Xn issue 3 - April 2012

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APRIL 2012

ISSN 2049-4971

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April 2012 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 246408

26 –28th July 2012 Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, Berkshire This conference is about bringing “Heaven down to Earth”. We believe that we are poised for a move of God and are asking our friends locally and nationally to come together, to stand with us and see His Kingdom come.

Coming to the conference National and local leaders will be standing together to see the Lord come in greater measure upon our city of Reading and in our land. To find out more about each leader attending the conference please visit our website. www.barnabasengland.org.

Dr Michael Maiden.

Leader of Church for the Nations

Christen Forster.

Leader of ‘Supranatural’ Life

Billy Kennedy. Leader Evangelist Don Double of Pioneer Network

John Noble. Former Leader ofCharismata

Dr Hugh Osgood.

Leader of CIC International

Tracey Dolding.

Barnabas Worship Leader

Rob Gardiner.

Leader of Network Vineyard

Pat Whittaker. Leader of Jubilee Fellowship

Yinka Oyekan.

Leader of Barnabas

Eric Whittaker.

Leader of Jubilee Fellowship

Ministering to Youth and Children

Paul and Heather Garratt.

Leaders of Radiant

Rachel Owen.

Leader of Seekers.

Nicci Whittaker.

Leader of Creche

Chris Cole. Leader of Cross Rhythms

Keith Dolding. Leader of Barnabas

Dr Joel Thomas.

Leader of COGWWM

Neville Hollands.

Leader of LifeSpring

John Manwell.

Chairman of Together for the Harvest, Liverpool

Rev Grenville Overton.

Team Leader Southern Counties Baptist Association.

Would you love to see the UK impacted by another move of God? God has promised that where cities, towns and villages will receive Him, He will come. We feel the Lord has given us a vision of renewal that is coming to the nation. This renewal is about God’s sons and daughters having a fresh encounter with Him

Conference hosted by: Barnabas Fellowship of Churches, LifeSpring church, Network Vineyard and The Globe.

Supported by: Reading Christian Network and Charismata

Book online at: www.barnabasengland.org

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To advertise call 01932 246408 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2012

60 turn to Christ after altar call at conference

Pastor Yuan Zhi Ming makes the altar call at which 60 people from across the south of England made Christian commitments for the first time A READING church is celebrating after seeing 60 people give their lives to Christ.

The Chinese Christian Church welcomed people from across the south of England for a special event where an evangelist from the United States of America was the guest speaker.

Pastor Zhi Ming Yuan, the chief director of China Soul For Christ Foundation, attended the conference which was held at Wycliffe Baptist Church in Reading at the end of February.

At the end of his address invited delegates to accept Christ.

Around 60 people responded to his altar call.

“We thank God we have Pastor Yuan coming from the USA to hold evangelical meetings

in Reading, Cambridge and Oxford,” said Stewart So, one of the leaders of Reading Chinese Christian Church.

“The outcome is encouraging.

Almost 60 people responded to the calling and converted.

Reading’s Chinese Christian Church have seen 21 converted.”

Pastor Yuan is well-known in China for writing a TV series called River Elegy.

He left the Communist country in 1989 and became a Christian in 1991 when he was in Princeton University as a visiting scholar.

Since then, he has made a series of films about Christianity and China including a 12 series DVD of his evangelical sermons, which it is reported have been spreading fast in the country.

The Reading Chinese Christian Church is an independent church, which meets at Wycliffe Baptist. It comprises members from China and Hong Kong, as well as other parts of South East Asia.

The dual language church features services in Cantonese and Mandarin. It initially started as a Chinese Christian fellowship some 30 years ago with many of the early members being from Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Some of the members are students or short term visitors from China, others are people who have settled in this country.

The church also boasts several groups that meet during the week.

v Listen up for Faith Matters

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THE Churches Together in Marlow aren’t waiting for people to come to them but have launched two new projects to reach out to the community.

In an effort to listen to people and be tuned in to the community they are taking Church into a Costa coffee shop and presenting a two-hour radio programme, Faith Matters, on Tuesday evenings.

The Church is listening to you, but it will Costa Coffee!

Organisers say it’s a simple way of having a presence in the community where a church leader can be found in Costa to talk about any issues someone wants to talk about.

Costa have agreed that the church can take over a table for two hours on a Tuesday and will offer their confererence room if someone wants a confidential discussion.

“A lot of people find it difficult to go to a church to talk about their issues and they can never be sure the doors will be open anyway,” said Richard Becher, a United Reformed Church minister who has initiated the outreach.

“It’s easier for people to step into a Costa and have a conversation.”

At the same time the churches in Marlow are working together to present the two-hour radio programme between 9.30pm and 11.30pm on marlowfm, a community radio station which broadcasts 24 hours a day.

“We are part of the community and this is another opportunity for us to make the presence of the churches felt in the community,” added Richard. v To hear the show, log on to www.marlowfm.co.uk and click on ‘listen’.

St James marks 175th anniversary with makeover ST JAMES’ Catholic Church in Reading’s town centre is to receive a makeover to mark its 175th anniversary.

The church, next to Forbury Gardens, will see repairs to the roof and internal fixtures, improved wheelchair access

and new artwork for two shrines.

A new crucifix has been commissioned to go over the sanctuary and there will repairs to the presbytery too.

The stained glass windows will be repaired and there will be a major refurbishment of the

church’s flooring and paintwork.

The scheme is estimated to cost £200,000 and has been paid for by church members.

The church has been working closely with the Historic Churches Committee to ensure that the work will be in sympathy

with the historic site.

It is anticipated that the work will be complete by November, in time for an anniversary thanksgiving service on December 14. v www.jameswilliam-reading. org.uk

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April 2012 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 246408

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Special events planned to EASTER will be celebrated everywhere next weekend.

Here, we roundup just a few of the special events you can look forward to as we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection v BINFIELD All Saints in Binfield will mark Easter with a series of services, starting with an evening communion service at 8pm on Maundy Thursday.

On Good Friday, the church will host an all-age service at 10.30am, with a meditation at 2pm.

Its Easter Sunday service will start at 10am.

v BEENHAM St Mary’s Church in Beenham is hosting a special service at 2pm on Good Friday.

Called The Last Hour, the benefice service will focus on Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.

v BRACKNELL Kerith Community Church will screen the film Prince Caspian (PG) at 1pm on Good Friday.

Later in the day it will hold a meeting entitled The Cost of the Cross at 7pm.

It will hold three celebrations on Easter Sunday, at 9am, 11am and 7pm.

v CAVERSHAM For the Churches Together in Caversham event, see the box on page 5.

St Andrew’s in Albert Road will mark the end of Holy Week with a First Eucharist of Easter, which will be held on Saturday, April 8 from 9pm.

v CROWTHORNE On Maundy Thursday, Crowthorne Methodist Church will host A Service of Bread, a reflective service with a simple

Kerith Community Church in Bracknell will screen Prince Caspian at 1pm on Good Friday meal and Holy Communion from 7.30pm.

v EARLEY Brookside Church in Earley is planning a holiday club for children on Wednesday, April 4 and Thursday, April 5.

On Good Friday, the church will host a unique indoor/ outdoor Good Friday reflection for the whole church family, incorporating a treasure hunt in and around the church and Maiden Erlegh nature reserve.

On Easter Sunday, it is planned to hold a celebration service with a baptism. It will start at 10.30am.

v FINCHAMPSTEAD St James’ and St Mary & St John’s in the Finchampstead and California parish is planning a series of special events.

On Maundy Thursday, St James’ will host a bring and share supper in the church centre from 7pm, followed by Holy Communion at 9pm and a vigil from 10pm to 11pm.

St Mary & St John’s Church host a supper at 7.30pm, with a service at 8.30pm.

On Good Friday, a 9.30am Family Service will be followed

by hot cross buns at St James’, while Gorse Ride Junior School willl host a service at 11am.

A 3pm Meditation at the Cross service will be held at St James’.

A 6am Dawn Service, with breakfast, is how Easter Sunday starts at St James. Services follow at 8am, 9.30am and 11am.

v READING ON EASTER SUNDAY, churches in Reading will gather for a joint service starting at 8am.

Held in Forbury Gardens, the service has been organised

by Churches Together In Reading. If wet, it will be held in nearby Abbey Baptist Church, just in the shadow of The Blade.

Music will be provided by the Reading Central Salvation Army band and Michael Penny, chair of Churches Together Reading will lead the service. v There are a series of special services planned for Holy Week at All Saints Church, Downshire Square, Reading and St Mark’s, Cranbury Road, Reading.

On Monday, April 2, at 7.30pm, a mass will be held at St Mark’s.

On Tuesday, a Mass of Penitence will be held at All Saints from 7.30pm. St Mark’s is the venue

for a Passover Meal mass on Wednesday at 7.30pm.

All Saints hosts a Maunday Thursday Mass at 8pm, and a children’s service at 10am on Good Friday. In the afternoon, St Mark’s will host a liturgy of the Passion from 2pm.

On Saturday, April 7, All Saints will hold an Easter vigil at 8.30pm, followed by a party.

On Easter Sunday, St Mark’s has a mass at 9.15am, while there are masses at 8am and 10.30am at All Saints.

v TILEHURST ON GOOD FRIDAY, churches in Tilehurst will take part in a walk of witness that ends at Tilehurst Triangle.

Each church will start from their own building, making their way to the Triangle for noon.

The Revd Dennis Smith, minister of St Mary Magalden in Tilehurst will speak at the service.

A sunrise Easter Day communion service, starting at 6am, will be held by Tilehurst Methodist on the top of Streatley Hill, whatever the weather.

All are welcome to this special early morning service.

Wherever you celebrate Christ’s Resurrection, we wish you a very

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make the most of Easter v THREE MILE CROSS

v WOKINGHAM

The Revd David Pawson will speak at South of Reading Christian Fellowship over the course of the weekend, unwrapping Seven Wonders of His Story, a series focusing on Jesus.

All sessions will take place at the church in Three Mile Cross.

On Thursday, April 5, from 7.30pm, he will focus on Christ’s conception and birth.

The Crucifixion is the subject of two sessions on Good Friday at 10.30am and 6.30pm.

On Saturday, April 7, he will speak about burial at 10.30am.

Easter Sunday sees the preacher lead two sessions: Resurrection is the theme at a 10.30am session and Ascension will be the topic of at 6.30pm.

The final talk takes place on Easter Monday at 7.30pm and is on Christ’s Return and Judgment.

For more details, call the church on (0118) 988 4508 or log on to www.sorcf.co.uk.

CHURCHES in Wokingham will open a special Easter shop in Peach Street during Holy Week.

The shop will be open until Good Friday and will display Easter artwork by children from Wokingham schools, be a conduit for information about local community projects and offer craft activites for under fives.

On Good Friday itself, there will be an open-air Passion play performed in Market Place, organised by the Stage Fright theatre company. For more details, see pages 16-17.

Elsewhere, All Saints Church in Wokingham is hosting daily services at 9am and 5pm during Holy Week. It will also hold a sung eucharist at 7.45pm on Maundy Thursday.

On Good Friday, it will hold services at 9.30am (solemn liturgy), 11am (family services) and 8pm

v Caversham churches taking the Gospel to shoppers v CAVERSHAM churches will take the Easter message to shoppers on Easter Eve, singing hymns in the busy St Martin’s shopping precinct in the centre of Caversham.

The event is organised by Churches Together in Caversham. It will be the fourth year that churches have taken to the streets to sing hymns at Easter.

