The Parish Magazine January 2025

The Parish Magazine — January 2025 1

The

Parish

Magazine

The John King Trophy and Gold Award

Best Magazine of the Year 2018

National Parish Magazine Awards

Best Overall 2015, 2020, 2022, 2023

Best Content 2016, 2021

Best Editor 2019

Best Print 2018

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

January 2025 — The Epiphany

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 — January 2025 Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to this advertisement

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Best Overall 2015, 2020, 2022, 2023


Best Editor 2019

Best Print 2018

information — 1

Contents January 2025

THE VICAR'S LETTER, 5

THE PARISH NOTICEBOARD

— Bishop confirms 8, 7

— Keeping on the right track, 7

— STAY, 8-9

— Safeguarding, 10

— Why Jesus is called Jesus, 11

— Charity quiz night, 11

— Change your life forever, 13

— Bible Prayers part 1, 15

— Week of Christian Unity, 16

— From the editor's desk, 13

— The Persecuted Church, 15

FEATURES

— Rendezvous calendar, 19

— Claude's pondering, 21

— TV licence rules, 20

— Sonning's rich contribution, 22-23

around tHE VILLages

— Bell ringing, 25

— Sonning School, 25

— TRHA 70 years, 27

— Sonning Art, 27

— Bell ringers wanted, 28

— Diary dates, 28

HISTORY

— John Bosco, 29

— Woodley, 29

— Jan Brueghel, 31

— Was it really, 31

THE SCIENCES

— Astronomy, 33

— When scientists get it wrong, 33

FASHION

— New Year fashions, 35

This ISSUE's FRONT COVER

The

Parish

Magazine

January 2025 — The Epiphany



The first signs of a New Year

and the coming of Spring

Picture: Terelyuk Anna

Dreamstime.com

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 February 2025

issue of The Parish Magazine is:

Monday 6 January

at 12 noon

Recent issues of The Parish Magazine

can also be read online at

https://theparishmagazine.co.uk

For access to The Parish Magazine

archives which holds copies of the

magazine from 1869, please contact:

editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk


Services in

St Andrew's

Church Sonning

The Epiphany Sunday 5 January

— 8.00am Holy Communion

— 10.30am Family Service

— 4.00pm Evensong

Sunday 12 January


— 10.30am Parish Eucharist with

STAY and Sunday Club

Sunday 19 January


— 10.30am Family Communion

— 3.00pm Messy Christmas

Sunday 26 January


— 10.30am Parish Eucharist with

STAY and Sunday Club

OTHER REGULAR SERVICES

Morning Prayer is held in the church

every Tuesday at 9.30am.

Mid-week Communion in The 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.

THE ARTS

— New Year Book Reviews, 36

— Domenico Veneziano, 37

PUZZLE PAGES, 38-39

children's page, 41

INFORMATION

— Church services, 3

— From the registers, 3

— Local Trades and Services, 40

— Parish contacts, 42

— Advertisers' index, 42

From the Registers

BAPTISMS

— Sunday 8 December: Olivia Grace Jane McArthur,

Lilah Woodcock

Lilly Woodcock

FUNERALS

— Thursday 7 November: Interment of ashes of Jillian Regan in the churchyard

— Monday 11 November: Interment of ashes of John Morris in the churchyard

— Friday 6 December: Elizabeth Dempster Harper Simpson, Funeral Service at

Reading Crematorium followed by a Memorial Service in St Andrew's Church

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The vicar's letter

D e a r F r i e n d S,

It is 16 years ago this month that a working party from our

Church Council met to formulate an action plan to decide upon

our main priorities for the next five years.

High on the list was to address our lack of contact with, and

outreach to, children and young people. Well, thanks be to God,

there have been many positive developments since then, and

we greatly value and appreciate what has been achieved. Of

course, those of us with responsibility for the governance of our

church are very mindful of the need for the highest standards of

safeguarding in all our activities with children and young people.

A SAFE PLACE FOR EVERYONE

You may have read about the recent publication of the Makin

Review into the unimaginable abuse perpetrated by John Smyth

within the Church of England over 40 years ago. This led to the

resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and I know of many

frontline clergy who wrote to him asking for this outcome, me

included. I feel it is important to underline our commitment

to making God’s church, specifically here at St Andrew’s, a

safe place for everyone. This was reinforced at a recent Church

Council meeting where we discussed the Review and the importance of safeguarding in our parish. All

churches and church officers follow the safeguarding guidance issued by the House of Bishops, see:

https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/policy-and-practice-guidance

Our safeguarding policy can be found on our website (sonningparish.org.uk/safeguarding/) together

with the contact details of our Parish Safeguarding Officer, Nicola Riley.

Nicola is a senior social worker and court appointed children's guardian with specific safeguarding

training.

Please be assured that we take the safeguarding of children, vulnerable adults and all those who

visit and worship at St Andrew’s extremely seriously. We follow safer recruitment practices for

employing staff and all helpers with our children’s and youth activities need to submit to a Disclosure

and Barring Service (DBS) check and undertake safeguarding training (appropriate to the position)

before they can join our teams. We also work closely with the Diocese of Oxford Safeguarding Team

who provide support for our staff and volunteers.

The Review and associated media coverage may have triggered painful memories of abuse. If this

is the case, I would recommend visiting the Diocese of Oxford’s safeguarding web pages which will

signpost you to relevant support:

https://www.oxford.anglican.org/safeguarding/finding-support/

I am sorry to start the year by raising such a depressing subject. However, the days of sweeping

these things under the carpet are long gone, thankfully. Our youth and children’s work, under our two

excellent youth ministers, goes from strength to strength. But we take nothing for granted and will

continue to hold to the highest standards of safeguarding.

With prayers and best wishes.

Jamie

6 The Parish Magazine — January 2025

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the parish noticeboard — 1


Bishop confirms eight new Church members

Left to right: Westy, Marcella Browne, Panyaporn (Penny) Pruksakit, Elspeth Young, Joseph May, Bishop Jonathan Meyrick, Jonathan Smily, Matt

Robinson, Ian Burns, Chris Smith, Bob Peters and Rev Jamie Taylor

Corinne Robertson

The Rendezvous Christmas lunch in The Ark was enjoyed by over 70 parishioners and friends.

Following a splendid three course Christmas dinner, St Nicholas (bottom right) made a surprise

visit and Caroline Taylor (bottom left) led some joyful Christmas carol singing.

Bishop Jonathan Meyrick cuts the first slice of

the 'Confirmation Cake' made by Sue Peters

Corinne Robertson



St Andrew's Youth

Westy

email or text me, Westy, for ideas,

a chat or to encourage

what we are doing:

youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk

0794 622 4106

Alpha Youth

We completed the Alpha Youth videos towards the end of November and what a great time we had! Each week

we watched a short video on different questions and topics to do with faith, life and beliefs. We ate pizza, snacks

and drinks. A big thanks to our dedicated team of volunteers. The young people asked if we could do it all again

straight after! I think we will wait until 2025 but watch this space as the new Alpha Youth series in January.

STAY Baptism and Confirmation

After Alpha Youth one young person asked to be baptised and two were confirmed. It was a declaration of faith

that following the way of Christ is the best future they can hope for. We can’t wait for more baptisms at Easter!

STAY on Monday:

We met in young peoples' homes during November and early December for our faith building STAY on Monday

group, and we had some new members following the alpha youth course. STAY on Monday is designed to be a

fun and relaxed space for young people to meet with friends, enjoy some games and faith based videos together

and have snacks in the comfort of each other’s homes. One of our faves was in early December playing Santa

Banter (a rhyming memory game) in two teams, boys v girls. It was a close game but the girls took the win 3 -2!

STAY on Sunday

Our STAY on Sunday youth group now meets on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Sundays of each month at 10.30am in

The Ark. The first Sunday is the family service in the church, which all youth and children are welcome to attend.

Throughout November we encouraged STAY to join in with both the Remembrance and Confirmation services,

meaning we had one Sunday in November to meet as STAY. We saw 16 young people meet to play big games in

The Ark, and ended with a chat about the parable of the farmer scattering seed regardless of where it landed.

Meaning? We are to tell everyone about the hope we have in Jesus wherever we go.

STAY in Schools

Our work in schools continued throughout November with mentoring, assemblies, prayer meetings, the CU and

other ad hoc events. We delivered assemblies to the local primary schools on the fruits of the spirit in Galatians.

We also took several new referrals in our mentoring programme as a few young people moved on, meaning

they felt able and equipped to cope with life and all its pressures. We use a traffic light system where a red light

means a student has hit the brakes and something isn’t quite right. An amber light is our mentoring sessions and

learning together how to best cope and have space to decompress, and the Green light is when a student feels

able to cope and moves on from the sessions.

STAY on Friday.

We celebrated Alex turning 18 with a 'Great STAY Bake Off' the winners

were Alex, Mark and Sterling with their ginger and cinnamon cup cakes!

Reading Youth Night

On Sunday 19 January the youth from across the town are gathering for a fun evening at St Agnes Church in

Whitley from 6.30 — 8pm. Everyone is welcome. Email me on youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk to book a space.

Ordinand Studies

For those interested in my journey of ordination you’ll be pleased to know I have completed term 1 at St Mellitus

College in London. Modules this term have been in; Foundations in Theology and Reflective Practice, Christian

Worship, Church History and Christian Spirituality. I am enjoying studying and the feeling of stretching my

brain is both painful and fulfilling!


November

was a lively,

wonderful,

month of

fun!

POPPING BUBBLES

Corinne

As November was filled with celebration, prayer,

Remembrance, and thanksgiving, our typical

Sunday pattern was atypical this month.

At our All Saints family service on the first Sunday

of November, I talked about how we are called to be

Saints and that we have many religious icons and

people that we can look up to and strive to be like.

We didn't meet as a group for Sunday Club

in November as the second Sunday was the

Remembrance Day service. As is tradition, we all met

in the church and called in prayer and remembrance

for all those who dedicated their lives during an

important time in history. As poppies symbolise

hope, so does our faith in times of injustice and loss.

During the third Sunday, we celebrated Biblical

mountainsides at Messy Church and highlighted

Elijah's fire in our story time, and how God showed

up for Elijah in his time of need. As someone who

grew up alongside the Rocky Mountains, I feel a deep

and holy connection with nature and mountains and

we talked about how appreciation for, and with, God

can be all around us.

The fourth Sunday of the month was our

Confirmation service. It was such a joy to see our

candidates go through the Confirmation, including

some of our young people and adults from this year's

Alpha Courses.

Our work in the schools is continuing to go well

and Westy and I have been delivering assemblies

on the fruits of the spirit. In November, I led an

assembly on self-control and the kids had fun

exercising self-control with popping (or maybe it's

better to say not popping) soap bubbles that were

being blown!

