Thank you to all those who have joined or renewed their subscription to the 100 Club.  There is still room for a few more!

Biddy plans to start the draw next week with the January and February winners.  If you have not yet renewed your subscription or would still like to join, there is still time.  Please let Biddy know as soon as possible.  We are aware that some people have had difficulty making their payment online.  If you wish to renew or pay in this way, please note that you may have to type "Great Coxwell Parochial Church Council" in full for the account to be recognised.

Remember, you have to be 'in it to win it'!

Pat

For many years the 100 Club has made a valuable contribution to the church's annual maintenance costs.  It is open to everyone who would like to help maintain our beautiful old church.

I should like to thank everyone who subscribed last year, and especially those who chose not to take their winnings.  Believe me, every little has been necessary during our period of closure, with no income from a fete, Arts Weeks and all the other fund raising events we normally put on.

Thanks also go to Biddy who is continuing to run it for us!

Sylvia and I will shortly be delivering to all residents in the village the usual letter about how to subscribe or renew your subscription(s). We hope you will feel you can participate.  As is usual with such things, some people have won more than once and some have grandchildren who have won!  You may be one of the lucky ones!

Thank you for your support.

Pat

We have a vicar!!
 
As those who joined us will know, the Revd Maureen Turner was licensed as our vicar on Sunday in a virtual service by Zoom.  We were joined by Bishop Steven, Bishop of Oxford,  Archdeacon Judy , the Area Dean, Jason, and his Assistant, Jeremy and the Deputy Sheriff of the County, as well as Lord Faringdon, our Patron.  Quite a line up.  Maureen was supported by over sixty links to probably well over eighty people.  All in all, it was as special an event as it could be in the circumstances. 
 
Maureen is now ‘live’ as it were.  If you need to speak to her, her phone number is  01367 240875.  She will be happy to speak to you.  Either she or I will confirm her regular working days later.  In the meantime she has a lot to get to grips with over the four parishes.  Not an easy task in the present situation.  My first task will be to try to show her the secret of unlocking the church.  Many of you will know, that is not an easy thing!
 
I have included (with her blessing) a photo I took of her on Sunday so that you will be able to recognise her if you see her on a walk around the village.  Of course, she probably won’t be dressed like that!
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Thursday 24th December - Christmas Eve 6.00 pm
As there could be no service in the Great Barn on Christmas Eve this year, we decided to replace Midnight Mass with a Holy Communion service at 6 o’clock.  The Revd Dick Whittington will again take the service.  At the time of writing (Monday morning) we still plan to go ahead, although that may change, of course.

Please let  me know if you plan to attend either by email – phemes43@gmail.com or phone 241632 so that we can plan for social distancing.  Please remember to bring a mask.  Sanitising gel and wipes are available inside the church.  We hope to see you there.
 
Batemans Trust Charity - Reminder
As many of you know, we usually send half of the collection from the Barn service on Christmas Eve to the Batemans Trust, a tradition which was started many years ago by Geoff Lee.  I would like to be able to send them something this year.  If you would like to make a donation please let me have it in an envelope marked    ‘Donation to the Bateman’s Trust’ (3 Cherry Orchard – the white house) and I will send the total off to them towards the end of the year.  I have put their latest news) letter up in the church porch.  If you are not familiar with their work in India this will give you a good idea.  Their website is www.batemans.org.uk.
 
I hope you are all able to have a good Christmas despite the restrictions. Stay safe and keep well.  Hopefully the village will be able to return to  some sort of normality next year.
 
Thank you
I have to echo Judy’s words in yesterday’s newsletter.  Special thank you to all those ‘Santa’s Elves’ that left us our mulled wine and mince pies on the doorstep.  What a lovely idea.  At the ‘swearing in’ of the Churchwardens of the benefice last Saturday week we were asked by the Area Dean what we had to thank God for.  My reply was for bringing me to this village which is so special and where I have made more friends that ever before.  I hope all those who are new to the village this year will  find that and be able to experience the normal village activities in the year to come.
 
Stay safe and well.
 
Pat
 
Pat Cook, Churchwarden.

Services in December

Sunday 13th December Holy Communion 10.30am

The Revd Dick Whittington will take the service.  Please let Pat Cook (Churchwarden) know if you plan to attend either by email – phemes43@gmail.com or phone 241632 so that we can plan for social distancing.  Please remember to bring a mask.  Sanitising gel and wipes are available inside the church.  We hope to see you there.

