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MacMillan Coffee Morning

September ended with the MacMillan Coffee Morning on Friday September 30^th organised by Gwen Hayward.  We enjoyed Beth's scones with our coffee as we chatted before trying our luck on the tombola.  There were cakes, bread and plants on the produce stall and Mel had brought her card stall so that we could get ahead with Christmas card shopping.  The morning raised just over £588 for the MacMillan Fund.

Women's Breakfast

On Saturday 24t^h September the ladies of St. Peter's gathered at Dexter's in Oundle for breakfast.  It was a good time to just relax, meet up with friends and have chance to talk to people we don't always get to talk to after church.  And the banana bread was to die for!

 Harvest Thanksgiving

Members of the different churches in Oundle met in the Market Place to give thanks for and celebrate the harvest.  Richard Ormston had brought his breakfast with him in a plastic bag.  First he took out a tin of beans which he began to eat.  The beans all look the same but we are not like the beans to God.  He knows and cares for each of us and our individual circumstances.  Next came a can of cold tomato soup!  Eating it, Richard pointed out that it said, "outstanding value" on the can.  God loves us so much that Jesus laid down his life for us.  We have outstanding value, we are not just one in a row of beans.  Finally, Richard took out a jar of pickled onions which promised to offer pickled perfection with a new recipe!  We have outstanding value to God when He takes us and makes us a new creation and tells us to go and make a difference in our world. 

 During the service Sarah, a youth worker from Peterborough, was interviewed.  She is going to Sierra Leonne in ten months time with Christian Aid to see their work there.  She raised three issues:- exposing the scandal of poverty, treating the symptoms through aid and getting rid of the causes through justice in the tax climate.

During the service children from Oundle Primary School sang the cauliflower song and we sang the old favourite harvest hymns like "we plough the fields and scatter..." before going over to St. Peter's for a welcome warming cup of coffee.

 BARN DANCE  

On Saturday 17^th September the peace and quiet of my home was disturbed by the trample of feet as they dos-a-dos-ed and stripped the willow (whatever that means!)  The Social Commitee was putting on a barn dance.  Jane Webster guided the dancing with great energy and encouragement, helped with the music by Stephen.  I wouldn't have minded, especially as there was a ploughman's supper (all that cheese!) but my efforts to sneak out were spotted and the Goldsmiths and Dimmocks stood guard so I couldn't enjoy the food with everyone else!  The humans seemed to enjoy the evening and the turnout was most encouraging.

 St Peter’s Church in Oundle is the setting this month for a hands-on multi-sensory show which will highlight the history and heritage of the building, its setting and the faith on which it is founded.   

“The Shine” project involves a number of Northamptonshire’s key churches and on Saturday 22^nd October the event comes to Oundle.

Also on display during the day and throughout the following week will be the results of “The Big Draw”. This project is part of a special nationwide arts scheme which has involved eight local schools. These include Oundle School, Prince William School and Oundle CE Primary School plus pupils from schools in surrounding villages.

 To read more... 

This month's Garden Lovers on Saturday September 10th was held in the garden of Rosemary Weatherburn in Glapthorn.  We enjoyed both the fine weather and the beauty of the garden, where there is still plenty going on.  Many plants such as the delphiniums were in bloom for the second time in the year so the border was full of colour.  The pond too was a full of activity as the water boatmen scurried along the top of the water.  Please note that the next Garden Lovers' on the 8th October will be at the home of Dorothy Sumner (change of venue).    

 A newly qualified teacher is starting her career back at Oundle where she grew up and she’s been welcomed into her new role by the town’s mayor ...who also happens to be her mother.

 Emily Round, 23, has been appointed as a Reception class teacher at Oundle Church of England Primary School – just three years after leaving the market town to study for her teaching degree in York.

 Her proud Mum, Councillor June Round, surprised Emily and her fellow teaching graduate Faye Lawrence, 21, by welcoming them to the school in Milton Road at the start of the new term. Working at the school is also the first assignment for Faye who hails from Market Deeping.   

 They join the staff of a school which is riding the crest of a wave after being named   as outstanding by both Ofsted and Peterborough Diocese during inspections earlier this year.

“We are delighted to welcome Emily and Faye to our school family”, commented headteacher Mrs Janet McMurdo. “They are both so enthusiastic to do well for their pupils and they will be joining a super team which combines newly qualified teachers with those who have much experience.”

June, her husband John and their family are key members of the St Peter’s church family and have undertaken many roles over the years. John is currently serving as a member of the PCC and sometimes deputises for musical director Jenny Firth at the organ. He is also a member of the Stewardship team.

On Thursday 8th September, David Willson came to talk to us about how we can help Oundle celebrate the Olympic games (27^th July - 12^th August 2012) and how the Games can be used as an opportunity for outreach, for taking the Good News beyond the church.  There has been a long history of the church being involved in sports events (quite a lot of football clubs were started by churches) and now churches are being asked to re-engage with sport.  Churches are being encouraged to run events such as quizzes, sports clinics, Sports Alpha, hospitality etc.  We were also made aware of the things that can go on behind sporting events like prostitution and human trafficking.  More Than Gold can be approached for help in running some events and prayer guides and packs will soon be available for churches.  For more information go to www.morethangold.org.uk (warning: you will need to use the arrow at the top of your browser to return to this website as there is no link back.) and look out for more information in church.

Adventures in Africa

On Sunday 4^th September at 4.30 Praise, Grace and Alice McMurdo each gave a talk about their trips this Summer to Africa.  Both talks were illustrated with Powerpoint presentations.  Grace spoke about building a school in Malawi and Alice spoke about a similar project in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya.  They both gave very moving talks and it was clear that those they met had touched their hearts - truly life-changing experiences!  Alice and Grace will soon feature in the "People Stories" page on this website so you will be able to read all about what they did. 

After many adventures, on 3rd September Tom and Adam and their friends arrived in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia having completed the 10,000 mile long Mongol Ralley!  They did this in aid of the Christina Nobel Foundation which provides care for children in Mongolia and Vietnam.  We look forward to hearing all about it.