Lent and Easter 2013

W i tne y W a y

Parish magazine for St Marys, Holy Trinity, St Johns Curbridge, and St Johns Hailey

Providing care, comfort and companionship.

F Full ull o of fc character haracter and and set set amidst amidst i its ts o own wn se secluded cluded g gardens, ardens, N Newland ewland House House is is where where you you nd nd t that hat c comfort omfort a and nd c care are g go oh hand and i in nh hand and w with ith r respect, espect, d dignity ignity a and nd p personal ersonal choice. choice. Visitors Visitors a are re w welcome elcome at at any any t time. ime. C Come ome and and see see for f fo or y yourself ourself w why hy w we, e, our our s staff ta f f a and nd residents residents are are so so proud proud o of fo our ur lovely lovely home. home.

We W eo offer ffer p permanent, ermanent, respite respite a and nd da day ay yc care. are.
N Newland ewland H House ouse 5 50 0 Newland, Newland, Witney, Witney, Oxfordshire, O Oxfordshire, OX283JG X283JG F For or a b brochure, rochure, p please lease c call a ll 0 01993 1993 7 702525 02525 w www.hartfordcare.co.uk ww.hartfordcare.co.uk

Witney Way: Magazine for the Parish of Witney

Editor Ruth Sheppard Printed by LDI, New Yatt

An interesting and varied stock of 17th, 18th and 19th century furniture and artefacts. Fireside Fireside and hearth furnishings furnish a speciality.
We are always W l k keen t to b buy.

90 Corn Street, W Witney,OXON, Witney,O itney,O OXON, O OX28 OX28 6BU T Tel: el: 01993 705026 www.greenwayantiques.co.uk www.green

All views expressed in this magazine are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the Parish of Witney. The appearance of an advertisement in this magazine does not imply endorsement of the advertiser or its products and services by the Parish of Witney, nor does it constitute a recommendation. The Parish of Witney does not accept liability for any loss, injury or damage arising out of goods or services sold through any advertisement in this newsletter. Any discount offered to readers by any advertisement is done so entirely at the discretion of the advertiser. Businesses wishing to advertise in this magazine should contact Ruth Sheppard, WitneyWay@gmail.com, 866127. The acceptance of an advert for inclusion is at the discretion of the editorial team.

Cross and Glory

As we begin our journey to the Cross this Lent which leads us to the Glory of Easter, we do so at a time of new beginnings for the Anglican Communion and for our province of Canterbury. After a period of costly, and sometimes controversial, ministry, Rowan Williams has returned to Front cover: academia in Cambridge. Sara and Andrew In a recent article, Rowan Williams wrote of the early Church: Gallagher, Sam McIntyre, Its clear that the assembly that constitutes itself around the Risen Jesus when the good news is proclaimed is distinguished not only by what it confesses, what it states as true and authoritative, but by the character of its relations life in the Spirit, marked by mutual patience, generosity and interdependence (e.g. Galations 5: 22ff).
Bishop Colin, Matt Barker, Neil Kumar (baptism candidate), Nick Thompson (Neils sponsor), with Elpie Lewis (churchwarden).

In reminding us that it isnt just what we say we believe, but Ivory sculpture of the the character of our relations with others that is important, we Crucifixion, 10th11th are held to account for this balance in each of our lives as we century. seek to build up our assemblies around the Risen Christ. As we reflect together on the journey to the cross and what this means for us in our lives, I think it is helpful not just to think what do I believe, but also, how then does this change my life with others? The message of the Cross is far from easy, as I was recently reminded of in discussions with those newly confirmed within our parish. But in the Cross humanity encounters a love not of this world, as the Cross reveals the uniqueness of a new love which draws us to itself at the heart of our faith and involves us in life in the Spirit. This life in the Spirit is the new life that those who encounter the message of the Cross and the Glory it brings about come to experience for themselves. This life in the Spirit is a new, radical thing because it comes through discovering the uniqueness of Gods love at work among and within us. 3

Rowan Williams goes on in the article to suggest that each church community has to pay attention to three questions about discipleship: 1. How does the community enable its members to grow in prayer? 2. Can the community point to something in its collective life which contributes to the wider society which would not be there without this Christian presence? 3. How far does the community encourage and enable its members to teach and learn from one another? As we make the journey to the Cross together this year, and as we prepare to celebrate the Glory which this reveals to each one of us, maybe we can consider these questions. And perhaps this can help us think about both what we confess we believe as an assembly of the Risen Christ, and also what are the character of our relations, our life in the Spirit with those around us? May you have a happy and blessed journey to the Cross this Lent and a joy-filled Easter as we celebrate the Glory of our faith. Toby Wright

An orderly account
Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed. Luke 1: 14

St Luke hard at work: to find out why, turn to page 11. (Niklas Manuel Deutsch, 1515)

The gospel for this year is Luke. The two volumes of Lukes work Luke and Acts cover a huge span of time and space, from Adam onwards. Luke tells the story of Jesus from conception to resurrection, and goes on to tell the story of the early disciples as they travel from Jerusalem to the world. In Lukes writings, faith is seen as a journey. Christians are people who belong to the Way. Many of the individual stories are of people making a journey: to Jericho, Damascus, Gaza, Emmaus, Jerusalem. At the centre of these journeys is Jerusalem. The whole story of the Gospel is a long journey to Jerusalem, while in Acts everything goes out from Jerusalem, in a series of stories of how the good news reaches the world. For Luke, as for Paul, forgiveness is given to those who simply receive Jesus, and it is a mark of Gods grace. This forgiveness finds its expression in freedom in acts of caring and compassion, setting people free. Throughout Lukes Gospel there is a concern for radical social justice for the poor and for people pushed to the edge of their society, for instance in the stories of the great banquet (Luke 14). Justice for the poor is the mark of the coming of the Kingdom. Luke writes his books as stories of fulfilment. There is a purpose, and it must be fulfilled. Things must happen because they are falling into place in the pattern. The pattern is the purpose of God, from the beginning of time to the end. When Jesus reads from Isaiah in the synagogue (Luke 4), he says now this scripture is fulfilled in your presence. The force that creates this pattern, the purpose that shapes this history is the Holy Spirit. Luke writes about it as a power of dfference and energy and change. The Spirit, unpredictable to us, is the power of God that brings everything together into Gods purposes.

For ideas for reading Luke with a focus, or for further reading about Lukes Gospel, pick up a leaflet in church. This issue includes articles on art, medicine and healing, in celebration of Luke. To find out why youll have to keep reading...

