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Christmas at St Johns
There will be a full range
of Christmas services. In addition,
we shall be very pleased to welcome to our Church, Broadmoor
Primary for their Christingle Service and Oaklands Junior and
Infant Schools, the C of E School and the Guides and the Brownies
for their own individual Carol Services.
The Christingle will be on
December 4th at 3pm and the Nine Lessons and Carols on December
18th at 6.30pm.
The Children's Service on Christmas
Eve at 3pm will be a Family Service which tells the traditional
Christmas Story with Carols. Sunday School and Pathfinders are
preparing music for the nativity. Younger members of the church
may join the nativity and may care to wear costume appropriate
to the nativity character of their choice.
For the Christmas Midnight
Service we are pleased to welcome the Archdeacon of Berkshire,
the Rev Norman Russell, as our celebrant.
There will be just one 9am
service on New Year's Day. On 8th January, Epiphany, we will
hold our Toy Service. Please could you donate toys which are
in good order that we will offer to PACT (Parents and Children
Together) the Diocesan charity.
The Special collections over
Christmas will be for Helen House Hospice. We very much look
forward to seeing you during the Christmas season. Don't forget
to invite your friends and neighbours to join with us over Christmas.
With Christmas in Mind is the theme chosen for our meeting on
Tuesday 6 December, when four of our members will help us to
prepare for Christmas with readings, flowers and gift ideas.
There will be a chance to join in with carols while sampling
a glass of wine and mince pie.
We extend a very warm welcome
to the ever popular Crowthorne Chimes to our afternoon meeting
on Wednesday 14 December at 2.15pm. THey will entertain with
seasonal music.
The Prayer Meeting will take
place on Monday 19 December at 9.30am in the Lady Chapel.
Praying for Streets
In December we shall pray for:
4th Cricket Field Grove
11th Alcot CLose
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The Men's Breakfast
The speaker at the meeting on the 12th November was Mike Poole
of Kings College London. His title: Enemies, Allies or Irrelevancy
- a Reappraisal of Science and Christian Belief.
Following a light breakfast,
at which we were joined by members of the Baptist Church, Mr
Poole began with the birth of Western Science, many key figures
of which were devout Christians. He went on to say that at the
start Darwin's theory of Evolution found acceptance by many Christians.
It was when Darwin's theory was extended by others to form a
complete philosophy of life that many sensed a conflict with
Christian belief. He then moved on to the era of dialogue and
synthesis that followed, and touched on the modern conflicts
that spring from the view that everything in the Bible must be
understood as literal fact, thus excluding the use of poetic
imagery. Mr Poole concluded with the observation that any conflict
between Science and Faith was largely irrelevant to the highest
goal (that being our salvation). A lively question and answer
session then followed.
The Outreach Committee wish
to thank all who helped in setting up this meeting. They are
currently exploring the possibility of a next meeting, perhaps
in May, with the title of Life Sciences & Christianity.
Interregnem News Update
It is now unlikely that we
will have a new Vicar before July/August of next year. Aa a result,
the vicarage, which was being held off the rent market, will
now be let for a minimum period of 6 months.
Curry Evening
There will be a CUrry Evening
in the church hall on 4 February. Do put this date in your diary
now. Profits will go to "Roofs for the Roofless"
Beetle Drive
THanks to the Social Committee
for organising a very successful drive on 26 November. It was
greatly enjoyed by all who attended. It was good to see it supported
by many younger families from the parish
Pakistan and Kashmir Appeal
THe two collections on 6 and
20 November raised £1650 (including Gift Aid). THanks to
all who contributed. Father Kevin has told us that 4 Aquaboxes
have been bought so far (together with Wellington College). They
have arrived in Kashmir and are already in use. More will follow
shortly.
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