the parish magazine - whitchurch-on-thameswhitchurchonthames.com/parishmag/dec15.pdf · garden...
TRANSCRIPT
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CHURCH SERVICES CHURCH SERVICES ATAT ST MARY’S ST MARY’S ANDAND ST JOHN’SST JOHN’S
1st Sunday of the month: 8am Holy Communion at St John's
9.30am Parish Communion at St Mary's
2nd Sunday of the month: 11am Family Communion at St John's
6pm Evening Prayer at St Mary's
3rd Sunday of the month: 9.30am Parish Communion at St Mary's
4th Sunday of the month: 8am Holy Communion at St Mary's 11am All Age Worship at St John's 6pm Evening Prayer at St Mary's
5th Sundays: 10 .30am Team Service in one of the Team churches.
Coffee and biscuits are served after the 9.30 and 11am morning services.
(There are collection boxes in both churches for non-perishable foods donated
by members of the congregations for the work of Reading’s food bank,
Readifood.)
For further information, see pew sheets or contact the Churchwardens or
Revd Claire (see page 19 for details).
You can view this Parish Magazine on the Church link of the village
website: whitchurchonthames.com where you can also check out the
service times.
St Mary the Virgin
The Parish Magazine
for
Whitchurch
and
Whitchurch Hill December 2015 to February 2016
St John the Baptist
2
Chiltern Domestic Appliances
Guaranteed repairs and servicing for Hoover, Hotpoint, Zanussi,
Bendix, Indesit & all major brands. Washing machines, tumble dryers, electric cookers and dishwashers. Low call out fee
and prompt attention.
Tel: 01491 681526
We educate through play in a happy,
caring, and stimulating environment
Full days, mornings, afternoons
*Great activities, equipment & garden
*Plenty of fun and enjoyment
*Fantastic recent OFSTED report
To arrange a visit call: 0118 984 4516
Whitchurch Pre-School Group Eastfield Lane,
Whitchurch-on-Thames, RG8 7EJ—Registered Charity: 1027416
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Officers of the Parish
Associate Priest: Rev. Claire Alcock, St. Mary’s House, High Street,
Whitchurch-on-Thames. RG8 7DF. 0118 984 5702. [email protected]
Team Rector: Rev. Kevin Davies, The Rectory, Checkendon, RG8 0SR
01491 680252. [email protected]
Churchwardens: Peter Ferguson, 21 Swanston Field, Whitchurch-on-Thames,
RG8 7HP. 0118 984 1262. [email protected]
Sue Matthews, 2 Eastfield Lane, Whitchurch-on-Thames, RG8 7PX. 0118 984 4489. [email protected]
Verger: Kenneth Baker (contact details below)
Honorary Secretary: Angi Simpson, Ilston, Goring Heath Road, Whitchurch Hill, RG8 7PG. 0118 984 2592. [email protected]
Organist and Choirmaster: Colin Windsor
Honorary Treasurer: Robert Plumb, Uplands Cottage. Whitchurch-on-Thames, RG8 7HH. 0118 984 4838. [email protected]
Assistant Treasurer: Kenneth Baker, 10 Laytom Rise, Tilehurst, Reading, RG31 6FQ. 0118 943 2778 [email protected]
Contact for the Bell Ringers: Sue Matthews, 0118 984 4489
Magazine Editorial Team:
Wendy Ferguson, Rosemary Pearce, Angi Simpson Correspondence to 21 Swanston Field or [email protected]
Copy date for next issue of the magazine: Friday, 12th February.
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Rob Turner Handyman
Home & Garden Maintenance
Plumbing, Painting, Tiling Hedge Cutting, Fencing, Ponds.
Phone 0118 941 9534 Mob. 07866 943113
‘Brambly Thatch’ A Holiday Cottage near Whitchurch Hill – so handy when family or friends from afar come to stay.
Call Kate or John Hatt on 0118 984 3121, or email: [email protected]
PIANO LESSONS
For pleasure or ABRSM exams. Contact Linda Waller MA, ALCM
on 0118 984 3723 or at [email protected]
3
Gardening services
BOB NORTH All aspects of gardening undertaken at reasonable rates, with discounts for senior citizens
Grass cutting
Borders tended
Hedge cutting
Fences and sheds erected or repaired
Garden furniture assembled or repaired
Patios jet cleaned, and much more.
We can also tend your loved ones’ last resting place. If you have a grave that you can no longer tend due to distance or ill health etc we can look after it for you.
Trimming of grass around headstone and edge of plot
Remove weeds
Clean headstones.
