#505 Back in full swing
I had a week of uncompromised power, but the Rector is back now. I’m not sure I made the most of my time. I didn’t even manage to change the communion wine to a nice Château Margaux (it goes better with cheese, don’t you know).
Still, the new year is properly in swing now, and there is a lot going on in our little corner of God’s creation…
Fr Sam writes
I had a lovely week off after Christmas: I needed it after all those services and celebrations!
I want to let you know about a slight change to our prayer list. In order to keep the list as up-to-date as possible, we are going to try out a system where names are included on the list for three Sundays. If someone (either you or someone you are praying for) needs to stay on the list for longer, you are very welcome to add their name to the list again.
You can add a name to the list either by contacting the parish office or by writing their name on the “For our prayers” list in St Paul’s, either in the week or on a Sunday morning.
The aim here isn’t to cut down the list, just to make sure that it is always current!
We’ll try this system for a little bit and see how it goes: if you have any questions or concerns, do let me know.
This Sunday: come and see
This Sunday we hear of some of Jesus’ first encounters with his disciples. In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist calls Jesus the ‘Lamb of God’. Jesus asks his disciples ‘What are you looking for?’ and then tells them to ‘Come and see.’
In the first Letter to the Corinthians, St Paul begins his letter with a greeting and the assurance that God is faithful.
Image: Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by Jan van Eyck
Services this Sunday
| 8am | St Paul’s | BCP Mass | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| 9.30am | St Paul’s | Parish Mass | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| Organ prelude: Chorale Fantasia on ‘Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern’ – Buxtehude Anthem: A New Year carol – Britten Voluntary: Chorale Prelude on ‘Dundee’ – Parry | |||
| 10am | Woosehill Church | Morning Worship | Revd Cara Smart |
| 11am | St Nicholas’s | Community Eucharist | Revd Judi Hattaway |
| 6.15pm | St Paul’s | Evensong & Benediction | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
This coming week (18 to 25 January) is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This is an important occasion when we pray with and for our brothers and sisters in other Christian churches so that we can follow Christ’s wish ‘that they may all be one’ (John 17).
There are services throughout the week in different churches. If you are able, please do come and pray together.
Monday: 9.00-9.30am, Rose Street Methodist Church
Tuesday: 9.00-9.30am, All Saints Church
Wednesday: 9.00-9.30am, Wokingham Baptist Church
Thursday: 10.00-10.30am, Corpus Christi
Friday: 9.00-9.30am, St Paul’s Church
Evensong & Benediction
This Sunday evening there is Evensong and Benediction, an opportunity to spend time peacefully in the presence of Christ in the Holy Sacrament.
The service is followed by refreshments in Church: this month the Rector is doing the honours and has promised sherry…
Organ recital: The Stars of Night
On 24 January, our organist Christopher Cipkin is giving an organ recital at St Paul’s inspired by an interstellar theme: very appropriate for the Epiphany season!
Come and hear music by Bach, Chilcott, Groom teVelde, Strauss, Zimmer and others. The recital is being given in aid of the St Paul’s organ maintenance fund and refreshments will be served in church after the service.
Evensong at Winchester Cathedral
The choir will be singing Evensong at Winchester Cathedral at 5.30 pm on Monday 16 February 2026 and would be delighted if members of the congregation would like to join them.
A coach will be leaving the Parish Rooms at 10.30am, returning at 7.45pm. The cost will be between £16.00 and £25.00, depending on numbers and will be confirmed later. There will be a sign-up sheet at the back of church or you can email Rhoda at rhoda297@gmail.com.
Entry to the cathedral for Evensong free but at other times there is an entry fee of £14. Evensong is at 5.30pm.
Image: The choir at their last visit to Winchester Cathedral in 2019
The next Bishop of Oxford
As you will have read in last week’s newsletter, the Diocese is looking for your opinion on what to look for in a new Bishop.
Do fill out the form and explain what you would like to see in our next bishop.
Quiz Night
Saturday 7 February 6.30 for 6.45 in the Parish Rooms. Adults £15, students £10, family £45. Choice of: Fish/Chicken/Sausage/Veggie & chips. Bring your own drinks and glasses.
To book please contact Trish Gatland (trishgatland@hotmail.co.uk) or Alan Harrison (al_harrison@hotmail.co.uk). Payment by cash or BACS: Account Name PCC St Pauls, Sort Code: 20-11-74 Account no: 80683752. Ref: Quiz.
Help would be appreciated with setting up the hall at 5.30pm.
This week’s calendar: the arrows of misfortune
On Tuesday 20 January, the Church celebrates St Sebastian. He was a Roman soldier and early Christian who was sentenced to death for his faith, famously surviving an initial execution by arrows before being martyred later. He became a powerful symbol of steadfast faith under persecution and is a widely depicted figure in Western art and Christian devotion.
He is often depicted as full of arrows as a pin-cushion is of pins: perhaps it is for this reason that he gained the unfortunate reputation as the patron saint of tailors and needleworkers…
Image: St Sebastian by Andrea Mantegna.
