Easter garden ready to be revealed

The Easter garden at All Saints Church is ready to be revealed at services tomorrow on Easter Day. Here is a sneak preview of a detail only. Thanks to the group of children who let Flower Guild members work with them to produce this colourful resurrection scene.

Palm Sunday celebrated in art and music at All Saints

The nave altar at All Saints Parish Church on Palm Sunday 2014

Yesterday parishioners processed through the local neighbourhood singing hymns of praise to re-enact symbolically the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem remembered on Palm Sunday.

The congregation at the 9.30am service saw an audio-visual presentation of the Passion of Christ from Matthew's gospel based on a reading by the Ridings Lights Theatre company and images from well-known artists.

At the evening service, in preparation for Holy Week,  All Saints Church Choir led a meditative service of music and readings from the Bible recounting the final days of Christ's suffering. Music included pieces by Byrd, Handel, Stainer, and Tavener.

Concert programme launched at All Saints Church

Music at All Saints — what are we doing?
At All Saints Church we believe that our beautiful building and the talents of our musicians are there to be shared, in concerts, services and community projects. We also believe that we have a responsibility to nurture spirituality and musical gifts, particularly among our children and young people.

We have been blessed with a fine robed choir which, under the directorship of choral specialist Richard Smith, has started a number of training programmes for aspiring musicians. This has included outreach work with primary school children and choral scholarships for young singers. We have also established an annual conducting scholarship which provides for a year of study leading to a professional diploma qualification.

But we want to do more! As part of our development project we are establishing a Wednesday evening singing club for younger children and plans are in place to provide many more music-making and training opportunities. Through our concert series we are also offering performance opportunities for particularly talented young professionals at the start of their careers.

We want to see All Saints Church continue to grow as a centre of excellence in church music, singing and choral conducting. As a church we know the value of good music in worship. We also recognize that this country’s musical culture in general — particularly it’s choral tradition — has always been invigorated and sustained by the musical life of the Anglican church. This is both a privilege and a responsibility.

How you can help.
Firstly, and most importantly, come and enjoy the music! By staging concerts and recitals, we are opening our doors and filling our beautiful church with music. We want you to share it with us, and by buying tickets and telling your friends you will be making a real contribution to our work. We hope you will also come to hear the results of that work, too, particularly by supporting the children as some of them lead our services of Choral Evensong.

Joining the Friends of All Saints music is a great way to stay in touch with us and provide more practical support. Also, we maintain an Education Fund which was established by a generous gift from Esme Few in 2013 and we would be pleased to hear from donors.

Finally, remember to spread the word, particularly about the opportunities we offer for children and young adults in the form of our Wednesday singing sessions and our scholarships,

2014 Giving Campaign launched

2014 Giving campaign launched

This year's All Saints Church Giving Campaign was launched last Sunday 2nd March with a special presentation at the main services throughout the day. The work of All Saints Church serving the community depends on the generous gifts, including money, given regularly and sacrificially by parishioners. A leaflet was distributed and emailed.If you haven't received a leaflet about the campaign  download a copy here 

Congratulations to Colin

The Reverend Colin James,  honorary priest at All Saints Church, was congratulated in church as today is 45 years exactly since he began his public ministry in the Church of England, at All Saints Church. He first preached as a newly-licensed Lay Reader on 23rd February 1969, two days before his 30th birthday. Since then Colin has preached hundreds if not thousands of sermons and taken many services in this parish. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1997.

Have you been ASKed?

All Saints Church is making a fresh plan of action which will map the way ahead for the church over the next three to five years.

The first phase works out where the church is - geting as much input from as many sources as possible inside and outside the church. Anyone connected to All Saints Church can give their view by answering a simple set of questions.

The Rector , Canon David Hodgson said:

"The first phase of this process we are calling ASK – All Saints Konversations. As a church Let's look at who we are – what we stand for; and what we are doing.  Let's ask if we are doing the right things here and now. Let's ask God in prayer; let's ask our local community  and let's talk and ask among ourselves; the members and friends and supporters of this church – are we doing the right things now to serve God's love, meeting the needs in our community? What should we choose to start doing, what should we stop doing, and what should we do differently? And why? "

Celebrating Candlemas this weekend

This weekend 1st and 2nd February we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Christ: traditionally known as Candlemas; proclaiming Christ as a light for all nations. 

There will be lots of music in our worship - both traditional and contemporary. 

At 4pm today Saturday 1st February we begin the celebration with Choral Evensong for the Eve of Candlemas. Tomorrow Sunday 2nd February the 9.30am service is an All Together Communion for Candlemas with All Saints Choir, Music Group and Junior Church singing.

At 6.30pm on Sunday there will be the final Choral Evensong of the weekend concluding with the Procession with Candles.

For more details of the music at these services visit http://www.allsaintschoirwokingham.org.uk/currentservices/2-14.pdf