September 2016

September 2, 2016

In this newsletter:

• Caversham Church fete – Committee chair needed
• Forthcoming Services
• Holiday highlights
• Studying Galatians
• Got Questions? Try Alpha
• PMC update

Caversham Church fete – Committee chair needed

Having successfully steered us through her second fete, Sabita has decided to retire as chair of the fete committee. She has done a great job during her time in the post and we thank her very much. We are now in need of someone to replace her. Do you think this person might be you? You would need a good organisational approach and be prepared to engage with a variety of people, in advance of the event and on the day itself.

Many of the people on the committee have been there for quite some time, so a lot of it runs like clockwork. We have a comprehensive ‘playbook’ of actions and responsibilities (running from September to July), so your main role would be to chair meetings (6 per year), confirm actions are being checked off, manage communications in the run-up to the fete, and be the central point of contact on the day. (And, as with anything than runs like clockwork, occasionally we need to be wound up!)

In the longer term not having a chair will severely impact our ability to put on the fete each year, so please do think carefully if you could offer yourself for this role. It’s a chance to join a winning team, to help run the parish’s largest fundraising event of the year and – most important of all – to get to know lots of lovely people, all of whom are willing to give up their time and energy to support our three churches.

If you’re interested, come and speak to me or Mike to find our more.

Nigel, member and past chair, Caversham Church Fete Committee

Forthcoming Services

Holiday highlights

Mike writes, ‘I wonder how your summer has been? Have you managed to get some time away from your usual routine? Have you managed to get away on holiday?’ Some of us, because of our domestic circumstances, have to take our holiday during the school holidays; others of us deliberately avoid this time of year because of the inflated costs, and the busyness of the roads and holiday destinations. Many of us find it important during the summer to change gear, and find a different pace to life. Summer seems a time for more relaxed conversations, when perhaps the pace slows. For us Christians it can also be a time when we notice God: in one another, in our community, in creation. I wonder where you have noticed God recently? Here’s my thoughts on that question based on our family summer:

As a family our summer has seen a family holiday to the Island of Mull in the Western Isles of Scotland, some time with members of Caversham churches who gather each year for a week’s holiday in Salisbury, and various days out as a family. Our trip to Mull was perhaps one of our better family holidays. You can’t help but notice God in the big outdoors of Mull. We walked a lot, saw lots of wildlife, went in and on the water (boat rides), the boys pony trekked in the pouring rain! We spent a fabulous day on the island of Iona, amongst the Abbey, rocks and beaches of this island that has been Christian since the very earliest days of our faith in these lands. Each time I go there it does feel to be a very ‘thin’ place (as George Macleod, the founder of the Iona Community) called it – a place where earth and heaven seem very near each other, and God seems very close. For me perhaps the other great God moment was, surprisingly, the day I turned 50. I didn’t want a fuss, and was very glad not to be at home and risk others wanting me to celebrate more than I wanted to. But it was lovely to wake to find those I was sharing the holiday with had gone to the trouble of decorating the house, extra special food was cooked, and I was made to feel special. Best of all was when the card signed by so many of you just two days before arrived on my birthday itself. Thank you so much to all of you who took that trouble to send me good wishes. Embracing a new decade surrounded by the ones you love, and who want to affirm you, seems to be at the heart of who I understand the God of Love to be. 50 is the new 40 so I am told, so I embrace this new decade with energy and anticipation!

I asked clergy colleagues for their summer highlights, and here is what they sent me.

John writes

Caversham Group Holiday My wife and I joined 24 families and their friends for a holiday on the outskirts of Salisbury, at Chafyn Grove School, a wonderful opportunity to renew old relationships and to make new friends. The weather was bright, warm sunshine and it was difficult to drag myself off a sun bed, watching others playing games on the beautifully kept playing fields, just to take a swim in the heated, open air pool.

Friendly competitions for all ages ranged from Othello to Bridge, Croquet to Table Tennis, with many other activities, such as Water Rockets on the way.