In addition to assemblies, I have continued to

mentor students, meeting with student worship

leaders, and I have recently started a lunch group

at Wargrave Piggott. This is in addition to Westy's

newly founded lunch group, termed 'Yap with the

chap(lain)'.

We run two groups on different days and

offer space for young people to talk about life and

ask questions about faith. The last session I ran

had about 20 girls attend, which was lively and

wonderful!


the parish noticeboard — 3— 3

Safeguarding: everyone’s responsibility in the Church

The independent review by Keith

Makin into the Church of England’s

handling of allegations of serious

abuse by the late John Smyth was

published in November last year.

The review said, 'The abuse at the

hands of John Smyth was prolific

and abhorrent.

Words cannot adequately describe

the horror of what transpired.

'Many of the victims who took the

brave decision to speak to us about

what they experienced have carried

this abuse silently for more than 40

years.

'Despite the efforts of some

individuals to bring the abuse to

the attention of authorities, the

responses by the Church of England

and others were wholly ineffective

and amounted to a cover up.

'The Church and its associated

organisations must learn from

this review and implement robust

safeguarding procedures across their

organisations that are governed

independently.

'This has been a long process

but a necessary one to uncover the

extent of John Smyth’s despicable

behaviour and how the Church

reacted to it.

'I would like to sincerely thank

the victims for their courage,

grace and dignity and I would like

to remind everyone reporting on

this review about their right to

anonymity and privacy.'

DEEPLY SORRY

The Church of England’s Lead

Safeguarding Bishop, Joanne

Grenfell, and the National Director

of Safeguarding, Alexander

Kubeyinje said:

'We are deeply sorry for the

horrific abuse inflicted by the late

John Smyth and its lifelong effects,

already spanning more than 40

years.

'The review concludes that Smyth

is arguably the most prolific serial

abuser to be associated with the

Church of England.

'We know that no words can

undo the damage done to people’s

lives both by him and by the failure

of individuals in the Church and

other institutions to respond well.

We are also aware that the time the

review has taken, which the reviewer

addresses, as well as the details now

in the public domain have been

re-traumatising for survivors.

'We highlight the comment in

the review from a deceased cleric —

David Fletcher — who was aware in

the 1980s, along with others, of the

extent of the abuse:

‘I thought it would do the work

of God immense damage if this were

public’.

APPALLED

'We are appalled that any clergy

person could believe that covering

up abuse was justified in the name

of the Gospel, which is about

proclaiming Good News to the poor

and healing the broken hearted.

'It was wrong for a seemingly

privileged group from an elite

background to decide that the needs

of victims should be set aside, and

that Smyth’s abuse should not

therefore be brought to light.

'Every member of the Church is

responsible for a culture in which

victims are heard, responded to well,

and put first: there is never a place

for covering up abuse.

'We are aware of criticisms

in the report of individuals and

organisations and names of clergy

were passed to the National

Safeguarding Team, NST, from the

reviewer.

CRITICISED

'Of those who were interviewed,

25 were questioned about their

knowledge of Smyth and had their

safeguarding risk assessed.

'The reviewer also had a duty to

pass on information to statutory

authorities including police if

appropriate.

'Permissions to officiate were

removed for some clergy while their

actions were considered.

'Some seriously criticised in the

report are deceased, others are not.

'The NST will now consider if

there is any new evidence in the

report that needs to be considered

to assess if there is any ongoing

safeguarding risk and if there is

The Church of England’s Lead Safeguarding

Bishop, Joanne Grenfell

evidence to support any disciplinary

process.

'The report also highlights

Smyth’s abuse in Zimbabwe, where

a boy died and many more were

abused. It is clear that Smyth went

abroad in the early 1980s following

the discovery of his abuse here and in

full knowledge of the church officers

named in the report.

'The reviewer urges the Church to

consider commissioning a report into

Smyth’s actions both in Zimbabwe

and South Africa.

'We will now seek to progress

this in appropriate ways (noting the

recommendation for international

information sharing) and liaise

with counterparts there who would

need to lead on any subsequent

investigation, which we would fully

support.

'We also note the criticism of the

Church’s response in 2013 and 2017.

We apologise unreservedly that the

needs of the victims were not at the

forefront in terms of thinking and

planning and the response was not

trauma informed.

'We will continue to learn lessons

about responding well which is

reflected in our revised guidance and

survivor engagement framework.

'We welcome all the

recommendations and will consider

them now in detail, noting work

already underway.

'We wholeheartedly endorse

the reviewer’s emphasis that

safeguarding must be everyone’s

responsibility in the Church,

working closely with safeguarding

professionals.'


Why Jesus is called . . .


The Church of England recalls the naming of Jesus on 1

January — eight days after his birth on 25 December.

This reflects the Jewish tradition that male babies were

circumcised and named on their eighth day of life. But

why call him Jesus?

In Biblical times the name Jesus was not unusual. It is

derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua, meaning saviour,

and there are other people in the Bible called Jesus, for

example, Jesus Barabbas, Jesus ben Ananias and Jesus

ben Sirach.

Today, the name is a much less common choice

for modern parents, reflecting the deep respect that

Christians place on the name of the Son of God. For

example, the name, Jesus, is ranked as the 256th most

popular given name in the United States.

THE WORLD'S LARGEST

Christianity is the world's largest religion accounting

for 31.1% according to Wikipedia. This compares with

Islam at 24.9%; Irreligion — the rejection of all forms

of religion — at 15.6%; and Hinduism (15.2%); Buddhism

(6.6%); and Folk religions (5.6%)

Another estimate put the number of people called

Jesus in America as 82 for every 100,000 alternative

names, and the American Social Security Administration's

(SSA) baby names database gives the estimated

population of people named Jesus in America as 195,154,

of which 99% are male.

The above figures are more remarkable when compared

with other world-wide known people, for example, Elvis

Presley for whom SSA estimates there is a population of

only 13,411 called Elvis. Elvis had a Pentecostal church

background and his love of gospel music is well known, as

is his belief that his talent and strength was God given.

What does love look like?

It has hands to help others.

It has feet to hasten to the poor and needy.

It has eyes to see misery and want.

It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.

That is what love looks like.

St Augustine of Hippo

Arak Rattanawijittakorn, dreamstime.com

In the Gospel of Luke 1:31 an angel tells Mary to name

her child Jesus because he will save his people from their

sins, and in Matthew 1:21 an angel tells Joseph to name

the child Jesus during a dream.

In Jewish tradition, names expressed aspects of

personality, and Jesus’ name permeated his ministry, and

it still does today: we are baptised in the name of Jesus

(Acts 2:38), we are justified through the name of Jesus

(1 Cor 6:11); and God the Father has given Jesus a name

above all others (Phil 2:9).

All Christian prayer is through ‘Jesus Christ our Lord’,

and it is ‘at the name of Jesus’ that one day every knee

shall bow.

And if you are wondering about the image at the top of

this page, it illustrates that all the books of the Bible are

in the name of Jesus!

Annual General Meeting

followed by

with

Fish & Chip Supper

Thursday 27 March at 7.30pm

in The Ark at St Andrew’s Church

In aid of FoStAC fund raising for future repairs to St Andrew’s Church

Tickets £20.00 including Fish & Chip Supper

(Please bring your own bottle/ drink)

Please email Sally Wilson on mustangsallywilson@gmail.com

or 0118 979 3328 to confirm your place.

Quiz teams will be in tables of four and payment can be made to any of the FoStAC

Trustees in advance of the event or by payment card on the door.

Closing date for numbers will be 10am on Monday 24 March

to allow for Fish & Chips to be ordered in advance.

Registered Charity No: 1101944

12 The Parish Magazine — January 2025 Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements

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parish noticeboard — 5

Learning to change our life foreverr

I once met a shop fitter who had been working in a large

London store in one of two teams of fitters, writes Bob

Peters. They had worked overnight with each team

doing identical halves of the shop. You can imagine the

competition.

One team set to work and rapidly their half took shape, while

the other team sat around talking about how they would do

it. By midnight the first team had almost set everything up

while the other team had little to show.

Then disaster struck the first team. A fundamental

mistake meant all the display units had to be rebuilt. It was

going to be difficult to finish by opening time.

Meanwhile, the second team, having thought the project

through, worked steadily and finished in plenty of time to

enjoy breakfast while they waited for the others to catch up.

Their success lay in the first two hours when they carefully

read the instructions before a screwdriver was taken out of

the toolbox.

Taking time to think before we act is a useful lesson for

us all, although I admit that I would probably have been a

member of the first team! I believe it is a lesson that applies

to all Christians. First we need to study our instruction

manual — the Bible — and then think about what God is

saying to us before we do or say anything. That way we can

achieve much more for God in the world.

SMALL THINGS

After retiring as Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord George

Carey travelled around the UK giving a series talks during

which he urged Christians to do small things for God where

we live. In that way, he said, we could make the world a much

better place.

I often think of this as I hear the Christmas story

recounted at this time of the year. It’s hard for us not be like

the first team of shop fitters and think that we have heard it

all before, but I can assure you that if you make time to think

about what the Christmas story really means you will be

surprised. In my experience the Bible, however familiar we

are with it, always has something new or different to say, or it

always reminds us of something we have not thought about

for some time.

STIMULATING THOUGHTS

A few years ago I led a Bible study group at the Sonning

care home. Some of the group were in their 90's and had read

the Bible and attended church for most of their lives, yet they

would often tell me that they had learnt something new, even

though they had read a particular story many times before.

Most years I’ve found reading and listening to the

Christmas narratives stimulates a thought that runs through

all of them. It could be the acknowledgement that God is with

us, or it could be the fantastic faith, obedience and courage

of a young girl called Mary, or the quiet, patient love and

support of Joseph.

Then there is the mysterious, yet powerful work of the

Holy Spirit in the world, or the kind of respect shown by the

shepherds and the magi that only God deserves. They all went

out of their way to find the new born child and to worship

him along with a multitude of angels in heaven. And there are


other themes that might come to mind at this time of year

— the poverty and humbleness surrounding the birth and

the jealousy and hatred that this child’s birth caused among

those who feared that their power would be eroded.

Another thing that often strikes me is the briefness of

the Christmas story in the Bible. Much of the Christmas

tradition, such as the number of magi, their names and the

time of their arrival, a description of the stable nativity scene

we use, rather than an underground cave, and so on, are not

found in the Bible. They are additions that add to the wonder

of Christmas.

If you compare the length of the Christmas narratives

with the reams of articles and radio and tv reports that often

make the national news, the space given to the birth of the

king of kings, the greatest teacher and most admired and

inspirational person to have ever walked on earth, and as

the shepherds, the angels and the magi show us, is worthy

of being worshipped as God, then the space used to tell his

story in the Bible is amazingly small.

