October 2016

connect

www.chinnor.org.uk

Tearfund News

Back to School in Uganda

At this time many of us have been busy getting the children, or

ourselves, back into a new term and a new year – perhaps even a

brand new school, college or university. Sometimes with all the

preparation, it’s easy to forget to be grateful for the education

available to us.

In Uganda things are very different. Although the government has

been able to provide a programme of primary education, the quality

varies, with some class sizes exceeding a hundred students. There is

also a shortage of secondary education.

For the most part the varying standard of education is simply

accepted in Uganda as a fact of life. But Tearfund has noticed

something happening among the communities it works with through

its Church and Community Mobilisation process (CCMP). Run in

partnership with the Pentecostal Assemblies of God, the CCMP works

through local churches to help people realise how they can create their

own solutions to the problems of poverty.

Improving education is not a specific objective of the CCMP, but we’ve

found that as people realise their own ability to change their economic

situation, their aspirations around education also change. Tearfund

research carried out in Soroti, Serere and Kasilo Districts last year

investigated these education outcomes. So far the region has seen 72

schools set up or supported by churches, communities and individuals

participating in the CCMP.

For example, at Orimai government school, the church community,

after completing the CCMP, lobbied for and secured better school

buildings. Favour School was founded by a church after CCMP, and

Emmanuel School by a couple who had done CCMP and had a desire

to see improvements in education.

Thanks to your support, people’s lives are changing completely as a

result of CCMP – in even more ways than expected! Tearfund is now

looking to give further support and guidelines to those communities

trying to secure better education in their area.

PLEASE PRAY

Give thanks for the way the Lord is using CCMP to increase the

aspirations and confidence of people in Uganda.

Pray for wisdom and opportunities for Tearfund to support

CCMP participants looking to improve local education.

Lift up the 72 new or supported schools in Soroti, Serere and

Kasilo Districts. Ask that the children will be blessed and

encouraged to attain their God-given potential.

Hope on Four Hooves

Was your dad ever your hero? For years, Husein* was just that for his

wife and eight children. Every day he would climb mountains to

collect heavy piles of wood to make a living.

The family had spent years as refugees in Pakistan. When they

returned home to Chiras, a village in Afghanistan, life was very hard.

‘We had to start all over again,’ Husein explains, ‘We could hardly

provide the daily needs for our families.’ Eventually Husein became

too old and weak to climb the mountains and carry wood. Without an

alternative livelihood, their situation seemed hopeless.

Here to Serve

But, thanks to your support and prayers, Tearfund partner Serve

Afghanistan was able to help. They gave one goat to each of the 50

poorest families in the village, along with training in animal care and

using goat’s milk.

A year later, Husein’s goat gave birth to two baby goats. One was

given back to the project, while Husein kept the other. ‘My goat then

gave birth again,’ says Husein proudly. He now has 11 goats and one

‘billy goat’ to hire out for breeding.

A brighter future

Things are now very different in Chiras village. Children have

improved nutrition thanks to the fresh milk. As the community has

become more skillful in making and selling milk products, such as

cheese, families can now afford to send their children to school.

Importantly the villagers know that, although initially supported by

Serve Afghanistan, they have worked through the problems of poverty

themselves, and they are now leading the programme.

‘My whole family is so thankful for these changes in our lives!’ says

Husein. ‘We can’t imagine how things would have been if Serve

Afghanistan had not come to our area.’

* Name changed to protect identity

PLEASE PRAY

Give thanks for Serve Afghanistan’s work and ask God that it

would be able to bring hope to more villages such as Chiras.

Give thanks for people like Husein working tirelessly to support

their families. Pray that Afghans living in poverty would be able

to take control of their lives and build brighter futures.

Lift up the country of Afghanistan and pray for long-term peace,

security and recovery from the years of war.

