Holy Trinity Church Theale
From the Rectory:
After all the festivities life has returned to normal. I wonder how many New Year resolutions are still in place!
Jesus said: ‘I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’
It is an astonishing claim but one we can’t afford to miss out on. Full human life, abundant life is what we all hunger for. Jesus says He can supply it. The power of Jesus to transform people and situations was the glorious theme of the Service for Christian Unity held on 15th Jan in Holy Trinity. We heard of lives totally transformed by their encounters with Jesus. He offers all of us that same possibility if we are prepared to commit ourselves to Him and serve Him faithfully and obediently. How about another New Year resolution to explore that abundant life which Jesus offers?
2012 is a year of opportunities in so many ways. Both the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games provide unique opportunities for us to relate to and reach out to the community. The news that the Olympic torch is actually coming through Theale is particularly exciting. Forthcoming magazines will detail the special events planned.
In the meantime some of the new initiatives in church life have already begun. The new housegroups are meeting fortnightly at first and then weekly during Lent. The Tuesday group is going through Christian Basics while the Wednesday group is looking at St Paul’s letter to the Philippians. You are warmly welcome to either group. During Lent both groups will be looking at St John’s account of Jesus’ Passion and we are inviting the members of St Luke’s to join us as part of the activities of Churches Together in Theale and Englefield. The details of the housegroup programme are listed on the next page.
On February 18th the Saturday before Lent we are holding a parish Quiet Day from 10am- 2pm at Burghfield parish centre. Our speaker will be the Revd Michael Beasley, Diocesan missioner. This will be a very important opportunity for all of us to take stock spiritually and consider together under God the way He wishes us to reach out to our community.
We hope and pray very soon we will be able to start a weekly Family Service with Sunday School in Theale Primary School on Sundays at 4pm. Do let me know if you would like to know more information about this project.
Finally I do hope you will want to take advantage of the various social events planned especially the Pancake Party on Shrove Tuesday. It has been a great joy for us to begin to get to know people of both congregations and I know many of you have valued the recent opportunities to develop links with one another.
Ann Templeman
