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Sadly we have had to suspend our usual pattern of Services & meetings

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Dear Friends

Most of you will know that very sadly we have had to suspend our usual pattern of Sunday services and other midweek meetings under instruction from the Archbishops who are responding to the Government’s introduction of additional measures to help prevent the further spread of the corona virus.

We are looking at ways in which we might do some live streaming of services and producing and providing resources for prayer and worship at home. We have been asked in particular by our Archbishops to pray for our Government and nation, for each other, and especially for those who work in our health and emergency services.

We are fully committed to providing practical and pastoral care so please do contact us if you would like to talk. It is wonderful how everyone in our local community has risen to the great challenge we face and networks have been established right across the community to support neighbours who may need help and support or who are lonely.

With our prayers and blessings to you all at this difficult time.

Revd Katy Weston (07765 255569) Rosemary and Jonathan Sandbach LLMs (01491 672494) Mike Penny (01491 671357)

In the light of the current Coronavirus pandemic

In the light of the current Coronavirus pandemic

THE UNITED BENEFICE OF

BASILDON, ALDWORTH & ASHAMPSTEAD

Coronavirus COVID-19

In the light of the current Coronavirus pandemic, we want to keep all of you updated on what we are doing to protect everyone in the Benefice.

We have produced a Continuity/Contingency Plan and this will be held in the Church vestries. The Reverend Heather Parbury, our Area Dean has key responsibility during the continuing interregnum with the Churchwardens for ensuring that all necessary steps are taken. Please contact her on 0118 9842928 or rector.ptschurches@gmail.com. Her nominated deputy is the Revd Katy Weston (07765 255569 westonkaty@hotmail.com).

We want to reassure you all that we have put a protocol in place to ensure that all church services and activities as well as pastoral care continue as long as government guidelines allow.

We have taken some immediate steps and, under instruction from the Church of England, we have suspended the administration of the chalice during Holy Communion as well as physical contact during the sharing of the peace, blessing or “laying on of hands”. We will not ‘pass the plate’ for collections and activities and services will not have any catering for the present. Please donate your collection as you come into church or directly through the bank. Thank you for your understanding at this trying time.

We will be issuing regular communications through our email lists, social media and magazines and parish websites. We would ask you to take a look at the NHS’s latest advice: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.

If you are not feeling well, have a cough or fever, please do not attend church but let us know immediately so we can pray for you and provide any assistance necessary. Please also do not attend if you have recently returned from a high risk country or have been in contact with someone you believe has the virus. Please also have a duty of care for your neighbour: if there is anyone for whom you are concerned, please let us know.

If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. We do hope that all of you continue to stay well during this difficult period and that we can all return to normality as soon as possible.

CHURCHWARDENS

Basildon: Jo Eley and Nick Schlee, Aldworth: Maurice Allen & Lily Rennie

Ashampstead: Caroline Butler & Sally Hardaker

MINISTRY TEAM

Revd Katy Weston, Dr Jonathan Sandbach, Mrs Rosemary Sandbach, Mr Michael Penny

Leadership Safeguarding Training

Leadership Safeguarding Training

LEADERSHIP SAFEGUARDING TRAINING SESSION COMING UP LOCALLY:
TUE 17/03/20 18:30-21:30 ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH, UPPER BASILDON

Church Officers need to complete SAFEGUARDING Leadership training:
Please follow this link to book onto the session: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leadership-safeguarding-training-tickets-83135100323

Leadership safeguarding training is required for anyone who has safeguarding leadership responsibilities or responsibility for leading activities involving children, young people and/or vulnerable adults.

Confirmation Classes

Confirmation Classes

Have you been thinking about confirmation?

Do you know anyone who might be ?
Confirmation is for those who have been baptised and now wish to confirm the promises that were made for them and begin to receive Holy Communion.

There is a Confirmation Service on 24th May when Kerry from St Stephen's is being confirmed; if anyone else is interested, or you think of someone who might be, please contact Rev. Katy Weston westonkaty@hotmail.com or Rosemary Sandbach rosemarysandbach@yahoo.co.uk

Look into Jesus

Look into Jesus

  • How often do we hear something about Jesus and wonder what it means?

  • Hear something on Sunday and consider how it impacts on our everyday life?

  • Do we investing ate, look into it further

This is what a true disciple is – not a mindless follower, but one who learns, grows in faith.

Let us respond to Jesus call to ‘Come and see’

  • Look into Jesus

  • Discover more

  • Let him impact our everyday lives.

Foolish Cross?

Foolish Cross?

what might appear foolish to the rest of the world is what we as Christians are baptised into – the suffering of the cross, for without the suffering of the cross then Christ could not have risen.

Corinth, according to the Book of Acts, was one of the more successful of Paul’s churches and yet the picture that St. Paul gives us today is far from rosy:

'It has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters'.

Thank you and a prayer for new beginings

Thank you to all who supported Basildon Open Gardens in any way, the net profit to be shared between St Stephens and the Village Hall, is about £1200. I heard that there was a fantastic atmosphere and everyone enjoyed seeing so many people walking around the village! Someone commented “It went brilliantly with hundreds coming round the village for Open Gardens from Wantage, Tilehurst, Pangbourne as well as the village”.