The Parish Magazine of Tilehurst St. Catherine and Calcot St. Birinus.
32
September 2014 RG31 RG31 RG31 RG31 September 2014 September 2014 September 2014 September 2014 September 2014 September 2014 September 2014 September 2014 September 2014 September 2014 September 2014 September 2014 50p 50p 50p The Parish Magazine of The Parish Magazine of The Parish Magazine of The Parish Magazine of The Parish Magazine of The Parish Magazine of The Parish Magazine of The Parish Magazine of The Parish Magazine of The Parish Magazine of The Parish Magazine of The Parish Magazine of Tilehurst St. Catherine Tilehurst St. Catherine Tilehurst St. Catherine Tilehurst St. Catherine Tilehurst St. Catherine Tilehurst St. Catherine Tilehurst St. Catherine Tilehurst St. Catherine Tilehurst St. Catherine Tilehurst St. Catherine Tilehurst St. Catherine Tilehurst St. Catherine & Calcot St. Birinus & Calcot St. Birinus & Calcot St. Birinus & Calcot St. Birinus & Calcot St. Birinus & Calcot St. Birinus & Calcot St. Birinus & Calcot St. Birinus & Calcot St. Birinus & Calcot St. Birinus & Calcot St. Birinus & Calcot St. Birinus
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September 2014 RG31 2
Cover Picture : Happy faces at Mega Makers holiday club Photo Stuart Poore
RG31 is published 10 times a year on the first Sunday of the month (not January or August) by the P.C.C. of Tilehurst: St Catherine & Calcot: St Birinus and is also available via our website www.stcatherines-tilehurst.org.uk
All details and events are correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of going to print. The P.C.C. and Editors are not necessarily in agreement with the views expressed by contributors in this magazine.
We welcome contributions of articles or letters for future issues from anyone living in, or connected with the parish. All contributions must be received by the editors by the 17th day of the month preceding the next month’s issue at the latest.
So how do you identify yourself? Are you male/female, under 30/over 30, British/not British, Christian/Non Christian, Baptised/not Baptised, communicant/non-communicant? Sometimes you have to be one box or the other and sometimes that excludes you, and creates an us and them. Communion is like that.
Traditionally, in the Church of England anyway, receiving communion came after confirmation. Not so of course in Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. But today there is an option of children receiving communion before confirmation. So read on.
The thinking goes, when you are Baptised and you are growing up in the church, you are treated as a full member of that church, and all of the ways that God can help and strengthen you are open to you. Receiving Jesus in the special Communion meal that we have is one of those ways. Jesus didn't put any restrictions on who could remember him in this way, so why should we?
Do I hear a few buts; well good, that's OK because the PCC, Cornwell Leadership and the Worship Action Group have been thinking about this issue and want us all to think about it a little more.
The Diocese requires that we consider the issue and talk to parents about how they feel, and then obtain permission from the Bishop to do this. Once a child receives communion then they can receive in any other Church of England as well. Your identity is transferable as a Communicant and goes with you.
So Christians let’s get thinking – informative sermons to follow – obviously there will be guidelines, but I'm in favour and ticking the yes box. Are you?
Denis
September 2014 RG31 4
Services in the Parish
Every Thursday
12 noon Holy Communion or Midday Prayers - St Catherine 2.30 pm Community Prayer - St Catherine
Wednesday 3rd September
11.00 am York House Communion
Sunday 7th September - Proper 18
(Ezekiel 33:7-11, Psalm 119:33-40, Matthew 18:15-20)
8.00 am Morning Prayer - St. Catherine 9.30 am Holy Communion - St Catherine 11.00 am All Age Service - Cornwell
Saturday 13th September (Please note later date)
3.30 pm Messy Church - ‘Harvest’ - St Catherine
Sunday 14th September
(Genesis 50:15-21, Psalm 103:8-13, Romans 14:1-12, Mathew 18:21-35) 8.00 am Holy Communion - St Catherine 9.30 am Word & Worship Guest Preacher - Philip Bingham from CMS - St Catherine 11.00 am All Age Service - Cornwell
Sunday 21st September
(Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16)
8.00 am Holy Communion - St. Catherine 9.30 am Holy Communion - Theme Needs & Conflict - St Catherine 11.00 am All Age Service with Communion Theme Children and Communion - Cornwell
Sunday 28th September
(Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32)
8.00 am Holy Communion - St. Catherine 9.30 am Holy Communion – Guest speaker from CCA - St Catherine 11.00 am All Age Service - Harvest - Cornwell followed by ‘Bring & Share’ lunch
Wednesday 1st October
11.00 am York House Communion
5 September 2014 RG31
Sunday 5th October
(Deuteronomy 8:7-18, Psalm 65, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 12:26-30)
8.00 am Morning Prayer – St Catherine 9.30 am Holy Communion - Theme Harvest - St Catherine 11.00 am All Age Service - Cornwell 11.30 am Baptisms – St Catherine
Saturday 11th October
3.30 pm Messy Church - St Catherine
Messy Church Messy Church takes place on one Saturday (next dates 13th September and 11th October) most months at St Catherine’s Church and Centre. It’s a time where the whole family can have fun together and grow in faith, learning about God through a mix of craft activities, stories, songs and prayers. The .
