Chaplaincy Centre, University of Reading

To all our lovely students as we watch a tiny number of racists, anti-migrants, and Islamophobes claim the airwaves, remember: we are One World of rich diversity.

Congratulations to all who are finishing their studies! Well done for whatever you have achieved. I trust that God looks on your flourishing with as much joy as we gaze at the glories of the Harris Garden. Rest well, take a break (if you can) and whatever the past has held, step foot with confidence and expectation into the future.

Come on down to the Chaplaincy for our end of year BBQ!

Meat and veggie food available today at the Chaplaincy 12-2pm, suggested £2.50 donation.

Lovely visit to Silchester with students today

Our Catholic Chaplain Fr Stan writes:

The moment of Pentecost in our spiritual lives occurs when Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, anchors us in the hard facts of our daily realities, stripping away illusions and imaginations. This profound experience shifts our focus from the natural to the supernatural, establishing a unique relationship with the Father, similar to the one Jesus Himself has.

At Pentecost, we are uprooted from our self-centredness and firmly planted in Christ. This transformation is a work of the Holy Spirit within us, facilitated by Jesus. The Holy Spirit forges bonds that enable us to live with Jesus, through Jesus, and in Jesus.

The Holy Spirit makes possible everything Jesus said and did in our lives. While Jesus transforms the Old Testament commandment from "love your neighbour as yourself" to "love one another as I have loved you", the Holy Spirit elevates our lives to Jesus’ standard. This higher form of love empowers us to embrace others with unconditional, forgiving, and sacrificial love.

Jesus further reveals that the true source of Christian joy is the assurance of God’s love for us. The Holy Spirit prepares us to express our love for others, even to the point of being willing to lay down our lives for them, just as Jesus did for us.

In this way, Christian love reaches those who may seem unlovable, ungrateful, or even hostile, with the same unconditional, forgiving, and sacrificial love that Christ shows us. This is our Christian calling: to love others as Jesus has loved us and as He continues to love them.

May the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ transform us this Pentecost.

Mushroom soup today... the Chaplaincy's Monday community soup continues to the end of term. 1-2pm £2.50 costs/donation

Our thought this week is written by URC Chaplain, Stephen:

Pentecost: Preparing Our Hearts Before and After

In the midst of this busy season, the celebration of Pentecost holds profound significance. What many consider to be the Birthday of the Church. This day marks the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon believers, empowering them for a life of purpose and service.

Before Pentecost, the disciples were gathered in an upper room together, praying and seeking God's promise (Acts 1:14). This period of waiting underscores the importance of preparation and expectancy in our own lives. As we navigate the challenges of life, let us also cultivate a spirit of prayer and anticipation for God's work in us and through us.

On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended like a rushing wind and tongues of fire rested on each believer (Acts 2:2-4). This miraculous event transformed ordinary individuals into bold witnesses for Christ. Similarly, the Spirit empowers us to live out our faith authentically amidst the challenge of balancing uni life and life life. 😊

After Pentecost, the disciples were filled with courage to proclaim the gospel boldly (Acts 2:14-41). They were united in purpose, devoting themselves to teaching, fellowship, and prayer. Likewise, Pentecost challenges us to be intentional in our faith community, supporting and encouraging one another in our spiritual journeys.

As we approach the season of Pentecost, let us prepare our hearts to receive a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for God's empowerment to live the Gospel on our campuses and beyond. May we be open to the Spirit's leading, allowing the Spirit to work in us and through us for the Glory of God.

Beyond Pentecost, let us remain steadfast in our devotion to Christ and His mission. Let us continue in prayer, community, and the study of God's Word. May the celebration of Pentecost inspire each of us to live every day in the power of the Holy Spirit, shining the light of Christ in every area of our lives.

Some things to consider this Pentecost: What will change for you before and after the season, and what will remain the same?

Every Blessing, Stephen

Great to interview on her doctoral research about the theology of human-canine relations for Reading's Cafe Theologique, hosted at the friendly (Reading). Video to follow our YouTube (linktr.ee/uorchaplaincy)

Our thought for this week is written by our Baptist Chaplain Alina:

Post exam stress disorder is real and can be quite traumatic for some people. Such stressful events can have a detrimental effect on our mental health as well as our physical health. Such frequent and prolonged experiences can develop anxiety and can have a negative effect on self-esteem. These low emotions can eat up your inner confidence and stop you from excelling academically and create barriers to learning.

