christingle christmas and racknell team new year services...
TRANSCRIPT
Bracknell Team Ministry
Suggested Donation £1
Holy Trinity
St Paul’s Anglican Congregation
†
†
†
Parish MagazineParish Magazine December 2016 / January 2017 December 2016 / January 2017
The Parish
Ministry Team
wish you all
a very happy Christmas
and a blessed New Year
CHRISTINGLE We would love for you, your friends and family to join us at our Christingle Service and bring hope to children in need
Where: HOLY TRINITY CHURCH THE RING, BRACKNELL RG12 1ED. When: Sunday 4 DECEMBER, 4pm.
Children and Adults welcome
A Collection will be taken on behalf of The Children’s Society
Further details from BTM Telephone : 01344 867383
Christmas
Carols around the Tree
The Parks The Parks
Community CentreCommunity Centre
5.00pm, Sunday 5.00pm, Sunday
11 December11 December
Free mulled wine &Free mulled wine &
mince pies afterwards.mince pies afterwards.
Christmas and New Year Services Mosaic, at The Parks Community Centre:
4 December,10.30am: Christ in the Old Testament. 11 December, 10.30am: Christingle Service led by our children and young people. 11 December, 5.00pm: Carols around the Tree. 18 December, 10.30am: Carol Service. 25 December, 9.30am: Christmas Day Service. 1 January 2017, 11.00am: New Year’s Service.
Holy Trinity Church: 4 December, 4.00pm: Christingle Service. 11 December, 9.15am: Nativity by Children’s Church. 18 December, 6.30pm: Nine Lessons and Carols. 24 December, 4.00pm, Crib Service. 24 December, 11.30pm: Midnight Communion Service. 25 December, 8.00am: Christmas Communion Service. 25 December, 10.00am: Christmas Family Communion. 1 January 2017, 8.00am: New Year Communion Service. 1 January 2017, 10.00am: New Year Family Communion Service. Please see centre pages Diary for regular services & events.
PAGE 2
Bracknell Team Ministry HOW TO CONTACT US
Ministers E-mail:
Rev’d Jim Barlow, Mission Priest [email protected] 07775356652
Rev’d Les Jesudason, Team Vicar [email protected] 01344 304973
Wardens
Russell Goodburn, Parish Warden [email protected] 07896672036
Shirley Taylor, Parish Warden [email protected] 01344 774778
Church Officers
Linda Edwards, Parish Administrator [email protected] 01344 867383
Sally Evans, Financial Administrator [email protected] 01344 867383
Treasurer - Vacancy [email protected]
PCC Secretary - Vacancy [email protected]
Tim Dorrington, Electoral Roll Officer [email protected]
Mosaic Services, events, etc [email protected]
Ian Hughes, Bible Reading Fellowship Notes
Sally Hamblin, Editor, BTM Magazine [email protected]
Clergy Surgery Saturdays 9.30-11, Langley Hall, The Ring RG12 1HD
For Planned Giving Contact a Church Warden
Parish Office Open 9am-12noon excluding weekends Langley Hall, The Ring, Bracknell RG12 1HD; [email protected]; 01344 867383
Visit our website - for Holy Trinity and Mosaic - at www.bracknell-parish.org
Magazine copy due dates:
For Feb / Mar 2017 issue - 12 January.
For April / May 2017 - 16 March. Please
e-mail to [email protected]
Anglican Holy Communion
Services at St Paul’s URC,
The Square, Ralphs Ride,
Harmans Water :
10am on Wednesday mornings.
PLEASE TAKE A MAGAZINE FOR ANYONE YOU
KNOW WHO IS UNABLE TO GET TO CHURCH
LETTER FROM THE CLERGY Safe Zones
PAGE 3
All over the world people are on the move. We are told it is the biggest movement of people in human history (if it isn’t yet it will become so soon). People are fleeing from war, poverty and the effects of climate change. Everyone wants to get to where it is safe, to the safe zone. For those already in the safe zone this is a huge challenge. How will we cope? Won’t our resources and infrastructure be overwhelmed? The temptation, becoming reality all around us, is to put up walls and fences, to keep ‘them’ out. We become fearful of the stranger, the ‘other’, the faces at the border of the safe zone trying to get in. All over the world people are angry and afraid. Old certainties and securities are crumbling. Strident voices urge us to protect, defend and survive. All of this is very natural. After all evolution is about survival is it not?
Yet for centuries Christians have been resisting the natural instinct, the safe zone, and turning towards the ‘other’. When the plague swept through the cities of the Roman Empire, everyone who could fled to their villas in the hills. The Christians stayed behind to care for the sick and dying, at the cost of their own lives. Next time you are in church, look at the window near the choir vestry door. Next to St George is another man in armour. He wears a red military cloak but it is cut in half. This is St Martin of Tours, who served in the Roman heavy cavalry in the fourth century in France. One day he encountered a homeless beggar clothed in rags. Martin gave him half his cloak. That night Jesus appeared to him in a dream, wearing the half cloak he had given the beggar. Martin left the army, became a hermit and then Bishop of Tours. He did not cross to the other side of the road, or flee to the safe zone. He did not cling to his possessions and defend them at all costs. Why did any of them do this? They were following Jesus. Jesus did not flee to the safe zone and put up a wall. He entered the darkness and
faced extinction to rescue you and me. This is the way God has shown us. It is the way of eternal life – but it leads beyond the safe zone. Will we walk with him? Jim Barlow
Come thou long expected Jesus Come thou long expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free, From our fears and sins relieve us, Let us find our rest in Thee: Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of All the earth Thou art; Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every living heart.
Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a King; Born to reign in us for ever, now Thy gracious Kingdom bring; By Thine own eternal Spirit, Rule in our hearts alone, By Thine all-sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne. Charles Wesley
PAGE 4
Holy Trinity Report Shirley Taylor - Nov 2016
.
We are
* Bracknell based but also cover
surrounding areas
* Fully insured
* DBS [CRB background checked]
* Registered with NARPSUK
- National Association of
Registered Pet Sitters and
Dog Walkers.
We also hold
* Canine first aid certificates, and
have taken
* Dog behavioural classes.
We are
Winter is well and truly set in now, and we are all preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ. Ride-and-Stride raised £340, half of which will go to the Berk- shire Churches Trust and the other half returned to us for the Roof Fund. The Heritage Open Weekend was held at the same time and we had several visitors to Holy Trinity, all of whom commented that it is a beautiful church, with a lovely prayerful atmosphere. We enjoyed our Harvest celebrations and sent a large amount of food to the Food Bank. Our Gift Day raised £765 which will be divided between the Ethiopian Orphanage and their work with children and our Roof Fund. See page 12 for more about the roof project. Our Memorial Service and tea was appreciated by those bereaved families and friends who attended. The memorial bench for David Elen has arrived and is in the Garden of Remembrance. It is a lovely way to remember someone and enables more people to sit and enjoy the outside space. We are still waiting to hear if we have been granted a faculty for a plaque in memory of Geoffrey Knight.
I hope you managed to have a look at November’s U3A art exhibition. There were some splendid paint-ings, some done by mem-bers of our own congrega-tions. Visitors came in to church specially to view it. ‘Thank you’ to Ian Millar
who has spent a lot of time making the display boards which looked great, and also to Gregg Boys for helping Ian to organise this. Les and Jim continue to visit Clement House and Farningham House, two of the sheltered housing units in our area. The visits are greatly appreciated by the residents - please do go along to the next Songs of Praise; they would love to see more people from the church. There was a lovely smell of cooking coming from the Hall at the end of October. The Children had had Messy Church and baked cakes to be sold for the Roof Fund, raising £27. What a great effort, thank you Dawn and your helpers for organising this. Russell and I have been on our Church Warden’s training, although it is not restricted to Wardens - anyone interested could have attended. Thank you to Angela Evans and Linda Edwards who have run a safeguarding course. This was very helpful and some of the statistics were quite surprising. Do speak to one of them if you want to know more; this is something we as a Parish take very seriously.
PAGE 5
Continued from p.4. There are always opportunities within the Diocese to attend various train-ing sessions. Do look on the Oxford Diocese website if you are interested to find out more. We have completed some of the pruning of the overhanging greenery on Church Road following the request from the local Council to remove it from the boundaries. There is still The Ring side to complete. We are grateful to all the volunteers who attend the regular maintenance days and others who turned up at different times to help with these tasks. Students from Wellington College come occasionally and help in the grounds.
The Thanksgiving Service for Rev’d Canon Margaret Clarke was held in Holy Trinity, followed by refreshments in the Hall. It was a wonderful service with reflections from different people who had been part of her life. She had touched so many people during her
life-time. There is a short summary about Canon Margaret in the rack at the back of the Church if you would like one. It is with sadness that we report the passing away of Geoff Cragg a member of the St Paul’s congregation and Audrey Furness a member of St Andrew’s congregation.
Our Remembrance Day Service was very well attended, including Mr James Puxley Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berk-shire, Mayors and Councillors from the Borough and Town Coun-cil, British Legion members and retired members of our armed
forces, various youth organisations and many more too numerous to mention. It was good to see the Church full and many people commented on what a lovely service it had been. There were also many people who do not attend the service but came into the Hall for a drink and to get warm after the Parade. Many thanks to Angela and Gwen - I could not have managed without them - and everyone is always very appreciative of the refreshments provided.
To conclude, Shirley and Russell wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas.
The Reading Scottish The Reading Scottish Pipe Band leads the Parade Pipe Band leads the Parade from Bracknell’s War Memorial from Bracknell’s War Memorial to Holy Trinity Churchto Holy Trinity Church
Baptisms There were none in October and November
Funerals October Peter Cooper November Leslie Rance
Christmas – like walking the dog? Paul Copping, Mosaic
A vicar friend of mine has just posted a status update that he is sitting in a café with his headphones turned up high to drown out the Christ-mas carols on the PA system. It is the 15th of November. It is a familiar ritual to be the first to tut at the Christmas lights, lunch menu, party, family newsletter, recipe, festive dog coat or seasonal underwear. Why is it that people want Christmas to run at least 30 days if not more? Interesting too that most people want to start early and yet the last event, Twelfth Night, hasn’t had much attention in this country since Shakespeare.
