The Friends of All Saints Church URGENTLY need a Treasurer. The accounts are well organised on a spreadsheet to date. Can someone please look after uncomplicated finances of the group? Contact Beryl Kirtland (01572 724103 or beryl.kirtland@oakhamteam.org.uk). Please also see the diary entries for forthcoming events – Shrovetide Party (27 February), AGM (26 March) and Songs of Praise 1997 (2 April).

The stall will be at Langham after the 11:00am Candlemas service on 29th January. The dates for February at All Saints Oakham are 5th and 19th after the 10:30 service. Denise.

A massive thank you to all who made contributions, sponsored hampers, packed hampers and volunteered in any capacity over the festive period. 170 hampers were assembled conveyor belt style in record time at the Oakham food bank then handed out to voucher holders at both Uppingham and Oakham along with drinks and seasonal food. 19 families including 50 children from local schools…

The Langham worship group have been giving some thought to how to develop the all-age/children’s service provision (currently Church@4) in the future, and we will be using the Third Sunday 4pm slot for a time of prayer & planning, with the chance to brainstorm and develop some of our ideas. If you feel that you could contribute to the process, please contact…

These are no longer taking place at the Wheatsheaf, but on the 3rd Tuesdays for the next 6 months (January 17th being the first date) the lunches will be in the Village Hall. Two courses £7.50, 12:30 start. Booking essential via Val on 01572 756202 or Susan on 01572 723532.

The total for sales from the Christmas catalogue amounted to a wonderful £911.32, Thank you so much to everyone who, once again, has contributed to this figure. As ever your purchase, however large or small, does makes such a difference to the lives of the producers. The next two dates for the stall will be after the 10:30am services at Oakham today…

Change of normal pattern – the next two dates for the stall will be after the 10:30am services at Oakham on 8th and 15th January. Many thanks to everyone who placed an order from the Christmas catalogue, your support really does make a difference to people’s lives. I am still processing the orders and will advise a total figure as and when…

Donations of mince pies are requested please for the Carol Service on Thursday 22 December – if you can help, please contact Marilyn Tomalin (01572 723184 or marilyn.tomalin@oakhamteam.org.uk)

Thank you to everyone who helped in whatever way on Monday evening to make our ‘Wrap & Rest’ contribution to the Late Night Shopping a success.

The Friends of All Saints Oakham are pleased to be able to offer for sale cards featuring Alan Oliver’s new painting of the church. They are available by the South Door, or from Friends committee members, either in A6 notelet size (£4 for a pack of 5), or larger greet6ing card size (£2 each).

The final total for the All Saints Autumn Sale has risen to £1773. Many thanks to all who made this possible, making, baking, helping and spending!

On 1 November a group visited four contrasting places of worship in Leicester – Hindu and Sikh Temples, a Muslim Mosque and a Jewish Synagogue. The stimulating experience that resulted has been fully reported by Roderick Wells here, and Roderick will be preaching on the experience in the New Year.

The Bishop has agreed to place two newly ordained deacons as curates in the Oakham Team from June 2017. They are: Mr Iain Osborne currently in training at Ridley Hall Cambridge. Iain will serve a Stipendiary curacy, he and his wife Susan will live in Trent Road, Oakham. Mrs Charlotte Osborn, currently training on the Eastern Ministerial Training Course will serve as…

At the PCC meeting on 15 November the following items were discussed: (1) The current financial situation was discussed, but mission giving for 2016 and the budget for 2017 was delayed until the January meeting; (2) Boiler – routing of pipework is still to be confirmed, and final costs will be known once tenders are received. Estimated completion is May 2017; (3)…

It is announced today that Revd Janet Tebby Team Vicar with responsibility for Whissendine, Teigh Ashwell and Market Overton will retire at Easter 2017. Janet has served a very fruitful minsitry here for the last 5 years and will be greatly missed. There will be a leaving service for all Team Parishes at Whissendine on 30th April. Janet will be retiring to…

During the four weeks of Advent you are invited to explore some of its rich themes through Biblical reflection, art, poetry and music. We will meet at 2 Wensum Close, Oakham from 10:00am-11:30am on Tuesday mornings. Each session will stand alone, so come when you can and all are welcome. We shall be using material produced by the Bishop of Norwich’s Chaplain,…

