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1

I’m hoping that you will be reading this before rather than after the General Election because I’d like to share with you some of the thoughts of our Bishop, John the Bishop of Oxford, on Christians and the election; as well as my own.

Bishop John rightly reminds us that whilst faith and political commitment are close relatives, the Church cannot identify itself with any one of the political parties. However, he shares some of the things that guide him.

If as Christians we are following the Lord, we will be alert to the needs of the poorest and those with least voice in society. He mentions asylum seekers as part of this concern.

Christians will not want to lose sight, in the heat of short-term election fever, of the global needs for justice, environmental sustainability, and alleviation of poverty in the wider world.

Christians will want to play their part in renewing our damaged and demoralised political system by electing people of honour and integrity, to make politics value-based and purposeful. We will avoid cynicism and we will actually turn out and vote because Governments need a mandate and only those who vote can give it to them.

Christians will question whether the left-right split is the best way to think about politics today. He recommends we ask ourselves: “What’s right?” and “What works?”

It’s hard to comprehend fully the complexity of the economic issues but again the Bishop recommends two questions: “Who will pay the price of a particular policy?” and “Is that fair?”.

Christians will be concerned to know the views of the different candidates and parties about the contribution of faith communities to public debate. The Bishop questions whether the current climate of what he calls “secular objectivity” is either possible or desirable.

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Finally Bishop John asks that whilst he does not expect every politician to share his faith , he does look for and hope for politicians who comprehend the dynamics of faith; who recognise that people of faith have a proper interest, and can be allies, in the pursuit of the common good.

I’ve shared these thoughts with you because I believe that they deserve a wider circulation within our community as we ponder how we shall cast our votes. The Christian community has always spanned across, and contained within it, people of varying commitments to different political parties and ethical perspectives; and our own church community is the same. It means that there can be no single line for a church like ours – we cannot assume that the person who shares our pew on Sundays will share our political views nor our views on the tough ethical issues. But whilst there is no church commitment to one party or policy, this need not mean that as Christians we may not talk amongst ourselves and with others about the concerns we may have for the future direction of the country. As we do so let’s not forget also that there is a section of the community who cannot vote – those under 18 years of age and that their needs and interests also should be considered.

I want to add my voice also to our Bishop’s call that we do not allow cynicism to infect us. I urge you to take the election seriously and to go out and vote. It’s true of course that there’s a lot in life over which politicians have no control – as I write, for example, all planes are grounded by volcanic ash. But there are many dimensions of people’s lives which are deeply affected by legislation, by decisions about spending priorities, by foreign policy decisions; and by the prevailing “climate” of attitudes and aspirations; which our elected politicians are responsible for making. It’s vital we get involved in choosing who those politicians shall be.

There is a genuine choice of candidates in the Wokingham constituency – with real differences between them, in what they stand for, and in what they promise to support.

I’d like to cast my vote for the candidate whom I most believe in – the one whom I judge best represents the values I have and will work most effectively for the kind of policies and actions I would want to see enacted.

3

Please leave items for publication in the Magazine tray in the Parish Office or email directly to the editor on or before the Copy Date please. Contributions can be typed, handwritten, or e-mailed.

All Saints PCC Wokingham, is a Registered Charity, Nbr. 1127585

Editor: Andrew McKenna (977 3812) Email: editor@allsaintswokingham.org.uk

Distribution: Sheila Longley (978 4193)

Advertisements: Andrew McKenna (977 3812)

Collation: Sheila Longley (978 4193) & team

BREAKFAST

Come and enjoy a continental breakfast in the Cor-nerstone following the 8.00am service (you might prefer to come before 9.30am) on

Sunday 30th May. No need to book but if you have any dietary requirements please speak to Diana 9792614. Just think ice cold milk with cereal, croissants and homemade marmalade etc., and just in time for the summer season strawberries – how could you miss it?

Social Committee

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Rector The Revd. Canon David Hodgson 979 2999 Associate Priest Designate The Revd. Caroline Kramer (TBA) Honorary Asst. Curate The Revd. Colin James 978 1515 Honorary Asst. Curate The Revd. Helen Charlton 978 9153 Community Priest The Revd Michael Johnson 979 0098 Church Wardens Jo Robinson 978 9730 John Smith 979 0948 Margaret Raggett 962 9378 Parish Office Jo Asplin 979 2797

Children and Youth Safeguarding Co-ordinator and Children’s Advocate Margaret Raggett 962 9378 Crêche Leader Rachel Garlish 978 2602 Junior Church Co-ordinator Harriet Swinyard 962 9313 Youth Church Co-ordinator (Acting) Revd Michael Johnson 979 0098 Friday Night Youth Drop-In (FDI) Co-ordinator Lorraine Hodgson 979 2999

Worship and Music Director of Music (inc. Choir) David Rance 947 6734 Music Group Leader Gail Houghton 979 2797 Head Server Chris Gilham 978 3948 Deputy Head Server Ruth Smith 978 7065 Bible Readers’ rota Joyce Baldry 978 8506 Tower Foreman John Harrison 978 5520 Flower Guild Chairman Pam Gilbey 978 5694 Worship Rota and Prayer Lists Co-ordinator Revd Colin James 978 1515 Lay Co-Chair of Worship & Music Development Liz Rippon 979 2797

