Opening Message : From Hannah
As we move firmly into the summer months, it’s a great me to get outside and experience the beauty of nature and biodiversity on our doorstep. The churchyard is a very special place in the heart of our community – a green sanctuary, a place of remembrance and reflec on, of beauty and peace, of biodiversity and flourishing. A team of hard-working volunteers come together regularly to try and keep the churchyard looking its best and ensure that it is an accessible space where anyone can come and enjoy some peace.
According to our current management plan for the churchyard, we maintain some areas of the churchyard as formal – with short, neat grass – and others as summer meadow, which means the grass is allowed to grow long in these areas through the summer, allowing wildlife and wild flowers the opportunity to flourish. The grass is then cut short in July. During June we will be welcoming a number of local groups and schools to the churchyard for bug hun ng and to discover what natural treasures hide amongst the grass in what is a quite unique habitat.
The churchyard is cared for by volunteers and we are always looking for help and support with this – you don’t need to be a church member or have any par cular connec on to the churchyard, but if you love being outside and feel you could lend a hand, then do come along to one of our regular working par es – upcoming dates are 8th June, 6th July and 3rd August, all 9am12noon. The care and development of the churchyard also costs a lot of money, from equipment for cu-ng the grass to signage – hopefully coming soon! - so if anyone would like to donate to the churchyard then do get in touch. In the mean me, please remember that the churchyard is a space for everyone and can I encourage you this summer, as the days grow longer and warmer, to pop by and spend some me enjoying the peace and beauty and biodiversity in your local churchyard.
The Revd Hannah Higginson Associate Priest
Our Revised Vision
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ALL SAINTS PARISH MAGAZINE
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.
Please email items for publica on directly to the editor on or before the Copy Date. Alterna vely contribu ons can be typed or handwri en.
Email:editor@allsaintswokingham.org.uk
All Saints PCC Wokingham is a Registered Charity, No. 1127585
Editor: Steve Smith 0118 979 4407
Associate Editor: Harriet Swinyard 0118 962 9313
Produc on: Jane Hodgson 0118 979 2797
Subs & Distribu on: David Chapman 0777 199 4461
CopyDateDeadlineforJulyIssue: 18June2024
Produc!on: 25June2024
Publica!on: 30June2024
Subscrip!ons: www.allsaintswokingham.org.uk/all-saints-parish-magazine
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May’s PCC Meeting
The PCC does not usually meet in the same month as the APCM but we wanted the opportunity to talk about the role of the next Associate Priest before Hannah le for her well-earned break before she comes back as Rector. Hannah had prepared a paper looking at this role in the context of other staff, clergy and volunteer roles. We are about to adver'se for a community support officer to help develop the spaceforall vision, with money from a diocesan grant. And what about a Director of Music? Money will be 'ght for any posts and this has to be taken into account. We could see that there would be a lot of things we would not be able to do if there was no second priest.
This was very much a first step in the discussion that will take some 'me and the earliest we can expect to have someone in post is November.
We heard that Borras had provisionally agreed a se.lement of the final bill for the construc'on work. This will be about £50,000 more than we have already raised from our generous congrega'on and others . We will not launch a general appeal but people who would like to help us either in the form of a dona'on or a loan are asked to contact the Treasurer.
The churchyard group had submi.ed a paper for approval to buy new ba.ery powered mowing equipment - namely one strimmer, one mower, four ba.eries and two chargers. It will be the first step to make the machinery in the churchyard more sustainable and replace the now-very-unreliable machinery. The whole package costs an eye watering £6,700. We were reminded that the cost is quite understandable when one realises that we have 4 acres of estate, not just a garden, to mow, and that ba.eries that charge in twenty minutes mean no delays part way through the job for our volunteers or community payback team.
Inevitably with the APCM looming we discussed who was standing for the various posi'ons and what the running order for the day would be. Finally we said farewell to Hannah as Associate Priest and looked forward to welcoming her back to the PCC as Rector.
Anne
King
As usual these are the personal reflec'ons of the author and not the mee'ng's official record.
ADVERTISEWITHUS. There’s half a page available on the inside front page, the best loca'on in this magazine. Contact editor@allsaintswokingham.org.uk to take up this prominent opportunity.
The Annual Church Meetings
The two official mee ngs began with the Vestry mee ng. Zara Ross took the chair because we have no incumbent at present. A er opening prayers from the Revd Colin, John Burbury and Alun James were re-elected as churchwardens. Once again, there is a vacancy for the third warden slot.
Then came the Annual Parochial Church Mee ng, which began with an address from the Revd Hannah en tled "Looking Back, Looking Forward". She commented how a year ago the church building was a building site. She highlighted the five aspects of the spaceforall vision: Improved well-being in our community, An inspiring venue, More people enjoying local heritage and nature, A more connected community, More diversity of spiritual expression. She pointed out how Bishop Steven had supported such aims when he opened the building. Hannah went on to emphasise that the vision is now becoming reality, with all sorts of ac vi es that include the wonderful "Link" partnership. The need now is passion, passion to reinvigorate our vision.
There was no separate report on 2023 this year; instead parishioners were referred to the Parish Profile that was created as part of the Rector-Recruitment programme.
We heard from Anne King with the accounts. She spoke of the large propor on of our income which is consumed by clergy employment (via the "parish share"), and how that parish share rate is increasing. A figure of "almost 20%" was men oned. Meanwhile 2023 was a "ro<en year" for the Cornerstone's finances, but 2024 should be be<er. Anne hoped that spaceforall opera ons should break even this year. Meanwhile on the spaceforall's capital fund, the final bill is £50k more than we have in the fund and we will be seeking funding for this. In the short term it will be financed with a loan. .
