Challenging Times Our House Group has been using an unusual, but stimulating, study guide during Lent, based around the troubled relationship of the scientist Stephen Hawking, an atheist, and his ex-wife, Jane, a Christian.

At 21 Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and given two years to live. Now, at 74, and despite spending most of his life in a wheelchair and unable to talk unaided, he is one of the world’s greatest physicists. His book A Brief History of Time has sold over 10 million copies.

His life seems a triumph of human will power (his own and Jane’s), but alongside this and his great scientific analysis of the nature of the universe, the study forces us to think about human frailty and fallibility, and confront our own shortcomings. Inevitably, we all ‘fall short of the Glory of God’ but we can learn from setbacks and become stronger.

In St Michael’s we face many challenges right now, although the problems faced by Christians elsewhere in the world make ours seem insignificant.

‘That is why,’ St Paul says, ‘for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses … in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, I am strong.’

John Martin

Please pray for those on the prayer board and for those being baptised here this month. Please pray for Holly Sharman, Jean Foley, Tracey Purser, Joyce Gatward and Leslie Cummings, who died in March.

St Michael’s News April 2016

St Michael and All Angels, Lower Church Road, Sandhurst, Berkshire, GU47 8HN www.stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk

Office open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10.00 am–1.30 pm. Open for counselling: Wednesday 9.45 am–1.30 pm. E-mail: office@stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk Tel. 01252 873030

Rector: Rev. John A. Castle Email: Rector@stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk Tel. 01252 872168

OUR PURPOSE AS A CHURCH Knowing God for ourselves. Growing as individuals and as a church.

Showing God’s love in the world.

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Sides-people needed With the Annual Parochial Church Meeting coming up, when sides-people

are elected, this seems a good time to try to find a few new faces to join the

team. The main duty is to ‘meet and greet’ and since the sides-people are the

first people that most members of the congregation meet on a Sunday

morning, the impression they make and the welcome they give is really

important. But, as you are probably aware, the sides-people are going to take

on a rather bigger role, particularly at the 9.30 Parish Communion, and we

really could do with some new helpers.

We could also do with at least one new person to help out at sung/choral

Evensongs, which take place about once a month. And new helpers at the

Family Service are always welcome.

Sides-people at the Parish Communion help out about eight times a year: at

the Family Service and Evensong rather less. Rotas are published well in

advance, and we will make sure you know what to do – it’s really not

difficult. If you feel able to join the team for any of these services please do

give me a ring on 01252 871881 before the APCM.

Chris

Church cleaning Very many thanks to Ann H-D for her years of cleaning the church brass etc.

We urgently need some younger people to offer to look after the church. It

takes about a half-hour twice a month, at a time that suits you. Please talk to

John Castle if you feel you can help. Each volunteer is responsible for just one

section of the church, on a rota, and you can swap whenever

necessary. Please contact the Parish Office (01252 873030) if you can help.

Coffee rota helpers. More helpers are urgently required. You are only on the rota once every three months if there are sufficient helpers. Please make offer to the office.

St Michael’s Hardship Fund Hard times can hit any of us at any time. Historically, the church has always

been the place to which the poorest could turn in times of trouble, and at St

Michael’s we have a small fund to assist people struggling with financial

hardship. Beneficiaries must either live within the parish of Sandhurst, or

have an active and current connection with St Michael’s Church. (Continued on page 3)

WHAT ’ S HAP PEN I NG

3

In general, requests are only considered for ‘emergency help’ and not for

ongoing deprivation etc. Both the need and the potential benefit of any

proposed help has to be clearly identified. Grants are limited in size and no

beneficiary may receive more than one grant in any year.

If you, or someone you know hits really hard times do please speak to the

clergy or the church wardens, who will be pleased to talk through the

possibility that the church can help financially, as well as with prayer and

practical help. All requests are treated confidentially.

(Continued from page 2)

A beach walk in Norfolk

Those of you who came to the quiz

evening, or to the joint Parish

Communion/Family Service on the

following day, will have seen the

picture which has been donated by

Keith Nash in aid of our window

restoration fund. Keith is a well-

regarded water colourist who lives

and works in Norfolk and is

particularly well-known for his

open beach and sky scenes. He also

happens to be Ann and Chris

Harris’s brother-in-law. Pictures by Keith similar to the one which was on

display sell for over £300 in galleries, so this is a very generous donation.

The small reproduction here can only give a hint of the quality of Keith’s

work (and is only in black and white in the printed newsletter), so we will

display the picture whenever we can at major church events, including the

APCM. It is, of course, mounted and framed.

