From the Rector
We are blessed to have a large number of churches in Wokingham and one thing that is great, I think, is that we all work together and get on well! Churches Together in Wokingham (CTW) is an ecumenical partnership that enables ministers and other representa ves from across the town’s churches to meet monthly and to plan and develop collabora ve efforts that seek to share the love of God with the people of Wokingham. One way in which our own parish magazine is seeking to support other churches in the town is by offering print space to St Paul’s Church, whose own parish magazine - The Spire - sadly ceased produc on a few years ago. Look out for ar cles from St Paul's in upcoming issues.
Our next CTW collabora on comes in just a few weeks me, as we join together firstly for our Palm Sunday procession and lunch, and then for services on Good Friday. This year, following last year’s success, we are welcoming a real donkey to the town and will be processing with the donkey across four of the town’s churches – as busy roads and service mes allow! This is a great opportunity to remind us all of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a humble donkey, as well as enjoying singing songs together and spending me with folks from different churches. Then on Good Friday, following our All Age Service at All Saints Church (11am) we will gather for a hymn and then a silent walk, following the large wooden CTW cross to the Market Place. The cross is held by a different church each year and then is processed to a new church – All Saints have had the cross this past year and now it moves to The Salva on Army. We will have some hymns and readings and prayers in the Market Place and then will con nue our silent walk to the Salva on Army. This is a great opportunity to remind folk of the solemnity and holiness of Good Friday, and I encourage you to join for all, or part, of this walk and service. Back at The Salva on Army we will share together in hot cross buns.
The
Revd Hannah Higginson
March's PCC Meeting
We began the mee ng with Dwelling in the Word. In case anyone is unfamiliar with Dwelling in the Word this is how it works. A passage from the bible is selected; it is read out loud twice. We then break into pairs to discuss points and details of the passage that stood out for each of us. Upon comple on of the discussion , each one of the pair reports the other person's comments. The reading we looked at was Psalm 27. Which in fact we had as our reading on Sunday 16th March in our morning services. The Psalmist seems to be thanking and beseeching the Lord in equal measure. There was a lot to talk about.
Hannah gave The Rector's update. In this she informed us of details regarding Easter services:
Palm Sunday will again feature a donkey procession followed by a shared lunch in church.
Maundy Thursday — there will be an evening Eucharist with foot washing. Followed by a vigil in the Lady Chapel.
Good Friday — the solemn liturgy will be held featuring the All Saints Alumni Choir. Followed by a family service and the taking of the large cross, which we have retained for the last year, into the town centre for the Churches Together in Wokingham's Good Friday Witness service.
Easter Sunday. 5.30 AM! (set your alarm clocks folks) — Dawn service of new light. 8 AM. communion. 9.30 AM all age service. 6.30 PM choral evensong. It is intended to have a 'rolling breakfast' available for those a<ending the early services.
Hannah and Colin are upda ng some of the Orders of Service books.
Hannah also confirmed Tuesday 8th April is interview day for the Associate Priest applicants.
The next item was House/Fellowship Groups. In my me at All Saints, house groups have nearly always flourished. They have been very beneficial to those a<ending. Of course the Covid pandemic took it's toll. A few house groups remain in existence and it is hoped more can be established on a slightly more formal foo ng. That is to say making informa on about what is available and where and when they take place.
We split into groups of 4 or 5 to discuss the possibili es and requirements of seCng these up. The ques ons posed were:
What is the purpose of such a group?
Do we need a variety of different groups and if so what might they look like?
How can we organise the prac cal running of these? i.e. making people aware of them, who will lead, who will host, material to be used, how oFen to meet?
Prayer & Healing Ministry Team
Let us flee to our Lord and we shall be comforted. Let us touch him and we shall be made clean. Let us cleave to him and we shall be secure and safe from every kind of harm.
JulianofNorwich
O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst say that in thee we may have peace, and has bidden us to be of good cheer, since thou hast overcome the world; give us ears to hear and faith to receive thy Word; that in all the tensions and confusion of this present "me, with mind serene and steadfast purpose, we may con"nue to abide in thee, who lives and wast dead and art alive for evermore.