“It’s a great opportunity for outreach”, said John Madeley, the coordinator of this year’s event.

“Taking the Gospel out to where people are means that more people can be included in the glorious, unique hope of Easter”.

While people from Caversham’s churches are expected to make up most of the singers, “everyone is invited to come along and sing or listen”, said John.

In addition to the hymns there will be selected readings and also street theatre with a Christian message.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 7, from 11am to around 11.45am.

Happy and blessed Easter!

(night prayer).

A dawn service, starting at 6am, will start the church’s Easter Day celebrations, with Holy Communion at 8am and 9.30am (all-age) and 11.15am.

Breakfast will be served from 7.15am, while a choral evensong will be held at 6.30pm.

v WOODLEY THE SHOPPING precinct will be the venue for a Good Friday act of worship. Starting at 11.30am, the Revd Graham Doel will speak.

v WHAT WILL YOUR CHURCH BE DOING? We want to share your stories with Xn readers!

Send pictures and reports to editor@xnmedia.co.uk.

v Stainer to be sung ON Good Friday this year at St Andrew’s, Bradfield, a small choir will be singing Stainer’s Crucifixion.

This will be part of the church’s Good Friday reflections and the church says that it hopes this would be helpful both for those singing and those in the congregation as together people meditate on the love of God expressed in Christ.

All are welcome at the service which starts at 6pm.

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News

Singing a song of help for Zambia and Mencap A READING-based mixed voice chamber choir is looking forward to singing at a fundraising concert later this month.

Chorate, which exists to raise funds for good causes, will perform World In Union – a selection of sacred

v Sign up to join Street Pastors READING Street Pastors is looking for more volunteers to get involved.

The group was launched in February 2009 and sees volunteers from a range of churches across the area walk the streets of Reading on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The Pastors meet with late night revellers coming out of pubs and clubs, offering appropriate help and support.

A new round of training for interested volunteers will start this month.

For more details, or to find out more about volunteering, call Matt Hearn on 0753 3325 504 or email:reading@streetpastors. org.uk.

The group’s website is www. streetpastors.co.uk.

v Win hit film Courageous on DVD See page 30

and secular music – at the concert which takes place on Saturday, April 28.

Proceeds from the concert will be given to two charities: Reading Mencap and the Mongu Project in Zambia, which is currently being supported by the parish

churches of St James and St William of York in Reading.

Chorate was formed in 2009 by a group of experienced singers wanting to sing, have fun and raise funds for good causes with thousands of pounds raised so far.

The concert will take place at 7.30pm at St William of York, Upper Redlands Road, Reading.

Entry is free with a retiring collection. Refreshments will be provided. v For more details visit, www.chorate.org.uk.

Craft club laughing after Red Nose grant A READING-based craft group is laughing thanks to a grant from Comic Relief.

The charity’s Local Communities Fund, managed by the Berkshire Community Foundation, has awarded Coffee & Craft a special grant to help the group continue with its activities.

Coffee & Craft, which uses space in Wycliffe Baptist Church in East Reading, is a twice-weekly run community-focused group that provides a wide variety of creative workshops.

These include a drop-in facility for one-off expressions of creativity, such as handmade cards and crafts, as well as an opportunity to enjoy a cup of coffee and a chat.

It was set up 10 years ago and the group will celebrate its tenth birthday in July.

The grant has been welcomed

by both organisers and participants alike.

Kathryn, one of the project leaders of Coffee & Craft, is delighted.

“We are honoured to be recognised by Comic Relief and the Berkshire Community Fund,” she said. “The support and funding is going to be lifechanging.

“The funds will go towards our continued efforts to support the people of East Reading.”

One of the regular users of Coffee & Craft, who cannot be named, feels that the group has had a phenomenal momentum within the Newtown community and is overjoyed with the Red Nosed donation.

“This award is fantastic,” they said. “Berkshire Community Foundation’s support for Coffee & Craft is indicative of how meaningful and effective the

group is. It will be appreciated by all.”

Coffee & Craft meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am until 4.30pm in the Lower Back Hall of Wycliffe Baptist Church at Cemetery Junction, East Reading.

For more information email Kathryn: coffeeandcraft1@yahoo. co.uk. v Since 1985, the Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF) has been working with local voluntary groups that tackle need at the grassroots level in our local community, both now and in the future.

Community foundations exist to deliver philanthropic advice, expert grant making services, community leadership and to build endowment.

For more information log on to www.berkshire communityfoundation.org.uk.

News

7 v Olympic brains for quiz night

To advertise call 01932 246408 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2012

That’s fair

WOKINGHAM Baptist Church has been taking its commitment to Fairtrade seriously.

The church marked Fairtrade fortnight with a stall held after morning services.

Run by Mark Passenger, the popular stall had a wide variety of fairly-traded goods on offer, including the Real Easter Egg and a selection of gifts and groceries.

Praise bus will travel before Olympic torch AS PREPARATIONS continue for the Olympic Games later this summer, a church from Land’s End is busy getting its A-Z out in preparation for its visit to Bracknell and Reading.

Members of the small chapel of Escalls had a vision to travel ahead of the Olympic Torch Relay, which leaves Land’s End on Saturday, May 19 and snakes its way across the whole of the British Isles en route to London for Friday, July 27.

It has hired an open-top bus to host local Christian bands and groups, who will play in rotation as the tour continues. The chapel is working in conjunction with More Than Gold for the initiative.

Organisers anticipate starting their tour of the flame’s route an hour before the flame itself.

“The aims of the bus are to give fun and encouragement, letting every man, woman and child know that God loves them,” says a statement on the Chapel’s website. “The instrument for this

will be prayer and praise. It will not be part of the venture to argue or remonstrate. The Lord will let people know of His Love by the power of The Holy Spirit.”

The relay reaches Oxfordshire on Monday, July 9, before heading through Wallingford, Crowmarsh Gifford, Nettlebed, Bisham Abbey, Maidenhead, Windsor, Ascot and Bracknell on Tuesday, July 10. It arrives in Reading around 6pm, travelling through Whitley to the Madejski Stadium.

An evening celebration will be held in Reading later that evening, with the torch resting at the Madejski Stadium overnight.

The route then continues through the streets and suburbs of Reading and Caversham, before heading to Theale, Thatcham and Newbury on Wednesday, July 11.

The team are looking for help, including accommodation and storage for the bus overnight.

Churches can also help by offering stops for the bus and

a cuppa for the team as it travels the nation.

If you could help, email escallsbus@btinternet.com. v For details, log on to www. thejourneyfromescalls.co.uk.

A QUIZ night will help raise funds for an Olympic celebration later this summer.

All Saints Church in Wokingham will be posing the questions for the evening, which will include a hot homemade supper.

Starting at 7pm on Saturday, April 21, the quiz takes place at the Cornerstone in Norreys Avenue, Wokingham.

Teams can be of up to eight people and you can form your own or make teams on the night.

You can also bring your own drinks.

Tickets cost £10, including food, and all proceeds from the evening will go towards a sportsthemed community afternoon on Sunday, July 8.

For more details, call Jo Robinson on (0118) 978 9730.

v Sindlesham makes mum’s day SINDLESHAM Baptist Church held a special service for Mothering Sunday on Sunday, March 18.

The church gave thanks for mothers and looked at how mothers live in different parts of the world.

A collection was taken for Tearfund and at the end of the service all women present were given a special gift.

Send for a FREE copy of Search magazine Each issue contains one off articles and regular features such as …

A Page of Prayer * Spiritual Songs * Wonderful Words * The Feasts of Leviticus * Pondering Proverbs * Young Searchers * Biblical Misconceptions * Mapping the Lord’s Ministry * Feedback: Your letters * And more!

Email admin@obt.org.uk or write The Open Bible Trust, Fordland Mount, Upper Basildon, Reading, RG8 8LU.

Visit www.obt.org.uk for full range of resources

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April 2012 | To advertise call 01932 246408

Barnstorming night helps CCA mark 20th birthday

News A CHARITY devoted to helping people in need kicked off its 20th anniversary celebrations with a hoedown.

Christian Community Action, held a charity barn dance at The Warehouse in East Reading on Saturday, March 3, raising more than £1,100 in the process.

Local band the Scamping Rogues, comprising members of St John’s & St Stephen’s Church in Orts Road, Reading, donated their music for the evening, while Philip Keohane from Home Instead Senior Care donated a meal voucher for a raffle for Caversham restaurant Mya Lacarte.

Christian Community Action’s core purpose is to demonstrate God’s love by meeting people’s practical needs and restore selfworth.

“We receive from those who have and pass it on to those who have not and we offer those people struggling to find a way back – the recovering addicts and the long term unemployed an opportunity to be involved,” said Ann-Marie Paterson, the charity’s managing director. v For more details on CCA’s work, which includes five shops, four with support centres, and a drop-in centre, log on to www. ccam.org.uk.

To advertise call 01932 246408 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2012

With a Will, you can look after all the people you care about.

It may look like a dry legal document, but a Will is really an act of care. Or even love.

Contact us for your free guide to Wills and legacies

When you make a Will, you make a commitment to look after your family and friends even when you’re gone. And if you wish, you can do something even more extraordinary.

By including Christian Aid in your Will, you can extend that loving care to people in other parts of the world. To a girl who wants to go to school in Bangladesh. To a community ravaged by war in Sudan. To the people you are already doing so much to help in your lifetime.

To find out more about the caring power of Wills, complete and return the form below. Or contact Kerry at kmcmahon@christian-aid.org or on 020 7523 2173.

Please send me The Christian Aid Guide to Wills and legacies Title:

First name:

Surname:

Address: Postcode: Email: Telephone:

Once completed please return to: Christian Aid, PO Box 100, London SE1 7RT. UK registered charity no. 1105851 Company no. 5171525 Scot charity no. SC039150 NI charity no. XR94639 Company no. NI059154 ROI charity no. CHY 6998 Company no. 426928 The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid; Poverty Over is a trademark of Christian Aid. Š Christian Aid March 2012 12-430-J191

A014121

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April 2012 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 246408

Hollywood glamour helps Rotarians fight Polio A TOUCH of Hollywood glamour came to St Joseph’s College last month as a Rotary Club raised funds to combat Polio.

Musicians from across Reading, including the Reading Central Band of the Salvation Army, performed at the event, which was held at St Joseph’s College in Upper Redlands Road, Reading on Saturday, March 10.

More than £2,000 was raised during the evening.

The evening opened with a performance of Amazing Grace by the Reading Central Band. Later in the programme, the band performed music from the film Schindler’s List.

St Joseph’s Chamber Choir performed a

v Positive help for parents PARENTS looking for help and advice in raising their children are invited to take part in a new Positive Parenting course.

The course is being run by Caversham Baptist Church and lasts for six weeks.

Sessions are open to all parents, of any or no faith, but are useful for those who are parents of the under eights.

In each session, the church’s families and community worker Megan Temple will share tips and advice to help parents make the most of being a parent.

Sessions are designed to give parents with the skills and understanding to look after their children and are interactive.

They include help with understanding the importance of the parent/child relationship, including parenting styles and managing behaviour.

Megan is the only qualified facilitator for these courses in the Berkshire area and the course uses material from Care For The Family.

The course costs £5 for an accompanying book, but the church promises to help any parent who would like to come but can’t afford it.

Each evening starts at 7.45pm and the course launches on Wednesday, April 18. vFor more details, call the church – which is based at South Street, Caversham – on (0118) 954 5353, or log on to www. cavershambaptistchurch.org.uk.

medley from West Side Story, while Tamesis Chamber Choir (pictured above) gave medleys from a range of popular West End musicals including My Fair Lady.

