WINTER WARMERS ON MONDAY WITH A LOT OF HAPPY FACES

13th January 2024

Dear Church Family,
The hubs were humming again in our first week back after the Christmas break. We had a good number at the Winter Warmers on Monday,  a very busy Southtots on Friday morning with 24 children attending with their mum's or carers, and many families were pleased to be back at the after-school Church Hub yesterday afternoon, sharing Christmas stories and a tasty hot meal. It is such a joy to be able to serve our community in such meaningful ways. 
I spoke to one of the dad's at the Church Hub who told me he had come along to church for the Christingle for the first time, and that as the children drew around the crib with candles lit and sang Away in a Manger, he had felt an incredible warmth and the hairs on his arms had stood up! 

Much of Jesus' ministry took place in the context of social gatherings and meals and there was a real sense at all three events this week that "The Kingdom of Heaven has come near!" 

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at either 10am or 11.45am, and don't forget to make that invitation to someone to come along,

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
YouTube channel





9th January 2024

Dear Church Family,

I thank God for Sunday morning’s service – a really joyful, and powerful start to the New Year. We had a few thoughts about New Year resolutions, we heard about the exciting new Training Room initiative, and Dr David challenged us with some great questions:

Are we walking closely with Jesus?
Or have we been free-wheeling?
Is Jesus more important to us going into 2024 than when we started 2023?

There is nothing more faith-building than stepping out in faith and seeing God move, so when Ian brought a word about inviting someone we know to church this coming Sunday, it seemed to me like a ‘stand-out’ resolution for the New Year.
So why don’t we all contact a friend, neighbour, family member, or colleague this week and, as did Jesus and his first disciples, make that invitation:
 
“Come with me and see!”  (John 1:39-46 para)
 
Of course, not everyone we ask will accept the invitation, but I can guarantee that everyone who is asked will feel special for being asked.
So let’s start off the New Year by exercising and energising our faith by inviting someone we know to come to church this Sunday so they too can hear the good news of Jesus,

With love in Christ,

Pads



6th January 2024

Dear Church Family,

This coming week is the week that more or less everything gets going again. Schools, businesses, councils, social groups, and, hopefully, even junior doctors!

At St Matthew’s it means we restart many activities and the site will be a hive of activity for most of the week and there is always the danger that we get so busy again that we lose sight of the main thing. As I was reflecting on this, I felt the Lord give me a verse  from Psalm 5 which might help us.

“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3)

This simple verse gives us three wonderful things:Confidence that when we come to Him, He hears our voice. And that has to make it worth our while to put aside a little time to come into his presence.
Permission to lay our requests before Him. God wants us to involve Him in our lives.
Encouragement that our prayers can change situations as He asks us to be expectant about the outcomes.So if we make no other New Year’s resolutions than just this one thing, may we come to God each day, knowing we are heard, invited to make our requests, and encouraged to be expectant that God will answer.

See you for our first Sunday service in 2024 at 10am tomorrow,

With love in Christ,

Pads
 








29th December 2023

Dear Church Family,

I hope and trust that you all enjoyed a blessed Christmas and may even have found a little time to reflect on the year behind us as it closes out.

When the three wise men (the Magi), led by the star, reached the end of their journey at Bethlehem, they were blessed by God to meet the young Messiah and to worship and bow down before him as they presented their gifts.

I feel that 2023 has been quite an epic journey for St Matthew’s. The outreach initiatives which were launched last year and early in 2023 including the sensory garden, Southcote Street Pastors, SouthTots, Winter Warmers and the After-School Hub, reaped dividends as we came into contact with many new people and families in our local community. It has been a huge effort, involving much planning, recruiting, encouraging, resourcing and, crucially, praying.

And so all that has happened over the last two weeks has felt, to me, like a huge blessing from God at the end of this particular journey. The Christmas events and services were not only full of people, but full of joy and full of the wonder of a Saviour, Jesus, Immanuel, brought to us through Worship, Word and Spirit.

Of course, when the Magi had completed their visit to Bethlehem, they started a new adventure as they set out on the return trip – and we’ll never know, this side of heaven, what challenges and rewards that journey brought. And one of the exciting things for me is that it seems God is calling us as a church into new territory in 2024 as we prepare ourselves for new ways to serve our local community. (More on that in the New Year).

So join us this Sunday, New Year’s Eve, for our 10am and 11.45am services as we see out the old year, and look forward to a new one; and if I don’t see you on Sunday, have a very…

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Youtube link



22nd December 2023

Dear Church Family,

What a week it’s been!
Firstly I want to thank everyone for all of the hard work, planning, and creative energy which has gone into the last year, and particularly, the wonderful events of the last 7 days.

The last Southtots of the year
The After-School Hub Christmas Party
The Carols in the Square
The St Matthew’s Carol Service
The three Southcote Primary School Carol Services
The Christmas Winter Warmers
The wonderful funeral service for Fred

We have really felt the Lord’s blessing on all these opportunities to be good news and share good news with literally hundreds of people from our local communities and further afield.

In our quiet time this morning, Kirstie and I felt the Lord saying to us: “Be still and know that I am God,” which seems like an almost impossible thing to do at this time of year. Our prayer is that as we finish our Christmas preparations in these next two days, we will find time to focus on what J.John calls ‘the reason for the season’, Immanuel, (God with us), when:
 
“The kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared”  (Titus 3:4)
Looking forward to seeing you at one or more of our remaining services and Christmas celebrations (above), but if you are away for the holiday period, then we wish you a Spirit-filled and joyful Christmas and look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

With love in Christ,
 
Pads and Kirstie xx







12th December 2023

Dear Church Family,

Christmas at St Matthew's really gets under way this weekend with two wonderful opportunities to enjoy the Christmas story through carols and to invite family, friends and neighbours to come and join in:

Saturday 5pm - Carols in Coronation Square with community carol singing and hot drinks and snacks to keep the cold at bay! If you haven't been before, it's a great event with a stage set up on the square, lighting, and sound system. This year we have a guest worship leader, Chris Mitchell, leading the carol singing. If you could help to hand out carol sheets and flyers we'd love some help. The weather forecast is very good! 

Sunday 11am - St Matthew's Carol Service in the church - followed by refreshments, savoury and sweet snacks. A wonderful mix of traditional and modern carols, wrapped around the Christmas story. The Kidz Church Christmas Party for the children and youth will run in parallel with the Carol Service. And don't forget: it's 11am not 10am!

The prophet Isaiah, writing hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, said that "He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

At a time when so many people are struggling with war, poverty, homelessness, sickness and loneliness, let's be determined to make Christ, the Prince of Peace, the centre of all that we do through the Christmas season, and help to point others to Him. So let's get inviting those we know to these two wonderful opportunities.

I look forward to journeying through this Christmas season with you,

With love in Christ,

Pads
 





29th November 2023

Dear Church Family,

Fred Pavitt
Kirstie and my return from South Africa this week was tinged with sadness over the news that our dear friend and brother-in-Christ, Fred Pavitt, had gone to be with the Lord in the small hours of Monday morning.  

As believers, we know that Fred is already somewhere ‘better by far’, but for those grieving his death, especially family and close friends, it is a time of sadness, loss and adjustment to a new reality. ‘Faithful Fred’, as he was affectionately known to many of us, will be hugely missed and remembered as a lovely man of deep faith, humble service, and passionate about sharing his Lord and Saviour with those around him.

Fred’s funeral will be at 11.00am on Tuesday 19th December at St Matthew’s and everybody is welcome to join us as we give thanks for, and celebrate, Fred’s life.


Christmas Singing Group
One of the things I really look forward to at Christmas is participating in the Singing Group which expands our Sunday music group for the Carol Service on the 17th December. Tomorrow, Thursday evening at 7.30pm, we have our first rehearsal and anyone who would like to be part of that group, whether it’s for the first or the twelfth time (in my case), is welcome to come along and join us. If you’re not sure about it, just come along and try it out and see if it’s for you – I know that Emma and Martin would love to see you there.

Site Tidy Up
This Saturday at 9.30am we are spending a couple of hours tidying up the church site, and would greatly appreciate anyone who can provide practical help in particular with hedge trimming, and clearing cuttings into bins and bags. Bacon sarnies, tea and coffee will be on offer to make the job more enjoyable! Let me know if you can help.

We look forward to seeing you at the 10am service for our first Sunday of Advent as we head into the Christmas season,

With love and blessings in Christ,

Pads and Kirstie

10am News Sheet
Youtube Channel






10th November 2023

Dear Church Family,

The banner above says it all and I am looking forward to our times of worship on Sunday. Coincidentally, this week’s Ten Commandment is ‘Remember the Sabbath and Keep it Holy.’

Chris Everett noted, on the men’s WhatsApp group, that with all that’s going on in the world at this moment, the call to remembrance is so important lest we forget! And as followers of Christ it is especially so in order that we remind ourselves of all that God has done, is doing and will do in our lives. This is what keeps us grounded in the LORD.

So take some time to think back to the times where God has been good to you and join with us this Sunday as we declare his goodness!
 
“We will remember!”
See you Sunday,

With love in Christ,

Pads
 
10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Youtube channel




3rd November 2023

Southcote Street Pastors and local Police team up for Halloween
 
Dear Church Family,

I have been reflecting on a week which highlighted to me the wonderful way that our outreach ministries have been so blessed by God over the last eighteen months since the Street Pastors first went out in the local community on 1st July 2022.

On Tuesday (Halloween), we went out and spent some wonderful time meeting dozens of families on the streets of Southcote and building relationships with some of the Thames Valley Police who were on duty that night. It was the most peaceful Halloween that I can remember in the 12 years that we have lived in Southcote.

On Friday, Abbie, Julie and Kirstie hosted over twenty toddlers at SouthTotswhich is connecting us with more and more families in the local community and in the afternoon there were new people and families at the After-School Hubwho were looked after so well by the team, now made up of many who first came into contact with St Matthew’s through the hub itself.

We look forward too, to the restart of the Winter Warmers which will now run from the beginning of December providing hot soup and bread in a warm space each Monday lunchtime.

All of this started from our Prayer and Vision day in March 2022 when words from the prophet Isaiah inspired us to look outwards and embrace the community.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the chords of the yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter….you will be called repairer of broken walls, restorer of streets with dwellings.” (from Isaiah 58)

It is so encouraging to see God at work through His people at St Matthew’s as we heed the call of Jesus to reach out in love and service to the community in which he has placed us.

See you at 10am on Sunday morning, and there is also an opportunity to join us at 3.00pm for a reflective All Soul’s service for the bereaved, where loved ones are remembered.  

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
Youtube channel





27th October 2023

Dear Church Family,
 
Looking back
What a wonderful week it’s been at St Matthew’s with our Half Term Holiday Club! We are all exhausted! And we are all full of joy and thanks to God for one of the best Holiday Clubs I can remember. Between 90 and 100 children joined us through the week, we had our largest team of youth helpers ever, and a fantastic group of church families who worked their socks off to give the children an unforgettable experience of fun, games, worship, bible-teaching, sports, dance, drama and all-round encouragement. Please be praying the seeds of Faith, Hope and Love planted in the hearts and minds of the children would bear much fruit in the future.

Looking forward
This Sunday we continue with our exploration of the Ten Commandments in the 10am service and remind everyone that as it’s a fifth Sunday of the month, there is also a Holy Communion service at 11.45am. And although most of us live on smartphones these days which do everything for us, don’t forget the clocks go back an hour on Saturday night – or you might arrive an hour early for the service.
 
"The joy of the Lord is our strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)
See you on Sunday at either the 10am or the 11.45am,

With love in Christ,

Pads
 

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Youtube channel





20th October 2023

Dear Church Family,
 
It’s Half Term already! I can’t quite believe it until I look out of the vicarage window and see everyone scurrying around the site getting ready for the Holiday Club which starts on Tuesday. After a week of ‘red-lining’ it was such a relief to test negative for Covid this morning and to know that I will be able to serve on team. (Kirstie is a couple of days behind me - please pray!).

Our theme for the three days of Holiday Club will be ‘Faith, Hope and Love,”those immortal words penned by Paul the apostle as he wrote his first letter to the Corinthian church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
 
“And the greatest of these is love!”
Please be praying for Lynn and the whole team over the coming days that we will all remain in good health and that this amazing Love of God may be powerfully revealed to all of the children and families who attend the Holiday Club next week.

See you on Sunday at either the 10am or the 11.45am,

With love in Christ,

Pads
 

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Youtube channel



10th October 2023

Dear Church Family,We have all been horrified by the news of what has taken place in Israel & Gaza over the last few days and fear for those who might be caught up in a devastating backlash. I found some comfort in these words this morning:

“I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace.  I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name.” Psalm 34:1-3Let's all be praying to the Prince of Peace for peace to be restored to Israel and the Palestinian territories.