FrederickB.Macnu ,1871-1949
I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid. John14.27
The services for the Laying on of Hands ministry will be on the first Sunday of each month, so next on 6th April at the 9.30 service.
Members of the Prayer Ministry team are: Rosemary Sturmer, Jill Oliver, Jo Robinson, Gill Allen, Claire Jones and Elizabeth Marten. Prayer Ministry is available every Sunday a6er the 9.30am service. Members of the Healing Prayer Group are: Gill Allen, Rosemary Sturmer, Maggie Davies, Joan Thomason. Confiden"ality is assured .
Special Note From The Editor
On page 11 you will see an ar"cle by our Deputy Editor, Abbie Ellis, under the banner Eleven for Heaven. This was a series that we ran in the magazine from July 2017 un"l August 2020, when the supply of volunteer contributors dried up. We want to re-ins"gate this series. So... do you like music? If the answer is ‘yes’ (which surely applies to most readers of this paragraph), we need you to turn your list of favourites into an Eleven for Heaven ar"cle, as on page 11. Any/all music styles welcome. Contact editor@allsaintswokingham.org.uk to talk about it.
Meanwhile on pages 12 and 19 you will see more results of our new-found coopera"on with St Paul's parish. About which I'm delighted.
My Eleven For Heaven : Abbie Ellis
An opportunity for a church member to choose the eleven pieces of music they’d like to find in heaven
I remember ge ng my first iPod as a young teenager and it quite literally changed my life. Every other week my dad would upload a vast range of music for me to have a listen and find what suited me. What I don’t think I expected was to enjoy everything. From classical, to pop, to rock, dance, techno and everything in between, my iPod allowed me to escape to many different parts of the musical world.
Chasing Pavements by Adele was the first song on there, which has led to a life(me apprecia(on for every song she releases. I can’t even decide which album of hers I love the most because they all express a different point in my life which I connect with on a deep emo(onal level. Talking of deep emo(onal levels, For IslandFire and Family by Dermot Kennedy may just be one the most beau(ful and thought provoking songs I will ever listen to.
Although I have a lot of love for Hans Zimmer, River Flows In You by Yiruma has always stuck with me, probably because it was in Twilight and I was one of those crazed teenagers who fell in love with a fic(onal vampire.
Most of my childhood involved performing arts so I have huge apprecia(on for show tunes and all things musicals. For Good from the hit musical Wicked (and will be in the second part of the recent movie adapta(on) makes me cry every (me, reminding me that my daughter and stepdaughters have truly changed me for good.
S(cking with performing, I was once in a pantomime playing Snow White, and the whole ensemble broke out into a big stage number of Jailhouse Rock by Elvis. Although not my all (me favourite Elvis song, this one s(cks with me for the pure joy I had singing and dancing to that song.
Songs I regularly play which never fail to put me in a good mood are No Tomorrow by Orson, Oops! I did It Again by Britney Spears and Smooth by Santana 6. Rob Thomas. The JCB Song by Nizlopi reminds me of journeys with my dad, and although it is another one that makes me cry, this one brings tears of joy.
You might be thinking that there are no song of religious tone within my above choices. Now, as a 29 year old I can’t say my Spo(fy playlists are filled with hymns; however as a kid who grew up in the 90’s/00’s, I simply couldn’t forget about the absolute classics, He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands and Cauliflowers Fluffy, which I regularly sing to my 2 year old!
International Conscientious Objector’s Day
Thursday 15th May 2025 from 12.30 to 13.30 hours
I am a member of the Peace Pledge Union and the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, both organisa(ons commiAed to peace and non-violence.
There will be a short vigil in Wokingham to mark the day in Howard Palmer Gardens by kind permission of Wokingham Town Council.
The vigil will remember those around the world, past and present, who refuse to kill or torture others despite facing persecu(on and imprisonment even from their own governments.
There will be periods of silence interspersed with short readings of poetry and prose, including the experiences of objectors themselves.