Growing up, I was awful in Maths, and I absolutely dreaded being in the classroom. Sitting for exams for those many years under such pressure and anxiety caused me to have nightmares every now and then, which makes me realise how awful those experiences were. And I am so glad that I didn’t give up and that this phase has passed. Having a goal, having my faith in God and having right support around me helped me to overcome those great hurdles and wrong voices that could have stopped me from learning and becoming the best version of myself.

I still experience similar forms of stress and challenges; I can still feel inadequate and incompetent in certain areas at certain times. But what I don’t feel any more is the fear of failing and the fear for future because I have learned not to give up but to look up to God for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. When we lack wisdom, strength and confidence in life to achieve our goals or meet the deadlines, we can learn to pause and ask God for help. James 1:5 says, “If anyone lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Take heart and embrace the challenges you are facing now. Find confidence in these words from Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” We can replace our fear with faith and not give up if we want to see the best version of ourselves. Be kind and patient to yourself if you want to win your battle.

The Chaplaincy Bible for Bluffers group visit at his new job (Salisbury Cathedral)

Chpalaincy Assistant Rae writes:

This week I’ve been reflecting on new beginnings. Spring is well and truly sprung, and the weather is getting delightfully warm again. I have a new job starting in July, and my baby nephew is being baptised this weekend, my parents’ first grandchild. Apparently he doesn’t sleep much, which Mum says is revenge since neither did we at that age.

Every new beginning is a gift, at once scary and exciting. Besides the general challenge of starting in a new place with new people, my new job has a lot of potential for starting new initiatives and groups. I won’t know what will work or what won’t until I try things and see what happens. That can be hard to deal with, but by relying on God to work through both my successes and failures I hope to be able to push through my fear to do the work I am called to.

With God’s help let us face new beginnings with hope and confidence.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Today's reflection comes from Fr Stan:

In what way can we sense how much God cares for us and the world? Let us reflect on the Resurrection of Christ in the light of the events of Good Friday. The connection between these two days will help us digest the mystery of God's love for us on a daily basis.

The Risen Christ is the same who was crucified on the Cross, who died before many overtaken by hatred. The depth of His heart is revealed in His agony, becoming a source of life gushing forth for souls. The expired Jesus became an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world.

On Good Friday, Christ's side was pierced with a lance, and Blood and Water gushed forth from His Heart as a fount of mercy for us. This event became incredibly fruitful, especially on and after Sunday when the tomb was found empty. The flames of mercy have been burning ever since, as Christ desires to pour them out upon each one of us, upon every human soul.

It was after the Easter event when Peter, who took part in the Passion of the Lord in a very specific way, experienced for the first time the depths of God's unconditional love. His meeting with the Risen Christ helped Peter realize that the Lord had penetrated his soul as the betrayer and loved him until the end. This stark truth of love amazed Peter and formed in him a sense of shepherdhood. A new way of thinking and being was born in that encounter. Peter understood that there is no misery that could match Christ's mercy, for it only increases as it is granted. The soul that trusts in Jesus is most fortunate, for Jesus Himself takes care of it. "Jesus, I trust in you."

Embracing Rest and Renewal

“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you’” (John 20:19 NRSV).

And Breathe…
Peace/Shalom be with you!

The Easter story invites us to pause and reflect on the profound significance of resurrection, rest and renewal.

Following the resurrection of Jesus the disciples had experienced intense grief, fear, and uncertainty, only to be transformed by the joy and hope of witnessing Christ’s victory over death. In this transformative moment, the disciples were not immediately propelled into action. Instead, they were instructed to wait and receive the promised power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5).

This period of waiting was so important for the disciples to rest, reflect, and renew their spirits.

Similarly, in our own journeys, we can glean wisdom from their example. True discipleship involves not only active engagement but also intentional periods of rest and reflection.

In the rhythm of university life, let us not overlook the importance of rest. Just as the disciples waited expectantly, let us also embrace moments of stillness, allowing ourselves to be rejuvenated and empowered by the transformative message of Easter. May this season be a reminder that true growth often springs from moments of quiet renewal.

And Breathe…
Peace/Shalom be with you!

Every Blessing,
Stephen

If you are looking for a church over the Holy Weekend check out our leaflets which can be downloaded from our Linktree in our bio or just Google!

As the Lenten season draws to a close, let us reflect and look back on our lives to see how we have lived these past few weeks and make amends in order to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ to the full. Lent summons us and enables us to come back to the Lord wholeheartedly.

