Crossway - Worplesdonparish.com

Crossway
Worplesdon Parish
With the churches of St Alban’s and St Mary’s
March 2015
Free - please take one
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perry hill construction
Chugging towards the light
Shortly after coming to Worplesdon,
Tina and I had a holiday on a narrow
boat. It was a 70-foot long ‘monster’,
and neither of us had any experience
on the canal network. Within the first
hour, we were confronted by Blisworth
Tunnel, which at over 3,000 yards is
the ninth longest canal tunnel in the
world. With some trepidation we
entered, and within a few moments the
light behind us faded and we were
immersed in total darkness. At first
there was no light ahead at all, and our
solitary headlight guided us through the
pitch black. (Ben and Honor were in the
front with a small torch making loud
echoes in the tunnel!)
Then we
rounded a slight bend, and suddenly,
miles ahead, was a tiny pinprick of
light. With gladness, we chugged
towards the light, and ever so slowly
our gleaming goal got bigger, and
bigger, until about 20 minutes later
when we emerged into glorious
daylight.
barbecues and Worpfest and chilled
white wine. In Lent we also move
towards the light. Our Lenten Liturgy
says: ‘As we prepare to celebrate the
Easter feast with joyful hearts and
minds…’ One of the purposes of Lent
is preparation for the greatest
Christian feast of all. It is our glorious,
gleaming goal.
Did you know that darkness doesn’t
actually exist as a thing in itself? It is
merely the complete absence of light.
Scientists can do experiments on light;
they can measure its speed, its
intensity, bend it, and debate whether
it is a wave-form or a stream of
particles. School children can use a
prism to break white light into many
colours and study the spectrum.
Scientists cannot experiment on
darkness, because there is nothing
there. They cannot collect it, measure
it, bend it or test it, because it doesn't
exist. Darkness is just a word we use to
describe the complete absence of light.
All those nights as a child being afraid
of something that doesn’t exist!
Every blessing,
Moving from winter to summer, we
move from a season of long dark nights
towards the all too brief season of
warm summer evenings, with
www.worplesdonparish.com
The tunnel taught us that even the
smallest pinprick of light can become
an absolute focus in the pitch black.
That small window of daylight became
our entire world, and we couldn’t take
our eyes off it. It was not only our goal
but also our guide, and fortunately we
swerved neither to the left nor to the
right! Christ is our light. He is the Light
of the World. Make him your goal and
your guide, and the dark dreary days
of February and March will take on
new perspective as you chug, chug,
chug towards the light.
Hugh
2
Worship Calendar
March
Sunday 1st
Lent 2
nd
Monday 2
th
Wednesday 4
th
Sunday 8
Lent 3
th
Wednesday 11
th
Sunday 15
Mothering
Sunday
th
Wednesday 18
nd
Sunday 22
Lent 5
th
Wednesday 25
th
Saturday 28
th
Sunday 29
Palm Sunday
th
Monday 30
Holy Week
st
Tuesday 31
8am
Holy Communion
St Mary’s
Book of Common
Prayer (BCP)
With Sunday Club
9.15
United Worship
St Alban’s
No service at
St Mary’s
6pm
Healing Service
St Mary’s
11am
Holy Communion
Worplesdon View
11am
Holy Communion
St Alban’s
Said service: CW
8am
Holy Communion
St Alban’s
BCP
9.15
Holy Communion
St Alban’s
10.45
Holy Communion
St Mary’s
11am
Holy Communion
St Alban’s
Said service: CW
8am
Holy Communion
St Mary’s
BCP
10.45
Parade Service
St Alban’s
No Holy Communion
10.45
Holy Communion
St Mary’s
11am
Holy Communion
St Alban’s
Said service: CW
8am
Holy Communion
St Alban’s
BCP
9.15
Holy Communion
St Alban’s
10.45
Holy Communion
St Mary’s
11am
Holy Communion
St Alban’s
12.30
Wedding
St Mary’s
8am
Holy Communion
St Mary’s
No Service
St Alban’s
10.45
United Worship
St Mary’s
2.30
Baptism
St Mary’s
11am
Holy Communion
Primrose House
8pm
Holy Communion
St Alban’s
8pm
Holy Communion
St Mary’s
11am
6.30
11. 00
Holy Communion
Passover supper
Diocesan Chrism
Eucharist
Holy Communion
St Alban’s
St Alban’s
The Cathedral
Said service: CW
St Mary’s
With Foot Washing
St Alban’s
2pm
At the Foot of the
Cross
The Last hour
6.00
Dawn Service
St Mary’s
8am
Holy Communion
St Mary’s
9.15
Festal Communion
St Alban’s
10.45
Festal Communion
St Mary’s
6pm
Healing Service
St Mary’s
Said service: CW
BCP
April
Wednesday 1st
Thursday 2nd
Maundy
Thursday
rd
Friday 3
Good Friday
th
Sunday 5
Easter Sunday
8pm
11am
St Mary’s
BCP
www.worplesdonparish.com
3
Worship This Month
United Worship
Sunday 1st March
9.15 at St Alban’s
Reverend Tom Weil will be licensed to the
staff of our parish at this service by the
Assistant Archdeacon Mavis Wilson.
Please come and support Tom at this
important point of his ministry.
Preacher Canon Mavis Wilson
There will be no 10.45 service
at St Mary’s on this day
Mothering Sunday
th
Sunday 15
March
10.45am at St Alban’s
We will be welcoming our uniformed
organisations to join us for this informal allage service to celebrate Mothering Sunday.
On this Sunday there will be no Sunday
Club at either church as our children join us
for the whole service but a crèche will be
available.
10.45am at St Mary’s
This will be a quieter, more reflective
service for those who find Mothering
Sunday a difficult day, providing an
opportunity to offer thanksgiving to the God
who is to us as both Heavenly Father and
Divine Mother.