Parochial Church Council PCC Secretary Vacant can you be of help? Deputy PCC Secretary John Smith 979 0948 PCC Treasurer Stephen Smith 979 4407 Deputy PCC Treasurer John Alp 979 2797 PCC Treasurer’s Team Margaret Hawkins 962 9792

Dickon Snell 978 1044 Stewardship Co-ordinator Jo Robinson 978 9730 Gift Aid Co-ordinator Peter Whittaker 978 6225

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The Parish Office (0118 979 2797), in the Cornerstone, can be contacted about church related issues (Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals). It is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.15 am to 1.00 pm and for urgent matters or by telephone on Monday and Thursday from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon. e-mail: parishoffice@allsaintswokingham.org.uk Postal address: The Parish Office, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham RG40 1UE All Saints website: www.allsaintswokingham.org.uk The Cornerstone : For room bookings and general enquiries please phone 0118 979 7778. Administrator Monica Martin is in the office: Monday 2-5pm, Tuesday 12.15-4.30pm, Wednesday 2-5.30pm, Thursday 1.45 - 6.00pm. e-mail: info@thecornerstonewokingham.org.uk

Stewardship Recorder Jim Creech 377 4194 Electoral Roll Officer Joyce Baldry 978 8506 Leadership Forum Convenor Barbara Smith 979 4407

Pastoral Care contacts Home Communion Barbara Smith 979 4407 Healing Prayer Group Jack Hayley 979 2797 Pastoral Care contact Jo Robinson 978 9730 Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals Parish Office 979 2797 Churchyard Steward John Smith 979 0948 Clergy days off: David Thursday Caroline (TBA) Colin Thurs/Friday Michael Saturday

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Services at All Saints' Church embrace a wide range of formats. An outline is given below but for details and information about occasional services, see the weekly leaflet.

Sunday Services

8.00 a.m. Holy Communion. A said service with a brief address using the traditional language version of the Common Worship Order One Eucharist

9.30 a.m. Parish Communion. The service is sung, with hymns, and fol-lows Common Worship Order One Eucharist. Children are ca-tered for in the Crèche and Junior Church. The last

Sunday in the month is Parish Communion for the Whole Church and often includes Parade, children are present throughout, and contribute to the worship.

Prayer for Healing with Laying on of Hands is offered regularly at certain Parish Communion services (see diary). Coffee is served after the service and this is the weekly 'social

gathering' of the Congregation. Please come and meet us there if you are a visitor to the church or would like to get to know us better.

11.15 am. (1st Sunday) No Service 11.15am (2nd Sunday)

Holy Communion. A said service using the Book of Common Prayer.

11.15am (3rd Sunday) No Service Occasionally Baptisms will take place during this time 11.15am (Some 4th Sundays)

Matins using the Book of Common Prayer, usually sung and including a sermon.

6.30 pm. (1st - 3rd Sundays) Evensong using the Book of Common Prayer with sermon.

Choral Evensong is sung usually on the first Sunday of each month

(An alternative form of worship on 4th & 5th Sundays ; and Ser-vices of Healing)

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Weekday Services

Morning and Evening Prayer are said, using Common Worship Daily Prayer, at 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. each day from Monday to Saturday. All may, and are encouraged, to attend. These services may be led by a Priest or members of the Laity.

Holy Communion is celebrated as follows:

Monday 9.30 am. (Common Worship Order One) Tuesday 9.30 am. (Common Worship Order One with short address, followed by coffee) Wednesday 10.00 am. (Simple form of Common Worship Order One and short address (particularly for parents and child minders of babies and pre-school children)

Friday in various Residential Homes

Major festivals are also marked by additional celebrations of Holy Communion. Please see the Parish Diary elsewhere in the magazine, or for whole year’s dates, see leaflet “Days to Remember at All Saints”.

Home Communion: If anyone knows of a housebound parishioner, either temporarily or long term, who would like to receive Holy Communion, please contact the Parish Office (979 2797).

Confirmation, Welcome or Growth Groups: Anyone interested in confirmation, a refresher course, or learning about the Christian faith is invited to join one of the Eureka! groups or a confirmation course - contact Barbara Smith on 979 4407.

Baptisms: are usually conducted at a special afternoon service on the last Sunday of each month; or occasionally in Sunday morning services if requested. Baptisms can be booked via the Parish Office (979 2797).

Wedding Bookings: Clergy are available in the Cornerstone on Monday from 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm and on Saturday from 10.30 am - 11.30 am on an appointment basis. Please book via the Parish Office on 979 2797

Transportation: Pat Forsyth (979 7023) or Sue Farrington (978 2371).

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Flower Guild

At last spring has arrived, and as we suspected, everything is in bloom at once. We are in late April with some of the black thorn still to break into bud and yet there are cherries which are impatient and likely to nearly beat them to it – what a picture! It’s time to attack the herbaceous border again. Much as I love soft shades for spring and early summer by the time August arrives I am ready for bright oranges and vibrant reds. Last year for the first time in many years, I grew orange Calendula and they flowered and flowered right through until the frosts, they are easy to grow and it is not too late to sprinkle a few seeds around – I am always on the look out for new varieties and colours of plants but perhaps it is then too easy to overlook some of the old favourites from my childhood which still have so much to offer.

