From the Rector
Some of you will remember that back in October we spent a few weeks reflec ng on developing a new church vision as we explored the direc on in which we felt God was calling us. It was great to have input from so many of the congrega on and thank you for your thoughts and ideas, as well as your prayers and enthusiasm! Over the last few months the PCC have been working on colla ng everyone’s feedback and pulling together what we hope is a clear vision of what we are seeking to be as a church.
SeekingtobeLoving,Inclusive,Flourishing,Exploring(LIFE)
Loving Share the love of Jesus with one another and the wider community, and demonstra ng this love through caring for others and the amazing world God has created.
Inclusive Welcome all people by making the church facili es (church building, The Cornerstone, the churchyard) and its worship and ac vi es accessible to all, regardless of age, ethnicity, ability, sexuality and social background.
Flourishing Enable people to grow in the Chris an faith, improve their wellbeing, develop their rela onships and become the people God intended them to be.
Exploring A place to explore Chris an faith and spirituality, growing in understanding and the love of God, encountering God through the arts and the crea ve gi-s of one another.
My hope is that these four words encapsulate our vision for All Saints and will also be easy to remember, and the acronym LIFE should help with this. It brings to my mind Jesus’ words, ‘I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully’ (John 10:10). It’s a reminder of: the life Jesus offers, which is both libera ng and fulfilling; the life we are all called to, as we serve God, and the depth of the life which is set before us to be explored and discovered.
From this vision the PCC also came up with a list of five priori es for the coming years; you can read more on our website or church no ceboards. But I am pleased to say that we have hit the ground running with some of these as we look to improve our welcome to newcomers with regular events, and have also started up our new weekly baby and toddler group, Li9le Steps.
The Revd Hannah Higginson
Our Vision
ALL SAINTS PARISH MAGAZINE
AllSaintsParishMagazinehasbeenpublishedsinceatleastMay1865,possibly makingittheoldestcon nually-publishedparishmagazineinthecountry.
This magazine is published by the Rector and PCC of All Saints Parish Wokingham. Opinions expressed by individual contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers.
Email:editor@allsaintswokingham.org.uk
All Saints PCC Wokingham is a Registered Charity, No. 1127585
Editor: Steve Smith 0118 979 4407
Deputy Editor: Abbie Ellis
Produc*on: Jane Hodgson 0118 979 2797
Subs & Distribu*on: David Chapman 0777 199 4461
CopyDateDeadlineforMarchIssue: 18February2025
Produc on: 25February2025
Publica on: 26February2025
Subscrip ons: www.allsaintswokingham.org.uk/all-saints-parish-magazine
Parish Office
Norreys Avenue
Wokingham
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parishoffice@allsaintswokingham.org.uk 0118 979 2797
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December’s & January's PCC Meetings
Our focus at the last two PCC mee ngs has been on our vision and priori es and the recruitment of a new associate priest. At the January mee ng it was finally decided that, subject to the agreement of the Archdeacon, we should write a very open job descrip on. It would be one that had a preference for someone with a par cular interest in developing either our work in the community or different types of music for worship. The decision to recruit has been wai ng on the agreement of the vision since we did not see how someone could apply for the role if we did not know what we wanted, but we just about have that now (see the Rector’s editorial on page 1).
Much me has also been spent on our policy for mission giving to other chari es; by the me you read this we will have had a congrega on mee ng which will guide the PCC on its decisions. The big ques ons for that are: how much should we give as a church and how can we get congrega on members involved in choosing and championing chari es.
Almost all mee ngs have a financial item. In December we agreed the budget, and in January we had preliminary results for the General Fund. It was good news. The fund is likely to break even, but as PCC members are only too aware having two priests will increase our costs. A giving campaign star ng with the very important thank you to each other for contribu ons of me, talents and money will be launched in February.
We regularly approve policies at mee ngs and in January it was the turn of the Environmental policy. We heard that we would start work this year to gain a Gold award for being an Eco church, something that will take some me to realise and reach into almost every aspect of church life.
An innova on for our mee ngs is the regular repor ng of groups on their ac vi es. In January we heard about the ac vi es of youth and junior church, and the “big breakfast” idea bringing young members of different Wokingham churches together once a month. All Saints is hos ng the first.
The report of the buildings commi7ee told us that the hea ng was now working as intended although further adjustments to the controls would probably be needed. The problems with wet floor boxes are s ll not resolved but the consultants and contractors are working on it! And it was an opportunity to thank Clive Charlton and John Robinson for changing all the lights to brighter and more efficient LEDs. Anne King
As usual these are the personal reflec ons of the author and not the mee ng's official record.