Several people have already expressed interest in the painting so, as a first

option, we would like to invite bids for the picture, with a reserve of £120.

The person submitting the highest bid over £120 by May 2nd will become the

lucky owner. If you want a ‘private’ viewing or to make a sealed bid, then

please do get in touch with Ann and Chris on 01252 871881. You can see more

of Keith’s work at www.keithnash.co.uk.

WHAT ’ S HAP PEN I NG

4

Crèche A crèche is available for under threes during the Parish Communion

Service on the 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays of the month in the Pastoral

Centre. Collect your children after the service, at coffee time. Earlier

collection can be arranged to share Holy Communion as a family.

If you can help with the rota, please contact Caroline Bowles on 07995

65850. You will need to complete CRB forms, which are available from the

office. The crèche will not be available during school holidays.

Toddler Time is for everyone under school age and their carers. Itʹs on the

2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, from 9.30 to 11.00 am, in the Pastoral

Centre (not school holidays). Come and join us for songs, craft activities,

drinks and toast, a Bible story and prayers, and an opportunity for play

(children) and chat (parents). NB – Dads also welcome!

Kidz Church is part of the 9.30 Parish Communion Service, every

Sunday, for children aged 3–10. Please register your children at 9.20 am in

the Pastoral Centre. On the 2nd and 4th Sundays we join Reach for a

Youth Worship service, with breakfast served from 9.15 am. Parents are

welcome to stay if they wish. The children join the adults in church each

week for the end of the church service. Parents interested in their children

receiving Holy Communion are asked to speak to Rev. John Castle.

Family Service The Family Service is held on the first and third Sundays of the month,

including school holidays. It caters for families with primary-school and

pre-school-age children. It is informal and child

friendly and includes action songs and an interactive

talk. Refreshments (real coffee and pastries or cakes)

are served before the service in the church from

11.00 am. The service starts at 11.15 am and lasts about

40 minutes. The Family Service is designed to be the

place you really can come with small children and not worry how they

will behave! Come and meet other families and make friends.

Help is always required for the Family Service with regards refreshments,

sides persons and technicians. If you would like to volunteer, please email

me at kirsty@tcb-arrow.co.uk. Thank you, Kirsty Dunlop

CH I LDREN AND FAM I LY

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REACH, for children in Year 6 and above, runs parallel to the 9.30 Parish

Communion service on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. We join

with Kidz Church for a youth-worship service, with breakfast served from

9.15 am. The youth join the adults in church for the end of the church

service.

Impact, fun and Bible study for young people year 6–9, meets every

Monday in term time, from 7.30–8.30 pm. Contact Liz on 01344 779658.

Friday night group, exploring our faith for years 10–13, meets every

Friday in term time, 6.00–7.30 pm. Contact Liz on 01344 779658.

CH I LDREN AND FAM I LY

Film Music Night in Sandhurst On Saturday 23rd April, at 7.30 pm in Sandhurst and Yateley Methodist

Church, Camberley Band will be presenting a supper concert. The brass band

will play a selection of film themes; then there will be a break for supper,

consisting of a ploughmanʹs with salad, ham, pate and savoury biscuits. Soft

drinks will be provided, but no popcorn! After that the band will play again.

Tickets: £12 and £10 concessions, must be bought in advance for catering

purposes and are available from Jenny Thorn 01344 775805.

LinkUp Winter Lunch

LinkUp held a most enjoyable winter lunch on

Sunday 21st February, attended by members of

our church congregation and Sandhurst residents

from within our parish.

Particular thanks go to Lesley Buckingham, her

kitchen team and all the cooks for the delicious

meal served with wine and soft drinks. Thanks

also to the many drivers who enabled some less-

mobile guests to come and to Adam and Matt

Castle for providing lively entertainment at the

end of the meal. A good time was had by all!

Janet Pilbeam and Steph Martin, LinkUp

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The Forgotten Famine

While the Western media concentrates on the war in Syria, the

challenge of migrants into Europe and the debate about Brexit, under

our noses millions of people in Africa are facing hunger due to

drought. Are the news people just waiting for some photos of

emaciated children covered with flies before they report anything?

We Christians in Sandhurst donʹt need to wait for the media to act. We

can save lives NOW. TearFundʹs website www.tearfund.org will tell

you about what they are doing, and I would urge you to make a

donation straight away. If you donʹt already support them, or an

agency like them, why not sign up to give to them regularly by direct

debit?

