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From the Rector — November 2009

During the summer, after our daughter Julia’s wedding, Lorraine and I went back to the Isle of Wight for the first time in 25 years. We spent a few days there and had a wonderful time – helped by some lucky days of sunshine.

Going back to a place we’d not visited for such a long time had the potential for disappointment; but instead it was a really positive experience. I was amazed to discover that the island is not the flat and boring place I’d let it become in my memory; comparing it unfavourably to the inspiring slopes of my home county of Yorkshire. The Isle of Wight has some pretty tough hills! And we vowed not to leave it so long again before we returned. In fact we went back again three weeks later for a day trip!

This month – on the 15th – we have Back to Church Sunday. This is now an annual event for us, supported by the nationally produced professional publicity materials. Back to Church Sunday is based on the same idea I found applied to my return visit to the Isle of Wight. Coming back to a place after time away can be a really good thing to do. False memories of the past are corrected and you find changes for the better have been made too. In the Isle of Wight for example we were delighted that a brilliant network of new cycle routes with decent signposting has been introduced.

There are people in our families and our communities who have lost touch with church. Maybe there was something not quite happy about their last experience of it and those memories have lingered enough to put them off coming back. Or perhaps they moved neighbourhood and never quite managed to make a good connection with church in their new place. There are many reasons why people lose touch with church.

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Back to Church Sunday is a chance for people to come back with a fresh expectation of church. We can’t promise a sunny day! But we can do all in our power at All Saints to make it a really good experience.

We’ve learnt from previous years that we can invite our family, friends and neighbours to church; that some people will come; and that we can welcome them. We needn’t do it only on Back to Church Sunday either. But as one lady commented on entering the church after many years: “It only needed something like this to get me through the door!”.

This year the theme for Back to Church Sunday is “Come as You Are” – a message which speaks for itself.

There are attractive invitation cards available now in the church or from the Parish Office. Will you invite a friend, a neighbour, a family member to come with you to church on Sunday 16th November?

David Hodgson

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CLERGY and OFFICERS Rector Assistant Curate Community Priest (Youth) Honorary Assistant Curate Church Wardens

The Revd. David Hodgson 979 2999 Vacant The Revd Michael Johnson 979 0098 The Revd. Colin James 978 1515 Jo Robinson 978 9730 John Smith 979 0948 Margaret Raggett 962 9378 Director of Music David Rance 947 6734 Head Server Chris Gillham 978 3948 Deputy Head Server Ruth Smith 978 7065 Tower Foreman John Harrison 978 5520 PCC Secretary Vacant: Could you be of help?

Deputy PCC Secretary John Smith 979 0948 PCC Treasurer Stephen Smith 979 4407 Deputy PCC Treasurer John Alp 979 2797 PCC Treasurerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Team Margaret Hawkins 962 9792 Dickon Snell 978 1044 Gift Aid Co-ordinator Peter Whittaker 978 6225 Honorary Verger Vacant Electoral Roll Officer Joyce Baldry 978 8506 Stewardship Recorder Jim Creech 377 4194 Flower Guild Chairman Pam Gilbey 978 5694 Children & Youth Co-ordinator Margaret Raggett 962 9378 Parish Secretary Jo Asplin 979 2797 Clergy days off: David Hodgson Thursday Colin James Thurs/Fri Michael Johnson 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: parishoffice@allsaintswokingham.org.uk The Parish Office, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham RG40 1UE All Saints website: www.allsaintswokingham.org.uk The Cornerstone : For room bookings and general enquiries please phone 0118 979 7778. Monica Martin, Administrator, 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

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WORSHIP 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 11.15am 11.15am 6.30 pm.

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.

(3rd Sunday) No Service Occasionally Baptisms will take place during this time

(Some 4th Sundays) Matins using the Book of Common Prayer, usually sung and including a sermon.

(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)

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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.

(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)

Friday in various Residential Homes Major festivals are also marked by additional celebrations of Holy Communion. Please see diary, 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 O f f i c e on 979 2797 TRANSPORT. Pat Forsyth (979 7023) or Sue Farrington (978 2371).

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Join the All Saints Editorial Team

HELP!

The Parish Magazine is looking to expand its Editorial Team. If you have an interest in helping to produce this magazine on a monthly basis, and a working knowledge of Microsoft Office and/or Publisher, we would welcome your support!

