• The Churn Benefice

    We're seven village churches seeking to love God and neighbour. We welcome you!
     

    Although our buildings must close for regular Worship

    the Church continues to be alive and active:

    Click on the Service Tab above for our weekday services!

    You can contact:
    Revds Jason & Louise by telephone and email
    and Dawn on the office email and/or mobile number.

    We are distributing The Churn, this week's readings, and notices by email.
    Please ask family, friends & neighbours to contact Dawn at office@churnchurches.co.uk if they would like to receive them.

    Take a look at ...

    • our calendar to see what's on this month
    • the notices and events page to find out about our ongoing online events
    • the services page to find out about forthcoming services
    • our resources page to download service materials, reflections, and materials for children and families
    • our community page to find links to information about what's happening locally, and how our communities are supporting people affected by the Coronavirus  

     

     

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  • Daily Message

    Rector’s Daily Reflections: Tuesday 19th January 2021

    Thought for Today

    Earlier today, I had a lovely surprise. I was looking through the kitchen window and I saw some movement under the boughs of a tree. I could see the outline of a bird with brown feathers, and to start with I assumed it was a thrush or perhaps a female blackbird. I then looked again, and realised it was another species altogether. It was a female pheasant. Regular readers of these reflections might remember that I have written about our local male pheasant, who occasionally struts around the garden, displaying his magnificent plumage for all to see. But this is the first time that I can remember seeing a female pheasant in our garden. She didn’t stay in sight for long, but what a joy it was to see her! And also, I must admit that I was rather pleased for the male pheasant, too. I’m pleased he had a mate – or perhaps I’m making an unwarranted assumption here, and these two pheasants are yet to be introduced to each other!

    The sight of the female of pheasant came as a complete surprise, and it has brought to mind the phrase “surprised by joy”. The phrase “Surprised by Joy” was used as the title of a book by C.S. Lewis, which traces the author’s life from childhood to his conversion to Christianity in 1931.

    I think there are so often times when God surprises us by joy. Something happens, quite unexpectedly, which brings us a sense of joy and happiness which seems to have come from another world altogether. Perhaps someone gives us a call out of the blue, or we receive a card, or we see something beautiful in the natural world. Our whole being is filled with joy and for a moment at least we feel that we have been transported to another world.

    Perhaps you have had such a moment of joy in the recent past; perhaps you will experience such a moment in the days or weeks ahead. Whenever such moments occur, they are reminder that God has not forgotten us – even if we might have forgotten him.

    Prayer for Today

    Lord, help us to be open to the new – to new possibilities and new friendships,
    to new experiences and new perspectives. Amen.

    View the 'Daily Message' for this month

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  • Latest Audio

    Click on the link below to listen to our latest audio files:

    Download Night Prayer

    Listen whenever you want to our service of night prayer.


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  • Safeguarding in the Churn Benefice
    The Churn Benefice is committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of the children and people of all ages in our church communities.
    In the first instance questions relating to Safeguarding concerns and support should be addressed to the Rector : The Revd Jason St. John Nicolle, The Benefice Centre, Church End, Blewbury, OX11 9QH, 01235 850267, office@churnchurches.co.uk
    Click here for link to the Safeguarding Policys

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