From the Vicar September 09

Berinsfield Vicarage

September 2009

Dear Friends,

As I write this letter the 200th soldier has just been killed in Afghanistan. By the time

you read this I expect the number will be even greater. What are we to think? How

are we to respond? Some make judgements according to ‘Just War' criteria, others

suggest modern methods of warfare and today's circumstance make such a formula

less reliable. The other statistic of today that shocked me almost as much was that

over half interviewed on a Sky poll were unclear why our armed forces are fighting

in Afghanistan at all. Whatever conclusion each of us arrives at, it must be based on

sound principles and beliefs and not a case of not being sure how we ended up where

we are.

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be

recognized as the children of God."

So what is a peacemaker? Richard Rohr, a Dominican priest, suggests:

‘A peacemaker is the one who reconciles quarrels and overcomes conflicts, first of all

within himself or herself.'

I think this statement asks for all other means of avoiding violence to be tried before

violence is resorted to. It demands each of us takes personal responsibility for coming

to a decision about war and violence. It asks us to look at our own decision making,

personal relationships and behaviour before judging others. It suggests those who can

bring peace and reconciliation will be recognised as having God like qualities. It tells

us that peace and not war is God's wish for his world.

In the meantime out hearts go out to those who have lost sons and daughters in the

war zones of Afghanistan, soldiers and civilians, American, British and Afghan. And

we pray for the day when the world shall be filled with people of peace. A peace that

is first achieved within ourselves and then spreads across all the places such

peacemakers find themselves.

Best wishes,

Ros

Revd Ros Latham is Team vicar for The Baldons, Berinsfield and Drayton St Leonard

e-mail: bbdparishoffice@googlemail.com

and tel: 01865 340460

SPECIAL SERVICE

The annual service at All Saints, Nuneham Park will be held on Sunday September

13th at 3pm: Evensong led by The Baldons choir and all who wish to strengthen our

number - practice from 2.15pm in the chapel.

Preacher: Colin, Bishop of Dorchester

Refreshments afterwards in the Global Retreat centre

CLERGY

Revd Ros Latham

Ros is from rural North Yorkshire, having been a farmer's wife and an RE teacher

before becoming a vicar. She joined the Dorchester team as team vicar for the

Baldons, Berinsfield and Drayton St Leonard in October 2007, living in Berinsfield.

She is married to Peter and between them they have six children.

Revd Janet Russell

Janet was in parish ministry in South Oxfordshire for several years before becoming

the Parish Development Adviser for Berkshire in 2005. She has three grown-up

daughters and lives in Marsh Baldon. She enjoys helping churches to develop and

communicate their faith.

FROM THE REGISTERS

Baptisms

9th August 2009 at St Lawrence, Toot Baldon:

Simone Amanda Malcolm

Angus Liam Morton

Funeral

17th July 2009 Miranda Walton at Berinsfield Church

Miranda Walton died on 12th July 2009, aged just 37. Many of you will have met

Miranda when she worked at Marsh Baldon school, leaving last summer when she

became ill. Miranda was tall enough to tower over most of us, but she also towered

over us in the way she coped with the news that her illness was terminal. She kept

everybody else's spirits up when you visited her, she organised as much as she could

for her family to make their loss easier, and remained generous, composed and

smiling throughout. Her thoughts and energies were always directed towards helping

others around her manage without her rather than dwelling on her own misfortune.

Our hearts and prayers are with John, Charlie and Spencer at this time. It was a

privilege to have known her.