The Parish Magazine February 2022

The Parish Magazine - February 2022 1 

The 

Parish 

Magazine 

The John King Trophy and Gold Award 

Best Magazine of the Year 2018 

National Parish Magazine Awards 

Best Content 2021, 2016 

Best Overall 2020, 2015 

Best Editor 2019 

Best Print 2018 

Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning & Sonning Eye since 1869 

February 2022 — Candlemas 

Church of St Andrew 

Serving Sonning, Charvil & Sonning Eye 

the church of st andrew, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF 

CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY

2 The Parish Magazine - February 2022 

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The John King Trophy and Gold Award 

Best Magazine of the Year 2018 

National Parish Magazine Awards 

Best Content 2021 

Best Overall Magazine 2020 

Best Editor 2019 

Best Print 2018 

Best Content 2016 

Best Overall Magazine 2015 

information — 1 

Contents February 2022 

THE VICAR'S LETTER, 5 

THE PARISH NOTICEBOARD 

— Her Majesty The Queen, 7 

— Choral Evensong, 7 

— Organ Scholar, 7 

— Prayers for February, 7 

— Christian Basics Part 1, 9 

— Archbishop Tutu, 9 

— STAY, 10 

— The Persecuted Church, 11 

— On Reflection: Obadiah, 13 

— From the editor's desk, 13 

— Claude's view, 15 

— Forgiveness and Lent, 17 

— PCC External Giving, 17 

features 

— Celebrating February, 19 

— World Free Trade, 21 

— Platinum Jubilee, 22-23 

— The World Ahead, 25 

around the villages 

— Able Care Stickers, 26 

— Monday Club, 26 

— Village Show Date, 26 

— Project Singers Concert, 26 

— Inner Wheel, 26 

— Four thousand words, 27 

This ISSUE's FRONT COVER 

February 2022 — Candlemas 

The 

Parish 

Magazine 

the church of st andrew, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF 

CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY 

Clap your hands, 

Messy Church in The Ark is back! 

Picture: Rev Kate 

EDITORIAL DEADLINE 

The editorial deadline for every issue 

of The Parish Magazine is 12 noon on 

the sixth day of the month prior to the 

date of publication. 

The deadline for the March 

issue of The Parish Magazine is: 

Sunday 6 February 12 noon 


Services at 

St Andrew’s 

Sunday 6 February 

— 8.00am Holy Communion 

— 10.30am Christingle Family 

Service for Candlemas 

— 4.00pm Choral Evensong 

followed by tea in The Ark 



— 10.30am Parish Eucharist 

STAY and Sunday Club 



— 10.30am Family Communion 

— 3.00pm Messy Church in The Ark 



— 10.30am Parish Eucharist 

STAY and Sunday Club 

— 6.0opm Sunday at Six in The Ark 

with refreshments served on 

arrival from 5.50pm-6.05pm 

history, 29 

HEALTH 

— Dr Simon Ruffle, 31-33 

— Toothache Day, 33 

the sciences 

— Love Wisdom, 33 

HOME & GARDEn 

— Recipe of the Month, 34 

— Garden Bird Flu, 34 

— Remembering Housework, 34 

— Saving our Planet, 35 

— Dealing with Disputes, 35 

— One Tree, 35 

The Parish Magazine online 

The most recent issues can be viewed at: 

http://www.theparishmagazine.co.uk 

Earlier issues from 1869 onwards are 

stored in a secure online archive. If you 

wish to view these archives contact the 

editor who will authorise access for you: 

editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk 

OTHER REGULAR SERVICES 

Morning Prayer is held in church 

every Tuesday at 9.30am. During 

school holidays please check the Week 

Ahead notices for service details. 

Mid-week Communion in The Ark is 

held every Wednesday at 10.00am. Tea 

and coffee is available following the 

service. 

THE ARTS 

— Christmas TV Ratings, 36 

— Simeon, 37 

— Book Giving Day, 37 

— Poetry Corner, 38 

— Book Reviews, 38 

PUZZLE PAGE, 39 

children's page, 41 

information 

— Church services, 3 

— From the registers, 3 

— Parish contacts, 42 

— Advertisers index, 42 

From the register 

baptisms 

— Sunday 12 December 

Rose Alexandra Louise Winton 

Home Communion at Signature at 

Sonning is held on the first Friday 

of each month at 10.30am. Visitors 

must comply with the care home's 

Covid restrictions so please check with 

Signature at least four days before.


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The vicar's letter 

DEAR FRIENDS, 

I have reflected a great deal in recent times on where we as a church are, nearly two 

years after the pandemic hit, when we were ordered by the government to cease 

holding services and then by the Bishops to close our church buildings, even to the 

clergy. It almost seems unreal now, but I remember a considerable fear that we would 

lose many elderly and vulnerable members of our congregation and community. 

Indeed, I was even ordered by the local authority to count out remaining grave spaces 

so they could plan for what was expected. This was certainly one of the more chilling 

and surreal tasks I have ever undertaken. I recall taking a few outdoor funerals in the 

pouring rain and driving wind with only seven family members allowed to be present; 

a more pitiful and heart-rending scene it would be hard to imagine. I also recall the 

immense frustration of having to cancel so many weddings with all the attendant 

complications and administrative burdens. 

Easter 2020 was a bleak time and tough for all Christians as they were barred 

from their churches; the only connection with their worshipping life was with 

hastily arranged video messages from us clergy, doing our best, with mixed results! 

I sometimes felt like I was in an episode of ‘Acorn Antiques’, but no matter! (YouTube 

it if you haven’t ever seen it). The sight of the Archbishop of Canterbury celebrating 

communion on Easter Day from his kitchen table, in a Palace that contains two 

beautiful chapels, will most likely not go down as one of his finest moments. 

BACK TO NORMAL 


Well, it is a relief to report that only one grave was needed for someone who died with, not of, Covid, and although 

any death is sad for the family, the deceased had lived a full and long life. Most of us have now been vaccinated and the 

majority of people I know who have had Covid, including me, have recovered and recognise that life goes on. Thanks be to 

God! This is not to diminish the suffering of those suffering from ‘long covid’ however. Our worshipping life is now, more 

or less, back to normal, and I have been greatly encouraged by the fact that during the pandemic we have actually grown 

as a congregation, by around 30 new souls, of all ages. We have even started a new monthly service, under the leadership 

of Chris West and Helen Craig, called ‘Sunday at 6’, which is already becoming well established. Rendezvous, the youth 

club and Messy Church are also now back up and running. 

'WE ARE NOT AN ENTERTAINMENT VENUE' 

Christmas 2020 was an extraordinary time in that, although permitted by law, nearly every church in the locality, 

including St George’s Chapel, Windsor, cancelled their services. It was a time of uncertainty and I do not criticise those 

decisions, but we decided to carry on, and as I look back, I am pleased that we did. I have heard of a number of churches 

across the country that cancelled services this last Christmas and I am sorry they felt compelled to do this, now that the 

Covid picture is so much clearer and most people have been vaccinated. I was inspired by the address given by the Rector 

of Buckingham to his congregation, the Rev Will Pearson-Gee, when he answered calls for his church to do likewise last 

December: 'We are not a cinema. We are not the O2 Arena. We are not a football match. We are a family of brothers and sisters in 

Christ who come together on a Sunday to worship the living Jesus Christ. Not a football match, not a film; nothing like that. I am 

not going to close our services until I am ordered by law to do so, and even if that happens it will be screaming and kicking, because 

we are not an entertainment venue. We are here to worship the God who is sovereign over all of this mess, over all the ineptitude 

that the Government can throw at us, and it is all the more important that we gather together as brothers and sisters in Christ to 

worship God.' 

Here was a parish priest saying what perhaps bishops and archbishops ought to have been saying throughout the 

pandemic. I wholeheartedly concur with his stance and, within the law, will resist any future attempts to curtail our 

freedom to worship. 

When interviewed recently, Archbishop Welby said that it was a Christian’s duty to get vaccinated because Jesus told 

us 'to love our neighbour'. Indeed he did, but he didn’t compel us to do so, and I am appalled at attempts in some EU 

countries to force vaccinations on their populations. What Justin Welby didn’t mention was that Jesus offered this as the 

second most important commandment. We read in scripture that the 'first and greatest commandant is to love the Lord your 

God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your strength'. That is our primary duty as Christians and that is why 

we must never again quietly back down and stay at home on Sundays. Whatever would the early Christians, facing the 

lions in the Colosseum because of their obedience to the first commandment, make of us if we did? 

A successful future, under God, does not lie with the faint hearted and I feel greatly encouraged and blessed by what I 

have witnessed in and around our church community as we have come back to life, at the earliest legal opportunity, from 

this wretched period. Let us have confidence in fulfilling our primary tasks as Christians, to worship God, to deepen our 

faith through communal worship, prayer and study of scripture and to reach out in love to a community and world that is 

in so much need of the life changing message of Jesus Christ. Warm wishes, Jamie

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the parish noticeboard — 1 

Notices 

Her Majesty the Queen 

On Sunday 6 February Her Majesty will mark not only the 

death of her father, His Late Majesty, King George VI, but 

also her Accession to the throne. (See pages 22-23) 

Let us remember her in our prayers at this time: 

Almighty God, who hast set our gracious sovereign Queen 

Elizabeth upon the throne of this realm, and given her to 

surpass all others in the years of her reign: Receive our 

heartfelt thanks for her service to her people, confirm and 

encourage her in the continuance of the same, one God, world 

without end. Amen. 

Choral Evensong and Tea: Sunday 6 February 

We are pleased to announce that Choral Evensong will 

restart on the first Sunday of each month. It will be held 

in church at 4pm and followed by tea in The Ark. 

St Andrew's Church organ scholar 

Nathan May (above) has been our organ scholar for the 

last 6 years and it has been a pleasure to watch him grow 

in confidence and ability. He will be taking A levels later 

this year and so has decided to concentrate on these and 

his other musical and sporting activities and therefore is 

stepping down from his role at St Andrew’s. We wish him 

well and God’s blessing on all he does in the future. 

For your prayers 

in February 

— The work of The Children’s Society 

— Westy, and his work 

running the Charvil 

detached youth work 

project 

— Her Majesty the Queen 

as she marks the 70th 

anniversary of her 

Accession to the throne 

— SPUC (The Society for the Protection of 

Unborn Children) 

Alain Lacroix, dreamstime.com 


Powerofflowers, dreamstime.com 

Christingle Family Service Sunday 6 February 

At our 10.30am Family Service of Sunday 6 February we 

will be welcoming back the Christingle — something 

not possible for the last two years because of Covid 

restrictions. Children and young people are invited to 

bring along their Christingles when they will be blessed 

and lit - the Christingles that is! 

There is more about this service — during which a 

collection will be taken for The Children's Society — on 

page 19 of this issue. Here are instructions on how to 

make one: 

You will need an orange, a 

candle, four cocktail sticks, 

enough red ribbon to wrap 

round the orange, a 

small piece of aluminium 

foil, some dried fruit or 

sweets, a sharp knife, a 

pair of scissors, a pin and a 

responsible adult to help you! 

Ask an adult to cut a thin 

slice off the bottom of the 

orange so that it stands firmly 

on a flat surface, and to make a 

hole in the top of the orange large 

enough for the candle, but don’t push the candle in yet. 

Wrap the red ribbon around the middle of the orange and 

fix it in position with the pin. 

Cut the aluminium foil with the scissors to cover the top 

of the orange and press it into the candle hole in the centre. 

Push the candle into the top of the orange where the foil 

is and make sure it is held firmly in place. Put the dried fruit 

or sweets on three of the cocktail sticks, leaving the fourth 

one empty. Push the cocktail sticks into the orange so they 

are spaced equally around it - see the picture above. 

What does it mean? The orange represents the world that God created. 

The red ribbon indicates the love and blood of Christ. The dried fruits and 

sweets are symbols of the fruits of the earth created by God for all his 

people. The four sticks represent all the people of the world. The empty 

stick reminds us that not everyone in the world has their fair share of the 

food provided by God. The lit candle symbolises Jesus, the light of the 

world that shines even in the darkest corners of our planet.


