News

Christmas Services 2023

Sunday 17 December

8am Said service of Holy Communion

10am All-age Carol Service
An informal service for all the family, with your favourite carols

6pm Candlelit Carol Service
A traditional service of choral pieces and carols, interwoven with readings and a reflection
(this service will be live streamed)
Join us for mulled wine and mince pies afterwards

Sunday 24 December – Christmas Eve

4pm Christingle Service
A joyful celebration, bringing families and communities together to share the light of Jesus and spread a message of hope

11pm Midnight Holy Communion
A traditional Christmas service, with organ and choir
(this service will be live streamed)

Monday 25 December – Christmas Day

10am St Andrew’s at 10: A Christmas Celebration
A celebration for the whole family in church, with carols, readings and a short talk
(this service will be live streamed)
This will be immediately followed by a short service of
Holy Communion for those in church

 

 

BYC November update

We were pleased to receive four responses to our Tender invitations from the list of potential contractors, but disappointingly, each one quoted a figure over £1 million (excluding VAT). The best is from Ash Contracting, who acted in this role on Phase 1 and consequently, whilst much work remains to be done, we are now in further discussions with them as our preferred partner on this project.

The figure is much higher than we had hoped for, even allowing for the inflation that we had anticipated, and is a significant increase from our original budget. We need to redouble our efforts to ensure we only do what is really needed to better provide for our existing activities and to develop new ones.

This is entirely consistent with our application for funding to Your Fund Surrey, as their motivation is to help fund spaces and projects that reach new people of all ages in our community. Your Fund Surrey’s timeframe means that we will not get a final decision from them until March 2024 – and one of their requirements is that we cannot start work before then.

Our focus now is to see how we can reduce the project costs to a manageable level and to finalise our application to Your Fund Surrey. The Parochial Church Council agreed with this approach, and that we should continue in our endeavours to complete this exciting project, based on the significant approvals and funding already in place, and on the basis that minimal costs are incurred from now until we achieve full funding. The church leadership remains strongly behind the scheme and the BYC team are encouraged to explore all options to make it happen.

For more information about the project see Building Your Church

An Announcement from Revd Frances Trickey

This is a letter I had hoped I would not have to write for some years. However, after discussions with my oncologist and the Diocese of Guildford, I am writing to inform you of my retirement through ill-health as the Vicar of St Andrew’s, Oxshott. The date set is 31.12.2023, although Jolyon and I will continue to live in The Vicarage for at least January 2024.

It has been the privilege of my life to be the Vicar of this community and church. Thank you to all of you who have sent me good wishes throughout my treatment this year, for those who have prayed, the encouraging cards and for all the practical expressions of loving care.

Thank you too to each individual and organisation that make up our lovely community: for welcoming me into your homes at times of great joy as well as great sadness; for the welcome into the various village organisations and the opportunity to work alongside many seeking to work for the good of all who live in Oxshott.

And a special thank you to my Church Family who have allowed me to lead them, despite my failings and inevitable mistakes, and for the love and joy we have shared as followers of Jesus Christ.

I do hope that there will be an opportunity for me to say goodbye face to face at an event to be arranged in January.

Blessings,

 

 

Revd Frances Trickey
Vicar

Here is a video update which was shown during our service on 19 November.

Update from Tanka Subedi

The core of Tanka & Rita’s work that we support is Iteen. This uses a simple but powerful model of Biblical Learning that transforms lives and equips leaders. This is simply explained in a new animation that can be viewed here:

In Nepal Tanka and Rita were the first to use this model, starting in their home, with one small group (like the one in the picture), soon after they were married 27 years ago. Rita translated the materials from English into Nepalese. Today Iteen support over 6,000 students across Nepal, training group leaders and translating materials at many different levels.

Supporting Cobham Area Foodbank

We are delighted to be making Cobham Area Foodbank, one of our Mission Partners, the focus for our Harvest Collections again this year.

Our local foodbank, like many throughout the country, is desperately short of food donations. Please bring along donations to the Harvest Service at 10am on Sunday 1 October. The items below are particularly short, so please read the list, or take one from the vestibule with you and bring in any of the items listed; it will be gratefully received.

Harvest items will be collected on Tuesday 3 October.