The Loo that brought Health and Wealth for Aunty Vichet

Not having a toilet can be very expensive. Aunty Vichet* is a widow

living with her mother and teenage niece in Veay Chhneah village,

about 37km south of Phnom Penh City in Cambodia. Together the

family was spending the equivalent of $150-200 USD (£112-£150)

almost every year in medical expenses. The repeated illnesses in the

family were a direct result of having no latrine and having to go to the

toilet outside in the open near their house.

In Cambodia this arrangement is not as shocking and unusual as it

sounds. Just under 20 per cent of people live below the poverty line in

the country, and this often stops people having basic necessities like

adequate sanitation. A lack of latrines is the most common factor

related to poor health and sickness in the country.

But things changed when Tearfund’s partner, World Renew, began

supporting Aunty Vichet’s local church, which selected her to be a self-

help group member. As a member Aunty Vichet was invited to attend

meetings and training on many topics, including health education.

After training, she and her family decided they wanted to build their

own latrine and apply what she had learnt about health and

sanitation. World Renew helped by providing some of the necessary

labour and materials. Now the family gets sick far less often. Aunty

Vichet also saved the money they would have spent on health care to

fulfil her long-time dream of starting a small business, and this helps

her continue paying for her niece’s education.

Thank you so much for supporting our work so that hygiene

programmes like this can reach out and help the people that need it

most. For this family a humble loo really has been the answer to

health and wealth.

* Name has been changed to protect identity

PLEASE PRAY

Pray for further improvement in hygiene and sanitation for

families across Cambodia and ask that Tearfund partners will be

able to reach even more people with their work.

Ask for blessing on Aunty Vichet’s business and her efforts to

keep her niece in school.

Lift up people in Cambodia who have received new facilities and

training. Ask that they will continue the new practices they’ve

learnt and promote them to others.

John Gravett, Tearfund Representative

A love that knows no borders

You've probably all seen it the latest

video to do the rounds on social media.

As I write this, the BBC Sport video has

had nearly 90,000 shares, 10,000

comments and more than 300,000

reactions on Facebook. The inspiring

video of the Brownlee brothers has well

and truly gone viral.

If by any chance you haven't seen it, here's what happened. At the

World Triathlon Series earlier this week, Briton Jonny Brownlee is

leading the race when he almost collapses as he nears the finish line.

His brother Alistair, at this point in third place, puts Jonny's arm

across his own shoulders and helps him over the finish line, ensuring

that Jonny finishes in second place, just before himself.

Alistair and his actions have been branded heroic, inspiring, dramatic,

and the video has been incredibly popular. And why wouldn't it? It's

an amazing story, and no doubt one that will continue to be

remembered and celebrated.

It's a story that, I think, speaks to our human condition, and our

desire for relationships, and a love that knows no borders. During a

week when we discovered that even the love of Brangelina is

breakable (*sobs*) we have latched on to that one small gesture of

Alistair Brownlee that spoke volumes.

As I watched the video of the Brownlee brothers for the umpteenth

time this week – it has become my go-to pick-me-up video – I was

reminded of another kind of love that I read about every time I open

my Bible. A love that is so great that God would send His own son to

earth, not just to feel my pain in His human form, but to die on a

cross, so that I wouldn't have to bear the weight of my own sin.

Just as Alistair took his brother Jonny's arm and wrapped it around

his own shoulders, taking on his weight and his impediment, so too

Jesus takes the weight off of my shoulders and onto his own, releasing

me to run with perseverance the race marked out for me, fixing my

eyes on Jesus, the perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:1-2) as he supports

my each and every step. God's love for us was sacrificial, and He calls

us to do the same.

The Brownlees' video reminded me of these words that I have

displayed on my desk at work:

"So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do, but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big day approaching." Hebrews 10:22-25, The Message.

I love these words and what they say about God's relationship with me

and my relationship with others. God "always keeps His word" – He

has taken my arm and placed it over His shoulders, just as Alistair

did with Jonny.

What should my response to this be? "…Encouraging love and helping

out…spurring each other on". I'm challenged with this question:

whose arm will I rest over my shoulders?

So this weekend as I remember again that one small gesture of

Alistair Brownlee, I'll be reflecting on God's outrageous love for me,

and how I will choose to respond and love others. As the Message

version of the Bible says: "let's see how inventive we can be"!