Lay flowers at your request for the special anniversary dates.
We will photograph and email or send pictures.
This service is available Reading and surrounding areas.
For a free quotation please call 07467172662 or 0118 375 5172. Email [email protected]
4
Our vision statement: We seek to be a worshipping family, looking outwards to bless
our community with the love of Christ.
+++++++
DIARY DATES DECEMBER Tues 1st 8-9.15pm Advent Prayer meeting at St Mary’s House. Thurs 3rd 2-4pm Handicraft afternoon at the Old Stables. Sat 5th 7pm Annual Concert of Christmas Music St Mary's Church. Tues 8th 10.30am—12 noon, and weekly during term-time, Community Coffee Morning at the Old Stables. Thurs 10th 10am Ladies Bible Study group Wed 16th 2.30pm Eastfield House service Sat 19th 6.30 -7.30 pm Community Carol Singing in the Ferryboat car park with Brass Ensemble accompaniment Sun 20th 5pm Carol Service at St John’s Church.
JANUARY 2016 Thurs 7th 2-4pm Handicraft afternoon at the Old Stables Thurs 14th 10am Ladies Bible Study group Wed 20th 2.30pm Eastfield House service. Thurs 28th 10am Ladies Bible Study group. 8pm PCC meeting at the Old Stables.
FEBRUARY
Thurs 4th 2-4pm Handicraft afternoon at the Old Stables. Wed 10th 7.30pm Ash Wed. Team Communion service at Woodcote. Thurs 11th 10am Ladies Bible Study group. Tues 16th 12 noon onwards Lent Lunch at the Old Stables. Wed 17th 2.30pm Eastfield House service. 8pm Lent Course at St Mary’s House. Thurs 25th 10am Ladies Bible Study group.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See page 6 for Christmas services and church related events. We will be running be a Lent course and Lent lunches again next year,
starting on 16th and 17th February. More details on village notice boards and the church page of the website nearer the time.
The deadline for the March issue is Friday, 12th February. 17
ANTHEA LAING
FOR ALL YOUR UPHOLSTERY NEEDS
RESTORATION RECOVERING LOOSE COVERS
NEW CUSHION FABRICS SUPPLIED
FRAME REPAIRS & RESTORATION CANE & RUSH
WORK ARRANGED
UPHOLSTERY CLASSES AT TIDMARSH & BRIMPTON
VILLAGE HALLS
TELEPHONE: 0118 930 5123
H Specialists in Domestic Cleaning
H Weekly – One-Offs – Spring Cleans
H Keys held
H Fully insured Public and Employer
H Seniors Rates Offered
H All staff is local (a group of hardworking, fun mums!)
H Client priorities agreed prior to start at home assessment
H Excellent communication on-going by staff and management
H Customer references can be supplied on request
H All cleaning products and equipment included
H E-Cleaning used – minimum use of harsh chemicals
H Trading 8 years!
Hands-on isn’t a franchise, our team are local people, we look to create on-going, long term, working relationships with our clients.
H Call Niki Wicks now to book a home cleaning assessment
H Mobile 07765 584851 covering all areas locally to Pangbourne, including
Upper & Lower Basildon, Whitchurch and surrounding areas.
Better cleaning - Better Health - Better Life
Hands-on
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READIFOOD COLLECTION BOXES
There are large plastic collection boxes in both churches for you to donate food for those in the Reading area who are struggling to feed their families. St John’s is open for church services on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at 11am and St Mary’s is open every day.
All kinds of food items are welcome, but often donors aren't aware that tinned fruit & veg and longlife milk are very much needed. Items must be from a factory i.e. they can't accept home made items, unfortunately. And they must be in date too.
Any contribution you can make will be much appreciated and we would encourage you to be generous in your giving. Thank you.
Come and check out the newest event in the village! Art Café takes place every Saturday morning in the Old Stables from 9.30am till 12.30pm. Pop in and enjoy tea, coffee and delicious homemade cakes sold on behalf of charity and community groups, whilst browsing art and craft from local and emerging artists. www.artcafe.co.uk
THAMES VALE SINGERS
present
This is Christmas with Carols and Songs
on Friday 11th December, 8pm at St Mary’s Church Purley-on-Thames Saturday 12th December, 8pm at Purley-on-Thames Memorial Hall
(Tickets limited for Saturday night so please book in advance)
Tickets £7—including refreshments on sale from 0118 9432778 or 0118 9475445
or email: [email protected]
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Dear friends, I’m writing this on Armistice Day when much of the country will have fallen silent for two minutes to recall those who lost their lives through World Wars and con-flict. For people who have seem active service and live to tell the tale, remembering can be very painful. They might be haunted by things they wish they’d never seen and
even things they wish they’d never done. Memory is a powerful tool that can be harnessed to good ends or haunt us with worry. I’ve noticed that it is the planners in life who generally worry about things more than others. They’re great at looking to the future, but sometimes they cannot leave things to take their natural course with a trusting attitude.
