God grant to the living, grace; to the departed, rest;
to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth, and all humankind, peace
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Growing Back
Growing Back
What's the plan?
Stage one: Recentre our lives on Jesus as we safely navigate a way to meet together.
Stage two: Journey from Easter through to Pentecost, and beyond, aiming to re-establish weekly services across the benefice, all subject to national guidance.
Stage three: Through prayer and planning, seek God's will to build and establish new growth.
Beauty for Ashes
The restrictions of lockdown this Lent present us with a real opportunity to go through this season focusing on own selves and souls, and potentially reap the rewards of a holier, deeper and more wholesome relationship with the Lord, at the end of it.
Lent then is the perfect opportunity to return to our deep relationship with God, to listen to him, to offer the ashes of our own lives, that he may exchange them for beauty, and give us hope, courage, mercy and love in abundance.
Pray for our nation
Pray for our nation
The UK's C-19 death toll sadly passed 100,000 people last week.
The bishops of our Diocese, +Steven, +Olivia and +Alan have echoed calls from the Archbishop of York and the Archbishop of Canterbury to join together at 6pm every day to pray for the nation.
Although the Archbishops suggest 6pm, you can pray any time, anywhere.
We recommend following these words based on Psalm 23, written by Bishop Steven. Find a regular time each day when you can spend a moment of quiet casting your fears onto God.
Same storm, different boats
"Working parents want kids to go back to school because school closures directly impacts them.
Teachers don’t want schools to open because covid spreading round their school directly impacts them.
NHS staff want a full lockdown because sick covid patients directly impacts them.
Business owners want to carry on as normal because lockdown directly impacts them.
People with physical health problems want everyone to stay socially distant because catching covid could kill them.
People with mental health problems want people to spend time with because isolation could kill them.
Some can’t wait for a vaccine because they believe it will bring back some normality.
Some are terrified of a vaccine because they believe it could harm them.
We are all going through this but none of us are going through the same thing.
Some face crippling financial challenges, others face heart break.
We don’t all have to agree with what is best because what’s best for us won’t be best for everyone.
We don’t have to understand what others are going through. But we do need to stick together and keep loving each other no matter our differences.
We need to be mindful when some things go the way we want it to, it could be terrible news to another person. We need to be kind."
Latest News from CIRDIC (drop-in for Reading homeless)
CIRDIC update from Lynn Smith
I dropped the donations left at St Stephens to CIRDIC Monday morning and had a catch up and chat with some of the people outside. Apart from the many “regulars” I speak to I’ve noticed over the last few months that there are more younger people who’ve been using the centre – a sad sign of the times – but how wonderful it is that CIRDIC is there.
I asked the centre manager if they had anything (alongside the usual things they need) that they are in particular need of over the next couple of weeks - and they have a special request for :
men’s spray deodorant (not roll on),
men’s underpants,
large disposable paper coffee cups, and
takeaway containers.
Christmas Greetings from the Ministry Team
We would like to wish you all a happy, peaceful and above all safe Christmas. We know it is a very different Christmas to the one we were hoping to have – particularly in our churches.
The churchwardens of Aldworth and Ashampstead have felt that in the light of the danger of the mutating virus and Tier 4 restrictions that they should close St Mary’s and St Clement’s for services over Christmas but we are so fortunate in the benefice in having a modern church at Basildon which is more flexible and safe.
So we are delighted that, as well as the many virtual services on offer, we are able to have two 'in-person' services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Please make sure you contact 01491 672442 if you would like to come to these as numbers regrettably have to be restricted.
We do hope we shall see you, either virtually, or in person over the Christmas season – all services and links are listed
Cancelled Christmas services in Ashampstead & Aldworth
It is with enormous regret that we have taken the difficult decision to cancel the Carol Service at St Clement’s today. We just feel that in the light of the danger of the mutating virus and Tier 4 restrictions that it is our responsibility to make sure that everyone remains as safe as possible.
We have also decided to cancel the Christmas morning Holy Communion service. Aldworth has made the same decision as we both feel that it will be virtually impossible to make both our churches which are old totally covid-secure.
There are a number of online services taking place, notably we have a zoom Benefice Holy Communion service on Christmas Day which will be led by Juliet Straw. The Diocese is also providing a number of services and there will be many on the radio too. We will circulate details of all of these to you in the next few days.
We would also like to reassure you that St Clement’s will remain open for private prayer. St Clement’s has been beautifully decorated and all the Christmas stars are being blessed and hung this morning – a wonderful way of remembering all those we shall sadly be unable to see this Christmas. Do come and see them and say a prayer..
How can I give to St Stephen's, St Mary's, St Clement's when I can't put money in the collection?
From 2nd December we are in Tier 2 but WE CAN MEET FOR WORSHIP
From Wednesday 2nd December communal worship can resume. West Berkshire is in 'High Alert' tier level 2; this mean PLACES OF WORSHIP are Open, but you “cannot interact with anyone outside household or support bubble” when you’re in the building.
Church buildings continue to be OPEN for Private Prayer (details below); the Community Post Office in St Stephen’s church centre will continue to open on Monday and Friday mornings.
For details of church services please see our events page or look at the page for each church.