Our Floor Won A Prize
Photo By Andy Marshall
Our lovely “Ancaster Weatherbed” stone floor was entered by the firm PAYE Stonework and Restora!on Ltd into the UK Natural Stone awards last December and we were awarded Highly Commended. The judges par!cularly noted the naturally occurring colours and textures which add visual interest. That is all great and it was pris!ne, but we are now gaining quite a lot of regular dirt and some rather unsightly spots as well, and these need to be dealt with. Whether to help with that or to with regular cleaning please contact Beatrice Smiles if you can offer any help, even if only occasionally.
BeatriceSmiles@allsaintswokingham.org.uk
Letter to the Editor
The previous magazine's "75 Years Ago"
Your men!on of 1949 traders brought back many memories. We used to have one of the Ham sons call on us in Park Avenue to sell us our bread. He wore a flat cap so much on the side of his head that I could never work out how it stayed on. Being a tradesman he naturally came to our back door! Their bakery in Finchampstead Road was, coincidently, later occupied by Hall/Teakle from Denmark Street and the Terrace. I believe Teakles was run by Harold and Billie Langdown, the la<er (born I believe a Teakle) when widowed remarrying as Billie Haig and con!nuing as a monumental mason, supplying my grandparents' and parents' gravestone at St Sebas!an's Churchyard
Mrs Berry was the ladies' wear retailer in Broad Street; she unfortunately had a daughter with learning difficul!es. Mr Twill was the cycle repairer in Denmark Street and I think he was on the Borough Council as well. The Wokingham Laundry was in Sta!on Road and not unpleasant smells emanated from there on certain days
Regards Clive Chaney
All Saints Alumni Choir
How was All Saints Alumni Choir started? There has been music of one kind or another to accompany worship at All Saints for many years, with the first known organist, Thomas Stephen Brown da!ng back to circa 1855. During the 1970s, Tony Kemp steadily built up the church choir to a standard where he felt confident to take it to sing a week of services in a cathedral. Between 1979 and 2014 the choir sang at 33 cathedrals and abbeys, giving par!cularly to the children a wonderful experience and camaraderie.
The church choir was ac!ve up un!l the pandemic. Immediately prior to lockdown the choir recorded music to support the live streamed church services during the Covid years. As with other groups not mee!ng regularly and with no Director of Music, the church was le1 with no regular choir. However John Boylan, a keen supporter of music in the church, kept in contact with those who sang in the choir prior to the pandemic. John invited a group of singers from the ex-members of the choir for the rededica!on service of the church — the beginnings of a choir again at All Saints. This was followed up by John, organising a choir for the Christmas 2023 Nine Lesson and Carols service. It was for this service John proposed a name for the choir: All Saints Alumni.
In early 2024, John Boylan le1 Wokingham to move to Salisbury and, not wan!ng to see the new embryonic choir failing, I agreed to take over from John. In 2024 we sang at eleven services and one concert, star!ng with Ash Wednesday and concluding with our Nine Lessons and Carols service. These services have been supported by a pool of 45 singers who have sung or have a connec!on with All Saints choir. I’ve been fortunate
All Saints Alumni Choir a er the Nine Lessons and Carols Service
that when organising a choir for each service there has been enough singers within each part to form a choir. As with most amateur choirs we lack tenors, and some basses have had to stretch their vocal cords every now and again when our resident real tenors are away! With no regular choir prac!ce, the singers have had li;le !me to rehearse, with typically one prac!ce prior to the service, so a good sight-reading skill comes in handy!
We currently do not have a Director of Music (DoM), and I am very grateful to those that have volunteered during 2024 to conduct the choir, par!cularly David Rance (DoM, 2006-12) who has given up a lot of his !me to lead the choir at many of the services we have sung for.
All Saints benefits from an extensive music library which we can call upon to support all the various church seasons of the year from Easter through to Christmas. During the work on the church, the library was moved to the Cornerstone lo1. Although further work is required to organise the music (much is s!ll in boxes), thanks go to Michael Freeman for crea!ng an easy-to-find music filing system. I should of course men!on our choir robes and the work carried out by Jane Mellor and Selina Wilkins who between them have spent much !me sor!ng, s!tching, cleaning and organising the robes in size to fit our choir members.
The culmina!on of our year came in December; the concert of Christmas Carols and Messiah (part one) and the service of Nine Lessons and Carols. The aim of the spaceforall project at All Saints was to revitalise the church building and create a new community hub and centre for the arts, culture and local heritage. All Saints is hos!ng many concerts, and I felt that we should also put on a concert with the aim to raise money for the Organ and Music Fund. A date was agreed and with the support of Huw Jenkins (DoM, 1990-99) and Tim Reader (ex All Saints chorister) a plan was put in place with over thirty singers taking part. The concert was conducted by Tim and the choir was accompanied by a string quartet with Huw playing the organ. With only two rehearsals, but with the support of seven singers from Tim’s Epiphoni choir (who all had solo roles) it succeeded, much to my relief! Indeed, we received a lot of very posi!ve comments and praise from many of those who a;ended.
