Churches Together in Windsor
Newsletter
Autumn 2020

Message from the Chair
Into darkness… came Light!
…was the strapline for a mission initiative run by Christians at Reading University when I was studying there many years ago.
In these strange days, as we enter the darker days of winter without yet knowing what we will or won’t be able to do to celebrate Christmas this year, it’s not a bad truth to hold onto. Indeed, just the other day there was a TV news report about people putting up Christmas decorations (very!) early as a way of finding light in the darkness.
The opening words of John’s Gospel remind us that Jesus came into the darkness of our broken world with all its hurts to shed the light of God’s love, and that ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ (John 1:5)
Every aspect of Christmas that is cancelled or curtailed by the darkness of the current pandemic therefore provides us with an opportunity to shed the light of God’s love to overcome our circumstances. For example, sadly but inevitably this year the decision had to be taken to cancel our flagship event, Carols on the Hill. In its place, we plan to publish a ‘Virtual Advent Calendar’ comprised of daily readings, songs and performances recorded by Christians and churches in Windsor and posted online. A bit more detail is shown in this newsletter, and if you have a creative idea that you would like your church to contribute, your minister or church leader will be delighted to hear from you! Our prayer is that this initiative will be one way in which we can bring God’s light into these dark days.
As you go through the coming weeks, may you know the present reality of Jesus, the Light of the World, illuminating your path. And may you in turn find opportunities to show the light of God’s love to family and friends, colleagues and neighbours, so that they too may know that ‘into darkness… came Light!’
Rev Matthew Scott
Chair, Churches Together in Windsor

For your diaries:
The Churches Together in Windsor Annual Assembly will take place by zoom (see link details below) on Thursday 19th November at 7.30pm (social time) before a short business meeting at 8pm:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85462633842?pwd=THJnb2xkb0RQdGNFZG44bzJPYUp0UT09
Meeting ID: 854 6263 3842
Passcode: 626024
There will not be a talk following the meeting on this occasion. Key items in the business meeting will be the Report from the Chair; Treasurer’s report: proposal to decrease subscriptions this year; Election of Core Group members and election of officers (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer). Every congregation subscribing to Churches Together in Windsor has one vote at the Annual Assembly; any number of representatives may attend (preferably at least 1 clergy and 1 lay person per congregation). Please could congregations let Jacoby (secretary) know in advance who will be attending the meeting and who has been nominated by the congregation to exercise the vote (jacobyvpatterson@gmail.com). All nominations welcome for anyone who would like to join the Core Group (also to Jacoby please).

Carols on the Hill will not take place this year but there will be “Virtual advent calendar” events during December uploaded onto the CTW website (https://churchestogetherinwindsor.org.uk/). Churches should already have received an email from the Revd. Rosie Webb with the short scripture text to provide the theme for each day. The churches are taking turns to provide a short YouTube video (2-5 minutes long) for the day, which will include reading, acting, singing or other creative ways to help us reflect on the scripture and bring the Christmas message to people. Clearly, we can’t have our traditional bucket collection this year, but we are still aiming to support two charities. Our nominated charities this year are:
1 Cruse Bereavement Care Thames Valley Berkshire (https://www.cruse.org.uk/get-help/local-services/south/thames-valley-berkshire) – the local branch of a national charity providing free advice, information and support to adults, young people and children who are struggling to cope with grief arising from bereavement. Donations can be made direct to this charity via the donation page http://www.cruse.org.uk/donate and selecting Thames Valley from the drop down list.
and
2 East to West (https://www.easttowest.org.uk/): bringing hope to young lives all across Surrey and Windsor; supporting local children, young people and their families struggling with difficult and damaging issues. Donations can be made direct to this charity via: https://www.easttowest.org.uk/give
Contact details for the churches are as follows:

CHURCH OF ENGLAND CHURCHES
Holy Trinity (Parish and Garrison Church),
Claremont Road & Trinity Place, Windsor, SL4 3AX
Telephone 01753 862776 (Church Office – staffed part-time) or 01753 862419
Minister: The Revd Canon Sally Lodge
email holytrinitychurchwindsor@gmail.com
Website holytrinitywindsor.org.uk

All Saints’ Church
Frances Road, Windsor, SL4 1HU
Telephone: 01753 862419
Minister: Revd Canon Sally Lodge 01753 862419
E-mail: team@windsorchurches.org.uk or windsor.rector@gmail.com or windsor.churchoffice@gmail.com
Website www.allsaintswindsor.org.uk

St Stephen & St Agnes, Clewer
Vansittart Road, Windsor, SL4 5EA
Telephone: 01753 858720
Minister: The Revd Canon Sally Lodge 01753 862419
E-mail: team@windsorchurches.org.uk
Website: www.ststephenwindsor.org.uk

All Saints’ Church
Dedworth Road, Windsor, SL4 4JW
Telephone: 01753 841710
Minister: Vacancy
E-mail: via website contact us page (http://allsaintschurchdedworth.com/contact/)
Website http://www.allsaintschurchdedworth.com/