Late night shopping takes place in Oakham on Monday 5 December – as part of what’s going on in the town we will be providing refreshments (mulled wine) in church, and also offering a gift wrapping service. Offers of help are needed for both serving refreshments and gift wrapping, and of course just being around to talk to people. Please speak to…

Once again, Rutland Foodbank will be giving Christmas Hampers to those in our county who may struggle to buy those small luxuries that make Christmas a celebration. The hampers will include mince pies, Christmas puddings, chocolates and even family games. We are seeking cash donations. £15 will sponsor one hamper but any amount is welcome – cheques made payable to ‘Rutland Foodbank’.…

We are about to decide on the 2016 allocation of Mission Giving money from All Saints Oakham, so if you have a charity that you would like to be considered, please notify Michael Wilson as soon as possible on 01572 720853 or email mwilson@keme.co.uk. We aim to achieve a balance between local, national and international charities.

Remember Someone Special – once again, from early December, there will be a Christmas tree in Braunston churchyard. Paper hearts and pens will be available in the church to decorate, write names or memories of loved ones on. Leave your decorated heart in the basket provided in church together with a £1 and we will laminate the heart and put it on…

Thank you to all the willing helpers, who moved pews & set up chairs to help me get the Church ready for last Sunday’s Remembrance Service. There were between 500 & 600 people at the service, and without your help it would have been a difficult task setting up. Thank you all, Peter Kinal.

The choir would welcome some new members – either to join us for the forthcoming carol services, or for the longer term. We have the Advent Carol Service in two weeks’ time, and we are beginning to practice for the Christmas Carol Services. We practice on Tuesday evenings at Whissendine (see inside back cover for details and contact Kevin if you are…

After a short break, Oakham All Saints Scout Group is back to running the local Oakham only Christmas Post scheme this year. For a small donation for each card (20-30p is our suggested donation but we are flexible and appreciate all the donations we receive) we will hand deliver your cards to addresses in Oakham. We will be in church morning services…

All Saints Flower Guild are looking for some new members to help decorate the church at festival times – a willingness to have a go is all you need. Please contact Anna (01572 756845 or anna.oliver@oakhamteam.org.uk).

Rainbows Hospice for children and young people send a huge thank you to The Friends of All Saints’ Church for the donation of £257 (raised at the Coffee Morning) and for £134.80 raised from the bucket collection at The Tide Lunch. Thank you to all who made this possible at the two events, both very enjoyable and a great sharing of friendship.

We are experiencing continuing problems with the boiler at Oakham, and in the likely event that you find yourself in a cold church this Sunday we offer sincere apologies for the ongoing problem. The engineers will be visiting again on Wednesday, and we hope that this will result in a more enduring fix.

If you would like to order a Real Advent Calendar – made by the same company that produces the Real Easter Egg, please do get in touch. I will be taking orders up to Sunday 20th November. Denise (01572 722729).

On Friday 11 November there will not be a service of Holy Communion at All Saints Oakham as it is Armistice Day, and the church is being used for a school Remembrance Service. It also allows people to attend other remembrance events in the town. Remembrance Sunday

On Thursday 17th November the children at Tiny Tots will be having a collection for Children In Need. If you would like to contribute to this please do call in on the morning of the 17th, we meet from 9:45 to 11:00am and all donations will be very gratefully received. Thank you. Denise, Alice and Liz.

Would you like to join the team of people who read or lead the intercessions at the 10:30am service at Oakham? It is always good to welcome new faces, and perhaps younger members of the congregation, to the team. Please contact Anne Venning (anne.venning@oakhamteam.org.uk) if you are interested. If you are a member of one of the village churches, then please speak…

Margaret Dehqani-Tafti died peacefully on 22nd October 2016 at Oakham Vicarage surrounded by her family. The funeral service will be at Oakham Parish Church on Thursday 10th November at 12:30pm, followed by a private burial at Winchester Cathedral. Donations if desired to St Martin-in-the -Fields Christmas Appeal. Registered Charity 261359 – by phone to 08000 828284, by post to Freepost St Martins…

A huge thank you to all who contributed to the fantastic donations to the Foodbank over the Harvest Festival period. Until all is sorted in the warehouse we do not have shortages to report, except perhaps sanitary items and toiletries.