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Christian Basics — Part 1 

Rev Paul Hardingham begins a series on the foundations of the 

Christian faith. Paul is vicar of St Peter’s Halliwell, Bolton in the 

diocese of Manchester and his parish ministry has taken him all over 

the country including Cambridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, Birmingham 

and Ipswich. 

In the beginning . . . 


Five famous quotes from 

Archbishop Desmond Tutu 

Panagiotis Karapanagiotis, dreamstime.com 

For many today the universe began with a big bang, 

in which a lump of matter, smaller than a pinhead, 

exploded 15 billion years ago. It’s a story that defines 

who we are and where we come from. However, the Bible 

gives us another perspective on this event, revealing God 

as Creator: ‘By faith we understand that the universe 

was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was 

not made out of what was visible’ (Hebrews 11:3). What 

does Genesis 1 say about God as Creator? 

‘In the beginning, God’ 

Whereas science can offer answers about the 'how' of 

creation, the Bible tells us about the 'why', that is, the 

purpose of the Creator! Creation reflects the character 

and glory of God, inviting a response of dependence and 

praise! 

‘God created the heavens and the earth’ 

God shaped the universe, as expressed in the ‘six days’ 

of creation. They speak of an ordered and purposeful 

universe that expresses God’s will: He spoke and it was 

done! An alternative translation is ‘God began creating’, 

reminding us that creation is also an ongoing process, 

where the Holy Spirit is still at work in our lives and world. 

‘God created man in his own image’ 

In the account, human beings are presented as the climax 

and crown of creation. We share the sixth day of creation 

with other creatures, as well as 95% of the same DNA. 

However, we are distinctively made in the image of God, 

created for relationship with God, with a responsibility to 

care for the created order. 

‘And God saw that it was good’ 

Like an artist, God described his work as good. We should 

always approach this story with wonder, enjoying God’s 

world and affirming creativity in ourselves and others. 

Archbishop Tutu 

Komelau, dreamstime.com 

The death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Boxing Day, 

26 December 2021, was mourned around the world. 

Here are five of his more famous quotes which show 

why he was so especially honoured for his justice and 

reconciliation work in South Africa, and equally, they 

are lessons for all of us to apply to our lives today. 

'Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little 

bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.' 

'If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have 

chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its 

foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are 

neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.' 

'Don't raise your voice, improve your argument. Good 

sense does not always lie with the loudest shouters, nor 

can we say that a large, unruly crowd is always the best 

arbiter of what is right.' 

'Forgiving is not forgetting; it’s actually remembering and 

not using your right to hit back. It’s a second chance for a 

new beginning. And the remembering part is particularly 

important. Especially if you don’t want to repeat what 

happened.' 

'Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We 

are different precisely in order to realise our need of one 

another.'



STAY 

St 

STAY Christmas Activities 

With the schools off for a week 

before Christmas we organised two 

outdoor games drop-in sessions for 

all local young people. We had 23 

youth turn up on both days and we 

enjoyed playing; dodgeball, football, 

basketball, uni-hoc challenges with 

prizes and of course hot chocolate 

mountains! 

STAY on Friday 

We loved the last few weeks of youth 

club with the young people. We’ve 

made plans for the second upper 

room decorating and we are training 

junior leaders to run the tuck shop. 

The term ended with a film 

and pizza night in The Ark on 17 

December. We watched the classic 

Home Alone movie and ate our body 

weight in pizza! 

STAY on Sunday 

STAY on Sunday sadly wasn’t able to meet during December because of Covid. 

Instead, Christmas presents were bought and given out on Christmas Day as 

a treat. They got more sweets and a candy cane with the real meaning behind 

them written on some lovely cards. 

STAY Detached Project 

The detached project continued 

throughout December with the hot 

chocolate given out to between 30-45 

young people each week. This project 

will continue on Thursdays after 

school where we meet young people 

in the gathering points of Charvil 

(Charvil Store, East Park Farm Drive 

park and the Park Lane sports court). 

STAY in Schools 

The mentoring and assemblies 

continued throughout December and 

individual pupil targets were set for 

what they hope to achieve in 2022! 

With the schools returning in 

early January, I had the wonderful 

opportunity to serve 1,500 at The 

Piggott Wargrave School with the 

LFT tests in the sports hall. It was an 

operation of mammoth proportions 

but the school staff, governors, 

parents and Wokingham Borough 

reps did an amazing job keeping all 

the pupils safe. It was an honour to 

be part of the team! 

As ever, please get in touch with 

any ideas, thoughts or to ask any 

questions on: 

youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk 

Westy!



The Persecuted Church: Focus on Nigeria and religious freedom by Colin Bailey 

People and places of worship lost in Nigeria 

The nave of the Cathedral Church of Christ Marina Lagos which is the Anglican preeminent 

cathedral in Lagos. It is over 150 years old. 

Matthew Omojola, dreamstime.com 

Hyotographics, dreamstime.com 

The United States has an independent 

Commission on International 

Religious Freedom (USCIRF). In April 

2021, it recommended that Nigeria 

be re-designated a 'Country of 

Particular Concern' (CPC) on freedom 

of religion on the US government’s 

list. They cited ‘violence by militant 

Islamists and other non-state armed 

actors, as well as discrimination, 

arbitrary detentions, and capital 

blasphemy sentences by state 

authorities.’ 

USCIRF’s activities include advising 

Congress, monitoring religious 

freedom conditions abroad, raising 

public awareness and issuing an 

annual report and other publications. 

Its website gives a definition of 

‘religious freedom’ and includes the 

statements that: ‘Inherent in religious 

freedom is the right to believe or not 

believe as one’s conscience leads, and 

live out one’s beliefs openly, peacefully, 

and without fear. Freedom of religion or 

belief is an expansive right that includes 

the freedoms of thought, conscience, 

expression, association and assembly.’ 

They cite Article 18 of the Universal 

Declaration of Human Rights which 

affirms that: ‘Everyone has the right 

to freedom of thought, conscience and 

religion; this right includes freedom to 

change religion or belief, and freedom, 

either alone or in community with others 

and in public or private, to manifest 

religion or belief in teaching, practice, 

worship and observance.’ 

The US state department issued 

a report on international religious 

freedom in May, which cited religious 

freedom concerns in Nigeria. 

However, in November, Washington 

removed Nigeria from its list of 

countries with such concerns. It had 

been added to the list for the first time 

in 2020. The removal came a day before 

secretary of state Antony Blinken was 

due to arrive in Nigeria as part of a 

tour of Africa. 

The annual announcement of 

countries on the list named Myanmar, 

China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, 

Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, 

Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as 

countries of particular concern. 

CONCERN 

On a watch list for religious 

freedom, Blinken placed Algeria, 

Comoros, Cuba and Nicaragua. Armed 

groups including Islamic State and 

several of its affiliates were named as 

entities of concern. 

The Christian Association of 

Nigeria (CAN) called on the US 

government to explain the difference 

between the violence the Christians 

are facing now and when Nigeria was 

first listed as a CPC in 2020. A press 

statement included these trenchant 

comments: 

‘Christians had faced and are still 

facing persecution from ISWAP and the 

Boko Haram Islamic Group till today as 

before. These are the people who said their 

agenda was to wipe away Christianity 

from Nigeria and to plant Islam as the 

only religion from the north down to the 

Atlantic Ocean in the south. That agenda 

with the killing of Christians has not 

stopped till today and Nigerians are living 

witnesses. The bandits have joined other 

militant Islamic groups to be ferociously 

attacking churches, killing worshippers 

and kidnapping for ransom. The 

herdsmen are equally doing their havoc. 

We have lost many people and places of 

worship to their assault, especially in the 

north-central part of the country and the 

north-east.’ 

The statement went on to mention 

how those who are not Christians 

are now also being attacked, killed 

and kidnapped because the criminal 

acts have become lucrative business. 

(See CAN reference below for the full 

statement). 

Please pray for the country of 

Nigeria and especially CAN’s efforts 

in trying to douse religious tension 

and foster harmonious relationships 

between people of different faiths. 

References and further reading 

Barnabas Fund: https://barnabasfund.org/news/ 

christian-association-of-nigeria-protests-as-usremoves-country-from-lis/ 

Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ 

us-removes-nigeria-religious-freedom-list-aheadblinken-visit-2021-11-18/ 

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN): https:// 

christianassociationofnigeria.org/2021/11/20/ 

cpc-list-we-are-at-a-loss-on-the-data-the-usgovernment-used-for-the-delisting-of-nigeria-can/ 

United States Commission on International Religious 

Freedom (USCIRF): https://www.uscirf.gov/aboutuscirf/about-us


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On reflection . . . 

By Elizabeth Spiers 

Obadiah: what is your 

heart saying to God? 

Marinela Malcheva, dreamstime.com 

The book of Obadiah is just one chapter long. It was 

written around 586BC and is a message to the people of 

Edom who were the descendants of Esau, twin brother 

of Jacob the Israelite. The Edomites and the Israelites 

were family in God’s eyes. 

Jacob’s descendants had sinned against God and come 

under his judgement. They had been overthrown and 

taken captive by the Babylonians and their city had been 

looted and destroyed. Many were killed. Those who did 

manage to escape ran to places such as Edom hoping to 

find shelter. 

But the Edomites were a very proud people. They 

considered themselves to be powerful, invincible even, 

and they boasted of it. When they heard of Israel’s 

latest misfortunes they joined in with the looting and 

destruction and, if they caught Jews escaping, they 

handed them over to Babylonians. 

FAMILIES CAN BE DIFFICULT 

God’s message through Obadiah is that he cannot 

stand by while they destroy their ‘brother’ (v10). He 

tells the Edomites that although they may consider 

themselves unassailable, a time is coming when they will 

be completely destroyed as repayment for their pride and 

their evil deeds. There will be no trace of them left at all. 

Families can be very difficult to live with. Most of 

us have a family member that is not easy to get along 

with. Maybe they bullied us, or stole from us or treated 

us badly. It’s all too easy to glory in anything bad that 

happens to them or spread gossip about them. But as 

adults, and especially as Christians, surely the better way 

is to pray for them and ask God to break into their lives. 

While we may not be able to enjoy a close relationship 

with them, our response to them speaks loudly to our 

Father in heaven. 

People judge by outward appearance, 

but the Lord looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7) 

What is your heart saying to God today? 


From the desk 

of the editor 

editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk 

Having nothing to do 

with silly myths . . . 

Traditionally, February begins with the ancient 

Christian celebration of Candlemas (see page 19) 

which for us at St Andrew's Church also focuses on the 

Christingle when we raise money for the work of The 

Children's Society. 

Candlemas is officially held on the second day of the 

month, which is also the day when Americans have 

Groundhog Day which is a celebration essentially based 

on a superstition. Like many aspects of American culture, 

it is slowly spreading around the world — although it 

originally stems from a European superstition associated 

with Candlemas. 

While writing the article on page 19 I could not 

help thinking about my mother who was the most 

superstitious person I knew in my childhood. She would 

never walk under a ladder, always picked up pins and 

touched wood for luck, and dreaded a full moon because it 

apparently made my father do stupid things. You will have 

to ask my wife if I'm afflicted with this phenomenon! 

I could never understand why my mother sometimes 

saw a black cat as unlucky, but sometimes it was lucky, 

or why wearing green was unlucky — green was her 

favourite colour and she even got married in a green 

wedding dress! She also had a superstition about Friday 

the thirteenth — my father was born on 13 September so 

when his birthday fell on a Friday — and if there was a 

full moon — we all had to avoid upsetting him! 

TRAIN YOURSELF 

Apart from baptisms, weddings, funerals and the 

occasional 'purification' after child birth, I can't remember 

either of my parents going to church, although they 

always insisted that I, and my two younger siblings went 

to Sunday School on Sunday afternoon. It was not until I 

had children of my own that I realised why they sent us! 

However, I have always been thankful that they did. 

Also, to be fair to my mother, she considered herself to 

be a Christian and every day she would read a daily Bible 

note that her younger sister passed on to her, and one 

of her most treasured items was a Bible that my father 

brought back with him from Jerusalem where he was 

stationed for a short time during the Second World War. 

Her Bible is now part of my library of over 150 different 

versions I have collected during my life. 

