#537 Setting sail in school
Fr Sam writes
I was back in both our local schools this week, talking about the new school year and likening it to a voyage in a boat. Sometimes the seas are calm, but often they are rough. Sailing in a storm can be terrifying, and sometimes it is also exhilarating. But at the end of it all, Jesus says to the storm, “Still! Be calm.”
Meanwhile, in the parish, work is well in hand to get the choral scholarship programme launched: auditions are scheduled and publicity is going out in the next few days. If you know any young people who might love singing with our choir, let them know!
Image: “Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee” by Rembrandt (painting stolen by the Boston Mafia)
This Sunday: dealing with sin
Our first reading this Sunday is from the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis, when Joseph’s brothers are worried that Joseph will exact revenge on them: they ask forgiveness and Joseph assures them that he will do them no harm (Genesis 50.15-21).
In our Gospel reading, the story of forgiveness in the Church continues. Peter asks “How many times should I forgive?” Jesus gives him an absurd answer, then tells the story of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18.21-35)
Image: The Unforgiving Servant by Domenico Fetti
Services this Sunday
| 9.30am | St Paul’s | Parish Mass | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| Prelude: Prière – Lemmens Anthem: Dear Lord and Father – Parry Voluntary: Marche Pontificale (Sonata no. 1) – Lemmens | |||
| 10am | Woosehill Church | Holy Communion | Revd Wes Hampton |
| 11am | St Nicholas’ | Community Eucharist | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| 6.30pm | Woosehill Church | Be Still | Revd Wes Hampton |
Ridden & Stridden
Saturday 12 September was Ride & Stride Day, to raise money for Berkshire Historic Churches Trust, and for St Paul’s.
This year Ilsa Clarke and I took part for St Paul’s and I will be at the back of the church after the 9.30 service for the next couple of weeks to collect any cash payments, or you can pay using BACS to the church bank account as follows:
Account Name: PCC St Pauls
Sort Code: 20-11-74
Account Number: 80683752
Reference of “Ride n Stride”
If you would like to support this and missed us before the event, you can still give some money and sign one of our sponsorship forms afterwards! Even better is that when you sign the form, you can opt to Gift Aid your sponsorship.
It would be appreciated if we could have your sponsorship payments before the end of October.
Confirm, O Lord, your servant…
On 15 November, there will be a confirmation service at St John’s Crowthorne, celebrated by the Bishop of Reading.
If you have not been confirmed (and are in Year 7 or older) and would like to be, please let Fr Sam know. There will be preparation classes starting in October, times TBC.
Confirmation is the occasion where Christians take on their baptism promises from their own lips, while the bishop lays hands on them in a chain that is unbroken since the first apostles. It marks full, adult membership of the Church, and is the sacrament of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and giving us life.
If there are any children under Year 7 who would like to receive Holy Communion for the first time, please also speak with Fr Sam.
Image: Seven Sacraments Altarpiece by Rogier van der Weyden
A bit bazaar
For your diary: the parish Autumn Bazaar will take place on Saturday 7 November between 12 noon and 3pm. Draw tickets are now on sale from Liz Gallagher and Teri Austen.
People’s Emergency Briefing
There will be a showing of the People’s Emergency Briefing on 15 September, with a Q&A afterwards with Professor Chris Merchant of our parish.
More information and booking details available online.
Quiet Day – save the date!
The next parish quiet day will be on Saturday 17 October and will be led by the Revd Jane Kraft. Please save the date: more information to follow!
Image: Silence (The Holy Family) by Marcello Venusti
This week’s calendar: lift high the Cross
Monday 14 September is the feast of the Holy Cross. In Passiontide we celebrate the Cross as the place of Christ’s passion and death; this feast day recognises it also as a great triumph. The day itself marks the occasion when the Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, went to Jerusalem and, according to legend, found the True Cross on the site of what is now the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Image: St Helena with the True Cross from the Nuremberg Chronicle