Another way of responding to this disaster is to get tickets for Bishop

Andrewʹs Ethiopian evening (see poster on the page opposite), which

will also be a great night out and introduce us to something of the

culture in which Maggie Crewes (Retrak) was working when she was

in Addis Ababa.

The third strand of our Church Purpose Statement is ‘Showing Godʹs

love in the world’. Hereʹs an opportunity to do just that.

John Castle

Your Church, Your Meeting! Sunday 24th April is the date for our Annual Meeting (APCM), when we

review the activities of the past year (detailed in the Annual Review) and look

forward to the coming one. Thereʹs an opportunity to ask questions about

anything pertaining to the life of our church, and hear about proposed

developments.

This year there will be presentations on youth work in Sandhurst, the

proposed Family Worker post, and an update on St Maryʹs. We will also be

electing new members of the Church Council (PCC) and churchwardens,

Deanery Synod members and sides-people (see separate notice on p2). If you

are willing to serve in any of these capacities, please speak to a churchwarden

or fill in an application form.

As some of the topics are of particular relevance to people with children, we

will be running a crèche to enable parents to take part in the meeting. It

would be helpful if you can let us know in advance, but if not, just come!

7

8

Berkshire Churches Trust

The Berkshire Churches Trust is an inter-denominational fund set up to

help meet the cost of keeping the county’s churches in repair. It is one of

the charities that St Michael’s supports and is the charity singled out to be

remembered in our prayers during the week beginning 3rd of April.

Berkshire has a rich heritage of churches of all denominations. Many of

them date from Saxon and Norman times. Later mediaeval buildings are

plentiful, and there are many important examples of gothic-revival

architecture from the 19th century. They stand as landmarks in their

neighbourhoods and are an important focus of continuity in ever-

changing times.

The Berkshire Churches Fund says this about itself:

‘The trust was set up in 1984. Its objective is to raise funds to help with

the cost of repairs to the fabric of Christian Churches in Berkshire of

any denomination belonging to or associated with ‘Churches Together

in England’. It also aims to encourage churches to make use of their

buildings for the benefit of the community at large, if this can be

achieved without compromising the architectural quality of the

church. However, as its funds are small it can only grant aid [for]

works other than to the fabric of the worship area if they are of some

architectural or historical importance.

‘Between 1988 and 2012 the Trust has given over £400,000 in 173

separate grants, varying between £200 and £10,000.’

To read more, please go to http://berkschurchestrust.org.uk/.

Ride & Stride, the nationally sponsored walk and cycle event, is the trust’s

chief source of income. In Ride & Stride people throughout England walk

or cycle between churches, exploring and enjoying the countryside and

visiting nationally around 10,000 churches. This is a wonderful event, in

which you can keep fit while visiting some of the country’s most beautiful

and intriguing churches, and at the same time raise money for their

preservation. In 2016 the event will take place on the 10th of September.

For more information go to http://www.rideandstrideuk.org/near-you/.

9

Find us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/StMichaelsSandhurst

Follow us on Twitter (@StMichaelShurst)

https://twitter.com/#!/StMichaelShurst

If you have any comments, events, news or updates for the website, please email David Hunt on david.hunt@bcs.org.uk.

Supporting families in Sandhurst Our Families Survey at the end of 2015 brought up some interesting

information about the families who attend St Michaelʹs. Key features included

the difficulties of ‘juggling’ busy lives, infrequency in attending church and

lack of confidence in sharing the faith at home (less than half of parents pray

with their children). Included in the 38 responses was a clear support for the

role of a Family Worker, who could give support to individuals and families

and organise or co-ordinate activities for families, children or parents.

We have drawn up a job description and person spec., and already have an

interested candidate for the (part-time) post, which has been agreed in

principle by the PCC. The Family Worker would not only support families

who are currently connected with the church, but also reach out to those on

the fringe, e.g. baptism families and those from our church school. What we

need now is the funding to make this vision a reality. The youth-worker

project was made possible by very generous giving from the congregation. We

are looking for others to make our Family Worker project a reality. Would you

like to be part of this?

Exploring Christianity and Life Do you have questions about what Christians believe and whether faith could make a difference to your life? ‘Start’ is a six-week introductory course to the Christian faith, using video and discussion, and suitable for anyone wanting to look at the basics and ask questions. Please pick up a brochure in church, or download from www.stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk/exploring-faith.html. We are planning to start this on Monday 11th April.

10

Go to Sandhurst Pride (www.sandhurstpride.co.uk) if you need information about local services and amenities.

REG ULAR ACT I V I T I ES

Coffee Rota 3rd April Ann Clough Peter Clough

10th April Joy Alexander Jennie Piggin

17th April Kate Bettison Jennie Rolfe

24th April Stephanie Martin Di Pullar

House Groups meet each week at these houses.

