#285: Looks like the summer might have gone
Dear friends,
Morning, morning, morning. I have had a very exciting week being a journalist and interviewing the person with the longest job title in the whole parish- Mary Cassidy, who is the, hmmmm, let me get this right, deep breath, “Deputy Warden for Mission and Spirituality.” I got the chance to sit down with her over a slice of Gruyere to find out all about the Quiet Day she is organising at St Paul’s on the 16th of November which everyone is welcome at as long as they book in advance so we know how many digestive biscuits to dust off from the back of the cupboard…
Key Notices
The items damaged during the arson attack at St Paul’s in March are being removed for restoration this week, including the altar. For the next weeks we will use one of the smaller altars from a side chapel. We also (nearly) have permission to commission the icon to hang in the Prayer Corner, next to the statue of Mary. Nearly…
6s, 7s and 8s (our Zoom group for those in the named school years) is starting back on Monday the 8th of November at 4.30pm until 5.15pm- games, friendship, talk about God. If you’d like to come along, please let Richard know. Can’t wait to get going on! November the 8th and then every fortnight.
The Diocese is rightly proud of their Space Makers resource to aid contemplation in Schools- see here for more details: Space Makers: the contemplative toolkit for schools (anglican.org)
A donation page has been set up in memory of Geraldine if anyone would like to make a donation: GERALDINE LEA | memorygiving.com
This coming Sunday
The Gospel for this Sunday is a very beautiful one- Mark 10.46-end- so do read through it beforehand if you get chance. Services are at 8am and 9.30 at St Paul’s (with Livestream), 10 at Woosehill (with Livestream) and 11 at St Nick’s. The 11 will be taken by Bob Whiteley, a retired priest who lives now in Wargrave, who has been helping out in the Deanery for ages, and the Rector will preach.
Forthcoming Attractions
Don’t forget that the Clocks go back on Sunday the 31st of October- an extra hour in bed!
Next Sunday (the 31st) sees All Sts being kept in the morning at 9.30, with an All Together style, and then All Souls being kept at 6.15pm. Invitation letters have been sent out to those families which have had funerals with the parish in the last few years but everyone is welcome- walk round the candlelit churchyard, come to the service at 6.15pm, stay for coffee or tea afterwards. Also, if you would like the name of a loved one remembered in the service, please email Louise or write it on the list at the back of Church. Thanks.
Two walks for Climate Change concern– at 9.15am from Elms Field on the 31st of October organised by All Saints, and then churches in Reading are planning a peaceful march to show our care for God’s creation – on Saturday 6th November at 1pm. “It feels like people would like to have a simple way they can make a difference with regard to Climate Change, and these walks/marches are a tangible – and local – way to do that. If you want further information, the person organising the Reading march is Nathan Hunt, Minister of Shinfield Baptist Church, and his email is nathan@shinfieldbaptist.org.uk“
Concert in St Paul’s on Thursday 18th of November by Park Opera:
Lucky Numbers for October
The four October Lucky Numbers winning numbers were drawn at random by the congregation of St Nicholas after communion on Sunday 17th October.
The lucky winners were:-
£50 No 18 Jane Creasy
£25 No 98 Keith Mintern
£15 No 85 Frances Self
£10 No 80 Janet & David Charlton
The Draw is a simple way of raising funds for repairs and renewals to the church building. One share (number) costs £24 per year and the draw takes place monthly (either at St Nicholas’s or St Paul’s) for prizes of £50, £25, £15 and £10. All remaining funds go to the Restoration Fund. If you would like to subscribe, or want further information, please contact Tony Roberts (979 5351), Liz Gallagher (989 1176) or Mary Cassidy (979 5096) – or in person at church (Mary at St Paul’s, Tony or Liz at St Nicholas’).
A Reflection on Noticing
This article, recommended by Mary, is a really helpful reminder of the need to notice the world around us, something I suspect we got quite good at during the worst of Lockdown but which is now being squeezed out by the busyness of life every day: A Discipline of Noticing – Ignatian Spirituality