Thursday 24th December - Christmas Eve 6.00 pm

As there will be no service in the Great Barn on Christmas Eve this year, we have decided to replace Midnight Mass with a Holy Communion service at 6 o’clock.  The Revd Dick Whittington will again take the services.

If you see people about the church on Saturday morning next it is because the Area Dean is coming to ‘swear in’ the churchwardens of our benefice at our church at 11.30 in a short service.  This is normally a very important Deanery wide service which like so many other things has had to be postponed from last May.  We have still been doing the job though so it is really just a formality this year!
 
Church Flowers

Would you like to help with Flowers in Church?

When we are able to get back to having more regular services (and hopefully St Giles being open for the steady trickle of visitors we have usually had throughout the year), it is really nice to see some fresh flowers and foliage displayed. We have a very small regular rota of helpers for this but we would love to welcome some new members to the group. We usually work in pairs (you and a friend?) and everyone combines effort for Easter, Christmas and Harvest. In normal circumstances you are only called upon about once every three months, so it is not too arduous.  Is this something you might be able to help with? If you would like to know more before you volunteer, please do contact sylvia.athawes@btinternet.com (tel 241179).
 
Batemans Trust Charity

As many of you know, we usually send half of the collection from the Barn service on Christmas Eve to the Batemans Trust, a tradition which was started many years ago by Geoff Lee.  I would like to be able to send them something this year.  If you would like to make a donation please let me have it in an envelope marked ‘Donation to the Bateman’s Trust’ and I will send the total off to them towards the end of the year.  I have put their latest newsletter up in the church porch.  If you are not familiar with their work in India this will give you a good idea.  They also have a number of ‘gifts’ that you can purchase to help their pupils , ranging from 2 footballs £15, mattress, bedsheet and pillow £30, art and craft materials for one term £35 to college fees for one term £120, tables and chairs for a classroom £100 and a solar panel, £150.  I have further details if you are interested.

Stay safe and keep well.  Hopefully a better year is in sight for us next year.
 
Pat Cook, Churchwarden

As we are unable to hold the usual 'All Souls' Day' service this year, when candles are lit in memory of those in the Benefice who have died, I have been asked to let you know the following.   

Coleshill Church will be open on Sunday next (actually 1 November, All Saints' Day) from 2-3 pm for anyone to go and light a candle in memory of a loved one who has died.
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Our first service back in the church yesterday was an unusual one, in that we blessed our Easter candle and celebrated the Harvest at the same time! However, it was good to be back for those of us who attended.  We remembered those who were unable to be with us.

We were very grateful to those who had provided the decorations for it, particularly Jenny and Brenda who did some lovely floral arrangements for us in gorgeous muted autumnal colours.  It seemed a shame to lock it all away again afterwards.  

I have decided to open the church this week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm for anyone who would like to go into the church to see the flowers. Perhaps there are those who would like to say a prayer for the current situation in the world and for our new vicar, whose arrival has been delayed but who will be joining us shortly, and of course anything else that might be on your mind.

Please use the sanitiser provided inside the door and only use the pews that are open in case anyone follows you in a short while.  The delay between openings should limit the possibility of the virus persisting in the church.

Pat
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Service on Sunday, 18th October at 9.30 am

We shall at last have our first service since lockdown on Sunday next, after so many weeks without.  As we were unable to have our usual Harvest Festival this year, we shall mark our reopening with a shortened Morning Prayer service which will have a harvest flavour.  Unfortunately we are not able to sing the beautiful harvest hymns but some of them will be played on the organ.

The church has been thoroughly cleaned and sanitised. Hand sanitiser and wipes will be available at the door.  No-one will enter the church between Friday and Sunday as an additional precaution.  A Risk Assessment is in place and will be displayed in the porch.

We hope to see as many people as possible there to mark the occasion.  If you wish to join us, could you please contact me, either by email or phone, in order to satisfy the 'Track and Trace' requirements (the NHS app isn't practical for us, we feel!).  However, if you decide to come at the last minute, don't be put off - I will have paper and pen at the door to take names.  As we only have one door, you will be shown to a seat when you enter and shown out individually at the end.  

We look forward to welcoming you on Sunday - don't forget - 9.30 am. I do hope you can come.

Pat Cook
Churchwarden

01367 241632
phemes43@gmail.com
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The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will take place (belatedly this year) on Thursday, 8th October at 6.30pm by Zoom.  If you would like to attend this will you please email Michael Harris at michaeloatesharris@yahoo.co.uk so that he can send you a Zoom invitation nearer the time.
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