!
"#$!%&'()#!*+! "#$!%&'()#!*+ ! ,--!.&(/0)! ,--!.&(/0) ! 1*2(/3#&4! 1*2(/3#&4 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
! !
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
! ! !
! !
! ! !
5*6$47$'!89:9! ! ;;;<&--)&(/0);*2(/3#&4<*'3<=2! ! !
>:<99!
From the Rector — November 2010 You may be surprised to learn that this church starts planning for Christmas in July. I’m sure retail outlets begin even earlier than we do! By July we have seen already the feedback we received from what happened in church the previous Christmas. This helps us in our planning for the next Christmas. Christmas in church is worth planning well and early because so many worship events take place in the four weeks up to and including Christmas Day. Many more people come through the church doors than at any other time of year. We hope everyone who comes into All Saints Church this December will feel welcome, and leave any of the services knowing they are surrounded by God’s love. Christmas is a great time for giving and sharing. As a church we want to share the gift of hospitality which is God’s gift to us and welcome as many people as possible to join the Christmas services. Many of our local schools will hold a Christmas service in the church. Every child attending will be given a small gift from All Saints Church, and a prayer card. We’d like to give a fantastic welcome to them and all the parents and staff. Would you join a team we need to be available to help us do this? (For more details phone or email Jo Asplin in the Parish Office; or speak to a churchwarden.) We also host special concerts at this time of year. Have you thought about whom you might invite to a church service with you this December? Are there neighbours, colleagues, friends or family members whom you could encourage to experience worship at one of the special services. There is a wide choice of events: from the music and mystery of the candlelit Advent Carol Service on the 28th November or the Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve; to the child-like delights of the Christingle Service on 12th December, or the Junior Church Nativity on the 19th , or the Christmas Eve Crib Service, amongst others. To help you invite others there will be fliers and service cards available this year as early as possible. We’d also like you to take some posters if you have
1
access to places in the community where they can be seen. We have a wonderful set of Christmas posters specially designed for us this year. All Saints is also the lead church in organising carol-singing at Wokingham Railway Station on behalf of Churches Together (and by kind permission of South-West Trains). Early evening commuters on Tuesday 7th December will be greeted with carols, given a small gift, and access to information about all Christmas church services in Wokingham. This is not a fund-raising event; it is a gift of Christmas hospitality. The bigger the group singing carols the better – and we are looking for instrumentalists too this year – who can really make a good noise of carol-singing. Can you be there? Watch for more details in the church pew leaflet and website or ask Mrs Jo Robinson, churchwarden. If you would like to get more involved in assisting with our services in any way this December please speak to a member of the clergy or a churchwarden. There are many ways to help. There’s time to train up as a altar server before Christmas too. We will soon be saying goodbye to Chris Gilham, our Head Server of many years, as he moves to York. We thank Chris for all his loyal service leading our team of servers. Without him, and at least one other team member we know is planning to move out of area soon, there is a great need for more people to become altar servers. To remind the community that Christmas is God’s doing - and that the church is here - this year we will have illuminated stars high up on the church tower for the whole neighbourhood to see. Don’t let’s keep Christmas at All Saints Church to ourselves alone! David Hodgson
2
BREAKFAST A continental breakfast will be served in the Cornerstone on Sunday 28th November (same day as Coffee-time CafĂŠ but you are welcome to both!) following the 8.00am service or you might like to come before 9.30am service. We will be serving fruit, cereal, croissants etc., fruit juice, cafetiere coffee. Also available decaffeinated coffee and tea. Please contact Diana 979 2614 if you have any particular dietary requirements. This is always a nice relaxed breakfast time so if you have not been before then why not give it a try. No need to book â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just come along. A small amount of cakes will be on sale in aid of The Royal Berkshire Hospital Cancer Centre. Cakes home baked and reasonable prices.
MAGAZINE INFORMATION Please leave items for publication in the Magazine tray in the Parish Office or email directly to the editor on or before the Copy Date please. Contributions can be typed, handwritten, or e-mailed. All Saints PCC Wokingham, is a Registered Charity, Nbr. 1127585
Editor:
Andrew McKenna (977 3812) Email: editor@allsaintswokingham.org.uk
Distribution:
Sheila Longley
(978 4193)
Advertisements:
Andrew McKenna (977 3812)
Collation:
Sheila Longley & team
(978 4193)
Copy Date for Dec/Jan:
Nov. 14th 2010
Collation:
Nov. 26th 2010
3
Clergy and Officers Parish Clergy Rector Associate Priest Honorary Asst. Curate Honorary Asst. Curate
The Revd. Canon David Hodgson The Revd. Caroline Kramer The Revd. Colin James The Revd. Helen Charlton
Attached Clergy Deanery of Sonning “Fresh Expressions” Mission Priest The Revd Michael Johnson Church Wardens Parish Administrator
Jo Robinson John Smith Vacancy Jo Asplin
Children and Youth Safeguarding Co-ordinator and Children’s Advocate Margaret Raggett Crêche Leader Rachel Garlish Junior Church Co-ordinator Harriet Swinyard Youth Church Co-ordinator (Acting) Revd Michael Johnson Friday Night Youth Drop-In (FDI) Co-ordinator Lorraine Hodgson Worship and Music Director of Music (inc. Choir) David Rance Music Group Leader Gail Houghton Head Server Chris Gilham Deputy Head Server Ruth Smith Bible Readers’ rota Joyce Baldry Tower Foreman John Harrison Flower Guild Chairman Pam Gilbey Worship Rota and Prayer Lists Co-ordinator Revd Colin James Lay Co-Chair of Worship & Music Development Liz Rippon PCC Secretary Deputy PCC Secretary PCC Treasurer Deputy PCC Treasurer
Parochial Church Council David Atkinson John Smith Stephen Smith John Alp
4
979 2999 979 9956 978 1515 978 9153
979 0098 978 9730 979 0948 — 979 2797
962 9378 978 2602 962 9313 979 0098 979 2999 947 6734 979 2797 978 3948 978 7065 978 8506 978 5520 978 5694 978 1515 979 2797 954 0466 979 0948 979 4407 979 2797
Clergy and Officers PCC Treasurerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Team Stewardship Co-ordinator Gift Aid Co-ordinator
Margaret Hawkins Dickon Snell Jo Robinson Peter Whittaker
962 9792 978 1044 978 9730 978 6225
Stewardship Recorder Electoral Roll Officer Leadership Forum Convenor Asst. Stewardship Recorder Asst. Gift Aid Coordinator
Jim Creech Joyce Baldry Barbara Smith Chris Westgate Chris Westgate
377 4194 978 8506 979 4407 977 1041 977 1041
Pastoral Care contacts Home Communion Barbara Smith Healing Prayer Group Jack Hayley Pastoral Care contact Jo Robinson Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals Parish Office
979 4407 979 2797 978 9730 979 2797
Churchyard Steward
John Smith
979 0948
Clergy days off:
David Caroline Colin Michael
Thursday Friday Thurs/Friday Saturday
The Parish Office (0118 979 2797), in the Cornerstone, can be contacted about church related issues (Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals). It is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.15 am to 1.00 pm and for urgent matters or by telephone on Monday and Thursday from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon. e-mail: Postal address: All Saints website:
parishoffice@allsaintswokingham.org.uk The Parish Office, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham RG40 1UE www.allsaintswokingham.org.uk
The Cornerstone : For room bookings and general enquiries please phone 0118 979 7778. Administrator Monica Martin is in the office: Monday 2-5pm, Tuesday 12.15-4.30pm, Wednesday 2-5.30pm, Thursday 1.45 - 6.00pm. e-mail: info@thecornerstonewokingham.org.uk
5
Worship at All Saints Services at All Saints' Church embrace a wide range of formats. An outline is given below but for details and information about occasional services, see the weekly leaflet.