People of all faiths and of none are invited to bring their own short readings, including perhaps those wri(ngs of rela(ves or friends who have resisted armed conflict in the past or present.
Please contact me if you would like to contribute: davidchapman781@b(nternet.com.
David Chapman
Letter to the Editor
Dear Mr Editor,
At Morning Prayer today we decided to hold a short FOOT WASHING for MAUNDY THURSDAY April 17 at MORNING PRAYER, 9 for 9.15 start
Those who wish may have one foot washed, those like your correspondent who have feet not fit for public consump(on may have a hand washed instead.
Su McArthur
EDITOR’S PLEA
Are you a reader of this magazine or a contributor? This publica(on is not just for the congrega(on; it’s also by the congrega(on. Think what you could chip in.
Churchyard Developments
Those of you with long memories may remember when Wokingham District Council (as it was called then) wanted to build an Inner Distribu on Road and wanted part of our churchyard for the purpose. Now they are back again, this me because of central government's Plan 2026 scheme. Under this, councils are being told to assemble possibili es for developing and enhancing town centres.
The favourite idea at present is to turn the churchyard into a solar farm. Its 2½ acres could accommodate about 1500 solar panels genera ng 500kW. This would boost the church's coffers by a very steady £25,000 annually; it would be good for our green creden als; and of course sheep would be grazed in the spaces between the panels bringing addi onal income. Several solar farm suppliers are interested.
Alterna vely WBC consider that a transi on into allotments is a dis nct possibility. This would s ll be a green solu on so it gains a ck in that box. However as allotments are a Town Council responsibility a great deal of nego a on would be entailed.
Another possibility is housing of course and the Swedish firm of Aprilskämt is ac vely looking at technical ways of building houses without disturbing the residents in their coffins down below. Placing the houses on some sort of s lts so that the drains and other u li es can remain above ground is their main area of focus.
WBC have ruled out one or two schemes. A giant crazy golf course was proposed, interweaved among the headstones, but this was ruled to be inappropriate. Or the open area would have been ideal as a base for Amazon delivery drones but it was felt that the noise, compe ng as it would with church bells, was just too much.
One more idea has arrived at the last minute. Apparently Elon Musk has responded to the recent drop-off in sales by demanding that the number of Tesla dealerships be doubled, especially in town centres. So WBC have commissioned a short feasibility study to assess whether this idea for the churchyard could be taken forward into the final proposals.
Of course not everything in these proposals is universally popular. It's believed that a group of disruptors is planning on the night of 31st March to install bats in the 'pill box' building at the south-east corner of the churchyard and ground-nes ng birds in some of the longer grass. The idea being that on the following day folk will encounter these heavily protected species and all development will thereby be halted; we should all visit the site that day to assess their success.
You yourself may also find yourself opposed to any or all of these schemes. In which case please email the editor at the usual address and he will forward them to WBC's Mrs Avril Fool who is officia ng over this planning process.
Your Editor
Prayer Page
Jesu, meek and lowly, Saviour, pure and holy, On thy love relying Here me humbly crying.
Prince of life and power, My salva on's tower, On the cross I view thee Calling sinners to thee.
There behold me gazing At the sight amazing; Bending low before thee, Helpless I adore thee.
By thy red wounds streaming, With thy Life-blood gleaming, Blood for sinners flowing, Pardon free bestowing;
By that fount of blessing, Thy dear love expressing, All my aching sadness Turn thou into gladness.
Lord, in mercy guide me, Be thou e'er beside me; In thy ways direct me, 'Neath thy wings protect me.
H Collins .
One of the Collects for Maundy Thursday God our Father, you have invited us to share in the supper which your Son gave to his Church to proclaim his death un l he comes: may he nourish us by his presence, and unite us in his love; who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
One of the Collects for Good Friday Eternal God, in the cross of Jesus we see the cost of sin and the depth of your love: in humble hope and fear may we place at his feet all that we have and all that we are, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
One of the Collects for Easter Day God of glory, by the raising of your Son you have broken the chains of death and hell: fill your Church with faith and hope; for a new day has dawned and the way to life stands open in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Climate Pressure—An Opinionated Assessment
Steve Smith
Where does the push for climate change ac on come from? Is it top-down or boIomup?