Every week has a theme, so after a time of making things together in the hall, we have a short celebration around the theme in church. This is nearly always followed by a hot meal, which is a time to eat and talk together, building relationships in families and with new friends.
This year we have chosen Messy Dates to include the 5th Sunday United Service “Messy Church Together", and celebrations on Christmas Eve and Good Friday.
A calendar for the whole year is now available and details can also be found on www.StCatherines-Tilehurst.org.uk and www.Facebook.com/Tilehurst.St.Catherine
Transforming Conflict On 2nd and 4th Sundays at 7.00 pm starting on 28th September at St Catherine's there will be 5 sessions looking at "Transforming Conflict"
Dates and topics will be:
28th September Identity and Needs
12th October Conflict in the Bible
26th October Approaches to Conflict
9th November Christians in Conflict - "Issues of Sexuality"
23rd November Being a Peacemaker
Sessions will be led by Rev Denis Smith
September 2014 RG31 6
7 September 2014 RG31
Since 1990, Operation Christmas Child has partnered with caring people like you to deliver over 113 million shoebox gifts to children around the world. Their mission being to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. The shoeboxes go to children based on need, regardless of their background or religious beliefs. It is an unconditional gift of love.
The communities based at St Catherine’s and Cornwell Community churches have been part of this partnership for many years.
Every year Tony and I marvel at the number of shoeboxes that continue to be wrapped, packed and donated with so much love, care and thought; not just by church members but also by the Brownies, young people from our church groups and individuals who see the notices and leaflets and just come along with a box either to one of the churches or to Tony’s home.
I will be bringing along the leaflets to St Catherines in September for the 2014 Appeal and Tony will be taking some along to Cornwell.
There will be Shoebox services at the churches on 16th November which is the last date that we can accept packed boxes. Last year we had some flat packed decorative boxes from Samaritans Purse for those who do not want to or cannot wrap shoeboxes with wrapping paper and we again have plenty of these for 50p each.
You can also wrap, pack and dispatch shoeboxes on line.
How to make a shoebox gift
1 Find an average sized shoebox and wrap the box and the lid, separately ,with Christmas wrapping paper.
2 Look at the leaflet, decide whether the gift will be for a boy or a girl and how old they will be – stick the relevant sticker showing this choice onto the shoebox.
3 Look at the leaflet, pick a couple of items from each of the sections and put these into the shoebox (do remember to check the items are not on the ‘do not include’ section).
4 Complete the label and enclose £3 – remembering to complete the gift aid section if possible – and put into the box; or complete the form online – if you do pay online you can include the barcode and then they will send you an email to say where your shoebox has been sent.
5 Put the lid on the box and an elastic band around the box to hold the lid on.
6 Take to St Catherines, Cornwell or Tony’s home by/on the date requested.
7 Come to a Shoebox service on 16th November to hear about this charity.
Good News, Great Joy Bless a child with a shoebox gift
September 2014 RG31 8
Singing Songs
The Workshop Team
Games
They say that a picture paints a thousand words. So here’s an 12,000 word essay on just some of the fun that 70 children and 50 adult and teenage helpers had at ‘Mega Makers’, this year’s Holiday Club….
Group Construction
Mega Makers
Setting up the Church
9 September 2014 RG31
Fish & Chips Food Technicians
Bible Stories
Drama
Performing Songs
Craft
September 2014 RG31 10
Holiday Club Reports From the Workshop
This year’s Holiday Club was “Mega Makers” and was based on creation and inventions. It was great to have 70
young inventors, helped by 50 adult and teenage engineers join us.
We learnt about some great inventions and inventors of the past and examined some of God’s greatest creations. From the different types of plant life in the Eden Project's biodomes, to the creatures of the sea and the scuba equipment used to see them, we went all over the UK thanks to our DVD.
We tried some crazy inventions of our own, but our main invention was the Mega Machine. It was designed to show how big God’s love was by making things bigger. Those of you who joined us on the Sunday will remember we had some problems, but on Monday it appeared to work well - turning a small roll into a large loaf (which was eaten on Tuesday !). Wednesday’s trial seemed to work best, turning a small doll into a life sized doll.
However we had our problems during the week, and those who got wet will testify !
Nevertheless it produced enough fish fingers for us all to eat on Friday.
The children made their own inventions in their groups, as well as playing games, learning new songs, and acting out the daily bible story for us.
We hope that amongst the fun, the children learnt how broad and long and high and deep God’s love is for them.
Professor Ian Ventor & assistant May Kamess
From Backstage
Teamwork was the word which sums up backstage at this year’s Holiday Club. We had 50 adult and teenage helpers sign in each morning, most from St Catherine’s and Cornwell, but also helped by members of Reading Community Church and St Michael’s. It was great to see everyone all working together, no matter what age or church background, for a common theme - to show to the children how broad and long and high and deep is Christ’s love for us.
