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Last Sunday my grandsons aged 4 and 6 years joined in the worship in Kintbury, sitting in the children’s corner at the back of the church with Grandad who was babysitting.  Our son and his wife, like so many couples have taken second jobs through the summer, in response to the rise in the cost of living. It was the first time our grandchildren have been to a Communion service.   

The theme for the sermon was prayer based on the Gospel which was John 17.1-11 which is Jesus' prayer for his disciples. 

Hoping that some children might join us I had left some colourful paper chains in the corner with an instruction sheet saying, ‘Praying is talking…and listening! God hears our prayers and cares! Jesus comforts us with His presence! Prayer changes things. Pray always! Think about things you could pray for. Draw a picture of them on the paper links, or ask someone to help you by writing them, join them together to make prayer chains.’

Dave told me that our grandchildren Isaac and Ezra were initially far more interested in the exciting array of toys available to play with, but after a bit of encouragement, they set to work thinking about all the things that they could pray for from plants to mums and dads.

At various moments in the service, Isaac’s face popped up over the pew to listen intently to what I was saying.  Isaac was particularly excited about being invited to help with the collection; he told me discreetly with some wonderment afterward, that it was heavy because there was a lot of money. His bow at the altar was rather theatrical (a Megan Markle moment perhaps). But he took it all very seriously.

Neither grandson has ever been up to the altar rail for a blessing but when invited were both keen to be involved even though grandad, who is not confirmed, does not come forward. They looked intently at me as I crouched down to say a blessing over them, something along the lines of, ‘May God fill your life with lots of love, adventures, and happiness. And may the light of Christ shine through the things you say and do’, Ezra, the youngest, unsure of what to respond looked at me, nodded, and replied with such sincerity ‘Ok thank you’. 

They really enjoyed coming forward at the end of the service to explain what they had been doing with the paper chains; I think being able to talk into a microphone would have enhanced the experience and enabled them to explain to the congregation in their own words what they had decided to pray for and why.

I reflect on what they had learned from that one service, that all the people in Church are very nice to you, welcoming, and listen to you.  That the music can be very loud but also softer at different parts of the service. That there are pretty decent biscuits and toys. That there is a rhythm to the liturgy. That adults receive something to eat at the altar rail and each person is spoken to individually. Several people are involved in leading the service. That people listen politely to what granny, dressed in a long white dress and a colourful stole, and other people are saying at the front and at the back of the church. People gather together to do something special and serious but there are lots of smiles and even some laughter. 

I think they learned quite a bit to encourage them to ask questions and it was lovely to see what a warm welcome they received.

Annette

Did you know that the word sing appears in the scriptures over 400 times and at least 50 are commands?

There was a very gifted music teacher in one of the schools in which I taught. 

The school had several troubled young students and a high number of looked-after children.  (I was shocked to discover that one 12-year-old girl had moved families 11 times). These confused, emotionally vulnerable, and angry young people were resistant to being taught.  We noticed how many loved being taught by this teacher; they would happily join her at dinner time for choir practice, and sullen behaviour transformed. They would beam with joy and enthusiasm as they sang together. 

She provided these young people with a sense of belonging.  She cared for them, set high standards of behaviour, and expected the best from them. They delivered.  She worked them hard to reach their potential.  It was enchanting to watch.  Achieving in music raised their self-esteem, often changing their attitude to other subjects and areas of their school life.  They became more positive.

Singing in the choir built a sense of support and community for the young people—in turn, it helped to reduce their stress. The group acted like a family. Lifting their voices helped any who were depressed or struggling with other issues without being intrusive.

The choir and us teachers were heartbroken when she moved on to another school, but they gave her such a beautiful farewell. I hope that sense of belonging, and achievement helped to increase the pupils' resilience and her love reminded them of how every one of them was important.

Recent research has shown that regular singing can lift your spirits, increase your immunity, and provide a workout for your brain and your lungs. These benefits are significant for everyone including those experiencing mild to moderate dementia.

On Wednesday, May 24th we are hosting our first Scones and Song in Kintbury Church at 3 pm It is an opportunity to gather informally to sing some of our favourite hymns and secular songs in church, accompanied by a piano. There will also be some light refreshments.  Please do come and may the singing help to lift our spirits and send us out with inner joy and filled tummies!

Annette

Songs & Scones

Hello Everyone, 

We have had some lovely weather this week, I hope everyone has been able to enjoy it, and have a lovely weekend. 

We have just added some more photos to the Photo gallery in the About us section, we will keep  this up to date with all the wonderful photos that get taken in & around our Beautiful Churches. 

If you have any photos you would like to share of special services, flowers, groups or bell ringing we would love to see them. 

/about-us#photo-gallery

Have a lovely weekend & Bank Holiday.

Tamara

It was a busy week / weekend, wasn’t it?

All through Friday the results from the local elections were trickling in and making their way on to frequent news updates, interspersed with regular reports on the final preparations being put into place for Saturday’s big national event.

Local elections are important – well, all elections are important in differing ways.  The point of local democracy is to give communities some control over the matters which particularly affect them; to give them a say in the direction and ethos and accountability they want for their own neighbourhood.  Of course, the national parties also try to use them as predictors for what may happen at national level – although that seems to me to be an inexact science comparable perhaps to Old Moore’s Almanack – if you have ever encountered that wonderful work of creative imagination.  But that doesn’t inhibit the pronouncements of the pundits and prophets.

