Xn April 2013 by The Wokingham Paper

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Henley, Reading & Wokingham districts APRIL 2013 Thames Valley region

ISSN 2049-4971

April 2013 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 888417

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Brilliant inspiration and fresh ideas at the Ideal Homes Show for churches

v HOW TO GET YOUR FREE CRE TICKETS XN is pleased to invite you and your friends to CRE International as our guests, saving you up to £6 per ticket! The exhibition – dubbed the Ideal Homes Show For Churches – takes place in Esher, Surrey from May 14-17. It’s packed with great ideas to help you and your churches and gives you the chance to meet the people behind some of the UK’s best resources. We’ll be there too! To get your FREE tickets, simply log on to www. creonline.co.uk. Click on BUY TICKETS and enter your details and choose the option for “Exhibition Complimentary” and enter the code XN2013. Follow the instructions and remember to bring your ticket to the show. See you there!

IF YOU’RE looking for some fresh ideas and some brilliant inspiration for your church, the answers are right on your doorstep. Taking place from May 14-17 at Sandown Racecourse in nearby Esher, the annual International Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) aims to help equip and empower your church. And with everything on show from stained glass windows to socks, there is something for everyone. With more than 300 organisations and exhibitors who can help you address the practical and spiritual needs facing your church and community, if what you’re looking for isn’t there, the chances are nobody does it. From book publishers to youth specialists, charities to chair manufacturers, ways to worship and what to wear, CRE has it all. No other event offers you the chance to meet such a remarkable range of suppliers and mission organisations. Every year there are new stands that have never exhibited before so even if you came last year it is worth returning this year. And it’s not just a trade show. There are more than 100 practical and inspiring seminars and workshops taking place across the four-day event, including a visit from Tony Campolo, an update on Messy Church,

A clergy catwalk show is one of the fun events that take place at the forthcoming CRE exhibition in Esher, Surrey a look at issues facing people in their final years and issues facing women within the Church. Live music and theatre, cafés, campaigns and more will be available to enjoy … and you’ll be able to shop until you drop with plenty of stalls selling the latest books, CDs, DVDs and gift ideas. To find out more about CRE, simply visit creonline.co.uk which is updated regularly. It really is the ‘ideal church show’, and organisers look forward to meeting you there.

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USE CODE XN2013

v £2,000 microgrant up for grabs Visitors have 2,000 more reasons to come to CRE International this year. For the first time you will discover how to win a £2,000 micro-grant to start a community transformation project, courtesy of the Cinnamon Network. In 2011 it was estimated that 2.5% of the UK Church or 1,000 local churches were leading a community franchise project, mobilising 20,000 volunteers and serving 200,000 beneficiaries. “It was our sense that over 25% of the UK Church or 10,000 local churches could be running a community franchise project mobilising 200,000 volunteers and serving more than 2 million beneficiaries,” explains Cinnamon Network's Matt Bird. “From food banks to job clubs, night shelters to money advice, dozens of churches have already benefitted. “We'll show visitors how to follow their lead and bag a £2,000 micro-grant to help them on their way.”

Europe’s leading Christian Resources Exhibitions

CRE International

SANDOWN 2013

Sandown Park, Esher 14 – 17 May CRE Midlands

NEC BIRMINGHAM 2013 NEC Birmingham, 3 & 4 October CRE Scotland

LOWLAND HALL 2013

Royal Highland Centre, 27 & 28 November

• The best in Christian resources • The latest multimedia equipment • An extensive book and resource store • A comprehensive programme of seminars • A variety of specialist workshops • Entertaining Christian theatre and music

For continually updated information visit:

CREonline.co.uk

Christian Resources Exhibitions is part of Bible Society (Charity Reg. No 232759) Tel 01793 418218

Christian Resources Exhibitions EQUIPPING AND EMPOWERING YOUR CHURCH

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Henley, Reading & Wokingham districts APRIL 2013

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This is your magazine

ISSN 2049-4971

Thames Valley region

H&M goes sustainable 27

Contact us with your stories, it’s really easy: email editor@xnmedia.co.uk write to Xn Media, c/o Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BE. We look forward to hearing from you! Xn is published by Xn Media. ISSN 2049-4971 c/o Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BE www.xnmedia.co.uk Twitter: @xnmedia

In fine voice

Editor & publisher Phil Creighton editor@xnmedia.co.uk Distribution Judith Creighton judith@xnmedia.co.uk Contributors Lynda Bowyer, Michael Penny, Steve VaughanTurner, Sally Hamblin, Steve Prince, James Hern, KarenWashbourn, Jonathan Ashley, Sharon Elliott, William Elliot Thanks to Michael Penny, Alan Magness, Louise Cole, Mary Brockington, Sharon Elliott, Paul Burnish, Nick Crowder, Rob Wilson, Traidcraft, Maggie Atkinson, Meryl Walter, Jo Duckles, Sarah Mayrick Advertising Hinton Media Services Ltd 01932 888417 advertising@xnmedia.co.uk Printed by Polestar Xn is an independent publication that aims to reflect community and church life without bias. 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. They will, however, investigate any written complaints. © Xn Media Ltd, 2013

Walkies! Giving Mums a helping hand

Your chance to get a top-up From the editor Phil Creighton ‘ Emma has had such a fantastic idea and it ’s so successful , she needs your help’

ARE you on Twitter? Xn is – we’re @xnmedia. I’m also on and tweet – as the slogan goes – in a personal capacity. It’s a great way to keep in touch with people and make new friends. One such Twitterer is Emma Cantrell. We both met for the first time at a recent Faith In The Community event held in Wokingham (a fantastic group of people who want to help transform our part of the world). Emma was there to talk about her brilliant new initiative, First Days Wokingham. The new charity redistributes quality baby items to Mums in desperate need of the right equipment. It’s such a fantastic idea. It’s also so successful that she needs your help now. What a great Good News story to bring you, just one of loads to be found in our pages this month. I hope you enjoy the read – and make sure you let me know what you think! Until next month.... editor@xnmedia.co.uk

Keeping it in the family

Contents 4 The main event 6 News 14 Business 16 News focus 18 Feature 20 What’s on Our guide to community events 22 Family circle 24 Trades directory 24 Sport 26 Food Recipes that can help deal with Cancer 27 Ethical shopping 28 Puzzles 29 Arts New plays, concerts and films

Get in touch! email stories to editor@xnmedia.co.uk Deadline for May issue Noon, Friday, April 19

the main event

Queen visits to give

UNDREDS of people from across the Thames Valley braved the late winter cold and light snow showers to receive Maundy Money from Her Majesty The Queen. Bells rang out and crowds cheered as the Queen arrived at Christ Church Cathedral for the service, held on Thursday, March 28. It was the first time in almost 400 years that it had been held in Oxford. The service sees 87 men and 87 women – marking the Queen’s 87th year – each receive a red and a white purse. Recipients came from the Diocese of Oxford, which includes Henley, Reading and Wokingham, and were being honoured for the work within church and community. They had all been nominated by church leaders of all denominations and lined up to receive the two purses. In the red purse was a £5 coin and a 50pence coin to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. The

white purse contained silver one, two, three and four penny pieces that came to 87 pence. The Rt Revd John Pritchard, the Bishop of Oxford, led part of the service, while the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Andrew Proud was also present. It ended with a rendition of the National Anthem. The Revd Jonathan Wilmott, vicar of Greyfriars Church in central Reading, was one of many local clergy who attended. “It was a very moving service,” he said. Afterwards, the Queen was walked out watched by the Yeomen of the Guard, then attended a reception before being cheered out by pupils of Christ Church School, who were waving Union Flags. Molly Woodley was one of the recipients and had been nominated by St Andrew’s in Sonning where she serves as deputy warden. She is also active in the Women’s Institute among other community groups. “I’ll remember this day for the rest of my life,” she said.

PICTURES: LYNDA BOWYER

5 the main event

To advertise call 01932 888417 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2013

out her Maundy gifts

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April 2013 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 888417

vNew CCA store

A CHARITY shop that also serves as a listening ear is gearing up to launch a new branch. Christian Community Action (CCA) will open a store on Wokingham Road, East Reading in May. Situated opposite Alfred Sutton School, it will sell donated items to help support the charity’s work in the community. The shop also gives the chance for people to receive practical help from its Community Support Centre. The store needs goods to sell and volunteers to help sort and sell them. v For more details, log on to www.ccam.org.uk.

v Get befriending

A SCHEME that aims to be a friend to isolated older people is ready to train up new volunteers. Engage Befriending will hold an induction evening at Caversham Baptist Church on Thursday, April 18 from 7.15pm. For details, contact Jeremy Sharpe on 07970 100131 or jsharpe.rcn@gmail.com

v Cuddly bears

DON’T beware of the bears - that’s the message from Stoke Row Independent Chapel as it prepares to be a good Samaritan for the Samaritans. Members will dress up as cute and cuddly bears for a fun fundraising collection on Saturday, May 4, in Reading’s Broad Street.

63% of kids in poverty miss out on school meals EXCLUSIVE CHILDREN living in poverty are missing out on free school meals that they are entitled to according to new research by Children’s Society. In Reading East, 63% of children are missing out on a school meal – it’s one of 57 constituencies across the UK where six in 10 children living in poverty are not getting a free school meal. Even in Henley – the constituency with the lowest poverty levels in the region – almost half of children living in poverty are missing out on their hot lunch. Of England’s 533 constituencies, only 22 have fewer than 10% of children in poverty missing out on free school meals. Children’s Society argues that for parents in poverty, finding the £370 a year needed for each child’s school meal often means struggling to provide their children with the basics, including buying school shoes and heating their home. Many low-income families are unable to get free school meals simply because their parents are working – no matter how little they earn. To combat this, the Society has launched the Fair And Square campaign, which aims to lift 100,000 children out of this situation, % of children in poverty not receiving free Constituency school meals

Estimated number of children in poverty

Bracknell

59%

1,800

Henley

48%

700

Maidenhead

54%

1,100

Newbury

56%

1,600

Reading East

63%

2,220

Reading West

43%

2,100

Wokingham

54%

1,000

Windsor

60%

1,200

Children living in poverty across the Thames Valley are missing out on free school meals giving them a free school meal. So far, more than 90,000 signatures have been presented to David Cameron urging the Government to change the situation. Rob Wilson, MP for Reading East, said: “It is extremely important that families claim their entitlement to Free School Meals. “It is important for children to get a decent meal and the school benefits through extra funding via the Pupil Premium. This is an extra £1,500 a year to help each disadvantaged child reach their full potential. “I know there is some stigma around free school meals but schools must do their best to ensure this doesn’t happen by setting the right culture.” Matthew Reed, Children’s Society chief executive, said: “It is shocking that huge numbers of children in poverty are missing out on a free school meal. Every child in poverty should be entitled to this vital support. “We know from the families we work with up and down the country that parents are struggling to make ends meet. Right now, the government is reconsidering which children will be entitled to get free school meals. We urge the Government to make sure all children in poverty can get a free school meal.” The campaign encourages supporters to contact their MPs about the campaign and also contribute £3 by texting FAIR to 70099. v For more details, log on to: action. childrenssociety.org.uk/FairandSquareDonate

v Room mix-up helps CIRDIC A CHARITY that helps homeless and vulnerable people is celebrating after a mix-up over a hotel room netted them a valuable donation. Churches In Reading Drop-In Centre was the benefactor of £1,122 after Reading’s Rotary Club and Crowne Plaza Hotel in Caversham teamed up to rectify a mistake. The Rotary Club usually meets at the hotel, but its room was double booked. As a way of apologising, the hotel offered to donate the booking fee to a local charity, as long as the Rotary Club matched it. Speaking to the Reading Post, the Rotary Club present, Fred McCrindle said: “The centre provides food for people less fortunate than us so it made sense for us to donate the money to them.”

v Prison training AN ORGANISATION that cares for those leaving prison is looking out for new volunteers to join its work. Caring For Ex-Offenders aims to reduce reoffending by reintegrating ex-offenders into society through the local church. Its next course is for team training and explores everything from where to start to the need to care for ex-offenders. It will be held on Saturdays, April 20 and May 4 in London. v For more details, email info@ caringforexoffenders.org.

How would you spend £1.5million? RESIDENTS in the Battle ward of Reading and its neighbouring area are set to be given an opportunity to have their say on how £1.5m could be used to improve local facilities. The money is due to be paid to Reading Borough Council by developers David Wilson Homes as part of the 2006 planning permission to build 434 homes on the site of the former Battle Hospital. The Council is proposing to give residents in the area an opportunity to help inform the decision on how it can be spent to ensure it meets the needs of local people and the community.

Jo Lovelock, Reading Borough Council leader, said: “The money must be used on community related benefits so we feel it is very important to talk to the local community about how they think that the money should be spent. A questionnaire will be distributed in the local area, asking people to identify their priorities for which local facilities need improving. People can complete a short online survey at www.reading.gov. uk/battlesurvey There will also be a drop-in event held at Battle Library (420 Oxford Road) on Tuesday April 16, from 11am to 1pm and from 3pm to 8pm.

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Guides’ jigsaw to end child hunger

Take care! Make the most of life with Philip Keohane

I belong to the Fourth Generation

Alok with the Guides, including Amy Martin, Maddy Stonehewer, Angelina Thomas, Kelly Herman, Rachel Martin and Nerea Hopkins THERE was no puzzle when a group of Guides told their MP he was a jigsaw piece – it was part of their special project. Alok Sharma, MP for Reading West, visited the 9th Tilehurst Guides to learn more about their participation in the Craftivist Collective’s Jigsaw Project. The Guides urged Alok to ask David Cameron to put child hunger on the agenda of this year’s G8 summit. They also gave the MP two jigsaw pieces which they sewed as their part of the Craftivist Jigsaw Project.

One piece is embroidered with the words “We can change together”; the other says “Live simply so others can simply live”. Alok said: “I have written to Prime Minister David Cameron on behalf of the Guides to ask that he puts world hunger high on the G8’s list of priorities.” Holly Skeet, Unit Leader at 9th Tilehurst Guides which meets at Tilehurst Methodist Church, said: “The girls were delighted that Alok felt able to pass on their support for the campaign to David Cameron.”