All Saints Alumni choir will con!nue to support our church at specific services in 2025 and maybe we will put on another concert this year too! If you are interested in being involved in our choir then do please get in touch via our parish office.
Nigel Mellor
All
News from Becky
I started my new role as college chaplain at Shiplake college on 28th August – a bit of a shock to the system, a er a few weeks off in August, especially as we are required to be at college by 7:45 – I’m sure I was only ge'ng up at that (me on some mornings when I worked at All Saints .
I cannot believe how quickly the (me has flown by – the comment has been made by many of the staff including the head at the end of my proba(on period – that if feels like I’ve been here a year and not just twelve weeks. I am loving ge'ng stuck into the college rhythm – ge'ng to know the pupils and the staff.
Before beginning this role I read a few books on chaplaincy and naturally spent (me in prayer trying to prepare for this next chapter. The model of chaplaincy – and indeed of all ministry – that resonates deeply with me is the incarna(onal model. I love the message version of John 1 - The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. The life of Jesus is an incarna(onal one – he gives up his posi(on in heaven to come and be amongst the people, to be present, to be Emmanuel – the very thing we focus on so much at Christmas (me.
As a representa(ve of Christ, I am here at the college to be present with this community, to show by my words and ac(ons who this God is and to show that God themself is present with them. My role is to point out where I see God at work and hopefully open up for them a deeper understanding and openness to spirituality.
I have been amazed at how open many are to conversa(ons about faith – as well as a myriad of other things. I love the energy that comes from being around young people; I find myself inspired by their crea(vity and zest for life.
I feel as though I have se:led into the school – I know the rou(nes (mostly, they do keep changing with each term as there are different things to focus on and events that shape the terms). I am currently looking for ways in which I can be more involved in the school and what opportuni(es I can take to be more present to those in the community that I find myself ministering to.
I was licensed by Bishop Gavin on 11th October
News from Becky
Many of you know about my love and interest in fitness and care for the body – the college is very proud of its spor ng achievements and tries to ensure that everyone at the college is engaged in some form of physical ac vity. In so many ways it feels as though this role enables me to bring together my love of church and ministry and my love of physical fitness and ac vity – I find myself helping out with fitness coaching and joining in on training sessions with many of the rowers – it is a great way of being with them and showing them I can work hard too.
This term I have also started helping with our cadets and will take over running our RAF division – a wonderful thing to tell my step-grandfather as he is the oldest surviving VC from WW2 where he served in the RAF. There certainly are many opportuni es available to me here and many ways in which by my presence and hopefully by my care and love for the community I can create more openness to coming to know the God who loves and wants each one of them to thrive!
The Revd Becky Medlicott
From The Editor's Desk
There is some news for you about this magazine. Firstly I am delighted to say that we have hooked up with St Paul's Parish. You may know that The Spire, their own magazine, ceased publica on when the covid pandemic struck. Now a produc ve dialogue has resulted in the nomina on of The Spire's editor, Jane Clark, as our magazine's correspondent. We hope to include news and other contribu ons from St Paul's in each edi on of this magazine. You can see the first page of news opposite
Secondly you will no ce that Harriet Swinyard's name is no longer shown on page 2. For many many years Harriet has been assis ng on the magazine's prepara on and we all owe her a great debt. Among other aspects, I shall miss her eagle eye spo4ng typos and poor forma4ng. Thank you very much Harriet.
However I am very pleased to say that Abbie Ellis has offered to assume the role of deputy editor, and we can all look forward to Abbie's contribu ons and influence. Welcome aboard Abbie!
Steve Smith
Poetry Pleases
The first Sunday a er Easter is tradi onally known as Low Sunday, a day of reflec on and calm a er the fes vi es of Easter. On the first Sunday a er Christmas, in place of the “usual sermon”, Hannah decided to reflect on the Christmas story and intersperse it with poems presented by various members of the congrega on.
The first was Peter Barre+ with his own composi on, “I don’t believe in the Virgin Birth”. This was a shock but, as it progressed, the mood began to change. I hope the few lines shown below will whet your appe te for what is a most hard-hi0ng and exceedingly though2ul poem.
IDon’tBelieveintheVirginBirthbyPeterBarra
I don’t believe in the Virgin Birth - But, Mary, what a motherShe was only 16 when the angel spoke to her … … … …
If I started following this baby ….
I’d have to start thinking about the homeless - And the poor and the refugee …… Love’s the gi that ma+ers - Delivered by a virgin birth
The contribu ons presented by Elizabeth (aged 6) and Amara (9) each provided a deligh2ul musing from a child’s perspec ve.