Assistance in compiling and layout of the magazine is of primary need at this time. Typically, these duties require one dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention each month, with compiling duties to be shared amongst the future team on a monthly rotation.

Contact Andrew McKenna (details below) for more information.

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. 15th 2009

Collation:

Nov. 27th 2009

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Flower Guild Many thanks to everyone who has offered hellebores and hostas for the churchyard, unfortunately the hostas were not a great success as they suffered from slug attacks but may be next year we will be able to protect them with grit and gravel. I now have another plea – does anyone have any sedum plants to spare, they would be such a good source of food for bees and butterflies in late summer.

Oasis Disposal of the large amount of oasis which we use is always a great problem but I have been given a tip which is worth us all trying. If you squeeze the water from the oasis after use it takes up much less space and is incredibly light to carry - if your hands are not strong you can put the oasis outside on the grass and stand on it to achieve the same result.

This will make such a difference to Judith who so kindly disposes of all the waste from our flowers.

Next Guild Meeting – Thursday December 3rd at 8pm We plan to make a simple contemporary arrangement of Amaryllis – they are a dramatic and easy flower to use once you know how to deal with them and they also last for such a long time. You will need 2 or 3 Amaryllis (preferably not too large) which we can provide for you if you would like, the cost will be between £3 and £5 depending on market price. Bring a shallow bowl approx 10” by 2” deep (the plastic oasis bowls approx 9” square would be suitable) also 3 fatsia, bergenia or other large leaves together with twigs sprayed white/gold/black or a colour to compliment your container, perhaps also some baubles or cones. You must contact me well in advance if you would like us to provide the Amaryllis. There will be steel grass available for you to use and oasis to purchase. We will put some photos on the cupboard in the vestry.

Advent Carol Service At 7.30pm on Thursday November 26th we will be decorating the church ready for the Advent Carol Service. I need at least nine arrangers and so do please ring and offer your help.

Pam Gilbey

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Dates for your Diary

Flowers in church during November Nov 1 8 15

Mrs A Welch AW/GJ Mrs A Wade Mrs M Whitaker Mrs U Morris Mrs L Clark Mrs B Hayley

Mrs G Jones Mrs J Mitchell

MW

Mrs J Alp

PG

For information contact: Pam Gilbey (978 5694) Kate Thomas (989 4190) or Margaret Whitaker (978 2307)

SAINTS QUIZ 1st Nov being All Saints Day, all the answers to these questions begin with “Saint”, but you’ll only find 1 of them in the Bible…

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Cornish fishing port famed for its artists colony and art gallery Smallest city in Britain Rail station,new home of Eurostar French football team or English 90s indie band Large dog,used for mountain rescue Royal and Ancient golf club,Scotland Annual horse race,run at Doncaster Last place of exile for Napoleon Gulf, river, seaway of Canada Its bells say,”Oranges and Lemons” Fictitious girls school created by Ronald Searle Chief town of the Channel Islands (Answers pg. 28)

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Mothers’ Union This month we are joining with Fellowship for our monthly meeting. The speaker, from Wokingham District Council’s Occupational Therapy, Health and Well-being Department, will be talking about enabling local residents to stay in their own homes as they get older/more infirm.

Corporate Communion will be on Tuesday 10th November at 9.30am as usual.

For those of you free during the daytime, the Diocesan Winter Meeting will be held in Benson Village Hall on 1st December and the speaker will be The Rt Rev John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford.

Did you know The Mothers’ Union has an emergency prayer chain? This is a rapid link round all the branches in our deanery and can then link in with a similar chain around the diocese. It is intended for URGENT prayers. A name or names (often just Christian names) and possibly, but not necessarily, a few details are circulated around the chain in a few days. This is particularly valued for new medical problems and diagnoses, those undergoing surgery, those recently bereaved or any situation where prayer support is sought. The names stay on the prayer chain for one month only, so it is always fresh and relevant. Your branch contacts are Mary and Valerie.

More information on The Mothers Union’s work worldwide can be found on the website www.themothersunion.org. Alternatively, you can call Valerie (978 7363) or Mary (978 2678) for more information on more local matters or for a lift to meetings.