Yet despite the briefness of the Christmas story in the

Bible there is always something fresh and new to be learned

from every word because they are there for a good reason.

GOD OF ALL NATIONS

Bible scholars agree that the purpose of Matthew’s gospel

in which the story of the magi is recorded, is to convince the

Jewish people that Jesus is the Messiah promised in the

ancient scriptures. It is about a Jewish King who is to save

the Jewish nation. Yet at the beginning of his book, Matthew

includes the magi, wise men from the East, probably Persia,

the area that today includes Iraq and Iran.

These men are clearly Gentiles, yet they had travelled

great distances to worship the new born King of the Jews.

So at the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel, a book whose

author’s purpose is to convince Jewish people about Jesus

being their Messiah, we find God revealing himself to be the

god of not only the Jewish people but of all nations – Jew and

Gentile alike.

The magi's visit was clearly included in Matthew’s gospel

as part of God’s revelation of his plan for the universal

church. This is why, making time to study the Bible helps

us to understand God better and so build a stronger

relationship with him.

When we seek to do this with sincere determination as

the magi did, we will find him. He is not hiding from us. He

wants to have a closer, more intimate, relationship with each

of us. After the magi visited God's son, they did not go back

the way they came. Likewise, as we get to know God better

our new way of life will be changed forever.


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THE PERSECUTED CHURCH BY COLIN BAILEY

Syrian Orthodox Christians

Kobby Dagan, dreamstime.com

Syrian Christians, at the time of writing, 4 December, are

asking for urgent prayer as an armed rebel group, HTS

(Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), has taken control of Syria’s second

city Aleppo in the northwest of the country and more than

50 nearby villages.

Many people in Aleppo are scared of renewed fighting,

according to locals who the BBC spoke to. HTS started in 2011

under the name Jabhat al-Nusra, linked to al-Qaeda. The BBC

dubbed it the deadliest group ranged at President Assad at the

beginning of the civil war.

Aleppo had been captured by rebels in the early years of

the civil war. There was a division of the city in Spring 2013 –

parts of Aleppo being controlled by variously the government,

'moderate' rebel groups, and more extremist Salafist groups.

Aleppo was retaken in 2016 by Syrian government forces

backed by Russia. Overall, Syria today is controlled by two

rival powers: the Assad regime, control arbout 70% of the

country, and the Autonomous Administration of North and

East Syria (AANES) which administers territory in the north

alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces.

AANES, although 'far from perfect' according to

International Christian Concern houses within its

internationally unrecognised government an Office of

Religion and Beliefs that promotes freedom and interfaith

tolerance in the region.

Added to the warfare, the city was hit by the strong

earthquake of 2023, killing hundreds of people. At that

time, the AANES and religious minority communities had a

particularly difficult time obtaining relief, which in most cases

had to come through Turkey.

HTS and other factions named an recent offensive as

'Repelling Aggression', which points at the bombardments

by the Syrian army and its allies on HTS-controlled areas in

Idlib and in the northwest. HTS’s agenda is to oust the Assad

regime and Hezbollah from the country and install Islamic

rule in Syria. Where HTS have been in control, in Idlib, crosses

were removed from church buildings and Christian clergy

are forbidden to wear clothes identifying them as priests. In

light of the recent developments in the region, a statement

Juan Camilo Bernal, dreamstime.com

Urgent Prayers for Syrian Christians

CROSSES REMOVED

from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development

Office urges all parties to protect civilian lives and calls for

a Syrian-led political solution to the conflict. It stated that

the 'regime and all actors in Syria’s conflict must support and

engage with negotiations as called for in UNSCR (UN Security

Council Resolution) 2254.' This resolution was adopted in 2015

and outlines a road map for ending the Syrian conflict and

establishing a political settlement.

CHRISTIAN FEARS

Christians do not know what to expect, but fear that the

change of control over the city and villages might negatively

impact their freedom. They also fear further bloodshed from

any counterattack on the city by the Syrian government.

The situation in Aleppo currently is that of schools and

most shops are closed. There have been some bombardments

on Aleppo by the Syrian and/or Russian airforce.

Open Doors works through local churches in Syria where

it has a ministry of encouragement and strengthening

church leadership. Among its services, it enables literature

distribution, ministry and discipleship training, trauma

counselling, and vocational support.Open Doors asks the

international church to pray for the people in Aleppo and

especially our brothers and sisters.

STOP PRESS: In the 48 hours since writing this article, news

has come in that armed rebels have reached Syria’s capital

Damascus and that President Assad has left the country.

Please pray for all of Syria including its Christians as they

prepare for an uncertain future.

References and further reading

Open Doors: Syrian Christians Prayer Request

https://www.instagram.com/opendoorsuk

Open Doors: Q&A on Syria

https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/aleppo-syria-questions/

BBC news report: inside Aleppo - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/

cvgreznl929o

UK statement on developments in Syria - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/

uk-statement-on-developments-in-syria

International Christian Concern on Syria - https://www.persecution.

org/2024/12/04/syria-where-christians-are-targeted-amid-distabilizing-conflicts/

UN Security Council Resolution: 2254 - http://unscr.com/en/resolutions/2254

Wikipedia article on UNSCR 2254 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_

Security_Council_Resolution_2254



BIBLE PRAYERS PART ONE

Praying about

the unknown

By Rev Dr Herbert McGonigle

In this series we will be looking at 12 prayers found in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. Some are prayers

for personal circumstances, while others relate to family or church or nation. In studying all 12 prayers the emphasis

will be on what we can learn about prayer and how we can be encouraged to pray more regularly, more fervently and

more expectantly.

Praying about the unknown future:

'O Lord God, what will you give me,

for I continue childless, and the heir

of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?'

Genesis 15:2-3.

This is the Bible’s first prayer. That

doesn’t mean that no one before

Abraham had prayed, but this is the

first time we have a record of someone

praying to God.

We learn as early as Genesis 4 that

“men began to call on the name of the

Lord” (v.26) but it does not explicitly

say that they prayed. We can hardly

believe that godly men like Enoch and

Noah never prayed. Enoch ‘walked

with God’ and in his long pilgrimage of

three hundred years of fellowship with

God (Gen. 5:22) he must have prayed

many times,

PROMISES

Even before Abraham’s first prayer

is mentioned we are told that God

appeared to him, that he built an altar

for sacrifice and worship and that he

called on the name of the Lord (Gen.

12;7; 13:18). But now he faces a real

crisis in his life.

When God first appeared to him,

he had been promised that from his

family a great nation would emerge

(Gen. 12:1-3). Now many years later

he still has no children and custom

dictates that his chief servant,

Eliezer, will inherit everything. Has

God forgotten him? Were all those

promises of being a father just make

believe or self-delusion?

So he cried to God, “What will you

give me?” It was a desperate prayer

from a desperate heart. What was

God doing? Why had he not kept his

promises? Had he forgotten? Was he

not able to do what he had promised?

We have all been where Abraham

was when he prayed that prayer. We

want to believe but why is nothing

happening?

Then God answered! 'Your own son

shall be your heir' (v.4). This wonderful

answer was sealed with a dramatic

illustration. God directed Abraham to

look up into the night sky. 'Number

the stars if you can,' God said. 'So

shall your descendants be.' Abraham

would one day have as many offspring

as the stars in the sky! Impossible?

Incredible? Far-fetched?

Thodonal, dreamstime.com

But it happened! The next chapter

records the birth of his son Ishmael,

and two chapters later we read of the

birth of Isaac, the son of promise.

And history, both biblical and secular,

confirms that the illustration from

the stars was no exaggeration!

So, the Bible’s first prayer helps

us in several ways. First, when our

hearts ache because of fear or doubt

or uncertainty, take it to God in

prayer. Second, God’s delays are not

denials. Third, with Abraham who

‘believed the Lord’ (v.6), let us trust

quietly in our sovereign and gracious

God.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Saturday 18 January — Saturday, 25 January

Not many people know that it is now 1,700 years since the First Council of

Nicaea. Anyway — so what?

Because the Council of Nicaea, in 325, was the very first ecumenical council that

the Christian Church ever held. A serious heresy had crept into the Eastern

Church: Arianism, which taught that Jesus Christ was not divine, but only human.

To resolve the crisis, the Emperor Constantine called a council and summoned

both the Western Church and the Eastern Church. Constantine knew that the

Church had to get together and pull in the same direction. They did, and out of that

Council came the Nicene Creed.

Get together and pull in the same direction. That is a good description of what

Christ’s Church on earth should be doing. That is the hope of the Week of Prayer

for Christian Unity.

For 2025, the theme of Week of Prayer for Christian Unity focuses on belief, in

commemoration of the Council of Nicaea, held so long ago.

The Scripture passage chosen for the worship service is Martha’s confession of

faith in Jesus, as narrated in John 11:17-27. Jesus had said: ‘I am the resurrection

and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and

whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she

replied, ‘I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the

world.’

Jesus is the Messiah. He is divine. Mary believed in Him, and so did the Council

of Nicaea in 325. And so do hundreds of millions of Christians today.


How to

run your

diary

My dear Nephew Darren,

Flynt, Dreamstime.com

The Rev Dr Gary Bowness writes a topical 'tongue-incheek'

letter to his nephew …

So, you have just attended a ‘Diary Management’ course,

to get you prepared for another year. If you had visited me,

I could have told you all you need to know in half the time.

Allow me to provide you with useful information which

was probably not provided in your conference hand-outs.

First, buy the smallest diary you can find. Large blank

pages only encourage you to fill them with too many

appointments; the smaller the page, the easier it can be

made to appear that your days are fully booked.

Second, make sure that it is of a size that will

conveniently fit into any pocket. When dates are being

arranged for subsequent meetings, you can theatrically

start going through jacket, trouser and overcoat pockets.

By the time you discover it was in your briefcase all along,

all the dates will have been fixed and no one will notice

you never got any of them.

Third, adopt your own private code for bookings. This

means that any parishioner looking over your shoulder

and seeing ‘1.30pm PLS’ or ‘7.30pm WTD’ will assume you

are attending important church meetings.

The fact that they mean ‘Post Lunch Sleep’ and ‘Walk

The Dog’ will be known to you alone — although do have

alternative possibilities for your acronyms should you ever

be challenged.

My congregation know I am assiduous in attending

the ‘Pauline Letters Seminars’ and my membership of the

‘World Theology Directorate’ is of many years standing.

Fourth, record everything in pencil so that once you

return home, you can rub most of it out and can then

deny you knew anything about those meetings you were

supposed to attend — and to prove it, you can show the

blank page in your diary.

Fifth, put someone else’s address inside your diary.