During the evening, there was a Pause For Thought from a member of Reading Central

Salvation Army, offering a short Christian comment for the large audience.

The concert was organised by the Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh in aid of The Rotary Foundation Worldwide Polio Eradication Programme.

The programme was established in 1985 and organisers say that since then, the number of cases has been brought down by 99 per cent – 350,000 cases then to 700 last year. They are making a determined effort to reach that last one per cent, with just three countries hosting the disease: Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.

A vaccine costs 25p per child. v For more details on the campaign, log on to www.readingmaidenerlegh.org.

Making the right blend with community café CHRISTIANS in the Burghfield area are proving they’re full of beans thanks to the launch of a brand-new community café.

Promising a high class cup of coffee and a chat among friendly faces, Café B has been brewed up by nine local churches.

The fellowships are part of Christians Together in Mission (TiM), which aims to serve local communities in new and innovative ways.

As a local charity and registered company, TiM is able to undertake some bigger projects than individual churches, though it works closely with Churches Together in Burghfield, Sulhamstead and Mortimer.

The idea for Café B came out of a 2010 TiM community survey to more than 4,000 households in the Burghfield, Mortimer and Sulhamstead areas. Residents were asked to say what they felt local needs were and what they would most like to see happen in the area.

Somewhere to meet for a good cuppa and cake was high on the Burghfield list.

Thanks to support of Burghfield Common Methodist Church, TiM can transform their church hall into a modern coffee bar and back within 30 minutes.

Café B serves a range of specialist coffees, teas and hot

Bishop Andrew Proud was one of the first people to enjoy a cup of Fairtrade Coffee at Café B in Burghfield Methodist Church chocolate supplied by Kingdom Coffee, Reading and are all ethically traded.

The cafe is open at present on Monday mornings, but TiM hopes to extend this to other days of the week with more volunteers, and as the word spreads.

In time TiM would like to extend the range of services on offer and to establish a true community hub, in partnership with others.

The project was recently given the “thumbs up” by the Rt Revd Andrew Proud, Bishop of Reading, who enjoyed a latte and talking to some of the volunteers.

Afterwards, Bishop Andrew said he was “delighted to recommend” the café and the coffee.

He added that over the past year he had been excited “to

learn of the many ways in which local churches are being involved in their communities”.

He continued: “Many are truly innovative and inspired by the possibilities of working together with one another and in partnership with their local communities.”

Another TiM project to earn the Bishop’s “whole-hearted approval” is one that will see it establish a School Pastors’ project at The Willink School, Burghfield Common.

The school, which has more than 1,000 students, has invited TiM to undertake this for the academic year starting in September. Planning for the project is now underway. v For more details, email Sue Jackson suej@ togetherinmission.org.uk.

News

To advertise call 01932 246408 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2012

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Apply now for Euro 2012 licence CHURCHES looking to host screenings of Euro 2012 games later this summer need to apply for a licence from UEFA. The organisation offers free public screening licences via an on-line link and applications must be made by Friday, May 18 to ensure they are processed in time for the first kick-off on Friday, June 8 – a match between Poland and Greece.

With many churches opening their doors to create a family-friendly venue for previous big sporting events, now is the time to be planning for the Euro 2012 games.

UEFA offers the free licences with certain conditions.

“You are required to obtain a public screening licence from UEFA in order to

operate a public screening event,” says a spokesperson for the organisation. “A public screening licence gives you the right to show all 31 matches. You will not have to ask

v England’s games Matches are at 7.45pm unless stated vM onday, June 11 France v England, 5pm v Friday, June 15 Sweden v England v Tuesday, June 19 England v Ukraine England is in group D. Possible route to final: vS aturday, June 23 Quarter final 3 v Sunday, June 24 Quarter final 4 v Thursday, June 28 Semi-final v Sunday, July 1 Final

for a new licence during the tournament.”

Exemptions apply if the screen is smaller than 3m diagonally, the capacity of the screening venue does not exceed 150 people and there is no admission fee or sponsorship.

Legally, you are not allowed to charge people to watch the game and you also have to broadcast the end credits.

UEFA has two types of public screening: non-commercial where everything is free, and commercial where the public screening involves any commercial activities, such as the sale of food and beverages. The noncommercial licence is free, while there are charges for a commercial licence. v For more details, log on to UEFA’s website: goo.gl/Yz16a.

Natural Church Development

Christian Schwarz is coming to the UK soon … 3rd May 2012 …

Launch of two new books on Empowering Leadership and Community Life Have you ever desired to: 1. Experience all that God has designed you to be!

2. Learn the art of giving and receiving! … but didn’t know how to do it?

Well here’s your unique opportunity to do just that.

Christian will address leaders in the UK involved in every aspect of church and small group leadership on these two critical topics.

He will provide an opportunity to assess how empowering your leadership is and how you can invest in your own personal growth, providing insights into developing small groups and leadership teams that promote discipleship and care for all involved, developing passionate spirituality and a constant outward focus that reaches others.

you

at: The Salvation Army Reading Central Corps, Anstey Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 7JR

10am - 4pm Cost £30 per head; £100 for booking of 5 team members.

Contact Details: Email:

lynn@ncd-uk.com

Tel:

0118 966 9782

Write to: Lynn Chetcuti, The Church Office, Unit 10, 1A Upper Redlands Road, Reading RG6 1EA

12

News focus

April 2012 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 246408

v Local elections special

Why Christians should vote for us LOCAL elections take place across the country on Thursday, May 3.

To help you as you prepare to vote, we contacted local parties

v Liberal Democrats

T

HEY SAY one should never discuss politics or religion, but there are many Christian Liberal Democrats whose faith informs their politics and who easily reconcile both in their complete worldview.

Like political parties, Christianity is often caricatured as a divided faith, split into opposing denominations.

The Liberal Democrat party, too, is home to different groups, but like Christians, all Liberal Democrat members share common aims.

The Liberal Democrats were founded on a Constitution stating that we exist to “build and safeguard a fair, free and open society”, balancing the values of liberty, equality and

v Green Party

W

HY SHOULD a Christian support the Green Party?

The answer lies not in policies, which change over time, but in values, which tend to be stable for much longer.

So what are the Green values? v Ecological Wisdom The Greens are the only party which considers how we treat the Earth as an issue of first importance. v Social Justice The Greens are strongly committed to greater equality and tackling poverty, both in this country, and globally. v Non-violence The Green Party is committed to non-violent solutions to conflicts – although we do believe that some wars are a necessary evil.

to ask why Christians should vote for them. These are the responses from Reading’s main parties – others are online at xnmedia.co.uk.

Reading Liberal Democrats

community, and enslaving no-one in poverty, ignorance or conformity.

Our members – both with faith and without – understand that sitting on the sidelines is not an option when our society is in need of reform and renewal.

A vote cast for the Liberal Democrats is a vote cast for common aims of fairness, equality and justice.

Cllr Melanie Eastwood, Reading Green Party v Long-term Perspective The Greens are the only major UK party whose policies plan for the long-term in areas like climate change. v Grassroots Democracy Unlike the big three parties, the Greens are run from the bottom up. This means members have a real say. v Focus on Community The Greens understand the value of community, strengthening links and breaking down barriers between people.

If these values are your values why not get involved?

For more information search for your local party – eg Reading Green Party – on the internet or visit the national Green Party website: www.greenparty.org.uk

Xn is politically neutral and will not endorse one party over another.

Not all parties will stand in all areas, local candidates may also be standing.

Check your local newspaper for further details on candidates.

v Conservatives

P

OLITICS is often a tricky subject among Christians because it can be so divisive.

In many ways which political party you affiliate yourself with is an almost tribal thing not too dissimilar to reasons people give for why they support a certain football team.

No political party is perfect and no government will get everything right. Christians legitimately reject and endorse aspects of all political parties.

For me, the biggest difference between Conservatives and Labour is that Labour believe in big Government and the state controlling individuals, where as Conservatives believe people should be served by the state, not bossed around by it. A healthy society needing

v Labour By their fruits shall ye know them – Matthew 7:16

I

T WOULD be easy to suggest that the local elections should be a referendum on national politics – whether the NHS, phone hacking or cuts to support for disabled people.

However this ignores the importance of choices made by local councils.

No council can prevent all the effects of national policy but we can make a difference to our communities.

There are Christians in all the main parties and you may hear us use similar words – protect the most vulnerable, listen to residents, tough decisions.

Jesus challenges us to act on Kingdom values not just talk about them.

Cllr James Anderson, Reading Conservatives responsible, enterprising citizens, not just people who do what they are told.

The Conservative Party makes sense for Christians who care about protecting freedom of religion and conscience for future generations.

To use just one example of where the Conservative Party have been defenders of religious freedom: When Labour tried to pass the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill, some of the original clauses of which would have seen Christians persecuted for speaking out for what they believe, every single Conservative MP who voted opposed these unfair clauses.

Like or loathe politics, if you want to impact the area that you live in, you will have to embrace it. v A longer version is on-line

Cllr Rachel Eden, Reading Labour Party Matthew 7:16 is a verse I believe Christians can use when voting.

Despite a bigger cut in funding than our neighbours, the fruit of Labour in Reading – working with residents, faith groups and the voluntary sector – is that services for children, the elderly and disabled people have been protected and the worst of the cuts made last year reversed.

We put forward “a budget which protects services to people who need them most whilst also responding to concerns expressed by residents”: not our words but those of our opponents.

It’s a contrast with controversy elsewhere: the fruit of our values.

News

To advertise call 01932 246408 | www.xnmedia.co.uk |April 2012

Springboard celebrates first birthday at Civic Centre A NEW organisation created to encourage social action and community engagement across Reading celebrated its first anniversary during March by holding a special event in Reading’s Civic Centre.

Springboard was set up last year with a vision to “release people to run with their dreams and visions to transform their communities”.

They work with individuals from more than one congregation and responds to recognised needs on the ground.

Springboard supports ideas and the possibility of financial support (subject to criteria) to enable projects to take shape.

The first anniversary event was attended by around 40 local people, who heard a wide variety of presentations from eight

projects initiated with support from Springboard during the year.

These included Café B (see page 10), a furniture restoration project by Christian Community Action, & The Hibernian Society, a day service for Irish older people.

Also featured was Still the Hunger which provides day programmes for people with emotional difficulties and a befriending project for isolated

Red carpet rolled out to thank volunteers

13

older people run by N:Qu?re and Reading Christian Network.

Springboard would be keen to hear from Christians in the Reading area who have a vision or dream which would benefit a particular community and a desire to make it happen v For more, log on to www. springboardreading.org or email info@springboardreading.org.uk.

JEREMY SHARPE

v Going for gold CHURCHES in Lower Earley are going for gold this summer.

They are teaming up with local businesses for a special bigscreen showing of the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday, July 27.

Taking place at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre, the event will also feature Zumba and a barbecue.

Other organisers include Wokingham Borough Council, Asda and the Earley Retreat.

v First class

One of the awards given out at the recent ceremony organised by Kerith Community Church in Bracknell A BRACKNELL church thanked its many volunteers at a lively awards ceremony held last month.

Kerith Community Church rolled out the red carpet for the ceremony, while dresses and dinner jackets was the dress code for the event, held on Sunday, March 4.

This annual awards ceremony – which opened with a number from High School Musical – was set up to thank the more than 200-strong volunteers at Kerith, who give up their time so the bustling Church can function on a day-to-day basis.