Charlotte Hendy is the Esther Collective team leader at Girls' Brigade. http://www.eauk.org/culture/friday-night-theology/a-love-that-knows-

no-borders.cfm

This month’s guide to encourage our partnership in prayer

Through October…

On a SUNDAY pray for:

Those preaching, The Worship Group

The Sunday Youth Groups: Pebbles, The Rock, Rock Solid

On a MONDAY pray for:

Bruce & Gisela, The Leadership Team, The Trustees

Our Fellowship, The Other churches in Chinnor

On a TUESDAY pray for:

Those who work in mission

Rainbow Tots, Ladies and Men’s Groups and their leaders

The Chinnor Schools, the Doctors Surgeries

On a WEDNESDAY pray for:

Our small-groups, and their leaders

Those living away from home

On a THURSDAY pray for:

The older members of the fellowship

Coffee Pot, Meadowcroft, Hempton Field

On a FRIDAY pray for:

The children of the fellowship

Friday Night Clubs and their leaders

On a SATURDAY pray for:

Chinnor

Your neighbours

Your friends, family

CCC Services October 2016 Theme for the Year ‘Breaking Out’

Sunday 2nd October

Cafe Church 9:00-9:45am

Morning Service 10:45am Jonah and the Heart of God

- “Reaction” - Bruce

Sunday 9th October

Cafe Church 9:00-9:45am

Morning Service 10:45am Mission Sunday

- Judith Sawers from Wycliffe

Sunday 16th October

Cafe Church 9:00-9:45am

Morning Service 10:45am Harvest Celebrations

- This is an All Age Service

Sunday 23rd October

Cafe Church 9:00-9:45am

Morning Service 10:45am Philemon Part 1

- Growing in Godliness (Bruce)

Sunday 30th October

Cafe Church 9:00-9:45am

Morning Service 10:45am Philemon Part 2

- How Love Works

Dates for your Diary

Oct 03 Girls Group

CLT Business

Oct 04 Prayer for Israel 9.30am

The Bridge 7.30pm

Oct 06 Coffee Pot

Mums Bible Study Group

Older Teens Group 8.00pm

Oct 07 FN@6 and FN@7

Oct 08 Big Church Big Up 4pm

Oct 09 Meadowcroft

Oct 10 Girls Group

Oct 11 Prayer for Israel 9.30am

The Journey 11am Village Cnt

Oct 12 Small Groups

Oct 13 Ladies Evening7.15pm

Older Teens

Oct 16 Harvest All Age Service

Oct 17 Girls Group

CLT Prayer

Oct 18 Prayer for Israel 9.30am

The Bridge 7.30pm

Global Vision Group 7.45pm

Oct 20 Coffee Pot

Mums Bible Study Group

New Songs 8pm

Oct 21 FN@6 and FN@7

Oct 25 Prayer for Israel 9.30am tbc

Oct 26 Small Groups

Oct 31 Girls Group

See www.chinnor.org.uk for more info

If you have any

articles for the next

Connect they need to

be in by

23 October

Sunday Services

Café Church 9am - 9.45am Morning Service 10.45am to 12.15pm

Chinnor Community Church

High Street, Chinnor, Oxon OX39 4DH

Coffee Pot

October 6th and 20th

At the Village Centre

from 10.30am

Rainbow Tots

Tuesdays (Term Time)

9.45am at CCC

More Dates For Your Diary

and things for you to pray for …

Big Church Big Up Saturday 8th October 4pm

Ladies Evenings Thursday 13th October 7.15pm

Thursday 8th December

Samaritan’s Purse Coffee Morning Saturday 5th November 10am - 2pm

Including Christmas cards and gifts on sale together with tea, coffee

and delicious home-made soup

Church Meeting Monday 14th November 7.30pm

Mission Breakfast Saturday 19th November 8.15am

Church Retreat Saturday 10th December

Stanton House 10am - 4pm

___________________________________________________________

HOUSE OF PRAYER Prayer moves mountains and there are a few to move!