Tues 10th Nov Wed 18th Nov Tues 1st Dec

9.30am Corporate Communion 7.45pm Joint meeting with Fellowship 10 for Diocesan Winter Meeting in Benson 10.30 Village Hall – speaker, Bishop of Oxford.

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0790 038 1033 11

UPDATE The number of Wokingham children now experiencing Stage-Fright has rapidly grown in September 2009.

Funding from Wokingham Borough Council and from local churches has enabled us to appoint theatre specialists – Anna Adams and Hayley Cornwell.

Since the beginning of this term we have established After School Theatre Clubs in 3 Wokingham schools: Westende Junior, All Saints and Bearwood Primary. The clubs consist of children from years 5 and 6 with up to 20 members in each club. We’re using drama with the aim of seeing the group and individuals grow in self-confidence, mutual respect and appreciation.

Every club explores stories from the Bible as part of their regular activities.

This term our theme is ‘HOPE INSPIRES’, exploring how Hope can bring about change in our lives and in our community, ultimately looking forward to the hope encapsulated in the Christmas story. We are still in the very early stages of this project, but feel very excited about the potential effect that these clubs will have on the children and the schools involved.

Stage-Fright encourages people to think for themselves. We don’t assume that everyone has the same view of the world or of faith, so we think it’s important for people to be able to express what they mean effectively and creatively.

We think that doing so in a

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Berkshire Counselling Centre Counselling for the Community Counselling and training for individuals and couples.

Self or Company referrals, help with depression, stress, relationships and self esteem.

Talking things over with a trained counsellor may help to free a situation. Through counselling people can often gain a new zest for life and make changes for the better in their personal relationships.

Berkshire Counselling Centre provides an independent, confidential service for clients. Anyone over the age of 18 can make an appointment for an assessment interview.

(Financial contribution discussed at 1st appointment) We are an accredited member of The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

0118 978 7879 Berkshire Counselling Centre The Cornerstone Norreys Avenue Wokingham RG40 1UE Email info@counsellingcentre.com Website www.counsellingcentre.com

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supportive group fosters mutual appreciation and trust – even when views are very different. We’ve found this approach to be accessible to participants who don’t ever come to church (like many of our members).

Passion for Performance The Stage-Fright youth theatre started in April 2007 after the success of an Easter passion play at All Saints church. They also produced the first public Wokingham Passion play, staged in Wokingham town square on Good Friday this year, watched by an audience of around 250, including the Mayor and our MP. Following very positive feedback, church leaders have proposed that we develop the idea further for Good Friday 2010.

We’ll be delighted to hear from anyone who wants to help or get involved in any capacity.

Under the direction of Revd Michael Johnson and a small group of very enthusiastic adult volunteers, this teenage group has more than 20 members of secondary school age.

They produce devised work on diverse topics ranging from Parables to Miracles, Kings to Cambodia, Fairtrade, Shopkeepers, Temptations, the Empty Tomb and dozens of stories from scripture. Some of the youth theatre had the opportunity this year to premiere a new scripted play: ‘A Handbag’ by Anthony Horowitz, performed under the National Theatre’s New Connections initiative and with support from a professional director. This also gave the group the experience of performing at the Theatre Royal in Bath – a fantastic and valuable experience for all involved. Anna and Hayley’s expertise will bring lots of new possibilities to this group too.

The teenage group meets on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings every week – free to members, thanks to the generous hospitality of Woosehill Community Church and Wokingham Baptist Church

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“Total Quality Nursing Care”

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Sara Gallagher - Matron Manager

Do you need a 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!

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(respectively). We’re currently devising our Christmas show on the theme of ‘SLEEP’. We also like to keep a repertoire of smaller pieces to perform as part of a church service or a sketch evening. Six members recently performed a funny thought-provoking drama as part of All Saints’ Harvest festival.

Stage-Fright also runs two summer residentials every August for children aged 8-16 years. These attract members from all over the country.

Stage-Fright has recently become a charity. We can only run all these projects, with their valuable learning experiences, by securing short-term funding and donations.

For more information about any of the above, please contact us... contact@stage-fright.org.uk Phone:

0118 979 0098

Living Heritage The history of ringing at All Saints Our oldest bells are 300 years old, and the tradition of English-style change-ringing goes back 400 years.