We then men oned briefly the Fabric Goods & Ornaments report, the Deanery Synod report and the Safeguarding report, all on the church website (www.allsaintswokingham.org.uk/about-us/churchmembersarea/annual-mee ng-accounts-2024/). Synod nomina ons resulted in Selina Wilkins and Beatrice Smiles joining Anne King (Peter Barre<'s there already ex officio), with two vacancies unfilled. PCC nomina ons followed, with Claire Jones and Roshney Jeyakumar joining the council (again leaving unfilled vacancies).
Finally we had a ques on from the floor, which resulted in Margaret Hawkins expressing the wish for more sung responses. Hannah replied that once she is installed as Rector we will be exploring various op ons around music and sung liturgy may well be part of that, but she would like congrega onal inputs generally about our worship. The mee ng closed in prayer. Steve Smith
As usual these are the personal reflec ons of the author and not the mee ng's official record.
Charity Spotlight : Link Visiting Scheme
‘Changing lives through friendship’. What could be more needed in today’s society than friendship, yet so many elderly people living in the Wokingham area are lonely and the long term effects of loneliness on people’s mental as well as physical health are undeniable. The Link run a large number of ac"vi"es for people to join in from chair yoga to ‘pie and pint’; there is something for everyone. They also set up friendships between members and volunteers who see to it that their Link friend has a regular visitor and someone to look out for them.
We have become increasingly aware of the work of Link over the last year as we have partnered with them at spaceforall. The work of Link is invaluable. We are so pleased to have them using the church every Thursday to run their Friendship Hub. Link are always looking for willing volunteers so if you think you could be a friend to someone who is lonely why not get in touch with Link. To find out more about Link, see their website www.linkvisi"ng.org.
WaystoHelpLink
1. Volunteers who are able to spend an hour or so once a week or once a fortnight with those who are desperate to see a friendly face. This volunteering role can happen at a day and "me that suits the volunteer.
2. Transport, to help get older people from home to an ac"vity or event and back again. We would work with the volunteer to agree availability for a few weeks at a "me so no ongoing commitment needed.
3. Fundraising. If you can hold a coffee morning, raise sponsorship, join our lo-ery or a-end any of our fundraising events – we would be so grateful.
WaystoPray:
1. We would love to reach those in our community struggling with the serious impact of loneliness. Pray that they are able to find our service.
2. For the health and wellbeing of our staff team so that they are able to be-er support those in our community who are struggling.
3. For our volunteers that they feel supported and able to con"nue to offer posi"ve friendships that change lives.
I followed him...
Like a lost puppy I trailed behind cap vated In the horror of the moment.
This man I had followed All this me
The godlike man, Manlike God who Called me out of my place And into a new one.
This one who s lled the storms
With a sigh, stopped the Raging of demons In a breath.
Who cleansed, healed, Brought to life, gave sight. Liberated.
Now cap ve in his own net. Caught by his goodness. And I followed him.
I followed him
In the cold night, As he wept drops of blood for A will that wasn't his own.
I followed him as his captors Led him away to doom
Just a few steps behind but A life me away.
I followed him to The warmth of a courtyard fire
To the pain of accusa ons. To see what they would do To my friend.
I followed him but The warmth of the fire was
Peter's Story
The Revd Paul Arnold
so invi ng.
The girl smiled at me. "You know him"
"Not I"
"You knew him" "No"
"You followed him" "I swear I did not"
No sooner had the one breath
Of the coward escaped my lips
Did the cock crow and Eyes met mine. In that colder night.
Eyes with infinity behind them.
Eyes that had beckoned me
To follow Him
And I had.
But now I fled.
I fled from my own lies and Shallow fears. I fled
From the very cross that Beckoned my own fate. The place I should be He was.
I wept. I ran.
That Friday seemed endless. But then it was done. It was done. All was finished.
Silence
I could not. I dared not believe
When the women ran to find
me.
With words too fantas c to believe
"He is alive" "No." I ran.
"It can't be."
The stone had been rolled. "Surely not."
The tomb empty.
Come sit. Have breakfast with me.
Fat fish landed being grilled on a Charcoal fire. "It is the Lord" and I jumped in.
"Come sit." I came.
"Walk with me." I followed him.
Once more like a lost puppy I wandered By his side.
"Do you love me?" "Yes" "Feed my lambs"
"Do you love me?" "Yes" "Feed my lambs"
"Do you love me?" "You know that I love you."
"Feed my sheep."
He told me I would follow him.
And I did.
My place restored by his side. And the de of his love washed
Over me once more. And I would follow him now And forever.
The Voice of the Church
The Guild of Clerical Ringers (ringing clergy) recently published: The Voice of the Church sub tled Bells and Bellringers in the Life of the Church of England.
The ringing community can be hard for non-ringers, including those in the church, to appreciate, and the authors of the book, who inhabit both church and ringing communi es, aim to bridge the gap.
The book explains the special sound of ringing and the skill behind it, and also the history. Ringers were independent for centuries. Bells were in church towers but (except the chancel) church buildings were community assets. (It’s interes ng that SpaceForAll is bringing the community back into our building in a way that was normal when it was first built.) ‘Ringing’ (many bells in sequence) was for secular events and sport, not for calling people to worship, which was done by a sexton tolling a single bell.