I don't know if my mother's daily reading ritual had 

its roots in one of her superstitions, I like to think it 

didn't because the Bible often refers to such things, and 

recommends that we avoid them, for example: 

'Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. 

Rather train yourself for godliness' (1 Timothy 4:7)



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Even short walks were off the 

agenda until Christmas morning 

I can’t walk very far, or very well, 

these days so my Christmas walks 

were very short but I did manage to 

make it from the Bull gates car park 

into St Andrew’s Church and to The 

Ark where the Christmas services 

and activities took place, writes 

Claude Masters 

It reminded me of the time when 

I could walk further. I was also 

reminded of this when searching 

through the clutter in a cupboard 

above my wardrobe and found a 

basket full of over 50 maps. 

Wherever I went on holiday I 

bought a map of the area, be it in 

this country or abroad, and most of 

them are Ordnance Survey of a scale 

suitable for walking. Each one brings 

back memories that would otherwise 

have been forgotten. 

ANTIQUE 

All are very old so they don’t 

show new roads and developments, 

although rights of way in the 

countryside don’t change. Even 

so, most of them are antique and I 

would do better buying a new one. 

There are, of course, many 

satellite GPS trackers available these 

days, but being told which way to go 

and not deciding for myself which 

path to use would, for me, take all 

the fun out of hiking. 

An OS map of Aberystwyth 

reminded me of when my youngest 

son was pre-school age. My wife, his 

two older siblings and I were sitting 

on the beach when we became aware 

that he had wandered off. 

We all searched initially to no 

avail but after about half an hour we 

found him half a mile away by our 

car calmly waiting for us. He was 

a terror for wandering off and was 

never afraid of being lost. 

GIFTED 

For the first of the Christmas 

services I made the short walk 

from the Bull car park to church for 

the Family service on the Second 

Sunday of Advent at which the 

Christmas tree was lit and toys and 

cash for needy children were gifted 

via the annual Reading Family Aid 

Christmas Appeal. 

The service included a visit from 

St Nicholas and the second Advent 

candle was lit by the auburn haired 

great-granddaughter of Rusty, a 

fondly remembered member of the 

congregation. 

ISOLATION 

In this paragraph I was intending 

to write my views on the other 

Christmas activities in the parish 

but catching a Covid infection forced 

me into isolation until 23 December 

so I missed them all. I also missed, 

my short walks from the Bull to the 

church. 

I can barely recall why my wife 

and I took lateral flow tests and 

although they were positive we did 

not suffer any Covid symptoms and 

did not feel at all unwell. 

Had we not taken the test we 

would not have known that we had 

the virus and we would have carried 

on going out as usual. 

The period of isolation was 

frustrating. Being stuck indoors 

unable to go anywhere, having 

no visitors and there being little 

pleasure in wandering in the garden 

at this time of the year. 

The self isolation ended just in 

time for Christmas so the festivities 

at church and with the family were 

Looking for the wise men during The Epiphany Family Service 


Claude's 

view 

from 

the 

pew 

the light at the end of the tunnel. 

The NHS Covid-19 app counting 

down the days didn’t make it come 

any sooner though. 

Fortunately, there was some pink 

gin, rhubarb tonic and a couple of 

bottles of single malt whisky in the 

cocktail cabinet! 

Christmas comes but once a year, 

but when it comes it brings good cheer! 

It certainly did for Barbara and 

I. The Christmas morning service 

in St Andrew’s where children 

brought their presents to show the 

vicar was highlighted by Westy who 

demonstrated how the attributes of 

sight, hearing, touch and smell were 

gifts of God revealed through Jesus 

in a manger. 

And it was especially good to be 

able to exchange 'Merry Christmas' 

with our many friends at church. 

Janette Crouch



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Dr Herbert McGonigle, former senior lecturer in Historical Theology & Church 

History, Nazarene Theological College, Manchester offers these thoughts on 

forgiveness as we prepare for Lent which starts next month on 2 March . . . 

The Bible is very expressive when it comes to speaking about how God can 

forgive our sins. It uses many descriptions to tell us how our sins are both 

forgiven and forgotten. Here are some of the promises: 

'our sins are forgiven’ (Psalm 32:5) 

‘washed thoroughly’ (Psalm 51:2) 

‘blotted out’ (Psalm 51:9) 

'forgiven and covered’ (Psalm 85:2) 

‘washed whiter than snow’ (Isaiah 1:18); 

‘taken away’ (Isaiah 6:7); 

‘put behind his back’ (Isaiah 38:17); 

‘laid on him’ (Isaiah. 53:6); 

‘remembered no more’ (Jeremiah 31:34); 

‘pardoned’ (Jeremiah. 33:8); 

‘destroyed’ (Romans 6:6); 

‘purged’ (Hebrews 1:3)’ 

‘borne for us’ (1 Peter 2:24); 

‘washed away’ (Revelation 1:5). 

More than conquerors: 

In the depth of the sea! 

(Micah 7:19) 

Silvae1, dreamstime.com 

What glorious news this is! In Christ 

we are truly forgiven! Our sins are 

cancelled! God will not hold our 

guilty past against us! 

The prophet Micah has a very 

dramatic way of telling us this. He 

says that God has cast our sins ‘into 

the depths of the sea’ (7:19). 

So how deep is the sea? Far out in 

the Western Pacific Ocean, 200 miles 

from the island of Guam, lies the 

deepest part of the earth’s oceans. 

It is called the Mariana Trench. It is 

more than 1,500 miles long and over 

External giving made by St Andrew's Church 

Parochial Church Council during 2021 

TOTAL FROM OUTWARD GIVING FUND 

TOTAL OTHER DONATIONS 

12,000 

1,495 


LENT 2022 

Lent starts on 

Ash Wednesday 2 March. 

This year we will be 

holding Morning Prayer with 

a Reflection on Tuesdays at 

9.30am in church, followed by 

coffee in The Ark. 

The first Lenten Morning 

Prayer will be on 

Tuesday 8 March. 

40 miles wide but it is its depth that 

is awesome. It plunges down into 

the ocean bed for some 35,800 feet. 

By comparison, Everest, the world’s 

highest mountain, is 29,000 feet in 

height. 

That means that the Mariana 

Trench goes lower into the ocean bed 

than the peak of Everest stretches 

up to the clouds. At that frightening 

depth the pressure from the waters 

above is more than 8 tons to the 

square inch! 

While these geographical facts 

and figures compel our attention, 

the theology of our forgiveness is 

even more wonderful! 

When we are ‘in Christ’ as his 

redeemed people, our sins are truly 

forgiven. God has thrown them 

into the depth of the sea, never 

to be resurrected! They are buried 

forever in the vast abyss of God’s 

unfathomable love and mercy. What 

good news the gospel brings! Our 

guilty past is forgiven and forgotten! 

BOTTOMLESS ABYSS 

John Wesley, a few months after 

his evangelical conversion in May 

1738, went to Herrnhut in Germany. 

He met the Moravian hymn writer 

Johann Andreas Rothe. Wesley 

had learned German and enjoyed 

singing the Moravian hymns and 

he translated many of them into 

English, including one of Rothe’s 

great hymns that includes the lines: 

O Love, Thou bottomless abyss 

My sins are swallowed up in Thee 

Covered is my unrighteousness 

Nor spot of guilt remains on me. 

While Jesu’s blood through 

earth and skies 

Mercy, free boundless mercy, cries.


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feature — 1 

For Christians throughout the 

world, February gets underway with 

Candlemas, a special celebration 

officially held 2 February, or the 

nearest Sunday to it — this year, in 

the Church of England lectionary it 

has been moved forward to Sunday 30 

January. 

Candlemas, is also known as the 

‘Feast of the Presentation of Christ 

in the Temple’ and recalls the events 

recorded in the Gospel of Luke 2.22- 

40. The ceremony described by Luke 

complied with the ancient Jewish 

rite of purification when, following 

the birth of a child, the mother had 

to be ‘purified’ by offering a burnt 

offering in the Temple. This offering 

was specified as being a lamb, but for 

the poor, a young pigeon or dove was 

acceptable. 

Candlemas for some Christians 

around the world marked the end 

of Christmas and was the time 

decorations would be taken down. 

Today it is more generally 

recognised that The Epiphany, which 

marks the visit by the magi and which 

is celebrated 12 days after Christmas 

Day, is the time to take down the 

Christmas decorations. 

Candlemas is held 40 days after 

Christmas and complies with the 

length of time that is prescribed for 

most of the major seasons in the 

Christian calendar, for example the 

40 days of Lent which this year begins 

on Ash Wednesday 2 March, and what 

was originally, 40 days of Advent. 

At St Andrew’s, like many parish 

churches, Candlemas became the time 

when the new stock of candles arrived 

for the year and a feature of the service 

was for the new candles to be blessed 

and dedicated to serve God. This was, 

of course, before electricity took over 

as the prime source of lighting. 

In recent times, at St Andrew’s, and 

many parish churches, we celebrate 

Christingle at Candlemas, while 

other churches include it as part of 

their Christmas celebrations. The 

Christingle, which has German origins 

mean ‘Little Christ Child’ and is made 

from an orange, which represents 

the world, with a candle representing 

Jesus, the light of the world. 

Around the candle are four sticks 

representing the people of the world 

and the fruit or sweets on three of 

these sticks represent the ‘fruits of the 

earth'. 

The fourth, empty stick, reminds 

us of the poor and hungry in our 

world. A collection taken during the 

Christingle/Candlemas service raises 

money for the work of The Children’s 

Society, a charitable organisation that 


February — the month for celebrating with 

candles, oranges, and groundhogs! 

CHRISTINGLE 

A groundhog emerges from its hole in the ground 

2014: Christingles in St Andrew's Church 

Tom Farncombe 

Galina Dreyzina, dreamstime.com 

serves children suffering from abuse, 

exploitation and neglect. 

For the last two years Covid 

restrictions have meant that the 

Christingle service has not be possible 

but this year we are planning to hold it 

on Sunday 2 February at the 10.30am 

Family Service. Instructions on how to 

make a Christingle are on page 7. 

SUPERSTITION 

Another spin-off from the ancient 

Christian festival of Candlemas is 

Groundhog Day which is also held on 

2 February. This is primarily a time for 

a family feast and party in America. 

Like the Christingle, it has its roots in 

Germany and it reached America via 

Dutch speaking emigrees who took 

with them their superstitions about 

predicting spring. 

This superstition says that if a 

groundhog emerges from its burrow 

on Candlemas Day and sees its shadow 

due to clear weather, it will retreat 

to its den and winter will persist for 

another six weeks; if it does not see its 

shadow because of cloudiness, spring 

will arrive early. 

A groundhog, or woodchuck, 

belongs to the group of large ground 

squirrels known as marmots. Studies 

of this superstition don’t confirm that 

it is true but this does not stop people 

enjoying themselves!


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feature — 2 

The Panda Flower Farm, Kenya 


Fair Trade Fortnight: 21 February – 6 March 

There's more to Free Trade than bananas and coffee! 

Governments of the world uniting 

to tackle global issues such as 

climate change, Covid, and in the 

past, world wars, is not the only 

way to achieve change. NGOs — 

Non-Governmental Organisations 

— charities, and religious groups 

have worked, and are working, 

alongside each other to relieve the 

pain and suffering of an estimated 

690 million deprived and poor people 

in our world — that's about 8 - 9% 

of the world's population. One of 

the most remarkable movements 

— 'movement' is the best way of 

describing it — is the World Free 

Trade Organisation (WFTO). If you 

delve into its history you will find 

many different stories of how it began 

because it didn't grow from a single 

moment in time, but emerged in 

many different parts of the world for 

different reasons. 

In the United States it can be traced 

from the 1940's when 10,000 self-help 

craft groups began buying needlework 

from Puerto Rico. The first Fair Trade 

Shop which sold these opened in 1958. 

CANE SUGAR 

Meanwhile in the UK , Oxfam 

began selling crafts made by Chinese 

refugees and in 1958 created the first 

Fair Trade Organisation. Similar 

initiatives in the Netherlands resulted 

in an importing organisation starting 

in 1967 and Dutch third world groups 

began to sell cane sugar with the 

message 'by buying cane sugar you give 

Harvesting Free Trade bananas, Robinson Ramirez Segura, Ecuador 

people in poor countries a place in the sun 

of prosperity'. 