TheTinyChristmasVillagebyAmaraCarter
Incredible stars shine brightly in the night sky, Clearly visible to any human eye, cloudy skies, as winter arrives, Blinding the ny village with lights, A magnificent feast with lots of delectable bites
Laid out in the village hall outside a bustling Christmas mall, Last minute gi s being bought, Christmas cards being wri+en with thought, All busy, decorated and loud, but not on the other side of town, Where children are sleeping not making a sound, wai ng for Saint Nick to come, With presents he bound, ptoeing across the roo op, wriggling through chimneys, covered in ash, delivering gi s to be enjoyed all year round, Waking up on Christmas morning, the boys and girls shocked by all the colourfully wrapped boxes and - toys wai ng underneath the tree, Shared with everyone, even you and me.
JoytotheWorldbyElizabethHigginson
Poetry Pleases
I was in a stable and I said, "I see a donkey heading this way perhaps it needs some hay". But no, but no, it carried a girl who gave birth to a beau ful baby, and he gave joy to the world. And I was overjoyed.
The other poems, listed below, are an eclec c mix of humour, together with serious references to the life of Christ, the Star of Bethlehem and T S Eliot’s imagining of one of the elderly magi recoun ng his journey.
They can all be found on the internet except Peter’s (yet) and he would be willing to share it if you contact him.
Christmas by John Betjeman
Song of the Star by Richard Skinner
The Two Gardens by Malcolm Guite
Journey of the Magi by T S Eliot
When this magazine is published, we shall have just concluded the season of Epiphany but, for those who were at this service, I hope that you’ll revisit the Christmas story through these poems. And for those who were not present that day, I would thoroughly recommend making a short moment of me for “reflec on and calm”.
Pam Creech
Diary for February
A Rocha UK is a Chris an charity working to care for God’s crea on by taking ini a ves to protect and restore the natural resources of earth. One of the key ini a ves by them is the Eco Church programme, which provides a framework to facilitate the church leadership and its members to plan and implement sustainability ini a ves in protec ng the natural world. The framework supports taking ac ons in the following key areas: Workship and Teaching, Buildings and Energy, Land and Nature, Community and Global Engagement and Lifestyle. Churches are assessed in these key areas based on what they do and are awarded one of the three Eco Church award levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold. As you all are aware, All Saints Church is opera ng at Silver award level with the ini a ves taken by Climate Ma<ers team and the church community, under the leadership of Revd. Hannah Higginson and Stephen Smith. The team is now working persistently towards achieving the Gold award by trying to implement the ethos of Eco Church among the worshiping community under the following five categories.
Worship and Teaching: This category encompasses the different aspects of worship and prayer, where and how we worship and the worship resources. It also includes themes related to equipping and training leadership, pastoral care in responding to environmental concerns, affirma on of environmental ministry. The way teaching is conducted within the church like preaching during collec ve worship, small groups, prepara on courses, and working with children and young people are also included under this category.
Buildings and Energy: This category relates to the way churches measure their carbon emissions and seBng goals to improve their carbon efficiency. The ac ons that are taken to reduce energy consump on and the policies and procedures in implemen ng those ac ons are evaluated under this category.
Land and Nature: This category considers the ways in which churches manage their land for nature. The mission of the church in caring for land not only relates to protec ng the nature but also considers various ways in serving the community : providing inclusive access of nature for holis c well-being, management of churchyard for the goodness of nature and implemen ng ac ons for land-based climate resilience.
Community and Global Engagement: This category is about the ac ons taken by churches in advoca ng climate change either as a church body or working with other eco organiza ons in bringing about local/global change. The range of engagement can be from ini a ves within church level like eco fayres, stalls, climate talks to joining local events rela ng to environmental jus ce or joining a campaign for nature.
Nature Notes
Andrea
Gilpin
of the Caring for God's Acre Organisation
Lichens
Have you ever stopped to take a close look at the intricate and beau ful living pa<erns that decorate the stonework within burial grounds? These are organisms known as lichens. They are easy to find at any me of the year but seem to stand out par cularly during the winter months when other wildlife takes a step back. Although found almost anywhere on land, churchyards and other burial grounds have long been known to be an important home for lichens as a result of the rich variety of stone substrates for them to grow on. They may also be found on wooden structures such as benches and lychgates, as well as on the bark and twigs of old trees. Churchyards and other burial grounds provide a stable and protected place for lichens to flourish.
