The Parish Church of St Andrew's, Medsteadwelcome | faith | services | events | news | archive | people | church | village | friends | location |
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The Parish Church of St Andrew's, Medsteadwelcome | faith | services | events | news | archive | people | church | village | friends | location |
|
January-March 2008
Summer Kids' Club
PCC Meeting: 26th Mar
Our Vision: Your Talents
Sharia Law
Easter Kids' Activity Day
Ben's Lent Message
Lenten Lunches 2008
PCC Meeting: 14th Jan
Mercy Home Building Completed
Medstead WI
Bowls Club
Ben's New Year Message
Easter At St. Andrew's
Winchester Passion
Family Services
Church Cleaning Rota
Lent Study Group
2008 Social Events
Quiz Night
Future Church Interior
St. Andrew's Cookbook
Refectory Duties
What's New
Honorary Canons
Karamoja Roadshow
Children's Bibles
Births, Deaths & Marriages
October-December 2007
July-September 2007
April-June 2007
January-March 2007
October-December 2006
July-September 2006
April-June 2006
January-March 2006
October-December 2005
July-September 2005
April-June 2005
January-March 2005
October-December 2004
July-September 2004
April-June 2004
January-March 2004
November-December 2003
Anglicans Online
BBCi: Christian News
The Church of England Gazette
The Church of England Newspaper
Church Times Online
Diocese Of Winchester
Ekklesia
Ship of Fools
St. Andrew's website is:
Looking forward to the balmy days of summer, the Benefice is planning to hold a Kids Club for primary school aged children, during the first full week of the summer holidays: Wednesday, 30th July to Friday, 1st August.
Each day will start at 10.00am and finish at 2.30pm and will be full of creative, play and sporting activities for children to do.
To help us gauge likely demand, please let us know if your children would be interested in coming.
Simply download this form, complete, and return it to Kathryn. We will then send you more detailed information nearer the date. Forms are also available from Bentworth and Medstead Primary Schools and the Benefice Churches.
If you would like to be involved as a helper then please talk to Kathryn or Charlie Shaylor. Volunteers need to sign up early as we undertake necessary child protection checks with Winchester Diocese and the CRB, which take a significant amount of time to process.
We also need offers of financial support from local businesses and, nearer the time, loans of sporting equipment to help our 2008 Olympics theme.
We are being assisted by The Church of the Good Shepherd in Four Marks. 2008 is their centenary year which they are marking by running one hundred missions and our Jam Kids' Club is one of them. We are grateful to them for their support and encouragement and also to Rob Wood at Bentworth School, for the use of their facilities.
Kathryn Flenley
Related Links:
Our Child Protection Policy
Downloads:
Interest Form
Right click on the link, select "Save Target As..." to save the file to a local directory. The form is in Microsoft® Word format, compressed using Winzip.
The Parochial Church Council met on Wednesday, 26th March and, in addition to the usual items of business, discussed the following:
The next PCC Meeting will be held on Monday, 19th May at 8.00pm in the Church Hall. If you have any matters you would like discussed, please contact the PCC Secretary.
Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting will take place in the Church Hall on the evening of Wednesday, 30th April. We would like a full attendance so the elections for Churchwardens and PCC Members can truly represent the wishes of the full Church. The meeting should only last about 40 minutes, so please do attend.
Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18).
At the 11.00am Parish Communion service on Sunday, 3rd February we celebrated the many offers of time, talents and giving from our Vision Day Pass It On programme.
Individual letters of thanks have been sent to each person who completed a Pass It On pack: we had an excellent response with 54% (56/104) of respondents offering their time and talents, whilst 35% (36/104) pledged their giving to the church.
To follow up on the offers of help which have been made, we held an open Talents In Action meeting on Wednesday, 27th February in the Church Hall.
After an introduction and prayers by Churchwarden Ian Jurd we were invited to join one of four groups covering the main areas of Our Vision: Worship & Prayer, Christian Education & Personal Growth in Faith, Care & Our Community, Buildings & Administration.
These groups addressed the need for teams to implement the aims of Our Vision and generous offers were made to lead these various, vital teams.
