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The Vicar's Retirement
As you will have heard in the notices, I have been invited by
the Bishop to take up the post of Resident Priest at St Mark's
Englefield in the parish of Theale. This is a retirement post
which involves taking a Sunday Service and a few hours parish
work each week. The Church is on the Englefield estate and has
a Church House which goes with the post. This means that I can
begin retirement by working part time and the initial licence
will be for five years. Our timetable, at the moment, is that
Sunday 26th June will be our last Sunday in the parish and we
will move that week but the official date for the retirement
will be 31st July so that we can fulfill various parish commitments.
We will have been at Crowthorne for over 19 years and it will
be a wrench leaving but we shall only be one stop down the M4
and will expect you to drop in regularly!!!
Brian Spence
MAKE POVERTY HISTORY
Traidcraft is part of MAKE POVERTY HISTORY, a unique alliance
of 100 UK Charities, campaigning groups, trade unions and celebrities,
aiming to become the most powerful coalition ever against world
poverty.
For more than 25 years Traidcraft
has been fighting poverty through trade. This year the opportunity
to turn the dream into a reality comes closer than ever, with
Britain as the leader of the G7 and in July the UK assumes the
presidency of the EU and hosts its summit in December.
Traidcraft is a Christian response
to poverty, established in 1979, Traidcraft plc, the trading
company buys from poor people helping them build better lives
through fair trade. Traidcraft Exchange, the charity works with
poor people to help them win their fair share of world trade.
At the Diocesan Synod the main
theme was "Make Poverty History" and also on that day
the Mothers' Union in Oxford Diocese organised an awareness day
on the same theme, when three speakers gave us different aspects
of poverty - poverty overseas, child poverty in the UK and how
poverty affects the emotional and spiritual lives of children.
The Mothers' Union has a postcard
which can be sent to the Prime Minister to:-
- Introduce a just trade system
- Cancel the unpayable debts
of the world's poorest countries in full
- Provide more and better aid.
The card is in the shape of
a football - symbol of wanting to kick out poverty. If you would
like to send a postcard contact the Mothers' Union in Crowthorne
and help MAKE POVERTY HISTORY.
At our evening meeting on Tuesday
5th April at 8pm, the Rev. Stephen Fishpool will be coming to
talk about Detention Centres and on Wednesday 13th April at 2.15pm
Mr Roger Fenton will give a talk entitled "Samaritan's Purse".
Visitors will be welcome to either of these talks, which will
be in the Church Hall. The Lady Day Service this year is at St
John's Church on Monday 11th April at 10.30am. The Prayer Meeting
will be on Monday 18th April at 9.30am and Corporate Communion
on Wednesday 27th April at 10am, both in the Lady Chapel.
What's in the bag?
We are to introduce activity bags for pre-school children attending
family services and for visitors.
We would like some books, soft toys or similar in good condition
for these bags please. Please bring them to church and give them
to a member of the MU committee.
Bible Study Housegroups
Previously SJN has featured reports about the positive experiences
enjoyed from being a member of one of the discussion groups last
year. These groups are formed on a short-term basis to study
a particular topic and the next course starts in the week beginning
11th April 2005.
The groups will run for 5 weeks
and we will study part of St Luke's Gospel. In Luke's view, the
50 days from Easter to Pentecost are a unique period in the history
of the Christian faith. We will study this period using an excellent
booklet (costing £7.20) entitled The Lord is Risen! This
offers the opportunity to see the story of the resurrection and
Ascension of Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit through the
words of Luke.
It is envisaged that the discussion
about the Gospel will last an hour and a half and that tea/coffee
will be offered afterwards to those who would like to stay on
for a chat.
Times for the groups are:
- Monday 7.30-9pm
- Tuesday 2pm
- Wednesday 10am
- Wednesday 8pm
- Saturday 9.00am
Please join us. Collect a booking
form from the foyer or website
and return it to the Vicar or caroline@ireson.org as soon as
possible. We look forward to seeing you.
EMMAUS COURSE
We are inviting you to join us for our new Emmaus course. This
is looking at what Christianity is all about and our understanding
of Life and how to live it. It is designed as a nurture course
for those new to Christianity or those who want to re-examine
their basic faith.
The course will last for 12
Monday evenings from April 11th at 7pm starting with a meal (and
finishing by 9.30pm). For more details or to find out more please
speak to the Vicar.
