#452: I get by with a little help from my friends
This Sunday
At St Paul’s we have a trio of services and visiting priests this Sunday. 8am BCP Eucharist with Revd Becky Medlicott, 9.30am Parish Mass with Revd Graham Theobald, and the Choral Evensong at 6.15pm where Revd Becky Bevan will be preaching for us on the treasure that is Luke’s Gopsel. If you’re coming to all 3 services, don’t forget your lunch and a couple of cushions to make camping out in the pews a bit more comfortable! Our music this Sunday will be:
Morning
Before (ca 6′): Fugue no. 2 in G, from Six Fugues (HWV 606), by George Frideric Handel
Anthem: Holy, Holy, Holy, by Franz Schubert
Voluntary: Overture from Saul (HWV 53), by George Frideric Handel, arr. W. T. Best
Evensong
Before: Variations on East Acklam, by Philip Moore
Canticles: Brewer in D
Anthem: O God, thou art my God, by Henry Purcell
Voluntary: Fugue on East Acklam, by Philip Moore
We also have 10am Communion at Woosehill with Revd Jane Kraft, and 11am Community Eucharist at St Nick’s with Revd Roy Burgess.
A vacancy can be really hard, for many reasons, especially those who take on extra work and responsibilities. And it’s a brilliant and exciting chance to hear visiting preachers, to have others lead worship for us on our behalf, to share in our eucharists, to be strengthened by the body and blood of Christ that fuels our lives, our prayers, our hope for the world. A big thank you to all who are helping out with services at the moment, either in leading or arranging, to enable our unbroken praise and thanksgiving.
Janet Wickham’s Funeral
We will remembering and saying goodbye to Janet on Friday 22nd November, 2.30pm. Janet was a longstanding member of St Paul’s up until recent years, and everyone is warmly invited to attend the funeral.
There will also be a wake afterwards in the parish rooms from 3.30pm, again, all are welcome. If anyone is able to help set up food, drinks etc beforehand, please can you let Louise in the office know? Thank you! church.office@spauls.co.uk
Please do pray for Janet’s family, for each other as her friends at St Paul’s, and for all at West Oak Care Home.
Safeguarding
The news this week around the Church of England and Safeguarding has been particularly hard, and has just gone to prove why we need to take safeguarding so seriously, and why we do so as a parish. We have to, because getting it wrong and not taking abuse seriously is so incredibly damaging to everyone, especially victims and survivors. Many of us have read the coverage and indeed the publication of the Makin Report, heard of Archbishop Justin Welby’s resignation, and there is so much sadness, shame, anger, and more, at the scale of the abuse. We turn to God and we turn to prayer, because God is compassionate and just and loving, and to where else could we go?
If you have been affected by the news this week, or have anything you’d like to talk about related to safeguarding, either recent or in the past, you can find out more information and contact details for the parish and diocese here, Safeguarding | St Paul’s Parish
You can talk to Cara or Steffi, or someone in the diocese, and I promise we will listen. When we talk about a safeguarding culture, we mean one where everyone in the parish, everyone, has the right to be safe, protected and heard. Where we have failed in the past, we pray for the strnegth and courage to get this right in the future. There are posters in church with this information too. You may also wish to use this prayer over the next few weeks.
Loving God,
We come to you in the knowledge that you hold all your children in unconditional love.
We lift to you those who are vulnerable and in need of protection.
Give them your safety, comfort and peace.
We cry to you for those who are hurting and whose trust has been broken.
Give them your healing, restoration and justice.
We bring to you those who seek to forgive others who have hurt them.
Give them your strength, courage and hope.
For those who by their actions or attitudes have caused hurt and harm to others,
lead them to seek your forgiveness and to enter into true repentance.
Thank you for all who give their time, knowledge, and skills to make our communities safer.
Give them your wisdom, guidance and grace.
For ourselves, we ask you to give us your heart for the vulnerable, the oppressed, the voiceless and the forgotten.