In Asia, Africa and South America 

NGOs and socially motivated 

individuals began promoting the need 

for fair marketing organizations that 

gave advice, assistance and support to 

disadvantaged producers. 

SECURITY 

And so the movement grew and 

today Fair Trade works throughout 

the world with farming co-operatives, 

businesses, and governments to make 

trade fair so that producers earn secure 

and sustainable livelihoods. 

Climate change is currently the 

biggest threat to the livelihoods of 

millions of small-scale farmers and 

agricultural workers in low-income 

Fairtrade 

Fairtrade 

countries worldwide. Without a 

fairer income, farmers and workers 

are unable to invest in the types of 

mitigation and adaptation techniques 

needed to protect the environment, and 

their businesses. 

This represents a vicious cycle 

of poverty in which steps towards 

environmental protection and 

decarbonisation are likely to be beyond 

the reach for those who aren’t able to 

earn a living income because the price 

they receive for their produce is far too 

low. 

FLOWERS 

Today, Fair Trade, for many people 

means bananas, chocolate or tea 

and coffee, but there are many other 

products, including gold, wine, clothes, 

beauty products and flowers. 

For example, there are over 70,000 

people growing, harvesting, packing, 

and caring for Fair Trade flowers which 

are traceable to the original certified 

farms that must ensure safety and 

working conditions for their employees. 

Certified farms receive a premium 

of 10% for every item sold to allow 

workers to invest in healthcare, 

education and social benefits. 

Fair Trade flowers come from 

Kenya, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, 

Uganda and Tanzania and are available 

from Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl, M&S and 

Moonpig — perhaps this is something 

to look out for when buying gifts for 

Valentine’s Day on 14 February, and 

Mothering Sunday on 14 March!


ACCESSION TO 

We look back over 70 years of Her Majesty 

The Queen's reign as recorded in extracts 

from The Parish Magazine. 

GOD REST THE KING! 

February 1952 

King George VI Elizabeth II 

Once more we have followed a loved and revered 

Sovereign to his grave sorrowing, but 'not as others 

which have no hope'. 

Called to the throne unexpectedly, he accepted 

that vocation as from God; in his Coronation he 

publicly, consciously and piously dedicated his 

life to the service of God and his people, and drew 

from that mystical ceremony God’s authority and 

strength to fill the exalted position to which he had 

been called; throughout his life he showed that the 

greatest dignity consists in service. 

A true Christian, he has passed to the 

Christian’s rest and awaits with humble confidence 

the Christian’s great reward, the unclouded vision 

of his Lord and God. 

Nor are we without hope for our country and 

ourselves; we are secure in the knowledge that the 

same Christian faith and hope and love inspire 

our new Sovereign, the Lady Elizabeth, called at 

so early an age to be our Queen; to her we can with 

the confidence born of knowledge and experience 

pledge our allegiance, as we also offer her our 

respectful affection. 

God Rest the King! 

God Save the Queen! 

Rev S J S Groves 

THE CORONATION 

May 1953 

All thoughts look forward to the Coronation of Her 

Most Gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second. 

Remember these words: ‘I want to ask you all to 

pray for me on that day - to pray that God may give 

me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn 

promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully 

serve him and you all the days of my life.’ 

June 1953 

The Coronation has come and gone, leaving behind 

it the memory of a most august service, beautifully 

and reverently performed. ... One need say no more ... 

every item was recorded on wireless and television so 

all our people could take part in the solemnity. 

For the future the Church will exercise her priestly 

function in offering continuous prayer on behalf of 

Queen and Commonwealth. Rev S J S Groves 

The Royal Family sculptures in wax. Left to right front: Sarah Duchess of York, Queen Elizabeth Th 

Left to right back: Princess Diana, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, The Duke of Edinburgh, King Geo 

DECORATIONS 

The Coronation committee are making arrangements 

for the decorations of the Pearson Hall and the 

recreation ground. With these exceptions they appeal 

to all householders to mark this historic occasion by 

decorating their own houses according to individual 

taste. 

It is, however, suggested that residents should 

combine with their neighbours on opposite sides of 

the roads and hang strings of pennants across the 

road in order to give a festive air to the village. 

This form of decoration would be specially suitable 

in High Street. 

A prize will be given for the best decorated house. 

A large number of special ev 

organised throughout June— 

club had its own celebration 

village events on Coronation 

— Television in the Boys’ S 

— A Coronation peal will b 

at the moment of the Cr 

— Children’s tea in the Pe 

— Fancy dress procession 

Pearson Hall. 

— Sports in the recreation 

— Presentation of Prizes i 

— Dance in the Pearson H 

— Procession of illuminat 

September 2015: Her Majesty The Queen becomes the longest ever reigning m 

great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. According to Buckingham Palace ca 

This takes into account 63 years, 15 leap days, additional months and days and


PLATINUM 

GOLDEN JUBILEE 

July 2002 

My congratulations and thanks to all who worked 

so hard over the Jubilee weekend, the scarecrows 

were a brilliant idea. Rev Christopher Clarke 

Our village’s contribution was so diverse that in the 

words of one visitor, ‘There was so much to see and 

do that we kept coming back.’ [There was a Regatta, 

the first Scarecrow trail, an Elegant Picnic, open 

gardens, and a street party] ... St Andrew’s welcomed 

many hundreds of visitors who marvelled at its 

architecture ... its abundance of flower displays and 

the virtually non-stop organ recital. B&E Guthrie 

In Charvil there was a Jubilee Festival of flowers, 

open gardens and a memorabilia exhibition, and the 

Charvil Village Fete had a Golden Jubilee theme. 

e Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Victoria, and Queen Alexandra; 

rge VI, Queen Mary, King George V, and King Edward VII. 

Dastin50, dreamstime.com 

ents and meals were 

almost every group and 

s. Here is a summary of the 

Day: 

chool. 

e rung from the church 

owning of the Queen. 

arson Hall. 

starting from the 

ground. 

n the recreation ground. 

all. 

ed boats on the river 

SILVER JUBILEE 

June 1977 

Village organisations will process through the 

village on a series of floats and other forms of 

transport ... The children’s fancy dress parade will 

then take place ... We hope everyone will join in 

and bring a family picnic ... At 1.30pm the Fete 

and Sports will start. There will be about 40 stalls 

and sideshows and lots of entertaining sport with 

hosts of prizes to win. ... Every street will have a 

Tug o’ War team ... grannies well trained in Space 

Hopping ... youth versed in Pogo-stick jumping. 

There will be sport for all ages ... a barbecue dance 

at Reading Rugby Club. 

DIAMOND JUBILEE 

January 2012 

Pearson Hall Queen's Jubilee Clock 

Some of you will have heard that the Pearson Hall 

were approached about the idea of a clock being 

installed outside the Pearson Hall to mark the 

occasion of Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee in 

June 2012. 

The Hall trustees were pleased to agree to this 

and have looked at the suitability of a number of 

clocks. Smith's of Derby make good strong clocks 

that should give years of service, making them an 

ideal choice. 

Lesley Bates, chairman Pearson Hall 

onarch in British history on 9 September 2015, passing the record set by her 

lculations, Queen Victoria reigned for 23,226 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes. 

the precise timings of Queen Victoria’s accession and death. 

Diamond Jubilee Clock at Pearson Hall 

Tom Farncombe 

June 2012: 

The monarchy, embodied in 60 years of unflinching 

service from our Queen, is still central to our nation’s 

life ... 

Rev Jamie Taylor


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feature — 4 


A revitalised Church for the world ahead? 

Dr Peter Brierley, a church statistician, considers what 2022 may hold for the Church 

The Beijing Winter Olympics begin on 4 February 

Towards the end of every year 

'The Economist' publishes a 

comprehensive paperback looking 

at the year to come. For 2022, 'The 

World Ahead' looks at 10 main 

issues, and while these reflect a 

commercial and financial viewpoint, 

they are also areas of concern to 

Christians. The main issues are: 

DEMOCRACY 

VERSUS AUTOCRACY 

The tensions between the rival 

political systems of America and 

China will continue to involve trade, 

technology regulations, vaccinations, 

and space stations. 

PANDEMIC TO ENDEMIC 

New treatments are coming, but 

unless more people can be vaccinated 

globally, Covid-19 will become yet 

another endemic disease, affecting 

the poor more than the rich. 

INFLATION WORRIES 

The supply chain interruptions and 

increased energy demands have 

pushed up prices. Will that affect 

charity and church finances? The UK 

also has an acute labour shortage. 

THE FUTURE OF WORK 

The work-from-home syndrome 

will probably mean more ‘hybrid’ 

workstations. Women are keener to 

work from home. Could this impact 

church life, and, if so, in what ways? 

Mirko Kuzmanovic, dreamstime.com 

NEW TECHLASH 

Techlash is a backlash against large 

technology companies that dominate 

a market. American and European 

governments have been trying to 

rein in these technology giants. 

Meanwhile, China is demanding they 

focus on geo-strategic advantage, not 

'frivolities like games and shopping.' 

CRYPTO GROWS UP 

The new crypto-currencies are being 

domesticated. A cryptocurrency (or 

crypto) is a form of payment that 

can circulate without the need for a 

central monetary authority such as 

a government or bank. Where will 

the future standard of finance fall? 

The central banks or somewhere 

else? It is still to be determined. 

Such issues may affect the Church 

Commissioners, but probably not the 

local church! 

CLIMATE CRUNCH 

This affects us all but still 'a striking 

lack of urgency prevails among 

policymakers.' And global success, 

if it can be achieved, will require 

co-operation between the West and 

China. 

TRAVEL TROUBLE 

The transition to an endemic from 

a zero-Covid suppression (as in 

Australasia) may be difficult. Future 

business travel is likely to be much 

less, for example, Zoom is taking 

over and holiday travel could cost 

more. What will this mean for 

international Christian gatherings? 

SPACE RACES 

'2022 will be the first year in which 

more people go into space as paying 

passengers than government 

employees.' China will finish its new 

space station; NASA is crashing a 

probe into an asteroid. 

POLITICAL FOOTBALLS 

The Beijing Winter Olympics and 

the football World Cup in Qatar will 

show just how far sport can bring 

nations together. 

THE POWER OF THE 

WORD OF GOD 

Such is the global perspective, as 

seen by economists. What difference 

would Christian leaders bring to the 

table? 

Among the greatest needs are 

to encourage dispirited Christian 

people; to strengthen and empower 

children's and youth work; to 

decide the best way forward for 

congregations whose churches are 

no longer viable; to develop a vision 

to meet national spiritual need; to 

enable leadership to focus on the 

top priorities without distraction on 

lesser things; and finally, to revitalise 

faith in the inspiration, authority 

and power of God’s Word.


around the villages — 1 

Since 2019, Able Community Care, 

a live-in care provider, has given 

nearly 70,000 older people door 

stickers to deter unwanted callers. 

If you know someone who would 

like to have one, email Able at info@ 

ablecommunitycare.com and tell them 

how many you would like and the 

address to send them to. 

Older people are often targeted 

by fraudulent traders, workmen and 

fake ‘professional’ people such as 

conmen advising they are from the 

Water Board, Gas Board, NHS Covid 

Department and so on, and these 

stickers have proved to reduce the 

number of such callers. 

RENDEZVOUS IN THE ARK 

for senior citizens 

We meet every second 

and fourth Tuesday 

of the month 

Monday Club is back 

to regular meetings 

for lunch and chatter 

To reserve your place 

call: 

0118 969 3298 

Sonning Monday Club has returned 

to its regular meetings in Pearson 

Hall on alternate Mondays from 

2pm until 3.30pm. The forthcoming 

dates are: 24 January, 7 and 21 

February, 7 and 21 March, and there 

after every other Monday. 

In December, the members enjoyed 

a three course Christmas lunch with 

a welcoming mulled wine and a visit 

from Father Christmas who brought 

everyone a goody bag! 

If you would like a chat, a laugh, 

a cup of tea and some delicious cake 

why not join them! 