Following this meeting, the Vision Group held a de-briefing meeting on Wednesday, 5th March to discuss how the new offers of leadership would be coordinated to implement Our Vision. The progress on appointing leaders for the various groups is as follows:
Many thanks to those named above for agreeing to lead a group. We look forward to working with all those who expressed a willingness to be involved with the various groups.
The first group to meet was the Communications Group: congratulations to Pat for making an early start. One of the changes agreed by the group was to improve the pewsheet and distribution of a parish diary amongst the various committees.
If you have any suggestions to make on improving the pewsheet, please contact Chris Tew.
Download:
Our Vision
Related Links:
Our Vision Launched
Vision Day
As I began to ponder what topic I might address in this month's article, news reached me of the Archbishop of Canterbury's lecture on Sharia Law, and of the interview he gave on the BBC's World at One programme. Oh dear! The deadline for this article is tonight and I've only just downloaded a copy of his address.
My instinctive reaction is to say that I need time to read his article for myself so that I might give only a considered opinion in response - something which this world of instant communication increasingly seeks to avoid. Just sitting here watching Newsnight, I see various 'experts' all drafted in to give instant answers to these complex issues. How wise those court judges are who, at the end of a long and intricate case, reserve judgement to permit themselves time to think things over rather than rush to an inappropriate sentence. "Marry in haste, repent in leisure", as the old proverb says.
What then can I write? One of the delights of the Church of England's being Established is that its laws are enshrined in Parliamentary law. When General Synod passes new major legislation, our new 'laws' then have to be taken to Parliament and go through the same process as any Bill before they can be regarded as law.
It can be intensely frustrating at times, since it takes us longer than other denominations to change things; their decisions can be implemented according to their own timescale. Sometimes the delay is further extended because Parliament is, frankly, not always good at finding time for Church business. But it also brings to the Church of England an additional level of scrutiny. Parliamentary debate hopefully ensures that nothing daft can happen in the Church of England (perhaps I should qualify that?), and that the Church's affairs operate under our country's legal system. So, in our case, no conflict should arise between our own discreet rules and those of the law of the land.
Judaism, it must be said, has a 'court' of a kind, the Beth Din, which can hear cases relating to Judaic Law and give general advice, for example of food laws and on parliamentary legislation which might impact upon Jewish religious practice, but this is not a separate legal system operating alongside, and potentially in conflict with, the law of the state. The same is true of the other Christian denominations, which all have their own systems and rules, but hold themselves subordinate to the country's legal system.
My understanding is that some Muslims would like to see Sharia Law take precedence - that's a whole different scenario. If that's what the Archbishop of Canterbury was suggesting, I'd have great difficulty in 'toeing the line'. The furore will work its way out and, hopefully, Archbishop Rowan will be given the opportunity to further explain.
By the way, Easter falls at the end of March. I look forward to greeting many of you in church on Easter Day.
Ben Flenley
Comments? email
On Saturday, 22nd March we held a Benefice children's activity day for Easter, in the Church Hall.
Aided by a large cohort of enthusiatic helpers, twenty-one children aged between 5 and 11 travelled with Jesus as he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and continued the journey which led to Good Friday and beyond...
There were a variety of activities based on the events which took place.
The children made a banner of palm leaves, to evoke the excitement of Palm Sunday, a mobile of doves and prayer hearts, to illustrate Jesus' anger in the Temple, and bookmarks to give as presents, to remind them of the woman who anointed Jesus' feet with precious ointment.
The children also made bread, which became part of a re-enactment of the Last Supper and painted their feet, as a symbol of Jesus washing his disciples' feet.
The footprints were used to make posters for each Church's Easter Day services. Each child also created their own Easter Garden, to take home, and an Easter Garden to display in the Church.
The day could not have taken place without such an enthusiastic team so a big 'thank you' to all those who so willingly gave of their time.
Our next event, a Summer Kids' Club for primary school aged children, will be held during the first full week of the summer holidays, from Wednesday, 30th July to Friday, 1st August.
Kathryn Flenley
I don't know about you, but I feel a bit 'rushed' into Lent this year. Easter is so early, our penitential season begins on 6th February, which is almost as early as the Christian calendar provides. Nevertheless, it will feel strange celebrating the Easter weekend during term-time.