Sunday Services 8.00 a.m. 9.30 a.m.
11.15 am. 11.15am
Holy Communion. A said service with a brief address using the traditional language version of the Common Worship Order One Eucharist Parish Communion. The service is sung, with hymns, and follows Common Worship Order One Eucharist. Children are catered for in the Crèche and Junior Church. The last Sunday in the month is Parish Communion for the Whole Church and often includes Parade, children are present throughout, and contribute to the worship. Prayer for Healing with Laying on of Hands is offered regularly at certain Parish Communion services (see diary). Coffee is served after the service and this is the weekly 'social gathering' of the Congregation. Please come and meet us there if you are a visitor to the church or would like to get to know us better.
(1st Sunday) No Service (2nd Sunday) Holy Communion. A said service using the Book of Common Prayer.
11.15am
(3rd Sunday) No Service
11.15am
(Some 4th Sundays)
Occasionally Baptisms will take place during this time Matins using the Book of Common Prayer, usually sung and including a sermon.
6.30 pm.
(1st - 3rd Sundays) Evensong using the Book of Common Prayer with sermon. Choral Evensong is sung usually on the first Sunday of each month (An alternative form of worship on 4th & 5th Sundays ; and Services of Healing)
6
Weekday Services Morning and Evening Prayer are said, using Common Worship Daily Prayer, at 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. each day from Monday to Saturday. All may, and are encouraged, to attend. These services may be led by a Priest or members of the Laity.
Holy Communion is celebrated as follows: Monday Tuesday
9.30 am. 9.30 am.
Wednesday 10.00 am.
Friday
(Common Worship Order One) (Common Worship Order One with short address, followed by coffee) (Simple form of Common Worship Order One and short address (particularly for parents and child minders of babies and pre-school children)
in various Residential Homes
Major festivals are also marked by additional celebrations of Holy Communion. Please see the Parish Diary elsewhere in the magazine, or for whole year’s dates, see leaflet “Days to Remember at All Saints”.
Home Communion: If anyone knows of a housebound parishioner, either temporarily or long term, who would like to receive Holy Communion, please contact the Parish Office (979 2797).
Confirmation, Welcome or Growth Groups: Anyone interested in confirmation, a refresher course, or learning about the Christian faith is invited to join one of the Eureka! groups or a confirmation course - contact Barbara Smith on 979 4407.
Baptisms: are usually conducted at a special afternoon service on the last Sunday of each month; or occasionally in Sunday morning services if requested. Baptisms can be booked via the Parish Office (979 2797).
Wedding Bookings: Clergy are available in the Cornerstone on Monday from 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm and on Saturday from 10.30 am - 11.30 am on an appointment basis. Please book via the Parish Office on 979 2797
Transportation: Pat Forsyth (979 7023) or Sue Farrington (978 2371).
7
Flower Guild The clocks have changed, the dull dank days of November are fast approaching and our gardens should not be in need of much attention now is the time to start planning how you will decorate your home for Christmas. There are a number of events happening this month to give you inspiration: Our next Guild Meeting will be in the Cornerstone at 8pm on Thursday November 18th. For anyone who attended the figurine workshop this will be an opportunity to see how your angel or choirboy/girl can be used in an arrangement. If you didn’t come to the day school bring any kind of figure or candles which you might like to use to decorate your home. You should also bring a selection of foliage, perhaps some fresh or artificial flowers, baubles, cones – anything you have which is Christmassy. A base or tray on which to stand the arrangement would be useful and you will also need one or two shallow containers. Please don’t hesitate to ring one of us if you are not sure what to bring. The Christmas demonstrations of our local NAFAS flower clubs are always packed with interesting ideas. Wokingham’s open evening will be on Wednesday November 10th at the Bradbury Centre (enter from Rose Street car park). Susan Phillips will be giving a demonstration entitled ‘Santa Claus is coming to town’. Doors open at 7.15pm for an 8pm start. Tickets cost £9 and may be purchased on the evening. Finchampstead have Dr Christina Curtis demonstrating at the Memorial Hall on Friday November 19th, doors open at 7pm for an 8pm start. Her title will be ‘Putting on the Glitz’. This is likely to be a sell out and so to avoid disappointment tickets costing £8 should be bought in advance tel. 0118 9774951. Pam Gilbey Other dates for your diary Friday November 26th at 9.30am – Advent Carol Service arranging.
