A message from Huw The Three Cs It used to be said that the heart of education was the Three Rs: Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic. Hmmm – maybe Spelling should have been included there somewhere. However our new Bishop of Oxford, Stephen Croft, has suggested that all our churches should demonstrate the Three Cs by being Contemplative, Compassionate and Courageous. Contemplative. One of our primary duties as Christians is to be listening to God; not simply pursuing our own good ideas but taking the time to find out what he wants us to be doing. In broad terms Jesus showed us the way, when he repeated that the entire Law can be boiled down to love God with everything you’ve got, and love your neighbour as you love yourself. So caring for others is doing the will of God, as is being patient with folk when they irritate us, or going out of our way to lend a helping hand. Yet, if we listen, we may hear God calling us in other ways too. How much time do we spend listening? Is the Two Minutes’ Silence at Remembrance the only time in the year when we do not fill our lives with noise? Compassionate. As well as looking up to God, we are called to look out to the world around. Even in this country there are great inequalities – what are we doing to help those in need? As we look further afield those needs grow even deeper – are we so overwhelmed by “compassion fatigue” that we tune out those bits of the news? And what about the person next to us, who may be struggling with a hidden burden? Of course, none of us can meet the needs of the entire world, and we would burn out uselessly if we tried. Yet, if we have tender hearts, we will be aware of those hurts and want to do something about them. Courageous. Finally, we are called to take action, and this will demand strength and courage. Maybe we feel God is calling us to make a sacrificial gift to a charity; that certainly does not come easily. Maybe there is a system, or political structure, that needs challenging if healing change is ever to come. Are we prepared to give up our time and comfort for the sake of others? Are we ready to face the embarrassment of standing up for an unfashionable cause, whether that be our Christian faith or something else? There is a simple prayer that I have often used in praying for myself, and use now in praying for our churches: - 1 - Dear Lord, Open our ears to hear you speaking, Open our hearts to care for those in need, And open our hands that we may be swift to act. May God bless us all as we seek to do his will. Huw A note from the Editors These are personal matters, but ones that have been elaborated for public consideration by many Christian writers, from St Paul and the evangelists onwards. One of the most insightful commentary is surely that of St Teresa of Avila (1515 – 1582), who wrote: Christ has no body now on earth but ours, No hands but ours, no feet but ours; Ours are the eyes through which to look out Christ’s compassion to the world Ours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good, And ours are the hands with which he is to bless men and women now. From the Parish Registers Weddings & blessings Congratulations to the following couples, married recently: 3 June 2017 at St Mary’s David Richards & Kathryn Wootton 10 June 2017 at St Peter’s Luke Bateman & Nicola Birchmore And to this couple whose marriage was blessed: 15 July 2017 at St Peter’s Julie & Luis Gonzalez Baptisms – Welcome to the following children, baptised into God’s church recently: 11 June Emily Woods Marianne Liska 18 June Grace Everitt Harry Das 25 June 9 July Tomas Palacios-Gallimore Daisy McMahon Archie Young Violet McMahon 2 July 23 July George Wood Sebastian Koning Harris - 2 - Funerals etc. A funeral service for the late Mrs Joan Ena Hollister was held at Easthampstead Park Crematorium on Tuesday 6 June 2017. A funeral service for the late Mr Michael J Baldock was held at All Saints Church on Wednesday 14 June 2017. A funeral service for Baby Edward David Graham Woolls was held at Easthampstead Park Crematorium on Wednesday 28 June 2017. An Interment of Ashes for the late Mrs Kathleen Smart Woolls was held at St Peter’s on Tuesday 25 July 2017. In memoriam Peter Smith, aged 71 years, late of Chavey Down Road The funeral of Peter Smith took place at Ascot Priory on 15th May. The very special service was conducted by Father Paul. Peter had been in St David's Nursing home for several months, having returned to Winkfield after retiring to Eastbourne