Ben Oliver, the event’s main organiser and host, opening the proceedings by reminding people that “nothing happens here [at Kerith] unless someone volunteers”.

Volunteers were awarded Oscar-esque trophies and, in one case, a basket load of Yorkie bars.

Categories included Unsung Hero, Outreach, Dream Team and Above and Beyond the Call of Duty.

Kerith’s senior pastor Simon Benham is also grateful to the fundamental and wide-ranging role played by volunteers at the church.

“Everything we do as a church – Foodbank, kids work, youth work, support groups for single parents and people looking for work, debt counselling, supporting families with children with special needs – relies on volunteers to make it happen.

“It was brilliant to spend an evening celebrating and thanking some of those amazing people.”

PUPILS at English Martyrs Catholic Primary School were able to watch new classrooms being installed recently.

The pre-fabricated buildings were lowered into place with the help of a giant crane at the end of February.

Giving the school extra space, the new classrooms are linked to the main school and the official opening ceremony, expected to take place in July, will form part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.

v Sacred songs READING Bach Choir will perform sacred music for its concert later this month.

Taking place at Douai Abbey in Woolhampton, the evening includes Bach’s Komm, Jesu, Komm and Sven-David Sanstrom’s arrangement of the same.

Tickets for the April 21 concert cost £15, £13 for concessions and £8 for students. For details call (0118) 947 8097 or log on to www.readingbachchoir.org.uk.

News 14 April 2012 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 246408 v Let there be Steve conjures up an magical night light at Norreys WOKINGHAM’S All Saints Church has submitted a planning application to install solar panels on the roof of its community building.

If approved, the church will install 40 of the sun-powered panels on the east side of the Cornerstone building in Norreys Avenue. The money saved by electricity generation will further enhance the work it does with disabled and disadvantaged groups that use the facilities.

Disabled groups that use the hall include a Sing For The Brain workshop and Age Concern is also a regular user.

v Winnersh to welcome Samuel WINNERSH now has a new parish – and a new parish priest.

In anticipation of a new housing development, the Church of England has created the parish from the churches of St Catherine’s, Bear Wood Church and St Mary’s Church.

The priest in charge is the Revd Samuel Denyer, who will move to the parish from Cornwall where he was overseeing six rural parishes.

He is married and has four children.

“I’m looking forward to working with the people of the parish and excited about building up Christian worship and witness in the community of Winnersh,” he told The Wokingham Times.

v Helping to raise the roof HOLY Trinity Church in The Ring, Bracknell, recently held a fundraising concert for its roof repair fund.

A total of £100,000 is needed to cover the cost of the repairs and the fund raising concert added another £920 to the fund.

The evening featured a range of music including hymns that the 60-strong audience could join in with.

THE WAREHOUSE in East Reading conjured up a magical night recently – thanks to a skilled illusionist.

Organised by Wycliffe Baptist Church, the evening saw Steve Price present a range of baffling tricks washed down with a liberal dose of humour.

During the evening, Steve shared his testimony – as well as sawing a member of the audience in half. The magician belongs to the Fellowship of Christian Magicians. v For more details, call 07986 219997 or log on to www.stevepriceillusions.co.uk.

Picture: Malcolm Rowe

Reading council seeks new foster carers

THIS summer, Reading Borough Council’s Adoption & Permanence Team are hoping to recruit long term or ‘permanence’ foster carers for some of their looked after children.

There are currently over 200 children looked after by Reading Borough Council.

The vast majority of these children will return to the care of their birth families, but unfortunately there will be some who are unable to return home.

Long term or permanence fostering is the best option for many looked after children and young people to be part of a stable and loving family.

Permanence foster carers provide children with support and guidance in all aspects of their life including birth family relationships, educational achievement and emotional support.

It is hoped that the child will grow up with their foster

carers and remain there until they are ready to move on to independence.

With this in mind, could you welcome a child into your family now and as they grow older?

Bethany Hare and Jennah Holder are the social workers in the team responsible for permanence fostering.

“We would love to hear from anyone who feels able to provide a child with a home. We have several children waiting for families,” they said.

Reading has a diverse population and the children needing permanent foster care come from a wide range of backgrounds.

“We aim to recruit suitable carers from all walks of life. What you are able to offer a child is much more important to us than your personal circumstances.”

Foster carers may be married, living with a partner or single. They may own their own home or live in rented

accommodation, provided that a foster child has their own bedroom.

They try to place children with families who understand their background and can offer a home that meets their religious, language and cultural needs.

Foster carers must be aged 21 or over. There is no upper age limit as long as you are in good health and are able to meet the needs of a child through to adulthood.

The Council do not automatically exclude people because they are overweight or have a disability.

“We need carers to look after children with all sorts of different needs and would like to hear from anyone who has experience of caring for children or young people,” Bethany and Jennah add. v If you are interested in becoming a Permanence Foster Carer, or would like more information, call the team on (0118) 937 3740.

Special feature

To advertise call 01932 246408 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2012

v Care

15

Advertisers’ announcements

Sophie’s choice Sophie Mwiinga, care manager at Home Instead Senior Care in Reading, shares her passion for looking after people:

I

HAVE worked in the social care sector for a number of years now looking after predominantly older people and mostly in residential care homes.

In recent years I have been struck by how frequently my residents have been deeply unhappy about leaving the homes that they have lived in and which contain their life’s memories to stay in such homes.

This distress was compounded by the fact that I felt in many cases that these people could have continued to live happy and fulfilling lives in their own environments or sheltered living properties where they could still retain their privacy and independence; if only they had access to personal support and most importantly some companionship during the course of the day.

This has driven me to look to work with an organisation that is set up to do just that.

Through my team of staff I want to be encouraging and stimulating my clients in a wide variety of daily tasks and activities in their own homes, to help them to stay independent and retain their self-esteem.

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year. It is part of a well-established national organisation which helps me tremendously in knowing that the standards I implement are of the highest quality and put the needs of my clients to the fore.

We really focus on the details that make a real difference to the lives of our clients.

For example we match the needs of our clients with specific individual CAREGivers and encourage a professional yet friendly relationship to flourish between them.

We feel that this relationship is so important that our staff will only ever look after one or two clients at any one time.

The time we spend with our clients is really precious. We use this to build trust and develop companionship.

Consequently, most of our calls are a minimum of one hour so that our CAREGivers are not rushing to fit in a number of specified tasks within a short period of time.

I am really pleased with the choice I made to join the Home Instead team here in Reading and would love to talk to anyone who is considering arranging support either for themselves or a family member.

Being able to live at home can be one of the most important comforts in an older person’s life and because family and friends can’t always be there, Home Instead Senior Care are here to help.

Our Caregivers take great pride in helping our client’s to lead a more comfortable and confident life and offer a variety of services tailored to their individual needs.

From just a couple of hours a day, to full time care, our service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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16

Easter

April 2012 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 246408

v Motoring Advertiser’s announcement

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Curtain up THREE trees walk in to Wokingham’s Market Place. No, it’s not the start of a Christmas cracker joke, but a cracker of an idea for Good Friday.

Local theatre company StageFright – supported by local churches – will be presenting The Three Trees, a brand-new play which will debut in the open-air at noon this Good Friday. And given that two years ago they performed in a deluge of rain, it’s safe to say the lunchtime play will go ahead whatever the weather.

Although Stage-Fright has devised the play, organisers are quick to praise the way in which Wokingham people have been part of it.

“The theme of wood came from a local artist, it wasn’t our idea,” says Michael Johnson, artistic director of Stage-Fright.

The Wokingham-based theatre company has been organising the town’s Good Friday play for four years now and has always been attempting to involve the wider community.

“Last year’s theme was water, an idea that started as a joke because the previous year it rained torrentially during the performance. But we liked it!”

Michael adds.

The community focus behind the play is also brought to the fore with its participants: a local artist has designed the backgrounds that will be used, three local primary schools and two teenage drama groups will be performing and joining in with them will be an over 50s group.

“We’re trying to involve as many people as we possibly can,” says Michael.

And the good citizenship doesn’t stop there. The businesses around Market Place have been incredibly supportive too.

“Last year on the day, the businesses were extremely helpful to us,” Michael explains. “And Costa Coffee turned up with free muffins for the audience.”

The plays, which act as a way of explaining what Easter is all about, have been designed to be accessible to everyone.

“We’re pointing towards the final days, the trial and death of Jesus – that’s the purpose of it,” says Michael. “But we make it a public event for everyone, not just a religious event for churchgoers.

This fits in with Stage-Fright’s mandate of encouraging a free, open and creative exploration of religious faith. It does this in a variety of ways, but principally

Easter

To advertise call 01932 246408 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2012

17

for community play is connected with a carpenter who takes wood and shapes it into something that’s beautiful,” Michael adds.

The play has been funded by churches from across Wokingham and also by Faith in the Community, a local charity. Being held in the Market Place, where Jesus himself might have been found, the story will be accessible to all.

Although Michael has always had a passion for theatre and is currently studying for an MA at Central School of Speech and Drama, it surprises many people that he is also a priest.

“I came to Wokingham in 2005 as a priest at All Saints Church, but Stage-Fright has performed a number of open-air Good Friday plays in I was released in 2010 so I could Wokingham – it is back in action this Easter concentrate on Stage-Fright,” he says. about three trees, and Michael it aims to provide a supportive “The Bishop of Reading released intends that each of the three stories environment so that its members will be told in different ways. can discover, use and develop their me so I could develop this work Each of the trees hope to become and I have the full backing of the theatrical skills and talents while something important – one ends having fun in the process.

Church of England to do this.” up as the manger in Bethlehem, “It’s not so much about putting Michael is passionate about another as a fishing boat and the on plays to engage with the finding ways in which the Church third ultimately becomes the wood can reach out to everyone, not just audience – we’re engaging with the participants first. The audience is the used for the Cross. preaching to the converted.

“We’ll link it back to thinking second part of the process,” Michael “My goal is to try and reach about creation and growth and explains. those who might not come into how a master craftsman brought This year’s Good Friday play church so that they can think things into being, and how that is based around an old folk story about faith and explore faith

through a creative activity that some will find more engaging,” he says.

“It was part of my brief when I came to Wokingham.”

And that hasn’t changed. StageFright has expanded considerably since its 2007 formation and the group now leads four after-school drama clubs, two teenage groups that meet in different churches, plus occasional projects for different groups of local people.

Add on to that extra rehearsals and some exciting plans for new interns from September, it seems that there’s not going to be a final curtain call for the arts group just yet.

“We’re developing a theatre school,” Michael says. “We’ll run training days and encourage people from across the area to come along and explore the interface between arts and faith, particularly theatre.”

That certainly deserves a standing ovation. v To find out more, log on to www.stage-fright.org.uk. v The Good Friday performance will start at noon and is completely free to watch.

Just turn up in Market Place, Wokingham.

18 April 2012 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 246408 v Charity coffee morning WOKINGHAM Methodist Church is holding a charity coffee morning on Thursday, April 5.

Held in the Rose Street church, the session includes fundraising stalls selling cakes and more.

It will raise funds for the West Berkshire Citizen Advocacy Service (WEBCAS) and runs from 10am to noon.

News

Learning more about the persecuted church

v St David remembered THE patron saint of Wales, St David, was celebrated at a special service last month.

St Barnabus Church in Emmer Green hosted the event which was organised by the Reading and District Welsh Society.