On a different note - can you help our worship team?
We are so blessed to have such spirit-filled and talented musicians and singers as Emma and Martin to lead the musical worship at our 10am services and a lovely organ to accompany the 11.45 services. Now we need some help to ensure that we can continue to provide that.

Just over two weeks ago, there was a major failure in the church organ which took out the main blower motor and caused a power surge which damaged the PA mixing desk - a crucial part of our sound system. Both are unplanned expensive items as follows:
Organ blower/motor - £1,314 
Replacement PA mixing desk - £949

If you are in a position to be able to help to fund these urgent needs to keep our Sunday worship going, please would you let Pads or Kirstie know. Thank you so much to those who have already given toward this need after it was mentioned this Sunday.


With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
Youtube channel



29th September 2023

Dear Church Family,

This Sunday at St Matthew's is a wonderful Harvest celebration at 10am followed by our Harvest lunch – the hot main meal is all provided with options to suit everyone, and there are three things we would love you to do:Please bring a harvest gift of either dried, tinned or fresh food.
Join us for the lunch afterwards.
If you can, bring a pudding contribution (optional!)Most of all we’d just like you to be with us as we give thanks to God for the amazing world he has given us to richly enjoy.

“Clap your hands all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth!” (Psalm 47: 1-2)

I look forward to seeing you Sunday,

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
Youtube channel






22nd September 2023


Dear Church Family,
The Harvest season is upon us and we have two great opportunities to worship and thank God for his wonderful provision, eat some really delicious food, and spend time with one another.

This Sunday Evening – 6pm - Joint Southcote Churches Harvest Supper at Grange URC (on Circuit Lane) A great event with 3 starters, 3 mains and 3 puddings to choose from! Let us know if you’re coming. (there is no charge!)

Next Sunday 1st October – 10am - All Age Harvest Service at St Matthew’s leading into the church family lunch. A joyful celebration of God’s creation and call, followed by ‘Breaking Bread’ at lunch.  



“Ask the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers into the Harvest fields.”

See you this Sunday at the 10am or the 11.45am.
 
With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Youtube channel






16th September 2023


LIBYA & MOROCCO NEED OUR HELP TO RELIEVE THIER SUFFERING
 
Dear Church Family,

At the 10am tomorrow morning we will be taking a collection to go towards the relief of both North African disasters in Libya and Morocco. 

Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives during this last 10 days in the Moroccan earthquake and the flood in Derna in Libya and hundreds of thousands are injured, bereaved or homeless. It's easy to think there is nothing we can really do to help, but we can do two important things:

- Pray for all who have been affected by the tragedies
- Give toward the relief efforts

So we will be taking a collection tomorrow morning, all of which will go to the relief of those two disasters via the British Red Cross. You will be able to give cash or donate via the 'Tap & Go' card machine on the table by the doors in church. Every little bit counts so we give according to our means with glad hearts for those people, families and children who will receive the help. 

See you in the morning, with love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
Youtube Channel
 




10 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR READING STARTS THIS WEEKEND
 
Dear Church Family,

At the 10am on Sunday morning, Henry Ohakah brought us a wonderful exhortation to pray, pray, pray and keep on praying – with the powerful message that rather than prayer being another expectation laid on us as a burden, it is the very thing that ‘encourages us in the Lord’, just as King David was encouraged when disaster had struck his home town of Ziklag and he sought the Lord.

So what better time to put that into practice than the 10 Days of Prayer for Reading from 15th to 25th September when Christians across Reading will gather in a whole series of events to pray for the town – for God’s Kingdom to come and for His will to be done in Reading.

Below this message is the programme of hosted events which you can join in with – St Matthew’s is Monday 18th September at 7.30pm in the church, so do plan to come and join us then – and some of the other events as well happening all across the town.

And 10 Days of Prayer doesn't happen just in Reading. We join with towns and cities all around the world to gather and seek God during these 10 days, and no doubt our prayers will be informed, in part, by the tragedies we've seen unfold this week in Morocco and now Libya. Lord, bring salvation, comfort, healing and restoration, in Jesus Name.

“David found strength in the Lord, his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6)

So why don’t we do the same thing?

With love in Christ,

Pads
 





1st September 2023

Street Pastor Orange Tent at Reading Festival 
 
Dear Church Family,

Last weekend saw the annual ‘pilgrimage’ of more than 100,000 mainly young people to Reading Festival, many of them coming to their first music festival after finishing their GCSE’s or ‘A’ levels. Waiting to greet those who needed some time out, peace and quiet amidst the revelling were around 100 Street Pastors from 50 different churches!

I had the privilege of being on team (together with our Nanda) for two of the days, and many of the Street Pastors had some amazing faith conversationswith the young people who came to the two Street Pastor tents on site. It is so encouraging to see the churches in Reading working together to be good news and bring good news to the festival goers.

Jesus said about his followers:
 
 “You are the Salt of the Earth” and the “Light of the World”,
and I am absolutely convinced that literally thousands of festival goers tasted that salt and saw that light as they came into contact with the Street Pastor teams on the festival site. Maybe you'd like to join us next year?

I will share a little more of some of the conversations we had on Sunday morning, so see you then.

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
St Matts YouTube channel





25th August 2023

Born again! The wonderful drama of baptism.
 
Dear Church Family,

Sunday was the most wonderful celebration of new birth in baptismfollowed by a fantastic party afterwards around the BBQ! Just click on the picture to see a 4-minute replay of those key moments. 

Please be praying for all those who went through the water, and see you this Sunday at either the 10am or the 11.45. 

With love in Christ,

Pads



10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
St Matts YouTube channel






16th August 2023

Come and celebrate the baptisms this Sunday & join the BBQ afterwards.
 
Dear Church Family,

On Sunday, six adults will say the words: 
 
“I TURN TO CHRIST AS LORD!”
This Sunday is a BIG DAY!Baptisms
BBQ
Lionesses (will be shown on big screen in church hall after the service)Our baptism candidates are getting quite excited about this Sunday, and they would love you all to come to the service to celebrate with them and join them for the BBQ afterwards. We would also really appreciate your help to make it a great celebration in one of the following ways:

Saturday 9.30am – Help to put up the Gazebo’s next to the church hall – please let Pads know.
Sunday 11.15am – Help to set up tables, chairs, etc.  – please let Kirstie or Lynn know.
Sunday 12.15pm – Help to serve food – please let Kirstie or Lynn know.
Sunday 1.30pm – Help to clear up, wash up etc. – please let Kirstie know.

And if you can bring a dish, salad or pudding, that would be amazing, but don't worry if you can't - there will be plenty of food! Let us know how you could help!

With love in Christ,

Pads



10am News Sheet
St Matts YouTube channel





9th August 2023

Dear Church Family,

Isaiah the prophet wrote: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

Why should we seek God? Isn’t He everywhere? And didn’t Kirstie preach on Sunday that he comes looking for his lost sheep? So, must He be found?

I’ve been thinking about that question a lot this week, and I think watching the film Oppenheimer crystallised the answer more clearly than anything else could have done. Something has gone terribly wrong with our world for which human beings have no answer. Only God has.

And so, as the prophet said, we need to seek God and then call on Him while He is near, because if we do that, we will know what to do, and turn back to the one who, through Jesus, freely pardons. Amidst the almost numbing sense of hopelessness caused by war, the threat of nuclear war, displacement, environmental destruction, global warming, and poverty, we must hold onto the truth that we are loved and created to love – which was the theme of  the other, but much more beautiful film I watched recently – The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse – which deeply warmed my soul.

I think everyone should watch them both – but don’t make my mistake – watch Oppenheimer first!

Grace and Peace,

Pads


10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
St Matts YouTube channel




2nd August 2023




28th July 2023

Dear Church Family,

At homegroup last night we were thinking about the question, “Who has inspired you by their faith in difficult circumstances?” And what was so encouraging was that whilst we could so easily, and quite rightly, have named such giants of the faith as the Apostle Paul and any of the great martyrs down the ages, the names that were shared were those of local Christians or family members whose faith had shined through despite some very tough circumstances.

One of the great privileges of my role in the church family is to share life and faith with brothers and sisters in Christ in some of the most joyful situations as well as some of the most painful – and my own faith is constantly inspired by the faithfulness, the compassion and the grace shown by the people of St Matthew’s. There is no substitute for Christian community. As the writer of Hebrews said,

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb 10:25)

One of my daily prayers is that love would grow within the church family – and I am always encouraged when I see that it does.

Grace and peace,

Pads


10am News Sheet
St Matts YouTube channel


Dear Church Family,

It’s been quite a week, with horrifying wildfires in Greece caused by the hottest July weather ever recorded; the US Congress being told of UFO’s and extra-terrestrials; Russia downing tools on allowing Ukrainian grain to feed the world; the latest coup in Africa; many politicians seeming to act chiefly in the interests of their political careers. I think Chris was right when he said two weeks ago, ‘Don’t watch too much news!’

It all sounds a bit fearful – and that’s why the good news is so important. Despite all that’s going on around us, we see God’s Kingdom coming in the community of faith we call St Matthew’s of which we are all family members, brothers and sisters in Christ. The signs are hopeful, with new groups forming, new people attending church and several people feeling called to be baptised on August 20th. 

In a world where the messaging so often portrays the negative and self-interest, Jesus still says to those who follow Him, “A new commandment I give you; love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” When we do that, we show an alternative reality to the world – a reality full of love instead of fear.

See you on Sunday morning at 10am or 11.45.

Grace and peace,

Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
St Matts YouTube channel





19th July 2023

Dear Church Family,

It’s often said that the safest place to be is in the centre of God’s will. And I believe this to be true.

I believe too that it is important to make the church a safe place for everyone who comes to St Matthew’s. So I’m delighted to say that Amy Cadle has offered to serve as our new Parish Safeguarding Officer, making sure that all good safeguarding practices are followed, and being the person anyone can come to with concerns. 
Please wish Amy well in her new role, and join us on Sunday in praying for her in the 10am service.

Summer Market in Coronation Square
The Southcote community is putting on a Summer Market this Saturday from 11-3pm on the square and St Matthew’s is providing a food outlet in the form of a BBQ (one of our strengths!), so do please drop by during the market and visit us, or if you can help on team to cook or serve the food and drinks, let us know and we’ll bring you onto the team.
 

See you soon, with love in Christ,

Pads






The mass baptism at Pirate's Cove in Newport Beach, USA, last weekend

12th July 2023

Dear Church Family,

I am hearing a lot about people being baptised at the moment. Last Sunday, whilst we sang and prayed together in church, in quite a remarkable event on the other side of the world, 4,500 people were being baptised at Pirates Cove, Newport Beach, California, scene of the baptisms in the Jesus Revolution of the 1960’s (subject of the recent film).

I heard this morning that several Iranians were baptised at Greyfriars Church on Sunday. On Sunday afternoon I was at an Alpha conference at St Mary’s, Andover, where another Iranian woman told the story of her family’s flight from Iran following the discovery of the house church they attended – and her subsequent recent baptism at St Mary’s.

After hearing the disciple Philip explain the gospel to him, the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8, said to him, “Look, here is water! What can stand in the way of my being baptised?” And the rest is history!

On 20th August we will be baptising a number of adults in the 10am service at St Matthew’s which I know will be a wonderfully joyful event. So I wanted to make a further invitation to anyone who has not been baptised or who would like to affirm the baptismal vows made for them as a child, to let us know if you’d like to join the others.

See you Sunday at 10am,

Grace and peace,

Pads


10am News Sheet
YouTube channel




29th June 2023

Dear Church Family,

We believe in a God who heals through his son, Jesus Christ. This Sunday at 10am we have a service with a focus on prayer for healing, and a guest speaker, Nusrat Sultan, who came to faith in Jesus out of an orthodox Muslim background who is going to share her story as well as focus on Jesus, our healer.

This is a wonderful opportunity to invite friends and family who do not normally come to church to come along with you and receive healing prayer. Only yesterday I prayed for someone who was suffering terrible pain, and today when I visited them they were much improved, and I’m still praying for complete healing. God is good!

“Lord, my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me,” so wrote the psalmist. (30:2)

A healing service is always a great opportunity to witness to God’s goodness, so please plan to join us on Sunday and invite friends, loved ones, or neighbours to come along – and they are all most welcome to join us for the BBQ as well.

Grace and peace,

Pads 

10am News Sheet
YouTube channel
 



26th June 2023


Dear Church Family,
This is just a very brief message to say that Kirstie and I saw the film Jesus Revolution at Reading Showcase Cinema last night and found it inspirational, moving and highly entertaining! According to the Showcase booking site, it is only running for two more evenings at 7:10pm today and tomorrow. So if you get the opportunity, don't miss it.
It is a fascinating insight into one of the great Christian revivals of the 20th century.

