Churches & Charities

Notes From St. Georges – December 2025

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2 December, 2025

Christmas is coming . . .  That’s what Advent means in the church calendar and we have four Sundays of reflection on what ‘the coming’ means.  This year, because of the way the date of Christmas falls, Advent began on 30 November, unlike chocolate advent calendars, which we are not allowed to open until 1 December!
 
There will be an Advent Wreath in church, with five candles: four coloured ones for the Sundays in Advent and a white one which is lit at Christmas to represent the Christ-child. In Times and Seasons (the ‘rule book’ for celebrating Church of England festivals) each of the Sundays in Advent has a theme: 1. Patriarchs (Abraham and co.); 2. Prophets (Isaiah and co.); 3. John the Baptist; 4. Mary.
 
Alternative themes for the four Sundays are Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, which means that the theme for our Family Service on the second Sunday in Advent (7 December) would be Peace. This seems especially appropriate just now when our news media are still reporting on the conflict in Ukraine which started in 2022, and on the Israel/ Gaza situation where the precarious ceasefire is holding, as I write.
 
Joy is the theme for the third week of Advent.  Christmas is rightly a time of rejoicing that the Saviour of the world came to live among us! Something to celebrate in a world which can seem so dark at times.
 
The fourth theme is Love. We reflect with awe and wonder on the loving nature of our God who was willing to be born in humble circumstances and be exposed to all the pressures and pains, sorrows and delights of being human, so that we can know at first hand what God is like. God is beside us in all the experiences of life and by his grace we can look again and detect, and build on, signs of hope and peace and joy amidst the death and destruction and chaos which seem to characterise our world.
 
How do we react to this love and share it?  One small way might be to get involved in the Reverse Advent Calendar scheme.  The idea is that we have a box, or something similar, at home and place an item of food in it every day of Advent.  Or we can put these items directly in the box in church.  By Christmas Eve there will be 24 items of food for the Foodbank in each box, to distribute to local people in need.
 
Please come and join in one or more of the church services to celebrate the real Christmas Spirit of love and joy.  
I wish peace and goodwill to you and to friends and to visitors among us.
God Bless
George
Revd George Heighton
Email re********@*****ok.com
Telephone 01295 680 201

A View From The Pew – December 2025

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1 December, 2025

The Christmas Crib
ILMODB

The first Christmas crib was the idea of St Francis of Assisi who on Christmas night in 1223, having been inspired by seeing Christ’s birthplace in Bethlehem, introduced the first living crib to the  people of Greccio in Italy. Since then, throughout the world, churches have traditionally displayed their own Christmas crib. Most churches will have them in place for Christmas Eve and will leave it in place for the celebration of the feast of the Epiphany, when the Kings or Magi are added. Many cribs remain in place until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord when the Christmas season liturgically ends, or some churches will leave them on display for the full forty days after Christmas day when the feast of the Presentation of the Lord is celebrated (Candlemas). Whichever option is taken, the crib stands as a beautiful symbol and reminder of the Christmas season.

I remember as a boy gazing at the nearly life size figures of the crib in my home parish at Sacred Heart in Aston. And how, even then, I was drawn into its wonder and beauty. I remember seeing a four-year- old Jonathan boldly opening the doors of my parish church in Headington and running up to the crib with his older brother, Dominic. Jonathan fell to his knees in wonder and awe at the crib in front of the altar, oblivious that I was in the church and able to witness the sight of such wonderful innocence on Christmas day. That same Jonathan is due to be ordained to the priesthood next year, and I often wonder how that little boy’s soul was so moved and touched that he was willing to follow the Lord in such a privileged and special way.

Even now I get so much pleasure in gazing at the three cribs to be found in Brailes, Shipston and Kineton, and how childhood and parish memories are often recalled and cherished as I contemplate the view before me. 

Of course, putting the crib on display in the house was something that my dear friend and departed parishioner David Brooks encouraged us to do. Indeed, he took great pride in the fact that so many people would stop and gaze at the wonderful crib that was displayed in the front of his house. I am sure David’s widow, Catherine, will do the same again this year and will do so with a great sadness, but also the cherished memory that the season brings, when your loved ones are no longer there. 

So I hope you will take time to put your crib on display in the home for the Christmas season. And I hope that in recalling the absence of departed family and friends you will do so with that childlike trust and awe in the great miracle of Christmas: That “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”  
(John 1:14)

The Mass times for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are as follows:

Christmas Eve:
St Francis of Assisi Church (Kineton) 7.00pm (First Mass of Christmas)
St Peter & St Paul Chapel (Brailes) 11.30pm  (Carols from 11.00pm)

Christmas Day:
Our Lady & St Michael Church (Shipston)  9.15am
St Francis of Assisi Church (Kineton) 11.00am

I wish you and your loved ones a most blessed and joyful Christmas time. 

God bless.  

Fr David Tams

Notes From St. Georges – November 2025

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2 November, 2025

Looking at the trees outside, Autumn is well on its way.  For the church November marks the end of the year; the beginning of the new liturgical year, the first Sunday in Advent, falls on November 30 and we shall welcome it with an Advent Carol Service for all five churches at St Mary’s, Tysoe.