It took place on Sunday, March 4, and led by the Revd Margaret Pakistani Christians with the Revd Stuart Windsor (centre) from CSW, Rodney Oliver and the Revd Nigel Jones Dimmick. Afterwards, Bara Brith, a from St Andrew’s Caversham traditional Welsh cake, was served confiscation and destruction of property, arrest, as part of the refreshments. torture, imprisonment, forced labour and even The annual service has been execution. held annually since 1931.

North Korea: 20,000 men, women and children JUDE OLIVER, a member of St Andrew’s v www.readingwelshsociety.org. are incarcerated in prison camps as slave labour

v Witnessed

v Give a Rob a blog ROB BEARDSLEY, pastor of Caversham Baptist Church, has started writing a blog for local newspaper website Getreading.

The website is sister title to the Reading Post and Rob has signed up to write a weekly column looking at all aspects of life.

Rob is also willing to answer readers questions on the blog.

You can send questions to alanbunce@trinitysouth.co.uk or leave a comment on his blog. v www.getreading.co.uk.

v Poetry helps flower festival POETRY was performed at St Thomas Church in Goring last month. The candlelight evening of verse was given in aid of a special Olympic-themed flower festival which the church will host in June. A supper was included at the event, which took place on Saturday, March 17.

Church in Caversham, was present when the church welcomed Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s special ambassador, the Revd Stuart Windsor on Tuesday, March 7. Here she shares what she learnt that evening:

and where they can face execution.

Stuart described the country as “a prison” and he said that the state’s religious persecution has wiped out virtually all religious believers. Christianity, he added, has been described by defectors as “public enemy number one”.

Stuart spoke of a young man who had been Hebrews 13:3: “Remember those in prison as born in a camp and had not imagined a world if you were their fellow prisoners and those outside. who are mistreated as if you yourselves were Pakistan: Due to supposed breaches of the suffering.” country’s blasphemy laws, many Christians face The Revd Stuart Windsor works for Christian the death penalty and flee with their families, Solidarity Worldwide, visiting recently 25 of the seeking asylum.

One family were at the meeting. estimated 60 countries where there are violations As news bulletins from CSW are overflowing of religious liberties. He meets high governmental with these harrowing stories of human rights individuals. abuses, what can we do?

During the evening, he highlighted, with some Stuart encouraged those present that now graphic images, four of the worst countries, where is the time to speak out and that our churches many face intimidation, arrest, imprisonment, should become involved, torture and even death using CSW’s resources, because of their faith. regular prayer groups, Iran: Many members individual prayers and Christian Solidarity Worldwide is a Christian of the country’s ethnic letter writing. organisation working for religious freedom and religious minorities CSW can put you in through advocacy and human rights, in the are currently on death touch with prisoners, pursuit of justice. row, some for apostasy. governments and It is an inter-denominational advocacy and China: It says in ambassadors to write to. research organisation. It does not engage its constitution that It was an inspirational in proselytising because it conflicts with citizens “enjoy freedom evening which should spur advocacy, nor is it an aid agency. of religious belief” but us not to ignore the plight CSW also aims to mobilise the general the cost of practising public to pray, protest and provide on behalf of and suffering of fellow religion outside the Christians in these 60 government-sanctioned persecuted Christians. countries.

For more details, log on to www.csw.org.uk. bodies can include the

v About CSW

News v One-day workshop A CHURCH in Twyford will hold a one-day workshop by The Christian Healing Mission later this month.

The Revd John Ryeland will lead the day, entitled Finding The Jesus You Always Longed To Meet … For Healing, For Friendship, For Prayer.

The day, which starts at 10am, includes worship and will end by 4pm.

It takes place at St Mary’s Church on Saturday, April 28 and tickets cost £5.

For more details, or to book, call the Christian Healing Mission on 020 7603 8118 or email Paul Minton: minton@palmito.org.uk.

Tickets will also be available at the door.

To find more about CHM, log on to www.healingmission.org.

v Up all night to read the Bible THE New Testament was read in full during a 24-hour readathon at Bracknell Methodist Church.

The church started the marathon Scripture reading at 3pm on Friday, March 2 and continued throughout the night, finishing at 3pm the next day.

During the twilight hours, the church’s teenagers led the readings and enjoyed some bacon butties when they finished at 7am.

All money raised from the readthrough will go towards the church’s ongoing rebuilding project.

v Messy fun in store for Easter CHURCHES in Beenham, Midgham and Woolhampton are celebrating Easter by making a mess.

A Good Friday Messy Church session, aimed at children, will take place from 11am at Woolhampton School Hall.

The session will include craft activities, songs, hot-cross buns and a chance to hear the Easter Story.

There is no need to book.

To advertise call 01932 246408 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2012

Christine cooks up brilliant new recipes PARENTS of fussy eaters will find cooking for their tastebuds a lot easier, thanks to a new cook book created by a member of a Reading church.

Christine Bailey has devised The Top 100 Finger Foods, the latest in her popular Top 100 series of recipe books and it has just gone on sale.

“This book is suitable for the whole family as the recipes are exciting, vibrant and packed with healthy, nutritious ingredients – and you can eat them with your fingers,” she says.

Christine, who attends Reading Family Church, adds that finger foods are great for helping children eat more independently and become more adventurous with their food.

The book contains recipes that are suitable for baby-led weaning, packed lunches or even party food.

To celebrate the book’s launch, Christine will be holding a special Finger Foods Cookery Day in Wokingham on Saturday, April 21.

The workshop runs from 11am to 4pm and will include cookery demonstrations, tips and training as well as easy-to-follow recipes to take home.

The course takes place at the Centre For Nutrition Education and Lifestyle Management (CNELM), 2 Edward Court, Wokingham. v For more details, call (0118) 979 8686 or email info@cnelm.co.uk.

19

Common Prayer celebrated A CHURCH in Rotherfield Peppard will celebrate the Book of Common Prayer next month.

All Saints’ Church is dedicating its Evening Prayer service on Sunday, May 20 to the 350th anniversary of royal assent to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

Starting at 6.30pm, the special service will include a sermon by the Revd John Paton (above), precentor and cathedral chaplain, Christ Church, Oxford.

All are welcome. v For more details, log on to the church’s website, www. allsaintspeppard.org.uk.

Study spiritual direction with course AN ECUMENICAL course focusing on Spiritual Direction will come to Douai Abbey this September.

The year-long course aims to increase the skill and confidence of those who find they are already being turned to by others for help on their spiritual journey.

It will explore Christian understanding of personal growth and fulfilment and then help relate this experience to the

Christian tradition of spiritual direction.

The course comprises three terms of eight days and include prayer, teaching and role-play.

It is led by experienced spiritual directors who have all completed the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises.

The course will be held at the Upper Woolhampton abbey and costs between £650 and £750 depending on numbers.

Anglican clergy may be eligible for CME grants to cover some of the costs; other denominations may find similar funds they can tap into.

Some bursaries may be available.

For more details, contact Sue Sheppy by emailing susan. sheppy@btinternet.com or calling 01235 521092.

Alternatively, log on to www. soulfriend.org.uk.

20 April 2012 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 246408 v Whitley’s big Jubilee party CHURCHES in Whitley are joining forces to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

The South Reading Churches are teaming up with Reading Borough Council for the special event, which will take place in Northumberland Avenue from 1pm to 4pm on Saturday, June 2.

The churches are closing the Avenue to traffic so that up to 3,000 people can join in the celebrations.

As well as the street party, there will be live music, bouncy castles, the final of Whitley’s Got Talent and fancy dress competitions.

v Street Party applications ANY one planning a street party to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee has until April 30 to get their applications in.

Parties can be registered for free with Reading Borough Council providing they are for local residents and for fewer than 500 people.

Licences, costing £21, are needed if you’re charging for alcoholic drinks or hosting live entertainment that anyone can come along and see.

For more details, call Lucy Burgess on (0118) 937 2771 or email lucy.burgess@reading. gov.uk.

v Get in the swing of things THE Roy Bailey Big Band will be visiting St Andrew’s Church in Caversham next month.

The group will perform a selection of swing, jazz, and contemporary music and are promising everything from Basie to Bublé.

Organisers of the concert, which takes places on Saturday, May 12, say it is not to be missed.

Tickets cost £10 or £8 for concessions and includes light refreshments.

For more details or to reserve tickets, call Leslie Maynerd on (0118) 947 6067.

News

A cycle holiday of Vietnam and Cambodia has made a difference to an orphanage in Cambodia

Cycle ride brings hope

A MAN from Caversham has got on his bike to help transform lives in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Crispin Fairbairn, who is a trustee of HopeAsia and a member of Grace Church Caversham, organised a 360km cycle ride from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in Vietnam all the way to the ancient temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

The group who took part in the cycling holiday rode through rubber plantations and tiny Cambodian villages.

En route, they stopped to see the Cu Chi tunnels of the Vietcong; rare freshwater dolphins in the Mekong River and the ancient ruins overtaken by the tropical jungle.

Taking place over 10 days in February, the trip was more than just a sightseeing adventure.

By cycling far from the tourist trail, participants were able to discover what really makes the countries tick. And to make the challenging trip even more

memorable, they cycled to an orphanage in the countryside of Cambodia that will directly benefit from the tour.

Before HopeAsia got involved, the orphanage was little more than a shack on the edge of a jungle, in an area surrounded by landmines.

Over the past few years, through fundraising initiatives such as the one that Crispin organised in February, the charity has built everything from

dormitories to a water tower, provided medical treatment and education and built a 650m wall around the site to prevent child traffickers and thieves from having access to the compound.

The orphanage provides accommodation for approximately 60 children. v For more information on the project, or to donate, log on to www.hopeasia.org or call the charity on 0845 622 2286.

Gardeners share cuttings at plant café GARDENERS looking for new plants or some friendly advice will find a new coffee morning blooming marvellous.

The Rose Street Gardeners in Wokingham will host the Saturday morning sessions throughout April and May. At each morning, the talented gardeners will offer a

variety of shrubs and plants for sale as well as vegetables for planting in allotments.

Plants include white and yellow long-spur Aquilegia and some dark blue Delphiniums that originated from Lady Carrington’s garden.

Broad Beans, tomatoes and other vegetable plants

including aubergines, sweet peppers and chillis will be available for planting.

The sales take place outside Wokingham Methodist church in Rose Street, weather permitting from 10am to noon on Saturdays until the end of May. v For more details, log on to wokinghammethodist.org.uk.

To advertise call 01932 246408 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2012

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News

April 2012 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 246408

v Church plans pro-life chain MEMBERS of Beech Hill Baptist Church will be organising a Pro-life chain on Saturday, April 28.

Taking place from 11am to 1pm, the chain will mark the anniversary on the implementation of the Abortion Act of 1967.

The chain – which is planned for the Reading side of the A33 – will be one of many taking place across the country that day.

For more details, contact Jan Bell on (0118) 988 4689.

v Coffee with a little bit extra A COFFEE morning with a difference is being launched at Caversham Methodist Church later this month.

Coffee Extra launches on Wednesday, April 11 and will give people the chance to bring goods to sell.

Items will include cakes, jams, plants and cards. Sellers must take back unsold items at the end of the morning and books should be in good/new condition.

It runs from 10.30am to noon at the church in Gosbrook Road. v For details, log on to www. cavhmc.org.uk.

v A very special birthday party CHRIST CHURCH Reading is looking forward to celebrating its 150th anniversary next month.

The church was consecrated in 1852 and to mark the occasion, the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Andrew Proud will lead a special worship service on Sunday, May 20.