The traditional and probably fairly accurate answer is that it is cold and dark and we would like some brightness in our lives. Evidently bonfire night didn’t scratch the itch for most of us. Even the supermarket run goes festive pretty early. I sighted this year’s first box of mince pies in our kitchen yesterday and the butcher told me that we all tend to buy roasting joints as Christmas stock from early November, but they rarely survive that long before another excuse is found to serve them up.
In most Christian churches, the calendar starts afresh on Advent Sunday with carols that welcome the season such as O come, O come, Emmanuel, O come all ye faithful and The First Nowell. But it will be a few weeks before we see him lying on a bed of straw, born this happy morning.
So what is our best response to this extended season of festivity? Rather than rolling your eyes at November carols, how about enjoying the Christmas story every day of the year? Jesus was born as a baby to deal with my sin. Every day he digs me out and every day I sin again and need to grab for the best special offer – God’s acceptance that I don’t need to be punished for what I did today or yesterday.
Fortunately the offer is not seasonal. It comes round as regularly as a dog needs walking. And surely everyone knows what a dog is not just for? So twice a day or more, all the year round, we find ourselves scratching at the door and barking for our Christmas walkies. If you, like me, tend to read the last line before the first, this may
seem a strange one...every day is walkies, not just Christmas. Think of this trigger word every time you hear about the church woof appeal. Walkies!
PAGE 6
Parish Bible Reading Notes Scheme Four-monthly issues each providing a fresh, devotional approach to Bible reading - with daily Bible passage (text included), thought-provoking comment, and a prayer or point for reflection. If you would like more infor-mation, please contact Ian Hughes, e-mail: [email protected]
PAGE 7
The Bracknell Branch of Mothers’ Union meets on the second Monday of most months, usually at 1.30pm in Langley Hall. Membership is open to all, men and women. EVERYONE is welcome - just come along.
Bracknell Branch Committee Secretary: Meryl Lay (429098). Treasurer: Liz Russell (451860). And Gwen Cooper (451451).
December ‘16 and January ‘17 meetings If you need more information, please contact a Committee member.
Mon 12 Dec Time tbc
Bracknell MU Christmas Party, including a Quiz, Music from the Finchampstead Handbell Ringers, and afternoon tea.
Mon 9 Jan‘17
An afternoon outing—details to be advised.
Visit The Mothers’ Union The Mothers’ Union EnterpriseEnterprise online shop for greetings cards, books, gifts
including diaries, calendars, jewellery, bags, scarves and many more.
Christmas Coffee Morning in Holy Trinity Church
Tuesday 13 December, 9.30–11.30
Please come along for tea, coffee
and mince pies
Donations in aid of the Roof Fund
COME4AWALK?COME4AWALK? Friday 16 December from Savernake Park Car Park. And 20 January at Ascot Racecourse.
Walks usually start at 10.30am and last about an hour. Contact Richard on
01344 860394. MEN’s GROUP Get Together at The Old Manor If you fancy a drink, a meal & a chat do join us at The Old Manor at 8pm on the first Thursday in the month. The curries are fan-
tastic value, there’s a great selection of real ales, & plenty of other food & drink options too. Contact: Neal Williams 07749 713355.
PAGE 8
Russell’s mission visit to Nepalese communities & churches in company with some members of Warfield Church and others
Pictured left and right: Anandit Church in Kathman-du, where Rev’d Janet Toft from Warfield preached at morning service and later Sam Mortimer, LLM, also from Warfield Church, led a children’s session. Worship takes place in the new church hall, the old one being unusa-ble after the horrific earth-quake suffered in the region. Following a shared meal for the whole church, pictured below are some of the ladies tackling the dirty dishes and pots.
Left: Hospitality at the church at
Nagarkot where the pastor was
hosting a training course in the
week of our visit. We joined them
for worship. His daughter and
daughter-in-law were both expect-
ing their first babies. We prayed
for the whole family and Rev’d
Janet anointed them with oil.
Left: Here's how the pastor gets around in Nepal. Rev’d Janet was keen to try this and the pastor willingly
obliged!
PAGE 9
"The church is not the building but the people". Above: the church at
Sankhu. One storey has been added since Russell’s
visit two years ago
Left: The church at Bastipur. A large building damaged in the earth quake; a temporary tin one has now been built. It was full house at the church service - including
many of the pastor’s 14 children he looks after. A proper children's home is currently
being built for them.
A Christmas Poem by U A Fanthorpe
BC — AD
This was the moment when Before Turned into After, and the future's Uninvented timekeepers presented arms. This was the moment when nothing Happened. Only dull peace Sprawled boringly over the earth.
This was the moment when even energetic Romans Could find nothing better to do Than counting heads in remote provinces.
And this was the moment When a few farm workers and three Members of an obscure Persian sect
Walked haphazard by starlight straight into the Kingdom of Heaven.
PAGE 10
Why do we sing Christmas Carols? Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, though they were pagan songs and not Christmas Carols sung at the Winter Solstice celebrations around the 22nd December, when people danced around stone circles.