for a short while. The funeral was attended by many relatives and friends. Peter was an epileptic and also suffered a rare blood cancer. However, undaunted, he tended many gardens in Winkfield and Warfield and worked for many local people. At one time he worked at the Carnation Nursery (now the Inchmery Estate, Inchmery, being the Tudor name for ‘carnation’). His hobby and passion was WW2. He travelled widely in England and Europe, visiting Cemeteries and battle sites. He was particularly interested in the Slapton Sands disaster where so many American soldiers were killed. He researched and gave a talk on The Dam Busters and, as a tribute, the Recessional Music at his funeral was 'The Dam Busters March' by Eric Coates. Peter attended Cranbourne School at one time. Many people may have wondered why his house was called Clumber. Clumber Park was the ancestral home of the Dukes of Devonshire. Peter's parents were employed at Clumber, where they presumably met. When the Duchess of Newcastle moved to Forest Farm, Cranbourne, the Smiths also moved. On retirement they had their bungalow built and named it 'Clumber'. - 3 - The estate of Clumber Park is now owned by the National Trust. The Duchess bred dogs mainly Borzoi and Terriers. One such Terrier was given by her to Edward VII and was his constant companion. Ruth Timbrell Bits and Pieces Office opening hours THESE HAVE RECENTLY CHANGED!! Now Monday-Friday 9:30am – 12noon Contact info Church Office: c/o St Martin’s Church, Church Road, Chavey Down, SL5 8RR Phone: 01344 882933 Website: www.winkfieldandcranbourne.org.uk email: [email protected] If you are arranging an event, please contact Alison Burt in the Church Office, so that it can be noted in the Church diary and mentioned on the website. Alison will endeavour to keep track of activities and timings etc. You may view event details on the website given above. Prayers are held every week at 9:15am on: Monday at St Peter's Wednesday at St Mary's Tuesday at St Martin's Thursday at St Martin's For further details please contact the church office. All are welcome to attend. Friends of St Mary’s Winkfield contact info The Friends of St Mary’s Winkfield website is www.fosmw.com – see this for Friends activities. Or contact the Friends at [email protected] Events, Notices and Dates for your Diaries The editorial part of the Winkfield Parish News for present and past years (back to 2014) can be accessed at www.fosmw.com/parishmag The deadline for articles etc. for the October Parish Mag is 10 September. Collation day is 29 September. The 3rd page of our magazine is the parish Who’s Who. Please report any changes or corrections needed, as soon as possible, to [email protected] - 4 - Chavey Down Women’s Institute Our September meeting will take place at 7:45pm on Monday 18 Sept in St Martins church hall. Our speaker will be Stephanie Stevenson on ‘Well being through practical self care’. The Bailwick group meeting will take place at 2pm on Thursday 5 October in Warfield Park Community Hall. New members and visitors are always most welcome so do come along and join us. Janey Bethune-Williams 883854 Heritage Weekend – Thursday 7 to Sunday 10 September. This is the weekend that many local buildings are available and open to the general public. St Mary’s has accepted the invitation to be part of this but only for one day, and that is: Saturday 9 September 10am – 4pm. There will be: Guided tours around the church throughout the day Trips up the Bell Tower Organ Pipe Sponsorship assistance. Refreshments will be available during opening hours. Do please visit us on Saturday 9 September! Lesley Philpot, Church Warden – St Mary’s St Mary’s Harvest Supper – 30 September 2017 The Harvest Supper will, as last year, follow Evensong at St Mary’s church on Saturday 30 September in Popels Hall. The Evensong is at 6pm. and the supper will follow at approximately 7:30pm. Tickets are still at the very reasonable price of £8 per ticket. There will be a hot first course followed by the usual apple pies/crumbles. Entertainment follows the supper. Tickets are available in church or ask any Guild member. Lesley Philpot - 5 - Ranelagh School applications for September 2018 intake Four Ranelagh School Verification Surgeries for September 2018 intake are to be held at the Church Office, by appointment only, from 10am to 12noon on the following dates: 1. Wednesday 27 September 2017, 10am – 12noon 2. Wednesday 4 October 2017, 10am – 12noon 3. Saturday 7 October 2017, 10am – 12noon 4.