It is not often that March comes in like a lion and out like a polar bear, but that is what it felt like this year. However, the freezing conditions and treacherous surfaces didn’t seem to make much difference to our congregations at Easter church services. Palm Sunday was memorable and those who are able to peep at the new Benefice website which now absorbs the old Sibford site will see lovely pictures of Percy the Epwell donkey leading the pilgrimage round the village, with a good number of followers.

Easter is of course the most important festival of the Christian’s year and the services over the holiday period were profoundly supportive of this. At the Easter Day morning service we had the additional benefit of the Rectory quartet, those magnificent singers from Oxford past and present with whom we are blessed when they are visiting their new home.

We will soon be hearing the full Worcester College choir, of which Michael Hawkes is a part, singing Choral Evensong followed by a concert in Broughton church at 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm respectively on Thursday 13th June.

On Thursday May 2nd at 7.45pm at Handywater House in Sibford there will be a discussion on Mark's gospel led by Rev Ronald Hawkes where, he says, "we can share impressions, surprises, meanings ... anything and everything." Read the gospel first if possible and bring your Bible with you.

The newly formed Sibford choir held its first practice on Wednesday 10th April and has been meeting on Wednesdays since at 6 pm under its new banner Let’s get Sibford singing. Additional choristers are needed and we will be singing religious and non-religious music under Ronald’s direction, Peter Hardman continuing as our organist for services, supported from time to time by Liz and sometimes by Ronald.

Our recent Family service was attended by a small number of families with children and was a lively occasion, popular with adults and children but Ronald has asked for views on having these services at times acceptable to more people, perhaps occasional afternoons followed by tea. Views on these and indeed all services would be appreciated by Ronald; a telephone call to 780 555 or an email would avoid finding him out and about in the Benefice, which with six parishes to attend to is a normal occurrence.

The Carice Singers concert in aid of church expenses was a singular success. Read more about it here.

The first of the season’s Coffee Mornings will be held on Saturday 27th April. These will be held in church each month on Saturday mornings to be announced from 10.00 am to 12 noon. Do look out for these very happy gatherings of friends and neighbours with delicious cakes and other things to buy.