The only off-site trips Linda and I took were, to Salisbury Cathedral for a guided tour and Organ Concert, and visiting friends who live in the New Forest.

With three meals a day, provided by a very good chef, good conversation, many interesting activities and competitions, the time flew by and it was with reluctance that we had to think of returning home a week later.

Why not join us and enjoy this unique holiday, based on Christian ideals and fellowship, planned for mid August next year.

Judith writes

Guardians of Ancora Holiday Club A big highlight of the summer for me was being able to spend a week as a helper at the Caversham ‘Guardians of Ancora’ Holiday Club, which took place at Thameside Primary School, from Monday 1 to Friday 5 August. The Holiday Club is run annually by Churches Together in Caversham, and has evidently become quite a feature of the season. There were well over 100 primary age children there (the figure I’ve heard quoted is 144). All four of my children were able to go too, and clearly really enjoyed themselves. They have insisted on wearing their Holiday Club caps for most of the summer since, not to mention occasionally breaking into a rousing chorus of ‘Guardians of Ancora’! The week was based around a theme of Jesus’ miracles, and packed in plenty of different activities, from crafts and storytelling to fencing and archery – not to mention Wilsons’ Wet Wednesday, when I somehow managed not to get wet (better luck next year?). The Holiday Club uses Scripture Union material, and is possible thanks the large number of volunteers, who come from many different Caversham churches – so it’s a great example of (very efficient) practical co-operation between local Christians, working together to bring the gospel to a new generation. Some former Holiday Clubbers come back as Young Helpers, which shows just how much this has taken root and become an important part of their lives. It was a great privilege to be part of this, and I’d love to be there again next year. I’ve got the red shirts to wear now, so they mustn’t go to waste! Many thanks to Jane Borgeaud, ‘Guildmaster’, and to everyone else who puts so much into making the Club so welcoming and such a great success.

Penny writes

I often have a bit of a dilemma when I go on holiday – do I just switch off completely from parish ministry, and take the time to focus on family and read novels? Or should I use at least some of the time to read some of the theological books I’ve been wanting to read but not had the time to? Should I still be praying for things ‘back home’ and seeking God’s direction? Or should I be totally focussed on honing my surfing skills and trying to stay upright on the board? (Well, ok, honing my bodyboarding skills, and trying to stay on top of the board…)

I love Cornwall. I love the yellows and purples of the flowers along the cliff paths, I love the sea views, and the geographer in me loves the folds and faults in the cliffs at Crackington Haven. I love building sandcastles with the children – really big and impressive ones now, that take hours rather than minutes to construct and look like Minas Tirith, or Helm’s Deep. As the sea comes in the boys stand defiantly on top of our construction, defending it, shouting, “You shall not pass!” at the waves, and then frantically rebuilding the bits the waves wash away.

But in a matter of minutes our creation is no more! On one level it has been a total waste of time, but on another level we never have more fun than when we’re being creative and playing together as a family.

On more than one occasion, at the important moment when the sea is coming in, my boys have been joined on their castle by other small children who want to join in the fun. These invaders haven’t put in any of the effort, they aren’t part of our family, they are strangers, and part of me thinks, “Hang on a minute, this is our castle, you shouldn’t be here! You are spoiling our fun!”

But this year I found myself noticing that when we are visibly having fun other people want to join in. They don’t need to be coerced or persuaded, they can see for themselves that something good is on offer, and they want to be part of it. Is that what church is meant to be like, I wondered? Joy-filled, visible, and so attractive that passers-by want to join us on the adventure. And when they do, will my heart be big enough to offer a welcome?

I did read one theology book. And one novel. But sometimes God speaks through creation, events and complete strangers. We just need eyes to see and ears to hear.

Studying Galatians

In June and July this year we had a sermon series on Paul’s letter to the Galatians, as we thought through his teaching on what it means to be God’s people, and how we might need to adapt to an ever changing world as we seek to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ afresh to each generation. The sermons from this series are available on our parish website, if you follow the link on the home page.