To comfort always
St Luke is the patron saint of physicians, so this issues interview is with local GP Dr Robin Carr. Dr Carr was a GP in Somerset for over twenty years until he moved to Hailey three years ago. He now works at a GP practice in Witney. He is involved in guiding respiratory care for the county, and is on the QDTG, one of the committees in the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group. What led you to become a GP? I was about thirteen when I was absolutely sure I wanted to do medicine. I suspect like many doctors I had not the faintest idea what being a doctor really was, so I based my decision on people I knew I knew a lovely person and thought Id like to be like that in my case it was my grandfather, who was an ENT surgeon in Birmingham. There are lots of reasons for going into medicine, and as many different kinds of doctoring as there are doctors. I trained at St Bartholomews, and then I was fortunate enough to join the army, where I went through a whole host of subjects, all of which were very interesting, that gave me a complete love of everything, but not to the exclusion of anything. I remember thinking that I would like to have the decision-making abilities of a surgeon, but have the holistic vision of a physician there is no such job. The only way one can really be a generalist now is as a general practitioner, a GP. I became a GP in 1988, in Yeovil, Somerset. How has being in general practice changed since 1988? My role as a GP has changed hugely over the last 25 years (as it has for all GPs), partly out of the needs of the country, and partly the designs of our politicians. When I first arrived as a GP in 1988, I would do a morning surgery; then walk over to the community hospital where I looked after a ward of 30 people, and attend to their needs; then would do house calls; then back to the surgery for evening surgery. I would finish there about 7pm, check on the hospital again, and then go home. When the community hospital closed I went into respiratory (chest) medicine in the district general hospital, and did respiratory outpatients clinic once a week as well as my general practice; that would be impossible to do today. 7

I remember thinking that I would like to have the decisionmaking abilities of a surgeon, but have the holistic vision of a physician

Now I get in at 7.30am to do administration, a 3-hour surgery in the morning, then more administration; then work until 6.30 attending two nursing homes which I currently look after for the surgery. It is now impossible to finish the amount of work for which you are responsible, no matter how long you stay. What has caused this? A famous GP, John Fry, used to produce books of statistics about why people visited the doctor. He divided a normal GP population into three those you never see, those who came in occasionally, and those you couldnt get out of the surgery. Thats how it was possible to have 5,000 on your list 30 years ago, but now, instead of never seeing one-third of the list, you will now see everyone on your list and about six times a year thats about 10,800 appointments per year for a GP with an average size list. This is because general practice has gone from being purely reactive to being both reactive and proactive, so for example we might get all of a certain portion of the list to be checked for possible illnesses, such as the overweight elderly who might have diabetes or smokers who might have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A greater understanding of heath needs and illness is a good thing, but it generates a great deal of work and health-related anxiety. General practice has tried to meet this demand, and to a general degree it has been very successful, but at a cost, not financial, more of time and continuity of care. If you ask someone on the street, they would say the National Health Service is free, but it isnt, it never was, and there are always more people who need treatment than the NHS can afford to treat. Politicians have been less than honest about what the NHS is for, meaning that people think it is there for all of us, all the time, for whatever we want, whenever we want, for free. But increasingly there are medicines, treatments and procedures that are not available on the NHS, in order that the things that are absolutely necessary can be afforded. The time has certainly come to be honest about what the NHS can do, and what it cannot; NHS care then needs to be provided efficiently and nationwide not one thing in one county and another next door. Our country does not have enough money to provide for everything, but it can provide for a core of services really well.

If you ask someone on the street, they would say the National Health Service is free, but it isnt, it never was, and there are always more people who need treatment than the NHS can afford to treat.

GPs in the current organization have not only a personal responsibility for a patient, but also a corporate responsibility to the NHS budget if I overspend on drugs, then there are people who cant have their hip and cataract operations. This responsibility to prioritize treatment is falling to GPs because were in a good position to make these decisions. This means we now have to balance one persons treatment, against another, which is a very difficult choice. So our role in primary care is changing from one of patients advocate and gateway to other services, to having this corporate responsibility to a finite resource.

We should be relentless in our efforts to make the service better. There are hundreds if not thousands of people within the NHS trying After twenty years in the system, what do you think needs to to improve their own bit change?

There are countless areas that could change, and this is sometimes the problem! We should be relentless in our efforts to make the service better. There are hundreds if not thousands of people within the NHS trying to improve their own bit and this individual approach to improvement has to be the way to go. We made a difference to COPD patients in Somerset; Im hoping that my enthusiasm will rub off on COPD care in Oxfordshire. The most cost-effective way of dealing with illnesses is often manage them early on, before patients are seriously ill; for example treating blood pressure to avoid a heart attack, or treating diabetes to avoid blindness or kidney failure. The most cost-effective way of dealing with COPD is flu jabs, followed by smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation, and then inhalers. Not rocket science. But many people dont have a flu jab as they believe it gives them flu (it cant, as the virus is dead); many people continue to smoke despite the evidence that it harms you; many people will not go to pulmonary rehabilitation, is this because we have not convinced them of the benefits, or why we feel so keenly that they would benefit for attending? The idea is to invest early; by empowering our patients, teaching them how they need to look after themselves, and when to come back. The challenge is to do this while also looking after those who have developed the complications and end organ damage.

medicine is a privilege that we have been granted to pursue and we treat the trust placed in us with tremendous respect

What is the most rewarding part of being a GP? Seeing people. No two days are the same, the constant challenge of finding diagnoses is fulfilling, and getting to the bottom of something and making someone better is glorious. Managing an asthmatic child so they dont wake up throughout the night and have energy for school; or helping children who arent developing because of a chronic disease. Finding out that it was a blood pressure tablet that was causing an elderly person to fall when they stood up and being able to stop their falls, thats what makes us tick. You go into medicine because you like people. What guides you in your approach to patient care? As someone who looks after the elderly and frail there is a mantra that I repeat to myself which has its origins with Hippocrates: First do no harm whenever a doctor cannot do good, he must be kept from doing harm It is so tempting to want to do something, to do more tests, to try another medication, to refer to yet another specialist. The road to ruin is paved with good intention I believe. There is a phrase that is often coined by wise old doctors masterly inactivity which is a way of waiting, whilst self-limiting things get better, healing is a matter of time and sometimes of opportunity. So not to be worried or surprised when your GP says not sure ... lets just wait a little and see what happens it is one of our most prized tests, to wait. But I think the one phrase that dominates my practice more than anything else is To cure sometimes, to treat often, but to comfort always. It is also Hippocrates but it is the watchword for the palliative care profession. People come in distress, in discomfort, and need to know that we will always make every effort to alleviate their suffering, and it will be not for want of trying if their symptoms remain. It is what drives us, and for me, whether I am in a strategic, or managing role or just being a GP. In equal amounts the most demanding and most rewarding of jobs; medicine is a privilege that we have been granted to pursue and we treat the trust placed in us with tremendous respect. 10

Follower of Quinten Massys, early 16th century.

An All-Honourable Image
Why is it possible to picture a sixteenth-century artists workshop in detail? Because of St Luke there are paintings of him at work on portraits of the Virgin Mary surrounded by an artists paraphernalia. Where are these paintings found? Artists commissioned paintings of St Luke for their guild chapels because he is one of their patron saints and the chapels were dedicated to him. Why is Luke a patron saint of artists? And why is he painting Mary? Now its time to say, Ask your mother/father/teacher, as it gets more complicated. A simple answer would be that medieval artists belonged to the same guild as doctors and apothecaries, since they all used pestles and mortars, either to make pigments or to make potions. Luke is known as The Beloved Physician, so there is a connection, but it does not explain the subject of his supposed painting. However there is a tradition in the Greek Orthodox church going back nearly two thousand years, that the origin of all icons of St Mary is a set of three depictions of her by Luke. Two of these showed her with Jesus, and one was just of her. The liturgy for one of the Orthodox celebrations of St Mary has the words:
Painting your all-honourable image, the divine Luke, author of the Gospel of Christ, inspired by the divine voice, represented the creator of all things in your arms.

