On Tuesday 19th November, Olivia was consecrated as bishop in a service held in St Paul’s Cathedral, London
She was then welcomed and officially installed as the 10th Bishop of Reading at an afternoon service on 23rd November at the Reading Minster of St Mary the Virgin.
Before the service at The Minster
The new Bishop of Reading
Olivia was born and educated in Kent and went to work in Kenya as a teacher aged 18 for a year, which turned into 6. She then took a degree in Development Studies at UEA, Norwich before returning to work in Africa for another 7 years, in Djibouti, Somalia and Senegal. Towards the end of this period she married Keith, and their first child Robert was born. When the vote on the ordination of women as priests was carried by Synod in 1992 she returned to England to begin the process of exploring ordination. Their second child Philip was born six months before she started training on the St Albans and Oxford Ministry Course and she was ordained deacon in 1997, a few weeks after their third child, Sophie was born. During her curacy she trained as an Ignatian spiritual director. Olivia has served her whole ministry in Oxford Diocese, with 10 years in parish ministry before roles as parish development adviser and archdeacon. She has chaired the Diocesan link with Kimberley and Kuruman Diocese, delighting in the opportunity to keep up links with Africa. She has also led on the discipleship and clergy wellbeing work for the Diocese, and has a keen interest in environmental and social justice issues.
This
month our special focus is on Christmas in our Churches.
Please
pray:
That we shall be able to welcome many to our services this year both regular worshippers and visitors and that they may they know not just our welcome but also that of our Lord Jesus in this special season and that the services will be meaningful and challenging to all.
That those who already know the love of God will be re-inspired by news of this birth, as heaven bends to touch earthcome face to face with Emmanuel, God with us.
That those who find Christmas a time of loneliness and disappointment will find comfort and peace in the face of the Christ-child. come face to face with Emmanuel, God with us.
Please pray for:
All Christmas Services in all our Churches
Midnight Mass
All Age Christmas Day Services
Carol Services
Nine Lessons and Carols
Crib Services and Nativity Plays
Churches Together in Crowthorne witness on Crowthorne High Street in the lead up to Christmas:
The (first ever!) official switch on of Christmas Lights, Sunday 24th November 6pm
Late Night Shopping on Crowthorne High Street, Friday 6th December
Angel Bombing and Carol Singing on the High Street, 14th December
St John the Baptist Crowthorne: 1st December Advent Fair and Advent Taizé worship
St George’s Owlsmoor: visits from both our local Primary Schools during December and the special services: 1st December Christingle, Saturday 14th December, Evening of Festive Music, Carol and Nativity Service
St Mary the Virgin Winnersh, 8th December 4.00 p.m. Messy Christingle, 24th December 4.30 p.m. Crib Service, 25th December,10.00 a.m. Christmas Day Family Eucharist
St.Catherine’s. Bearwood, 15th December, 6.30 p.m. Candlelit Carol Service 24th December, 4.30 p.m. Crib Service, 11.00 p.m. Midnight Mass
St Sebastian Messy Church 13th December
St Mary’sWargrave Messy Church 15th December
Woosehill Church for the response to the message of Christ from the Woosehill Community they are invited to the various Christmas services including carols at the Ye Olde Leathern Bottel pub on Monday 9th December from 7.30 pm.
The Stationng process as Woosehill Church and the Methodist circuit seek out a new minister to take them forward for the next three years.
All Saints Wokingham, 3 Session Advent Course – Alive in Christ
