minis-ters – Janet Proudman, JonBowden.Thu 13 Headington Quarry: clergy– Tom Honey, Linda Green; laypastor – D. Twycross. HeadingtonSt Andrew: clergy – MichaelBrewin; licensed lay minister –David Price.Fri 14 Headington St Mary: clergy– Jonathan Sewell, StephanieBullock; licensed lay ministers –Bernice Adepegba, Richard Chand.Highfield: clergy – James Cocke;licensed lay ministers – JamesLarminie, Eve Vause.Sat 15 Iffley: clergy – Richard Lea,David Barton. Littlemore: clergy –Bernhard Schunemann, MargreetArmitstead, Sarah Coakley, TeresaMorgan, John Muddiman.Sun 16 Second Sunday of Epiphany – Week of Prayer forChristian Unity ‘Churches together’networks, local ecumenical partner-ships and projects, that they maycontinue to draw Christians of dif-ferent denominations to be one inChrist. Communication and recon-ciliation within Christian communi-ties; grace and patience to bear withone another when we disagreestrongly; joy and faith in believing. Mon 17 Oxford St Clement: clergy– Bruce Gillingham, Vera Sinton;licensed lay ministers – TobyGarfitt, Kenneth Howson; licensedyouth worker – Chris Trent.Sandford-on-Thames: clergy –Robert Morgan, Lydia Cook;licensed lay ministers – BrianAndrews, Liz Shatford.Tue 18 Marston with Elsfield: cler-gy – Tony Price, Anne Holmes;licensed lay ministers – RobertBruce, David Cranston, BenKnighton. New Marston: clergy –Elaine Bardwell, Joanna Coney,Rosemary Rycraft; licensed lay min-ister – Alison Salvesen.Wed 19 Maidenhead Deanery. Thedevelopment of ministry in all

parishes; partnership betweenchurches and effective use ofresources in the cause of mission;wise leadership and courage to takerisks for the gospel; encouragementfor those feeling over-burdened orhard-pressed; the particular chal-lenges of reaching the wealthier andpoorer. Area dean – Lee Rayfield;synod lay chairman – M. Chandler;ecumenical representative – RichardHolroyd.Thu 20 Bray: clergy – GeorgeRepath. Clewer: clergy – LouiseBrown. The Cookhams: clergy –Michael Smith, Anthony Welling,Terrie Robinson, Philip Ind; licensedlay minister – Charles Walmsley;youth worker – Dave Walker.Fri 21 Dedworth: clergy – LouiseBrown.Sat 22 Burchetts Green: clergy –Theresa Scott, Dilys Woodmore;licensed lay ministers – HilaryDavis, Teresa Kennard.Sun 23 Third Sunday of Epiphany– Conversion of St Paul Those actsof unity between the churches anddenominations that meet the needsof their communities, especially thehomeless, those in temporaryaccommodation, those seeking safe-ty or support.Mon 24 Maidenhead St Luke: cler-gy – Richard Holroyd; licensed layministers – Bob Glen, Sonya Clarke.Tue 25 Maidenhead All Saints: cler-gy – Rosemary Bragg; churchwar-dens during the vacancies.Maidenhead St Andrew and StMary Magdalene: clergy – WillStileman, Neil Watkinson; licensedlay ministers – Ruth Knight, JillPalfrey; youth worker – JonTattersall.Wed 26 Maidenhead St Peter: cler-gy – Lee Rayfield, Jeremy Hyde,Charles Parry; licensed lay worker –Edna Conibear; licensed lay minis-ters – Brian Rose, Pat Rose, DorisSwinbank.Thu 27 Maidenhead GoodShepherd Cox Green: licensed layminister – Margaret Bird: church-wardens during vacancy. Fri 28 New Windsor TeamMinistry: clergy – Ainsley Swift,Mary Barnes, David Dadswell, JohnQuick. Sat 29 Old Windsor St Peter andSt Andrew: clergy – Nigel Pocock:licensed lay minister – MaryHutchinson.Sun 30 Fourth Sunday of EpiphanyThose within the diocese who act asadvocates for the disadvantaged.Mon 31 White Waltham withShottesbrooke: clergy – DavidAndrew. Waltham St Lawrence:clergy – Richard Nunn.