God loves us so much that even when we have gone far away because of our wrongdoings, He gives us another opportunity to return to him. God will always do his part in saving us because He is faithful, but we, due to our human frailty, might be lacking in grace. Thus, God challenges us to “Wash and make ourselves clean, take our evil deeds out of His sight; stop doing wrong, learn to do right… (Isaiah 1:16-17).

In the book of Isaiah 1:18, God invites us once more. He says, “Come now, let us settle the matter”, meaning whatever it is that is holding you back, come let us talk about it. He assures us of His forgiveness when he says, “Even if your sins are like scarlet or red as crimson, they shall be as white as snow”. God does not look at our faults but cherishes our efforts.

So, it is right then say with the psalmist, “Forgive my sins and errors O Lord and teach us your ways”. We pray the Lord give us the courage to return to Him, so that we continue to walk in His path.

Sr Margaret Ochigbo, Assistant Catholic Chaplain

The weekend before last we went on retreat at Douai Abbey. We had a lovely time with students from Bristol, Oxford Brookes and Reading. We learned about Benedictine monasticism, joined the monks in their daily offices (extra kudos to those who attended the 6:20 am Lauds and Matins!), and learned some new ways to pray, via the mediums of photography and paper cutting.

I also gave a sermon, the conclusion of which I shall reproduce here:
If you take one thing away from this sermon, let it be that we should not cling to suffering but work through it together. After all, Christ accepted help on the way to the cross. When we deny our own needs, we deny others the chance to serve us in turn. As the hymn we are about to sing says, “Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you. Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.” May God grant us that grace. Amen

Rae Douglas, Chaplaincy Assistant

This week our Bible for Bluffers bible study is looking at the difficult bits of Paul's letters. What did Paul actually write about women? And what did he mean? Join us 1-2pm today (6th March) for lunch and friendly discussion.

Time and location: 1-2pm Wednesday 6th March at the Chaplaincy

Thanks to everyone who contributed to our Faith and Cake interfaith discussion group last night! We had some excellent conversations about food and fasting in a really friendly atmosphere.

Fr Stan writes:
Time flies, and it appears to be escaping from us. We can hardly catch up with ourselves and our duties, let alone our neighbours. However, they do exist and are also coping in a similar manner. We may be forgetting, but Lent is in progress, and its words, "Repent and believe in the Gospel," echo within us, if only we allow them to be active. We have been invited to open our hearts and surrender them to Christ, allowing Him to touch our weaknesses and be our focus. Lent is both discomforting and a healing exercise. The beauty of Lent is expressed in the deep discovery of God's love, preparing us to celebrate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. In the words "Repent and believe," we emphasize the importance of hearing our names called by Jesus in the depths of our hearts. With complete confidence, we shall unravel our sinfulness to God, beginning the penance, practising spiritual sacrifices, observing more intense fasting, and engaging in acts of charity. Together, we will tune our hearts to support one another in the liberating journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, from the slavery of sin to the dignity and beauty of God’s children, from the Biblical foreign countries to the Fatherland - the journey of the Prodigal Son.

We had a great time on retreat at Douai Abbey. Thanks to the monks for their hospitality and to everyone who joined us from the Universities of Reading, Bristol, and Oxford Brookes. It was great to meet new people and to explore different forms of prayer including photography and paper cutting.

United Reformed Chaplain Stephen writes:

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.” Matthew 4:1-2 NRSV

The season of Lent began on Ash Wednesday, this year that same Wednesday was Valentine’s Day. Ash Wednesday falling on Valentine's Day is significant as it juxtaposes themes of love and sacrifice. It prompts us to reflect on the deeper meaning of love—both romantic and divine—and invites us to consider the sacrificial aspect of love as we embark on the Lenten journey of self-denial and spiritual renewal.

Jesus embarked on a profound journey—a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and spiritual fortitude. Lent echoes and reminds us of this sacred journey, and invites us to navigate our own inner deserts, confronting our weaknesses, and seeking renewal.

In the wilderness, Jesus faced temptation — a metaphor for the trials we encounter on our own paths. Like Deku from popular anime 'My Hero Academia’, who strives to become a symbol of hope despite his initial frailty, we grapple with our limitations. But just as Deku's journey unfolds through perseverance and growth, Lent offers us a similar opportunity for transformation. Walking with Jesus to confront materialism, power and ego.

As we navigate the season of Lent, may we draw inspiration from the perseverance and resilience of Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Our thought this week comes from Sr Margaret:

At the birth of Christ, the angels rejoiced and proclaimed to the shepherds, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). Isaiah prophesied about Christ, …Unto us a child is given…he will be called…Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus’ parting gift to his disciples was peace. He said, “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you. Not as the world can give” (John 14:27).

