Greenbelt Running Jesus Celebration Weekend Spirituality Week
Bell foundry trip Smile Shoeboxes
1st - 6th October 2011 - This has been a fabulous time. The Flowers are a real blessing and are being enjoyed by all. The new seat round the fig tree in the courtyard has been properly installed and we pray that many people will sit on it under the fig tree and spend time reflecting and drawing closer to God. The church was packed to capacity for the service on Sunday morning. Children came from the local schools and playgroups to see the displays and marvelled.
The celebration is to mark the completion of the building of the Porch. The theme was God's Promises. We know we have been greatly blessed as a church and want to reflect this. The weekend coincided with Harvest festival time.
Rev Louise was sponsored to read from the King James version of the Bible for three hours on Tuesday morning. many turned up to listen and to support her.
The new sculpture was enjoyed. It represents Mary and Elizabeth joyfully meeting before their respective babies were born - John the Baptist and Jesus.
Easter 2010 was made extra special as our sculpture of Christ leaping from the cross and running was put in place on Maundy Thursday and has caused quite a stir in the community. Many think its rather weird. All admit it is different. Some like it and some hate it; some are reserving judgement but everyone is talking about Jesus.
We are thrilled with it! Jesus is running and leaping. He is smiling an enormous smile. He is wearing the victor's laurel wreath. He has run the race and he has won! He has won the race on behalf of you and me; for each and every one of us.
Shoeboxes of Love to go to orphanages in the Balkans, Africa and Asia. Every year thousands of Christmas presents are sent/given to children in the developing world. All Saints and St Andrew's supplied 112 boxes in December 2008.
Hilary, a member of the congregation, went out to Kosovo with Smile International just before Christmas to help deliver the shoe boxes to children in orphanages there.
She says: For many children a shoe box full of toys and things they need may be the first present they have ever received. I am going to be part of a team going to Kosovo 8th - 22nd December. I am very touched to think I am going to meet the children and help distribute the shoe boxes.
Children
receiving shoe boxes.
Smile International is a charity dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus Christ by helping to relieve suffering and poverty through the distribution of humanitarian aid and long-term development projects. We are presently working in Africa, Asia and Europe. Our aim is to put a smile on people's faces as they see the love of God in action.
To find out more about Smile Click
here.
A group of some 30 people from the two churches went to London on a trip to Whitechapel Bell foundry on May 16th 2009 to find out about the casting of bells. It was a fascinating outing and much was learnt about the production of new bells of all sizes, the tuning of old bells and the manufacture of the wooden supports needed to hang church bells. These images tell some of the story
Spirituality Week Saturday13th - Sunday 21st October 2007
"My God and Your God"
What a fantastic week! So many people have come to so many really wonderful events. God has blessed us all mightily that he has moved individuals to make decisions and act so that we were so privileged to have such eminent and truly inspiring people come to All Saints', in Dedworth to help us move along our spiritual paths, together and individually. We have proved that a pilgrimage at home is possible and very worthwhile.
Thanks be to God, and Rev. Louise who listened, to have dreamt up such a week.
It was wonderful to have the Bishop of Oxford come to us on Sunday and then only 4 days later go and shake his hand in his home patch, Christchurch Cathedral in Oxford, at the end of a beautiful sung Eucharistic service. This was after we had been taken on a shortish tour when we saw a smattering of what there is to see there. Here are a few photos which will give you a flavour but I would encourage you all to take the opportunity to go and see for yourself.
Alice in Wonderland has its birthplace in Christchurch. Alice was the Dean's daughter and Lewis Carroll was the Maths Master. Their portraits are in the window in the Great Hall.
This hall is still used as a refectory, its same role as it has been since Tudor times, by members of the college for meals three times a day. The Harry Potter blockbusters were filmed here. Its the second best example of a Tudor Hall in the country.
Cardinal Wolsey built the college and there is evidence of him everywhere.
It is the feast of St Frideswide today, so it is the cathedral's patronal festival. The Burne Jones window behind her shrine in the Latin Chapel depicts her story in brilliant colours.
St Frideswide was a nun and she is depicted here in
her wimple hiding in the forest. This part of the original shrine was found
at the bottom of the well.
The group from All Saints sets off:
They had a great time at Cheltenham Race course along with 30 000 other Christians playing silly games, and taking up challenges, going to Rave parties, eating, climbing, listening to inspirational speakers and generally having a good time. They want to go again next year and take the rest of the congregation with them.
Smile Shoeboxes
