June 2011 Link
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Loddon Valley Link Issue 434 The Church and Parish Magazine The June 2011 Edition This edition of the LODDON LINK features: Page 2 - Services for June; Page 5 - A new style Link; Page 11– Church BBQ and Songs of Praise on the Green; Page 21 - Loddon Players review; Page 23 - Hartley Songs of Praise; Pages 24/25 - Sherfield Fete; Page 29 - Village Hall Matters; Page 31 - Sherfield Park; Page 37 - Easy Fund Raising; Page 41 - Holiday Play Scheme; Page 42 - Useful Numbers. Services for June 2011 Sunday 5th June Easter 7 10.00am Holy Communion St Leonard’s Sherfield 10.00am Family Service St Mary’s Stratfield Saye* 6.30pm Evensong with St Mary’s Hartley Wespall Holy Communion Sunday 12th June Pentecost 11.00am Songs of Praise on the Green, Sherfield-on-Loddon Sunday 19th June Trinity Sunday 10.00am Holy Communion St Leonard’s Sherfield with Children’s Sunday Club 10.00am Matins (BCP) with Communion by Extension St Mary’s Stratfield Saye* 6.30pm Evensong St Mary’s Hartley Wespall Wednesday 4.00 pm Toddlers St Leonard’s Church Sunday 26th June Trinity 1 8.00am Prayer Book Communion St Mary’s Hartley Wespall 10.00am Family Service St Leonard’s Sherfield Sunday 3rd July Trinity 2 10.00am Holy Communion St Leonard’s Sherfield 10.00am Family Service & Baptism St Mary’s Stratfield Saye* 6.30pm Evensong with St Mary’s Hartley Wespall Holy Communion *Drive up close to the white gates, which will open automatically BCP = Book of Common Prayer. Children are welcome at all our services. Services in italics are particularly geared to children and families. Page 2 Have you booked your ticket? Olympics 2012, it’s all beginning to happen. My daughter rang a few weeks ago to talk about booking a ticket. The conversation went something like this: daughter: “Dad, it’s the last day to book your tickets for the Olympics, have you booked your tickets yet?” Dad: “To be honest, no.” daughter: “But if you don’t do it today you’re out of the running.” Dad: “I’m not Revd. Bob Politt sure I actually want to go to the Olympics — the travelling, the crowds, paying £3.50 for a coffee and all that stuff.” daughter: “But it’s a once in a lifetime chance.” Dad: “Actually, I was thinking of leaving the country whilst the Olympics are on.” daughter: “Dad, think about it.” I did. I didn’t put in my bid for a ticket. For some, being there for the event is a must, a good place to be whether it’s The Last Night of the Proms, the Cup Final, the Grand Prix, the Royal Wedding. For others, the effort, the crowds, the trials and tribulations involved are a big turn off and, of course, the fall back position is always the T.V. and the comfort of your own armchair. Perhaps it’s an age factor or merely personal preference but just because it’s happening doesn’t mean we want to be there. On the other hand, there are some events I wouldn’t miss for the world: seeing old friends, celebrations with the family, holidays. It’s strange to say this, and I dread to think what conclusions some people might reach but nevertheless, here goes: I’d also put God on my list of ‘wouldn’t miss for the world’. I don’t mean the church as an organisation, which for me is my ‘bread and butter’ but if it wasn't here I wouldn’t be that fussed (not to be confused with the people, who I would miss); I don’t mean Christian traditions, Pope’s and Archbishops, I’m quite happy to do without them. I mean the real thing: the intelligence behind the universe, the possibility of sharing eternity with the One who made the birds, the beauty of the sunset, the ability to love, learn and think, to live, move and exist. I wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity of being there with the Author and Sustainer of the universe. That’s got to be worth the effort. Is it possible to get a ticket? It’s worth finding out. I think this is an event too important to miss, a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’d better give my daughter a ring and see if she’s put in her bid. For details see: John 6:38-40 Christian greetings, Page 3 BREACH LANE CHAPEL Sherfield on Loddon Contact: Rev Chris Russell 01276 21469 Geoff Belsham 01256 JUNE 2011 SUN 5th 10.30am Family Worship led by Neil Owen 3pm Bible Study at Chapel 6.30pm Informal Worship THU 9th 7.30pm Bible Study at 9 Coopers Lane SUN 12th 10.30am Family Worship led by Rev Tony Smith SAT 18th 2.30pm Disabled Christian Fellowship at Camberley Baptist Church SUN 19th 10.30am Family Worship led by Geoff Belsham WED 22nd 7pm Swimming at Tadley Pool (with Mencap) SUN 26th 