We wish all our readers a truly blessed Christmas However ... · Dec 10 - Jan 11 Page 2 October 2010

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Dec 10 - Jan 11 Page 16

Regular Weekly events:

(see back cover)

From the Editor:

The February edition of Contact will appear on January 30th

.. Copy, in

whatever format, should reach me by Sunday evening January 23rd

Sylvia

We wish all our readers

a truly blessed Christmas

And a happy new year

A different way of looking at Christmas

Are you looking for a different, more contemporary take on the all-too-familiar Christmas story? Have a look at this: www.paperlesschristmas.org.uk.

It tells the Christmas story through short (90 seconds) film clips in a way you've never seen it before.

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F rom our M inister F rom our M inister F rom our M inister F rom our M inister

Dear Friends,

Christmas is fast approaching and for some that

means excitement; for others there is no

excitement but a slight fear of how it’s going to be

managed. This year has been especially difficult

for many and a further worry of what the future

might bring on the back of the Government’s

spending review.

However as we enter December we need to remember that the period of

Advent is time to prepare for a season of special worship and anticipation

which brings hope and peace. Advent is also time traditionally of looking

forward, because God still has work for us to do. We are here because he

expects us to finish the mission that Jesus began 2000 years ago. So, these

next weeks are a timely reminder to us all that as we look forward to

celebrating Jesus’ birth we have a job to fulfil after Christmas.

In fact the Bible reminds us that Jesus wants us to go on living as if he were

coming again soon. So the question is? If He came tomorrow, would you be

embarrassed by what He would find you doing? We will not be

embarrassed if we are playing our part in community life, loving and taking

care of our neighbours and sharing the Good News with them. Our special

Christmas Services are ideal opportunities to fulfil one part of this role. We

can invite our friends and neighbours to be part of the celebrations of

Christ’s birth, and by doing so fulfil

our part in mission. Let us not be

caught like the disciples as they

watched Jesus ascend into heaven, as

they stared into the clouds the Angels

had to remind them they had work to

do! (Acts 1:11).

(Continued on page 3)

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October 2010

Income and Expenditure

Total income received for October was £5,726.48. Included in the total income is offertory income of £3,524.98.

The shortfall in our offertory income to date has increased from £3,418 to £3,975.

The breakdown of total income is detailed below in the table.

The expenditure for October was £5,231.85. These included � Monthly payroll of £3,539 � Monthly offertory donations to BMS & Home Mission of £278 � Monthly donations to The Beatons £50

Source October

Offertory £3,524.98

Gift to Church – In memory of George Autton £20.00

Gift to Church – In memory of Joan Hey £10.00

Gift to Church – Brunch £6.00

Gift to Church – Toddler Ark Group £15.00

Gift to Church – Other £50.00

Card Group £40.00

Youth camp donations £50.00

Hire / Use of Premises £740.50

Thank Offering (Whitley Wives Group) £50.00

Other income (Barn Dance) £20.00

Loan from reserves £1,200.00

Total £5,726.48

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Peter Davis is still struggling to stabilise his diabetes following a change of

medication.

We assure all these friends of our love and prayers as they go through

difficult times.

Don’t forget our shut-ins: a ‘visit’ on the phone is always welcome.

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On a happier note, we are delighted to

congratulate Brian and Sarah

Broadhurst who celebrated their 25th

Wedding Anniversary last month.

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Sure prognosis "Doctor,” said the worried woman, “I'd like you to evaluate my 13 year-old son."

"OK. He's suffering from a transient psychosis with intermittent rage disorder,

punctuated by episodic radical mood swings, but his prognosis is excellent for

a full recovery."

"How can you say all that without even meeting him?"

"I thought you said he's 13?"

Why teenagers worry One teenager was talking to another, "I'm really concerned.

My father slaves away at his job so I'll never want for

anything, and down the years has set aside thousands of

pounds so that I can go to college. And my mother spends

every day washing and ironing and cleaning up after me. She

even takes care of me when I'm sick."