Around 150 years ago, a group of clergy inspired by the ‘Oxford Movement’ set about ‘Belfry Reform’. They drew in ringers as church workers, set up ringing socie es, and promoted change ringing (which requires more mental discipline than just ringing in a fixed order). Change ringing was first introduced at All Saints in 1873 by the then curate, and in 1880 Wokingham was at the heart of the new Sonning Deanery Society.
The book discusses the role of ringing in the modern church, and the rela onship between the church and ringers, many of whom may not be religious but are happy to serve the church and community in return for the challenge, camaraderie and sa sfac on they derive from ringing.
At All Saints we have a strong rela onship between ringers and the church, and we have had three notable ringing clergy. The Revd FE Robinson was a leading proponent of Belfry Reform and is buried here. The Revd Bertram Long was a founder member of the Clerical Guild and Rector here from 1904 to 1933. The Revd Gilbert Thurlow, who went on to be both president of the ringers’ Central Council and Dean of Gloucester, was Curate here from 1935 to 1937.
For details of The Voice of the Church see this website: ringingworld.co.uk/purchase/shop/the-voice-of-the-church.html.
For my own (2017) explora on of the rela onship see this website: jaharrison.me.uk/New/Ar cles/TheologyRinging.pdf. John Harrison
25 Years Ago - 1999
The Revd David Hodgson wrote this piece twenty-five years ago. Much of it is today's food for thought. Editor.
The Kosovo crisis is dividing opinions on all sides. There is a range of different views about the rights and wrongs of the NATO bombings of Serbia. I have read the public statements of several world religious and na!onal leaders. They do not all agree. Public opinion in this country and throughout the Western world is also divided. If the majority of people accept that the present NATO interven!on was the only alterna!ve, there is a sizable minority who do not support the NATO bombing of Serbia. The one comment I have read which perhaps sums up what most people feel was made by the journalist Nigella Lawson who concluded a recent piece about the conflict: “This is a bad business”.
I am deeply troubled that interna!onal rela!ons in the final year of this century, perhaps the most bloody century in recorded history, should once again be marked by warfare within Europe. Pi!less ethnic decima!on, bedraggled waves of displaced persons, air a0acks and bombing: all these are horrors we had hoped were banished from the European con!nent a1er the end of the Second World War. But beginning with the crises in Croa!a and Bosnia and con!nuing now in this intensifica!on of conflict in Kosovo, we see that apparently modern and civilised socie!es remain capable of degenera!ng into what Pope John Paul II has called “this diabolical spiral of revenge and senseless fratricidal conflict”. (Urbis et Orbis, Easter 1999)
To all Chris!ans, pacifist or not, war is an unacceptable state of affairs; it is contrary to the final will of God. War has no place in the Kingdom of Christ. No amount of governmental media spin should be allowed to obscure that for us. If war must be prosecuted, if destruc!ve force must be used, the Chris!an moral tradi!on has set out certain condi!ons which must be met; the so called “just war” criteria. These principles can be useful for judging whether a par!cular military ac!on is morally acceptable under the circumstances. Our diocesan bishop the Rt Revd Richard Harris of Oxford helpfully summarised these principles in a statement at the beginning of the NATO campaign. The war must be a defensive response to unjust aggression; there must be a realis!c chance of success; there must be less evil unleashed by the military ac!on than would be the case if no ac!on were taken; only military targets must be chosen; and force must never be an end in itself.
It is easy to see that the present NATO ac!on does not fulfil any one of those five criteria unambiguously. But then most wars fall short of the just war principles. it is partly because the principles themselves are limited by their origins in a !me before the modern industrial age; but also because wars inevitably develop their own horrible momentum as any student of the First World War will recall. Hoping that any war can be conducted according to the condi!ons of the morality of the just war theory is
perhaps as unrealis c as hoping we can trust modern technology to deliver a war which is surgically neat and bloodless.
General William Sherman, hugely successful in the American Civil War, gave his verdict on the subject when he said "War is hell. ¼ I'm sick and red of it ¼ its glory is all moonshine.” But the remembered horrors of previous wars have never been sufficient to deter new genera ons from engaging in it. Violence is like a twis ng, clinging parasite that snakes back through history, as if rooted in the first dust from which humanity was fashioned, and it constantly manages to hide its truly horrible face as it lures each new genera on into accep ng its inevitability.
It is clear that though we have reached the end of the second millennium of faith in the Prince of Peace, humanity has yet to make that giant leap which will one day eliminate the op on of war from interna onal affairs. Let us pray urgently for a swi/ end to the destruc on and suffering on all sides; and let us urge our leaders to be ceaseless in finding the way which will both achieve the righ1ul goals of jus ce for the Albanian Kosovars and an end to the destruc ve bombing of Serbia. For if this “bad business” serves any purpose at all, let it serve for peace.
Prayer & Healing Ministry Team
O Lord Jesus Christ, who went about doing good and healing all manner of sickness: give strength, wisdom and gentleness to all thy ministering servants, our physicians, surgeons and nurses; that always bearing thy presence with them, they may not only heal but bless, and shine as lamps of hope in the darkest hours of distress and fear; who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God world without end ChurchMissionSociety
Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.
Proverbs3:5-6
The next Laying on of Hands ministry will be on Sunday June 2nd at the 9.30am service.
Members of the Prayer Ministry team are Rosemary Sturmer, Jill Oliver, Jo Robinson, Gill Allen and Becky Medlico@. Prayer Ministry is available every Sunday a/er the 9.30am service. Members of the healing prayer group are Gill Allen, Rosemary Sturmer, Maggie Davies, Joan Thomason and Jill Oliver. Confiden ality is assured.