This clearly means a visual image, not a word picture. An icon is not a portrait, but there are stories that Mary blessed Lukes images and also that Luke received information included in his gospel directly from her. That Luke met Mary is an appealing idea but even if the legend and the idea that he drew her are too far-fetched, his relevance to medieval and renaissance art is undeniable. 11

Would I find my favourite subject for an old master without Luke? No. I search out paintings of the Annunciation and only Luke has that story. Think of any picture of the nativity or early life of Jesus and, unless the magi are involved, its source will be the gospel of St Luke. Other stories unique to Luke have been illustrated memorably. One notable example is Rembrandt's emotional and insightful Return of the Prodigal Son. No wonder he is important to artists they have relied on his account of the birth of Jesus to create so many of the paintings we enjoy. For that he earns his position as their patron saint. Bridget Walton

The Churchs ministry of Wholeness and Healing

In his own ministry, Jesus gave high priority to healing the sick. The same concern has always found expression in the ministry of the Church through the Eucharist, the prayers for the sick, and the personal love and care offered to sufferers by individual Christians. This ministry has continued over the centuries at Witney Team churches, as in other churches. Among the ways in which the Church exercises this ministry is through the laying on of hands. This is done by a priest or others who believe themselves to be called to this particular ministry. They are not healers. They represent the whole Body of Christ (his Church) surrounding you with love and prayer at that moment. Any of us may receive, for ourselves or on behalf of others, when we believe there is need of the healing power of the Spirit of God. This ministry is in no sense offered as an alternative to medical care. All healing comes from God, whether brought about by the skill and care of doctors and nurses, through prayer, through sacraments, or through healing words or a healing touch. It is a ministry which reflects Jesus concern and promise for the whole person body, mind and spirit. Recovery from disease is one aspect of this; another is the possibility of being enabled by God to accept illness or disability. Beyond our quest for indi12

Rogier van der Weyden, St Luke drawing the Virgin.

vidual healing there is a need for healing in human society, scarred as it is by war, injustice and oppression. The Churchs ministry of healing is therefore also one of reconciliation and forgiveness. A confession of sins of our lack of wholeness is made immediately before the laying on of hands. Our penitence, and Gods forgiveness, are the necessary condition for recovering wholeness of body, mind and spirit and for healing the broken relationships between ourselves and God, and between one another. To forward this ministry in Witney Parish we are meeting monthly for a Wholeness and Healing Service in Holy Trinity church. Sitting round a simple altar in a circle, we begin with prayers, then after a reading from the Bible we share our thoughts about the passage. Following a brief silence we go round the circle offering each person in turn a chance to express any concern they would wish to offer to God, be it worldwide, national, church-based or family or person-based, but there is no obligation to speak. This is followed by intercession, then we share privately in pairs things for which we give thanks. Finally we receive the laying on of hands on behalf of others and ourselves as we sit in our circle before the blessing. About twenty of us gather each month and most of us have also become members of the Guild of St Raphael, a Church of England group founded in 1915, which seeks to promote the ministry of Wholeness and Healing. If you would like to know more, have a word with Tim Partridge on 864926. Tim Partridge

Holy Trinity Church, Woodgreen The Hole in the Floor Appeal, 2013
The Rector and Churchwardens request the pleasure of your company

at the Appeal Launch

Friday 12 April, 7pm, Holy Trinity Church The Patrons will be present. RSVP by Wednesday 3 April to the Parish Office 13

9.30am5.00pm Saturday, 18 May 2013 www.witneyfoodfestival.co.uk On 18 May 2013 we are holding the first Witney Festival of Food and Drink, in St Marys Church, an ancient and spectacular venue which over the centuries must have hosted many splendid, historic, community events. The aim of the Witney Festival of Food and Drink is to celebrate and showcase local producers from farmers to butchers, bakers, brewers and cooks, to promote the abundance of high-quality food and drink produced in our area, and to support local growers and producers in very challenging times. The Festival will feature approximately 30 local producers, showing a great variety of produce. There will also be displays, talks and demonstrations on the theme of enjoying local food and supporting our outstanding local economy. As you will know, Witney is a growing market town with a burgeoning population, free parking and a confident high street, which seems to be bucking the national trend. Through the festival we hope to emphasise the importance of supporting our local producers, together with understanding both where our food comes from, and the necessity for sustainable farming. If you know of any local producers/farmers/businesses who might like to be a part of this new venture, in whatever way, please contact us on 01993 703070 or via our website. This is a great event for the parish, and we are very grateful to everyone who is giving so generously of their time to get the show on the road. Please talk about the festival amongst your friends and neighbours, and promote it wherever you can. You can follow our plans on www.witney_food_festival.co.uk or on Twitter @WitneyFoodandDrinkF, or our Facebook page, Witney Festival of Food & Drink. 14

Food Matters:
connecting faith and food
Give us this day our daily bread. Food is at the heart of the Lords Prayer a sign of how much it matters to us all. But where is the spiritual significance in the way we grow food today or in the way we buy food, share it and eat it? How can we connect with the complexities surrounding food globally and locally in a changing world and still celebrate food as gift? Food Matters is a new project from the Diocese of Oxford to help churches do just that, with resources and events offering opportunities to reflect, pray, share stories and take action for a fairer food system for all. There will be resources for each season; with the first set encouraging us to recall our connection with the earth, and the joys and responsibilities of being stewards of God. Bishop Johns introduction explains:
There are so many aspects to our thinking on food. Why, in a world where there is enough food to feed everyone, do 870 million people still go hungry? As Christians we are bound to be appalled at the inequality of food distribution and uncomfortable that so many are hungry while so I have come to the conclusion that many others are clearly overfed and eating un- food is theology ... when I buy food that healthy diets. What can we do to change this? is fairly traded I say that I believe in a God Then theres our relationship with the earth. who has made all people in his image and From Genesis on weve been trying to get this who cares how they are treated and asks right. Working out how we can feed growing us to do the same. If I buy food that comes numbers of people, while not exploiting the from environmentally unsustainable earth, diverting it from its own processes, is agrosystems then I am saying that I do not another question for Christian engagement. believe that this world is created by and And its also important to remember that en- for Jesus, even if I may say that with my joying food together and offering hospitality is lips. If I look after the animals in my care one of the distinctive features of living as Gods and/or buy meat from animals that have similarly been well looked after then I am people. How can we do more of that?
declaring that I believe in a God whose in-

Visit the website for articles, resources, terest encompasses the whole creation. Reflection by Ruth Valerio, theologian prayers, information about events and more:
and activist

www.foodmatters.org.uk 15

Where will you buy yours?

Congregations, schools and individuals are supporting the Real Easter Egg 2013 campaign and helping change a life. Of the 80 million chocolate eggs expected to be sold in the UK, the Real Easter Egg is the first and only Fairtrade egg to explain the meaning of Easter on and in the box. Now in its third year, the Real Easter Egg 2013 has a free activity pack in the box which includes the Easter story, activity poster, free i-video download and a sticker set. The resurrection text from Mark can also be found inside the lid along with the greeting Happy Easter! With each sale of The Real Easter Egg a donation is made to Traidcraft Exchange to support some of the poorest farmers in the world. More than 40,000 has been donated so far. A Fairtrade Premium is also paid to farmers allowing them to invest in their community buying everything from school books and solar panels, to providing fresh water supplies. For information on where you can buy a Real Easter Egg visit www.realeasteregg.co.uk

Witney Beer Festival

The second Witney Beer Festival will take place on Saturday 4 May, starting at 12 noon. Last years event was a big success with over 3,000 raised for local good causes. This years festival will again be held at St Marys. It is being organised by Witney Round Table, with proceeds being spilt between the St Marys Preservation Trust and local charities in and around Witney. For more information visit www.witneybeerfestival.com 16

Baptisms
Amelia Louise Thomas and Jessica Amy Jenkins were baptised at St Marys on 6 January. Rose Faith Woodward was baptised at Holy Trinity on 13 January. Rhys Leighton Wallis was baptised at Hailey on 20 January. George Vincent Hamilton was baptised at Curbridge on 27 January. Arielle Thelma Gallagher and Hannah Alice Trundley were baptised at St Marys on 3 February Charlie Beau Dennis was baptised at Holy Trinity on 10 February. Roseanna Elizabeth Galloway was baptised at Holy Trinity on 24 February. Hunter Riley Blake, Chace Able Blake and Wyatt Kai Blake were baptised at Curbridge on 10 February.