Items urgently needed:

  • pasta sauce
  • UHT fruit juice
  • tins of meat, vegetables, fish, soup, spaghetti hoops and custard
  • UHT semi-skimmed milk
  • chocolate spread
  • tomato ketchup
  • hot chocolate
  • sponge puddings
  • sweet snacks & biscuits
  • bleach
  • toothpaste for adults
  • sanitary towels
  • shampoo & conditioner
  • shaving foam & razors

Thank you.

Visit from Qaiser & Rahila

We were delighted this week to welcome Qaiser and Rahila from OTS, our Mission Partners in Pakistan.

Qasier, as many will know, is the Executive Director of OTS (The Open Theological Seminary) in Pakistan, whose motto is “Equipping God’s people for the work of His service”. His powerful preaching as a servant of Christ from Philippians set the bar high for all of us as we study this letter from Paul. Qaiser we found to be a special humble man and it was easy to see how he leads this amazing  ministry.

OTS is a non-denominational Seminary and currently provides this Christian teaching to some 1000 students a year.

Rahila, we have known, founded and runs an incredible Christian Charity called “Help for the Helpless”. This charity reaches out to poor and marginalised Christian women mothers in both the rural areas as well as in the city. They help them by teaching sewing skills and after a year’s training, at their graduation provide them with a sewing machine and the tools to run their own small business. They have opened 10 of these centres in the past 6 years.

Watch this video to find out more about her work.

 

Rahila, when she was interviewed on Sunday, mentioned that they can buy new machines for the equivalent of £40 and several of you generously contributed on Sunday. Those who would still like to contribute, donations can be made by Bank transfer to St Andrews Church, Oxshott. Sort Code 20-90-56 Account number 80374598 Reference OTS/HTH

During their few days with us, Qaiser and Rahila met with many in our congregation at events such as Soul Space, an Open lunch, ABC, Craft Club, a Life Group and finally a visit to B@titude, where they encountered numerous similarities.

Many thanks are due to so many of you for kind and generous hosting, wonderful lunches and dinners that made this visit so special and helped us build a deeper and more fruitful relationship. How poignant for us all that Qaiser should preach from Chapter 1 of Philippians where the main themes are “Love, thankfulness and joy”

BYC – August update

Preparatory work continues apace!  Recent weeks have seen considerable activity involving the redesign of the kitchen and toilets, and the necessary cabling for audio visual equipment and Wi-Fi connectivity (initially to temporary units, and subsequently to their final locations), as well as core heating and electrical works.

We are now at an advanced stage with our technical drawings, which form the basis of the cost proposals we will seek from potential main contractors; this is a crucial step, as we will then be able to confirm whether the funds we have raised are sufficient.

The investigation work with our Project Managers unearthed a significant problem with the roofing over the north corridor (which covers the toilets, kitchen, offices and storage rooms). This was not supposed to be part of the project, so finding the best way forward has set us back. We have now engaged a roofing contractor by competitive tender, and work will start during September.

Over the next two to three weeks, we will procure a temporary office, toilets and cabin to help us maintain as many of our church ministries as we can; but there will inevitably be some disruption, and so we ask for everyone’s patience and forbearance in the coming months, along with your ongoing prayers, as work begins for real to deliver improved buildings that bring glory to God.

For more information about the project see Building Your Church

Licensing of Revd Patrick Davies

On Monday 21 August, Archdeacon Martin Breadmore conducted a Licensing Service for Patrick. This service commissioned Patrick to serve as Associate Minister in our parish with particular focus on Families and Children.

Please continue to pray for Patrick and his family as he begins this next exciting stage in his ministry here at St Andrew’s.

Jasper’s Big BYC Bike Ride – Update

On Saturday 29 July, Jasper successfully completed his 20 mile bike ride for BYC – raising an amazing total of just over £2000, by cycling from Bramley to Rudgwick, and back! Setting off at 10am from the old Bramley and Wonersh Station, using the Downs Link path (an old railway track) and arriving back around 5.30pm – amazingly avoiding all the rain showers! Snack and lunch stops along the way, in Cranleigh and at The Milk Churn near Rudgwick, helped keep us going, as well as taking time to admire the view and watch the wildlife, including deer and a sparrowhawk.

Jasper is so proud to have completed his challenge, and raised such a good amount in support of BYC.  Thank you to all who have sponsored and encouraged Jasper in his efforts!

Watch Jasper being interviewed and congratulated in church.