The word Carol actually means dance or a song of praise and joy! Carols used to be written and sung during all four seasons. Today they are mainly sung in Advent and during Christmastide. Early Christians took over the pagan Solstice celebrations for Christmas and gave people Christian songs to sing instead of pagan ones. In 129 AD, a Roman Bishop said that a song called "Angel's Hymn" should be sung at a Christmas service in Rome. That Christmas song was joined by another in 760 AD, penned by Comas of Jerusalem. It didn't take long for the trend to sweep through the land and composers all over Europe were writing these early Christmas songs. However, many people couldn’t join in the singing, as the songs were written and sung in Latin, which most people couldn’t understand. By the time of the Middle Ages (the 1200s), most people had lost interest in celebrating Christmas altogether. That was changed by St Francis of Assisi when, in 1223, he started his Nativity plays in Italy. The people in the plays sang songs or 'canticles' that told the Nativity story during the plays. Sometimes, the choruses of these new Carols were in Latin; but normally they were all in a language that the people watching the play could understand and join in singing. The new Carols spread to France, Spain, Germany and the rest of Europe. The
earliest, written in 1410, was about Mary and Jesus meeting different people in Bethlehem. Sadly, only a very small fragment of the original manuscript still exists. Most Carols from that time and the Elizabethan period are very loosely based on the Christmas story and were seen as entertaining rather than religious songs. They were usually sung in homes, rather than in churches. Travelling singers and minstrels started singing the Carols and the words were
changed for the local people wherever they journeyed. Continued p.11
Continued from p.10 When Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans came to power in 1647, the celebration of Christmas and the singing of Carols was stopped. People did sing them in secret although they remained mainly unsung until Victorian times, when two men - William Sandys and Davies Gilbert - collected lots of old Christmas music from villages in England. At that time, many orchestras and choirs were being started around England and people wanted Christmas songs to sing, so once again Carols became popular. Many new Carols were written in the Victorian period. New Carol services were created and became popular, as did the custom of singing Carols in the streets. Both of these customs are still enjoyed, especially Carols by Candlelight services, which are held in countries all over the world. Today the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, where Carols and Bible readings tell the Christmas Story, is held at churches throughout the land, as it helps us all to prepare for the Coming of Christ at Christmas. The Nine Lessons and Carols Service at Holy Trinity Church will be at 6:30pm on Sunday 18 December 2016. Please come along to enjoy hearing the Christmas story and join in the singing. Neil Arden, Holy Trinity Church Choir
PAGE 11
These groups are generally held on Wednesday evenings in group members’ homes. Check centre page diary or weekly notice sheets
for more information. Alternatively contact the Church Office, tel: 01344 867383, or e-mail: [email protected]
At The Parks Meetings are generally held fortnightly on a Monday evening at 8pm, at a home on The Parks. For more information, please contact Les. E-mail: [email protected] At Mosaic Bible Study Groups are held on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. For more information about these or other Mosaic events/Services, e-mail:[email protected]
B I B L E S T U D Y G R O U P S
WHAT THE DONKEY SAW No room in the inn, of course, And not that much in the stable, What with the shepherds, Magi, Mary, Joseph, the heavenly host - Not to mention the baby Using our manger as a cot. You couldn't have squeezed another cherub in, for love nor money. Still, in spite of the overcrowding, I did my best to make them feel wanted. I could see the baby and I Would be going places together. By U.A. Fanthorpe
PAGE 12
Holy Trinity Roof Repairs Since the article in the June/July Magazine, an application has been made to the Herit-age Lottery Fund for a grant which unfortunately we have not been awarded. This has
left us with a difficult decision to make, as the church is very damp and the longer it is left the more damage is being done. The PCC have voted the best way forward is to go ahead with repairs to the Sacristy roof, North Aisle and north side of the Nave using £130,000 which is money we already have. We will need to raise £30,000 for the VAT, which will be taken out of General Funds. We hope to be able to reclaim the VAT from the
Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. Doing the roof repairs in these two phases will mean we must raise more money for the rest of the Nave and Chancel areas, the estimated cost at today’s rates being £160,000. We will continue to apply to other charities for grants and fund raise for this on-going project.
How you can help If you do Online shopping, use the easyfundraising.org.uk website. Register at
www.easyfundraising.org.uk, select your cause, ie, Holy Trinity Roof Fund Brack-nell, then start shopping. There are 2,700+ online retailers; all will give a small per-centage of what has been spent back to Holy Trinity Roof Fund to say ‘thank you’.
Direct Donation. By cheque. Please make your cheque payable to Bracknell PCC, put it in an envelope marked for the Roof Fund and leave it at, or post it to, the Parish Office. By bank transfer. Please quote reference HT Roof Fund. Our account name is Bracknell Parochial Church Council; sort code 40-52-40; account no. 00097149.
Just text giving. This is a very easy way to donate to the Roof Fund. Just enter roof 44, then the amount you wish to donate, and Send to 70070. If you would like more information, please see the posters in the Church or Langley Hall.
Coffee mornings. 2nd Tuesday of the month, 9.30 – 11.30am. Come along and meet other people, have a chat and support the Roof Fund.
Buy a Tea Towel. These are very easy to wrap and post for Christmas. All donations go to the Roof Fund. Linda has a supply of tea towels in the Church Office; they are also available on Sunday mornings. Shirley Taylor
For secondary school years 7-13, ages 11-18 years. Join us in the Youth Room, Langley Hall, 9.15am on Sunday mornings. More details
from Jade or the Church Office.
