Aug - Sep 2020 Website: www.coxgreencommunitycentre.org.uk CoxGreenCommunityCentre At the time of publication of the Newsletter, due to the (COVID-19) pandemic many of the events have been cancelled or postponed. For any updates from the Cox Green Community Centre, please visit http://www.coxgreencommunitycentre.org.uk/ Please STAY SAFE... You can find out more about the (COVID-19) pandemic via the websites. NHS (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/) Gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus) WHO (https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1) The Cox Green Newsletter are launching a BIG THANK YOU. During these difficult times we have seen many acts of kindness, people going out of their way to help others. We want to recognise these people, by printing over the next two newsletters as many thank yous as possible. Here’s how it works 1. Please send your message of thank you to [email protected] 2. In the email include your message of thanks, if you want your name printed, please include this within your message 3. To ensure we get as many messages in the next two newsletters, please keep your completed message to a maximum of 50 words. Community News is a bi-monthly publication distributed free by the Cox Green Community Centre (Registered Charity No. 277252-R), 51 Highfield Lane, Cox Green, Maidenhead, Berks.SL6 3AX Telephone No. 01628 636715. The contents do not necessarily represent the views of the Management Committee. Contributions are welcome and should be addressed to the Editor, or can be emailed to the Community Centre at [email protected] and any submissions may be subject to editing. 1 NEW CHURCH EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] Parish Priest: The Revd Joan Hicks You can also call the Church Office on 01628 632567 Visit our Facebook page: goodshepherd.coxgreen and our website: www.chogs.org.uk Services and Groups at the Church of the Good Shepherd Email: [email protected] Tel: 01628 622139 In response to government guidance relating to Coronavirus, the Church of England has put on hold all public worship, whether midweek or on Sundays, for the foreseeable future. We have also put on hold all groups. Once we are allowed to meet again, information will be available on our website and on our Facebook page. In the meantime, please do what you can both to stay healthy and to support those you know who may be vulnerable. Although we cannot physically get together, by the wonders of modern technology some small groups are still meeting - please do get in touch if you would like to find out more: email [email protected] or call us on 01628 622139. If you would like to join us for a ‘Zoom’ coffee morning or afternoon ‘cuppa and chat’ session, just let us know and we will send you a ‘Zoom’ invitation. Make yourself a cuppa, break open the biscuit tin and join the chat - just click on the link in the invitation to join the meeting! Zoom will automatically download onto whichever device you are using, and your device will probably ask you if you are happy for Zoom to be downloaded onto it. Email invitations to all such events are blind copied (ie your email address will not visible to others). Modern technology enables us to meet for services too; we are continuing our Sunday Worship via Zoom on Sundays at 11am. Our children’s groups are also meeting via Zoom at 10am on most Sundays. Please do email [email protected] or call us on 01628 622139 for details of services and children’s activities. There are many other services available too, including those led by our Diocesan Bishops, live streamed and available on demand at the Diocese of Oxford’s website: https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19/livestream/ You can also access services on the Church of England website: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online. A number of churches are also offering streamed services – do look at the A Church Near You website to find a church local to you that is offering live streamed services https://www.achurchnearyou.com/live-stream/?tags=Live_stream. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to join in worship with thousands of other Christians each Sunday. ‘LITTLE FISHES’ Usually on Wednesdays in school term-time between 9.30am and 11am at Cox Green Community Centre. For parents, grandparents, carers, pre-school aged children and babies. Little Fishes starts with toys, activities, squash and biscuits for the children, and tea and coffee for adults. This is followed by a short time of informal worship through action songs and rhymes, music and stories to help us to learn more about God’s love and the world around us. There is no charge for Little Fishes but donations are welcome to help cover costs. For more details, visit www.chogs.org.uk or the Church Facebook page, phone the Church Office on 632567, or email us: [email protected] Everyone is welcome. From the Parish Registers: Cremation at Slough Crematorium Monday 23rd March 2020 Shirley Clarke Monday 30th March 2020 Jean Barlow Funeral at Braywick Cemetery Friday 15th May Kathleen (Kathy) Stock Funeral at Easthampstead Crematorium Tuesday 16th June Timothy Crowe 2 Our groups are not currently meeting but when we are allowed to get together again the New Horizon Bereavement Support Group is one of many that will be pleased to resume. In the meantime, we are exploring virtual meetings via zoom. Do contact the Church Office if you would be interested and we will send you an invitation. ‘NEW HORIZONS’ - BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP Now meeting fortnightly via Zoom Have you recently been bereaved? Looking for friendship and support? How about coming along to ‘New Horizon’? This group started several years ago as a way of offering care, friendship and support to people who have recently been bereaved. Usually, we meet on Thursday afternoons every fortnight at 2pm for about an hour in the Conference Room at Cox Green Community Centre. Sometimes we go for a meal out instead. There is no charge for our fortnightly meetings at the Community Centre, although donations are welcome towards the costs of running the group. You are welcome to come with a friend or family member. We would love you to join us. For more details, visit www.chogs.org.uk or goodshepherd.coxgreen, phone 01628 622139, or email: [email protected] Newcomers are very welcome. It is uncertain what the situation will be for churches this autumn and whether (or how) we will be able to meet in person. We plan to celebrate Harvest Festival at the start of October and very much hope that the Children’s Harvest Fun Afternoon and our Harvest Festival celebrations (see the details of both, as originally planned, below) will be able to go ahead in some form. Do contact the Church Office or visit our website or Facebook page for more details nearer the time. CHILDREN’S HARVEST FUN AFTERNOON Saturday 3rd October, 2 - 4pm at Cox Green Community Centre Craft activities, games and Bible stories, ending with a short time of lively worship. The theme for our Fun Afternoon activities will link in with our Harvest celebrations at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Sunday 4th October. Those taking part, and their families, would be welcome at either of our Harvest celebrations the next day if they would like to come. Otherwise, just join us for the Fun Afternoon! The Fun Afternoon is especially suitable for children of primary school age. Younger children are welcome if they are accompanied by their parent, or a guardian who is over 18 years. Registration forms, available from the Church and Community Centre Offices, need to be returned by Wednesday 30th September. Children must be registered in order to come. Further information about our Fun Afternoons is also available on our church website: www.chogs.org.uk There is a nominal charge of £1 per child towards the costs of hall hire and running the day. Additional donations are very welcome. Pick up a form from the Church or Centre Office and join us for a fun-filled afternoon! HARVEST FESTIVAL Sunday 4th October at The Parish Church of The Good Shepherd, in Cox Green Community Centre We warmly invite you to join us for our Harvest celebrations! 10am Harvest Festival Service for all ages 6pm Harvest Songs of Praise Do stay and chat over tea, coffee and homemade cakes after both services. If you have never been to The Good Shepherd – why not come along and find out what your local church has to offer? If you have not been for a while – come and renew old friendships! We would love you to join us for Harvest. 3 Marriage Preparation is offered to all couples getting married in, or through our parish. Most attend a Marriage Preparation Day with other couples getting married in the coming year, which is shared with two other local parishes. This is usually held in the Community Centre, or St Luke’s Church, or All Saints, Boyne Hill. The day is very relaxed and informal. If you are not getting married in church, but would be interested in attending our Marriage Preparation, do make contact with the Church Office and we will do our best to accommodate you. Details of our marriage preparation can be found on our website, as well as feedback from couples who have attended. The only part of the day which is specific to those getting married in church is the afternoon.