Poor are ‘paying the price’ for austerity A SERIES of cuts to benefits that will hit the hardest on Britain’s poorest people are unjust, say four major churches. The changes to the welfare system started at the beginning of the month and the churches argue that the most vulnerable will pay a disproportionate price in the Government’s austerity measures. The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church and the Church of Scotland also say that politicians and the media have misrepresented those who receive benefits as well as people experiencing poverty, in order to justify spending cuts. “These cuts make April fools of us all,” said Paul Morrison, Public Issues Policy Adviser for the Methodist Church. “We are witnessing what happens when we create a culture that blames poor people for their poverty. “It is a lie to say that most people on benefits are lazy, that they have an easy life or that they are responsible for the nation’s financial deficit. “When people are willing to believe those lies, poor families pay the highest price.” Changes to the benefits system include the “bedroom tax” which will affect an estimated 2million people and reduced benefit for those deemed to have a spare room. A benefit cap is being rolled out to four London local authorities before going to the

rest of the country and it is estimated that, on average, £93 will be cut each week. In their report, The Lies We Tell Ourselves: Ending Comfortable Myths About Poverty, the Churches say that statistics have been manipulated and misused by politicians and the media to support the belief that the poor somehow deserve their poverty and the cuts. The report has been sent to every UK MP and people are being encouraged to write to their parliamentary representative asking how they will be using the information to better inform policy-making. Reading West Parliamentary Candidate Victoria Groulef estimates that 596 council tenants and 412 housing association tenants in Reading Borough will be affected by the bedroom tax. She said: “I have spoken to many people across Reading West who will be hit by these changes, many are wondering how they will be able to cope. They include people with a disabled family member and foster carers who will have to pay the bedroom tax on a bedroom occupied by a child they are fostering.” However, John Redwood, MP for Wokingham, disagrees. He told a debate in the House of Commons: “It is not primarily a public spending-cut policy; it is a policy designed to try to get more people into public sector housing that is suitable for them.”

The FOURTH Generation – the old olds or the over 85s as they are more commonly described – now account for more than 1.5m of the UK population. By 2030 forecasts suggest the number will have doubled and, by 2050, they will top 5m, dramatically changing the demography of the country. A recent House of Lords committee report has suggested, the gift of longer life could cause a “series of crises” in the public service – not only in terms of health and social care, but for pensions, housing and employment. This assumes however that old age automatically means an individual becomes a burden. That is understandable. Research suggests that while people are living longer, they are not automatically living as long with good health. In the two decades since 1990, life expectancy has risen by 4.6%, but healthy life by only 3%. Today most over-85s have between three and six long-term conditions, which include everything from heart disease and diabetes to dementia. They are more likely to end up in hospital and, when there, spend four times longer recuperating. There is growing evidence that with better planning – by both the State and individual – some of this can be avoided. Michelle Mitchell of Age UK says: “Older people need to be cared about, not just cared for”. If the elderly are given more support in the community, they stand more chance of remaining independent and out of hospital. A recent report by Age UK called Improving Later Life, Understand The Oldest Old points out that while old age does bring with it challenges, it does not necessarily need to spell a downward spiral to infirmity. The report said that the majority of people over the age of 85 actually rate their health and quality of life as good. Key to this though are two factors: remaining active and maintaining friendships. The importance of living healthily is well rehearsed. But the role of socialising is often less acknowledged. In fact, it is probably equally as important as the physical activity bit as loneliness is a risk factor for both cognitive and physical decline. At Home Instead we totally agree with this philosophy. Older people need to be cared about, not just cared for. This means listening and responding to an individual’s views and choices so that an all-important sense of dignity and identity can be maintained. It also means taking the time and trouble to encourage and stimulate people to continue to play an active and worthwhile role in our society. Philip Keohane is owner & director of Home Instead Senior Care in Reading

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v Catholic Alpha A WOKINGHAM church is inviting you to enjoy meals, talks and chats as it launches its Alpha course. Corpus Christi Catholic Church will launch the course on Wednesday, April 17 at 7pm. Each evening includes a free meal, a DVD talk and a chance to discuss it. v For more information call Julie Hughes (0118) 973 0528 or Stefan Dahmann on (0118) 978 5249, or just turn up – and bring others!

v Henley Alpha THOSE looking to explore Christianity in Henley are invited to join in a new Alpha course being run at the town’s Baptist Church. Each evening includes a meal, a talk and a discussion so people can explore issues raised by the talk. Everyone is welcome at the course, which will launch later this month. v For more details, log on to www.dtwo.co.uk.

v Explore faith RESIDENTS of Woodley are invited to join in a new session of the popular Christianity Explored course this month. Woodley Baptist Church is running the seven-week course from Monday, April 15. Taking place in the evenings from 7.30pm, it’s a chance to ask your questions about Christianity. v For details call Simon Williams 0779 238 9793.

v In fine voice THE Reading Mail Voice Choir and soloist soprano Lori Tingay Weber will be raising the roof later this month. The concert is in aid of Romania Link, which helps projects in the town of Cluj. The concert starts at 7.30pm on Friday, April 19 and will be held at St John The Bosco Church, Woodley. Tickets cost £10 on the door or £8 in advance. v For details, email lizcramp@btinternet.com or rita.belletty@talktalk.net or call (0118) 969 62129.

v Enjoy a healthy body, mind and spirit with d:two THOSE looking to change their lifestyle through their diet can join in a special Healthy Living group. Meeting on Monday evenings at d:two in Henley, the group uses a personal trainer and

a student nutritionist to give practical help and advice to those wanting to explore how a healthy body, mind and spirit are connected. With an emphasis on fun, the group combines cooking, eating

and playing together and is open to everyone. Organisers say that it is for all those who aspire to have a healthier lifestyle. v For more details, log on to www.dtwo.co.uk.

Minimum price for alcohol must happen say charities THE COALITION’S decision to scrap plans to charge a minimum price for alcohol has been criticised by charities. Plans for a 45p minimum price per unit of alcohol were axed last month. Instead, the Chancellor, George Osbourne, used his budget to announce the end of the duty escalator on beer and reduced tax by 1p a pint. Government research had suggested that over a 10-year period the policy would lead to a fall in crime and an improvement in health, even though it would take at least five years to recover the loss in revenue from reduced sales. HopeUK, a charity that provides education and training for parents, churches and voluntary youth organisations on alcohol, wants minimum price supporters to write to their MPs to ask them not to drop the issue. A spokesperson said: “For those of us working hard to reduce alcohol-related harm in the UK, it is hard to understand why David Cameron should be considering a U-turn on minimum pricing for alcohol.” Alcohol Concern points out that “people on low incomes tend to consume the least alcohol whilst being disproportionately affected by alcohol related harm”. Arcade, a Reading-based charity that aims to present young people with positive choices for a

The Coalition should not have dropped plans for pricing controls on alcohol says Hope UK healthy lifestyle, supports a minimum price, but points to the need for good education. Kevin Woods, Arcade’s director, said: “Minimum pricing is an important tool but it must be a part of the need to address the issue of alcohol-related crime, social problems and health issues. “We also need to provide good quality alcohol education to children, young people and parents, and look at ways in which we can engage the community in a change of attitudes. “A way forward is to offer alternative opportunities for getting the most out of life, while helping people to realize that they are unique, special and amazing.”

v Men invited to sexual healing day AN EXPLORATION of sex and sexuality will be held at a special day conference in Oxford later this month. Gerald Coates is teaming up with co-author Nathan Ferreira to present the event for men which covers issues raised in their new book, Sexual Healing. During the day, participants will be able to take a health check regarding their sex life. Gerald said: “As Christians, we have a clear calling that gives us purpose in life, revealed through the Scriptures but also made specific to each individual with the help of prophetic ministry. “For many Christian men, these two fundamental aspects

of our personality are muddled up and deeply affected by another deep part of who we are – our sexuality.” He added: “Sex was given by God to be a blessing, but our sexuality sometimes seems to make our lives worse, or even to take over our lives altogether.” The event is free and is organised by the Oxfordshire Community Churches cluster, of which Henley Baptist Church is a part. Lunch is included, but booking is essential. It will be held on Saturday, April 20 from 9.30am to 4pm at The King’s Centre in Osney Mead. For more details, log on to www.occ.org.uk.

Curry will help Natalie go to Rio A priest is swapping his cassock for an apron as he prepares to prove he’s hot stuff in the kitchen. Monsignor John Nelson, from English Martyrs Catholic Church in Reading, is hosting a special curry evening in the parish hall later this month. The priest will be cooking the curries to help Natalie Dennehy raise funds for a forthcoming trip to Rio. The young parishioner is taking part in the World Youth Day in the Brazilian city from July 23-28 and needs to raise the money to get there. While there, she will also take part in a series of volunteering projects. She said: “This July I will be travelling to Rio de Janeiro to work as a volunteer and then attend World Youth Day. I will spend four weeks volunteering on projects organised by the Assumption Volunteers, the lay community attached to the Sisters of the Assumption. “The projects support children and young people, who live in the favela slums and those who are homeless.” The curry evening will take place on Saturday, April 13 from 7.30pm. Tickets cost £6, or £4 for under 12s. v For more details, log on to www.englishmartyrs.org.uk.

v Give your marriage an MoT IF YOU want to inject some romance back into your marriage, a new course will help you do just that. Over seven weeks, couples can find out more about enjoying better communication, good sex and building up foundations and communication within the relationship. They can also explore forgiveness and the impact of the family on their relationship. There will also be a chance to enjoy romantic dinners together … and talk to each other! The Marriage Course is aimed at all married couples regardless of whether they’ve been together for a year or 61. It’s aimed at all situations

too, be it struggling marriage or a strong partnership. The course will be held at Trinity Church in Lower Earley – next to Asda – in May and will give practical tools that couples can use on a daily basis to keep their relationships healthy. Each evening begins with a romantic candlelit supper, followed by a talk with film clips. Couples stay at their tables and discuss the issues only to each other, so no one else will know what is being said. v For more details, call the church on (0118) 931 3124 or log on to www.trinityearley. co.uk.

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Streets ahead for Lunch PARTY ON! Reading Borough Council is making it easier to bring neighbours together after abolishing road closure fees on the weekend of The Big Lunch. Held over the weekend of June 1-2, the event is an opportunity for communities to get together and hold street parties. Last year, thousands of people took part in street parties to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, including one that saw Northumberland Avenue in Whitley turned into a massive party and playground for the day. The Council’s decision means that streets can follow-up on last year’s events and enjoy The Big Lunch. The scheme aims to bring together as many people as possible across the country to have lunch with their neighbours. Last year, an estimated 8.5m people took part.

Fees are being waived for a small street party: one that is held in just one or two streets for neighbours only. Applications should be sent in at least four weeks in advance of the street party date and the Council requires you to consult with residents in the streets affected. Park Ward councillor Rob White (Green Party) said: “The street parties in recent years, of which there were many across Reading, were a real success. They brought communities together and were positive for building public spirit.” v If you want more ideas about holding a street party, log on to thebiglunch.com and www. streetparty.org.uk. v To apply for a road closure, log on to www. reading.gov.uk. v And, if you’re organising a party, don’t forget to tell us!

Women given a day to remember

Manicures were part of a women’s day organised by Nusrat Sultan (above) TO MARK International Women’s Day, women were given the chance to enjoy some pampering. The event was organised by Nusrat Sultan, community worker for The Warehouse in East Reading. During the day-long celebration held on March 11,

women could enjoy everything from haircuts and manicures to Bollywood dance and sugar crafting workshops. Local community groups exhibited, including Berkshire Women’s Aid, the Play Rangers, East Reading Children’s Centres and Thames Valley Police.

May Day takes over Wokingham Crowthorne holds all the fun of the May fair THE BIGGEST street fair in the South is returning to Wokingham next month. Organised by Wokingham Lions, it will be held on May Day Bank holiday Monday, May 6. Taking over the town centre and nearby Elms Field, the day

includes live entertainment, maypole dancing, magic and Punch and Judy shows stalls and community events. Everyone is welcome and the fun starts at 10am. v For more details, log on to www.wokinghamlions.org.uk.

GAMES, food and music will all be on the agenda when an annual May Fair returns next month. The Crowthorne May Fair will be held on Morgan Recreation Ground in Crowthorne on May Day Bank Holiday Monday, May 6. Starting at 2pm, the afternoon will be packed with fun for all ages. Children will be able to enjoy a bouncy castle, face painting and

traditional games, while adults can sample some brews in a beer tent or buy new plants for their garden. It takes place from 2pm-4.30pm and is organised by the members of St John The Baptist Church in Waterloo Road. v For more details, log on to bit.ly/15kByLm or follow @crowthornefair on Twitter.

12–18 M AY 870 MILLION PEOPLE ARE PRAYING YOU’RE READY CAWEEK.ORG/MORE 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.

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April 2013 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 888417

v Let’s play pop!

BUDDING young musicians are being invited to take part in a music workshop. The Bucklebury Music Project, run in conjunction with Readipop, is a free session that aims to help those in Year 5 upwards to learn to play basic guitar and drums. No experience is necessary. It takes place on Sunday, April 7 from noon-2pm at Bucklebury Memorial Hall, Upper Bucklebury. For more details, call (0118) 938 7156 or log on to www. readipop.co.uk.

v Autism talk

An expert on Autism will give a talk at Reading Central Library on Tuesday, April 9. Caroline Hearst will look at what autism is and how it affects people. The talk starts at 7.15pm and costs £3. v For details, email libraryevents@reading.gov.uk or call (0118) 901 5950.

Pupils are hungry for food justice A GROUP of primary school children proved they could walk the walk and talk the talk last month when they took part in a public speaking contest. Organised by Cafod, children from Reading schools debated the issues relating to the Hungry For Change national initiative, part of the Enough Food IF campaign. Taking place at Reading Borough Council’s chambers on Friday, March 22, the young debaters were judged by local experts including Reading East MP Rob Wilson, Reading West prospective parliamentary candidate Victoria Groulef, the deputy mayor of Reading Cllr Deborah Edwards and Clrr John Ennis, Reading’s lead councillor for education and children’s services. The finalists talked about the causes of food poverty

Pupils from St Martin’s Primary School in Caversham won Cafod’s Hungry For Change speaking competition including climate change, tax dodging and land grabbing. Lynda Mussell, CAFOD Manager for the Reading area, said: “They went further by calling on us all to take action by choosing to reduce waste, eating local, sustainable and more Fairtrade foods and by

Put your faith in RE

Pupils and teachers say REINSPIRED lessons are “inspirational” and “amazing”. Head teachers appreciate that “children have

the opportunity to engage with adults whose faith is central to their lives”. Find out how we can help people from your churches build partnerships that last with local schools by bringing RE & collective worship to life. Give us a call on 0118 966 3929 or email office@reinspired.org.uk or come along to the Education Zone at the Christian Resources Exhibition in Esher from 14-17 May.

www.reinspired.org.uk

Churches Together in Earley and East Reading Schools Project registered charity no 1109291

taking part in CAFOD’s current Hungry for Change campaign.” An overall winner was chosen from St Martin’s Primary in Caversham. The school also won a shield for achieving the highest amalgamated scores. Participating schools

included English Martyrs, St Martin’s, Christ the King, St Paul’s and St Dominic Savio and St Joseph’s College Prep. Competition organiser and CAFOD Education Volunteer for the Reading area, Linda Heneghan said: “The final is the culmination of many weeks hard work. Hundreds of pupils will have taken part in the competition so all our finalists have done very well to get to this stage.” Victoria Groulef was delighted to be one of the judges. She said: “All of the young people spoke with confidence. Hearing the passion to stop world hunger, from such young voices was very emotive, particularly in the run up to Holy Week.” v For more on the Hungry For Change campaign and how you can get involved, log on to cafod.org.uk/hungry.

