NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2014 Also available on Parish websites St Andrew's Church Wraysbury St Michael's Church Horton www.standrewswraysbury.co.uk www.stmichaels-horton.org The Purpose of our churches is to spread the Good News of Jesus and to increase the Christian family through our prayers, our worship and our God-centred lives. Vicar: The Rev'd Colin Gibson 01784 481258 Licensed Lay Minister: Beryl Walters [email protected] Parish Evangelist: – Mike Miller …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. In Remembrance: Sunday 9 November Our arrangements for the Remembrance Day services remain as last year's: 10.15am at St Michael's, followed by a parade to Horton Village Green for the Act of Remembrance there; and 10.45am at St Andrew's, where the Act of Remembrance will be included in a short service in Church, followed by a parade down to the Millennium Stone by the Village Hall for a further commemoration. However this year there is the added poignancy of the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. On 9 November 1914 the first battle of Ypres, known with perhaps misplaced affection by British troops as "Wipers," was approaching its last throes. A final enemy assault in great numbers started on 10 November but failed to break through the Allied lines: key supply points at Calais and Boulogne were saved. It was already becoming apparent that both sides were using outdated tactics which led to huge unnecessary losses. The small British professional army, "The Old Contemptibles," was shattered - we relied on conscription for the rest of the war. All those lives thrown away… Yet there are still those today whose ideology embraces violence and hatred. Let us pray that our children never have to go through what our grandparents endured. With love in Christ, Christmas Tree Festival 28-29 November This will now be the third Christmas Tree Festival. We had a lovely time last year – great atmosphere, wildly imaginative entries, lots of fun and loads and loads of people through the doors! Let's hope things go at least as well this year! Here are some things you can do to get involved: enter a tree – on behalf of yourself or a group you belong to – perhaps your home group or one of our children's groups, or for that matter a St Andrew's tree. help with cleaning, maintenance the sound system… run the building, locking and unlocking, the sound system, directing people… help with a craft stall for younger visitors take part in the Saturday programme, which is St Andrew's responsibility (the school is organising Friday's events) Please let Colin know if you are able to help in any of these ways. But the main thing is just to bring your family, come along and enjoy! Other Christmas Dates Here's what's in the diary so far, please make a note of the dates: Wed 26 Nov – Evening at Canaan Bookshop in Staines (see below) Tues 2 Dec – Pop-In Christmas service + mince pies – Switching on Christmas tree lights at Horton Tues 9 Dec – Pop-In Christmas dinner in Wraysbury Village Hall Sat 13 Dec – Christmas Crafty Church, St Michael's Tues 16 Dec – Wraysbury School Carol Concert in St Andrew's Wed 17 Dec – Carols at Frosts, followed by carols in Perseverance Sat 20 Dec – Christmas KIDZ Crafty Church, St Michael's Sun 21 Dec – Carol Service at St Andrew's Wed 24 Dec – Christingle at St Michael's – Midnight Mass at St Andrew's Thurs 25 Dec – Christmas morning Communion in both churches St Andrew's Facebook Page: We are still struggling to get our website to run properly. We can still get the Newsletter in there, but we can't create new pages. Try liking St Andrew's Facebook page www.facebook.com/st.andrews.wraysbury you will then automatically receive updates on any new events we post. Canaan Bookshop Evening 26 November: This is a great opportunity to get ahead with your Christmas shopping. Canaan has lots of Christian books, cards, music and great gifts. I seem to remember free coffee and mince pies last year too! It's also really important to support our local Christian outlet – use it or lose it! Canaan is at 121 High St, just after the railway bridge, and we start at 7.30pm. PARISH REGISTERS Baptisms: Charlie and Monty Longmuir, 19 October at St Andrew's Angelina Dunphy, 19 October at St Michael's Confirmations at St Mary's Langley on 12 October 2014: from St Michael's: Kathy Atkinson and George Blackman from St Andrew's: Annabel Greatorex and Tracey Musgrove Pat Blackman (St M) and Lesley West (St A) reaffirmed their faith. Wedding Blessing: Val and Stuart Larcombe, 17 October at St Andrew's Rest in Peace: Peter Pownall, 90, at Slough and St Andrew's on 10 October Flo Jacob, 96, ashes laid to rest at St Andrew's on 19 October Frank Whittick, 95, buried at St Michael's on 22 October Joy Moss, 88, ashes laid to rest at St Andrew's on 30 October Welcoming New Residents: If somebody new moves into your road please let Mike Miller know ([email protected] tel: 01784 558972) so that