Posies of flowers will be distributed at
both services
Palm Sunday –
United Worship
Sunday 29th March
10.45am at
St Mary’s
Our United Worship will begin on the Green
at Worplesdon with a Palm Procession up
into church (please note there will be no
9.15am service at St Alban’s).
www.worplesdonparish.com
Holy Week
Monday 30th March: 8pm
Holy Communion at St Alban’s
Tuesday 31st March: 8pm
Holy Communion at St Mary’s
Wednesday 1st April
Holy Communion 11am at St Alban’s
Passover Supper 6.30pm at St Alban’s
This takes place in the context of a bring
and share supper. All ages welcome.
Maundy Thursday 2nd April
8pm Sung Eucharist with foot washing at
St Mary’s followed by the Vigil until 10pm
Good Friday 3rd April
11.00am St Alban’s
At the Foot of the Cross
A service particularly suited to children
2pm The Last Hour at St Mary’s
Easter Day
6.00am Dawn Service at St Mary’s
with the lighting of the Easter Bonfire
8am Holy Communion at St Mary’s
9.15am Festal Communion at St Alban’s
10.45am Festal Communion at St Mary’s
6pm Healing service at St Mary’s
4
Opportunities for Worship
Sundays:
8.00am
Holy Communion
1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays at St Mary’s
Weddings, Baptisms and
Funerals
2nd & 4th Sundays at St Alban’s
In either Church by prior arrangement
with the Clergy
9.15am
iWorship
Parish Communion
St Alban’s
10.45am
Parish Communion
St Mary’s
6.00pm
The Healing Service
1st Sunday in the month at St Mary’s
United Worship
Occasionally normal services will be
replaced with a United Worship service in
one of our churches. This is usually for
Palm Sunday, St Alban’s Festival, St Mary’s
Festival and the Sunday after Christmas,
plus any extra special services during the
year. Please see the Worship Calendar for
dates and times.
God’s Family at Worship
Usually 2nd Sunday in month, an informal
all-age service replacing one Parish
Communion, normally the 10.45 at St
Mary’s
Usually 3rd Sunday in month at St Alban’s
at 9:45 for 10:00. Starting with coffee and
muffins, an informal, fun and interactive
all-age service replacing the Holy
Communion
Week Day Services:
Daily Office of Morning Prayer
Monday to Friday at 8.30am St Mary's
Holy Communion
Wednesday 11.00am St Alban’s
Home Communions
By prior arrangement with the Clergy
The clergy are always willing to bring Holy
Communion to the housebound and to
hear of those who would welcome a visit
at home or in hospital
Please contact the church office on 01483
233091
Opportunities for Fellowship
Village Lunch
Holiday at Home
At St Alban’s Church Hall, Wood Street
Village on the 4th Wednesday of the month
at 12.30. Details are in Crossway each
month.
For the Young at Heart over 60s, for one
day in August. Details in Crossway from
April.
Monday Café and Friday Café
Led by our professional Director of Music,
Nigel Evans-Thompson, the Parish Choir
sings regularly for Sunday services.
Practice is 7.00 – 8.00 every Friday at St
Mary’s. The Festival Singers assemble for
special occasions and the Parish Band
plays at some services. In all cases, new
members are always welcome.
Community cafés where all are welcome.
Fairtrade tea, coffee, homemade cakes and
biscuits. Toys for the children and
someone to listen if you want a chat.
Mondays at St Alban’s Church Hall, Wood
Street Village
Term time only 3.00 – 5.00
Fridays at Fairlands Community Centre
The first and third Friday of the month
2.30 – 4.30
Music
St Mary's Bell Ringers
Meet for practice 8.00 every Friday. New
members welcome.
www.worplesdonparish.com
5
Opportunities for Children
Children are very welcome at all our services – but here are some particularly child friendly
opportunities. For more information on any of these groups, please email
[email protected]
Edward’s Sunday Club
Crèche for preschool children and babies
during the main Sunday service. There is
also a children’s corner in each church with
toys, colouring and books, and toy bags
available for every child.
are invited through to the church for 45
minutes of singing, stories, crafts, games,
prayers and fun. Although mainly aimed
at Primary School children, everyone is
welcome.
The Sunday Club
Baby and Toddler Group
Activities for primary school age children
during the main Sunday service at St
Mary’s (not during school holidays,
iWorship Sundays or GFW Sundays).
God’s Family at Worship
(GFW)
Usually 2nd Sunday in the month and
usually at St Mary’s (see Worship
Calendar), an informal all-age service. One
GFW a term is a parade service, usually at
St Alban’s.
iWorship
Usually the 3rd Sunday in the month at St
Alban’s at 9.45 for 10.00. Starting with
coffee and muffins, an informal all-age
service.
Children’s Choir
Practices 9.15 – 9.45 (before the iWorship
service) at St Alban’s on the 3rd Sunday of
the month.
Monday Club
Monday Club started in January 2015, in
conjunction with Monday Cafe. At 3.45pm
children attending Monday Cafe in the Hall
www.worplesdonparish.com
Every Thursday in term time. 9.45 –
11.15 at St Alban’s hall, Wood Street
Village. An informal session with coffee,
tea, fruit and biscuits. Come and have a
chat while the children play.
Holiday Club
During the first full week of the summer
holidays, for children at primary
school. Leaflets come out every year in
May in the parish schools and
churches. Also an afternoon holiday club,
usually in late November, and another in
the Easter holidays.
Parish Youth Group (PYG)
For years 7 – 9, approximately fortnightly
at St Alban’s at 6.00 – 7.45pm.
Youth PCC (Pizza, Chips and
Chat)
For years 10 – 13, monthly on a Friday
evening.
Baptisms
Please call the rectory on 234616 to
discuss your child’s baptism with Hugh.
