The Parish Magazine December 2024

the parish noticeboard — 4
SHARING
Katherine Karalus in July/
August wrote: It's because others
shared their faith, encouraged my
faith, helped to ignite my spark
and burn my flame brighter and,
importantly, because I invited Jesus
into my life and asked God to show
me my way. We can choose to let
it ignite our faith, keep it burning
or let it go out, and even more
importantly, we can help to ignite
and keep each other's faith burning.
A CHOICE
Chris West in September told
us: Being a Christian is not about
belonging to a secret society and
it is not for a chosen few. Being a
Christian is a choice we can all make:
— Whatever it is you need, Jesus
has it;
— Whatever it is you want, Jesus
knows what is best for you
— Whatever it is you have, Jesus
wants you to use it for his
kingdom and his glory.
This is why I am a Christian!
FEAR OF GOD
Bob Peters wrote in October: I am
a Christian because I fear God, in
the sense of respecting him, obeying
him, submitting to his discipline,
and worshiping him.
And because he answers our
prayers, not always in the way that
we want, but in a way that is always
best for us.
HELPED BY OTHERS
And last month, Trish Hayes told
us: Many people have helped me
along the way in my faith journey
including, friends and family who
accepted my conversion, and an
anonymous 'Good Samaritan' on
Ealing Broadway Station.
'For I am persuaded, that neither death
nor life nor angels nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come, nor height nor depth,
nor any created thing, can separate us
from the love of God which is in Christ
Jesus.'(Romans 8:38-39).
That is why I am a Christian.
How would you answer the
question? I will be pleased to hear from
you and share your reasons on these
pages! — Bob Peters
Reading Family Aid
Toys and Teens 2024
Christmas appeal
During the 10.30am
Family Service in St
Andrew's Church on
1 December we will
once again support
the Reading Family
Aid Toys & Teens
Christmas Appeal by
collecting unwrapped
gifts and cash which will be passed
on to the organisers.
Last year, Reading Family Aid
provided Christmas presents to
2,484 children in the Reading area
who otherwise may not have received
any gifts.
The organisers expect the number
of children needing support this year
to be higher than ever, and are they
especially in need of donations for
older children.
At the appeal's launch, the Mayor
of Reading, Councillor Glenn Dennis,
said: 'I am pleased to be launching the
incredibly important Toys and Teens
Appeal this year. It supports children
from really poor backgrounds whose
The Parish Magazine — December 2024 11
Frizzantine, dreamstime.com
families don't have the means to provide
them with a present at Christmas'.
It is important to bring your
gifts to the service in St Andrew's
unwrapped, as this will save time
during the sorting process by the
Reading Family Aid organisers — it
is better to spend the money you save
on wrapping materials on the gifts
and it will save the organisers the job
of opening all the presents to check
them before re-wrapping them again!
If you are not sure what gift will
be suitable you can find a wish list
— starting at £2 — prepared by the
organisers at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/
ls/3PGW0EDJO1F4M?ref_=wl_share
Don't forget your Christmas cards!
FoStAC 2024
Christmas Cards are
on sale in The Ark
from 11.30am after
the Sunday service
or at other times by
email from:
FoStAC-Magnus@
outlook.com
The Friends of St
Andrew’s Church
(FoStAC) are selling
their 2024 Christmas
Cards for £6 a pack
of 10 cards and
envelopes.
This year’s design
is a photograph taken
by Keith Hawkins and
features ‘The Advent
wreath and Christmas
Tree at Saint Andrew’s
Church.’
135 DECEMBER 2O24.indd 11 13/11/2024 10:15:01