The Vicar's Letter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Vicar’s Letter The Vicarage, Waltham Road, (corner of Foliejohn Way) Woodlands Park Telephone 01628 822000 Dear Friends, When I was little, I could never understand the attitude of grown-ups to snow. Snow was fun. Snow was enjoyable. Snow gave you the opportunity to make snowmen, have snowball fights, or go tobogganing. And we didn’t get nearly enough of it. So when it snowed it was exciting. It was something to be welcomed with joy. But grown-ups didn’t seem to think so. They complained about it. They hoped it wouldn’t snow, and grumbled when it did. They thought it was a nuisance. Now I’ve grown up myself I can see both sides. I understand why many of us really don’t like the snow (however much we may say we want a ‘white Christmas’). I know the frustrations when bad weather means that we can’t do what we had planned to do, or when others can’t do what we were relying on them to do. And there are obvious problems for those whose jobs involve trying to get about or working outside, or who have a long commute. But if I’m honest, then I still side with the children. These last few weeks we have seen more snow than I think I have ever experienced before — certainly in my adult life. By the time you read this that may be just a memory, or we may have had yet more. But every time it’s happened, or been promised, then (whatever difficulties it has caused to my own plans) deep down I have had that frisson of excitement that I used to get as a child. THIS MAGAZINE Published bi-monthly, six times a year. Delivered free to all homes in White Waltham, Shottesbrooke and Woodlands Park. Freely available at church services. Given to all families at White Waltham School Articles for the next edition should be sent to: [email protected] by 10 th March 2010 The magazines will be available by the last Sunday of the month. Shottesbrooke and White Waltham Parish Magazine Page 1 And I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that Jesus would too. He often commended children, and said that adults needed to be more like them, and I think this is the sort of thing that he meant. It is still fun to be the first to walk and leave footprints across a piece of virgin snow. It’s still fun to make snowmen and have (good-natured) snowball fights. There is a strange beauty to snow. And when I need to venture further afield then there is that added sense of adventure. To be sure, there are some (especially the elderly) for whom snow causes particular difficulties. Slippery pavements can be very dangerous, and ‘fuel poverty’ can make it hard for some to keep properly warm in the cold weather. We need to keep a special eye out for any neighbours who may be hit hard in these ways, and be ready to offer a helping hand. But if our boring adult lives have grown so full that we can’t cope with a little disruption from time to time, and enjoy the real but simple pleasures that snow can bring, then surely they’ve grown too full. Perhaps we need to clear some of the clutter out of our lives in order to free up time to stop, to be able to take the unexpected in our stride, and to be able just to be, and to enjoy the present moment. I think that’s at least part of what Jesus meant by ‘enjoying life to the full’. And I think that’s what Lent is meant to be about as well. So how about using this Lent to clear some of the clutter out of your life? You might be surprised at how much you find to enjoy as a result. David Andrew Thank You on behalf of the Events Team Thanks to everyone who helped and came along to the Shottesbrooke & White Waltham Chur ches Winter Bazaar on Saturday 21st November 2009. It was a most enjoyable day and we raised over £500. Thanks also to those involved with the Christmas concert on 14th December. It was a very enjoyable evening and we raised £403. The funds raised from both events will go towards the general upkeep of the church buildings and the churchyards. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2010, Andrea Greenwood (Events Chairman) Shottesbrooke and White Waltham Parish Magazine Page 2 WHITE WALTHAM GARAGE LTD WHITE WALTHAM. MAIDENHEAD. BERKS. SL6 3SG TEL: 01628 823234 FAX: 01628 823373 REPAIRS & SERVICING (All Makes and Models, inc. 4 x 4s) M.O.T. TESTING STATION FULL RANGE OF TYRES SUPPLIED & FITTED PROMPT PERSONAL SERVICE AT COMPETITIVE RATES LARGE SELECTION OF QUALITY USED CARS PART EXCHANGES WELCOME FINANCE ARRANGED, SUBJECT TO STATUS OPENING HOURS MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8AM TO 6PM SATURDAY 8AM TO 1PM YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT GARAGE Web Site: www.white-waltham-garage.co.uk West London Aero Club White Waltham Airfield Maidenhead Berkshire SL6 3NJ Tel: (01628) 823272 Fax: (01628) 826070 FOR THAT SPECIAL GIFT 