Lights appeared in the skies above Abingdon on Friday at about 6 pm. Four lights, moving in a circular pattern, were first spotted near St. Helen Church. They seemed to move and circled over the County Hall. The source of the lights were found near Nags Head Island – seen in the video.
Later on there were fireworks.
St Nicolas Church are hosting Cards for Good Causes after a five-year gap. They offer a wide range of Christmas cards, wrapping paper, Advent calendars and other Christmas gifts. By purchasing these items, people are supporting the not for profit organisation Cards for Good Causes and over 40 local and national charities, including Amnesty International, Cancer Research UK, Mind, and The Alzheimer’s Society.
For many, Christmas cards have been a way to stay connected with friends and relatives, especially those not seen regularly. However, with the increasing use of digital communication, this may be changing. The cost of postage does not help. Second-class stamps are now 85p, and first-class stamps are £1.65.
This Sunday afternoon, a packed congregation gathered at St. Helen’s Church, Abingdon, to hear the Rev. Dr. Charles Miller deliver his farewell sermon. The service, held on the Feast of All Saints, was a moving occasion as Rev. Miller reflected on the many lives that had touched his own during his 18 years at the church, and many who have already gone to join the saints.
In his sermon, Rev. Miller shared his plans for retirement, quoting the words of a revered medieval mystic: “Make yourself small.” As I understand that, his intention is to embrace a simpler life. He emphasised the importance of childlike faith and a receptive heart to God.
The service was enhanced by the beautiful singing of the choir (including the Sanctus from Faure’s Requiem) and concluded with a communion service, where the bread and wine were distributed at three places to accommodate the large congregation.
Following the service, refreshments were served, providing an opportunity for parishioners and friends to express their thanks and well-wishes to Rev. Miller. In recent weeks, he has been visiting housebound parishioners to bid farewell personally.
During the interim period before a new rector is appointed, others in the church will carry more responsibilities. We send our best wishes for his retirement, but there is still a chance some of us will see him before the removal van arrives on the 11th. He is often to be seen in Abingdon town centre.
Today, Unit 24, Bury Street, was busy with three community activities. The Woodcarvers, previously reported, were back again. The Ock Poets gathered in the back room and discussed the work of Fleur Adcock as well as sharing their own work. Abingdon Carbon Cutters held a sewing repair cafe.
Throughout the morning, visitors brought in clothing for small repairs, such as patching, replacing zips and elastic, or adjusting hems. These services were aimed at minor fixes rather than larger projects. Observing the volunteers at work also helped visitors gain insight into sewing techniques, making them more confident in handling simple repairs themselves.
For those with more complex sewing needs, volunteers offered advice on whether specific items could be repaired, and the best approach to fixing them. I asked what was the most difficult thing they’d have to sew and one volunteer said replacing a zip in a multi-layered puffer jacket. Volunteers also provided guidance on simple tasks like sewing on buttons or hemming. For people looking to develop their sewing skills further, One Planet Abingdon offers courses on sewing machine use and other repair techniques. It all helps promote repair, reuse and alteration of clothing instead of disposal.
To find out more about Unit 24, if your community group might use it see https://abingdoncivicsociety.org.uk/activities/unit-24-community-space/.