The other teenager said: “Sounds perfect – so what are you worried about?"

The first teenager replied: "I'm afraid that one day they might try to escape."

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Please pray for these friends who are in various kinds of need:

Joan Slater is home from hospital, but has suffered a further fall, although

not breaking anything this time.

Hazel Wilson has been suffering from a bad chest infection that is being

hard to shake off. She really values our support and prayers.

Eric and Megan appreciate your visits and phone calls and are grateful to

the carers for their daily help.

Diana Collins : has experienced an infection in the wound, but it has now

cleared up following antibiotics.

Norman New is now recovering from stomach surgery, but us battling a

wound infection and may need to go back into hospital. His wife, Ruth is

also far from well. They are mutually dependent on each other.

Averil Dudgeon is recovering from surgery and is now home.

Bill and Sheila Mearing : Sheila is struggling with a very bad cold, and Bill is

still not right after his stroke.

Barbara Mortimer remains mentally alert, but is sleeping a lot now.

Jordan Nicholls is home after his first 28 days of basic training.

Vera Gigg is good in herself, but her arthritic knees are very painful and she

is finding it increasingly difficult to walk about.

Bella Austin still struggles with mobility, but is getting about as and when

she can.

Richard and Daisy are now settled in Wales and attending the local church.

Ethel Sumner has been told that the hospital do not need to see her for

another twelve months. This is good news.

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� Monthly buildings/ contents cover £123 � Monthly donation to First Steps of £60 � Oven cleaning £60

Accounts Summary for the period Accounts Summary for the period Accounts Summary for the period Accounts Summary for the period 1 January 2009 1 January 2009 1 January 2009 1 January 2009 –––– 31 October 2010 31 October 2010 31 October 2010 31 October 2010

Total income to date £76,052

Total expenditure to date £76,846

Deficit £794

Bank balance at start of the year £597

Balance at end of October 2010 £197

In the New Year we start a new five part teaching series titled “The

Land Between” based on the book of the same name by Jeff Manion. I had

the privilege of hearing him preach on this subject a few months ago and was

spiritually moved by the theme of trying to find God in tough seasons when

we are in stages of transition. The series will be based on the biblical story of

the Israelites journey through the wilderness. They were ‘between’ the past

(Egypt) and the promised land. My observation of the Christian life tells me

that we modern day Christians are often in unwanted transitions, between one

difficult situation and the place of future hope, wanting sometimes to go

back and struggling to move forward. So I believe there is much that we can

learn from those who have made the journey before from a difficult land to

the Promised Land.

My hope is that by travelling the path of ‘the Land Between’ we will

gain fresh insights and find opportunities to grow and mature in our faith in

times of transition. My prayer is that as we travel through barren landscapes

we will be encouraged to find fertile soil.

Ray

(Continued from page 1)

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A Very Special Gift?

George asked, ‘My dad’s so rich that I don’t know

what to get him for Christmas. What do you give to

a man who has everything?’ Harry replied, ‘A

burglar alarm!’

It’s not easy buying Christmas presents for

others, especially in times of economic uncertainty. However, let’s not

forget the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ. Our gifts at Christmas

mean very little unless they point at the greatest gift of all. This was

certainly true of the gifts given to Jesus by the Magi.

‘On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary,

and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their

treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of

myrrh.’ Matt 2:11. These were just the kind of gifts that visitors from the

east might bring, as they were all traded in this region. They were also

very expensive gifts, including gold, frankincense (a plant gum resin used

in incense) and myrrh (another gum resin used for perfume). Although all

very familiar, they help us to understand God’s gift of Jesus:

Who is he? Gold is a gift fit for a king. In Jesus we see a king in baby

clothes. The worship of the wise men was costly, not only in terms of their

gifts but also for their lives.

What did he come to do? Frankincense was used by the priests in the

temple as part of the sacrificial system. Jesus, as the ultimate priest, is the

one who came to bring God and man together in reconciliation. He can do

this because he is both divine and human.

