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Vicar The Revd. John Cook 0118 940 2202 [email protected]
Curates The Revd. Hugh Barne
The Revd. Steve Turville
07515 488542
0118 901 6720
Lay Minister Andy Ferguson [email protected] 0118 940 2925
PCC Secretary Sheila Williams [email protected] 0118 940 3587
PCC Treasurer Jane Wills [email protected] 0118 940 2030
Parish Office Open Tuesday – Thursday 10:00am – 12:00 noon Ansaphone at other times
Address Parish Office, Parish of Wargrave with Knowl Hill,
St. Mary’s Church, Station Road, Wargrave, Berkshire, RG10 8EU
Administrator Kim Moul [email protected] 0118 940 2300
St Mary’s Wargrave
Churchwardens Helen Gradon [email protected] 0118 934 9951
Peter Mayes [email protected] 0118 940 2497
Director of Music Peter Dart [email protected] 0118 940 1068
St Peter’s Knowl Hill
Churchwarden Sandra Baker [email protected] 01628 822402
Articles of up to 400 words are most welcome for publication in this Magazine and should be sent to the Editor: [email protected]
The decision to publish material is at the Editor’s discretion.
Views expressed in articles included in the Magazine are not necessarily
shared by the Editor.
The Parish Magazine cannot accept responsibility for any products or services advertised in this Magazine.
Are you self-isolating?
Would you like a phone call from our Phone Pastors every few days?
Do you need help collecting shopping or prescriptions?
Please call John Cook on 0118 940 2202. If there's no answer then do leave a message and someone will be in touch.
The Vicar, as he is in a high risk group, is self-isolating.
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Services… either
During the period of Covid-19 restrictions each
Sunday at 10.30am
a service is broadcast on YouTube followed by a Virtual Coffee meeting on Zoom for those who want to chat.
There is a weekly prayer gathering on Zoom every
Thursday at Noon
Links for these services are contained in the Grapevine Publication which is issued electronically every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If you do not receive this but
would like to be on this distribution please contact [email protected]
Ascension Day
This year it falls on Thursday 21st May.
There will be a service of Holy communion at 7.30pm either via YouTube (log on details will be distributed via Grapevine)
or, if the lockdown has ended, at St Mary’s Church.
Services… or
If Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, the normal service pattern will resume.
St Mary’s Wargrave
Every Sunday 8.00am Holy Communion A said service in traditional language
10th May 10.30am Easter 5 Morning Worship
17th May 10.30am Easter 6 Holy Communion
24th May 10.30am Easter 7 Morning Worship
31st May 10.30am Pentecost Holy Communion
A service in modern language supported by St Mary’s Music Group.
Young people join the service at 10.30am and leave for activities.
Feature
This month, as could be predicted, there are a lot of references to Covid-19 but we are pleased to be able to contain significant amounts of information about Easter 2020.
Thank you to everyone who contributed. If you would like to submit an article for our June edition, please send it to [email protected]
We will leave the subject matter to you, a poem, a thought, an experience…
We are planning a feature in June on Prayers.
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Annual Church Meeting
The Annual Church Parish Meeting planned for 26th April is postponed until Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. A new date will be announced as soon as possible thereafter.
Thought for the Month
It’s a sobering thought that for those people who were born in 1945 will now be aged 75 and all those born after that year will have no direct experience of what it was like to live through a period when food was rationed and there was widespread concern over safety and health. Many older people are saying today that the restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 virus take their minds back to the wartime days. People today need hope and, through our magazine, our prayer is that our readers will see that the love of God, demonstrated by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, is the foundation for hope upon which our lives can be built.
VE Day Celebrations
This event, for which 1200 tickets had been sold, is postponed and will be held at a later date. The organisers are waiting to see if the Government or British Legion are planning an alternative date for the celebration. The organisers have incurred some expenses but suppliers have agreed to supply goods, chairs, tables, toilets and entertainment at a later date. General refunds are not being made and tickets will be valid when the event is held. If, however, you would like a refund, please email [email protected] giving details of the bank account into which money should be paid.
An Icon ‘for such a time as this’
(with thanks to Gill Butterworth who is a Companion with Julian of Norwich, for this article.)
The experience of Julian of Norwich is relevant ‘for such a time as this’. (Esther 4.14) and I find she is a great comfort. Mother Julian lived through three waves of Black Death, in 14th Century Norwich. She knew people who died. She may have lost some people very closer to her and mourned them - perhaps at a distance - unable to attend their funeral. The coronavirus pandemic has caused many people to self-isolate. Julian knew, by vocation, obedience and choice, what it is like to live isolated from others. She may have had access to a small enclosed garden, but we don’t really know. Those of us with gardens can get some fresh air and see nature growing, but that is less easy if you live in an apartment or high-rise flat. The solitary, limited, enclosed life has become a reality for many this year, with no choice in the matter. Today we can keep in touch via e-mails, texts, Facebook, What’s App, Skype, FaceTime, phone calls, post, etc. Julian had none of these in the 14th century. She had limited contact with her priest, spiritual director, servants and also with the many people who came to her for spiritual counsel, but whom she did not see as her window was heavily curtained.