Anglican Cursillo in the Diocese of Oxford

Anglican Cursillo is a movement of the Church providing a method by which Christians are empowered to grow through prayer, study and action and enabled to share Gods love with everyone. Oxford Cursillo is running the following events at Douai Abbey: Friday 12 April 10:00am3:30pm Deepening Discipleship and Growing Leaders in the Church a short day for clergy: How can I grow and deepen discipleship within my church and what part could Cursillo play in this? Saturday 13 April 10:00am3:30pm Spiritual Growth and Practical Discipleship a short day for Christians, lay and ordained: How can I be a more effective part of Christs body and what help is Cursillo offering? These sessions are not only open to those who have made their cursillo, but also for those who have not experienced a Cursillo weekend so that they can find out more about how it can benefit churches in the Diocese. If you would be interested in knowing more, contact the Lay Director, Peter Watsham: lay.director@oxfordcursillo.co.uk; or Sarah Ebanja, Cursillo rep for the Parish. 17

Our new Archbishop

Bishop Justin Welby will be enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury in Canterbury Cathedral on 21 March. Upon his nomination last year he said To be nominated is exciting because we are at one of those rare points where the tide of events is turning, and the church nationally, including the Church of England has great opportunities to match its very great but often hidden strengths. I feel a massive sense of privilege at being one of those responsible for the leadership of the church in a time of spiritual hunger, when our network of parishes and churches and schools and above all people means that we are facing the toughest issues in the toughest place. The appointment is significant not only for the diocese of Canterbury (where he will be the diocesan bishop, though much of the day-to-day oversight of the diocese is carried out on his behalf by the Bishop of Dover), but also for the wider Province of Canterbury the 29 dioceses in the South of England, and the Diocese of Europe, which all fall under his general oversight. In addition, it is to the bishop of the See of Canterbury, with which Anglicans have historically been in communion, that Anglicans worldwide give a primacy of honour and respect among the college of bishops in the Anglican Communion as first among equals (primus inter pares). In that role, as a focus and means of unity within the Communion, the Archbishop convenes and works with the Lambeth Conference and Primates Meeting, and presides in the Anglican Consultative Council. Bishop Justin was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied history and law. For 11 years five in Paris and six in London he worked in the oil industry, becoming 18

group treasurer of a large British exploration and production company, working on projects focused in West Africa and North Sea. During this period he became a lay leader at Holy Trinity, Brompton in London, having been a council member at St Michaels Church in Paris. A major influence both on Justin and his wife Caroline was their experience of personal tragedy. In 1983 their seven-month old daughter died in a car crash in France. Six years later in 1989, after sensing a call from God, Bishop Justin stood down from industry to train for ordination. He took a theology degree at St Johns College, Durham, in which he focused on ethics particularly in business. Ordained in 1992, he spent 15 years in Coventry Diocese before becoming Dean of Liverpool in 2007 and was appointed Bishop of Durham in the summer of 2011. For 20 years, his ministry has blended deep devotion to his parish communities with Church work around the world, especially in areas of conflict. An expert on the politics and history of Kenya and Nigeria, he has lectured on reconciliation at the US State Department. In the summer of 2012, he joined the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards. He is married to Caroline, who studied Classics at Cambridge, where they met. They have two sons and three daughters. Following his nomination, Bishop Justins election as Archbishop of Canterbury was undertaken in January by the Dean and Canons of Canterbury Cathedral, and confirmed at a ceremony at St Pauls Cathedral on 4 February, which was presided over by the Archbishop of York, with the assistance of the Bishops of London, Winchester, Salisbury, Worcester, Rochester, Lincoln, Leicester and Norwich. Before his enthronment in March, he will undertake other formal stages before he begins his public ministry, particularly his act of Homage to the Queen. Meanwhile, the new Archbishop will be familiarizing himself with the tasks he will be called upon to perform over the coming years, meeting those he will be working with most closely, and preparing himself for all that lies ahead. For more information about the new Archbishop, visit www.archbishopofcanterbury.org 19

Parish contact information

St Mary the Virgin, Church Green, Witney OX28 4AW Holy Trinity, Woodgreen, Witney OX28 1DN St John the Baptist, Curbridge OX29 7NW St John the Evangelist, Middletown, Hailey OX29 9UD

www.witneyparish.org.uk
Team Rector Team Vicar Associate Priest Team Evangelist Churchwardens Revd Toby Wright Toby-wright@btconnect.com Revd Dr Elizabeth Thomson Revd Sally Wright Captain Jeff Hill Elspeth Lewis James Mills 704441 834875 704441 358226 703070 07917566374

Deputy Churchwardens Curbridge Val Pole and Jean Chittey Hailey Clare Musson Holy Trinity Jill Carter and Keith Jameson St Marys Stu Vaughan and Charles Smith Parish Office & Gift Aid Michelle Bailey Wells 779492 9am12.30pm MondayFriday St Marys, Church Green wtparish@btinternet.com 864926 834875

Baptism Enquiries Esther Partridge Wedding Enquiries Revd Dr Elizabeth Thomson

Witney Way editor Ruth Sheppard 866127 WitneyWay@gmail.com Copy date for next issue: 30 April Home and Hospital Visits To arrange Communion for anyone who is unwell, please contact 708582 (Hailey), or 771750 (Holy Trinity). For Curbridge, St Marys or general enquiries, contact the Parish Office, or one of the clergy. 20

Sunday Services
St Marys 8.00am Holy Communion (Followed by breakfast on 4th Sunday) 10.45am Sung Eucharist (With Junior Church) 10.45am Sung Eucharist (Including Sunday School) 9.15am Holy Communion (Occasionally Matins) 6.00pm Evensong (First Sunday of the month) 9.15am Holy Communion

Holy Trinity

St Johns, Hailey

St Johns, Curbridge

Weekday Services
MondaySaturday St Marys 9.00am Morning Prayer

MondaySaturday St Marys 5.30pm Evening Prayer Tuesday Holy Trinity Wednesday St Marys Thursday St Johns, Hailey

10.30am Holy Communion

11am

Holy Communion

10.00am Holy Communion

These are the normal service times; please see website and the weekly notice sheet for any changes or special events. 21

Services for Holy Week and Easter

The preacher at most of our services in Holy Week is Bishop Tom Butler, who retired in 2010 as Bishop of Southwark. He writes: Several protesters in the tented camp outside St Pauls Cathedral and the City of London a little over a year ago were holding placards with the deceptively simple question What Would Jesus Do? Our theme for Holy Week builds on that question. We will be asking ourselves, Who was Jesus, and what did he do? I expect our journey through Holy Week to be part pilgrimage and part detective story. I look forward to spending Holy Week with you. Grace and Peace, +Tom Palm Sunday, 24 March Remembering the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem, when he rode into the city on a donkey and the crowd waved palm branches to hail him as a king. 9.15 am Holy Communion Curbridge 9.15 am Holy Communion Hailey 10.45 am Sung Eucharist Holy Trinity 10.45 am Sung Eucharist St Marys Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Quiet evening eucharists for the first days of Holy Week, each with a short talk about the themes of the week. Monday 25 March, 7.30 pm Holy Trinity Tuesday 26 March, 7.30 pm Curbridge Wednesday 27 March, 7.30 pm St Marys Tuesday 26 March, 11.00 am, Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford: Chrism Eucharist (transferred from Thursday because of the visit of the Queen.) 22

