Contents

Services

Minister’s Letter

All Souls’ Service

Reflections on the Open Weekend

Help Needed to Produce Sunday Service Sheet

December Church Meeting

Proposal for Children in Communion

Notes

The Marriage Course

Operation Christmas Child

Scarf Sale

100 Minute Bible Read

Poem of the Month

Chalfont Club

Earley Youth Net

Church Walk

Parents & Toddlers

Wednesday Group

Pilots

Nursery Service

Prayer & Praise

TRAIDCRAFT-

The Empty Nesters

An Evening of Christmas Readings & Music

News in Brief

RT Kendall coming to Reading

Luv Esther

Elaine Storkey and Tearfund

Thinking Outside the Box!

Reading Remand Prison Tea Bar

Pastoral Pages

Prayers for the Parish

Diary

Deadline for December/January Diary and Magazine:

Services

Please note that there is a Nursery Service every Wednesday during termtime.

Minister’s Letter

I’m full of expectation, excitement and hope as this is penned.  Tomorrow, I’m off to Spain for a week’s holiday.  I’ve no real idea where we’re going, as Jack and Jo did all the research and planning, and I’ve never been to Spain before.  Then there’s the heart-stopping business of the rugby World Cup Final on Saturday.  Is it really the case that England is in the final and we might even win it (again)?! 

By the time you read this, I’ll be back from my holiday and England will be the World Champions!!!!!!  But my expectation, excitement and hope don’t stop here.  I’ve been greatly encouraged by the general sense at Trinity of expectation, excitement and hope about what God is going to do in the future.  And I have a clear sense of ‘journey’ and ‘adventure’ for us.   I love the title of Graham Greene’s book “Journey without Maps” because it conjures up for me what our Christian journey is all about.  Like heading off on some adventurous expedition, it is a case of stepping out into the unknown, having faith and trusting. 

This is what we need to be doing.  We need to be prepared to go for it.  A map we may not have, but we have some idea of the landscape and our compass, the Holy Spirit, is the best there is.  We need to make sure we know what our strengths and weaknesses are as a team, what our roles are, and to be careful to make the most of all our expedition’s equipment.  And we need to get the balance right between making sure all the details for the journey are properly in place before heading off and knowing enough about what the bigger picture looks like to enable us to make a start.  And when our compass takes us through a jungle or forest, we must make sure we can see the wood for the trees. 

It’s great news that the Opening Weekend was successful.  Thank you to all who made it happen and took part.  The leafleting of the parish worked well, numbers through the door on Saturday, especially, were encouraging, ploughman’s lunches and cream teas ensured our calorific intake was, at least, maintained and at a very fair price, and the services and Harvest Supper/auction were well attended.  It was a frantic and busy 36 hours prior to the weekend, with many hands on deck getting the place straight and what an amazing job was done. 

It is also very pleasing that the building project is, at long last, so nearly complete and that we can begin planning that expedition I’ve been talking about.  Please do pray for this project to be completed fully (the snagging is always a big task), for the spreadsheets to balance and especially for the team at Trinity who have been carrying the weight of this, and doing so for quite a while.  A massive thank you to them. 

It’s great that the new facilities are coming on line and beginning to make a difference.  It seems that the kitchen is a radical improvement on the old one and the new side entrance seems much better, and the new front entrance looks very welcoming – it certainly does from the inside!  I think it does from the outside too but what does someone who has never before set foot inside Trinity, and doesn’t know a soul, think when they look at, and walk past Trinity?  If they choose to peer in through the doors and windows, what impression do they get from what they see? 

Then there’s the chapel.  This is a good and potentially very useful space.  We need to give thanks for it and celebrate the many and varied opportunities that exist for its use.  Paul urges the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord always, and for them to let their gentleness be evident to all.  In addition, they were not to be anxious about anything, but rather in everything, by prayer and petition and with thanksgiving, they should present their requests to God.  By doing that, Paul says, God’s peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  I believe we need to be alert to this with the chapel.

My main hope, expectation and excitement, though, focuses less on the gathered church in our building, and more on the scattered church and what God will do with the journeys we are all making 24/7 when we’re not in the building.  This is the bulk of our time.  We need to see our building as something akin to base camp, as more a means to an end and less an end in itself.  Our expedition needs to use base camp properly and this means it can be a place of retreat and celebration but also a place to plan, encourage and prepare for moving out from its protection into the thinner and harsher atmosphere higher up the mountain.  This is where the focus of attention needs to be, and I believe the verses I’ve quoted before which are also from Paul to the Philippians, are very relevant.  Paul says, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13-14).  Now we have our redeveloped and rededicated building, can we do this together?