If anyone would like to join a group, please speak to Karen Symons (01252

872161) for more details.

Newsletter Please email William Lee at: newsletter@stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk or leave

written requests with the church office. Deadline for the May edition: 22nd

April 2016.

You will normally be able to view or download a colour copy of the

newsletter on the website a few days before it is distributed in church.

If you would like to receive that version of the newsletter as an

email attachment as soon as it is available, please contact David Hunt at

david.hunt@bcs.org.uk.

2nd and 4th Mondays 1.00 pm

Monday 8.00 pm 11 Sylvan Ridge (Rupert & Sheridan)

Tuesday 10.15 am 6 Crowthorne Rd (Doris Saunders)

Tuesday 8.00 pm 28 Wiltshire Avenue, Crowthorne (Elizabeth Ritchie)

Tuesday 8.00 pm 2 School Hill (John & Sue Campbell)

Tuesday 7.45 pm 34 Albion Road (Linda Lemmon)

Tuesday 7.30 pm 25 Templar Close (John & Stephanie Martin)

138 College Road (Sara Kaufman & Karen Carter)

11

Little Sandhurst Nursery Group. Daily! Contact Karen on 07730 340734 or email: enquiries@LSNG.co.uk for details.

Line Dancing. Every Monday evening in the hall from 7.00 pm, £5.50

includes raffle. Just come along and have fun. Tea and coffee available or

bring your own drinks. Ring Sue or Arron on 01344 485097 for

information.

Rainbows meet on Tuesdays: 5.00–6.00 pm (5–7 year olds).

3rd Guides meet on Tuesdays: 6.30–8.30 pm (10–14 year olds).

Pilates takes place in the large upper room most days and evenings. For

more information ring Carl on 01344 762712.

The Rock and Pop Foundation Guitar tuition sessions are on Thursdays. For further information please

call 0844 879 3305 or visit www.rockandpopfoundation.com.

CHURC H CA LEND AR

Date & Time Venue Event Contact

Sun 17th April 6.30 pm

Church Memorial Service

Sat 23 April 7.30 pm

Sandhurst and Yateley Methodist church

Film Music Night (see p5)

Jenny Thorn 01344 775805

Sun 24th Apr 11.00 am Pastoral Centre Annual Parochial

Church Meeting Church Office

Sun 15th May 12.30 pm Bird in Hand Parish Lunch Jan King

Sat 21st May 7.30 pm Church Choir Concert Jan King

Sat 14th May 6–11.00 pm

Global Café 35 London St Reading

Ethiopian Fundraising Event

See p7

ACT I V I T I ES AT T HE PAST ORAL CENT RE

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Sunday 3rd April – 2nd of Easter – Topic: Doubt and Faith –

Charity: Berkshire Churches Trust Revelation 1:4–8 (p1233); John 20:19–31 (p1089)

8.00 am Holy Communion

9.30 am Parish Communion

11.15 am Family Service

6.30 pm Contemplative Evening Prayer

Friday 8th April – Wedding

1.00 pm Kirsty Aller and Iain Bond

Sunday 10th April – 3rd of Easter – Topic: Conversion of Saul – Charity:

Sandhurst Day Centre

Acts 9:1–20 (p1102); Revelation 5:11–14 (p1237); John 21:1–19 (p1090)

8.00 am Holy Communion

9.30 am Parish Communion

11.30 am Baptism of Daisy Robinson and William Monger

6.30 pm Ecumenical Service at the Methodist Church

Sunday 17th April – 4th of Easter – Topic: The raising of Tabitha –

Charity: Sandhurst Counselling Service

Acts 9:36–43 (p1103); Revelation 7:9–17 (p1238); John 10:22–30 (p1077)

8.00 am Holy Communion

9.30 am Parish Communion

11.15 am Family Service and Thanksgiving for Maisie Warner

6.30 pm Memorial Service

Saturday 23rd April

1.00 pm Lacey Stannard and Robert Hopkins

Sunday 24th April – 5th of Easter – Topic: Peter recounts his dream –

Charity: Tearfund

Acts 11:1–18 (p1105); Revelation 21:1–6 (p1249); John 13:31–35 (p1082)

8.00 am Holy Communion

9.30 am Parish Communion

11.30 am No Service

6.30 pm Said Evensong

Friday 29th April – Wedding

1.00 pm Carly Shannon and Dan Deller-Twinney

APR I L CHUR CH S ERV I CES