Pam

Flowers in church during May

May 2 Mrs H Matthews Mrs B Hayley HM 9 Ascension and Confirmation Mrs G Jones Mrs S Anderson GJ Mrs J Atkins 23 Pentecost Mrs M Whitaker and others MW 30 Mrs S Shields Mrs M Holden VB

For information contact: Pam Gilbey (978 5694)

Kate Thomas (989 4190) or Margaret Whitaker (978 2307)

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The Mothers’ Union theme for 2010 is ‘Relationships not Rules’. Jesus was very clear that relationships are the most important reason for living and for the living out of our faith. Through our relationships with God, our family, friends and neighbours, with communities, those in authority and the wider world, we have both identity and purpose. As Christians, our identity and purpose is entirely defined by God’s teaching. Through and in our relationships we learn how to recognise and experience God’s presence. We believe He is always present and active, whether or not we can see Him: it is a positive good even if we do not always understand how or why, especially in times of difficulty and tragedy. This was the theme of the Lady Day service in Oxford in March. The officers for the new triennium were commissioned and the service as always was very positive. Looking forward, this month’s branch meeting will focus on a talk by Martin Haslam about his trip to Siberia. We are all eager to hear Martin’s experience of this unusual destination and we hope as many people as possible will attend. As usual, members of the parish and other friends are more than welcome to come along. The diocesan and deanery summer meetings are this year being combined into archdeaconry events which it is hoped will be more accessible. The date is Wednesday 2nd June (school ! term) and the venue is St. Peter’s, Earley. There will be 2 sessions and members can attend either one; this is also an opportunity for non-members to find out about the Mothers’ Union’s work. The afternoon session will include a talk on the diocese’s ‘Away From It All’ fund and the holidays it provides. The evening session will include a talk by Katie Kerr, the new Faith and Policy representative. Please consider attending one of these sessions if possible; it is always uplifting to hear what the Mothers’ Union is doing outside our parish. More information on The Mothers Union’s work worldwide can be found

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on the website www.themothersunion.org. Alternatively, you can call Valerie (978 7363) or Mary (978 2678) for more information on more local matters or for a lift to meetings. 4th – 6th May Diocesan Retreat at Parmoor. Tues 11th May 9.30am Corporate Communion

8.15pm Branch meeting – Talk on Siberia. Wed 2nd June 3- 4.30 7- 8.30 Summer Meetings at St. Peter’s, Earley. Thur 24th June 10.30am General Meeting – Guildhall, Preston.

PHILIP AND JAMES QUIZ

May 1st is the feast day of Saints Philip and James. All the answers to this quiz are, or contain, one of these names.

1. Fictional spy,”007” 2. Writer of series ”His Dark Materials” 3. Member of TV’s ”Top Gear” programme team 4. Son of Zebedee, brother of John 5. Real name of the hero of ”Great Expectations” 6. Poet and librarian from Hull 7. Irish flautist 8. Member of the Royal Family, born Greece,1921 9. Roald Dahl story about a boy and a huge fruit 10. Leader of gang of US outlaws,1870s 11. Brought Nathanael to Jesus 12. Captain of Portsmouth FC and England goalkeeper

(Answers are on pg. 39)

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Welcome to The Reverend Caroline Kramer

We are delighted to welcome this month our new Associate Priest The Reverend Caroline Kramer.

Caroline comes to Wokingham with her husband Kris and children, Chloe, Calum, Kiah and Katherine, from the Episcopal Church in the United States where she has served for the past 10 years. She grew up in Surrey and was ordained in Guildford before moving to the USA. Caroline’s arrival completes the transition in the clergy team in which Mi-chael is released to work full-time developing “Fresh Expressions of Church” across the town and deanery, mainly in terms of the StageFright community; whilst Caroline will have a full-time focus on ministry within the parish and church community of All Saints. There are four areas of ministry in which Caroline will be active.

• Families with young children. Caroline will lead the development and expansion of our ministry to families with young children, work-ing closely especially with our baptism care and Junior Church teams. This will include innovating new activities for contact, for worship, and for Christian nurture, in order to engage with families and children who are not accessing our existing activities .

• All Saints C of E (Aided) Primary School. Closely aligned with the above area, Caroline will lead our pastoral support for, and en-gagement with, our church primary school. (She will, where possi-ble, also engage with other local schools).

• Pastoral offices and pastoral care. Caroline will share in leading the pastoral work around baptisms, weddings and funerals and sup-porting our key lay pastoral teams.

Liturgy and preaching. Caroline will share in the leading of worship and preaching across the whole range of services, including “Wednesday Mums”. She will have a key role in developing our goal of greater diver-

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sity and creativity in worship; especially in relation to families and young children.

Caroline and family will be welcomed at her first service during May on a Sunday to be announced. Please pray for them as they settle into life and work in a new community for them.