Steve Chalkes up an inspiring day The Bishop of Reading and Steve Chalke in conversation during the Inspiring Faith In Schools day EDUCATION, inspiration and challenge were on the report card for attendees at a recent conference for schoolswork. REINSPIRED welcomed a range of speakers, including Steve Chalke MBE, founder of Oasis Community Learning, for the Inspiring Faith in Schools day, held at Waingel’s College on Saturday, March 9. The charity works with schools to offer creative, engaging and spiritually developing RE lessons and collective worship. The conference was a chance to hear more about this work and how other groups are supporting schools in a variety of ways, including working with school governors and excluded pupils, holding listening posts at lunchtimes and leading small group sessions to help children with their self-esteem. More than 70 people attended and sessions were hosted by the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Andrew Proud. In his introduction, REINSPIRED project director, Paul Haynes, said that he hoped delegates would find the day not just inspiring, but be challenged so

they would get on and do. The aim of the day was to inspire the delegates about the possibilities and equip them to deal with practicalities of working with schools. Bishop Andrew reminded the audience that “children are living messages for a time we shall not see”. He added that this prompted the question, “What sort of a message are we sending through our involvement with education?” During his address, Steve Chalke shared his vision for offering quality education – something that is not just getting good grades in GCSEs, but learning about values and to be valued, about worth and self-worth, about respect and self-respect. He reminded the audience that it is through their own faith and beliefs that they can support children in this. Carrie King, an REINSPIRED team leader and primary teacher, said: “It was a fantastic day, and we certainly felt challenged to get on and do it.” v Hear Steve Chalke’s sessions at www.inspiringfaith.org.uk/listen-again.

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Try some short courses this summer at Newbold

his summer Newbold College of Higher Education is pleased to offer a series of academically engaging, faith affirming, engaging experiences during the summer of 2013. The College’s summer course programme, offered in June/July, is designed to appeal to the heart as well as challenge the mind. Whether your desire is to learn something new, expand your skills, or to embrace new perspectives, one of these study options may be right for you. For lovers of English literature, or those with a dramatic flair – consider the Shakespeare Drama Workshop or the CS Lewis: Literature and the Religious Life courses. Participants in the Shakespeare workshop will work towards a Certificate in Shakespearean Acting from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) and will perform an abridged version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Sylvia’s Garden on the College campus. Get to know the author of the Chronicles of Narnia, in the CS Lewis course. Study other works by CS Lewis and visit Oxford locations that had impact on his life: his home, local church and the

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Discover what prompted Henry VIII to start the English Reformation and visit key locations such as the Oxford Martyrs’ Memorial and the Fitzalan Chapel. Those looking to enhance their business, communication and media skills, or who would like to learn how to use existing skills in a church environment – consider the Media, Religion and Culture, Business Skills for Enabling Local Church Ministry, or Cross-Cultural Management courses. Examine how the media treats religious stories through consideration of historic and contemporary stories in Media, Religion and Culture, learn to use skills in finance, accounting, marketing, fundraising, property and contract management, information technology and more for your local church in Business

Short Courses on Offer this Summer

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colleges where he studied and taught. For those with a yen for the past, or an interest in theological origins – consider the Creation and the Gospel, or The Reformation: An Historical Perspective courses. Explore ways to present creation in a winning way to those who fear God so much that they deny His existence, and how good or useful science is when it comes to evaluating the origin of humans in the Creation and the Gospel course. For a more historical view of Creation, The Reformation course examines how Creation was understood during the Reformation period, the relationship between the Reformation and the Book, how it spread and how it affected social life.

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Shakespeare, Henry VIII, CS Lewis and business can all be studied at Newbold this summer

Newbold College of Higher Education is a Seventh-day Adventist institution that offers undergraduate degrees in Business and Theology as well as one-year programmes such as the Gap Year and shorter intensive courses. During June and July we will offer a number of campus-based intensive study options, for which you can gain academic credit, presented by leading Newbold academics and international guest lecturers.

Theology Cross-Cultural Management Spirituality and Faith Business Studies

MediA, Religion & Culture CS Lewis

Skills for Enabling Local Church Ministry, and explore the cultural influences on management in Britain and Continental Europe in Cross-Cultural Management. If you’d like to have a more spiritual, faith-based or theological experience – consider Personal Spirituality and Faith. In this course, explore themes such as prayer, judgement, solitude, vocation and simplicity and find ways to develop a faith that can truly bear the weight of your every day life. Attendees will benefit from the international teaching expertise of the summer course presenters who will be travelling from as far away as the United States, Australia and Europe to deliver this series. Newbold College of Higher Education is a Seventh-day Adventist provider of tertiary education based in Binfield, Berkshire. Newbold specialises in theology and religion, business, English literature and history, and English for Speakers of Other Languages. To learn more about Newold’s summer courses, or their courses for the academic year, visit www.newbold. ac.uk

Creation and the Gospel

Teacher Education History English Literature

The Reformation

Shakespeare Drama Workshop

For more information or to enrol, visit www.newbold.ac.uk/summer-session-intensives T: 1344 407407 E: admissions@newbold.ac.uk St Marks Road, Binfield, Berkshire RG42 4AN XN Magazine SSI.indd 1

20/12/2012 16:1

BRING A FRIE

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Book your place for

It’s the UK’s fastestgrowing Christian event and it’s also a lot of fun! Here, founder TIM JUPP gives a sneak preview of this year’s event

or those of you who haven’t heard of the BigChurchDayOut before, here is a little re-cap of the vision behind the event from when we chatted to Tim Jupp last year. “The BigChurchDayOut has a multi-layered vision,” says Tim. “For me personally, one of the things I love is creating an environment where many of the new Christians in our own local church who have often had no church background whatsoever, can come together and often for the first time realise that the Church is a massive and exciting movement of people, which stretches so much further than any one of our smaller local congregations.” Tim adds: “I think it is important that we understand that we’re not alone when it comes to wanting to influence our nation and see Jesus made known. “We can so often read in our press rather discouraging stories about the Church being in decline, but my experience is that it is very much alive and stepping up more

than ever to take a place back in communities, both by being light in the dark places and by being the hands and feet of Jesus to those where we live, and large events can play their part in helping paint this picture.” With 20,000 people attending in 2012 and even more expected to come in 2013, what does Tim think makes this event so popular? “Right now we have an incredible sense of God smiling over the BigChurchDayOut,” he says. “There’s something very simple about saying to the whole church, whatever denomination, and whatever your age, ‘Lets get together and have one huge picnic and celebrate Jesus’. It’s simple but also seems so profound as we don’t do this very often! “Our heart has always been to try our hardest to make the event

as inclusive to as many as possible. I think that remains one of the key things which has meant we have seen growth every year.” There are so many fantastic artists playing this year, it’s hard to know where to start. You’ve got local boy Matt Redman, who won two Grammys in the USA back in February and whose song 10,000 Reasons is sung in churches around the world every week. Then there’s the ridiculously talented Hillsong Live who have written some of the church’s most exciting songs. Plus, 80s chart toppers, Amy Grant and Yazz will be sending people down Memory Lane with their iconic songs. New boys Phil Wickham, The City Harmonic, Gungor and Rend Collective will be unleashing their fresh energy on the crowd. This only begins to scratch the surface of the amazing talent that is on offer at this year’s event! Head to the BigChurchDayOut website to see the full line-up and plan your day. As well as bringing in new and exciting artists each year, how does Tim keep the BigChurchDayOut original? “There’s a sense where we try and do new and fresh things in the event every year, but also a sense where we don’t want to change a whole lot because celebrating Jesus just never gets boring! As long as we can help create a great, relaxed atmosphere for people to be free in worship, and also a high quality event that people feel proud to bring their un-churched friends too, then that’s what we

really try and focus on. “As the numbers continue to grow we like to pop in a couple of surprises each year, so you’ll just have to come along to find out.” There is so much going on over the weekend it must be hard to relax, but we asked Tim what he was most excited about this year: “Funnily enough I’m very excited about seeing the campsite double in size, it means more church groups can come and hopefully more friends with them too.” He adds: “I get really excited about the dynamic of seeing so many worship together and love that moment at the end of each night when everyone is together joining in one massive celebration. Having new artists like Amy Grant and Jason Upton with us for the first time will also be amazing, and I always get excited by the ‘God stories’ we hear after each event. “For example, we had a story from a lady last year that said she came with her husband who wasn’t a Christian and, by the end of the weekend, he had given his life to Jesus. She went on to say how it had completely transformed her and their children’s lives.” With a broad smile he says

“these stories make all the hard work so rewarding”. The event is still growing year on year, but what Tim feels the future holds for the BigChurchDayOut? He says: “We’ve got some big plans, and would love to see another BCDO somewhere in the North of England but that is only a conversation at this stage. “We’re in this for the long haul and want to make good decisions that help BCDO become a long-term sustainable low-key evangelistic event that can touch many thousands of lives over the coming years. “We will also be developing a lot more BigChurchNightIn tours to help create a vibrant scene of regional celebration events, as well as helping the annual event to keep growing.” “With all that said, we just want to see where God takes this river and make sure we do our part in staying immersed in it.” The BigChurchDayOut takes place at Wiston House in West Sussex on May 25th & 26th. Why not throw your camping gear in the car and head down South to join in this incredible celebration?

Tickets on sale now at www.BigChurchDayOut.com

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Supporting the local economy together

Rosie’s ready to open The Occasional Table A NEW dining experience is getting ready to open up – but if you want to take part, you’ll have to be quick, as it’s a strictly limited experience. The Occasional Table is a new pop-up restaurant that will be coming to Trunkwell Manor House in Beech Hill later this month. Guests can enjoy some top-notch food created by Rosie Anstice, who also runs The Banqueting Table which caters for weddings, parties and Christenings and holds cookery demonstrations for budding Delia Smiths. During the evenings, which will be held monthly and launch on Saturday, April 20 and May 17 and 18, Rosie will cook a three-course meal plus cheese and homemade biscuits, coffee and a carefully chosen wine list. Vegetarians will be catered for and, with advance notice, Rosie can also meet special dietary requirements. “This is something I have been wanting to do for a year or so but couldn’t think where to hold it,” Rosie explains. “My daughter suggested we should hold it in our house which we almost did but decided we would not like the stress that emptying our

house each month would cause! “Bob Walton MBE, who is the President of the Restaurant Association and therefore interested in all things foody, kindly agreed to let me use the restaurant in Trunkwell House, which is right next door to us.” It’s a good match for Rosie, as Trunkwell can accommodate tables of any size. Each evening costs £37.50 and includes a welcome glass of Prosecco and canapés before dinner. It starts at 7.30pm. So far, almost all the tables for Rosie’s April sitting have been booked. v For more details, email enquiries@thebanquetingtable. co.uk or call Rosie on 07719 832288. You can also visit www.theoccasionaltable. co.uk.

Rob Wilson MP with some of the balloons that he donated to Newbridge Nursery School. More balloons were given to the 84th Reading Beavers

Rob’s up in the air for job fair AN MP is going up in the eyes of a Scout troop, thanks to a generous donation of balloons. Proving that he’s not full of hot air, Rob Wilson, MP for Reading East, gave the colourful balloons to the 84th Reading Beavers colony and the Newbridge Nursery School so the children could enjoy them. A total of 100 balloons had been used to launch the MP’s latest Job Fair and Rob decided that rather than let them go to waste, he would donate them to a school near to his office and to the Beavers group which is based at Earley St Peter’s Church. The job fair will be held at Reading’s pentahotel, on the Oxford Road, on Thursday, April 25 and will be the fifth such event organised by the MP. More than 50 businesses

are expected to exhibit and there will be a drive to create jobs for 100 apprentices. Rob said: “Not only will this Job Fair offer an opportunity for employers and job seekers, but it will also provide apprenticeships for young people who have faced the biggest challenges in the jobs market.” And the MP decided that the balloons used for his job fair launch would be better in the hands of happy youngsters. Rob said: “While releasing the balloons would have made a visual spectacle, it makes more sense to me to let the kids at Newbridge Nursery School and at the 84th Reading Beavers enjoy them.” The balloons were donated by Julian Glasspole from Vehicle Weighing Solutions.

Great opportunities for business networking v Springboard wants to be a positive change in the community. Its meeting will be on Saturday, May 11 at South Street Arts Centre from 10amnoon. For details, visit www.

springboardreading.org.uk. v The Family Business aims to mentor new businesses. Its next meeting is on Wednesday, April 10. For details, visit www. thefamilybusiness.org.uk.

v Reading@Work supports Christians in the workplace. Its next meetings will be on Mondays, April 8 and May 13 at 12.30pm. For details, visit www.readingatwork.org.

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just expert advice for wedding attire. It can help you with every aspect of your big day – there’s no need to be blue when experts are planning your wedding for you. For summer 2013, Borrowed Blue & Lace is offering a two-hour wedding advisory session at its shop, where it can help couples maximise all the finer details as well as offering professional advice to create a plan for your perfect day. There is even car parking available, so you can take your time to find that perfect dress, bridesmaid dresses or even your wedding shoes. No stress, no hassle. To find out more, make an appointment to see Borrowed Blue & Lace by calling (0118) 979 2768, via www.borrowedblueandlace.com, or visit Borrowed Blue & Lace at Cedar House, Eastheath Avenue, Wokingham RG41 2PR.

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It’s the giving tree!