Jesus spoke about worry and at Harvest we recalled that if God ‘clothes the flowers of the field’, what’s the point in worrying about how we’ll be pro-vided for in the future? We are called to trust. At our Act of Remembrance we used the power of memory to pledge ourselves again to work for peace in a world where recourse to armed conflict often brings more problems than it solves. The Church Year is full at this time; we are almost in Advent, when we pause in defiance of the rush towards Christmas and contemplate not just Christ’s first coming, but his anticipated coming in glory at the end of time. This is a hard concept, but the Christian faith has always been an apocalyptic one; we do not decide our own fate, but work alongside God to bring in God’s future. This future begins now as we discover in Christ that ‘blessed are those who mourn, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness’. Christ is Good News for all who suffer unjustly, of which there are many countless thousands, as our TV screens show us each night. Sometimes we too are complicit in others’ suffering, even without full awareness, so we are all thrown back upon the need for forgiveness.
After the preparation of Advent, the Church celebrates the coming of the Saviour in relative poverty and simplicity – a baby in an animal’s trough, worshipped by a strange collection of rough outdoor types and foreign astronomers. Which goes to show all are welcome in his kingdom. Do join us for the varied Christmas events and services that enrich our community life, whether it’s the brass band in Church, Carols at the pub or Christingle. You will be most welcome.
Blessings, Claire
6
Christmas 2015 in Whitchurch
Concert of Christmas Music - Saturday 5 December,
St Mary’s, 7pm.
Christmas Coffee Morning at The Old Stables Tuesday 15 December, 10.30am (see page 11).
Eastfield House Christmas Service
Wed 16 December, 2.30pm.
Whitchurch Primary School Carol Concert - Thursday 17 December, St Mary’s, 1.30pm.
Carols at The Ferryboat - Saturday 19 December, 7.30 pm.
9 Lessons and Carols – Sunday 20 December, St John’s, 5pm.
Christingle - Thursday 24 December, St Mary’s, 4pm.
Christmas Morning Service - St John’s, 10.30am.
Team Service of Alternative Carols – Sunday 27 December, St Mary’s, 10.30am.
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CALLING ALL STUDENTS!
The trustees of Whitchurch United Charities want to remind all students and families that the Charity has funds available to help with the cost of books and equipment or other educational expenses such as school trips.
Eligible students are young people between the ages of 5 and 25 years and whose permanent residence is within the parish of Whitchurch. (Note: if the Whitchurch Parish Magazine is delivered to your house, then you are in the parish and therefore eligible.)
The two closing dates per year for applications are now 31st March and 30th September. These have been changed slightly following a review of the timetable which was undertaken by the trustees at a recent meeting. Late applications are considered if the available funds for the previous 6 month period have not been fully allocated.
All applications and decisions are treated in strict confidence by the Trustees.
If you would like to know more, please do contact Peter Hawley (our Grant Application Secretary) on (0118) 984 1647 or write to him at:
3 Whitchurch House High Street Whitchurch-on-Thames Reading RG8 7EP
Evening Service
This takes place at St. Mary’s at 6pm, on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. It is supported by a small and faithful congregation. We use the Book of Common Prayer service and extend a warm welcome to everyone for a short and contemplative act of worship.
Dalby Landen
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THE STAR by Geraldine Witcher
I fell like a shower of rain from heaven, Radiant still with heaven's glory,
Shining with more than star-born light Blazing abroad Messiah's glory.
Down on the terraces far below
In Eastern palaces strange and fine Eyes of wisdom searched the skies
Turned from earth's dim light, to mine.
I hung in the sky while the men discussed Whatever my bright new light could mean Then blazed with joy as they said I foretold
The greatest king men had ever seen.
They chose their gifts with cost and care Inspired by my glowing radiant light
Gold for a king, incense for God And myrrh for a corpse laid out of sight.
Then slowly I blazed a heavenly path Over city and village, valley and hill Pulsating, filling the night with glory
And the Eastern sages followed me still.
Night after night my light glowed strong Night after night they came where I led
Until at last I hung over a stable Where the Holy Child lay in a manger bed.