And then what to say about the events of Saturday 6th May – which has not already been said over and over again?  I’m afraid I’m also going to repeat myself, so apologies to those who were at Inkpen on Sunday morning for our Coronation Celebration.

There were a few takeaways for me from the service in Westminster Abbey.  The one which I particularly remember, and which I would pray to be absorbed into national, political and personal conscience was a short sentence from Archbishop Justin’s sermon. 

This should be inscribed on the hearts of all who enter public life in any form:

“With the privilege of power, comes the duty of service.”

If every politician, every ruler, every president and prime minister, every peer, every leader of industry, every chief executive, every NHS manager, every union chief, every bishop, every education leader, every “influencer”, (whatever exactly that is), every chair of every board, every civil servant, every police officer, every employer, every parent – in fact every one of us, because most people exercise power in some form or other – signed up to that, how would the world look in a few years’ time?

This coming weekend, our Rogation Service at West Woodhay, offers another occasion to reflect on our inter-connectedness; we shall celebrate the little and local, represented by the smallness of a seed and a sprinkling of soil; and pray for the great and global, our wonderful, fragile, God-given planet.  Against our present privilege of daily sustenance, stands our double duty: care and compassion for the disempowered of today and sustainability for the children of tomorrow. 

We shall be judged by our response. 

Services for this Sunday 14/05 & next Sunday, 21/05

14/05

10:30am West Woodhay    Rogation Service, This service will be held in the Memorial garden adjacent to the Churchyard. See below for more service details.

21/05

8:00am Kintbury                   Holy Communion-BCP

9:45am Kintbury                   Eucharist

9:45am Inkpen                      All Age

11:15am Combe                    Holy Communion-BCP 

18:00pm Zoom                      Compline

Dear Parishoners,

This coming weekend we celebrate King Charles III Coronation. Some may remain at home watching events unfold on their television, others will gather in small social groups or journey out to celebrate in larger organised events such as community street parties. Most people in the United Kingdom (and many across the world) will share in the experience.

King Charles said on the death of his beloved mother: “The role and the duties of Monarchy remain, as does the Sovereign’s particular relationship and responsibility towards the Church of England – the Church in which my own faith is so deeply rooted.” The King has a role of Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a title dating back to the 16th century and has responsibilities for supervising those who run the church, both in terms of its administration and its pastoral care.

Thus, the Coronation is an opportunity to highlight Christian values that underpin that faith, thankfulness, compassion. endurance, creativity, justice, peace, and wisdom, and to remind ourselves of our calling to reflect those values in the way we live our lives. Our late Queen Elizabeth demonstrated these throughout her reign; we hope and trust that Charles will continue to live into that legacy.

But there is more to the occasion. Whenever I preside over pastoral gatherings baptisms, weddings, or funerals, I am conscious of how important memories are, and that within the event itself sacred memories are being created. Memories are so important in helping us to maintain a bond with our loved ones, reminding us of the impact they’ve had and are having on our lives, and bringing to light what is truly important in life.

The Coronation can help us to come together as a community and as the United Kingdom. Those bonds can be strengthened by positive memories. I pray that we will work to create some very special memories this weekend that will unite us as families, as a community and as the UK and that we will all share joy and peace as we celebrate the Coronation of our new King!

Thank you to all whose hard work and generosity are making our community celebrations possible.

Join us in a special Coronation service, Celebrating King Charles III 

I have such lovely memories of Christmas past; my father patiently unscrewing every coloured fairy light to find the broken one followed by the family cheer when he was successful; a special table cloth placed on the sideboard ready for fizzy drinks that were only permitted at Christmas; the cupboard of tasty treats added piecemeal over the preceding months bought out of the weekly budget; enthusiastically decorating the tree before colour coordination or minimalism were embraced, writing letters to Father Christmas to throw into the fire so they would float up to him in the sky; ‘helping’ mum decorate the Christmas cake with plastic ornaments; making sticky peppermint creams and marzipan stuffed dates.  All precious moments filled with the season sentiments of love, wonder and joy.

 It was only in my adulthood that I experienced the awe and anticipation of attending midnight Communion on Christmas Eve and appreciated the depth of the Christian message in the birth of Jesus.

My childhood Christmas was filled mainly with excitement, but I did appreciate that everyone seemed a bit kinder and more caring through the season.  Now as an adult the emotions attached to this special time have grown to include a tangible mixture of faith, hope and love.    

Every time I celebrate the Eucharist at midnight on Christmas Eve I have an overwhelming sense of new beginnings, a time of renewal of faith not only in a sense of religious traditions but also deep within my soul. I am left with a powerful sense of God’s love and a renewed desire to share that love.  

Christmas is enchanting but the potential held within our hearts is even more magical. Our ability to love one another, to renew our faith and bring hope into our lives and the lives of others, are the greatest of gifts to bestow and receive at Christmas. The greatest presents are not those wrapped in expensive paper or dressed in colourful tags and bows they are the gift of generosity of time and unconditional love that we give to each other.  

This time of year, as we come together to celebrate the birth of our saviour, the one who makes all things new, let us turn the page, sing a new song, hold our hands up high and shine a light… together. We can be the light; we can be the song and we can be the sanctuary. And when we gather together in faith, we become a church.  

May you have a magical Christmas.