The Rector

Christian Aid Sponsored Walk 2010 This year the Christian Aid Sponsored Walk will be on Saturday May 15th. There will be a choice of 5, 10 or 15 mile routes, all of which will start and finish in BIX (just off the A4130 to the north-west of Henley-on-Thames) at the village hall. The walk routes pass through varied countryside and are mostly con-fined to footpaths although some use is made of minor metalled country lanes. The event provides an opportunity to get out and enjoy quiet rurality – Bluebell Woods, Nature Reserves, gentle undulations and delightful pic-nic spots. And, additionally you will be raising money to help the less fortunate peo-ple of the world. Application forms, maps and, most importantly, the Sponsorship Forms, will be available in good time before the date; start sounding out your boots, walking-legs, and friends and relations now. For more information please contact David Cupper (0118 978 5866, email davidcupper@hotmail.co.uk), and usually in the Cornerstone after 9:30 service on Sundays. The organisers are always pleased to hear from folk who can help with the walk. Should you be interested in helping out this year or in the fu-ture please contact David Cupper who can pass your details to the ap-propriate committee member.

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SECOND TRIAL OF PEWS IN THE LADY CHAPEL You may remember that last summer we held an experiment of using chairs instead of pews in the Lady Chapel for a period of six weeks. It was felt that this length of time was too short to be able to ascertain the flexibility and practicality of chairs rather than pews. Unfortunately, most of the comments we received were about the unsuitability of the chairs and not how the space could be used advantageously.

It was agreed at a recent PCC meeting to extend the trial for a longer pe-riod of time. It was therefore approved that a period of 6 months would give a far more suitable time-scale for everyone to take part and see whether this experiment would work with the activities that take place at the moment, and whether any new ones will appear as a result of the more flexible use of the space within the Lady Chapel. The Archdeacon has granted us a temporary licence for this change until the end of Sep-tember.

Woosehill Community Church have very kindly loaned us 30 of their chairs to help us with this project, for which we are very grateful. On 17 April these were collected and put in the Lady Chapel and the pews re-moved.

It is now up to you. Please move the chairs around to suit whatever you are attending in the Lady Chapel – be adventurous, you never know until you try. At the end of the trial we do not want to see the chairs in exactly the same position as we have initially placed them! Towards the end of the trial we will be asking you for your feedback and comments. Please, however, do bear in mind that the chairs will not nec-essarily be the ones that are purchased, should the trial prove to be suc-cessful and it is decided to replace the pews with chairs in this area of the church.

Jo Robinson Churchwarden on behalf of the PCC

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Gardening Expertise …..at your service

Experienced local gardener has some availability

Phone 0118 978 6371

• Overgrown areas tamed • Beds and borders enhanced and maintained • One project or seasonal

service • Graves tidied, flowers for

anniversaries etc. • Competitive rates

CHIROPODIST

The Lady Painter and Decorator

Tel: 01344 776109

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Notes from the March PCC meeting

As we did not meet until 24th March, there is a longer gap than usual be-tween the meeting and the report back. I am now stepping down from the PCC, so will use part of this report to give general information about the PCC and Standing Committee. Standing Committee (the Rector, wardens, treasurer and, when we have one, the PCC secretary) meet before the PCC meeting to draw up the agenda and ensure that everything is in place. It also attends to any other organisational matters. The PCC secretary then has the job of cir-culating the agenda and any relevant papers to the PCC members at least one week before the meeting. Much of the March meeting was taken up with the adoption of various reports and the audited accounts for the APCM at the end of April. All these should now be in the public domain. The PCC were enthusiastic in agreeing that Junior Church should sup-port the Haiti Hospital Appeal and House of Blessings Children’s Home as their charity in the summer term. Thanks were passed on to Carol Harris as she resigns after 5 years hard work as Treasurer of the Cornerstone. Our independent examiner who audits our accounts has commented on the high standard of the Corner-stone and Church accounts. The Leadership Forum meeting in March is reported on elsewhere in this magazine. More time will be given to some of the outcomes of this meet-ing at the May PCC meeting. The PCC meets ten times each year. Did you know that anyone can at-tend as an observer? But please don’t all turn up at once! The meetings are much more efficient these days. Members on the whole prepare well for the meetings, so that discussion can be more focussed. We also have a means of deciding quickly whether discussion is really needed if it seems likely that everyone is in agreement.

17

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What is Bereavement Counselling and how does it work in our church?

Come and find out what the All Saints Bereavement Care Group does.

We invite you to our Saturday morning session on 22nd May in the Cor-nerstone from 10 to 12.30, led by Eileen Williams, A CRUSE counsellor

and trainer. Members of the All Saints Bereavement Care Group will be there to answer questions about what we do. Vol-unteers are always welcome to join our team!

Susan Westgate

We have special topics twice a year as part of our meeting. Recent topics have been looking again at how we support our church charities and learning about the future shape of ministries in Winnersh and Woosehill. Sometimes other people are invited to our meeting so that we can meet them and hear about what they are doing. This way we become better informed about such things as the work of the Eco-congregation group, and ideas for a revamp of the church magazine, Priests and Deacons licensed to the parish, churchwardens and mem-bers of Deanery Synod are all members of the PCC by law. There are twelve other elected members who must be on the electoral roll and who normally serve 3 years, but can serve for six without a break. Members can also be co-opted. I have enjoyed my time on the PCC and have learnt a great deal (and still have much to learn!) about how the church functions and how we can best serve God in our parish in this town. Perhaps next year YOU might be willing to serve on the PCC! This article is the opinion of the writer and not an official record of the meeting which can be found in the published minutes.

