This is the Advent celebration in which different people host the figures of Mary and Joseph, reflecting the importance of hospitality, particularly at this season of the year. It also reminds us of the journey to Bethlehem made by Mary and Joseph. If you wish to host the figures for a 24 hour period, the list is now available for you to sign, please see Pat Smith. You will receive the figures from the host person with a short (printed) prayer, it is then your responsibility to arrange the handover to the next person on the list.
A plea for volunteers to help with the Windsor Homeless Project
As the Project grows, we are looking for a growing team of people who can support us in what we are doing. We are moving into a new phase, where many of our guests our now housed, and need help and support to settle into their new home. Thank you to those of you who have already come forward to help with fundraising, marketing, and administration. We would now like to ask if anyone else could help us outside Project hours? We are currently most in need of:
1. People who can transport furniture and other household items.
2. Someone who could co-ordinate food supplies for the Project.
If you are interested in serving with this much-needed project in any way, please contact the team at wcahomelessproject@gmail.com
Lifted by the Lectionary at Advent
The first series of Lifted by the Lectionary has now concluded. Over a four-week period in October 2017, with only a tea or coffee and a biscuit, we travelled 38 years with Moses from Mount Sinai to Mount Nebo, sang psalms with King David, read over Paul’s shoulder as he wrote to the Philippians and Thessalonians, and sat in wonder at Jesus’s feet while the long-promised Messiah told us parables and told off Pharisees. The next series of four studies will start on 29th November (at a new time of 7.30pm) and will meet on Wednesdays during Advent. See the posters on the noticeboards for more details.
Image: The Trials of Moses, by Botticelli
The Lift
The contract has now been awarded for the repair of the lift and we are hopeful that it will be working again by the end of November! Watch this space......
Reading Male Voice Choir Concert
What a wonderful evening of music! We were treated to a great selection from the RMVC and the supporting choir 'Occasions'. It was a real treat and all for the Church's outreach project - the building of a community hall, well and place of worship in Gulu Northern Uganda.
A sum of £540 was raised, many thanks to all who supported!
Reading Male Voice Choir - Saturday 7 October
Tickets now available. Don’t forget to invite your friends to this wonderful evening where all proceeds will go to the Ugandan Community Hall Project.
Harvest Festival Gifts 1 October
The church will be supporting the Whitechapel Mission with harvest gifts, the following are urgently needed:
Clothing e(new/good condition)
Men’s Underwear
Socks
Jeans 28-36"
Rucksacks
Men’s Trainers
Men’s Shoes
Trousers 28-34"
Coats/jackets
Jumpers/scarves
Sleeping bags
Food
Baked beans
Tin plum tomatoes
Sugar
Coffee
Tea
Porridge
Breakfast cereals
Honey
Biscuits
Toiletries
Toothbrushes
Razors
Shampoo
Deodorant
Soap
Hand/face cream
Events by Email
We are experimenting with the viability of sending announcements about church events, updates on the outreach project, and reminders by email to a mailing list. If you would like to receive these notices by email then please let us know your email address by filling in a form and handing it to a steward.
Prayer Committee
We are looking for members who would like to be part of a new Prayer Committee. This year, in light of the elevation of Prayer as significant part of our church vision, we are seeking to reinvigorate ourselves as prayerful individuals, as well as continuing to establish ourselves as a powerful prayerful community in Windsor. The Prayer Committee will seek to look after our existing prayer life as well as new prayer initiatives, such as the monthly Prayers of Concern for the World. If you would like to take part then just let any of our stewards know.
Worship Committee
We are looking for people interested in joining a new Worship Committee, and helping to address the worship and music needs of our church. Worship and music are vital part of our church vision and we would like everyone to make a contribution to our Worship & Music programme. If you would like to be involved in any capacity (this is not a call for musicians or worship leaders) then please tell any of our stewards.
Lifted by the Lectionary – a new type of Christian study
On Wednesdays during October, we are going to trial a new type of bible study: a sharing of God’s word based on the lectionary readings for the coming week. If you have sometimes struggled with hearing and understanding the scripture lessons cold on a Sunday morning, then Lifted by the Lectionary is for you. We will share our thoughts about the readings for the coming Sunday, and discuss how and why they may have been selected to go together. The series will start with a trial to be held during October on Wednesdays (4th, 11th, 18th and 25th) from 7:45pm to 9:30pm.