10.30am Family Worship 3pm Bible Study at Chapel And every... TUE 10.30am Open Morning (please phone) WED 2pm Kurling at Ridgeway Centre, Buckskin (with Mencap) CATHOLIC SERVICES Church of St Bede, Popley (www.vinntec.co.uk/hg/) Contact Fr. Dominic Golding, at the Parish Office Tuesday to Friday 9.30 - 1.00pm Tel: 01256 465214 Page 4 FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LINK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WHY GO PROFESSIONAL? The Loddon Valley Link has always prided itself as being a magazine by the community for the community, or more accurately by the church community for the general community. It has grown up from a single sheet in the days of Revd James Anderson in the seventies to what we have today. It has always been printed by church volunteers, and collated, stapled and delivered by a similar band of dedicated people who want to ensure that information of church, parish and general interest is made freely available to all households within the Benefice. Before the development of Sherfield Park, when the magazine had a distribution of less than a thousand, it was put together in a private home, first at Percy Sim’s residence and then later at my own home. The printed sheets were carefully laid across the dinning room table and the collating team would walk around the table picking up each page in order, carrying them to the stapler in the sitting room, which were then passed to the folder, then stacked in a pile ready for distribution. We soon realised the inefficiencies of this so a move to the village hall was negotiated. We now have 12 collators, six staplers, and about ten who fold and arrange the magazines in correct numbers for distribution, compiling 1650 magazines in about an hour. A team of 40 volunteers are on call to make up the 28 to 30 people needed at the end of each month to put the magazine together. There has always been lots of camaraderie as well as tea and biscuits for the event. In looking to the future, when the distribution will reach over 2,000 with the completion of Sherfield Park, the committee made the unanimous decision to have the magazine printed and collated professionally. At the present time the printing in the church takes 8 hours when the printer is working well, more if problems are encountered. Occasionally the odd blank sheet or upside down one slips by unnoticed, and during collation there are similar times when double sheets are inadvertently slipped in. Stapling can be erratic at times. From an advertisers point of view (and they are by far our main income for offsetting costs of the magazine) a magazine professionally printed and compiled is a far more attractive proposition, and will bring us in line with other similar publications in the area. Hence the decision was made, and the next edition (July/August) will be our first edition professionally printed and compiled. Continued on next page.... Page 5 The contract has gone to Greenhouse Graphics, a local company who do similar work for many other organisations within the area. We will still meet in the village hall on the last Thursday of the month, at around 2.00 pm. The magazine, which will have arrived from Greenhouse Graphics, will be divided up into the correct numbers for delivery. All those who do any of the deliveries are invited to collect their allocated magazines, stop by for a chat and have a cup of tea and biscuits. We hope those who have helped us in the past will continue to do so. I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the committee, to thank all who have helped us so much for making this magazine the success it has become. Without you all this would not have happened. Donald Dawson Chairman, Loddon Valley Link Management Committee. Church Toddler Time for Babies to 5’s The next ‘Toddler Time’ will be Wednesday 22nd June 2011 4.00 - 4.20pm At St Leonard’s Church on the Red Carpet Nursery Rhymes, Story, Prayer. Healthy refreshments. All welcome Contact Bob Politt for more information 01256 882209 Page 6 www.LoddonValleyLink.hampshire.org.uk Renowned for delicious food, great ales and a warm welcome www.whitehartsherfield.co.uk White Hart, Reading Road, Sherfield on Loddon, Hants, RG27 0BT 01256 882280 Wellington Farm Shop - 01189 326132 www.wellington-farm-shop.co.uk Located on the A33 at the Riseley roundabout between Reading and Basingstoke Page 7 www.LoddonValleyLink.hampshire.org.uk SHERFIELD 0-5’S Every Tuesday 10.00am to 12 noon Sherfield On Loddon Village Hall Climbing frame, toys, parachute games, singing, juice and biscuits, tea and coffee.