PURLEY PARISH NEWS JULY 2007 35P For the Church & Community of PURLEY ON THAMES ST. MARY THE VIRGIN PURLEY ON THAMES www.stmaryspurley.org.uk RECTOR EDITOR Rev. Roger B. Howell Matthew Slingsby The Rectory, 1 Westridge Avenue 24 Skerritt Way, Purley on Thames, Tel: 0118 941 7727 RG8 8DD Email: [email protected] Tel: 0118 961 5585 [email protected] ORDAINED LOCAL MINISTER Rev. Andrew Mackie DISTRIBUTION 12 Church Mews Steve Corrigan Tel: 0118 941 7170 11 Mapledurham Drive Purley on Thames CURATE Tel: 0118 945 1895 Rev. Jean Rothery Oaklea, Tidmarsh Road, Tidmarsh SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel: 0118 984 3625 Les Jamieson 58a Wintringham Way CHURCHWARDENS Purley on Thames Mary Barrett Tel: 0118 941 2342 Tel: 0118 984 2166 ADVERTISING Debbie Corrigan Liane Southam Tel: 0118 945 1895 1 Bakery Cottages, Reading Road, Burghfield Common, Reading CHURCH HALL BOOKINGS Tel: 0118 983 1165 before 6pm please Lorna Herring [email protected] Tel: 0118 942 1547 PRINTING BAPTISMS, WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS Richfield Graphics Ltd, Caversham All enquiries to the Rector If you are new to the area and would like to This magazine is published on the first Saturday of each subscribe to Purley Parish News, please contact month (except August). The price of each issue is 35p either Steve Corrigan or Les Jamieson. with a discounted annual subscription price of £3.50 for Comments and opinions expressed in this eleven issues. magazine do not necessarily reflect the views We welcome all contributions to this magazine, of the Editor or the PCC of St Mary's Church, particularly on local issues and events. Copy can be Purley on Thames œ publishers of Purley Parish delivered either in writing or by email. Please note News œ nor is any endorsement of the products however, we reserve the right to edit contributions to and services of our advertisers implied by their suit space availability and to maintain consistency of inclusion. style (font etc). Local event adverts can be accommodated but space is limited; landscape format THIS EDITION PUBLISHED 7 JULY copy is preferred in this case as it allows a ²-page entry to be published. If specially preparing content, please NEXT EDITION COPY DEADLINE 18 AUGUST set your page size to A5. NEXT EDITION PUBLISHED 1 SEPTEMBER Cover image: Copyright © L Diane Johnson, Crossdaily.com 1 -ROM THE RECTOR 0ear friends NO TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES! In a conversation with a resident of Purley some time ago, I heard the saying "He hasn't got time to smell the roses!" It was remark that I had not come across before, and it rang a few bells within. How easy it is to become a victim of time; never having enough time; too busy to do this or that; trying to save time etc. etc. A few weeks ago, the Bishop of Reading was on Reading Station as commuters hurried for their trains to work. He was offering an egg timer, with the encouragement to take the three minutes, it takes the sand to go through, and spend it in silence. He has just written a book - Do Nothing to Change Your Life* making a plea to stop now and again and reflect. He says, "I am troubled for myself and for our world, when every waking hour is filled with activity that sweeps dreams away, and has no room for rest and play." We all have the same amount of time in a day, and there can't be any more time in a day. The question is not about the amount of time we have, but about the way we use our time." I wonder if you are in control of your time, or are you enslaved to its many demands? On the BBC programme The Antiques Roadshow the other day, there was a lady who had brought along a beautiful piece of furniture. John Bly was telling her about it and he showed her a secret drawer in it. The lady was flabbergasted œ she had had the chest for many years, but had never discovered the catch that released the drawer! We live in a wonderful world, and it is easy to pass its sights and sound each day, but to remain blind and deaf to what is close at hand. One day of course our time will run out, and then it really will be "too late". The garden roses have provided a spectacular show this year, and although many have little or no perfume these days, there are still some that have an amazing scent. If you haven't got time to smell to roses, it may not be too serious, but failure to find the "secret drawer" of God's love in Jesus Christ is an altogether different matter. 