2 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> — <strong>December</strong> <strong>2024</strong> Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to this advertisement COMING SOON Acrefield Sonning RG4 Created by renowned local developer, Elegant Homes, known for their thoughtful and meticulous designs, each home combines traditional and contemporary architecture with premium finishes. Spacious open-plan living areas, bespoke kitchens with high-end appliances, and beautifully designed bedrooms provide comfort and style. Generous gardens and ample parking plus a garage make these homes ideal for families. To register your interest, contact: 0118 960 1010 newhomes@haslams.net 135 DECEMBER 2O24.indd 2 13/11/<strong>2024</strong> 10:14:34
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>December</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>December</strong> <strong>2024</strong> THE VICAR'S LETTER, 5 THE PARISH NOTICEBOARD — Advent Sunday Family Service, 7 — Candlelit Carol Service, 7 — Sunday 29 <strong>December</strong>, 7 — For your prayers, 7 — Diary dates, 7 — Christmas Crib Service, 7 — STAY, 8-9 — Why I am a Christian, 10-11 — Toys and Teens Appeal, 11 — Father who?, 13 — From the editor's desk, 13 — <strong>The</strong> Persecuted Church, 15 FEATURES — Three Christmas questions, 17 — Claude's Christmas past, 19 — TV licence rules, 20 — Christmas thoughts, 20 — Sonning's Saint, 21 — Christmas parish events, 22-23 — 1914-18 is never forgotten, 24 around the villages — WI Glebe 60th anniversary, 25 — Christmas sacks, 25 — Pumpkins and Halloween, 25 — Young football players wanted, 25 — Remembering <strong>2024</strong>, 27 — RNLI wants muscians, 27 HOME AND GARDEN — A foot in the garden, 28 — Robins, 29 HISTORY — Was it really?, 29 THE SCIENCES — Five trillion cells, 37 THE Christmas quiz — Questions and answers, 33 This ISSUE's FRONT COVER <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>December</strong> <strong>2024</strong> — Advent to Christmas 155 <strong>The</strong> Christmas tree in St Andrew's Church Picture: Keith Hawkins 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 January 2025 issue of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is: Friday 6 <strong>December</strong> at 12 noon Recent issues of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> can also be read online at https://theparishmagazine.co.uk For access to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> archives which holds copies of the magazine from 1869, please contact: 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>December</strong> <strong>2024</strong> 3 Services in St Andrew's Church Sonning Advent Sunday 1 <strong>December</strong> — 8.00am Holy Communion — 10.30am Family Toy Service — 4.00pm Advent Carol Service Second Sunday of Advent 8 <strong>December</strong> — 8.00am Holy Communion — 10.30am <strong>Parish</strong> Eucharist with STAY and Sunday Club — 6.00pm Beer & Carols at the Bull Third Sunday of Advent 15 <strong>December</strong> — 8.00am Holy Communion — 10.30am Family Communion — 3.00pm Messy Christmas — 5pm Traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols Fourth Sunday of Advent 22 <strong>December</strong> — 8.00am Holy Communion — 10.30am <strong>Parish</strong> Eucharist with STAY and Sunday Club Christmas Eve 23 <strong>December</strong> — 4.00pm Crib Service — 11.00 pm Midnight Mass Christmas Day 10.30am <strong>Parish</strong> Eucharist First Sunday of Christmas Sunday 29 <strong>December</strong> — 10.30am <strong>Parish</strong> Eucharist (Please note: No <strong>Parish</strong> Communion at 8.00am or Sunday at Six) FASHION — Anything goes comfortably, 34 THE ARTS — <strong>The</strong> Incarnation, 35 — Christmas Book Reviews, 35-37 PUZZLE PAGES, 38-39 children's page, 41 INFORMATION, — Church services, 3 — From the registers, 3 — Local Trades and Services, 40 — <strong>Parish</strong> contacts, 42 — Advertisers' index, 42 From the Registers WEDDINGS — Saturday 26 October, Timothy Robert Edwards and Lucy Alice Beer FUNERALS — Friday 11 October, Kaicy Rekai Zelden Brown, burial in the churchyard — Wednesday 23 October, Christina Mary Fincham, interment of ashes in the churchyard OTHER REGULAR SERVICES Morning Prayer is held in the 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. 135 DECEMBER 2O24.indd 3 13/11/<strong>2024</strong> 10:14:34
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