Would anyone be willing to host an Open House coffee morning next year? We have them once a month and would be pleased to have some new hosts. Normally there are about 10 to 15 people between 10am & 12noon. Please contact Beryl Waites (01572 722893 or beryl.waites@oakhamteam.org.uk).

Users of Prayers and Readings will be disappointed that there will not be another edition, at least for a while. Unfortunately, Tom, the originator, has had a fall and is recovering only slowly.

At the last meeting on 3 October the following items were discussed: (1) The Treasurer’s role at Oakham is now being fulfilled by Sue Willetts as Finance Assistant, who will be working in the office on Tuesdays (finance@oakhamteam.org.uk); (2) The boiler project is subject to delay due to the need for approval of pipework siting; (3) Planting of the new Memorial Garden…

Sales for August and September amounted to a healthy £290.97 – as ever thank you to everyone who generously contributed to this figure. I now have copies of the new catalogue for Christmas and will be taking orders for the next couple of months. Thank you to the folk who have already placed an order. The next couple of stalls will be…

It is really important that St Peter and St Paul is the church the people of Langham want us to be and I am pleased to say there has been a healthy response to our summer survey that will help us to be that church in our village community. My huge thanks to everyone who took the time to fill in the…

Langham Church has four Posada Christmas Crib sets that go round the village during December, returning at the Christmas Eve Crib service. A Posada set consists of a stable and wooden Nativity figures, and will easily sit on a windowsill or coffee table. All you have to do is to host it overnight, and then pass it on to a neighbour, or…

We are in the happy situation of having a Sunday School which has grown and the ages of the children now cover a larger range. In consequence we have split it into three groups – (1) Sunday School for children between 4 and 11 (Primary School age) will meet every Sunday of term times except for third Sunday when it is Family…

Applications for two faculties have been granted permission subject to public display for 28 days. These are for the upgrade to the church clock, with electric winding and automatic time regulation, and for the installation of the standard of the late Sir Jock Kennedy. Details of both can be viewed in the Parish Office or using the links below. Clock Winding Installation…

Please note that the date of the next PCC Meeting is now Monday 3rd October at the usual place and time (the original meeting date of Wednesday 28th September is cancelled).

Thank you to everyone who helped and attended the Coffee Morning on Friday 2nd September. A magnificent sum of £252 was raised which will be presented to Rainbows Children’s Hospice at The Tide Lunch on Thursday 3rd November.

The September edition of the Team magazine is now available in churches, or for download.

The results for 2016 were as follows: All Saints Oakham – £700.59 Braunston – £312.70 Brooke – £136.12 Egleton – £308.00 Langham – £101.26 Oakham Methodist – £657.90 Oakham Baptist – £172.42 Knossington – £407.37 Making a total of £2,796.36 Thanks to all collectors, who worked hard during the week. The overall total is less – mainly due to a smaller number of…

Plans are well in advance for the new memorial garden and the existing shrubbery is due to be removed sometime during September. Planting of the new scheme is planned to take place on Saturday 22nd October at 12 noon, and the Oakham in Bloom team would welcome help from parishioners who are willing to get involved on the day. Please contact Alison…

More sheep are required for the Oakham Travelling Nativity sets. If you can help please contact Margaret Tyler on 01572 724799 or margaret.tyler@oakhamteam.org.uk.

Thank you to all who helped with the MSF market stall on Saturday 13th August. We raised £189.90 and a last minute donation raised the whole amount to £192.90 for the hospitals and children in these hospitals and camps in Jordan on the Syrian and Iraq borders. Thank you to all those who donated cakes, jams etc and raffle prizes from the Leicester…

It’s great to be able to have our church roof protected through your generous donations for the roof alarm. Have you wondered what it sounds like? Here’s you chance to find out – we shall be demonstrating it on Saturday 24 September at the end of the first day of our exhibition.