What did it cost him? Myrrh was used to embalm the dead. This gift

reminds us that the baby of Bethlehem would die on the cross to give his

life for us. The wood of the crib and the cross are the same wood!

The wise men offered him costly gifts; what are we going to offer him this

Christmas? Jesus is for us:

* the Christ, the king who came to rule us and take care of everything.

* the Lord, who’s not just a person like me but he’s God as well.

* the Saviour, the one who came so that we can be friends with God.

‘At Christmas time, when we receive presents we don’t really need,

God offers us a gift we cannot do without.’ (J John)

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This timely warning, may save people some real grief!

Why you should beware of Facebook this Christmas

Are you going to visit family or friends this Christmas? Don’t mention it on

Facebook – until you get back! If you use a social networking site, don’t

‘advertise’ your home to expectant burglars. If you do, your insurance

premiums could well go up.

Police are warning people that Facebook is becoming a burglar’s best

friend. In one instance in New Hampshire, USA, a gang who monitored

Facebook broke into 50 homes in the space of a few days, stealing goods

worth about £60,000. In Wisbech, Cambs, two young men also monitored

Facebook daily, looking for what they called a ‘perfect opportunity’ to

burgle local homes. They found several.

Richard Taylor, a former burglar who is now a Methodist minister,

explains: “In the old days you had to buy information from a postman or

from a milkman about who was away on holiday. Now people are online

giving you their updates about going to the airport!”

Det Ch Insp Ian Tandy of Cambridgeshire police says: “I would urge the

public to be cautious when using social media, ensuring you know who has

access to your personal information. Take full advantage of the privacy

settings available.” Many Facebook users unwittingly publish their

addresses for all to see - and then give full details of their holiday plans.

It is such a problem that now insurance companies are getting involved. The

insurance experts warn that householders will face higher premium if they

become victims of crime after publicising that they were out. As the head of

home insurance at Confused.com said: “If insurance providers see... a

potential risk, you can bet they’ll start pricing for it.”

beginning of the first Kings. From the New Testament, we will be finishing

off Luke’s Gospel and reading through John’s.

Kids Church continue to follow the Scripture Union Light syllabus. In

January they will also be looking at the life of Samuel (having looked at his

childhood in November).

Merry Christmas - Ray Elllis.

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Youth Stuff - December 2010

Well, Christmas is nearly here and both

Kidz Church and the youth groups are

getting ready to celebrate.

On Friday 3rd of December, the latest

Unite Youth Service takes place at

Wycliffe Baptist Church. This is a

service to unite all the Christian young

people in Reading in worshipping God

together. We organise one each term and this one is timed to kick off the

Christmas term and celebrate all that God is doing.

On the 10th, we have another movie to see. There have been a lot of good

releases recently and in December comes the third Narnia film: “The Voyage

Of The Dawn Treader”. As with all the Narnia stories there is a lot of

Christian imagery and a positive message.

On the 12th December, we have the Kidz Church nativity on the theme of

"The Ultimate Christmas Gift", once again using material from Spurgeon’s.

We won't be spending weeks preparing, because we have our regular

teaching and worship to be getting on with, but we will be involving every

child who turns up on the day.

Then on the 19th, we have our Kidz Church Christingle taking place in the

hall. If you would like to know how candles, sweets, cocktail sticks and fruit

fit together to make a Christingle, I am sure that they would be very glad to

show you.

Last year, we managed to blag ourselves an invite to the youth Christmas

party at Wycliffe Baptist Church and we shall probably do so again, as well

as having a get together ourselves. More details to follow.

On the 25th (Christmas! - 10am - Don't forget to bring a present to church)

and 26th (normal time 10:30am) there will be family services (all in

together), but there will be no family service at the beginning of December as

we have lots to do in Kidz Church and upstairs.

