Between Ascension Day (25th May) and Pentecost (4th June), some of the churches in Abingdon are taking part in the 11 days of prayer initiative begun by the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and called Thy Kingdom Come.

The full Abingdon programme can be seen on the Trinity web site.

This afternoon, Deacon Selina Nisbett led one of the events – a Prayer Walk around Abingdon – starting at Trinity, pictured above.

Here are some of the places the walk visited, and some of the words from the sheet which was followed …

Pray for those marginalised in society; the unemployed, those on zero contract hours and all who struggle to make ends meet.

Pray for all those who work in the health profession, paramedics, all who work in hospitals and hospices, hospital chaplains, and all those we know who are sick in body, mind and spirit.

Pray for teachers, authors, academics and those employed in research that they might use their wisdom to transform the world.

Give thanks for those who use their creativity to share their faith with others. Pray that we may use creativity to build bridges where there is brokenness.

Pray for our armed services, police and all who have sacrificed themselves for others …

A few sheets were left in St Nics for anybody who wants one.

When Revd. Kevin Watson, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, visited Trinity Church at the weekend he noticed Abingdon had a restaurant called ASK.

Revd. Kevin’s first talk was about working with the elderly. He goes all around the country and one church group for the elderly he visited was called ASK – ‘Alive and Still Kicking.’ So he started his talk telling us about them.

On Sunday morning he visited Trinity, this time in his robes, and told us about another church he had visited that wanted to invite everybody in the town to celebrate one of the big national events. They put up a large banner to let people know they were open with words known from the Christmas story. The night before the event was very windy and the banner blew about. It rained and Revd. Kevin tore a letter away …

So after church I took some pictures. Here is Abingdon High Street looking towards the County Hall.

Here is the High Street from the County Hall.

Again, here is the High Street from the County Hall. “Glory to God in the High St.”

Last Saturday, at Trinity Church in Abingon, there was the premier of a new musical called ‘Witness’ telling the Easter Story. It was performed by people from the Wantage and Abingdon Methodist circuit, which comprises churches in Abingdon, Didcot, Grove, Milton, Wantage and Wallingford.

Almost 400 children from schools in and around Abingdon visited Experience Easter at Trinity Church, Abingdon, the week before last. As they visited the room-sized tableaux, they wrote hopes for the world on palm crosses, dried each-others’ hands, shared bread, thought of people who are suffering, and changed nasty feelings into beautiful models – then thought how they felt about the Easter story. This was Abingdon’s eighth Experience Easter, organised by local educational outreach TrinityLearning and supported by volunteers from 10 Abingdon churches.

Thanks to Jane for this …

In Abingdon Market Square Abingdon, from 10.30 to 12.30 a.m, there will be a shoe cleaning event for the local community – also serving tea, coffee, chocolate eggs and mini hot cross buns!

Everything is absolutely free and is supported by Our Lady and St Edmunds Catholic Church, Abingdon and Abingdon Community Church.

They will also be giving away leaflets detailing all of the Easter Church services in Abingdon, and answering any questions people may have.