Diverse aspects of our society condition us to believe that we should strive to be busy all the time. Cram more in. Start earlier. Be in constant contact through the miracles of modern technology. It becomes a never-ending source of frantic activity.

 Getting caught up in this intense pace can be exciting when the adrenalin starts to flow but it leaves little time for quiet moments with God. Precious few people would say when conscious of their own mortality that they wished they had spent more time in the office.

In his poem If Rudyard Kipling uses a phrase “if you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run” which implies that we should always be busy and on the go. This is contrary to the example of  Jesus’s and his need to spend time alone in quiet solitude in order to pray and discern the will of God.

 As Christians we sometimes find ourselves caught up in a round of meetings, conferences and organisations on the premise of  doing God’s work. However, it might just  be the case that we should periodically slow down and take stock of what it means to be a follower of Christ.

                                                            Jean Rae.

This sprang to mind relating to the forthcoming visit of Paul Aberson as the Guest Speaker at the 9.30a.m. on the 4^th March. Paul currently works for PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Chartered Accountants. Additionally he is a lay worker at St. Laurence’s Church in Reading where there is great emphasis on outreach within the town.

 However, at the end of April, Paul will be leaving Reading in order to embark on an exciting venture in Killin, Perthshire. His visit to St. Barnabas provides a unique opportunity to hear Paul and the important ministry, which he has undertaken while in this area.

 I am sure all those who attend on the 4^th March will be inspired by Paul’s message.

 Please remember him in your prayers.

                                                                         Jean Rae

People were invited to respond to the passage in four different ways each one preceded with a moment of prayerful silence.

 Many complimentary comments were received subsequently, effectively summed up in the phrase “the event was good beyond description.” Mark has kindly agreed to come again and a further meeting will be arranged in the spring.

                                                             Jean Rae

 Down the centuries there has been evidence of man’s increasing power over nature. This has sometimes been used irresponsibly and without reverence for life and a sense of the splendour of God’s continuing creation. The situation has become of great concern to many people. Within this area, we are fortunate to have such a pioneer and promoter of “green” issues as John Madeley who has written several books on the subject.

 On 29^th March, the Study and Discussion Group is holding an open meeting when John will be the guest speaker. The theme of his talk is entitled “why climate change threatens God’s world and our existence”.

 As customary the meeting will be held in the Parish Centre at 7.45p.m.for 8.0p.m. All are welcome.

                                                             Jean Rae

 Also of note concerning Candlemas is its connection to Groundhog Day, which occurs on the same date. This tradition  finds its origin in European folklore, as a prediction for the coming spring.

 On the 2^nd February, a notable event is being organised by members of the Study and Discussion Group. The Reverend Mark Laynesmith, the Anglican Chaplain at Reading University will be speaking at an open meeting in the Parish Centre. He has a special  ministry and shares the light of Christ with all those with whom he comes into contact.

 As customarily the meeting will be held in the Parish Centre at 7.45 p.m. for 8.0 p.m.

 Everyone is welcome.

                                                                                      Jean Rae

The front cover of the December edition of the St Barnabas newsletter carried the message: “However You Dress It Up, Christmas Starts With Christ”.  That message obviously struck a chord as a total of 899 people attended the 9 Lessons and Carols, Nativity, Midnight Mass, and Christmas Day Services.  This was a 29% increase on last year!

In addition to this there were Nativity Services with the ‘Encouragers’ for Emmer Green Pre-School, The Hill and Emmer Green Primary Schools and a Christingle Service which started with the 89th Reading (Milestone Wood) Scouts bringing the Bethlehem Peace Light in to the darkened Church.  Every year the Peace Light travels all around the world from Bethlehem carried by the world-wide Scouting Movement.  It is estimated that another 500 children and adults attended these Services so for almost 1,400 people in Emmer Green Christmas 2011 really did start with Christ.

(Waiting Restrictions) (Experimental) Order 2011

 Reading Borough Council (RBC) has brought in the above order with effect from 23 December 2011.  You may have noticed the double yellow lines that have been painted for the entire length of Grove Road on the church side.

Background

The report to the Traffic Management Advisory Panel stated: ‘Both Grove Road and Kidmore End Road have on-street parking that reduces traffic flow at certain periods of the day and week.’  The ‘certain periods of the day and week’ that it refers to are school drop off and pick up times, Monday to Friday during the school terms.

Who is affected?

It is not only those attending services at St. Barnabas who are affected but also church hall users, those going to the hairdressers, the greengrocers, TrueFood, the learning centre and the recreation ground.  Also affected are the groups using the Parish Centre during the week and even those attending the doctor’s surgery.

Where can we park?

Parking is prohibited on the double yellow lines 24 hours a day, 7 days a week unless you are a blue badge holder.  However RBC have stated that people can park on the School Keep Clear markings directly outside of the school after 5pm and before 8am Monday to Friday and all day at the week-ends.  Please do consider those members of the congregation whose mobility is limited and leave those spaces near to the church for them to park in.