Lent is sometimes described as "this joyous season", which can seem a little strange. We begin (on Ash Wednesday, of course) with ashes, signs of decay, of dreams lost, of things burnt beyond recognition; little of this might seem like a cause for celebration or joy. In common with many churches, we remove the flowers, 'dress' the church in sombre purple and stop singing Alleluias. On Good Friday, all signs of brightness are removed from church and the altar is stripped bare.
But through this season we are led to consider our God, who sent his only Son to become like us, so that we ordinary mortals might become like God. "For while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) and "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:17). Now there's reason to party!
As is customary, we shall hold Lent study groups in Medstead (Mondays - probably) and Lasham (Tuesdays) following, this year, a course entitled Living out God's story. It will comprise six sessions, with workbooks available for each person who comes. The emphasis of the studies will be on the application of the Bible. We'll be encouraged not just to learn facts but to ask, for example, "How does this apply to me? What change does it require of me?" These study groups are open to all comers, so look out for further details in church.
It's also the season of Lent Lunches. The Bentworth/Shalden/Lasham cycle will commence at Bentworth at 12.00 noon on Saturday, 9 February, moving to each of the other churches in turn on successive Saturdays. At Medstead, the pattern of six Lent Lunches, with speakers, run from Ash Wednesday, 6th February to Friday, 14th March.
Look forward to seeing you there!
Ben Flenley
Comments? email
One of St. Andrew's major charity fund raising events is our annual series of Lenten Lunches, with invited speakers. This year, our lunches were held in aid of the following charities:
Ash Wednesday, 6th February: Brain Tumour Trust / Luke Frost Brain Tumour Research Fund.
Medstead residents Linda and Gary Frost have been funding brain tumour research projects since their son Luke died in 1998. Brain tumours are difficult to treat with established cancer treatments and the only way children like Luke may survive in future is to fund high quality research.
The lunch was preceded, at 11.00am, by an Ash Wednesday Communion Service.
Thursday, 14th February: Kathryn Mercy Home
Provides board, lodging and an education for 80 deprived children in Devakottai, Tamil Nadu, South India. The Mercy Home relies almost entirely upon a network of sponsors and unlike most other schemes there are no hidden costs or overheads, all the money raised will go directly to the Mercy Home and make a direct and real difference to a child's life.
Monday, 18th February: Women's Refuge, Alton
Tuesday, 26th February: St. Michael's Hospice
Helps people faced with a life-limiting illness, their families and carers by providing a choice of specialist care and support to enable them to attain the highest possible quality of life.
Saturday, 8th March: Riding for the Disabled
Dedicated, through providing opportunities for riding and carriage driving, to improving the health, well-being and lives of people with disabilities. Our nearest Riding for the Disabled centre is at Broadlands Riding Centre, in Medstead.
Friday, 14th March: Lighodo Village School
A Medstead Primary School project. Chestnut class have been learning about Kenya this year and have established links with the Lighodo Primary School. They aim to raise £350 to buy lunch benches for the newly built kitchen at the school.
This year we received a total of £759 in donations and each of the participating charities was able to receive £126.50. Thank you to all those who helped with and supported the Lunches, and thanks to Mary Spinks for organising the event.
Related Links:
Lenten Lunches, 2007
Lenten Lunches, 2006
Lenten Lunches, 2005
Lenten Lunches, 2004
The Parochial Church Council met on Monday, 14th January and, in addition to the usual items of business, discussed the following:
The next PCC Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 26th March at 8.00pm in the Church Hall. If you have any matters you would like discussed, please contact the PCC Secretary.
The next Benefice Joint Standing Committee Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 30th January at 8.00pm in the Church Hall.
Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting will take place in the Church Hall on the evening of Wednesday, 30th April. We would like a full attendance so the elections for Churchwardens and PCC Members can truly represent the wishes of the full Church. The meeting should only last about 40 minutes, so please do attend.
Following your generous donations the land adjacent to the Karthryn Mercy Home in Devakottai, South India has been purchased and building work - to provide a refectory, boys home and an infant school - has now been completed.