PAGE 13
We are a group of mums, dads, grandparents and carers with our children who meet for songs, stories and craft every term-time Friday morning. We meet at The Parks Community Centre, Bracknell from 09.45 -11:15. A £1 donation per child helps us cover crafts and refreshments. Everyone is very welcome! Please join our Facebook page, and share with others! www.facebook. com/groups/letsgoholytrinity/
LET’S GOLET’S GO
On 1st & 2nd Sundays of the month: 9.15am Children’s Church in Langley Hall. On 3rd & 4th Sundays: 9.15am All-Age Service in Church (3rd Sunday with Communion, 4th non-Communion). 5th Sundays: Special children’s activity, Langley Hall.
Children's Church Children's Church is a special Service for children 0 -11 years old. Led by the Children's Ministry Team, we have songs, drama,
stories, craft, prayer, games and fun together. We meet at 9.15am on Sundays. Do join us—we look forward to meeting you! Contacts for Children’s Church: Keira, Dawn, Lyn via Church Office or Rev’d Jim Barlow.
SMALL TIME at St Paul’s, Harmans Water
On term-time Thursdays, 9.15-11.15am for pre-school children and their carers. Contact by e-mail: [email protected].
AT HOLY
TRINITY
For details of next session, contact the Church Office
Youth Youth
BreakfastBreakfast
Books, CDs, cards, gifts Browse the wide selection at your local Christian bookshop, Quench, at Holme Grange Craft Village, Heathlands Road, Wokingham RG40 3AW. Open: Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free parking.
Music and Merriment Friends of St Mary’s Winkfield, Annual Christmas Concert. Sat 3 December, 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, Winkfield. Carols, handbells, combined choirs, readings etc. Mulled wine & mince pies. Tickets £12 each (£6 under 13s). Tel: 882918. E-mail: anthony. [email protected]
PAGE 14 PAGE 15
Parish Diary Dec 2016 (Jan 2017 Diary available in Church on 1 JanuaryParish Diary Dec 2016 (Jan 2017 Diary available in Church on 1 January) 1-Dec Thurs Finance Office Closed
9.15am Small Time St Paul's
10.00am Holy Communion Langley Hall
11.00am Holy Communion Farningham House
8.00pm BTM Men's Group Curry Evening Old Manor
2-Dec Fri 8.30am Morning Prayer Langley Hall
9.45-11.15am Let’s Go Parks Community Centre
3-Dec Sat 8.30am Team Prayer Meeting Langley Hall
9.30am Clergy Surgery Langley Hall
10.00am Coffee & Cakes St Paul's
4-Dec Sun 2nd Sunday of Advent
8.00am Said Holy Communion BCP Holy Trinity
9.15am Holy Communion Holy Trinity
9.15am Children's Church Langley Hall
10.30-11.30am Mosaic Morning Worship Parks Community Centre
11.00am Sung Eucharist with Baptism Holy Trinity
4.00pm Christingle Service Holy Trinity
5-Dec Mon 9.00-12noon Drop In St Paul's
8.00pm Bible Study Vulcan Drive, The Parks
6-Dec Tues
7-Dec Wed 10.00am Holy Communion St Paul's
7.30pm Life Group 2 Ian & Angela's
8-Dec Thurs Parish Office Closed
9.15am Small Time St Paul's
10.00am Holy Communion Langley Hall
1.00pm Harmans Water School Visit Holy Trinity
9-Dec Fri 8.30am Morning Prayer Langley Hall
9.45-11.15am Let’s Go Parks Community Centre
10-Dec Sat 8.30am Team Prayer Meeting Langley Hall
9.30am Clergy Surgery Langley Hall
11-Dec Sun 3rd Sunday of Advent
8.00am Said Holy Communion Holy Trinity
9.15am Morning Praise with Nativity Holy Trinity
10.30-11.30am Mosaic Christingle Parks Community Centre
11.00am Sung Eucharist with Baptism Holy Trinity
3.30pm Christmas Carols Clement House
12-Dec Mon Parish Office Closed
9.00-12noon Drop In St Paul's
Time tbc Mothers Union Christmas Party Langley Hall
8.00pm Bible Study Vulcan Drive, The Parks
13-Dec Tues 9.30-11.30am Christmas Coffee Morning Holy Trinity
15-Dec Thurs 9am - 9pm Ranelagh Rehearsal & Carol Service Holy Trinity
9.15am Small Time St Paul's
10.00am Holy Communion Langley Hall
16-Dec Fri 8.30am Morning Prayer Langley Hall
9.45-11.15am Let's Go Parks Community Centre
17-Dec Sat 8.30am Team Prayer Meeting Langley Hall
9.30am Clergy Surgery Langley Hall
18-Dec Sun 4th Sunday of Advent
8.00am Said Holy Communion BCP Holy Trinity
9.15am All Age Holy Communion Holy Trinity
9.15am Youth Breakfast Langley Hall
10.30-11.30am Mosaic Carol Service Parks Community Centre
11.00am Sung Eucharist Holy Trinity
6.30pm Service of Nine Lessons and Carols Holy Trinity
19-Dec Mon 9.00-12noon Drop In St Paul's
21-Dec Wed 10.00am Holy Communion St Paul's
7.00pm Carol Singing Waitrose
22-Dec Thurs Finance Office Closed
10.00am Holy Communion Langley Hall
23-Dec Fri 8.30am Morning Prayer Langley Hall
24-Dec Sat No Clergy Surgery
4.00pm Crib Service Holy Trinity
11.30pm Midnight Communion Service Holy Trinity
25-Dec Sun Christmas Day
8.00am Said Holy Communion BCP Holy Trinity
9.30am Mosaic Christmas Service Parks Community Centre
10.00am Parish Family Communion Holy Trinity
28-Dec Wed Parish Office Closed
10.00am Holy Communion St Paul's
29-Dec Thurs Parish Office Closed
10.00am Holy Communion Langley Hall
30-Dec Fri Parish Office Closed
8.30am Morning Prayer Langley Hall
31-Dec Sat No Clergy Surgery
1-Jan Sun Naming and Circumcision of Christ
8.00am Said Holy Communion BCP Holy Trinity
10.00am All Age Holy Communion Holy Trinity
11.00-12noon Mosaic New Year’s Service Parks Community Centre
13-Dec Tues 10.30am Clergy Chapter Easthampstead
14-Dec Wed 10.00am Holy Communion St Paul's
1.00pm Wellington College Students Holy Trinity
PAGE 16
Summer English ProgrammeSummer English Programme Angela Evans writes: These are Chinese teachers of English taking part in a three-week programme to improve their spoken English. I took this photo in 2013, when I was one of four volunteers working with 82 teachers in Dongying, Shandong province. We used a variety of activities including games and drama to encourage speak-ing, as well as finding interesting topics for class discussion.
