News

• Are you a self-starter, capable of running a lively (and sometimes pressured) church office alongside a lovely colleague?
• Can you be calm in the face of tears of joy or sorrow?
• Are you familiar with ‘ChurchSuite’ software, or willing to learn?
• Have you experience or knowledge of the Church of England?
• Would you like your work to make a positive difference to people’s lives?

If the answer to the questions above is mostly ‘Yes’, please consider applying to be our new Church Administrator at St Andrew’s Oxshott.

20 hours Mon – Friday 9am-1pm with some flexibility for the right candidate, and a competitive salary.

Please download the following documents in your preferred format:-

• Job Description (pdf)
• Application form (pdf)
• Application form (word)

Please complete the application form and email it to:  
Alternatively, post it to: The Wardens, Church Office, St Andrew’s, Oakshade Road, Oxshott, KT22 0LE

by 12 noon on Friday 5 July 2019.

 

 

After more than 20 years of wonderful, self-giving service to St Andrew’s Oxshott as our Administrator, Sue Rees has decided to retire from her post. Her final day in the office will be 26 July 2019.

Before then, on Sunday 14 July, we shall take the opportunity to celebrate all that Sue has done in God’s name, both among us and on our behalf.

Please pray for Sue, that God will richly bless her as she begins to make the transition from our Church Administrator to a lady of (so-called) leisure.

What a problem to have! The church was so ‘rammed’ on Easter Sunday morning that the 10.30am Oxshott Praise service started late, because it took so long for the church to empty after the 9am service of Holy Communion!

It was wonderful to see so many people coming to St Andrew’s to celebrate the most special and important day in the Christian calendar. Families from far and wide joined the local Oxshott congregation to sing, pray, watch a dramatic re-enactment of the Easter Day story and spend time worshipping together.

Friday’s Oxshott Praise service was also well attended, when Josey used ‘Open the Book’ to get everyone moving around the church together, following the drama that portrayed the events of Good Friday. Our very own mini Wintershall. And very powerful it was too.

What a week it was, 2000 years ago, when Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and took a week-long journey to his crucifixion on Good Friday and his glorious resurrection on Easter Day.

And what a week it was at St Andrew’s, just last week, when we met for half an hour each evening to reflect on those events and to think about the significance for Jesus back then and for us today.

Each reflection used visual and creative ways to summarise a particular part of the Holy Week journey: from re-living Jesus’ supper with Martha, Mary and Lazarus; to Jesus’ last supper with the disciples when Judas betrayed him; to our own re-enactment of the last supper with hand-washing and the sharing of bread and wine. Each evening was moving and impactful and gave both the opportunity and the reason to pause for thought.

…complete with confectionery church to welcome Jolyon as Associate Minister

Jolyon is ‘formally’ welcomed as Associate Minister at St Andrew’s

It was with great joy and celebration that, on Sunday 14 April, St Andrew’s witnessed the licensing of Frances’ husband Jolyon as Associate Minister. The licensing was conducted by the Archdeacon, the Ven Paul Bryer.

This licensing means that Jolyon now has the Bishop’s permission to officiate anywhere in the Diocese of Guildford, as well as recognising all forms of his ministry at St Andrew’s Oxshott. Frances commented, “We are delighted to welcome Jolyon as a member of the ministry team here at St Andrew’s, which has become his spiritual home. Despite a full time job with the Anglican Communion, Jolyon is keen to continue serving in his local church, and will be a valued and valuable member of the team.”

Celebrations continued in the evening, where attendees raised a glass to Jolyon at the APCM.

The Electoral Roll is now closed until the APCM, but if you have missed the deadline and wish to be on the roll, then you may still submit a form and your name will be added to the roll after the APCM.

Are you on the list?

It’s that time again.  Every six years, all Church of England parishes compile a completely new Church Electoral Roll, and therefore we are about to draw up a new one here at St Andrew’s.