PRAYING FOR HEALING: Prayers
will continue every Friday at 6.15pm in the Lady Chapel. Please
do join us if you would like to or let us know of any further
prayer requests either by placing them on the Prayer Board or
by letting us know directly.
Praying for Streets
We shall begin our next Praying for Streets campaign in April.
Each week leaflets will be delivered to specific streets within
Crowthorne. Prayers for the inhabitants of those particular streets
will then be included in the next Sunday's intercessions and
in addition, any prayer requests which are received as a result
of the leaflets. We aim to deliver to every house in the parish
by Easter 2006. This campaign has been successful for the last
two years and we are always grateful for volunteers willing to
deliver leaflets in their area. If you would be interested in
helping please contact the Churchwardens.
April 16th prayers for The Avenue, Lyneham Road, Aldworth Gardens
and Thornbury Close
April 23rd Prayers for Knowles Avenue and Fincham End Drive.
The Church and Churchyard
Thanks and Help required
Churchyard: Our thanks to Brian and Audrey Hooper
who are retiring, after 11½years, from leading the Churchyard
maintenance team. Their dedication has seen significant improvement
in the look of the Churchyard and they have worked hard to stay
on top of the battle with nature!
Help is now required to ensure
that the Churchyard does not fall back into a perilous overgrown
state. Brian or Audrey would be pleased to answer any queries
from anyone who could offer some of their time or would like
to know more.
Parish Church Hall: As is clearly evident considerable
progress has been made with modernising and reorganising the
Hall. A new creche room, separate from the office, has been created,
storage cupboards for many of the activity groups have been built
and provision for a disabled toilet is coming along. Much of
this has been done by parish members. Our thanks to this group
of dedicated workers, their efforts are clear for all to see!
The next stage will be painting
and decorating throughout the hall area. Could you help and make
a contribution to the renewal of the hall? Offers to the Churchwardens.
Church Spring Clean: This year's traditional pre-Easter
spring clean was delayed due to the building work. It will be
held on Saturday 14th May. The morning will involve heavy and
high cleaning, mostly by the men and the afternoon final cleaning
and polishing, mostly by the women. Please volunteer your help
to the Churchwardens.
The Life of Christ
An Open Air Play in Three Acts
Saturday, 2nd July 2005
10:00am - 5:00pm
Please see the notice
in the foyer for more details
and sign up if you are interested in attending.
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MAY FAIR
Morgan Rec - 5th May 2.00 - 4.30PM
We are now approaching the
most important time for the May Fair and in order to make the
event successful we need your help! Firstly can you all pray
for fine weather for the WHOLE day this year please...the set-up
team are fed up with getting very wet in the morning! Then we
need your help for the event itself:
Pledge your Support: We are still looking for some people
to help man stalls - so if you haven't made yourself available
yet could you please try and do so even if it is for a short
time during the afternoon - every little helps. The ladies are
also collecting names for the setting up and cleaning up teams
on the day so please sign up with your offers of support.
The Raffle: Raffle tickets will be sent out in
the near future and we hope that you will need more than your
normal allocation!! If you can sell more then please ask.
We will also be selling raffle
tickets in the High Street on Saturdays before the event (we
hope to do this on 16th, 23rd and 30th May). Can you offer your
time and support for this important lead in to the event. Please
remember that the raffle is our most important fund raising section
of the Fair so please do your bit this year and help to continue
this tradition.
'Cash for your trash!': Before
you get round to throwing all those things away which are cluttering-up
your home, remember we need your unwanted belongings. You can
bring these into church beforehand or bring them along on the
day.
The items we are particularly looking for are: Books, White
Elephants, Toys
Tombola: This year we would particularly like
to have a tombola stall where we do not have to buy all the items
on the day. Please please could you raid your kitchen cupboards,
wine racks etc etc for anything you think may make a good prize.
Remember the tombola should have large and small prizes on it
so anything will be most welcome.
Plant Stall: Remember to let the plant stall have
any spare plants, seedlings etc you have. You can also order
bedding plants in advance.
We have our next May Fair Meeting
at 8.15pm on 29th March so come along and join the fun - wine,
Pringles and chocolate biscuits are always available!
Ensure you get your May
Fair
Bedding Plants
Sometimes people are disappointed at the May Fair because the
plant stall has sold out of the bedding plants they require.