Should you ever have to resort to the ultimate act and

need to lose it, you do not want some Good Samaritan

returning it to you from the churchyard compost heap.

So, you see, your day of flip charts and group

discussions were quite wasted — and I would gladly have

presented my course for half their price!

Your loving uncle, Eustace

From the

editor's

desk

Happy 2025!


This month we welcome some new advertisers and say

farewell and say thank you to some who are either have

retired, or are no longer trading, or simply don't have

budgets to advertise for the time being.

We know that at least two advertisers will be joining us

during the next few months, so I am pleased to say that,

unusually, we are starting the year with a 44 page issue — in

most recent most years we have started in January with 40

pages and increased to 44 as new advertisers join us.

We are extremely grateful for the support so many local

business have given us over the years, and continue to do so.

I know through my role with the Association of Church

Editors that many churches struggle not only to fund their

magazines but to find people willing to produce them.

ADVERTISING

For the last 12 years Gordon Nutbrown was in charge of

the advertising, the income of which covers the production

and printing costs, but he has now retired. Even so he still

provides us with his expert business knowledge of the

printing world, so I thank him for continuing to be available

for advice.

My special New Year thanks also go to Ian MacCann,

who joined the team to manage the advertising. He is

now firmly in control of it and has certainly earned his

Christmas break — at the time of writing it is two weeks

before Christmas!

Also at this time I have been reminded just how reliant

we are today on technology. For three or four days recently I

did not receive any emails. I could send but not receive them.

Today, however, they have started coming through again.

This reminded me just how much we have all become

reliant on computers and mobile phones. Like all humanmade

things in life we should never taken technology for

granted.

I learnt this at an early age as an apprentice electronics

engineer. One day I was assigned to an instrument test

section housed in a Faraday Cage — this was a large air

tight, metal cabin with thick walls in the middle of a noisy

production area. It was environmentally sealed from

the electrical noise and the dirt and grime generated in

manufacturing areas.

One of my roles was to be a messenger boy which had the

advantage of occasionally getting some fresh air.

The first 'fresh air' job took me to the tool store to collect

a 'long weight'. The friendly store manager said OK and

continued finding tools for other people. After about 10

minutes I plucked up courage to ask where my 'long weight'

was. 'Haven't you waited long enough' he said with a big grin

on his face and much laughter from his other customers!


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feature — 1


Rendezvous in The Ark

2025 CALENDAR

JANUARY

14 & 28

APRIL

15 & 29

JULY

8 & 22

OCTOBER

14 & 28

FEBRUARY

11 & 25

MAY

13 & 27

AUGUST

12 & 26

NOVEMBER

11 & 25

To reserve your seat or for more information:

0118 969 3298 or 0ffice@sonningparish.org.uk

Now in its seventh year,

the Rendezvous Lunch Club

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St Andrew's Church Sonning on

every second and fourth Tuesday

of the month (except December)

for a two course lunch, followed

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conversation.

MARCH

11 & 25

JUNE

10 & 24

SEPTEMBER

9 & 23

DECEMBER

9





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feature — 2


Claude ponders on sunshine, darkness,

London smog and clean air . . .

Many years ago, when I was bored at work, I decided to look at how the

sunrise and sunset times changed throughout the year. Remember that this

was a long time before easy access to information on the internet! My diary

had these times for each week and so I carefully plotted them on graph paper.

It was really interesting to see how,

six weeks either side of the longest

and shortest days, the times didn’t

change much but, for the weeks

prior to and following these, there

was a significant difference. I had

drawn a beautiful hyperbolic curve!

So, according to my graph, at the

beginning of January, we are in a

period of little change in daylight

hours, but by the end, we should

be starting to notice the darkness

reducing!

BLACKOUT BLINDS

Several weeks ago, Jamie's Sunday

sermon was based on Jesus and

Bartimaeus, who was blind — it is a

story that is recorded in the Gospels

of Mark, Matthew and Luke.

Jamie recounted that his only

time of being in complete darkness

was in a cave in the Dordogne.

However, I remember during the war

when we had complete darkness.

When I was a boy, I was in

the choir at St John’s Church in

Caversham. It was a reasonable

sized choir and I suppose we must

have practised in a room, as I don’t

remember that the church windows

had blackout blinds during the war.

I remember one night, in

particular. Because of the war, all

the houses were blacked out and the

street lights were never turned on.

After the war, we children used

to sit under the street lights reading

Thanagon Srichanchom, Dreamstime.com

our comics because of the novelty of

them being on!

When there was no moon and

it was heavily clouded there was

absolute blackness. Car lights were

the only way to see, but even then

the headlights were blacked out, with

only a small cross showing, to reduce

the light from them. They couldn’t

have gone very fast. However, they

seldom came along our road

Because it was so black one night,

I wasn’t allowed to cycle home by

myself so my father met me on his

bike to take me home. We couldn’t

see a thing in front of our faces and

didn’t know where we were until my

mother flicked a torch at the gate of

our house to show us the way.

After that, my father went back

to work on his bicycle. I don’t know

whether he cycled all the way or had

London Smog viewed from St Paul's Cathedral

to walk, but it was very easy to get

lost in that total blackness.

Even if it wasn’t dark, there were

times in the fog when it was difficult

to see; the smog caused mainly by

fireside smoke was bad, particularly

in winter time.

While riding my bike, there would

be a line of cars following me. On

one occasion, I had been on a scout

trip to London by coach. On the way

home, the smog was too thick for the

driver to see where he was going, so

we took it in turns to run in front of

the coach to show him the way.

While the smog was much worse

in London, it could still be bad here

in Reading and it was not until

1956, when the Clean Air Act was

introduced, that smog finally became

a thing of the past.

Melinda Nagy, Dreamstime.com

Reading’s local charity caring for o


around FEATURE the — 3villages — 1

SONNING'S RICH CONTRI

. . . through the eyes of Kit Marsh, (pictured right) a 16 year old Sonning resident

who wrote the following for a public speaking competition at Shiplake College.

We congratulate him on coming third out of 20 young speakers . . .

Ladies and Gentlemen, esteemed judges, and

fellow debaters. I am here today to discuss with

you, whether my local history tells a global story.

I will be talking about where I live, and how my

village of Sonning in Berkshire tells that story.

We first start 250,000 years ago, where early

man first passed through Sonning. Bronze and Iron

Age men later made their homes in the village. But

it was a Saxon chieftain Sunna, whose Sonning

headquarters founded the community that took his

name and became a town and finally today's worldfamous

riverside village.

In Anglo-Saxon times, Sonning was a vital

religious and administrative hub. The Bishops of

Salisbury held their Palace here, and Sonning's

religious presence shaped not only our local

landscape, the church of St Andrew's and the local

pub but also influenced church practices across

England, connecting us to the medieval world

through religious and intellectual exchange.

Sonning's village has heavy ties with

Christianity, the main faith of England. Athelstan

was the first Bishop of Sonning and who's ancient

Palace there for centuries played host to his

successors.

In the 16th Century the crown took over from

the Church.

But how does this small village of around 1,600

people tell a global story?

Our first example of this would be the pilgrims

that came from all over the world to Sonning's

Church, St Andrew's to be cured of madness.

LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Several hundred years later, in 1854, a young

man called William Holman Hunt, one of the

founders of the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood,

shook the artistic world when he exhibited his

remarkable painting, 'The Light of the World'. It

caused a sensation in the religious and artistic

establishments — both attacked and admired it.

John Ruskin, a prolific English writer,

described 'The Light of the World' as one of the very

noblest works of sacred art ever produced in this,

or any, age.

TRAVELLING PASSION

During the next 20 years, photographs and

engravings of the 'Light of the World' achieved a

vast circulation, while the original was housed in

the collection in Oxford.

However, Hunt did not like the way it was Keble

College kept it, so decided to give up his lifelong

passion of travelling and built a house at Sonning


BUTION TO OUR WORLD

on Thames where he worked on the last, and most

celebrated, version of 'The Light of the World'.

It was bought by Charles Booth, and exhibited

in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South

Africa.

The painting has converted and changed many

people into believers of the Christian faith and is

now on display in St Paul's Cathedral where people

from all over the world come to see it.

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Onto the Industrial Revolution, and once

again, Sonning found itself connected to wider,

transformative changes.

Although the village remained primarily

rural, the development of mills along the Thames

symbolised the spread of industrial innovation,

driven by the power of the river.

The mill in Sonning produced fine paper sought

after by publishers and businesses throughout

Britain and beyond. The paper was used for

newspapers, books, and documents that spread

knowledge and ideas worldwide — another

example of Sonning's global industrial influence.

The paper mill has been converted into a

theatre. Set on the banks of the River Thames,

the it now celebrates more than 40 years of

entertainment.

Due to its uniqueness as the only dinner

theatre in the UK, it has gained unrivalled praise

nationally and internationally. It has also been

endorsed by George Clooney, the world-famous

actor, who has one of his homes next to the

theatre which has helped to bring yet further

global attraction.

Sir Edwin Lutyens, widely held to be one of

our greatest architects since Wren, at the turn of

the Century was asked to design The Deanery in

Sonning by Edward Hudson, managing director

and founder of the Country Life magazine. First

published in 1897 it still covers many aspects

of rural life but has a diverse readership which

although UK based is also international.

The Deanery is now home to the world-famous

Jimmy Page, an English musician and producer

who achieved international success as the guitarist

and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin.

In 1889, Jerome K Jerome published three men

in a boat, written while honeymooning in Sonning.

In its first year alone, it sold over 1 million

copies worldwide, and has been adapted to

films, television, radio shows, stage plays and

even a musical. It's writing style has influenced

many humorists and satirists in England and

internationally. This has given Sonning another

global platform.

My final point is that despite its small size, the

village of Sonning has been part of a bigger and

worldwide story. It has a rich and diverse history

that I am proud to be a part of and to be able to

share.

As Jerome K Jerome wrote in his Three Men In A

Boat, perhaps of Sonning:

'I followed the directions, with the happy result, that

my life was preserved and is still going on'

Promotional photograph of Led Zeppelin, 1971 Wikipedia public domain


feature — 4

Looking back and forth to summer

Mikhail Kokhanchikov, Dreamstime.com

A sculpture of Janus (right) in the Summer Gardens of St Petersburg, Russia (above).

Lester Amann looks, like the Greek

god Janus, back to the past, and

forwards to the future . . .

January is named after the Roman

god Janus. He had two faces, so he

could study the past and see into the

future

At the start of a New Year, we

dispose of old calendars and diaries.

No doubt, it is only natural to look

back at the former year.

Perhaps we recall occasions of

happy times that include special

moments with good friends. On the

other hand, our old year may have

had disappointments, such as loss

of employment, the deterioration of

health, or the death of loved ones.