Please note that even though you may have been on the existing roll for many years, you’ll still need to fill in a new form, otherwise your name won’t be included.

There are three good reasons you should make sure you stay on, or get on, the St Andrew’s electoral roll:

• Electoral rolls provide a true indication of the real membership and strength of the Church, both locally and nationally.  Putting your name on the roll is a way of saying “I belong” – so it is an act of commitment to St Andrew’s and to the Church as a whole.
• Joining the electoral roll opens up the way for greater involvement in the life of the Church, at parish, deanery, diocesan and national levels.  And you will be entitled to vote at our Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM).
• It is an important statement of witness, and step along the path of discipleship.  With your name on the electoral roll the strength of the Church can be seen in our area, and across the country.

If you wish to be included on the new roll, and are baptised and aged 16 or over, please make sure that you fill in an electoral roll form and return it to church by Sunday 17 March at the latest.

Forms are available in the church vestibule, or if you prefer you can download and print as many forms as you need.

If you have any questions please contact the Parish Office or the Electoral Roll Officer, Emily Godfrey ()

 

 

 

We said it… and over 1250 people did it at St Andrew’s this Christmas!

 

What an amazing celebration of Christmas we had at St Andrew’s! The number and variety of services meant that there really was something for everyone – from the informal band-led Carol Service in the morning of 23^rd to the more traditional choir-led Carol Service in the evening, where the homemade mince pies and mulled wine went down a treat, and provided a great opportunity to show how the church space can be instantly transformed from worship to hospitality.

On Christmas Eve, due to popular demand (and the need to adhere to fire regulations!) we had not one, but two Crib Services – both well attended and, judging by the noisy participation, enjoyed by all.

And Christmas Day itself offered a traditional service of Holy Communion with choir and organ, followed by a lively family service, with band and balloons, meaning that everyone was able to celebrate the birth of Jesus in their own particular way, and all home in plenty of time for Christmas lunch preparations.

But the celebrations didn’t just happen at the church… customers at The Bear and The Victoria pubs proved to be in very good voice as they joined our team of carol singers in singing out the Christmas message – people said there really was a sense of Christmas and community spirit coming together.

So all in all, it was a real celebration of loving God and loving our neighbour, as we ‘Followed the Star’ together – all 1,250 of us. 

The whole community is very sad at the loss of Oxshott’s much loved pre-school.  It had huge support and encouragement from parents, St Andrew’s and the Royal Kent School this year, but the demands of the ever-changing Ofsted framework proved too much for a charitable playgroup run by parents for the community.  St Andrew’s helped to ensure that all our local families have found alternative provision for after February half-term when it finally closes its doors.  Frances helped give it a wonderful send-off at its Christmas Party and Nativity Play at the end of term.  St Andrew’s PCC will be working with other community leaders in 2019 to explore options to establish a new affordable early years provision for the village.

Andrew Burns, Chair of St Andrew’s Pre-School Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

Sunday 2 December was a very special morning at St Andrew’s Oxshott. Firstly, it was the first Sunday of Advent, and we lit the first of 5 Advent candles to prepare ourselves for the birth of God’s son. (There are 4 Sundays in December and the 5^th candle is lit on Christmas morning)

The second reason it was so special was because the church was PACKED with young families, all making their own Christingles piece by piece, while Frances explained what each piece means (you can listen to her explanation here)

Thirdly, it was a wonderful celebration of the love and support that exists in our local community. This is a very difficult time for our young preschool families, and, as a church, we want them all to know that St Andrew’s is their home in the heart of their village. As such, Frances has written a letter to pre-school parents to offer our continued support, and to reassure them that there is always a warm and joyful welcome for them here.

Finally, it was the 50^th anniversary since The Children’s Society held its first Christingle service in the UK. The Children’s Society is a national charity that works with the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people. Their philosophy is: “We listen. We support. We act. Because no child should feel alone”, and St Andrew’s had a special collection at all services that morning to support their important and valuable work.

Jill Mengham