Barbara Smith

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20

Sunday Easter 5 - 2nd May Org

Service Eucharist: Archer - St Mark's Setting DAR

Hymns (4)

Music If ye love me - Tallis

Final Voluntary March in G - Smart

Service Choral Evensong DAR

Introit A Prayer for King Henry VI - Henry Ley

Responses Ayleward

Psalm 98

Canticles Stanford in C

Hymns

Music Up, up, my heart - Crüger

Final Voluntary Pæan (Five short pieces) - Percy Whitlock

Sunday Easter 6 - Rogation Sunday - 9th May

Service Eucharist: Archer - St. Mark's Setting DAR

Hymns (356)

Music O Lord, give thy Holy Spirit - Tallis

Final Voluntary Lied (24 pièces en style libre) - Vierne

Service Sung Evensong: Ferial Responses (McKie Amen) DAR

Psalms 126 & 127

Hymns

Music Pray that Jerusalem - Bob Chilcott

Final Voluntary Short Prelude & Fugue in F (BWV 556) - J S Bach

Thursday Ascension - 13th May

Service Eucharist with Confirmation: Archer - St Mark's Setting DAR

Hymns /AB

Music tbc

Final Voluntary tbc

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Sunday Easter 7 - 16th May Org

Service Eucharist: Archer - St. Mark's Setting DAR

Psalm 97

Hymns (AMNS 86)

Music God is gone up - Arthur Hutchings

Final Voluntary Fugue in E flat "St Anne" (BWV 552) - J S Bach

Service Said Evensong with Piano ---

Sunday Pentecost - 23rd May

Service Eucharist: Archer - St. Mark's Setting DAR

Hymns (92)

Music Come, Thou Holy Spirit, come - Henry Ley

Final Voluntary March: Crown Imperial - William Walton

Service Choral Matins DAR

Introit Come, Holy Ghost - Attwood

Responses Ayleward

Venite Battishill

Psalms 36 vv5 - 10 & 150

Canticles Boyce in A

Hymns

Music Come, Thou Holy Spirit, come - Henry Ley

Final Voluntary Sonata No 4 (First Movement) - Mendelssohn

Service Said Evensong with Piano --- Sunday Trinity - 30th May

Service Whole Church Communion DAR

Hymns

Music Holy, Holy, Holy - Schicht

Final Voluntary A Trumpet Air - John Reading

Service Healing Service ---

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Sunday Easter 5 Monday to Saturday page

2 3 Mo

08.00am Holy Communion 4 Tu 08.15 pm Serendipity

09.30am Parish Communion 5 We

11.15am **No Service 6 Th 08.00 pm Julian Group

03.00pm **No Service 7 Fr

06.30pm Choral Evensong 8 Sa

9 Easter 6 10 Mo

08.00am Holy Communion 11 Tu Mothers' Union 10

09.30am Parish Communion 12 We

11.15am BCP Eucharist 13 Th

3.00pm **No Service 14 Fr

6.30pm Sung Evensong 15 Sa

16 Easter 7 17 Mo

08.00am Holy Communion 18 Tu 08.15 pm Serendipity

09.30am Parish Communion 19 We All Saints Fellowship 32

11.15am **No Service 20 Th Healing Prayer Group 26

3.00pm **No Service 21 Fr

6.30pm Said Evensong 22 Sa

23 Pentecost 24 Mo

08.00am Holy Communion 25 Tu

09.30am Parish Communion 26 We

11.15am Choral Matins 27 Th

6.30pm Said Evensong 28 Fr

29 Sa

30 Trinity Sunday 31 Mo

08.00am Holy Communion 1 Tu June

09.30am Whole Church Communion + Parade 2 We

11.15am **No Service 3 Th

3.00pm and 4.30: Holy Baptism 4 Fr

6.30pm Healing Service 5 Sa

Forthcoming Events

Thursday 13 May Ascension Day: 7:30 Confirmation

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Leadership Forum – 20th March

Thirty nine people attended the fifth forum, the main part of the programme being on our theme of nurture. By considering the journey from seed to seedling to plant, Helen Charlton introduced us to the idea of nurturing and asked us to consider what had helped to nurture us as people as well as what had helped to nurture us in our Christian lives. We then focussed on what could strengthen nurture in our church - for newcomers and for everyone. We came up with the ideas below:

We were then asked to focus in groups on one 'quick win' - something we could do quickly - and one activity that was just as good but which would take more time.

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The PCC now needs to decide how to take these forward. Matthew Woodham then showed us his excellent first draft of a booklet giving information about all our groups at All Saints. It is hoped that this will soon be available on-line and in paper form for those who need it. Anne King talked about ideas for a paid youth worker. As Michael has moved on to work full-time work in the Deanery it was felt that a lay person could take on the role of supporting our existing youth workers. We need to develop a vision for where we want to take our youth work. We were asked to answer the questions ‘What are the challenges?’ and ‘What might a youth worker do with these challenges?’ Feedback from the first three forums showed that two per year instead of three have majority support so the next forum this year will be on 9th October. But an event open to all in the summer seemed a good idea. During our coffee break we came up with ideas from picnics to pilgrimages and guided walks. Maybe a weekend of activities would provide something to suit everyone! We finished with some very thought-provoking prayer stations. Our vision statement says ‘We will pray earnestly with all our hearts for others.’ There are so many needs in our world - the stations gave us ways of focussing our prayers.