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Virtual Coffee Time by Gary McEwan
Thanks to technology, we have continued to ‘meet’ for coffees, teas and conversation after our Sunday Service.
The opportunity to keep connecting with each other and making sure that everyone is coping okay during such a challenging time has been well received.
Last Sunday we had 22 ‘participants’ who were able to join. This was a mixture of individuals and family groups taking part in some light hearted conversation, sharing our own stories and also offering each other advice. The top advice this week seemed to be when to start planting beans!
All are welcome to ‘come along’ and to enjoy seeing each other and chatting with the group. We plan to run this at 11.30am each Sunday, after the virtual Service until such times as we can start meeting again face to face. Following 10 minutes of general chat we break into groups of 4 or 5 to continue our conversations.
We are using Zoom technology which means that if you are using a personal computer or laptop, you can just click on the link to join. If you are using a tablet or mobile device, you will need to download the Zoom app and you can then click on the link to join. The link is the same each week and can be found via ‘Grapevine’, the St Mary’s website and usual social media channels.
We hope to see you there.
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Report on PCC Meeting - Scheduled for 30th March 2020 By Sheila Williams
Due to Social Distancing Advice from the Government, and Guidance from the Diocese, during the COVID 19 crisis, members of the PCC were notified that meeting together as scheduled in the Hannen Room would not take place.
However, PCC members were invited to contribute reports, motions, and information which would be circulated; and where necessary voted upon electronically to ensure the continuance of necessary activities within the Parish.
Guidance from the Diocese had been received and been acted upon as required. The Churches had been closed to the public, and advice concerning Weddings, Baptisms and Funerals was being enacted.
The PCC Treasurer, Jane Wills, had circulated the Audited Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2019 with a commentary to the PCC who voted electronically to adopt them.
A new Parish Safeguarding Plan, drafted by Lesley Turville, was approved by the PCC for submission to the Diocese.
The PCC was delighted to vote in favour of granting permission for Andy Ferguson to serve as a Lay Minister taking Funeral Services.
Mike Buckland reported that receipt of Energy Audit applications for St Mary’s and St Peter’s had been acknowledged by the Diocese.
Mike also reported on further initiatives in the drive to gain Eco Church status. They included the provision of new bike racks at St Mary’s, and a mapped and signed “Let it Grow” area in the Churchyard.
Should future meetings suffer from social distancing strictures, the PCC would investigate the use of on line conferencing facilities, e.g. ZOOM to conduct their business.
St Mary’s Churchyard and the New Cemetery
The Government has currently mandated that churchyards and cemeteries, like parks, should remain open.
Advice from the Church of England is that tending to churchyards should not now be routinely carried out.
Thy Kingdom Come... is a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus.
During the 11 days of Thy Kingdom Come, it is hoped that everyone who takes part will:
Deepen their own relationship with Jesus Christ
Pray for 5 friends or family to come to faith in Jesus
Pray for the empowerment of the Spirit that we would be effective in our witness
Please join us in this mission.
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Sir John Houghton
We are sad to report the death of Sir John Houghton, brother of the late David Houghton, on Wednesday 15th April at his home in Wales. We send our deepest condolences to his wife Sheila and the whole Houghton family.
Sir John was a brave and inspiring scientist, climate campaigner and Christian. As Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, he helped the world understand the causes of a hole in the ozone layer of our atmosphere, and of global warming. He founded the John Ray Initiative, an educational charity which brings together scientific and Christian understandings of the environment in a way that leads to effective action. A tribute from Tearfund describes him as a giant on whose shoulders we'll be standing for decades.
Many in Wargrave will remember his talk at St Mary’s on a Thursday evening in June 2010. It packed the church, enabled several transition projects to get off the ground in our village, attracted many people from other churches, converted some sceptics, and gave the church its first audio visual presentation. Who can forget his opening film of the canopy of the Amazon rainforest accompanied by the Hallelujah Chorus? As the Bible says, “let everything that has breath praise the Lord!”
A Treasured Heart by Nigel Beeton
A pearl beyond all human measure Your heart is such a golden treasure Too valuable to tell! Through times of toil and of leisure Times of sorrow and of pleasure I shall guard it well! Love and trust, once they are woken Are more than just a heart-shaped token This gift from God above Not a treasure to be broken By careless deeds or phrases spoken This precious gift of love Love is patient, love is kind Love leaves selfishness behind Forgiving from the start Truthful, trusting, never blind Such are the beauties I can find If I just guard your heart
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St Mary’s Young People have been designing Palm Crosses… here is a selection
From the McCrabbe family
From the Liddell family…
We read about Jesus entering
Jerusalem on the donkey. “The
King’s people didn’t like him,
but the other people in
Jerusalem were so happy to
see him.”
