Dear Friends,

As I write, I am looking forward to the Confirmation Service which will be taking place in St Michael’s on Advent Sunday, 27th November.  There will be over two dozen candidates from our church and others in the Maidenhead and Windsor Deanery, with ages ranging from nine to not far short of ninety.  When it comes to confirmation it’s never too late.

I well remember a sermon preached at a confirmation service some years ago by the then Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Revd Anthony Russell.  He referred to the fact that the candidates, when they come to be confirmed, have to leave their seats in the pews and take a few steps towards him, before kneeling in front of him.  He said that he liked the symbolism of this action: it showed that it was necessary for us to do something ourselves; to be responsible for our actions and to take those few steps towards God.

He went on to say that, in some church’s confirmation services, the candidates’ places were marked with ‘reserved’ notices which had their names on the other side.  This is so that when the candidates kneel in front of the bishop they hold up their name cards and he is able to say, ‘Confirm O Lord your servant, Name, with your Holy Spirit.’  It was not unknown, the bishop said, for a card to be held up the wrong way round, and so he would find the name ‘Reserved’ being held up to him!

Well, he said, our places in heaven are indeed reserved for us, but we do have to take those few steps towards God in order to claim our places for ourselves.

As we move towards Christmas, my thoughts turned towards those who ‘took a few steps’ to visit the Christ Child in the manger: the shepherds and the wise men.  For the shepherds it was not so far from their fields to the stable, a journey of a matter of minutes perhaps.  For the wise men, of course, a journey of more than a few steps.  Yet each one of them had to take that decision to do something for themselves and to consciously move towards God.

Wherever we are on our journeys, may we this Christmastime find it in us to go in heart and mind to the child in the manger and there meet God Himself.  

With love and prayers,
Richard

Mulled Wine and Mince Pies

Once again, your social committee will be serving mulled wine and mince pies in church on Sunday 18th December, immediately after the carol service.  Refreshments will be free but you may wish to make a contribution towards the Organ Fund.

St Michael's Bellringers

We are currently feeling a little pleased with ourselves as we have, so to speak, a feather in our cap.  And why is this?
 
The Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers runs a Tower Maintenance Award scheme under which towers may be inspected and awarded a bronze, silver or gold certificate.  We had a gold certificate a few years ago which had lapsed, and because of the work on the tower we had not bothered to seek to renew it. However, after a lot of hard work had taken place we eventually requested an inspection.  All areas of the tower were inspected, from the stairs to the bells, by way of the ringing chamber, and  the result was the award of a new gold certificate.
 
Christmas is coming and we hope to ring for as many of the Christmas services as possible - weather permitting of course.  Last year our plans were somewhat thwarted by snow, but maybe things will be better this year.

Holyport W.I.

Holyport W.I. meet on Thursday the 10th November, our speaker for the evening was Miss Dennis, her subject Diseases, Drains and Women Doctors.

Ceri Binucci from the Royal Borough Children's Services for Fostering, Adoption and Respite was present to explain how the Fostering services operate and also to recruit anyone who would be interested in pursuing this scheme further. She told us that often Grandparents make very good carers.

The Workshop for making Rag Rugs had been a great success and plans for a Social evening on the 15th December at Carole's house are to go ahead. Raffle prizes are needed and the cost will be £4 per person. The Christmas meeting at the Hall will be on the 8th December, this year will be a Members meeting and some of our members will be providing us with a variety of entertainment, plus a quiz. This will be followed by refreshments. A wrapped present with a name tag inside will be required and the best decorated gift will win our competition for the evening.

Miss Dennis our Speaker for the evening led us through a very interesting talk on the Medical History of Diseases, the Drains and finally Women Doctors. In the early days patients were often subjected to purging of the body, Quacks would administer strange potions, but it wasn't until medical students were able to obtain cadavers for medical research, that the understanding of the human body was revealed. Miss Dennis intrigued us with stories of famous discoveries such as ether, chloroform and carbolic sprays. She illustrated to us how far we had progressed in the World of Medicine. After the talk Pam thanked Miss Dennis for her talk and Carole announced the winner of the flower of the month competition, 1st Penny followed by Diane 2nd and Angela 3rd.

Bray Lich Gate Trust

There is currently a vacancy for one suitably qualified person (e.g. essential worker in the community) to live at the Lich Gate Flat, Bray.

Apply in writing for details to:  The Secretary, Bray Lich Gate Trust, Aleyn House, 1 High Street, Bray.  SL6 2AA

Frost Fair on the Thames 1715

The Thames seems now a solid rock of ice, and booths for the sale of brandy, wine, ale and other exhilarating liquors, have been for some time fixed there on;  but now it is in a manner like a town:  thousands of people cross it, and with wonder view the mountainous heaps of water, that now lie congealed into ice. 

On Thursday, a great cook’s-shop was erected, and gentlemen went as frequently to dine there, as at any ordinary.  Over against Westminster, Whitehall and Whitefriars, printing-presses are kept upon the ice, where many persons have their names printed, to transmit the wonders of the season to posterity.  Coaches, waggons, carts etc. were driven on it, and an enthusiastic preacher, held forth to a  motley congregation on the mighty waters, with a zeal fiery enough to have thawed himself through the ice, had it been susceptible to religious warmth. 

This, with other pastimes and diversions, attracted the attention of many of the nobility, and brought the Prince of Wales to visit the Frost Fair.

Meetings and Events for December - January 2012

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

HOLYPORT
Thursday, 8th December and 12th January at 7.45 p.m. in Holyport Memorial Hall.

MONEYROW GREEN
Monday, 5th December in Holyport Memorial Hall - Christmas Lunch and Social.
Monday, 23rd January - Mrs. S. Botwright - Olympic Games.

BRAY SOCIETY
Tuesday, 6th December at 8.00 p.m. in Bray Village Hall.
Sally Botwright - ‘The London Olympic Site’
Our blue badge guide returns on the eve of the London Olympics to tell us about the history and regeneration of this East London site.

Tuesday, 10th January 2012.
Edward Dixon - ‘Painting the War’
Learn about the vivid war paintings of Spencer, Nevinson, Paul Nash and others.  This talk will explore different styles, pro and anti war attitudes, and reveal many hidden meanings.

MAIDENHEAD HERITAGE CENTRE
18 Park Street, Maidenhead.
Exhibition until 20th December - Winter Festivals.

CARDS FOR GOOD CAUSES
Multi-Charity Christmas Card Shop - Maidenhead Town Hall until 17th December. 
Monday - Saturday 9.30 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.

MOBILE LIBRARY
15th December
Lyngfield Park, Fifield 13.45 - 14.00
Brayfield Road, Bray  14.10 - 14.40
Walker Road, Maidenhead  14.50 - 15.20

MUSIC AT BRAY, ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH
SUNDAY 11 November 3.00 p.m.

Amahl and the Night Visitors
Menotti’s festive one act opera tells of a lame
boy who is paid a visit by the Three Kings
(Tickets: £5 on the door)