Pray continuously, gather together and seek the Lord.

If we are going to change things we need to pray

Our revival opportunity is now so let’s pray

And see how the Lord works sovereignly

House of Prayer

Mondays 8.00 - 9.00pm at 6 Doveleat, Chinnor

Prayer for Israel

Tuesdays 9.30 - 10.30am at14 Hill Farm Court

The Bridge - Encountering the Presence of God

Alternate Tuesdays 7.30 - 8.45pm

CCC Coffee Pot and Pastor Kenn leaves.

After a chat and a cuppa and still more conversation, plus consuming

all the biscuits, we managed, eventually, to bring some decorum to the

morning meeting. Pastor Kenn, the minister at CCC for just over four

years, was speaking at his last Coffee Pot meeting before returning to

somewhere in his native Scotland. In his first meeting at CP he

revealed something about himself. At this, his last meeting, we learnt

about some of his family history.

It might have started, “Once upon a time, long, long ago, in a far

distant land, there lived a coal mining family….” but it is there that

the story changes. Kenn came from mining stock in the coal mining

area of Lanarkshire, Scotland. Kenn’s granddad was an underground

fireman, who died in a pit explosion when Kenn was only ten years

old. The pit has gone now and the surface landscaped, but the bodies

of many of the men still lay where they died, deep down in the colliery.

Kenn’s great, granddad was a rail worker, laying track and

maintaining it, again deep underground.

This was in the 1880’s and the family lived in a two room miners

cottage, with five children, one window, no running water, no

electricity and very little else. Ten years later, the situation was still

the same, only now there were ten children living in the same, dark,

dingy squalid cottage. The better off side of the family still lived in

small cottages, but somehow, they managed to fit a lodger in, plus

they had two windows.

Kenn went back another 100 years, to the 1790’s. Most miners at that

time were bonded men, virtually slaves to the mine owners. There

were no unions and no welfare, and definitely no sympathy. If a miner

died underground, either by a rock fall, gas explosion, drowning, fire

damp, pit collapse or some other gruesome situation, the miner’s

widow and family would be out on the streets by nightfall. Slavery in

the coal-mines of Scotland is well recorded. In just one mining

disaster, at the Blantyre Pit, on the 22 October 1877, Scotland's worst

ever mining disaster, 207 miners were killed. The accident left 92

widows and 250 fatherless children. Blantyre was also the scene of

two further disasters in 1878 and 1879.

What a terrible situation to live and work in, unlike today’s modern

technological breakthroughs, living conditions and the comforts that

go with the times. Whilst Kenn returns to Scotland, it is to continue as

a minister, preaching the Gospel and telling of God’s work in this

modern day and age.

We wish him well for the future.

Peter Brown

Chinnor Christian Aid

Would like to invite you to a

Thank You Evening for all your support this past year.

When - Wednesday 16th November 7.30 pm

Where - Chinnor Village Hall upper room)

There will be a short AGM followed by a presentation from Anwen Holmes

(area organiser for Oxford Christian Aid)

Anwen has recently visited Christian Aid partners in the Philippines and she

will show us how monies we have raised are being used.

This will be followed by a light buffet with wine/soft drinks.

I guess there are very few children able to resist sweets! and that's

probably the case worldwide so in October we'll collect some to put in

our shoeboxes. We are not allowed to send chocolate or sweets

containing chocolate e.g. Smarties and if the packets have a "sell by

date" this must be March 2017 or later. Thank you in anticipation and

I promise not to eat any!

If you have any other items of any sort that you've been collecting but

forgotten to bring along to CCC now is the time to do it, as we will be

packing and sending the boxes in November.

As you know Samaritan's Purse suggests a donation of £3 for every

box given to cover the huge transportation costs involved. Last year

we well covered this cost and were also able to send a cheque to head

office to enable many children to go on the Greatest Journey Bible

course they are invited to when they receive their box. Whilst I have

already been given some money from folk we need more! The bookstall

is organising a coffee morning and sale on Saturday 5th November

from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. There will be Christmas cards and gifts on

sale together with tea, coffee and delicious home-made soup (how can

you resist?) So invite your friends and neighbours to come with you

and enjoy a time of fellowship with us whilst also helping needy

children at the same time.