From Emily Parker (Buckland) and her daughter Isla Joy, aged 2,
in Bristol
From James Buckland and his son Milo, aged 3, in Winchester
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Various Members of the Congregation have told us how they spent Easter Day 2020
Ramblin’ with Bob on Easter Sunday by Jane Austen
Easter Sunday dawned bright and sunny in Austen Acres as we set about our normal daily routine of a lazy breakfast, catching up on emails and consuming cups of coffee as if our lives depended on it. The 10.30am on-line Church Service was eagerly anticipated and it never disappoints. The singing from the Dart family was beautiful and John’s Easter sermon was very fitting for this ‘locked down’ Easter. We are so grateful that we can continue to take part in worship even virtually!
The next item on the agenda was our daily ramble and we are always trying to find new walks to keep us interested. So we set off through the kissing gate on Blakes Road, across the fields, skirted Bowsey Woods and enjoyed seeing the bluebells making their first appearance. Certain things are unchanging and this is one! The photograph was taken at this spot.
Our walk continued down the path through what was once a tented camp for the US Army during WW2, through Highfield Park and across the Recreation Ground to check on Bob and Steve’s allotment, and down Victoria and Braybrook Roads to enter the Chalk Pit. How quiet and undisturbed this little-known spot is! Bob recalled memories during his first spell as Churchwarden of having to deal with a cave in the chalk face and a tree house when the chalk pit was a haven for youngsters!
Our walk continued down Leafy Lane to the Mill Green and how unusual it was to see the area becoming more like a meadow with daisies and dandelions in abundance. Nature is wonderful! The churchyard is also gradually returning to nature with the grass growing profusely and wild flowers everywhere. Bob pondered on the task that awaited his grasscutters when they get the green light to start up the mowers!
Our day was completed when we got home with a fun ‘virtual’ get together with the family in Toronto & Worthing courtesy of Zoom – Bob loves technology NOT but we have mastered this and how wonderful it is to be able to keep in touch in these difficult days.
Of course, like everyone else we can’t wait to get out and about and actually spend time with family and friends but obviously only once it is safe to do so, so we must continue to be patient – not one of Bob’s many virtues unfortunately!
Happy Easter!
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How I Spent Easter Day! By Bob Whiteley Easter Day began for me with joining in the splendid hymn Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia ! On the Radio 4 programme, the Archbishop of Canterbury proclaimed the good news at 8.10 am from his London flat. "The Resurrection", he said, "is the solid foundation of all hopes for a better world". "Even in the dark days of this Easter, we can feed on hope".
Later I was able to share on line with the Holy Communion from Bishop Steven's kitchen and make an act of spiritual communion as well as listen to his message, which he ended with the song by children "Be bold, be strong, for the Lord your God is with you".
I ended the morning hearing John, our Vicar reminding us that Jesus is not confined to a place or a building, however beautiful or venerated. Nor is he confined to the good people, for his ministry was to sinners. Nor is he confined to this world's affairs. He gave his life as a ransom for many and left us a "perpetual memory" in the Lord's Supper.
After lunch a walk took me past a garden lawn glowing with cowslips, a Spring flower that is small and delicate, and brings back good memories of places and years past. Sadly, cowslips have been declining in recent years. Not only are they a good source of nectar for bees and butterflies; I am interested in the folk-lore associated with them. Folk-lore tells us that cowslips first grew from the ground where St. Peter dropped his keys. That's why they have been known as Herb Peter and Key of Heaven.
Certainly it has been used as a herbal medicine and recommended in infusions for treating anxiety and headaches. How did it get its name ? It certainly has a habit of growing in meadows among the cow pats, or shall we say cow slops.
My third joy of Easter Day was to see and chat with my grand-children and see my newest great grand-child Joanna Margaret with the aid of a Zoom programme on Internet. What a lovely Easter Day ! It certainly helped to keep the shadow of corona virus in proportion. Thanks be to God!
A Different Easter Day by Michael and Heather Carver Our day started by sharing our last croissant followed by boiled eggs with no faces this year. We listened to Archbishop Justin Welby on the radio giving his Easter Message from the kitchen at Lambeth Palace.
For our daily exercise we cycled locally on the roads past silent churches – no bells or services only birdsong. Bluebells were just starting to emerge in the shady woods and overhead – not a cloud in the sky.
Lunch was a strange snacky affair while listening to Katharine Jenkins on Songs of Praise and she was visiting a new young church in Gas Street, Birmingham. No doubt the highlight for us was meeting all the family and grandchildren on ZOOM.
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How We Spent our Easter Sunday! By Hugh Barne
For us at 46 Fidlers Walk there was a certain amount of nervous excitement as the Easter broadcast went live (every week we pray that the service will go out to people without too many technical issues!). Seeing people tune in and imagining everyone singing and praying along in their homes is a great encouragement to us. As John preached resurrection hope from the end of Mark’s gospel and the Dart family provided beautiful arrangements of stirring Christian hymns, our hearts were warmed.