John Harrison will give an illustrated talk on the history of ringing at All Saints over the centuries, based on the research he did for his book on the subject.

25th November, 7.30 in the Cornerstone

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FUNERAL DIRECTORS & MONUMENTAL MASONS Serving the Community for 180 Years 24 HOURS ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE Grave Tending Service

Blyth House, 105 London Road, Wokingham Tel: (0118) 978 4040 Eldon House, 36 Eldon Road, Reading Tel: (0118) 957 3650 Ellen Lodge, 157 Binfield Road, Bracknell Tel: (01344) 303707 www.abwalker.co.uk Grave Tending Service GOLDEN CHARTER Funeral Pre-payment Plans 17

ALL SAINTS CHURCH SOCIAL COMMITTEE HARVEST SUPPER. We are very sorry that we had to disappoint those who had bought tickets. The supper had to be cancelled due to only a few tickets being sold.

HELP! We need a ‘Helper’s List’ to enable us to cope with the various events throughout each year. With your name on the list you would be contacted from time to time to help on a particular occasion. If not convenient for you then we will be in touch again for the next event. We need both men and women. Gentlemen please join Geoff Davies ( Geoff has been the only male committee member for a long time but we are not asking you to join the committee but the list for helping) however, have a word with Geoff – he will assure you that it does not mean baking dozens of cakes! There will be no committee duties, no meetings to attend and you will not receive any Minutes – so no pressure! We really do need HELP!

BEREAVEMENT SERVICE SUNDAY 15th NOV. We offer a quiet cup of tea in the Church following the 3.00pm Service COFFEE-TIME CAFÉ SUNDAY 29th NOV. Cornerstone after 9.30am service CHRISTINGLE SUNDAY 13th DEC. Tea in Cornerstone after 3.00pm service MULLED WINE & MINCE PIES SUNDAY 20th DEC. In the Cornerstone after both 9.30am and 11.15am services CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY TABLE (See Sunday leaflet for dates)

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MUSIC LIST - November 2009 Sunday Service Hymns Music Final Voluntary

All Saints' Sunday - 1st November Eucharist: Archer - St. Mark's Setting (297) How beauteous are their feet - Stanford A Trumpet Air - John Reading

Org DAR

Service Introit

Choral Evensong Abendlied - Rheinberger

DAR

Responses

Bertalot

Psalms

148 & 150

Canticles Hymns Music Final Voluntary

Ebdon in C

Sunday Service Hymns Music Final Voluntary

Remembrance Sunday - 8th November Eucharist: Archer - St. Mark's Setting (Here, O my Lord) Justorum animĂŚ - Stanford Nimrod (Enigma Variations) - Elgar

Service Hymns Music Final Voluntary

British Legion Service of Remembrance

The heavens are telling - Haydn Fiat Lux - ThĂŠodore Dubois

DAR

DAR

Rest in peace - Peter Skellern Nimrod (Enigma Variations) - Elgar

Service

Sung Evensong:

Psalm Hymns Music Final Voluntary

46

Ferial Responses (McKie Amen)

Rest in peace - Peter Skellern Solemn Melody - Walford Davies

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DAR

MUSIC LIST - November 2009 Sunday Service Psalm Hymns Music Final Voluntary

Second before Advent - 15th November Eucharist (Healing): Archer - St. Mark's Setting 95 (232a) O Holy Spirit - Tye Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - Handel

Service

Bereavement Service

Service

Said Evensong with Piano

Sunday Service Hymns Music Final Voluntary

Christ the King - 22nd November Eucharist: Archer - St. Mark's Setting

Service Responses Venite Psalms Canticles Music Final Voluntary

Choral Matins Bertalot Nares 29 & 110 Stanford in C The Lord is King - Martin Luther, arr. J S Bach Marche Triomphale: Nun danket alle Gott - Karg-Elert

Service

Said Evensong with Piano

Sunday Service Hymns Music Final Voluntary

Advent Sunday - 29th November Whole Church Communion

Service Hymns

Advent Candlelit Carol Service

Music

--DAR

The Lord is King - Martin Luther, arr. J S Bach Wachet auf! Ruft uns die Stimme (BWV 645) - J S Bach