6
Monday Café and Friday Café
The Village
Lunch
Fairtrade tea, coffee,
homemade cakes and biscuits.
If you have a spare half hour, why not pop along and
enjoy a cup of tea with friends or come and make new
ones? Open to all – young and old!
Monday Café at St Alban’s Hall,
Wood Street Village
every Monday in term time 3.00 – 5.00pm
Free on the first Monday of the month
From January 2015, Monday Club will be at the café
every week. At 3.45 children are invited through to the
church for 45 minutes of singing, stories, crafts, games,
prayers and fun. Although mainly aimed at primary
school children, everyone is welcome. (We ask that
children below this age are accompanied by an adult.)
Friday Café at Fairlands Community Centre
1st and 3rd Fridays of the month 2.30 – 4.30pm
There are toys for the children and a book box for
borrowing or swapping, as well as a playground
behind the hall.
at St Alban’s Church
Wood Street Village
on Wednesday 25th March
at 12.30 pm
Come along to enjoy good
food and good company and
a chance to meet up with
friends old and new
All who wish to attend are
welcome—just book your
place by phoning 01483
233091 by noon on
23rd March
If you need help with
transport to get there please
contact Fairwood Helpers on
01483 237619
Parish Registers
Baptisms
Sophie Herbert
Weddings
Daniel Powditch and Claire Harms
Geoff Walker and Kelly Martin
Funerals
John Edge
Dorothy Foley Greta Hedger
Peggy Salter
David Evans
Worplesdon United Reformed Church
Minister: Revd. Alison Toplas (01483 572845)
Serving the Community
Sunday Worship at 10.00am (Holy Communion first Sunday of each month)
Lunch Club at 12.30pm every Thursday
Books & Coffee 10.30am – 12.00noon on the first Saturday of each month
Official Village Collection Point for North Guildford Food Bank
on first Saturday of each month (with Books & Coffee)
Co-ordination of “Friends of Rickford Common” restoration and maintenance
work on Rickford Common under the management of Surrey Wildlife Trust
David Kelly Hall for hire
For further information contact Church Secretary Stuart Davies 01483 476915
www.worplesdonparish.com
7
Church Notices
Crossway deadline: 18 March
Tidy Up Day
If you’re on Facebook, please look for
‘Worplesdon Parish’ and ‘like’ us! If you
would like us to put anything up on the
Facebook
page,
please
email
[email protected]
with ‘Facebook’ in the heading.
Easter lilies
Contributions please!
If you have Crossway delivered to you, your
distributor will soon be asking for £5 for the
year. Postal subscriptions are also now due and
cost £14. If you are one of the people who pick
up Crossway from the churches or the shops,
we would be very grateful for a voluntary
contribution towards our costs. We suggest £5,
but feel free to donate more if you wish! They
can be handed to Becky Kerby or the church
office.
There is a tidy up day on Saturday 28th March
from 10.00am at St Alban’s. Please come
along to help with important maintenance tasks
both indoors and out. Come along any time –
the more who come the more we can achieve!
Once again we are inviting you to sponsor our
Easter Lilies in memory of a loved one.
There will be a list at the back of both churches
for you to write the names of those you wish to
remember. Money (may we suggest £5 per lily)
can be handed to Janet Sutton at St Alban’s,
Diana Forder at St Mary’s or handed in at the
church office.
A list will be printed at each church and put on
display during Eastertide.
The Flower teams are also willing to do flowers
in memory of people at other times of the year.
Please speak to Diana or Janet to arrange
details.
Thank you very much,
Children’s Society Box
If you still have a Children’s Society box, please
make sure you return it to the Church Office as
soon as possible – thanks.
It’s all change in the Diocese of
Guildford!
The Rt Revd Ian Brackley has announced that
he will retire this autumn after nearly 20 years
as Bishop of Dorking. There will be a farewell
service at 3pm on Sunday 6 September at
Guildford Cathedral, to which everyone is
invited. Bishop Ian will officially retire on
September 30, after which he and his wife
Penny will move to Petersfield in the Diocese of
Portsmouth. More information will be made
available in due course.
Prayer through Singing
Thursday 26th March
7.30pm St Alban’s
An opportunity to pray through the medium of
singing (and silence).
Open to all.
www.worplesdonparish.com
The Flower Team
8
PCC Jottings
The January meeting of the PCC took
place on one of the coldest nights of
the year, but despite this, we had good
attendance.
Obviously, the parish away day and
the reaction to ‘direction of travel /
planned approach’ was the focus of
quite a lot of discussion, especially the
question of the proposed change to
service format and times. We agreed
to have talks with members of the congregation to see how we can reach a
compromise to suit the majority, and
to help the church to grow.
The future of St Alban’s House was
considered in detail and the members
voted that the sale of the house should
go ahead and the property put on the
market as soon as possible.
We were all delighted to learn that
Tom Weil is to be welcomed into our
ministry on 1 March.
It was agreed that the away day had
been a success with lots of input and
support from those who attended, and
much thanks must go to the team who
arranged the day.
Visit to Farnborough
Airport
I have arranged for a group of 12 to be
shown around Farnborough Airport on
Tuesday 19th May.
The visit will last approximately 3
hours and it will include a ride down
the runway plus a visit to a hangar and
a trip up the control tower.
I thought if enough of us wanted to,
we could go for lunch afterwards in a
nearby hotel.
(I know Geraldine
mentioned it at the new group that are
getting together once a month.) If
anyone is interested, please contact
me on 839157.
There will be quite a bit of walking and
climbing of stairs to the tower. You will
also have to bring your passport for
identification (sadly we won’t be flying
off somewhere!)
Carol Caven
Zina Tooes
Volunteering is good for you!
Volunteering may be as helpful to you as it is to the people you help: a recent
study has found that it may well improve your health and make you happier.