December and January Prayer Diary compiled by Pam Gordon

Dec/Jan 2004/05

The Doorpost is a free service for churches to advertise their eventsand is designed to be hung on church noticeboards. Please send yourevents to door@oxford.anglican.org or by post to Church House. Thedeadline for the February issue is Wednesday 12 January

The Doorpost is a free service for churches to advertise their eventsand is designed to be hung on church noticeboards. Please send yourevents to door@oxford.anglican.org or by post to Church House. Thedeadline for the February issue is Wednesday 12 January

compiled by Clare Wenham

what’s on Courses

Services at ChristChurch CathedralSundays: 8am HolyCommunion; 10am Matins;11.15am Sung Eucharist;6pm Evensong

Weekdays: 7.15am Matins;7.35am Holy Communion; 6pm Evensong (Thursdays5.35pm, Sung Eucharist6pm) Wednesdays only:1.05pm Holy Communion

theDoorpostC O U R S E S T R A I N I N G C O N F E R E N C E S W O R K S H O P S

Free hymn books. St John theBaptist Church, Cookham Dean,has 72 copies of Hymns Ancientand Modern (10th edition, 1987)to give away, but you need to col-lect them. Tel. 01628 484250.

Sat 4 Dec Living under theCross: Redemptive Suffering inthe Christian Life in TheologyPastoral Care and EvangelismGraham Tomlin, Mario Bergner,Michael Ramsden 10am–4pmWycliffe Hall, Oxford £16.Eeva John, Wycliffe Hall, 54Banbury Rd, Oxford OX2 6PW,tel. 01865 274212, e-mail <eeva-maria.john@wycliffe.ox.ac.uk> Sat 22 Jan Bible Translat-ions: why, which and sowhat? Philip Johnston WycliffeHall, Oxford Details as above

18-25 January Week ofPrayer for Christian UnityWorship resources, prayer cards,posters: Churches Together inBritain & Ireland Publications,

tel. 01733 325002.30 January HomelessnessSunday Resource packs, prayercards, posters: Housing Justice,209 Marylebone Rd, LondonNW1 5QT (tel. 020 7723 7273); www.homelessness-sunday.org

Notice

A DECADE ago I read one ofthe most remarkable books Ihave ever read. It was calledAn Ethic for Christians andOther Aliens in a StrangeLand. It was by WilliamStringfellow, a US theologian,whose work is not widelyknown. It was written at theheight of the Vietnam Warwhen American opinion waseven more polarised than it istoday. In it Stringfellow usedthe images of the Book ofRevelation to offer a searchingreflection on American societyand values. Surprisingly, tothose who assumed thatAmerica’s destiny put it on theside of the New Jerusalem,S t r i n g f e l l o w s a i d t h a tAmerica, as one of the princi-palities and powers talked ofby the apostle Paul was in facton the opposite side, that ofBabylon. Stringfellow’s book

offers an antecedent forMichael Northcott’s timelychallenge to the apocalypticreligion of America, and thepreoccupation in some quar-ters with the Book ofRevelation as a kind of map ofthe end of the world.Although Northcott doesn’tmention Stringfellow, like himhe points out that preoccupa-tion with the end of the Worldis not the only way to read thelast book of the ChristianBible: Biblical apocalyptic,rightly interpreted, providepowerful resources forChristians to resist and cri-tique American imperialism.Northcott also draws on someof the alternative Christianpositions on offer in the US.Prime among them is that ofthe Mennonite theologianJohn Howard Yoder, especial-ly the critique of Christen-dom, his pacifism as well ast h e p r a c t i c a l w o r k o f

Mennonites in conflict resolu-tion. Northcott’s book illumi-nates the background of thereligious culture of the nowdominant segment of modernNorth American religion,which has been particularlyinfluential on George Bushand Republican politics, andpoints out that this is not theonly theological voice weshould be heeding in this pow-erful and, for us all, importantnation.

Christopher Rowland is DeanIreland Professor of Exegesisof Holy Scripture at Queen’sCollege, Oxford

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I REMEMBER ten years ago,as an auxiliary nurse andprospective ordinand, drivingto Cuddesdon from Londonby a most bizarre route (roundMaidenhead and up the B480)to try and get a sense of theplace, and on seeing the ‘holyhill’ for the first time from thebrow of the hi l l beforeChippinghurst, immediatelyfeeling affection for it.

Mark Chapman’s affectionfor the ‘holy hill’ is demon-strated by this history, whichhe is ideally placed to write,being vice-principal of the the-ological college and also NSMcurate of the parish. His ownspecialism is early twentieth-century theological history,but in this book he has ven-tured forth to cover other

periods, back to Roman times;and the fact that he so ablyturns from Saxon burials tochurch architecture to dis-putes of ecclesiastical econom-ics and politics is a tribute tohis great giftedness as a historian.

For this is genuine historicalresearch, with over a hundredillustrations, and touchinglydedicated to an exemplarychurchwarden. How Markhas managed to produce italongside his teaching andother college responsibilities,and his other academic stud-ies, is beyond me. He has donethe church, the village and thecollege an enormous service.

Never mind the odd typo(eg Edward King’s ‘feast-day’is 8 not 4 March, page 131note 1) and the all-too-briefconclusion: this book is a

remarkable achievement, andan ideal Christmas present forthose with an affection forc h u r c h h i s t o r y , o rOxfordshire, or who havetrained at and/or lived in thecollege. Published on 1November and priced £12.99,the book is available directf r o m J o n C a r p e n t e rPublishing on 01608 819117.