Diary Date 

The annual Sonning Village Show 

will be held this year on Saturday 

10 September at Sonning C of E 

Primary School. Put the date in your 

diary now! 

Charvil Project Singers 

night at the movies 

Charvil's Project Singers will be 

performing some great film songs at 

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts on 

Saturday 26 March. 

They will be singing popular 

favourites such as: 

City of Stars from La La Land; 

Papa can you hear me? from Yentl; 

Hopelessly devoted to you from Grease; 

A million dreams from The Greatest 

Showman; and a great medley of 

songs from The Sound of Music. 

Joining the Project Singers will 

be the Crosfield's Senior String 

Ensemble whose pieces will include 

Star Wars and For your eyes only. 

'A Night at the Movies' starts at 

7.30pm in Norden Farm Centre for 

the Arts, Altwood Road, Maidenhead 

Tickets are £10 from the Box Office 

on 0162 878 8997. 

Inner Wheel keeps 

its charity wheels 

turning for 2022 

Having successfully fulfilled their 

grotto sessions at Hare Hatch 

Sheeplands during December 

Reading Maiden Erlegh Inner Wheel 

Club began the New Year with a 

walk and soup lunch. 

In February the members will 

holding their 20th charter lunch at 

Sonning Golf Club with guest speaker 

Colin Evans, a gardening expert 

from BBC Radio Berkshire, and 

March will see the group celebrating 

International Women’s Day. 

Meanwhile, members have been 

volunteering and sewing for its 

chosen charity, The Cowshed who 

worked to ensure families in need 

had gifts and hampers for Christmas. 

Reading Maiden Erlegh Inner 

Wheel meets at Sonning Golf Club 

on the third Thursday evening of 

every month and they welcome new 

members to join in the fun, take part 

in activities, raise funds for charity 

and support the local community. 

For more information: 

http://www.innerwheelrme.org 

iwcrme@gmail.com

around the villages — 2 

A picture is worth a thousand words . . . 


. . . so goes the old adage from the early 1900's, although it is believed to have its roots in 'A thousand words leave not 

the same deep impression as does a single deed' which was coined by the Norwegian playwright, Henrik Johan Ibsen 

(1828-1906). If this saying is true, we have squeezed 4,000 words onto this page! 

Above are photographs by churchwarden, Liz Nelson, of the well-attended Rendezvous Christmas Lunch in the The Ark when the members 

enjoyed a traditional Christmas dinner, prepared by Emma's Kitchen of Twyford, and followed by carol singing and a welcome visit from 

St Nicholas! The lunch was enhanced by some splendid table decorations made especially by the St Andrew's Sunday Club children. 

Below are two Sonning Art Group paintings produced during the Christmas season. On the left is an excellent acrylic painting of autumn 

leaves by Bernadette Varilone and on the right, George Gallocker's accomplished watercolour of a snow scene. Sonning Art Group is 

continuing its Friday afternoon meetings in Pearson Hall and, like all local groups, they are hoping they will not be interrupted by viruses 

during the coming year.



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History 

Was it really . . . ? 

. . . 175 YEARS AGO on 11 February 

1847 that Thomas Edison, American 

inventor and businessman was born. 

He was best known for inventing 

the first practical incandescent light 

bulb, phonograph, movie camera and 

projector, and many more. 



1922 that the first radio was installed 

in the White House. 


1932 that British physicist James 

Chadwick announced his discovery of 

the neutron subatomic particle in the 

journal Nature. He was awarded the 

1935 Nobel Prize for Physics for his 

discovery. 


1942 that the Battle of Singapore took 

place. The Japanese occupied Singapore 

until September 1945. This is regarded 

as the worst disaster in British military 

history, with about 80,000 British, 

Indian and Australian troops captured. 


1947 that the first of the Dead Sea 

Scrolls were found in caves in Khirbat 

Qumran, now in the West Bank, 

Palestine. 

The Qumran cave where 75 years ago the Dead Sea Scrolls were found 

Golasza, deamstime.com 


1952 that Princess Elizabeth acceded 

to the throne following the death of 

her father, King George VI. She was in 

Kenya and became the first Sovereign in 

over 200 years to accede while abroad. 

Part of a Dead Sea Scroll on display in the Quman Museum 

Rita Phessas, deamstime.com 


1957 that the Toddlers’ Truce — TV 

broadcasts closed down at 6pm for an 

hour so that young children could be 

put to bed — was abolished in Britain. 


1962 that John Glenn became the first 

American astronaut to orbit the Earth. 

He made three orbits in the space 

capsule Friendship 7. 


1972 that the UK Government declared 

a state of emergency over the miners' 

strike which began in January. From 

16 February, electricity supplies were 

cut for up to 9 hours a day. 


1972 that the House of Commons 

voted — by 8 votes — to join the 

Common Market (European Union). 

. . . 25 YEARS AGO, on 13 February 

1997 that the jury of an inquest into 

the death of black British teenager 

Stephen Lawrence decided that he had 

been unlawfully killed by five white 

youths. They were not convicted until 

January 2012 when two of them were 

given prison sentences. 


1997 that scientists at Roslin Institute, 

Edinburgh cloned a mammal for the 

first time — a sheep named Dolly. 


2002 that Cancer Research UK was 

formed. It is now the world’s largest 

independent cancer research charity. 


2002 that NASA’s Mars Odyssey space 

probe began mapping the surface of 

Mars. It discovered huge reservoirs of 

underground ice. 


2012 that Whitney Houston, one 

of the bestselling music artists of 

all time, died aged 48 years. She 

drowned in her hotel bathtub because 

of coronary artery disease and drug 

intoxication.



Planning Your 

Traditional Wedding? 

Then you might like to 

discuss the possibility of 

marriage in our ancient and 

beautiful parish church. 

If so, call the vicar, Jamie 

0118 969 3298 

He will be pleased to help! 

In addition to the stunning and historic location in Sonning, 

we will work hard to provide you with a memorable and 

moving occasion. We can provide a choir, organ, peal of 

eight bells, beautiful flowers, over 100 lit candles set in 

ornate Victorian chandeliers and the use of our beautiful 

churchyard as a backdrop for your photographs. 



the church of st andrew SERVING CHARVIL, 

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HEALTH —1 

Dr Simon Ruffle writes . . . 'Februa' 

As we enter the final month of the 

meteorological winter a lot of us 

have tried to be good in January 

and are thinking about entering 

spring full of energy, vim and 

vigour. 

The Romans knew this month 

as Februarius. This stems from 

'Februa,' a ritual of februum meaning 

purification. 

For thousands of years humans 

have believed in ‘de-tox,’ from the 

Scandinavian use of saunas, native 

Americans using smoke in sweat 

lodges and medieval Europeans using 

leaches and blood letting. 

Mostly these actually cause harm 

but some have benefits but need to 

be used with caution. 

TOXIN OR TOXICANT 

A toxin is something produced 

by a living cell that can cause harm 

but cannot reproduce itself. Most of 

the ‘toxins’ that we produce during 

our normal metabolic processes are 

cleared by our liver and kidneys. So, 

the question is do, de-toxification 

methods work? 

The answer is conflated by 

concerns over toxicants that 

enter the body, such as lead in 

paint, mercury via water sources 

and pesticides. A toxicant is nonbiological. 

The answer is also influenced by 

the dose. 'The dose makes the poison.' 

(Paracelsus) A poison encompasses 

substances that cause illness or 

death. So, water is a poison. Drink 

more than your kidneys can excrete 

and you lose too much sodium, and 

fluid builds up where it shouldn’t, in 

your lungs and in extreme cases your 

brain swells. 

AMURULA 

Let’s turn to alcohol! (Don’t) 

Alcohol is absolutely harmless in low 

doses. It is found naturally in fruit. 

There is a well believed tale about 

elephants getting drunk. This is, and 

isn’t true. Elephants love Marula 

fruit. As Marula fruit rots, it, like 

most fruits create alcohol via yeasts 

— thus alcohol is a toxin and not a 

toxicant. 

Elephants do not have the 

enzyme to break alcohol down in 

Lashes 

the same way as humans do. But 

scientists have worked out that Nelly 

would have to drink 1.7L of alcohol 

to get tipsy. This would be 1,400 fully 

fermented Marula fruit. 

They also wouldn’t wait for the 

fruit to ferment and I’m pretty sure 

they cannot use a still! 

Amurula is produced from Marula 

fruit, cream and sugar; it is delicious 

but calorific and alcoholic. 

HIGH DOSES 

Humans only struggle with 

alcohol in high doses overwhelming 

our normal metabolic processes. I’m 

sorry to use alcohol as an example 

but it is a good one. 

There are many toxins normally 

present in our body. CO2, aldehydes, 

lactic acid, urea and oxygen can all be 

toxins that become poisons if we over 

produce them. 

There are many toxins in foods. 

The humble potato, many fungi and 

bacteria contaminating food such as 

botulinum toxin. 

I have included a link1 for more 

information on food based toxins. 

Vitamins can also be toxins. 

DE-TOXING 

Many therapist extol different 

ways of ‘de-toxing' so let’s start with 

absolute nonsense: 'Foot Detox'. 

This is where pads are placed 

on the foot and left overnight. Not 


Simon Ruffle 

surprisingly the pads go a bit brown 

overnight and apparently this is the 

toxins leaving your body. 

Another method is placing your 

feet in an ion bath with salts and 

an electric current. The water turns 

magically milky because of the 

toxins from you — nothing to do 

with a chemical reaction. These are 

essentially harmless though. 

VAGINAL CLEANSING 

Just don’t. Bacteria colonise the 

skin. We all have them and women 

also have bacteria naturally in the 

vagina. These keep a balance of 

acidity in the vagina that prevents 

yeasts and other nasty bacteria 

building up. 

Douching, soap, steaming and 

cucumber detoxing is harmful. 

This is from one website, I’ll not 

promote it with the details: 

You sit on what is essentially a minithrone, 

and a combination of infrared 

and mugwort steam cleanses your 

uterus, et al. It is an energetic release 

— not just a steam douche — that 

balances female hormone levels. 

NASAL CLEANING 

In general no. It causes tissue 

swelling damage and bleeding. In 

very specific conditions it can be 

useful. Post surgery, severe hay fever 

and exposure to hardwood dust are 

examples. 

turn to page 33



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HEALTH — 2 

Dr Simon Ruffle writes 

from page 31 

DE-TOX DIETS 

Severe de-tox diets promote a very 

low calorie diet, odd fluid concoctions, 

diuretics and laxatives. Rapid weight 

loss is due to lack of any carbohydrates 

and fluid loss. Most of these will cause 

a rebound weight game as the least 

harm. Loss of normal bacteria balance, 

dehydration, salts loss and acidosis can 

occur and in people with diabetes or 

obesity these diets can be fatal. 

OXYGEN TENTS 

Mainly harmless unless you have 

underlying lung disease but when 

you measure oxygen levels in normal 

people it is 99 or 100% and no amount 

of oxygen will increase this. 

COLONIC TREATMENTS 

Many people use this, still. There is 

no evidence that this does anything. 

People will feel a bit better if they have 

been a bit constipated. Also the bowel 

will absorb fluids, so if dehydrated 

this will be reversed. However, fluid 

overload can occur. Also damage to 

the colon can occur and if a patient 

has diverticulosis colonic irrigation 

can infect them. Patients with 

inflammatory bowel disease can have 

serious harm caused by ‘lavage.’ 

SAUNA/STEAM ROOMS 

These can make you feel great. 

Sweating will clear pores and make 

your skin feel and look good. Good 

hydration is needed as you can lose a 

lot of fluid and patients with heart and 

blood pressure conditions need to be 

careful. 

They also can be good (as can 

stream inhalation) to thin thickened 

mucus in some lung diseases and 

during chest infection. 

YOUR WASTE DISPOSAL 

Lastly, the body does it for 

you. Your lungs are actually the 

excretory organ that rids us of most 

of our toxins, specifically CO2. 

Your gastrointestinal tract, kidneys 

and liver process foods, fluids and 

chemicals in the body. We then visit 

the smallest room in the house to 

rid ourselves of all the breakdown 

products. As long as we do not overload 

these systems they do the de-tox for us 

for free. 