We live in a country which is split over the consequences of climate correc on. It seems to me that there are those fully commiIed to doing something about our everwarming planet, and at the other extreme there are a few (a very few) climate scep cs.
In the middle there is a huge chunk of the popula on who believe in climate change and would like it fixed as long as the medicine doesn't affect them adversely.
How does this situa on influence the government? Governments (of all colours) answer to pressure. It's a two-way pressure. A government will act when the populace demands ac on. But conversely when a government comes to its own conclusion that a certain policy is right it pushes that policy down to the people, encourages them to realise the benefits and it then gets gradual creeping support. Witness seat belts in cars back in the 1960s. However downward pressure like this is a sensi ve issue for governments; it realises that it can only push voters so far or so fast.
When it comes to climate change ac on, the pressure on the UK government seems to be waning. It reached a peak during the COP conference in Glasgow in 2021 – in the news and among people just chaNng, global warming frequently was the topic. But now? Also one must account for peer-pressure from other world governments, in COP conferences and elsewhere, but that too seems to be waning; COP conferences are now no longer gatherings where countries outbid each other with promises of posi ve ac on.
Holy Week In St Paul's Parish
Monday (14th April)·······································································································
St Paul’s 8pm Compline
Tuesday (15th April) ·······································································································
St Paul’s 8pm New Zealand Eucharist
Wednesday (16th April) ·································································································
Woosehill Church, 8pm Reflec ve Eucharist
Maundy Thursday (17th April) ·······················································································
St Paul’s 8pm Mass with Foot Washing, Stripping of the Altars (LS) & Vigil un l Midnight
Good Friday (18th April)·································································································
St Paul’s 10am Messy Easter for Children and Families
St Paul’s 2pm Last Hour at the Foot of the Cross (LS)
St Nicholas’ Church 3.30pm Village Hall Reflec ons on Good Friday
Holy Saturday (19th April)······························································································
St Paul’s 8pm Service of Readings and Reflec on
Easter Day (20th April) ···································································································
St Paul’s 5.30am First Mass of Easter
St Paul’s 8am BCP Mass
St Paul’s 9.30am Joyful All Together Mass for Easter (LS)
Woosehill Church 10am Joyful Morning Worship for Easter Day
Services marked LS will be Livestreamed and then available on the parish YouTube channel or via the website
Brilliant Bible Bits
In the course of our perusals of the Bible, many of us surely come across passages that stand out. So let's share them. We invite anyone and everyone to contribute.
Are you feeling down? Is life ge ng too much? Peter, in his first epistle, was addressing early Chris ans who were under real pressure. And what a wonderful encouragement he offers in the first few verses of his le#er. At this Easter- de we all need to take heart from these wonderful verses. This is from 1 Peter Chapter 1.
Praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy by the resurrec on of Jesus Christ from the dead, he gave us new birth into a living hope, the hope of an inheritance, reserved in heaven for you, which nothing can destroy or spoil or wither.
Extract taken from The Revised English Bible
Let's just review what commitments the UK government has made:
Climate Matters
The UK is commi#ed to reaching net zero by 2050. This means that the total greenhouse gas emissions would be equal to the emissions removed from the atmosphere.
The UK has also commi#ed to a 68% reduc on in emissions by 2030, as part of its Na onally Determined Contribu on towards the 2015 Paris Agreement.
80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain will now be zero emission by 2030, increasing to 100% by 2035. The so?ness of this target reinforces my point about the speed that governments can push folk.
Natural gas boilers (and gas hobs) will be banned in new build homes from 2025. From then on, it will be a mandatory requirement to fit low-carbon hea ng systems in new buildings, like heat pumps. But for the vast array of exis ng buildings, no compulsion exists, only encouragement.