So what is peace?

Peace has been defined as “the absence of war, a state of tranquility, quiet, calm… such as when describing a place as peaceful or saying your mind is at peace. (Merriam-Webster/Oxford Dictionary).

The peace of God is beyond and different from the peace of the world. Biblical peace is more than just the absence of conflict or a state of rest. It means completeness or wholeness, and it is an individual’s spiritual restoration and it points to the presence of God in one’s life. We cannot create it by ourselves, it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. God is the source of peace, one of his names is Yahweh Shalom (Judges 6:24) which means the LORD is Peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 6:9).

So is peace only the absence of war, violence, disquietedness? Bringing this topic down to ourselves, what is it that has taken the peace and tranquility from us, are we at peace within us, or are we worried about everything (the high cost of living, tests, exams)?
Whatever it is, God offers us peace beyond our understanding. St Paul tells us, “let the peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding abide with you and always” (Philippians 4:7).

Jesus promises us a type of peace that is not the absence of war. The peace that the world cannot give, for in Him we have peace even if we go through adversities, He said “take courage, I have conquered the world” (John 16:33). God is the ultimate source of peace, he is peace not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).
Jesus gives us peace in various ways. We receive it as the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The psalmist urges us to seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14), for “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they indeed shall be called the children of God” (Matt 5:9).

It's not too late to join us for our pancake day event! We'll be making pancakes until just before 7pm, come find us in the chaplaincy just behind the library.

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in our Shabbat evening prayers last Friday! It was a lovely event and hopefully soon to be repeated.

Happy bread makers

Sr Margaret writes:

I don’t know if anyone notices that the headlines these days in the news and print media are full of stories of gunshot and knife crimes, mass shootings around the world and people missing and their bodies found days later.

The question I keep asking is: Will the problem be solved by the ban or restriction on the sale of fi****ms or knives, changing the rules around gun use, and more policemen/women and policing to tackle both existing and future crime and violence? What I hear myself saying is that the solution to this problem is not only the recruitment of more police, and restriction or withdrawal of the use of fi****ms, but also the desire by human beings not to kill or hurt other people.

The Ten Commandments give us a guiding principle, summarised into two: love of God and neighbour. The love of neighbour entails that you shall not kill, which includes any form of violent attacks, or pain inflicted on others.

Therefore, no matter how many thousands of policemen and women are recruited, or even if there were a complete retrieval of guns from everyone, as long as the love of God and neighbour and the desire not to hurt, kill and harm others is not instilled in the human person, violent crimes, such as mass shootings and stabbings etc. are still going to be present with us.

At all times, the desire to do good, and love of God and neighbour should propel our actions.

This week is the Christian Union Mission Week! Go to the marquee outside Palmer for free hot drinks, free food, and friendly talks and discussions. I can attest that the hot chocolate is excellent.

Hot drinks 11am-4pm, lunch with talk 1-2pm, talks and food 5-7pm.

Today we blessed the Chaplaincy Building for the coming year.

We use chalk to write over the entrance
" 20 + C + M + B 24"
which is short for "Christus mansionem benedicat" (May Christ bless this house)

Our thought this week comes from Assistant Catholic Chaplain, Sr Margaret Ochigbo:

“In my heart I am who I am” (St Augustine)

Our role as teachers or chaplains is in inspiring others to find the truth that lies within them.

Who we are and how we behave reflects how we feel inside, sometimes someone will encourage us and say “Follow your heart”, and when we do, we will never regret it. It is important to focus once in a while on the inner self.

In "De Magistro", St Augustine asks, how can anyone learn anything of eternal value in a world where evil exists? In answer, he explained “that those with faith in God become the subject of divine illumination”, referring to the “interior teacher” who is Christ, it is clear to all Christians that Christ is the source upon which human knowing is based. The only one who can impart truth, that is, eternal knowledge, is God. He alone is the teacher of humanity. St Augustine made known to us in his works that the source of our strength lies within us when He states, “Being admonished to return to myself, I entered into my depth, with you as guide; and I was able to do it because you were my helper...” (Confession 7,10).

St Teresa of Avila in her book "The Interior Castle" uses the image of a castle to address the relationship between God and the human person. The castle is a symbol of the human person. Teresa understands well that every human heart hungers for happiness. The journey is to the centre where God dwells.

And so let us go into our inner self and find Him (Christ).