30 MINUTES TRIAL LESSON £95 60 MINUTES TRIAL LESSON £150 A Relaxing Environment – Good Food – Bar Varied social and flying activities A welcoming and comfortable clubhouse Social membership available to non flyers Shottesbrooke and White Waltham Parish Magazine Page 3 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? St Mary’s Church ? ? ? ? Quiz Night ? ? Raising Funds for Project Rainbow ? ? ? ? White Waltham Primary School Hall ? ? Saturday 13 March ? ? arrive at 7.00 p.m. for a 7.30 p.m. start ? ? ? ? ? ? Cost: £6.00 per person ? ? to include Soup & Sausage Supper ? ? Teams of 4 – 6 people ? ? Suitable for ages 10 – 100 years + ? ? ? ? Licensed bar & refreshments ? ? ? ? Teams to be booked by Monday 8 March ? ? Numbers are limited due to health and safety ? ? ? ? To book or for info. call 01628 670338 ? ? or email [email protected] ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Shottesbrooke and White Waltham Parish Magazine Page 4 Project Rainbow Update – January 2010 As you may know, there was an open hearing of the Consistory Court in October that was held in the Church. The purpose of that hearing was to enable the Chancellor to hear evidence and arguments for and against the Sunday School building that is planned for our Churchyard. He would then be able to decide whether or not to grant the church a Faculty (ecclesiastical permission) to build this building. Following that hearing the Barristers made their final submissions in writing (these are still available to view on the church website or you can speak to Tony Hill or Jenny Murphy to arrange to read a paper copy). Having read the Barristers’ final submissions, the Chancellor requested a further hearing that was held in London on Wednesday 16 th December. We have now received the Chancellor’s judgement and we are delighted to be able to report that the Chancellor has granted a Faculty to build this building, subject to the condition that the necessary funds have been raised before any further work is undertaken. For those who are interested, the full judgement is now available on the church website ( www.stmaryswhitewaltham.co.uk - follow the Consistory Court link on the Project Rainbow page), or, once again, you can contact Tony Hill or Jenny Murphy to read a paper copy if you don’t have access to the internet. (The judgement is quite long, but they key paragraphs come at the end – paragraphs 107-111.) The whole Project Rainbow team would like to offer their thanks to everyone who has given their support on this project; you have been a tremendous encouragement to us. But we are only half way there – we now need to raise the bulk of the funds required to build our Sunday School building. So please continue to pray for Project Rainbow and for all the hard work to come in organising and launching the main appeal. There will be a Project Rainbow Quiz Night on Saturday 13 March from 7.00p.m. The Quiz Night is open to teams of 4 - 6 people aged 10 years or over. The cost is £6 per person. For more details see the advert on page 4. We hope you can come along and join us! Shottesbrooke and White Waltham Parish Magazine Page 5 Qigong and Tai Chi Soft Chinese Exercises for Health & Relaxation Qigong and Tai Chi have been practiced in China for thousands of years It is suitable for people of all ages and abilities Weekly Classes:- Mondays from 10am - 11.30am White Waltham Parish Hall. For more information contact: Jennifer Maskell-Packer (01628) 823774 Member of Chinese Internal Arts Association and the British Council for Chinese Martial Arts. Shottesbrooke and White Waltham Parish Magazine Page 6 Everwelcome Club (Over 60s) Christian Smith House, Heywood Avenue, Woodlands Park 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. alternate Wednesdays Contact: Ursula McAndrew, 74 Bannard Road, Maidenhead SL6 4NR Tel: 01628 625089 Our year of 2009 ended with a Christmas Lunch at Bird Hills Golf Club – a very happy occasion attended by 35 members. The programme for 2010 has been finalised by Jenny and myself and we restart on: WEDNESDAY 3 rd FEBRUARY February 17 th British Red Cross Raffle March 3 rd Bingo March 17 th Fish & Chip lunch at the community Centre March 31 st Mr Alan Copeland I would like to say a very BIG THANK YOU to all the members for their support during the year – without you there would be no club. Happy New Year Ursula McAndrew ALLEN ELECTRICAL SERVICES AES Your Local Electrician All Types of Electrical Work No Call-out Charge Emergency Service Re-Wires Fully Insured Security Lights Shower Installations Extra Sockets & Lights Part P Approved Please call 01628 621342 or 07860 701320 (Mobile) Shottesbrooke and White Waltham Parish Magazine Page 7 How busy are you? I was a bit upset not to have been able to send a New Zealand newsletter for the Christmas/New Year edition.