Unfortunately the planet isn't wai ng. It's just ge ng ho#er. From somewhere needs to come the upwards pressure on the government to be more commi#ed to the targets, actually to 100% meet the targets, and even to set stronger targets. And our government will only take such ac on if it thinks the people are pushing. We who are commi#ed need to spread the word.
Thoughts on Easter An Extra
"100 Years Ago" Piece
My Dear Friends, I take this opportunity of expressing my good wishes to all for the great Easter Fes val. If Easter is to be a reality, then Holy Week must be a reality. During that week we endeavour to follow Our Blessed Lord through His sufferings which were endured "for us men, and for our salva on," and as Christ, in His love and compassion, has condescended to share our human nature, and in it suffer and conquer, so must we endeavour to share with Him in suffering, by penitence and humilia on, if we would share with Him in the victory of Easter, and the joy of Heaven herea-er. A/endance at the special Services will be a great help, to those who will use them devoutly, to make this week a "quiet week" with God; amid the necessary rush of daily life it will help to keep our thoughts in touch with the solemn events of Christ's atoning love. In any case we should try and set apart a short me each day to prayerful medita on on the Passion of Christ, and its object. And when Good Friday comes let us remember that the only reason for making it different from any other working day is that on it Jesus died for us; and to treat it as a day for seeking our own pleasure is to acknowledge that Christ's Death Day has li/le meaning for us. The arrangement of Services will give an opportunity to all to a/end one or more.
And when Easter Day comes, may God grant to all the true joy of His Risen Presence. Those who believe His word will seek Him in this sacrament in which He gives Himself to His faithful people, and in which we offer our highest praise and thanksgiving. They will come, not because they are of themselves worthy, but because Christ invites those who with penitence and love seek His forgiveness and His help. And the Church has appointed that every parishioner should communicate at Easter. Your faithful friend and Rector,
B. Long
BLOTS
BLOTS
The Gi%s Of Modern Man
It’s spring at last, the sky is full of light, Blended blue and gold and so%ening mist; And earth with colours mute—ploughed fields and bright Green meadows, Vandyke woods—a matching list Of joys. Along the lane a tangled hedge And winter-withered, ochre-tu%ed grass
Lead to the oozy boBom’s briBle sedge
Where roadside streamlets feed a small morass. Here too God’s glory—starry celandine, Fragile coltsfoot, brazen dandelion
Gleaming like guineas in the warm sunshine Or domes and pinnacles in holy Zion.
Here, too, in stagnant puddles, mud, stub-end fags, Man’s squalor—beer cans, plas c, wrappings, rags.
The Late John Woodfield Member of our Church
What would you like the government to do if not this decision?
Well I do support the call that church leaders in sister churches are making for a change of heart and mind. If that cannot happen then I would encourage the government to mi gate the reduc on and perhaps it needn't be as great as they're forecas ng now. I'd encourage them to reverse the decision as soon as is prac cally possible and economic circumstances allow and to have plans in place for that which the aid agencies can plan around. Some of these programmes in the poorest countries take years to set up and put into place. And I think there's a huge amount of work to do to win trust and confidence back in the sector in the future.
Bishop Steven
Updates From Last Month
Paul Cowan: Last month we said how Paul Cowan, who was a curate at All Saints 200206, had been made an Honorary Canon of Christ Church Cathedral. This month comes news that Paul will become the next Associate Archdeacon of Berkshire, following the Revd Liz Jackson's departure.
Paul has been Senior Chaplain to Bishop Steven for the last eight years, providing pastoral, liturgical and technical support. Alongside his work with Bishop Steven, Paul has been integral to establishing networks and ini a ves which support the wellbeing of clergy and laity throughout the diocese.
Bishop Mary said: 'I’m delighted that Paul has agreed to join the Berkshire Area team as Associate Archdeacon. He is well known and much respected across the area and the diocese for his deep commitment to developing and maintaining good rela onships, for his rich spirituality, and for the wisdom born of both parish ministry and serving as Bishop Steven’s chaplain. Throughout the appointment process, Paul demonstrated each of these quali es, together with a straigh4orward honesty, warmth and humour. We are so looking forward to all that he will bring to our life and ministry together.'