There was so much to do :- drinks & biscuits for the children to prepare and sandwiches to make for the helpers, construction craft to prepare, songs to check over, drama props to sort, worksheets to photocopy and much more - but mainly the mess from yesterday to clear up !
A lot went on even before the first Sunday service, so we’re all very grateful to Tony & Evelyn for all the administration & registration form delivery that took place - and will continue to take place in early September as every attendee is invited back to Cool Club, GLuG or Youth Group as their age dictates.
We’re also grateful to the various congregations and groups of St Catherine’s who stop normal activities for a week while we take over the place.
While we gather breath and see if we have enough energy to do it all again next year, we hope the teamwork will continue through the various Parish activities over the next year.
Stuart & Val Poore
11 September 2014 RG31
Once again a year after feeding the aliens from the Star Ship, the Catering Team Technicians arrived in the kitchen to provide the Mega Makers Engineers and Mechanics with their daily portions of inventive food.
Sadly because of her asteroid experience last year Joan Burbidge decided to retire after many years of mashing the eggs and tuna (separately!). The Caterers were Heather the Hacksaw, Moira the Mallet, Betty the Band saw, Steph the Spanner, Paddy the Pliers and Rita the Ratchet. We were grateful to our Assistant Food Technician Sheila Drew who stood in for Steph on Thursday morning.
Each morning we started with a prayer session and then began our ‘duties’. Drinks were served as the helpers arrived and once the children were in their groups we began to prepare for their mid-morning drinks and biscuits and the sandwich lunch for the helpers. (One of our helpers was partial to broken biscuits – no clues – Ha! and Bill Martin’s a big fan of egg sandwiches.)
This year each day the sandwiches were all consumed – no left-overs! In the Inventor’s Workshop on Monday Professor Ian Ventor (who was in desperate need of a hair trim) and his colleague May Kamess had turned a bread roll into a very, very, very large loaf of bread with the aid of his Mega Maker machine. This loaf was presented to the Food Technicians who sampled the bread (quite a few times) before distributing it along with the biscuits and drinks on Tuesday morning.
There was always an atmosphere of friendship and fun in the kitchen, and we organised our time so that we could watch the children at the end of the morning in the Inventor’s Workshop performing their singing and drama.
On Friday a ‘Celebration Meal’ of 280 Fish Fingers and a bag of Chicken Nuggets (once again cooked in the kitchen) and Chips (from the Lemon Plaice) were provided for over 120 adults and children.
Once again it was a privilege to be part of an extremely successful Holiday Club. During our prayer time each day we prayed that the children would be protected, and through hearing more about Jesus and his disciples would be able to share what they had learnt during the week with their friends and family.
Catering Manager – Rita
P.S. By the way - hearing Professor Ventor and May Kamess bickering in the Inventor’s Workshop each day you’d think they were a married couple!!
From the Mega Makers Food Technicians
September 2014 RG31 12
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are able to provide you with the highest quality products on the
How to find us: Cross Caversham Bridge from Reading. Turn left onto A4074 Woodcote Road. After leaving built
up area take first left. Farm Shop on right in 1 mile
www.crosslanesfruitfarm.co.uk & Facebook
* Plums in August and early September only
APPLES
PEARS
& PLUMS* Farm Shop
Open Wed to Sun
CROSS LANES FRUIT FARM
Mapledurham, Reading RG4 7UW Tel 0118 972 3167
Orchard Open Day - Sun 12 Oct
13 September 2014 RG31
Living Well with Dementia 3.00 pm until 7.30 pm Wednesday 17th September
Salvation Army Hall, Lower Earley, Chalfont Close, Earley, RG6 5HZ
Come along between 3.00 pm and 7:30 pm to this Free event for people with dementia, their family, friends, & anyone who is working with or supporting those with dementia.
Over 20 stands from charities, local borough councils, health services, local businesses, & the voluntary & community sector, with information on the support and services they offer for people with dementia and their families.
Free parking available. Transport can be provided from throughout Reading and Wokingham Borough (Must be booked at least, a week in advance)
About 30 members, husbands and friends had dinner at the Toby Carvery in Caversham. Judging by the chatter and laughter it was much enjoyed by all. Rita was thanked by Moira for arranging lifts and organizing the evening and was given a lovely plant on behalf of everyone. Sheila Bryant Some of the happy diners
Apple Day Celebrations - Orchard Open Day Cross Lanes Fruit Farm, Mapledurham RG4 7UW
10.00 am-5.00 pm Sunday 12th October Surprise yourselves! Come to our Open Day and find that apples can interest you for hours. From foodies to fruit haters, young and excited or remembering the flavours and special varieties of your childhood there is something for everyone.
Apples and Pears for tasting, Apple games for the children and Beekeepers. Stalls will be selling delicious apple pies, cakes, muffins and jellies with local cider too.
Join one of the guided walks at 11.00am or 12.30 pm and 2.00 pm or 3.30 pm. There’ll be exhibitions in the barns and experts on hand to answer your questions.
The Farm Shop will be open as usual. Tea and refreshments will be available all day.
Entrance and car parking are FREE.
For further information contact Gill Franklin on ℡ 0118 972 3167 or see www.crosslanesfruitfarm.co.uk .