I The kitchen team at Tilehurst Methodist Church, who cooked up the Super Soup Lunch

Souper way to help Christian Aid TILEHURST residents helped to bowl over poverty when they took part in a Super Soup Lunch. Members of the village’s Methodist church cooked up a tasty LOAF lunch – Local, Organic, Animal-friendly and Fairtrade. Items available included soup, bread and cakes, all sold to help raise money for some of the poorest communities in the world. Guests gave a voluntary donation of £2 for their lunches and could also buy fair-trade goods from a Traidcraft stall.

The lunch raised £309.02 for Christian Aid and was held on Saturday, March 23 at the church. The lunch is an annual event. Pictures: Richard Lownsbrough

Best foot forward for Henley walk CHRISTIAN Aid is looking for willing walkers to take part in its annual sponsored walk next month. Taking place on Saturday, May 18, hikers can take part in walks lasting five, 10 or 15 miles round the Oxfordshire countryside. Starting at Bix Village Hall, the walk takes in

some scenic paths between Henley and Nettlebed. Registration takes place from 8.30am and 10am on the day, and participants can either sign up for a sponsorship pack or give a donation of £10 on the day. For details, log on to www.christianaid.org.uk/ walks or email events@ christian-aid.org.

President’s proposal helps cancer charity

T’S the gift that kept on giving – and now it’s standing in Wokingham town centre as a testament to the generous nature of the town’s people. The Happiness Tree formed the focal point for a town-wide celebration of Easter, which took place in Market Place on Good Friday. Starting with hot cross buns at Wokingham Baptist Church in Milton Road, a procession headed up by the town’s mayors, Cllr Bob Wyatt and Peter Lucey, went to Market Place. As they arrived they were able to watch HeartBeat – The Rhythm of Love, a play organised by Stage-Fright and featuring a cast comprising local people and was the culmination of weeks of hard work. During the performance, the Happiness Tree was assembled. It brought together 700 good deeds that had been carried out over the past few weeks in the town. Organised by More Arts Wokingham, people had to perform a good deed and record it on the baton, which had been specially made by local wood turner Nigel Griffiths. These batons formed the branches of the Happiness Tree. Hundreds of people turned out for the popular event. Pictures: Sharon and WIlliam Elliott

The Happiness Tree – it has been made

The Good Friday play saw Wokingham

Town Mayoress Elaine White, with Town Mayor, Peter Lucey and Borough Mayor, Bob Wyatt at Wokingham Baptist Church

From Palm Sunday ... Members of Wycliffe Baptist and St John and St Stephen churches in Newtown, East Reading, teamed up for a Palm Sunday procession, one of many such events across the region

The Pilots children’s group at Trinity Church, Lower Earley, held a family quiz night last month. Seventy contestants enjoyed a buffet and answered a wide range of questions including ‘What colour do you add to blue to make green?’ and ‘Which US President proposed to his wife on a miniature golf course?’ “It was great to have so many people join us for the Pilots quiz,” said Suz

Powell, trainee youth worker at Trinity Church. “There was a great atmosphere full of fun and laughter, as well as lots of healthy competition. “We are so grateful to all the people who volunteered their time and energy to help make the event possible.” The quiz raised £350, which will be split between Pilots chosen charity, Macmillan Cancer Support and Trinity church funds.

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MP reopens popular charity store

Alok Sharma MP (centre) cuts the ribbon to the new CCA store watched by (from left) John Turner, CCA Operations Manager, Annmarie Paterson CCA Managing Director, Mark Hill Oxford Rd Shop Manager and Mireille Haviland Community Relationship Manager

from good deeds carried out by Wokingham people over the past few weeks

people come together to perform

Gwynneth Hewetson from More Arts Wokingham and Michael Johnson from Strage-Fright

A POPULAR charity store celebrated a revamp with a special VIP re-opening ceremony. Reading West MP Alok Sharma visited Christian Community Action’s store on Oxford Road, Reading to officially declare the refreshed shop open. The store had been given a new look thanks to the help of willing volunteers, decorating, installing new units and revamping the layout. CCA offers affordable clothing, bedding, books, toys, household goods and other items to shoppers. It also helps local people in need by offering a

listening and signposting service at five support centres across Reading. Christian Community Action started in 1992 with a desire to reach out to those on the margins of society. Alok said: “The Christian and faithbased groups across Reading, like CCA, do a fantastic job supporting the vulnerable and those in need irrespective of their creed or beliefs, and are a real backbone of civic society in our town.” Mireille Haviland, Community Relationship Manager at CCA said: “It meant a lot to us that Alok came to celebrate this event with us.”

FRESH FIRE b e l i e v e r ’ s b r e a k t h r o u g h r a l ly 2 0 1 3

“Come to receive a renewal of the fire of Pentecost...”

... to Good Friday Churches in West Reading came together for an open-air service to mark Good Friday. Held outside Tesco Extra on Oxford Road, the event featured music from the Salvation Army Picture: Jonathan Ashley

fREE EvEnt “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

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v New hours for community store A community co-operative store has announced some changes to its opening times. The True Food Co-op, which sells ethical, organic and faitrade food, has a store in Grove Road, Emmer Green, as well as several travelling markets held in venues across the Reading area. The shop now opens from 9am to 5.30pm on weekdays, rather than having a late night on Mondays. The weekly markets are unaffected. v For more details, log on to www.truefood.coop.

v Healing day THE BISHOP of Reading will welcome the Revd Mike Endicott to a special day that explores Christian healing later this month. Mike is the director of The Order of Jacob’s Well and has ben asked to explore how “we proclaim the presence and power of God’s Kingdom, the message of the cross ...and His healing”. It will be held on Saturday, April 20 from 10am to 4pm at St Laurence’s Church in Reading town centre. The night before, there will be a praise evenings from 7.30pm-9pm, with another one taking place after the workshop, again from 7.30pm. v For more details or to book a place, call the Revd Pam Gordon on (0118) 946 3727 or email revdpamgordon@ virginmedia.com.

v Family fun day IT’LL be all the fun of the fayre next month as a Woodley church becomes a carnival for the day. Emmanuel Church, church hall users, local residents, the Communty Association (SEWCA) and Alexandra Place are teaming up for the fun afternoon of activities, displays, stalls, and refreshments for all. It will take place at the Church on Saturday, May 4, from 1pm-4pm. v For more details, log on to www.emmanuel-woodley.org.

Keep calm and pass it on! With 9% of Wokingham children living in poverty, one Mum is on a mission to make those First Days great. Phil Creighton finds out more

Emma Cantrell with some of the donations she has received for her new charity First Days Wokingham

VERYONE with a baby adores their new arrival: cute, cuddly, smiley and ... expensive. Research suggests that, on average, new parents can part with £9,152 in the first 12 months. That’s a lot of bundles of notes to spend on their bundle of joy. But what if you can’t afford it? With research suggesting that nine per cent of children in Wokingham are classed as living in poverty, it’s clear that not everyone can afford to pay Primark prices, let alone £900 on a pram from Mamas & Papas. And, at a time when we’re encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle, what happens to all the equipment when baby has moved on from drinking milk and sleeping to biting ankles and throwing temper tantrums? A Mum of two from Wokingham has the answer: keep calm and pass it on. Emma Cantrell has launched First Days Wokingham, a newly established charity that redistributes pre-loved baby equipment and clothes to local families who otherwise couldn’t afford it. The idea is stunningly simple: parents who have finished with their baby’s toys, clothes, equipment and furniture donate them to Emma. The charity receives referrals, in a similar way to foodbanks, and then delivers the items to those that need them. “We want to make sure the right people get the right help,” she said. “As a family, we’ve been so fortunate: we’ve received everything we want and need. I’m aware that there are young families struggling to make ends meet – I thought there must be some way I can help local families cope with the costs of providing everything a new baby needs.” And Emma has high standards: for the donations, she’s not after any old tat that you might get 20p for at a car boot sale. “I want people to receive good quality and nice stuff. That’s where our emphasis is. I can be selective: when people contact me with donations, I remind them that donations should be of good quality, nonstained, clean and have nothing missing. “It’s just joyful to receive donations of such high quality. We’ve had things like toys that have been duplicates of Christmas presents and I can’t wait to give them to families that need them.”

At the moment, First Days Wokingham is just Emma, fitted around looking after her two-year-old and six-month-old, but she is looking for volunteers to pitch in and help out by collecting donations, washing and sorting and helping to manage the inventory. As a result of this, Emma is only working within the Wokingham Borough but, as she points out, that’s a big patch to cover. “It encompasses places like Binfield and Twyford, it’s a huge area.” Wokingham Borough Council fully supports First Days Wokingham. Rose Green, Senior Community Development Worker for the Council said: “Worthwhile initiatives, developed by the community, are very important to us. They are the fabric of our society and projects that are designed to help those in greatest need are particularly welcome. “Wokingham Borough is seen as a wealthy area, but there are many, many people living here that are not wealthy and to be poor in a wealthy area is doubly difficult. Also, Wokingham Borough Council is highly committed to re-cycling, so passing on very adequate, usable, suitable baby clothes, equipment etc, is a very environmentally friendly thing to do.” As well as being a Mum, Emma is also a daughter: her Dad is Keith Saynor, one of the pastors of Kings Church in Wokingham and he couldn’t be prouder of her for launching First Days. Also supportive is her husband, Chris – he’s been helping Emma sort out donations in his spare time. Financial support has come from a grant

given by Faith In The Community, a network that exists to help transform lives in Wokingham. Online donations can be made via the website. “I’m hoping that anyone who can’t donate their time to help can donate in this way,” Emma said. The charity, which launched in January, has already been making a tangible difference to people’s lives. A children’s centre got in touch with Emma to explain that one client needed a double buggy: the Mum had been carrying her 12-week-old baby around while pushing her toddler in single buggy. First Days didn’t have a double buggy, so she asked the Wokingham Gossip Girls page on Facebook to see if anyone had one – complete with a rain cover. “Two hours later, we got one,” said a proud Emma. “I went to the children’s centre and it was raining. The Mum was just so grateful. To see the children go home in the dry, it was just brilliant.” Emma is proud that First Days Wokingham is meeting a need among the community. “It will not only help parents out, but give children a sense of who they are,” she said. “I want to do something to give children the best start in life. In these economic times, it tough to make ends meet, so it’s brilliant to be able to help them and show love in practical way.” We’ll guzzle a bottle of milk to that. v For more, to donate or to find out how you can volunteer, log on to www. firstdayswokingam.org, search for First Days Wokingham on Facebook, or follow @ firstdays_ on Twitter.

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Come along for a top-up THOSE looking for a spiritual top-up are being invited to fill-up their tank at a special monthly gathering. The Filling Station is a special kind of service station aimed at those who want to explore Christianity in a non-church setting. Organisers say that each session is designed not to be overtly spiritual but presented in a manner that those who don’t go to church will feel comfortable with. To help top-up your tank, an inspiring speaker is booked for each meeting, offering challenging and practical advice about life today. The April meeting, held on Thursday, April 4, saw author Michael Marcel speak about the history of revival and how it can inspire us today. On May 2, the group will welcome The Revd Valentine Inglis-Jones, from Liphook Church in Hampshire. He will offer some tips on effective prayer. Then, in July, Carl Beech, who heads up men’s ministry charity CVM, will be the guest speaker, sharing some of his experiences and offering a challenging message.

Everyone is welcome to come along, and the initiative is not part of any individual Church denomination, instead aiming to be a way in which existing churches can work together and also promote church unity. Karen Washbourn, from the Henley Filling Station, said: “The Filling Station is not a church and is not run as a substitute for church, it is complementary. “There are representatives from many of the local churches on the team organising the meetings.” The Henley Filling Station was launched two years ago, and meets at Badgemore Golf Club in Henley on Thames on the first Thursday of each month – it’s one of 26 such stations dotted around the country. Other local venues include Hampstead Norreys, Farnham and Witney. Meetings start at 7.30pm and include refreshments, a chance to network and also pray if desired. v For more details on the Henley Filling Station, log on to www. thefillingstation.org.uk/category/ henley.

Models are on the right track

MODEL train fans were on the right tracks when they attended a special exhibition. Members of the Kenavon Railway Society brought in their layouts and tracks for the day, which was held at The Warehouse in East Reading. Visitors were able to see the layouts, including one featuring Thomas The Tank Engine, get modelling tips and buy all the kit needed to recreate the layouts at home. The exhibition raises funds for local railway preservation projects and was organised by the Society’s chairman,

Richard Standing. He said: “I am extremely pleased with how it went. “We had our highest ever number of visitors through the door and raised over £500 for the Cholsey and Wallingford Railway to put towards their new station facilities at Wallingford.” v For more details, log on to kenavon.tripod.com. v The Berkshire Area Group of the N Gauge Society held an exhibition at Sindlesham Baptist Church, on Saturday, April 6. For more details, visit www.bagladdies.weebly.com.

Get help recovering from a divorce Michele Curtis explains how Divorce Recovery Workshop helped her get over her marriage break-up Have you ever stopped to consider how you would cope if you were faced with a broken marriage? Or is it something that only happens to other people? Divorce can come from all ways. It may not happen to you, but it could be your siblings, your children, your parents or, as a church leader, one of your congregation. Christians are not exempt from the trauma of marriage break-up, often coping with a double whammy of failing at marriage and as a Christian. I am no stranger to this as I face a second broken marriage. Where do you go when your life is falling about your ears and your heart is totally broken? I have found support up to a point from family, church leaders and Christian friends but it’s hard to understand this situation unless you have actually experienced it for yourself. If your spouse dies you are usually surrounded by caring and loving friends and family. They send you cards, call in and listen/share in your mourning. Perhaps invite you for meals/to stay over/give comfort/hugs/love. There’s a funeral and again support for you through that and an opportunity to work through the grieving process which, over time, can bring healing and acceptance. Compare that with separation/divorce. Your spouse is gone but you cannot bury them (although you may really want to!) You may lose your home, your children, your pets, your financial security, your job, your status as a wife/ husband and sometimes you may even lose your mind to anxiety and depression. Where do you turn to with these feelings of shock, anger, despair, pain, isolation? Doesn’t the Bible say that “God hates divorce”? So if you turn to Him will he listen? The Church – won’t they condemn you/exclude you? Christian friends – some are often afraid that your situation might contaminate

their own marriages/relationships or, at best, they just do not know what to say or do. I want to reassure and encourage you that there is a way through. I really sought the Lord in prayer at the beginning of this year after having fought the heavy depression and black thoughts that I had struggled with for nearly two years. I prayed “Lord, where do I go from here?” A few days later I was reading my devotions and it mentioned Divorce Recovery Workshop, a charity set up in the UK in 1992. It was originally started in America by the Revd Bill Flanagan who had a heart to pray for the healing of people and not the statistics of divorce. It is run locally in many areas around the country and as a weekend workshop in Harnhill and Lee Abbey, for example. I went along to Lee Abbey in North Devon and it was a very, very helpful weekend. Being at Lee Abbey meant I had time and space to retreat from the pressures of life and had others around me to pray through some of my pain. To complement the workshop Lee Abbey offered an optional session called What The Bible Says About Divorce and a Communion/healing service. These answered so many questions and helped me move on These workshops are not just for Christians and it is not about conversion to any faith. It is open to anyone going through this painful process. It is designed to be run over weekly sessions/weekend workshops mainly in group work but participants are encouraged to share their experiences and learn from others in the group. It’s a “proven self-help model run to a defined standard, using volunteers from within”. The course material is excellent. In the groups, we shared ways in which we had coped or not coped and the effect that it had on us, and our faith in God. I recommend these workshops to those who are facing separation or divorce, or as somewhere to direct anyone you may know who is in that situation. If you want to know more about Divorce Recovery Workshops, log on to: www.drw.org.uk.