Michael Brierley is chaplain tothe Bishop of Oxford and stud-ied at Cuddesdon from 1995 –1998

A history of God’sHoly Hill

GOD’S HOLY HILL

MARK CHAPMAN

JON CARPENTER

PUBLISHING

£12.99

George Bush and theBiblical apocalypse

by Michael Brierley

In memory of the fallen of Dorchester

A TRIBUTE to the fallen menof both the Great Wars (1914-18, 1939-45), the book iswritten in memory of the menfrom Dorchester-on-Thameswho served their country.

The book is about the thirtysoldiers, whose names areinscribed on the village warmemorial (in Dorchester-on-Thames), details of their fami-ly backgrounds, their proudservices to their country, andthe unfortunate circumstancesthat led to their deaths allbought together with somereal life anecdotes, and

archive photographs. This book is a lovely collec-

tion of stories about the sol-diers who battled for the free-dom that we have in today’smodern society. It is a greatway to learn about the lives ofthe men that lived inOxfordshire, and the historyof the Two World Wars.

This book is aimed at any-one who has a hunger for warknowledge, and it wouldmake the perfect Christmaspresent for all those interestedin the world wars. Overall agreat read, a real treat forlocal historians, out just intime for Christmas.

The book is available fromD P M c G r e g o r , 1 3Herringcote, Dorchester onThames, OX10 7RD

Zoe Taylor is a pupil at TheCherwell School, Oxford andspent a week’s work experiencewith The Door

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A vibrant,colourful collection of paintings byartist Paul Forsey,The Life of Jesus aims toencourage children and adults to think afreshabout the Christian story.Each striking artwork depicts a key event in thelife of Jesus in an unusual and innovative way.Biblical text accompanies each image. Eachdramatic image invites readers to question theirunderstanding of Jesus’ message and the artist'sown intentions.The book is aimed at 7 - 11 year olds and is awonderful new resource for teachers. Along withthe accompanying teachers guide by David Bartonand Jo Fageant, it has been warmly endorsed bythe Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd RichardHarries. He described it as:‘Quite simply a brilliantbook which I believe could prove something of abreakthrough for the teaching of RE.’Paul Forsey's paintings have been exhibited aroundthe country.The Diocese of Oxford initiallycommissioned him to produce the illustrations, andthe book was then developed in association withthe publishers, BRF.

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WE asked readers last monthto write a new Christmascarol to a well known tuneand we were swamped withentries! A wonderful time washad by all in the Door officeas we sang all the entries butfinal judging was carried outby the musical director ofDorchester Abbey, JohnSimpson. His winner is TimonB Singh’s New Christmas

Carol, to the tune of ThyHand O God Has Guided.

It is printed in full below.Mr Simpson said the com-

petition had been very diffi-cult to judge. ‘We had a verygood response, in terms ofthe quality and quantity ofentries. The carols were enor-mously varied – some werechildren’s carols, some wereset to popular tunes like Overthe Rainbow and WaltzingMatilda, and some weremore traditional. Really wecould have had several win-ners in different categories.Choosing just one wasimmensely difficult.

‘Everyone who enteredshould be congratulated.’

He particularly commendedan entry by Revd SimonBaynes, of Thame, called ACarol for Dorchester Abbeyand said he hoped that hecould use that in future in theAbbey.

He chose the winning carolbecause it fitted the tune verywell and would make a ‘goodcarol for the 21st century’, hesaid.

It will be played at theAbbey’s Service of NineLessons and Carols on 19December at 6pm. All are wel-come to attend.

A new Christmas Carolby Timon B Singh (Melody:Thornbury 76 76 D)

The night was cold and drearyThe stable bare and grim,When Jesus was deliveredTo save the world from sin.The anthem angels sang thenSpread tidings of your birth;All nations now repeat the songRejoice, rejoice O earth.

You brought the news of glad-nessTo free us from our chains,To wipe the tears of sadnessTo break the stressed andstrain.So may we live and praise you,And glorify your name,Continue in your freedom,Your love, as we proclaim.

You are the prince of glory,You are the prince of peace:The Holiest of the Holy

Who makes all wars to cease.No mother will be childless,No bride without a groom:All terror now will vanish,O Lord, come now, come soon.

Come all ye heavy ladenCome poor and sick and lame,The homeless and the hopelessAnd all who feel life’s pain.Our Lord is now restoring And making strong the weakCome now unto the Christ ChildAs he, awaits to greet.

The message of this Christmas‘Tis clear and very plain;With shepherds and the WiseMenLet’s worship him again.He who is born of Mary,He is the Son of GodHe is the Father’s love for us;Sing high, sing low, O world.

