Goodhand in Banbury

A play, a church service and the Pub quiz. I wonder which helped me the most? We took the opportunity to make a last minute booking to see Chekov’s Play the Seagull at the Oxford Playhouse. I had never seen it before. It was excellent.   A very young cast drawn from students from various Oxford colleges. While it has elements of humour you could not describe it as joyful. It explored as all good writing does the interplay of human relationships. Manipulation by a parent that undermines a son. Infatuation that leads to betrayal and hurt and so much more. Even the suicide in the story, which saw one cast member remain at the end wiping the blood off the screen, a reminder how I had scrubbed a floor when a church members husband had committed suicide at their home. Yes it was all about relationships. As an experience it was one which made me think deeply as all good writing and performances do, and I would love to see it again to get more out of it. That’s what happens when writing is...

We were sitting with our grandson in hospital as he underwent his latest Chemo sessions. He was having to take his anti sickness medicines. He has grown to really hate them, and while he does take them, it’s a personal battle to overcome his aversion to them.   His cry out “Why” resonated very deeply.   Why does this six now seven year old have to go though all this medication, injections, radio therapy, chemo, a kidney removed WHY, WHY, WHY!   Any one diagnosed with cancer asks ‘why’ as do we all. But people have commented "but why a child of his age?" The whole “it’s not fair” is aired, and we certainly feel that, even though we know cancer is no respecter of age or circumstances.   Why, amongst other shouts, is most certainly the cry of the Psalmist.   So often when it’s all just a mess why is shouted, and most certainly is accompanied with a lot of complaining to God and blaming of God.   Yes God can cope with our anger and our blaming of God which is w...

 My six year old grandson, currently undergoing chemotherapy, dropped by for a play time allowing mum and dad to get some jobs done. My daughter said "well you can answer all his questions" not least of which was "If God is everywhere why don't we keep bumping into him?" Good question and thankfully he wanted to play and not talk theology!!!! But it is a good question and one that should be addressed. My internal reaction is how do I explain that we do. I'm reminded of the Celtic blessing which speaks of encountering God/Christ in the strangers guise. This is a big ask. Jesus in his teachings and story telling, and not least in his actions revealed we need to have the eyes of a gracious God that we might truly see the other. To see someone like ourselves loved by our creator, and to allow the filters of prejudice fall away. Perhaps it's why we so often refer to Christ as the light of the world who reveals reality about others and uncomfortably ourselves....

My grandson who is undergoing chemotherapy had the opportunity to be a mascot for the day at Oxford United. This meant apart from his mum and dad getting tickets there was one spare. Granny did not mind Grandad going along!!!  The community team at the club were great. He was given their kit, saw the stadium, dressing room, met the players, gained their signatures on his programme, met the club's mascot, had a kick about on the pitch and then of course walked out with the team for the match. He loved every moment.  For me it was a very relaxed day. I was not able to go round with him, only mum and dad could, and that was fine. So I was able to relax and observe. It was like watching a community come together with a  common purpose. People slowly arriving at the ground greeting not just each other as fans but clearly knowing each others names. The fact the staff on duty spoke to people by name quite often, revealed the family nature of the club. The handful of police on du...

  Intercessions St Hughs 20th September 2026 Our Gospel reading today Matthew 20:1-16 was about the compassion of the landowner. Concern for the unemployed, for their dignity, their need to feed their families. The Landowner was willing to be personally poorer that they might have enough. So Jesus says here is a sign of the Kingdom for compassion and mercy reflect God’s justice. Let us pray. God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit one in perfect community we believe you brought everything into existence and everything we have is a gift from you. Help us to behave like the Landowner and be willing to be poorer that others might have enough. Disturb us until we reflect your generosity. Lord in your mercy   Hear our prayer Creator God in   Scripture and in Jesus You revealed that we can’t sit on the fence we have to take sides. The widow, the orphan, the refugee the homeless, the child leaving care.   Unless we speak for them who will?   In scripture and in Jesus you chal...