1https://www.who.int/news-room/factsheets/detail/natural-toxins-in-food 

Serezniy, dreamstime.com 

Toothache Day! 

9 February 2022 

Yes, you read that correctly, there is 

a special day for toothaches! It’s not 

so much the time to have one, but 

the time to learn, or refresh your 

memory, about toothaches, how to 

treat them, and more importantly, 

how to prevent them! 

Here’s what to start doing on 

9 February if you don’t do it already: 

— Refocus your efforts on your oral 

health and vow to brush and floss 

twice a day. 

— Set yourself up in advance 

for success by stocking up on 

toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss. 

— Learn how to care for a toothache: 

start by rinsing your mouth with 

warm saltwater and putting an ice 

pack on your cheek to numb the area. 

If pain persists for more than two 

days, see a dentist. 

— Schedule regular dental 

appointments. Along with brushing 

and flossing daily, regular visits 

to your dentist can help prevent 

most tooth problems, including 

toothaches. 

— Schedule cleaning by a hygienist 

twice a year and make sure to go, 

even with a busy schedule. 

—Smile, and the whole world smiles 

with you! 

Kurhan, dreamstime.com 


the sciences 

Love wisdom of 

natural things 

By Dr Ruth M Bancewicz, church engagement 

director, The Faraday Institute for Science 

and Religion, Cambridge 

A scientist spoke at Dewsbury 

Women’s Institute about his research 

on polymers, hoping that the women of 

this Yorkshire mill town would connect 

with his desire to develop new fibres. 

Betty, who had worked in a mill 

since she was 15, listened as if her 

life depended on it. Afterwards she 

peppered him with questions. She had 

always been interested in how things 

work, but had not found anyone to 

answer her questions at the mill; she 

had been told to get on with her job! 

For outsiders, science can seem 

to be a closed subject, hemmed in by 

intimidating jargon. When McLeish 

described science as ‘the love of wisdom 

of natural things’, he realised he was 

opening a door. He was moved to see 

that Betty was not the only person who 

shed a tear when her questions were 

finally taken seriously, confirming that 

her enquiring mind was probing in the 

right direction – 50 years too late! 

CONTEMPLATIVE 

This reminds me that science is a 

very natural activity to be involved in. 

McLeish is convinced that there is a 

future in ‘science therapy’. In his book, 

Faith and Wisdom in Science, he asks 

the question 'If a reintroduction to the 

activity of representing both inner and 

outer worlds in paint, music and drama 

can help to heal minds, what hope might 

there be for a participation in a gentle and 

contemplative science in restoring a broken 

or misunderstood relationship with the 

physical world?' 

This inspired me to run science 

activities with adults in churches. I 

have extracted DNA from strawberries, 

organised hands-on exhibits to liven up 

lecture or discussion events, and had 

groups extracting DNA from their own 

cheek cells. 

Whenever I lead such activities, I 

find that grown-ups are grateful for 

the opportunity to have a go at science. 

I love helping church-based groups to 

reconnect with science and celebrate 

what they find. Science is not just for 

children and professionals, it is for 

everyone to enjoy and explore the world 

God made.


HOME & GARDEN — 1 

Recipe of the month 

Beef Goulash 

From Emma's Kitchen Twyford 

Ingredients — serves 4 

— 4 tbsp oil 

— 700g diced stewing steak 

— 30g plain flour 

— 1 large thinly sliced onion 

— 2 finely chopped garlic cloves 

— 1 green thinly sliced pepper 

— 1 red thinly sliced pepper 

— 2 tbsp tomato puree 

— 2 large diced tomatoes 

— 75ml white wine 

— 300ml beef stock 

— 2 tbsp flat leaf parsley 

—150ml soured cream 

— 2 tbsp Paprika 

Method 

Turn oven on to 160°C, 140°C fan, Gas 3 

Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a casserole dish or 

heavy based pan. 

Dust steak with the plain flour 

Brown in three batches, adding 1tbsp 

of oil each time. Remove and set aside. 

Add the last of the oil to the pan then 

add the onions, garlic, and peppers and 

fry for 5-10 minutes. 

Return the beef to the pan, add the 

puree and paprika and stir for 1-2 

minutes. 

Add tomatoes, wine and stock, stir. 

Bake in the oven for 1.5-2 hrs or on the 

hob for an hour (remove the lid after 45 

minutes) 

Add the parsley and stir in the cream. 

Serve with rice or mashed potatoes and 

green vegetables. 

Garden bird flu 

warning . . . 

If you are feeding the birds, make 

sure that you keep their feeders 

very clean this winter. The UK is 

facing its worst ever outbreak of 

avian flu, and already there have 

been more than 40 cases around 

the country. The disease is thought 

to have been spread by migratory 

wild birds from Russia and Eastern 

Europe. 

The Royal Society for the 

Protection of Birds said: 'Everyone 

should take care to maintain good 

hygiene when feeding garden birds, 

regularly cleaning feeders outside with 

mild disinfectant, removing old bird 

food, spacing out feeders as much as 

possible and washing your hands.' 

Humans can catch the disease 

by touching infected birds or their 

droppings. So, the advice is to not 

approach any dead or dying birds, 

and to wash your hands every time 

you touch anything to do with your 

bird table. 

Christine Middlemiss, Britain’s 

chief vet, recently told the BBC that 

the disease was at a ‘phenomenal 

level’ in the UK, which in turn has ‘huge 

human, animal and trade implications’. 

The migratory period for birds 

does not end until March. 

Everett Collection Inc, dreamstime.com 

Remember housework? 

Older people who do household 

chores have better memory and 

attention spans than those who 

avoid it. It is also linked to superior 

leg strength in people over 65. That 

means their risk of a fall is reduced. 

The study, published in BMJ Open, 

found that a combination of light 

housework such as washing up, 

dusting, making the bed, hanging 

out laundry, ironing and cooking, and 

heavy housework — window cleaning, 

changing bedding, vacuuming, 

washing the floor, and chores involving 

sawing, repairing or painting — 'was 

associated with higher cognitive function' 

among older people, who showed up 

to 14% higher attention span scores 

than older people who did not do 

housework. 

IN THE ARK AT ST ANDREW'S CHURCH 

Sunday 20 February at 3pm 

revkate@sonningparish.org.uk

HOME & GARDEN — 2 

Saving our planet needn’t cost 

the earth 

Ven John Bart considers how we can all help 

Katie Nesling, dreamstime.com 

As world leaders wake up to the crisis of global warming and plan emergency 

measures before it is too late, we can make a difference now, in our own homes. 

IN THE KITCHEN . . . 

25% of the world’s food is thrown away. One supermarket discovered British 

households waste 7 million tonnes of food waste every year, partly because most 

of our fridges aren’t cold enough. Keeping the fridge temperature at a maximum of 

40C will help food last longer and save waste. 

Vast quantities of greenhouse gases are released by animals reared to supply 

us with red meat and dairy products. Cutting down on quantities and conserving 

leftovers would help. 

Conserving electricity by washing clothes at 300C and replacing power-hungry 

tumble driers with a clothes line or old-fashioned clothes-horse would have the 

added advantage of reducing soaring power bills. 

According to the Good Housekeeping Institute, 'many mainstream detergents 

are brimming with synthetic chemicals like phosphates, chlorine and bleach that 

pollute our waterways, damaging delicate ecosystems, and may irritate sensitive 

skin. Plant-based and eco-friendly alternatives are now readily available and work 

well in the washing machine and dishwasher.' 

. . . AND IN THE BATHROOM 

Annual increases in UK water consumption would be curbed, if we were to 

shower rather than bath. Exchanging the shower head for a water-saving type, 

which regulates or aerates the flow, would save both water and cash. 

Spending less time in the shower needn’t be a hardship. Daily shampooing may 

actually be counter-productive - it’s best to let some oils remain in the hair, so they 

can act as moisturisers. Biodegradable body wash is available in bulk, from which 

re-usable containers can be filled. 

Eco-friendly toothpaste is now on the market, some of it in plastic-free 

containers. More water can be saved by turning the tap off as we brush. Beware 

wet-wipes which may be ‘flushable’, but aren’t biodegradable, because they are partplastic. 

Eco-friendly alternatives are now available. 

What one tree can do for you 

Trees can help prevent depression. At least, you are less likely to 

be on antidepressants if you live on a tree-lined street says a 

Forestry Commission survey that looked for the first time at the 

mental health value of forests and woodlands. They save NHS 

about £185 million in antidepressants a year. The Mind charity said: 

'Although many of us feel like hibernating in winter, getting outside 

and making the most of the little daylight we get can really benefit both 

your physical and mental health.' 

Anna Sedneva, dreamstime.com 


David Pickup, a solicitor, considers what 

happens when a job at home goes wrong…. 

Dealing with 

a dispute 

'Settle matters quickly with your adversary 

who is taking you to court. Do it while 

you are still together on the way, or your 

adversary may hand you over to the judge, 

and the judge may hand you over to the 

officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 

Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you 

have paid the last penny.' (Matthew 5:24-26) 

Suppose you do some work for a 

customer. You offer to charge a low 

price because the job is for a friend 

of a friend, and they have not got 

much money, but they need it done 

quickly. 

The customer is pleased with your 

offer, and they promise to pay you 

the day you finish. But no money is 

paid. 

When you ask about payment, 

they complain you left a mess, and 

they say that they are going to get 

someone else to finish to put things 

right. What do you do? 

NIGHTMARE 

It sounds a nightmare, but many 

traders will know this story. They 

do someone a good turn and it goes 

wrong. It is often the small jobs that 

have most problems. 

You can go to court, without 

using a solicitor, but there are court 

fees to pay up front and you have 

to think about the time involved in 

pursuing the case. It may be many 

months before the case comes to 

court. 

If a customer complains you 

should have the chance to put things 

right before someone else does. 

THE OTHER SIDE 

The best advice is not to get 

in this situation. Always deal 

with customers in a professional 

way, whether they are friends or 

strangers. Get a deposit to cover the 

cost of materials before the work is 

started. 

Or perhaps you are on the other 

side of this story. If we employ 

people to do work for us, we should 

not take advantage of their goodwill. 

We should pay debts and deal with 

people fairly.


the ARTS — 1 

Christmas TV ratings reflect the Christian spirit 

As well as measuring the current 

popularity of TV's soaps and panel 

games, the annual Christmas Day 

TV ratings produced by BARB, the 

not-for-profit, Broadcasters' Audience 

Research Board, is a good reflection 

of the underlying spirit of the nation. 

The viewing figures for last Christmas 

(below) were no exception. 

The love and respect for The Queen 

as the platinum celebrations for her 

devoted service as the head of the UK, 

the Commonwealth and the Anglican 

Church gets under way, was seen 

clearly in her return to the number 

one spot with a huge majority of over 

3 million more viewings than the next 

most popular programme, the Strictly 

Come Dancing Christmas Special. 

This was despite the popularity 

of Strictly, a favourite programme 

for the past 17 years, being boosted 

in the last series by the remarkable 

success of Rose Ayling Ellis, the first 

deaf contestant and winner of the 

2021 ‘glitter ball’. Her success relied 

on a close relationship that developed 

with her dance professional Giovanni 

Pernice, and by counting the beat. Her 

world was revealed to viewers during 

a remarkable silent dance sequence 

when the band stopped playing for a 

short time. 

BREAKING BARRIERS 

Rose's prize, however, goes way 

beyond the coveted 'glitter ball' 

because her achievement is being 

hailed as a huge step forward in 

breaking down the barriers faced by 

more than 11 million deaf and hard of 

hearing people in the UK. 

About 1 million viewings below 

Strictly was Call the Midwife, another 

'Christmas special' with a social 

welfare awareness theme. Set in the 

poverty of the dockland area of the 

East End of London in the 196o's, it 

highlighted the love, dedication and 

innovation of a team of midwives 

based in a health centre run by 

nuns, and who work alongside a GP 

and ministers from local Christian 

churches. It was a world that many 

older people remember well. It was 

one before the internet, mobile 

phones, personal computers and 

virtual technology. In the world of 

Call the Midwife, one of the 'latest' 

developments was the use of leeches! 