Isaac enjoyed his first ever omelette (his Easter egg!) and then we all spent much of the afternoon in our garden, full of the joys of spring.
A series of Zoom calls later we felt that, even at a distance, we had managed to enjoy some quality family time. Despite being in lockdown we are reminded that we have much to be thankful for!
Time for a Smile A country conference centre which was much used by church groups had as its motto, “There are no problems here, only opportunities.” A minister booked it for a weekend retreat with a group from his church. The day arrived and they all signed in and were shown to their rooms. A few minutes later the minister returned to the reception desk and said he had a problem. The receptionist responded with a smile and said, “Sir we don’t have problems here, only opportunities.” The minister said, “Call it what you like, but there’s already a woman in my room.”.
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Easter Day by Christine Wood The most uneventful Easter Day I ever spent. After breakfast I spoke to my family on FaceTime, even though they are just around the corner. Next I pottered about for a bit until it was time to sit down with my iPad to watch the service streamed from the vicarage. This was maybe the highlight of my day. Thank you so much all you "streamers", it's amazing to have some sort of normality despite everything. I did join the Zoom group after the service, it was great to see everyone. Corvid 19 has made us (well, me) get to grips with technology more than I ever thought I would! After lunch I walked round to deliver some Easter eggs for my grandchildren, leaving them on the doorstep, no hugs this year. My next stop was at Sheila and David's house to admire the lilies and Easter Garden, so lovely. I did not proceed across the fields to the top of Bowsey Hill, as I do on a daily basis because Dan was walking Blaze. Instead I walked around the village enjoying the proliferation of blossom, amazing. After meandering through the "Scrub" I made my way back to Elizabeth Court and my lovely flat. The afternoon was spent sitting in the garden with some other residents, two metres apart obviously, getting to know them better. A most pleasant time. The day wound down with my solitary dinner and Antiques Roadshow. Who knows what next year will bring.
Easter Garden Photos by David Williams
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How We Spent Easter Day! By Chris and Helen Perry Our Easter Day was spent quietly. After listening to the Radio 4 Sunday service which the Archbishop of Canterbury led from his kitchen, we followed that with the livestream of the wonderful service from St Mary's and the Zoom chat afterwards. We had our traditional Easter roast lunch on similar lines to a Christmas lunch but were sad that Rachel wasn't able to join us as originally planned. Instead we talked with her over Skype during the afternoon and then had our daily walk to incorporate viewing the Easter floral arrangement which Sheila had created outside her house.
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The Puddies COVID Easter by Mark and Sue Puddy
After having gone for a run on Saturday, we woke and contemplated whether to use our daily exercise slot on another run. A few minutes and a few groans later, we decided we were far too stiff, and it was sensible to defer.
Checked the phone and read 23 WhatsApp Covid messages and 14 emails from Jim Kennedy
Switched on the Kindle and followed the link to the Easter Service. While waiting for it to start, diverted briefly to the Pope in St Peter’s, having been there in February in the good old days when we could travel. After being serenaded by the Darts, and uplifted by John, then we popped back to St Peter’s where the service was still going strong, with a lot of special penitentiary indulgences being conferred.
Then we decided not to go jogging. Instead I sorted out some old paperwork from the study. This involves spreading piles of paper all over the floor of the hall, getting rid of some, but basically getting bored but leaving lots of paper spread around to show how busy I have been. Checked up on 7 more WhatsApps from Jim Kennedy, and then cooked lunch.
Clearly we were not going to go exercising straight after eating so we sat down as usual to do the Times Killer Sudoku from Saturday, seeing who could finish first. The result was the same as usual with Mark in a creditable 2nd place, and Susan able to do a lot of gardening while I finished.
By this time, we could no longer put off exercise. However we were still too stiff for jogging so went on a cycle ride instead (resulting in different bits of us being stiff on Monday).
Back home, after sorting the evening roast, and checking a few emails and guidelines from Jim, we then had a virtual game of bridge on line with the Sutcliffes, with chitchat by video conferencing. Given how good they are, we were quite pleased to manage to come second.
Then, as Zeberdee said, it was time for bed.
Teddy Bears Picnic in Bill & Chris Bookless’ Front Garden
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Poem
On Holy Saturday (the day before Easter Sunday) BBC2 broadcast a service from King’s College Cambridge, “Easter from Kings”. This is still available on iPlayer and is a service of readings and music taking the congregation through the period from Palm Sunday to Easter Day.
The music is outstanding and one of the readings was this poem written by Malcolm Guite, a Church of England priest and author.
Easter Dawn
He blesses every love which weeps and grieves
And now he blesses hers who stood and wept
And would not be consoled, or leave her love’s
Last touching place, but watched as low light crept
Up from the east. A sound behind her stirs
A scatter of bright birdsong through the air.