8
Tuesday December 21st from 10.30am – Decorating the church for Christmas (if there is sufficient demand it may be possible to offer the evening of Monday December 20th as well) Flowers in church during November All Saints Mrs A Welch Mrs G Jones Mrs S Watson AW Nov 7 Mrs J Tattersdill, Mrs K Thomas, Mrs L Clark
KT
Nov 14
Mrs L Taylor, Mrs J Mitchell, Mrs U Morris Mrs M Whitaker
LT
Nov 21
Mrs S Newman, Miss B Branson
PG
Nov 28
Advent Carol Service
PG
For information contact Pam Gilbey 978 5694
LOOKING FOR A HIGH QUALITY CLEANING SERVICE?
iClean-home We offer: • Regular weekly domestic cleans • One-off spring cleans • Ironing
We guarantee: • The same cleaner every week, familiar with your requirements • You can select as many hours as you need (£12 per hour) • Pet friendly cleaners—we love animals! Tel: 01344 350259 9
Mothers’ Union Following the launch of the Mothers’ Union’s new campaign tackling the commercialisation and sexualisation of children, a new guide has been published for use when shopping. This is a timely reminder to assess our expenditure with Christmas approaching and the constant pressure to buy items that we are assured are essential for the happiness of our families and friends. Huge sums of money - £350 million in the UK - are spent on advertising to children each year. Product placement, pester power and peer to peer sales all encourage children to spend, spend, spend. Mothers’ Union research shows that the materialism this promotes in children can harm their wellbeing. As individuals, we can feel small against the power of commercialisation, but together we can, and will, make a difference - a difference that will transform the lives of children. When you are shopping, whether out in a shop or ordering goods on the telephone or online, please take a moment to take the Bye Buy Test below. Are you sending the right message to retailers, advertisers and especially to any children witnessing your purchases or for whom your purchases are intended? What will be in your Christmas shopping basket this year?
10
Branch News: We are delighted to welcome Janice Smith as our latest branch member: Janice was enrolled at our October Corporate Communion. We are also pleased that Rev. Caroline Kramer has joined the Mothers’ Union: Caroline has chosen to be a Central member, so although she does not belong to our branch, she has joined our fantastic worldwide organisation. More information on The Mothers Union’s work worldwide can be found on the website www.themothersunion.org. For branch information or a lift to meetings, please call Valerie (978 7363) or Mary (978 2678). Tues 9th Nov
9.30am
Wed 24th Nov
7.45 Branch meeting – Advent Preparation. for 8pm
Corporate Communion
Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals The annual Service of Thanksgiving for Creation and Blessing of Animals was on October 10 at 3pm. The preacher was ASWA’s new vicePresident the Revd. Dr. Martin Henig, an archaeologist who lectured at Oxford University and a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. He was ordained deacon in July and now serves in the Benefice of North Hinksey and Wytham and the Benefice of Oxford St. Frideswide with Binsey. He sees a central part of his future mission as trying to increase awareness amongst Anglicans of their ethical responsibilities towards all Creation. Widespread abuse of animals (for example by factory farming, and killing animals for fun) can play no part in a faith founded on Our Lord’s self-sacrificing love and compassion. The collection at the services was divided between ASWA and the local branch of “Cat’s Protection”. Thanks are due to our excellent Social Committee for providing refreshments and to “Burns Pet Nutrition” for supplying free packets of their cat and dog food product, a holistic food, GM free and not tested on animals. www.BUAV.org Marcelle Williams
11
The Sixth Leadership Forum This was held in the Cornerstone on Saturday, 9th October, in the morning. The aim was to look at draft new strategic goals to take us forward for the next few years. To centre our thoughts and to draw us closer to God we started with, for some of us, a new way of reading the bible and responding to our Lord. Called ‘Lectio Divina’, this involves people homing in on one word or phrase from a bible reading (which is read slowly several times) and being drawn more deeply into its significance for them. Over the last few years we have worked on goals which would take us up to 2010. At our last forum we considered how successful we had been and decided to look at new goals to take us beyond this year. The draft goals have been drawn up by a vision renewal group which included the clergy and the churchwardens. At the meeting we were presented with these goals and with some ideas as to how they could be achieved. We were asked for our first reactions and then were asked to connect the goals with what we are already doing and with other things we could do as well. We were also asked to identify any missing goals. Most reactions to the goals were positive, although some rewording is needed. There were many good ideas as to how we could carry the goals out. All comments and suggestions were collected on post-it notes and will now go back to the PCC and to the renewal group. After that there will be an opportunity for the whole congregation to consider the goals and to comment. It is good to pause and look at where we are going and how we are carrying out our Lord’s will for us all in this place. Barbara Smith
12
13
Focus on…. Stewardship A quotation from 2 Corinthians 8 verse 7 .... “You [the Corinthians] are so rich in everything - in faith, in speech, knowledge, and zeal of every kind, as well as in the lavish regard you have for us [Paul and his colleagues]. Surely you should show yourself equally lavish in this generous service [money for poor Christians].” Did you notice the words "This generous service"? Generosity - there's something intangible about that word. Inspiring. Intrinsically good. The generous person is someone you want to be with. And who is the most generous person you know? Can I suggest our Lord above? Look at a world full of the wonders of nature, full of people who love us, full of material possessions of every kind, full of peace (certainly where we live), full of people to love, full of everything. It's rather like what TV shows of a jungle. Every square foot, every square centimetre seems absolutely to burst with abundant life - greenery in profusion. Well God's generosity is like that - from left, right, front, back, above and below we are privileged recipients of God's love, of His gifts, of His creation. Now there must be some or even many here who have real deep-seated problems - of pain, of loss, of stress, of unemployment, of disablement, and more - but who can nevertheless still say that God is not amazingly open-handed in His gifts to them? I don't want to understate the extent of hurt and anguish but surely if you think about it God's generosity is still overwhelming. You know in Jesus's time grain was measured out for retail sale in cups. The dishonest trader would sort-of fill the measuring cup before pouring it into the customer's sack or bag. The careful trader would overfill the cup and then with a piece of wood slice off and keep the excess. Yet in Luke 6 we hear "Give, and gifts will be given to you - good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap". Point made? ... I hope so. Surely our cup is running over. Regularly, repeatedly, we do thank God for all His gifts, but how often do we stop and think of just how many gifts He has given us? There's an old saying that
14
Pippa Liddell
ROWENA WELSH
FSSCh DipPodMed MBChA