Would you like to teach English in China in July 2017? Would you like to teach English in China in July 2017? The Amity Founda-tion (a Chinese NGO) organises the Summer English Programme. Teams spend three weeks in less prosperous parts of China. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience China from the inside, to meet Chinese people and to find out more about the Church in China. Volunteers should be 18-70, in good health and have clear pronunciation. Teaching experience is useful, but not essential. Some training is pro-vided; teams work together on planning activities and lesson materials are available. Students may apply for a parallel programme, ie, the Summer English Camp, when they will be working with Chinese secondary school pupils.
How much does it cost?How much does it cost? Most volunteers pay their own expenses, including air fares to China (about £800), costs within China (about £800) plus insurance and visa costs. Some bursary help is available; please let us know before March if you would like to apply for financial assistance.
What are the dates for 2017?What are the dates for 2017? Saturday 4 March: first meeting for volunteers in London May: UK teams planning day in London on a Saturday (date to be arranged) 10 July – arrive in Nanjing for orientation 14 July – teams travel to teaching sites in less developed parts of China 17 July – 4 August teaching 5 August – travel to Shanghai for debriefing 7 August – fly back to UK
How do I apply? How do I apply? In the United Kingdom volunteers are recruited by the Friends of the Church in China. Please contact me for more information. E-mail: [email protected]. Telephone: 01344 444297.
More information also at www.amityfoundation.org - Amity Foundation, China; www.thefcc.org - Friends of the Church in China, UK; www.short-term4china.org.uk for reports and photographs from UK teams, plus teaching resources
PAGE 17
HELPERS NEEDED !HELPERS NEEDED ! With the Night Shelter - speak to Rev’d Jim or Ian Millar
On the Advent project on 8 December with Year 5 from Harmans Water School. Speak to Rev’d Jim
As a Holy Duster - to join our church cleaning team. Speak to Gwen Cooper or the Church Office To help with DIY jobs, garden-ing etc at Holy Trinity Church & Langley Hall - 2017 dates: 4 Feb, 11 March, 8 April, 13 May, 17 June, 15 July, 9 Sept, 14 Oct, 25 Nov. Generally between 0830 & 1230. Speak to Malcolm Taylor.
Langley Hall
for hire
The Ring, Bracknell RG12 1HD
Single event bookings and regular hire Main Hall will seat 100 people Small meeting room also available Facilities, including: - 8’ long tables - Kitchen with full oven, serving hatch to Hall - Wheelchair access - Enclosed garden - Toilet for the disabled, and baby changing. Telephone: 01344 867383; Email: [email protected]
Bracknell Team Ministry GOD SETS THE LONELY IN FAMILIES – Psalm 68: 6
Friends Network A Chat, a Coffee, a Country Walk,
Board Games, Reading, Music ….
All so much nicer, with some company.
As a friendly Christian community in Bracknell, we would like to offer you the
opportunity of ‘a friend’ to come alongside, to listen to, chat with, socialise, etc…
If this sounds like a good idea to you, please telephone or e-mail us at 01344 867383 or [email protected], then one of our church-trained and DBS-checked ‘Befrienders’ will be in touch with you and see how they can help. Please include in your e-mailed message or telephone call: Your name, home address and telephone number, together with an activity or activities that interest you (ie, reading, conversation, music, walks, etc.)
PAGE 18
Bueno Camino! by Les Allen The Way of St James (El Camino de Compostela) covers a number of different routes across Europe to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain. The Way was, during the Middle Ages, one of the most important Christian pilgrimages only exceeded in importance by those to Jerusalem and Rome.