People who volunteer report having lower levels of depression and higher levels of
well-being than average, while some research even suggests that it promotes a
longer and healthier life.
A review of 40 papers on the subject by researchers at the University of Exeter has
found that volunteers were a fifth less likely to die within the next four to seven
years than average. They have lower depression and higher levels of well-being
and life satisfaction…
www.worplesdonparish.com
9
JOBS – JOBS – JOBS – JOBS – JOBS – JOBS –
JOBS – JOBS – JOBS – JOBS
Please contact the church office if you could help with
just one of these...
Sunday Club
St Alban's Cleaning Rota
Sunday Club occurs only in term time,
and then not on iWorship Sundays or
GFW Sundays.
That doesn’t leave
very many!
There is a planning
meeting once or twice a term.
If
you’d like to offer to help rather than
lead, that would still be useful. With
our services possibly changing, we
need more volunteers, and if we had a
few more, you’d only be asked to help
once or twice a term.
The cleaning is usually done at St
Alban’s by two people, fortnightly, near
the end of the week at a time that
suits them.
Light and airy, much
easier to clean than an old church with
pews!
St Mary's and St Alban’s
Coffee Rota
Can you arrive at church early once a
month, lay out some mugs and put
the urn on?
Then pop out of the
service 10 minutes before the end to
make some coffee and tea?
The
coffee-and-chat part of the service is
so important, but we need a few more
people to share the workload.
Treasurer
As Mike has retired now, we urgently
need someone to oversee our
accounts. In the time he has been at
the helm, Mike has made the job a lot
easier, by computerising everything,
putting systems in place, and splitting
the job into smaller parts. There are
people who process data, others who
do the paying-in, and we even have
someone who can audit the accounts,
but we really need someone with an
interest in figure work who can
supervise and coordinate.
www.worplesdonparish.com
Witness Vision group
members
The group meets approx. once a term.
They provide a church presence at
community events such as the Wood
Street show and Worpfest and they
oversee the cafes and events such as
the Christmas Tree Festival.
St Albans facilities/building
support for churchwarden
What it says on the tin – someone to
help change a lightbulb, fix a dripping
tap or, if the job’s too complicated,
find a man (or woman) who can.
Monday Club Helpers
Monday Café is busy, and so full of
childre n, it see me d the ideal
opportunity to have a club there for
primary-aged children every week that
the café is open (term time only, apart
from bank holidays). It operates for
45 minutes in the church while the
adults are drinking tea in the hall. Still
in its early stages, each week will vary,
but may involve singing, drama, craft,
games and prayers. We already have
a small team leading the club but
would love some more help.
10
Parish People
In some of the feedback we’ve had about our magazine, it has been commented that the church in
Worplesdon and the people who run it are a bit of a mystery. Who are all the clergy and what are
their roles? What does the church warden do, and what exactly is the PCC? In an attempt to
demystify church life in our parish, we’re starting a regular slot, kicking off with Tom Weil, who will
be licensed to our parish this month.
Q. What’s your position in Worplesdon Parish?
A. I’m a self-supporting assistant curate in training! Translated: I’m just another volunteer.
Q. In training? But you’ve been a priest for ages!
A. Yes but not in parish ministry, so I must retrain to the very high standard the Church properly
expects of its ministers. Also I’ve had a longish break from ministry through illness so need to find
my feet again.
Q. What was your ministry before?
A. A priest in full-time secular employment and a self-supporting assistant chaplain in a university.
Q. What will you do in Worplesdon Parish?
A. I work under the Rector’s direction so whatever he tells me to do (within reason!) but it includes
leading worship and preaching, pastoral visiting and eventually helping with baptisms, weddings and
funerals. I hope to work with some local and community organisations too.
Q. How much time will you give?
A. Initially one day per week or 2 half days, plus Sunday ministry about twice a month. As I retired
from my full-time secular job because of illness, the training provides extra supervision so I don’t
overdo it!
Q. Where will you be based – St Mary’s or St Alban’s?
A. With the Rector, Mandy, Ruth and Anne, I’m licensed to Worplesdon Parish – ONE parish, ONE
congregation with two church buildings. I’ll work wherever I’m needed and look forward to being at
both churches which I love: not just the buildings but also most importantly, the people. It’s a great
privilege to serve at St Mary’s, over 1,000 years old, with a real sense of all who’ve worshipped
there down the ages. Equally at St Alban’s with its lovely space and light (we worship a God of light)
and a great sense of connection with Our Lord and His 12 disciples at the Last Supper when
celebrating the Communion amid the congregation. I really hope and pray that the whole
congregation feels able to worship at both churches and delights in doing so.
Q. Do you have specific ministry skills to bring?
A. I hope so – I’m said to be a good preacher, especially evangelistic and expository preaching. i.e.
explaining a Bible passage. Outreach, ‘Fresh Expressions’ and Pioneer Church – worshipping
communities outside traditional church buildings. Ecumenical and inter-faith relations: chaplaincy
experience included working with Lutheran, Roman Catholic and Orthodox chaplains, Jewish, Muslim
and Buddhist chaplains too. I miss students so maybe the parish could forge closer links with Merrist
Wood. Students bring something special to parish churches with their lively, enquiring minds. It’s
also very good to welcome and befriend international students and those from farther afield in the
UK.
Q. Anything else?
A. I sometimes sing with the Choir and hope to continue that. I love modern worship songs and was
thrilled to be asked to sing at iWorship recently with John Payne and Tina Grear. John and I thought
about forming an old-man band – maybe called ‘Geriatrica’ or perhaps ‘No Direction’!