She turns, but cannot focus through her tears,
Or recognise the Gardener standing there.
She hardly hears his gentle question ‘Why,
Why are you weeping?’, or sees the play of light
That brightens as she chokes out her reply
‘They took my love away, my day is night’
And then she hears her name, she hears Love say
The Word that turns her night, and ours, to Day.
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Stewarding CoG Update by Mike Buckland
Vision - for our parish to give glory to God in how we manage the land, buildings and resources that He has entrusted to our care
How we get there
provide good teaching on God’s Creation
praise God for His Creation in our worship, in church and outside
maintain a beautiful church and surroundings
balance biodiversity with tidiness on church land
use money, energy, water and paper responsibly
avoid single-use plastic
reuse and recycle where possible; recycling bins
minimise food waste; recycle separately any we have
trial greener methods of cleaning
support local conservation projects and litter picking
support charities and projects that care for God’s creation
apply for an Eco Church award to keep us on track in a measurable way
Our approach has been to identify roles and responsibilities clearly, leave alone what works well, and inform the Vicar and PCC of new developments and challenges.
Recent milestones:
A mapped “Let it Grow Zone” on the north side of St Mary’s churchyard; wild flowers sown in several places
A Garden of Remembrance in the chalk-pit cemetery, seeded with grass coming through
Bike racks at St Mary’s
Bat and reptile surveys at St Mary’s and St Peter’s in 2019
Interaction with other local churches, for example “Christians Together on Climate” in November 2019
Award levels in four of five Eco Church categories – our buildings remain our challenge
To help us address this, application to the Diocese for subsidized energy audits at St Mary’s and St Peter’s
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Caring CoG Update by Steve Turville We have seen a fantastic upsurge of caring in our community over the past month or two, as we have had to face the threat of Covid-19, particularly to the elderly and vulnerable among us.
Ironically, in order to keep our elderly and vulnerable safe, much of what the Caring CoG would normally do has had to stop. No more Welcome Café or Home Visits or Holy Communion visits and no
Care Home visits or hospital visits. Not just us, but the other fantastic volunteer run clubs like Pop-In Club, Luncheon Club and CAMEO in Knowl Hill.
Most church goers in our parish tend to be at the top end of the age profile, so many of us are ‘confined to barracks’, but we have set up a phone network to check that the over 70s on the Parish List are OK, and to provide support where appropriate. A 92 year old man I speak to regularly told me he has never been so popular! He just hopes it continues after.
The challenge for every one of us will be to continue this care after life returns to normal. In fact, I hope life doesn’t return to the old normal - of being busy rushing around to sell things to earn money to buy things - but to a slower normal, where we have the time to know and care for our neighbours - especially the elderly.
Reaching CoG Update by Hugh Barne
The Reaching CoG is all about making connections with the community in order to bear witness to the gospel message and to draw people into the family of the church.
Recent encouragements have been evident with the Alpha Course and the three Important Questions evenings that ran from October through to February.
Alpha - To make the most of the newly updated material and the chance to get together to explore faith, a group of around 25 people met for seven weeks in the church centre and the course seemed to be greatly appreciated. Several members have continued to work through the material at the Vicarage since continuing to do so via virtual means once social distancing measures were in place. It is hoped that there may be future opportunities to make use of the material with a wider group of people.
Important Questions - Over the winter months we had three events asking: ‘Where was God when that happened?’ ‘Has science buried God?’ and ‘Can we trust the Gospels?’. It is hoped that during lockdown there might be further opportunities to engage with people’s questions.
Butterflies - Butterflies is continuing to meet weekly via virtual means during lockdown. Although numbers have been lower, it is hoped that this will still be a support and a source of community for people.
Who Let the Dads Out, Messy Church, Holiday Club and Schools Outreach are all on hold until lockdown measures ease and the feasibility of holding events like these become clearer.
Making the most of lockdown - Whilst we may feel hindered In these strange and unsettling times we must remain ready to ‘give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that we have… with gentleness and respect’ 1 Peter 3:15. Why not encourage people to tune in to our online services or ask how you can be praying for them at this time?
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Supporting CoG Update by Andy Ferguson
Several things have been going on in the Supporting CoG:
We have been working on a stewardship campaign to increase regular giving and will be launching this at the end of the lockdown period.
After considerable discussion, to ensure that security is in place, we have enabled online banking.
Safeguarding policies have been updated.
Plans have been agreed to upgrade the church office to comply with Health and Safety regulations and provide a better working environment.
Following Kim Moul’s decision to give up her role as Church Administrator at the end of April, and Richard Lloyd’s desire to hand over some of his communicating responsibilities, we have reviewed the support needed in administration and communication.
We are pleased to announce that Lucy Bowley will be joining us to manage our administration on 28th April. Lucy is a member of St Mary’s Church Twyford, where she lives and, until recently, has been working as a Teaching Assistant at St Edmund Campion School in Maidenhead working with children with Special Educational Needs and Disability. She is also Chair of Henley Regatta for the Disabled. In the past she has worked in Twyford Church Parish Office.