Maundy Thursday, 28 March Remembering the last supper of Jesus with his disciples, and how he washed their feet. With a parish supper beforehand come and eat with us; everyone is welcome. 6.30 pm Parish supper Hailey 7.30 pm Eucharist of the Last Supper Hailey Good Friday, 29 March Remembering the trial and crucifixion of Jesus in three different services through the day. Childrens Easter activities in the morning at Hailey 1011.45am Stations of the Cross for children, Hailey 10.30 am, Hailey, Gospel Train: Easter activity service for children, with crafts and hot cross buns Walk of Witness (and hot cross buns), Market Square. Time to be confirmed. 12.00 noon, Hailey, The Cross: a quiet service telling the story of the Crucifixion, with an address 2.00 pm, St Marys: The liturgy of the Passion, with Holy Communion 7.30 pm, Holy Trinity, Shadows of the Cross (Tenebrae): a quiet service of words and music for Good Friday evening Easter Eve, 30 March Keeping the vigil of Easter Eve, lighting the new fire, and celebrating the resurrection with the first eucharist of Easter. Easter Trail for children from 10.00am, party/presentations at 3.00 pm, St Marys 8.00 pm Easter Vigil St Marys Easter Day, 31 March The clocks go forward this morning! Wake up to Easter at a service of music, praise, and celebration of Gods love. May contain chocolate! 9.15 am Holy Communion Curbridge 9.15 am Holy Communion Hailey 10.45 am Sung Eucharist Holy Trinity 10.45 am Sung Eucharist St Marys 23

Whats going on in the Parish?

Upcoming events and services
Lent Soup Lunch 12 noon, 20 March, St Marys. Follows on from the 11am Eucharist. All welcome. Wholeness and Healing Serivce 7pm, 21 March, Holy Trinity Launch for the Holy Trinity Hole in the Floor Appeal 7pm, Friday 12 April, Holy Trinity, (see p.13) Parish Quiet Day St Marys Convent, Freeland, 29 April. Contact Parish Office for details. Witney Beer Festival 2 May, St Marys (see p.16) Witney Festival of Food and Drink 18 May, St Marys (see p.14) Week of Accompanied Prayer 28 June (see p.35)

Regular groups and events

Messy Church 46pm, Sunday 28 April and 23 June, St Marys. Fun craft activites and games for children and their parents with a Christian theme, ending with a hot tea. Womens Group Particularly aimed at women in their 20s40s: Sunday 17 March, Compline and Cake at St Marys; 28 April, Pudding (with guest speaker); 9 June, Summer walk followed by Pimms. Contact Stephanie Keates, slkeates@googlemail.com. Acorns Toddler Group 9.4511.45am and 12.45pm Thursdays, Holy Trinity (term time) A welcoming toddler group for 05 year olds and their carers. Art Group 9.30am12 noon, Monday, Winchester Room, St. Marys 24

X Group Get-togethers for teens of the parish. 10 & 24 March. For more information contact Jeff Hill on 358226. Xsite Praise party for 811 year olds. 68pm, 23 March at St. Marys, Church Green; 18 May at St Marys, Cogges; 6 July St Marys, Church Green. Holy Trinity House/Fellowship Groups Groups meet fortnightly on Monday and Tuesday evening. For information on the Monday group contact Malcolm Ryland-Jones and for the Tuesday group contact Alan Gentry. Book Circle Third Tuesday of the month, 2.30pm, Winchester Room, St Marys. Open to all. Contact Freda Nicholls on 772564. Mothers Union Second Wednesday of the month, 2pm, Winchester Room, St Marys. Corporate Communion is held on the third Wednesday of the month at 11am at St Marys. Hailey Village Lunch Third Wednesday of the month, Hailey Village Hall. Hot Pot lunches For seniors. Fourth Wednesday of the month. Parish Wives Group Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7.45pm, Winchester Room, St Marys. Contemplative Prayer Group Every Wednesday, 4.305.00pm, St Marys. Parish Surgery 55.30pm, Thursdays, St Marys. An opportunity to have a word with the parish clergy. Both Toby and Elizabeth will normally be there. Acoustic Room Third Thursday of the month, 7.30pm, Winchester Room, St Marys. 3 on the door, free for performers. For further information contact Colin or Jean Greenway on 705026. 25

Faith with Spice An opportunity for the men from the churches to get together, 7.45pm on 28 April, 9 June, 14 July at Shaan, Corn Street. Contact Jeff Hill for further details. Choir Practice: Holy Trinity Wednesdays, 7.30pm. Contact Paul Francis 01235 848215. Choir Practice: St Marys Sundays, 9.45am. Contact Francis Rumsey. St Marys Junior Choir Make sure your events All keen young singers welcome, contact Sally Rumsey, 779331.
and ongoing activities are listed here, email WitneyWay@gmail.com, or ring 866127.

Bell ringing at St Marys Ringing on Sunday, 9.4510.45am. Practice night Tuesday, 7.309pm. Contact Wendy Wastie 07773 391886.

Neighbourhood Return
Do a good turn for your Neighbour. Thats the aim of the new Neighbourhood Return scheme, which aims to act quickly to find people with memory problems, such as dementia, who have got lost. In England and Wales disorientation and getting lost happens to some 40,000 people for the first time each year. It increases the likelihood of care home admission fourfold. This in turn increases the stress on sufferers and carers, and can impact heavily on personal and public finances. We want to extend care and independent, but supported living in the community to these vulnerable people. Neighbourhood Return builds on the community messaging systems of Neighbourhood & Home Watch it uses secure registration, messaging and mapping systems and its searches are risk assessed and managed by a specialist Local Authority call centre. Can you help us? We are looking for volunteers to join searches in their immediate area, who have a mobile phone which is regularly charged and has credit on it, and who can use text messaging. We know everyone isnt available all the time, so the scheme aims to sign up as many volunteers across Oxfordshire as possible. Even if you work, or if you have limited time available 26

please still consider volunteering. If you arent available or in the area when we alert you that someone has gone missing, just text back no. If you are free to help, our care centre will send you a description of the person and let you know where to search. When you reach the destination, you let them know and they will provide further instructions on where to look next. A safe searching guide helps to give you guidance about searching and how to gently approach the person who is lost, should you find them. Searches are conducted for up to two-and-a-half hours by volunteers, who can join or leave the search at any point during this time, if the person isnt found by then the search is then handed over to the police. You can sign up to the scheme at www.ourturn.org.uk or by phoning 0116 229 3118. This isnt a huge commitment. You will rarely or may never be called to help, but by registering, not only will you help carers to feel supported by their local community, but should someone in your local area go missing you could help save a life. If you are a carer of someone with memory problems, you can register them using the contacts above. Its absolutely free. Once your loved one is registered, we will send you a fridge magnet with the helpline number on, so you can easily find it, should you ever need it. If you pre-register someone with memory problems, we can get volunteers mobilised in 3 to 5 minutes. You can still use the scheme in an emergency without pre-registration, it just takes 15 to 20 minutes to get all the details we need to start the search. The call centre keeps in touch with both the carer and Thames Valley Police at regular intervals to let them know how the search is progressing. The scheme is being run across Oxfordshire, and went live in November 2012. The concept of the scheme was conceived by consultant psychiatrist Dr Rupert Macshane, from Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. Two years in the planning, it was decided to link up with the national Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network, who use a community messaging system which has now been enhanced to provide the searching functions. The scheme is funded by the National Lottery Silver Dreams Fund, and is a Neighbourhood Watch Project. www.ourturn.org.uk 27