Qualified Surgical Chiropodist
The Lady Painter and Decorator
HPC Registered Surgery at: Sherwood School Road Barkham Wokingham RG41 4TN
Tel: 01344 776109 Mobile: 07749 898656
sykespippa@hotmail.com
Email: rowenaywelsh@hotmail.com
0118 976 0099
CHIROPODIST
Gardening Expertise â&#x20AC;Ś..at your service
Helena S Gold M.S.S.Ch., M.B.Ch.A
Experienced local gardener has some availability
Registered Member of the British Chiropody & Podiatry Association And Health Professions Council * * * * *
Ready to serve you again in March 2011
Modern surgery in Binfield Village 10 minutes from Wokingham Very easy parking Evening appointments Cryosurgical treatment for Verrucae and Warts
Tel: 01344 459 371 67, Knox Green Binfield Bracknell RG42 4NZ
Phone 0118 978 6371 15
simply runs "Count your blessings"; we should certainly do so, but if we ever seriously tried to count all our heavenly blessings when would we ever stop? And now we come to what we can call the Isaac Newton moment. Newton's third law of motion says "To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction". So for God's action, what is to be our reaction? It's not an option, there has to be a reaction. It's as natural as ... the laws of physics. So what is our response to be? Not just today but tomorrow and for ever after? How can we, should we, respond to God's generosity? Let me suggest to you three responses. Surely first is to say thank-you, over and over again. Do you remember Jesus's reaction to the nine lepers out of ten who failed to turned round and say thank-you after they were cured? Don't be among those nine! Saying thanks does three things: it helps us value what we have, it acts as prayer for those less fortunate, and it deepens our relationship with the almighty Giver. I'll give you a bit of homework - look up the General Thanksgiving when you get home in the Book of Common Prayer and read it through (no, pray it through) carefully. Marvellous words, like poetry, and a great way to say thank you for everything. My second suggestion for a response to our Lord's generosity is to give ... time. This church is a voluntary organisation. And there are tasks to be done at every turn. Literally everywhere you look groups inside the church are looking for volunteers. And if the all those posts are filled then there is a world out there full of extremely worthy groups crying out for help. For many of us time is more precious than money because our lives are so full. Work or family or pastimes or whatever crowd in. But they cannot! Our response cannot be a matter of time or money; it has to be time and money. It's not easy, but then we don't become a Christian in order to have an easy life. One more thought on this subject: time must be spent not just receiving
16
17
but also giving. By which I mean that one can't just attend, one can't just absorb, one must instead be active. Ask yourself this test ... how much time do I spend actively furthering the Kingdom of God? Suggestion 3 - and perhaps inevitably it's money. We must pay and house and train our clergy. We must organise and staff our dioceses. We must support our junior church - the church of tomorrow - as well as all the other parts of All Saints. We must maintain the building. And above all we as a church must be generous, supporting mission work around the globe. Reluctantly in a largely-theoretical discussion I must get down to specifics. This year we are facing a £20,000 deficit, and Next year our Parish Share rises by 6% (over £8,000) while Gift-aid changes indicate a fall of over £3,000 in income and VAT rises indicate a rise of expenditure in many areas. We have managed to secure a cheaper gas deal but the need is really really serious. There! I have laid out our three-fold response. 1 - thanks. 2 - give time. 3 - give money. To paraphrase St Paul as I began: You [the people of Wokingham] are so rich in everything - in faith, speech, knowledge, and zeal of every kind, as well as in the lavish regard you have for us. Surely you should show yourself equally lavish in this generous service. And now I turn to the eternal question "How much"? How much should we give of our money and our time? Let me recommend a test ... Does it hurt? Does it adversely impact us ... because I'd suggest it should. We should not be giving out of excess but far deeper than that. We should be giving so much of our time to our Lord's service that we can't do identifiable other things we'd like. We should be giving of our money so that there are identifiable things that we simply have to give up on. No pain, no gain. We need to ask ourselves as we complete our stewardship forms - does this hurt? Not that we can buy our way into the Kingdom of God. This isn't a trading floor. The Bible makes that perfectly clear. It's all simply a response to the generosity of God. I've already emphasised how wonderful is that generosity. But I've left out one overwhelming aspect of God's generosity. "For God so loved the world that He sent
18
19
His only Son into the world to save sinners". Jesus gave. He gave us His love, His time. Verse 9 of the same chapter in Corinthians mentioned earlier runs: "For you know how generous our Lord Jesus Christ has been: he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich." He had no money, but he gave us something else instead. He - God incarnate - gave up His life for us. Did it hurt? ... you bet it did. Should we respond? ... you bet we should. Stephen Smith
Lest We Forget “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” (Winston Churchill) We have all had many reminders of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Some of us still remember those perilous days of 1940 when Britain stood alone against the might of Hitler’s Nazi Regime. Behind the few, those brave young men who flew into battle against the Luftwaffe, there were the many: the engineers who maintained the aircraft, the observer Corps who identified the planes, the W.A.A.F.S who plotted their path, the civilians who died in the Blitz, the nurses, police, air raid wardens, firemen, -- the list has no end. Having lived through those years of war, I believe that God gave us all the courage, the strength, the will and dedication to fight against an evil which stalked the world. “At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them” Why? Because they gave us the freedoms we have today. Esme Few
20
Parish Diary November 2010 Sunday 7 08.00am 09.30am 11.15am 03.00pm 06:30pm 14 08.00am 09.30am 11.15am 06.30pm
3rd Sunday Before Advent
21 08.00am 09.30am 11.15am 06.30pm
Christ the King Holy Communion Parish Communion **No Service Healing Service
28 08.00am 09.30am 11.15am 3 00pm 06.30pm
Advent Holy Communion Parish Communion Whole Church **No Service Holy Baptism Advent Carols
Monday to Saturday 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 27 28 29 30 1 2
Holy Communion Parish Communion **No Service Annual Memorial Service Choral Evensong Remembrance Sunday Holy Communion Parish Communion Holy Communion BCP Sung Evensong
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
page
Julian Group
Serendipity All Saints Fellowship Flower Guild
34 8
Serendipity Mother's Union
10
December
Forthcoming Events The next Laying on of Hands will be at the Parish Communion on Sunday 19th Dec.
All Saints' Church Annual Memorial Service, 3pm, Sunday 7th November A service to remember all those in the parish who have passed away in the last year. You are invited to write the name and any thoughts you might like to include on a prayer card which is then placed on a special cross in church. All welcome. Refreshments are served in the church afterwards and there is the opportunity to meet members of the Bereavement Care Group.