We might also reminisce at the

life of our church. We remember

our building regularly filled for

our services. There were many

joyous occasions in which we were

encouraged and supported.

For some churches, however,

things have changed over time.

There may now be dwindling

congregations, with regular members

elderly and less active.

However, such ponderings are not

meant to make us depressed! We can

look back with thankfulness that

God has been with us, and is always

with us in good times and bad. We

can look to the future, praying that

God will give us wisdom, strength

and guidance for our journey ahead.

FESTIVALS

The Bible is full of instances

where individuals and indeed the

Jewish nation looked back.

They had annual Feast Days,

through which God showed them his

grace and favour.

These festivals were important

because they had a dual purpose – to

look back and face forward.

The Passover looked back to the

Israelites deliverance from slavery in

Egypt. It is a meal that reminds us

that just as God had cared for them

in the past, He would be with them

in the future.

COMMUNION

Similarly, for Christians, the

Communion Service is a reminder

of the sacrifice of Jesus who secured

our salvation.

We look back to his life, death,

and resurrection so that we can live

with confidence that our sins are

forgiven, and one day we will live

Trofoto, Dreamstime.com

in God’s eternal Home. January

can be a month when we remember

God’s blessings and faithfulness in

the past, enabling us to look to the

future with confidence.

In Rome, the Pope announced

that 2025 will be a Jubilee Year,

something which happens every 25

years, and the theme for Jubilee 2025

is 'Pilgrims of Hope,' and it will be a

year of hope for a world suffering the

impacts of war, the ongoing effects of

Covid-19 pandemic, and the climate

crisis.

A PRAYER FOR

THE NEW YEAR

Heavenly Father, as we look

back over the past year we

thank you for your goodness

to us — far beyond what we

have deserved.

We pray that in the New Year

ahead you will be our light,

our guide,

and our comforter.

Lord, may this New Year be a

time of deep spiritual growth

for us, a time for forgiving

freely and growing in love.

In the name of Jesus we

pray, Amen

arounD the villages — 1

Home and away . . .


Inner Wheel's 'food'

Christmas tree

Reading Maiden Erlegh Inner Wheel club invited Richard

Davies (centre) from the Woodley Food Bank to speak at

its November meeting.

To enhance his visit club members brought food items

which were then fashioned into a Christmas tree. Richard

took the food way with him to distribute among families

in Woodley who are struggling to make ends meet. With

Richard are Wheel's Kathy Shaw (left) and Noreen Calnan

(right). They are also volunteers at the food bank. For more

on Inner Wheel visit:

https://innerwheel.co.uk or iwcrme@gmail.co

. . . with Sonning CofE School

Within the school, writes Phil Sherwood, head teacher

of Sonning Primary School, our pupils held services for

Remembrance Day and St Andrew’s Day and we were

delighted to visit St Andrew’s Church for both events.

Our thanks go to Rev Jamie and Mr Adams for supporting

us with Remembrance, which also saw a member of

Reading Blue Coat School play the bugle for The Last Post.

For St Andrew’s Day our pupils led a collective worship

in the church which explained the impact of Saint Andrew

and the importance of the links with our community.

We are also proud to participate in a range of different

sports at our village school. Last term, for example, we

organised and hosted another of our termly cross country

events, and our boys’ and girls’ football teams played

a number of matches. Hopefully you can see from the

pictures above just how much our pupils enjoy their sport.



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around the villages — 1


To celebrate its 70 th Anniversary

this year, Twyford & Ruscombe

Horticultural Association (TRHA)

is planning a bumper year for their

home-grown flowers, fruit and

vegetables.

TRHA was formed in 1955 as a ‘not for

profit’ organisation run by volunteers.

Its main objective was, and still is,

to promote gardening and allotment

cultivation to members of all ages in

the local community.

This has been achieved by

publishing a monthly newsletter,

arranging day trips to gardens,

organising three horticultural shows

a year and selling garden products at

fair prices at its store in Loddon Hall

Road, Twyford, RG10 9JA. It opens on

Sunday mornings between February

and November.

FORWARD

They pride themselves on

being a community organisation

and its committee and members

have supported a number of local

horticultural projects, particularly

'Twyford in Bloom'.

A small committee works hard to

organise all its events and activities,

and they are proud to have many long

standing members.

New members of all ages, are

always welcome to expand the

membership further. They are looking

for new volunteers in a number of


Twyford & Ruscombe celebrate

years of fruit, veg and flowers

roles. If you are interested in gardening

and want to meet new people and be

part of the TRHA community, they

will be pleased to hear from you.

The AGM is being held on 29

January, and it will be followed by

a short talk from Diana Lloyd from

Hedgehog Friendly Twyford.

The refurbished store in Loddon

Hall Road re-opens on 2 February

when seed potatoes will be on sale

to Members as well as the usual

horticultural supplies at competitive

prices.

At the end of 2024, the Sonning

Art Group welcomed Janina Maher

(pictured left), as the final tutor

of this year who led a watercolour

workshop.

Members painted four consecutive

pictures of sweets gradually

becoming unwrapped.

It proved to be an interesting

exercise and if the members were

less than delighted with their

results, they could always eat the

sweets to console themselves!

Janina produces many excellent

pictures, especially of local buildings

and creates handmade books.

You can see her work at

https://www.janinamaher.artweb.com

Alsstocks450@dreamstime.com

There will be a potato planting

event, for children, at the store on 16

March.

Membership fees are only £8

per household, per annum; £7 for

seniors.

TRHA members receive a monthly

newsletter, with all the news and a

programme of events.

For full details email Jenny Wager

at: trhamembership@gmail.com.

or from the Loddon Hall Store when

it opens in February.

https://trha.org.uk/html/index.php

Sonning Art Group ends 2024 on

a sweet note . . . and a meal!

The last Chairman's cup for 2024

went to Brenda Hooper for an

intricate monochrome picture of an

ancient Olive Tree in Italy, crafted in

pen and ink.

There were many excellent entries

and voting was very close

The group enjoyed a delicious

Christmas lunch at Sonning Golf

Club before closing down for the

holidays.

They start again on 10 January

at 12.30 pm in Pearson Hall. If you

would like to join them you are

assured of a warm welcome whatever

your ability or choice of medium.

Everyone works on their own art but

they share experiences and help each

other.

Serving Charvil, Sonning and Sonning Eye



arounD the villages — 3

Play a musical instrument Magazine bigger and

heavier than you!

Help continue the very English tradition of bell ringing by becoming a ringer.

It’s a gentle, social exercise that everyone, young and old, male and female,

can enjoy. You will be trained safely by experts, all you need is a sense of

rhythm! We hope that you will find this article interesting and will want to

join our friendly band of ringers, writes Rob Nedham.

Could I do bell ringing?

Yes, almost certainly, if you would like

to learn this traditional skill. All you

need is some physical co-ordination

and a sense of rhythm. If you can push

a swing and count up to eight you can

ring a bell! You don’t need any special

kit and the instruction is free.

Would I enjoy ringing?

— You would become part of a

centuries old English tradition.

— You could learn to ‘play’ a musical

instrument bigger than you and made

in 1640!

— It provides healthy, gentle exercise

without needing any sports gear (have

you wondered where the word dumbbell

comes from?)

— You would feel part of a group

that has special skills, with friends

anywhere in the country by visiting

the local church on their bell ringing

practice night.

— It provides mental exercise if you

want to progress that far with your

ringing.

— Enjoy the 'team feeling' of joint

success when we all ring well.

“I’ll give you a ring.”

'I'll give you a ring'

Phil Mason

St Andrew’s Church bells

St Andrew’s has eight bells for ringing,

they have a pleasing tone and their

notes form an octave.

The four largest bells were cast in

1640 and 1641 by Ellis Knight, who

owned a bell foundry in Reading.

Two new bells were added around

1711, and two more in about 1778 to

make a ring of eight.

What St Andrew's ringers do

We ring the bells before the main

Sunday service — it is not obligatory

to attend the service — and we

sometimes ring for the evening

service. We also ring for weddings, for

which each ringer is currently paid

£20, and for occasional funerals.

We mark important national

events, for example, we rang at the

death of our Her Majesty Queen

Elizabeth II, and for the accession of

King Charles III.

From time to time we have a

ringing outing to ring at other towers

and to enjoy a good lunch together.

When do you practice?

Our practice night is a Thursday

evening for an hour and a half, and

beginners’ sessions can be arranged

on other days and times, including

weekends.

How to start

Any ringer, including complete

beginners, will be most welcome to

join our band. You don’t need strength

nor to read music. Bell ringing can

become an absorbing lifetime hobby.

More information

Tower captain Pam Elliston: 0118 969

5967, pam.elliston@talktalk.net

Vice-captain Rob Needham: 0118 926

7724, r06needham@gmail.com

or go up the tower at 7.30pm on a

Thursday, meet us, and see what goes

on. There is no obligation to stay for

the whole practice session!

May 2024 — Rogation — Ascension — Pentecost — Trinity Sunday

The

Parish


Church of St Andrew


Magazine

Parish Te

155

The Parish 1869 Magazine - May 2024 1

YEARS

2024




Best Overall 2015, 2020, 2022, 2023


Best Editor 2019

Best Print 2018

Inside the St Andrew's Church ringing tower.

Picture: Corinne Robertson, May 2024



DIARY

DATES

2025

Make a note in your diary now

for the 2025 Sonning Village

Show. The organisers have

announced that it will be on:

Saturday 13 September

BANK HOLIDAYS

NEW YEAR'S DAY

Wednesday 1 January

GOOD FRIDAY

18 April

EASTER MONDAY

21 April

EARLY SPRING BANK

Monday 5 May

SPRING BANK

Monday 26 May

SUMMER BANK

Monday 25 August

CHRISTMAS DAY

Thursday 25 December

BOXING DAY

Friday 26 December

HISTORY — 1

Not with blows but with

charity

John Bosco, (pictured right) who

died on 31 January 1888, aged

72 year, is the saint for anybody

concerned for deprived young

people.

He was born into a peasant family

near Castelnuovo in Piedmont,

northern Italy, in 1815.He was always

out in the fields shepherding his

family’s sheep. Despite, or maybe

because, he never belonged to a

youth group.

But he still longed to work with

young people, and in 1835 he was

accepted at a seminary in Chieri,

where he was ordained a priest in

1841.

His passion for youth work

was fuelled by a vision he had

experienced in which he saw a young

child, and heard the words:

'Not with blows, but with charity

and gentleness must you draw these

friends to the path of virtue.'

He knew then that God had given

him a specific vocation: his life’s

work was to be serving deprived

youngsters.

