title="Baldons Parish Council in Oxfordshire">

From the Vicar June 2022

From Reverend Teresa Stewart-Sykes

 

June this year is a month for celebrations, it is the month in which we celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, a time for street parties, music events, fireworks and flotillas on the Thames!

 

Underlying all of these joyous celebrations is an acknowledgement of the Queen’s lifelong dedication to our nation and to the Commonwealth of Nations. In a speech for the occasion of her 21st birthday, the Queen set a benchmark for the next 75 years of her committed service, she said: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.

 

But I shall not have strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do: I know that your support will be unfailingly given. God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it.”

 

As I read these words, and as I look forward to the Jubilee celebrations, I am reminded of the huge benefit we all enjoy from our village community. The sense of collective endeavour and the success we achieve when we work together; the awareness that we are not alone but live alongside those who wish us well; the simple enjoyment we have in each other’s company, whether that is on the cricket pitch, down the pub, or as we pass one another and stop for a chat on the many and beautiful pathways around the village.

 

I am also reminded of the biblical meaning of a ‘Jubilee’ year, as laid out in Leviticus 25; a year when everyone was released from their debts, slaves were given their freedom, and land was returned its owner. A Jubilee year is concerned with social relationship, economic security, stability and the wellbeing of the community; it aims to seek to ensure that people live in ways that reflect good relationships with God, with each other, and with creation.

 

Whatever you are doing in this month of Jubilee, I hope you will find yourselves feeling blessed by your village community and encouraged, like the Queen, to give a little back. In the difficult months ahead as we face a deepening of the cost of living crisis, there may be many who will need a helping hand and all the love and support of our community.

 

God bless the Queen and God bless you!

 

The Revd Teresa Stewart-Sykes is Team vicar for The Baldons with Nuneham Courtenay, Berinsfield and Drayton St Leonard.

e-mail: RevTeresa@outlook.com      and tel: 07823 809112

The Revd Jennifer Morton is Associate Team Vicar and lives in Toot Baldon: jennifer@morton8.co.uk.

Our current curate is The Revd Sorrel Shamel-Wood who lives in Berinsfield.

Our safeguarding officer is Sara McDouall: saramcdouall@gmail.com

A clergy person can always be reached in a pastoral emergency by ringing the Dorchester Team Office 01865 340007