a welcome pack, including the Wraysbury News, can be put through their door. House Groups: If you'd like to join a House Group please contact Beryl. An excellent information pack on each House Group can be viewed on the web site. Parish Secretary: Maggie Gardiner on [email protected] / 01784482520 is our first point of contact for information on everything to do with our churches and will direct your enquiry to an appropriate person if needed. Annexe bookings: Anthea Christie 01784 482872 and Hilary Wordham. Child Protection Officer: Lesley West 01784 82812 / [email protected] Parish Website Contacts: Wraysbury: Mike Miller ([email protected]) o Facebook page on www.facebook.com/st.andrews.wraysbury Horton: Carolyn Wheeler ([email protected]) ************************************* WHAT'S ON IN NOVEMBER Sun 2 Informal Plus 9.30am St Michael's Informal Plus 11.00am St Andrew's baptism of Noah Richards 2.30pm St Michael's Festival of Light Service 6.00pm St Andrew's Tue 4 Prayer Time 10.00am St Michael's BCP Holy Communion 11.00am St Michael's Pop-in Service 1.30pm Annexe Wed 5 Bell Ringing Practice 7.30pm St Andrew's Thu 6 START course session 2 7.00pm Annexe Sun 9 Parish Communion 9.30am St Michael's Remembrance Service 10.15am St Michael's Tue 11 Wed 12 Thu 13 Sat 15 Sun 16 Mon 17 Tue 18 Wed 19 Thu 20 Sun 23 Tue 25 Wed 26 Thu 27 Fri 28 Sat 29 Sun 30 Tue 2 Wed 3 Thu 4 Sat 6 Remembrance Service 10.45am St Andrew's Prayer Time Midweek Communion Pop-in St Andrew's PCC Bell Ringing Practice START course session 3 Holy Dusters Crafty Church 10.00am 11.00am 1.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.00pm 10.00am 2.00pm St Michael's St Michael's Annexe Annexe St Andrew's Annexe St Michael’s St Michael’s BCP Communion 8.00am Parish Communion 9.30am New Life Service 11.00am Bapt Samuel & Florence Brindley 2.00pm St Michael's PCC (revised date) 7.00pm Prayer Time 10.00am Holy Communion 11.00am Pop-in 1.30pm Baptism Preparation Session 7.00pm Bell Ringing Practice 7.30pm Ministry Team 7.30pm START course session 4 7.00pm St Andrew's St Michael's St Andrew's St Andrew’s the Ingers' St Michael's St Michael's Annexe Annexe St Andrew's vicarage Annexe Parish Communion Parish Communion Prayer Time Holy Communion Pop-in Evening at Canaan Bookshop START course session 5 Christmas Tree Festival Christmas Tree Festival St Michael's St Andrew's St Michael's St Michael's Annexe 121 High St, Staines Annexe St Andrew's St Andrew's 9.30am 11.00am 10.00am 11.00am 1.30pm 7.30pm 7.00pm 12-5.00 10-3.00 ST ANDREW'S DAY – don't keep as usual 5th Sunday Parish Communion 9.30am St Michael's Parish Communion 11.00am St Andrew's ADVANCE DATES FOR DECEMBER Prayer Time 10.00am Holy Communion 11.00am Pop-in Service + mince pies! 1.30pm Switch on Christmas Tree Lights 6.30pm Bell Ringing Practice 7.30pm START course final session 7.00pm Wedding – Lauren and Edwin 12.30pm St Michael's St Michael's Annexe Horton Village Green St Andrew's Annexe St Michael's OUR NEW CURATE, JOSEPH AND HIS FAMILY Joseph will start his ministry among us in July 2015. Please pray for Joseph, Elisabeth and the children as they prepare to come and join us and Joseph completes his final year of training. Here is Joseph's introduction to himself and his lovely family. "Colin has asked me to provide a short biography by way of introduction. I am originally from Lisbon, Portugal, I am 44 years old, married to Elisabeth for 20 years, and have two children, Rebecca (15) and Gabriel (2). My family are my encouragement and support. Nearly 20 years ago after completing my degree we moved to the UK in order to further my studies, but instead I ended up doing several jobs over the years. I worked as an assistant manager in a jewellery, estate agent, butler, chauffeur, personal assistant and estate manager. I started my vocational discernment when I was 13 and eventually joined the Carmelites as a Postulant, followed by the Dominicans as a novice. When this did not work out, I thought that it would be the end of ordained ministry, but God was not quite done with me. A few years ago we started going to St Aldates church in Oxford, and it was there that I felt God calling me (again). I started the vocational discernment process and was eventually recommended for training at Ripon College Cuddesdon. I am delighted with the opportunity to serve my curacy at St Andrew’s Wraysbury and St Michael’s Horton, and to be part of your walk of faith in Jesus Christ. Elisabeth, the children and I are looking forward to being part of God’s mission in your communities. There is so much to say and I hope we will get to know one another and share testimonies. It is my prayer that together we will be able to bring Christ to the community and the community to Christ. As I embark on my final stage if training and I continue to grow in faith and the knowledge of God, we pray that the Lord may continue to equip us for the ministry that await us."
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