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WHAT’S ON Saturday, April 6 READING – St Mark’s Church, Cranbury Road. Jumble sale. 2pm. READING – Arygle Community Church, Arygle Road. SatCaf: tea, coffee, cakes, papers and games for children. Free. 10.30am-12.30pm. Details: www. argylecommunitychurch.com. TILEHURST – St Michael’s Church Hall, The Meadway. Spring Fair. 2pm-4pm. All welcome. Details: www.stmichaeltilehurst.org.uk.

Sunday, April 7 UPPER BUCKLEBURY – Bucklebury Memorial Hall. Bucklebury Music Project from Readipop free music workshops for Year 5 and above. Noon-2pm. Booking helpful. Details: (0118) 938 7156 or www.readipop.co.uk. READING – Reading Girls School. Reading Family Church welcomes Ben Davies. 10am. Also, 6.30pm at South Street Arts Centre. Details: www.readingfamilychurch.org.uk. READING – Reading Deaf Centre, Cardiff Road. Reading Deaf Church service. 10.30am. All welcome. WOODLEY – Christ Church, Crockhamwell Road. The Graham Kendrick Musical. 7.30pm. WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street. Plant sale. 10amnoon, weather permitting.

Tuesday, April 9 FINCHAMPSTEAD – St Mary & St John’s Parish Centre, Billing Avenue. Tea & Chat. Everyone, all ages welcome.2pm-3.30pm.

Wednesday, April 10 READING – Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square. Coffee & Chat coffee morning. 11am-12.30pm. Details: (0118) 957 2197. STOKE ROW – Independent Chapel. Quiz night and fish and chip supper. 8pm. Details: 01491 680793 or contact@stokerowchapel.org.uk.

Thursday, April 11 FINCHAMPSTEAD – St James’ Church Centre. Mothers’ Union meeting: The seeds we sow. 2pm. Details: (0118) 973 3111. READING – The Globe, Portman Road. Fresh Fire: Believer’s Breakthrough Rally 2013 led by Morris Cerullo. 6.30pm. Free entry. Details: 01442 232432 or www.mcwe.com.

Saturday, April 13 LOWER EARLEY – Trinity Church.

Keeping you in touch with each other

Trinity Concert Band concert. 7.30pm. Details: trinityband.co.uk READING – All Saints, Downshire Square. Barn dance. 7.30pm. READING – The Abbey School. Robert Steven Hunt in concert. 7pm. £15, under 16s £10. READING – English Martyrs Church. Curry evening cooked by Monsignor John Nelson, in aid of Natalie Dennehy’s trip to Rio de Janerio for World Youth Day. 7.30pm. £6, under 12s £4. TWYFORD – Across village. Garage sale safari. 11am-4pm. Details: twyfordvillagepartnership.co.uk. YATELEY – St Swithun’s Church. Yateley Choral Society presents Bach’s St John’s Passion. 7.45pm. £12, students £5, under 16s free. Details: 01252 870469

Sunday, April 14 READING – Starbucks, Buttermarket. Sunday Night Live presents Charles French. 7pm. Free entry. Details: Facebook.com/SNLReading TWYFORD – Across village. Garage sale safari. 11am-4pm. Details: twyfordvillagepartnership.co.uk. WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street. Plant sale. 10amnoon, weather permitting.

Monday, April 15 SOUTHCOTE – Mission Church. Reading Women Aglow presents: Michelle Maries and Mavis Pinkrah sharing their testimonies. £3 on door (first meeting free). Details at www.readingaglow.org.uk or karen.allen@readingaglow.org.uk. WOODLEY – Baptist Church. Christianity Explored course. Continues over seven weeks. 7.30pm. Details: 0779 238 9793.

Tuesday, April 16 ALDERMASTON – The Red House. Coffee morning and bring and buy sale in aid of Aldermaston and Wasing Churches. £1.50. 10.30am. FINCHAMPSTEAD – St James’ Church Centre. Mothers’ Union: Andrew Emptage speaking on Technology and Art/Photography & his Google project at St James’ Church. 7pm. Details: (0118) 973 3111. SANDHURST – St Michael’s Church, Lower Church Road. Tuesday Night Talks: Making Sense of the Bible in the modern world. 8pm.

Wednesday, April 17 HENLEY – Baptist Church. Prayer, praise and pastries. 8pm. READING – Abbey Baptist Church,

Abbey Square. Coffee & Chat coffee morning. 11am-12.30pm. Details: (0118) 957 2197

Thursday, April 18 CAVERSHAM – Baptist Church. Training session for Engage Befriending. 7.15pm. WOKINGHAM – Corpus Christi Church, Sturges Road. Churches Together Wokingham present Sing A New Song: an evening of ecumenical prayer, praise and worship. All welcome. 7.45pm9.30pm. Details: (0118) 973 0528.

Friday, April 19 READING – The Philippi Centre 229 Kings Road. Introduction to Counselling Training Course (OCN Level 2) course. 6pm-10pm. Continues tomorrow 9am-6pm and 17/18 May, 14/15 June. All three weekends to be attended for the course. £220, includes training materials, tuition and certification fees. Details: (0118) 966 7422 or www.philippireading.org.uk. READING – Broad Street. Salvation Army band perform. 11am WOODLEY – St John Bosco Church. Reading Male Voice Choir concert, in aid of Romania Link. 7.30pm.

Saturday, April 20 FINCHAMPSTEAD – St James’ Church Centre. Trio Treats in concert: music from different countries. £6, includes buffet. 7.30pm. Details: (0118) 973 0133. OXFORD – King’s Centre, Osney Mead. Sexual Healing day conference for men. Free. Booking essential. 9.30am-4pm. www.occ.org.uk READING – St Laurence’s Church, Friar Street. Because Of Jesus … The message of the Cross and His healing, 10am-4pm. Followed by praise evening 7.30pm-9pm. Details: (0118) 946 3727 or email revdpamgordon@virginmedia.com. READING – Greyfriars Church, Friar Street. Come and Sing with Tamesis Chamber Choir: Handel’s Messiah. 11am-5.30pm worship, performance 7.30pm. Booking essential. Details: www. tamesischamberchoir.co.uk. READING – Park URC, Palmer Park Avenue. Reading Spring Gardens Brass Band and the Sainsbury Singers in concert. 7.30pm. £7.50. Details: 07904 312310. THEALE – Theale GP and Hosehill Lake. Look At The Birds (run by members of Carey Baptist Church) present a bird walk led by an

Submit your events to editor@xnmedia.co.uk experienced wildlife expert. 10am-noon. Details: www. lookatthebirds.co.uk. UPPER WOOLHAMPTON – Douai Abbey. Reading Phoenix Choir in concert. Tickets from Newbury Corn Exchange. £12, £10 concessions, under 15s £6. Details: 08455 218218. WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street. Plant sale. 10amnoon, weather permitting.

Sunday, April 21

HENLEY – Christ Church, Reading Road. Performance of Handel’s Messiah by 12 opera singers. 7.30pm. £15, £12 restricted view. Details: 01491 577733. READING – Concert Hall, Blagrave Street. South Chiltern Choral Society and Ensemble Vocal de Maylan present Haydn’s Creation. 7.30pm. £15, under 21s £7. Details: (0118) 989 1606. WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street. Plant sale. 10amnoon, weather permitting.

CAVERSHAM – St Peter’s Church. Enhancing Evensong: Does Prayer Work, led by the Revd Marion Pyke. UPPER BUCKLEBURY – All Saints. Jews for Jesus featuring Alison Barnett: The Jewish Roots of Pentecost. 10.30am. WHITCHURCH – Art Gallery. The Whitchurch Society spring walk to Elvedon Priory. 11am, includes a drink at The Sun pub. All welcome.

Sunday, April 28

Tuesday, April 23

Wednesday, May 1

CAVERSHAM – Our Lady and St Anne, South View Avenue. St George’s Day quiz. £5, in advance only. 7.30pm. Details: st.anne@virgin.net. FINCHAMPSTEAD – St Mary & St John’s Parish Centre, Billing Avenue. Tea & Chat. Everyone, all ages welcome.2pm-3.30pm. READING – All Saints, Downshire Square. St George’s Day celebration, led by the All Saints Open Group. £1. 7pm.

READING – Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square. Coffee & Chat coffee morning: drinks, snacks and friendship. All welcome. 11am12.30pm. Details: (0118) 957 2197

Wednesday, April 24 READING – Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square. Coffee & Chat coffee morning. 11am-12.30pm. Details: (0118) 957 2197

Thursday, April 25 READING – St Mark’s Church, Cranbury Road. St Mark’s Day celebration. 7.30pm.

Friday, April 26 BRIMPTON – St Peter’s Church. Spring clean and maintenance day. 10am-3pm. Details: (0118) 971 2815. WOODLEY – Baptist Church. Music Marathon – 24 hours of non-stop music. From 7pm.

Saturday, April 27 FINCHAMPSTEAD – St James’ Church Centre. Disco & entertainment. Accompanied teenagers welcome. £10, includes supper. 7.30pm. Details: (0118) 973 0707.

SULHAMSTEAD – The Old Manor, White House Green. Spring garden opening in aid of British Red Cross. £3.50, under 16s free. 2pm-5pm. Details: www.redcross.org.uk/ opengardens. WOODLEY – Christ Church, Crockhamwell Road. Free2B: an ecumenical service. 7pm.

Thursday, May 2 EMMER GREEN – St Barnabas Church. An Evening With Michael Penny, chair of Churches Together in Reading. 8pm. All welcome. WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street. Charity coffee morning in aid of Communicare Reading. 10am-noon.

Saturday, May 4 READING – Broad Street. Collection for Samaritans by Stoke Row Independent Chapel. 9am-5pm. WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street. Rose Street Gardeners’ plant sale. 10am-noon, weather permitting. WOODLEY – Emmanuel Church. May fair with stalls, displays and refreshments. 1pm-4pm.

May Day, Monday, May 6 CROWTHORNE – Morgan Recreation Ground. St John The Baptist Church presents village May fair. 2pm4.30pm. All welcome. WOKINGHAM – Town Centre anmd Elms Field. Lions present Wokingham May Fayre. 10am-5pm. Details: www. wokinghamlions.org.uk.

Take time out and enjoy a cuppa and a chat!

Launches Wednesday, April 10 11am

You can’t beat a good cup of coffee and a chance to chat – and that’s what you can enjoy at Coffee & Chat, a brilliant new coffee morning in Reading’s town centre! • Meet old friends, make new ones • Everyone is welcome • Tea, coffee, cakes and biscuits all available • Wednesdays 11am-12.30pm

Abbey Baptist Church Abbey Square, Reading (behind Reading Central Library) (0118) 957 2197 www.abbeybaptistchurch.org.uk

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Pedal power will give Sue Ryder a lift KEEN cyclists are being encouraged to take part in a special fundraising bike ride next month. Starting and finishing at Sue Ryder Nettlebed there are three routes for people to tackle: 10 miles, 25 miles and 60 miles. Each route will offer breathtaking panoramic views around the Chilterns. Sue Ryder is encouraging companies to take part, get fit and have fun. There will also

be the chance to win trophies, which will be awards to the highest fundraising individuals and corporate teams. Entrants are asked to raise a minimum of £100 for Sue Ryder, which will cover the daily cost of a nurse. All money raised will help Sue Ryder continue providing their care to patients with incurable illnesses within the Berks, Bucks and Oxon, specifically to its Hospice services in Nettlebed and

Reading, along with its Day Care Therapy units in both Wokingham and Newbury. Non-cyclists are invited to come along and marshall, hand out medals or cheer along those taking part. To add to the fun, Sue Ryder is organising live music and a barbecue. It all takes place on Sunday, May 12. v For more details, log on to www.sueryder.org/ rideforrydernettlebed.

Best foot forward for Yeldall’s big walk A GROUP of intrepid walkers will be heading from Notting Hill Gate to Hare Hatch later this month. The shoe leather will be worn down over the 31.8 miles it takes to walk from the London tube station to Yeldall Manor, a residential rehabilitation centre in Hare Hatch near Twyford. It helps men with drug and/or alcohol addictions. So far, 30 supporters and staff from Yeldall will be taking part in the Walk For Freedom, which will be held on Saturday, April 27. The band will set off from 8am, reaching Yeldall in the evening. Notting Hill Gate tube station might seem like a random location, but it actually has strong connections to Yeldall's history. Sue Hedger, Yeldall's supporter relations manager, said: "It was on a tube train pulling out of Notting Hill Gate that Bill and Joanie Yoder (Yeldall’s founders) had their first encounter with a drug addict, a man named Derek, in desperate need of help. “From there they began to bring men out of central London to rural Berkshire to a secure place where they could offer these men healing, wholeness and hope."

v Situations vacant

Schools’ Worker Full-time Post

Do you have a heart to reach young people in schools with the good news of Jesus? We need a schools’ worker to: • Extend our existing work with schools through RE lessons, assemblies and clubs • Support and enlarge our existing volunteer team • Continue to build the network between Christians within schools • Inspire and encourage churches to serve their local schools • Support Christian groups in schools In return we offer: • A varied and exciting job in a town where God is at work • A salary between £19k and £26k commensurate with qualifications and experience • Strong support through the Trust and Management Group • Ongoing prayer support • Appropriate training with Scripture Union Closing date: 4 May2013 Interviews: 11 May 2013 For more information about Learn4Life please go to www.rscwt.org For an application pack, please contact: Peter Cowling Tel.0118 944 2081 pete.cowling@ntlworld.com

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Her Majesty makes an Easter visit

Participants of Yeldall’s Walk For Freedom on a practice walk. At the end of April, they will hike from London to Yeldall Manor Money raised will go to Yeldall's Good Samaritan Bursary Fund – which enables men who cannot otherwise get funding to come to the Manor and get treatment. v For more details, log on to www. yeldall.org.uk

Get ready for an audience with Michael BRUCE FORSYTH has had one. So has Kenneth Williams, Mel Brooks, Shirley Bassey and Sooty. And now it’s the turn of Michael Penny – the chair of Churches Together in Reading is to be the subject of an audience with … although unlike his famous namesakes, this event won’t take place on television. The maths teacher and leading light of the Open Bible Trust will be the special guest at an open meeting which will be held at the Parish

Centre of St Barnabus Church in Emmer Green on Thursday, May 2. The author of several books, including his most recent The Will of God: Past and Present, Michael is also a maths teacher. Organisers are promising a talk that is well worth hearing and will contain many interesting insights. All are welcome to the event, which starts at 8pm.