The church will also hold a flower festival during the weekend, which will include interludes of music and an exhibition detailing the church’s history. v For more details, log on to www.christchurchreading.org.uk

Join Eddie Jordan and give a suit for success A NATIONAL campaign is helping the homeless unemployed fighting to get a job – by asking you to donate your unwanted suit.

With nearly 80 per cent of homeless people wanting to get a job and support themselves, travelling tailoring company A Suit That Fits – which has a Reading base in Davidson House, The Forbury – has teamed up with three homeless charities to help their members get back into work.

Until the end of April, there is a national call to the men and women of Britain to donate their unwanted suits.

In a climate with 2.67 million people unemployed in the UK, the pressure is on to impress at interview and studies have shown that first impressions, like what you wear, affect the fundamental judgement of a person.

During the campaign, suits can be donated to the Suit for Success appeal and donators will be rewarded with a £50 tailoring voucher. Donated suits will be gifted to homelessness charities Amber, Broadway and Emmaus, who all work with their members to help them support themselves.

Each charity offers work and learning outreach programmes to their members to equip them with the skills and confidence they need to get a job and be able to fully support themselves.

Formula 1 legend Eddie Jordan checks out the suit he donated to Paul Wilson – an ambassador of the homeless charity Amber They say that regularly find that their members have nothing to wear to their interview which affects their confidence and impacts that all-important ‘first impression’. By providing them with a smart suit the project is making the process just a little bit easier.

A Suit That Fits’s co-founder, Warren Bennett, says of the Suit for Success campaign, “wearing a suit has a massive effect on confidence – especially when

looking for work.

“If we can help individuals to feel more confident when going to interviews, and therefore increase their chances of getting a job – then the campaign will have been a resounding success.” v The donated suits will be collected nationwide until April 26. Visit www.aSuitThatFits. com/SuitForSucess to find out when you can drop your suit off in Reading.

v Course for preachers

v A golden celebration

ASPRIRING preachers can get tips from the experts thanks to a new course.

Developing Preaching Skills will be hosted by Anderson Baptist Church in East Reading from Tuesday, April 24.

Over seven weeks, the Revd Chris Band, minister of Headington Baptist Church in Oxford, will look at the principles of preaching God’s Word, while developing skills and encourage confidence in effective preaching.

The course costs £50 or £35 for concessions. v For details, email Anne Lane, anne.lane@ regents.ox.ac.uk or Judith Wheatley, Anderson’s minister, Judith.wheatley1@ntlworld.com.

IN THE last issue, we mistakenly gave the wrong contact details for this story, apologies.

CATHOLIC couples celebrating marriage milestones this year are being invited to make their happy celebrations extra special.

The Dicosese of Portsmouth is organising a special celebration Mass for couples marking their 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th or any wedding anniversary over 60 years during 2012.

It will be held on Saturday, June 16 , at St Bede’s Church, Basingstoke.

Attendance will be by registration only and numbers are limited. To register, email marriagemass@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.

Sport

To advertise call 01932 246408 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2012

23

v News from the Thames Valley Churches Football League Tilehurst open up four point gap TILEHURST ALBION continue to head the table after their latest victory, a 7-nil shut-out against Real World Corinthians.

It was a solid team performance with the goals shared between Ben Wheeler, Richard Delecia (2), Lewis Wigginton, Danny Lawrence, Toby Briggs and Josh Baines.

Tilehurst’s nearest rivals, Kerith Community Church, lost ground in the race for the title after they could only draw with third placed Brookside St Lawrence, having been 3-1 up at the break.

Reigning champions Warfield FC remain in the hunt for a

top three finish after beating Wycliffe Wanderers 3-0.

Greyfriars FC earned three points from a difficult trip to Vineyard FC who, despite propping up the table, continue to play with a spirit that defies their position.

In a scrappy game, George Dodd’s deflected long-range effort gave Greyfriars a halftime lead, which Max O’Dowd doubled with a fierce shot midway through the second half.

Reading Saints closed the gap to their opponents Bethel United by overcoming them 4-1.

Matt Blake, Phil Greaves, Rob Jones and Rhys Hobbs scored the all important goals for the Saints; Gregory Lyford scored Bethel’s sole reply.

LEAGUE TABLE AS OF MARCH 17

Home Away P W D L F A W D L F A GD PTS

1 Tilehurst Albion 15 7 0 0 47 6 7 0 1 33 6 68 42 2 Kerith Community 15 5 1 1 37 9 7 1 0 68 7 89 38 3 Brookside St Laurence 17 6 2 0 31 15 5 1 3 33 22 27 36 4 Warfield FC 14 3 1 1 17 7 6 2 1 46 10 46 30 5 Wycliffe Wanderers 17 5 1 3 25 17 4 2 2 39 17 30 30

6 West Reading 14 4 0 4 32 22 3 0 3 17 20 7 21 7 Greyfriars FC 15 3 1 4 23 19 3 0 4 13 29 -12 19 8 Bethel United 16 1 0 6 11 28 4 0 5 23 24 -18 15 9 Reading Saints 16 2 1 7 17 47 2 0 4 12 17 -35 13 10 Real World Corinthians 16 0 0 8 4 57 1 1 6 9 47 -91 4 11 Vineyard FC 17 0 0 9 3 80 1 0 7 14 48 -111 3

TOP SCORERS

Name Team Goals

Ben Findlay Kerith Community 33

Neil Healy Wycliffe Wanderers 31

Toby Briggs Tilehurst Albion 20 Jamie Carstairs West Reading 19

Carl Wyatt Warfield FC 17

Barry Agar Kerith Community 15

RESULTS MARCH 3 Reading Saints 1 - 1 RW Corinthians Brookside St Laurence FC 5 - 2 Vineyard Kerith Community 5 - 0 Bethel Utd Greyfriars FC 3 - 3 Wycliffe Wanderers Tilehurst Albion 8 - 4 West Reading

MARCH 10 Brookside St Laurence FC 3 - 3 Kerith Vineyard FC 1 - 3 Greyfriars FC Wycliffe Wanderers 0 - 3 Warfield FC RW Corinthians 0 - 7 Tilehurst Albion Bethel United 1 - 4 Reading Saints

Name George Hobden Courtenay Isaacs

James Hern Ross Thompson

Josh Baines James Nwoseh

Team Goals Warfield FC 14 Brookside St Laurence 14 Greyfriars FC 13 Wycliffe Wanderers 12 Tilehurst Albion 12 Kerith Community 11

COMING FIXTURES MARCH 17 West Reading 0 - 5 Wycliffe Wanderers Rdg Saints 2 - 3 Brookside St Laurence West Reading 0 - 5 Wycliffe Wanderers Kerith Community 5 - 1 Vineyard FC Tilehurst Albion 6 - 2 Bethel United

MARCH 31 Kerith Community v Reading Saints Greyfriars FC v West Reading Wycliffe Wanderers v RW Corinthians Warfield FC v Vineyard FC Brookside St L v Tilehurst POSTPONED

APRIL 14 West Reading v Warfield FC Tilehurst Albion v Kerith Community Real World Corinthians v Greyfriars FC Bethel United v Wycliffe Wanderers Vineyard FC v Reading Saints

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April 2012 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 246408

Announcements

v Family circle v Funeral directors

Keeping the family in touch

Fifth generation family funeral directors and monumental masons. Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

24 Hour assistance 4 Offices with parking Competitively priced Flowers by telephone and on-line Stone memorials Pre-paid funeral plans

Birth announcements

Christenings and dedications

Confirmations and first communions

Believers’ baptisms

Engagements, weddings and anniversaries

Promotions to Glory and in memory

Reading head office 0118 957 3650

branches: Wokingham, Bracknell, Henley-on-Thames, Thatcham

www.abwalker.co.uk

vT o place an announcement in Family Circle call 01932 246408

LIFE is an amazing journey. From our very first breaths to our last, we are told to live it to the full.

There are so many things we can celebrate and commemorate and sometimes telling everyone can be a tricky job. This is where Xn can help.

Our Family Circle page is designed for you to share your news. It could be the birth of a new baby, an ordination or induction, a wedding, an anniversary,

a baptism service or even a first communion.

Whatever the occasion, we’re here to help you share with the church family in Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell.

Our skilled staff will help you choose the correct wording for your notice and you can be assured it will be read in churches across the region.

We think this is an invaluable service you’ll really treasure.

Keep in touch with the wider church family Categories include: births, christenings & dedications, birthdays, confirmations, baptisms, ordinations, inductions, engagements, marriages, anniversaries, deaths, in memory.

Please call 01932 246408 for more details.

Calendar

To advertise call 01932 246408 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2012

v What’s on These are some special events taking place in churches over the next month.

A full events calendar, complete with listings for special church services and local activities can be found at xnmedia.co.uk.

You can also submit your own events by sending an email to editor@xnmedia.co.uk

Sunday, April 1 CAVERSHAM – Baptist Church. Hymn Café: enjoy favourite hymns, homemade cake and a cuppa.

3.45pm-5pm. Details: (0118) 954 5353.

CAVERSHAM – From Kelvedon Way. Gosbrook Road Methodist Church and St Andrew’s churches. Palm Sunday procession. 9.30am.

TWYFORD – St Mary’s.

Twyford Singers sing excerpts from Handel’s Messiah. 7pm. £7. Details: (0118) 969 8326.

Wednesday, April 4 TILEHURST – Methodist Church Hall, 26 School Road. Holiday Club for children aged 5-11: God’s Winning Team!

9.30am-noon. Free.

Details: Download a booking form from the church’s website www. tilehurstmethodist.org.uk or email lownsbrough139@ gmail.com.

Thursday, April 5 READING – Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square.

Maundy Thursday service focusing on the Passover.

7.30pm. All welcome.

TILEHURST – Methodist Church Hall, 26 School Road. Holiday Club for children aged 5-11: God’s Winning Team!

9.30am-noon. Free.

Details: Download a booking form from the church’s website www. tilehurstmethodist.org.uk or email lownsbrough139@ gmail.com.

THREE MILE CROSS – South of Reading Christian Fellowship, Basingstoke Road. David Pawson: Christ’s conception and birth.

7.30pm. Details: (0118) 988 4508.

WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street. Coffee morning in aid of West Berkshire Citizen Advocacy Service. 10am-noon. Details:

www.wokinghammethodist. org.uk.

Good Friday, April 6 CAVERSHAM – Baptist Church. Churches Together Caversham Good Friday morning service. Time TBC. CAVERSHAM – Gosbrook Road Methodist Church.

Good Friday meditation with Deacon Becky Love. 7.30pm.

READING – St Luke’s Church Hall, Erleigh Road.

Children’s Good Friday Workshop. 2pm-3pm.

THREE MILE CROSS – South of Reading Christian Fellowship, Basingstoke Road. David Pawson: the Crucifixion, a two-part talk.

10.30am & 6.30pm. Details: (0118) 988 4508.

TILEHURST – The Triangle.

Churches Together Tilehurst walk of witness. Noon.

TILEHURST – Methodist Church Hall, 26 School Road. Holiday Club for children aged 5-11: God’s Winning Team!

9.30am-noon. Free.

Details: Download a booking form from the church’s website www. tilehurstmethodist.org.uk or email lownsbrough139@ gmail.com.

WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street. Rose Street Gardeners coffee morning and plant sale.

10am-noon. Details: www. wokinghammethodist. org.uk.

WOODLEY – Shopping precinct. Woodley Churches service of witness.

11.30am. Speaker: the Revd Graham Doel.