With much love, grace and peace,

Pads




A section of the Iona to Lindisfarne pilgrimage trail.

23rd June 2023

Dear Church Family,
Kirstie and I have just returned from two weeks in South Africa which was a chance to spend time with our daughter and her family, to immerse ourselves in the African bush, and to slow down a bit – at least as three grandsons 6 and under allow you to!

We are both hugely enjoying and being inspired by Pete Greig’s Lectio 365*pilgrimage devotionals as he walks from Iona to Lindisfarne and would like to share with you something which has inspired him to slow down a bit. He recounts the advice of John Muir after whom the trail in named, who advocated ‘sauntering’ rather than hiking.

As he explains, back in the middle ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land and when asked where they were going they would reply, “A la sainte terre”, “To the Holy Land”. And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers or saunterers. (don’t you love that?)

And so Pete explains that it makes him think that maybe one of the ways we can make our journeys through the coming day a mini-pilgrimage, and the places we stand holy ground, is simply to saunter. By slowing down we can become more present to the people that we meet, and to the presence of the God whose name is ‘I Am’ in each passing moment.

Speaking as one who knows just how much he needs to slow down!

See you Sunday,

May God bless you with grace and peace,

Pads

*Lectio 365 is a Christian devotional free App which you can download onto Android or Apple
 
 
10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Youtube channel




2nd June 2023

Dear Church Family,
 
I want to thank you so much for your prayers for my sister Sarah, with Myeloma, which are being answered in a wonderful way. After her first month’s chemo treatment, the percentage of blood cells with cancer is trending downwards very encouragingly and if this continues she will be well enough later in the year for a stem cell transplant. In the meantime she has virtually no symptoms, no pain, and is living a pretty full life. Please do continue to pray for all those on our weekly prayer list on the news sheet – it really makes a difference – God hears our prayers.

“The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.”(Psalm 6:9)

I would love to encourage you to go along to the “All Creation Waits” event at the Globe on Sunday evening at 7.00pm which is an evening of worship and prayer for the whole church of Reading - and an opportunity to hear some great stories of the many ways in which God is at work in our town. (details are on the news sheet - link below).

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday morning at 10am as our service focuses on the theme of God’s amazing grace.

Grace and peace,

Pads
 
10am News Sheet
Youtube channel




26th May 2023


PENTECOST - SETTING THE CHURCH ON FIRE!
Dear Church Family,

Pentecost is often known as the birthday of the church - the day when God's Spirit set those first followers of Jesus on fire to take the good news of the gospel out into the world. It's the same fire that drove William Wilberforce to dedicate his life to the abolition of the salve trade nearly 200 years ago, and Martin Luther King to fight for justice for black people in the States last century. And it's the same fire which sends Street Pastors out onto the streets of our town and our community, which inspires our church family to offer warmth, food, and friendship to the people of Southcote, and which motivates our hearts to share the good news of Jesus in our homes, our workplaces and our communities.

Jesus said: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."  

I am so looking forward to celebrating the birthday of the church with you this Sunday at both the 10am and the 11.45 services. Let's be praying that our hearts will once again be set on fire with the love of Jesus!

Grace and Peace,

Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Youtube channel
 





19th May 2023

Dear Church Family,

I love to hear stories of lives transformed by the good news of Jesus. Here’s one well worth hearing from Tracy Watkins, who is coming to preach at St Matthew’s on 18th June.

“I must share with you both that a distant cousin who was addicted to drugs and alcohol, suicidal and basically at rock bottom, heard the Good News of the Gospel and in his own words ‘was transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit’ seven years ago.  He contacted me this week as he’s only just heard news of my ordination and he told me how he’s been called to preach on the streets of his city, is often persecuted (coffee thrown in his face and his speakers kicked around) but is full of joy.  He goes into the dangerous areas where the drug dealers and addicts hang out (he knows them well of course!) and speaks to them of the hope he has in Jesus.  I haven’t seen him for at least 15 years and remember him as a very withdrawn lad but when we prayed together over the phone, he prayed with passion and confidence.  I was completely bowled over! Why should I be so amazed?!  I was so humbled and challenged to be reminded again that there is no place of human brokenness where Jesus cannot reach!  Praise God! A reminder to keep praying and remembering that we are clothed in the power of the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses! Alleluia! Amen!”

Isn’t that a great encouragement to never stop praying for all those God lays on our hearts? See you Sunday as we continue our exploration of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
Youtube channel
 


10th May 2023


Dear Church Family,

What a weekend! And what a coronation! St Matthew’s hosted and fed almost 100 adults and children on Saturday for our Coronation event – thank you so much to all who helped to make it such a special time for our community. The face painting table was particularly busy! Well done to Emma and Louise and others for their great artistry!
Louise and Emma




We have two events this Saturday. The first is for us boys as we gather at the vicarage at 8am for our men’s breakfast. Please let me know if you’re coming.














And on Saturday evening a team of Street Pastors, from St Matthew’s and others from across Reading, are being commissioned at a celebration service at Greyfriars Church at 7pm. Do come and join us and hear some great stories from the streets. Bring friends and family too!


A

This Sunday Dr David will bring the second in our new Summer Sermon Series based on Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church which beautifully describes the blessings of being citizens in the Kingdom of God.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Eph 1:3)

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday morning at the 10am or the 11.45am, if not before.

Grace and Peace!

Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Youtube channel
 



26th April 2023


THE BIBLE QUIZ
Dear Church Family,

Well done to everyone who was there on Sunday for our Family Time Quiz on ‘Does the Bible Say?’ I think the church family definitely passed with distinction as you carefully spotted the often repeated quotes which were NOT in the scriptures! And thank you to Ian for walking us down the Emmaus Road and encouraging us in our Bible knowledge.
I would like to highlight two key events which are happening, one this weekend, and the other next:

ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING – this Sunday at 11.30am after the 10am service, we review the ministry and mission of St Matthew’s over the previous year, elect our wardens and PCC and look forward to the future. There will be plenty of tea, coffee and cake to help us along!

Coronation Event at St Matthew's - Sat 6th May from 10am & BBQ lunch



As there are no Southcote community organised events for the day of the Coronation we have decided to screen the Coronation live on the big screens in the church and invite church family and people from the community to join us in celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III and enjoy a BBQ lunch afterwards.

10am onwards - church open with tea/coffee all morning.
All day - live coverage of the Coronation on the large screens in church
Lunchtime (1.00 - 2.00pm) - BBQ with hot dogs, burgers and saladsDo please let us know if you are coming (for catering numbers), and if you can help on the day please let Kirstie know. We hope to have fun, fellowship and contact with the wider community as we celebrate the Coronation together.

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News sheet
Youtube channel




22nd April 2023

AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
Dear Church Family,

The Easter holidays seem to have come and gone in a flash! I hope and pray that the first week of school has started well for all teachers, children and parents.

I love the Sundays after Easter as we reflect on, and are inspired by, the resurrection stories in the gospels. Tomorrow, in both services, we will be opening up the incredible journey of two followers of Jesus who encountered him whilst walking home to Emmaus following the momentous events in Jerusalem that first Easter weekend. It is one of the most powerful accounts in the Bible of how the risen Jesus meets us in our everyday lives. 
 
"Were not our hearts burning within us?" (Luke 24:32)
I look forward to seeing you in the morning,

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News sheet
11.45am Service sheet
Youtube channel
 






6th April 2023

Dear Church Family,

At Easter, we remember and celebrate the momentous climax of Christianity. The whole story of God’s dealings with humanity from the very beginning of the Bible culminate in a showdown in Jerusalem as the gospels focus in on three days in history when Jesus took on the powers of evil and death, and, surprising even his closest followers, pulled off the most remarkable victory!

Join us as we enter into the story on Good Friday and celebrate its conclusion on Easter Sunday.

10am Good Friday Walk of Witness – we gather to leave Southcote Family Church at 10am as we walk with the cross through our community, arriving at St Matthew’s for the 10.30 service.

10.30am Good Friday Service at St Matthew’s – we spend a reflective hour entering into the story of the hours leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, getting inside the minds of both those who followed Jesus and those who wanted him dead. After the service we will be serving refreshments and hot cross buns.

10.00am Easter Sunday – a family service, suitable for children of all ages, when we joyfully celebrate the discovery of the empty tomb and the realisation that Jesus had risen from the dead.

11.45am Easter Sunday – a traditional communion service celebrating the resurrection with organ hymns, Easter readings, and communion. Arrive any time after 11am for tea, coffee and cake in the church hall before the service begins.

Easter is such a special time – I look forward to being together with you in our Easter worship,

With love in Christ,

Pads
 



24th March 2023

Dear Church Family,

This Sunday in our 10am service we have the dramatic finale of Jesus’Sermon on the Mount – and it’s a challenge to make the choice of a lifetime!

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice...”            Matt 7:24

And we get a foretaste of Easter at the 11.45am Holy Communion as Kirstie unpacks the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus.

So have fun dodging the showers, and don’t forget to put the clocks forwardtomorrow evening, and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday morning,

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Youtube Channel
 



22nd March 2023

Dear Church Family,

What a lovely Mothering Sunday service we had this week – with great contributions from many in the congregation about what it means to live as family in the church. And how we were spoiled after the service with flowers and homemade scones and cakes! Thank you to all the children and their leaders for blessing us so wonderfully. If you missed Kirstie’s talk, you can find it here.

Several people were struck by this quote from John McGinley’s new book, The Church of Tomorrow, which I shared on Sunday:

“When the lordship of Jesus is settled as a question in a Christian’s life, all other issues are settled.”

Paul the apostle wrote that ‘If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’ (Rom 10.9) And to live the Christian life means Jesus being Lord of everything – our home, our families, our work, our finances, our play, our ambitions, our politics, our sexuality and everything in between.

Being a Christian isn’t easy, but it’s simple and the most freeing thing we can do, if we make Him Lord of all.

See you at Lent Central tonight at 7.30pm if you can join us,

With love in Christ,

Pads



15th March 2023

Dear Church Family,

Mothering Sunday (coming up this weekend) is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Although it's popularly called Mothers' Day, traditionally it was a day when children, who had often been sent off at a very young age to work as domestic servants, were given a day off to visit their families, who would all go to church in the morning and then celebrate their reunion with a Sunday lunch afterwards.

Not all of us are mothers, but we all have, or have had, mothers, and the mothering instinct is even clear in the words of Jesus when he looked at the wayward Jerusalem and said:

“How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.”

So join us this Sunday at 10am when Kirstie will be helping us discover more from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and Lynn will get the children involved in something special which will be a blessing to all of us gathering for Mothering Sunday.

With love in Christ,

Pads


10am New sheet
Youtube channel

 




10th March 2023

The After-School Hub getting a grant from the John Sykes Foundation


Dear Church Family,

It's not why we do it, of course, but it's good to see St Matthew's ministry to our local community being recognised and rewarded by grant-awarding bodies like the John Sykes Foundation when we were visited last week to receive the cheque! Why we do it, is to show and share the love of Jesus to the world around us - to warm hearts as well as bodies in this cold weather!

What I love about all of the outreach initiatives that the church family have started in the last 9 months:
- Street Pastors
- SouthTots
- Winter Warmers
- After School Warm Hub
is the way that all of them, in their different ways, are building community, connecting people into church life, opening conversations and creating new friendships. The prophet Micah reminds us that:

"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

I feel that all of these different ways in which we reach and serve the community in this part of Reading would match the spirit of Micah's words. 

See you Sunday at either 10am or 11.45am,


With love in Christ,

Pads

10am New sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Youtube channel







3rd March 2023

Dear Church Family,

It’s the end of another week, and the start of the weekend. What have you been chasing all week?

A business opportunity? A plumber to fix a leak? A friend who’s hard to get hold of? A particular purchase you are keen to make? The bottom of your to-do list? Your tail? Peace and quiet? A good night’s sleep? A time to read your bible? A moment to pray? A chance to tell someone you love them?

As we journey on through Lent and explore further into Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he gives us some clues about what we might want to be looking for if we desire a truly fulfilled life.

“So do not worry about what you will eat or drink or what you will wear, for the pagans run after all these things, but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.” Matt 6:31-32

Whatever could he have meant by this? Let’s explore this together on Sunday morning at our 10am service. I look forward to seeing you there,

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am New sheet
Youtube channel






28th February 2023

Dear Church Family,

I so enjoyed David's talk on Sunday morning on the spiritual disciplines of giving, praying and fasting especially his observation that:
There are two types of 'Sayings of Jesus': those you don't understand, and those you do, but wish you didn't!' 
Jesus is always incredibly loving, and incredibly challenging! If you missed it, here's the link: Give, Pray, Fast.
We are looking forward to seeing as many of you who can join our Lent Central groups tomorrow evening at 7.30pm. If you haven't signed up yet, just come along and join in on the night.