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FAMILY CIRCLE v Katharine and David are in tune

A HUSBAND and wife will be singing in perfect harmony as they take over music responsibilities for two Reading churches. All Saints in Downshire Square and St Mark’s in Cranbury Road have appointed Katharine and David Phillips and they will start their new roles from Friday, April 14. The couple live in Buckinghamshire and are looking forward to getting stuck in. They are musically experienced too. Canadian Katharine – a soprano – trained at the McGill University in Montreal, while organist and accompanist David has been a student of the Royal Academy of Music in London. They met at a RSCM Cathedral Singing Week, and their partnership began. They have served as Music Associates at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, Ontario as well as churches in Toronto, Connecticut and San Francisco. Most recently, on returning to the UK, they formed the Newcastle Diocesan Choir which was based at the Cathedral of St Nicholas.

Keeping you in touch with each other

Francis welcomed THE installation of Pope Francis has been welcomed by church leaders across the region. Archbishop Bernard Longley from the Diocese of Birmingham, which includes Henley as part of its region, said: “It is an imaginative and inspiring choice that now sets the tone and direction for the Church’s mission. Pope Francis’ simple appeal for our prayers and his humility has already touched people.” This is a view that was echoed by the Diocese of Portsmouth’s Bishop Philip Egan, who serves Reading and Wokingham. “We are profoundly grateful to God for the gift of this great and holy man to the Church to lead us as 266th Successor of St Peter,” he said. “We pray for him and express to him our deep loyalty and fidelity.” Mark Wakelin and Michael King, president and vice president of the Methodist Conference, said: “We welcome

Pope Francis’ election, and offer our prayers for his papacy. We look forward to our continuing joint work with our Roman Catholic sisters and brothers wherever possible.” Local church leaders have also welcomed Pope Francis’ appointment. “[He has] a different style, with simplicity and humility. We pray for him and the Church,” said Father Anthony Wilcox from the Parish of the Sacred Heart in Henley. “He will be a great source of unity to the Church, and be able to confirm the faith of all believers, particularly in proclaiming the Gospel.” In Reading, it is felt that Pope Francis’ appointment will help enhance Church unity. Writing in his parish newsletter, Monsignor John Nelson from English Martyrs church said: “In Catholic understanding, the Pope is a figure of unity – the one who demonstrates the communion we share as members of one Church.

in Caversham and Mapledurham, including St Peter’s. As part of his induction service, he will be Licensed at a special service to be held at St Luke’s in Erleigh Road on Wednesday, July 3. Married to Amy, the couple Email your news to have two children. editor@xnmedia.co.uk Graeme said: “While there is sadness over leaving Caversham and Mapledurham, which has been a wonderful place to Pre-paid funerals through Berkshire’s leading family live and funeral directors offering peace of mind and financial minister, we looking security - Quote XN 13 and request a brochure today. are forward to settling into life in the The UK Market Leaders in funeral planning Redlands area of Reading for info@abwalker.co.uk Head office 0118 957 3650 a longer spell

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v AN ANGLICAN curate is getting ready to cross the river as he moves from Caversham to East Reading. The Revd Dr Graeme Fancourt has accepted a call to become the priestin-charge of St Luke with St Bartholomew from July. He is currently curatein-training for churches

Church leaders across the region have welcomed the election of Pope Francis

“It is likely that he will emphasise the journey we are making together as members of Christ’s faithful people, and he will probably make an effort to demonstrate simplicity in his own way of life, as a witness and example to the rest of us.” At St James Church in Reading, Canon John O’Shea

said: “He broke new ground in taking the name Francis. This is in homage to St Francis of Assisi, the humble 12th century saint, who said he had been told by God to repair the ‘church that is in ruins’. “It is also a powerful symbol of his commitment to put the Church at the service of the poor.”

than a Curacy, and unpacking all of our boxes.”

here in Binfield, but at the same time excited to what God has in store for them in Waltham St Lawrence.”

v TWO new local preachers have been recognised by Methodists in Reading. Stephen Appiah and Ruth Lownsborough were welcomed at a special service held at Emmanuel Methodist Chuch in Reading’s Oxford Road, in December. The service was presided over by the Revd David Shaw and the Revd Andy Moffoot was the preacher. v THE Revd Sir Philip Watts has become the Priest in Charge of Waltham St Lawrence, a position he will hold for the next three years. He was installed in February. Phil and his wife Jan haven’t had far to move – he was previously a curate for All Saints Church and St Mark’s Church in Binfield. A spokesperson for Binfield churches said: “We are very sad that Phil and Jan are leaving us

v A CHURCH leader has turned to Twitter – and became the first Catholic bishop in the UK to do so. Philip Egan, Bishop of Portsmouth, joined the social networking site as the Cardinals in Rome entered the Conclave to elect Pope Francis. “I invite you all to join with me in praying for the Cardinals as they enter the #Conclave today +P” was his first tweet. The bishop considers joining the site as following the previous Pope’s instructions. He said: “Pope Benedict showed us the importance of evangelisation in every sphere of contemporary society. Speaking about the love of Jesus Christ in this ‘digital continent’ is just one way of engaging in that work.” You can follow Bishop Philip Egan @bishopegan.

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Sam’s the man!

AFTER almost a year without a minister, a church has celebrated the induction of its new leader. The Revd Sam Owoo was warmly welcomed at a special service held at Tyndale Baptist Church on Saturday, March 23. Hundreds of people braved snow showers to take part in the service, which was led by the Revd Dr Roger Standing, vice principal of Spurgeon’s College. Sam comes to Tyndale from Hivings Baptist Church in Chesham and his roots lie at Waterlooville Baptist Church in Hampshire. A BAPTIST church is growing … churches. Abbey Baptist Church, behind Reading Central Library in Reading’s town centre, recently held the inauguration service for a new Tamilspeaking church. Led by the Revd Antonypillai Caesar, the Zion Church of

v New circuit

“It is with great joy that we have found Sam and his family,” said Frank Pond, a deacon for Tyndale. “[Previous minister] Ray Coates completed his ministry at Tyndale last Easter with a baptismal service on the Easter Sunday. Sam commenced his ministry with us one year later on Palm Sunday.” The church celebrated Easter with three baptisms and 10 people coming into membership. “We are praying that more people will wish to join us in,” Frank added. v For more, log on to www.tyndalereading. org.uk

METHODISTS in Basingstoke and Reading and Silchester Circuits are exploring forming a new Circuit next year. A Circuit is a collection of Methodist churches. A consultation meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 9, at 7.30pm, at Emmanuel Methodist Church in Oxford Road, Reading. Churches will then discuss the plans before a special Circuit Meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, June 4.

v NEWT launched The Revd Sam Owoo meets the Mayor of Reading, Cllr Jenny Rynn Pictures: Frank Pond

Tamil church launched in central Reading God now meets on Sunday mornings from 9am – before Abbey meets for its morning service at 10.30am. Services are held in Tamil and English. The church was launched at a special event, held at the

church on Saturday, March 9. During the service, the Revd Caesar spoke about the history of the church and how it came to be at Abbey. Afterwards, a reception with a meal was held. This is the third church

for the Zion Church of God, a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain; other branches meet in Croydon and Tooting. Abbey is also home to the Kingdom Citizens Church, which meets on Sunday afternoons from 1pm.

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A NEW community news magazine has been launched in Newtown, East Reading. St John and St Stephen’s Church produced NEWT just in time for Easter. “It attempts to bring together the different parts of our community life,” said Father Vincent Gardner, vicar of the church.

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Every month, Xn gives you the chance to reach thousands of potential customers. Our service directory connects your business with our readers. Book for 6 months for just £75 –that’s just £12.50 per month for up to 30 words, plus an insertion on our website. For details, call Fiona on 01932 888417 or email advertising@xnmedia.co.uk For more details, visit xnmedia.co.uk

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. Mention Xn and 5% of total order goes to YeLDALl manor

v Carpet cleaning Professional Carpet, Upholstery and Leather Cleaning. Trained and fully insured. Free, no obligation estimates. A.G Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning (0118) 3779149 or visit www.agcarpetandupholstery.co.uk Member of Trading Standards Buy with Confidence scheme www. buywithconfidence.gov.uk Mention Xn and 5% of total order goes to GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL

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

v Double glazing

v Driving lessons

Driving Tuition. Lessons for beginners or those who are test ready. Pay as you go or get discount for block booking. Over 4 years experience. Contact Robin Gowers by txt on 07973730990 or email: robin.gowers@ntlworld.com

v Property services Chambers Property Services. Offering a wide range of building services including electrics, decorating, general repairs and renovations. Quality work, professional & value for money. Free quotes. www. chamberselectricalservices.co.uk 07760122129 chambersrg10@ gmail.com

v Marketing ABBEY WINDOWS. Windows, composite, pvc, Bi Fold doors Featuring A rated Energy glass Trading Standards and Fensa approved. Also repairs to glass, locks, handles. Competitive prices 0118 956 6866 info@abbeywindows.co.uk

v Plumbing Patterson Plumbers. Bathroom installations, heating installations, plumbing repairs, free quotes, no job too small, over 60’s discount. Professional, reliable & honest. www.pattersonplumbers. co.uk 07921 572652 info@ pattersonplumbers.co.uk.

v Piano accompaniment EXPERIENCED PIANO ACCOMPANIST available for music exams and recitals. Judith Creighton www. judithcreighton.co.uk or 07957 193366.

v For sale Electric shine red guitar £65 (plus case and power lead) and Roland cube 60 amp £75. Please contact Mireille on 07702 553606.

Creative thinker inspires results. • Award winning copywriting • Business development • Creative network • Mentoring Contact Hyperbole. 0118 966 6600. john@hyperbole.co.uk

v Counselling Loddon Counselling & Psychology Service. Accredited counsellors, supervisors, trainers. Over 20 years experience NHS and other settings. CBT available. 07092 022294

v Funeral directors A.B. Walker & Son – Berkshire’s leading family funeral and masonry service. www.abwalker.co.uk

v To let Bedsit to rent in flat with one other Christian female in Milman Road in Reading. Shared use of kitchen and bathroom and available now. Rent is £335 per month, including all bills and your own Virgin media box for TV, phone and broadband. Details: Mireille on 07702 553606.

The Royals’ Prince

At Reading FC with Steve Prince

All change at Reading FC

fter writing in the last edition about the “buoyancy around the club” following a successful month, it’s been all change! After winning the Manager of the Month award, Brian McDermott paid the price for a run of defeats that have left the club at the foot of the League. No one can doubt the determination and graft of the team under Brian’s stewardship, or the success he experienced. He showed incredible loyalty to his players – in return they gave 100%. I’d like to put on record my personal appreciation to Brian and Nigel Gibbs for the foundations they helped to establish as we move forward. I hope both find themselves back in football soon. On Tuesday, March 26, Chairman Anton Zingarevich announced Nigel Adkins as our new manager. He will be assisted by Andy Crosby, who worked with Nigel at Southampton. While feeling sad about Brian and Nigel Gibbs leaving, I think Nigel Adkins appointment is terrific for the Royals. A last comment on Brian is that it has been reported that he actually encouraged Nigel to take the job at Reading! Nigel brings lots of experience with him and whatever the immediate future holds, we welcome a man who is a great fit for Reading’s ethos. Important though he is, the success and longevity of any football club is not just about the manager. Having good quality staff supporting him is critical to good progress. Reading’s support staff are an incredible group who are dedicated to working hard together. They are very friendly and welcoming in my interactions with them. The Director of Football, Nick Hammond will have been incredibly busy in the process of appointing a new manager. It’s interesting that the most successful 10-year period of our long history has coincided with Nick working away in the background, supporting the management team and the directors of the club. It’s worth remembering and honouring those who have ‘behind-the-scenes’ roles in clubs, churches, businesses and organisations. It’s not just about those who have more obvious and visible roles. As I write, two football clubs have announced they will go into administration. Once again I reflect on the nature of success. Reading FC is a successful club whatever this season’s outcome. As the supporters get behind the team and embrace a growing passion in singing songs that encourage the players, there may be some bumps along the way but success will grow and an infrastructure will develop that can sustain achievements ahead. I welcome Nigel Adkins and Andy Crosby to RFC and wish them well, assuring them of my prayers and support.

Come on URZ!!

Steve Prince is Reading FC Chaplain AND THE Pastor of Brookside Church

v Join the TVCFL 25th anniversary party All ex-Thames Valley Churches Football League players, managers, supporters and committee members are invited to a special end-of-season awards evening to mark the 25th anniversary of the league. The guest speaker will be the ex-Charlton, Reading and Portsmouth footballer, Linvoy Primus and it will be held on Saturday, May 18 at Wycliffe Baptist Church, East Reading. Tickets are free, but must be booked in advance. Email tvcfl.secretary@gmail.com for more information.

SPORT

To advertise call 01932 888417 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2013

Thames Valley Churches Football League

v Run for Cafod

For the latest, log on to tvcfl.footify.com or follow on Twitter @TVCFL

RUNNERS who are hungry for change are invited to take part in this year’s Great South Run. Held in Portsmouth on Sunday, October 27, the 10 mile run is hugely popular. Cafod is looking for people to take part and get sponsorship for its campaign to end global hunger. v Full details and application forms can be obtained from CAFOD Portsmouth by calling 01252 329385 or emailing portsmouth@cafod.org.uk.