The Foodbank is currently short of the following items – small sugar (500g), custard, tinned carrots, peas & potatoes, rice pudding, sponge puddings, long life fruit juice, cordials, coffee, smash, chocolates & sweets, toilet rolls, shower gel, shampoo etc. Items that we have plenty of are porridge, tea, soup and cereal, so please do not donate these at the moment.

During the night of Wednesday 3 August an attempt was made to steal lead from the chancel roof of Egleton Church. Fortunately the alarm did its job and the thieves made a quick getaway. Please let us all be extra vigilant in all our Team Churches.

The sales for July amounted to a healthy £256.58 – as ever thank you so much to all who support the regular stall. Dates for August are today at Oakham after the 10:30 service and again on 28th, the 4th Sunday this month rather than the third – a change to the normal pattern as I will be on holiday. Thank you.…

At the PCC meeting on 13 July it was agreed to proceed with the boiler project following the grant of a Faculty from the DAC. The boilers will be situated on the north wall of the parish office. Tenders for the work will now be sought with a view to starting work in November and completion by Christmas. A Faculty has also…

Braunston Church’s resident population of circa 600 bats are active again, creating a significant workload during the summer months to keep the church clean. We urgently need volunteers who can spare an hour or two every month or so to vacuum floors and clean pews and furniture etc. If you would like to help please contact Sue Willetts (01572 722150 or sue.willetts@oakhamteam.org.uk)…

Stamford Academy’s 10 week (20 hour) Modern Language Courses are scheduled to start in the week commencing Monday 26 September 2016. These courses, taught by native speaking teachers, include Arabic, Dutch, German, French, Italian, Russian and Spanish at Beginner, Improver and Intermediate levels, 2 hours per week with a 10 week continuation course in January and Easter 2017. Part-time and full-time English…

Daisy House, a long standing member of Oakham Church and Mothers Union died peacefully at Old Wisteria House, Uppingham. Her funeral will be in Oakham Church on Tuesday 19th at 1:30pm. It is hoped that parishioners who knew Daisy will be able to attend.

Ken Grimmer’s funeral will be in Brooke Church on Monday 18th at 1:30pm, following cremation in the morning.

The new edition, from July to November is now available to pick up from Oakham Church (by the South Door). It gives suggestions for daily reading and prayer from 10th July to 12th November 2016. You can also download a copy here.

Churches Together raised £2,800 this year – a lower amount than last year, but using fewer collectors. Brooke and Langham both collected more than last year. Christian Aid likes different ways to raise money, and were glad that we made almost £1,000 with our Lent Lunches. The Methodist Church are holding ‘Open Gardens’ for a charge. Details for the week are still…

The Traidcraft stall will be present in Church after the 10:30 service on 3rd, 17th and 31st July. Please do have a look at what Traidcraft has to offer and even if you don’t need to buy anything consider making a donation to the very worthwhile work of Traidcraft Exchange. If you would like any more information about the work of Traidcraft…

The books of intercessions resources in the office have disappeared – if you have borrowed them, please return them as soon as possible.

Oakham PCC have applied for permissions for two projects to be undertaken in the autumn. A. A development of the memorial garden on the south side of the church: Following a generous offer from Oakham in Bloom, it is proposed to replant the south side garden as a memorial space. We are grateful for all who, up to now, have kept this…

Current shortages at the Foodbank are sugar (500g), jam, custard, rice pudding, coffee. Thank you for your continuing support. At the recent AGM, reports were presented outlining the work of the Foodbank over the last year, and you can download a copy of the report here. The Foodbank will be launching a new website at the end of next week, so have a…

Unfortunately, Langham Lunches at the Noel Arms will be discontinued with immediate effect, but the monthly lunch at the Wheatsheaf on the first Tuesday of each month will continue as normal.

