Category: Archived

Intercessions from High Leigh Conference

Intercessions: opening worship of the High Leigh Conference 2019

God of compassion, we remember today
Those for whom earthquakes, wind or fire
Has brought chaos and destruction.
For those who have lost everyone and everything they love.
We hold in our hearts and before you, those for whom the future is uncertain because of ill health, precarious relationships, or economic challenge; and those for whom the end of life in near.
And we share in in joy, with those experiencing new birth, new life and fresh starts – full of hope and expectation.
We bring before you our sacred and beautiful planet, teaming with life, renewal and healing forces.
May we do all we can to halt and mitigate the slow death of biodiversity
The continuous assault on what you have made.

God of mystery,
Where are you
When the world flings demands
Like a rain squall at the window,
When the pressure to perform steals us from ourselves,
When grasping for our future leaves us empty handed?
Where are you
When confusion is in heady ascendance,
When digging for surety lacerates and fragments?
Where are you in the fray,
In the tangled threads of feeling with no beginning or end?

God of our depths, be with us.
Do not rescue, but hold us;
Befriend, and reacquaint us
With our roots,
Our core,Our true desires.

Help us to know
How slowly moves the deep;
our connection to earth
and stars,
and the life that is you.

Help us to know
What we carry inside;
a space that does not always, or often,
know its shape
or size,
or what its purpose is.

Help us to know
That beyond our striving and our need
All you are is love,
And all we have is you.

Amen

 Alison Webster May 2019

Deanery Planning Day

A Brief Report on the Deanery Planning Day: 1.12.18
by Revd Richard Lamey, Area Dean of Sonning

The Deanery Plan has been in construction over the past 18 months or so. After two major conversations at Synod the overall plan was discussed by every PCC and received very positive comments: and then on Saturday the 1st of December 2018 50 people from Deanery Synod and from the PCCs of the Deanery came together in Finchampstead Parish Rooms to turn a plan into a plan of action.
The day was led by John Smith (Deanery Lay Chair), Richard Lamey (Area Dean) and Rhodri Bowen (Parish Development Advisor for the Archdeaconry). Read more

Chapter Programme

CHAPTER PROGRAMME 2018 – 2019

DATE TOPIC LEADER FACILITATOR
11 Sept 2018 ‘Flourishing in Ministry’ (1)

 

Catherine Vaughan Hugh Barne/John Cook
9 October 2018

 

            Deanery Plan

In preparation for Deanery Day on Dec 1st

Richard Lamey Richard Lamey and Julie Mintern
13 November 2018 Lectionary year ‘C’ John Castle Hannah Higginson
11 December 2018 Vocations Tina Molyneux David Hodgson
8 January 2019 Reflections on Deanery Day & Plan Rhodri Bowen Richard Lamey
12th February 2019  

Woodland/Forest Church

Tonia Elliott and Gemma Wilkinson Colin James
12th March 2019 Flourishing in Ministry (2)

 

Archdeacon Olivia Jane Kraft
9th April 2019

NB No meeting

Easter break Easter break Easter break
9th May 2019

 

Greater Chapter – EVENING MEETING TBC

 

James Lawrence (from CPAS)

on Courage in Christian leadership

Richard Lamey
11th June 2019 Bible Study – Ecclesiastes Julian Bidgood Lisa Cornwell
9 July 2019  Planning Meeting for next year

 

Richard Lamey Julian McAllen

Faculty Rules

Faculty Rules Consultation
If you’re responsible for your church building then there’s an exceptionally important and unique opportunity to share your views on Faculty Jurisdiction Rules. We are preparing a diocesan response but it’s important for parishes to comment individually too. Find out more in the recent DAC newsletter sent to all incumbents and church wardens across the diocese.