EXTRAORDINARY CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday 13 September 2017.
An Extraordinary Meeting of the Church Council will be held at 7.30pm in the Falder Hall to discuss matters relating to the current lift repairs. Please could all Church Council members attend if possible. This meeting is open to everyone; there will be a chance to contribute to the discussions. If you have any queries, please contact the Church Council Secretary, Rosemary Cracknell.
Another successful Tea Dance!
Thanks to all those who supported our third Tea Dance wonderfully lead by our own Ruth Smith. The £250 raised will be going towards the Ugandan Community Hall appeal - THANK YOU!
A Quiz Evening to be held on Friday 8 September is our next fundraiser for this worthy cause, details to follow.
Circuit news:
In spite of the rain, Liz Tottingham completed the Thames Path Mighty Hike marathon walk last Saturday ( 29th July) . So far she has raised £635 for Macmillan Cancer Support. She sends her grateful thanks to everyone who supported her. There is still time to donate, via the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/LizTottingham
Request for help on the Circuit
At the Circuit Meeting last November, we heard about the work of the Slough Refugee Support (SRS) group. As a Circuit, we made a donation, and also promised (as part of our “Hospitality” theme) practical assistance when and where we could help.
We have now heard about two events during August, for which Keriann, who spoke at the Circuit Meeting, is asking for our help:
2nd August - A Play Day.
This is a community-run event at Salt Hill Park, to which SRS contributes. It runs from 12 noon till 4 pm for the “customers”. Keriann is after volunteers who could go early or come at the end (or both) to assist in putting up / taking down tables, gazebos etc. She is also seeking help with administration – such as photocopying. There is also a “teddy-bear” event, for which she would like some NEW teddies please.
16th August - The Summer Party.
This annual event is held at the Slough Refugee Support Centre, next to
Salt Hill Park on the Bath Road from 1.30 pm until 4 pm. Again, Keriann would like help beforehand with setting up from about 9.30 am – bunting, chairs, food – and clearing up afterwards. She might also appreciate some help running the children’s games. Prior to 16th, she would welcome help with tidying the garden at the centre. Any volunteers please?
Windsor Homeless Project meeting at our church.
Friday 21 July
· 6 – 8 pm Windsor Homeless Project meeting at our Church:
Jane Deakin invites everyone to a workshop to discuss and share ideas, plans, goals and ambitions for the future of the Windsor Homeless Project. This is an exciting time in the life of WHP, they are looking to create a vision together for moving forward. Jane supports the Project, and would value your input, and hope that you will be able to attend.
Jane Deakin, Windsor Homeless Project:
jane@windsorhomelessproject.org
Please see further details on our Church noticeboard.
Keswick Methodist Church
On behalf of Keswick Methodist Church (via Sonia)
If you are in the Lake District in July or early August, please take advantage of the offer from Keswick Methodist Church to visit Honister Slate Mine for “Mining for God” (MfG). Details of dates, prices, booking etc can be found on our notice board.
Lift Update
This is still not operational but services are continuing in the Falder Hall. Rest assured we are currently doing all we can to resolve the issue. Watch this space for further news!
A Service of appreciation
A Service of appreciation marking the ministry of The Rev Gary Homewood in this Circuit will take place in September. If you would like to contribute to a monetary gift from this church, please give to the Treasurer or the duty steward by Sunday 23rd July.
Ugandan Community Hall Fundraising Update
Another successful fundraising event was held in the garden of Jane and Peter last weekend, a warm welcome, delicious lunch, great fellowship and all served up in wonderful sunshine. Thanks to the efforts of both Jane and Peter and all those who supported the event, we have raised another £300 for the Ugandan project. This makes a total so far of approximately £1200 which is brilliant! A total of £2000 is required to install a water supply to help them begin building.
Future fundraising events:
· September Quiz Night
· 7 October Reading Male Voice Choir Concert