2 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>February</strong> <strong>2024</strong> Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to this advertisement <strong>The</strong> French Horn Sonning-on-Thames, South Oxfordshire, RG4 6TN Freehold Guide Price: £12,000,000 Along the stunning banks of the River Thames stands an iconic 21-room riverside hotel, on the market for the first time in 50 years. A much-loved spot for esteemed guests such as Princess Margaret and Lady Diana, this gem holds a cherished place in the hearts of many. Haslams presents the rare opportunity to own <strong>The</strong> French Horn, its adjacent residential properties and surrounding 8.6 acres. Get in touch with us today for more information. sales@haslams.net 0118 960 1000
Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning & Sonning Eye since 1869 Church of St Andrew Serving Sonning, Charvil & Sonning Eye <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> Te <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> 1869 - <strong>February</strong> <strong>2024</strong> 1 <strong>2024</strong> Serving Charvil, Sonning and Sonning Eye <strong>The</strong> John King Trophy and Gold Award Best <strong>Magazine</strong> of the Year 2018 National <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> Awards Best Overall 2015, 2020, 2022, 2023 Best Content 2016, 2021 Best Editor 2019 Best Print 2018 information — 1 Contents <strong>February</strong> <strong>2024</strong> THE VICAR'S LETTER, 5 THE PARISH NOTICEBOARD — I am a Christian, 7 — <strong>February</strong> Prayers, 7 — Transfiguration Sunday, 7 — STAY, 8-9 — Why am I a Christian, 11 — Claude's view from the pew, 13 — From the editor's desk, 13 — Algerian persecutions, 15 — India persecutions, 15 — Saint Joseph, 17 — From the Organ Bench, 19 — War in Gaza, 19 FEATURES — Candlemas and Christingle, 20-21 — Bears, hedgehogs and birds, 23 —around the villages — Santa in Berkshire, 24 — Monday Club, 24 — Sonning Gardens, 24 — Rotary bumper year, 24 — Sonning School Nativities, 25 — Scarecrows <strong>2024</strong>, 25 — TRHA gardens, 25 — Sonning floods, 27 THE ARTS — Nunc Dimittis, 29 — Poetry Corner, 30 FASHION — St Valentine's Day, 31 THE SCIENCES — Creation, 32 This ISSUE's FRONT COVER <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>February</strong> <strong>2024</strong> — Candlemas with Christingle 155 Christingle Image: PowerofFlowers, dreamstime.com EDITORIAL DEADLINE <strong>The</strong> editorial deadline for every issue of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is 12 noon on the sixth day of the month prior to the date of publication. <strong>The</strong> deadline for the March issue of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is: Tuesday 6 <strong>February</strong> at 12 noon <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> online <strong>The</strong> 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: editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk YEARS the church of st andrew, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye SINCE THE 7 th CENTURY <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>February</strong> <strong>2024</strong> 3 Services at St Andrew’s Sunday 4 <strong>February</strong> — 8.00am Holy Communion — 10.30am Family Candlemas Service with Christingles — 4.00pm Choral Evensong followed by tea in the Ark Sunday 11 <strong>February</strong> — 8.00am Holy Communion — 10.30am <strong>Parish</strong> Eucharist with STAY and Sunday Club Ash Wednesday 14 <strong>February</strong> — 4.00pm Holy Communion with the optional imposition of ashes Sunday 18 <strong>February</strong> — 8.00am Holy Communion — 10.30am Family Communion — 3.00pm Messy Church —Sunday 25 <strong>February</strong> — 8.00am Holy Communion — 10.30pm <strong>Parish</strong> Eucharist with STAY and Sunday Club — 5.45pm Sunday at Six in <strong>The</strong> Ark OTHER REGULAR SERVICES Morning Prayer is held in church every Tuesday at 9.30am. Mid-week Communion in <strong>The</strong> Ark is held every Wednesday at 10.00am. Tea and coffee follows the service. Home Communion at Sonning Gardens Care Home is held on the first Monday of each month at 11.00am. history, 32 BOOK REVIEWS FOR LENT, 33 PUZZLE PAGES, 34-35 children's page, 37 information — Church services, 3 — From the registers, 3 — Local Trades and Services, 36 — <strong>Parish</strong> contacts, 38 — Advertisers' index, 38 From the Registers baptismS — Sunday 10 December: Bonnie-Mae Elsie Dovaston, Amy Nicole Salter, Leighton Connor Lee Saunders FUNERALS — Tuesday 19 December: Julie Digby, funeral service in St Andrew's Church