St Andrew’s Clewer
The Incumbent: Revd Rosie Webb – rector@clewerparish.org Tel: 01753 852334
Church Warden: Stuart Cockman – stuartajc@gmail.com Tel: 07963568029
Parish Office: Administrator Sharon Robinson -office@clewerparish.org Tel: 01753 864169
Out of hours office mobile – 07490 094261
Pastoral Helpline Number: 07946590223
Parish website: www.clewerparish.org facebook page: St Andrews Clewer

St George’s Chapel
Windsor Castle, Windsor, SL4 1NJ
Telephone: 01753 848888; recorded information line 01753 865538
Minister: Dean and Canons of Windsor
email chapteroffice@stgeorges-windsor.org
Website: http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/

Windsor Fellowship Church
Windsor Youth and Community Centre, Alma Road, Windsor, SL4 3HD
Telephone: 01753 257868/07919 577676
Minister: Vacancy
E-mail: hello@windsorfellowship.com
Website: www.windsorfellowship.com

NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Kings Church International
Office: King’s House, 77a Frances Road, Windsor, SL4 3AQ
Telephone: 01753 832444
Ministers: Pastors Wes & Adriana Richards
E-mail: hello@kcionline.org
Website: kcionline.org

KERITH COMMUNITY CHURCH
Unit 3, Fairacres Industrial Estate,
Dedworth Rd, Windsor SL4 4LE
Telephone: +44 (0) 1344 862699
Minister: Leon Johnson
E-mail: info@kerith.church, leon.johnson@kerith.church
Website: https://kerith.church/

BAPTIST CHURCHES
Dedworth Green Baptist Church,
Smiths Lane, Windsor, SL4 5PE
Telephone: 01753-832002
Minister: Revd. Matthew Scott
E-mail: minister@dgbc.org.uk, secretary@dgbc.org.uk
Website: http://www.dgbc.org.uk/

Windsor Baptist Church,
Victoria Street, Windsor, SL4 1EH
Telephone: 01753 868060
Minister: Revd. Kat Bracewell
Community Pastoral Manager: Kate Saunders wbckate@gmail.com Tel 07802512750
E-mail windsorbaptists@yahoo.co.uk; kathryn.bracewell@yahoo.co.uk
Website http://www.windsorbaptistchurch.org.uk/

METHODIST CHURCH
Alma Road, Windsor, SL4 3HH
Telephone: 01753 867117
Minister: Revd. Vicci Davidson
E-mail via the “contact us” page: http://windsormethodist.church/contact
Website: http://www.windsormethodist.church/

UNITED REFORMED CHURCH
Christ Church: William Street, Windsor, SL4 1BA
Telephone: 01753 862007
Minister: Revd. Alan Wickens
E-mail: revawickens@gmail.com
Website http://www.windsorurc.org.uk/

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES
St. Edward’s Church
44 Alma Road, Windsor, SL4 3HJ
St Mark’s Church
Dedworth Road, Windsor, SL4 4JS
Telephone: 01753 865163
Minister: Canon David Hopgood
E-mail: canondavid@catholicwindsor.org
Website: http://catholicwindsor.org/

Churches Together in Windsor
Newsletter
Autumn 2019

Message from the Chair
Living in community
Welcome to the latest CTW newsletter. We hope you find it informative and helpful in letting you know about the various joint initiatives that Christians and churches across Windsor are working on together in the coming months.
The idea of building community through loving, supportive relationships lies at the heart of what Jesus Christ taught, and reflects the nature of God, who wants us to experience life ‘to the full’. I see something of that happening in each and every activity that takes place in our churches. The sense of community becomes even more pronounced when our churches work together with each other and with our wider local community for the benefit of our neighbours.
Nowhere was that more visible in the past year than in the extraordinary way that church and community pulled together last winter to provide a Night Shelter for the local homeless community. So as well as noting the various Christmas celebrations and other events taking place in the coming months, and putting those in your diary, please consider volunteering for this year’s Night Shelter. You can find out more at the volunteer meeting on 21st September, details of which are included in this bulletin. Meanwhile, please pray for every aspect of this significant initiative.
At the heart of our life together as the Church in Windsor are the activities that encourage us to explore, build and celebrate our shared faith in Jesus. Although summer is barely over, plans for the forthcoming Christmas season are well in hand, with details becoming available on each church’s web site over the coming weeks. Perhaps the largest event run by CTW is ‘Carols on the Hill’, scheduled this year for Friday 13th December (6pm). Hundreds of residents and visitors enjoy this celebration every year. If you’ve never attended this fantastic occasion before, why not join us as we share the good news of Jesus with our local community this year?
Rev Matthew Scott
Chair, Churches Together in Windsor

News:
The annual Good Friday Witness took place outside the Post Office and was well attended. This was a very important opportunity for all Christians to witness to our faith together.
“Thy Kingdom Come” is an ecumenical prayer initiative during the period between Ascension Day (May 30th) and Pentecost (June 9th). Various services and prayer initiatives took place in different churches and at different times of the day during that period, finishing with a picnic in Alexandra Gardens, with everyone wearing flame-coloured clothes to honour the Holy Spirit.