Thank you for all you do in serving the Lord in this way, God Bless.

Pam Dunn

One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car

and got out. Another car pulled up near the driver got out and said,

"I always park there! You took my place!"

The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat

down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's

my seat! You took my place!" The visitor was somewhat distressed by

this rude welcome, but said nothing.

After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down.

Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit!

You took my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this

treatment, but still said nothing.

Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them,

the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars

became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the

congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?"

The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell

from his eye, "I took your place!"

Nehemiah: God's Word for God's People

All the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They

told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses,

which the Lord had commanded for Israel... He read it aloud... And all the

people listened attentively to the Book of the Law... The Levites... read from the

Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the

people understood what was being read. Nehemiah 8:1-8

To the delight of many a deacons’ meeting, parochial church council, or fabric

committee, the books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell the story of building projects. In

Ezra it’s the temple, in Nehemiah it’s the city walls. Hard work. Bricks and

mortar. Blood, sweat and tears.

No less real – and no less hard graft – is the rebuilding of the people themselves.

A restored temple and rebuilt walls to be sure, but at the centre of it all is a

renewed relationship with God, in community with others. And at the heart of

that renewal, the means by which restoration comes, is the word of God.

Picture the scene in Nehemiah 8: thousands crowd into the public square; Ezra

stands on a raised platform; unusually, the people have asked him to bring out

the Book of the Law of Moses; when he opens it they stand up, he blesses them,

and they respond in worship. Ezra reads from daybreak to noon, for about six

hours, and the people listen attentively and reverently.

However, reading and listening on their own are not enough. God’s word

requires explanation, as we see with the Levites ‘making it clear and giving the

meaning so that the people understood what was being read’.

But something more is needed. For, as the story goes on, explaining and

understanding lead to responding and celebrating – with weeping first, and then

with delight, as the people discover that ‘the joy of the Lord’ is their strength

(8:10).

Even this, it seems, is not the final goal of their encounter with God’s word, for

the rest of the chapter shows them celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles,

recalling how their ancestors lived in the wilderness, with everyone taking part,

acting out God’s provision for them.

As they hear, understand, and respond to God’s voice in the pages of Scripture,

they are recovering what it means to be the people of God.

Here is a window on the significance of the word of God to the life of the people

of God. It reminds us that God renews through his word, that it’s a word for men

and women and children, that it addresses the whole community, that it is to be

listened to attentively, understood clearly, and responded to obediently, that it

makes a difference to how people live.

Minds informed, hearts touched, lives changed – God renews through his word.

Antony Billington LICC, St Peter's, Vere Street, London, W1G 0DQ

Giant Jigsaws

"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen."1 Peter 4:10-11, NLT

During the nine-week Flagship programme this year many people

from different cultures and nationalities enjoyed working together on

a 4,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. But what a trauma it was to discover the

final piece was missing! Andrew, our host, used his ingenuity and

made a fake piece from card and coloured pens, which fitted in exactly.

From a distance it looked OK, but you could see it wasn’t quite right if

you went close up to it.

Another giant jigsaw was undertaken, and this time all the pieces

were there, but the last piece wouldn’t fit in the only space remaining.

Why was that? Well someone had mistakenly squeezed a similar

looking piece into the wrong place. Once it was removed and replaced

by the correct piece, all the pieces fitted perfectly, and the picture was

complete.

Each of us is a piece in a giant jigsaw, the Body of Christ. Each of us is

important. If we aren’t fitted into the unique place designed for us, the

jigsaw is incomplete. Our gift to the Church is then missing. The

apostle Peter says that each Christian believer has been given a gift.

The important thing is to use it to bless others. He mentions speaking

and helping. They are just examples. We could find an infinite variety

of other gifts given to God’s people.

