The Parish of Burchetts Green
The Parish of Burchetts Green
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
News and Greetings from the Revd John Ainslie.
Bible Sunday
A warm welcome to this email Newsletter to all our friends and neighbours in the Parish of Burchetts Green.
In our Churches This Sunday:
Sunday 25th October:Stubbings – 8.00 am BCP Holy Communion
Hurley – 10.30am Eucharist (CW)
Littlewick Green – Church open for personal prayer 11am – 4pm
Private Prayer this week:
Our churches will be open for private prayer this week at the following times:
St John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green: 11am to 4pm Thurs-Sat
St Mary the Virgin, Hurley: 8am to 10am Thurs-Frid
This Sunday is Bible Sunday, when we give thanks for the revelation of God in the Bible - through the story of the Old testament Hebrew people, the Gospel stories of the ministry and teaching of Jesus, and the growth of the early Church as seen through the Acts of the Apostles and the various letters of encouragement that were written between church congregations. The readings for Bible Sunday are here>>.
The special prayer (called a Collect) used in church services for Bible Sunday seems particularly apt for us in these times:
Merciful God,
teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty,
that trusting in your word
and obeying your will
we may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are certainly living in times of change and uncertainty and have been for many months now. Finding solid ground on which to base our lives and our hopes is so important in these testing times; people have been finding that solid ground in family and friendships; in living lives of compassion and helpfulness to those around us; in rediscovering the joy and beauty of the natural world – and in just finding a little time and space to reflect on what is most important to us. You will find those same themes running throughout the Bible, too, as people from all ages sought to live lives of joy, love and compassion whatever outward circumstances threw at them. And they found themselves strengthened and renewed as they came close to God, and knew His protection for them. They knew that whatever else happened, they would always live in the love and care of God. And that was the most solid ground of all, something that nothing and no-one can take from you. Something that you encounter in the depths of your heart, and that once found will stay with you for ever.
All this reminds me of what I know as the ‘Serenity Prayer’:
Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.
There is much about the pandemic that we, as individuals, can’t change, and wishing things were different, kicking against it, or finding someone to blame does no good. There is a place for gently accepting how things are, and learning to live with them. But there is also a place for being vigorous in challenging and changing things that can be changed, and we see that in the way that people have come together to provide help to those in need, and finding ways of keeping businesses running and children educated – and fed.
Next Sunday 1st November we celebrate the feast of All Saints and All Souls. In the festival of All Saints we give thanks to God for all the Saints through the ages who have carried the light of the love of God for future generations – ranging from great theologians, such as St Augustine, to people of great compassion and service such as St Teresa of Calcutta.
At the same time, in the celebration of All Souls, we remember our own departed loved ones. We give thanks to God for all that they have meant to us, and all that they have given to us, and we pray that they will know the fullness of joy with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Our 9.15am service at Littlewick Green on Sunday 1st November will be a celebration of All Saints, but will also incorporate prayers and a time of reflection for our departed loved ones. The church will be decorated with roses in memory of our departed loved ones. Both St James-the-less Church Stubbings and St Mary’s Church Hurley will be open on Sunday 1st November between 3pm and 5pm for you to use for quiet time, to remember your loved ones, and for personal prayer and reflection, with gentle background music and an opportunity to light a candle and say a prayer if you wish. Stay as little or as long as you wish.
Love truly is stronger than death.
At last Sunday’s Annual Church Meetings, five
Churchwardens were elected to serve for the coming year: Mary Cooper, Sue Harrington-Hill, Richard Moores, Jenny Robinson and Jane Smith. Congratulations to them all; we thank them for their time and commitment and pray for them and their work, and we also give thanks for the continuing work of Sue Wilkins as Assistant Warden at Stubbings. There were also elections to the Parochial church Council (PCC) and we welcome Tim Bowler, John Johnson and Maria Quantrill onto the PCC as newly-elected members. Sally Gray and Elaine Mordaunt are coming off the PCC, and we thank them for their valued contributions over recent years.
Good News from Guatemala: Mark and Rosalie have finally been granted residency there, which means they will be able to come and go to visit family and friends much more easily.
The Parish Office is open on Mondays 9.30am – 11.30am, but in these Covid-times we recommend telephoning if possible rather than visiting in person. I am usually available Sunday-Wednesday by email revjohnainslie@gmail.com or telephone 01628-629827.