Barbara Smith (979 4407)

Quick Fix Longer term

‘Beer and Hymns’ or similar outside or in eg pub.

Develop 9:30 (or other services) + research other churches, other exper-tise. Youth/café church/ more focus-sed services. Help ‘annual people’ to become regular people.

Less churchy things (visible and fun) Church plant in new housing areas

Flix film group regularly Home-workers link (new housing) Lunch etc

Welcome team in church during the week (possibly church entrance)

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26

WONDERFUL HANDS

How often do we stop and consider just how indispensable our hands are to our life on earth? The fact that we do not often think about them in this way is quite remarkable because without them life as we know it would be quite impossible. We know, and accept, that our God and Creator provides us with all our needs, but these basic necessities have to be manipulated and managed into those things without which our life on earth could not exist. This process involves the use of our hands under the inspiration of the brain and the control of the muscles of our body. Firstly, much of the food we eat is grown from plants and trees, which have to be planted, nurtured and eventually harvested. It will be said that most of this work is done by tools and machines, but these tools and machines have to be designed and manufactured which requires the use of the hands. If we consider our needs for shelter from the elements, certainly in primitive times, the building of huts and hovels would have involved the use of the hands. In present times we live in brick and stone built buildings. These could not possibly be built without plans being drawn up involving the use of hands. Furthermore the tools and machinery required to erect the buildings have to be designed and manufactured, again involving the drawing up of plans by hand. Even in this age of design models being set up by computers, the computer keyboard has to be operated with the use of hands. In the field of medicine, the highly skilled use of the hands of surgeons is absolutely vital to the success of the wonderful operations they carry out these days. Another area of life’s activities in which the use of hands, together with imagination, is central, is that in the field of art. We think not only about

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Do you need an NHS Dentist?

All patients are welcome at our surgery: 56, Easthampstead Road

Wokingham Telephone: 979 1551

Flowers For All Occasions FULLER’S 6 Denmark Street, Wokingham 978 7183

THE CHIMNEY SWEEP - EXPERIENCED AND CLEAN

Contact Mr. M. Blair 0118 934 2799 Member of the National Association of Chimney Sweeps

“Total Quality Nursing Care”

West Oak Care Home Murray Road, Wokingham

Tel: 0118 979 5100

Sara Gallagher - Home Manager Web: www.barchester.com

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painting, but also sculpture, painting of glass windows, flower arranging and many other artistic activities. It is worth commenting at this point on the remarkable achievements of the mouth and foot artists in overcoming the disability of having no hands. Furthermore, the blind are enabled to partially overcome their disability through their hands by the use of brail to read and the feel of the white stick to guide them. Finally, we come to the use of hands in our church liturgy and in the healing ministry of the church. The act of “laying on of hands” is used in the service of confirmation, and in the consecration of priests and bishops. The sacramental significance of the laying on of hands has its origin in the Old and New Testament times. In Numbers 27:18 we read of Moses laying his hands on Joshua to commission him to take over the leadership of Israel; the apostles laid their hands on the seven deacons to commission them for their tasks (Acts 6:5-6); and the Church at Antioch commissioned Paul and Barnabas in the same way. And, of course, there are many instances of Jesus laying on hands in the course of his ministry of healing and he commands us to do the same when he said “These signs will accompany those who believe……they will lay their hands on the sick and they will recover” (Mark 16; 17-18), and again “I tell you, he who has faith will do all that I am doing, and will do even greater things still…”(John 14:12). So we thank God that through his Son Jesus Christ he has given us authority to use our hands in continuing his ministry of healing. In every case we are asking God, through the person who is acting in prayer, and with the authority of Jesus Christ, to impart a state of peace of body, mind and spirit that will make us whole and able to serve him in whatever way he plans for our good and in his love for the world.

Jack Hayley Members of the Group are Gill Allen, Maggie Bateman, Jack Hayley Mary Hughes, Anne Penn, Joan Thomason, Joan Watts and Karen Wellman. Please let us know of any need for healing prayer support. Confidentiality is assured. The next Healing Service will held on Sunday 30th May at 6.30pm.The Laying on of hands will be made available at the Parish Communion on Sunday 20th June.

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We believe in life before death

Christian Aid Week 2010 - 9-15 May Christian Aid Week is Britain’s longest-running fundraising week and has been a firm fixture in the calendar of many thousands of people each year since 1957. It is famous for the distinctive envelope that drops through the letterboxes of millions of homes each May – and for the mas-sive impact that the week has made in the fight to end the scandal of poverty around the world. For example, people such as Catherine Nyaata, in the slums or informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya have been given a significant boost as they try to work their way out of poverty. Thanks to Christian Aid partner or-ganisation MNU, members of Catherine’s community have been able to install five toilet and shower blocks. ‘They have brought us more dignity. Previously there was none,’ says Catherine. Christian Aid is an international development agency with a vision – an end to poverty – and it believes that vision can become a reality. It works through partner organisations in around 50 countries for profound change that eradicates the causes of poverty, striving to achieve equality, dignity and freedom for all, regardless of faith or nationality. Please help to make the Wokingham house to house collection a suc-cess. It is still not too late to volunteer to collect. Please contact Maggie Vaughan on 978 1455 to see if there is a road near you without a collec-tor. ALSO please support these activities during Christian Aid Week: 14 May Lunch at the Bradbury Centre, the Methodist Church, Rose Street. 12.30 – 2.00 pm. 15 May Counting money from house to house collection. Contact Val-erie Kemp 978 2586 15 May Christian Aid Walk. Details from David Cupper – 978 5866