Q. And your vision for Worplesdon Parish?
A. Our two churches full. Total engagement with our surrounding communities. A church plant or
Pioneer church on Fairlands. An outward looking and outward giving parish – not just money but
also the people we send out for wider Christian ministry. Pie-in-the-sky? No – I’ve experienced
vibrant growing C of E churches for myself. God CAN make it happen given unity, commitment,
generosity, hard work, solid teaching in the Faith but above all, PRAYER and lots of it.
www.worplesdonparish.com
11
Changes in the Parish
The following is an edited version of a sermon Mandy preached on Sunday 8 February.
Do you remember the Mr Men books? Mr Grumpy and Miss Chatterbox? In our readings
(Proverbs 8.1, 22-31 and John1.1-14) we are introduced to two new characters – Miss
Wisdom and Mr Word.
Miss Wisdom has been around since before the beginnings of the earth and she was beside
God delighting and rejoicing in his creation. Together they plan all the delightful treats they
have in store for their new creation. God looks at Wisdom and thinks, ‘Soon there will be
others to share in this, as Wisdom does.’ Wisdom looks at God and thinks, ‘Soon there will
be others who will understand and love God’s wonderful ideas, as I do.’
In John’s Gospel we meet Mr Word. He also has been around as long as God has. From his
name we would expect Mr Word to be telling us something, and we’d be right. Mr Word is a
bit like a human speech bubble, which God himself is speaking. And although we may not
usually call him by his name of Word, we do actually know him already quite well. God’s Mr
Word is Jesus. God speaks to us in a language that we were designed to understand, and
comes to us in a form that is utterly familiar to us, and yet some of us still manage not to
recognise him.
There is clearly a link between personified Wisdom, of the Hebrew tradition, and the
personified eternal Word, which resonated with Greek thinking. The One who draws all this
together is Jesus, living out, in human terms, the creative loving of God. The wisdom Jesus
displays is of complete integrity and vulnerable love. Wisdom is not about knowing the
truth; it is the skill of living in it, living in the way God desires us to, something which Jesus
came in part to do. We are called to be God-like in this world, to be his servant, spreading
his love, in all we say and do. And discovering and obeying God’s will is true wisdom.
The PCC and various vision groups, the ministry team and the staff team have been
praying for wisdom to discern God’s will in formulating a new vision for this parish, because
one thing is certain – we cannot remain as we are. If we do, we will be bankrupt and the
number of people in our churches will continue to decline.
Wisdom is not about thinking ‘What do I want as an individual?’ but about working together
as the people of God to discern how to share God’s amazing love with the people who don’t
know about it.
The decisions about changing our worship structure have not been taken lightly, and I sit
trying to work out how we can provide children’s work at both churches while having a
simple pattern that newcomers can understand. How we can meet the needs of those
already coming through the doors while at the same time providing a service which is
understandable to people who have never been in a church in their life. But it is impossible
to please all the people all the time.
The church, the people of God, are the only organisation who are called to show more
concern for those outside it than those within. That should be our priority at the moment.
Is it our priority?
Change is difficult and painful, and as individuals, some of us will be hurting more than
others in this process. But we are part of the family, the wider family of God, and through
this process we can love and support each other and together we can discern God’s will for
this parish.
We are called to be Miss Unity and Mr Love in the name of God so we can reach out to
others to share the good news of God’s love for all his creation.
www.worplesdonparish.com
12
Mothering Sunday
There is an old Jewish saying:
God could not be everywhere, and therefore
He made mothers.
Mother Church, Mother Earth, Mother of the Gods
– our human mothers – all of them have been
part of the celebration of ‘Mothering Sunday’, as
the fourth Sunday in Lent is affectionately known.
It has been celebrated in the UK since at least the
16th century.
In Roman times, great festivals were held every
spring to honour Cybele, Mother of all the Gods.
Other pagan festivals in honour of Mother Earth
were also celebrated. With the arrival of Christianity, the festival became one honouring Mother
Church.
During the Middle Ages, young people apprenticed to craftsmen or working as ‘livein’ servants were allowed only one holiday a year on which to visit their families –
which is how ‘Mothering Sunday’ got its name. This special day became a day of
family rejoicing, and the Lenten fast was broken. In some places the day was
called Simnel Day, because of the sweet cakes called simnel cakes traditionally
eaten on that day.
In recent years the holiday has changed and in many ways now resembles the
American Mother’s Day, with families going out to Sunday lunch and generally
making a fuss of their mother on the day.
BIG BROWNIE THANK YOU!
At the end of term, we will be very sad to say goodbye to Mary Dey, who has been
Brown Owl at Wood Street Brownies since it started in 2004. Life with a busy job
and a small boy is too much at the
moment
for
the
weekly
commitment of brownies. We will
miss Mary, Michael and James,
and hope they’ll pop back to see
us all. In the meantime, THANK
YOU, Mary, for all you’ve done for
so many girls in the last 11 years.
www.worplesdonparish.com
13
The Way I See It:
FIVE GOOD THINGS
ABOUT LENT
In case you’re thinking at this time of the year that
Lent is (as one writer recently described it) ‘all
purple and prohibitions’, here are five good things
about it.
1. It only lasts 40 days. Fasts, by their very
nature, can’t last forever, but Lent has a very
manageable 40 days. (If you’re thinking at six weeks and a bit it’s longer than that,
see Item 2). New Year Resolutions simply stretch off into some impossibly distant
horizon, but our Lenten attempts at discipline (chocolate, cigarettes, daily prayers,
being kind to the cat) have an end date to them.
2. Sundays in Lent are ‘as oases’. Sunday is never a day of fasting, but a weekly
celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. So – and this is official! – Sundays don’t
count in Lent.
3. A bit of self-denial is better than a lot of self-indulgence. We live in a very
self-indulgent society. Just for 40 days it’s no bad thing to deny ourselves
something that is a minor luxury or a bit of self-pampering – especially if it saves
some money which could go to people in the world who have no ‘little luxuries’.
