December 2020

The Parish Magazine

The Parish Church of All Saints Rotherfield Peppard

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Contacting the clergy or churchwardens

Rector

The Revd James Stickings

Please do not contact at present thankyou

Associate Priests

The Revd Shelia Walker Telephone 0118 972 4861 Email [email protected]

Churchwardens

Kathie Anderson Telephone 0118 972 2694

Email [email protected]

Valentine de Haan Telephone 0118 972 3806

Email [email protected]

Organist and Director of Music

David Butler Telephone 0118 972 4065

Email [email protected]

Junior Choir Mistress

Rebecca Bell Telephone 0118 972 2967

Email [email protected]

Flower arranging

Ann Butler-Smith Telephone 0118 972 1871

All Saints' Church website: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/5977/ (Please do not use the website called "allsaintspeppard.org.uk", even though it appears under Google search. This is not the church website and we are taking steps to having it removed)

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The Parish Magazine

In this month’s magazine Contact page 2 Contents page 3 Shelia Walker’s letter 4 Guest editors page 5 Parish Register 6 Sporting Saints 6/7 New Bishop of Dorchester 8 Christmas can’t come too early 9 Valeries Corner 10 Tronitarian Cricket 11 What a year 13 Crossword 14/15 Advertisement 18/19 Service rotas rear cover

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Dear Everyone,

There’s a prayer from Wales which is very relevant for us, perhaps to pray daily, at the moment… ‘High King of heaven, have mercy on our land; revive your church; send the Holy Spirit for the sake of the children. May your kingdom come to our nation, in Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.’

‘Revive your church…’ may seem an unlikely request when the word ‘survival’ may be more on our minds, but who knows? Certainly, we’re being thrown back on our own resources and being challenged to think again how we can become flourishing, self-sustaining Christian communities. This means recovering - or discovering - the ‘priesthood of all believers’; if there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s that we’re all in this together, and need everyone’s talents, energies, experience and wis- dom in order to realize all that God intends for us.

We are all called (if not collared, to quote a notorious pre-ordination book….) as essential parts of the body of Christ. As Christmas - a rather different Christmas,

perhaps - approaches, once again the question for all of us is: how might we be Christ incarnate, here, now?

Thank you for all that you are, and are doing. May God, in his mercy and grace, enable us to experience and express in a new way the wonder and blessing of Jesus’ coming among us, then and now. Sheila

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Guest Editor’s page

Hope you are all well and looking foreword to the festive season. This months magazine is slightly late as we were waiting for the latest guidance on the Tier system to sort out Christmas services.. The timings and conditions are now on the back page but please be aware that we are dealing with shifting sands as it were. Keith Atkinson again has supplied a number of articles including one on cricket and various vicars using it to interpret the holy Trinity. He also writes about the saints days around the Christmas period and the reasons for some clubs being called the saints. He also writes about a model rail enthusiast who lived in Church lane. Valarie’s corner is a discourse on books and there importance in life including an amus- ing anecdote of her daughters visit to a large house. There is an edited page from the Diocese which introduces us to the new appointee to the post of Bishop of Dorchester. This includes a potted history and his hopes for the future. There is the usual puzzle from the Parish pump as well as an article by The Revd Peter Crumpler , Christmas cannot come too early. I have added a small article called what a year and Shelia has provided her monthly letter to us all. Thankyou for reading and taking the magazine. If you wish to contribute please e mail your article to [email protected]

6 .Parish Registers 20 October to 20 November 2020

Interment of cremated remains 20 October Molly Rosa Eugenie Lindlaw (85) 3 November Nicholas Frederick Gyngell (67)