As a result, the Mercy Home now educates 100 infant children and has 7 teachers working in the school.
The Reverend Jeyapaul will be visiting the UK from 1st May to 15th July. He will be staying at the Rectory for some of the time, which will be an opportunity to hear first hand the latest news and information about the Mercy Home.
Thank you so much for all you support in providing the funds. If you would like to know more about the Mercy Home or are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Kathryn.
Kathryn Flenley.
Related Links:
Building Begins
Appeal Update
The 90th anniversary year of Medstead WI got off to a good start on 10th January when members gathered to enjoy a delicious New Year lunch. With outside caterers in charge in the kitchen it was a real treat for everyone to be able to sit down and enjoy a delicious meal cooked and served by 'someone else'. Five birthday girls were presented with cards and new member Pat Lyons was welcomed.
Plans are in hand to celebrate the 90th anniversary in July with a lunch, and other plans for the year were announced. The craft group will be getting busy making a new tablecloth to commemorate this special occasion and everyone who is a member in 2008 will have their name recorded on this cloth, thus providing a lasting memento of the year.
The swimming group, the walking group and the lunch group will all be busy with their various activities during the year and no doubt there will be lots of other events to report on as the year progresses.
The hall was full and there was a real buzz for the February meeting, where two new members were also welcomed.
Bill Weeks spoke with great clarity, humour and passion, taking members through the history, development and the subsequent decline of hop growing in Hampshire. In addition he has assembled eleven wonderful albums of photos and cuttings, which document the hop growing industry. A selection of these albums were brought along for members to look at.
The walking group have been out and about in great numbers in the Four Marks area, with twenty-nine going on the ramble and nine going on the amble before everyone enjoyed lunch at the Golf Club.
The craft group have started making patchwork bags and a sample was available at the meeting to tempt everyone into wanting to make one!
In March the TV cameras were rolling once again - this time Channel Four were there to film a typical WI meeting for a documentary about the resolution, passed by HCFWI members at the Autumn Council Meeting, requesting local authorities to provide brothels and make working conditions for the girls safer.
Both Jean Johnson and Shirley Landells who had proposed and seconded the resolution were there to take part in the filming, and the crew were able to film the discussions, and left saying how much they had enjoyed the afternoon amongst a lively bunch of ladies!
The walking group, both amblers and ramblers enjoyed a walk at Lasham and, as has become tradition, the March walk was dedicated to Breast Cancer. Over £130 was sent off to the charity after the walk making the total raised altogether over £1,000.
Another Medstead WI tradition is the giving of Easter gifts to senior citizens in the village and this year over 20 baskets of pot plants were delivered and very gratefully received.
The week after the meeting, an enthusiastic group of over 20 members gathered to plan the WI programme for 2009. Plenty of ideas were put forward and a plan put together, which promises another good year in prospect.
As always new members are extremely welcome to the meetings held on the second Thursday of the month in Medstead Village Hall at 2pm.
Gill Siddall
Related Links:
Medstead WI, October 2007
For some time the Bowls Club has been raising money toward making big improvements to our clubhouse facilities. The National Lottery have given us a grant of £5,400 toward the project, which, together with £750 from the Parish Council, £1000 from The Wake Trust and some of our own money, is sufficient to complete the work.
When the clubhouse was being built money was very tight and various features had to built to the minimum acceptable standard to conserve funds. Since the club opened we have gradually been making improvements. This new project is the final step toward having the clubhouse exactly as we want it. The work is now well under way and we expect to complete it during the second week of April.
On New Year's Day we held our annual Ladies versus Gentlemen match followed by a lunch of soup and mulled wine in the clubhouse. The weather was kind this year, it was not too cold and, most important, it was dry and almost windless.
Eighteen players entered and although the men won the match it was not by a big margin and it was really more of a social event than a competition. We need more lady players in the club teams and hope that we shall be able to persuade some of them to play more often.
The finals of our two winter knockout competitions, the outdoor Winter Cup and the indoor Short Mat Cup were held on Saturday, 23rd February and, although cold, the day provided excellent weather for playing bowls.