EarthFayre-Saturday28thSeptember
Following on from the success of last year’s Earth Fayre, the Climate Ma@ers group at All Saints have been working hard to prepare for another Earth Fayre on Saturday 28th September 10am-3pm.
Whilst final details are s ll to be arranged, we are excited to be welcoming some new and returning stall holders and speakers to this day. The aim of the Earth Fayre is to raise awareness of green ini a ves in the community, to discover chari es or businesses that we may not have heard of and might want to support, to challenge ourselves to live greener lives for the sake of the planet. Returning stall holders include Freely Fruity, whose mission it is to plant more fruit for people to enjoy in local communi es for free, and the challenging climate change game ‘Climate Fresk’. New stall holders include local business Maya’s Refillables and Reading Friends of the Earth. We aim to cater for all ages and this year we are pleased to be welcoming back a local story teller, as well as Mini Nature Ar sts, crea ng art with the magic of nature, promo ng mindfulness and an apprecia on for our natural world.
We will also have a selec on of speakers throughout the day to challenge us as we reflect on the climate crisis, green energy and care for our local woodlands. Entry is free and all are welcome to pop in and explore our stall and speakers. More informa on about speakers and stall holders will be available on our church website in September – but in the mean me please put the date in your diaries, and if you have a green ini a ve to share and would like a stall, please contact the editor.
Revd Hannah Higginson
The Lounge
Soulscape is a charity supported financially by All Saints but importantly relies on volunteers who help or actually run various ac vi es in schools, and one of these is “The Lounge”. This is a weekly lunch break opportunity for groups of students to be supported by Soulscape.
It aims to build on the links that are developed during the transi on between year 6 and year 7 and is ac ve in several schools including St Crispin’s. I have been volunteering at these lunch me sessions for a number of years along with others from All Saints and from Norreys Church. Sadly we have been one volunteer down this term due to sickness and Becky will no longer be available next term so the need for one or two to join in this important role is a bit urgent!
Each year the students have different needs, but a safe place to relax in lunch break and “chill” is important. Currently there are eight to ten who come regularly, but last year we had two or three mes that number on a few occasions.
So what are you doing in the 45 minutes star ng at noon on Wednesdays in term me and could you join the rota? The commitment is a willingness “to be there” and prepared to listen and interact with the students! Playing UNO is a skill that can be learned (other games are available!) and Soulscape have a number of other tools and resources that can be used in the sessions as well as offering support and training.
As this involves work in the school you would need to have a DBS check (which Soulscape will organise) and if you would like further informa on please ask me or Becky Medlico@ or Rosemary Sturmer.
I should add that other lunchbreak days are available at other schools (e.g. Bohunt, Emmbrook and The Holt) and most of the volunteers are ac ve in one or other of the Churches Together in Wokingham.
More informa on also online h@ps://soulscape.org.uk/the-lounge/
EDITOR’S PLEA
Clive Charlton
Are you a reader of this magazine or a contributor? This publica on is not just for the congrega on; it’s also by the congrega on. Think what you could chip in.
PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH GROUPS
Which make our church a func oning church
Apologies for any omissions—Editor
FromtheEditor: David Chapman's View-From-The-Pews ar%cle en%tled "Original Sin and Atonement Theology" has produced quite a reac%on. See the next few pages....
Response : Sin & Atonement : 1
I came upon a copy of your May 2024 parish magazine last night. I was quite horrified to read in it, a ‘view from the pews’ deba%ng original sin and the atonement sacrifice of Jesus. Within the ar%cle, the author stated that the early Chris%an Fathers “deified the person Jesus”. That calling sin sin, declares the person themselves, not the actual sin, bad and unworthy.
I’m just horrified to find an ar%cle printed in your parish magazine by someone who doesn’t know the gospel! That hasn’t been saved by the risen Jesus? Who seems to know nothing of God’s uncondi%onal love, mercy and grace? If this is a view shared by others then no wonder!
I'm more than happy to explain the gospel as invited to by the editor at the end of the ar%cle, but isn’t this the en%re func%on of the church itself???
Sending love to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Postscript: Please can I add the thoughts of a wiser man than I am to the subject? C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Chris%anity:
"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people o9en say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say.
A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a luna%c - on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice.
Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.
You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher.
He has not le9 that open to us. He did not intend to."
He doesn’t mince his words does he? Neither did “the person Jesus’s” friend John…
”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that
has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to tes%fy concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth“ John 1:1-14 NIV UK
Personally I choose to fall on my knees to my Lord and Saviour, King Jesus…
Jackie Hooker
Daniel Stroud
Response : Sin & Atonement : 2
The Revd Helen Charlton
Original Sin and the Clergy bookshelf… Thank you, David, for raising some really important points, and thank you for sending me to rootle in my bookshelves. Some readers may not know that David and I are old friends having both worked as experienced social workers in mental health, our paths crossing at various points in different local authori%es!
Some other friends of ours who go to a free church in Wokingham spoJed the May magazine, read the ar%cle and wanted to know my response! The rootling has also helped as I’m preparing a sermon on the Trinity – there is some overlap! The nugget of my sermon will be that, above all else, God’s love in and through the Trinity is something that is experienced in our day to day lives, full of movement and flow, like a circle dance or riding a wave. I have two other key principles: one is from a s%cker on my desk (source unknown) ‘God is in the business of restora%on and redemp%on, He is not a religious hobby’- note the present tense. The second is from St Augus%ne, ‘If you comprehend something, then it’s not God’.