And so Bosco headed for the

dreary slums of Turin, where he

began his ministry in the poor

Valdocco quarter of the city. He was

John Bosco, a school boy preacher

John Bosco

haunted by the wretched lives of the

many youngsters there, and reached

out to them, showing a kindness

which they had never encountered

before.

As well as his church services,

Bosco launched evening classes and

training workshops in various trades

for the boys in his neighbourhood

who were homeless. He also opened

a boarding house for them, installing

own mother as housekeeper.

SOCIAL NEED

public domain

Bosco had uncovered a great

social need, because in four years

his ’Oratory’ grew from 20 boys

in early 1842 to 400. By 1859 the

‘Pious Society of St Francis de Sales,’

commonly known as the Salesians,

had been born. The municipal

authorities, at first suspicious, soon

greatly valued the work that Bosco

and his Salesians were doing.

By the time he died in Turin in

1888, the Salesians had 250 houses

throughout the world, housing and

educating 130,000 poor children.

6,000 of the boys went on to become

priests.


From woodland

clearing to a

large town

Woodley, meaning, a clearing in

the woods, was originally part of

the parish of St Andrew's Church

Sonning. By the beginning of the

19th Century it had 700 houses, and

by the 2011 Census it had grown

considerably — there were then

35,470 people living there.

In 1854, Woodley School was built

and in 1871 the foundation stone was

laid for a church dedicated to St John

the Evangelist.

The school and church were

financed by Robert Palmer of

Sonning, the church being a daughter

of St Andrew's Sonning.

One hundred years later in 1954,

the Ecclesiastical Parish of Woodley

was created and the parish of

Woodley was born.

in 1988, the Woodley Church

of England School situated on the

opposite side of the road to the

church moved to a new school

building on the, then recently new

development site on what previously

was Woodley Airfield.

The old school buildings were

given in trust to St John the

Evangelist Church to be used as a

church hall.

St John the Evangelist, Woodley


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HISTORY — 2


Was it really? . . .

. . . 1,750 YEARS AGO on 13 January 1625 that Jan

Brueghel the Elder, Flemish artist, died.

. . . 150 YEARS AGO on 14 January 1875 that Albert

Schweitzer, German theologian, philosopher, physician,

musicologist, writer and humanitarian, was born. He won

the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952.

. . . 125 YEARS AGO on 14 January 1900 that the premiere

of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini’s opera Tosca, took

place in Rome.

. . . 400 YEARS AGO on 3 January 1925 that Benito

Mussolini declared himself dictator of Italy.

. . . 90 YEARS AGO on 8 January 1935 that Elvis Presley

(‘The King’) was born. An American rock and roll singer,

guitarist and actor, and Christian, he died in 1977.

Wikipedia public domain

Religous motifs and

scientific accuracy

400 years ago, on 13 January 1625, Flemish artist Jan

Brueghel the Elder died, aged 57, of cholera in Antwerp,

writes Tim Lenton.

Taught to paint by his grandmother, he was known for his

still life paintings, particularly of flowers — such as above —

and also landscapes. He frequently collaborated with other

painters, including his friend Peter Paul Rubens.

Brueghel usually provided the landscape or still-life

element, while Rubens contributed the figures. Collaboration

between artists specialising in different genres was frequent

in western Europe at the time.

Working for several years in Italy, Brueghel met Cardinal

Federico Borromeo who played a significant role in the

Catholic Counter-Reformation. When he became Archbishop

of Milan, Brueghel became part of his household, and his

work reflected the appropriate religious motifs as well as

aiming for scientific accuracy.

INDIVIDUALITY

One of his nicknames was ‘Paradise’ Brueghel, because of

his depictions of the imaginary landscape of Paradise, such

as Paradise with the Fall of Man, though he also painted hellish

landscapes as well as tackling some gentler, often floral,

themes’.

In 1604 Brueghel moved to Prague and the court of

Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II before moving back to his

birthplace, Brussels, two years later, where he served as

court painter to Archduke Albert of Austria and the Infanta

Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain.

. . . 80 YEARS AGO on 16 January 1945 that Adolf Hitler

took up residence in the Fuhrerbunker, a subterranean

bunker complex in the garden of the Reich Chancellery

in Berlin. It became the headquarters of the Nazi

regime, and he remained there for the rest of his life. He

committed suicide there in April 1945.

. . . ALSO 80 YEARS AGO on 27 January 1945 that the

Soviet Red Army liberated Auschwitz Concentration

Camp in southern Poland. It was the largest Nazi

concentration camp and at least 1.1 million prisoners died

there.

. . . 75 YEARS AGO on 6 January 1950 that the UK

officially recognised the Republic of China and established

diplomatic relations.

. . . ALSO 75 YEARS AGO, on 23 January 1950 that Israel

declared Jerusalem was its capital city. Palestine also

claims it as its capital.

. . . 70 YEARS AGO on 19 January 1955 US President

Dwight D Eisenhower gave the first televised presidential

news conference. It was filmed in the morning and

broadcast that evening. The first live conference was given

by J F Kennedy in January 1961.

. . . 60 YEARS AGO on 24 January 1965 that Winston

Churchill died. He was Prime Minister 1940-45 and again

in 1955, and one of the greatest wartime leaders of the

20th Century. He was named as ‘the greatest Briton of

all time.’ He won the 1953 Nobel Prize for Literature 'for

his mastery of historical and biographical description as

well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human

values.'


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THE christmas SCIENCES quiz


God's awesome power is skin deep . . .

You show your majesty

In every star that shines,

And every time we breathe.

Your glory, God revealed

From distant galaxies

To here, beneath our skin.

Dr Ruth M Bancewicz, Church Engagement Director, for the Faraday

Institute for Science and Religion, Cambridge University, writes: These

words from the song 'Magnificent' by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin speak

volumes to me as a scientist.

Redman is an astronomy geek who

has ‘an appreciation for the universe

that surrounds us, particularly its

unique ability to lift our hearts to

see how massive and mysterious God

truly is.’*

The microscopic level on the other

hand — what goes on ‘beneath our

skin’ — is less available to ordinary

people. I have had the privilege of

exploring this world to my heart’s

content, and what I’ve seen has given

me such a sense of awe that I want to

share with others.

Every time you breathe, a series of

air pockets with a combined surface

area the size of a tennis court is

bathed with oxygen. These minute

air pockets are covered with blood

It was 25 years ago, on 1 January

2000, that the calendar switched

over to the year 2000, with no major

computer problems from the Y2K

'Millennium Bug'.

The Y2K bug was a computer flaw

that might have caused problems

when dealing with dates beyond 31

December 1999.

There had been a practice of using

two figures for dates – for example,

78 instead of 1978. It was feared that

00 for 2000 might be interpreted

as 1900, something that might be

disastrous anywhere that computers

were critical.

In the mid-1990s, when this

potential problem was recognised,

a great deal of money was poured

vessels. The boundary between air

and blood is so thin that oxygen and

carbon dioxide can diffuse freely

from one to the other.

When your heart beats at a

normal rate, a single red blood cell

takes about three quarters of a

second to travel through the small

blood vessels in your lungs. But in

just one third of that time, a quarter

of a second, that cell has already

received all the oxygen it needs

from the air. So, when you exercise,

causing your heart rate to increase

and the blood to flow faster, you’re

still getting plenty of oxygen, as long

as you keep breathing!

Redman and Myrin wrote in their

song, 'You are higher than we ever could

into preventing it from happening,

particularly by the USA, Australia,

and the UK.

Other countries, such as Russia,

South Korea and Italy, spent almost

nothing on the problem. Ironically,

they suffered no more in the end

than those who invested many

Romolo Tavani, dreamstime.com

imagine, And closer than our eyes could

ever see.'

The universe demonstrates God’s

awesome power. This is a place made

by a being whose imagination is not

limited by time and space.

Biology, on the other hand, helps

to remind me of God’s creativity and

closeness.

I am a product of a long and

painstaking process of continued

development over aeons of time.

Beneath my skin are incredibly

detailed, beautifully regulated

processes that give me life. Jesus said

that ‘even the very hairs of your head

are all numbered.’

The knowledge that God

intentionally made me and knows

every detail of my physiology is both

amazing and humbling.

*Indescribable: Encountering the Glory of

God in the Beauty of the Universe, Matt

Redman & Louis Giglio (David C. Cook, 2011)

When scientists get it wrong — or do they?

Images: Dreamstime.com - Computer: Ernest Akayeu; Bug: Catocala7;

millions, because it turned out that

there were very few difficulties.

A nuclear energy facility in Japan

experienced failure in its radiation

equipment, but backup facilities

ensured there was no danger. Missile

launches were detected in Russia and

attributed to the Y2K bug, but the

launches had been planned as part of

Russia’s conflict in Chechnya.

Because of the lack of disastrous

outcomes, many people dismissed

the Y2K bug as a hoax or an end-ofthe-world

cult.

Similar computer problems had

been predicted for other years, for

similar but obviously not identical

reasons. They include 1975, 1999,

2010, 2022 and, wait for it, 2038!


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St St Andrew's Ark Ark

St Andrew's Ark

Third Third Sunday Sunday of the of month the month (accept (accept August) August)

Third Sunday of the month (accept August)

3pm — 3pm 4pm — 4pm (except August)

3pm — 4pm

Craft— Craft— Science Science — Puzzles — Puzzles

Stories Stories — Games — Craft— Games — Songs

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corinne@sonningparish.org.uk



the church the church of st andrew, of st andrew, SERVING SERVING THE THE

COMMUNITIES COMMUNITIES OF CHARVIL, OF CHARVIL, SONNING SONNING and sonning and sonning eye eye

the church of st andrew, SERVING THE

COMMUNITIES OF CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye

Church of St Andrew

messy church poster A0 Feb 2024.indd 1 15/01/2024 14:44:57




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.

Church of St Andrew


the church of st andrew SERVING

CHARVIL, SONNING and sonning eye

FASHION BY harriet nelson

New Year fashion

resolutions . . .

Making your New Year's resolutions is a perfect

opportunity to breathe new life into your wardrobe.

Whether you're looking to simplify your style or make

bold statements, here are some fashion resolutions to

embrace in 2025 . . .

One of the most significant shifts in recent years has been

the move toward sustainable fashion, so one resolution

could be to invest in eco-friendly brands — such as

Patagonia or Stella McCartney, depending on your budget

— that prioritise sustainable materials.

Alternatively, consider thrifting or upcycling older

pieces of clothing, giving them a fresh start within your

wardrobe. Not only will this elevate your style, but you'll

also contribute to a more sustainable planet and feel

better about it!

Opening your wardrobe, you will find a selection of

unique pieces that can be mixed and matched effortlessly

into something new this year. Challenge yourself to create

a capsule wardrobe, using old favourites from your current

wardrobe with new pieces to create something new and

exciting this year.