At the meeting on 16 May, newly elected members Robin Robson and Gordon Woods were welcomed, and officers elected as follows – Alison Long (Vice Chairman), Peter Kinal (Deputy Churchwarden), Derek Ufton (Secretary), Mark Page and Phillip Hutchinson (Treasurers), Kevin Slingsby (co-opted) and the Standing Committee (Vicar, Churchwardens, Derek Ufton, Mike Churchill, Kevin Andrews). Matters discussed included – Old School, flooding, ownership…

Thank you to Owen and Dominic for organising our stall at Cutt’s Close for the birthday celebrations on 12th June, and to the volunteers who helped man it. Making crowns was a very successful craft activity, as you can see from the photos!

Thank you to all who supported the Tea Party last Sunday by helping, serving, baking and joining us for tea, sandwiches and cakes – it was a lovely afternoon. Date for your diary: the next Tea Party is on Sunday the 17th July 2016 at 3:00 – 4:30 pm where we will have the Church silver on display. We look forward to…

For the last 3 years we have been running a Bereavement Support group in the Parish Hall. It has been for people of all faiths or none, for those recently bereaved or those who are still aching after many years. However, particularly since Hildred left, it has become clear that we are not meeting people’s needs, so the meetings on the first…

If you haven’t looked at the Team website recently, you may not be aware that it has a lot of up-to-date information about what’s going on and the latest news, so if you miss the pewsheet for any reason you can always catch up on the website. The current editions of the Pewsheet and the Good News magazine are also available to…

Thanks must go to Ben and Emma of Bat & Bottle who provided the wine and entertainment, those who attended on the evening and also those who generously gave donations. A total of £460 will go to the Lunch Project started by the MU in Kettering for those children who need a good, nutritious meal during holiday times. Pamela Woods

The church roof alarm is now fully and continuously operational – if it detects anyone on the roof a loud alarm is activated for as long as anyone is present on the roof. The alarm is connected to a monitoring centre and in the hours of darkness a guard response system will attend to investigate. During daylight the alarm response will call…

On the recent Friends Rutland Churches Excursion a flashgun attachment for a camera was left at Preston Church. If you think this belongs to you could you give Beryl Kirtland a ring on 01572 724103.

Please note that the meeting scheduled for 17 May will NOT take place – a date will be fixed for the Autumn and notified in due course.

An Icon writing retreat takes place in June and July at Ketton, led by Revd Iann Holdsworth. In recent times Icons have become more widely used and venerated in the Western Church. They have a depth and power which draws one into a deeper prayer life. Icons for All is a small group of Iconographers led by Revd Ian Holdsworth who are…

As well as the normal pattern of stalls this month there will also be one at the Team Service on 29th May. I hope to see you there! Denise.

Thank you for your continued support of the Foodbank. The latest list of shortages is as follows, and anything on the list which you can donate will be greatly appreciated: small sugar; jam; sponge pudding; packet soups; nappies; single toothbrushes; sanitary products.

Joan wishes to remind Brooke residents that she will be collecting for Christian Aid between 15th and 21st May.

Thanks to the generosity of response across the village of Braunston towards the cost of installing a roof alarm to deter metal theft and give full insurance coverage, we have received over £11,000 in donations plus gift aid to be claimed on some of that total! We are just securing the final approvals needed before the alarm can be installed and hope…

Thank you to everyone who turned out to help with the spring churchyard tidy up and also to the many people who regularly help to maintain the churchyard. Thanks to you all its looking better than ever!

Our black metal music stands have mysteriously disappeared from Oakham church. If anyone is aware of anyone ‘borrowing’ them, please let Kevin know.

Revd Hildred Crowther will be moving to Sheffield in early May to be nearer to her family, and we are holding a leaving service for her on Sunday 1st May at 10:30am at Oakham. We wish Hildred all the best for her move, and thank her for all that she has done in the Oakham Team over many years.

This year, some people have developed cold feet, so I appeal to warm-blooded Christians to help with the Christian Aid collection from 15th to 21st May. Peter Townsend (01572 759286).

The sale of Easter Chicks was very successful thanks to the knitters and, of course, also the purchasers. In total the Mothers’ Union made a grand total of £140.20, and some of this money will go to the MU Emergency Fund.

The amount raised from the worthwhile scheme has now reached over £24,000. If anyone else would like to take part to help raise vital funds for Traidcraft please speak to Denise. Thank you.