Gabby North from the Leprosy Mission visiting this Sunday in our morning services 
 

The Leprosy Mission is a global organisation leading the fight against leprosy- one of the world’s most marginalising and stigmatising diseases. For many, leprosy might be thought of as a disease of the past- seen only in Biblical times, but sadly today, every 2 minutes someone is newly diagnosed with leprosy. In Matthew 10:8, Jesus sends out his disciples saying, ‘Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.’ At The Leprosy Mission, we strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus to make sure that nobody affected by leprosy are left forgotten or unseen. 

My name is Gabby North, and I am really excited to be coming to visit Chilton and Harwell Churches on the 21st April to give a talk about the life changing work that The Leprosy is doing around the world. 

One person whose life has been changed through your love and support is Santosh- a young man in Nepal whose life was changed forever when he was diagnosed with leprosy. Sadly he had to have both of his legs amputated at just 18 years old because of infected ulcers caused by leprosy, and he felt that he had no hope for the future. But there is now hope once more for Santosh! Santosh came to The Leprosy Mission hospital Anandaban, where he was given love, support, and a pair of prosthetic legs, and Santosh can now walk again! My colleague met Santosh recently, and he is thriving, with a specially adapted moped so he can zoom around his neighbourhood. He has also married and his wife has had a beautiful baby girl, and when he looks at his daughter, his face lights up with joy. It is amazing to see the difference that your love and support has made, as Santosh has changed from being a sad teenager with no hope for the future, to a joyful young man looking forward to a hopeful future with his family. 
In February I had the privilege of visiting Andhra Pradesh- a state in the South East of India, where The Leprosy Mission work tirelessly to show people affected by leprosy that they are seen and loved. God absolutely broke my heart for the people that I met there, I have returned feeling so inspired and full of thankfulness for all God is doing through you as supporters of The Leprosy Mission!

 I really look forward to sharing a story about an amazing woman called Sarojani (pictured here) who I met at Salur- one of The Leprosy Mission’s hospitals, and to give you an opportunity to show people affected by leprosy that you see and love them through our current appeal- to build a new Outpatients Department at Muzaffarpur Hospital in Bihar- India’s poorest state. If you would like to find out more about how you can get involved with our work prior to the service, please visit https://www.leprosymission.org.uk/. Just £24 provides the cure for leprosy for one person- what an amazing gift to give! If you would like to give a gift to transform the lives of people affected by leprosy, you can head here- https://actions.leprosymission.org.uk/page/145680/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=p3638wxr
I look forward to meeting you on Sunday, and God bless!
Gabby North
Community Partnerships Manager- Central South region
gabbyn@lm.org.uk
07842231596
 

Oasis Cafe on Saturday 20th April 

Why not go along to the Oasis Cafe on Saturday 20th April  in All Saints' Church Chilton between 10.00am- 12noon and thereafter on the 3rd Saturday of each month.

This is a free Cafe serving coffee/tea/squash and delicious biscuits.

If you would like to help us serve anytime in the future, please contact Rev Pam Rolls on  pamrolls@tiscali.co.uk 

Everyone is welcome.

Please help towards sending Jeremy and Ruth to the Alpha Leadership Conference

We are sending Jeremy and Ruth Parsons to the Alpha Leadership Conference in London next month but we are seeking donations to cover the cost. To donate towards our target of £500.  Please contact Deborah in the office de.hcchurches@gmail.com for further information.  We have made a great start in raising funds but your support would be greatly appreciated to close the gap. 

Please also be praying for Ruth and Jeremy, that this experience might be truly transformational for them and that we all might benefit as a result!

Church Annual Meetings 2024 

All Saints’ Annual Meeting will be on Sunday 28th April following the 9.30am service at 10.20am.
St Matthew’s Annual Meeting will be on Sunday 19th May following the 11am service at 11.50am.

It would be great to see as many people as possible to the Annual Meetings - everybody is welcome. 

The papers can be downloaded here. Please access the papers electronically if you are able. For those who need a printed copy, please contact Deborah in the church office by noon on the Wednesday preceding the meeting via office@harwellandchiltonchurches.org.uk or Tel (01235) 834 256

Volunteers needed 

"The Church Hall Project Group has been given the go ahead by the PCC to start to make the church hall more usable and used.

Harwell Feast Volunteers needed!

“The church has provided support with refreshments (teas, coffees, cakes ) at the Harwell Feast for many years, and Liz Thorley will be organising the rota again this year. All money raised goes to the Feast rather than the church and funds are then distributed by the Feast committee so that they benefit a number of different village organisations throughout the year. 

If you are able to spare an hour during the day, please use this link to register or alternatively contact Liz - by email: liz.thorley@hotmail.co.uk or phone: 07813071161 - and she will schedule you in. There will be 2-3 people for each one hour shift so you won’t be on your own and just let Liz know if you have a preference on time slot. It’s a real team effort and a chance to catch up with others as well as being a much appreciated contribution to the running of the Feast.”