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Welcome to Fellowship with meetings in the Cornerstone De Vitre Room on the third Wednesday of the month at 7.45pm for 7.55pm. Everybody is very welcome and the cost to visitors is £1.50. Wed. 19th May FLORAL DESIGNING WHAT’S THE END RESULT? We are very much looking forward to welcoming Mrs. Kate Thomas for a talk with such an intriguing title. Kate has been training and establishing her business and will now tell us all about it and who knows what the future might hold? Wed. 16th June A complete change of subject when Mrs. Heather Rees will be coming along with her talk about PUPPY WALKING GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND. Wed. 21st July The meeting when we ‘kick off our shoes’ and enjoy an evening of things to chat about, poetry to hear, something to make us laugh etc – all washed down with a summer drink and strawberries & cream. Don’t worry if you do not usually come to Fellowship you are just as welcome to this meeting as any other.

Contact for Fellowship is Diana Clifford 979 2614.

All Saints’ Fellowship

The Binfield Singers present

an evening of choral music

St. Mark’s Church, Binfield 7:30pm, Sunday 16 May

Programme will include Faure’s Requiem, and selections from Rogers and Hammerstein musicals

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MIRIAM DEAN FUND

The retiring collection at Pentecost this year (23rd May) will be for the Miriam Dean Fund. I am aware that many of you will not have heard of this small organisation so I felt I should tell you a bit about it. The Miriam Dean Fund is a Christian charity, founded in the late 1940s, and now based in Newbury. The Fund reaches out to some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people in close partnership with well established local groups. This organisation all began with one woman with a vision, Miriam Dean, who ran a bakery in North London, opposite a hospital housing wounded German prisoners. One day she took cakes to them and became conscious of a voice speaking to her - “I was a stranger and you welcomed me .... whatever you do for these the least of my children, you do for me” (Matt 25) and the rest, as they say, is history! All the work of the MDF is done voluntarily and run by 7 trustees who continue to share in the vision of Miriam Dean. There are no staff or premises and minimal expenses (covered by the interest on funds waiting to be allocated) so every penny donated is given to the projects they fund abroad. At the moment £150,000 is typically sent abroad each year. In Southern India they are currently supporting

• A 48-bed AIDS hospice • DEEPAM (Dynamic Education and Empowerment Promoting

Agency for the Marginalised) in some 55 villages around the town of Vathalagundu. DEEPAM primarily helps Dalit (low caste) women by encouraging them to form and resource self help groups. The Dalit children are helped by arranging extra tuition and after school classes to that they can attend school.

• A village that has been built over the last 10 years to care for about

200 disabled and mentally challenged children and young people. • In Africa many projects have been supported, most recently by

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training young men to become barbers so they can set up in business.

There are aspirations to build up the work in Africa but the Trust is always mindful of the need to ensure that all giving is secure. If you would like to know more about this organisation, please join two of the Trustees of the Miriam Dean Fund at our 9.30am service on Sunday 9th May, or have a look at the notice board in the church porch

Jo Robinson, Champion for the Miriam Dean Fund

THE 2ND ISSUE OF THE ALL SAINTS RECYCLING DIRECTORY

WILL BE RELEASED JUNE-JULY

WITH THE HELP OF YOU ALL ....

On the various ways you recycle and minimise your carbon footprint Do you know of any interesting and informative websites?

Your recipes for using up ‘bits’ in the fridge And anything else you can think of!

Please let me have your input by the end of May. I look forward to receiving them

Jo Robinson 0118 978 9730 anicetouch_2000@hotmail.com

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All Saints Deanery Group What are Deaneries and what do they do?

In the Church of England parishes are grouped in deaneries which are governed by a deanery synod. The synod is made up of the licensed clergy in the deanery and elected lay representatives from each parish in the deanery. The lay synod representatives are automatically members of their PCC, and in part serve to represent their parish in the work of the deanery. Deaneries are the key body responsible for local planning for the mission needs in the deanery both financially and in use of ministerial resources. They provide a forum for sharing experience and good practice between the parishes and they offer immediate and local support when parish en-counter problems. They are also the body which elects diocesan and general synod members. Each deanery has an Area Dean appointed from the clergy by the Bishop and a Lay Chairman elected by the lay members of Synod.

Sonning Deanery Sonning Deanery is long and thin, from the outskirts of Henley in the north to the outskirts of Camberley in the south, from the Lodden to the west and Crowthorne to the east. It has within it 17 parishes, 19 churches, many of them historic buildings, the Royal Military Academy, Broadmoor Hospital, four independent secondary schools, a C of E sec-ondary school and many church primary schools. Wokingham is in the centre of the Deanery. All Saints parish is part of Sonning Deanery. Its lay synod representa-tives are Judith Scott, Anne King, Mike Moulds, John Smith, Meriel Dick-son and Colin Stone. The Synod usually meets 5 times a year, at different locations in the deanery, providing its members an opportunity to get to know different churches within the deanery. Individual members of synod also contrib-ute to working groups on an occasional basis. The deanery also oper-ates a prayer cycle, ensuring all parishes within the deanery are prayed for in all the parishes of the deanery during the year. The Deanery Group are our group of the month for May. Please remem-ber them in your prayers this month.