Sporting Saints Christmas is coming, preceded on 21 December by the Feast of St Thomas the Apostle – doubting Thomas – and followed immediately by St Stephen, the first martyr, St John, apostle and evangelist, the Holy Innocents and Thomas à Becket or St Thomas of Canterbury. But a lot of football is played around the holiday period and a football result in August caused me to wonder about the origins of some football club names. The score was St Mirren 1 St Johnstone 0. They are familiar names, read or heard every weekend in season. Less familiar is TNS or The New Saints. Where does that name come from? And why are Southampton FC and Northampton RFC called the Saints? To begin with St Mirren: the club’s name as spelt is a variant on Mirin (c. 565 – 620), the patron saint of Paisley and founder of a church on the site of the present Paisley Abbey. Mirin was a contemporary of Columba and prior of Bangor Abbey, Co. Down before he made a missionary voyage to Scotland. His feast day is on 15 September. The St Johnstone club plays in Perth. It was formed by members of the local cricket team, anxious to occupy their time after the cricket season ended. In the Middle Ages, Perth, though known as the Fair City, was also St John’s Toun because the parish church is dedicated to St John the Baptist. The Agnus Dei symbol is part of the club badge. TNS or The New Saints has had a chequered history. It has become an amalgamation of clubs from Oswestry in Shropshire and Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain in Powys. As readers may remember from our August edition, St Oswald was killed at Oswestry while the English meaning of the Welsh village name is “Church of Saint Bride”. So when a name was sought for the new club after amalgamation, as both places had connections with saints, The New Saints was agreed upon. Although home matches are played in England, the club is a very successful member of Cymru Premier. St Bride or Brigid of Ireland, who died about 525, was abbess of Kildare. Although there is much uncertainty about her life, there is none about the extension of her cult. There were at least 19 ancient dedications in her honour in England – most famously in Fleet Street – and almost as many in Wales. There are villages in Dumfries and Galloway and in Cumbria (Brydekirk near Annan and Bridekirk near Cockermouth) which remind us of her widespread popularity. Her feast day is on 1 February. Many of today’s sports clubs had their origins in association with the church. Perhaps most significant for cricketers is Pudsey St Lawrence CC (of the Bradford Premier League) where Sir Leonard Hutton and his three brothers began to play the game. The club’s foundation by St Lawrence Church in 1845 was probably an improvement initiative to prevent fighting and drunkenness. Southampton FC can trace its roots to members of St Mary’s Church Young Men’s Association of 1885. The Northampton rugby union club was founded in 1880 from a group of high spirited boys by a sporting curate at St James’ Church. At both Southampton and Northampton, the clubs have retained nicknames from their church associations.

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A similar story is told of Wakefield Trinity rugby league club where, in 1873, a group of young men from Holy Trinity Church formed the club. In 1895, it became one of the 22 clubs to form the Northern Union after the acrimonious split from the Rugby Football Union. I have refrained from inclusion of places with saint’s names (with the exception of TNS) even though that means omission of St Helens, Lancashire and St Andrews, Fife and their associations with rugby league and golf respectively. However, I will include a different St Helen’s, home of Swansea Cricket Club and Swansea Rugby Club, especially as I can then conclude with another mention of John Arlott. In September, I drew attention to his harvest hymn “God, whose farm is all creation”. Together with Dylan Thomas in his home town, Arlott watched a county cricket match at St Helen’s and his poem, Cricket at Swansea (Glamorgan in the Field), was the result. A short excerpt gives the flavour:

In the field of a new Cymric mission With outcricket as cruel as a cat They pounce on the perilous snick As it breaks from the spin-harried bat.

Keith Atkinson

St Ffraid's Church, Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain

Model railway enthusiast from Church Lane In reality, the Henley Standard of 6 November carried the headline “Model railway enthusiast builds old station replica”, the old station being Henley railway station as it used to be. The enthusiast is The Revd Canon Clive Price, now resident in retirement in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Clive was a son of Stanley and Elsie Price of Church Lane, Peppard and is an old boy of Henley Grammar School. His mother sang in the choir of All Saints’ Church where she became verger. Clive also sang in the church choir as a boy. He was ordained priest in 1970 and then served the church in the Dioceses of Oxford, Salisbury and St Albans prior to becoming, in 1986, Priest-in-Charge of St Oswald in Lee with Bingfield and Diocesan Ecumenical Officer, Diocese of Newcastle. Clive was made an Honorary Canon of St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle in 1997 and he served as Rural Dean of Bellingham from 2000 to 2006. This vast and very rural deanery reaches to the Anglo-Scottish border. It covers North Tynedale and Redesdale and includes Kielder Forest and Kielder Water, Catcleugh Reservoir and Otterburn military ranges, red squirrels and many more sheep than people. Keith Atkinson

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Photograph by: Neil Pugmire | Diocese of Portsmouth 24 November 2020 – the Queen has approved the appointment of the Venerable , Archdeacon of the Meon, as the next Bishop of Dorchester.