Legend has it that St James [The Greater; so named to differentiate from the other St James. See p.19], a prominent disciple of Jesus present at the Transfiguration and the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, travelled to Northern Spain and there preached. This would have been around AD 40. It is said that he had a vision of the Blessed Virgin telling him to return to Jerusalem. He did so and was martyred at the hands of Herod Agrippa in AD 44. His body (less his head which is said to be in an Armenian church in Jerusalem) was
reputedly taken back to Spain and buried, the remains having been discovered by the hermit Paio in the 9th century and reburied at the site where the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral now stands. Modern day theological academics would tell us that the Spanish part of the story is at best unlikely but, whether legend or invention, pilgrimages have never ceased from the time of the discovery of St James' remains to the present day although fewer pilgrimages took place during European wars and popularity waned during the mid 20th century. The starting point for the Way of St James is at St Jean Pied de Port in the French Pyre-nees. However, my starting point was the Cathedral in the marvellous city of Leon. I did not consider myself a bona fide pilgrim; I did not set out with any specific spiritual raison d'etre; I was not covering the whole distance; I was going to stay in comfortable hotels and eat a hotel breakfast and dinner each day. In consequence, I did not register as a pilgrim or obtain the pilgrim's passport (stamped at points along the route and resulting in a certificate of accomplishment being awarded at Santiago). But in 2014 some 250,000 pilgrims did register, indicating how popular the route/pilgrimage has again become. My journey took me out of Leon onto the high plateau of the northern Meseta, up into the Bierzo mountains passing the famous Cruz del Hierro (iron cross), on to the gateway into Galicia where the landscape became increasingly greener, then through the Galician highlands passing through woods, vineyards and pasture land eventually reaching Santiago itself. As the walk progressed, I felt it was becoming increasingly personal and spiritual for me. I was walking with a group but for 5 of the 10 days decided to walk ahead of the group and be alone with my thoughts. I met many people from a host of different countries, cultures and religions. People from Germany, Italy, Spain (of course) Japan, USA, Israel, The Philippines and Finland. I walked with some of them, sometimes for several miles.
PAGE 19
Cont’d from p.18 We shared thoughts and ideas around the Camino and as people passed or we passed them the cry of "Bueno Camino!" (Good Camino) went up. All seemed to say this, be they fellow walkers or mountain bikers. Most sported the scallop shell on their back packs, the symbol of the Camino. We were all, despite our differences, focused on one thing and that promoted a sense of comradeship among people who may only meet for a very short time.
Eventually we reached the Praza do Obradoiro, the square in front of the tall baroque twin towers of the Cathedral. Here is the finish point. I looked around, some pilgrims were laughing, some singing, some crying, many with bandaged feet (including me), some limping but all seemingly experiencing the joy of achievement irrespective of the individual distances covered. The following day I spent some time within the Cathedral itself. I even embraced the bedizened statue of St James at the High Altar as pilgrims and tourists do. I reflected on the journey and felt that at times on the journey I should have been
more tired, my legs should have ached more, my feet should have felt more sore than they did and realised there were times when the Road to Santiago began to "walk me", support me, more than I had at the time appreciated. I thought about the people I had met, walked with and spoken to. No animosity, no competition, just peace and goodwill. I came to the conclusion that it didn’t really matter if the remains of St James were at Santiago or not. His spirit and that of God was certainly there and on the road too, and that was what was important. I do believe that the Road to Santiago, El Camino de Compostela, is beautiful, stunning, some-times challenging, ever changing and truly paved with love. Bueno Camino!
St James the Less [also called the Minor, the Little, the Lesser, or the Younger, according to translation] was the son of Alphaeus of Cleophas. His mother Mary was said to be a close relative of Mary, mother of Jesus and, according to Jew-ish custom he was therefore sometimes called the ‘brother of the Lord’. This Apostle held a distinguished position in the ear-ly Christian community of Jerusalem. St Paul tells us that James
(the Less) was a witness of the Resurrection of Christ; he was also a ‘pillar’ of the Church, whom St Paul consulted about the Gospel. It is said that he was the first Bishop of Jerusalem but, according to then historians, he was stoned to death at the instigation of Jewish priests c.AD 62. Tradition has always recognized him as the author of the Epistle that bears his name.
PAGE 20
(Written from the perspective of a refugee) DenialDenial . . . … that's what this place is. Denial of entry. Denial of a home. Denial of a life. I'm still running. Running from the war, the bombs, the fear. I can't go anywhere but this jungle. That's what they call this place, a jungle. This is no jungle. It's simply denial. Go to England, they said. Escape and live there, they said. But all I find here is chaos. No more room for just one more person. No more love in the world. They call us immigrants. Like we're an infection of their oh-so-perfect world. We're the fleas on the rats. The cockroaches in their bins. The lice in their hair. Just because their government considers anywhere near Iraq unknown territory, we are forced to pay for the crimes of the wicked. Of those who force their belief upon others. I am not ISIS, I told them. I'm not a terrorist. I love this world, I love your culture. ISIS isn't even here. We are punished for their misdoing. Whipped because of their insanity. Didn't you hear of the attack on my mosque by so-called Islamic State? Did you know that my son was executed because he put forward his views on Islam? Have you heard of my cousin, the girl who was shot in the head because she simply wanted to go to school and be-come educated?