DECLUTTER

A fresh start is not just for the New Year, it's also a

great chance to declutter your closet. Make it a resolution

to review your wardrobe, honestly assess what you wear,

and donate what you no longer need. Creating space for

new pieces, allows you to give your old items a new life

with someone else. This will be my top resolution this

year!

Often, we stick to a safe colour palette, but 2025 may be

the year to step out of your comfort zone. Try introducing

more colour into your outfits. Whether incorporating bold,

pastels, or funky patterns, experimenting with colour

can uplift your mood and personalise your style. This will

brighten anyone's mood in the New Year! Start small with

accessories or a statement piece, gradually expand your

colourful collection.

TRANSCEND TRENDS

Fast fashion is out, and timeless fashion is in. Make

it a goal to invest in pieces that transcend trends this

January. Classic items like a tailored trench coat, a little

black dress, or a well-fitted pair of trousers never go out of

style. By focusing on quality over quantity, you'll create a

wardrobe that will serve you for years while still being in

the top 2025 trends.

The pandemic has reshaped our view on comfort within

fashion, and this trend is here to stay and has continued

over the past few years. In 2025, challenge the notion

that comfort cannot continue without the word chic.

Look for stylish sportsware, tailored joggers, and elegant

loungewear that makes you feel and look good while

wearing it. Prioritizing comfort doesn't mean sacrificing

style; choosing fabrics and styles that will flatter while

keeping you comfy is always the better option this year.

Images:pexel.com


As seasons change, layering becomes an essential skill

in fashion, especially in these colder months ahead. This

year, dedicate yourself to mastering this art of layering.

Explore different fabrics and textures, and experiment

with combinations that add depth to your outfits. Think

lightweight turtlenecks under dresses or vests over

blouses. Layering not only keeps you warm but also adds

to your style. Layering will be a great way to expand your

wardrobe, whether its a hat, glove or scarf, this new year,

you'll master a new skill essential in the latest fashion

season.

INDIVIDUALITY

As we step into 2025, your fashion resolutions can

set the tone for your year ahead. By either embracing

sustainable choices, curating a unique functional

wardrobe, experimenting with colour, prioritizing

comfort, or mastering a new fashion skill, you'll enhance

your style and create a more mindful approach to fashion

this New Year. Remember, fashion is about expressing

individuality, so make these fashion resolutions reflect

who you are and want to be. Happy New Year!


THE ARTS — 1

New Year Book Reviews

Stop the Spiral Devotional 100 Days of Breaking Free

from Negative Thoughts

By Jennie Allen, SPCK, £17.99

Are your thoughts holding you captive?

Are you worn out from getting stuck

in patterns of anxiety, distraction,

or cynicism? If so, do you know that

God built a way for us to escape that

downward spiral?

Stop the Spiral Devotional, inspired by

the New York Times best seller Get Out

of Your Head, is your invitation to begin noticing negative

spirals — every day. In this book, you'll find 100 days of

devotions to inspire you to stop toxic thinking patterns

and remind you of God's power to set you free.

Each day's reading includes: verses for meditating on

God's Word, a ‘Rewire the Spiral’ statement to repeat

throughout your day, a personal prayer for sparking

deeper intimacy with God.

Let this hundred-day devotional guide you in refusing

to be a victim to your thoughts and in realizing that you

have already been equipped with God's power to live free.

Jennie Allen is the founder and visionary of

IF:Gathering, as well as the New York Times bestselling

author of Get Out of Your Head, Find Your People, Made for

This, Anything, and Nothing to Prove.

When Faith Gets Shaken: 3rd Edition

By Patrick Regan, SPCK, £10.99

What do you do when life falls apart and

it feels as if God has left you? How do

you keep going when your faith is rocked

to the core?

Sometimes things get so hard we're

not sure where God is — or what he's up

to. Patrick was facing pain, illness and

loss in his family and community; then

a series of excruciating operations took

him to the brink - physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Writing during his journey of recovery, Patrick reflects

on the true nature of courage as he explores:

— how we find God in times of suffering

— how we can know God's peace when life isn't peaceful

— how we allow ourselves the grace to rest when we're

running on empty

— how we can stay fully present in the moment.

In doing so, he heartens and encourages us to grasp

the love of God at an ever-deeper level.

Waking the Women — Faith, Menopause, and the

Meaning of Midlife

By Jayne Manfredi, Canterbury Press £12.99

Women over the age of 40 are by

far the biggest and the most active

demographic in the Church of England.

But while a huge proportion of any

given congregation will likely have

experienced menopause, it still remains

largely unacknowledged, unspoken and

unaddressed. It is almost entirely taboo

as a topic of conversation in churches. Writing with

refreshing frankness, popular blogger and broadcaster

Jayne Manfredi uses biblical reflection, prophetic

storytelling and prayer to journey with those experiencing

'the dreaded M word'. Facing the menopause head-on,

and by turns hilarious and moving, Waking the Women

offers a challenge to destigmatise women’s experiences by

opening up the conversation around midlife and ageing in

the church.

The Cheerful Giver — a short guide to gospel-driven

giving By Des Smith, TenPublishing, £3.99

The Cheerful Giver is a short and

accessible guide to the topic of Christian

generosity. It begins by showing why

Christians should be generous, how

God’s generosity to us in the gospel

should enlarge our hearts and make us

generous, before addressing the practical

questions of how much people should

give and where that giving should be

directed.

Easily able to be read in less than an hour, and written

in a conversational tone, this short book would be an

excellent complement to a one-off talk or a short sermon

series on generosity. It would also be ideal for pastors

who are looking for a resource that will help as they speak

about congregational giving.

But Is It Real? — Answering 10 Common Objections To

The Christian Faith By Amy Orr-Ewing, IVP, £9.99

Amy Orr-Ewing gives thoughtful and

credible answers to common objections

to the Christian faith.

Objections such as: Is God real? Is

it possible to know anything, let alone

know him? Why do bad things happen

to people who worship this God? What

about the spiritual experiences of other

faiths? Amy Orr-Ewing writes, 'hope that

the thoughts offered here will help you see what the Christian

faith has to say amid all the pain, confusion and complexity of life.'

Killing Comparison By Nona Jones, Zondervan, £16.86

If you find yourself with feelings of

insecurity, sure that others are better

off or more worthy than you are, then

you’re in good company! In today’s

image-driven world, nearly all of us deal

with the struggles of comparison and

self-worth.

Pastor Nona Jones knows this mind

set all too well. Throughout her life and

in her recent career as an executive for

the world's largest social media company, Nona discovered

how true confidence can only be achieved by defeating

comparative thinking and securing our identity to God's

approval alone. She provides a fresh, Biblically rooted

perspective on the age-old human habit of comparing

oneself to others.

THE ARTS — 2

New Year travel in trust and love


By Rev Michael Burgess

The Annunciation by Domenico Veneziano

During 2025, we shall be ‘visiting’ different art galleries and museums

in England to explore their treasures. Our first visit is to the Fitzwilliam

Museum in Cambridge. Founded in 1816, it is a wonderful building in

Trumpington Street that houses a wealth of art and antiquities.

Our painting this month is The

Annunciation by Domenico Veneziano,

who died in Florence in 1461. It is

part of the Magnoli altarpiece which

has five predella panels which are

now in the museums of Cambridge,

Washington and Berlin.

The scene has been much loved

of artists throughout the ages. We

can read the account of Gabriel

announcing the good news of

motherhood to Mary in chapter two

of St Luke’s Gospel. In the simplicity

and beauty of Veneziano’s work, we

see Gabriel kneeling with lilies, the

Fitzwilliam College Museum Cambridge

traditional symbol of our Lady, who is

standing on the far side of the canvas

(above right).

It is early morning, but the

two squares on the wall show the

blackness of night. They stand either

side of a garden where the door is

closed.

An enclosed garden, like the lilies,

is a medieval symbol of Mary. ‘A

garden locked is my sister, my bride, a

garden locked, a fountain sealed’ we read

in the Song of Songs. We might think

of the Garden of the Hesperides or the

apple orchard of Avalon, or perhaps a

Andrew Dunn, Commons, Wikimedia

wkimedia commons public domain

monastic herbal garden. They are all

images of fruitfulness and new life

enclosed by walls.

Mary receives the good news of

Gabriel and responds with the words,

‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord.’

Her words will open the garden

door and lead her out into the new

world of redemption, just as we can

read in Genesis, tells us how turning

against God closed the garden door

of Eden to Adam and Eve.

The pathway from the portico and

garden in Veneziano’s painting will

take Mary into a world where she will

give birth to a son, Emmanuel.

But that joy of motherhood will

be coloured by a flight to Egypt and

eventually the death of her Son.

OPEN THE DOOR

Then another garden will

announce new an eternal life in

the joy of the Resurrection. Here

Mary’s words will open that door in

the garden. She will walk through,

trusting in God and letting love

guide her steps.

We begin this New Year with an

invitation to open the door of our

lives to God’s guidance and love.

That invitation begins with the

good news of Emmanuel, God with

us. Trusting in that gospel, we can

open our lives, like the door of the

garden, and travel in trust and love

through all that the New Year will

bring.


PUZZLE PAGE — 1

BIBLE CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Paul said the wrath of God ‘is being revealed from heaven’

against this (Romans 1:18) (11)

9 Go smite (anag.) (7)

10 ‘But — I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee’

(Matthew 26:32) (5)

11 ‘Take and —; this is my body’ (Matthew 26:26) (3)

13 Type (2 Thessalonians 2:10) (4)

16 ‘Woe to those who — iniquity’ (Micah 2:1) (4)

17 ‘How shall we — if we ignore such a great salvation?’