Lucy’s role includes:
Administration for Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals
Maintenance of church records
Typing formal letters for the Vicar
Production of the Annual Parish Report
Procuring office supplies
Managing invoicing for Life events and any incoming cash
Responding to ad hoc emails, telephone calls and visits to the office
Lucy will be working closely with the Communications Manager, covering for and sharing work when necessary.
The Communication role has been accepted by Ros Lane Heath who will start at the end of May, depending on the lockdown situation. Her role includes: Maintaining the website and database Proactively managing social media Preparation of Newsletters, Service Sheets and PowerPoint presentations for
services Managing the hiring and use of church facilities Establishing external contacts with a view to publicising events and church life Working closely with the Administration Manager covering for and sharing work
when necessary.
Lucy and Ros will be introducing themselves in our June magazine.
When fully staffed the office will be open, subject to lockdown restrictions, from 9am to 1pm Monday to Thursday.
Mon Tues Weds Thurs
Administration Manager
Communications Manager
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One of my favourite moments in all of Scripture is found in Luke 24. Downcast and dejected, some of the disciples are making their way along the road to Emmaus. Easter weekend has been and gone and they are left wondering where God’s hand could have been in all that took place. Perhaps we too are feeling a post-Easter slump and wondering how God’s plan could possibly involve the sort of events that are unfolding around us?
Well, as these disciples make their way along the road, a stranger appears and walks alongside them. The disciples rather patronisingly recount the events of Easter weekend and tell him that all is lost (despite admitting they have evidence to the contrary). The stranger gently reminds them of things they already know, but feel too despondent to see for themselves. He opens up the Scriptures to them and shows them the promises, plan and the peculiar glory of God, all gloriously fulfilled in the crucified and risen Christ. And as he does so, their hearts burn within them. The stranger was, of course, Jesus himself.
Through his word and by his Spirit, that same Jesus is still in the habit of turning our mourning into dancing and our sorrow into joy. Will we let him remind us of the ‘old, old story’?
Tell me the old, old story, Of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, Of Jesus and His love; Tell me the story simply, As to a little child, For I am weak and weary, And helpless and defiled.
Hugh Barne, Curate
Mini Missionaries
It’s an old story and people are coming up with new ways of sharing it, for example…
A group of 17 children aged 8-13 in Durham have been coming up with creative ways to share their faith and the love of God to their peers. The Children's Council of the Church of England Diocese of Durham has been awarded £6,800 by the All Churches Trust. The award is for a project titled 'Homegrown' in which they will become 'mini missionaries' sharing their faith and the love of God with other children and young people across the region. The 18-month project has the potential to reach out to thousands of children and families in communities across the diocese. It is hoped that the project will further empower the children to take charge of the planning and preparation of mission events in their own home churches and to run the events themselves with support from others. The first event will be a silent disco followed by a family fun event in the summer.
Sharon Pritchard, Children's Ministry Adviser for the Diocese of Durham told Premier: "Homegrown is a child-led project which will create events and activities for children, young people and families to share God's love in the communities we live in. "Their eagerness to share God's love within their own communities is inspiring and we hope 'Homegrown' will be a blessing to all who are involved."
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“The Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” Psalm 24 v1 By Rosie Creedon
In the last couple of weeks as social restrictions have been put into place to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, I’ve become very aware of how fortunate we are to live in such a lovely area. For my ‘daily exercise’ I have been out for a walk, and, whilst I’m not a serious photographer, I’ve been taking a camera with me in an attempt to capture some of the earth’s beauty that the Lord has blessed us with here in Wargrave. Here is a little taster of some of my walks.
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A Chaplain’s View of Your Local General Hospital during the Coronavirus Period
By Andy Ferguson
We are a team of four: two full time chaplains, Bob and Tumaini, a retired Church of England vicar, Richard, who works one day a month, a night each week and a weekend a month, and myself, working a day and night each week and one weekend a month. There are also special chaplains for Roman Catholic and Muslim patients.
When the virus restrictions were put in place, Richard needed to be self-isolated as he is over 70 and we agreed that the remaining three of us would work a twenty-four hour shift as Duty Chaplain on a rotating three day basis, providing a 24/7 service.
As chaplains we can freely enter all parts of the hospital except the mortuary. Consequently we have the ability to be ‘super spreaders’ as we move around the hospital and a policy decision was taken to only visit end of life patients, Covid and non-Covid, when requested. We are also available for staff and relatives.
There is a lot of criticism and fear inducing reporting of the virus in the national media. This has not been my experience in your hospital.
The managers have organised things extremely well. The hospital south wing has been designated a Covid ‘hot’ area and all wards in this block and the centre block, around 200 beds, over 25% of total capacity, have been set apart to handle patients with the virus.