HAPPINESS 

A couple of viewing ratings below 

Call the Midwife were two popular 

family films, Mary Poppins Returns 

and Superworm. Both films have 

similar themes, not so much about 

social welfare among the poor, but 

more about the dangers of being so 

concerned with gaining a supposedly 

better life that happiness suffers. 

CHRISTMAS DAY 2021 TOP 10 TV HITS 

Ratings source: Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board 

1. The Queen (BBC One, ITV, Sky News) — 8.96 million 

2. Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One) — 5.7 million 

3. Call The Midwife (BBC One) — 4.72 million 

4. Michael McIntyre's Christmas Wheel (BBC One) — 4.64 million 

5. Blankety Blank (BBC One) — 4.24 million 

6. Mary Poppins Returns (BBC One) — 3.66 million 

7. Superworm (BBC One) — 3.34 million 

8. Coronation Street (ITV) — 3.25 million 

9. Emmerdale (ITV) — 3 million 

10. East Enders (BBC One) — 2.92 million 

Narith Thongphasuk, dreamstime.com 

Superworm is a long, strong worm 

with amazing skills. He regularly 

saved the day for his friends who 

are a variety of garden creatures and 

insects. However, success in his local 

environment attracts the attention 

of a wizard who uses Superworm for 

his own evil benefit, that is, until his 

friends find a way of rescuing him. 

The first Mary Poppins film had 

a similar theme but this time it is 

about the father of the Banks family 

becoming so engrossed with his work 

in a bank, and his desire to become 

wealthy through making money work 

for you, that he neglected his family ... 

until Mary Poppins came to the rescue 

and restores the family happiness. 

In the second Mary Poppins film 

the Banks children are grown up but 

fall on hard times during the 1930's 

depression. Enter Mary Poppins again 

to restore family happiness. 

WAY OF LIFE 

Superworm and Mary Poppins are 

about how life can go awry when you 

get distracted by the pressure and 

desires of the world around you from 

the love of your family and friends. 

Given the current state of our 

world, it is reassuring to know 

that half of the top 10 TV hits on 

Christmas Day reflect the Christian 

way of life that Jesus demonstrated 

both by what he said and what he did, 

and at the heart of them is the love 

that comes from God and the love that 

is reflected in the caring for our family, 

our friends and neighbours, and for 

the social and medical health care of 

the less fortunate members of society.

the ARTS — 2 

Promise of a future 

By Rev Michael Burgess 

Reprinted by kind permission of the National Museum, Stockholm 

Our lives are made up of waiting that leads to encounter, and the waiting 

requires patience and humility. Milton wrote in his blindness, ‘They also serve 

who only stand and wait’ as he wondered what he could do for God’s kingdom 

now that his sight had gone. 

Simeon in this month’s painting had been waiting. He belonged to a people who 

had been waiting for centuries. He was heir to the hopes and dreams of a nation 

waiting for a better world when the holy city was in the hands of Roman invaders. 

With his people he clung to the hope that God would come to bring freedom and a 

new life. The Messiah, would bring this about. 

When it came, there was no fanfare, no warning, just an ordinary family from 

Nazareth in the Temple, performing the religious duties for the firstborn son. But 

the waiting led to encounter, and the sight of the new-born child led to insight as 

Simeon recognised that light and salvation had at last come. 

Rembrandt has captured all this in his painting, Simeon with the Christ Child in 

the Temple: the faith and patience, the hope and humility of an old man, a priest, 

who takes the babe into his arms and blesses God. It was the artist’s last painting 

and left unfinished at his death in 1669. The figure of Mary by Simeon’s side may 

have been painted by another artist at a later stage. It is the aged priest and the 

new-born babe that impress us as we look: Simeon with his venerable beard and 

eyes half closed, and the tiny child cradled in his strong arms, looking up intently 

with his eyes open. We see Simeon, mouthing Nunc dimittis with his eyes half 

closed. Is the waiting over and the journey coming to an end, so that his eyes will 

fully close? Or will he open them to see that with the babe in his arms, God has 

more in store: the promise of a future as they step out together on a new journey? 


Give a book on 

Valentine's Day 

International 

Book Giving Day, 

on 14 February, 

is about getting 

books into the 

hands of as 

many deprived 

children as 

possible. 

The idea started 

in 2012 and is 

now run entirely by volunteers in 44 

countries. In the UK it is organised 

by Emma Perry of My Book Corner, 

emperry@gmail.com 

According to the National Literacy 

Trust, in 2012 only one in every eight 

children in the UK owned a book and 

today generally literacy is still much 

lower than most of us would expect. 

The Covid lockdowns have slightly 

boosted the amount of reading that 

children have been doing, although 

much of this is not always with printed 

books — online activities and games 

were a prime source. 

IMPORTANT 

Perhaps one of the most important 

comments the Literacy Trust’s latest 

report, published last year, is that: 

‘Some children and young people 

reported that a lack of access to books (with 

schools and libraries closed), a lack of quiet 

space at home and a lack of school/peer 

support had negatively affected their ability 

to read and their motivation to read for 

enjoyment’. 

As this is being written, the Covid 

pandemic is beginning to look much 

more serious again as around the world 

restrictions are being re-applied and 

lockdowns are being re-introduced. 

Getting books into the hands of 

children remains, therefore, as 

important as ever. 

MEMORABLE 

To find more about how you can help 

visit https://bookgivingday.com where you 

can also download the free printable 

bookplate (above) to use with the books 

that you give away. 

Make Valentine’s Day truly 

memorable this year and show your love 

for a deprived child by giving them a 

book of their own to read!


THE ARTS — 3 

Poetry corner 

Cathedral Church of Candlemas of The Lord in Fira, Santorini island, 

Greece 

Arne Beruldsen, dreamstime.com 

Christ At Candlemas by Steven Rolling 

Luke 2: 25-32 parts 

Tune: Melita – Eternal Father, strong to save 

Jesus, infant dedication 

At forty days age, He God’s Son 

Presented on the Temple there 

Simeon, Anna, they did share 

With His parents in the event 

Saw the Christ-child from heaven sent 

Simeon took up in his arms 

Jesus, whose peace for the world calms 

He blessed God, said ‘Nunc Dimittis’ 

His words of wonder, they be this 

Lord, bow let your servant depart 

Your Son Jesus has warmed my heart 

So let me now depart in peace 

For true your word, it did not cease 

That I should not see death before 

I had seen the Lord’s Christ for sure 

My eyes have seen your salvation 

He prepared now for each nation 

You, Lord, have Him prepare before 

Face of all people, we adore 

A light to lighten the Gentiles 

And the glory of Israel’s 

They your people, Anointed One 

Here is shown in Christ-child your Son 

Mary and Joseph did marvel 

At those words there, they heard them all 

Simeon blessed them, to Mary 

Said, Behold this child is se, see 

For the fall and rising again 

Of many of Israel’s men (and women) 

And He be for a sign which shall 

Be spoken against, tongues will tell 

And a sword shall pierce your own soul 

Mary, in your sorrows and toil 

So thoughts of many hears revealed 

They stay not hidden, unconcealed 

Then Anna, she a prophetess 

She of age eighty-four no less 

A widow, she did not depart 

From Temple, served with all her heart 

Served God with fastings and with prayers 

She gave thanks, of redemption shared 

Book Reviews 

God’s Plan for Your Wellbeing 

By Dave Smith, CPO, £8.93 

Perhaps you’re feeling that one or two 

areas of your life need to be redirected 

and refocused. The good news is…you can 

achieve greater wellbeing in every area of 

your life! And it’s all connected. 

This book shows you how to improve 

each of the dials on the dashboard of 

your life. It cover your levels of physical 

energy and health; your emotional freedom and peace; 

your sense of satisfaction in your relationship with 

God; your connectivity and harmony with others; your 

financial margin, peace and means for generosity; and 

your role-based sense of motivation and creativity. 

Tackling Mental Illness Together 

By Alan Thomas, CPO, £9.99 

It can be difficult to know how to 

understand and support those suffering 

from mental illnesses. This book 

offers a Biblical framework for helping 

the mentally ill, by synthesising the 

relevant Biblical material with our 

scientific understanding of mental 

illness. It will help you to deal wisely, 

intelligently, and compassionately with issues of mental 

health in your church and in your community. 

Unveiled - women of the Old 

Testament and the choices they made 

By Clare Hayns & Micah Hayns, CPO, £9.99 

This richly illustrated book has 40 daily 

readings and reflections, each illustrated 

with original artwork created in charcoal, 

oils and collage, imagining the woman in question, bringing 

her out of the shadows and making strikingly relevant 

connections with today’s context. Some of the women are 

well known, but many others are barely remembered. Even 

when they are, we often don’t pause on them long enough 

to think about what we might learn from them. Each 

reflection ends with a short application to everyday life, 

guidance for further thought and a prayer. 

Changing the Climate: applying the 

Bible in a climate emergency 

By Debbie, David & Jamie Hawker, BRF, £9.99 

The climate crisis is one of the 

most important issues of our time, 

threatening lives and livelihoods. The 

Bible teaches us that God the Creator 

put humans on the Earth to take care 

of it; to show love to all, and to care for 

the poor and vulnerable. This workbook 

shows how the Bible is relevant to environmentalism, 

and how we can all play our part in limiting the negative 

effects of climate change. Each of the 12 chapters looks at 

a particular Bible passage, connects it with climate action, 

poses questions and suggests practical steps that can be 

taken.

CROSSWORD 

1 2 3 4 5 6 

8 

7 

9 10 

11 12 13 

14 

15 16 17 18 19 

21 22 

24 

Across 

1 - Growing Art of growing dwarfed trees (6) (6) 

7 - Going red red in the in face the (8) face (8) 

8 - Label (3) (3) 

9 Covered with shiny coating (6) 

- Covered with a shiny coating (6) 

10 Noble gas (4) 

10 - Noble gas (4) 

11 Requirements (5) 

11 - Requirements (5) 

13 Largest planet (7) 

13 

15 

- 

Evergreen 

Largest planet (7) 

tree (7) 

15 17 - Active Evergreen cause tree (7)(5) 

17 21 - Run Active at cause moderate (5) pace (4) 

21 22 - Shakespeare Run at a moderate pace history (of horses) play (4) (5,1) 

23 Frozen water (3) 

22 - History play by Shakespeare (5,1) 

24 Strong type of coffee (8) 

23 - Frozen water (3) 

25 Adjust in advance of its use (6) 

24 - Strong type of coffee (8) 

CODEWORD 

25 - Adjust in advance of its use (6) 

20 

25 

23 

1 - Jenson ___ : British racing driver (6) 

18 Desires 16 what - Female another monster (6) has (6) 

18 - Desires what another has (6) 

19 - Imminent danger (6) 

20 - Spy (5) 

21 25 15 12 17 10 25 1 13 23 14 7 

14 18 15 23 11 14 11 

5 12 19 14 23 18 25 12 9 7 11 25 

7 14 10 2 25 5 3 

18 11 12 18 12 7 8 18 26 5 

2 1 23 11 26 18 4 1 

18 15 22 16 12 11 

1 25 20 12 4 26 12 18 

25 14 4 18 23 18 3 24 25 15 

7 4 10 12 12 25 7 

18 4 10 12 4 5 25 5 20 18 24 18 

23 12 12 12 5 6 23 

3 23 5 7 11 18 10 5 17 12 12 3 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 

N 

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 

V 

M 

SUDOKU 

Each of the nine blocks has to contain all the 

numbers 1-9 within its squares. Each number 

can only appear once in a row, column or box. 

WORDSEARCH FOR ROMANCE 

February is the month of romance. 

Millions of Valentine cards will be 

sent in the next week or two, as we 

celebrate our romantic love for that 

special person in our lives. But there 

are other kinds of love to celebrate, 

and on Candlemas we remember Mary 

and Joseph taking their baby son to the 

temple to present him to God. Jesus’ 

whole life was a loving present to us 

from God. Through his death for us 

on the cross, and his resurrection, his 

love can now transform anyone’s life. 

Romance can die, but God’s love for us 

is always there. But it won’t do us much 

good – unless we accept it! 