When I convened a meeting of house group leaders in the late spring, we discussed whether this sermon series might also help focus the house groups on a common syllabus. There seemed a good deal of excitement about this. So Phil Blackburn, who wrote the sermon series notes for us preachers, has adapted his work and produced a house group course to be used by any or all of the house groups. It will be up to each house group to decide if and when they do this.

This provides me with another opportunity to encourage us all to consider joining a house group. There offer us each an opportunity, outside of Sunday church, to spend time with others learning about our faith, sharing our concerns, and spending time with God. Our existing house groups are supported well, and we are considering ways in which to grow some new groups. If you would like to join a group, or if you’d be willing to host one, do get in touch with the clergy.

Mike

Got Questions? Try Alpha

Alpha has become one of the best known courses for people who want to explore the big questions in life – Why am I here? What’s the point of life? Is God real? Why is there so much suffering in the world? What happens when you die? (What would you ask?)

Alpha has been run in homes, churches, universities, cafés, bars and restaurants, by Christians of all denominations, and has now spread right across the world. Countless people have found faith, or had their faith rekindled, through an Alpha course, and even those who remain atheists at the end usually say they enjoyed the course. It’s an ideal place to bring friends or relatives who may be curious about the Christian faith and want to find out more in a relaxed and informal setting.

Each session begins with a meal – eating together builds friendships and gives us time to chat and get to know each other. After food we watch a 20-30 minute talk (on a dvd) on an aspect of faith – e.g. Who is Jesus? Why and How do I pray? How does God guide us? Does God heal today? The talk is then followed by about an hour of open discussion during which group members can say anything, ask anything, or just listen. The group leader doesn’t ‘preach’, and may not necessarily give answers – they facilitate a discussion in which everyone can share their own opinions and listen to others. On Alpha no question is too simple or too hostile! You can ask anything.

Interested?

This term we are running two courses at St John’s vicarage:

Friday mornings 10am-noon, beginning with a cooked breakfast, starting 9 September

and

Tuesday evenings 7.30-9.45pm, beginning with a light supper, starting 13 September

Penny Cuthbert and John Dudley are running the Friday course, and Penny and Judith Ryder the evening course.

Alpha was designed with non-churchgoers in mind, but the courses are open to anyone. Sometimes people do Alpha just to find out what it’s like before they invite a friend to the next course. There is no charge for Alpha, though you can make a contribution towards the meal if you wish.

To book on a course or find out more contact Penny at penny@ctmparish.org.uk ☎ 07825 331810. And take a look at the alpha.org website where you will find some good testimonies and trailers. You are welcome to try a session or two without committing to complete the course.

Penny

PMC update

September brings the start of the second year of Partnership for Missional Church in our parish. In the first year we have particularly been learning about context – our own and our community. This has required us to engage with all three congregations, about the journey God has taken us on thus far, and talking to our local community about their experience and ideas of our churches. We have begun developing some new spiritual disciplines, including Dwelling in the Word and Announcing the Kingdom. These are teaching us to be committed to reflect on what is going on in our individual and corporate life in the light of scripture, and to notice where God is already active in our lives.

Year 2 of PMC is about experimenting. Having learnt a good deal about our context, we will now look to undertaking one new piece of mission. The PCC, CLTs and the PMC Steering Team are meeting together for an away day on 24th September to decide what this new challenge will be. We will decide whether one task can work in all three churches, or whether each church needs something specific to its context. The decisions made that day will then generate a lot of activity in the rest of the year for our new Mission Innovation Team (MIT), set up for the specific purpose of trying new mission.

So there are two things you can do to help us now:

1) Please do pray for the away day on the 24th September – for its planning going on now, and for those who will attend. Pray that God will help us to be wise, but also to listen to his Spirit as we discern the right way forward.

2) Please think about whether you are being called to be part of the Mission Innovation Team, as it is established to be a hands-on mission team looking to implement the decisions made on 24th September.

Do talk to your clergy if you want to know more.

Mike

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