4. It’s a journey towards Easter. Lent goes somewhere, and that somewhere is the
empty tomb of Easter morning. It’s daffodils in the churchyard and new life all
around us.
5. The days get longer. The English word for this season is the only one that has no
religious significance at all. ‘Lent’ is simply an abbreviation of the Old English word
‘lencten’, which means ‘lengthen’. On these islands, where weather is always a
major topic of conversation, it’s not surprising that what people noted about the
days of Lent was that they got longer – no more of those ghastly dark tea-times.
But the ‘lengthening’ is all part of Item 4, really – moving towards new life. (Sadly,
Items 4 and 5 don’t apply in Australia and New Zealand. Doubtless they have
compensations.)
Given those
about Lent,
March this
approach its
five splendidly positive things
which covers the whole of
year, I trust readers will
rigours with joyful hearts.
David Winter
www.worplesdonparish.com
14
Surrey Half Marathon –
Sunday
8th March
Jacobs Well
Country Market
30th Birthday – 27 March
Country Markets, which used to be
known as the WI Markets, are part of
a national cooperative of individual
producers of home baking, preserves,
crafts and plants and garden produce.
Jacobs Well Country Market is a
flourishing Market held in their Village
Hall every Friday between 10.00 and
11.30
On 27 March they will be celebrating
their 30th Birthday, when Ann Milton
MP will be joining them to celebrate
this milestone, and cut the birthday
cake!
Please be aware there will be road
closures in place at Burdenshott Road,
Goose Rye Road to Fox Corner and
Berry Lane.
The race starts in Woking at 9am.
Catherine Mirmak is running in the
half marathon in aid of Challengers,
which provides play and leisure for
disabled children and young people
across Surrey and Hampshire.
If you’d like to sponsor her, you can go to
www.virginmoneygiving.com/CatherineMirmak
WORPLESDON PARISH COUNCIL
PRESENT
A 1940’s CONCERT PARTY
To commemorate the 70th Anniversary of
VICTORY IN EUROPE
A concert will be held at Worplesdon Memorial Hall on Saturday 9th May
commencing at 7.30 pm, so come and sing-along to the songs of the era.
More details of the event will be announced in the next issue,
but in the meantime please put the date in your diary.
www.worplesdonparish.com
15
Concert for Rowan
We often advertise concerts in this magazine for Vivace Chorus, partly because the
editor and a couple of others from this parish sing in the choir! Our concert in May,
however, is a very special concert for a very special cause, so I wanted to give it an
extra plug and encourage you all to go.
Vivace has a close relationship with local composer Will Todd, whose daughter
Rowan was diagnosed in 2009 with Neorofibrosis Type 1. Will writes:
In particular, she had a tumour on her optic nerve that was gradually diminishing
her sight as well as threatening her overall health. She began chemotherapy at
Great Ormond Street Hospital and since then has had two intensive periods of
treatment, the first for 18 months.
It’s hard work supporting an ill child. As well as being a worrying experience, there
are also the practicalities of life which must carry on – working, other children,
normal things – that become more difficult when you are plunged into a situation
like ours.
Our day-to-day life has been wonderfully supported by the Rainbow Trust, which
has offered valuable practical support, taking Rowan and her mum to the many
hospital appointments, leaving me free to work and look after our other children.
They really have been a god-send.
Rainbow Trust supports over 25% of the 6,000 families in England who have a child
with a life-threatening or terminal illness. They support the whole family 24/7, 365
days a year, regardless of diagnosis. They are a fantastic organisation, and the
stories they tell of the families in their care are inspiring.
Our concert also involves a children’s
choir, made up from three local
schools – Queen Eleanor’s, George
Abbot and Tormead.
They will be
joining Vivace, the Salisbury
Community Choir and the fabulous
Vasari Singers, as well as Guildford’s
professional orchestra, Southern Pro
Musica.
Come and support Becky, Mary,
Richard, Alex, Emily, Marjory, Alicia
and Millie for an evening of wonderful
music celebrating life, love and the joy
of working together to benefit others.
www.worplesdonparish.com
16
GARDEN TIPS FOR MARCH
I hope by the time you read this that the signs of spring are finally here with spring bulbs in flower.
It’s time to give your garden tools a good clean and think about putting mowers in for servicing.
Don’t be tempted to mow the lawn too early, especially if it is still water logged. If you have
managed to give the lawn a cut then think about giving it a spring feed, which will help control moss
and weeds.
It’s a great time to lift and split any overgrown perennials, discarding the old middle bits. Put in
plant supports now so that plants grow through and hide the support. With the days getting longer
and hopefully a bit warmer it’s time to watch out for slugs and snails, so act early and start putting
out slug pellets, but try to buy the pellets that are not harmful to pets.
Acid-loving Camellias and Rhododendrons can be given an ericaceous feed, especially if you are on
neutral or alkaline soil. Once early flowering shrubs have finished flowering, give them a prune.
Buddleias and Cornus can be cut back hard. Give Roses a final prune and start spraying with
fungicide to help stop mildew and black spot. This should be
repeated regularly throughout the year. Hydrangeas can also be
pruned now by removing stems carrying deadheads to above the
topmost healthy bud and also any dead or weak shoots from the
base.
Dahlias and Begonias can be sparked into life putting them into
moist multi-purpose compost somewhere warm. And if you are
lucky
enough
to
have
a
greenhouse
then
get
sowing seeds so that you can fill your borders and pots with
summer colour. Don’t forget the plug plants for hanging baskets.
Amateur gardeners are renown for not feeding plants enough so
try to remember to feed little and often.
As usual don’t forget the wildlife – put out food and water as birds
will be starting to nest.