21
Music List November 2010 Sunday
3 Before Advent - 7th November
Org
Service
Eucharist: Archer - St. Mark's Setting
DAR
Hymns Music
Holy is the true light - W H Harris
Final Voluntary
Prelude in G minor - PiernĂŠ
Service
Bereavement Service
Service
Choral Evensong
Introit
O Holy Spirit - Tye
Responses
Ayleward
Psalm
40
Canticles
Wise in F
DAR
Hymns Music
The Lord will come - Tye
Final Voluntary
A Trumpet Air - John Reading
Sunday
Remembrance Sunday - 14th November
Service
Eucharist: Archer - St. Mark's Setting
DAR
Hymns Music
So they gave their bodies - Aston
Final Voluntary
Nimrod (Enigma Variations) - Elgar
Service 15.00
British Legion Service of Remembrance
DAR
Hymns Music
So they gave their bodies - Aston
Final Voluntary
Nimrod (Enigma Variations) - Elgar
Service
Sung Evensong:
Psalms
93 & 97
Ferial Responses (McKie Amen)
Hymns Music
Justorum animĂŚ - Stanford
Final Voluntary
Solemn Melody - Walford Davies
22
DAR
Music List November 2010 Sunday Service
Next before Advent - Christ the King - 21st November Eucharist: Archer - St. Mark's Setting
Psalm
46
Org DAR
Hymns Music
There's a light upon the mountains - M L Wostenholm
Final Voluntary
Wachet auf! Ruft uns die Stimme (BWV 645) - J S Bach
Service
Healing Service
---
Sunday
Advent Sunday - 28th November
Service
Whole Church Communion
DAR
Hymns Music
Creator of the stars of night - Archer
Final Voluntary
Lied (24 pièces en style libre) - Vierne
Service
Advent Candlelit Carol Service
DAR
Hymns Music
by: Byrd, Gibbons, Stanford & other composers
Final Voluntary
Rorate cæli desuper (from Canticum) - Naji Hakim
Sunday
Advent 2 - 5th December
Service
Eucharist: Archer - People's Setting
DAR
Hymns Music
Gabriel's Message - trad. Basque
Final Voluntary
Cortège - Vierne/Duruflé
Service
Choral Evensong
Introit
Gabriel's Message - trad. Basque
DAR
Responses
Plainsong
Psalms
11 & 28
Canticles
Andreas Fauxbourdon Setting
Hymns Music
This is the record of John - Orlando Gibbons
Final Voluntary
Echo Fantasia - Sweelinck
23
24
PEACE IN HEALING When we first formed our Healing Prayer Group 20 years ago – the subject of our article last month – we decided that it was important that we agreed what we understood to be the aims of the Church’s Healing Ministry. We arrived at the following definition, “To endeavour to achieve a state of peace in circumstances of dis-ease of the body, mind and spirit, through the healing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ”. So, in our view, the state of peace is fundamental to all acts of healing. When Jesus had healed the woman with her hemorrhages, he said to her “…go in peace and be healed of your disease”. (Mark 5,34) It is noteworthy that in all of St Paul’s letters his opening words include the greeting, “Grace and peace be with you”. There are many ways in which healing brings about a state of peace. The most obvious is that of being freed from pain. This may be the result of a major operation, or just the removal of a sore-making splinter, or the relief of a troublesome corn. Then there is the healing of the mental anguish of broken relationships which bring about hatred and distrust among those with whom we were previously experiencing peaceful associations. This can result in the breakdown of marriages, divisions within the family, or close relationship of friends. This can also be particularly traumatic when it involves a break down of our relationship with God himself, through our lack of trust and faith in him. There is also the peace of mind which brings about the healing of a troubled conscience resulting from some actions we have taken, which may have offended others, or have failed to do what we know to be the will of God. This can only be brought about by our praying for the forgiveness of our sins.
25
We now consider the ‘Healing of the Nations’. There have been wars and conflicts from the beginning of time. They have become a part of the fabric of our existence. We recall the conflicts described in the book of Judges, the battles of King David with the other tribes that occupied Palestine and the occupation, under the leadership of Joshua, of the Holy Land as promised by God to the Israelites. There was the occupation by the Romans of the Roman Empire by the force of arms and, more recently, the conquest of the British Empire, also by force of arms. We recall too what are known as the Holy Wars between the Christian Knights and the Moslems of the Ottoman Empire. To this day there is still conflict, in Pakistan and Afghanistan, between the extreme elements of the Moslem faith and the European countries who claim to be protecting themselves from the threat of widespread violence. There also exists the conflict between the different religious factions within the Moslem states. So where, we ask, is that peace that can bring about reconciliation between all countries and faiths? So much of the world’s resources is spent on armaments the cost of which could be used for bringing about the sharing of God’s bountiful creation with those who struggle for the essentials of life. The alternative seems to be the development of more sophisticated armaments, including nuclear weapons, which threaten our very existence. It seems impossible to answer the question as to why God allows all the pain and suffering which results from the wars and conflicts which have occurred throughout all ages. All we can say is that God gave us freewill and we have abused it by not obeying his second commandment and not “loving our neighbour as ourselves”. When Jesus said, as recorded in St John’s Gospel, chapter 14, verse 27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives”, was he saying, I ask, that the peace he leaves is not that of absence of wars and conflict, but is the peace of the Holy Spirit? Jack Hayley Members of the Group are Gill Allen, Maggie Bateman, Jack Hayley, Mary Hughes, Anne Penn, Joan Thomason, Joan Watts and Karen Wellman. Please let us know of any need for healing prayer support.. Confidentiality is assured.
26
HOME SOLUTIONS
S.K.S BUILDING SERVICES
INSURANCE APPROVED ALL HOME MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DECORATING ROOFING REPAIRS PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, NEW BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS OR REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED BASINS ETC.
BRICKWORK PATIOS DECORATING TILING PLUMBING MOBILITY AIDS FITTED
FRIENDLY, CLEAN AND RELIABLE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE WITH TRADITIONAL VALUES
STEPHEN SPACKMAN
ALL WORK FULLY INSURED & BACKED BY 12 MONTHS GUARANTEE
17 Telford Crescent, Woodley Reading, RG5 4QT
DAVID LUCAS 19 GOODINGS GREEN WOKINGHAM
Tel: 0118 969 5325 Mob: 0778 673 791
01189 786415 07818 612542 REFERENCES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
27
Group of the Month All Saints Friday Drop-In ( FDI ) Run by All Saints Church in The Cornerstone every term time Friday evening 7.30-9 pm . Our intrepid reporter managed to track down some of the FDI team and ask them a few questions …. How long have you been helping @ FDI ? Since it started 9 yrs ago …1year …over 5 yrs What does helping @ FDI entail ? Being part of a team of enthusiastic people and giving young people a safe, enjoyable place for them to be, meet up with friends and make new ones Describe the young people who come to the drop-in. Those in school years 7, 8 & 9; some quiet and others more boisterous from a wide range of backgrounds …all are welcome . What activities take place ? Pool, table tennis, PS3, arts & crafts, music and sports. Then periodically drum sessions, street dance, circus skills, Oakwood Challenge and county Pool tournaments . What training do you receive ? On the job training and extra through WBC and the diocese. What if someone would like to help but is not good at sport or eg art and craft ? No problem …they could try helping with tuck the shop … just being a presence and having some rapport with this age group helps Do you feel supported by the rest of the team ? Absolutely ! .…It really is a team effort on a Friday….Yes J How did you feel on your first visit to FDI ? Scared, apprehensive …. Any surprises? Talking 1:1 with young people is always full of surprises …how much enthusiasm they have when they’re doing something they enjoy …what a range of different life experiences the young people have had. What’s the most challenging pert of your role? Turning out on a Friday after a busy week …keeping one’s cool when someone is being disruptive ...remembering I’m not at work! (cont.)
