No. 124 April 2023
This month our special focus is on the Parish of Finchampstead & California.
Please Pray for:
Rector: Vacancy (see extract from official notice)
‘It is with real shock and sadness that we write to let you know some very sad news.
Revd Leonard Onugha, Rector of Finchampstead and California, collapsed and died at home on Monday night (20 March). His death was unexpected and deeply tragic. The news will be as much of a shock to you as it is to us. It is devastating for his family, and our prayers and thoughts are and will continue to be with Joanna, René, Lucia, and Gioia.’
Associate Minister: Rev Julian McAllen
New Communities Minister: Rev Tonia Elliott
Ordinand: Beth Quainton
Children & Families Worker: Louise Buckett
Youth Worker: Pamela Zabbia
Wardens: at St James’, Finchampstead –Robert Alder and Joy Scovell; at St Mary & St John’s, California – Marjorie Stalker and Ashlyn Webster; at St Eligius’, Arborfield Green – Lucia Golding and Paul Marsden
PCC Secretary: Carolyn Fox
Treasurer: Jeremy Allcock
Parish Administrator: Kate Hembra
In the Parish, please pray for:
- Rev Leonard’s family as they come to terms with their loss, that they feel comforted and loved.
- The whole parish in shock.
- Our Ministry Team and PCC, that we make good decisions that serve our parish and glorify God.
- All our Holy Week and Easter services and activities, that they help everyone draw closer to Jesus and find comfort in his presence.
- Our work with children, youth, families, and schools.
- Our outreach into our local communities.
In the Deanery, please pray for:
- Holy Week, that we will all relish the opportunities to worship together in this most special and pivotal week, and also that our worship will be an inspiration and a place of encounter for all those who come, especially those who are exploring the faith.
- Joyful worship at Easter and beyond.
- Parishes in vacancy Ruscome, Twyford and Hurst. St Mary’s Winnersh and Bearwood as they seek a house for duty priest.
- Winnersh as it welcomes the Hong Kong community to worship in St Mary’s
- All Saints Wokingham, patience, and blessings as we hold our second Easter outside of the church building whilst re-ordering works are ongoing. For the successful completion of the re-ordering works in the next few weeks and that the final finance is found.
- Knowl Hill and Wargrave wisdom for repairs and upgrading of the St Peter’s, Knowl Hill church building.
- Christchurch, Wokingham, APCM, the provision of a new warden and PCC secretary and as we consider what changes we should make as a church now that the minister, Joel Knight, has been in post for a year.
- St John the Baptist Crowthorne, work with children and young people and the new monthly intergenerational service, ‘Come and See’.
- Parents, children, and clergy coping with the changes in Ranelagh admissions.
- St Mary’s Winnersh with St Catherine’s Bearwood support a charity, SalGOAssist which supports two orphanages and education needs in Bapatla, S India. It started over 23 year ago and it runs separately from the churches. Please pray that a much needed treasurer will be found.
- All APCMs.
- Those with Long Covid who are facing extreme exhaustion and all of the frustrations which come with it.
- Those who witness to the faith in the community and the workplace, among them chaplains at School and in the NHS.
- All struggling with the recent discussions at General Synod around same-sex relationships, either because they feel that Synod has gone too far or not far enough.
In the World, please pray for:
- Turkey and Syria as they rebuild lives and homes after the earthquakes.
- An end to the conflict in Israel/ Palestine.
- All those seeking a safe place to live.
God of glory,
by the raising of your Son
you have broken the chains of death and hell:
fill your Church with faith and hope;
for a new day has dawned
and the way to life stands open
in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
Alternative Collect for Easter Day, The Daily Office SSF.