I can't find my family. My wife, my children. Split up beyond seas, I may never reunite with them. I want to hold my children, I want to tell my wife that we are safe, but even if they were standing next to me I could not promise them that. Why can't I just live here? I told them, I begged at the guards feet. I just want to live here. I just want to be safe. I just want to know that I won't
have to pack a suitcase in 30 seconds because the bombs are coming for us again. Those people never know of what may come when they fire the first shot. They don't know whose mother is going to scream and burn. They don't know whose friends are going to crackle in the all-burning fire. They don't know who is going to live with the memories of the sky falling and landing on the legs that try to carry you out. You don't know who will never be able to walk in a park, swim in the sea, watch a sunset, hold hands with their lover as they grow old together in a nursing home. You don't know what will happen to the next generation. You don't know whose life story will be of this bitter war. You don't know who will have to sweep the rubble, or counsel those who are traumatized, and pour water over the fiery memories of blood, anguish, and hatred. How many lives will be decimated? How many hearts will be crushed? How many children will learn about the great folly of the world leaders trying to take on ISIS whilst learning their two-times table in an underground bunker? How many more people are going to sacrifice our future because they feel they are brave and proud enough to throw a dart at a crazed tiger? How long will this go on? How many people will stand up and say 'No, not here' ? Who wants to be the mouse in front of the lion, drawing a line in the sand? Who wants to live? Written by Rioux Roper
Life in Ascot is looking brighter
Get the best legal advice
Property. Wills. Probate. Court of Protection.
We make Personal Service with clear
Communication our priority when advising our clients
which, coupled with the very best modern
technology,
we believe delivers the best service for our clients.
Our office is situated in the heart of Ascot with
Free Car Parking close by.
Visit us at: 13 Hermitage Parade,
High Street, Ascot SL5 7HE
We Offer
A free half hour information meeting with
one of our Probate Lawyers
A free will writing information pack
A free no-obligation conveyancing estimate
Call 01344-851200
e-mail: [email protected]
www.sunningdale-law.com
PAGE 21
PAGE 22
Professional Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning
Handyman Gardening and more
For A Free Quotation Please
Contact Us :
01344 205658
07757 608145
Deepfield Road
Bracknell RG12 2NX
www.deepfield.org.uk
Family Dental Care
Dental Hygienist
Ground Floor Access
J E Boulding BChD
Tel: 01344 454874
Wilkinson Roofing
Small local company
based in Warfield.
All aspects of roofing work
undertaken.
Free estimates.
Please call
01344 455144 or
07776 017818
PAGE 23
MATT WENNINGTON
domestic gas repair/ service/installations
natural gas and LPG
plumbing
heating
tiling
bathroom installations
property maintenance
07581733592
PAGE 25
Technology Problems?
Costly phone support not helping? Need a Web-site?
Help with Apps and the Internet – Virus problems removed
Friendly local support 7 days a week
ASK ALVIN
to help with your business
or personal technology problems.
Installs, upgrades etc.
30+ years of experience.
www.askalvin.biz e-mail: [email protected]
01344 64 22 44 Alvin Finch MIET MBCS
Dog walking (1st walk FREE)
Feeding, or toilet break
Visits to vet or grooming parlour
Stay and play
Dog boarding or sitting.
Not listed here? Please contact us— we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Telephone: 07803 704076
E-mail: [email protected]
Visit our website: www.packpalsdogwalking.com
Busy at work, raising the family, out for the day?
We can help We can help you meet your you meet your pet’s needs pet’s needs
We are * Bracknell based but also cover surrounding areas * Fully insured * DBS [CRB background checked] * Registered with NARPSUK [National Association of Registered Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers] We also hold * Canine first aid certificates, and have taken * Dog behavioural classes.
PAGE 24
Our services
Selling Buying
Landlords Tenants
Valuations Mortgages
Please contact us
For a Free Valuation
and Market Appraisal
Telephone: 01344 860121
E-mail: [email protected]
Call at No. 9 Crown Row, Bracknell RG12 0TH
or visit our website at www.duncanyeardley.co.uk
We are proud to be Bracknell’s longest established estate agent
PAGE 27
PAGE 26
Mick’s Gutter Mick’s Gutter
Cleaning Cleaning
Bracknell Wokingham Crowthorne Reading
Ascot Camberley Bagshot Lightwater
No more ladders
or scaffolding
We will do a survey using
a wireless camera and
monitor before and after
cleaning.
We will clear guttering
(up to 12 metres high) of
all debris using a Skyvac
vacuum and carbon fibre poles.
We clean gutters in ladder
inaccessible places, eg, over
extensions or conservatories.
Call or e-mail Mick if you have any
questions - always happy to help.
Tel: 01344 647011
Mobile: 07922 241233
E-mail: mick@
micksguttercleaning.co.uk
Dancing DustersDancing Dusters Professional Domestic Cleaning Service ... Professional Domestic Cleaning Service ... … and we do ironing too !… and we do ironing too !
Efficient, reliable and friendly lady
Family run business
18 years’ experience
Weekly, fortnightly, monthly and single one-off cleaning
Liability insurance for peace of mind
References available
Call for a free, no-obligation quote
Competitive hourly rates
Flexible cleaning to suit your needs
Telephone: 01344 411766
Mobile: 07523 800002
Please call after 5.30pm.