NOTE. If you miss the day, the Farm Shop is open every Wednesday to Sunday from 10.00am to 6.00pm until the apples run out in January. Or see us at Farmers’ Markets.
September 2014 RG31 14
15 September 2014 RG31
Dates for the Diary See the following pages for more information
September Weds 3 PCC meets 8.00 pm St Catherine's
Thurs 4 Cornwell Prayer meeting 7.00 pm at 8 Highworth Way
Tues 9 Cool club re-starts after the summer break
Tues 9 Tilehurst Parish Council meeting 7.30 pm at The Calcot Centre
Fri 12 GLuG & Youth group re-start after the summer break
Sat 13 Purley Farmers' Market 8.30 am to 12.30 pm at The Barn, Goosecroft Lane off Beech Road, Purley on Thames
Sat 13 ‘Ride & Stride’ sponsored event see page 29
Sat 13 Heritage open day - See local press for details of what’s on in Reading
Sat 13 Messy Church 3.30 - 5.00 pm St Catherine's (Note 2nd not 1st Saturday)
Sun 14 Open afternoon at 'Thrive' see page 26
Weds 17 Living well with Dementia exhibition see page 13
Weds 17 ‘The Link’ AGM & service 7.30 pm at St Michael's - all welcomed
Sat 20 A ‘Grand Day out’ in Oxford, see page 21
Sat 20 Crafty Space
Weds 24 Diocesan Pilgrimage walk Moulsford – Tilehurst, see page 29
Weds 24 Communications Action group meets 8.00 pm at St Catherine’s
Weds 24 Blood doning at the Calcot Centre
Thurs 25 Open meeting at CIRDIC
Sat 27 Coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support see page 19
October Weds 1 Reading celebrates UK Older People’s Day (see page 28)
Weds 1 PCC meets 8.00 pm St Catherine's
Thurs 2 Cornwell Prayer meeting 7.00 pm at 8 Highworth Way
Fri 3 3.00 pm at Boxgrove House , Songs, Bible story and prayers
Sat 4 Sponsored walk in aid of ‘Send-a-Cow’ charity—Educational supplies To join us please contact Tony Bartlett ℡ 0118 967 8659
Sat 11 Purley Farmers' Market 8.30 am to 12.30 pm at The Barn, Goosecroft Lane off Beech Road, Purley on Thames
Sat 11 Messy Church 3.30 - 5.00 pm St Catherine's (Note 2nd not 1st Saturday)
Mon 13 Meeting of the Healing Ministry team 7.45 pm St Catherine’s
Tues 14 Tilehurst Parish Council meeting 7.30 pm at The Calcot Centre
Sat 18 Crafty Space
Weds 22 Blood doning at the Cornwell Centre
Sat 25 Jumble sale 2.00 pm at St Catherine’s
Tues 28 Half term - no Cool Club
Fri 31 Half term - no GLuG or Youth group
September 2014 RG31 16
What’s On In and A
St Catherine’s
Tea Dance On Thursdays :-
25th September 9th & 23rd October
At St Catherine’s Hall Wittenham Avenue
Time 2.30 - 4.30 pm Price £4 each includes Dancing,
Instruction & Tea
Further details contact Anita Holbeche ℡℡℡℡ 0118 941 8046
Wednesdays A simple morning service with
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church held 9.30 am alternating between
there and St Catherine's followed by a cup of coffee.
See weekly notices at either Church. When at St Catherine’s followed by
Meeting Point - meeting together and meeting with God.
Teas and Coffees, people to listen and pray in the presence of God for you or for those you are concerned about.
Do something amazing
Give Blood At the Cornwell Centre,
Home Croft off Clements Mead Weds 10th Sept & 22nd Oct
At the Calcot Centre High View off Royal Avenue
Wednesday 24th September
Call 0300 123 23 23 to make an appointment or just turn up on the day
More events for
Young people For 5-7’s ‘Cool Club’, 4.30-5.45pm on Tuesdays in term time at the Cornwell Centre. We have fun with craft, games, cooking, Bible stories and songs. For details contact Tony Bartlett ℡ 0118 967 8659
For 8-11’s ‘GL u G’ 6pm - 7.30pm on Fridays in term time at St Catherine's Hall For details contact Tony Bartlett ℡ 0118 967 8659
For 11+’s at Secondary school Church youth group 7.45-9.15pm alternate Fridays in term time. For details contact Evelyn Bartlett ℡ 0118 967 8659
For the whole family Sundays at Cornwell - see back page
17 September 2014 RG31
What’s On In and Around the Parish
Thursday Lunch Every Thursday at 12.45 pm.
For a reasonable price you can buy simple wholesome fare of soup, rolls, sandwiches and home-made cakes.
A warm, friendly welcome awaits all, from great grand-children to great grand-parents.
If you’d like to know more contact Anne Soley ℡ 0118 942 5407
It’s Tuesday How about a little tea and cake? Maybe take some gentle exercise and enjoy a song or two? Get crafty with clay, bring along your hobby? Play a game of cards or just relax and read a paper or magazine, in a warm friendly atmosphere?
