Looking for a previous Notice sheet? Find them all on the Term Calendar page.

If you are a visitor or newcomer to Long Furlong, a warm welcome to you. Please speak to the service leader and pick up a Welcome to Long Furlong leaflet and a term programme for more information.

Safety advice: we love having your children with us, but please remember that your children's safety is your responsibility whilst on the school premises and they must not be left unsupervised at any time, especially after the services.

While you're on the school premises ... The school has kindly given us permission to use the main hall, nursery, music room, the central outdoor play area (with adult supervision only), the toilets opposite the photocopier, and the corridors needed to get at them. However, please note that all other areas, especially classrooms, are out of bounds. For security reasons, no external doors or windows should be opened except by an adult, who must ensure that they are closed and locked afterwards

PRAYER AFTER THE SERVICE
If anyone would like someone to pray with them on any occasion, or after the service on Sunday, please ask whoever is leading the service, and we will direct you to an appropriate person.

PASTORAL TEAM 
If you or anyone you know needs to be visited or would appreciate prayer, please contact Alison Summers (535102), Wendy Crocker (524096) or Cathy Walker (528134).  If you are interested in getting involved in visiting, please speak to one of the team.

SPRING TERM PROGRAMME CARD
The new term card for Spring 2010 is now available in the entrance hall.

EVENTS AT A GLANCE
Tuesday 19th January: Coffee Break at 10.15. 85 Bath Street
Tuesday 19th January: Gents who lunch at 12.30, Spread Eagle
Thursday 21st January: Pastoral Prayers at 7.30, 50 Picklers Hill
Friday 22nd January: CiA Quiz night at 7.30, Peachcroft

ANDY MURRAY
Over the last two years Andy has had a growing sense of calling to the ordained ministry. There is quite a process to go through to be recommended by the Church of England. Andy’s next big step is a three day selection conference – officially called the “Bishop’s Advisory Panel”, on 1st-3rd February. Please be praying for him as he prepares for this.
If he is recommended (we will know about two weeks later) he and the family will move in mid-August to Trinity College Bristol to train. If he is not recommended then he stays with us. Obviously we don’t want him to go and clearly we want him to be recommended!
If he is recommended we will immediately advertise for a new Youth Pastor with the aim to have a new person here by September. Your prayers please for all of this. Many thanks. Tim

THE JESUS WAY
Our sermon series and Life Group studies this term will be based on “The Jesus Way” by Peter Walker. Copies are available for purchase from the welcome table at the discounted price of £6 (normally £8.99).

LIFE GROUPS 2010
If you would like to join, or change Life Groups this term, please complete a questionnaire (on the Welcome Table) and return to Andrew Turner as soon as possible. If you would prefer this electronically, please e-mail on andrew.d.turner@btinternet.com.

ALPHA AWAY DAY
This is an exciting opportunity to attend an Alpha away day, which is focussed on the Holy Spirit, on Saturday 27th March. The invitation is for anyone in the congregation who would like to come. More details will be available soon.

MEN’S MINI-ALPHA BEGINS 19th JANUARY
20.15 – 21.45 at 85a Oxford Road. Over 4 evenings we will take a look at the life of Jesus - who he was; what he actually said and did; why he died and the resurrection. Evenings are very informal: a short talk to introduce the theme, followed by lots of opportunity for you to ask your questions. Nibbles, beer, wine and other refreshments will be provided. It’s for any man – whether you call yourself a Christian or not - who wants to explore what life is about and whether following Jesus has any relevance in today’s world. There is no cost – but please let us know if you want to come. Contact Mark Withers: 01235 537291 / mightywaters@btinternet.com

CONFIRMATION SERVICE
with the Bishop of Reading (possibly with baptisms) 7th March, 6.30pm at Northcourt Road. This was a great service last time and a wonderful celebration. All those who would like to be confirmed please do speak to a member of staff or give your name to the office as soon as possible. Many thanks. Tim

M2M EVENTS THIS MONTH
Pit Stop, Sunday 31st January, 20.00-21.45 at Northcourt Road, “Relationships”.

GODZKIDZ
We are very short of leaders for the children's work: especially for the 7 to 11 age range. Please talk to Diana Bingham if you feel you would enjoy doing this important ministry.

CHRIST CHURCH CRAFT GROUP
will now take place on the 3rd or 4th Thursdays of alternate months at Anne’s house, 3 The Spinney. You will have a chance to learn a variety of techniques for making greetings cards at a small cost of £1.50 per card made. Alternatively, please feel free to bring your own crafts. The next date is 18th February. Anne Taylor (528505)

PARENTS - when the children go out into their groups, all children under 3 are welcome to the combined Bubbles/crèche group. There will be toys for the younger children and some Bible-related activities for the 3-year-olds (and nearly 3-year-olds).
* The crèche is in need of some new toys so if anyone has any toys (preferably not battery-operated), puzzles, or books which they no longer need and could donate, please contact Gavin Barber on 527257. Many thanks.

