Vol 30 No 1 January 2019
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Vol 30 No 1 January 2019 COMMENT FROM THE VICARAGE down to touch the earth at Christmas and chooses a cattle stall as the place. When we come to pack the I don’t know if you are a fan of the comedian Michael crib away, we can literally put it back in its box, McIntyre but if you are you may have seen his safely stowed until next year, or we can allow that brilliant routine about the time between Christmas image to open us up to a more profound appreciation and New Year – the few days when we never know if of what God is saying about what it is to be a human the shops will be open, when the bin collection might and how deeply he values us, despite what we think be and even what day of the week it is! Someone has of as our flaws and failings. Time is running out; more recently tagged this time as ‘Crimbo-Limbo’ a Twelfth Night will soon be here and it will be time to good name which picks up on that strange sense of say goodbye to ‘Crimbo-Limbo’; I hope that this disorientation that happens at this time of year when Christmas will have prepared us all for a truly Happy all our usual routines have been suspended. New Year. I’m hoping that this is where you are as you pick up Blessings, Linda this month’s Correspondent, and that your Revd. Linda Smith, Tel. 01491 680979 decorations and Christmas cake are still going Email: [email protected] strong, as I want to hang on to Christmas for a while longer – and more particularly the Christmas crib. I’ve written before about the origins of the crib; the Services at St Leonard’s in very first being in Greccio, Italy when St. Francis of Assisi brought to life the very first Christmas. There JANUARY are countless interpretations of this scene all around 6th January (Epiphany) the world, many of them very beautiful and revered. In recent times there have been some rather unusual 8.00 a.m. Holy Communion interpretations; in 2004 Madame Tussauds put 9.45 a.m Parish Communion together a nativity scene with wax models of celebrities; David and Victoria Beckham were 13th January (2nd of Epiphany) depicted in the role of Joseph and Mary and Kylie 8.00 a.m. Holy Communion Minogue was the angel! I’ve seen a ‘Hipster Nativity’ with various trendy types complete with headphones, 9.45 a.m Worshipping Together man bags and groomed facial hair making up the 20th January (3rd of Epiphany) tableaux. But perhaps the most controversial and headline grabbing was last year’s sausage roll in the 8.00 a.m. Holy Communion manger courtesy of Greggs bakery. Understandably 9.45 a.m Open Door Service some people were appalled; I was somewhat taken aback as to how anyone thought this might be a good 27th January (4th of Epiphany) idea but then again it certainly got the publicity the 8.00 a.m. Holy Communion firm sought. I don’t find any of this offensive; I think it’s interesting how people see this image as a vehicle 9.45 a.m Parish Communion for their message, which is exactly what St. Francis was doing when he created it all those years ago. The fact is that this holy scene is put together with the everyday stuff of our lives, and that makes it easy to KNIT AND NATTER GROUP recreate in any style you want. All you need are a few Why not join the thriving Knit and Natter Group people, a humble backdrop, and a few props that for good company and to make new friends? might be found in any home or locality and you’re done. And yet the power of the message when those It meets every Tuesday between 2.30 and 4.00 things come together is that this is important, this is p.m. at Mowforth House and is a great opportunity worth paying attention to. Why? Because we all, to get to know fellow villagers and to strengthen whether we believe in it or not, associate it with a bonds in the community. For more information one-off world-changing event. No wonder advertisers please ring Barbara Penniall Barbara on 01491 return to the nativity scene year after year. Every 681449. picture tells a story and this one is the story that has a power that echoes down through the ages. That power comes not only from the holiness of the image but paradoxically from the ordinariness of it, and this is where we can discover a hope that takes Christmas beyond the tinsel and the festive sparkle. At Christmas God takes the ordinary and makes it Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of extraordinary. God shows us that being human, information printed in this paper, the Editor and being flesh and blood, is good. So good that God Committee cannot accept responsibility for the contents of advertisements