With love in Christ,

Pads




21st February 2023

Dear Church Family,

Our Lent got off to a great start on Wednesday with our Ash Wednesday communion in the morning and more people than ever before attending the prayer and worship evening. It was a special time.

There has also been much interest after Kirstie’s talk on Loving our enemieslast Sunday in something called The Forgiveness Project which is highlighted in an exhibition and conversation with its founder, Marina Cantacuzino, at Reading University on March 7th. There is a link below with more information. I have ordered her book ‘Forgiveness: an Exploration’.

This Sunday Dr David is going to help us explore the three spiritual disciplines taught by Jesus to his disciples during the Sermon on the Mount: Give, Pray, Fast – as we journey on through Lent with the aim of deepening our relationship with God and walking the way of the Cross.

“And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6: 4,6,18)

And don’t forget to sign up to one of the Lent Central courses on the link below or in church on Sunday.

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Link to Lent Course sign up
Link to The Forgiveness Project
Link to Youtube channel










21st February 2023

Dear Church Family,

Lent has arrived! - a special season when God's people have traditionally put time aside to seek God at a deeper and more intimate level. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, and there are two opportunities to come together to seek God at the outset of Lent, and also an invitation to join us on a journey through Lent on one of our Lent Central groups. 

Ash Wednesday Holy Communion 10.30am - with 'Ashing' when you can commit to a deeper walk with God as we anoint you with the sign of the cross made with the ash of last year's palm crosses in anointing oil as a sign of repentance at the start of Lent. 

Ash Wednesday Prayer and Worship Evening - 7.30pm - when we come together in the church to seek God at the start of Lent in an informal setting where we seek the leading of Word and Spirit to draw us closer to God and to Jesus. 

On the subsequent Wednesdays through Lent we will be hosting Lent Central at 7.30pm each week as we did last year, when you can choose one of three groups in which to grow in our knowledge, in our faith and in our gifts to equip us to show God's love to world. The three streams are:

1. Listening to God (with a focus on spiritual gifts)
2. Sharing our faith
3. The Bible Course

If you know which one you would like to be part of, please click on this 'choose your group' link to indicate your first and second choices to help us plan for the first session on Wednesday 1st  March.

Looking forward to seeing all those who can join us tomorrow for morning, evening or both as we follow the advice of Isaiah the prophet:
 
"Seek the Lord while he may be found;"
With love in Christ,

Pads






17th February 2023

Dear Church Family,

We thrive on good news, don’t we? So here’s some good news!

We had a wonderful Half Term Holiday Club with around 85 children coming each day enjoying brilliant fun and games, worship and bible teaching, sports and crafts, and much more besides. The theme of the week was the very good news that “Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.” And many of the children said they wanted Jesus to be their special friend! A big THANK YOU and well done to Lynn and the whole team. It was such a special week.

Our Crowd-funder for the ‘Church Hub’ (which seems to be a name gaining ground) has reached over £8000 when gift aid is included and we’ve got 3 days left to get match funding if anyone would like to contribute on the link below. This means we should be able to upgrade our kitchen (certainly our cooker!) and be able to feed more people. Thank you all for your amazing generosity!

Last week we explored what ‘Living with Integrity’ looks like, and this Sunday, as we continue our series on the Sermon on the Mount, we’ll be asking what Jesus meant when he said ‘Love your enemies’. Sounds challenging! Come and join us!

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
Warm Hub Crowdfunding
Youtube Channel






10th February 2023

Dear Church Family,

I love to hear stories of changed lives and this week I got a really encouraging phone call from PC Simon Wheeler, who was our local police officer responsible for Southcote until recently. Simon was also instrumental, along with Sally Leonard, in encouraging the startup of Southcote’s Street Pastors last summer, which has proved a great blessing to the community.

Simon told me about the many ways he has felt God speaking into his life in recent years, and how this has culminated with him planning to be baptised in May this year at his now local village church in Berkshire. It’s so encouraging to see how seeds sown over many years since he first got involved with the start up of Street Pastors in the town centre have grown and blossomed in his life.

As we continue our exploration of Jesus’ challenging Sermon on the Mount, we move on from last week when we looked at God’s perfect plan for human flourishing and sexual relationships (link here), to thinking this Sunday about living with integrity with respect to the words we speak and the promises we make. Jesus said:

“Simply let your yes be yes, and your no, no.” (Matt 5:37)

See you at either our 10am or 11.45am on Sunday,

With love in Christ,

Pads


10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Warm Hub Crowdfunding
Youtube Channel





1st February 2023

Dear Church Family,
 
I loved Steve’s explanation of ‘grace’ on Sunday morning as he took us on a journey from the motives of our hearts, to the call of Jesus to a higher standard in the Sermon on the Mount, to the frightening destination for unrepentant hearts, to the beautiful righteousness gifted to us through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22). And he used this acronym to sum up God’s grace:

G.R.A.C.E = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

If you missed it, here’s the link to Steve's talk.

I feel so thankful to God for the people of St Matthew’s, for those who have been part of the church family for many decades, for those who have just recently joined us, and everyone in between - for the wonderful ways in which you bring glory to God as you serve both church and community.

I give thanks to God too, for Paul Elford, whose Service of Thanksgiving is this Saturday at 12noon at Kennet Valley Free Church. Everyone is welcome. 

This coming Sunday our journey will take us on into challenging territory regarding human relationships, their ups and their downs, and God’s heart for them.

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
Warm Hub Crowdfunding
Youtube Channel






27th January 2023


A frozen walk (left), Parmoor (top right), St Mary's Turville (btm right), Andy inside (centre)

Dear Church Family,

This week I had the privilege of getting away on a 3-day retreat to St Katherine’s, Parmoor, in the beautiful Chiltern hills in Buckinghamshire, from which time I came away with two main insights:

God is in everything (Col 1: 15-17) and he was certainly in the detail of the 8-mile walk which took in Turville, the village where the Vicar of Dibley was filmed. As I entered what I expected to be an empty church, I found myself sharing bread and wine with the village faithful and, lo and behold, the minister presiding was Andy Storch, a long time friend who preached to us beautifully on the conversion of Saul. It was such a blessing.

Be faithful in the tasks to which I have called you (Hebrews 1:12) this was more personal but in case it’s helpful, I share it. We so often worry that somehow we are missing out on, or falling short of, what might have been or what others expect of us. But I felt a powerful sense of God saying, ‘all I ask of you is that you are faithful to what I have called you to do,’ and that calling, for me, (albeit a great calling!), is to serve God’s people at St Matthew’s and the community of Southcote – no more, no less. And I came away with a great peace about that.

I know it’s hard to find the time – this was my first proper retreat since pre-Covid - but it’s so well worth it. If you can bless someone by encouraging them to get away, (as Kirstie did me), you will be doing them a great service in helping them ‘find rest for their souls’. (Matt 11:28-30)

See you at 10am on Sunday for our next venture into the Sermon on the Mount, and if you would like to contribute to our crowdfunding project for the Warm Hub for the community, please click on the link below. Thank you.

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
Warm Hub Crowdfunding
Youtube Channel
 







18th January 2023

Dear Church Family,
 
On Sunday morning Kirstie encouraged us to take up the challenge of Jesusto be salt and light in the world (link here). It seems from the amazing feedback we got from the after-school Warm Hub that that’s exactly what was going on last Friday. Here are some of the comments which were received by Lynn after we welcomed 40+ people to a warm space and a hot meal:

"The hub was like going to a family party with a bunch of local strangers that weren't strangers by the end of it!"

"The situation for families at the moment is so difficult and the few hours after school is a respite which is much needed in the community."

"We were provided with a delicious and nutritious meal. I was given some food to take away to help my family. Myself and my daughter were able to join in with a fun game. Children were provided with toys, games and resources that wouldn’t normally be available to them. Most importantly I was able to relax and enjoy myself which was great for my mental health and well-being."

"Friday was amazing. I loved every minute of being part of such a lovely group. The world is a lonely place and being somewhere you feel welcome and part of is so lovely!”
 
This is really good news and we look forward to blessing the communitymore and more over the coming weeks and months.

Join us this coming Sunday as we continue our exploration of the great Sermon on the Mount and allow Jesus’ teaching to enrich and empower our lives.

With love in Christ,

Pads
 
10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Youtube Channel





 
11th January 2023

Dear Church Family,

Don’t you feel encouraged when you know you’ve had a word from the Lord? Several people have told me that they really felt God speak to them during the Prayer and Worship evening last night which was a powerful time of worship and spirit-led sharing and praying in small groups. Our next one will be on Ash Wednesday evening, February 22nd at 7.30pm which will be the Wednesday before we begin our six-week Lent Central meeting which will take us through to Holy Week and Easter itself.

On Sunday, Dr David described the beatitudes as Jesus’ Person Profile for those who would follow him as he challenged us to ‘press the reset button’ on one or two of the attitudes which bring His blessing to our lives, noting that the Kingdom is found not on Google Maps, but in our hearts. If you missed it, then here’s the link.  

Please be praying for Lynn and the after-school Warm Hub which starts up this Friday at St Matthew’s at 3.00pm providing a hot meal and much more for families and anyone who might benefit from it. This coming Sunday we’ll be thinking about how we can make a real difference in the world as salt and light as we continue to listen to the Master’s words in the Sermon on the Mount.

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
Youtube Channel
  
 


9th January 2023


THIS TUESDAY EVENING - 7.30PM IN CHURCH
Dear Church Family,

This to remind you that we have an evening of informal prayer and worshipin the church tomorrow, Tuesday, evening from 7.30 - 9.00pm when we come together to seek God's heart and to pray for HIs Kingdom to come more and more in us, in our families, our communities, and in our church. We will have a particular focus on praying for God to fan into flame our God-given gifts as we play our part in bringing the love of Jesus to impact the world around us.

We look forward to seeing you if you can join us for some or all of the evening,

With love and blessings,

Pads and Kirstie xx



6th January 2023

The warmth is growing!
Dear Church Family,

This morning I was conversing with a journalist who was interested in how we are providing a ‘warm hub’ for the community in the form of our Winter Warmers which we’ve been running every Friday lunchtime since the start of November.

The exciting news is that I was able to tell him that we are looking to expand the warm hub on a Friday lunchtime to include the after-school period into early evening which will give young families a chance to bring their childrenalong to enjoy the warm space as well as eat a hot meal together.

Lynn Everett is going to organise and run that after-school session of our warm hub so if you think you might be able to help in any way, including setting up, preparing and serving food, chatting to those who come and building relationship with them, or clearing away afterwards, please would you let Lynn know as soon as possible. We also need to raise funds to pay for the heating and the food.

In my introduction to our new teaching series based on the sermon on the mount last Sunday, I emphasised Jesus’ challenge to hear his words and put them into practice. I believe our Winter Warmers and expanding warm hub are just the kind of thing he would have meant by that.
If you missed last Sunday’s introductory talk, it is on our Youtube channel here.

See you on Sunday at either our 10am Family Service or 11.45am Holy Communion.

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Youtube Channel
 




 











 
30th December 2022

JESUS in 'The Chosen'  - delivers the Sermon on the Mount
 
Dear Church Family,

I do hope you all had a really good Christmas, and enjoyed the fun, food and festivities as well as the opportunities we had to come together to worship God and remember the time when he stepped into the world on that first Christmas day. All of the Christmas services and events were well attended, we saw many new faces come through the doors of St Matthew’s, and we very much hope and pray we will see them again soon. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who played a part, however unseen, in making our Christmas services and events so special. 

This Sunday, of course, is New Year’s Day, and so we’ll be having a special focus on things ‘New’ as we introduce our New Year teaching theme based on Jesus’ famous ‘Sermon on the Mount’ when he said:

“You’ve heard that it was said to the people long ago….. but I tell you…”

and so he shone a whole new light on God’s purposes for our lives, our relationships and our spirituality.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, or if you are away over New Year,

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!

With love in Christ,

Pads
 




16th December 2022


Dear Church Family,

Christmas at St Matthew's really gets under way this weekend with two wonderful opportunities to enjoy the Christmas story through carols and to invite family, friends and neighbours to come and join in:

Saturday 5pm - Carols in Coronation Square with the Salvation Army Band, and hot drinks and snacks to keep the cold at bay! If you could help to hand out carol sheets and flyers we'd love some help.

Sunday 11am - St Matthew's Carol Service in the church - followed by refreshments, savoury and sweet snacks. Children can dress up as shepherds, angels & kings if you arrive early.

The prophet Isaiah wrote that "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."

As the well-known evangelist, J. John said recently, "The season of Christmas provides us with a sacred opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with our friends, family, neighbours, colleagues and community. It is a season to share the light of Christ in a dark world." 