PUZZLE PAGE — the answers will be published in the next issue 

Down 

Down 

1 Jenson ___ : Racing driver (6) 

2 Small worry; 

2 - Small 

irritate 

worry; irritate 

(6) 

(6) 

3 Balearic 3 - party Balearic island party island (5) (5) 

4 Boring (7) 4 - Boring (7) 

5 Cogitating 

5 - Cogitating 

(8) 

(8) 

6 Unfastened (6) 

6 - Unfastened (6) 

12 Decline in activity (8) 

12 - Decline in activity (8) 

14 Clever but false argument (7) 

14 - Clever but false argument (7) 

16 Female monster (6) 

19 Imminent danger (6) 

20 Spy (5) 

Search for 20 words hidden in the grid above 

that are from the story below ... 

VALENTINE 

GIRLFRIEND 

ROMANCE 

BOYFRIEND 

RESTAURANT 

CANDLEMAS 

PRESENTATION 

ANGELS 

TEMPLE 

PRESENT 

HEARTS 

FIANCÉ 

WORSHIP 

REPENTANCE 

BABY 

HUG 

MARY 

LOVE 

ROSE 

KISS 

January 

Solutions 

CROSSWORD 

R A G E C O S T U M E S 

E A I W R E A 

C H I G N O N I N L A Y 

E N C E G A S 

D I S C O U R A G I N G 

I N S E I P 

N E W E S T B R O N C O 

G E I D H L 

P E R S P I C A C I T Y 

C P T S P C M 

A F I R E P A P R I K A 

L N N E Y L T 

M I G H T I L Y M Y T H 

CODEWORD 

B L U F F E X T R E M E 

A K U Q A E 

R U C U D I Z Z Y 

B U L K H E A D S Z 

E E S T B E F O G 

C O L L I D E S D O 

U E A O A L 

E A P R O V I D E D 

S C A N T E A J S 

A S P L A T F O R M 

C R O W N O I U I 

D E A O R T 

U S U R P E D N I N T H 

SUDOKU 

WORDSEARCH MAGI 

EPIPHANY CAMEL 

QUESTION 

'Humpfrey', although an 

alternative offered by 

a young school boy is 

'pregnant'! 

WHO DOES WHAT AND WHERE QUIZ [IN THIS ISSUE] 

1. Who delivers, erects, takes down, and collects? 

2. Who is still working throughout the pandemic? 

3. Who gets confidence from training? 

4. Where would be a good place for a busman to go on honeymoon? 

5. Who delivers horse manure that's pleasant to handle? 

6. Who saves you money by not spending it on television? 

Vichaya Kiatyingangsulee, dreamstime.com


Local Trades and Services 

ACG SERVICES - LOCKSMITH 

Locks changed, fitted, repaired and opened 

Door and window locks fitted, UPVC door lock expert 

Checkatrade member - Which Trusted Trader 

Call Richard Homden: 0149 168 2050 / 0771 040 9216 


CHIROPODY AND PODIATRY 

Linda Frewin MInstChp, HCPC member 

General foot care and treatments 

25 Ashtrees Road, Woodley RG5 4LP 

0118 969 6978 - 0790 022 4999 

CLARK BICKNELL LTD - PLUMBING & HEATING 

Qualified Plumbing and Heating Engineers Gas Safe 

25 years experience - local family run company 

Office: 0118 961 8784 - Paul: 0776 887 4440 

paul@clarkbicknell.co.uk 

COMPUTER FRUSTRATIONS? 

For jargon free help with your computer problems 

PC & laptop repairs, upgrades, installations, virus removal 

Free advice, reasonable rates 

0798 012 9364 help@computerfrustrations.co.uk 

INTERSMART LIMITED 

Electrical Installation and Smart Home Automation 

intersmartuk@gmail.com 

Elliott — 0777 186 6696 

Nick — 0758 429 4986 

HANDYMAN & DECORATING SERVICES 

Reliable and affordable 

Small jobs a speciality! 

Call Andy on 0795 810 0128 

http://www.handyman-reading.co.uk 

JAMES AUTOS 

Car Servicing, Repairs and MOT 

Mole Road, Sindlesham, RG41 5DJ 

0118 977 0831 

http://www.jamesautos.co.uk 

ALL AERIALS 

A local business based in Sonning. TV - FM - DAB aerials etc. 

Sky dishes. Communal premises IRS systems, TV points. 

Free estimates - All work guaranteed 

0118 944 0000 

MC CLEANING 

We are a family business with excellent references 

and we are fully insured 

All cleaning materials provided 

For free quote call: Maria 0779 902 7901 

PROFESSIONAL HOME VISIT SERVICE 

Thames Valley Will Service 

Also Lasting Powers of Attorney and Probate Service 

We are still working during the pandemic period 

0134 464 1885 tvwills@yahoo.co.uk 

THAMES CHIMNEY SWEEPS 

0779 926 8123 0162 882 8130 

enquiries@thameschimneysweeps.co.uk 

http://www.thameschimneysweeps.co.uk 

Member of the Guild of Master Sweeps 

CALLAGHAN CARPETS & FLOORING 

Thirty-six years local experience 

Family run company 

0118 962 8527 0779 223 9474 

callaghancarpets@btinternet.com 

WANT HELP WITH AN ‘ODD JOB’? 

For local odd jobs please call Phil on 

0118 944 0000 

0797 950 3908 

Thames Street, Sonning 

BIG HEART TREE CARE 

Reliable and friendly service for all tree care 

NPTC qualified — Public Liability of £10million 

0118 937 1929 0786 172 4071 

bighearttreecare.co.uk info@bighearttreecare.co.uk 

SMALLWOOD 

Landscaping, garden construction, 

patios, lawns, fencing, decking etc 

0118 969 8989 https://www.smallwoodlandscaping.co.uk/ 

office@smallwoodlandscaping.co.uk 

ALL WASTE CLEARANCE & DISPOSAL 

Waste clearance from office, house, garden, loft 

Licensed waste carriers, no job too small or large 

Contact: John 

0771 021 2056 j.garmston@ntworld.com 

BERKSHIRE STUMP REMOVALS 

Stump grinding and tree stump removal 

Latest narrow access machinery 

Contact: Mark 

0798 495 7334 http://www.berkshirestumpremoval 

PAINTER and DECORATOR 

Roger McGrath has 25 years experience 

Restoration painting work of any size undertaken 

For a free quotation call 

Roger 0742 332 1179

CHILDREN'S PAGE 

The Parish Magazine - February 2022 41

42 The Parish Magazine - February 2022 Please mention The Parish Magazine when replying to advertisements 

information — 2 

Parish contacts 

Ministry Team 

— The Vicar: Revd Jamie Taylor (Day off Friday) 

The Parish Office, Thames Street, Sonning, RG4 6UR 

vicar@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298 

— Associate Vicar: Revd Kate Wakeman-Toogood 

revkate@sonningparish.org.uk / 0746 380 6735 

On duty Tuesday, Friday and Sunday 

— Youth Minister: Chris West (Westy) 

youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk / 0794 622 4106 

— Licensed Lay Minister: Bob Peters 

bob@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 377 5887 

Children's Ministry 

— Alison Smyly office@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298 

Churchwardens 

— Stuart Bowman sdbowman73@aol.com / 0118 978 8414 

— Liz Nelson liz.nelson1@ntlworld.com / 0779 194 4270 

Deputy Churchwardens 

— Simon Darvall sdarvall@businessmoves.com 0793 928 2535 

— Sue Peters mail@susanjpeters.com / 0118 377 5887 

— Molly Woodley (deputy churchwarden emeritus) 

mollywoodley@live.co.uk / 0118 946 3667 

Parish Administrator 

— Hilary Rennie 

office@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298 

Parochial Church Council 

— Secretary: Hilary Rennie 0118 969 3298 

— Treasurer: Richard Moore 0118 969 2588 

Director of Music, organist and choirmaster 

— Hannah Towndrow BA (Oxon) 

music@sonningparish.org.uk 

Sonning Bell Ringers 

— Tower Captain: Pam Elliston 

pamelliston@talktalk.net / 0118 969 5967 

— Deputy Tower Captain: Rod Needham 

ro6needham@gmail.com / 0118 926 7724 

Parish Website: http://www.sonningparish.org.uk 

The Parish Magazine: http://www.theparishmagazine.co.uk 

— Editor: Bob Peters 

editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk / 0118 377 5887 

— Advertising and Distribution: Gordon Nutbrown 

advertising@theparishmagazine.co.uk / 0118 969 3282 

— Treasurer: Pat Livesey 

pat.livesey@yahoo.co.uk / 0118 961 8017 

— The Parish Magazine is produced by St Andrew’s PCC and delivered 

free of charge to every home in Charvil, Sonning and Sonning Eye. 

— The Parish Magazine is printed in the United Kingdom by The Print 

Factory at Sarum Graphics Ltd, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6QX 

— The Parish Magazine is distributed by Abracadabra Leaflet 

Distribution Ltd, Reading RG7 1AW 

— The Parish Magazine template was designed in 2012 by Roger 

Swindale rogerswindale@hotmail.co.uk and David Woodward 

david@designforprint.org 

Advertisers index 

ABD Construction 6 

ACG Services Locksmith 40 

Active Domestic Appliances 30 

ADD Plumbing 12 

All Aerials 40 

All Waste Clearance 40 

Barn Store Henley 16 

Berkshire Stump Removals 40 

Big Heart Tree Care 40 

Blandy & Blandy Solicitors 14 

Blinds Direct 20 

Blue Moose 8 

Bridge House 43 

Bridges Home Care 20 

Bull Inn 8 

Callaghan Carpets & Flooring 40 

Chimney Sweep, Thames 40 

Chiropody, Linda Frewin 40 

Chris the Plumber 32 

Clark Bicknell 40 

Complete Pest Solutions 40 

Computer Frustrations 40 

Cruz Kitchens 28 

Design for Print 28 

EMDR Hypnotherapist 30 

Freebody Boatbuilders 6 

Fields Pharmacy 32 

French Horn 44 

Gardiners Nursing 8 

Great House Sonning 24 

Handyman and Decorating Services 40 

Haslams Estate Agents 2 

Hicks Group 16 

Intersmart Electrical Installations 40 

James Autos 40 

Jones & Sheppard Stone Masons 16 

Kingfisher Bathrooms 20 

MC Cleaning 40 

Mill at Sonning 4 

M & L Healthcare Solutions 12 

Mortgage Required 18 

Muck & Mulch 28 

Odd Jobs 40 

Painter and Decorator 40 

Pearson Hall Sonning 24 

Reading Blue Coat School 24 

Richfield Flooring 14 

Seniors Helping Seniors 12 

Shiplake College 14 

Signature Cliveden Manor Care Home 28 

Sonning Golf Club 32 

Sonning Scouts Marquees 32 

Smallwood Garden Services 40 

Style by Julie 6 

Thames Valley Water Softeners 6 

Thames Valley Wills Service 40 

Tomalin Funerals 24 

Walker Funerals 12 

Water Softener Salt 28 

Window Cleaner 16

Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding this advertisement 


BRIDGE HOUSE 

of TWYFORD 

Because you deserve 

the very best 

Welcome to Bridge House Nursing Home 

Established for 35 years, the elegant Georgian Grade II listed Bridge House has extended its facilities to 

include a beautiful, light-filled and airy purpose built nursing home. 

Our philosophy is built upon helping residents maintain their independence and dignity, whilst ensuring 

their needs and expectations are fully met. We believe that being independent means having the freedom 

of choice and flexibility over how the day is spent. Working closely with families and professionals 

is fundamental in delivering and maintaining the required level of health and wellbeing. 

At Bridge House, our comprehensive facilities and care provision is designed to deliver skilled, 

professional and individually planned care in an unobtrusive manner. 

Call 0800 230 0206 

Visit www.bridgehouseoftwyford.co.uk 

INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • NURSING HOME 

190821 - Bridge House Ad Parish Mag v01.indd 1 21/08/2019 18:06

44 The Parish Magazine - February Please mention 2022 The Parish Magazine when responding this advertisement 

The French Horn, 

Sonning. Quality. 

A continuing commitment to 

wonderful food and wine. 

0118 969 2204 

www.thefrenchhorn.co.uk

The Parish Magazine February 2022

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