November is nowadays recognised as a time for remembering and we begin this process on 2nd November with a service of remembering and comfort for those who have lost loved ones at 11am at St George’s and 6:30pm at St Thomas à Becket’s.  There will be a form in each church for you to write the names of loved ones to be read out at the service, and there will also be an opportunity to light candles for them during the service.  We will come together not only to think about those known to us personally who have died, but also to support those amongst us who have been affected by bereavement and grief.

On Sunday 10th at 10:45am in Brailes and 3pm in Sutton we gather at the War Memorial to begin our observance of Remembrance Sunday, which leads into the Remembrance Service in church.  We think particularly of those who died in both world wars and in more recent conflicts.  We recall the sacrifice they made and pray that peace may rule in the hearts of all as we face the challenges which lie ahead of us.  It was hoped that the first World War would be “The War to End All Wars”, but although there may have been some progress in Gaza, fighting still continues there as I write, and in Ukraine and many other areas of the world.  We pray that the efforts to resolve these conflicts result in lasting peace.

The Royal British Legion still continues its work with those suffering long-term scars, both physical and mental, and with the families of those who fought and gave up their lives for our freedom.  The organisation relies on our financial support and the support of our prayers not only on Remembrance Sunday but throughout the year.
“We will remember them.”

George

Revd  George Heighton
Email re********@*****ok.com
Telephone 01295 680 201

A View From The Pew – November 2025

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1 November, 2025

Beautiful Brailes
ILMODB

I think that November is the dreariest month of the year. The field walks are abandoned and the road to Winderton is trod with torch in hand and much needed woolly gloves hat and coat: The cloudy skies hide the stars and the moon gives little comfort on those chilly walks. For Saturday evening Mass at Brailes the portable lamps are put out and taken in dutifully, and this will be the norm for the next few months.

Very early on in the month All Souls Day is commemorated and it is the tradition in many parts of the world during this month to bless the graves of loved ones. Many churches have a remembrance book available for the month and Remembrance Day and services remain poignant reminders of the great loss and sacrifice that occurs in war and the great tragedy to humanity that any war brings.

In commemorating the faithful departed we pray for those holy souls in purgatory. Now I have never had a problem in believing in this. I am fully aware of my own faults, failings and sinfulness and I know that these areas of my life need to be rid (or purged) of before I can enjoy the eternal life of heaven. I see purgatory as a necessary purification; though I must admit the western concept of purgatory can be quite frightening; where we have the image of the purgatorial fires, no doubt inspired from the Bible and over zealous clergy! 
I much prefer the Eastern image with the emphasise on the pain of being separated from God and the surrendering of all that is preventing us from having that full union with God: I liken it to having a welcome hot shower after a long and tiring walk!

And yet at Mass we emphasise our unworthiness and sinfulness by saying the I confess at the beginning, or before receiving communion, “Lord I am not worthy”. In praying the Creed, the Our Father and the Eucharistic Prayer we look and pray with “joyful hope” of Jesus’ second coming and the life of the world to come. And it is this sense of humility and t joyful hope, that we need to be aware of and embrace when asked to pray for the dead during this month.

So maybe November is not the dreariest month after all. In fact a much a much loved parishioner at Brailes thinks it is January! Whichever one of us is right I do hope that during the month of November you will remember with “joyful hope” your departed loved ones, our fallen heroes in war and all the faithful departed- and in the words of St Thomas More “Pray for me, and I shall for you and all your friends, that we may merrily meet in heaven”.

Fr David Tams

Christmas Market @ St. George’s Nov 29th!

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14 October, 2025

To be held in Brailes! :

Saturday November 29th – 3.30pm – 6pm.

To be held at St George’s Church’s.

A £10 deposit for commercial stall, and commitment by Sunday November 16th to ma*********@********il.com or 07968344583.

More details in the November issue of the Feldon News.

Look out for further events in December too.

St George’s: Tree Festival (29/11~13/12)

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14 October, 2025

This is advanced notice of a festive event to further celebrate the 900 years of St George’s church Bridles. Please join in, in whatsoever way you feel able, hopefully bringing light and joy into the darker winter months.

Tree festival
This will run in the church, from November 29th to December 13th, when the church will be prepared for Christmas. Anyone can bring a tree- get creative, does not have to be a Christmas tree, could create in any material, and decorate in any way you want on whatever theme.

There will be a prize given to the tree most voted for.

Please contact ma*********@********il.com or mobile 07968344583 to pledge your commitment by November 12th.

The trees will be assembled on Friday November 28th, and taken away on Saturday December 13th.

More details in The November Issue of the Feldon News.

Harvest Festival 2025 – Report

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9 October, 2025

The St George’s 900 Committee thank everyone who contributed in any way to the 900th Harvest Festival on 5th October.  The Church looked fantastic; full of people, and of flowers, fruit and vegetables – most of it from the gardens of Brailes and Winderton.

One regular worshipper said it was ‘Just like the harvest festivals we had when we were kids’; another, ‘I’ve been coming here for years and I’ve never seen so much produce in the Church’.

But it got even better.  On Tuesday, the charity Fare Share picked up all the produce to take to their warehouse in Didcot.  There, young people with special educational needs will learn warehousing skills by sorting the food and transferring the inventory onto the computer. 

After which any of the hundred and ninety plus organisations that Fare Share supports, can “order” what they need and it will be packed and delivered to them.

So the village got the old-fashioned Harvest Festival that it wanted, some people received training to help them into work and a lot of deserving organisations received locally produced food.  Success for everyone!