Aside from that, the 11-18s continue with the Soul Survivor ‘Bible In One

Year’ challenge. In December & January, we will be going all the way from

the very end of Numbers to the beginning of 2 Samuel - following the

Israelites into the Promised Land, through the age of the Judges, into the

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When you prepare for Christmas

What matters spring to mind?

The coming of the Saviour

Or the gifts that you can’t find?

Do you think of baby Jesus

as you deck the halls with holly?

Or are your thoughts preoccupied

With piling high your shopping trolley?

Will you be moved this Christmas

By the sound of carol singing

Or are you more in tune with

The sound of shop tills ringing?

On that family occasion

When you choose your Christmas tree

Do you think of how that tiny babe

Came to die for you and me?

Christmas to you could mean much more

If you’re prepared to see

The reasons why each Christmastime

Just means so much to me.

So as you celebrate this Christmas

Why not resolve to start anew?

And change your whole perspective

Of what Christmas means to you.

By Colin Hammacott

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

What Does Christmas Mean To You?

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Glory to God in the High Street

Many years ago in Finchley, north London there was a local Methodist

Church which would offer various inspirational messages in illuminated

lights to the passers-by on the main road. Their Christmas one, very

appropriately, was the song of the angels: ‘Glory to God in the highest’.

Unfortunately some inclement weather or a simple technical failure put

out one of the lights. Just as appropriately, however, it now read, ‘Glory to

God in the high st’. An electrical fault, perhaps – but how wonderfully true

it was. In fact, nothing could better sum up the deep meaning of Christmas

than that splendidly distorted message.

Those same angels told the shepherds in the fields that the ‘sign’ to

identify the special baby to be born that night in Bethlehem would be that

they would find him ‘lying in a manger’. Well, ‘manger’ is a fancy word

for a simple thing. The truth is that they would find the infant Son of God

lying in a feeding trough.

At Bethlehem the Creator entered the Creation. ‘The Word became

flesh and dwelt among us’ - and the ‘Word’, John’s Gospel tells us, ‘was

God’. In Jesus the divine became human. ‘In him (Jesus) all the fullness of

deity dwells bodily’, St Paul tells us (Colossians 2:9). ‘Hail the incarnate

deity’, we sing - but it’s hard sometimes to recognise his identity in the

bonny baby in the traditional crib scene. It’s a pity that the Christmas story

can so easily be sentimentalised, because in fact this was the most radical

and revolutionary action of God since the creation itself. God, in Jesus his

Son, actually came among us - not as a super-being, not even as a fully

grown adult, but as a baby.

‘You will find the baby lying in a feeding trough.’ Exactly. Right where

we are, in all the mess and muddle of ordinary life, in the fun and tears, in

the feasting and the poverty, the glory of God was seen in a tiny scrap of

human flesh. In that helpless baby God showed how far he was prepared to

go to bring us back to himself. When God took flesh he did it properly.

Glory to God in the high street!

David Winter, former head of Religious Broadcasting for the BBC

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From Cynthia Streames:

“As you know, Ron and I have been to Australia to see my brother, and

while there we wanted to go to church. We went round Perth city centre

trying to find the Baptist Church, and at last we found it. I said to Ron, this

was going to be too complicated to find again, and as we were staying some

12 miles outside the city, we thought we would look in the phone book to

see if there was a church closer to where we were staying, and there was one

practically on the door step. We went and found it.

It was a dear little church that had been started in 1939 by volunteers, but

wasn’t finished until 1947 due to WW2. In those days it would have been

out in the bush (country side) from Perth, but with all the suburbs spreading

out, it is getting swallowed up.

So, on our first Sunday in

Australia we went to visit Wattle

Grove Baptist Church. We were made very welcome.

People introduced themselves to

us. A few people were English

and had been in Australia for 50

years and more.

We went there for two more

Sundays. Again we were made

very welcome.

Ron has taken some photos of the outside of the church. It looks quite plain,

but inside it is lovely.

Pastor Jim and the congregation send greetings and best wishes to Tyndale.

