Category Archives: religion

Civic Service at the Baptist Church

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Civic Service
Thanks to Councillor Tony Brett from Oxford for this picture of the annual Civic Service of Abngdon-on-Thames.

Normally the civic service is held at St Helens Church, but as the new Mayor attends the Ock Street Baptist Church and Revd David Fleming, her chaplain, ministers there, the Civic service went to the Baptist Church in 2013.

Tony reports that the Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea, and MP Nichola Blackwood were also there. The sermon was about how Christians are led to serve. His full report is on Tony Brett’s Blog.
Civic Service
Revd David Fleming won’t be chaplain for very long as he has decided to minister to the people of Luton from August. Almost everybody will be sad to see hm leave because he has done so  much for Abingdon. But when he announced his departure at last week’s council meeting there was one cheer – intended to be humorous, I should add.
Civic Service
The Abingdon Traditonal Morris Dancers were also outside the church, Praising God with the violin, accordion, and wafted handkerchiefs.

Muslim Prayers in Abingdon

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Muslim Prayers in Abingdon
Yesterday it was a privilege to join with the Abingdon Muslims during Maghrib prayers (salah) at 19:50.

The Abingdon Muslims regularly meet for communal prayers at the Guildhall on a Friday, and have done for some time. But recently they have been meeting in a small room, kindly shared for free by a local business owner in East St Helen Street on Saturday and Sunday.

I gather Muslims pray 5 times a day, these prayers are compulsory for all adult men & women on a timetable that changes depending on the sunrise and sunset.

Today I followed their prayer timetable and took pictures at each prayer time:
Sunrise : 6:22, Zuhr : 13:15, Asr : 17:45, Maghrib : 19:51, Isha : 21:30.

Regular prayer keeps Muslims mindful of Allah (God) throughout the day and praying in congregation develops community spirit and strengthens relationships.

Thanksgiving for the life of Michael Hambleton

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Thanksgiving
On Friday there was a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Michael Hambleton, minister of Abingdon Baptist Church from 1991 to 2000.
Thanksgiving
He enjoyed local history and wrote the story of Abingdon Baptist Church from 1649-2011 – a book called ‘A Sweet and Hopeful People’.
Thanksgiving
During his time as Minister, the 35 Ock Street project transformed the old manse, which had been in a sorry state, into the Church in Abingdon open house. It is now manned by teams from the different churches and open Mon-Fri 10.30 – 2.00 pm, and Saturday 10.30 – 12.30 pm.

Michael said in his book, “This was not so much the minister’s vision as the church’s vision”

But I dare say it took his prayers, leadership, and encouragement to see the project through.

Abingdon Passion Play – 12 days to go

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Abingdon Passion Play
On Palm Sunday at 2pm in the Abbey Gardens the Abingdon Passions Play will begin and run for about 2 hours.

The play needed a Donkey and one was found one thanks to an appeal and article in the Abingdon Herald.
Abingdon Passion Play
They needed Roman Soldiers and now some have been found thanks to the Can Do Martial Arts who will swap kimonos for tunics and armour.

There will be choirs and bands – lots of community groups will take part. There will be performers, and a crowd.

The crowd can start to mingle from 1pm on Palm Sunday when the Abbey Gardens will become Jerusalem and Abingdon -> Abingammergau. Each scene will take place in a different location within the Abbey Gardens: from Jesus’ triumphal entry on the donkey, his arrest and false trial, and finally his crucifixion and the resurrection. The crowd can follow the action as it unfolds.

In the case of heavy rainfall the performance will take place in St Helen’s Church.