A Christian alternative to Halloween will again be staged at St James Church, New Bradwell, on October 31.

It is the annual Glow Party for the young – and young at heart starting at 5pm and running through until 7pm with pepper lanterns, arts and crafts, biscuit decorating, marshmallow melting and much more. Refreshments will be served until 6.30pm.

Children are invited to come when they like – the only proviso is that they must be accompanied by an adult.

The dress code is colourful, bright and warm as there will be activities outside.

We finish with a lantern parade, songs and story! Download the poster for the event here.

Area Dean, the Revd. Paul Oxley, has stepped down from his role so that he can give more focus to his other jobs – running St Mark’s and St Mark’s Meals.

Revd Paul Oxley who has stepped down as Area Dean.

Paul stood down officially on September 30. The post will be filled within the next 6 months and in the interim the Revd Canons Catherine Butt and Gill Barrow-Jones will act as co-interim Area Deans.

News of Paul’s decision is included in the City of Milton Keynes Deanery Synod Report to Parishes which can be read in full here.

We now have revised dates confirmed for the beginning of the new SEP Discipleship course, using the resources provided by friends from St Martin in the Fields Church.

It is very much designed to meet and greet enquirers and new converts to Christ, offering a chance to think and ponder the presence of God in the world, and call of Christ upon their lives.

Initially the course will be offered ‘online’ only – with evening meetings on zoom at 7.30pm. Led by Peterson and Phil.

• Wednesday 21st October
• Wednesday 28th October
• Wednesday 4th November
• Wednesday 11th November

If you are interested in joining the course please contact our Administrator: phone 01908 382458, email sburyepadm@gmail.com .

Stantonbury Ecumenical Partnership has a vacancy for an elected trustee to join our Trustee Group.  Trustees need to be nominated by 2 members of the Stantonbury Ecumenical Partnership. The vacancy is to be filled up until the 2027 AGM, when the Trustee could stand for re-election.

The Trustees are responsible for the governance, compliance and overseeing of strategic direction towards meeting the vision of the SEP, specifically:

Full details can be found in the latest SEP newsletter for October which can be downloaded here.

Nomination forms can be requested from Anne Slee sep.trustee.secretary@gmail.com and returned by 31 October 2026.  If more than one nomination is received, an election will take place at the next Stantonbury Ecumenical Partnership all members Church Meeting.

The MED (Mission, Evangelism and Discipleship) Group met in September. You can read Rev Phil Dunning’s resume of the meeting here.