Try something new - It’s Tuesday meets 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month Price: £3.50
Contact Bill Martin ℡ 0118 962 5474
Friday Friends Meets weekly from
2.00 - 4.00 pm every Friday Price £3.50 offering a mix of light exercise, singing together, table-top games and craft activities in a safe, warm and friendly environment – with tea and cakes.
If you think you would like to come, or think you could help, chat with Rev Denis Smith ℡ 0118 942 7786 or E-mail [email protected]
September
Wed 10th AGM - at St Catherine's 8.00 pm with Literature stall. Mike Heather will be leading the service which precedes the AGM.
Wed 17th MU Bible Study 8.00 pm at 26 Normanstead Road
Thurs 18th Anniversary Service 2.30 pm with friends from other Churches led by Mike Heather & followed by Tea and Cakes
Wed 24th Fellowship Afternoon 2.00 pm at 31 Normanstead Road
October
Wed 8 ‘Crafts for Christmas’ 8.00 pm at St Catherine’s Hall talk by Fiona Chant, all welcome
Wed 15th MU Bible Study 8.00 pm (venue to be arranged)
Wed 22nd Fellowship Afternoon 2.00 pm at 31 Normanstead Road
Sun 26th Memorial service & Tea
Heritage Open Days This event is over a weekend -11th to 14th September – and gives us the
chance to visit many interesting
buildings and open spaces in Reading not usually open to the public.
Among the places open are:
The Castle Inn, Castle Street, Brock Keep, Waterstones chapel and
bookshop, Caversham Court, Green Park Wind Turbine, Reading Chronicle
Archives, RISC Edible Roof Garden and
Superhome Open Day.
There is a list of everything open on
the Heritage Open Days website. They
are all free!
Community events
at St Catherine’s Church & Centre
Wittenham Avenue RG31 5LN
September 2014 RG31 18
Cornwell 0-5s is a well established Parent & Toddler Group run by local mums in the Cornwell Centre, Home Croft (off Clements Mead), Tilehurst, RG31 5WJ. We offer a stimulating and fun environment for children and a great place for parents and carers to socialise.
We run two sessions a week, Tuesday & Thursday 10.00 am until 1.00 pm.
Feel free to bring along a healthy packed lunch for you and your child and join the lunch club in the picnic area from 12.00 - 1.00 pm.
If you are interested in joining, please feel free to drop in at one of the sessions or call Joanne Howse � 07834 402 524 email: [email protected] or see www.cornwell0to5s.wordpress.com
St. Catherine’s Hall, Wittenham Avenue, RG31 5LN Saturdays - 20th September & 18th October
From 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm
We provide time, space, tea & coffee and some company. You bring along those craft projects you’ve always meant to do :-
Scrap-booking, card making, jewellery making, sewing, cross-stitch etc. Come and join the fun!
All we ask is for a donation to help cover costs.
Registered Charity 102992
Registered charity 1006732 - Established over 45 years
St Catherine’s Hall, Wittenham Avenue, Tilehurst, RG31 5LN
A caring and supportive setting where Children are our heart and inspiration
� Ofsted Inspected with a team of qualified staff � Outside Play Area � Morning Sessions Daily during Term Time � Children with Special Needs welcome � ‘Little Munch Club’ facility For more information, or to arrange a visit to come and see us in action, contact Nicola Fleming � 07979 650 577 or Kristy Fallaize � 07795 155 150 See www.stcatherinespreschool.co.uk
For further details contact Val Poore ℡ 0118 962 4555 e-mail [email protected]
19 September 2014 RG31
THE WORLD'S BIGGEST COFFEE MORNING
in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support
"A cuppa, some cake and a spot of shopping"
At: St Michael's Church Hall, The Meadway On: Saturday 27 September Time: 10.00 am to 1.00 pm
Please join us for Coffee, cakes and a bit of shopping at a variety of stalls
• AVON, Chocoholics, Pampered Chef, Phoenix Trading • Along with talented local artists and crafters with their • Cards, calendars, jewellery, baby gifts, knitted items, • Fabric items and lots of other lovely things. • A fabulous Raffle too!
Children welcome - colouring and face painting for them too
For more information, please contact Jo Hands (07801 845 755) Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017)
MINDFUL MEDITATION (Beginners)
Simple. Effective. Secular.
Increase health, well-being, energy, creativity and resilience.
Come to Oxford to bid farewell to Bishop John and enjoy a Grand Day Out! We don’t often get together – but on Saturday 20 September we’re inviting our whole diocesan family to gather in the centre of Oxford, to give thanks for Bishop John’s ministry among us, and to think about our onward journey.
There’ll be prayer and worship, a feast of different activities and the chance to join in a massive picnic on Christ Church Meadow. We’ll end with a huge open-air Eucharist. Everyone is invited; young, old, lay, ordained, families, single people, life-long Anglicans and people new to church. Everyone is welcome!