Responding to today’s announcement, Gavin said; “I am thrilled and humbled to have been invited to serve as the next Bishop of Dorchester and look forward to joining the in the New Year. It will be a privilege to work and worship alongside the people of these churches as, together, we serve the communities of Oxfordshire.” Gavin is one of the convenors of the Evangelical Forum on Synod and has served as a trustee of Latin Link mission agency and of the London School of Theology. He is deeply committed to the mission and growth of the Church; “My priorities in ministry have always been to enable the church to grow in unity, in confidence, in numbers and in the depth of our experience of the love of God. Gavin, 53, was educated in Law at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He then worked as a solicitor in the City of London before training for ministry at Trinity College Bristol. Having grown up in Sussex, Gavin is a life-long and active supporter of Brighton and Hove Albion, which he says, proves he is a person of great faith. The , the Rt Revd Dr said; “I am delighted that Gavin has accepted the invitation to be the next Bishop of Dorchester. Gavin is known for his warmth and approachability, and he is passionate about the mission of the church. He’s experienced in bringing churches, local authorities and civil society organisations together for the good of all, and is clear about the issues rural communities and towns face. I am very excited about what Gavin’s appointment means for the Diocese of Oxford.” The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev Christopher Foster, said; “Along with the whole of the Diocese of Portsmouth, and especially the Meon archdeaconry, I am delighted that the Diocese of Oxford will enjoy the leadership and service of Gavin Collins as the next Bishop of Dorchester. He and Christina will bring their many gifts, including friendship and generosity, to the mission of the gospel in parishes, chaplaincies and communities.

9 Christmas can’t come too early Every year it happens. I hear Christians lamenting how ‘Christmas comes earlier every year.’

Since this September (or before!) supermarkets, shops and garden centres have been selling Christmas jumpers, socks and pyjamas and all kinds of other seasonal merchan- dise. Should we be annoyed or exasperated? Should we have gone around reminding people that it’s much too early for tinsel and mistletoe? This year, of all years, the answer from churches and Christians of all denominations must surely be a resounding ‘NO.’ As people began looking to Christmas for some light in the gloom of the pandemic – and hard-hit businesses desperately need to increase their income and chances of survival – it sounds a woefully wrong note if the Church is saying ‘hold back, it’s not time yet…’ Because Christmas is that time of year when increasing numbers of people want to come to church services and share in the story of the new-born King. It is when carols are played in shopping centres, and there are openings to speak of the meaning of the sea- son. Churches might not be able to host big indoor carol services this year, but the challenge is how we take the Christmas message out into the streets and neighbourhoods around our buildings. This year has been one like no other for millions of people, with little prospect of better news into the New Year. So we need to be declaring the Christmas message of hope and light and joy in the darkness. And to be doing so at every opportunity. But also, we need to be doing so with sensitivity and care, for the many who will find it hard to be celebrating this pandemic year, and with the prospect of large family gather- ings in doubt because of Covid 19 regulations. Stephen Cottrell wrote in his 2009 book ‘Do Nothing Christmas is Coming’, “Christmas is one of the most joyful times of the year. It is also one of the most stressful. It is laden with expectations. It is often overtaken with grief. It might be the sea- son of good will, but it can feel like the last straw on an already overburdened camel.” He added ruefully, “Wise men would not ride this one.” Archbishop Cottrell is right that Christmas has to be approached sensitively, that we need to take care in how we celebrate, that for many people who have lost loved ones and live- lihoods during this traumatic year, Christmas will not be easy. We come alongside people with the news that the baby born in the manger grew up to be the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief, who experienced suffering and bereavement. God, born as Man, who shared our pain as well as our celebrations, ultimately died on a cross to rise again. Our mission is to bring a message of hope, and to do so with love, humility and sensitivity to a hurting disorientated world – one that’s eager for light in the gloom. The Revd Peter Crumpler is a priest in St Albans, Herts, a former Di- rector of Communications with the CofE, and the author of ‘Responding to Post- Truth’ (Grove Books).