---

DAR

Love divine is coming - Peter Skellern PĂŚan (Five Short Pieces) - Whitlock

by: Herbert Brewer; G F Handel; Otto Goldschmidt; Richard Lloyd; G P da Palestrina; Charles Wood and others

Final Voluntary

Org DAR

Rorate coeli desuper (from Canticum) - Naji Hakim

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DAR

PARISH DIARY - November 2009 Sunday

All Saints Sunday

Monday to Saturday

1

2

Mo

08.00am

Holy Communion

3

Tu 08.15 pm Serendipity

09.30am

Parish Communion

4

We Flower Guild

11.15am

**No Service

5

Th 08.00 pm Julian Group

06.30pm

Choral Evensong

6

Fr

7

Sa

8

Remembrance Sunday 08.00am

Holy Communion

9

Mo

10

Tu Mothers' Union

09.30am

Parish Communion

11

We

11.15am

BCP Eucharist

12

Th

3.00pm

**No Service

13

Fr

6.30pm

Sung Evensong

14

Sa

16

Mo

17

Tu 08.15 pm Serendipity

15

Back to Church Sunday

08.00am

Holy Communion

page

8

10

09.30am

Parish Communion

18

We All Saints Fellowship

32

11.15am

**No Service

19

Th Healing Prayer Group

24

3.00pm

Bereavement Service

20

Fr

6.30pm

Said Evensong

22

Christ the King

21

Sa

23

Mo

08.00am

Holy Communion

24

Tu

09.30am

Parish Communion

25

We

11.15am

Choral Matins

26

Th

6.30pm

Said Evensong

29

Advent

27

Fr

28

Sa

30

Mo

08.00am

Holy Communion

1

Tu December begins

09.30am

Parish Communion (Whole Church)

2

We

11.15am

**No Service

3

Th

3.00pm

Holy Baptism

4

Fr

6.30pm

Advent Carols

5

Sa

Forthcoming Events 15 November- Laying on of Hands 29 November - Whole Church Parade

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The Mystery of Unanswered Healing Prayer In a recent edition of the Acorn Christian Healing Foundation’s quarterly newsletter, Pam Rhodes, the BBC presenter of Songs of Praise, wrote the following contribution entitled, “My Heart for Healing”, which offers some consoling thoughts for those occasions when healing prayer appears to be unanswered. Permission has been given for its re-printing here.

“Over my twenty two years on Songs of Praise, I’ve been aware of a considered concern whenever we have the chance to feature the testimony of someone who’s had a dramatic experience of healing.

Because their story, so briefly told on television, is inspirational and encouraging, we might give the impression that ANYONE asking in faith for healing can trust that God will hear their prayer and grant the cure and relief for which they long. But how will they cope if their prayers apparently aren’t answered? What happens if they remain in pain, or their lives are lost? Does that mean that in some way they were less worthy of God’s healing? As a television programme, our job is to share the experiences of others and hope that those stories can touch and inspire viewers at home. However we can’t monitor their reaction, or counsel and care for them in the face of fear or disappointment – so as programme makers we have to act responsibly when considering the items to include.

I wonder, too, if our reticence to feature stories of healing stems from a general unease and suspicion that to hope for healing is not entirely ‘proper’. After all, if God wanted us to be well and living for ever, surely he would grant us good health and long life because it is his will rather than our own. If, in God’s eyes, our time on earth is over, then who are we to plead otherwise?

We ask because we’re human. We’re scared and hurting, and in our humanity we call out to him. We know from the Gospels that Christ often reached out to comfort and cure the sick, recognising their pain, fear and the faith which brought them to him. If healing was part of his original

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ministry then, why shouldn’t it be part of his ministry for all of us now?

None of us can live for ever. Sometimes we have to let go of those we love so dearly, even though the thought of life without them is heart breaking. And often the manner in which they approach death, when illness brings acute pain, disability or loss of dignity and identity, is distressing for them, but intolerable for us as we stand alongside feeling helpless and hopeless. We would do anything to take the pain from them.

We long for a miracle. We pray for their healing, that they may be whole and with us again..