Help us to see them as you see them; to value them as you value them, and to nurture and protect them as you desire.
Help each one of us play our part in creating safer places for all your people.
In your name we pray, Amen
Wokingham Winter Carnival stall – Sunday 24 November 2024 – 10.30am to 5pm
Churches Together in Wokingham are running a stall at the Wokingham Winter Carnival on Sunday 24 November 2024 from 11am to 5pm. This event is probably the most popular annual event in the town. Last year we gave away 1,000 Christingle packs with a Christian booklet inside. To enable the stall to make a positive impact, we need volunteers, not only to help with the stall but also to put together the Christingle packs the day before.
- Offers of assistance with packing Christingle bags at Wokingham Baptist Church, Milton Road on Saturday 23 November 2024 from 9.30am to 11.30am. should be sent to
- Victor Freeney on 07747 642073 (call or message) or victor_freeney@hotmail.com (email)
- Volunteers to help at the stall for an hour or two between 10.30 am and 5.00 pm please email
- Mary Cassidy mary.cassidy@spauls.co.uk who will put together a rota
- In your message please let her know how long you are willing to stay AND
- any time when you will NOT be able to assist.
- A contact number would be useful too
Remember, this is our opportunity to add a Christian presence to an event which might otherwise seem to forget that “Jesus is the reason for the season”.
Thank you for your support.
Coaching Opportunity
Steffi Cetin from St Nick’s, and who is also our Parish Safeguarding Officer, has sent in this message about coaching…
“Could you donate a few hours of your time and receive free, confidential coaching in return?
I am looking for volunteers to support me on my learning journey as a personal coach. Whether you are contemplating a decision or facing a change, feel stressed or are simply interested in improving your mental wellbeing: I could offer a relaxed, safe space and gentle guidance to think things through. Want to try it together? For any questions and more details, please contact Steffi Cetin, 07846461477 / cetin.stefanie@gmail.com.”
Great news for Soulscape
One of the charities we support, Soulscape, had this exciting news to share this week.
We are delighted to share the exciting news that Soulscape has been awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service 2024
Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life. Such an achievement, for you – our Soulscape volunteers, to be honoured by the King!
Today you will start seeing press releases, social media posts, etc… However, we wanted to take the opportunity to email and send our special thanks.
Thank you for the time, energy, dedication and support you give to Soulscape and the young people in our community.
We are planning a January 2025 celebration for all our volunteers and will send more details about this soon!
For now a word from Nick…
‘I am truly honoured that Soulscape has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2024. This award recognises the massive impact the charity has within Berkshire’s schools supporting young people’s wellbeing. It also celebrates the work of our amazing volunteers, without whom we would not be able to reach out to the number of young people that we do…’
And a word from Michelle…
’What an achievement and wonderful way to celebrate all of you. Each and every one of you gives time, energy, support where and when you can, and we want you to know you are valued and appreciated. I love seeing the relationships grow between young people and our volunteers and know that many of you become important figures in some of our young peoples’ lives. And to our many bakers who bless our staff with amazing cakes, they are something staff look forward to and it really cheers them up, thank you.’
We leave you with a quote from a year 10 Student:
’I enjoy my sessions with Soulscape as I get to express myself, and my feelings without feeling like I am being judged. ‘
Kind regards,
Nick, Michelle and the Soulscape Team
Advent Quiet Day
St George’s, Owlsmoor, are hosting at Advent Quiet Day, led by Revd Roy Burgess. Saturday 30th November, 10am-4pm, open to everyone and may be the perfect space and time you need ready to start Advent this year. Bring your own lunch, tea and coffee will be provided. To book your place:
Sign up on the sheet in St George’s Church
or email wardens@stgeorgeowlsmoor.org.uk
Lost and Found
In the parish rooms last week, an earring and a bag of red and white wool were left behind. Please get in touch with Cara if they are yours, though ironically I can’t see them in my study so give me a bit of time to find them before coming to collect them!