I look forward to journeying through this Christmas season with you,

With love in Christ,

Pads

 





10th December 2022

THE ADVNET CANDLE WREATH
Dear Church Family,

Last night I gatecrashed the wreath-making session in the church hall and was delighted to see all of the creativity in action as some 30 women (come on men, where were you!?), put their hands to making the most beautiful advent wreaths from piles of evergreen foliage which will no doubt adorn the front doors of many houses over the coming weeks. 

It got me thinking about the significance of making wreaths during Advent. Wreaths are traditionally circular which is meant to remind us of both the immortality of our souls and God's promise of everlasting life to us through Christ. That's why Christmas wreaths often have a single candle on them to remind us of the Light of the World who, as the song goes, 'stepped down into darkness' and thereby opened our eyes to see who God really is. 

I pray that through all of the fun, the busyness, the sometimes stressful preparations for Christmas, we would all remember the Light of World who offers hope, love & joy to a world in great need of it.

See you in the morning at the 10am (including Kidz Church Christmas Party in the hall) or the 11.45am Holy Communion tomorrow,
 
With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Youtube channel






25th November 2022

Dear Church Family,

This Sunday we take a break from our 10am sermon series to focus on the healing ministry of Jesus. Most people are well acquainted with his wide-ranging healing of the lame, the blind and the sick as well as delivering many from demon possession. And we know that his disciples continued this ministry after Jesus had returned to his heavenly Father. 

But the teaching of the Bible and the experience of Christians over the last two thousand years convinces us that Jesus still heals today, through his people and by his Holy Spirit. We welcome Fiona Pollard as our guest speaker this Sunday who will share with us what the scriptures have to say about this, and invite us, and our families and friends to come forward for prayer for healing.

This is an excellent opportunity to invite family, friends or neighbours who perhaps don't normally come to church, to bring their needs as we invite Jesus to minister his healing grace through our prayers. 

For those who wish to stay on for communion afterwards, you can join our Traditional Communion service at 11.45am. 
 
See you Sunday,
With love in Christ,

Pads
Link to 10am News Sheet
Link to 1145am News Sheet
Link to Youtube channel







Dear Church Family,

As we continue our journey through the Apostle's Creed at our 10am services, we come tomorrow morning to the third person of the Trinity - the Holy Spirit. Hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, Joel had prophesied:

"Afterwards, I will pour out my Spirit on all people."
 
That prophecy came true and today we need the Holy Spirit more than ever to help us with our decisions, strengthen us in difficult times, grow us spiritually, and bring us inner peace. Join us as we learn more tomorrow about this foundational truth within Christian belief. 
With love in Christ,

Pads
Link to 10am News Sheet
Link to Youtube channel








12th November 2022

Dear Church Family,

Remembrance is such a poignant time when we think of all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our freedoms. We stand in awe of their courage and dedication, whilst we feel numb at the scale of war deaths both in the past in the World Wars and now in the present on the battlefields of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. 

It is therefore good to be reminded that we come together tomorrow morning to worship a God who:

"So loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
 
His sacrifice means that "we will live even though we die".
 
See you in the morning at either 10am or 11.45am, and at the cross at 11am between the services for our Act of Remembrance.

With love in Christ,

Pads
Link to 10am News Sheet
Link to 11.45am Service Sheet
Link to Youtube channel





29th October 2022

A tense moment for the Barmy Army after the Captain gets custard pied!

Dear Church Family,
What an amazing week we have had with our first Holiday Club for three years! All our prayers were answered as we had a good number of children and young people (85 in total), and more importantly, we connected with dozens of new children and families who heard about the good news of God's love in Jesus. It really has felt like resurrection! Well done to Lynn and the whole team for an incredible three days.

Do join us tomorrow for what should be a really encouraging Family Service with several families from Holiday Club planning to join us for the 10am Service and Kidz Church. Resurrection will be our theme as Dr David explains the next part of the Apostle's Creed:
 
"On the third day he rose again!"
 
Don't forget the clocks go back Saturday night,
With love in Christ,

Pads
Link to 10am News Sheet
Link to Youtube channel

Everything is possible with God - Pads Dolphin 23-10-22
Click here -> https://youtu.be/X1txEHrYv60





22nd October 2022

Dear Church Family,
At many points in the history of God’s people, things looked bleak…When the fleeing Israelites were being hunted down by Pharaoh’s army, God parted the waters of the Red Sea and saved them
When God’s people had been defeated and exiled to Babylon, God brought them home
When Jesus was executed on a cross in Jersualem, God raised him from the dead
When the fledgling church was persecuted by the Roman Empire, God’s Holy Spirit empowered his people to take the gospel out across the world.Today’s world is in turmoil, life is not easy and at St Matthew’s we face some huge challenges as a church. The good news is that as Jesus himself said:

“With God all things are possible!” (Matt 19:26)

This weekend, as we prepare to set up the site for our first Holiday Club for three years, I will be speaking about some of the big challenges we face at St Matthew’s at this time, and how we can all play our part in his great story of redemption. See you in the morning,

With love in Christ,

Pads

PS. If you are able to stay to help set up the site for Holiday Club during the afternoon, do bring a packed lunch – and I know Lynn will have some sausage rolls and cake for as all.

Link to 10am News Sheet
Link to 11.45 Service Sheet
Link to Youtube channel













17 September 2022


We believe in God the Father, Creator of Heaven and Earth."
Dear Church Family,

It has been a week which none of us will ever forget, as we have witnessed  the extraordinary outpouring of love and sadness at the Queens death. 

As the country continues to mourn the loss of Queen Elizabeth II and prepares to watch her state funeral on Monday, we return to the foundations of the faith which underpinned her whole life. This Sunday we pick up again our exploration of the Apostles Creed as Dr David Horne addresses the awesome nature of God the Father, who created the heavens and the earth.

I look forward to joining you tomorrow at 10am,

With love in Christ,

Pads

Link to 10am News Sheet
Link to Youtube Channel






9th September 2022

Prayers and Thanksgiving for the Queen
Dear Church Family,

Although it is less than 24 hours since the sad news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, it seems that so much has already been said about her and so many tributes have been paid to her. Like many others I feel a great sense of loss that someone I have 'known' and loved and looked up to all of my life has gone. She has been an extraordinary example to us all of servant leadership and unswerving faith.
 
Sunday morning will be special as we gather together at 10am and at 11.45am to give thanks to God for this gracious woman who was so faithful to her calling and to pray for her son and successor, King Charles III. Perhaps I can ask you to consider between now and then what your answer would be to the question: "What did the Queen mean to you?" as we might share some thoughts amongst us to inform our prayers.

I look forward to that special time together, and in the meantime the church will be open today until 6pm and tomorrow from 8am until 4pm for prayer and reflection. You are invited to sign a book of condolences which will be in the church between now and the funeral.

With love in Christ,

Pads







6 September 2022


Abbie's vision for SouthTots goes live this Friday - 10am!
Dear Church Family,

We have a new Prime Minister with a new team in the Cabinet Office with some seriously big challenges ahead of them - so let's be praying for them over the coming weeks and months.

I am really excited because at St Matthew’s we have a new ministry starting up this week – SouthTots baby and toddler group - with a great team headed by Abbie and, although she is not facing quite the same challenges as Liz Truss, she has a wonderfully bold vision for SouthTots:To be an effective outreach to families in the community as they rub up against St Matthew’s parents and team in the church hall on a Friday morning
To be a witness to Jesus as she includes Bible stories each week in the activities
To be an entry point for parents and carers into the church familyPlease would you all be praying for Abbie and the team as they open the doors at 10.00am this Friday morning and welcome the first families to this new adventure in faith.

We look forward to hearing the stories on Sunday!

With love in Christ,

Pads

Link to 10am News Sheet
Link to 11.45am Service Sheet
Link to Youtube Channel





31st August 2022

EXPLORING THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR FAITH
Dear Church Family,

I hope and pray that you are enjoying this last bank holiday week of the summer.

I feel so encouraged as we head toward the start of the new term because we have seen new people joining us, old friends returning, people being healed, prayers being answered, new ministries starting up and flourishing, and a growing sense of expectancy as we move forward. 

There are huge challenges ahead in the coming months as, in the deteriorating economic climate, the church will be called upon more and more to pastorally care for both the church family and the wider community in providing warmth, food, company, a listening ear, prayer and practical help in many different ways....but....

We have an awesome God, a crucified and resurrected saviour, and the power of the Holy Spirit to resource, equip and empower us to be His light in the darkness and draw people to Jesus.

"What we believe," really matters, which is why our new Autumn teaching series is focusing on the foundations of our faith as we rediscover the ancient words of the Apostle's creed to inspire us and equip us to be His people in the world over the coming months. As the writer of Hebrews said:

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23)

I look forward to seeing you Sunday, or Friday evening at the Burn 24/7 at St Matthew's.

With love in Christ,
Pads

Link to 10am News Sheet
Link to Youtube Channel







Dear Church Family,

Two wonderful things next Sunday - Healing and Feeding!

HEALING

Come and join us for the 10am Service which will focus on teaching about healing prayer and offering healing prayer ministry for everyone. We would love you to come for your own healing and/or take this opportunity to invite a family member or friend to come to be prayed for, for healing of body, mind and spirit. Jesus healed, taught his disciples to heal in his name, and expects us to do the same. We'll be hearing testimony of miraculous healing and praying with expectation for more!

FEEDING
After the service we will be gathering in the vicarage garden for a BBQ meal together and would love to know if you plan to come for catering purposes. We will provide the food, but if you are able to bring a salad to share, then please let us know. Please click the link below and let Lynn know who's coming.

BBQ LINK

With love in Christ,
Pads





12th August 2022

Dear Church Family,

It’s good to be back with you after Kirstie and I spent the last two weeks in South Africa with our daughter’s family, in particular, getting to know our newest grandchild, Luca, (now 4 weeks old), and experiencing again the total dependency a newborn has on their parents.

Floyd McClung, in his beautiful 1985 book, The Father Heart of God, writes: “I believe God wanted us to come into this world as babies, totally dependent and helpless, because he intended the family to be a place where his love is lived out in such a way that children grow up feeling understood, loved and accepted.”

Of course, none of us had perfect families, and we all carry some measure of hurts, fears and disappointments. All the more reason why we need to be honest with God. After all, he knows everything anyway; he won’t reject us; in fact he is longing and waiting for us to come with open hearts so that we can receive his love and help. As the apostle Paul wrote:

“By Him we cry ‘Abba, Father’. The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

It is in the context of family that we grow up as children and mature, and it is only in the context of church family that we can grow up and mature in our relationship with God in Jesus Christ.
We both look forward to being reunited with you on Sunday, (unless you are away),

With love in Christ,
Pads

10am News Sheet
1145am Service Sheet
Link to Youtube channel




14th July 2022


Dear Church Family,
 
I have been reflecting this week that the word ‘Family’ is such a life-giving idea. Of course, human families produce new human lives, and we celebrated the dedication of baby Luca Jones in a wonderfully joyful celebration on Sunday morning.

Jo’s message spoke beautifully about an even more amazing idea – God’s Family – which encompasses young and old, married and single, rich and poor, which finds its expression at St Matthew’s in the particular place and with the particular people called by God to be a part of it – but which stretches out around the globe to encompass all who are called ‘children of God’ through faith in Jesus Christ. As the apostle John wrote:

“….to all who receive Him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

I loved the wonderful time we had after the service on Sunday when, as God’s family, we celebrated with a bring ‘n share lunch together at Mitch and Martha’s invitation.

Well, the good news is that we are all invited to do that again this weekend as Natalie and Guy have asked us to join them and their family after the 10am service this Sunday to celebrate the baptism of little Renée. Again, it will be a buffet style bring ‘n share, so plan to join us – as God’s family – held together by the love of Jesus.

I look forward to seeing you then,

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
Link to Youtube channel



Sunday 3rd July 2022


A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TIMES OF NEED
Dear Church Family,

God’s heart has always been inclined toward those who are less well off in society. From the Old Testament principle of the year of Jubilee, when all debts were cancelled, to the instruction of the Jerusalem Apostles that the church should continue to remember the poor, God’s heart has leaned toward the materially less well off.

This Sunday we are formally launching our St Matthew’s Jubilee Fund when we will invite everyone who is able to, to make a financial gift toward a fund which will be reserved to help those in particular need in the increasingly difficult squeeze due to the cost of living.

We completely understand and expect that some members of St Matthew’s will be unable to contribute toward this fund - and that’s fine. You may be someone for whom this fund has especially been set up.

So this is to let you know that we will take a collection during the service this Sunday in order to get our Jubilee fund started. You will be able to donate cash, or cheques, or money via the tap-and-go card machine, or you can put a promissory note into the collection with your name on it naming the amount you would like to give.

