Carol singing tonight (6pm Ivy Bank) cancelled – roads and drives just too treacherous and sleet forecast for this evening.
The crib services at Rushall Farm tomorrow have been cancelled.
Our Christmas Day service 11am at the Cornwell Centre will take place whatever the weather.
No service 27th Dec (but there’s a 10.30am at St Catherine’s)
Happy Christmas to you all
Tony
Despite the snowy conditions there was a good turn out for our service on Sunday morning.
Many children were to old (not cool) or to young (stage fright) to dress up but we did have one shepherd, two angels, two Mary’s each with a baby Jesus (a third set stayed with Mum and Dad) and one wise person bearing three gifts. They all helped us tell the Christmas story.
Tony
At 11am on Sunday it’s our ‘Scratch Nativity’ (children invited to come dressed as a Nativity character) and carols, cakes from 10.30am, mince pies and mulled wine after the service.
I’ve printed one Christmas card for each family, just sign as many of them as you wish and make a donation for the money you’ve saved, take your signed card home after the service, if you can’t be there we’ll deliver the card to you next week.
It was too inclement and slippery for carol singing tonight but we hope for better conditions next Wednesday.
Then it’s Christmas day 11am at Cornwell a short service
Sunday 27th no service at Cornwell but a 10.30am at St Catherine’s
And Finally - On Thursday 31st December, the Cornwell Community Church New Year’s Eve social from 9.30pm to see the New Year in, details with your Christmas card and how to RSVP.
Tony
Lots of opportunities to sing Carols – do please join us!
As an alternative to all sending cards to each other, last year we tried one per family and that worked well so we’re doing the same this year, this is how it’ll work:-
1. I’ll print one Christmas card addressed to each Cornwell Church family and lay them out at church on Sunday 13th and 20th December (also card to Parish council, Neighbourhood wardens etc)
2. You sign the ones you want and make a donation to a Christian charity
3. After the service on 20th take your card which by then should be full of names (if you can’t come to our service on the 20th we’ll deliver your card).
In addition to making a donation in respect of all the cards you saved buying, how about adding a charity donation to your presents list; i.e. donate what you would have spent on one present.
Last year with the addition of money from our missions budget we were able to send £750 to the ‘Send a Cow’ charity to buy a cow for Africa (not just the cow but all the training and support to go with it).
This year we’ll split the money realised between 2 charities, one home and one away; ‘Prospects’ the locally based charity for people with learning disabilities and ‘Send a Cow’ (maybe a couple of goats this year)
Tony
We’ve had a great response to our appeal for filled shoeboxes. Members of Cornwell 0-5’s, Cool Club, GLuG and the Youth group all contributed as well as church members. In addition some people responded to the leaflets that went out with our Autumn Newsletter to all 600 homes in the area.
In all we collected 137 filled boxes; up from 75 last year! With 147 from St Catherine’s the total for the Parish was 284; up from 215 last year.
Peter and Nicky from Samaritan’s Purse arrived on Monday to collect the Shoeboxes and thanks to helpers Bill, David, and Michael we soon had the van loaded.
Tony
Tuesday 24th November - 8pm at St Catherine’s a meeting about ‘The Project’, plans to extend and improve the facilities at St Catherine’s to better serve the community and address issues that make it difficult for church mid-week activities. The architect will be there to present the plans and answer questions. From the Cornwell point of view, apart from any new community initiatives it will make life so much easier for Holiday club, GLuG and the Youth group.
Saturday 28th November - Between 1.30 and 5.30pm in St Catherine’s church hall, lots of helpers needed to guillotine (bring you own if you have one), fold and bundle the parish Christmas cards. As ‘Crafty Space’ is happening at the same time there’ll be Tea and Cakes. The more helpers, the quicker it’ll get done so please come along even for part of the time. Please consider a donation towards the cost of producing the cards and help with delivering them (see Stuart for details).
Wednesday 9th December - Spanner Films, Tilehurst Globe and the Green Apostles present The Age of Stupid, "the climate blockbuster" starring Pete Postlethwaite, at 7pm in Tilehurst Methodist Church. Admission free. Retiring donations in aid of the Methodist Church refurbishment fund (Target 21) (courtesy of Tilehurst Globe). There will be a discussion after the film at 8.45 pm hopefully chaired by Peter McManners, a local author on sustainability. Please come and support this event if you haven't already seen the film! Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult. More information about the film can be found at www.ageofstupid.net
Tony
Many competing events today so only a small party for our autumn litter pick. Our half-yearly efforts are paying off because the amount of litter we collect has reduced each time.
In addition to the usual drinks cans and bottles we found the remains of kitchen units, a cushion, a traffic cone, two footballs (one in very good condition) and part of a climbing frame.
In the picture is just some of the rubbish collected, Sean left two bags at home to go into his dustbin and Shirley, the Neighbourhood Warden had half-filled her van.
Thank you to Shirley for joining us and providing bags and litter pick tools – we’ll do it again in mid-March.
A question – If dog-walkers are considerate enough to bag up what their pooch deposits. then why do they then fling the filled bag into the woods?
Tony
Advent Sunday is 29th November when the church count-down to Christmas begins. Many of us mark this time with Advent Calendars and Advent Candles beginning 1st December. We’ll have Calendars and Candles for sale on the church bookstall from this Sunday 22nd November and they’ll also be available at our three clubs for young people; Cool Club, GLuG and the Youth Group.
This Sunday 22nd November Rev Denis Smith from St Catherine’s will be taking a communion service at Cornwell. This Sunday before Advent Sunday is known as ‘Stir up Sunday’ because the traditional ‘Collect’ or Prayer for the day begins ‘Stir up O Lord the wills of your faithful people. . ‘. This Sunday is also a traditional time to make (stir up) the Christmas pudding. We’ll see if Denis has come to stir us up!
Tony
A reminder that next Saturday 21st November it’s our community litter pick; we’ll be joined by the Neighbourhood Wardens to go through Cornwell Copse and local footpaths litter picking. From previous experience there’ll be more than simply litter but don’t let that discourage you!
Meet 10am at the Cornwell Centre and we’ll finish 12noon or earlier depending on how much rubbish we find, then for those who can stay, a drink at the Royal Oak.
Thank you to everyone who has brought along a shoebox for the ‘Samaritan’s Purse’ appeal; we’ve got 133 (up from 75 last year). They’re not being collected until Monday 23rd so there’s still time for more.
Tony
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