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This fellow’s mother was run down and

killed by a truck, a passing motorist noticed

the mother had a baby joey in her pouch

although injured the ‘joey’ was taken to

a vet who had to remove one of his ears that

was damaged. A local business man has

taken him in and is caring for him.

Wattle Grove Baptist Church

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Tuesday Fellowship

2.15pm

There’s a space for you!

Dec 7 Christmas Praise

Dec 14 Christmas Lunch followed by

short Carol service

CHRISTMAS BREAK

Jan 4 Rev Ray Coates

Jan 11 John Coleman

Jan 18 AGM

Jan 25 Elaine Mitchell

If you like the jokes in Christmas crackers, you’ll like these....

What’s the smell of bad eggs? EGGSTINCT (Extinct)

What’s the expression on an auctioneer’s face? FOR BIDDING

Why is it dangerous to have a nap in a railway carriage? BECAUSE THE

TRAIN RUNS OVER SLEEPERS

When is longhand quicker than shorthand? WHEN IT’S ON A CLOCK.

What do bees do with all their honey? THEY CELL IT.

When does a sailor take up least room in his ship? WHEN HE SLEEPS

ON HIS WATCH

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Don’t struggle in the dark

Have you ever tried to open a door in the dark? You first grope to find

the keys in your pocket or purse, and then you fumble around, trying to

decide which is the right key for this door. Even once you’ve found the

right key, it is a struggle – because now you can’t find the lock!

The Bible describes the birth of Jesus as a light coming into the world.

The prophet Isaiah wrote; ‘The people walking in

darkness have seen a great light.’ (Isaiah 9:2)

This offers great hope to us all. We don’t have to

stumble through life in darkness, trying to unlock

its mysteries. In John’s gospel, Jesus offers to

lead us. He is ‘the light of the world’ (John 8:12).

Sadly, the danger is that we may be too used to

living without Jesus, and the guidance he offers.

We may prefer to stumble about and fall, and

only ever cope, rather than succeed. It is better by

far to see life in the light of Jesus, the light of the

world, and to accept his help. We can then, as the old gospel song says ,

‘walk in the light’.

One Sunday in a Midwest City, a young child

was "acting up" during the morning worship

hour. The parents did their best to maintain

some sense of order in the pew but were

losing the battle.

Finally, the father picked the little fellow up

and walked sternly up the aisle on his way

out

Just before reaching the safety of the foyer,

the little one called loudly to the

congregation, "Pray for me! Pray for me!"

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(Services will be conducted by our minister, the Revd Ray Coates,

unless otherwise indicated)

Dec 5 10.30am Family Service - Advent (2)

“Preparing for Christ’s birth” (Luke 3:2-17)

Dec 12 10.30am Christmas Nativity

led by Kidz Church

Dec 19 10.30am Advent Family Communion - Advent (3) “Advent Prophecy” (Luke 1: 47-55)

6.30pm Carols by Candlelight

with the Pangbourne Silver Band

Dec 24 11.30pm Midnight Candlelight Communion

Dec 25 10.00am Short Christmas Day Family Service

Dec 26 10.30am Short Boxing Day Family Service led by the Reverend Sylvia Stevenson

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(Services will be conducted by our minister, the Revd Ray Coates,

unless otherwise indicated)

Jan 2 10.30am Family Service

“The Light has arrived” (John 1:1-9)

Jan 9 10.30am Worship Service - led by the Reverend Sylvia Stevenson who will also bring us God’s Word.

Jan 16 10.30am Family Communion and Covenant Service -

start of new series:‘THE LAND BETWEEN’

Part 1— “Lord, we are suffering” (Exodus 3)

Jan 23 10.30am Worship Service

‘THE LAND BETWEEN’

Part 2 — “Lord, things are going from bad to

worse are suffering” (Numbers 13)

Jan 30 10.30am Worship Service

‘THE LAND BETWEEN’

Part 3— “Lord, You are with us”

Documents

We wish all our readers a truly blessed Christmas However ... · Dec 10 - Jan 11 Page 2 October 2010