30 September 2007 * Church House Publishing £6.99 œ available from any bookshop 2 2 ALL CHANGE! At the end of this current school term Jeanette Goddard will be retiring as head teacher of Purley Church of England Infants' School. She has been in post for around 17 years. I have the privilege of visiting the school each Monday to lead Collective Worship. A warm welcome always awaits me and although on occasions I have had to scratch my head to find a "way in" for the children, with the subject in question, I have often been amazed by the way the children respond, and in particular how they have remembered the stories I have told. The welcoming atmosphere at the school, and the progress children have made during their short time there, is due to the hard work of Jeanette and her staff. We say a big "thank you" to Jeanette for all she has put into the life of the school and wish her a long and happy retirement, which I suspect, will not be entirely without some activity that benefits others. Roger Howell CHURCH SERVICES 8 July 9.30am Family Communion 11.15am Morning Worship 15 July 10.30am Confirmation Service at St James 6.00pm Evening Worship 22 July 9.30am Family Worship 11.15am Holy Communion 29 July 9.30am Family Worship 11.15am Holy Communion 5 August 10.30am Holy Communion 12 August 10.30am Family Communion (with all-age activity) 6.00pm Holy Communion 19 August 10.30am Holy Communion 26 August 10.30am Holiday Club Service 6.00pm Holy Communion 2 September 9.30am Family Worship 11.15am Holy Communion 6.00pm Holy Communion 3 Tue 24 July Mon 10 September Tue 30 October Mon 10 December Over the past couple of years Christians in Purley from many churches have come together regularly to give thanks to God for our village, and to pray - for individuals, families, schools, groups, activities, places and even the parish council and the councillors! Do feel welcome to come along to St Mary's on the following dates - even if you haven't before, or aren't too sure about prayer. We start at 8pm and are finished by 9pm. If you can't manage it but want us to pray for you, or a situation you are concerned about, just drop us a note or an email. Sally Robertson Chris Rayers 962 5978 942 1880 [email protected] [email protected] Melyn, Colyton Way 9 Allison Gardens (on the corner next to the shop) SYRIA œ 12 DAYS APRIL 2008 A journey in the borders of Eden and Ancient Phoenicia œ lands of Abraham, David, Solomon and St. Paul. Golden deserts and fertile river valleys œ cradle of the alphabet. This tour is being led by Rev Brian Spence from Englefield. If you would like further information, contact him on 930 2227 or [email protected] DARFUR EMERGENCY APPEAL There will be a "Bucket Collection" in church on Sunday 1 and 8 July. Monies given will be sent to TEARFUND, and used to bring relief to the situation in Darfur. As intense conflict enters its fourth year, the people of Darfur and neighbouring Chad continue to be forced from their homes to live in fear in refugee camps with scant resources. The resources of host communities are also stretched beyond the limits. CONFIRMATION SERVICE The Bishop of Reading will lead a Confirmation Service on Sunday 15 July at 10.30am at St James the Less Church Pangbourne. Several adults and young people from St Mary's have been preparing to be confirmed. On this Sunday, there will be no morning services at St Mary's. Instead, we shall be supporting those being confirmed. Make the effort and join us at St. James' Church. HARMONIOUS DISSIMILITUDE The Spiritual Development & Training Group presents a talk led by Canon Vincent Strudwick entitled "Harmonious Dissimiltude: Living with Difference in the Church", on Wednesday 10 October 2007 at 8pm at St Mary's Burghfield. 4 4 PARISH REGISTERS WEDDING 2 June Peter Detnon and Susanna Baston FUNERALS 30 May Eileen Joyce Maller aged 93 years (Cremation) 2 June Doreen Marajorie Wilkinson aged 86 years (Ashes) 7 June Richard John Winbur Hall Aged 58 years (Cremation) WAM YOUNG PEOPLE WITH A MISSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE As the summer term comes to an end, we reflect on our time together, both on Sunday mornings when, during the 9.30am service, the young people explore their faith and moral standing, and on alternate Sunday evenings during social activities. These activities are various but always fun, and this term have included a games evening in church, ten-pin bowling, a visit to the police station, and a giant rounders match in Bucknells Meadow, with many parents and siblings joining in.