Us every person, every community, a full life

In November USPG changed its name to United Society, to be known as Us. The name USPG United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel was derived from the founding of the organisation in 1701, when it was known as the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG), at that time the work was directed towards Church of England expatriates who had settled in North America. Over the years the work spread to working with churches in many other countries and continents. In 1965 SPG joined with the Universities Mission to Central Africa (UMCA) to form USPG. However in recent years it had become clear that a new name was needed to connect with the modern world and after much debate the new name was chosen. It is a reminder that Gods love is for all of us, Jesus is called Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23) which means God with us. Although Us is rooted in the Anglican tradition and works in partnership with local Anglican churches all over the world, it also works ecumenically and with other faith communities for the benefit of all people, regardless of their culture, gender, age or sexuality. We are a global family. We are different people, with different backgrounds, so there is room in the Us community for different points of view. We are all part of us, we are all made in Gods creative image; there is room for us all. A new name but, hopefully, the same support from the parish: Us continues to be our parish charity, and Lent boxes will be available in all our churches to pick up and fill with your loose change. Dont forget that if you are a tax payer you can gift aid your donation to increase its value at no extra cost to yourself, just fill in your name and address and tick the gift aid box, I can fill in the amount when it is counted. Please support Us if you can and return the boxes after Easter. Lorna Whitehouse Parish rep. 28

St Marys Appeal
From a sermon given at St Marys by Bishop Bill Down, 24 February 2013. The process of restoration and renewal at St. Marys began in earnest in November 2007, when the PCC decided to go ahead with a comprehensive programme of repairs and refurbishment. They didnt really have much choice! The roof was leaking badly; the floor was in poor condition; the heating system was and remains woefully inadequate. The need for action was urgent. The PCC set up a small committee to take the project forward, which began its work in January 2008. First, we identified the work that needed to be done. The top priority was to repair and renew the roof, and thus make the building weatherproof. Costings were obtained. The necessary permission was sought and in July 2008 a faculty to proceed was granted. We knew that we were going to need at least 250,000 for the repairs and renewal of the roof. A new floor, the installation of underfloor heating, and the replacement of the pews with chairs would all cost at least 750,000. Other repairs, the upgrading of the churchs domestic facilities, the provision of proper office accommodation, and appropriate amenities for the choir would also be very costly. We were going to need to raise at least 1.5 million a challenging prospect. Our situation in 2008 could be compared with the challenge facing Abraham. Abraham had a deep sense of the presence of God in his life. He had a strong faith. And he was a man of action. When God prompted him to gather together his possessions, and to set out for a place that God would show him in due course, Abraham obeyed. With his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot, he said goodbye to his relations, and headed out into the unknown. They encountered difficulties and dangers, but they went on in faith. Then God appeared to him in a vision. Dont be afraid, Abraham, He said: your reward will be very great. Abraham replied that any reward would be short-lived, since he and his wife Sarah were old, and had been unable to have children. The family would die with them. God drew him outside the tent: Look up at the sky, He said, and count the stars if you can. So many will your descendants be. It was scarcely believable to a man and his wife who had tried for so long, and without success, to have children. But Abraham believed Gods promise and God noted his 29

reaction with approval. Sarah duly conceived and their son Isaac was born. In spite of all the setbacks and disappointments Abraham went on in faith, and his faith was richly rewarded. So it was with us. The Appeal Committee at St Marys realised the full extent of the challenge we were facing. Nevertheless, we knew that we had to go ahead God was calling us to a mighty effort, and we trusted Him to guide and bless our efforts. We committed ourselves to Him, and got on with the job! When the faculty to repair the roof was granted in July 2008, we began the task of raising the necessary cash. Within days a trust fund made a grant of 50,000 it was exactly the sign from God that we needed. Over the next 2 years trust funds contributed a total of 165,000, and English Heritage gave us 62,000. Members of the congregations contributed generously. We determined that we would not go into debt, and we renewed the roof in stages. But on the last stage of the repairs it was discovered that a large area of concealed stonework was in a dangerous condition, and needed immediate attention. The cost was an extra 50,000. We had no alternative but to borrow the money from the diocese, which we since now repaid in full. A total of 360,000 had been raised. The first challenge had been met. As this mornings reading from the Epistle to the Philippians reminded us, we are citizens of heaven. As Gods people, citizens of heaven, we have a mission a mission to make God known to the people of Witney. The Appeal Committee had regularly discussed how the restoration and renewal of St Marys would enhance and enrich our ministry to the people of Witney. From the very beginning we set out how we envisaged St Marys serving the community: as an ancient and beautiful centre for civic events; a living landmark enshrining the history of Witney; a splendid resource for voluntary organisations and groups; an ideal venue for schools, events, and occasions; a flexible space for musical and dramatic performances; a place for quiet reflection and prayer; a wonderful location for the significant events of family like, such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals; as an attraction for visitors with uplifting atmosphere and beauty. Our church, our people, our worship, and the amenities we offer, should be attractive and purposeful. St Marys has huge potential for ministry, and we knew that an imaginative re-ordering of the interior was necessary if we are to fulfil that vision. So in 2011, with 30

our Rector established and making a real impact on the parish and the community, we embarked on the second stage of our project. This involved installing underfloor heating and the replacement of the whole floor area a process which will cost at least 750,000. It will take time to raise this sum, so it was decided to make immediate repairs to the worst patches of the floor, and to replace most of the pews with chairs. From the outset of the Appeal we knew that the pews had to go. [See below for the pew saga.] With permission finally granted to replace most of the pews with chairs, the Appeal Committee resumed its work. We reviewed every aspect of our work, and plans are being formulated to raise the necessary funds. We are excited by the prospect of restoring and renewing the interior of our church, so that our mission and ministry to the community can blossom. The challenge is exciting. To succeed, we shall need the wholehearted support of the whole congregation and the parish. It will be a long road. Doubtless there will be setbacks. But, by the grace of God, we shall succeed because we have to! Our constant prayer will be the great prayer of Sir Francis Drake
O Lord God, when You give to Your servants to endeavour any great matter, grant us also to know that it is not the beginning, but the continuing of the same to the end, until it is thoroughly finished, that yields the true glory; through Him, who for the finishing of your work, laid down His life, our Redeemer Jesus Christ. Amen

Pews: To be or not to be
St Marys Church was dedicated in 1243. Over the next 250 years it was enlarged and the structure more or less remained the same until Victorian times. The main focus of worship was centred on the chancel, although there were altars in the transepts. The chancel would have had some form of seating whereas the rest of the church would be an open space with seating round the walls for the old and infirm (hence the expression going to the wall!). The church, generally being the only public building, would have been used for many purposes besides worship, including markets and fairs. By 1860, buildings had been built for other civic purposes so the church was mainly used for church services. So some rather 31

Finally! The new chairs at St Marys.