Churchyards and burial grounds are of supreme importance for lichen conserva on, par cularly where there are no natural outcrops of rock. Of the 2,000 UK lichen species, over 700 have been found in burial grounds, many of which are rare and seldom found elsewhere.. Many burial grounds have well over 100 species of lichen in them. They can be thought of as lichen sanctuaries.
www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk
Climate Matters
Lifestyle: The importance of individual responsibility in protec ng nature in our everyday life is stressed under this category. This category relates to the way church leadership educate and influence individual congrega on members in taking climate ac on through their daily lives.
If any of you are interested in joining hands with the climate ma<ers team and contribu ng in any of the above categories, please contact Revd. Hannah Higginson or Stephen Smith.
A Response to David Chapman's Piece Last Month #1
THENICENECREED325CE
DavidChapman’sAr cleintheDecemberedi onofParishMagazine
Thank you, David, for a very challenging and thought-provoking ar cle. Our House Group were moved to use one of our sessions solely to discuss the points you were making. We found areas in the ar cle we agreed with and areas with which we disagreed, but it made us examine closely what we did believe. We think that it is healthy to have these discussions and to accept that within our church there will be many varia ons in people’s beliefs as they seek a closer knowledge of God.
We took me to discuss the basic Chris an beliefs and values of the Progressive Chris an Network and concluded that we agreed with them.
Regarding the Nicene Creed, the full version is not said at every service. Shortened versions are used at different services. We all believe that there are many ways of worshipping God, and many different forms of church and God’s power is not limited to one type of worship. We believed that we should all be valued for who we are and, therefore, our views are important no ma<er how diverse.
We do think the language of the church can be difficult to understand for newcomers to church so we need to take care that these words can be explained. We do believe in God the creator but realise that the concept is beyond truly understanding, and we ourselves do not have the language that can possibly explain who God is.
As a small group at All Saints Church, we hope that con nuing to explore God’s word and the love of Jesus will develop our faith and encourage others.
Monday House Group
A Response to David Chapman's Piece Last
Month #2
Can we s ll give credence to the Nicene Creed? David Chapman says not. However, has David done something valuable in promp ng us to look again at the language of the Nicene Creed and its place in the order of the liturgy?
It is rather isolated, taking on board David's point asking what it has to do with the teachings of Jesus. Should it be linked to the Lord's Prayer or even the Bea tudes (Ma<hew's version) which are not part of a service liturgy?
The Creed is a construct, a now–ancient a<empt to establish the founda ons of Chris an belief. The language is remote to our mes, but becomes clearer with study and awareness of the context, cultural and historical. The imagery may be a block to apprecia on. For instance, the image of God on a seat/throne with his Son siBng at his right hand. This is redolent of depic ons in art where divine but humanoid figures are seen literally on thrones. One thinks of pain ngs by Fra Angelico with God/Christ in glory judging the good and the bad; the good on Christ's right hand, robed in pure white ready to go heavenward, the bad on the leO of the judgement throne, naked ready for hellish suffering and some wearing a mitre!
There are certain words such as 'bego<en' — not immediately understood by the contemporary mind. Also ideas e.g. 'we confess one bap sm for the remission of sins, and look for the resurrec on of the dead'. Hard stuff. Words and ideas that require teaching, educa on, understanding. Once understood, there can be discussion such as 'Do we believe all this?'.
Does the Nicene Creed seem resistant to changes in understanding? Being fixed, is it not quite part of the Living Word?
The Bible is not an easy read; the acres of scholarship reflect that. Can our ways of reading it be a problem? The Bible is not a manual to explain religious reality. A goodly part of it is poe c, symbolic, metaphorical, even mys cal. So, why did (do?) evangelicals want to think Adam and Eve were real people and not a fable, a way of trying to understand our human situa on?
David's apparent recourse to science as a way to achieve a more logical faith, believing in the teachings of Jesus as the words of a brilliant ethical philosopher, undisturbed by no ons of Godhead, worries me. This is the old, old divide between religion and science, even trying to make sense of religion by applying empirical enquiry. Have we forgo<en that the brilliant and great Jewish philosopher Maimonides dealt with this old chestnut of thought in his life's work, focused in his book 'The Guide for the Perplexed'? This was published in the 12th century!! It influenced Duns Scotus and Thomas Aquinas and genera ons of thinkers — yet we s ll try to read the Bible as if pure reason can
to David #2
unlock its subtle es. Maimonides showed that religion and science require different modes of thought, valid to each, but can comfortably sit side by side:
Religion requires modes of metaphorical and symbolic thinking combined with learning of tradi on and mystery;
Science requires methods of observa on, experimenta on, inves ga on, assessment, reasoning and learning leading to understanding and new knowledge. Each requires imagina on.
Scien sts are not prac oners of pure reason:
Mendeleev saw a vision of a snake in the flames of his domes c fire. It coiled itself into a circle and swallowed its tail. Mendeleev dashed to make that alchemical vision into empirical science, i.e. the beginnings of the Periodic Table.