Timon B SinghGrandpont, Oxford

‘Why don’t youand Em get a tan-dem?’ This was asuggestion madeto Mark (the vicar)after someone hadobserved the twoof us arriving at achurch function on our bikes.‘It’d never work,’ was Mark’simmediate reply, ‘we’d neveragree on who would get to goat the front!’

Mark’s comment indicates aslightly unnerving insight intomy character (well, what elsewould you expect from atrained psychotherapist!) but isalso an interesting reflection ontwo leaders trying to worktogether. But, as I have discov-ered, being a curate is not astraightforward leadershipposition; my role means I amboth a leader and a trainee.

I encountered this particulartension a few Sundays ago as Itook my first baptism service.Mark was away and so we hadspent time the previous weekpractising baptising a rag dollbelonging to the crèche!Despite the preparation, how-ever, I was somewhat nervousbefore the service and felt tornbetween needing to exude con-fidence, particularly to thefamilies of the children to bebaptised (so that they couldrelax and enjoy the service)whilst also allowing myself tobe vulnerable with the peopleto whom I am ministering.

The friction in this job(which I don’t think will stopon becoming an incumbent) is

between beingprofess ionaland vulnerable.Naturally Iplay an impor-tant profession-al role, and yetfeel that I can-

not be successful in my profes-sion without being vulnerable. Idecided, therefore, to tell thecongregation that it was my firstbaptism. This decision was fol-lowed by an enormous amountof encouragement, and ironi-cally the comment, ‘we’dnever have known if you had-n’t told us!’ So, I could havegot away without informingpeople how inexperienced Iwas, but somehow that wasn’tthe point. The point is whatsort of leader I want to be. Ifeel that somehow a strictlyprofessional front will dis-tance me from the people Iserve, and that perhaps, lead-ing vulnerably will enablepeople to relate to me on adeeper and more honest level.

Returning to the bicycleanalogy, I am sure that Markwill allow and enable me totake the front handlebarsevery now and again, and itwill be inevitable that I willwobble and perhaps fall off!And if this is done in plainsight of others it will be morepublic, more painful and moreembarrassing. Perhaps, how-ever, it will also allow othersto wobble as well.Em Coley is a curate in theparish of Wendover withHalton, Bucks

Glory to God in highestheaven, and on earth peaceamong those whom hefavours’ Luke 2:14

Christmas is often called theSeason of Goodwill , asthough for a few weeks peo-ple can be expected to behavein a kindly and generousway. The title comes from theKing James’ version of thesewords from Luke’s Gospel –‘on earth peace, good willtowards men’. It’s a nice idea,a kind of cosy season of theyear when everyone is nice toeveryone else, but it’s notwhat the message of the angelactually said, and in any caseit flies in the face of all weknow about ourselves andour fellow human beings. Aplentiful supply of presentsand alcohol may well spread

a benign glow over proceed-ings, but generally it onlylasts for a few hours.

The ‘good will’ in this verseis in fact, as the NRSV ren-ders it, ‘favour’ – God’sfavour, his loving-kindness orgrace. The generosity, inother words, is his, not ours –though we are the beneficiar-ies of it. The birth of Jesus isGod’s greatest gift - his ‘inde-scribable gift’, as St Paul callsit (2 Corinthians 9:15). The

gift was costly (‘his onlySon’) and undeserved – ‘theSon of Man came to seek andto save what was lost’ (Luke19:10). And the gift was for‘all the people’ (Luke 2:10).God’s ‘favour’ was now to be revealed to the wholehuman race.

The Oxford Dictionarydefines ‘goodwill’ as ‘kindlyfeel ing’ or ‘heart iness’ .Neither seems quite appro-priate as a description ofGod’s motive in sending hisSon into the world as ourSaviour. But to know that inthis act God was showing‘favour’ – generosity – to hisoften rebellious and con-stantly disobedient creaturesis deeply reassuring. AtBethlehem we became God’sfavoured people, the recipi-ents of the most generous giftthe world has ever seen.

Canon David Winter is a formerDiocesan Director of Evangelism,abroadcaster and author of manybooks including Message for the

Millennium (BRF).

theDoor closes

THOUGHT FORTHE MONTH

by David Winter

VIEW FROM THEPARISH

by Em Coley

Happy Christmascarolling to allour readers!

A Christmas scene by BeanieLeese, age four from CharlburyBeanie and Ellie win a selectionof the top ten Christian children’sbooks, kindly donated by StAndrews bookshops.The winnerof our adult Christmas bookcompetition is Mrs M Cook, fromIvinghoe, Leighton Buzzard. Shewins the top 10 adult bestsellers.

Congratulations to Ellie Macdonald, aged 7 from Newbury. She is thejoint winner of our Christmas book competition with Beanie Leese, aged4, from Charlbury.

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