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Valarie’s Corner

Areopagitica. This powerful discourse, the first for the freedom of the press, written by Milton, in 1644, does not figure on many reading lists these days. In its day it was ex- coriating and very influential. Taken from Areopagus the Hill of Mars in Athens where the highest judicial tribunal would meet, the pamphlet attacks the Lords and Commons for their order, “That no book be printed unless the same be approve and licensed.” “A good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit.” “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” An old friend, Cynthia Hutt, formerly of this parish, has just told me that “The single ingredient for getting her through lockdown well was…. books”. I have long thought that Hell would have no books (and be cold; but that is another story). At this discombobulating time, it is incredibly hard to avoid the cynical, panic-whipping negativity of the media. More than ever our minds need to be nourished and inspired by Music, Art, Literature and Theatre. On the wireless Radio 3 and Classic FM do this very well. Reading is an excellent way for us to be taken out of, and beyond ourselves, to bring us a sense of perspective and hope. A friend and I find reading Shakespeare to one another every evening, over the telephone, comforting and stimulating. I believe that one of the best gifts to bestow on our children and friends is the love of books. So there are all our Christmas lists sorted: give books. When my daughter was about 4, we went to tea at a very luxurious house, so I won- dered how our rather more modest life-style would stand in comparison. I needn’t have worried, “Mummy, they only had one book”.

11 .Trinitarian Cricket Cricket and the Church of England have a long association. Perhaps most notably, David Sheppard, a former Bishop of Liverpool, captained the England cricket team. Another example is the Church Times cricket cup, competed for annually since 1951 – except, of course, for this year. In 2019 the finalists were CBD (Carlisle Blackburn Durham) and London. The final is played at the Walker Ground in Southgate. The competition was the brainchild of the Revd Greader Bussell, Vicar of Ardington near Wantage. Recently, a friend sent me correspondence entitled On the ball which involved four clergy. The original source is unknown.

From the Reverend David Prior Sir, Last Sunday, I dragged myself away from watching the end of the Test match at Lord’s in order to preach at our evening service on the theme of “What Christians believe about Trinity”. The last three balls I watched being bowled were by Ian Salisbury, England’s exciting new spin bowler. The first was a leg spinner, the second a top spinner, the third a googly. I had been ferreting around for a helpful illustration of the Trinity – and there it was: one person expressing himself in three different but very similar ways. The leg- spinner’s stock ball represents God the Father, who created us to “feel after him”; the top spinner, which goes straight through, represents the direct activity of God the Son; the googly represents the surprising activity of God the Holy Spirit.

From the Reverend Robert Paterson Sir, The Reverend David Prior’s cricketing analogy of the Trinity as a leg- spinner and a googly is entertaining but possibly tritheistic. In an earlier age he might have had to flee for his life. Richard Porson, a well-known eighteenth-century sceptic, is reputed to have replied to a believing friend who said the Trinity was like three men in one hansom-cab that doctrine was more like three cabs with one person in them.

From the Reverend R. A. Morris Sir, David Prior’s Trinity Trinitarian illustration will have to be called a wide. It reflects a serious theological error, identified in the early church as the idea that the one God merely acts in different ways at different times. Better stick to three stumps in one wicket.

From the Reverend Timothy Russ Sir, Perhaps David Prior should have been studying the fathers of the Church rather than watching the cricket on Trinity Sunday, for he seems to have expressed very concisely the Sabellian heresy – “one person expressing himself in three different but similar ways” instead of three persons in one substance. My own anxiety as I dragged myself away from the screen was “Will there be anyone at all in church”. Because the match was taking place on Trinity Sunday at Lord’s and Ian Salisbury was “England’s new spin bowler”, the date was certain to have been 14 June 1992. It was the second Test of the summer against Pakistan. The scores were England 255 and 175: Pakistan 293 and 141 for 8. Pakistan won by two wickets. On his England debut, Salisbury took 2 for 73 and 3 for 49.

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As far as I can ascertain, in 1992 the four writers who had views on the Trinity were, respectively, Vicar of Chester Square SS Michael and Philip, London; either Vicar of Gabalfa, Llandaff (and later ) or NSM Comrie, St Andrews; NSM Linthorpe, York; and P in C of St Dennis, Truro. I also find the subject of the Trinity a difficult concept.

Keith Atkinson

Cross word answers

ACROSS: 1, Depend. 4, Canopy. 7, Beak. 8, Irritate. 9, Zedekiah. 13, Ate. 16, Job’s comforter. 17, NAE. 19, Lang Syne. 24, Blockade. 25, Five. 26, Enigma. 27, Drench.

DOWN: 1, Debt. 2, Peaceable. 3, Drink. 4, Curia. 5, Nuts. 6, Put it. 10, Excel. 11, Is man. 12, Hoofs. 13, Attention. 14, Ezra. 15, Ijon. 18, Aslan. 20, Abana. 21, Greed. 22, GCMG. 23, Leah.

