Goodhand in Banbury

  Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?   It was worth a year’s wages. ”    He did not say this because he cared about the poor .   Let us pray We call upon you our loving God,  the God of justice and truth,  to hear our prayers  offered in the face of a world that can be selfish and greedy. Where phrases like charity begins at home  are spoken to deny those in greater need than ourselves.   Where politicians play the public,  under the guise of bringing them greater prosperity,  while amassing greater power and wealth for a chosen few,  leaving the poor worse off  and the planet heading for ecological disaster. We call upon you our loving God  to move afresh  and turn our world upside down.  So that the values of your kingdom  might direct this and all nations  into the ways of truth,  compassion, peace and justice. Lord in your mercy   hear our prayers We p...

 This year instead of offering taize worship through Lent we had a Saturday together to look at two aspects of our life together worship and scripture. It was really good to see 19 people come to the day which began at 10.30 and ended at 2.30pm. With Iona style worship to start the day and finish, a fish and chips lunch and it was all in all a relaxed time. The morning focussed on a simple worship game. Thinking about a Sunday service people were invited in small groups to deal out various cards with words which related to worship. They were invited to explain why they would put that particular word in a certain column, ranging from essential to not necessary. Of course there are no right or wrong answers. The important part was to listen to each other and gain an insight why somethings help one person to worship though not neccessarily everyone. The key thing was to talk, listen and smile, which I'm glad to say occurred, and those who were a little uncertain about the day began to...

  Luke chapter 6: 20-26 Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor,      for yours is the kingdom of God.  Blessed are you who hunger now,      for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now,      for you will laugh.  Blessed are you when people hate you,      when they exclude you and insult you      and reject your name as evil,         because of the Son of Man.  “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.  But woe to you who are rich,      for you have already received your comfort.  Woe to you who are well fed now,      for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now,      for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone s...

I believe this is worth a read  A Service of Prayer for the Nation Homily by  Bishop Mariann  |  Jan 22, 2025 O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Jesus said, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, a...