White Waltham Church
John and I moved from the 11am congregation at St Mary’s Maidenhead to become part of the White Waltham Church family five years ago.
We could not believe the warmth and love with which we were welcomed, and which still surrounds and supports us five years later.
What we love about White Waltham is that the love of Jesus is not only talked about but shown through words and actions, on a daily basis, amongst its members – young and old, newcomers and longstanding members. Everyone is welcomed in with open arms and loved.
Church Family News
The church family gather throughout the year to enjoy each other’s company, our latest get together was our harvest supper where young and old joined together to sing, put on a mini talent show and eat a magnificent banquet!
We have been thinking much about the vision of our church and after a short sermon series we gathered for a vision morning to share our ideas and pray over how God wants us to be using the gifts and talents he has given us. Our desire is to love him more, to serve him and each other within our church and in reaching out to our community. New ideas, such as providing meals for the elderly in our community, are going forward to the PCC and we are excited to see the fruit of these over the coming year.
Kids and Youth
Pathfinder spaghetti and marshmallow house
Our kids and youth numbers have grown over the last five years, and we now offer a DIY creche and run two weekly groups for primary and secondary school aged children and youth. The smaller numbers mean we can get to know each child and it’s wonderful to see them growing in their faith and in their relationships with each other. We would love to welcome some more families with pre-schoolers and start a weekly, manned creche.
Dave Atallah and his team lead assemblies in White Waltham and Woodlands Park schools and in turn the schools come to the church for festival assemblies and for Christmas Unwrapped and Easter Cracked. We pray these links will develop and more families will become part of our regular congregation.
Helen Atallah and another wonderful congregation member run a weekly toddler group to encourage young mums and we would love to see this group grow with more members of our local community.
Permanent Roots
The Church of England’s procedures and practices are often mysterious, but a key step in the future of White Waltham Church has been achieved this year with the permanent confirmation of Dave Atallah as Vicar of the parish. This position has been semi-permanent for a substantial number of years, and although this doesn’t change our day to day running, it means a great deal that Dave and his family are permanently rooted in the church and their home. It is a huge blessing which we will be celebrating as a church later in the month.
Partnering Together with St Mary’s Maidenhead
Our two churches have had a long-standing partnership and it is one for which we are most grateful.
Kids and Youth Team Meal
We love welcoming St Mary’s ministers to teach us faithfully from God’s word and to enable Dave to take a well-earned break.
We are thrilled to regularly welcome members of St Mary’s to help with our kids and youth work. We have a close-knit team that meets termly together to plan and pray and we would love to welcome more of you along to partner with us in this exciting work!
We Need You!
Thank you for praying for us and supporting us with people and time.
Please pray for Dave, Helen and their children, as Dave leads us and faithfully teaches us. Thank God for Dave’s permanent instalment and pray that he and Helen would know the depths of God’s love for them as Dave ministers to us.
Please pray for our PCC as we make practical decisions on the direction of the church following the vision morning.
Please pray for God to be at work in our community, softening hearts to his word. There are so many that don’t know the love of Jesus and we are so keen to draw them in.
Rehearsals for our Children and Youth Christmas Choir are underway and Remembrance and Christmas services are on the horizon. These are key ways to gently draw people into the church family and encourage them to be a regular part of it. Please pray for folk to come along.
Lastly, please pray for more helpers to join our kids and youth work teams and for more families to join our congregation. If you think this could be you, please do get in touch with Dave Atallah.