For your diary:
“More than a shelter”
The Churches in Windsor will come together and take responsibility to open their parish hall one or more nights a week to accommodate the rough sleepers and marginalised in our community during the harshest months of the year.
There are a range of activities to include:
• helping with the shelter shifts (evening, overnight and morning shifts)
• helping with the preparation of evening meals and breakfasts
• helping with general administration tasks
No previous experience is required as training will be provided. All volunteers will be required to attend mandatory training sessions for safeguarding, first aid and volunteer training.
If you are interested in volunteering for this very important ministry and would like to find out more, then please join us at our Volunteer Meeting and Party Saturday 21 September 7-9pm at
St Edward’s Parish Hall, Alma Road, Windsor.
Interested and would like more information then please….
visit the More Than a Shelter webpage: http://windsorchristianaction.org/more-than-a-shelter
join our new More Than a Shelter Windsor Group Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/461457894583835/
Please sign up for this important ministry!
If you are not able to attend the meeting and are interested in volunteering for the evening, night and breakfast shifts or becoming involved in this project?
Please send an email with your name and contact details to: morethanashelter@outlook.com
Watch out for further information in the coming weeks. Please continue to pray for God’s leading and provision as the practicalities of the Shelter are implemented.

As part of the ecumenical Season of Creation which starts on 1 September and runs until 4 October (see seasonofcreation.org), the following events will be taking place in Windsor:
On Sunday 22 September at 5pm, there will be a Taizé-style Service celebrating all God’s creatures and reflecting on the ‘Web of Life’ at Windsor Baptist Church, Victoria Street, SL4 1EH. The service will be quiet & reflective, focusing on the diversity of God’s Creation & the part that we play in it. There will be refreshments after the service and a chance for different church congregations to meet, reflect and chat together.
On Saturday 28 September at 10.30-2.30pm there will be a Community celebration with craft workshop starting at 10.30, produce stalls, dancing & lunch from 12.30 at Windsor Methodist Church, Alma Road, Windsor SL4 3HH. Entrance is free. Any monies raised fromt eh stalls/lunch will be donated to Windsor Foodshare.

Ceidlidh Dance for Christian Aid on Friday 1 November, Gardener’s Hall, St Leonard’s Road, 7.30 – 10.30 pm. Purchase tickets in advance as there are a limited number of places to give us space to dance! Ceilidh dancing is like barn dancing, but more fun. You do not need a partner; just be able to count to eight and know your right from your left! All dances will be called. Admission is £8 plus a plate of finger food to share. Your ticket price includes a glass of wine and the bar will be open to purchase other drinks. Call Anne Montminy on 01753 852874 to buy tickets or for more information. Any profits will go to Christian Aid’s Emergency Aid appeal.

The Churches Together in Windsor Annual Assembly will be held on Thursday 21st November at 7.30 for 7.45pm at the Methodist Church, Alma Rd, Windsor, SL4 3HH. This will be followed by a talk by Revd Simon Smith, Head of patient and family support at Thames Hospice which will give us an opportunity to find out more about the work of our local hospice.

Christian Aid Advent Service: Sunday 8 December, All Saints Church Dedworth, 5 pm.

Carols on the Hill will take place on Friday 13th December at 6pm by Queen Victoria’s statue in front of Windsor Castle.

The local Carers Support Group meets at Dedworth Green Baptist Church on the 2nd Monday of the month 10.30am – 12.00 noon. We are supported by Signal and representatives from Signal attend the sessions. The group is open to anyone who is in a caring role.

Request for help
Windsor Homeless Project (WHP)
Assistant to the WHP Manager
The Windsor Homeless Project (WHP) is an organisation that helps local homeless and vulnerable people rebuild their lives. An exciting new role has been created to work alongside the WHP Manager and support him in all aspects of this work, including:
• Creating a hospitable, respectful and hopeful environment where guests needs can be assessed and help can be offered to meet those needs.
• Supervising Project staff and volunteers.
• Maintaining strong relationships with partner agencies.
• Managing external communication and relevant administration tasks.

Experience of working with people with complex needs, vulnerabilities and challenging behaviour is important, and the successful candidate should have a sympathetic and flexible working approach, be a team player and have good interpersonal and communication skills. A satisfactory enhanced DBS check will also be required for working with adults at risk.
This is a part time role of 20 hours per week. Core hours are Mon, Weds, Fri 10.30am – 2.45pm (every week) and Saturday 12.30-2.30pm (once a month). These core hours will be spent at the Project. Other hours can be worked flexibly. The salary is negotiable depending on experience and qualifications. The role is based at our drop-in centre at Holy Trinity Garrison Church, Trinity Place, Windsor SL4 3BB.
For a full Job Description please contact secretary@windsorchristianaction.org. To apply please send your CV with a covering note, outlining why you are applying for this opportunity and the three most relevant skills or attributes you would bring to the role.
The closing date for applications is Monday 30th September 2019