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Music and Merriment 7 December 2024

Our ever-popular full-scale Christmas concert, 'Music and Merriment' will take place at 7:30pm at St Mary’s church. Online tickets are available HERE. Plans are well advanced with our talented soloists: Sarah , outstanding teenage violinist, and Freddie, rising 10-year-old star as a boy-treble, together with accomplished local saxophonist Sarah Parker. There will be junior and adult choirs under William Bishop, St Mary’s handbells, our favourite brass players, the 5Ts Brass, and leading Berkshire organist Richard Sedding.

And there will be lots more, including entertaining readings, audience carols, not to mention mince-pies and mulled wine — free — at the interval!

What a glorious way to start the Christmas season!

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Sunday 1 Deember, The First Sunday in Advent

On Sunday 1 December, the Advent Family Communion Service at St Mary's church was led by Canon Dagnell. It was so good to see him again. Several extra singers joined for the occasion. The first hymn was 'O Come, O come Emmanuel' a favourite of Canon Dagnell. The choir items were 'Adam lay ybounden' and 'Gabriel’s Message'. William Bishop was the excellent organist.

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Sunday 24 November, the Twenty Sixth Sunday after Trinity

Sunday 24 November began with the 8am Holy Communion service — the last one for some time. At 09:30am the children arrived for Crafty Church, and this time the activity was making Christmas decorations for their own Christmas Festival Tree. The children also read the bible passages and prayers. At 11am John Kimbell led Morning Prayer, celebrating the Feast of St Andrew. Again several of our extra singers joined the choir. The anthem was 'Come to me, says Jesus'. John Tuffley was the organist.

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Sunday 17 November, the Twenty Fifth Sunday after Trinity

Sunday 17 November, the 25th Sunday after Trinity, began with a Family Praise service telling the story of the Good Samaritan. The children read the bible passages and prayers. They once again sang carols with William leading them from the piano. The 11am Holy Communion Service was led by Patrick Mukholi, his last 1100 service with us. Several of our extra singers performed with the choir and sang 'Litany to the Holy Spirit' by Peter Hurford as the anthem. Patrick said a few words at the end of the service describing his 4 years with us. William played at the end of the service.

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Sunday 10 November, the Twenty Fourth Sunday after Trinity

Sunday 10 November began with a said Holy Communion service. As always, an excellent start to the day. The Tower Bell ringers began ringing at 10:15am, and members of the congregation started to arrive at 10:30. At 10:50 the choir led the congregation to the War Memorial. A member of the British Legion recited the Exhortation, the Bugler played The Last Post and The Reveille, then the wreaths were laid. The choir and standard bearers (RBL and Girl Guides) led the congregation back into the church. There were five readings from members of the congregation, and prayers were recited by seven children. The choir sang 'For the Fallen' by Douglas Guest; the Handbell ringers rang and the service ended with the National Anthem. William’s voluntary was 'For the fallen' by Edward Elgar. The service was led by John Kimbell.

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Sunday 27 October, the Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity

On Sunday 27 October, services began at 8am with a service of Holy Communion. We were joined at this service by the Lay Chair and Deputy Lay Chair of the Synod. At 9:30am, the families arrived for Crafty Church with the children, as usual, reading the Bible passages and prayers. The theme was Remembrance and the activity was making poppies. The 11am Morning Prayer service was in commemoration of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days. The choir anthem was 'God be in my head'; we were joined by several of our extra singers. The names of those to be remembered were read by John Edwards. William Bishop’s voluntary at the end of the service was “Paen” by Phillip Moore.

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