Thoughts from The Vicarage with Pews News, Living Well and Dementia friends
Greetings on this blue sky morning – please find attached Pews News for days, times and venues for services this weekend, along with the coming week which includes Ascension Day on Thursday.
Living Well in The End Times begins on June 11th at The Vicarage 3-4.30. Death is a natural part of life. Have you ever wondered about planning your own funeral, writing a will, making a good end to the story of your life or the physical process of dying? These aren’t easy questions to think about, but ones that we will all at some time, be asking ourselves. Information attached.
We will be addressing these questions and more in a series of meetings, ‘Living Well in the End Times’. The meetings have been planned so that such questions can be discussed in a supportive, relaxed and friendly setting in our home. It will be open to all, so please do feel free to ask about bringing a spouse or a friend. We will meet weekly on six afternoons from 3.00 – 4.30pm at 4 Newbury Street. The series will cover issues related to living well and comfortably with our own mortality and preparing for our own deaths.
Taizé is a religious community of brothers in the Burgundy region of eastern France, which since the end of the Second World War has been welcoming young people to stay and to share their simple life and explore life’s meaning.The Oxford Diocese 2025 Pilgrimage to Taizé is from 16–24 August 2025 – it’s open to anyone aged 15–35. Travel will be by overnight coach from Reading. The cost for the week is £395 for under-18s and £425 for over-18s. Financial help may be available. Anyone from 15 – 35 is invited to experience this pilgrimage alongside Bishop Mary! Please contact the Bishop of Reading’s office with any queries or ask me for more information. bishop.reading@oxford.anglican.org
This week is Dementia Action Week
Please do wear your dementia friend badges with pride and if you’d like to find out more https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/ Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition.
And finally private prayers requested on St Michael’s prayer table are included at daily morning prayer every morning. If you wish someone to be on the Pews News list, simply let me know.
A prayer for the coming week
Compassionate God,
as you know each star you have created,
so you know the secrets of every heart;
in your loving mercy bring to your table
all who are fearful and broken,
all who are wounded and needy,
that our hungers may be satisfied in the city of your peace;
through Christ who is our peace.
Amen
God bless
Julie