What can we do?

RBC stated that prior consultation was not necessary as this is an experimental order.  This means that the order will be kept under review and may be changed in the future, or made permanent.  RBC have asked for feedback from those who are affected by this order.  This is the opportunity to express concerns or make comments.  You may wish to question why a problem that occurs at ‘certain periods of the day and week’ is being dealt with by a blanket ban on parking for the whole community.

Who do we contact?

Please contact Head of Legal Services, Reading Borough Council, Civic Centre, Reading, RG1 7AE or by using the contact form on their web site www.reading.gov.uk.  Please also copy in the ward Councillors with your concerns.  They are:

Jamie Chowdhary, 16C Upton Road, Tilehurst, Reading, RG30 4BJ

Mark Ralph, 7 Kidmore Road, Caversham, RG4 7LR

Richard Willis, 28 Kingsway, Caversham, RG4 6RA.

Richard Willis is also a member of the Traffic Management Advisory Panel.

The newsletter was available in Church from 13th November and delivered to homes in the parish in time to advertise our Christmas Fair on 3rd December. There are also copies available in church or you can read it here:

• Christmas newsletter 2011

                                                            Jean Rae

Owen Jewiss

It is with sadness that we record that Owen, a prominent member of St Barnabas and of the local community, died peacefully on 24^th October after a battle with cancer.

Owen was born in Gravesend in 1933, the son of a merchant seaman. He started his schooling there and went to Gravesend Grammar, but this was interrupted during the war when the family relocated to Liverpool. When they came back to Kent, Owen went on to study botany at Imperial College, London, graduating in 1955. This was clearly a subject in which he excelled, for he went on to complete a Doctorate in 1958. During this period of study he met another botanist, Daphne, who was to become his wife, also in 1958.

They set up home in Maidenhead when Owen was employed at the Grassland Research Institute in Hurley, and the family grew with the arrival of their daughters Philippa and Hilary. They became members of their local churches, St Peters and St Marks, where Owen was active as a Sunday School organiser and in the Church of England Men’s Society. The family have fond memories of a year in Australia in 1969/70, when Owen was engaged on a research project there. He retired when the Institute closed, but remained active on professional and scientific matters in many roles including editing the journal of the British Grassland Society. In these later years Owen and Daphne welcomed and enjoyed time with their five grandchildren.

Owen was a devoted family man and a distinguished professional, but for the Church community he will be remembered as exceptional in his commitment and someone whose faith and witness were an inspiration to many.

The man with the camera

The family moved to The Ridings in Emmer Green in 1971, and were welcomed at St Barnabas Church. Owen’s energy and experience were quickly recognised and within a couple of years he had become a PCC member and been appointed Churchwarden. He remained a PCC member until the time of his death, and held the office of Warden on more than one occasion over a period of some twenty years. He has been at the centre of the life of St Barnabas ever since he arrived, and at some time or another he has undertaken many tasks, great and small – the full list would be endless. In the management roles the Church benefitted greatly from his breadth of knowledge and experience, but he also worked quietly behind the scenes on many less glamorous, but equally important, tasks. But he was much more than an administrator – he could relate to people with warmth and empathy. His leadership of a house group was greatly valued, and he could be relied upon to be there at social gatherings, greeting friends and sharing a joke. This same sensitivity, coupled with his career interest, showed itself in a keen and practical concern for environmental issues. People who might not have recognised much of what he did will remember him as the man with the camera. He was always on hand to take pictures, and had amassed a tremendous photographic record of local church and community events.

Whilst his contribution to his local church alone would have stretched most people, he also devoted a great deal of time and energy to the wider church. In Reading he served on the Deanery Synod (and was Lay Chairman in the 1980’s), the Churches Together groups and was connected to the University Chaplaincy. He was respected and held in affection by a wide circle of friends and colleagues from many church backgrounds in the town. More widely, he was involved with Churches Together in Berkshire and the Diocesan Synod, he chaired the Diocesan Board of Trustees and was a member of the Diocesan Glebe Committee. In recognition of his significant service to the Diocese the Bishop of Oxford bestowed upon him the rare award of the Order of St Frideswide. There was a short ceremony at Owen’s home on 22^nd October with family and friends present – a proud and emotional moment after such an outstanding Christian life.

Owen characteristically kept as many of his activities going for as long as he could, and his loss will be keenly and immediately felt. It is probably fair to say that for the many organisations he was involved with he will be irreplaceable.  For many more individuals the loss will be of conscientious and engaging friend or colleague. Owen could move in exalted and humble circles with equal ease. He could be as solemn and academic as he needed to be, but a dry sense of humour was never far beneath the surface, and he enjoyed making a point with a twinkle in his eye.

He will be greatly missed, and our thoughts and prayers are with Daphne and his family, who have the greatest loss but the best of memories.