For our prayers:
We pray that the tide of the Covid-19 virus would be stemmed and turned back, that we would be released from this time of sadness and fear; that numbers of infections would decrease, and our social and economic life would recover.
For those who are facing financial difficulty as a result of the virus and the restrictions necessary to fight it.
For those anxious about loved ones, for those in hospital and care homes, and for those mourning the loss of a loved one at this time.
We pray for those dealing with the Covid pandemic across the world, especially in places where healthcare resources are severely limited or Governments are inept or uncaring.
We pray for the work of MSF and other medical aid charities.
For Mark and Rosalie Balfour and the Guatemalan Street Kids initiative.
For our Churchwardens and PCC.
For those of our own community in any kind of need, physical, mental, economic or for any other reason. For those who mourn the loss of a loved one at this time. And for those who have died, especially those known to us personally.
Merciful God,
we entrust to your tender care
all those who are in any kind of need, trouble or distress,
knowing that whenever danger threatens
your everlasting arms are there to hold them safe.
Comfort and heal them, and restore them to health and strength;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Weekly Prayer Sheet from the Hurley Oasis Group is available via a Link here and there is also a link to sign-up to receive this weekly email Newsletter, for anyone you know who might like to receive it regularly.
The Oxford Diocesan online Sunday Eucharist can be found at its usual 10am Sunday slot on https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19-2/livestream/ I continue to also recommend the daily and Sunday services from Canterbury Cathedral.
Keep safe, be gentle on yourself, and remember that with God by your side you need never be alone.
With love and prayers,
Fr John Ainslie
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Fr John is taking a break from Parish duties until Sunday 18th October. During that time, if you have any urgent pastoral issues or concerns then please contact one of the Churchwardens or the Parish Office. The Parish Office is open on Mondays 9.30am – 11.30am, but in these Covid-times we recommend telephoning if possible (01628 820077) rather than visiting in person.
In our Churches This Sunday:
Sunday 18th October:
Littlewick Green – 9.15am Eucharist
Hurley – 10.30am God in Quiet service
Stubbings – 11am Holy Communion (BCP)
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held this Sunday in the Soltau Centre after the 11am service of Holy Communion at Stubbings. The parish meetings receive reports on various aspects of the life of our parish, and elect / appoint Churchwardens, members of the PCC and representatives to the Deanery Synod.
Private Prayer this week:
Our churches will be open for private prayer this week at the following times:
St John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green: 11am to 4pm Thurs-Sat
St Mary the Virgin, Hurley: 8am to 10am Thurs-Frid
Next Sunday 25th October there will be an
8am service of Holy Communion (BCP) at Stubbings and a
10.30am Eucharist at Hurley.
The Parish Office has a new email address office@burchettsgreenparish.org
18th Sunday after Trinity
Weekly Newsletter
Fr John is taking a break from Parish duties until Sunday 18th October. During that time, if you have any urgent pastoral issues or concerns then please contact one of the Churchwardens or the Parish Office. The Parish Office is open on Mondays 9.30am – 11.30am, but in these Covid-times we recommend telephoning if possible (01628 820077) rather than visiting in person.
In our Churches This Sunday:
Sunday 11th October:
Stubbings – 8am Holy Communion (BCP)
Hurley – 10.30am Eucharist (CW)
Littlewick Green – 4pm All Age Service (non-Eucharistic)
Private Prayer this week:
Our churches will be open for private prayer this week at the following times:
St John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green: 11am to 4pm Thurs-Sat
St Mary the Virgin, Hurley: 8am to 10am Thurs-Frid
Next Sunday 18th October there will be a 9.15 Eucharist at Littlewick Green, 10.30am God in Quiet service at Hurley, and 11am Holy Communion (BCP) at Stubbings.
APCM. The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held on Sunday 18th October in the Soltau Centre after the 11am service of Holy Communion at Stubbings. The parish meetings receive reports on various aspects of the life of our parish, and elect / appoint Churchwardens, members of the PCC and representatives to the Deanery Synod.
Parish Office email address has changed
Please note the email address for the parish office has changed to office@burchettsgreenparish.org
News and Greetings from the Revd John Ainslie.
A warm welcome to this email Newsletter to all our friends and neighbours in the Parish of Burchetts Green.