Rain is a pain...

v Golf challenge

(...the snow doesn’t help either) Greyfriars were beaten by Norreys and the elements in the Colin Lowery cup game on March 2 The weather continued to cause havoc in the TVCFL throughout March, creating a back-log of fixtures that would have every Premiership Manager reaching for his cliché book to plan his excuses for a poor end of season run-in. Rather than a month that we would have expected to see a leader emerging from the racing pack, March will be remembered for its weather with only five league games played. Brookside St Laurence and Wycliffe Wanderers will be the happiest of the title chasing sides having beaten fellow rivals Tilehurst Albion and Bethel United respectively. West Reading CFC lost to rivals Kerith Community Church but beat Finchampstead to regain top spot, two points ahead of Kerith. Brookside St Laurence have recovered well from their defeat to Kerith in February and are now lie only two points behind the leaders with two games in hand. Wycliffe are in a similar position, although if they win their two games

in hand, they would find themselves in second place. Unfortunately a run of four defeats in five games has seen Bethel slip out of the title race after a bright first half of the season. Tilehurst Albion also face a massive task to pull themselves back into contention after the defeat to Brookside, but the reigning champions still have to play each of the teams challenging for the title before the end of the season and they certainly won’t give up the title without a fight. Elsewhere in the league, Reading Saints beat Greyfriars FC for the second time this season, on both occasions coming back having conceded the first goal. The win all but secures Reading Saints seventh place in the league, their highest placing for a number of seasons. West Reading Reserves and Finchampstead all had a month to forget. Finchampstead lost 7-1 to West Reading CFC in the league before losing on penalties to Carey Corinthians in the Quarter-Finals of the Colin Lowery Trophy, while West

FIXTURES KICK OFF 10.30am on Saturdays v April 13

v April 27

W Reading Reserves v B’side St Laurence Tilehurst Albion v Greyfriars FC Kerith Community v Reading Saints Wycliffe Wanderers v Finchamp’ Baptist

Greyfriars FC v Tilehurst Albion Bethel United v Reading Saints W Rdg Reserves v West Reading Norreys v B’side St Laurence

v April 20

v May 4

Wycliffe Wanderers v Norreys Norreys v Greyfriars FC West Reading v B’side St Laurence W Reading Reserves v Bethel United

Tilehurst Albion v Kerith Community Wycliffe Wanderers v West Reading

v May 11

Tilehurst Albion v Wycliffe Wanderers

Picture: Jack Schofield

Reading Reserves only played one game: a 4-1 defeat to South Ealing & Brentford at the same stage of the trophy competition. Norreys may not have played a league game, but they overcame Greyfriars in another Quarter-Final to book a place in the semi-finals against Saints, who beat St Andrews, High Wycombe, with a last minute extra-time winner. There was more drama in the Philmar Cup Quarter-Finals, where Kerith defeated Wycliffe 4-2 on penalties after a pulsating 2-2 draw after extra time. Kerith are joined by Tilehurst, who comfortably beat Bethel and St Paul’s from Ealing, who beat Brookside in February. They will be joined by either Reading Community Church or West Reading CFC, their game being postponed twice already ... roll on the summer! Courtney Isaacs won Player of the Month for March after his man-of-thematch performance and hat-trick for Brookside St Laurence in their important 5-3 defeat of Tilehurst Albion. James Hern and Chris Barltrop

league TABLE P W D L F A W D L F A GD PTS West Reading 15 6 0 2 33 12 5 1 1 25 10 36 34 Kerith Community 15 5 1 1 36 12 5 1 2 39 17 46 32 B’side St Laurence 13 6 1 0 33 12 4 1 1 20 8 33 32 Wycliffe Wanderers 13 5 2 0 29 17 4 0 2 27 12 27 29 Bethel United 15 4 1 3 14 12 5 1 1 20 12 10 29 Tilehurst Albion 12 3 0 1 24 5 5 1 2 34 17 36 25 Reading Saints 15 2 1 6 17 38 3 1 2 18 19 -22 17 Greyfriars FC 13 2 0 4 21 14 1 0 6 9 17 -1 9 Finchampstead Bap’ 16 2 0 7 13 35 1 0 6 9 43 -56 9 W Rdg Reserves 14 1 1 4 11 32 0 1 7 8 46 -59 5 Norreys 13 0 0 6 7 36 1 0 6 16 37 -50 3 Table correct as of March 23, 2012

TEAMS of golfers are invited to join the Reading Area Churches Golf Day, which will be held at Sherfield Oaks Golf Club on Friday, July 5. Places cost £38 per person and can be reserved as individuals or in a group of four. Everyone is welcome to take part, regardless of skill level. v For more details email johnlmann@tiscali.co.uk.

v Table tennis fun A TABLE tennis club welcomes new members. Formed in 1980, Our Lady of Peace Table Tennis Club (OLOPTTC) fields several teams in local leagues as well as the English Table Tennis Association (ETTA) Premier Club. The Earley-based club welcomes all ages and abilities to practice and play. Sessions are held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday. v For more details, log on to www.olopttc.co.uk.

top SCORERS Ben Findlay Kerith Community

Jamie Carstairs West Reading

Neil Healy Wycliffe Wanderers

Steve Hannah Tilehurst Albion

Ben Sheppard Brookside St Laurence 13 Courtenay Isaacs Brookside St Laurence 11 Lee Berry Kerith Community

Matt Blake Reading Saints

Ross Thompson Wycliffe Wanderers

Danny Lawrence Tilehurst Albion

Ben Blackledge Brookside St Laurence 8 James Hern Greyfriars FC

Food

April 2013 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 888417

ADVANCE NUTRITION ptimising health , vitality & wellness O with Christine Bailey, nutritionist, chef and food/health consultant

v Baked sea bass with olives and tomatoes

hy not make this delicious, healthy fish dish? This recipe is from Nourish: Cancer Care Cookbook which I’ve written in collaboration with the Penny Brohn Cancer Centre. Baking sea bass on a bed of Mediterranean vegetables makes it beautifully soft and full of flavour. Simple and quick to prepare this dish is packed with antioxidant rich and antiinflammatory ingredients. Sea bass is also a good source of omega 3 fats and provides a useful source of energising B vitamins and magnesium. Accompany with a salad or lightly steamed greens for an easy family meal. For those interested we will be holding a Cancer Care Cookery Day in Wokingham on May 5. For more information and to book see below. Serves 4 n ½ tsp coriander seeds n 1tbsp coconut butter or olive oil

n 1 red onion, roughly chopped n 2 cloves garlic, crushed n 2-3 sprigs thyme n 115g/4oz black olives, pitted n 60g / 3oz sundried tomatoes in oil, drained and roughly chopped n 16 cherry tomatoes n salt and freshly ground black pepper n 1 large sea bass , head removed, scaled and gutted n Small bunch of fresh thyme n Zest of 1 lemon n Little olive oil for drizzling Preheat the oven to 190°C, Gas mark 5 Toast the coriander seeds in a frying pan until fragrant, about 1 minute, then crush using a pestle and mortar. Heat the coconut butter or olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion, coriander and garlic and fry for

2-3 minutes until the onion is soft. Stir in the thyme leaves, olives and tomatoes. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper then transfer the mixture to a shallow ovenproof dish. Using a sharp knife, slash skin of the sea bass diagonally along each side so that the flesh is exposed and push sprigs of thyme into the cuts. Sprinkle over the lemon zest then put the sea bass on top of the olive mixture. Drizzle over a little olive oil and cook in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until the fish is tender and cooked all the way through. Per serving: 323kcal, Protein 30.5g Carbohydrates 3.4g of which sugars 2.7g, Total Fat 21.1g of which saturates 4.6g Recipe © Christine Bailey

Christine sees clients in Reading and London for nutritional consultations, support and advice. She also runs a range of healthy cookery demonstrations in Wokingham. Her next course is Cancer Care on May 5, 11am-4pm. For more information email christinembailey@hotmail.com or visit www.advancenutrition.co.uk

v Christine’s new cook book Christine Bailey writes: As a nutritionist I regularly work with individuals diagnosed with cancer who are looking to integrate conventional and nutritional/lifestyle changes to improve their outcomes and quality of life. Many are also looking to implement nutritional changes to help with the prevention of cancer or reduce the risk of reoccurrence. My latest book Nourish was written in conjunction with the Penny Brohn Cancer Centre to provide scientifically based nutritional advice and supporting recipes to help those faced with the diagnosis of cancer. The focus of the recipes in the book is on nutritious food that can be easily tolerated, help to alleviate common symptoms and side effects, and have been shown to possess cancer-fighting properties. There are more than 75 recipes including ones that are helpful for common side-effects. Whether you are undergoing treatment, have opted to eat healthier as a preventative measure or are supporting someone through cancer, this book will give you the support you need. v Nourish: Cancer Care Cookbook is published by Duncan Baird Publishers, ISBN 978-1848990760. It’s available from www. advancenutrition.co.uk or from Amazon.

FOOD NEWS New Fairtrade products available from Greyfriars Bookshop in Reading’s town centre includes the Swazi Kitchen sauces and jams. Their production means that many small holders have an outlet for their fruit, vegetables and spices and the workers in the factory are treated well too. Prices vary. From Sri Lanka comes coconut milk, at £1.85 a packet. v For more details, visit www. greyfriarsbookshop.org.uk or call the shop on 0118 951 6703. Element 29 is a new British artisan vodka which offers a revolutionary refill packaging system making it the most environmentally friendly spirit on the market. It’s named after copper, the 29th element in the periodic table, which gives the spirit its unique smoothness and distinctive character. Available in Selfridges, the bottles can be refilled, providing a 100% saving on the carbon cost of producing new glass. A bottle costs £31.99, and a refill is £22.99. v For more details, visit www.element29vodka.com.

A PERI PERI sauce maker is celebrating its first birthday by launching a special cookery contest. Award-wining African Volcano has been created by chef Grant Hawthorne. For each bottle sold, 30p goes to Habitat For Humanity. Now, the search is on for original recipes made using the medium sauce and marinade. Entries have to be in by April 30, and finalists will take part in a cook-off on Monday, May 20. The winner will receive a Thermomix TM31, a unique food processor that also weighs, blends, grinds, kneads, steams and cooks. Grant said: “I would like to see people getting creative with the sauce and marinade. There are 5 categories – only one is chicken.” To find out more about the contest, log on to www.africanvolcano.com/competition.

FASHION

To advertise call 01932 888417 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2013

ETHICAL LIVING

Changing the world, one purchase at a time

THIS smart black leather shoulder bag is part of a new range of soft buttery leather bags, satchels and purses from Betty and Betts. The ethical company’s bags have plenty of pockets inside and out, and have been made using durable leather and organic cotton. Betty and Betts works with Fairtrade suppliers and it ploughs a percentage of its profits back into developing communities in India. The bag costs £145 from www.bettyandbetts.com. Gucci has teamed up with the Rainforest Alliance to launch the world’s first certified leather products. The leather used in Gucci’s line of bags was sourced from ranches located in the Mato Grosso state in western Brazil. The bags are a collaboration with Gucci and Livia Firth, creator of The Green Carpet Challenge and aims to pair glamour and ethics to raise the profile of sustainable style. For more log on to www.gucci.com

Hollywood glamour comes to H&M this spring with Conscious Exclusive – a partywear collection made from more sustainable materials. The collection features clothing and accessories for men and women. Materials used include organic cotton, recycled polyester, recycled polyamide and Tencel.

With Winter having had a tight grip on the weather so far this year, there’s still time to think about keeping your neck warm. The Greyfriars Bookshop in central Reading has a range of Fairtrade scarves in stock. Each of the beautifully made and colourful York scarves has been sourced from India and, being fairly traded, it means that the makers get a fair price for their work. Prices and designs vary.

Brighten up your wardrobe with this red Lazer cut shift dress, £15, from Primark’s spring collection. It will be in stores from the first week of April.

Wear your heart on your sleeve and everywhere else with this heart dress from People Tree’s Orla Kiely range. £68, from www. peopletree.co.uk or call 0207 042 8900

Prepare for an Indian Summer with these colourful pants from Who Made Your Pants? The ethical firm works closely with the makers of its pants to ensure quality garments that help lift people out of poverty. Prices range from £12.50 to £28 for pants and £23 upwards for ‘pants packs. This trio of ethical underwear costs £50. They are available from www. whomadeyourpants.co.uk or by calling 023 8022 5536.

puzzles

April 2013 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 888417

BREAK TIME

Pit your wits against our brainteasers

Codeword

Kakuro

Place 1 to 9 in each white cell. To choose the right number you need to work from the clues in around the edge. The numbers below the diagonal lines are the sums of the solutions in the white cells immediately beneath. The numbers above the divide are the sums of the solutions immediately to the right. Rows and columns do NOT have to be unique. Thus, if a 3 is shown as a clue there will be two cells waiting for you to put the digits 1 and 2 in them – the only possible sum that will equal 3. The final rule is that no number may be repeated in any block. For example, if the clue is 4, the only possible solution will be 1 and 3 (or 3 and 1), never 2 and 2.

Steve Vaughan-Turner

Numbers are substituted for letters in the crossword grid. Below is the key with two letters solved. Try to complete the first few words to give you more letters, or look for a frequent number that might reveal a common letter. As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid. Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

Kakuro

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

Suduko Sudoku Solution

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

Str8ts Str8ts Solution

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

9 7 2 5 1 6 4 3 8

Solutions 6 8 3 7 2 4 9 1 5

5 3 2 2 1 1 5 4

Of course you’ve heard this sermon before. It’s all part of his grand recycling plan!

1 5 4 9 3 8 6 2 7

4 3 7 1 6 5 2 8 9

8 6 9 4 7 2 1 5 3

1 5

5 2 1 3 8 9 7 6 4

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.