Check out these moments of faith! 

 God is doing some amazing things through CAP across the UK!

• 98 people said yes to following Jesus for the first time
• 47 people re-committed to following Jesus
• 107 people shared their story of becoming a Christian
• 21 people got baptised
• 335 people expressed curiosity to learn more about Christianity
• 109 people attended Alpha or other explorers course for the first time
• 339 people heard the gospel for the first time
• 70 people joined a Bible study or small group for the first time
• 336 people attended a church social or hospitality event for the first time
• 194 came along to a church worship service for the first time
• 125 people accessed the wider support of the church
• 89 people volunteered at church for the first time
• 690 people accepted prayer for the first time
• 220 people experienced answered prayer
• 135 people asked for prayer for the first time
• 447 people continued to attend church, Bible study, explorers course or support groups.

(Nov 2023 till present day)

Take some time to celebrate and thank God for all he is doing week by week around the UK through our churches!

Warm space community cafe 

Organised by St Matthew's and hosted by The Harwellian, every Thursday
between 1 - 4pm the Warm Space community cafe will be back!. 

All are welcome, free tea, coffee and cake.  The plan is for it to run every Thursday afternoon subject to demand.

For this to be a success, we need volunteers to help at each session (probably two people per session), and to make cakes too! 

For more information please contact Elaine Shrimpton e.shrimpton17@gmail.com

 

Do you have experience in Health and Safety? 

 
All Saints' Church in Chilton needs some help to advise us on health and safety.  We need a volunteer with appropriate experience to look at our church building and our procedures to make sure that they meet requirements and advise on any changes/improvements needed.  We would also need occasional advice on an ad hoc basis.  We would really appreciate your help on this.  Please give us a call on 01235 832484 or email judithrussell100@gmail.com to have a chat and find out more.

St Matthew’s needs car parking marshals (training provided)

St Matthew’s is looking to build a team of car parking marshals to draw upon when we are expecting large numbers of people who have driven e.g. for weddings, funerals, baptisms and concerts. We can now only use Princes Manor farmyard for parking if we have marshals present. Marshals work in pairs so you wouldn’t be on your own, and of course it would be subject to your availability.

Please contact Jane Woolley at janemn.woolley@hotmail.co.uk or 0794 112 4620 if you would like to find out more.

Training and equipment e.g. hi viz jacket will be provided. We can offer free entry if you marshal for a concert or its rehearsals!   

Coffee Rota in St Matthew's

We are looking for help with Sunday morning refreshments for 10.30am services at St Matthew's church, about once a month.  

An opportunity to explore! 

 Anyone interested in exploring helping out on the concert/event manager rota (that is, being the responsible person in church while visiting artistes rehearse or perform) is invited to a drop-in at St Matthew's 10.30am on Saturday 12 August to be shown what it entails.
It's not only a great way to take part (free!) in the cultural life of our village but a really important outreach into our community demonstrating the church building to be accessible and our welcome to be warm.

Do you have electrical expertise? 

The 5-year electrical installations inspection for St. Matthew’s is due this year. It would be a great help to the Churchwardens and Buildings Committee if there is someone with suitable interest and expertise who could take on the organisation of this work.

If you can help please contact Tony Hughes, Chairman of the Buildings Committee, tel: 01235 835301 or a.hughes09@btinternet.com .

would you have a few hours to spare possibly a couple times a year? 

Would you have a few hours to spare possibly a couple of times a year? The Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre which our churches support is looking for friendly people who could move 'blessings' around the greater Didcot area. A 'blessing' is a donation to help a Debt Centre client get back on their feet. It might be as large as a piece of furniture or as small as a smartphone and needs collecting from the donor and delivering to clients.

If you'd like to chat about this opportunity (which isn't restricted to weekdays).

Please contact Naomi Gibson naomigibson3107@gmail.com or 07884 425460 in Chilton or Liz Roberts lizzyroberts333@gmail.com or 07745 802030 in Harwell.



 

didcot food bank needs our Help

In both St Matthew's Harwell and All Saints' Chilton there is a box at the back of the Church where you are able to leave your kind donated non perishable food/toiletry items which we then pass onto Didcot foodbank.  

What food is needed? 

Tins of meat / fish / potatoes / carrots / peas / soup / fruit / puddings 

Jars of pasta sauces / jam / peanut butter / coffee (small)  

Packets of pasta / rice / packets dried potato / breakfast cereals / biscuits / treats / tea 

Cartons of long-life milk/long-life juice / hot chocolate 
 

also……toiletries, toilet rolls, & clothes-wash items, but no alcohol, razors, medicines, or homemade preserves

Please note that all donated items must be long life and, where applicable, have a best before or use by date at least six months ahead, i.e. anything donated in March 2023 must have a date of Sept 2023 or later.