The Parish Magazine March 2022

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8 The Parish Magazine - March 2022 Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements BOOK A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT STAY WITH US. RECEIVE 15% OFF QUOTE THE CODE FST1845 Gardiner’s Homecare is an established family business that has been serving the local community since 1968. Proudly supporting people to continue to enjoy living independent lives in their own homes for as long as possible. TAKE AWAY FISH AND CHIPS £10 The Bull Inn, Sonning on Thames Berkshire RG4 6UP, T: 0118 969 3901 e: bullinn@fullers.co.uk www.bullinnsonning.co.uk Our team of experienced care workers can provide help with personal care, medication, overnight stays, housework, companionship and much more. You will be assigned your own Care Manager who will work closely with you to ensure you receive the care and support that is tailored to your personal wishes and needs. For more information, contact us on 0118 334 7474 www.thebmgc.com Large Format Print Operators Required - Permanent Positions Immediate start for the right candidates We are looking to recruit two new members of staff; large format pre-press / print finisher operatives. The candidates must have previous experience in large format print. The responsibilities will include: · Ensuring all machines are set · Operating various printers · Reviewing orders · Handling pre-press work for print projects · Lamination, mounting and CNC cutting · Trimming and finishing The ideal candidates for the roles will have knowledge of: · Large format printing · Customer liaison experience · UV and latex printing · Good understanding of quality processes · Adobe suite · Print trimming and finishing Benefits: · Permanent role with an attractive package offered · Progression opportunity · On site car parking · Competitive salary offered per annum depending on experience, plus benefits. If you are interested in either of these positions, please apply with a CV via email, (mike@thebmgc.com), or for more information contact Mike Gleeson or Martyn Allen at The Blue Moose Graphic Company. Tel: 0118 934 5016 The Homestead, Park Lane, Charvil, Reading RG10 9TR
the parish noticeboard — 2 Christian Basics — Part 2 Rev Paul Hardingham's series on the foundations of the Christian faith The Parish Magazine - March 2022 9 Ash Wednesday: mourning 3,000 years of sin Adam and Eve Jorisvo, dreamstime.com What's wrong with the world? How can a God of love allow suffering? Many people struggle with such questions, however the Bible helps us to understand how sin affects both our own lives and the world. Genesis provides us with a picture of how sin entered the world. In Genesis 2:16-17, God gave Adam and Eve both permission — 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden' — and a prohibition — 'But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil’ — alongside warning them of the consequences of disobedience — 'For when you eat of it you will surely die'. OPEN TO SIN In Genesis 3, they broke God’s law by eating fruit from the forbidden tree. As a result, their eyes were opened to the nature of sin — 'they knew shame' and their relationship with God was broken — 'they hid from him'. As a consequence, death entered their lives. This story reminds us that God gives us free will — an essential aspect of being human — to choose whether he will be at the centre of our lives or not. DIFFERENT DESCRIPTIONS The Bible offers different ways of describing how sin is: — a spirit of independence: we don’t want God to interfere with our lives, preferring our own ideas, plans and ways of behaviour. — ignoring the maker’s instructions: if you ignore user instructions, you only have yourself to blame when things go wrong! God created us to function with him at the centre of our lives. — missing the mark: we fail an exam even when we miss the pass mark by one mark: ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23). I AM In a famous correspondence in The Times under the title ‘What’s wrong with the world?’ GK Chesterton’s letter simply said: ‘Dear Sir, I am.’ Vetre Antanaviciute-meskauskiene, dreamstime.com Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. But why 'Ash'? The reason has to do with getting things right between you and God, and the tradition goes back about 3,000 years to Old Testament times. In the Old Testament, the Israelites often sinned. When they finally came to their senses, and saw their evil ways as God saw them, they could do nothing but repent in sorrow. They mourned for the damage and evil they had done and covered their heads with ashes. Putting ashes on your head, and even rending your clothes, was an outward sign of their heart-felt repentance and acknowledgement of sin. (Genesis 18:27; 2 Samuel 13:19; Job 2:8, 30:19; Isaiah 58:5; Jeremiah 6:26; Jonah 3:6) In the early Christian Church, the yearly 'class' of penitents had ashes sprinkled over them at the beginning of Lent. They were turning to God for the first time, and mourning their sins. But soon many other Christians wanted to take part in the custom. They heeded Joel's call to 'rend your hearts and not your garments' (Joel 2:12-19). Ash Wednesday became known as either the 'beginning of the fast' or ‘the day of the ashes’. FORGIVE AND RENEW The Prayer Book collect for Ash Wednesday stresses the penitential character of the day. It encourages us with the reminder of the readiness of God to forgive us and to renew us, as do the Bible readings for the day which include Paul’s moving catalogue of suffering: 'having nothing and yet possessing everything.' (2 Corinthians 5:20b - 6:10) The custom of 'ashing' was abolished in the 16th Century Reformation, though the name for the day remained. Today, throughout the Church of England, receiving the mark of ashes on one’s forehead is optional. Certainly, the mark of ashes on the forehead reminds people of their mortality: 'Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return' (Genesis 3:19). The late medieval custom was to burn the branches used on Palm Sunday in the previous year to create the ashes, which is how it is done today in St Andrew's — we burn last year's palm crosses and mix it with consecrated olive oil. All who attend the evening Holy Communion service on Ash Wednesday are given the option of receiving a cross on their forehead.
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Page 3 and 4: Serving the communities of Charvil,
Page 5 and 6: The associate vicar's letter DEAR F
Page 7: the parish noticeboard — 1 Choral
Page 11 and 12: n Friday erful youth club on Friday
Page 13 and 14: the parish noticeboard — 5 On ref
Page 15 and 16: the parish noticeboard — 6 Hospit
Page 17 and 18: the parish noticeboard — 7 The jo
Page 19 and 20: feature — 1 Life in The Ark is br
Page 25 and 26: around the villages — 1 With all
Page 27 and 28: around the villages — 2 Local art
Page 29 and 30: around the villages — 3 Project S
Page 31 and 32: History Was it really . . . ? . . .
Page 33 and 34: Home and garden The Parish Magazine
Page 35 and 36: The ARTS — 2 Book Reviews Victori
Page 37 and 38: HEALTH — 2 'A mosquito'; 'reminds
Page 39 and 40: CROSSWORD 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 11 13 18
Page 41 and 42: CHILDREN'S PAGE The Parish Magazine
Page 43 and 44: Please mention The Parish Magazine

The Parish Magazine March 2022

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