28
29
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your time as FDI leader? Being part of a team of all ages and backgrounds and doing something that I never thought I would do …being greeted by members whilst out and about .
What difference do you think FDI makes to the young peoples’ lives ? It’s a positive influence; somewhere they know is safe but has clear boundaries …somewhere to meet up with friends …for some to have the opportunity to have their opinions listened to. Name one event in the past year which stands out Street dance workshops – fun, different for some young people and leaders to try ….reaching our 9th birthday …circuit training and fun sports … County Pool Tournament @ Rileys What keeps you coming back ? The young people and what FDI means to them ….the support and friendship of my fellow leaders and giving something to the community … being needed ..I feel God is calling me to do this at this point of my life . Thank you
Please continue to pray for: the leaders and young people @ FDI . new leaders to come forward to join the team and to ensure we continue in this worthwhile activity If you’re interested in: HELPING AS A LEADER - all training is provided so why not chat to any of the current team of Lorraine Hodgson, Jo Robinson, Mike Moulds, John Smith, Helen Charlton or Clive Charlton to find our more ? We all enjoy what we do and are always glad to welcome new members to the team . HELPING IN ANOTHER WAY: - we are grateful to a small team who help regularly with setting up and serving in the tuck shop .This is a good way of finding out if this sort of thing is for you. For more information please contact FDI Co-ordinator: Lorraine Hodgson Tel: 979 2999
30
“Total Quality Nursing Care”
West Oak Care Home Murray Road, Wokingham Tel: 0118 979 5100
Sara Gallagher - Home Manager Web: www.barchester.com
Do you need an NHS Dentist? All patients are welcome at our surgery: 56, Easthampstead Road Wokingham Telephone: 979 1551 The placement of adverts in this magazine does not signify any endorsement or confirmation of quality of either products or services offered.
Flowers For All Occasions FULLER’S 6 Denmark Street, Wokingham 978 7183 THE CHIMNEY SWEEP - EXPERIENCED AND CLEAN Contact Mr. M. Blair 0118 934 2799 Member of the National Association of Chimney Sweeps
Don’t forget to let our advertisers know you saw their ad in the All Saints Parish Magazine!
31
Eco-Congregation Update You may have seen the Wokingham Times article with the headline “Church aims to go green with solar panels”. The reality is that the PCC has given its blessing to an Eco-congregation project to investigate how we could reduce the energy costs, and carbon footprint of our historic church building. St Michaels and All Angels in Withington, Gloucester is a Grade 1 listed building that is similar to All Saints, and has become carbon neutral. Due to the sympathetic (and invisible) installation of solar panels, draught reduction and careful planning of lighting and heating the congregation has swapped an electricity bill of £1500 a year for an income of £500 a year. Much of the project was funded by grants. We are using this as a blueprint to come up with our own plan, which if accepted, will mean that planned church maintenance, such as re-roofing, will be done with carbon reduction, cost saving and conservation in mind. As a first step the project manager from the St Michaels and All Angels church has offered the All Saints’ congregation a special tour of St Michaels and All Angels. We are planning to share lifts down there (a journey of about 1 hour and 40 minutes), for the open day on Saturday 20th November which is between 10am and 3pm and hopefully to stop somewhere nice for lunch/tea! If you would like to go, or have an interest in being part of the All Saints Carbon Reduction Team, please contact Tamzin Evershed on 07947 838989.
32
33
All Saints’ Fellowship Welcome to Fellowship held in the Cornerstone De Vitre Room at 7.45pm for 7.55pm. The cost to visitors is £1.50 which includes coffee and if you would like more information or a chat about the group please contact Leader Diana Clifford 9792614. WED. 17th NOV. Change to program. Miss. Katherine Huggett has kindly agreed to come along and give a talk entitled ‘Here About Uganda and Kenya’. Katherine, known to many of you, and a teacher at the Forest School will be talking about taking a group of 16yr – 18yr old students to Uganda and Kenya through World Challenge where part of the visit included working in the community. We are sure this will be very interesting. WED. 15th DEC. Christmas Get together with The Mother’s Union to which you are all warmly invited. The evening will include a visit by All Saints Church Hand Bell Ringers and singing carols with Pat Forsyth at the piano! WED. 19th JAN. 2011 A.G.M. WED. 16th FEB. Slide presentation of Washington D.C:Mrs. Diane Hayes. THANK YOU: Our sincere thanks to everybody who bought from the September cake stall held in memory of Evelyn Goddard and raised the marvellous sum of £140 plus a further cheque of £100 for the Royal Berkshire Hospital Cancer Centre. CHARLES MARTEN: It is with much sadness that we report the passing of Charlie who was a wonderful member of Fellowship for five years before moving last year to Lord Harris Court. Charlie always had a tale to tell especially about his travels during a long army career and we will remember the many times he made us laugh. We know Charlie that you had much pain during your last years and take comfort in knowing that you are now free from that, reunited with your wife so dearly loved and both now with our Lord.