The emergency department has been split into ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ areas with ‘cold’ patients being received in the Endoscopy building. This was the A&E department until around 15 years ago.
The Cancer Ward has moved to the Dunedin Hospital on Bath Road, the Dingley Children’s unit to the University of Reading Campus and the Orthopaedics and General Surgery to the Circle and Berkshire Independent Hospitals. All of the staff teams, faced with major, unexpected upheaval have adjusted quickly to their new settings, forged new friendships and tackled new ways of working.
Outpatient Clinics are being held in West Berkshire, Bracknell, on the telephone and by video link.
The hospital is quiet; no outpatients, no visitors except for end of life patients, no volunteers and closed cafes. Compared to normal circumstances there are many empty beds across the site. Cold A&E has seen a dramatic reduction in the number of people visiting - a limited number of accidents on the roads and in homes, no people being received at night after a long period in the pub and some patients with symptoms of illness staying at home in case they contract something worse at hospital.
23
A Chaplain’s View (cont) Generally, staff morale is good: a well being centre has been set up providing food and opportunities for exercise; a forty bed temporary overnight ‘hostel’ unit has been set up for staff in the grounds of Reading School, next to the hospital; many generous gifts have been received to support staff including a £1 million donation from a Remenham resident; team working is good; Personal Protective Equipment has not generally been an issue; testing for Covid-19 is now available for all staff and their families who report signs of the disease.
Having said this, working with PPE, face masks, gown, gloves and eye protection is uncomfortably warm and tiring. Additionally, a greater number of patients dying than is usual and what can be particularly upsetting for staff is that their families are not able to be present.
Within the chaplaincy the balance of our work has changed. The number of patient visits is down significantly and the number of funerals is up. The chaplaincy team conduct funerals where the patient has no relatives and for babies. Personally I will have conducted 11 funerals this month, 2 parish, 1 Finchampstead, 4 baby and 4 hospital adults. Each day we remember those who have died, pray for their grieving families and for staff who have asked for our prayers.
We have also been coordinating a project with the palliative care team to set up a Family Liaison Service using 100 iPads so that patients can make contact with relatives.
Through this difficult time there are many instances of light shining in the darkness: staff dedication, the public’s generosity, the general outpouring of thanks for the NHS and its staff.
Here are two thank you notes from staff:
“I’ve spent the last couple of weeks working across different areas of the hospital. Meeting several of my colleagues; experienced in their areas or also adapting like myself. Not once have I felt inadequate, a nuisance to anyone, or been sighed at. From housekeeping to porters to ward staff, and everything in between. Every last person has welcomed me and taught me or guided me through tasks I have not built confidence in.
“Sure, I have felt frightened, stressed, confused and tired. As I am sure most of us have! We cannot shut off from our working days that easily because the world is full of the very thing we are helping to treat or combat.
“I got home tonight after 3 long days and sobbed. For the loss of a brilliant man and doctor. For the patients we take care of. The staff teams I meet and miss. I cried because I’m tired and because we work with some of the best people in the world. When the world has gotten confusing and tough, we have faced it together.
“I just want to thank those I have met and worked with and those I will meet and work with for making the days that little bit brighter, that little bit easier and taking the time to answer my questions and teach me through such trying times for us all.”
“Just want to say a big thank you to the testing team at the university (and I’m sure other sites are the same). Rang my manager on Tuesday morning, tested at 11.30am that day. Results back today. What a fantastic service made up of multiple disciplines that only had a short period of time to get themselves up and running. Thank you”
And hasn't the weather been good?
NEWS
24
Tearfund
‘We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.’ (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
Scripture tells us that our faith can move mountains. So what do we do when the mountains do not move? What do we do when healing doesn’t come? When the disaster is not averted? When people we’ve spent our lives praying for never find God?
What do we do when a virus turns the whole world upside down?
The brokenness of life cannot be ignored. And God didn’t ignore it – he became part of it. Jesus knew all about grief and pain: he was rejected by his home community, betrayed by one of his friends, and faced an unimaginably terrifying death. He prayed for God to take that suffering away from him.
Yet he also accepted it. He never deflected his pain onto other people or wallowed in victimhood. In the midst of his greatest pain, he reached out to the criminal being crucified next to him (Luke 23:40-43). How could he do this? Because he knew that after brokenness comes resurrection.
There will be mountains in our lives that do not move. But we can take heart from the fact that, one day, out of the pain, something brand new may come to life.
Dear God, Give us the strength to deal with brokenness in a healthy way; give us the patience to hold fast while we wait for moments of resurrection. Help us to not return the pain that we are dealt, but transform us into instruments of greater love. Amen.
Gideon Heugh
Lockdown on Ridgeway by Christine Walker
Time was once a scarce commodity but during the last few weeks I have been discovering the joy of not being ruled by the clock; of putting things off until tomorrow or the next day, of no pressure to get meals on the table for a certain time, of spending half an hour in the garden or two or three as the mood takes me and enjoying the long spell of glorious weather.