Philip Gosse a brilliant and forensically precise 19th century marine biologist, was also of the Brethren and maintained that fossils were fake, planted by Satan to lead us all astray.
Richard Dawkins, an evolu onary biologist of genius is a comba ve atheist, yet just examine his masterwork on the workings of evolu on (far beyond Darwin) — 'The Ancestors Tale'. It is replete with metaphor, symbolism, inspiring details of complex science combined with a sense of awe and wonder. Note the sub tle 'A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Life'.
Jesus hints at his godlike being and origins:
Luke 4 vv14-21 where he outrages the members of the synagogue by declaring himself to be the fulfilment of the Law of Moses. This is a passage of s ll jawdropping stuff.
Luke 9 vv28-36 The Transfigura on!
Luke 10 vv16-20 Jesus, unhappy by the uncertain efforts of the Seventy and the Disciples tells them he 'watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning'. Meaning? He was there, he was the Word from the beginning for 'In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.' Ahh — truth or palimpsest? Yes, I like Luke for his humanity, and he had the advantage of being the last to write his gospel.
The Bible, the founda ons of our faith, requires that we study deeply, and in prayer ask God to guide and illuminate us. David's proposals seem dry and too easy for me — but they should s mulate discussion and debate. What is the major forum for that at All Saints Church?
The Nicene Creed is global and it should take a long me to introduce changes let alone uproot it. These impromptu musings of mine perhaps indicate that a great challenge awaits us. Thank you, David.
Michael Freeman
Response
Brilliant Bible Bits
In the course of our perusals of the Bible, many of us surely come across passages that stand out. So let's share them. We invite anyone and everyone to contribute.
This declara on of who Jesus claimed to be in contrast to his heavenly Father is not well known. But it is par cularly striking. This is from John's Gospel, chapter 12.
Jesus proclaimed: 'To believe in me, is not to believe in me but in him who sent me; to see me, is to see him who sent me. I have come into the world as light so that no one who has faith in me should remain in darkness. But if anyone hears my words and disregards them, I am not his judge; I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for anyone who rejects me and does not accept my words; the word I have spoken will be his judge on the last day. I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself commanded me what to say and how to speak. I know that his commands are eternal life. What the Father has said to me therefore — that is what I speak.'.
Extract taken from The Revised English Bible
Planning Your Future
All Saints is hos ng a FREE INFORMATION EVENT – called Planning for the Future: Protec ng and Passing on Your Wealth and Considering Your Wishes. Including perhaps the thought towards a legacy of a spiritual nature; your church of worship.
Therefore:
Do you have an up-to-date Will and are you are aware of the reasons, ranging from children or grandchildren to marriage or divorce, to consider reviewing an exis ng Will?
Similarly, do you have Las ng Powers of A<orney (LPAs) in place to provide peace of mind for you and your family in the longer term?
And have you considered your funeral wishes and how you would like the cost of any arrangements to be covered in the future?
Are you considering a spiritual dona on to your place of worship?
Leading Wokingham-based law firm Blandy & Blandy and funeral directors AB Walker are hos ng two free informa on events at All Saints Church this spring:
Thursday27March2025,5.00pmandThursday3April2025,11.30am
At the hos ng event, both talks will be followed by an opportunity to ask ques ons, with colleagues from Blandy & Blandy and AB Walker also available aOerwards for a short informal discussion or to arrange an appointment, with refreshments served.
Ian Watson – PCC member (07973 259 435 – ianwatson@allsaintswokingham.org.uk)
Prayer & Healing Ministry Team
YouareMine
Oh God you have said:
Do not be afraid – I will save you. I have called you by name – you are mine. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; Your troubles will not overwhelm you. Help me to hear you say these words to me.
BasedontheBookofIsaiah -Chapter43
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans15,v13
The services for the Laying on of Hands ministry will be on the first Sunday of each month, so next on 2nd February at the 9.30 service.
Members of the Prayer Ministry team are: Rosemary Sturmer, Jill Oliver, Jo Robinson, Gill Allen, Claire Jones and Elizabeth Marten. Prayer Ministry is available every Sunday aOer the 9.30am service. Members of the Healing Prayer Group are: Gill Allen, Rosemary Sturmer, Maggie Davies, Joan Thomason. Confiden ality is assured .
Puzzle Panel
A simple quiz this month, because everyone can unscramble anagrams. So which Wokingham buildings (not all in our parish) can you discover in the anagrams below? You may not get them all, but email the editor on editor@allsaintswokingham.org.uk if you get nine or more. No prizes but you will get a name-check.