FEBRUARY CLUB MEETING
Franchi Seeds, in Northern Italy, is the oldest family-run seed company in the world and they have
been selling seeds since 1783, which is before Mozart wrote his first concerto! Paolo Arrigo’s talk
was entitled “From the Seed to the Plate”. The history of seeds in the UK goes back as far as the
Romans, who were the first to import seed. The Emperor Tiberius apparently fell in love with
parsnips and took seed back to Italy.
For centuries our food was preserved but with the introduction of seeds this meant that food could
be
produced
as
and
when
needed.
There
are
now
long
waiting
lists
for
allotments with more young people wanting to grow their own vegetables. In Italy you will find
vegetable plots all over the place – in private gardens, hotels, railway station, virtually anywhere
there is a space. Vegetable growing is not called gardening but producing food.
After WW2 there were some 43 companies in the UK producing and selling seeds and this has gone
down to just 1 or 2. Most seed now comes from other European countries and China. Paolo
encouraged us to support UK varieties such as Ailsa Craig tomatoes and Kelvedon Wonder peas,
otherwise these might disappear. All the varieties in the Franchi seed catalogue come from different
areas and countries but mostly from Italy. Paolo explained that because Italy’s climate is very
similar to (or even colder than) ours, all their seeds will germinate and grow well in the UK. He had
brought lots of examples for us to purchase and gave us some good tips on growing, cropping and
cooking the results.
www.worplesdonparish.com
17
CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO CHANGE THE WORLD
DO YOU HAVE THE AMBITION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
International Citizen Service (ICS) is an overseas volunteering programme for 18-25 year
olds, led by VSO and funded by the UK government. ICS is run by a consortium of eleven
respected development organisations, in 26 countries, across Asia, Africa and Latin
America.
You don't need cash or qualifications to
energy to get stuck in. ICS volunteers
volunteers, together contributing to
projects
aiming
to
improve
environmental,
health,
education,
livelihoods or participation within local
communities.
All placements are 10 - 12 weeks long
and we welcome and encourage young
people from all backgrounds and
experiences to apply. On their return
home, volunteers are committed to doing
an Action at Home project to raise
awareness of issues faced on placement
or by volunteering in their local comm
unity to continue a life of Active
Citizenship
For further information, please:
Visit our website: www.volunteerics.org
Call: +44 (0)20 8780 7400
Email: [email protected]
The vso team would be happy to tell you
more about the programme and the different options available and to answer
any questions you might have.
www.worplesdonparish.com
take part, just the enthusiasm and
work side by side with in-country
18
Who’s Who in The Parish
Rector:
Rev Hugh Grear
01483 234616
The Rectory, Perry Hill,
Worplesdon GU3 3RE
[email protected]
Day Off: Friday
Bell Ringers
John Collier
01252 621267
Choir
Sue Smith
01483 233671
Baby & Toddlers
Becky Kerby
01483 236876
Assistant Parish Administrator
Carolyn Howard-Jones
[email protected]
Tuesday and Thursday mornings
House Groups
The Rectory
Tina Grear
01483 234616
44 Fairlands Avenue Julie Lynch 01483 852052
Associate Priest:
Rev Mandy Welch
01483 233525
[email protected]
Available: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
Curate:
Rev Anne Payne
07796 420382
[email protected]
Available: Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Curate:
Rev Ruth Brothwell
[email protected]
Curate:
Rev Tom Weil
01483 223571
Youth Group
Catherine Mirmak 01483 497015
St Alban’s Church
Flower Rota
Janet Sutton 01483 825709
Planned Giving
Dominic Howard-Jones 01483 234239
St Mary’s Church
Deputy Wardens
Brian Williams
Dan Shaw
Flower Rota
Diana Forder
Wedding Flowers Tricia Williams
Planned Giving
Brian Smith
Vergers
Steve Reeds
John Collier
Child Protection
01483 825954
01483 236252
01483 233984
01483 825954
01483 234407
01483 560047
01252 621267
Kathryn Gillett 01483 546096
Contact via Church Office
Gift Aid Secretary Chris Hughes 01483 481017
Honorary Associate Priest:
Rev Martin Wright Contact via Church Office
Friends of Worplesdon Parish
John McLean 01483 232151
Pastoral Assistants:
Jeanette Grey
Steve Reeds
Brian Williams
Tricia Williams
Julie Lynch
PCC Secretary:
Carolyn Howard-Jones
[email protected]
01483 234485
01483 560047
01483 825954
01483 825954
01483 852052
Church Wardens:
Glenda Archer
01483 832101
Carol Caven
01483 839157
[email protected]
Director of Music
Nigel Evans-Thompson
01483 854095
Parish Administrator:
Michaela Kelly
Messages for the above may also be left at:
The Church Office
Perry Hill, Worplesdon, Guildford GU3 3RE
Monday, Wednesday & Friday
9.30am - 2.30pm
01483 233091 (answer machine out of hours)
[email protected]
PCC Treasurer:
Mike Gillett
01483 235898
[email protected]
Deanery Synod Representatives
Tina Grear, Robert Lynch, Catherine Fewings
PCC Members
Rev Hugh Grear, Rev Mandy Welch, Rev Ruth
Brothwell, Betsy Herdman, Sue Darbey, Kevin
Davison, Dan Shaw, Glenda Archer, Carol Caven,
John Collier, Steve Mochrie, James Scott, Janet
Sutton and Zina Tooes
Church Hall Bookings
St Alban’s Church Hall in Wood Street Village may
be booked by groups and individuals for meetings,
children’s parties & other events contact The Church Office 01483 233091
For more information please see Parish Website:
www.worplesdonparish.com
enquiries: [email protected]
www.worplesdonparish.com
Crossway Details
Editors: Becky Kerby, Rob Pocock, Martin Elliott and Chloe Elliott.
Publication Date: Crossway is published monthly and is available from the last
Sunday of the preceding month.