I remember Frances Shand Kydd, Princess Diana’s mother, saying to me once that, this side of heaven, she would never understand why a beloved child should lose her life while her parent lived on. Frances went on to describe a moment of clarity when she visited Diana’s grave the day after that emotion-charged funeral which was watched around the world. As she prayed in grief and solitude, Frances found herself thinking that, in God’s terms, Diana’s life was ‘complete and completed and all was well’. In that moment, she felt surrounded and supported by God’s healing love. It didn’t take away the pain of her loss. It didn’t change the situation. It simply gave her the strength to face the next day, and the next, because she knew that God was right with her in her bewilderment and sadness.

Sometimes miracles happen. Sometimes people are cured of the most dreadful conditions, their pain relieved and their future assured.

Sometimes, though, the facts of their condition don’t actually change much - but how they feel about their situation can be transformed by the reassurance of God’s presence with them, a balm in the darkest times , aligning hope and trust to fear and uncertainty.

God hears us when we callout to him in prayer. He knows our fears. He sees our distress. He feels our pain – and He will bring healing. Perhaps it will be the miracle. Perhaps it will simply be the peace of knowing that God is with us and those we love. And perhaps the reassurance of that knowledge brings the greatest healing of all.”

I am very grateful to the Acorn Christian Healing Trust for allowing me to

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publish this comforting article in our magazine.

Jack Hayley Members of the Group Gill Allen, Maggie Bateman, Jack Hayley, Mary Hughes, Ann Pen, Joan Thomason, Joan Watts and Karen Wellman.

Please let us know of any need for healing prayer support. Confidentiality is assured.

The Laying on of Hands will be made available at the Parish Communion on Sunday 15th November.

Parish of All Saints' Annual Memorial Service 3pm, Sunday 15th 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.

Saint’s Quiz: Answers (from pg. 9) 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Ives David’s Pancras Etienne Bernard Andrew’s Leger Helena Lawrence Clement’s (or more correctly, Clement Dane’s) Trinians Helier

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Leadership Forum – October On a lovely sunny Saturday morning in early morning the Leadership Forum met to discuss how we could become a real Eco Congregation (somehow the weather made this all the more appropriate) and also reviewed progress on our strategic goals.

The Rector set the scene with a reading from Isaiah 58 and in study groups afterwards we were challenged to consider what a fast really meant. What would a carbon fast be? One group considered whether God might intervene to stop us destroying the planet? We realised there was a lot of difference between divine inspiration to help us do the necessary work and divine intervention to save us having to put any effort into doing it.

Tamzin Evershed, now leader of the Eco-congregation group has a wealth of ideas to help us all act more sustainably – to help turn us into a real eco congregation by changing our own lives and practices and not just those of the church. She quoted the examples of the transition towns and how they are moving towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

We talked about energy use and water consumption, and of course, recycling. Did you know that you could recycle batteries at Robert Dyas in Denmark Street? And that the easiest way to check if your plastic bottle can be recycled in Wokingham is to see if they spring back into shape – if they do, you can recycle here.

We heard about ideas that the group has to keep us busy being n eco congregation next year. Would you like learn how to knit or make jam?

Share seeds and seedlings for a self sufficient vegetable patch (well, perhaps not full self sufficient but at least something that will reduce the number of times you have to drive to the shops to buy veg)? The Ecocongregation group has ideas for all of these.

After coffee we looked at the strategic goals for the Parish– we are making some progress on all of them, but not always as much as would like. The enablers will now take the information back to their groups to see how we can help move us further forward. Just a few examples from the discussion: high spots are our active engagement with young people

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and the way we value everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talents; areas needing improvement include our integration with the wider community and providing forms of worship that are accessible to those coming fresh to Christian worship Incidentally, if you are still wondering who is on the Leadership Forum â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it comprises one representative (usually the leader) from all the groups and activities in the church and all PCC members. We meet about three times a year to share information to help progress the work of the church towards our strategic goals. The convenor is Barbara Smith Anne King Tamzin Evershed 07947 838989

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Wokingham Volunteer Centre operates a low cost transport scheme to enable those who cannot use public transport get to their hospital/doctor appointments Due to the increase in demand for our help we have recently had to let some of our clients down. We desperately need more drivers (we naturally pay for your petrol).

We would love to be able to expand the driving scheme to enable us to take people shopping or for a short outing to say a garden centre. However, to operate this service we do need the help of more drivers.

If you can spare just a couple of hours a week to help with this scheme, or with any other opportunities available throughout the district we would like to

hear from you.