This year we are trialing a pre-order scheme whereby you can
order plants for collection at the Fair. We will be selling top
quality plants. Order your plants at reasonable prices and support
the Church. If you wish to place an order for about £20
or more please use the order form (available from the church
vestibule). Orders need to be placed by Friday 22nd April.
FAIR TRADE STALL
In April the stall will open on Sundays 10th and 24th April after
the 8am and 10am services. It will also open on Monday 18th April
at Talkabout and Wednesday 27th April at Mothers & Toddlers.
Confirmation 2005
New confirmation groups will be starting later this year. For
young people (aged 10-14) there will be a preliminary meeting
to arrange times on Sunday 8th May at 3.30pm. The Vicar will
be happy to answer any questions you have about this. Please
consider taking this step at St John's.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting
The Annual Meeting of Parishioners
(AMP) will be held on Sunday April 17th 2005 in the Church
Hall at 11.30am.
AGENDA
- Opening Prayers
- Apologies
- Minutes of the 2004 Meeting
of Parishioners
- Election of Churchwardens
The Annual Parochial Church
Meeting of the PCC to be held immediately following the AMP.
AGENDA
- Minutes of the 2004 Annual
Meeting of the Parish
- Matters arising from the Minutes
- Approval of the Annual Report
- Report on numbers entered
on new electoral roll
- Presentation of Parish Reports
- Elections: Parochial Church
Council
- Appointments: Hon Secretary,
Hon Treasurer, Hon Independent Examiner, Sidesmen
- Notices
- Closing prayers
The first meeting of the new
PCC will then follow.
Please make every effort to
attend (and ensure you are registered on the electoral roll).
This is your opportunity to participate in important decisions
about how, and by whom, the Parish is run. There are expected
to be 5 vacancies on the Deanery Synod (also serving on the PCC)
and 6 vacancies on the PPC alone. Would you be able to stand?
Any existing member or a Churchwarden would be happy to explain
what is involved.
Social events
St George's Day Supper and
Entertainment
Saturday 23rd April
at 7pm
A special supper in
the hall with entertainment from younger congregation members.
(More offers of entertainment still welcome)
Tickets £6 per adult, £15 per family |
Eight meets Ten at Nine Breakfast
Sunday 24th April
There will be another
of these popular social events between the 8am and 10am services
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BIZET'S CARMEN
On Wednesday evening 11th May there will be another of the ever
popular theatre visits. There are 25 good tickets to see the
EBOS production of Carmen in the Wilde Theatre at South Hill
Park. Tickets from, and enquiries to, Christine Rees.
In June the Patronal Festival
and Barbecue will be held on Sunday 19th June. Our guest
will be the Bishop of Gloucester.
Blessing of Oils
Geographically our Cathedral in Oxford seems far distant from
us here in Crowthorne, but we are all part of Oxford Diocese
and it is where on several occasions each year clergy and lay
people from all parts of the diocese gather. One such occasion
was on the Tuesday of Holy Week at a service of "Eucharist
with the blessing of Oils and renewal of Ministerial Commitment".
I was privileged to be there, robed and part of the Bishops'
procession as a representative of the Lay Ministers in the Diocese
and to read a lesson and administer a chalice.
This annual service is firstly
an opportunity for clergy and lay ministers to prepare to lead
God's people in the traditional renewal of baptism promises on
Easter Day by rededicating themselves to their ministerial promises.
In the Cathedral this is led from the shrine of St Frideswide,
the patron saint of the diocese, to symbolise that ministry is
derived from Christ, entrusted to his Church with its saints.
Secondly it is when the sacramental
oils are blessed at the high altar, and after the service, the
clergy have the opportunity to refill the small flasks in which
they carry the oils for use in the different sacraments. I found
it fascinating to learn a little of the ancient custom of anointing
with oils. There are I discovered three distinct types of oil;
the first one is for anointing the sick and dying and in doing
so the priest follows the example of the apostles. The second
one is for signing with the cross at baptism and from an early
date it became customary to trace the sign of the cross in oil
on the head in baptism. The third oil is the oil of chrism, which
has perfume and balsam added to give it a sweet smell. This oil
is used at the ordination of priests, at confirmation, as a sign
that candidates, sealed with the Spirit confirm their place in
the 'royal priesthood' of Christ and the Church. The oil of chrism
is also used at the coronation of kings and queens.
So when we next see the Vicar
using the oils in a sacrament, I shall understand just a little
more about them.
Hazel Berry |