And there I blazed with hope and joy
Seeing them kneel and worship there. I shone so gently on the baby boy Lying asleep in sweet Mary’s care.
~~~~~~
7
CONCERT OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC
at St Mary’s Church, Whitchurch
Featuring
THE FERRYBOAT BRASS
GUEST SOLOISTS
and the opportunity to sing many carols
Saturday 5th December
at 7pm (doors open 6.30pm)
Tickets £10 or £5 for under 10’s available from the Ferryboat
In aid of Church funds and Whitchurch Primary School
Sponsored by theFerryboat
8
GOD WITH US
As we come towards Christmas, it often seems that as Christian writers we have nothing new to say, that no one is listening anyway, that commercial-ism has taken over and Jesus has nothing to do with the loud midwinter festival of overeating that we all indulge in. And in one sense, it's true, he doesn't, because it's very unlikely that he was born in December anyway, and the popular representation of how it all happened is as far from the truth as Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.
But the fact that God - eternal, unchanging, remote and unknowable God - became man means that in a real sense, Jesus has everything to do with Christmas as we know it. Jesus came and identified with a world which had gone wrong. He became part of a fractured society; he showed that love is more powerful than hate or fear or evil. And he did it by living as one of us. Dying, he gave us the chance to start again, and live that way too.
God with us - God as one of us - it's a message that the world still needs to hear, despite the noise and the clamour which masks the desperateness of that need. Our words must proclaim that message, but so too must our lives. Because only a few people may read what we write, but everyone we meet will read our lives. I want to live the reality of God become man, in my life, this Christmas. GW
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Report on St Mary ’s church roof
Earlier this year we applied for a government grant towards the repair of the tiled roof above the main aisle including the cedar shingle bell tower. We were unsuccessful in obtaining this grant and we have requested feedback as to why this was. However a second round of applications will be called for the end of 2016 and we will apply again.
We recently experienced a failure of the north slope of the tiled roof to the
main aisle where a gap of about 10 metres long and 1/2 metre wide opened
up and allowed water penetration to the inside lathe and plaster ceiling
which also contributed to the short-circuit of the fluorescent tube entrance
light at plate level, which in turn tripped the electrical panel. The roof is
generally is in a poor state of repair where timber battens lying
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FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS
Baptisms, Marriages and Funeral Services held at St. Mary’s and St. John’s between September and November. Marriages: St. Mary’s 5th September Peter Richard Dawson and Emily Louise Huddart
VOLUNTEERS TO HELP COLLATE THE PARISH MAGAZINE
Over the past few years a small number of people have very generously given their time to help collate this magazine. However, for various reasons some are no longer able to do this. As a result we need more volunteers for this task. As the magazine is published quarterly we aim to do the collating at The Old Stables on the last Tuesday in February, May, August and November with three teams of two people. Refreshments will be provided and it will be a ‘fun’ community activity. If there are enough volunteers, not everyone will be needed to help each time, so we would like to set up a list of those who are willing to help.
Please let us know if you would be able to become a volunteer Contact Wendy on 0118 984 1262 or Angi on 0118 984 2592
The residents of Eastfield House Care Home would love to read books but most of them are not able to do it by themselves. If you would like to be a volunteer, and read a book out loud to them from time to time, or you have any other ideas about how could you help by sharing your time with the residents, please contact the Manager of the Care Home on 0118 984. 2586.
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CHILDREN’S PAGE
A prayer from Henry Pickess (age 13). Dear God, bless and help all children who have learning disabilities. Those who are lame and cannot run and play games; those who are blind and cannot see the faces of family; those who are deaf and cannot hear the birds singing, the voices of friends or music playing on the radio. Children who find learning difficult and for whom it is a constant struggle to keep up with class work. Give courage and strength to those who feel sad for whatever reason and may those who are strong always be ready and willing to help. Amen.