For more information please contact us on 0118 977 0749 31

All Saints’ Fellowship Fellowship meetings are held in the Cornerstone De Vitre Room on the third Wednesday in the month at 7.45pm for 7.55pm.

The cost to visitors is £1.50 and everybody is very welcome.

Contact for Fellowship Diana Clifford 9792614.

WED. 18th NOV. We are delighted that members of the Mother’s Union will be joining us for this meeting when Karen Arding who is an Occupational Therapist from the local council will be talking about and giving advice about safety in the home. Your chance to ask questions in general on help and appliances available.

WED. 16th DEC. Fun at Christmas when Mr. Derek Parkes gives a light hearted talk entitled ‘Being A Santa’ – a three week adventure in Finnish Lapland.

WED. 20th JAN. Annual General Meeting WED. 17th FEB. ‘Washington D.C.’ – slides and talk with Mrs. Diane Hayes.

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THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION The Remembrance services held this year on 8th November will be especially poignant. This year marked the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War and, with so many of our young service personnel having lost their lives or been severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, we still need to recognise the vital need for ongoing welfare services for the injured and the families of those affected.

The Royal British Legion cares for all Serving and ex-Service personnel and their families and is funded by the National Poppy Appeal and by the fund- raising of the local branches throughout the country.

Would you care to be associated with this very worthy organisation?

I am a member of the Wokingham Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Section branch and meetings take place once a month. We have an aging membership and are really looking for some new members of all ages to come to support the branch. Please give it some consideration, so that your Poppy Appeal donation is not just a one-off at this time but that you might give ongoing support for the bereaved families and those left to care for the wounded service men and women.

PLEASE PHONE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PAM CREECH (0118 377 4194) There will be an indoor stall in the Market on Saturday 21 November and our Christmas Fayre will take place on Wednesday 2 December at 2.30 pm at the RBL Hall (between the pub and Mobility shop in Station Road, Wokingham)

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PCC Notes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; October 2009 At their meeting in October PCC members had three key topics for discussion.

The major item was to consider whether the church needs to recruit a youth worker for the parish. The meeting received input from the youth team that clearly indicated they would need additional resources if they are to build on what has been achieved so far with the volunteer group, which was now quite stretched. This would be a very different kind of commitment from the normal building projects since there would be an ongoing need for funding. There are parishes in our deanery who have employed a youth worker, and the rewards of doing so are significant, and as a parish we need to be more courageous in our commitment to our vision and the mission to which we aspire. The PCC asked Standing Committee to put together a small group to develop this idea further and bring back to PCC their findings.

A second area of discussion related to the report on the experiment of using chairs in the Lady Chapel. Robert Newman had collated the feedback from the experiment, most of which related to the nature of the chairs used for the experiment, which were not the type to be used should we proceed with replacing the pews. Very few objected to the use of chairs rather than pews. PCC felt that the experiment also involved relatively few people as it had taken place during August when church activity is normally low. PCC asked Robert to try and borrow more representative chairs for a further trial in the New Year before a decision is reached.

The third area of discussion related to the three year building plan. The Buildings Group has prepared a prioritised plan for all maintenance and project work together with related preliminary costings. The work includes all items from the Quinquennial inspection Report as well as some priority projects the parish wishes to pursue. There is a total of ÂŁ300,000 needed if all the work is to be completed. The next step is to agree with the Treasurer how the plan will be funded. PCC noted that the roof replacement fell outside this time frame but we did need to start planning for this fairly soon. The PCC was grateful for the approach being taken to the planning.

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PCC were also advised that the interviews for the new priest will take place on 21 October. A full day is being planned for the candidates, with opportunities for them to meet groups in the parish. The Charity nominees were confirmed for Charities Day on 18 October This article is the opinion of the writer and not an official record of the meeting which can be found in the published minutes.

Judith Scott (Deanery Synod Rep)

ARE YOU THE MISSING PERSON? If you are a caring person and would like to help those in the community who are less fortunate than ourselves, and enjoy a good social life as well, why not come along to one of Wokingham Lions Club’s meetings to find out more about us and what we do? We are well known for organising the Wokingham May Fayre – but due to this, and other successful events, we need more members to follow our international motto – “We Serve”.

