Abingdon Baptist Church (ABC) are on their travels while their church building is being revamped. Most Sundays they meet at Carswell School but on one Sunday a month they join with Trinity. This morning was such a Sunday and coincided with the Harvest service and Parade Service.

Donations to the harvest this year go to Asylum Welcome (for Trinity) and The Abingdon Food Bank (for ABC).

There were also some excellent flower displays all round the church done by people from Trinity and ABC.

The church and balcony were full because the parade service brought uniformed groups from both churches together with parents.

The young people took a lot of the service with readings and prayers and various activities. At one stage they trailed a rope, down the aisle, and up the stairs to the balcony so that everybody was connected either with the rope or with each other. This was to illustrate Jesus saying, ‘I am the vine. You are the branches.’

St Helen’s Church was open for visitors and for prayer on Saturday afternoon. I don’t think is has been open much during the winter months. I went in to have a look round.

I got talking to the two ladies looking after the building. One told me that she lives in the almshouses and on Feb 18th felt everything shudder. She went outside expecting to see smoke or some sign of an explosion. There was nothing. Later she gathered from the news there had been an earthquake in Wales. My wife had a similar experience and she was in Bury Street.

She also told me how her daughter came from Alaska. She had kept a £10 note to pay for the bus, but the bus driver would not take it as it was no longer legal tender. He said she could pay with her credit card instead but her card was not contact less.

Then a young lady from the queue came and paid for her, the £3.90 to get to Abingdon.  She said she was a Muslim and would not take anything in return. It was her belief that you helped people you see in trouble.

P.S Apologies for only just getting round to approving about half a dozen comments some a few days old.

In Abingdon there were a number of Good Friday church services. Both Trinity and Abingdon Baptist Church (ABC) met together at 10:30am for a joint service. This was the penultimate service at the Baptist Church before they leave the church for a major revamp. So it was a last chance to see the old pews, the backlit cross, and the crack above the alter.

ABC will be meeting most of the time at Carswell School during the revamp, and joining with Trinity for one Sunday morning every month.

There was a procession starting at 11:45 leading to the Market Place and then to St Nicolas for a service of the churches in Abingdon at 12:00. About 80-100 people took part in the traditional procession.

Good Friday is the day when Christians remember the Crucifixion of Jesus.

At St Helen’s Church a team of people helped to make the Christingles for the Christmas Eve service at 4:30 pm.

At Trinity we had a rehearsal for the Torchlight Service, also at 4:30pm on Christmas Eve. This year an apprentice astronomer spots a new star in the sky that the older astronomers (wise men) cannot explain. It leads to a stable in Bethlehem and some unexpected happenings.

There are lots of church services over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Here is a list of most of the Abingdon Churches …
Abbey Baptist Church – Checker Walk
Abingon Baptist Church – Ock Street
Abingdon Community Church – Thameside School
Abingdon Vineyard Church – Preston Road Community Centre
All Saints Church – Appleford Drive
Christ Church – Northcourt Road
Christ Church – Long Furlong School
Our Lady and St Edmund – Radley Road
Peachcroft Christian Centre – Peachcroft Road
Pearly Gates Church – Fitzharrys School
Society of Friends / Quakers – Audlett Drive
St Helen’s Parish Church – West St Helens Street
St Michael and All Angels – Park Road
St Nicolas Church – Market Place
Salvation Army – West St Helen Street
The Redeemed Christian Church of God – Stratton Way
Trinity Church – Conduit Road