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What a year

I sit here wondering what to write in order to get the magazine out for circulation. Then it suddenly struck me that we have all gone through trying times, which hopefully has made us stronger and aware of the true value of life. Material things no longer matter and a simple wave or a smile from people you have not seen for some time or have been in isolation takes on new values. Phone calls take longer because people want to listen to your voice rather than the message. We have all learnt new skills like using Zoom or the other one Blue jeans for business meetings and PCC matters. What's up keeps us in connection with loved ones and family members yet there seems to be a sterile feeling about this technology and we all desire to look at people in the same room or to shake hands and embrace. One day this will happen but at present we have to be patient and wait for science and lockdown to see us through this natural disaster. The first lock down made me appreciate the silence on my daily walks, few cars and aeroplanes. We were lucky with the spring weather being so bright and warm it was if nature was trying to make it easier for us. My wife worked from home in line with the COVID-19 restrictions and as a result her eyes alighted on many garden projects. The children’s old tree house was dismantled and the wood at the bottom of the garden was cleared out. Laurel bushes cut back and new path ways made. Sun light reached parts long since cast in dark shadow causing secret plants to blossom. My brother in law has been with us since March and being good with his hands and practi- cal these projects came to a satisfactory conclusion. . Brother and sister reignited their sibling life and I came to know both better. After the first lockdown came to end my mother in law joined us for supper most nights and we became an extended household. Our conversations would drift to past days on her farm with her brothers and sister and she would recount tales about the last war. She would tell us about the American soldiers who helped during that trying time . Mother in Law and her sister kept in contact with them and they would occasional visit England with their wives until the early 1990s. That generation faced five hard years and should be an inspiration to us during our trails and tribulations. I hope as a society we have learnt from this years experience besides don’t eat monkeys. There are so many positives that have come out of this, like watching and listening to both choirs singing and practicing. The congregation coming together to arrange Remembrance day and the carols on the moor later this month.. We are a lucky community to have such stalwart characters in the village. I hope next year is better for all of us but we should take with us what we have learnt this. Happy Christmas

Valentine

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Cross word

12 ways to avoid stress this Christmas Change your expectations this Christmas. Don’t waste time lamenting what should have been. Instead, try and enjoy whatever is possible this year.

Make a list. Include sending cards, buying presents and organising food for the big day. Having a lists helps keep you in control of your life. Set a reduced budget this year. With a pandemic raging, this no time to take on Christ- mas debt. If you can’t pay for it this month, probably best not to buy it. Exercise each day - it releases happiness-inducing serotonin. That will help you to keep calm and positive over the festive period. Don’t overindulge. Too much alcohol and rich food won’t improve your life. Keep calm and keep kind – urge your family members to try and avoid any flare up of family tensions. If you need to cry, cry, but then, keep on keeping on. Remember those everyday essentials: batteries for new toys, toilet paper, milk, paper towel. Those things you never think about – until they are gone. Entertain the kids: plan ahead various films, games and whatever it takes to give them a memorable Christmas. Make the most of Zoom this year with far-flung relatives and friends. Most of all, include God in your Christmas! This is His Son’s birthday - include Bible

15 Across 1 Rely (Psalm 62:7) (6) 4 ‘He stretches out the heavens like a — , and spreads them out like a tent to live in’ (Isaiah 40:22) (6) 7 What the dove carried the olive leaf in, when it returned to Noah’s ark (Genesis 8:11) (4) 8 Annoy (1 Samuel 1:6) (8) 9 Judah’s last king, who ended his days as a blind prisoner in Babylon (Jeremiah 52:11) (8) 13 ‘They all — and were satisfied’ (Luke 9:17) (3) 16 Eliphaz the Temanite was one; so was Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite (Job 2:11; 16:2) (4,9) 17 National Association of Evangelicals (of the USA) (1,1,1) 19 Popular song for New Year’s Eve, Auld — — (4,4) 24 Able dock (anag.) (8) 25 The number of stones David chose for his confrontation with Goliath (1 Samuel 17:40) (4) 26 Elgar’s best-known ‘Variations’ (6) 27 Soak (Isaiah 16:9) (6) Down 1 Money owing (Deuteronomy 15:3) (4) 2 Conciliatory (Titus 3:2) (9) 3 ‘Do this, whenever you — it, in remembrance of me’ (1 Corinthians 11:25) (5) 4 A group assisting in the governance of the Roman Catholic Church (5) 5 One of the gifts Joseph’s brothers took with them on their second journey to Egypt (Genesis 43:11) (4) 6 ‘Reach out your hand and-- - into my side. Stop doubting and believe’ (John 20:27) (3,2) 10 Be outstandingly good (2 Corinthians 8:7) (5) 11 ‘What — — that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?’ (Psalm 8:4) (2,3) 12 Horse’s feet (Judges 5:22) (5) 13 Notice (Deuteronomy 17:4) (9) 14 Comes between 2 Chronicles and Nehemiah (4) 15 One of Israel’s northern towns conquered by Ben-Hadad (1 Kings 15:20) (4) 18 Narnia’s Lion (5) 20 One of the two rivers in which Naaman would have preferred to wash (2 Kings 5:12) (5) 21 Avarice—one of the evils that come from inside people (Mark 7:22) (5) 22 Knight Grand Cross of St Michael and St George (1,1,1,1) 23 Jacob’s first wife (Genesis 29:23) (4)