34
35
HOT OFF THE PRESS May 1893 In July this year we had a very pleasant surprise when Colonel Barnett, the editor of Sonning Parish Magazine, sent us a copy he had received of our own magazine, dated May 1893. With tattered covers, it was very unlike the copy we had in the bound editions the Parish holds (we have a set of our magazines from 1865). When bound, they were stripped of their covers and, we now realise, the inserts of the original magazines had been removed. In 1893 there was no local newspaper (The Wokingham Times was established in 1903) and free public Library services didn’t begin in Wokingham until 1924. Those who could afford to would have bought a national paper like The Times but to many this Parish magazine, which gives details of service times and events for both All Saints, St Paul’s and St Sebastian’s would have been a great source of information and interest. About 700 copies a month were printed and read and then passed around to many friends and neighbours. The local news, which was a regular feature in all the magazines, described the entertainments given by various folk: the Palmer school children, whose songs, sketches and recitations raised £5.6s(now worth £317).for the school library and the organ recital which brought in £7(now £419) for the organ fund. The choirboys (obviously no choirgirls in those days!) had a picnic with a “splendid tea” at Finchampstead Ridges “as a reward for the extra labour entailed by the Easter Festival”. But the advertisements at the front and back of the magazine (which had been removed in our bound copies) give us a flavour of the life lived in Wokingham. The largest number of advertisers (five) were the grocers some of whom also sold bread and cakes and all of whom prided themselves on their bacon and ham “carefully smoked”. The quality of their teas was often mentioned though Mr Cope in the Market Place sold home-made ginger beer for the less abstemious and Mr Stone of Peach Street not only sold wines and spirits but “Invalid Port”. Obviously when this was not effective any of the four undertakers who advertised could be of assistance.
36
One of the purveyors of meat and game proudly announced that he had “Foreign meat” to sell, that is “prime American ox beef and prime Canterbury (NZ) mutton” and Mr Medcalf of the Market Place was prepared to visit his customers every day, in order to take their orders. Other shops sold fruit and flowers and, less familiar to us, corn, hay, straw and oilcake. But there were also advertisements for jewellers, boots and shoes, china and hardware – almost every thing one needed could be bought from a shop in the town. There were professional services advertised such as auctioneers and surveyors, hairdressers, piano tuners and builders. When one was quite worn out with shopping one could refresh oneself at the Coffee Tavern in Peach Street with tea or coffee or, if hungry, with a nice chop. For genteel customers “a private room for afternoon tea” was provided. The magazine did not, however, concentrate solely on factual information and the “insert”, a thirty page selection of items called “The Church Monthly” might well have been its main attraction for many people. This publication would have been included in many parish magazines of the time; the contributors were chiefly clergymen who had a very wide range of interests. The first item was a serialised story which begins in a humorous way but clearly intends to point out the evil of over borrowing and being in debt. After ten closely printed pages the reader was left in suspense until the next monthly parish magazine appeared. There were articles on owls and bell-ringing, particular parish churches and bishops and a long item called “What about emigrating” by a vicar in Liverpool. He quoted from 1 Samuel : David in the Cave of Adullam had been joined by everyone who was in distress and in debt and discontented, and he suggested that any of his readers in the same situation should consider emigrating and he strongly recommended North-west Canada! This article is illustrated by dramatic prints of the Rocky Mountains and the St Lawrence River – a world away from Wokingham. Also far away and written about were the mission fields that so many English churches and, certainly, Wokingham churches supported. Patriotism, despite the call to emigrate, was highly prized: in the article entitled “Some unique features of the Church of England” the author firmly stated that after 1066 “English Churchmen, instead of being Normanised by the invaders, succeeded in transforming their conquerors into patriotic Englishmen, and moulded them into loyal English Churchmen like themselves”.
37
Tips for the garden in May, a quiz on the bible readings for the month, an illustrated poem for children and a hymn for Whit Sunday were all included, together with a puzzle corner with, to me, impenetrable puzzles. How many of us could find the name of a Latin poet whose four letters added together make 506? Or discover in the letters “Doallhicdebr by Norby” a famous poem and its’ author? There were no answers to the previous month’s puzzles and no promise of answers to these! One can imagine, in a world with no radio or television, where books were beyond the purse of many, how eagerly the arrival of each month’s Parish magazine was awaited. All these riches and for just one old penny! Shirley Colwill
From the Clergy Team Reflections on a sermon about mental health. Rev’d Helen Charlton Dear Friends One of the things that has surprised me about ministry is how much I enjoy preaching. I do wonder, of course, how much enjoyment there is on the receiving end! People are kind and generous, and say that they appreciate my efforts, but I am aware that those who are baffled, bored or in disagreement are unlikely to make a point of commenting. So I have been reflecting this week on how my sermon at Evensong went down. It was 10th October, World Mental Health Day, and I work 3 days per week in that field, as a senior social worker in a multidisciplinary community team. The reading was from John’s gospel chapter 15, where Jesus is addressing his disciples after the last supper and my focus was the phrase, ‘No one has a greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ It seemed to me that there were connections to be made, that we should
38
in general be making more links between what happens in church and what happens in the rest of life, whether it be in the supermarket, at the nightclub, the world of IT, business, teaching, sales, caring for children, at the football… I wondered whether the words below (adapted for this article) were too stark for a Sunday evening – but maybe that is how it should be - the nitty-gritty of real life. The idea of laying down one’s life for one’s friends has no doubt inspired many acts of heroism and self-sacrifice through the ages, but I am concerned that it isn’t the whole picture. Far more common are the acts of self-sacrifice that many people face day to day, by force of circumstances. And it is not all nobility and warm feelings; for many the choice really is between a rock and a hard place. In fact, the bible is quite critical of our consumer, choice driven society. Poor mental health is one of the things that can afflict people of all ages and circumstances and is still met with stigma in our society. 1 in 4 people will have a problem at some point in their lives. If you think about it, we all have experienced ourselves or know someone with one of the many forms of dementia, someone who was depressed following traumatic events, someone with an eating disorder, someone who is quite obsessional about things, someone with ups and downs in mood….. Earlier this year I had to go for a series of extra interviews when I changed my mind about staying as a Deacon, and moving towards the priesthood. One of them was with a man in Bristol, who I later discovered had a grown up son with a serious mental illness. He asked me how I coped with those who are having religious delusions when they are extremely ill – was it a challenge to my faith? My reply was that there are many people of faith working in this field and the notion of a spiritual life, even one that has become warped, is not necessarily a problem. I added that what bothered me more, as a Christian, was the experience of many individuals and their families struggling with the more serious forms of mental illness (suicidal depression, chronic schizophrenia, bi-polar, longstanding anorexia), with promising lives completely wrecked by the ravages of the illness compounded by physical poor health, poverty and lack of good social experiences. Most are given no choice about having to face self sacrifice in their lives, including the carers. All struggle, with