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THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS The Thursday Evening Group has just finished a study of ”The Pilgrim’s Progress”. Our comments beforehand were ”Heard about it,of course,but never read it” and, ”Tried it but the old fashioned language made it too much of a challenge” “It’s an important part of our literature, giving us such phrases as, ”the Slough of Despond”, ”Vanity Fair”, ”Doubting Castle” and ”House Beautiful”. After initial research of five different versions, we decided to use a “Family” version which is an adaptation in simple modern language with illustrations and character sketches with appropriate Bible references for many of the chief characters. We each had a copy of the book and read a chapter each time in the group, which we followed with discussion, using background detail and notes from the annotated original to help us along. We found at the end that we had learned quite a bit, not only about the joys and challenges of the Christian journey, but what life was like for Bunyan and his fellow non conformist and Puritan companions. This book has never been out of print since first published in 1678! The depth of Bunyan’s Bible knowledge shines out from the book and his choice of names for his characters, such as ”Judge Hategood” and ”Giant Despair” show glimpses of humour within the fiercely evangelical text. If any group or individual would like to borrow the different versions we looked at, the Family version we used (there are 12 copies in all) or the annotated version, Su McArthur is happy to lend them: 0118 9776411 or mcarthur230@btinternet.com

Su

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Letters to the Editor “If it ain’t broke, don’t mend it!”

It contrast to David Chapman’s contribution in the April magazine regarding the removal of the 150-year old Austrian Oak pews in our beautiful church of All Saints, my heart sank into my boots when I read the Rector’s letter in the March magazine. And into a deep well of despond at your own views, David Chapman. As I’m not sure who you are, please introduce yourself to me one Sunday. I have travelled the world and worshipped my God in many sacred places – hospital chapels (with pews), Greek Orthodox (with pews), St Paul’s in Kuwait (with pews), Coptic Christian in Cairo (with pews), Church of India in Kashmir (“apologies memsahib, for comfy cushions, vandals burned our pews but we saved our church”), Roman Catholic (with pews), many cathedrals (with pews), etc., etc. Could I ask what is going to happen to our lovely oak pews from All Saints? Will they be put in a gastro pub? And where are you going to buy chairs which are stable enough to survive 150 years? Never mind who will have to move them to accommodate concerts, parties, dances and ‘space’. (What’s the Cornerstone for, by the way?) Another anecdote comes to mind, “If you haven’t got the money to pay for it, then you can’t have it!” Our money at this time of recession would be better spent elsewhere. Am I not the only one who does NOT want this vandalisation of our church? I think not. Everyone I have spoken to so far has said they do NOT want this to happen. So come on all you out there, have the courage to speak up boldly NOW and put a stop to it before it becomes a fait accompli. Open the doors and step into the tranquil sanctity of familiar places. It is nonsense to say that people will not move up along the pew to make room for one more – of course they will if you ask them nicely – and bring your own cushion if you want to be more ‘comfortable’. And I have never yet known a child who could stand still for two hours! They have always seemed quite happy in the pews to me.

Esmé Few

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ALL SAINTS CHURCH SOCIAL COMMITTEE

CONFIRMATION EVENING THURSDAY 13th MAY Again this year we will be welcoming candidates, families and friends for refreshments in the Cornerstone following the Church service. We need please donated contributions of both sweet and savoury finger food either homemade or shop bought. Please let us know, if you are able to contribute, as soon as possible which is a big help when we try to estimate how much we need to make and to buy. Thank you very much.

THE CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY TABLE Please note the table will be in the Cornerstone following the 9.30am service on Sunday 23rd May and not Sunday 9th May as previously stated.

COFFEE-TIME CAFÉ The next Social Committee coffee –time (except that it will be a summer drink) is on Sunday July 11th in the Cornerstone following the 9.30am service when we will be serving ‘strawberries & some-thing’! If you are over 60 we hope to see you at the tea party on Sunday 9th May.

Contacts: Mavis Mason 9792940 Diana Clifford 9792614 During June please contact Mavis only

Philip and James Quiz Answers (from pg. 11)

1. J. Bond 2. P. Pullman 3. J. May 4. J 5. P. Pirrip 6. P. Larkin 7. J. Galway 8. P, Duke of Edinburgh

9. J and the Giant Peach 10. Jesse J. 11. P. 12. David J.

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Baptisms 28 March Taylor Stuart-Campbell Elizabeth Jane Salmons Newton Denis Zenon Page 4 April Kate Lauren Williams Rhys David Williams Burial of Ashes 16 March Christine Hickman Age 89 22 March Doreen Florence Roberts Age 93

At Easthampstead Park Crematorium 31 March Heather Marion Mann Age 69 Cedric John Lucas Age 87 8 April Cecil Francis Langley Age 80

Number of Sundays 4 Sundays 850 Week days 211

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