CRASH PAD SCHEME – COULD YOU HELP?
Oxfordshire Emergency Access Supported Lodgings aims to respond to a crisis in the home life of a 16-25 year old. Crash Pad provides a room in an approved host’s home giving time to mediate between the young person and family or carers. If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a host, please contact Colin Pattenden on 01235 529938 or colinpat7@hotmail.com

LENT COURSE 2010
This year’s Lent Course “Engaging with God through the Bible” is on 2nd, 9th and 16th March at 8.00pm (at Northcourt Road). More information to follow.
To start Lent, there will be an Ash Wednesday Service with Communion at 8.00pm on 17th February.

MWM EVENTS, COMING SOON
We warmly invite men who are free during the day time to the programme of activities for the Spring term.
1. Thursday 25th February, a film (Doubt) and discussion meeting at Brian Woolnough’s, 2.15pm.
2. Monday 22nd March, a visit to Bletchley Park enigma museum. Meet at Christ Church, Northcourt Road, 10.00am.
Come and have a stimulating time, and good conversation. Any queries to Brian Woolnough (202146).

WANTED: ANOTHER COMPUTER
The Ethiopian OCMS student has very much appreciated the surplus computer a member of Christ Church was able to provide for him. If any one has another surplus computer I know another African student at OCMS who would give it an excellent home too. Any offers to Brian Woolnough (01235-202146)

WOMEN'S DAY 2010
This year's women's day will be held on 13th March and Debbie Flint is going to be one of the speakers! So put the date in your diary and more information will follow in the New Year.

IS GOD REALLY GOOD? “An Equipping Day for Thinking Christians”
Saturday 23rd January, 9am – 5pm at St Aldates, Oxford, £25 (£20 concessionary price) including lunch. Speakers are Michael Green, John Lennox, Amy Orr-Ewing and Michael Ramsden. Further details from and bookings can be made at www.isgodreallygood.eventbrite.com

MARIE CURIE CANCER CARE urgently need collectors for the Great Daffodil Appeal 2010. If you can spare an hour or two on either Friday 19th March between 9am-3pm at Tescos forecourt or on Friday 26th or Saturday 27th March – between 9am-3pm in Abingdon Market Place. Please contact the Oxfordshire Organisers Jess & Shir on 01869 246655. Thank you. Anne Moon (521194)

SING FOR LIFE – MARCH 2010 in aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust. Your challenge is to get sponsored, sing 50 hymns, psalms or verses and have fun. Visit www.anthonynolan.org.uk/singforlife or ring 0303 303 3000 for more information.

BACK TO 35 MEETING on Thursday 21st January, 10.30-11.30am with Theresa Jones in Abingdon Baptist Church Hall, joint venture with Age Concern, providing an opportunity for conversation, activities and fellowship, plus useful information on health, benefits and general support.

THE LUNCH BREAK
Get away from your desk, meet people, chat and eat! The Lunch Break offers the chance to join people from all over Milton Park & Milton Hill for a simple lunch in a relaxed atmosphere and a brief talk (5 minutes) about issues we face at work. 12.30 on 28th January, 25th February, 25th March – pop in briefly or stay longer, depending on how much time you have. (The whole thing lasts about 40 minutes.) Donations of a pound or two welcome to cover the costs of food.
- 28th January: Integrity – what is an honest day’s work?
- 25th February: Conflict – keeping it cool
- 25th March: Workplace - Prison or destiny?
Where? Milton Methodist Church Hall, High Street, Milton
More Info? http://sites.google.com/site/miltonparklunchbreak
The Lunch Break is organised by Christians working on Milton Park and Milton Hill and is open to everyone of all faiths or none.

GOOD NEIGHBOUR SCHEME
A Good Neighbour Scheme is a group of volunteers who offer support to people living in their community. Examples of this could be offering transport for a doctor’s appointment, shopping for someone who is unable to get out for whatever reason, reading to partially sighted people, or doing simple household tasks. Would you like to be a volunteer for a Good Neighbour Scheme or would you use it? If you think Abingdon would benefit from such a scheme please come along to an informal meeting on Tuesday 16th January, 2 – 4pm at the Abingdon Resource & Wellbeing centre, Audlett Drive. More information from Tony Andrews 01235 521094 or Brian Conroy 01993 704007.

CHURCH IN ABINGDON AGM
18th February at 7.45pm in the hall at Christ Church Northcourt Road. This will be an open meeting at which the annual report and accounts will be presented - all are welcome to attend.

OPEN MORNING AT THE KING’S SCHOOL, WITNEY (PRIMARY)
with guided tours and refreshments on Saturday 13th March, 9.30 am – 12 noon at The King’s School (Primary), New Yatt Road, OX29 6TA. Want to see what life at The King's School is like or find out more about Christian education? If so, we would like to extend a very warm welcome to you (and anyone you know who might be interested) to come along to our Open Morning, where you will see our primary pupils in their lessons, have the opportunity to speak to staff and discover more about our new school building project. For more details, please contact the primary school office on primary@occ.org.uk or 01993 778463 or visit www.occ/tks.co.uk where you will also find travel information.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:
• all those who attended the Alpha course at Long Furlong this autumn – for the discovery of a deeper relationship with Jesus, at whatever stage of our spiritual journey.
• all the small groups as they prepare to start next term. Especially for new group leaders and members.

If you have any items for the newsletter or for prayers, please contact Anne Taylor (528505).