Saturday, April 7 CAVERSHAM – St Martin’s Shopping Precinct.

Churches Together Caversham Easter witness: singing, street theatre and more. 11am.

CAVERSHAM – St Andrew’s Church, Albert Road. The Easter Liturgy – The Fire, the Vigil and the First Eucharist of Easter. 9pm.

GORING – The Canterbury

Room, St Thomas’ Church. Prayer breakfast.

8.30am-9.30am. All welcome. Details: 01491 875983.

THREE MILE CROSS – South of Reading Christian Fellowship, Basingstoke Road. David Pawson: Christ’s burial. 10.30am. Details: (0118) 988 4508.

Easter Sunday, April 8 READING – Forbury Gardens (if wet, Abbey Baptist Church). Churches Together Reading Easter celebration.

8am.

THREE MILE CROSS – South of Reading Christian Fellowship, Basingstoke Road. David Pawson: Christ’s Resurrection. 10.30am.

Ascension 6.30pm. Details: (0118) 988 4508.

TILEHURST – Streatley Hill.

Sunrise service, whatever the weather. All welcome.

6am.

Easter Monday THREE MILE CROSS – South of Reading Christian Fellowship, Basingstoke Road. David Pawson: Christ’s return and Judgment. 7.30pm. Details: (0118) 988 4508.

Wednesday, April 11 CAVERSHAM – Caversham Methodist Church, Gosbrook Road. Coffee Extra: tables available to sell your own goods including cakes, jams, plants, cards and many more items. Take home what you don’t sell.

Please ensure any books are in good/new condition.

10.30am-noon.

SHINFIELD – Baptist Church.

Senior citizens’ afternoon with tea, quiz and My Favourite Hymns. 3pm.

Saturday, April 14 WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street. Rose Street Gardeners coffee morning and plant sale.

10am-noon. Details: www. wokinghammethodist. org.uk.

Wednesday, April 18 CAVERSHAM – Baptist Church, South Street.

Launch of Positive Parenting course, first of six weeks.

7.45pm. £5, help with costs available Details: (0118) 954 5353.

Saturday, April 21 READING – Greyfriars Church, Friar St. Reading Festival Chorus: Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennell. £15, £13 concessions.

7.30pm. Details: www. readingfestivalchorus.org.uk.

WOKINGHAM – Centre For Nutrition Education and Lifestyle Management, 2 Edward Court. Finger Foods Cookery Day with Christine Bailey. 11am-4pm.

Booking essential. Details: (0118) 979 8686.

WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, Norreys Avenue. Quiz night in aid of Olympic celebration. £10, including food. Details: (0118) 978 9730.

WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street. Rose Street Gardeners coffee morning and plant sale.

10am-noon. Details: www. wokinghammethodist. org.uk.

WOOLHAMPTON – Douai Abbey. Reading Bach Choir in concert: Bach’s Komm Jesu, Komm. £15, £13, £8 students. Details: (0118) 947 8097.

Tuesday, April 24 READING – Anderson Baptist Church, Amherst Road.

Launch of Developing Preaching Skills course.

Continues over seven weeks. 7.30pm. £50, £35 concessions. Details: anne.lane@regents.ox.ac.uk.

Friday, April 27 READING – Philippi Trust counselling centre, 229 Kings Road.

Introduction to Counselling Course (OCN Level 2). 6pm10pm. Booking essential, continues tomorrow.

Details: (0118) 966 7422.

Saturday, April 28 READING – A33. Pro-Life chain to mark the anniversary of the implementation of the Abortion Act of 1967.

11am-1pm. Details: (0118) 988 4689.

READING – Philippi Trust counselling centre, 229 Kings Road. Introduction to Counselling Course (OCN Level 2). Booking essential.

9am-6pm. Details: (0118) 966 7422.

READING – St William of York, Upper Redlands Road. Chorate in concert, in aid of Mencap and the

25

Mongu Project, Zambia.

7.30pm. Free entry, retiring collection. Details: www. chorate.org.uk.

SANDHURST – Methodist Church, Scotland Hill.

Plant sale & coffee morning.

10am.

TWYFORD – St Mary’s Church. Christian Healing Mission workshop: Find The Jesus You’ve Always Longed To Meet … For Healing, For Friendship, For Prayer.

10am-4pm. £5. Details: 020 7603 8118.

WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street. Rose Street Gardeners coffee morning and plant sale.

10am-noon. Details: www. wokinghammethodist. org.uk.

Monday, April 30 MIDGHAM – Park Farm.

Bridge Afternoon and raffle in aid of St Matthew’s Church. 2pm-5pm. Details: Francine Gibbs, (0118) 971 2944.

Thursday, May 3 READING – The Salvation Army, Anstey Road. Natural Church Development presents Christian Schwarz book launch. 10am-4pm. £30, £100 for five team members. Details: (0118) 966 9782.

Tuesday, May 8Friday, May 11 ESHER – Sandown Park, Portsmouth Road. Christian Resources Exhibition.

11am-6pm Tues. 10am-5pm Wed-Thurs. 10am-4.30pm Fri. Details: creonline.co.uk.

Saturday, May 12 CAVERSHAM – St Andrew’s Church, Albert Road. Roy Bailey Big Band in concert. £10, £8 concessions. Details: (0118) 947 6067.

SONNING – St Andrew’s Church. Jubilee Concert: Last Night of the Promsstyle to mark the start of Christian Aid week. 7.30pm. £10. Tickets on the door.

Sunday, May 20 READING – Christ Church, Christchurch Green. 150th anniversary service.

ROTHERFIELD PEPPARD – All Saints Church. Celebration of the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. 6.30pm.

26

Trades

April 2012 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 246408

v Sharing talents God has given each of us unique gifts and skills.

Xn’s talents directory is an opportunity to connect local people with local businesses.

From next issue, at the end of every linage advert will be a unique weblink where you can find out more about the advertiser and offer your feedback on their services.

We’re sure you’ll find these pages invaluable.

Build up your business with

To advertise call 01932 246408 v Funeral directors

Plumbers, electricians and gardeners

Painters, decorators, builders and more!

Music lessons and accompanying

A.B. WALKER & SON – Berkshire’s leading family funeral and masonry service. www.abwalker.co.uk MILES & DAUGHTERS. The family funeral service. All areas covered. Owned and run by the Miles family. www.milesfunerals.com

v Resources FAITH IN THE COMMUNITY (WOKINGHAM) – helping Christians work together to transform their local communities. Phone Sharon Elliott 07843 091950 CHURCH NEWSLETTER ARTICLES. Great selection, new every month. Specially written and drawn. www. thesheepdip.co.uk

vP iano tuition INDIVIDUAL PIANO TUITION. Lessons for all levels and ages from experienced Reading-based piano teacher. Judith Creighton www.judithcreighton.co.uk or 07957 193366.

vP iano accompaniment EXPERIENCED PIANO ACCOMPANIST available for music exams and recitals.

Judith Creighton www. judithcreighton.co.uk or 07957 193366.

Writers, advertising and Fitness trainers and marketing gurus aerobic tutors WE want to help build up your business, whatever it is.

Xn is a unique opportunity to reach Christians attending churches in Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell … and, thanks to the internet, anywhere in the world for that matter.

Our talents directory is your chance to share the good news

v Carpets CALLAGHAN CARPETS AND FLOORING. Home pattern service from a reliable family company. Carpets, vinyls & commercial flooring 40 years’ experience. www. callaghanflooringandcarpets. co.uk or (0118) 962 8527.

about your business and the services it provides Take out a linage advert and you’ll be entitled to space on our website, xnmedia.co.uk, for the duration of your campaign.

And, being the internet, you’ll have unlimited space to talk about the services you provide.

You can add photos, videos and

vP earlstringing/ jewellery PEARLSTRINGER/JEWELLER. Repairs and alterations to necklaces/jewellery. Orders taken. Visitors welcome to see workshpo etc. Tel: Anne Finnerty (0118) 958 8274.

Place your advert in and reach Christian buyers For details call 01932 246408

Private lessons and tuition testimonials to your page. And, to make it even more invaluable, readers who have used your company can add their own feedback to the page.

It’s a brilliant way to boost business in the Thames Valley – and we want you to be part of it.

For more details, call 01932 246408.

vF inancial services DUNAMIS ACCOUNTING SOLUTIONS. Helping you to prosper in business and financial security. E-mail dungerabb@live.co.uk or phone 07952 302737.

v Communication COMMUNICATION SERVICES. Help and advice for press releases, corporate identities and more. Phil Creighton. phil@phildesign.co.uk.

v Office space GREAT OFFICE SPACES TO LET in our building Central Reading latinlink.org.uk/ officespace call Kathryn Clark on (0118) 957 7121.

v Counselling READING COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY. Margaret Hutton www.asafeplace2talk.co.uk

To advertise call 01932 246408 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2012

v Recruitment

27

Advertisers’ announcements

Prospects to open its first charity store in Reading Charity Shop Manager Salary: £20K + Bonus 40 hours per week Mon-Sat with 1 day off We are a national Christian charity for people with learning disabilities and we are looking for a manager to lead the exciting new Charity Shop project to be based in West Reading.

You will be responsible for all aspects of retail management, so relevant shop management and retail experience is essential.

P

ROSPECTS, the Christian charity which supports people with learning disabilities will be opening its first Charity Store in Reading this May. It is expected that the official launch will be attended by an as yet unnamed celebrity, together with the charity’s founder, the Revd David Potter MBE. The new store will be based in the Old Battle Hospital’s new

development in the Oxford Road and it is hoped that further stores will be added to Prospects’ portfolio.

Paul Ashton, CEO of Prospects said, “I am delighted that our first shop is opening in Reading.

“The charity was founded in the town under its previous name, Cause for Concern, some 35 years ago, so our links to the town are strong”.

v Prospect facts

residential, supported living and day opportunities services.

The charity also provides advice, training and resource materials to equip churches for effective ministry and outreach with people with learning disabilities.

There are 200 support groups across the UK linked to churches that involve 2,500 people with a learning disability. 1,300 volunteers are involved with the support groups drawn mainly from the Christian community.

You will be required to promote this ministry within the local churches and the role will therefore involve meeting with ministers and church groups.

Send your CV to sm@prospects.org.uk Shortlisted applicants will be sent the full application pack. Closing date for applications - 10 April 2012

www.prospects.org.uk

THERE are an estimated 1.5 million people with learning disabilities living in the UK. A Christian charity, Prospects aims to enable people with learning disabilities to live life to the full.

With the central office in Reading, the charity currently operates from more than 60 different locations across the UK, supporting 350 people in

Could you help Volunteers needed to help us share our Good News!

Every month, Xn strives to bring the Thames Valley an inspiring and encouraging mix of news, features and information.

We need your help to get the magazine into the community.

If you could spare a couple of hours once a month to help us deliver copies to a cluster of churches, it will help us – we can tell even more good news stories and help build up the Kingdom of God in Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell.

Think you could help? Get in touch with us today!

For more details, email judith@xnmedia.co.uk

?

28

Arts

April 2012 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 246408

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of Christ Church in Reading and, as well as performing in concerts, they deliver music-based workshops in schools and with community and adult groups. v For more on the group, log on to www.apollo5.co.

v Music

Francine Rivers

Make Satisfy thethe thirst forconnection truth…

Serving the Church & Communities in Berkshire with Christian Resources Homemade Maidenhead | Reading | Slough | Wokingham

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Marriage • and much, much more Apollo5, part of the Voces Pop into your local store Monday-Saturday Timothy Keller Cantabiles Music foundation, Or visit us online at quenchshops.com perform a mixture of jazz, pop and Internal Revolution Store addresses & opening hours are on-line classical music.

