*Holiday Bible Club 2013

It runs from 5th until 9th August from 10:00 to 12:30, as usual. It is free for children aged 5 to 10 to attend to enjoy games, crafts, cookery, stories, puppets and music. It is called "Space Academy", based on material from Scripture Union. There is no need to pre-register, just turn up during the half hour before the start and complete a form for each child.

Snedrick

Our evening worship on 7th April was "Snedrick: The Graham Kendrick Musical". It was performed by High Spirits, enhanced by a couple of extra singers and musicians. Playing the lead, and writer of the script, was Tony Atkins. The story of Jesus's life, from calling the disciples through to the resurrection, was told through 18 songs of Graham Kendrick and as seen through the eyes of Snedrick, a first century song writer and disciple. It also raised money for the church project.

Countdown in Reading 2013

The second Reading Countdown competition raised £400 (plus tax refunds) for our Church Charity Project for 2013 (the Reading Branch of The Samaritans) on Saturday 30th March. The results show that the best of the 34 players was Mark Deeks from London, who beat Giles Hutchings in the final, watched by a crowd of players, spectators and pirates!

Christmas Tree Festival

Our first Christmas Tree Festival was held on Saturday 15th December from 10:00 to 16:00 and Sunday 16th from 14:00 to 17:00. Donations were collected in aid of Tools for Self Reliance. As well as the church's own tree and one for the 2012 Church Project (Tools for Self Reliance), trees were displayed by the following church groups: Junior Church, Bible Study Group, Pastoral Groups 1 and 12, Network and Guild, High Spirits, Girls Brigade, Brownies, Rainbow Cafe, and also by Lacewood Circle, Woodley Town Council, Southlake Primary School, Woodley Day Services, Oxfam Bookshop, St. John Bosco Church and Woodley Airfield Church.

Church Charity Project 2012

Our charity project for 2012 was Tools for Self Reliance and over £4400 (including tax refunds) was raised and a cheque was presented to Bob Brown of the Reading group at the morning service on 27th January.

Pancakes were being served on the evening of Shrove Tuesday, 21st February, before the Woodley Lent Group launch service, which started at 20:00 at Christ Church. £265 was raised which paid for seven kits of tools to be shipped to Malawi.

Countdown came to Reading! On Saturday of Easter weekend, 7th April, there was a Countdown in Reading competition at Christ Church. It was won by James Robinson from Huddersfield and raised over £350 for the project. Results

The big event as always was the Spring Fair, on Saturday 12th May, and this raised over £1000 in cash on the day, through sales, refreshments, games, singing, car wash and so on.

There was a concent with the Thames Valley Barberettes on Saturday 14th July which raised over £310 and on 8th December a concert by Reading Male Voice Choir, with a choir of girls from St Joseph's School, raised another £750.

In recognition of 50 years since the laying of the foundation stone for the buildings, the morning service on 30th Spetember 2012 was a special songs of praise service organised by Senior Worship Steward Mrs Ruth Taylor. The order of service

Also on the 30th September, in the evening, was New Beginnings, a new service for the young at heart. This was led by Nancy Quinnell, Brenda McIntosh and the band, and was preceded by pizza at 17:00.

New Sanctuary Furniture

Following various kind bequests and donations, we decided to replace our sanctuary furniture and purchased a matching set of communion table with adjustable height pulpit and lectern. They were dedicated on Easter Sunday 2012.