Welcome to the Parish of Burchetts Green's website. We are a welcoming community based around three local churches. We hope you will find this a useful introduction to our activities
Each church has its own worshipping and social life but we join together for the monthly Parish Service and for a wide variety of social, practical and learning groups.
Whether you're just browsing, or looking for a place to worship, we are happy you have found us. Do come and join us at one of our groups or services. You will be made very welcome.
News and Greetings from the Rev'd Tom Etherton
Building the Kingdom
Dear Friends,
I like to think of myself as a fairly practical person (though I’ve never done any stonework in my life!) and I do enjoy doing a bit of DIY around the house. There is something satisfying about making something for myself or the family to use and seeing the creation being completed over time. But it can be challenging when it doesn’t quite work the way I imagined it or it doesn’t look quite as good as I would like or when I hit my thumb for the eighteenth time with the hammer!
I wouldn’t say that anything I make is of ‘professional’ quality but there is joy in it because I have been involved in making it. I think we should look at our church in the same way. We are not called to make something perfect – only Jesus is capable of perfecting anything – but we are called to help God to build the kingdom. That may sound very grandiose and we may have a particular image of what the kingdom of God might look like which fills us with a sense of complete unworthiness to be involved in building it!
But I would like to encourage us all, as we approach our APCM this Sunday, that we look at how we have already been involved in building the kingdom. The reports show how much we already do across the parish and we witness to the love and grace of God each day. We should never be doing anything out of a desire to see more people (young or old!) in our church buildings on Sunday. We are not called to build isolated communities which meet in draughty old buildings! We should celebrate our buildings of course but they are not the church itself.
We are part of something greater and we build the kingdom of God with our Christian sisters and brothers from all around – even as far afield as those in Windsor or Slough! But seriously, we are part of something much bigger and we are called to be faithful witnesses of that kingdom in this place. A kingdom which is filled with love, joy and peace. Let’s not overcomplicate it by tying ourselves in knots but let’s return to the simplicity of those two great commandments – love God and love our neighbour. Everything else is human constructs! Let’s build the kingdom of God together in this place.
Stubbings 200 Club The April 200 Club prize draw was made at the last coffee and catch-up morning and the two lucky winners were announced. New members are still very welcome to join - just contact Tony.
Sunday 29th May Our parish service on 29th May will be at St. James-the-Less, Stubbings but I am hoping the weather will be fair and we can have an outdoor service! I’m also planning an indoor alternative for both if the weather fails and for those among us who are less mobile.
Services
Morning Prayer each week at 9:15am Wednesday St. James-the-Less, Stubbings Thursday St. John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green Friday St. Mary the Virgin
Sunday 22nd May
St. James the Less, Stubbings 8.00am Holy Communion St. Mary the Virgin, Hurley 10.30am - Family Communion
Space
Our churches are open for private prayer this week:
St John the Evangelist Littlewick Green – open every day 11am – 4pm St Mary the Virgin Hurley – open every day 8am – 4pm St James the Less Stubbings – Monday to Friday 9am – 12 noon
Parish Office Our parish administrator Claire is available in the office Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00am-12:00pm and by appointment on Tuesday and Thursday 9:00-12:00pm. I can be contacted on vicar@burchettsgreenparish.org and 01628 822974, - please note the vicar's day off is Tuesday.
Blessings to you all,
Tom
We are a Parish in the Deanery of Windsor and Maidenhead within the Diocese of Oxford