or any errors that may occur. Opinions chooses to make us his home. Being ordinary and expressed are those of the contributors and do not nothing special is fine. In fact, being left out, ignored necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or Committee. by the powerful, even lost and in trouble, means that you get a special place in God’s eyes. Heaven stoops 2 A WORD FROM THE EDITOR PUBLISHER INFORMATION Welcome to our 30th year of publication and all Editor: Lucy Hall 07886 888954 good wishes to you all for a happy and healthy Articles for inclusion: to the editor by new year. email to: [email protected] — to be received You may have noticed that we are a bit thin on by 12th of the preceding month. articles this month, but we anticipate a return Advertisers: To place an advertisement, please to normal in February when everyone has got email [email protected] for details of prices over Christmas and life has resumed a less and how to produce your ad in our house style. hectic pace. If you are one of those people who The deadline for payment and your finished advert suffer from New Year ‘blues’, the WADS panto at is the 12th of the preceding month. the end of the month is highly recommended as Small Ads and Announcements: £5 for three lines. the perfect antidote. The Woodcote Amateur Dramatic Society have been providing fun and Photographs: Photos should be unedited and as laughter for many years and their Pantos never high a resolution as possible (at least 500kB). disappoint. That is why we are more than happy Please send them as attachments to wood- to advertise ‘Cinderella’ on this month’s cover [email protected] page. Advertising: Claire Jones 07789 190463 Treasurer: Helen Baker 01491 682240 Production: Dan Oldfield 01491 681962 YOGA at Woodcote Village Hall Distribution: Trevor Back 01491 680617 Chair Yoga: Wednesday mornings 10 am (new class) and 11 am Printer: C Z Services 07860 630865 Hatha Yoga: Tuesdays 6 pm, Wednesdays 7.15 pm NEW TERM STARTS 8/9 JABUARY Cover Design: Rob Spencer For more information or to register contact The Woodcote Correspondent is on the Village [email protected] Tel: 01491 681419 website at www.woodcote-online.co.uk/facilities. Or visit www.woodcote-yoga.org.uk Note: The Woodcote Correspondent is edited, produced and distributed by volunteers. LYME REGIS The Jurassic Coast National Heritage Site Beautiful beaches, walks, fossil hunting, The Cobb and harbour. Loved by children and adults Good restaurants, arty shops, cream teas One bedroom flat for holidays and weekend breaks In the old town 1 minute from the sea Tel: 01491 681892 or [email protected] Tree Surgery Tree Thinning Tree Reductions Hedge Trimming R Hazell Recycling Waste Licensed Waste Carrier – CB/QP3698MJ Tree Removal Tree Felling Waste Management Licence No. WML86315 4yd skip - £145 + VAT Landscaping Stump Grinding 6yd skip - £200 + VAT 8yd skip - £235 + VAT 12yd skip - £310 + VAT City & Guilds NPTC Roll On/Roll Off Skips Also Available Qualified and Insured Ring 01491 699101 3 BONNER LOCKSMITHS INSURANCE APPROVED DOOR & WINDOW LOCKS SUPPLIED & FITTED (BS3621) DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL PREMISES DIGITAL LOCKS GRILLES BARS ALL AREAS COVERED CALL OUT SERVICE 01491 FULL MEMBER 680216 OF BRITISH LOCKSMITH Crestwell House, Beech Lane INSTITUTE WOODCOTE, READING Computer Problems? Free quote – No fix no fee Michael Harper Over 500 happy customers in Sonning Common and Woodcote. www.MiloTechnicalSupport.com 0118 972 4905 4 Dear Editor, James was loved by everyone who knew him, his cheeky smile and infectious laughter will be so Heartfelt Thanks missed, and our world is a lonelier place without We would like to say a huge thank him. He will be forever in our hearts. you to everyone who has taken the With love Charlotte, Andy, Ben and Emily Hawley time to contact us following the passing of our beloved son, James Hawley. BEEKEEPING BEGINNERS COURSE James was born with a complex heart abnormality and had to Are you interested in bees and the environment or endure many battles during his even taking up beekeeping? If you are then you or short life. Unfortunately, he someone you know may like to know that in recently picked up a serious infection and became March 2019 South Chilterns Beekeeping unwell again. He was admitted into hospital for Association is running a weekend course aimed at treatment and whilst he fought bravely during this both potential beekeepers and people who would recent admission his body could not cope and like to know what they can do to help the survival James sadly passed away on the 10th November of our pollinators.