Timetable for the Day 10.00 am Opening worship on Christ
Church meadow (30 mins)
11.00 am A host of workshops, speakers and activities in venues around the city centre
Pilgrimage, Messy Fiesta for families, geo-caching, spirituality zone, ‘Living the Difference’ café, events for people with learning difficulties, mini-pilgrimage and much, much more. Let loose your imagination, exploring faith through prayer, the creative art, contemporary culture, social enterprise, climate change, the natural world and forgiveness.
12.30 pm Bring-your-own picnic on Christ Church Meadow
2.00 pm Workshops, speakers and activities around the city
3.30 pm Farewell Eucharist for Bishop John on Christ Church Meadow
The programme for the day is being added to all the time.
For more information and to register for further information and updates please go to:
www.oxford.anglican.org/granddayout.
Getting there The day will take place on Christ Church Meadow and at nearby venues (walking distance).
You are invited to come to Oxford using public transport or the city’s Park and Ride facilities.
If your church is bringing a coach, a drop off point is available within easy reach of Christ Church Meadow.
Booking All events at the Grand Day Out are free. But you do need to book to attend sessions. To do so, please go to www.oxford.anglican.org/granddayout.
More information If you’d like to know more, please do speak to staff at Diocesan Church House organising the day on ℡ 01865 208 277.
Say Farewell to Bishop John
at the Diocese of Oxford’s Grand Day Out!
Saturday 20th September 10.00 am – 5.00 pm
September 2014 RG31 22
This trip has really changed me so much because I am more confident in myself and I’m less shy than I was when I left Reading. It was the second time I’ve been abroad without my parents and my sister so I was quite nervous, mostly of meeting children who weren’t used to white people coming into their country. However in some parts of Accra – the capital of Ghana – this was a great chance for them to make lots of money because they know that white tourists would buy things from their stalls.
To help do my part with the rest of my Guide unit we helped to carry bricks to the orphanage, also carry water to help make the mixture to make bricks and the cement. Once we had a good amount of bricks, we did some brick laying. We made more bricks so the people who live in Ghana can continue until the next team come in October or November.
We also went to different places in Ghana for example saw how palm oil was made, went under a waterfall, and went to the Eugemot Orphanage to play with the orphans who stay in the orphanage and donated clothes and toys to the children.
We then went to a school and we taught the children how to play rounders and we taught the young children songs that we know like the hokey-cokey and we donated school supplies to them (they actually enjoy going to school).
On Sunday we split up into 3 groups and went to 3 different churches; when I went to my church there were different songs which were in their language and then we came up to the front and introduced ourselves and we sang a song
in English (but we didn’t have any practice).
On Wednesday – on my birthday – we met a chief of Ghana however we didn’t celebrate it, probably because everybody was still very tired from travelling to Ghana. So on Thursday with the pictures I received a birthday cake that was made by a lady from the village (that was literally the sweetest thing that I’ve heard of someone that I don’t know made me a cake to celebrate my birthday with my Guide unit and that made that evening so special to me) it was a ginger cake with a hint of ginger in the icing.
I would like to say a big thank you for everybody who has help contributed to our fund raising by buying and ordering cakes and buying toys, puzzles and books from our stalls. It was very kind of people giving us cheques for our fund raising and so far we have raised £5,000. Even though we been to our expeditions we still need to raise £1,000.
Helen O’Sullivan
Trying my hand at bricklaying
Helen goes to Ghana
23 September 2014 RG31
Nicola goes to Nicaragua Hello, my name is Nicola and recently I went on an expedition with Little Heath School to Nicaragua.
The climate in Nicaragua is varied. For example in León it was very dry and very hot; at one point it reached 38 degrees. In comparison to Estelí and Miraflor where it was your average British autumn day where it was colder and rained a lot!
One of the many highlights of the expedition was being able to climb a dormant volcano, which is called Maderas, in 11 ½ hours as a whole team. Even though it was very cloudy when we got to the top the whole feeling that me and my team were able to achieve a challenge that was both physically and mentally challenging truly was a big achievement.
Another one of the many highlights was working with the children at La Esperanza. Me and my group went to a school called La Perla del Gran Lago. This school was for children in years 4, 5 and 6. The school was the size of a tennis court with big grey concrete walls all around. So in the morning we would either be painting pictures on the walls or we would be mixing cement by hand as we didn’t have a cement mixer! Whereas in the afternoon we would spend two hours doing a variety of activities with the children. For example on our last day with the children we took them to the zoo which they all absolutely loved and they were sketching pictures of the animals and writing down the different names of the animals.
Despite the animals being in cramped conditions I loved seeing all of the children having a wonderful time.
What I was able to get out of this amazing expedition is that I am a lot more confident in myself, I’m not worrying about things as much, I have got a new positive outlook on life and I’m able to achieve more things because I am giving things a go before saying no as I felt like it would have affected my anxiety.
So I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported me in being able to achieve so much from this wonderful expedition. And also a massive thank you to all those who have bought lots of cake from us and I really do appreciate all of the kindness and generosity that people have given to me in the last 18 months leading up to this expedition.