39
varying degrees of grace. The concept of the place of struggle may help us – after all Jesus himself struggled with the self-sacrifice he was called to make. In the garden of Gethsemane he asked his Father to take away his suffering. I strongly believe that Jesus is present at the point of struggle. Jesus’ life and teachings are brimming with examples of healings and blessings to the poor and the sick of all sorts, and he was full of rebuke for those who ignored the outcasts of society. Sometimes those who are well do not realize what can be learnt from the mouths of those who are marginalized. Jesus befriended the outcasts, and he didn’t recoil from political messages. If you would like to read more about exorcism as ‘liberation from oppression’ and other healing acts of Jesus as symbolic restoration of wholeness in God, I can recommend “The Meaning in the Miracles” by Jeffrey John. We need to be aware of the challenges around us, and Jesus’ voice in our ears. Culturally, do we buy into success and perfection as the only models? Do we fear those who are different? Do we resort to pity? Politically, are we ready to fight measures that will cut benefits to the sick, or increase homelessness both of which are stress factors in mental illness. At this Remembrance time, are we concerned about the increasing incidence of PTSD amongst those serving in our armed forces? As a church, do we see ourselves as a place of sanctuary or asylum? As individuals, are we informed enough of the role played by alcohol, drugs, and stress in poor mental health, and are we able to see ourselves as also vulnerable? We don’t know when we may be called upon to enter the place of struggle. In the past 24 hours, as a I write this, 33 Chilean miners have emerged blinking and waving into the warm love of friends and family and into the cold air, from their stifling underground prison. In addition to the damage to teeth and lungs, they are being checked out for damage to their psychological state. The early reports are that they are in good spirits – helped no doubt by the mutual support they experienced. The New Testament word Koinonia is usually translated as ‘fellowship’, but a more accurate term might be ‘solidarity’. The discussion at work and in today’s newspapers was about the personal faith of the miners, the ‘miraculous’
40
nature of the rescue, and the worldwide celebrations that followed. We can only ask for God’s help as he joins us in the place of struggle, as he helps us to bear each others burdens with good grace, as we engage in true acts of service, working for miracles. We claim boldly our solidarity with Jesus, and the promise of the Holy Spirit. Helen Charlton
ALL SAINTS CHURCH SOCIAL COMMITTEE Joint Chair: Mavis Mason 979 2940 Diana Clifford 979 2614 SUNDAY 7th NOVEMBER Bereavement Service. After attending the 3.00pm Church service we hope that you will stay for a quiet cup of tea/biscuits served in the Church. SUNDAY 28th NOVEMBER Coffee-time Café following the 9.30am service. We are sorry we had to cancel it in October but now look forward to seeing you at the end of the month. Come to the Cornerstone and enjoy a good chat, ‘posh’ biscuits and cafetiere coffee. Also available gluten free biscuits, decaffeinated coffee or tea. SUNDAY 12th DECEMBER. Christingle Tea. Time to celebrate again the joy of Christingle so come to the Cornerstone for Christingle Tea after the 4.00pm Church service. SUNDAY 19th DECEMBER. Mulled Wine & Mince Pies in the Cornerstone after both the 9.30am and 11.15am Church services. Fruit Punch available if you would prefer. THE CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY TABLE Please see weekly Sunday leaflet for dates.
41
Notes from the October PCC Each year a percentage of All Saints’ income is given to mission. One recipient is the Church Mission Society and at present we donate into their ‘general fund’. Julie Hinckley of CMS gave a presentation to the PCC outlining how All Saints might become a Link Church thus supporting one specific CMS person in mission. The chosen mission partner would visit All Saints prior to the commencement of their three year placement with a view to building a close relationship between the church, the mission partner and their mission project. The PCC was given details of potential mission partners who are at present undergoing training; none of them will be able to start a placement until their funding is assured. The PCC agreed to discuss this further. All Saints has been offered the gift of a number of sets of chasubles with matching stoles. Many of the vestments at present in use are in a poor state of repair and could thus be retired. The rector described the thoughts behind the proposed new designs which would be visually stunning and would enhance worship throughout the different seasons of the church year. The PCC agreed to apply for a faculty to enable them to accept this generous gift whilst consulting further with regard to possible designs. The present Vision for All Saints expires in 2010. An early draft of the Vision Renewal document was viewed; it outlines possible strategic goals for the next 5 years. Pam Gilbey This note is a personal view; the official report will be in the PCC minutes
42
What’s in a name? One of the things non-ringers find quaint about ringing is the names that we give to the methods (tunes) that we ring. Nearly all methods have a three-part name, a bit like the scientific names for plants. There is a specific name, then a type name then a stage name. Taking them in reverse order, the stage is the number of bells. At All Saints, we commonly ring Major (8-bell) and Triples (7-bell) methods, but there are names for all stages from 3 to 16. The type relates to the method’s structure. The types we most commonly ring are plain methods (type name Bob) and surprise methods (type name Surprise). The specific name can be anything – whatever first band to ring it wishes to call it. Many methods are named after places, but they can be named after all sorts of things. We named Wokingham Surprise Major when we rang the first peal of it during our 800th anniversary celebrations at All Saints tide in 1990. Why am I telling you this? On 18th September, the morning of Andy and Cara Smith’s wedding blessing, we rang a peal to mark the event. To ring the peal, Andy invited a band from the Cambridge University Guild of Change Ringers, of which he is a member, and he specified five methods whose names were special for him: Cambridge Surprise Major, Wokingham Surprise Major, Trafalgar Square Surprise Major, Canada Delight Major and Edmonton Bob Major. Fortunately, the band included a talented ringing composer able to splice this unlikely combination of methods together into a musical peal. The significance of the names is: Andy grew up in Wokingham, studied in Cambridge, proposed to Cara in Trafalgar Square and now lives with her near Edmonton, Canada. For more information on method names, see ‘About ringing’ on the tower website www.allsaintswokinghambells.org.uk John Harrison
43
Baptisms 19 September
26 September
Marriages 2 Oct
Olivia Patricia Dance-Boyd Harrison Michael Dance-Boyd Rebecca Patricia Dance Jason Michael Dance Jacqueline Patricia Dance Gabriella May Gould Sophie Elizabeth Ackerman Owyn Skinner Nigel Lee Dorrall with Katie Helen Squires
Burial of Ashes 17 September Peter Andrew Charles West
Age 56
Memorial Service in Church followed by Burial of Ashes 15 Oct Miles Liddell Age 18 At Easthampstead Park Crematorium 23 September Harry Kelly
Number of Sundays Sundays Week days
44
Age 85
5 916 153