ugly box pews had been installed, which were described by one person as looking like a series of pig stys. By 1866 the church was in a rather bad state so it was decided to do a very extensive restoration masterminded by George Street, a prominent church architect. During this restoration the old box pews were removed and new pews were installed in the nave and both transepts, enough to seat 1,000 people. So here we are, nearly 150 years later, having another major restoration. Having completed the external renovation of the roof area, we were in a position to start the internal renewal. The first item was to change the remaining pews from the 1866 restoration to light stackable chairs so like in medieval times we could have a flexible area for many uses. We thought this would not present a problem. How wrong we were! To embark on any restoration, a faculty has to be granted. Before this can happen, approval has to be given by the Diocesan Advisory Committee, English Heritage, the Society for the protection of Ancient Buildings and The Victorian Society. All was going well with approval to remove the pews from the first three bodies but the Victorian Society objected. They visited the church and a lot of discussions took place but they would not give in. This meant a consistory court would have to take place with arguments being presented on both sides before the chancellor of the diocese. The church presented a strong case that we are a living church and wanted a flexible area to use the church for a variety of styles of worship, wedding and baptism feasts, church events and many other civic events such as concerts, exhibitions, school prize-givings etc. Other reasons for the change included the fact that we have no church halls in the parish and a lack of public facilities in the town, and to bring in some much-needed income. The Victorian argument was merely historical they felt the pews should be preserved. Expecting to lose they pulled out 24 hours before the consistory court was due to take place, leaving us with a bill of 7,500. Although this was a big setback and has wasted a lot of time and money, we are being very positive as we can proceed to plan the rest of the restoration and renewal of the inside of St Marys. We agreed to keep 10 short pews as examples, of the remainder all except two have now been sold, and the new Howe chairs are now in place. Francis Newenham 32

Francis and Hilary are leaving: what will the parish do without them?
Mr and Mrs Newenham walked into St Marys one Sunday in October 1986 and have been a central part of its life ever since. Francis eventually became a Parish Warden, helping us through several interregnums with sound advice, which he has willingly passed on to new rectors, parish wardens and district wardens; his knowledge has been invaluable. Both have been involved in the actual town of Witney, with Rotary, The Elms Day centre, and recently Francis has been Mace bearer for the Town Mayor. Hilarys pastoral care has been immense and she regularly delivers home communion; she is also a regular MU member. Both of them are on the rota for serving. Francis is Clerk of Works for St Marys and on the Appeal committee, overseeing the restoration of the roof literally with his head for heights and as agile as a mountain goat; he is passing on this baton to two members of the DCC. Francis and Hilarys home has always been open for meetings and visitors and for years to come we will remember delicious fund-raising meals and strawberry teas in their immaculate garden. We pass them on with all our good wishes to their new home in Nottinghamshire, where their children and grandchildren will no doubt take delight in reclaiming them. 33

34

Week of Accompanied Prayer

The Week of Accompanied Prayer (28 June 2013) encourages a space for listening and responding to God. It can be an encouragement to take time for oneself amidst everyday life. It also offers the opportunity to be listened to by a Companion. How the week works: There is an Opening Session for all on Sunday 2 June. Each Participant commits to at least half an hour of reflection in silence and solitude each day. The focus of this is Scripture-based and will be arrived at in a shared way with the Companion. Each day the Participant meets one-to-one with the Companion for up to forty minutes. The Companion listens lovingly and without judgement. Their role is not to give advice or counsel but to discern with the person where there is creative energy in the prayer and where further focus may be invited. Venue the same each day in different churches in town. There is a Closing Session for all on Saturday 8 June. An integral part of the Week is the TEA ROOM! This is a place where all those taking part can meet informally during the week. The Companions are drawn from all denominations. They are all experienced in spiritual direction and retreat work. Their formation is founded on attending deeply to God in their own life and prayer as well as various training programmes. Cost and Application The suggested donation is 70 (this is what the week costs) but with a sliding scale to a minimum of 40. We would not wish finance to prevent participation and hope that anyone who desires to take part and cant afford this will speak to their priest, minister or meeting leader. A deposit of 20 is required. There are two sessions for participants before the Week. Theme Exploring Personal Prayer (venues to be confirmed) Monday 22 April 2013 7.309.30 pm Monday 29 April 2013 7.309.30 pm For further information please speak to the Rector. 35

Why is this reading not in the Bible?

As soon as you start thinking about the history of the Bible, you have to start thinking about book technology. Not technology as we usually think of it now, all touchscreens and wi-fi, but the old technology of print and, before that, ink and paper. And even, before paper, parchment and papyrus. The Bible as we have it now is a collection of books that have been selected and reproduced over thousands of years. Now, when I look it up, I usually use the computer or even my phone; I might take a printed copy off the shelf when I want to check the footnotes. But for most of the history of the Bible, the books included in it have been handwritten. People have copied it out, mostly by hand. Even when its printed, a human being has been part of the copying process, setting up the type. Human beings are not computers or cameras, and when we copy anything, mistakes creep in. Or the opposite happens, the copyist sees what seems to be a mistake in the older version, and corrects it sometimes adding a mistake that wasnt there before. Or the copyist might add a few words that werent in the older version, to explain something; and then, when the next version is produced, those few words become part of the text and get copied themselves. This is why people who study the history of books, including the Bible, are interested in editions and manuscripts. They want to look at the way a text changes from one version to another, so that they can trace these mistakes and additions, and try to get back to the most accurate version of the original work. For something like a poem by John Keats, we can look at the poets original handwritten manuscript. However, sometimes the handwritten manuscript isnt the final version. The poet W. H. Auden once wrote a poem about Iceland with the line and the poets have names for the sea. It came back from the printers for him to check, and the printers had done their best to read his handwriting which was terrible and printed the ports have names for the sea. Auden thought that was better poetry, so thats the line in the final version. For the books in the Bible, we dont have original manuscripts, so we dont have to deal with that sort of situation. But we can look at the oldest manuscripts that there are, and compare 36

them so as to try to find the most accurate version. This is a process that has been going on much more since the great wave of new translations of the Bible began in Europe during the Reformation. The people translating into languages like English and German didnt just want to translate the Latin versions they had (the Latin itself was a translation), but to go back to the original languages, Greek and Hebrew. Then, in later centuries, as more and older manuscripts were found by travellers and archaeologists, they could be compared as well. This is one of the reasons that new translations of the Bible keep being made. It isnt just to modernise the English, its also to include new discoveries that might come from very ancient versions. The history of the Bible is a long history of translation, and this goes right back to before the New Testament. After Alexander the Great, and largely because of him, Greek became a language spoken right across the eastern Mediterranean world and Asia Minor. So there was a need for a Greek version of the Hebrew scriptures (what we now usually call the Old Testament), for people who were Jewish, but now spoke Greek as their first language. The Greek version was produced in Alexandria, in Egypt, by a team of translators, in the third century BC. The story is that there were seventy translators, so it was called the Septuagint or Seventy. The Septuagint was widely used by the time of Jesus, and its the version of Scripture that St Paul usually quotes. This is where the Apocrypha comes in. There are several books and parts of books in the Greek version of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, that arent in the Hebrew version. No really early manuscripts of the Hebrew version survived the earliest are from the 10th century AD, a thousand years after the time of Jesus. On the other hand, it is the original language, and it would have been carefully copied. Its not suggested that the Septuagint translators simply made these books and sections up, but they havent been included in the Hebrew manuscripts as those survive, which does suggest that later on they werent seen as part of the core tradition. So translators have to decide what to do about the Apocryphal books, the ones that are only in the Septuagint and not in the Hebrew. From the Reformation, the Catholic tradition has been to include them, and the Protestant tradition has been to 37

miss them out. (The translators who produced the Authorised Version in 1611 translated the Apocryphal books, but included them in a separate section between the Old and New Testaments.) A middle way is to read them, but not to base any major ideas about God on what they say, since they dont seem to be part of the core tradition which could be said of other parts of the Bible as well, in both Old and New Testaments and in both Christian and Jewish tradition. Readings from the Apocrypha crop up from time to time in the Revised Common Lectionary, which most mainstream Christian churches use. They can cause problems, because they arent in some Bibles, so readers sometimes cant easily find a copy and people wonder where this reading came from. But we still include them, because it enriches our range of reading and listening. On a practical point, if you want to find the Apocrypha and you dont have a Bible that includes it, try the website bible.oremus.org or ask one of the ministry team for a printed version.