Have a great month. Every blessing,

Jon

All Souls’ Service

Sunday 11 November 6pm

At this service, which is held every year, we remember by name everyone who has died in the parish over the last year.  We also read out the names of people who have died at other times and places, whom we have been particularly asked to remember.

On the journey of grief that follows the death of a loved one, this quiet and simple service gives us the opportunity to give thanks for our loved ones and to affirm God’s love beyond death.

As usual, there will be a list on the board (in the church hall) if anyone has a name they would like to add.

Reflections on the Open Weekend

When we set the date for the Open Weekend, we were a little concerned that it would be rather a long time after the building work was completed (two months, according to the builders’ schedule).  We needn’t have worried!  As it turned out, it provided a much-needed boost to their rate of progress.  Having the church in a reasonable state some time earlier than it would otherwise have been was the first, and unexpected, benefit of the Weekend.

But the real aim, of course, was to invite the community to come and see the new facilities and to find out more about what goes on at Trinity.  We really do want to make people feel the church is here for them, not just for us.  So, about 40 volunteers delivered some 4,000 leaflets to all the streets in the parish, and a few beyond.  This was a great effort – and in itself I think helped us to focus on the great mass of people that we don’t normally have any contact with, but to whom we are called to take the good news, in whatever way we can.

A lot of people did come to the church, mainly on the Saturday.  The service of dedication was so well attended – mainly by church members, of course – that we had to put out extra seats.  Most visitors came later, some to play music or sing or perform, or (the Nursery Service children) to worship, or to bring their children to take part in these ways, but many just to look around.  The great-value Ploughman’s Lunches and cream teas probably drew in a number of people too!  All told, we probably had 150 to 200 visitors over the two days.

And the church looked great!  Many people had made a fantastic effort to clean it, decorate it with beautiful floral arrangements and produce and set out eye-catching and informative displays.  Others gave up a lot of time to make sure people were welcomed and given any more information they wanted.

Surprisingly, to me at least, no-one from outside the church came to join in the prayers that were being offered throughout the day in the chapel, on different themes.  I had thought that some, at least, would have wanted to take the opportunity to come and join with others in praying for a situation close to their heart.

Despite this disappointment, I know we did a really good job.  The best thing about the weekend, for me, was feeling so many people sharing in the desire to make the church attractive and welcoming to newcomers.  This is something to celebrate and remember, and to encourage us to think of more ways of working together to build the Kingdom.

Richard Cocks

Senior Steward

Help Needed to Produce Sunday Service Sheet

I need a volunteer to help with printing off and folding the Sunday service sheets.  This is done on a monthly basis and, as we normally have 4 volunteers, it works out at 3 months per year.  It takes about an hour or so on a Saturday morning, so it is not too time consuming.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Stan Wombwell for doing this job for quite some years.  However, as Stan is coming up to the grand age of 90 shortly, he thinks he is old enough now to retire!  Congratulations, Stan, and thanks again.

If you would like to know a bit more or, even better, would like to volunteer, please give me a call or see me in church.

Elsie Sellar

December Church Meeting

The December Church Meeting will be held on Monday 10 December at Trinity Church at 8.00pm.  The formal agenda will be published on the main church notice boards later in November, and will also be included in the December magazine.

Children and Young People

The main focus of the meeting will be on our work with Children and Young People, and the meeting will receive short presentations about the work at Trinity of Junior Church, Pilots, Boys’ Brigade and Earley Youth Net.

Communion Proposal

A formal proposal that, in future, the invitation to join in communion shall include everyone, with no age restrictions, will be considered at the Church Meeting.  Church Council have approved the form of the proposal, which is included in full in this magazine.  Members will recall that we have discussed this subject at two previous church meetings, and it is intended that a decision on the proposal will be taken at the December Church Meeting.

Pilot Officers

There will be a few appointments or re-appointments to be approved, and formal details of vacancies will be published on the main church notice boards and in the December magazine.  However, there is a particularly urgent need to appoint new Pilot officers.  Anna Hedley and Emma Brannelly will both be leaving before January, and we must find new officers to take responsibility for Pilots, working with Giles Murphy and Ollie Dyson, or our Pilot Company will have to close.  Please will you think and pray how you can help.  If you would like to talk about Pilots, Anna, Emma or Nina, or any Church Officer would be delighted to talk with you.

Roger Mead

Church Secretary

Proposal for Children in Communion

Church Meeting resolves to respond fully to the invitation to “all who love the Lord Jesus Christ to gather around his table and to share in the sacrament of bread and wine”.

When children, young or old, are present, this invitation will be assumed to include all children who, guided appropriately by their parents or carers, may come forward to the rail to receive the bread and appropriate wine, or may similarly receive when the communion is served to the seated congregation.