Thirty spectators were treated to two very good matches. Fred Dodd won the final of the Winter Cup for the second consecutive year, whilst he Short Mat Cup was won by Tony Page, for the fifth time in succession. Runner-up in both finals was Ted Browning who has had a remarkable year, reaching the final in all six of the competitions for which he was eligible, winning three of them.
Wilf Robinson
During the beauty contest in the film 'Miss Congeniality', ©Warner Bros, 2000, undercover FBI agent Gracie Hart is asked by compere Stan Fields: What is the one most important thing our society needs?
Isn't that a good question to consider at the start of a New Year?
To see what was topical, I ran an internet search for 'January article 2008' and was unsurprised by the results:
All very consumer orientated.
The world of beauty pageants would have none of this! Gracie Hart began by answering from her heart, but quickly recognised her error:
Gracie Hart: That would be... harsher punishment for parole violators, Stan.
crowd is silent
Gracie Hart: And world peace!
crowd cheers ecstatically
World peace - now there's an idea... Atheists like to blame religion for all the world's ills. I see that the Pope has issued a formal reply, Spe salvi, highlighting atheism's own contribution to the problem. A dialogue might ensue, even if at arm's length, but at least there's a dialogue.
Bringing people together to resolve conflict has to be better than choosing sides, but many of us prefer to look to blame someone if we can. We also tend to apply double standards: we expect that 'they' (at whatever level) will resolve their differences while we keep our disputes going.
Is there someone you don't get on with? have fallen out with? find difficult to relate to? Are you keeping an old score going long after its 'sell-by date'?
I recall Jesus' words: "Or how can you say to your neighbour, 'Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite..." (Luke 6:42)
World peace could begin with us, if only we'd make the effort to be reconciled and live in love with our neighbours. Anyone looking for a New Year's resolution?
Ben Flenley
Comments? email
This year, we held the following special Easter services and events:
Palm Sunday, 16th March:
Parish Communion Service, 11.00am.
Monday, 17th, Tuesday, 18th and Wednesday, 19th March:
Compline, 7.30pm.
A beautiful service and a wonderful way to end a stressful day.
Tuesday, 18th March:
Holy Communion Service, 9.15am.
Maundy Thursday, 20th March:
Benefice Communion, 7.30pm
at St Mary's, Bentworth.
Good Friday, 21st March:
The Last Hour: Meditation on the Cross, 2.00pm.
Saturday, 22nd March:
Children's Activity Day, 11.00am-3.00pm
Easter themed activities for Children, in the Church Hall.
Easter Day, 23rd March:
Service of Light, 6.00am
Holy Communion Service, 8.00am.
Parish Communion Service, 11.00am.
Finally, a big thank you is due to everyone who helped to decorate the church for the Easter services.
If you would like to join the Church Flowers team you really will be very welcome. All you need is the enthusiasm to see the Church looking splendid.
Please contact Gill Siddall if you would like to help.
The Winchester Passion, a modern retelling of the betrayal, death and resurrection of Jesus, took place on Good Friday, 21st March, from 6.00pm.
A cast of hundreds dramatised the story at locations across Winchester in the most ambitious free theatrical event ever to be held in the city.
Jesus and his followers entered the city from Oram's Arbour, host to a grand fête under the watchful eye of the occupying Roman army.
At the Great Hall, Jesus met with his disciples for the Last Supper. He was betrayed and brought to trial before Pontius Pilate and then King Herod outside the Law Courts. Condemned, Jesus dragged his cross down the High Street to be crucified with two thieves against the backdrop of the Cathedral's West Window.
Involving people from the city, members of local choirs, drama groups, schools, churches and the army, the evening had a lasting impact on the large crowds who came to follow the action or view the play on giant screens at the Cathedral, Great Hall and Law Courts.
Related Links:
Winchester Passion
BBC Hampshire: Winchester Passion
Our next regular, monthly, family service, with activities especially for children (and parents!) to enjoy, is in the Church Hall on Sunday, 9th March, at 11.00am.
On Mothering Sunday, 2nd March, we held a special 11.00am service for families, including a gift of chocoolates and posy of daffodils for every Mummy!
Children were invited to write a prayer about their Mummy to read out, or draw a picture of Mummy to display at the service during prayers, and there were special readings and hymns for the occasion.