1) End slowest echo
2) Gain to know a Smith
3) He greets forth
4) Hen: preach and hoot
5) How to mail pink hags
6) Hunch s lls a car 7) I pinch cross slots 8) Log off, sulked
Three cones torn
Touch PR crisis
Use hut door
What? Not hell
God, bless our year
Giving us
Time for the task
Peace for the pathway
Wisdom for the work
Friends for the fireside
Love to the last.
(From the Mothers’ Union of Anthology of Public Prayers)
Happy New Year to you all.
Mothers’ Union have been busy once again organising December’s ac-vi-es and planning for 2025.
At the end of November, we held a very enjoyable Christmas Past and Present social a2ernoon. We told our stories of Christmases Past and Present, heard an excerpt from John Betjeman’s Christmas Poem and a recita-on of the Journey of the Magi, and discussed some fun facts about Christmas. We enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies and ended with a tradi-onal game - pass the parcel!
Several of us a9ended the ’16 Days of Ac-vism’ service at St Paul’s at the beginning of December. This is a worldwide campaign held every year at the end of November to raise awareness of the nega-ve impact that violence and abuse have on women and children and to rid society of abuse permanently. This campaign was spearheaded by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and is supported by Mothers’ Union worldwide.
We held a bo9le tombola at the All Saints’ Christmas Fair in December and we raised about £200 for church funds. This stall proved to be great fun, and, as we had some bo9les le2 over, we con-nued Sunday a2er the 9.30am service! Many thanks to everyone who donated bo9les and contributed to our stall by buying a -cket (or lots of -ckets in some cases!)
By the -me this ar-cle is published, Mothers’ Union will have held our AGM. We have assembled a full programme of wonderful events happening in 2025, which you will find out about during the year!
Meanwhile dates for your February/March diaries are shown opposite.
Jo Robinson
Our New Bishop of Berkshire
Canon Mary Gregory is to be the new Bishop of Reading. Here's a brief biography:
Mary was educated at Birmingham University and St John’s College, Durham and trained for ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham. She served her .tle at Ha;ield in the Diocese of Sheffield and in 2006 was ordained priest. From 2008, Mary served as Rector in Kirk Sandall and Edenthorpe. From 2013, she was addi.onally appointed Dean of Women’s Ministry. In 2015, Mary was appointed Team Rector of the Flagstaff Family of Churches in the Diocese of Leicester, also serving as Diocesan Rural Mission Enabler from 2020. Mary has served in her current role as Canon Residen.ary for Arts and Reconcilia.on at Coventry Cathedral since 2022.
Mary gave an interes.ng interview with BBC Radio Berkshire. You can hear the whole interview at this address: h#ps://anglican.us2.list-manage.com/track/click? u=14501d5eebc3e98fa3015a290&id=7f07ddd0a4&e=69edd58356. Below is an extract.
Q: People listening would love to know a li#le bit about your faith journey. What was it like for you? Did you wake up one morning and know that this was your calling? How did it happen?
A: It's a great ques.on and it's a story That I love to tell. My lovely parents were both Chris.ans and they took me and my sisters to church from being babies so I had a really rich heritage of Chris.an faith. And then when I was about thirteen a friend of mine who went to a Bap.st Church invited me to join her youth group for Lent. And that was
MU Programme
Tuesday 11th February 10.00am Corporate Communion in church
Wednesday 26th February 1.30pm Talk by Fraser from Wetlands Trust in the Cornerstone
Tuesday 11th March 10.00am Corporate Communion in church
Wednesday 26th March 1.30pm Talk by Ruth from Po#ers Village charity in Cornerstone
If you would like to know more about our All Saints’ Mothers’ Union please do contact our branch leader Sue at sue831@b.nternet or 07957 801394 for more informa.on
Our New Bishop
a real turning point for me because I realised that the faith that I'd inherited from my parents was one I needed to make a choice about, to name it as my own, if you see what I mean. So I said "This is my faith, Jesus is my friend and my Lord" and from that day it became mine in a way that is really precious.
And I some.mes hesitate to tell this story because I don't want people to think it sounds odd but I was living in Lincolnshire at the .me and our village church was always unlocked during the day so you could go in at any .me. And one day (and I don't know why now, I don't remember) I went into the church and stood right at the top of the church towards the altar and I really strongly felt a voice saying to me "This is where you belong". And I knew it didn't mean in that par.cular church; I knew it was in a sense of belonging in the church, serving the church. It was such a profound moment that has obviously never leN me. And really from that young teenage I thought that one day I would be a priest even though in those days women couldn't be priests of course.
Q: Wow but you s.ll thought "I'll do it; this is what I can do"?
A: Yes I did. I really felt that this is what God had made me for. And I didn't become ordained un.l I was about thirty because I went to university and then I really felt that for me to be a sort-of rounded priest I needed some life experience so I joined the prison service. I worked there for ten years as an officer and then a governor. Just to kind-of live a bit if you see what I mean.