David men%ons the contribu%on of the Early Church Fathers …. my view is that they were trying to make sense of crea%on, of God’s story, and of the Cross. They were wrestling (and deba%ng amongst each other) about such things as how much metaphor is present in Scripture, and what is the role of human experience and reason. I’m not sure they all took a literalist view. Tertullian and Augus%ne described the Trinity on the basis of images and concepts from the scriptures, and the evidence of early worship prac%ces. This and the debates about salva%on con%nued through the middle ages, via Aquinas, through the cri%cal period of the 14th and 15th centuries and are s%ll happening, including this current discussion, with more recent Libera%on and Feminist voices present. I think there is, and always has been, a range of views on how God acts in the world ( - and is that world basically good, but then marred by sin, or is it always in need of saving?).
Many will be familiar with Rublev’s Icon of the Trinity. Here is Richard Rohr, a well known Franciscan Friar and writer (reflec%ng on the Icon): "We are all invited to join the table fellowship and the divine circle dance, all crea on is invited in and this is the libera on God intended from the very beginning….. Our final goal of union with God is grounded in crea on itself, ….. Our star ng place was always original goodness, not original sin. This makes our ending place - and everything in between - possessing an inherent capacity for goodness, truth and beauty."
I think there are a whole range of theological tracks or threads which spread out into a spectrum. If we ask a range of people about what they think happened when Jesus died on the cross we would get a mixture of several threads. One end of the spectrum might start with Augus%ne’s view of human nature, put neatly here by Alister McGrath: "It is frail, weak, and lost, and needs divine assistance and care if it is to be restored and renewed." Augus%ne saw sin in terms of disease, power and guilt; the first two needing healing and libera%on respec%vely. The third (guilt) is interes%ng as it resonates with judicial concepts and processes which feature in St Paul’s wri%ngs and were held in high esteem. This element, which might be termed ‘penal subs%tu%on’ was developed further by Luther, Melanchthon and Calvin several centuries later as they formulated various versions of Jus%fica%on by Grace through Faith. This par%cular thread (or Theory of Atonement) tends to be more dominant in the more strict protestant Chris%an communi%es. And I hear%ly agree with David that the nega%ve message received by people who are vulnerable and downtrodden (by life and by other people) is highly damaging. I also have problems with anything where a wrathful God is assumed, for I have never encountered that God, only the one who welcomes me home like a mother, no maJer where I’ve been.
But other threads are available (!). These may include reference to the suffering of God, forgiveness, the cross as victory, the cross as sacrifice, and so on. As the theological debate con%nues and updates, the term ‘theory of atonement’ is gradually being replaced by the Greek word for salva%on: soteriology. One ac%ve debate is the degree to which there is focus on the cross as an historical event, or the con%nuing work of God in the world or what will happen in the future when the final saving of the world occurs (and includes ways in which ‘salva%on in Christ’ could be seen as universal).
I suspect that our Chris%an sisters and brothers in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches align more closely with the threads that are more affirming and less guilt ridden. For example, churches with a more Eastern history will favour a more mys%cal stance based on ‘God becoming man so man could be more like God’.
But maybe are we s ll le with the dilemma ….Are we confident in our Faith in Christ’s work, and are we basically OK? I think, also, we have to admit that there are lots of things in life that are, for want of a be'er phrase, ‘bad’. The gospel message cannot be reduced to slush. To quote Migliore: "Grace is not cheap, and faith can never be separated from obedience", which is the clear message of Romans chapters 9 - 11.
Picking up David’s point about the challenge of Jesus’ radical message of peace, love and social jus ce, Rohr points to the biblical theme of Restora ve rather that Retribu ve Jus ce, and writes about the difficult task of entering into solidarity with those in pain. Migliore again: "To be in Christ and to walk by the Spirit is to par cipate in the energy of God’s libera ng, sacrificial love and to be given new courage and hope by it. Only this love of God …. can transform a broken world and bring it healing and renewal."
Chris anity is not dead. Christ is alive in the world, the Holy Spirit swirls around us all the me, and God is s ll in the business of restora on and redemp on. We are s ll invited to join the table of rela onships represented by Rublev, to join the circle dance (perichoresis) described by the church fathers in the 6th century and to ride the wild wave of God’s love in our lives.
References:
Chris an Theology: An Introduc on. Alister E McGrath Faith seeking Understanding. Daniel L Migliore
The Divine Dance. Richard Rohr, with Mike Morrell
Response : Sin & Atonement : 3
I feel we must thank David for his ar cle in the May Magazine tled ‘Original Sin and Atonement Theory’. These are huge topics which have exercised Chris an thinkers for the last 2,000 years and con nue to s mulate fierce debate. We can be tempted to leave them to the theologians and preachers so it is refreshing that David has challenged us with his thoughts. A brief Internet search will reveal there have been many and varied theories of Atonement (e.g. ‘Seven Theories of the Atonement Summarized’ by Stephen Morrison) down through the history of Chris anity. However, it appears the main ques ons on Atonement revolve around whether Jesus’ mission was to provide us with an example and teaching on how we should live or whether his death accomplished something more than martyrdom for jus ce? From the Gospels’ account it seems evident that Jesus had both of these aims in mind. How we regard the issue will depend on who we believe Jesus was.
Atonement has already been raised in our ‘Coffee and Ques ons’ sessions - from a Chris an feminist perspec ve - and we plan to explore this further (next sessions: June
Response : Sin & Atonement : 3
21st & 22nd; July 19th & 20th - all welcome).