(Hebrews 2:3) (6)

18 Opposite of evens (4)

20 Previously cited (Latin) (4)

21 ‘There is surely — — of God in this place, and they will kill

me because of my wife’ (Genesis 20:11) (2,4)

22 The Thessalonians were warned to keep away from every

brother who was this (2 Thessalonians 3:6) (4)

23 Beat (anag.) (4)

25 To trouble or afflict (Job 16:3) (3)

28 Part of a roof (1 Kings 7:9) (5)

29 Attain (Job 5:12) (7)

30 Insect noted for its gymnastic ability (Psalm 78:46) (11)

DOWN

2 Smell (John 11:39) (5)

3 Lion’s home (Jeremiah 25:38) (4)

4 ‘Jesus Christ is the — yesterday and today and for ever’

(Hebrews 13:8) (4)

5 Tidy (4)

6 Made their home (Genesis 47:27) (7)

7 Their task was to carry the curtains of the tabernacle

(Numbers 4:25–26) (11)

8 Timothy’s was called Lois (2 Timothy 1:5) (11)

12 The Lover likened the fragrance of the Beloved’s breath to

these (Song of Songs 7:8) (6)

14 Times Educational Supplement (1,1,1)

15 Eight-tentacled sea creatures (6)

19 ‘And lead us not into temptation, but — us from the evil

one’(Matthew 6:13) (7)

20 D.L. Moody’s legendary song leader, — D. Sankey (3)

24 Rarely used musical note (5)

25 ‘Your will be done on earth - it - in heaven’ (Matthew 6:10) (2,2)

26 and 27 ‘The Lord Almighty will — them with a — , as when he

struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb’ (Isaiah 10:26) (4,4)

27 See 26 Down

HOW MUCH? Verse Search by Ralph

M

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T

A

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Ralph's ‘How Much' word search grid above contains the

names of 37 'units of measure' that begin with these initial

letters: 2A, 3B, 4C, D, 3F, 2G, 4H, I, K, 2L, 3M, 2N, 3P, 2Q,

R, 2S, and V. If you find all 37 you will also notice that the

unused letters in the grid spell out a relevant verse from

the Good News Bible. You might even manage to identify

the verse. Good luck, and God Bless!

Write your answers here . . .

ANSWERS TO RALPH'S DECEMBER VERSE SEARCH

ABSINTHE

ADVOCAAT

ALE

BACARDI

BEAUJOLAIS

BENEDICTINE

BITTER

BRANDY

CAMPARI

CHAMPAGNE

T

A

A

R

U

U

T

H

S

H

L

S

G

W

D

E

I

D

D

G

S

D

G

S

O

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A

O

E

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P

N

S

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B

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N

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V

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P

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L

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U

P

COCKTAIL

COINTREAU

GIN

KIRSCH

KVASS

LAGER

LIEBFRAUMILCH

MADEIRA

MARTINI

MOSELLE

H

A

T

U

D

G

W

E

A

E

E

A

V

A

S

A

G

O

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L

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K

D

N

N

R

R

O

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R

E

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C

E

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T

E

M

R

T

M

N

N

E

M

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S

B

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Y

T

The hidden Bible verse was from 1 Timothy 5:23

Good News Bible

TAKE A LITTLE WINE TO HELP YOUR DIGESTION

F

U

R

L

O

N

G

M

O

R

T

S

G

N

A

POTHEEN

PROSECCO

PUNCH

RUM

SCREWDRIVER

SHANDY

SHERRY

STOUT

VODKA

WHISKY

PUZZLE PAGE — 2

CROSSWORD

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8

9 10

11 12

13

14 15 16 17

SUDOKU


answers in the next issue

December

Solutions

CROSSWORD

G A P S S M A S H I N G

L I C U H N O

O N E R O U S A N V I L

R C S I R E D

I C E M N P A S S E

F O U G H T T N

I A P O S J

C M O C E A N U

A V A I L L G L A B

T L I I U O I

I N G O T C H E R V I L

O A A I D E E

N O M I N A T E U R G E

20

18 19

21 22

23 24

Across

ACROSS

1 - Vehicle pulled by a horse (4)

1. Vehicle pulled by horse (4)

3 - Partially hidden (8)

3. Partially hidden (8)

9 - Anticipates (7)

9. Anticipates (7)

10 - Period of darkness (5)

10. Period of darkness (5)

11 - Extension (12)

11. Extension (12)

14 - Pen point (3)

14. Pen point (3)

16 - Tease or pester (5)

16. Tease or pester (5)

17 - star (3)

17. Our star (3)

- (12)

18. Discreditable (12)

- trainee (5)

21. Military trainee (5)

- easily (7)

22. Beat easily (7)

- in rank (8)

23. Higher in rank (8)

- variety (4)

24. Sort; variety (4)

CODEWORD

26 11 26 24 23 21 26 19 22

15 1 26 1 3 26 7 20 23 26

22 26 21 17 2 2 15

17 15 17 24 24 26 6 9 5 17 10

21 17 22 26 5 1

4 2 23 23 10 26 1 6 2 1 14 22

17 3 21 22

22 25 2 15 16 26 15 21 25 15 20 12

20 17 15 8 26 2

18 20 13 7 22 2 7 2 19 17 14

15 7 2 17 15 20 13

24 17 19 17 15 20 1 2 26 2

10 11 1 7 17 23 6 20 14

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

V D

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

G

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

Down

DOWN

1 - Shape of the waxing moon (8)

1. Shape of waxing moon (8)

2 - Become ready to eat (of fruit) (5)

2. Become ready to eat fruit (5)

4 - Form of public transport (3)

4. Form of public transport (3)

5 - Person's physical state (12)

5. Person's physical state (12)

6 - Ignores (anag) (7)

6. Ignores (anag) (7)

7 - Moral obligation (4)

7. Moral obligation (4)

8 - Author of screenplays (12)

8. Author of screenplays (12)

12 - Take illegally (5)

12. Take illegally (5)

13 - Come before in time (8)

13. Come before in time (8) What about their gifts of gold,

15 - Form or accumulate steadily (5-2)

15. Form or accumulate steadily (5-2) frankincense and myrrh? One

19 - Discuss an idea casually (5)

19. Discuss an idea casually (5) Victorian scholar has offered

20 - High-value playing cards (4) a possible explanation. He was

20. High-value playing cards (4)

the Rev John Henry Hopkins, an

22 - Also (3)

22 . Also (3)

American Episcopalian minister,

who in 1857 wrote the much-loved

Christmas carol, ‘We Three Kings

of Orient Are’. Gold, said John

Henry Hopkins, was a gift that

would have been given to a king.

Frankincense had traditionally

been brought by priests as they

worshipped God in the Temple.

Myrrh was a spice that the

ancients used in preparing bodies

for burial. If that is true, then you

could say that the Wise Men, in

choosing their gifts for this infant,

honoured Jesus with gold because

He was King of the Jews, with

frankincense because He was to

be worshipped as divine, and with

myrrh, because He would also

become a sacrifice and die for His

people. The Wise Men were the

very first Gentiles ever to worship

Jesus. What faith they had!

GIFTS

GOLD

MYRRH

HENRY

HOPKINS

CAROL

THREE

KINGS

ORIENT

WORSHIP

TEMPLE

SPICE

ANCIENTS

BODIES

FRANKINCENSE

BURIAL

HONOURED

DIVINE

SACRIFICE

DIE

GENTILE

FAITH

CODEWORD

R O S E O F F I C E R S

E P R L N T A

S Q U E E Z E C L E A R

I R J E O R I

D E N O U N C E M E N T

I V E P A W

N E R V E S H E A L T H

G U N M T I

A B R A S I V E N E S S

P B T C N X T

A L I B I R E C I T A L

L S N O Y O E

M A H O G A N Y E L K S

SUDOKU

WORDSEARCH

BIBLE CROSSWORD



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for as long as possible.

Our team of experienced care workers can provide

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For more information, contact us on

0118 334 7474

Classified Trades & Services

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Call Richard Homden: 0149 168 2050 / 0771 040 9216

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25 years experience - local family run company

Office: 0118 961 8784 - Paul: 0776 887 4440

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MC CLEANING

We are a family business with excellent references

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All cleaning materials provided

For free quote call: Maria 0779 902 7901

THAMES CHIMNEY SWEEPS

0779 926 8123 0162 882 8130

enquiries@thameschimneysweeps.co.uk

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Member of the Guild of Master Sweeps

BERKSHIRE STUMP REMOVALS

Stump grinding and tree stump removal

Latest narrow access machinery

Contact: Mark

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HANDYMAN & DECORATING SERVICES

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Small jobs a speciality!

Call Andy on 0795 810 0128

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PROFESSIONAL TREE & HEDGE SERVICES

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Please call Phil on:

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SMALLWOOD

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patios, lawns, fencing, decking etc

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

office@smallwoodlandscaping.co.uk

CHILDREN'S PAGE


42 The Parish Magazine — January 2025 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

— 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 and Youth Minister: Corinne Robertson

corinne@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298

Churchwardens

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

— Ruth Jeffery, ruth@jefferyfamily.net / 0797 101 8730

Deputy Churchwardens

— Kevin Wilson, kevinmichaelwilson@gmail.com / 0118 969 3298

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

Parish Office Manager

— Hilary Rennie, office@sonningparish.org.uk / 0118 969 3298

Parochial Church Council

— Secretary: Hilary Rennie 0118 969 3298

— Treasurer: Jerry Wood 0118 969 3298

Director of Music, Organist and Choirmaster

— Richard Meehan MA ARCO

music@sonningparish.org.uk

Safeguarding Officer

— Nicola Riley: nic.nige@sky.com / 0742 517 3359

Sonning Bell Ringers

— Tower Captain: Pam Elliston

pam.elliston@talktalk.net / 0118 969 5967

— Deputy Tower Captain: Rob Needham

r06needham@gmail.com / 0118 926 7724

Advertisers' index

Abbeyfield Care 32

A B Walkers Funeral Directors 12

ACG Locksmith Services 40

Active Security 30

AMS Water Softners 14

Barn Store 20

Berkshire Stump Removals 40

BHR Maintence Handyman Services 40

Big Heart Tree Care 40

Blandy & Blandy Solictors 14

Blus Moose Quality Graphics 26

Bridges Meals on Wheels 20

Bull Inn Sonning 32

Canon Tree Care 30

Clark & Bignell Plumbing & Heating 40

Crossfields School 12

French Horn 4

Gardiners Home Care 40

Good Oaks Home Care 26

Handyman & Decorating Services 40

Haslams Estate Agents 2

Hicks MOT & Service 18

Home Stair Lifts 20

I Plumber 12

Kingfisher Bathrooms & Kitchens 30

Little Knellies Nursery at the Abbey 43

Lock Fit 20

MC Cleaning 40

Mossinator Roof Cleaning Systems 6

Professional Tree & Hedge Services 40

Reading Blue Coat School 14

Richfield Flooring 12

Shiplake College 20

Smallwood Landscaping 40

Sonning Golf Club 6

Sonning Scouts 32

Thames Chimney Sweeps 40

The Great House Coppa Club 18

The Mill at Sonning 44

Tomalin & Son Funeral Directors 14

Water Softener Salt 20

Window Cleaner 34

Woodchips Tree Surgery 40

St Andrew's Church Parish Website

https://www.sonningparish.org.uk

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

— Editor: Bob Peters

editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk / 0118 377 5887

— Advertising: Ian and Lauren McCann

advertising@theparishmagazine.co.uk / 0776 815 1100

— Print and Distribution: Gordon Nutbrown

gordon@caxtonhouse.co.uk / 0118 969 3282

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

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

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