A prayer from Isabella Pickess (age 9), “For the Beauty of the Seas”. Dear Lord, thank you for all the people who risk their lives out in the mighty, rough seas. The fishermen who catch our fish to eat; the RNLI who rescue people out at sea so that they can return safely to their families. Thank you for the Navy who defend our country and help to protect and keep us safe. Watch over them all. Amen. (Lord hear our prayer)
Here is a Wordsearch to solve, with the words to find:
John baptized repent forgive confess sins Jordan river clothing locusts wild honey Jesus water Heaven Spirit
G K I U O R F G S J F U V R W
R W B M S T N S H W P T H E A
S K V N I I E T X C I X O P T
I V L R H F P L P Z L L P E E
N F I T N D J G Q F G H D N R
S P O O L O C U S T S O N T M
S L C M I F L R Q F A G B S N
C Z K K J W E S W F Z O U E N
B J S O M V L B A P T I Z E D
T O H W I F O R G I V E V I Q
G R O R T J C P V Q Q A V Y Y
X D N J K E V B A L E W I N B
E A E Q O S Y U W H V P H Q F
J N Y M Z U J N J M A O M Z M
N O H B L S I T S P J Q U Y F
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horizontally and attached to the rafters have deteriorated due to wet rot
and the nails attaching the clay tiles to the battens have corroded and in
some places the clay tiles have cracked and require replacement. The tiled
roof covering is at the end of its economic life and needs replacement
because we must prevent damage to the main structural timbers bearing
the weight of the roof. Also lead flashings which bridge the gap between
the sloping tiled roof and vertical bell tower are split and are allowing rain
penetration, causing discolouration of the ceiling below the bell tower. They
therefore needs replacement with new lead work.
We have involved the architect Daniel Wadsworth and roofing contractor Tilehurst Roofing Contractors to investigate, advise and undertake the most economical repair and I am pleased to report that a repair has been under-taken, at a reasonable price, to keep us watertight for the winter .
One of the conditions of obtaining a repair grant for listed buildings that we shall apply for next year is that no other grants are obtained for roof repairs. The dilemma we faced was that the repair bill came to circa £4,000 and could be financed out of our current funds, although it would mean we could not pay our parish share this year. However, if it was found that the repair had been more extensive and therefore more expensive, we would have struggled to find finances out of current funds and would have had to apply for emergency funds from the Church Heritage Trust. Therefore we would not have been eligible for consideration for a grant from the listed buildings people. I am glad to report that this situation did not arise and we are still eligible for a grant.
The maximum grant monies we could expect to receive, if our application is successful, is around £100,000. We at the Buildings Committee need to con-sider separating the work to the cedar shingle tower from the tiled roofs to the nave and main aisle and, as a first priority, perhaps our focus should be on the latter. With this approach in mind we may be more successful in obtaining a grant next year. In any event, in the near future we will need to raise circa £250,000 for all roofs, and this could include restoration of the church clock.
Peter Ferguson Churchwarden
10
THANK YOU!
The Harvest Supper held on Saturday 3rd October was a very enjoyable occasion; numbers were down on previous years, but the profit of the evening, £218.09, will help Church funds. A big thank-you to all who helped in any way and for the donation of raffle prizes. Ken Baker, Assistant Treasurer
Bumper Harvest contributions from Whitchurch Primary School and St. John's and St. Mary's churches were taken to the Readifood warehouse in Reading to be given to those people in the area who need it most. It was much appreciated and gratefully received. Many thanks to all who donated the food.
The Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning held at The Old Stables, High Street, on Tuesday, 29th September, made £586. Thank you to all the willing helpers, but most of all thank you to the people who supported the event. We were blessed with sunny weather and a fun time was had by all.
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Coming soon……..
Members of the church are working together with other villagers to set up a new charity in support of our parish churches. The charity will be called ‘The Friends of St Mary’s & St John’s Whitchurch’. It will be a registered charity that is independent of the Parochial Church Council and open to contributions from all living in the parish.
The Friends aims will be to:
Assist with the maintenance, preservation and improvement of our churches and churchyards.
Promote a sense of community and connectedness for residents of the Parish.
It will do this by raising funds through a membership scheme, putting on social and cultural events and developing volunteering opportunities for villagers.
We hope all in the Parish will support this new charity and work together to ensure the future of both our parish churches for this and future generations.
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The Old Stables (bottom of Whitchurch High street)
CHRISTMAS COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING
Mulled Wine and Mince Pies from 10.30 am on Tuesday, 15th December.
Start your Christmas celebrations and come along to join us for friendship and chatter.
We meet each Tuesday during term time from 10.30am till midday.
For more details please contact
Denyse Williams 984 1139 or Susan Scearce 984 2004.
HAN DICRAFT AFTERNOONS
We meet on the first Thursday of the month between 2 and 4pm. Do bring your sewing, knitting, embroidery, or any other handicraft you may be doing, to compare notes and have a cup of tea and a chat. All welcome.
Call Pam Wilkinson for details 984 3668.
If you would like to use the Old Stables Meeting Room for a meeting or a function, with a donation to the church,
please contact Alan Matthews on 0118 984 4489.