We cannot promise this group can arrive at ‘big answers to big ques$ons’ but I feel it is very helpful for us to try to explore and clarify our ques$ons in a place where openness is welcome. I experienced being very stuck for a long $me in my life:
Walking in treacle-slow blackness
Asking the same ques$on
A thousand, thousand $mes
Not knowing the ques$on
So here, to add a few ques$on marks to David’s points: Is the Bible literally ‘God’s Word’? Does the ‘Adam and Eve’ story help us to grasp the mystery of human nature with its tendencies to cruelty and its poten$al for good? Was Jesus deluded in believing his death was redemp$ve (whatever ‘redemp$ve’ means)? Do the words we say together in church help or hinder?
Response : Sin & Atonement : 4
David's ar$cle last month caused me a lot of concern. Not because of its focus on Original Sin, which is a concept that seems to me to up in the clouds of academia. But in his opening paragraph we find David pouring doubt on salva$on coming through Jesus's death on the cross for us sinners. That is for me way off beam. We all indulge in sin (who cares whether it's "Original" or not?) and that sin needs to be counterbalanced/expunged.
A few quota$ons. "First and foremost, I handed on to you the tradi$on I had received: that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures" (St.Paul in 1Cor). "For all alike have sinned, and are deprived of the divine glory; and all are jus$fied by God's free grace alone, through his act of libera$on in the person of Christ Jesus. For God designed him to be the means of expia$ng sin by his death, effec$ve through faith" (St.Paul in Rom). "In Christ our release is secured and our sins forgiven through the shedding of his blood" (St.Paul in Eph). "When [Jesus] had brought about purifica$on from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of God's majesty on high" (The unknown author of Hebrews). "My children, I am wri$ng this to you so that you should not commit sin. But if anyone does, we have in Jesus Christ one who is acceptable to God and will plead our cause with the Father. He is himself a sacrifice to atone for our sins, and not ours only but the sins of the whole world" (St.John in 1Jn).
That sin exists rampantly and that Jesus died to expiate sin is therefore a constant throughout Chris$anity's existence. It is certainly fundamental to the Church of
Tom Lochhead
News from Wokingham Choral Society
Wokingham Choral Society will be returning to their home venue at All Saints Church for their Summer Concert on 15th June star$ng at 7.30pm. This will be $tled “Glorious music for a summer’s evening” and feature a range of madrigals and part-songs by Bri$sh composers such as Elgar, RuJer and Sullivan. The choir will be conducted by our Musical Director George de Voil and accompanied by a small string sec$on and Ben Giddens on the piano. Refreshments will be served before the concert and at half $me. We are expec$ng this to be a wonderful evening of choral music and a fiLng end to what has been an exci$ng season under our new Musical Director George de Voil. Our venue will be the beau$ful refurbished All Saints Church in Wokingham town centre, where the acous$c is magical and the sea$ng is comfortable.
Next year we have a very ambi$ous programme of concerts that include BriJen's Ceremony of Carols and the cantata St Nicholas which will feature the choir of St George's School and most exci$ngly a spring concert to include Elgar’s “Dream of Geron$us.” with a full professional symphony orchestra.
The choir rehearses every Thursday at Emmbrook Senior School from 7.30pm - 9.45pm. We are a friendly enthusias$c and hardworking choir and we would very much welcome new singers of all voice parts to join us.
Please visit our website to find out more at www.wokingham-choral-society.org.uk
Chris Dunning
Response : Sin & Atonement : 4
England; witness Ar$cle 15 of the C of E's Thirty-Nine Ar$cles: "Christ in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things, sin only except from which he was clearly void, both in his flesh, and in his spirit. He came to be the Lamb without spot, who, by sacrifice of himself once made, should take away the sins of the world, and sin, as Saint John saith, was not in him. But all we the rest, although bap$zed, and born again in Christ, yet offend in many things; and if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Hear hear.
I'm sorry to say that my friend David is way off the mark. We live in an age of poli$cal correctness and even to refer to sin is a cause for a sharp intake of breath. But I for one am not ashamed to say that I am a sinner, a repeat offender, and that only Jesus with his horrible horrible self-sacrifice is a means of escape.
Steve Smith
Nature Notes
Andrea Gilpin of the Caring for God's Acre Organisation
Ladybirds:TinyHeroesinPolka-Do edArmour
The ladybird, with its stylish and cheerful polka dot ouPit, holds a special place in our hearts.
Few other insects, apart from perhaps the buJerfly, evoke as many posi$ve emo$ons and supers$$ons as the ladybird. With their rounded bodies and dis$nc$ve markings, ladybirds are easily recognisable. But not many people know that there are 46 different species of ladybirds in the UK alone. While some sport the classic red-with-black-spots look, others come in shades of yellow, orange, or even black with red spots.
Ladybirds play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance, especially in gardens and farms. As voracious predators of aphids and other garden pests, they serve as natural pest control agents, helping to keep plants healthy. In fact, a single ladybird can devour up to 5,000 aphids and other plant-ea$ng pests in its life$me, making them invaluable allies to gardeners and farmers alike.
Despite their diminu$ve size, ladybirds are not without their challenges. Predators, parasites, and even rival ladybirds pose threats to their survival. Birds, spiders, and other insects prey on them.