Nicola O’Sullivan
September 2014 RG31 24
Three courses and coffee for ONLY £15.25. Children 12 and under JUST £7.50
Dining from 12.15 pm
Reservations please call 0118 941 6423
Celebrating? Book a private party Sunday lunch in your very own suite, please call Banqueting Office 0118 972 8601
Also available for all types of private functions: Parties, Christenings, After funeral gatherings and Conferences.
25 September 2014 RG31
September 2014 RG31 26
Thrive, the charity that uses gardening to support disabled and disadvantaged people is hosting three open garden days to showcase its disabled, Japanese and secret gardens as well as its conservation area and allotments.
When: 1.00-4.30 pm on Sunday 14th Sept
Where: The Geoffrey Udall Centre, Beech Hill, Reading, RG7 2AT
The charity asks for a donation of £3.50 (£1 children under 5)
For more information:
www.thrive.org.uk ℡ 0118 988 5688
27 September 2014 RG31
A group of us from St Catherine’s visit the residential home for men with learning disabilities, Boxgrove House in Little Heath Road, once a month, usually on the first Friday of the month.
We spend about half an hour there, singing some very simple worship songs, telling a bible story and saying some prayers.
Our bible story sometimes involves a bit of acting, which can be fun and cause some chuckles of laughter.
At our July meeting we welcomed Robert Longstaff who gave a very interesting and informative talk about the origins and history of corn dollies.
He then demonstrated how to make a 5 straw braid and members all had the opportunity to make one to take home. It was quite challenging, but once the basic method had been mastered, members discovered it was quite therapeutic.
We are very much aware of God’s presence with us there, allowing us to bring His blessing in ways which are appropriate to each person there, whether residents or carers.
If you would like to be part of this sharing of God’s love, or just want to know more, do contact Anne Soley or me. All local Christians are very welcome to join us. We can offer a lift if one is needed.
See ‘Dates for the Diary’ page 15 for our next visit.
Jo Day ℡ 0118 942 1481
St Catherine’s at Boxgrove House
Tilehurst Triangle WI Members are looking forward to a historic walk around Reading in August and our next meeting at St Catherine’s Hall is on 17th September at 7.30 pm with a talk about the role of Berkshire Women’s Aid.
New members are always welcome or you can come to a meeting as a visitor to find out more about the local evening WI.
Ros Somerville secretary ℡ 0118 941 6838
Heard about the 'smart' voice recorder? It can start recording a few seconds BEFORE you press the "RECORD "button! But, surely that's obvious rubbish! Basic common sense tells us that no-one can ever ... !
Hold on a moment!! It uses computer technology. While it's waiting for your instructions, it stealthily records and
I require you to have started already 'loops' round, only keeping the last few seconds of recording in memory so as not to fill itself up! When you wake up and realize that you're missing some important talk, you press the button. Your recording starts with those past few seconds and then goes on as normal! No actual magic! Sorry!
Phil French
September 2014 RG31 28
Word for Today
Change your response! ‘THE...LORD IS MY STRENGTH...HE ENABLES ME TO GO ON…’ HABAKKUK 3:19 NIV
Are things in your life falling apart? Your finances look uncertain, the career you worked to build is floundering, your health is failing, the people you trusted have let you down. Nobody enjoys such times, but if you live long enough you'll go through them. And they have a way of making you re-examine your responses.
When the things the prophet Habakkuk counted on started to crumble, he was forced to discern between what's truly important and what's merely temporal. It's a re-evaluation we all have to make at some point.
Here's what Habakkuk said: 'Though the fig tree does not bud...there are no grapes on the vines...the olive crop fails...the fields produce no food...there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord... The Sovereign Lord is my strength...He enables me to go on' (vv. 17-19 NIV).
Habakkuk realised he had no control over certain things. So he chose to control his response by rejoicing in the Lord regardless of what happened, and drawing from God the strength to 'go on'.
What can you learn from this man? That you have a choice! That you can decide to praise God regardless of the hand life deals you. God doesn't promise to take you out of your situation; He promises to bring you through it.
So change your response and begin to praise God for His faithfulness, for your salvation, for your health, for your friends and family and all the other blessings He's given you. If you look for reasons to rejoice, you'll find them!
This thought is taken from ‘The Word for Today’, Daily Bible reading notes produced quarterly by UCB (United Christian Broadcasters Ltd) PO Box 255, Stoke on Trent, ST4 8YY. If you would like to receive these free notes or those aimed at Secondary School age, please ask Evelyn Bartlett ℡ 0118 967 8659 who is our church rep for UCB.
People are living longer and 23% of the UK will be aged 65 and over by 2035. The main aim of UK Older People’s Day is to celebrate the achievements and contributions that older people make to our society and tackle negative attitudes and outdated stereotypes.
In Reading, the Older People’s Partnership (ROPP) is organising a celebration event on Wednesday 1st October at St. Laurence Church in the town centre between 10.30 am and 3.30 pm with a wide range of presentations, demonstrations and information displays.
The programme includes performances
and demonstrations by choirs, dancers, (you may recognise some of the Morris Dancers!) volunteers, tai chi-ers, plus presentations about caring in older age, volunteering, keeping active, grand-parenting and generally celebrating the contributions of older people.
