Lord Jesus Christ,
light of the nations and glory of Israel:
make your home among us,
and present us pure and holy
to your heavenly Father,
your God, and our God.
Amen
Who is Jesus ?
Candlemas (2nd February) is about half way between Christmas and Easter. It’s a pivotal point when we look back at Jesus’ birth and forward to Easter, his suffering, death and resurrection. Here is a meditation on the different reactions to the birth of Jesus that we find in the Christmas story. Based on an idea from Sylvia Penny. Click on the arrow in the image to watch the slideshow.
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."
Greetings from Grant
Greetings from Grant
Dear friends,
Thank you all for the lovely warm welcome we have received as we have joined this community and taken up the responsibility of being the next Vicar of this wonderful benefice. Our house has been adorned with beautiful flowers, we have enjoyed some wonderful meals, cakes and biscuits, plus a good few bottles of bubbles!
Thank you so much.
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.
Collation : The Revd Grant Fensome to Basildon w Aldworth and Ashampstead
We are delighted that Grant Fensome’s formal Collation as Vicar, Basildon with Aldworth and Ashampstead within Bradfield Deanery, will take place on Tuesday 2 February at 7pm. Bishop Olivia will license him online via Zoom.
Grant does hope that you will be able to join him: it will be wonderful to welcome him formally to the Benefice and rejoice in the start of his incumbency with us in the Benefice..
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
You are invited to remember the birth of Jesus in our beautifully decorated church
Carol Service OnLine
We were able to record our Carol service which we held on Sunday 20th - click on the link and you can share with us - the choir of 6 socially distanced members singing carols, other members of the congregation reading, enjoy a lovely recording from St Bartholomew's choir and Henry playing the organ.
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..