Cogges Manor Farm 2013 season

I dont know about you, but our family is busy counting down the days until Cogges re-opens for the season... Just in case you dont know about the changes, this year there will be more animals Shetland pony, Cotswold sheep, Oxford Sandy and Black pigs, Pygmy goats, Indian Runner ducks, geese and chickens; a new adventure play area; new trails and walks; and a soft play barn. All this in addition to the existing pleasures of the walled garden, manor house, caf, and our favourite last summer, the sandpit! Its open Tuesday to Sunday and bank holidays 11am5pm, with the manor house open at weekends, and family events throughout the season. See you there! RS 38

Quarantine
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word quarantine was first recorded in 1609, stating a length of 40 days, during which a dowager was allowed to stay in her deceased husbands house. In 1663 it was being used to describe the period during which persons or ships should be isolated for fear of contamination. However during 1639, quarantine just meant a period of 40 days. The word comes from the seventeenth-century Venetian Italian quarantena. However in the fourteenth century, when the Black Death wiped out an estimated 30% of Europes population, a 1377 document in the Archives of Dubrovnik states that before entering the city, newcomers had to spend 30 days (a trentine) in isolation, later on this was extended to 40 days and was called quarantine, 200 or so years before the English used the word. Moses and the Children of Israel had a sort of quarantine, that of 40 years wandering around the desert of the Sinai peninsula. We have just been celebrating the quarantine of the Forty Days of Christmastide, which began on Christmas Day and ended with Compline or Vespers at Candlemas (2 February). Now like me, you probably couldnt wait for Twelfth Night and Epiphany (Theophany), so that you could dismantle your decorations, and get back to normal. But we are wrong. Traditionally the celebration of Christmastide lasted forty days. Candlemas is also the Feast of the Purification of The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Presentation of Jesus (Christ) at the Temple, The Meeting of the Lord, and the day when priests used to bless the stock of candles for the coming year. Now we have entered another quarantine, that of Lent (quadragesima); commemorating the forty days which Jesus spent in the desert, being tempted by the devil. It is measured from Ash Wednesday to Easter Day or Easter Thursday, (Maundy Thursday), according to your own particular persuasion) ... omitting Sundays, or not, the 40 days is actually anything between 38 and 44 days. Following Easter, we shall enter another quarantine, that of the 40 days between Christs Resurrection and his Ascension. The Eastern Orthodox Church has a quarantine peculiar to itself; Advent is known as The Nativity Fast and lasts for the 40 days leading up to Christmas Day. 39

So why 40 days? Why not 30 or 50 or 42? According to current learning, the life-span during Biblical times was probably the same as it is now. However the life-expectancy, for all the obvious reasons of lack of medical understanding and sanitation, was probably around 30; if we exclude infant mortality from the equation, then it is likely to be nearer 40. Im sure its all allegorical, just a big number suggesting importance or estimation, or perhaps representing a generation. The number 40 appears in The Bible between 50 and 60 times, depending how you count the references. It is a big number for measurement, for example, the Lord would spare Sodom if 40 righteous could be found (Genesis 18: 29); the Lord gives Moses instructions on how to build the tabernacle of the temple and thou shalt make 40 sockets of silver (Exodus 26: 19); Hazael meets Elisha with 40 camels burden of gifts (2 Kings 8: 9); Paul says, Of the Jews, five times received 40 stripes save one. (2 Corinithians 11: 24). It is also a big number for length of time, for example, the rains and the floods were upon the earth 40 days and 40 nights. (Genesis 7: 4, 12, 17); Isaac was 40 years old when he took Rebekah to wife. (Genesis 25: 20); Moses sent many to spy on the land of Canaan, And they returned from searching the land after 40 days. (Numbers 13: 25); The Lord made them wander in the wilderness 40 years (Numbers 32: 13); David reigned 40 years (2 Samuel 5: 4); The time Solomon reigned was 40 years. (1 Kings 11:42); Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness ... being 40 days tempted by the devil. (Luke 4: 2). Incidentally, Quarantine is the title of a 1998 historical novel by Jim Grace, set in the Judean desert at the time of Jesus. May I wish you a Very Fulfilling Quarantine. Howard Brayton

Secondhand Cycles For Sale To suit 3 years to adult 2040 Fully serviced All proceeds to Hailey Church and School Contact Alan Bailey 01993 704271
40

Curbridge Church News

It was great to have the church full for Harvest Festival and the Carol Service. The church was also full for the funeral of Gladys Dobson, a very faithful worshipper for all her life and a tremendous worker for the Church too. Work has continued in the churchyard on the trees and we thank the Parish Council for their grant towards this work. We have also worked hard to restore and renovate the organ. Brian Carlick, the organ builder, quoted for the work but thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of John Pole, who acted as his assistant and did a lot of work, the final cost was a third of the original quote. Finally the walls and ceiling of the church have been redecorated and look splendid. Again we thank John Pole, who as Clerk of Works organised the work, and it was great to know that Julian Mathias who lives in Curbridge and worships with us did most of the painting as he works for D. W. Woodcock, the firm we used. Julian and his wife Tamara also helped to put things back in time for Gladys Dobsons funeral on the Friday and then protect the church again so the work could be finished on the Monday. Also a big thank you to everyone who responded to our appeal last year. But we cannot rest on our laurels as our five-year inspection of the electrics has revealed that much of the wiring needs replacing which is likely to cost over 2,000. The Friends of Curbridge Church have some bone china mugs for sale with a picture of the church. They cost 6.50 each. If anyone would like to be a Friend do contact me on 864926. Tim Partridge

Parentport
Parentport was set up after the Bailey Review (Letting Children be Children), in order for anyone (not just parents) to report anything inappropriate that they see or hear in the media. This can be any advertising, film, TV and radio programme. 41

Sponsoring the Witney Way

Over the last two years the new-format Witney Way has taken on a new life and is now very popular with our regular congregation as well as being an effective way in which we can communicate with the rest of Witney. We are now printing and distributing 1,000 copies of each issue in and around Witney. The cost of printing the magazine will, as ever, be offset by advertising, but we would like to invite you to help sponsor the larger distribution of our parish magazine as a tool of mission. A sponsorship of 6 a year would pay for the printing costs of your own magazine and allow us to continue to provide free copies to visitors in our churches and people in the wider community. If you can gift aid your sponsorship then that will help even more. If you know anyone who would like to receive the magazine by post, four issues throughout the year can be posted to any address in the UK for 12. To sponsor the magazine, please complete the form below and hand to: Shirley Jamieson (Holy Trinity); Bridget Walton (St Marys); Elpie Lewis (Hailey); Val Pole (Curbridge) or the Parish Office.

Name Address Post code I would like to support the cost of producing the Witney Way magazine and enclose a contribution of ____ I would like this to be gift aided. I confirm I will pay in this tax year an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax at least equal to the amount that all charities and Community Amateur Sports clubs to which I give, will reclaim for this year (25p for each 1 given). I understand that other taxes such as Council Tax and VAT do not qualify. I do/do not wish to have my name included in the list of sponsors. (please delete) I would like to have the Witney Way posted to Address____________________________________________________ Post code_______________ and enclose 12. Cheques should be made payable to Witney PCC.

The Ministry Team

Toby Wright Team Rector

Elizabeth Thomson Team Vicar

Sally Wright Associate Priest

Jeff Hill Team Evangelist

Rosemary Peirce Licensed Lay Minister

David Exham Licensed Lay Minister

The Chapter

Stephen Hearn Assistant Priest

Martin Sheldon Assistant Priest

Joanna Collicutt Assistant Priest

43