#289: Bertie says it’s time to shine!

A note from Bertie- I am too busy to write anything at the moment because I am on page 74 of Ned Palmer’s “A Cheesemonger’s History of Cheese in Britain.” Vernon recommended it to me- he is a nice man- and I haven’t slept since Monday because I am so excited by what I am eating. In fact, I am so excited that I have eaten pages 38 and 46. Sadly they only talked about cheese and didn’t taste of it.

This Coming Sunday

As well as being the Feast of Christ the King (the last Sunday in the Church’s year, because it is Advent Sunday on the 28th) this Sunday is also Inclusive Church Sunday. St Paul’s and St Nick’s are members of Inclusive Church. The two festivals go well together because the Kingdom Jesus embodies and comes to bring is one which is welcoming of everyone, and made complete when everyone is at home there, irrespective of all of the human differences which so often set people against each other or lead to judgement. Jane is presiding at 9.30 and 11 and Richard is preaching- and Cara is at Woosehill at 10.

And please don’t forget Evensong at 6.15pm at St Paul’s.

If you want to know more about Inclusive Church the website is inclusive-church.org

The Collect for Sunday reads like this:

Searching God: To you no one is lost, no one is left behind,            

no one is the price to be paid for the greater good.

Give us the same restless desire, the same fierce joy,

which finds grace in every child of earth and makes a community open to all.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, who loved the world and did not count the cost. Amen.

Forthcoming Events

Last call for the Marriage of Figaro concert this very night…

The 6s and 7s Group meet again on Zoom on Monday at 4.30pm, to start talking through the Advent Candles, and play online games. Please let Richard know if you need an invite. Everyone in School Year 6, 7 and 8 welcome.

The Advent Course will happen on Zoom on a Tuesday evening at 7.15pm, building on the weekly Parish Bible Study. We will be looking in detail at the prophecies of Isaiah. Tuesday the 23rd will be an overview of the book of Isaiah and then the weeks of Advent will zoom in. Do please come along.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83997394879?pwd=L1FDSWxSYmYyOGNHUmd0ZytNQURRUT09

Meeting ID: 839 9739 4879         Passcode: 132087

Deanery Synod– anyone is welcome to join us for our Synod meeting next Wednesday at 8pm where the theme for the evening will be how we are and can be working well with our local schools, sharing some of what is already happening.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81839299686?pwd=Q2M5d1RJdE83SG9IRldNdk1QY1NVdz09

Meeting ID: 818 3929 9686 Passcode: 829561

Woosehill Zoom Quiz is on Friday the 26th of November- email lynnepaine@yahoo.co.uk to join in!

Wokingham Winter Carnival is on Sunday the 28th of November- and we need a volunteer between 12 and 1 to be on the Churches Together Stall in the Marketplace handing out Christingle bags to everyone. Please speak to Louise if you are available.

Advent Carols: 6.15pm on Sunday the 28th November at St Paul’s. All welcome- the ideal way to step into Advent.

Other Notices and News

The season of Advent starts on Sunday the 28th of November.

The Church invites you, as it has for thousands of years, to use the preparation for Christmas as a time to breathe, reflect and deliberately move closer to God. There are lots of things you can do- come to Morning Prayer, go on a daily prayer walk, read Luke’s Gospel, write Luke’s Gospel out by hand (as people did with Mark last year) and so on. If you want more ideas please speak to a member of the clergy- and if you are planning to write out the Gospel for the year to come (Luke) by hand then please let Cara know so that she can put people in touch with each other to compare notes and share what they have noticed through that close reading of Luke. You could also buy one of the many excellent Advent books, like Gregory Cameron’s An Advent Book of Days.

Do look out too for our own Advent Calendar, which introduces the charities we have supported over many years at St Paul’s and St Nick’s and all of those charities nominated as possible candidates for our third parish charity. Please look out for it, and pray with it, and see if there is a new charity you are inspired or challenged by.

If you have suggestions of an Advent Playlist of music you love to listen to in Advent, please send your ideas to Louise.

We absolutely need to find some more School Governors for both St Paul’s and St Cecilia’s, the new School opening in Emmbrook in September 2022. If you are interested in Schools or children or both, and you have ever thought about showing an interest in being a Governor, or if you would like to find out more, please speak to either Richard or Pauline Wells.

Lucky Numbers

The four November Lucky Numbers winning numbers were drawn at random by members of the congregation of St Paul’s over coffee after Mass on Sunday 14th November. 

The lucky winners were:-

£50   No 88       Petra Johnstone

£25   No 38       Judi Hattaway

£15   No 6         Jackie Alexander

£10   No 5         Jackie Alexander

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’).