Loddon Reach Magazine – Closure Communication – July 2020
It is with huge regret that the Management Team at the Loddon Reach Magazine must announce the immediate closure of the Magazine. This has been agreed by the Loddon Reach Team Council and the four church PCC’s. There will be no further hard-copy or digital magazines produced as the finances make it unviable for the foreseeable future. This has been an extremely hard decision to make as the Magazine has been a success, providing a public voice to local community groups and winning numerous awards. We have made every effort to find ways to keep going by introducing a digital version, and thereby reducing our costs, but our income has continued to decrease as a result of our advertisers facing a difficult time due to Covid19 and many have not renewed. We have included members of the community in our discussions about advertising and helping to recruit new advertisers for the future, but this has been unsuccessful due to the difficult business climate. Our deliverers also face challenges delivering the magazine, but we would have found a way forward if this had been the only problem. Over the last year, we have sought and received grants/sponsorship from the Oxford Diocese, the Shinfield Parish Council, and others. Also, all four churches in the Benefice have contributed finance directly to the magazine, as printing costs escalated due to the influx of new houses. Sadly, due to the massively reduced income at our churches, with no fund-raising events and no services, they are unable to repeat this. The Team have met via zoom nearly every week since the beginning of March to explore all avenues, but sadly we have not found solutions to increasing income, this has left us with no choice but to close.
It has been a mammoth task, although a well-oiled machine, to produce, manage and deliver the free magazine to over 6,000 houses. The Magazine has been running for twelve years and we would like to extend our huge thanks to many people, past and current, for managing the magazine production; from our current Editor, Amanda Tripp, to our original Editor Gillian Steedman and Joan Woodroffe our Guest Editor, Louise Ogden our Advertising Manager, plus many volunteers who have contributed huge amounts of time: the Editorial Team: Amanda Tripp, Rev. Paul Willis, Rev. David Little, Jane Watkins, Barbara Stanley, Mary Sangster, Hayley Sheridan, Andrew Oughton and also the volunteer Management Team: Jess Dye (Current Team Leader), Kim Slater, Andrew and Trudi Oughton (Past and Current Treasurers), Karen Eaves, Tarnya Lansley and Jane Watkins, who has organised the many distributors, as well as all the distributors and the volunteers who deliver the Magazine. We would also like to thank all the contributors from the churches and community, because without them, there would have been no magazine and finally our community for reading it. Finally, we would like to particularly thank Rev. Paul Willis for his unfailing enthusiasm and support to ensure the team have tried every avenue before making such a difficult decision to close.
We are hoping that at some point in the future, when the pandemic is behind us and life returns to normal, that the Magazine will ‘rise again’ in some form, and we can again provide a platform for our community to advertise services and businesses and provide an opportunity for all those groups in our community and churches to tell their stories.
Finally, stay safe and well everyone,
Loddon Reach Magazine – Management Team – 27072020
Church buildings are opening, please see below for forthcoming services on Sunday 9th August.
8.00am BCP All Saints Church, Swallowfield
9.30am on Zoom
10.00am Family service on Zoom
11.00am CW, Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church, Shinfield – Booking through the office (0118 988 5923 or ) is required, limited 30 spaces. This service will also be live streamed on Zoom for those wishing to join from home.
Please note that it is now a requirement to wear a face mask in a place of worship. All services are subject to change in accordance with current Government guidelines.
Churches open for Private prayer:
All Saints’, Swallowfield – The church will not be opening, but as of Sunday 5th July, there will be the opportunity to visit the Churchyard to talk and pray between 2pm and 3pm. If the weather is summery, please bring your own garden chair. The church porch will be useful if the weather is inclement.
St Mary’s, Shinfield – The church will be open each Wednesday from 10am-12 noon. Two volunteers will be in attendance to facilitate and guide.
St Mary the Virgin, Beech Hill – Should anyone desire to access the church for Private Prayer, please contact Rev David Little 0118 988 3858 to make arrangements.
St Michael’s and All Angels, Spencers Wood – The church will be open each Monday evening from 5th July for a service of Evening Prayer starting at 7.30pm. Two volunteers will be in attendance to facilitate and guide.
Benefice Newsletter
The 20th Newsletter for Sunday – 2nd August follow this link here
Loddon Reach Magazine
https://www.loddonreach.org.uk/what-s-on/newsletter-sign-up
Resources
10.00am Sunday worship from the Oxford Diocese
9.00am Sunday worship from the Church of England
There's Diocesan Worship on Sundays and Holy Days on 01865 920930. You need to dial 0 for the short service or 1 for the full Church at Home
Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line. The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind.
For anyone caring for someone in a care home or elsewhere, please click here for Visual Prayers at the bedside.
If anyone wishes to follow a liturgy for a funeral service they are unable to attend please click here
Reflections from Bishop Steven
The first reflection Like a tree planted by streams of water
The second reflection You are my Son
The third reflection The Lord sustains me
The fourth reflections Commune with your heart and be still
The fifth reflection I will come into your house
The sixth reflection Lord heal me
The Seventh reflection God is a Righteous God
The Eighth reflection What are human beings that you are mindful of them
The Ninth relection A more Christlike Church
The Tenth reflection The River of Life
The Eleventh reflection Living is Christ and dying is gain
The Twelth reflection How to Face Enormous Problems
The Thirteenth reflection Finding Strength from the Centre
The Fourteenth reflection Rejoice in the Lord always
Prayer Resources
Daily prayer online
Daily prayer app Apple or Android
Lectio365 daily devotional prayer app Apple or Android
Bible app on your phone, click here or the Bible in one year are some examples
Wellbeing
Family life during lockdown This helpful guide has been put together by a range of agencies including the local NHS, local authorities and the Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership
Church of England supporting good Mental Health
Soul time Christian meditation & Mindfulness app for Apple or Android
3 minute retreat app Apple or Android or online
Sacred space online or Apple or Android
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time as we come together to work out how to do things differently but still staying connected.