The lunchtime period will provide lots of opportunity to browse a wide range of information stalls.
There’s also an opportunity to volunteer as part of the event support team
Prayer in Emergencies A call to one of the following numbers will start a chain of prayer straight away.
Valerie Forrow ℡ 0118 942 9319
Hilary Smee ℡ 0118 941 2895
Evelyn Bartlett ℡ 0118 967 8659
Jo Day ℡ 0118 942 1481
Parish News
Wednesday 24th September
The Bishop of Oxford's River Thames pilgrimage day 6 goes from Moulsford to Tilehurst (eleven miles) with prayer & reflection along the way and finishing with tea at Mary Magdalen Church.
A number of us will be doing the walk, please let me know if you’re interested.
Tony Bartlett ℡ 0118 967 8659
RIP Funerals taken by Ministers Norman Arthur Richardson Terry Lambourne Stella White
Please remember their families and friends in your prayers.
Our first Community Fair jointly run by St Catherine’s Church and St Catherine’s Pre-School was held on Saturday 12th July.
It was very successful event raising over £1,750 which was shared between St Catherine’s Church and St Catherine’s Pre-school. There were a huge variety of stalls, many aimed at our younger visitors such as the bouncy castle and ice cream van and we had many visitors, all of whom looking as if they were having a great afternoon.
Many thanks to Sue, Sonia and Emma Pierce from the Pre-school for all the hard work that they put in to ensure
that everything went smoothly. Also a big thank you to so many people from our congregation and from Cornwell who manned stalls, provided raffle prizes and baked delicious cakes!
Special thanks go to the following local businesses who kindly donated goods or services: PW Williams: Estate Agents, Tesco Stores, Calcot Hotel, Warings Bakery, The Village Florist, The Village Butchers.
The whole fair had a wonderful community feel – it was so good to see so many of our neighbours there.
Sonia Ludford
St Catherine’s Community Fair
‘Ride & Stride’ Saturday
13th September The annual sponsored walk/cycle to visit as many churches as you can.
We need participants, sponsors and volunteers to man the checkpoints at St Catherine's and Cornwell.
Please contact me for more information. Tony Bartlett ℡ 0118 967 8659
Congratulations to Shauna Silvey and Sarah Rawding who are both off to University
September 2014 RG31 30
St Catherine’s Hall - Regular Bookings Monday 8.30 am - 1.15 pm St Catherine’s Pre-school
Friday 8.30 am- 1.15 pm St Catherine’s Pre-school Contact as above
2.00 pm - 4.00 pm Friday Friends See page 17
6.00 pm - 7.30 pm GLuG for 8-11’s Contact Tony Bartlett ℡ 0118 967 8659
7.45 pm - 9.15 pm Church Youth Group (fortnightly) Contact Tony Bartlett
Saturday 9.30 am - 11.00 am J G Dance (Ballet) ℡ 01491 572 000
1.30 pm - 5.30 pm Crafty Space (monthly) See page 18
3.30 pm - 5.00 pm Messy Church (monthly) See page 16
7.30 pm - 10.00 pm Short Mat Bowls Club Contact Anne Soley ℡ 0118 942 5407
Sunday 9.00 am & 11.00 am Refreshments after church services
St Catherine’s Hall is available for hire at competitive rates for groups or individuals, both regularly or for one off events. It is especially popular for Children's Parties. For booking details, contact Sheila Drew on ℡ 0118 942 7254 � [email protected]
The Anglican Parish of Tilehurst St. Catherine & Calcot St. Birinus
Saturday 3.30 pm Messy Church is on one Saturday most months and also other ‘Messy Dates’, it’s a fun time of worship and activities for all the family followed by a meal.
Sunday 8.00 am Our Early Service of Communion or Morning Prayer, is quiet and reflective. An opportunity to start Sunday thinking about God.
Sunday 9.30 am Is an exciting time of Praise and Worship, to fire you up for the week ahead. An opportunity for an encounter with God through word, sacrament, prayer, prophecy and healing. There are refreshments at 9.00 am and again at 11.00 am.
11.30 am on the first Sunday of the month Baptisms are held in a lively service that is fun for all the family.
Where there’s a fifth Sunday in the month Both churches meet together for a joint service at 10.30 am either at St Catherine’s or the Cornwell Centre.
ST CATHERINE OF SIENA Wittenham Avenue, Tilehurst, RG31 5LN www.stcatherines-tilehurst.org.uk
CORNWELL COMMUNITY CHURCH The Cornwell Centre, Home Croft, off Clements Mead, Tilehurst, RG31 5WJ www.cornwellcommunitychurch.org.uk www.cornwellcommunitychurch.blogspot.co.uk
Sunday 11.00 am An opportunity for the whole family to meet with God through praise, prayer and teaching with special fun activities for children (Sunday School).
Refreshments (including cakes and fresh coffee) from 10.30 am and after the service.
An informal Communion Service is usually held on the second Sunday of each month.
See pages 4 & 5 for a full listing of church services in the Parish For initial enquiries regarding baptisms and weddings, please telephone ℡ 0118 942 7786
