LAY LEADERSHIP

Rosary Prayer Group

A small group of people pray the Rosary for intercession and meditation on a Saturday morning at 9.00 am. This leads into the Saturday morning Eucharist at 9.30 am. The group prays on a long-term basis for those who may be chronically sick or have other ongoing problems.

House Groups

There are a number of house groups, including the three St Nicholas' fellowship groups that meet for mutual support, learning, and discussion. On special occasions the St Nicholas' groups also have 'bring and share' lunches after the Eucharist. Prayer groups also meet regularly and include learning as part of the agenda.

Chaplaincy

The last community priest developed a chaplaincy team including lay members who have a regular weekly presence in the Emmbrook Schools.

Lay Reader

Our Lay Reader is involved in many aspects of St. Paul's life. She preaches regularly, both at St. Paul's and St. Nicholas', has put together, and led, non-eucharistic services and arranged a series of quiet days for both the parish and other churches in Wokingham. Holiday Bible clubs and Christmas Workshops have also been organised.

The Acorn Trust intends to train a group of people who wish to be part of a Pastoral Team within the parish.

The Lay Reader visits and administers communion to the sick at nursing homes and residents' own homes.

Mothers' Union

The Mothers' Union meets on the first Wednesday of each month except for August. There are currently seventeen members.

The Mothers' Union organises visits to parents planning a baptism. Contact is maintained with these families through invitations to the family services.
The Union takes part in all Deanery/Diocesan initiatives. Links have been formed with other churches in Wokingham, the strongest being with All Saints'.

Alpha

The parish has successfully held Alpha courses for several years, including one specifically for youth. This youth course provided many of the young people who attended Footsteps. St Paul's has sometimes combined with other churches to hold the weekend away-days and the Alpha suppers to introduce the course.

Footsteps

This is a combined group for young people of secondary school age from both St Paul's and St Nicholas'. They generally meet on Sunday evenings during term time. The group organise their own schedule of activities each term, consisting of discussions, games, food, craft, and 'chill-out' evenings. They also make visits to the swimming pool, bowling alley, local woodland, etc. Young people from the group also go to the Deanery 'Moving On' event, and the Diocesan 'Yellowbraces'. In the past we have also visited the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage, and Greenbelt. Numbers have fallen recently so there are now less than 10 regular members.