#475: All aboard the Bertie express
It finally happened my friends, I finally had a Church and train that was exactly my size! Perfect for a little mouse like me to get about and have a stroll and a ride without fear of being trampled on. It’s a great time to be a mouse, please enjoy these photos of our miniature St Paul’s.
This Sunday
We celebrate Pentecost! Which marks fifty days since Easter Day and brings the Easter season to an end. It is a major feast of the Church’s year when Christians recall how God’s Holy Spirit was given to the disciples after Jesus’ ascension, empowering them to begin the work of making disciples of all nations. We have a 9.30am service at St Paul’s, 10am at Woosehill and 11am at St Nick’s. Then in the afternoon, St Nick’s in Emmbrook Village Hall are hosting a birthday celebration for Pentecost with tea and cake from 3-4.30pm, so do please go along and talk, celebrate and enjoy.
Concert on Saturday, June 7th
A number of our choir members also sing with Erleigh Cantors, and this Saturday is their 35th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT OF SACRED MUSIC FOR CHOIR, ORGAN AND TRUMPET. 7.00 PM Earley St Peter’s Church, Church Road, Reading RG6 1EY. It sounds like a lovely evening and I’m sure they’d welcome your support.
Admission – suggested donation £12 for adults, £8 for students, under-18s free. Refreshments will be available during the interval and ‘Mama Nunn’ preserves will be on sale in aid of Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice. For tickets or more information contact Maggie Nunn on 07946 620560.
Parish BBQ 6th July
And also this message from Alan:
As you will be aware, the BBQ is on 6th July and we need to be sure we have plenty of gazebos for the event. Should you be planning to be away, or do not intend to be there, but you happen to have a gazebo you can lend us, please contact me on the number below, and I will arrange to collect.
Alan Harrison
Co-chair Social Committee
01344 593246
Sacristy Fund Appeal
In February we launched our ‘Sacristy Fund Appeal’, which is a way of sponsoring items that we use every week in church, such as wafers, wine, candles, incense and more. Thank you to all for your generous response (£747) in support of the Candlemas Sacristy Fund Appeal. As was anticipated, the Sacristy Fund is now empty again, after “stocking up” purchases in the first quarter of 2025, and it is time to launch the Pentecost appeal to “top up” the Sacristy Fund.
Once again, we are appealing to you, members of the congregation and visitors, to consider the revised list for consumables sponsorship, choose an item (or two … or three!) to sponsor, and then to sign up on the list on the clipboard and make your donation – using one of the following:
- the electronic card reader
- online transfer Account Name: PCC ST PAULS (this is the precise name required by the bank); Number: 8068 3752; Sort Code: 20-11-74; Ref Sacristy)
- cash (in an envelope marked Sacristy fund, please)
The price list and sign up sheet will be in St Paul’s Church from Pentecost Sunday (June 8th)
PLEASE note that, for some larger items, £ costs have been broken into part payments allowing for a range of amounts at a manageable level. Figures have been rounded for convenience.
Stewardship News
Stuart Fairhead has sent in this message:
I would like to thank everyone who gives to the Church and if you are a UK taxpayer, then Gift Aid may be claimed on either regular or one-off donations. If you give through the Parish Giving Scheme, then Gift Aid is managed by the scheme but if you give directly to the Church then we can claim the Gift Aid.
To do this we will need a completed Gift Aid Declaration form. Please contact me at the email below and I can provide a form.
HMRC suggest declarations are reconfirmed on a regular basis so if you have previously completed a declaration form before 2020 or have moved house since you completed a form, please contact me for a form to reconfirm your declaration.
Also, if you have completed a form but are no longer a UK taxpayer, please let me know so your form can be cancelled. If you are unsure or have any questions on the above, please contact me at the email below.
Thank You. Stuart Fairhead, Stewardship Officer. Email: stewardship@spauls.org.uk
Meditation Group 10th June
Meditation Group 1-2pm Tuesday 10th June, in the Rapsey Room, St Paul’s Parish Rooms This will include our 6th and last teaching session on Christian meditation, followed by meditation and discussion. This week we will be looking at “The Fruits of Mediation”. Don’t worry if you missed previous sessions. We will start promptly at 1pm. All are welcome.
Please contact me for more details. Susannah.meditationgroup@spauls.org.uk