Many cultures believe that ladybirds are a symbol of good luck and new beginnings. In fact, the belief that ladybirds are associated with posi$ve quali$es is nearly universal – from Slavic, European, and Asian cultures to Na$ve Americans.
www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk
Lent Reflections
This year’s Lent Course was constructed by Chris$an Aid and it focussed biblically on poverty in both Britain and around the world. Peter Mason con$nues his summary of each of the six sessions.
Week3.“Generous”
The richest 10% of the global popula$on currently takes 52% of global income, whereas the poorest half of the popula$on earns 8.5% of it. (source: World Inequality Report 2022). 'There is a substan$al and robust body of research sugges$ng that countries with higher levels of inequality have lower levels of trust' (source: The Equality Trust).
Unfortunately I could not aJend this session but the guide notes provided with the course teach and guide us as individuals and as a church community about generosity. The following is a summary of that teaching.
The session began with a reading from Mark 12: 41-44. This is the familiar account of Jesus observing a poor widow giving two copper coins to 'The Treasury' having already seen many rich people puLng in large sums. Jesus tells His disciples "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than the rich people. The rich have contributed out of their abundance but the widow in her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."
How do we live generously in a cost of living crisis? How can we be 'cheerful givers' (2 Corinthians 9: 6) when we are already feeling the pinch? Tackling the task of poverty can be overwhelming. Many churches are s$ll impacted by the effects of the pandemic. Perhaps fewer people are able to get involved or maybe church finances are a worry. How can we be generous with our $me, energy and resources when we already feel depleted and overstretched?
The story of the widow's 'mite' can offer some encouragement. A 'mite' (or 'lepton') was the smallest coin in use in Jesus' $me. Much like a penny today. The story may even be the origin of the phrase 'puLng in my two pence'- referring to an opinion that may not count for much.
The widow's giW is $ny; how much difference could two copper coins make? Yet Jesus no$ces it and remarks on it. He seems to be praising the widow's generosity. Perhaps the point of this story is to show us that small acts of generosity do have great value and that God recognises this. Also despite being $ny in monetary value the widow's giW is everything she had. All she had to live on! The rich gave larger amounts but in real terms far less as their wealth was infinitely greater. If Jesus is presen$ng the widow as an example for us, then the expecta$on is that we will be just as excep$onally giving. It seems we are called to be generous even when we have almost nothing leW. This is hard
Jesus praises the widow's generosity in the context of a system where poor vulnerable people are exploited and deprived of homes and livelihoods by those with power. When Jesus comments on the widow's generosity then his main purpose is to ques$on how she has ended up in extreme poverty. Why should her dona$on mean giving up 'all she had to live on', whilst others remain comfortably off?
Is the story less about giving up our last pennies and more about challenging the system that creates the widow's poverty?
Mark's Gospel offers no easy answers. We don't know what happens to the widow. We don't hear from her first hand as to how she got to this point in her life. She gives what seems to be the last of her money as though she has no need of anything. The rich have everything they want but keep something back. The widow, by the standards of a capitalist society, is unwise. However this does suggest that generosity can be an act of defiance. Especially when we hear the message that whatever we have is not enough, we must keep back what we can for ourselves, just in case.
Our generosity can reveal a different vision! Maybe our two pence counts for more than we think.
Stephen Amusala (of Anglican Development Services Western Ltd in Kenya) can be heard speaking about the Kenyan cost of living crisis and the role climate change plays. He also tells how acts of loving generosity and partnership opportuni$es have made a difference.
Deacon Kerry ScarleJ (Vice President of the Methodist Conference) talks about growing up in the midst of conflict in Northern Ireland. And her ministry experience with communi$es coping with depriva$on, but also encounters of generosity.
Stef Benstead talks about her involvement in a Poverty Truth Commission in Manchester. This is a commission bringing together about 15 people in poverty and 15 people in posi$ons of influence such as police, council and university officers. Their aim is to bring about understanding in communi$es regarding poverty.
Listen to all of above at hJps://soundcloud.com/actonpoverty
We are challenged to listen to individuals who live with experience of poverty. And, in this elec$on year, to effect change by speaking to our poli$cal representa$ves.
As already men$oned extensive use of the course guide notes have been employed in the wri$ng of this reflec$on of this and the first two sessions.
Dingbats (or belfrybats?). All the words or phrases hinted at below are church connected. Can you deduce them? Solu$ons to editor; no prizes but you will get a name-check. editor@allsaintswokingham.org.uk.
Flower Guild
Friday 3rd May was “Na$onal Flower Arranging Day”, It’s an opportunity for flowers to be arranged in loca$ons to promote the organisa$ons that arrange flowers, such as the Church Flower Guild or Flower Clubs etc. We did an arrangement for the weekend in Church and in the Cornerstone.
We hope you enjoy the flowers we 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. Contact Sue Hedley 07831 149832 or e-mail suehedley@jag.org.uk.
Flower Guild Diary
Sun 02 June Flowers to be checked and refreshed as needed
Sun 09 June Angela Wade (Main) Val Briault (Porch, Memorial Richard Briault)
Sun 16 June Lucille Taylor (Main) Katherine Gilbey (Porch, Memorial Alan Thorne)
Sun 23 June Sue James (Main) Gail Houghton (Porch, Memorial Malcolm Houghton)
Sun 30 June TBA
Arrangers some mes have to change at short no ce
The following are words taken from the MU magazine called Connected. The Worldwide President (Sheran Harper) visited members in eight provinces in 2023 (including East, Central and Southern Africa, Britain and Ireland) and wrote about Crea ng a be er tomorrow -- MU is the rock, the promise and the hope! For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.