2 4

2 9 6 8 5 7 3 4 1

7 3 4

6 5

3 4 8 6 9 1 5 7 2

3 8

7 1 5 2 4 3 8 9 6

6 9

8 3 6 5 6 4

5 4 9

7 6 8 6 7 4 5 7 4 5 6 4 5 6 4 5 8 3 2 5 3 2 1 6 2 1 4 3 2 1 7 8 2 3 7

6 9

3 2 1 2 1 3 9 1 2 9 8 3 8 7 6 7 6 5 5 4 4

6 7

6 5

7 9 8 6 5

Very Hard

8 7 9 6

Medium

1 9

2 1

SUDOKU

Suduko

Codewords

STR8TS

Str8ts

www.drawingfromexperience.blogspot.com

ARTS

To advertise call 01932 888417 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2013

Music, drama, comedy with a local perspective

CONCERT

Michael’s songs of praise

Grammy award-winning singer/ songwriter who has seen his his family face life-threatening medical issues is getting ready to share his story. Michael Robert is travelling all the way from Cregon in the USA to perform his powerful mix of vocals and heartfelt lyrics in Reading and Marlow next month – and the concerts are completely free. He’s not alone – his band is coming too and together they will perform an evening of uplifting music for the Revived Hymns Tour. An evening of hymns might seem like a strange choice for a concert, but Michael said that he has recently been moved by the hymns from his youth. “When I first became a Christian, I learned a lot of hymns in Sunday school,” he says. “They are so rich in content. “I enjoy teaching them to my kids and changing them up a little, making them more relevant for today.” The first fruits of this journey through the hymns led to the recording two hits, At the Cross and Crown Him, which have been played on radio stations across the world. Michael’s success and love for the hymns has spurred him on to a new ministry where he gives contemporary arrangements to old favourites, making them fresh for a new generation of worshippers. The Revived Hymns Tour has taken Michael all over the world including Canada and Japan – now he’s coming to us. Michael’s songs mark a milestone in his spiritual journey with some representing a place of rest or conviction and others a time of healing or rejoicing.

“Every time I write a song I feel God revealing something new to me,” Michael says, “Showing me a greater aspect of His love and grace, taking me deeper in His love, or putting His finger on an area of my life that needs conviction or healing. “Life is just full of so many ups and downs. Worshiping God and praising Him puts our lives, and our worries, in perspective. He is on the throne and we can trust Him.” Michael Robert Smith was born in New Jersey. When he was six, the family moved to a ranch in the middle of nowhere in Applegate, Oregon. He settled into the country life and quickly made friends with the guitar at his early age. It has been his best friend and confidant ever since. Married to Linda, the couple have faced all kinds of trials and tribulations. “We’ve gone through some trials over the years,” Michael understates. “Depression, health issues, kidney problems, open-heart surgery – we’ve been through it all. We are truly thankful for modern medicine and the working of the Holy Spirit. “There is nothing like watching your children suffer to keep you on your knees, to keep you trusting the Lord.” You can hear more of his amazing story – and powerful voice – when he appears at the concerts later this month. All for free. Tuesday, May 21, 7.30pm Marlow Methodist Church, Spittal Street, Marlow Wednesday, May 22, 7.30pm St Andrew’s URC, London Road, Reading v For more details, log on to www.michaelrobertmusic.com/

REVIEW

A collection of Sacred Music marked the start of Holy Week v Easter Concert Performed by Twyford Singers St Andrew’s Sonning, Sunday, March 24 Nearly 100 people braved a very chilly Palm Sunday evening to enjoy the performance of a concert of sacred music sung by the Twyford Singers at Sonning Church. The programme included Haydn’s Little Organ Mass, Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus, and well known Bach chorales. The choir was accompanied

by guest organist Matthew O’Sullivan (pictured). He also performed a solo of the Chorale Prelude: O Mensch Bewein’ dein’ Sunden Gross. During Tchaikovsky’s The Crown of Roses, the choir brought pathos and passion to this piece by their well executed range of dynamics. Marjorie Harrison gave a

beautiful gentle rendition of the soprano solo Ave Maria by Franz Schubert, followed by a moving performance by Sue Thomas of the Agnus Dei (Mass in B Minor) by J S Bach. In addition to conducting the choir, musical director Helen Styles demonstrated her own talent through her uplifting soprano solo in the Benedictus. Afterwards, Helen said: “I really enjoyed putting this programme together and am glad that the audience seemed to like it too.”

v The Twyford Singers’ next concert is to be held at the Loddon Hall in Twyford on Saturday, June 29. The programme includes a selection of music from the Victorian and Edwardian eras. New members are welcome. The Singers meet on Tuesdays from 7.45pm to 9.45pm at the URC Hall in Twyford. For details, log on to www. twyford-singers.org.uk, or contact the choir secretary on (0118) 969 8326. Catherine Brown

v Join in this entente cordiale A MUSICAL entente cordiale will take place later this month as two choirs from either side of the English Channel team up to create a gigantic choir. The South Chiltern Choral Society is teaming up with the Ensemble Vocal de Meylan, a French choir from Grenoble, to create an ensemble of more than 150 singers. Their voices will then raise the roof of Reading’s Concert Hall on Saturday, April 27, as they perform Haydn’s The Creation. This is the fourth time the two choirs have worked together and, for this concert, they will be joined by soprano Helen Winter, tenor Ian Massa-Harris and bass Stephen Svanholm. The concert will be conducted by Gwyn Arch and accompanied by the South Chiltern Orchestra. Tickets cost £15, or £7 for under 18s. v For more details, call Nicola Woodman on (0118) 989 1606 or log on to www. southchilternchoralsociety. org.uk.

v Book this club BOOKWORMS are invited to discuss some pageturners at a bookgroup. Kennet Valley Free Church in Calcot hosts the club, which has a diverse reading list with everything from classics to Top 20 paperback titles. With one eye on the recession, the group has pledged never to spent more than £5 on each title dicussed. The dicussions focus on the books, the characters and the plots. The book club meets in the church lounge on the 2nd Monday of the month at 1.30pm to 3pm. New members are welcome. v For more details, call Judy Young on (0118) 958 6685.

ARTS

April 2013 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | To advertise call 01932 888417

v Peter’s farewell WOKINGHAM Town Mayor Peter Lucey is marking the end of his two years in office by holding a concert at Wokingham Theatre, Twyford Road on Saturday, April 7 at 7.30pm. St Sebastian Wokingham Band will be performing a selection of music and there will be a bar and a raffle – all profits will go to Wade, Wokingham’s day centre for the elderly. Tickets are £10. v For details, email mayor@ wokingham-tc.gov.uk for tickets or purchase them from the Information Centre in Wokingham’s Town Hall.

v Baroque treat SOPRANO Elizabeth Dobbin will be singing some Baroque music later this month. The founding member of the ensemble Le Jardin Secret will visit Wokingham Town Hall for the concert which starts at 8pm on Wednesday, April 24. For more details, log on to www.liturgicalmusic.co.uk.

Gather round the Campfire

THE PRODIGY might have famously once sang about being twisted fire starters, but another band have a slightly more sedate idea: they want you to gather round a campfire they’ll be building in Bracknell next month. To celebrate the launch of their new album, The Rend Collective Experiment will be teaming up with Ben Cantelon for an evening of live music at Kerith Community Church. Campfire is a collection of songs that aims to present an alternative picture of what church can be. “The beauty of church is that it champions unity while adamantly rejecting uniformity,” the band say in an introduction to the new album. “The campfire model tries to reflect God in his incarnate form: something human, touchable, and humbly beautiful. “We simply want to share with you the way we imagine beautiful worship and community, in

the hope that it might spark something in you.” The group started out in 2004 as “as a group of confused 20 somethings started trying to figure out life, God and community”. Three years later, it grew into a collective of musicians and artists trying to share what they were learning. The Campfire Tour is your chance to hear the collective in action. The nine-date trip round the UK takes in destinations including Manchester, London, Belfast and Bristol, with some dates already sold out. They will be in Bracknell on Thursday, May 9, from 7pm and tickets cost £12.50 seated, £10 standing and £8 for under 16s. A booking fee applies if bought from www. spiltmilkbookings.com. Tickets are also available from Kerith’s reception for £10 (cash only). v For more details, log on to www.kerith.co.uk.

v Ska sounds A SKA-singing band from Reading are celebrating the release of an all-new album. Sounds of Salvation unleased SoS IV: Rise of the Ska Machine earlier this month. Band spokesperson Michael Whiteman said: “It’s been just over a year since SoS put out their last record. Since then a whole bunch of behind the scenes scheming, writing, recording, mixing, trialing, re-writing, arranging, drawing, and designing has occurred.” The album is available to download from bandcamp with a CD to follow. The group will also host a Ska mass at Dorchester Abbey on May 5 at 6.30pm, part of the Dorchester Festival. v For more details, log on to soundsofsalvation.bandcamp. com.

v Musical treats to enjoy this month v THE stunning sound of Yateley Choral Society will be heard later this month as it performs Bach’s St John’s Passion. This powerful and dramatic work reflects the narrative of John’s Gospel with impressive opening and closing choruses framing beautiful arias and chorales. Yateley Choral will be accompanied by an orchestral ensemble comprising the cream of the UK’s period performance specialists, and a first class team of awardwinning soloists . The performance will be enhanced by a visual display to complement the beauty of the music and make the core message of the piece even more accessible. The performance takes place at 7.45pm on Saturday, April 13 at St Swithun’s Church in Yateley. Tickets cost £12, £5 for students or free for under 16s. They will be available on

the door or by calling 01252 870469. For more details, log on to www.yateley-choral.org.uk.

Tickets cost £15 or £12 for a restricted view. For more details, call the box office on 01491 577733.

v Reading Spring Gardens Brass Band is teaming up with the Sainsbury Singers for a special concert. Taking place at Park URC in Wokingham Road, Reading, on Saturday, April 20, it will raise funds for the Derek Watkins “High C” Sarcoma Cancer Charity. Tickets cost £7.50. For details, call Jo Smith on 07904 312310.

v TAMESIS Chamber Choir is hosting a come and sing day later this month. Taking place at Greyrfriars Church in Reading, the chamber choir and guests will rehearse Bob Chilcott’s Requiem and selected choruses from Handel’s Messiah during the day, before giving a performance in the ebening. The show will be at 7.30pm and proceeds will go to ABF, The Soldiers’ Charity. For details, log on to www. tamesischamberchoir.co.uk.

v TWELVE opera singers are teaming up for a very special performance of Handel’s Messiah later this month. Imaginatively staged and beautifully worked, this wall of sound is sure to move listeners. The performance takes place at the Christ Church Centre in Reading Road, Henley on Saturday, April 27 from 7.30pm.

v Trinity Concert Band presents Man’s Musical Fascination with the Heavens, including Star Wars and Jupiter. It will be held at Trinity Church, Lower Earley on Saturday, April 13 at 7.30pm. Details: www.trinityband.co.uk.

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ARTS

To advertise call 01932 888417 | www.xnmedia.co.uk | April 2013

Moviewatch

Cinema with Martin Ceaser

Sing up for good old family values v Song For Marion (PG)

Terrance Stamp discovers a hidden side to himself in Song For Marion

Stars Terrance Stamp, Vanessa Redgrave, Christopher Eccleston, Gemma Arterton

F YOU were to blend together Dad’s Army and Sister Act, Song For Marion, a poignant and moving film would probably be the result. Marion (Vanessa Redgrave) is terminally ill with cancer, and cared for by her grumpy, yet devoted, husband Arthur (Terence Stamp). One thing that brings joy into her life is her membership of the OAPz, a community choir run by schoolteacher Elizabeth (Gemma Arterton) who, in Arthur’s opinion, sing inappropriate songs and take up too much of his wife’s time. Arthur wants nothing to do with the choir, but Marion’s death draws him in and, once in, he begins to find some comfort from doing what Marion did. When Elizabeth asks him to sing a solo at a choir competition, his life really begins to change, especially his understanding of himself, and his relationship with his son, James (Christopher Eccleston). The four main characters are easily recognisable as people we know, and Stamp and Redgrave are brilliant as the devoted old couple facing up to the end of Marion’s life, which provides some great acting,

especially from Stamp. His character plaintively states, “I don’t want you to go”. Tension comes through Arthur and James’ dysfunctional relationship, which could have had more prominence. Comedy is mainly provided by the OAPz – their personalities, the songs they sing, and the things they get up to. The film deals gently and sensitively with old age, death, friendship, family

relationships, grieving, reconciliation, and hope for the future. As the credits roll, a dedication appears “to family”. And it is – this is a film for, and about, the family. Not the sugar-coated Hollywood version but the “real deal”, warts and all one that in spite of its imperfections, works. The Revd Martin Ceaser is minister of Crowthorne Baptist Church

v Movie time for toddlers IF YOU’RE a parent and want to introduce your children to the cinema, local screens are doing their best to help. Henley’s Picturehouse

holds a Toddler Time on Tuesdays at 11am. Films this month include The Gruffalo’s Child. South Street arts centre in Bracknell

REVIEW

Plenty of emotion in timeless classic v Karl Jenkins: Stabat Mater Performed by Reading Festival Chorus with Reading Symphony Orchestra University of Reading Great Hall, Saturday, March 23 AFTER a full day of intensive rehearsals, held as a Come and Sing event, the Reading Festival Chorus teamed up with members of the Reading Symphony Orchestra to perform Karl Jenkins’ Stabat Mater. It is the name given to a 13th century prayer “Stabat Mater dolorosa” (the sorrowful mother was standing) written as a reflection on the suffering of Mary, mother of Jesus, at the crucifixion. For this performance, there was a mixture of full choral works and solo moments,

with young soloist Harriet Kirk having a very warm tone to her verse. She also sang in Aramaic and Arabic. The alternating choir and solo pieces helped the flow and gave the choir a break – especially considering it had only been rehearsed in a day. The hour-long suite is a timeless classic and it will be sung hundreds of years into the future; it covers all the emotions and makes an ancient text relevant. The Festival chorus is

conducted by Edward-Rhys Harry, who has performed all over the world. Tonight, his singers were following him keenly. Alongside the orchestra, an unnamed organist provided the crucial swell for this “come and sing” performance. The warm sounds and beautiful setting of the Concert Hall helped brighten up a very cold Spring evening. Laura Blackburn Finlay Picture: Rachel Paton, patonphotography.co.uk

holds mums and baby screenings on Fridays at 10.30am. Vue in Reading shows family films on Saturday mornings at 10.30am.

v Footloose and fancy this... AN EXHILARATING all-singing, all-dancing is coming to the Henley stage this month, courtesy of a local group of actors. Reading Operatic Society is presenting Footloose, based on the Hollywood movie, at the Kenton Theatre from Wednesday, April 10 to Saturday, April 13. Packed with solid gold musical numbers, including Holding Out For A Hero and Almost Paradise, the musical tells the story of a youthful rebel on a mission to overturn a ban on dancing instigated by the local church. Reading Operatic Society is well-known for its ambitious productions, which have included West Side Story, Disco Inferno and All Shook Up. The group are all amateurs and perform in their spare time. Tickets cost £15, or £12 for concessions or on Wednesday and the Saturday matinee. v For more details, log on to www.readingops.co.uk or call the box office on (0118) 926 7135.