Goodhand in Banbury

  Covid strikes again !!!! You hear that Covid is on the increase again though the fact the data is no longer being collected as it once was you wonder of course. But here as you can see is the evidence we were all so used to at one time. The test on the left says positive while the one on the right says negative. How come then we both have the same symptoms and feel absolutely awful? Throughout the pandemic and beyond in spite of testing I have never once tested positive. Yet I can tell you I must be for this is not a bad cold.   When Jill tested positive once before and I didn’t I had no symptoms. So amazing I was spared. I think we saw it coming as two daughters, son in law and two grandchildren in London have been unwell. The last tube we got on was crowded. We came home Monday night wondering are we going to keep clear of whatever they have. Of course not. We finally succumbed late Wednesday evening and it’s been coughs, headaches, tiredness, sleep and more sleep oh and more sleep

Like many churches at this time of year we had our harvest thanksgiving service last Sunday. What however came flooding back to my mind took place during communion. We had the lovely hymn/song ‘Beauty for brokenness’ as the elements were distributed. But then with time still to fill ‘We plough the fields and scatter’ was then played and sung. Flooding back came the memory of my first harvest service at St Ives Methodist Church in Cambridgeshire as the new Minister. Not that we actually sang it but because I was firmly reprimanded by Olive and Cyril that it wasn’t a harvest service because we didn’t   have ‘We plough the fields and Scatter’.   Oh how divisive music is in worship and everyone has their own views on what should or should not be included.   The power of music and words lies in its capacity to carry memories and create moods.   What I guess will never change is that keeping everyone happy is a non starter.   We all know the old joke   ‘Whats the difference between a terrori

22 September 2023 Statement in response to the Prime Minister’s announcement on net zero policies A joint statement by The Baptist Union of Great Britain The Methodist Church The United Reformed Church We are dismayed that the Prime Minister is delaying the implementation of policies to achieve net zero. As Christian leaders we are deeply committed to encouraging all within our sphere of influence to be ambitious in reaching net zero as we seek to care for God’s creation. This transition must be rapid, equitable and just. At a time when so many people are struggling financially, the government has a crucial role to play in ensuring the cost of transition to net zero does not fall most heavily on those least able to afford it. Delaying measures to insulate homes will have the opposite effect, and slowing efforts to reduce fossil fuel use will increase climate impacts on vulnerable communities around the globe. Extreme weather events this year have demonstrated the urgency of the situati

  Randomly selecting another book as part of re reading books that we already have, saw me pick up ‘George Orwell’s 1984’. It is now many years since I read this and while it came back to me as I turned the pages it was’t quite how I recall it.   The greyness and dullness of the world Orwell creates is too frighteningly real as a possibility. The concept of always being at war to control acquiring those things to improve life, which avoids most people realising how poor they are really hit home. The torture of the main character Winston is chillingly real when we have learnt so much about how regimes treat people, even so called civilised governments. Women told what they can and cannot wear in places like Iran and Afghanistan. People not allowed to protest by even holding up a bank sheet of paper in Moscow, and its happened in the UK so we are not exempt from the erosion of hard won rights. What stands out today re-reading the book however is the way in which lies becomes truth as the

Exodus 14 :19-31 and Matthew 18:21-35 Even though I no longer need to do so because I’m not preparing the worship I like to read the Sunday lectionary passages before a service. It is a way of preparing to hear the message as well as wondering what angle the preacher will take.   This Sunday one reading involves the escaping Israelites   from Egypt and the destruction of the Egyptian army under the waters of what most likely were the Gulf of Suez an   extension off the Red sea.   Here it is thought, that if the wind does blow in a   particular direction for a good period of time, it can force the waters to recede and if a ridge was created the Israelites could have then walked across. Though I guess no one is going to get hung up on such details!!!   The story is part of the great saving act of Yahweh to lead the Israelites out of slavery and back to the promised land. But do spare a thought for poor old Moses with his arm outstretched all night. Be it the cloud or pillar of fire, God’

On Thursday morning we went to communion and the focus of the reflection was our care for others and God's creation. It was an excellent act of worship with hymns underpinning both the scripture and the reflection. A well crafted service reminding me how much I am enjoying receiving than giving as I have for 38 years.  Among the many thoughts it generated I was left wondering more than ever before, that not only do we need to downsize our car,  to go electric, but also to use any car even less. This was brought into sharp relief because of what has been happening. As our car gets older we now find bills getting higher for necessary repairs. Having had a fairly expensive  year with a major service a damaged tyre etc I was hoping for a respite. On Saturday I pulled up at the petrol station and very kind person asked 'Do you know your exhaust is hanging down?'  It was too late for my garage as the mechanics had gone home and Kwik fit couldn't do it without ordering a new e

 You never stop helping your children especially when need arises!!!!! The estuary near Leigh on Sea from the train. Our youngest was to be chief bridesmaid at a wedding down in Eastbourne while were to attend a friend's daughters celebration of marriage in Southend. We were going to stay at her flat in London on the Friday evening and travel by train on the Saturday. She was going to travel down first thing Friday.  On Friday morning I texted to ask how her journey was going from London. "The trains are not running at all" I could hear the panic in the text. No trains. No buses available. What else could we do?  'Okay we will take you and leave home earlier than planned'. "You can't do that". Well she had no other real option. So having packed the car we drove to London. Unloaded our suitcases and wedding clothes at the flat and took her onto Eastbourne. Of course the Blackwell tunnel was a pain to get through. It was getting late and we needed food