Notes

We will, for the time being, continue the practice of holding Family Communion at least five times a year, on the fifth Sundays of the month and also during August.

On these occasions, worship leaders will be asked to explain the communion service, so that the children amongst us are enabled to grow in understanding and in grace.

We shall inevitably expect that parents will take responsibility for the way in which their children receive communion.To assist them in their conversations at home, we will produce a small booklet about communion for parents and children.

Nina Mead

The Marriage Course

Back in the summer, Trinity hosted a seven session course for married couples wanting to find out how to make the most of their unique relationship.

Why?

All marriages suffer strains that stop couples from being as supportive, encouraging and loving to each other as they all wanted to be at the start.  This course gave us time to deal with things that needed it and equip us with tools to stop future problems from building up.

What’s it like?

You sit down as a couple at a small table with your drinks, watch an amusing and enlightening presentation on some aspect of relationships, answer some questions in your private workbook and then discuss your answers with each other.  Later, you are given time to spend dealing with a particular issue in more detail – accompanied by a delicious dessert!

What people said about the course

“It was good to make (not find) the time to go to the sessions where we could talk to each without the distractions that are all around at home.”

“Following the sessions in the book and doing the homework made us talk about issues that were difficult and which we may have normally chosen to sweep under the carpet.”

“Having been married for 32 years, we found the course excellent.  Our marriage has had its good times and bad times and, like most people, there are issues that it is easy to ignore.  With children grown up, we felt this was an opportunity to grow back together as a couple and this is exactly what the course did for us.  Some of it was fun, some of it was difficult, but all of it brought us closer together.  We really do feel as if love has been rekindled in our marriage.”

“One evening a week we were forced, in the nicest possible way, to talk about ourselves and our relationship.  Being in a room with other couples doing the same (and music playing so you cannot overhear each other) is a very safe environment in which to explore what can be difficult areas of our lives.”

“The discussions were carried on in 'homework', so we actually spent two evenings a week talking - having to change plans and miss other meetings to make time to be together reminded us of how important our marriage is.”

The Next Course

We think that most couples would enjoy and benefit from the course.  If you are interested, please get in touch, so we can see if there is enough demand for another go.

Richard and Margaret Cocks

Email: richardjcocks(at)btinternet.com

Operation Christmas Child

“Operation Christmas Child” is one way you can make a difference in a young person’s life.  Since 1993, this Samaritan’s Purse project has shared the Good News of God’s love with hurting children through the simplest of gifts - shoe boxes, filled with school supplies, toys and personal items that are packed by caring people.

Clare Tran is once again organising the shoe boxes for Trinity.  The leaflets with more information and a sticker to put on the outside of the box are available in the church vestibule.  As you pack a shoe box for a child, please pray for the boy or girl who will receive it.

Please bring the shoe boxes back to Trinity by Sunday 18 November.  More information is available from Clare or by visiting www.samaritanspurse.org

Scarf Sale

100 Minute Bible Read

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 100-Minute Bible Read.

When I emailed the publishers, they suggested that it would take 150 minutes to read aloud (we took 165 minutes).  They also recommended that we have a break in the middle, as this was a long time.  Of course, what they didn’t know was that, in May 2006, we at Trinity read for 77 hours to raise funds, whilst reading the entire bible, Genesis to Revelation.

Sitting and listening again in church, having the church open for visitors all day, serving refreshments, reminded me of our sponsored read and I thought I would share a few comparison facts with you.

Yet again, some of the readers were standing up in church to read for the very first time - well done and thank you.

During the bible read last time, many of us read or listened to both familiar and some more obscure parts of the bible.  Even this time, there was one section which sent participants searching for the pew bibles to check the facts.

I hope that everyone who was involved enjoyed and gained from the experience and thank you once again for filling Trinity with the word of God.

Copies of the 100-minute Bible are available from the Church Office, at a cost of £3 each.

Karen Green

Poem of the Month

The Rainbow

My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.

William Wordsworth

(1770-1850)

I was reminded of this poem when studying the Noah story for an evening service led by members of the Trinity Worship Group.  This is why all our hearts should leap up when we behold a rainbow in the sky.  [Ed]

In Genesis 9:12-17, God said to Noah:

“As a sign of this everlasting covenant which I am making with you and with all living beings, I am putting my bow in the clouds.  It will be the sign of my covenant with the world.  Whenever I cover the sky with clouds and the rainbow appears, I will remember my promise to you and to all the animals that a flood will never again destroy all living beings.  When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between me and all living beings on earth.  That is the sign of the promise which I am making to all living beings.”

Chalfont Club

Thursdays from 2.00pm until 3.30pm <