She wrote “suppor,ng women and caring for families has been at the heart of Mothers’ Union since its founding, almost 150 years ago. This drives our work across the world, priori,sing the end of the poverty violence and social injus,ce. …. Our movement is engaged and mo,vated to create a be4er tomorrow, united in our vision to be effec,ve …. MU brings las,ng change, unity and energy.”
Since our last ar,cle in the May Parish Magazine, we have been busy pu7ng our change, unity and energy into ac,on!
During April we held our Wave of Prayer linking with dioceses all around the world. In the Diocese of Oxford, we were linked with dioceses in Africa and New Guinea and Oxford. Several of us met in the Cornerstone Lounge to pray together.
We welcomed Tony Lack at our April mee,ng, who gave us a fascina,ng talk about bees. We were amazed at how these li4le creatures create so much posi,vity for our environment. As well as purchasing ‘Wokingham honey’ we gave Tony a dona,on - he will be buying more bee keeping equipment!
We have supported Soulscape in their Project PAUSE event at Emmbrook School. We also supported the first Bap,sm Families’ Social by baking cakes and helping on the aCernoon, which was a great success. This was an ini,a,ve led by the Revd Hannah.
We are con,nually aiming to form rela,onships with other MUs in the area and have now connected with Corpus Chris, in Sturges Road as well as St Paul’s and Crowthorne. We invite them, or they invite us, to their mee,ngs.
By the ,me you read this we will have held our annual meal. This year we are going to the Oakingham Belle for lunch – a change from going for a meal in the evening.
Sounds of Music (please see poster on back page)
Plans are well underway for our major fund-raising event this year. It is a musicthemed aCernoon tea to be held on Wednesday 26th June 1.30pm – 3.30pm in the Cornerstone. We will be raising funds for our MU chari,es as well as the All Saints Organ Fund. Places will need to be booked in advance and there will be a raffle,
Mothers' Union
entertainment and, of course, refreshments.
Following on from this theme, we will be hos,ng an organ recital on 9th November in the aCernoon, the proceeds of which will also go towards the Organ Fund. More details to follow but put this date in your diary.
Once again many thanks for all the support you give to the All Saints Mothers’ Union. If you would like to know more about our All Saints’ Mothers’ Union, please do contact our branch leader Sue at sue831@b,nternet.com or 07957 801394 to find out more.
Jo Robinson
Concert Review
Michael Freeman forwarded this for your interest: The Crowthorne Symphony Orchestra were rewarded for their imagina,ve programme by a full house at All Saints Church on Saturday 23rd March.
The first piece was Knight in Armour composed by Ruth Gipps in 1940. The piece was seen as a manifesta,on of Arthurian literature and brass and wind are ini,ally prominent, especially the oboe and cor anglais represen,ng the rela,onship between Lancelot and Guinivere. ACer the rather forceful opening, the further passages are calmer and gave the strings opportunity to display their talents onwards to the somewhat unexpected ending.
Elizaveta Tyun was the guest soloist for the Beethoven Violin Concerto; she was a category finalist in the 2014 BBC Young Musician of the Year; she has had a dis,nguished career since. The first movement is long at over twenty minutes and leads into the second movement where Elizaveta displayed her talents with some exquisite playing. In the final movement, the soloist is again to the fore and, combined with the full orchestra, the piece ends on an exhilara,ng climax and a thoroughly deserved great ova,on from the audience for both soloist and orchestra.
The final piece was, like the others, given an introductory guide by conductor Robert Roscoe. Job, a Masque for Dancing by Ralph Vaughan Williams comprises nine different scenes, ini,ally pastoral in style with again the cor anglais to the fore. It then moves into a frenzied mode as it depicts Satan's Dance of Triumph and the fourth scene (Job's Dream) has a calm start with the strings and then becomes increasingly forceful with the oboe prominent and then the brass sec,on. Throughout the whole piece, there are intriguing melodies and increasingly the en,re orchestra is involved including the alto saxophone, percussion and organ. Special men,on should be given to leader Susie Henwood for her solo, the three flau,sts who played a significant part and indeed the whole orchestra in handling a challenging piece for an amateur ouSit.
I am certain that most of the audience will have had full value and will return for the summer concert on 6 July at the same marvellous venue. Kenneth Bowden
Clergy and Officers
From The Parish Registers
29 April William Armstrong
Age 82
Interment of Cremated Remains ···················································································
17 April Constance Teresa Burns
Age 94
Rest In Peace
We record the recent death of the Revd Christopher Hewetson who died at the age of 86 on 2nd April in North Molton. Quite a dis'nguished career:
1971-73 Curate at All Saints Wokingham
1973-82 Vicar, St Peter's, Didcot
1982-90 Rector, All Saints, Ascot Heath
1986-90 Area Dean, Bracknell
1990-94 Priest-in-Charge, Headington Quarry
1992-94 Honorary Canon, Christ Church Cathedral
1994 Rural Dean, Cowley
1994-2002 Archdeacon of Chester
2003-07 Bishop of Exeter's Advisor for Spirituality
Last Month's Puzzle
Firstly let's provide the answers:
1=St John The Bap'st Crowthorne 2=St James Finchampstead
3=St Eligius Arborfield Green
5=St Andrew Priestwood
7=St Bartholomew Arborfield
9=All Saints Binfield.
4=Kerith Centre Bracknell
6=Bap'st Church Finchampstead
8=St Michael & St Mary Magdalene Easthampstead
Congratula'ons to Robert Vacher and Ann Crail for their answers. In store, we have another ten photos to use in a later magazine.
