Longcot Village

Dear Congregation and Friends of St Mary Longcot,

Please find attached the Benefice Newsletter for Sunday 15^th October and the associated readings. On the second page of the newsletter there is a lovely photograph of Ron Johnson on his 102^nd birthday.  Ron has been a great supporter of St Mary’s church over the years and we all wish him well.

St Mary’s Church Longcot – Sunday 15^th October.  Richard Fergusson will lead the morning worship at St Mary this week.  It will be a Taizé style service, which is something the Benefice has done every three months or so in Ashbury.  It is a very simple order of service: short prayers and chants, one reading and a (short) period of silent reflection.  Start time is the usual 9.30am. Refreshments will be served afterwards.

On Sunday 19^th November at 6 pm the Torriano Ensemble is delighted to be returning to St. Mary’s Church, Longcot for an evening of music for flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn and string quintet. The programme features two much-loved masterpieces from the classical period, Mozart’s charming and effortlessly melodious Flute Quartet in D major K. 285 and the magnificent Octet by Schubert. It is thought that Schubert heard Beethoven’s Septet and was inspired to write a similar work of his own, and indeed there are many similarities of structure and style between the two pieces. Arrangements of three of Gershwin’s most popular songs, ‘Embraceable You’, ‘The Man I Love’ and ‘I’ve Got Rhythm’, provide a contrast of style and mood.

The bar will be open from 5.30 pm and at the interval. As always, admission is free with a retiring collection, and all  seats should be reserved in advance by emailing victorialmedcalf@gmail.com  All donations will go to Longcot Village Trust and St. Mary’s Church.

Dear Congregation and Friends of St Mary Longcot,

Please find attached the Benefice Newsletter for Sunday 8^th October and the associated readings. On the second page of the newsletter there are some photographs of the lovely harvest flower arrangements currently in St Mary – some of which graced the windowsills of St John’s Church last weekend when we had the combined parish service.  The PCC would like to thank the flower arrangers for all their time and effort. It was really appreciated.

St Mary’s Church Longcot – Sunday 8^th October.  We return to our own church this weekend. The Revd Norma Fergusson will lead a service of Holy Communion, which will begin at the usual time of 9.30am.

Autumn Concert – Sunday 19^th November.  Please make sure that you have the date of our Autumn Concert in your diaries.  We are fortunate to see the return of Vicky Medcalf and the Torriano Ensemble on Sunday 19^th November in St Mary.  The bar will be open from 5.30pm and the concert starts at 6pm.  There will also be time for refreshments during the interval.  Full details can be found on the attached flyer.

Combined Service, St John’s Church Fernham – Sunday 1^st October.  In a change to the previously published service programme, the congregations of St Mary and St John will combine for a joint service at St John’s Church, Fernham tomorrow, Sunday 1^st October.  It will be a Harvest Holy Communion and will be led by the Revd Shannon Preston.  Please note that the start time is a leisurely 11am.   

Dear Congregation and Friends of St Mary Longcot,

Please find attached the Benefice Newsletter for Sunday 24^th September and the associated readings. 

Benefice Service, St Mary’s Church Longcot – Sunday 24^th September.  This month’s Benefice Service will be held at our church. Norma Fergusson will lead the worship and will be ably supported by the Benefice Choir.  Please note that start time will be 10.30am.  I look forward to seeing you all there.

Ride & Stride.  May I say a really big ‘thank you’ to all the welcomers who took part in the Annual Ride & Stride, and in particular to our three Riders who have raised a considerable sum in sponsorship. This sum will be split 50/50 between the Oxford Historic Churches Trust and St Mary Longcot.  Well done all.

Local Villages Newsletter. Please also find attached the October edition of our local villages newsletter.  May I draw your attention to pages 14 and 15, where there is a lovely piece on the Rev’d Patrick Mabhunu, who is going to be our new Associate Vicar.  We look forward to welcoming him and his family to the Benefice in November.

Dear Congregation and Friends of St Mary Longcot,

Please find attached the Benefice Newsletter for Sunday 20^th August and the associated readings. 

Next Service at St Mary Longcot.  The next service at St Mary will be a service of Morning Prayer on Sunday 20^th August and will be led by Pam Mullin.  It will begin at the usual time of 9.30am. 

Ride and Stride 2023 (Saturday 9^th September).  Many thanks to those who have already volunteered to participate as a Strider or a welcomer in this year’s Ride and Stride.  I need just a few more welcomers to complete the package, so would volunteers please make contact with me before the end of the month. 

Dear Congregation and Friends of St Mary Longcot,

Please find attached the Benefice Newsletter for Sunday 13^th August and the associated readings. I would draw your attention to the update on the search for a new Associate Priest.

Next Service at St Mary Longcot.  The next service at St Mary will be a Holy Communion on Sunday 13^th August and will be led by the Revd Norma Fergusson.  It will begin at the usual time of 9.30am. 

Ride and Stride 2023.  This year’s Ride & Stride will take place on Saturday 9^th September. For those who have not heard of it before, it is an annual event held by the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust (OHCT) to raise money to support the churches in Oxfordshire.  (See: https://ohct.org.uk/ride-and-stride/)  Fundraising can be done in one of several ways.  Most volunteers obtain sponsorship to visit a certain number of churches either on a bicycle, on foot, on horseback or some other novel means (eg in a C5).  In the past some of our bellringers obtained sponsorship by ringing at a certain number of churches.  As many churches as possible are kept open throughout the day and refreshments are provided by teams of welcomers.  These welcomers can also be sponsored.  As one of many churches in the County that have benefitted from OHCT grants in the recent past (eg £20,000 towards the St Mary Community Hub), it would be lovely if we could do our bit to raise some funds this year.   Any funds raised are shared equally (ie 50/50) between the home church and the OHCT.  I would therefore be grateful if anybody who would like to help in some way make contact with me, and especially those prepared to ride or stride, or those who would be prepared to act as a welcomer in St Mary on the day.  Thank you in advance for your support!

Dear Congregation and Friends of St Mary Longcot,

Please find attached the Benefice Newsletter for Sunday 30^th July and the associated readings. 

Sunday Service at Ashbury (Sunday 30^th July).  There is no service at Longcot this week.  Parishioners from Longcot and Fernham are asked to attend the Benefice Holy Communion at St Mary Ashbury, which starts at 11am.

Next Service at St Mary Longcot.  The next service at St Mary will be a Holy Communion on Sunday 13^th August and will begin at the usual time of 9.30am. 

Dear Congregation and Friends of St Mary Longcot,

Please find attached the Benefice Newsletter for Sunday 23^rd July and the associated readings. 

Sunday’s Service at St Mary Longcot.  The next service at St Mary will be Holy Communion on Sunday 23^rd July and will begin at the usual time of 9.30am.  The Revd Norma Fergusson will lead our worship.

Local Villages Newsletter. Please also find attached the August edition of our local villages newsletter.

Dear Congregation and Friends of St Mary Longcot,

Please find attached the Benefice Newsletter for Sunday 16^th July and the associated readings. 

Sunday Service at Compton Beauchamp (Sunday 16^th July).  There is no service at Longcot this week.  Parishioners from Longcot and Fernham are asked to attend the Patronal Festival at St Swithun, Compton Beauchamp, which starts at 11am.

Next Service at St Mary Longcot.  The next service at St Mary will be a Holy Communion on Sunday 23^rd July and will begin at the usual time of 9.30am. 

Last Week’s Concert at St Mary Longcot.  Thank you to everybody who attended and, in particular, those who helped out, at last Sunday’s Summer Concert by the Faringdon Singers.  It was a fabulous programme of music that was enjoyed by all.