Musical Director to help refound the Parish Choir at All Saints church Croughton. A great opportunity to help people of all ages come together to sing. We are looking for someone to lead a choir for 2-3 services a month, with rehearsals, and rest periods guaranteed. In return, we can offer the support of our Parish Organist and Administrator, standard rate of pay, and an enthusiastic congregation in one of England’s 1000 Best Churches. This role can be tailored for the right candidate. To know more, please contact the Rector, The Reverend George Frost Telephone: 01869 810 903 : e-mail: rev@gfrost.name
Our Benefice Palm Sunday Service in Aynho drew in over 100 people, more than doubling attendance from last year.We are indebted to our volunteers who helped bring the service together as we prepared for the beginning of Holy Week and the most significant 8 days in the Christian calendar. We were helped by our volunteer team of Crucifer, Acolytes, and Lector, who led the procession. Our retired clergy and lay readers who kept the service and the Rector on track. And we are grateful to the Tythe Barn at Launton, who brought their donkeys Del Boy and Barnaby to help us process to the church. Palm Sunday marks the time that Christ entered into Jerusalem, six days before his Crucifixion on Good Friday. Christ entered Jerusalem not as a king on a warhorse, but on a donkey colt. it has been tradition for centuries for Christians to make a procession to church on this Sunday, to carry palm crosses, and to be joined by a donkey. Donkeys of course, in memory of this, have a dark cross of raid on their back and shoulders. In keeping with tradition, we did not have a sermon, but had the Passion Gospel read out, telling the whole account of the last supper, the arrest, trial, and the crucifixion. Parts were read by members of our congregation, and many people who had not been to a service before, along with some regulars, found hearing the whole story unexpectedly moving. Join us next year at Croughton.
Our 2nd Annual Animal Blessing service at Most Holy Trinity church in Hinton-in-the-Hedges was a huge success with even more people attending than last year. The service was enjoyed by all and was a chance to gather to pronounce the blessing of God on Creation. Not only on the companionable animals gather in the churchyard, but on the land and people of our parish.It was particularly good to be joined again by our brave bantam chicken -safe in her basket but still popping out her head to see what was going on- and by our feline friends. The dogs stole the show, turning up in large numbers, but being remarkable well behaved and calm; setting a good example for their owners.Certificates of blessing were provided to any who wished to keep a memento of the day, and refreshments were served afterwards. Our thanks go out to Emma Fletcher, who masterminded the service, our Organist Chris Cousins, who played beautifully despite the best attempts of the Rector to throw things off, and managed the keyboard outside with her usual mastery. The service was enjoyed by all, young and old alike. Join us next year!
A Huge thank you to all of the volunteers who met up to walk, cycle or even drive between churches in Northamptonshire to raise money for historic churches across the county and for our own parish church. All money raised is split between the traveller's home parish and Northamptonshire Historic Churches, to help maintain our places of worship.Hardy Travellers from Hinton-in-the-Hedges met to fortify themselves with bacon and sausage baps before heading out to rack up the miles. Most people either walked or cycles (some churches sent out mounted teams on horseback) and some of our older volunteers joined in by carpooling to each church. They were met by volunteers manning the sign in registers at the other churches, and offering refreshments to keep up energy during the day.Our volunteers broke for lunch just as the heavens opened, before returning safe and satisfied to our Parish.Well done to everyone. Do join us next year!