Acts 4: 32 tells us that “All the believers were one in heart and mind…[and] shared everything they had.”

We simply want to be in a position to bless those who will inevitably run into severe hardship in the months ahead and I look forward to joining you in making our gifts on Sunday (and next Sunday for the 11.45am congregation).

With love in Christ,

Pads

10am News Sheet
Link to Youtube Channel


Friday 24th June 2022


THE VOICE OF GOD - IN PROPHECY

Dear Church Family,

In the Autumn of 2003 a woman boarded a train in Exeter and travelled to Reading to see some old friends. By sheer 'chance' we ended up in the same coffee shop and she spoke a word of prophecy into my life which helped to take it in a completely new direction. Seven years later, Kirstie attended a weekend retreat to support a friend who was seeking direction for her own life, when a prophecy given to the group radically changed the path of Kirstie's journey.

We both believe that God spoke to us through the mouths of other people at crucial moments to help us to follow his purpose for our lives and that he will speak into everyone's life who desires to hear his voice. 

God has, of course, unmistakeably spoken through the great prophets of the Old Testament and the biblical writers of the New Testament. But we believe that God is still using his people to speak his words of love and grace into people's lives today, which is why St Paul said, "Eagerly desire...the gift of prophecy."  

See you Sunday at 10am or 11.45 for Holy Communion. 

With love in Christ,
Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Link to Youtube Channel



 
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED WITH THE JUBILEE PICNIC!

Dear Church Family,

We had a lot of fun last Sunday as we gathered together after the Pentecost service to share a meal with church family, neighbours and friends. I want to say thank you again to all those who made it such an enjoyable event. 

This Sunday is known as Trinity Sunday - and is the only Sunday in the church calendar when the church celebrates a 'doctrine' or 'idea' about God, rather than an event in history or a particular person. And that idea is the oneness of God in his three forms of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

This Sunday we will be thinking about how the Holy Spirit brings God's Word alive and makes real to us the love of the Father, revealed in Jesus, and implanted into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. It's a mind-blowing idea, but then we have a mind-blowing God with mind-blowing love!
See you at either the 10am or 11.45am services,

With love in Christ,
Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Link to Youtube Channel
 







1st June 2022

ALL OF THEM WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Dear Church Family,

What a weekend coming up – starting at midnight tonight!
  • A four-day weekend!
  • Pentecost Sunday – the birthday of the Church!
  • The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations!
This morning I met with other church leaders in Reading to pray for our town and for the many opportunities which this weekend offers to Christians to share their faith at services, street parties, official Jubilee events, and with family and friends.

We prayed particularly for the Queen, giving thanks for her extraordinary 70-year life of public service (so far), and who has been such a wonderful witness to her faith in Jesus Christ throughout her life. “Jesus’ teachings,” she said in her speech last Christmas, “have been the bedrock of my faith.”
So this weekend let’s take inspiration from the Queen, and follow the advice of the Apostle Paul, who said, “Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversations be gracious and effective…” Col 4:5,6 (NLT).

God bless you, and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday – don’t forget the picnic!

With love in Christ,
Pads
 




 

Friday 27th May 2022


“After Jesus said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”  (Acts 1:9)

Dear Church Family,

Yesterday was ‘Ascension Day’, the day the church has traditionally remembered when Jesus returned to his heavenly Father having told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit.
Why is the ascension so important? Timothy Keller puts it this way:The ascended Christ is available for loving communication and fellowship. He is supremely personal.
The ascended Christ is sovereign over every part of the created order. He is supremely powerful.  
The ascended Christ guarantees you are forgiven, accepted, and delighted in by God the Father. It doesn’t matter what you have been or what you have done. It doesn’t matter how flawed and foolish you are. When the eyes of God the Father look at you, they see the ascended Jesus.The incredibly good news is that the Ascension means that Jesus' resurrection was eternal - and so is our salvation. So as we enjoy some holiday time in the coming week and in the run up to Pentecost on June 5th, let's share the joy we have with those we spend time with. 

If you are not already on holiday, I look forward to seeing you this Sunday morning,

With love in Christ,
Pads

Link to 10am News Sheet
Link to Youtube channel 





20th May 2022

Dear Church Family,

We are taking Jesus’ command to love our neighbours very literally as we invite them to join us for a Platinum Jubilee picnic lunch on Sunday 5th June at midday, after the 10am service. There is much more information about it in the news sheet on the link below, but please do plan to join us for the St Matthew’s equivalent of a street party to celebrate the Queen’s 70th Jubilee.

As Kirstie and I have encountered people on the doorstep the response has been, “We are so glad you are doing this – and yes, we’d love to come,” so it’s a great opportunity for us to get to know our neighbours a bit better and, as Jesus so often did, show them his love over a meal.

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday at either the 10am Family Service or the 11.45am Holy Communion – or both!

With love in Christ,
Pads


Link to 10am News Sheet
Link to Youtube channel 




Dear Church Family,

Please click on the picture above to hear all about the new Street Pastor initiative in Southcote, and do please let me know if you would like to be involved, whether you could make the initial training day on the 21st May, or if you have any questions about it.

With love in Christ,
Pads


Wednesday 27th April 2022


Dear Church Family,

In the last of our series on the Life of Christ, we heard last Sunday how the resurrection encounters with Jesus were personal, intimate and transformational. Over the coming summer months, starting this Sunday, we are going to learn how he still comes to us in love and grace, not in the flesh, but by his Holy Spirit, who is equally personal, intimate and transformational.

Many Christians are confused about just who is the Holy Spirit? So over the next four months we are going to learn about the Holy Spirit, who he is, what he does, how he works, and what he brings to the follower of Jesus in order that we can live out our calling to be people who live 'The Spirit Filled Life'. 

"Do not get drunk on wine," said Paul the Apostle, "...be filled with the Holy Spirit." (Eph 5:18)

Let's learn to do that together over the coming weeks and months so that both we, and those we meet, will encounter the Spirit of Jesus. 

With love in Christ,

Pads

Link to 10am News Sheet
Link to Youtube channel





22nd April 2022


WE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING, BUT THIS ONE REALLY WILL BE! 

Dear Church Family,

What a wonderful Easter weekend we had - with the two Good Friday services and the walk of witness, the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday and the two Easter day services full of joy, laughter and celebration, it really felt as if a spiritual ‘Spring’ had arrived along with the Easter flowers and the good weather!

I want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone involved over the Easter weekend. Many people put in a lot of work ‘on the day’ as well as preparing beforehand.

Resurrection is a wonderfully appropriate theme for us as we begin a new chapter at St Matthew’s in a world with new possibilities, a new mission, a new look, and new resources following our recent Prayer and Vision Day. I will be speaking about that at our Annual Church Meeting this Sunday evening at 7.00pm, so please plan to come along and hear all about it. I have attached a link to the 2021 Annual Report which looks back at last year so that you can read it ahead of the meeting.

So this Sunday we have:
10.00am – Family Service & Kidz Church
11.45am – Traditional Holy Communion
7.00pm – ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING (finishes around 8.00pm)

I look forward to seeing you at one, two or all three!

With love in Christ,

Pads

Link to Annual Report
Link to 10am News Sheet
Link to 11.45 Service Sheet
Link to Youtube channel

 




Saturday 26th February 2022


Confused and frightened people in Kyiv try to find shelter or a way out.
 
Dear Church Family,
 
My heart is broken for the Ukrainian people. I am absolutely gutted at what is going on there. I am in awe at the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of life as the Ukrainian people take on one of the most powerful military powers in the world in their attempt to retain their freedom from the tyranny of the Putin regime in Moscow.

I’ve quickly learned a few things about the Ukrainian people that I didn’t know before:Ukraine is one of the most Christian countries in Europe. According to the Jerusalem Post, of the country’s 43 million citizens, 78% identify as members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, about 10% identify as Roman Catholics, and whilst small in number, evangelical Christians were elected to over 500 local and national government positions. They all need our prayers.
Some 200,000 Jews still live in Ukraine, including President Zelensky, and around 500,000 people in Israel have Ukrainian roots. We need to pray for them too.I have felt anger, distress, and perhaps most of all, a feeling of utter helplessness as we have watched the news programmes and wondered time and again, “Couldn’t we have done more?” That’s one of the reasons I’m so glad of David Horne’s sermon last Sunday.
Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or about your body, what you will wear….but seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”

So let’s get on our knees like never before – let’s seek his Kingdom – and let’s pray that the people of Ukraine will indeed be given all they need in the days ahead.
See you on Sunday morning,
With love in Christ,
Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45 Service Sheet
Link to Matt's Musings

 








12th February 2022


Seeking the way ahead for St Matthew's....
 
Dear Church Family,

In exactly 4 weeks from today we are having a Prayer and Vision Day at St Matthew's which I warmly invite you to join us for - WHY?

A momentous couple of years have seen far-reaching changes in our society.  Many think we will never revert to the old ‘normal’, including some aspects of church life. Do we reach out to our neighbours differently?  Can we serve each other better?  Are our activities still meeting a need? We believe it is time to take stock, pray, and seek God for the future, and it's really important that as many of the church family are involved as possible. So, if you are able to, and would like to be part of that half-day, do please let us know so that we cater for everyone. 

When the church in Antioch was praying together and seeking God, the Holy Spirit set apart Paul and Barnabas for a special purpose which became the start of Paul's wonderfully fruitful mission to the Gentiles (Acts 13). Le't be expectant about how the Holy Spirit will lead us when we come together in prayer.


See you on Sunday morning,
With love in Christ,
Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45 Service Sheet
Link to Matt's Musings


4th February 2022


The paralysed man walks again - from The Chosen
 
Dear Church Family,

Firstly, I need to let you know that there will be no live stream for the next several weeks for the 10am Sunday morning service as we make some changes to the configuration of the equipment and software to improve the experience in church and make the system easier to operate. So I do encourage you, if you are in commuting distance, to join us in person.

Meeting Jesus in person was life changing for so many who met him - not least the paralysed man, the subject of this week's Bible passage, who left both healed and forgiven - his life changed forever. This has made me reflect long and hard on both the benefits and the drawbacks of online church. Here's a WhatsApp post my daughter Kylie sent me from South Africa recently:

...as online services become very convenient it's important to remember why church attendance for you and your family matters so much. You cannot participate in a community of faith from your sofa, you can't experience the power of a room full of believers worshipping together on your sofa, you can't serve from your sofa...Christians aren't consumers. We are contributors. We don't watch. We engage. We give. We sacrifice. We encourage. We pray by laying hands on the hurting. We do life together.... the church needs you.... and you need the church...

And if you'd like a much more thorough theological reflection on this, here's a link to J. John's thoughts on the subject. 

Meeting Jesus was life-changing for those who met him. Today we meet him through fellow believers filled with his Holy Spirit. As the writer of Hebrews wrote: "Let us not give up Meeting Together, as Some are in The Habit of Doing". (Hebrews 10:45)

10.00am   Family Service & Kidz Church 

See you on Sunday morning,
With love in Christ,
Pads

10am News Sheet
Link to Matt's Musings





Saturday 29th January 2021

The presence of Jesus - bringing peace and calm
 
Dear Church Family,

It has been a wonderful week for me hearing stories of the presence of Jesus bringing peace to people's troubled lives. Not so much peace to the people of God at St Matthew's, but peace to others through the people of God in St Matthew's. 

This Sunday we consider the event on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus calmed the storm whilst his disciples feared for their lives, and how it speaks into our lives as followers of Jesus today.

Perhaps you are experiencing a storm at this moment, or wondering how you might help someone you know who is currently going through one. 

10.00am   Family Service & Kidz Church 

See you in the morning,
With love in Christ,
Pads

10am News Sheet
Link to Live Stream and Matt's Musings



Jesus Announces his Mission-Statement at Nazareth
 
Sunday 23rd January 2021

Dear Church Family,

This is just a quick note to remind you that we are holding three services at St Matthew's this Sunday:

10.00am   Family Service & Kidz Church 
11.45am   Holy Communion
6.00pm     Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (organised by Churches Together in West Reading) with an Eastern Orthodox flavour. If you don't know what that is, come and join us and find out!

Tomorrow morning is all about the Good News that Jesus announced at the start of his ministry. So come prepared to hear, share and leave with good news!

See you in the morning,
With love in Christ,
Pads

10am News Sheet
11.45am Service Sheet
Link to Live Stream
 



Amy Charmichael - Saved children from prostitution in India
 
Dear Church Family,

I was really inspired by hearing about the life of missionary Amy Charmichael in my Lectio 365 devotion this morning - who gave her whole life to saving children and young people from exploitation, particularly temple prostitution in the Southern tip of India - and some of her writings speak powerfully into our lives today.