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Jesus Culture Faith Connection • Children & Youth Work Resources came together last Decades of • and much, much yearmore after playing for local Churches Mum’s 50 Worship Pop into your Together events. local store Monday-Saturday Favourite Worship The group is truly ecumenical, Michael W. Smith Or visit us online at quenchshops.com bringing together Songs Various Store addresses & opening hoursmusicans are on-linefrom all Worship Anthems kinds of church backgrounds, Maidenhead 01628 621985 Reading 0118 957 6078including The Loft Sessions 2012 High and Wokingham Low church.

Slough 01753 538999 0118 977 6715 Bethel Music Various “Our vision is fixed on Christ 10,000 Reasons White Flag who calls us to rise above divisive Matt Redman Passion 2012 denominationalism and to find a deeper and more faithful path, which can = invigorate and inspire people on their journey,” explains Father Kris Kramer and quench Richard Hughes, two members of the Serving the Church & Communities band. in Berkshire with Christian Resources “We come from traditions, but are not Maidenhead | Reading | Slough | Wokingham bound by them. We speak several faith languages but share the one hope-filled • Bibles & Christian Books • CDs & DVDs message of Christ.”

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• and much, much more “We advertised in various National Christian Music Forums such as Worship Pop into your local store Monday-Saturday The Rock and Cross Rhythms and had a Or visit us online at quenchshops.com Store addresses & opening hours are on-line good response with some local and nonlocal musicians offering their services.

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The group comprises a drummer, bass, lead guitar, guitar/backing vocalist, piano/guitar/lead vocalist, keyboard/ fiddle and backing vocalists.

“It’s a loose collective of musicians with a steady core,” Kris and Richard add.

The group played together in public for the first time last Easter – they performed at the open-air Good Friday play in Wokingham’s Market Place (see pages 16-17). They’ve not looked back since, but they don’t take their mission for granted.

“It is humbling to be able to bring music to local churches and to work with other church music groups to bring worship music to town events,” Kris and Richard say.

“It’s not just any music, but music which moves, stirs and inspires people.”

The group want to encourage talent too and are always on the look out for opportunities to jam with others.

“We would love the opportunity to play with other musicians, and especially young musicians who need encouragement,” the band say.

“We are happy to support special services and events in your community which would benefit from having an overtly Christian band with a very upbeat sound.” v For more details, log on to http:// faithconnectionband.wordpress.com or e-mail to FrKris@gmail.com.

Arts

To advertise call 01932 246408 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2012

29

Pam loves her songs of praise “I AM a complete anorak where hymns are concerned,” laughs Pam Rhodes.

The familiar face of Christian broadcasting isn’t joking either: after 25 years on Songs of Praise, it’s fair to say that she’s probably heard every song in your hymnbook several times over.

“They have great power,” she continues, adding that great writers across the centuries have always written hymns that give strength, guidance, protection and comfort.

“We all have times in our lives where we relate to them,” she adds.

“We might not quite remember that quote from the Bible, but you can remember hymns.”

Pam has just released a collection of 30 of her favourites in a new album that shares the name of her Sunday morning Premier Radio Show, Hearts and Hymns.

The show, broadcast at 7am, sees listeners write in to request their favourite worship songs.

It has a loyal following and Pam says that presenting more than 600 editions has been

pleasure.

“It gets more and more enjoyable all the time,” she says. “It’s essentially elements of Songs of Praise on the radio.”

Now, she has built on all her experience to collate the two CD album, which was released by Kingsway at the end of last month.

“If anyone says, ‘What’s your favourite hymn?’ the answer to that is on here,” she promises.

Each disc features 15 songs. The first are old favourites, including Praise My Soul The King of Heaven, How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace. The second is a collection of more modern tracks, including Blessed Be Your Name, In Christ Alone and Love Divine.

It’s a diverse mix and each album includes a booklet with all the lyrics so you can join in. Indeed, this is something that Pam makes clear in the sleeve notes: “If these don’t get you singing, I don’t know what will”.

Pam is proud of the hand-picked selection.

“What I’ve done here is I’ve included those top

10 favourites: How Great Thou Art, Amazing Grace, Dear Lord And Father and Mankind – these are the perennial favourites,” she

v New books Yeshua – The King, The Demon & The Traitor

By G. P. Taylor & Paula K. Parker, Authentic Media, £7.99. ISBN: 9781860248290 Travel back in time to witness the life of one man whose birth changed the course of history.

With vivid descriptions, these stories clothe the characters with flesh and bone, laughter and tears, love and pain, excitement and anger.

Embracing Dusty Detours: A spiritual search for depth in desert places

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After many years as a single Christian, she embarked on a dating experiment – to go on 20 first dates, with 20 men, met in 20 different ways.

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explains.

“When it came to the modern ones I suppose I really went for my own favourites – How Deep The Father’s Love, In Christ Alone, See What a Morning – a crosssection of the modern favourites we all know and love.”

Some of the songs are old favourites but with new tunes, something that Pam encourages.

“I think there’s always value in hearing them afresh,” she explains.

“One melody might work for one person, another might work for another.

However you hear it, whatever works for you, that’s fine.”

Pam’s stint on Songs of Praise has meant she’s had the opportunity to interview a wide range of people for the show, including The Pope, Jackie Collins, Marcel Marceau, Sir Ian McKellern, Sting, Sir Cliff Richard and Roald Dahl as well as members of the Royal Family.

Songs of Praise isn’t about celebrity names though. Every week, the programme focuses on ordinary Christians living out their faith, interspersed with some beautiful worship music.

Pam is proud of the way in which the show assembles choirs and choral groups to present stunning and memorable arrangements of muchlove hymns.

“The show’s role is to reflect what is going on in worship,” she says.

The long-running programme has a remit to showcase the best.

It has to be, Pam says, “Pleasing on the eye, with wonderful pictures and inspirational interviews.

“It’s entertaining and the highest quality music the best singers, the best congregational voices – it’s a celebration in every way.”

Just like her new CD. v Pam Rhodes Hearts And Hymns is released

by Kingsway, £13.99.

ISBN: KWCD3297.

30 April 2012 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 246408

Puzzles

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How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number 1 to 9 can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. 2 1 4 Each compartment must form a straight 6 4 5 a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be 4 5 in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black cells 4 3 6 2 remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight.

3 5 2 1 Glance at the solution to see how ‘straights’ 2 1 3 are formed.

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To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org for Sudoku and www.str8ts.com for Str8ts.

If you like Str8ts and other puzzles, check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

Competition

5 copies of smash-hit movie Courageous to be won!

When tragedy strikes home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, fears, faith and fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God … and to their children?

We’ve teamed up with publishers Authentic Media to offer you the chance to win one

Steve Vaughan-Turner

The winners will be drawn at random from the editor’s hat. Only one entry per household and the editor’s decision is final. Usual rules apply.

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of five copies of the new DVD, worth £14.99 each.

All you have to do is answer the following question: How much does the Courageous DVD cost?

Send your answer, along with your full postal address to: Courageous Contest, Xn, c/o Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BE by Tuesday, April 24. Alternatively, email editor@xnmedia.co.uk.

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COURAGEOUS, the hit movie from the creators of Fireproof, packed cinemas across America and has just been released on DVD. It tells the story of four men with one calling: to serve and protect.

As law enforcement officers, they are confident and focused, standing up to the worst the streets have to offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood.

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Some keen gardeners remember what happened last Palm Sunday…

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Xn conforms to the newspaper industry’s voluntary Code of Practice, administered by the Press Complaints Commission.

If you feel we have made an error in a report, or have fallen below our usual high standards, please write in the first instance to: Phil Creighton, editor, Xn, c/o Abbey Baptist Church, Reading RG1 3BE. If the editor is unable to resolve your complaint, it will be passed to Xn’s independent Council of Reference for arbitration.

The PCC code of practice, along with details of how to complain, is available from Halton House, 20/23 High Holborn, London EC1N 2JD, www.pcc.org.uk. Email complaints@ pcc.org.uk or telephone 020 7831 0022, helpline 0845 600 2757.

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The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every care is taken to ensure that the contents of the magazine are accurate but the publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors.

While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements, the publishers cannot accept any responsibility for any resulting unsatisfactory transactions.

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Sudoku Solution

Xn is published monthly by Xn Media. ISSN 2049-4971

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Thanks to Michael Penny, Alan Magness, Louise Cole, Abbey Baptist Church, Paul Burnish, RCN, Richard Hughes, Mary Brockington, Colin Preston, Matt Hearn, Ann-Marie Paterson

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Str8ts Solution

Contributors Michael Penny, Jeremy Sharpe, Sharon Elliott, Chris Carter, Steve Vaughan-Turner, Malcolm Rowe, Helen Strong, Megan Temple, John Madeley, Richard Becher,

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Editor & publisher Phil Creighton editor@xnmedia.co.uk Distribution Judith Creighton judith@xnmedia.co.uk

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Very Hard

Resources

v Xn shop Every month, we’ll put together a range of special offers and discounted books specially for you.

Here’s our latest selection. Look out for another collection of great titles next issue!

Beloved African John Hammond was one of Rhodesia’s foremost educators of the black population. Born in a pole and dagga hut and brought up speaking Ndebele, he educated a generation of children so they could run a modern country. John’s faith gave him motivation that so impressed people that he was called ‘our father – the great teacher, loved by all Africans’.

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The Fat of the Land Eaten too much over Christmas and the New Year? Time to lose a bit of weight? THROW AWAY THE SCALES! Author and Research Scientist Chris Grummitt debunks a lot of dieting myths and in his humorous way describes his own weight loss journey and the consequent improvements in his health RRP £7.99, Xn

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Author Tony Powell has had at least three, first as a policemen, then as a missioner for the Royal National Deep Sea Fishermen’s Mission and finally as Pastor for the Shaftesbury Society Mission in Battersea.

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readers

Thy Kingdom Come: the past present and future of Evangelical Christianity Is your image of an evangelical that of a white, middle-class Republican voting Texan? Think again, she’s more likely to be a Nigerian widow living with AIDS. Tracing the growth of evangelicalism from its 18th century roots, Dr Catherwood shows how it has emerged as a global faith movement in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

RRP £8.99, Xn price £6.74

The Most Famous Book in the World, a Celebration of the King James Bible Twenty two well-known personalities; clergy, politicians, media and sports personalities, scientists and businessmen, from across the spectrum of churchmanship, reveal their favourite Bible passage.

Which author chose ‘Jesus Wept’, the shortest verse in the Bible?

RRP £4.99, Xn

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Women in the Bible, Miracle Births, Heroic Deeds, Bloodlust and Jealousy From Abi to Zipporah, Eve to the Whore of Babylon, this book tells the stories of the Women of the Bible. Looking at the meaning of their name, and exploring what is known about them and an explanation of the relevance and importance of their life in the wider Bible story. The beautiful gift book is illustrated throughout and is a mine of information.

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To order, call 01932 246408 state code RXn001 To order your books and claim your discount telephone 01932 246408 and state code RXn001.

Alternatively write with a cheque to RoperPenberthy Publishing Ltd, Springfield House, 23 Oatlands Drive, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 9LZ or email grace@roperpenberthy.co.uk. Post and packing £1.50 per book, orders over £10 post free.

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