We meet at the Committee Room, Wokingham Town Hall on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. for 8:00.

Or contact Wokingham Lions Club on 0845 833 7384 for further details. www.wokinghamlions.org.uk

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All Saints Ringers Represent Sonning Deanery Ringing in striking competitions is an aspect of bell ringing that most nonringers never come across. Don’t be misled by the title – it’s nothing to do with withdrawing our labour. ‘Striking’ is the technical term used to describe the rhythmic quality of the ringing. The more even the rhythm, the higher the quality. It’s hard to achieve a perfect rhythm, but when you get close to it, the result can sound magical.

In a striking competition, teams from different churches perform a test piece, with the award going to the team that produces the highest quality ringing. In most competitions the test piece lasts about ten minutes.

Sonning Deanery holds two competitions each year, one for 6-bell ringing and one for 8-bell ringing. All Saints currently holds the trophy for both.

But the real prize of the 6-bell competition is to represent the Deanery in the Oxford Diocesan Guild competition, where the standard is much higher. This year’s competition was held at Longcot, in the Vale of the White Horse on 3rd October. As luck would have it, we rang there on our tower outing in the summer.

Practice makes perfect, so the team stayed behind after the main ringing practice the previous Monday, and they also arranged another practice on bells of similar weight on the way to the competition on the Saturday.

The bells at the practice tower turned out to be none too good – not just poor tone, but most of the bells were ‘odd struck’ (ie they don’t strike quite when they should). It was hard work trying to compensate for the idiosyncratic bells, and the result was less than ideal, but it was useful practice.

The bells at Longcot were much better (only one slightly odd struck bell) and after a couple of minutes try-out, we settled into the practice piece and achieved some good, rhythmic ringing. Teams are allowed to choose the method they ring, and the judges complemented us for being more adventurous than most. We rang ‘Minor’ (all six bells changing) whereas all the others played safe with ‘Doubles’ (five bells changing and the lowest note always ringing last).

We didn’t win, but we came a very respectable third, not too far behind the first two (with almost identical scores) and comfortably ahead of the nearest of the other five teams. Having not got as far as the Guild competition for some years, it was a pleasing result.

John Harrison

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Lest we Forget Remembrance Sunday 8 November 2009 First of all many congratulations to Diana Clifford for her delightful memories of the ‘swinging sixties’ – a joy to read.

I remember that Sunday 3 September 1939 when, as a family, at 11 o’clock we gathered round the wireless to hear Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declare that England was at War with Germany. I turned to my father (I was 14 years old) and said “What’s going to happen now Daddy?” He replied “We will all go on as usual, do not be afraid.”

But then came Dunkirk and the valiant little ships which saved so many lives from those terrible war-torn beaches of France and so many who gave their lives to do so. And in 1940 the occupation by Hitler’s invaders of the Channel Islands and the real threat that our own beloved England would be invaded and occupied by the Hitler regime, the Blitz, the attempt by the Luftwaffe to bomb us into surrender – London, Coventry, Bristol, Plymouth and elsewhere suffered terrible bombardment.

And Winston Churchill, “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the hills, we will never surrender.”

The brave young men in their Spitfires and Hurricanes who won the Battle of Britain, the “First of the Few”, and all those who died for patriotism, for freedom and love. We must never forget. Nor deny the Holocaust.

That Christmas of 1939 we listened to King George VI’s Christmas broadcast message, as true today as it was then: “I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year ‘give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown’ and he replied ‘go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way’.”

(Minnie Louise Haskins 1875-1957) May they all rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen.

Esme Few

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Baptisms 27 Sept.

Reece Jordan Masters Dean Robert Masters Imogen Hannah Baker James Ethan Clarke Austin John Tandy Mark Richard Sexton

Marriages 12 Sept.

19 Sept.

3 Oct. 3 Oct.

Oliver John Watkins with Anna Rose Bebington Scott Julian Richardson with Alison Jane Pittock Robert Andrew Hutchings with Marjorie Jane Anderson Andrew Mark Butler with Victoria Jane Carpenter

Burials 6 Oct.

Colin Farnell

Age 81

At Easthampstead Park Crematorium 18 Sept.

Anthony Westlake Age 72 24 Sept.

Bryan Lee Age 75

Number of Sundays Sundays Weekdays

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4 764 154

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