In my journal this morning I wrote: "Am I single-hearted? No! Am I conflicted? Have I allowed the complexity of my life (and the notifications on my phone) to crowd out God's presence and drown out God's still small voice? Yes!"

Here's what Amy wrote just over 100 years ago: "Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace. If you refuse to be hurried and pressed, if you stay your soul on God,  nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace. In that stillness you will know what His will is."

It reminded me too of Jesus saying to Martha, "few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better," as Mary sat listening intently at the feet of Jesus. My New Year's determination is to sit as the feet of the Master and, to quote Amy, stay my soul on God. I realise more and more that this is what is needed in my own life, in our church and in the world.

With love in Christ,
Pads
 



THE WEDDING AT CANA - from 'THE CHOSEN'

Saturday 15th January 2022


Dear Church Family,

Firstly, this is to wish you all a very belated Happy New Year! from Kirstie and I (after our recent return from South Africa), and a very brief and last minute message to say we are both looking forward to worshipping with you tomorrow morning when we will be sharing communion with you for the first time since Christmas Day - and we are so looking forward to it!

As our new series on 'The Life of Jesus' gathers momentum, we will be looking at the first miracle Jesus performed at a wedding in Cana of Galilee which has profound implications for how we experience and overcome some of the more testing challenges we face in our day to day lives.

So do join us tomorrow morning as we encounter the kind of transformation which Jesus can bring to even the toughest situations.

With love in Christ,
Pads

Link to News Sheet
Link to Live Stream
 



10th December 2021

 

THE MIRACLE - EMILY ROSE WITH MUM CAROLINE & DAD MIKE
Dear Church Family,

With all that's going on in the world, it's good to share good news!

Don't you love a miracle? Especially one we have prayed for! We give thanks to God because baby Emily Rose was moved out of intensive care today into the general children's ward and has had all breathing support removed - and she is growing! 
Caroline said 'Please say thank you so much for all your continued prayers for my baby daughter,' and she looks forward to the day she can bring her to church.

Carols in the Square will go ahead tomorrow at 5pm whatever the weather (if it's wet, in the church) with the wonderful Salvation Army Band, and our Martha leading the carol singing. (Beats having the vicar doing that!) Then there's festive hot drinks and snacks to finish off. Come and join us!

For the Carol service and the Christingle service please book into the services using the Eventbrite links below, sooner rather than later. The links will go out on social media on Monday to the wider community and we expect a fast take-up.

The government issued new Covid rules today which means that we have to wear masks whilst moving around the church building, however, we are allowed to take them off when singing and during tea and coffee afterwards and we will maintain good spacing between the chairs.

Hope to see you at the weekend,

With love in Christ,
Pads


Link to the 10am News sheet
Link to the 11.45am Service sheet
Link to book for the Carol Service, 5pm December 19th
Link to book for the Christingle Service 4pm, Christmas Eve
Link to Live Stream & Matts Musings

 

3rd December 2021


SOME OF THE GUESTS AT OUR SEASONAL LUNCH ON FRIDAY

Dear Church Family,

Today's message is all about Family! 

THANK YOU to Lynn and the fantastic team who put on an amazing lunch on Friday. Food, fellowship, a Christmas message from Chris, and carol singing all made for a great event. 

THANK YOU, LORD, for answered prayers for baby Emily Rose who is still critical in intensive care, but with us and doing as well as we dared hope. Please hold her in your hearts and remember her and her family in your prayers. 

CONGRATULATIONS to Natalie and Guy on the birth of their daughter, Renee Clementina, who is sister to Ewan and Lucas - our newest member of the church family!

PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS for Sharon, Rose and Amy who will affirm their baptismal vows in the waters of baptism this Sunday at 10am. Please come and support them, and hear their wonderful stories of God's transforming love.

With love in Christ,
Pads


Link to the 10am News sheet
Link to Live Stream & Matts Musings
 

27th November 2021


Dear Church Family,

Many people ask us around this time of year, "What is Advent - and what's it all about?"  Here's a short and reasonably concise answer: 

What is it?
Advent is the time between the fourth Sunday before Christmas up to Christmas Eve.

What does it mean?
It has a dual aspect, looking forward with anticipation to the return of Christ in glory to consummate his eternal kingdom, and it looks back in celebrationto the events leading up to Christ's first coming as a baby in a manger.

What are we meant to do?
Whilst it is not easy in the midst of holiday celebrations, shopping, lights and decorations, and joyful carols, Advent is intended to be a season of prayer and fasting, much like Lent. Reflection on the violence and evil in the world causes us to cry out to God to make things right—to put death’s dark shadows to flight. Our exile in the present makes us look forward to our future Exodus. And our own sinfulness and need for grace lead us to pray for the Holy Spirit to renew his work in conforming us into the image of Christ.

Amidst all of the glitz and lights and celebrations, we are called to the counter-cultural activity of praying and fasting as we pray O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!

With love in Christ,
Pads


Link to the 10am News sheet
Link to the 11.45am Service Sheet
Link to Live Stream & Matts Musings
 



17th November 2021


DITCH DIGGERS - TRUSTING GOD'S WORD

Dear Church Family,

Ten days ago, one of my colleagues in church leadership in Reading brought a powerful prophetic word to our Wednesday morning prayer meeting from 2 Kings 3:16 which in the King James version is translated "Dig this valley full of ditches."  
 
God was challenging his people, who were dying of thirst in desert-like conditions, to dig ditches in the dry ground in faith that God would fill them up with water. But a big step of faith was required before He would send the rain. My colleague suggested that this was a call to the churches in Readingto plan boldly and to step out in faith in preparation for a move of the Spirit in our churches and in our town.

When the PCC met on Monday evening this week we agreed a bold plan and a bold budget for next year which will see St Matthew's investing in people and resources to dig those ditches in preparation for growth and the advancement of God's Kingdom in our communities. 

It will be challenging - and we're in a spiritual battle. This Sunday Dr Davidis going to be opening up God's word and helping us understand the divine power which we have to demolish the schemes of the enemy, and Louisa is going to show us what that looks like in a fun way in Family Time too.

I know they are looking forward to seeing you on Sunday,

With love in Christ,
Pads


Link to the 10am News sheet
Link to Live Stream & Matts Musings
Link to Community Safety Survey  (see news sheet)

 


Saturday 13th November 2021


WE WILL REMEMBER THEM...

Dear Church Family,

This week Kirstie and I watched the film “Journeys End” on iPlayer about a company of soldiers on the battlefield of St Quentin in the last year of the First World War, which portrays the changing relationships between an alcoholic company commander clearly suffering from PTSD, an older and wiser ex-schoolmaster, and a naive young officer fresh off the training fields of Salisbury plain in the days before a major German offensive wiped most of the company out.

Although only a 12 certificate, it is hard to watch the catalogue of human suffering, the breakdown of minds and hearts, and the sheer cruelty of war. And although it also captures the small acts of kindness and humanity and some of the selfless sacrifices made for one another, there is little mention of God, and as the credits scrolled at the end, we were informed that more than another million men were to lose their lives on the battlefields before the war concluded some seven months later.

This Remembrance Sunday a new film about CS Lewis, “The Most Reluctant Convert”, who also served in the trenches, is released in the cinemas and portrays his journey to faith despite all he had been through. We’ve got tickets for Sunday afternoon – and look forward to a happier ending.

Come and join us this Sunday as we worship the One who laid down his life for us all – at 10am, outside at the cross at 11am, and/or for Holy Communion at 11.45am.

It is really important that we remember them...
 
With love in Christ,
Pads

Link to the 10am News sheet
Link to 11.45 Service Sheet
Link to Live Stream & Matts Musings
Link to the Tearfund Big Quiz
Link to JustGiving page to sponsor Pads in the Half Marathon
Link to Community Safety Survey  (see news sheet)

 






 



Saturday 6th November


Dear Church Family,

Three things to mention this week:

A COP, a QUIZ, and a RUN!

1. A COP

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth...God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." (from Genesis chapter 1)

I don't know about you, but when I listen to the news items, discussions and debates around COP26 as it addresses the urgent situation with regard to global warming,  I find it hard to link my own every day actions and activities to any solution which will make a real difference to the problem.

So here's three simple things we might do.
- Pray for the outcomes of the talks in Glasgow, for real commitment to action.
- Be prepared to give up some things in order to bless future generations.
- Make a noise! Join the Reading Broad Street  march at 1pm tomorrow.

2. A QUIZ

Quiz fans - good news - Rachel Lewis is going to organise another Tearfund Big Quiz Night as she did last year, and it's on Saturday evening 20th November at 7.30pm via Zoom. Follow the link below for more information. 

3. A RUN - Yes, Pads is getting very excited about running the Reading Half Marathon this Sunday and raising money for Sue Ryder hospices. He's at 84% of his target so if you'd like to help him over the line, the link is below. And if you'd like to cheer him on (and pray for him!) past the Beefeater at about 11.50am after church, then please come along.

Kirstie and the team are looking forward to seeing you on Sunday morning in church or over the live stream.
 
With love in Christ,
Pads

Link to the News sheet
Link to Live Stream & Matts Musings
Link to the Tearfund Big Quiz
Link to JustGiving page to sponsor Pads in the Half Marathon


Friday 30th October


Dear Church Family,
 
Please would you be praying over the next 48 hours for three key things:

- That the (now over) 200 people attending the 'Light Trail', our largest outreach event since the pandemic began, will have a fantastic evening resulting in new relationships being established between church and community. 
- That the 'Bags of Hope' given out with a gospel interpretation of Halloween will sow seeds in the hearts of the families who come.
- That there would be peace (a real 'Shalom') on the streets of Southcote this weekend in response to the prayers of the faithful.

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." Eph. 6:18

We look forward to sharing the answers to prayer at church at the 10am on Sunday morning. See you then!
 
With love in Christ,
Pads

Link to 10am News sheet
Link to Live Stream & Matts Musings
Link to JustGiving page to sponsor Pads in the Half Marathon


 



Some of the team of 12 who worked so hard on Saturday morning.

Sunday 24th October

Dear Church Family,
 
A big THANK YOU to everyone who came along this morning and did a fantastic job tidying up the church site. It hasn't looked this good for a long time!
We are very excited about the recently conceived, and very popular, idea to host a 'Light Trail' from St Matthew's next Saturday 30th October at 5pm. All 150 tickets 'sold out' within a few hours and we've had to issue more to accommodate the demand. I am so encouraged that over a Halloween weekend when so much darkness is celebrated, a counter-cultural 'light event' is met with such enthusiasm. 

As the apostle John wrote in the first paragraph of his gospel:

"In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." 

Please be praying in the coming week that this event will bring light, love and good news to the community of Southcote to the glory of God.

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, either in church or over the live stream!
 
With love in Christ,
Pads

Link to 10am News sheet
Link to 11.45 Service Sheet
Link to Live Stream & Matts Musings




15th October 2021

TORCH HELP HUBS  - BRINGING LIGHT INTO PEOPLE'S LIVES
Dear Church Family,
 
On Wednesday evening we had a fantastic turnout for the Torch Help Hubsevent at St Matthew's. Present were volunteers, would-be volunteers, co-ordinators, encouragers, and a lovely lady whom Torch had helped and made a huge difference in her life. She told the room:
"the Torch volunteers were responsive, reactive and such nice people - the whole experience has brought a bright light into my life." 

A leader from Reading Borough Council also told the gathering that the church-run help hubs were a hugely positive force for good in the town and that they hoped that this ministry would expand right across 'greater Reading'. In all, 13 new volunteers signed up for the help hub on the night and several church leaders expressed interest in encouraging their churches to get involved. If you'd like to apply to be a volunteer too, please follow the link below.
On Sunday we'll be thinking about how to live with an eternal perspective - by faith and not by sight. Children, if you like camping this could be your Sunday... I think I've spotted a tent in church! 

We very much hope that Live streaming will be back next Sunday, but not this one - so hope to see you in person on Sunday,
 
With love in Christ,
Pads

Torch Help Hub Volunteer Link
Link to 10am News sheet
Link to Matts Musings



Sunday 10th October


Dear Church Family,
 
Sorry to tell you that there will still be no live stream this Sunday. We are hoping to get it working in the next fortnight.