Bracknell and Wokingham Choral Societies Concert
Two of Berkshire's best known choirs are combining together to perform Edward Elgar's monumental oratorio, The Dream of Geron.us, at Guildford Cathedral on Saturday 22nd March 2025 star.ng at 6pm. The concert will feature the 180 voices of the massed choir supported by the 60-piece Bri.sh Sinfonie#a Orchestra and the organist Ben Giddens together with three na.onally acclaimed professional singers. The two experienced musical directors Greg Hallam and George de Voil have been working extensively with the two choirs to prepare them for this for this ambi.ous work which demands both technical mastery as well as great emo.onal depth. Elgar’s The Dream of Geron.us is widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements in Bri.sh choral music. The oratorio, based on the poem by Cardinal John Henry Newman, follows the spiritual journey of a dying man, Geron.us, as his soul passes into the aNerlife, guided by a Guardian Angel.
As it is 125 years since Elgar wrote this extraordinary work it is appropriate that is marked by what promises to be an outstanding performance set in the magnificent surroundings of Guildford Cathedral. Clearly a concert not to be missed.
Flower Guild
The Guild members had a lovely day arranging flowers for Christmas. We introduced some new designs and colours; red was used for the first .me in many years. We also had some designs without using Oasis, the Church looked wonderful and we hope you all enjoyed the flowers. We now look forward to arranging for Easter and as has been tradi.on, we ask that if you would like to make a dona.on for the Easter Flowers, dona.on envelopes will be available in church and your name or your loved one's name will appear in the memorial frame.
We hope you enjoy the flowers we do arrange in Church. We are always looking for new members to enjoy arranging flowers so if you share our passion for flowers why not have a go at arranging, you would be very welcome. One-to-one guidance can be arranged and the main aim would be for you to develop your skills and enjoy. Why not just come along to one of our group arranging sessions and see what we do? Contact Sue Hedley 07831 149832 or e-mail suehedley@jag.org.uk.
Sun 02 February Lucille Taylor (Main) Pauline Smith (Porch memorial for Trevor Smith) Sun 09 February Flowers to be checked and refreshed as required
Sun 16 February Selina Wilkins (Main) Sue James (Porch)
Sun 23 February No flowers during Lent : the Lenten Ring to be created by Jane Mellor Arrangers some mes have to change at short no ce We will be arranging for Easter on Friday 18th & Saturday 19th April
Flower Guild Diary
25 Years Ago - 2000
Colin James wrote this: So far the Year of our Lord 2000 has dawned without (so far!) any of the dire consequences predicted by the prophets of doom. Those who dreaded the Millennium bug can breathe again. Those who stockpiled provisions can start ea.ng their way through them.
From Advent to Epiphany All Saints Church tower was topped by an illuminated star which could be seen from far away. I know from many conversa.ons with people, including some from outside the church, how powerfully this spoke to them. It was one of those symbols which didn't need a lot of explaining in order to convey its message of blessing and hope.
During the same period we had in church the display of prayer sculptures which invited visitors to add their own prayers or resolu.ons. The prayers that were leN there were used in our service of Prayers for the Millennium on New Year's Eve. Many individuals and groups were helped to reflect on the giN of God's crea.on and our responsibility for preserving it for future genera.ons. The volume of prayer generated by this remarkable event is literally incalculable, but who can doubt that it will have been pleasing and acceptable to the Creator?
Then there were the candles. Two thousand were distributed at the Winter Carnival, at services, through the junior schools in the parish, to groups mee.ng in our Annexe and to visitors to the display. We have no way of knowing how many of these, and all the candles distributed across the country, were used as suggested as midnight approached on 31st December. But if only half were, again this represents a surge of prayer which must have jammed the heavenly switchboard!! We don't pray to change God's mind. His purpose for us couldn't be made more loving whatever we did. We pray in order to have the mind of God. It is we, not he, who need to be changed.
Clergy and Officers
Parish Clergy and Ministers
PastoralCareTeamMembers
Claire Jones, Jo Robinson, Margaret Ragge0, Clive Charlton, Sue Howard, Pam Gilbey, John Burbury, Barbara Smith, Jacqui Headland and Rosemary Sturmer.
From The Parish Registers
24 November Emilia Louise Boddam-Whetham
08 December Desireoluwa Emmanuel Ojerinde
Last Month's Puzzle
Oh dear—the puzzle in the last edi?on seemed to fox nearly everyone. Too difficult? Or too li0le ?me among the would-be solvers?
Anyway the only solu?on (and the only correct solu?on) was received from Anne and John Harrison. So congratula?ons to them.
If anyone would like some notes on solving the clues, contact the editor.
