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apparent that both sides were using outdated tactics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])
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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."