This week in our 10am Family Service we would love you to bring something which will shine a light. 
- For adults we probably all have torches on our smart phones
- Please bring a torch for your children so that they can join in the Family Time 
 
"Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven"  (Matthew 5:16)
 
Kirstie and I and the team look forward to seeing you on Sunday morning,
 
With love in Christ,
Pads

Link to News Sheet
Link to Matts Musings
 

Abbie with Alison at Reading's foodbank - READIFOOD

1st October 2021


Dear Church Family,

Every time our box in the Welcome area fills up with food which you have kindly donated, Anne Bingham fills the boot of her car and drives it to the Readifood foodbank. Then Abbie, along with many other volunteers, packs it all up and out it goes to every corner of our town to feed those who really need it and can't afford it. 
Abbie has furnished us with a list of the kinds of food to donate. (below)

So this Sunday, don't forget:

1. Bring a Harvest Gift for the Readifood foodbank...and...

2. Bring a gift for the ‘Blessings Table’  -  we will have a table where we can all bring something to place on the table which might be a blessing to someone else – it can be something we’ve made, something we’ve purchased or something we already own and would like to give away. At the end everyone is invited to go and take a blessing from the table and take it home with them. 
 
"The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped."  (Proverbs 11:25 Msg)
 
See you at 10am Sunday for our Harvest Festival Service!
 
With love in Christ,
Pads

St Matthew's links:
Link to Matt's Musings and Live Stream

 Abbie's List

- Tinned Vegetables

- Tinned Potatoes

- Tinned Ready meals.

- Baked Beans

-Savoury Crackers/Savoury biscuits

- Tinned meat (i.e. Corned beef, ham, chicken etc..)

- Baby food and baby snacks.

- Toilet rolls

- Tinned fish

- Toothbrushes

- Shower gels/Bubble bath

- Shampoo/Conditioner 

- Hand Soap

- Baby toiletries (Baby bath, baby wash, moisturising cream etc..)

- Nappies (Size 3 particularly)

- Childrens toiletries and toothbrushes/toothpastes.

- Long life cartons of milk

- Bottles of Squash

- Cartons of drink

-Biscuits






9th September 2021

Dear Church Family,

Today is the 20th anniversary of the attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre, now known universally as 9/11. Both the human cost of that day and the repercussions which continue to affect global politics will remain long after this 20th anniversary day of remembrance. The recent events in Afghanistan only serve to make today even more poignant. We hardly know how to pray.

The good news which Jesus communicates to his disciples in John chapter 17 is that while we, his followers, continue to live and work and pray for his Kingdom to come, Jesus prays for us, saying, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”

So while we know that we fight against ‘the Spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ (Eph 6:12), we also know that a power far mightier – The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in us, and fills us with God’s love in our hearts – a love that can overcome any evil that Satan chooses to throw at us.

As we pray for all who still grieve and have lost so much, let’s also be praying with assurance, that Jesus will help us to proclaim Him with our lives as we love and serve in this beautiful but broken world.
 
With love in Christ,

Pads
 
St Matthew's links:
Link to Matt's Musings and Live Stream
Link to News Sheet


Other Links:
Music for Healing

 

Friday 3rd September


THE WEARING OF MASKS IN CHURCH SERVICES IS NOW OPTIONAL
Dear Church Family,In line with government guidelines and following a similar move by many other churches, the wardens and I have taken the decision to make the wearing of masks in church optional starting this Sunday. You are, of course, very welcome to keep wearing a mask if you feel safer doing so. 

The main reason for this change to our practice is that the country is now entering a time of 'learning to live with the virus' whilst resuming many of the activities we did prior to the pandemic. And whilst there is a finite chance of catching the virus almost anywhere, St Matthew's is a building with lots of space for a relatively small number of people. I calculated that with the kind of numbers attending, on average we all have a large sittingroom's volume of air each. (Now you know how I spend my time!) 

Over the last eighteen months it has been impossible not to feel that the church has been literally muzzled (albeit for good reasons!). This next step feels like a real liberation and so I hope and pray that it will release the church in worship in a whole new way. 

"Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!" (psalm 147)

I look forward to joining with you in singing praises to our God!With love in Christ,

Pads

St Matthew's links:
Link to Matt's Musings and Live Stream
Link to News Sheet

Other Links:

Music for Healing
Health on the Move

 


Friday 28th August 2021

FIRST OUTREACH EVENT SINCE COVID - SENIOR'S CREAM TEA!

Dear Church Family,

This week has been a week of contrasts. On the one hand, church life has been exciting, thriving and encouraging with an outreach planning meeting on Monday, the wonderful Cream Tea on Tuesday, a lovely Youth reunion supper hosted by the Everett's on Thursday, the Breakfast Club on Friday as well as the prayer and worship taking place through the week. So I thank God for the many wonderful ways we see him at work through the church family at St Matthew's. 

All this has been against the backdrop of the terrible scenes playing out on the news this week from Afghanistan. It reminds me of the lyrics from Mark Knoffler's song, Brothers in Arms, "we have just one world, but we live in different ones". Those who are left behind in Kabul are living in a very different world from the one they inhabited just a few weeks ago, and we need to pray for them. Here is a prayer request from Bishop Humphrey Peters, of the Diocese of Peshawar, which extends to Kabul.

"We are praying that the Holy Spirit touches the Taliban and they remain softhearted and recognize the human rights of all the people. The global body of Christ needs to express Christian love and compassion to the Taliban and share the blessing and joy that God has given us. If prior to the withdrawal we were praying once a day for Afghanistan, now we should pray 10 times."

Let's be praying with him.
With love in Christ,

Pads
 
St Matthew's links:
Link to Matt's Musings and Live Stream
Link to News Sheet


Friday 20th August 2021

Dear Church Family,

This week our town will almost double in population size as the Reading Festival gets underway. At the festival there will be plenty of worship - although it will be chiefly of music gods and not the living God. But it will also be a site of mission, mercy and hospitality as the amazing Street Pastor team, headed up by our Sally Leonard, literally pour themselves out over the four days on site.

What few of the festival goers will ever know is that the first act on the main stage is not a rock band or a rap artist, but a group of Jesus followerswho gather on the platform a few days before to worship, pray and share communion together as they bless the site and ask God to protect it from all evil. The organisers consider this an essential part of the preparation for the week.

This is not a naive action intended to consecrate the widespread drunkenness and drug taking that will inevitably take place, but a surprising act of humility by the organisers of what is a gigantic commercial operation as well as a festival to music and fun. It is perhaps an acknowledgement that the gods on stage are subject to, and not equal to, the God of heaven and earth. 

Please be praying for all of the Christians on site over the coming 10 days who will play a part in bringing and being good news to those seeking compassionate help and a listening ear. Let's be praying that the Holy Spirit will tell them what to say.

With love in Christ,

Pads
 
St Matthew's links:

Link to Matt's Musings and Live Stream
Link to News Sheet
Link to 11.45 Service Sheet

Links to RBC summer activities:

Link to Youth Team poster
Link to Southcote GrowAllot poster


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Saturday 14th August

Dear Church Family,

One of my favourite clips from the series, The Chosen, is when Jesus calls Matthew, the tax collector to follow him. (click on the image above to watch). It takes one glance between Matthew and Jesus to initiate the relationship - and that is the theme of our service this Sunday. 
So many people today suffer from a low opinion of themselves, with feelings of unworthiness, self-doubt, comparing themselves with others and concluding that they don't match up. Interestingly, many surveys both secular and Christian have shown that attending weekly worship is a strong counter-measure to low self-esteem.

This next in our series from the Song of Songs shows us that, like Matthew, we are loved just as we are, that we are priceless in the eyes of Jesus, and that all it takes is a glance to transform our understanding of how God sees us.

This is exceedingly good news and a route to confidence in our faith, in our worth and in God's good purposes for our lives. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, in person, or if you are unable to join us, over the live stream.

With love in Christ,

Pads 
 
Links:

Link to Matt's Musings and Live Stream
Link to News Sheet

Link to Parish Administrator Job Description
Link to Parish Administrator Person Profile


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Friday 6th August 2021

Dear Church Family,

Today is the traditional day that the church remembers the extraordinary encounter on the mount of transfiguration, when Jesus' appearance turns dazzling white, Moses and Elijah appear (representing the Law and the Prophets), and the voice of God booms out of the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I have chosen, listen to Him."
Luke recalls that the disciples had been half asleep, but as they gaze on Jesus they become 'fully awake'. 

In our Song of Songs passage this Sunday, the speaker implores the reader to 'come out and look' at the magnificence of Solomon, (the Christ figure), who rides by in his resplendent carriage. As we spend some of this holiday time resting and recuperating, this is no bad time to gaze on Jesus, because when we behold his beauty, his love, his mercy, his compassion, we too can become spiritually fully awake to the extraordinary grace which we have received. 
If you're not away, I look forward to seeing you on Sunday morning,
 
With love in Christ,
Pads

Links:

Link to Matt's Musings and Live Stream
Link to News Sheet
Link to 11.45 Service Sheet
Link to Parish Administrator Job Description
Link to Parish Administrator Person Profile



Friday 30th July 2021


Dear Church Family,

I was really struck again when I reviewed last Sunday's 10am Service, by Lynn's Family Time and particularly her encouragement to us, "to keep going and going and going", as we look out for each other, do good for one another, and demonstrate God's love to each other.
It reminds me of the words of Paul the Apostle to the church in Galatia when he said: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
I am so proud of the way that the church family at St Matthew's has cared for one another over the last eighteen months and continues to do so. I am also aware that in between the hard work of ministry, Jesus bade his disciples to "Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while."
So my encouragement to you this week, in this Summer holiday season, as we seek to continue to love one another, is to make sure you find the time to 'Come away...find a quiet place...and rest."
I pray that everyone will find some opportunity to do just that over the next five weeks.

Links:

Link to Matt's Musings and Live Stream
Link to News Sheet
Link to Parish Administrator Job Description
Link to Parish Administrator Person Profile


With love in Christ,

Pads

Saturday 17 July 2021

Dear Church Family, 

The Summer Holidays are nearly upon us. The weather is fantastic. We are one day away from Step 4 which means the end of Covid restrictions, and yet what we have known as 'normality' in the past seems extremely elusive. It's no use pretending. Covid has not gone away and many of us know someone who is currently ill and fighting the disease - let's not grow weary of praying for them. 

Whilst many aspects of life have now opened up, including the permission to sing in church after 19th July (so not tomorrow), the practical considerations of what we do, and where and how we do it are still complex, whether that's going on holiday, mixing with other people, or how we worship God in church. (see more in the newsletter attached)
More than ever, as Christians, we are blessed to have a God of love who in the psalmist's words, is our Shepherd in whom we can put our trust in his goodness and mercy which will follow us for all the days of our lives. (Psalm 23) In such uncertain and confusing times that is a powerful message to take to our hearts and live out in our everyday lives. 
I look forward to joining you for our 10am Family Service in the morning, and in case you are taking off on holiday, and therefore I won't see you, have a very blessed, restful and refreshing time away.

Link to Matt's Musings and Live Stream
Link to News Sheet

With love in Christ,

Pads

Monday 18 January 2021

Screenshot 2021-01-19 at 12.36Dear Church Family,
I so enjoyed the first instalment of Matt's Musings this morning that I wanted to encourage you, if you haven't watched it to do so. It's the brainchild of Dr David Horne, which is a weekly (Mon-Fri) 5-minute 'Vlog', hosted on our Youtube channel and published to our Facebook page, applying the Bible to our lives as we follow Jesus. So do watch it, on YouTube or Facebook, enjoy it, join in the discussion, comment in any way, and offer your thoughts. 
Can't wait for tomorrow as David brings the Ten Commandments into our 21st century lives!
 


Sunday  17 January 2021

Dear Church Family,

'Following Jesus' is our particular theme for the first half of this Lent term and, for many people, it has never been a greater challenge than during this pandemic, when so much of the communal aspect of Christian life is shut off from us or restricted in many different ways. 

The good news is, we all know there's light at the end of the tunnel - the bad news is that there's still a long way to go! And that's why we need as many different ways of nurturing our spiritual life as possible. And that's why I'm delighted to tell you about a new resource being launched this week within St Matthew's in the form of Matt's Musings, the brainchild of Dr David Horne, which is a weekly (Mon-Fri) 5-minute 'Vlog', hosted on our Youtube channel and published to our Facebook page, applying the Bible to our lives as we follow Jesus. 

I highly recommend that you watch the first one - and then the rest - being published on Monday morning and we invite you to comment and join in the discussion. So let's make the most of this lockdown, as we learn together on Sundays and through the week, how we can better love God, love one another and walk the path of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

We are also meeting up after the service for a Zoom tea/coffee chat on the link below, so I hope to see you then.

Link to Livestream
Link to Service Sheet with scriptures, prayer needs, news, and resources
Link to After Church tea/coffee Zoom chat

I look forward to joining you tomorrow morning,
With love in Christ,
Pads



CALENDAR OF SERVICES

SUNDAY | 10:00 AM Family Service
Livestream

SUNDAY | 11:45 AM Holy Communion
In-Person, 2nd and 4th Sundays every month

WEDNESDAY | 10:30 AM Holy Communion
In-Person