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Peppard Relief in Need

Your local safety net for helping people who are falling on hard times. If you know someone who Who might need a little financial help (or you need help yourself) Please let us know. Your call will be delt with in total confidence Please telephone: Valentine de Haan 01189723806 Or Sue Nickson 01189724520

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Christmas Poet: Eldred Herbert

What does Christmas mean to me? It's gold and glitter on a tree, It's folks, all, working with a will, The larder, where the goodies spill; Turkey roasting in the pan; It's "peace on earth, goodwill to man"; It's loved ones coming through the door, Exchanging gifts, and so much more.

It's following, still, that Christmas star, And knowing the where e'er you are, The "manger scene" is just as dear Today, as it was, that first year. That Christ was born on Christmas day, A Babe to lead us all the way; Today He is that Christmas Star, Our Guiding Light, that shines afar.

The angels heralded in His birth, And mortal man knew not His worth; They let Him in a manger lay, And sheltered those with earthly pay; But wisemen and the shepherds came, To pay great homage to His name; He gave His life that we might live, So, let us, too, our homage give.

That is what Christmas means to me, It's gold and glitter on the tree, It's Christ suspended on the cross, To save us from celestial loss. Let's make a resolution dear, To be a witness while we are here; Let's put the Christ in Christmas now, And in His presence humbly bow.

18 Goods and Services Directory Home and car services All the basics for your Home 0118 972 3004 or 07794464273 Do you have jobs around the home which you cannot do, you do not want to do, or you do not have the time to do? I’m your man. Mr FIX-it Handyman services. Beacon Flooring 01491 454 095 Our family run business offers a friendly, polite, professional service: our Goring showroom caters for all flooring needs, including carpet, wood, vinyl and Karndean: we also provide a mobile service, bringing samples to your door. Free estimates, free fitting on carpets over £150, stair charge may apply. Contact us by phone or at www.beaconflooring.co.uk Compass Electrical 0118 972 3972 or 07737 413314 All domestic/commercial. Internal & external. ELECSA registered and approved. Local and reliable. Please call for a free quotation Computer problems 01491 680036 ([email protected]) PC outdated, misbehaving, virus infected? Fault diagnosis, maintenance and upgrades, networking, broadband, data recovery & migration , virus cleaning, website development and hosting, mobile phone boosting and much more. Phone Robin, Henry or Angus Piercey at Influential Computers. Eldon Tree Surgery (Ian Hogg) 0771 416 5840 Comprehensive and professional tree surgery and woodland management. Fully qualified, professional team .£2M insurance ; free quotations, trees inspection; 18 years of experience. T C Fuller Plumbing and Heating 0118 9724097 or 07800 914880 All aspects, installations, maintenance , service and repair. Free estimates . No call out charge. Design, supply and installation -gas heating, bath/shower rooms and plumbing refurbishments . Minor repairs and small jobs Glazing/Glass supply 01491 629 901 Henley glazing & window centre Ltd, Manor Farm, Peppard. Broken window replacement , glass cut to size. Mirrors, table tops and replacement windows. Mike Farina Auto Services 0118 972 4036 Servicing of all makes and Models. Tyres, diagnostics , MOT’s ,brakes, batteries and exhausts. 21 Sedgewell Road, Sonning common. Milo Technical Support 0118 972 4905( [email protected]) We fix any computer problem, software or hardware, on a no fix, no fee basis. Over 500 happy customers in Sonning Common and Peppard. Painter & decorator: P J Shackleford 01491 628564 Local painter and decorator (domestic) interior and exterior , small jobs welcomed, free estimates, established in 1985. Call Paul. Peppard Building supplies 0118 972 2028 Local delivery of all your building and landscaping needs, paving, topsoil, bark and much, much more. Bishopsland Farm, Peppard Road, Dunsden, Reading. RG4 9NR