Some Christians suffer from a sense of unworthiness and think they

aren’t good enough to do anything in Church. They hide their light

under a bushel. They think everyone else is more talented and skilled

than they are, and so leave it to others to contribute to the Church

community. Sadly, one or two people then end up carrying too heavy a

burden of responsibility.

Perhaps we think of the nine spiritual gifts mentioned in 1

Corinthians Chapter 12; wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles,

discerning of spirits, prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues. Or

maybe we think of the ministry gifts of Ephesians Chapter 4; apostles,

prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Then there are the

motivational gifts in Romans Chapter 12; prophecy, service, teaching,

exhortation, giving, administration, and mercy.

But we could expand our understanding of gifts, and we could include

things like hospitality, playing music, singing, intercessory prayer,

making colourful banners, painting, cooking, writing, playing football,

and interpreting. This would probably only just be scratching the

surface of the enormous variety of gifts and talents God has given to

us all to bless others with.

Some of these gifts are given to non-Christians too, but, for Christians,

the difference is that we do everything for the glory of God through

Jesus Christ. There should be no conceit or pride involved, and we do

it all in love. Our ‘natural’ gifts then become spiritual gifts.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that each one of us has been given at least one spiritual gift from Your great variety of gifts. Help us to identify our gifts, and use them to bring glory to You, and to bless others. Amen.

Liz Griffin Liz Griffin lived for 20 years as an expatriate in South

Africa, Bahrain and Japan, as her husband Paul worked for an

international oil company. Paul and Liz became involved with Ellel

Ministries in 1991 as part of the ministry team and joined the full-

time team at Ellel Grange in 1995. Paul and Liz teach and minister to

those seeking healing in their lives and together have written two

books, 'Anger - How Do You Handle It' and 'Hope and Healing For The

Abused'.

Can you work out

the towns or cities

Last Month The Answers:

1. A day of the week (6 letters) Sundae

2. sgeg (9,4) Scrambled eggs

3. Type of mist with most of a relative (6,5) Scotch broth

4. A type of bed (5,3) Apple Pie

5. What to do to start a race (4) Sago

6. Meat and a boot (4,10) Beef Wellington

7. To talk incessantly (6) Rabbit 8. A cat door and a box man (8) Flapjack

9. Type of run, wire or pox (7) Chicken

Who’s Who at

Our Leadership Team: Janine Adams Will Austin Bruce Crawforth (Lead Elder) Tabby Crawforth (Youth Leader) Viv Haywood (Church Administrator) Peter Hopgood Steve Kelsey (Worship Leader) Ann Long

Small Group Leaders: Fiona Austin Will Austin Barbara Francis Sheila Hazell Ann Long Pete Merrow-Smith Susie Kelsey Steve Tipping

Youth Work: Sundays: Pebbles: Barbara Francis The Rock (Yrs 2-6): Anna Chalk Rock Solid (Yrs 7-9): Sarah Mak

Fridays: FN@6 6-7.15pm (Yrs 2-6): Viv Haywood FN@7 7-9.00pm (Yrs 7-9): Tabby Crawforth

Men’s Own: Peter Hopgood

Coffee Pot: Peter Brown

Ladies Nights: Kim Hopgood, Sarah Mak, Anna Chalk

Meadowcroft Residential Home Services: 2

nd Sunday

Gail Roberts

Tear Fund Rep: John Gravett

Evangelical Alliance Rep: Janine Adams

Christian Aid via Church Office 01844 352938

Samaritans Purse – Pam Dunn Health and Safety: Bruce Crawforth

Child Protection: Fiona Ludlow

Connect Editor: Barbara Francis b.francis@btinternet.com Contact Details:

Church Administrator:

Viv Haywood 07974442967 secretarychinnorcc@gmail.com

CCC Prayer Chain operates 7 days a week from 9am – 9pm. If you have a prayer need and want it to go onto the chain, contact Angela Martin on 01844 344945, Viv Haywood on 01844 355935 or Sheila Gravett on 01844 353138.