Submissions: The copy deadline is listed on the notices page. We also send out a
reminder to those on the parish email list. Unless your article will obviously go over
two pages, we prefer it not to exceed 550 words. We also like to include pictures and
can scan them if they are not available electronically.
Copy should be emailed to [email protected] or left in the
church office marked “Crossway Editor”.
Distribution: Crossway is distributed free in St Alban’s Church and St Mary’s Church,
Wood Street Post Office and Stores, Special Occasions Party Shop (Fairlands Post
Office), Fairlands Total Convenience and Christmas Bakery in Worplesdon.
To have it emailed to you, please contact [email protected]
It is also published on our website www.worplesdonparish.com
To have it delivered (£5 for the year) please contact your local distributor. Wood Street
Village: Janet Morley (235240), Worplesdon: Janet Rochester (568717) and Fairlands:
Christopher Peacock (826532).
To have it posted (£14 for the year) please contact
[email protected] (Tel 01483 233091).
the
Church
Office
Cost: If you pick up your own Crossway or have it emailed, it is free. However, we
would appreciate a voluntary contribution of £5 (or more if you wish!) towards the cost
of having it printed. Donations can be sent in to the Church Office (cheques made
payable to “Worplesdon PCC” – thanks).
Printing: Imprint Colour
Advertising: to find out more, email [email protected]
While we are grateful for the support of our advertisers, space in this publication is sold
in good faith and the editorial team can take no responsibility for the quality of goods or
services offered.
Crossway Deadlines
April issue
–
18 March
May issue
–
15 April
June issue
–
20 May
July issue
–
17 June
August/September issue –
15 July
October issue
–
16 September
November issue
–
14 October
December issue
–
18 November (tbc)
Please do send anything to us whenever you like – you don’t have to wait for a
reminder. If it’s not time-sensitive we will keep it until the following issue if there’s no
space.
J. B. Plumbing
CARE VISITS AT HOME
Good Old Fashioned Service
Central Heating, extra radiators
All general plumbing undertaken
Qualified & Insured
At Bluebird Care we offer support to help
our customers maintain their independence
in the comfort and security of their own
homes
What we do:
We can help with everything from personal
care to shopping, cleaning and social visits.
This includes: medication assistance, meal
preparation, getting up or going to bed.
Call and speak to our friendly team
01483 835132
07757 745895
01483 761000
[email protected]
www.bluebirdcare.co.uk
T & S TREE SURGEONS
Established 1985





Fully Insured
Council Approved
Free Quotations
Full Range of Services
From Planting to Felling
01483 237443
Woking
Funeral Service
Family-oriented funeral directors of distinction.
Proud to have been families in Woking and
surrounding areas since 1880
J. B. Motors
Car repairs and servicing
M.O.T. preparation
British and continental cars
and light vans
Telephone John Brown (day or night)
Guildford 565153 or 233332
MERROW SAVOURIES
“Catering for your Occasion”
Providing a great service together with delicious
home-cooked food for whatever the occasion
Christenings • Birthdays • Anniversaries • Cocktail Parties
Barn Dances • Business Lunches • Funeral Receptions
Telephone Sue on Guildford (01483) 850186
www.merrowsavouries.co.uk
Special Occasions
Party Shop
57-59 Fairlands Avenue
Tel. 01483 236200
For all your balloons, party goods
and fancy dress.
Come in and see what we can
offer you.
PERRY HILL ANTIQUES
House Clearance Specialists
We buy & sell:- furniture, antiques, china, books,
paintings, bric-a-brac; and also modern design
furniture, china etc. 1940s ‘50s ‘60s
For free estimates ring us or call into our shop for a
friendly, prompt service. Single items bought.
David & Karen Jenkins
Tel: (01483) 236081
Perry Hill Antiques, Perry Hill, Worplesdon, Guildford, Surrey GU3 3RD
&
FURNITURE
Restoration
Upholstery
Justin Freeland
01483 811608 or 07771 953 870
www.freelandrestoration.com
RYDES HILL
Preparatory School and Nursery
ISI Inspection June 2011 - top rating in every category
We warmly invite you to contact us to
arrange a personal tour on 01483 563160
or email [email protected]
www.rydeshill.com
“This is an exceptional school; the children flourish and thrive.”
Parent
Bathrooms & Kitchens - design to completion
Plumbing • Tiling • Carpentry • Plastering
Electrical (NICEIC Domestic Installer)
Local and Reliable - Call Tony Cuthbert
T: 01483 824783
E: [email protected]
An Independent Catholic school welcoming children of all denominations
Girls aged 3 - 11 years and Boys aged 3 - 7 years
M: 07795 184084
W: www.acuthbert.co.uk
Carol Caven M.Ch.S.
Welcome to Perry Hill,
the local surveyors for
your parish.
HPCC Registered
Podiatrist and
Chiropodist
We are a multi-disciplined Chartered
S ur v e y o r s
p r ac tic e ,
p r o v id ing
professional advice on commercial and
residential property matters.
Home visits in Guildford
and surrounding areas
Our services include:
• Property valuation (probate, secured lending,
accounts, matrimonial etc.)
• Building surveys/home buyer reports
• Property management (commercial and residential)
• Commercial estate agency
• Development consultancy
We operate across Surrey and South London, along the A3
corridor, in the GU and KT postal code areas.
For an informal chat, please call Mike Aldous or his team
on 01483 237333
T: 01483 237333 E: [email protected]
W: www.perryhill.co.uk
Surveys • Valuation • Commercial Agency
Property Management • Building Surveys
07740 942739
[email protected]
Martin Elliott
Approved Driving Instructor
Countywide Driving School






Local Driving Instructor
Well Above Average Pass Rate
Discounts for Block Bookings
Motorway Lessons
Pass Plus
Off Road Lessons for Under 17
07846642277