17th Sunday after Trinity
In our Churches This Sunday:
Sunday 4th October:
Littlewick Green – 9.15 am Family Eucharist
Hurley – 10.30am Listening to God through Music
Private Prayer this week:
Our churches will be open for private prayer this week at the following times:
St John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green: 11am to 4pm Thurs-Sat
St Mary the Virgin, Hurley: 8am to 10am Thurs-Frid
Next Sunday 11th October there will be an 8am BCP Holy Communion service at Stubbings, 10.30am Eucharist at Hurley, and a short All Age (non-Eucharistic) service at Littlewick Green at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, to which families in particular (but not exclusively) are invited.
Please note that I am taking a break from Parish duties for two weeks from 3rd to 17th October. During that time, if you have any pastoral issues or concerns then please contact one of the Churchwardens or the Parish Office. The Parish Office is open on Mondays 9.30am – 11.30am, but in these Covid-times we recommend telephoning if possible rather than visiting in person.
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) is being planned for Sunday 18th October, and as part of that there will be the appointment of representatives to the Deanery Synod. The Deanery Synod brings together clergy and lay people from Anglican churches across Maidenhead and Windsor and, in normal times, the Synod meets 4 or 5 times a year. It is continuing to meet via zoom, and as an example the next meeting has the Bishop of Reading, Bishop Olivia, as guest speaker outlining her vision for the church in Berkshire over the next few years. The sharing of best practice and good ideas, and discovering that all parishes share similar challenges, is perhaps the most important aspect of participating in the Deanery Synod. If you are interested in joining the Deanery Synod then please speak to Tom Dobinson, Elaine Mordaunt or Teresa Kennard, or the PCC Secretary Hazel O’Connor, before 18th October.
The probationers have been hard at work keeping our churchyards at Stubbings and Littlewick Green in good order. As a result, we now have a good supply of logs for coal fires and burners available in builders bags in the car park behind Stubbings church. Please help yourself. A small donation for the church would be much appreciated.
The first of our All Age Services at Littlewick Green since before lock-down was incredibly successful, with nearly 40 people in church on September 13th, amongst them many lively children (and one dog). Tina will be leading the next All Age service on 11th October at 4pm in the church at Littlewick Green – do come along and experience it for yourself, everyone welcome.
Thank you to everyone who supported our Harvest Festival Services, and especially those who gave harvest goods and donations towards Maidenhead Foodshare and Yeldall Manor. Please continue to support our local Maidenhead Foodshare; the nationwide Trussell Trust is predicting a 60% increase in foodbank usage in October to December due to Coronavirus (rises in unemployment, reduced working hours, and difficulties for sole traders and small businesses). Cash donations can be made to Maidenhead Foodshare via their website, and the money will be put to good use supporting those in need.
For our prayers:
For the people of the United States of America as the Presidential election draws near. For successful negotiations between the UK and the EU over Brexit. For all places of warfare, conflict and civil unrest. For international aid agencies as they work to bring relief from suffering; food, education and healthcare; and seek to address longer term development needs.
For the worldwide Church, that it may bring the love and grace of God into more and more lives; and that it would live by the Gospel values of truth, compassion and justice. For Archbishop Justin, Stephen Bishop of Oxford and Olivia Bishop of Reading; for our own Parish and especially our Churchwardens, PCC and others who work to support our ministry in this place.
We pray for those of our own community in any kind of need, physical, mental, economic or for any other reason. For those who mourn the loss of a loved one at this time. And for those who have died, especially those known to us personally.
Merciful God,
we entrust to your tender care
all those who are in any kind of need, trouble or distress,
knowing that whenever danger threatens
your everlasting arms are there to hold them safe.
Comfort and heal them, and restore them to health and strength;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Weekly Prayer Sheet from the Hurley Oasis Group is available here>>, and a link to sign-up to receive this weekly email Newsletter, for anyone you know who might like to receive it regularly is here>>.
The Oxford Diocesan online Sunday Eucharist can be found at its usual 10am Sunday slot on https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19-2/livestream/ I continue to also recommend the daily and Sunday services from Canterbury Cathedral.
Keep safe, be gentle on yourself, and remember that with God by your side you need never be alone.
With love and prayers,
Fr John Ainslie