Some of my elderly neighbours reckon it's much the same as usual except people are leaving their cars at home and just going for a stroll so there's a lot more chatting going on. There are a few families out on their bikes but generally the road outside my house is quiet. It’s those with younger families and teenagers who seem to be finding life under Lock-down a strain.
Like many others I have spent time on the computer, a tool for discovery, sharing messages on social media, worshipping via virtual services, connecting with family on Skype and friends on Zoom, catching up with TV series on i-player and even doing my ballet class with the Wargrave Swans on-line. Computers have been a life-line. Children are doing home schooling on-line as well as many other activities; our Cub Scouts are having ‘Zoom’ meetings and many adults are working from home with screen based work assigned to them. Have you given any thought to how we are going to be weaned from our screens after the Lock-down? How are we going to unplug from digital entertainment? I think it will be a challenge.
I normally go down to St Mary’s several times during the week but it is a forlorn place without the people. So now my home has become my ‘church’ and here there is now plenty of time for quiet reflection and for prayer; prayer for those who are finding life difficult, who are fearful of the virus, key workers and those who are working long shifts, and particularly for those who are on the fringes of faith, and for those who do believe that the joy of Easter will not fade.
25
Christine keeping trim during lockdown
Well, that’s me in hospital… reports Bob Austen
Well, that's me in Hospital.
Yesterday was not a good day. After spending the last 4 weeks quarantined inside the house and going stir crazy, I decided to go horse riding, something I haven't done in years. It turned out to be a big mistake.
I got on the horse and started out slowly, which was fine. But then we went a little faster; before I knew it, we were going as fast as the horse could go. I couldn't take the pace and fell off and caught my foot in the stirrup, the horse was then going like the clappers with me on the ground with my foot stuck in the stirrup. The horse just would not stop, it was out of control. I've never known anything like it.
Thankfully the manager at Tesco’s came out and unplugged the machine. He actually had the nerve to take the rest of my coins so I wouldn't try to ride the Elephant........
I am sticking with Waitrose in future.
NEWS
26
Poetry Corner from Bob Austen
This period of self-isolation has driven me to pursue some obscure activities, one of which was to sort out the family room bookcase that was groaning under the weight of excess literature of various genres. One book that appeared was titled ‘Safari’ which comprised poetry from ‘Young Poets from Berkshire’.
The years suddenly rewound and I recalled a poem which Matthew had written in 1997 when he was aged 11 and which was contained in this delightful little book. I am reproducing it here and I hope others might find it entertaining. It certainly raised a smile with me!
My Room
In the deepest part of my room,
Lay abandoned socks,
With holes in them.
A dreadful reek
Of sweat,
Coming from my sports kit.
Homework piled up on the desk,
Never to be touched again.
Christmas decorations,
Hanging from the ceiling.
Burnt holes in the carpet,
Made from mini bonfires.
Dead wasps,
That have been struck by a newspaper.
On my bed,
Empty crisp packets, sweet wrappers,
And more,
All from midnight snacks.
Cassettes all over the floor,
Cases for them unknown.
The windows,
They’re completely smeared,
And one of them even broken,
From last week,
When I was playing inside golf.
That’s my bedroom,
A bit messy,
Don’t you think!
Matthew Austen
NEWS
27
News from Knowl Hill by Sandra Baker As they say, the best laid plans ... Unfortunately the new boilers haven't yet been installed at St. Peter's although the preparatory work has begun and will be continued once parts etc have arrived. Work is continuing on the faculty application which as you will have gathered is a long and complicated process. We were sad to learn of the recent death of Pam Davis who was a long standing member of the St. Peter's church family and we look forward to being able to pay our respects at a service once the current restrictions have been lifted.
I have been joining in the online services on YouTube from the vicarage and other locations in Wargrave on Sunday mornings which are working well. You can log in at any time after 10.30 am to St. Mary's Wargrave Grapevine which will take you to the Newsletter with all the details. It's the first time I've attended a service in my pyjamas!
Don't forget. If you need any shopping, prescriptions collected or just a friendly chat there are volunteers from the Village Association and the church who will gladly help. Thanks to everyone who has volunteered - community spirit is alive and well in Knowl Hill. Just call or email:
AY on 07720 557522 email [email protected] or Lesley Bell on 07966 178142 email [email protected] (KH Village Association) or me (Sandra Baker 01628 822402) on behalf of the church and I can put you in touch with someone who can help.
May Services... … if the current restrictions are lifted:
Sunday 10th May 9.15am Holy Communion, Warren Row Sunday 17th May 10.30am All Age Worship, Knowl Hill Sunday 24th May 10.30am Morning Worship, Wargrave Sunday 31st May 10.30am Holy Communion, Wargrave
Angie and Mike Buckland share an allotment with their neighbours, Steph and Alan. Here is Angie taking it easy while the husbands do the work!
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