19 S H Décor Ltd 01865 400208 Specialists in all aspects of interior and exterior decorating. Domestic/commercial. A local, family run business. Fully insured/City and Guilds QualifiedWww. Spruce Maintenance service 0118 972 4560 Decorating inside and out, including wallpapering, quality gloss work from joinery to kitchen doors. Floor and wall tilling, carpentry Inc door hanging/easing. Repairs to broken furniture and kitchen cabinets. Polishing. Please contact Rob Smith. K. Lock 0118 9429138 mobile 07860 286411 Your chimney needs you! Brush and vacuum sweep, wood and solid fuel stove installation .Clean reliable chimney sweep established 1949 Wee-Cott Seating 0118 972 4560 (incl fax) Chair caning, upholstery, loose covers, curtains and blinds, replacement cushions, furniture repairs and French polishing. For further details please contact Lizanne Smith. Entertainment Hobbs of Henley Ltd—The best in boating since 1870 01491 572035 River trips, holiday and day boat hire, passenger vessel charter for parties, Moorings, storage and repairs. www.hobbsofhenley.com Rotherfield Peppard War Memorial Hall 0118 972 4751 Available for bookings. Good car parking and hiring rates. For details and further information, please contact the Booking Manager The Pet Barn 0118 9242747 Here to help with any and all your pets’ needs. New is our K9000 self service dog wash; no need to book, just turn up! Come and visit us, plenty of parking and friendly service. Blounts Court Road, Sonning Common (top of Gravel Hill) Other services Bishopswood Day Nursery and Pre-School 0118 972 2196 Situated in Gallowstree Common we provide morning, afternoon, or all day care for children aged six weeks to five years. Happy, caring and stimulating environment. Ofsted approved, grant aided places available. Please contact us for information. Gardiner’s Nursing and Homecare 0118 334 7474 Since 1968, Gardiner’s have provided reliable and dedicated care workers to help clients to continue living in the comfort and familiarity of their own home. Www.gardinersnursing.co.uk Kathryn Fell Photography 07958 371770 Specialising in family portraits. In your home or location such as woodland . Weddings, christenings, pets, food and packshots. www. Kathrynfellphotography.co.uk Tomalin & Son Funeral Director and Monumental Mason 01491 573 370 Based in Henley-on-Thames, we are a local family run independent funeral director committed to pro- viding the highest standard of care and attention to each family. 24 hour availability every day. Golden charter pre paid funeral plans available

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THE CHRISTMAS CONUNDRUM ?

You will appreciate that, dude to Covid regulations, we can accommodate far fewer people than usual in our churches. Whereas Christmas services are usually full to overflowing, this year, sadly, numbers will need to be limited.

But HOW? This is the conundrum.

We are asking that you would please let us know by 15th December which service(s) you would like to attend - and how many there will be in your ‘bubble’. If there are too many requests for any service, we will then ballot those who have responded.

So - what will be happening on 24th and 25th December ?

24th: at CHRIST THE KING 3 - 5 pm a CHRISTINGLE EVENT at ST JOHN THE BAPTIST 10.30pm ‘MIDNIGHT’ EUCHARIST

25th: at ALL SAINTS 10.30am CAROLS AND READINGS at CHRIST THE KING 9.30am CHRISTMAS EUCHARIST

Which of these would you like to attend ?

For ALL SAINTS please email [email protected] CHRIST THE KING please email [email protected] ST JOHN THE BAPTIST please email [email protected]

IN ADDITION - NO NEED TO ‘BOOK’

There will hopefully be CAROL SINGING on Peppard Common at 6pm on 24th Dec.

Recorded CAROLS AND READINGS from St John’s/Christ the King will be available from 22nd December; details to follow.

ANY EVENTS NOT LISTED (eg. crib service) sadly will NOT be happening this year.

PLEASE WILL YOU SPREAD THE WORD - especially to those who are not regular members of our congregations. We would hate to have to turn anyone away on the day!

THANK YOU for helping us ‘manage’ Christmas; please assume it is fine for you to come at your chosen time unless we let you know otherwise.

from the churchwardens/ Sheila