South of the Railway: Wokingham Borough Council have issued a comprehensive update on the plans and on the construc on already taking place. As part of that process they have issued the detailed map below which updates the map that appeared last month. Full details are in WBC's circular leBer to be found at //content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKWOKBC/bulle ns/3d2ba08, including even more detailed maps of key parts of the development.
Last Month's Puzzle
Unfortunately an error crept in to the puzzle—the spelling of Melchizadek in the '1down' posi on was wrong! Apologies. Here is the full list: Melchizadek, Methuselah, Abimelech, Benjamin, Po phar, Abraham, Rebecca, Ishmael, Rachel, Reuben, Simeon, Joseph, Enoch, Sarai, Hagar, Isaac, Laban, Jacob, Judah, Adam, Seth, Cain, Abel, Esau, Leah, Levi. Congratula ons to Ann Crail, John Harrison, Robert Vacher, Ronald Knights and Clive Chaney who all sent in their aBempts at it.
Nature Notes
First Signs of Spring on the Wing
You can listen as well as look for the first signs of spring and the call of the Chiffchaff never fails to delight. This small buff and brown bird, some mes described by bird watchers as one of the Small Brown Jobs or SBJs, is for many the sound of early spring Chiffchaffs are not true migrants, but they do move south in response to cold weather, o%en wintering in southern Europe. They have always been one of the first birds to return in spring and now, in response to climate change, more Chiffchaffs are remaining in the UK over winter, moving to warmer places and wai ng for spring before star ng to sing.
The chiffchaff is a leaf warbler, restlessly searching for small insects on the undersides of leaves, some mes hovering and reaching to pick them off or dar ng out to catch them on the wing when, if you listen carefully, you may hear its bill snap shut on the insect. Its fine, needle-like bill is perfect for picking up its prey.
The chiffchaff calls its name, an example of onomatopoeia like the cuckoo. It has a loud, two-tone song and can sing for hours on end. March is a great me to spot as well as hear chiffchaffs as many of the taller trees that they favour are s ll without leaves. Bri sh warblers tend to have subtle, camouflaged plumage and many look very similar, par cularly if you are peering into a tree or shrub catching a glimpse of part of a moving bird! The chiffchaff is nearly iden cal to the willow warbler for example but has a completely different song and this is the easiest way to iden fy these birds.
So listen out for your first chiffchaff and if you hear one in your local churchyard or cemetery then you can record it using iNaturalist by visi ng the following website: hBps://uk.inaturalist.org/projects/beau ful-burial-grounds You can use this to upload a recording of the song, much easier than trying to get a photograph! www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk
100 Years Ago - 1925
Flower Guild
We hope you enjoy the flowers we do arrange in Church. The Guild is open to anyone who has a passion for flowers. We are always looking for new members to enjoy arranging flowers so if you share our passion for flowers why not have a go at arranging, you would be very welcome? One-to-one guidance can be arranged and the main aim would be for you to develop your skills and enjoy. Also why not just come along to one of our group arranging sessions and see what we do? The next one will be Saturday 19th April from 09.30 for most of the day.
Contact Sue Hedley 07831 149832 or e-mail suehedley@jag.org.uk.
Flower Guild Diary
Sun 20 April Easter - Members of the Flower Guild Sun 27 April Flowers to be checked and refreshed as required Sun 04 May Jane Mellor (Main), Alison Jeffrey (Porch) (Memorial for David Adams) Arrangers some mes have to change at short no ce We will be arranging for Easter on Friday 18th & Saturday 19th April
Would you like to especially remember a loved one at Easter, as has been tradi on? We ask that if you would like to make a dona on for the Easter Flowers, use the dona on envelopes which will be available in church or contact Angela Wade on 07880 797458 or email angela.wade2@ntworld.com and your name or loved one's name will appear in the memorial frame.
Clergy and Officers
Claire Jones, Jo Robinson, Margaret Ragge0, Clive Charlton, Sue Howard, Pam Gilbey, John Burbury, Barbara Smith, Jacqui Headland and Rosemary Sturmer.