"I like going to the family service. I get to see my school friends and other children. When the hymns are being sung we choose instruments to play. My favourite is the tambourine. We have some lovely children's bibles. The stories are great to listen to and look at. We often get to join in, last time we had a hunt for treasure and we all got chocolate coins. After we said some prayers, we have juice and biscuits and run around the hall, until Mummy has finished her coffee and chatting!"
Amy (aged 6)
"I like family services. At the Crib Service I was an Angel. They always have activities that we can join in with. Sometimes we write the prayers ourselves or draw pictures and read them at the service. My best instrument is the mini-shaker, I don't mind which colour I have!"
Bethany (aged 8)
We would love to see you, so please come along and join us.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who give freely of your time and energy to clean our church every week of the year. It is very much appreciated. Thank you.
During March the 2008/9 Church Cleaning Rota will be compiled. Would you like your name added?
If you know of any changes from, or additions to, last year's rota, please contact Elizabeth by Thursday, 20th March so they can be incorporated.
This year the Lent Study Group will be on the theme of Living out God's Story, with an emphasis on the practical application of the Bible to our own lives.
We'll be encouraged not just to learn facts but to ask, for example, "How does this apply to me?" and "What change does it require of me?"
All are welcome to the Study Group, which will comprise six sessions, with workbooks available for each person.
The first Study Group will meet at Braida Garth, Hattingley Road, Medstead on Wednesday, 20th February at 8.00pm for around an hour.
Adrian Barnes
Our social events are always very popular, highlights of our 2008 calendar include:
Quiz Night: 9th February
Jumble Sale: 5th April
Hog Roast: 19th July
French Evening: 11th October
Jumble Sale: 15th November
Recital: 30th November
Please see our regularly updated Events page for more details on these and other village events, and put these dates in your diaries!
If you are interested in joining the Social Committee or helping at any of the events, please contact Sharon Blackshaw.
Related Links:
Events
St Andrew's annual Quiz Night took place on Saturday, 9th February and thank you to everyone who took part.
Of the eleven teams who took part, the winners, having lulled us into a false sense of security last year, were The MPs, Medstead Players.
Special thanks are due to Wendy, Patrick and their friend Mike who prepared the questions and hosted the evening, and to the Social Committee for organising the event and the fish and chip supper.
The final profit from the event will be approximately £370.
At the PCC meeting in November it was decided a group should be formed to discuss the layout, heating, lighting and other aspects of the interior of our church.
These items have been raised individually over the years and it has been decided they, and any other relevant issues, should be considered collectively.
It is important the views and experience of the wider congregation should be considered, therefore this group is to comprise not only PCC members but also any other Church members who wish to make a contribution.
Please let a Churchwarden know if you would like to be involved in these discussions.
The Social Committee is creating a St. Andrew's Cookery Book, which will feature recipes from the congregation.
To add your recipe ideas, please email the Social Committee:
Wendy Busby
Many thanks to those who helped at the Cathedral Refectory on Thursday, 24th January.
The next duties for the St. Andrew's team at the Refectory are on Thursdays, 5th June and 7th August.
If you can help for either a whole day or half a day please contact Mary Spinks.
We are looking for more helpers, so please consider volunteering for this important contribution to the Cathedral's activities. No previous experience is needed and this is an equal opportunity job!
Keep your eyes open for the free informative publications that are available at the back of the church.
Every month The Villager, our benefice magazine is published and gives information on what is happening in the four parishes of the benefice.
Every two months The Vine is published. Successor to the Winchester Churchman and the Winchester Way, the magazine contains the Bishop's regular letter, news, events and information on Church activities throughout the Diocese.
To receive an email copy or to submit stories for inclusion in The Vine please email the Diocesan communications team.
Colour flyers advertising our website, its content and URL address are also available.
Please help yourself to copies of any of the above.
On Sunday, 20th January a large congregation, including many from St Andrew's and the wider Benefice, witnessed the Installation of the Revd Simon Baker and our Rural Dean, the Revd James Campbell, as Honorary Canons in Winchester Cathedral.
The service was essentially a sung Evensong, with the candidates being introduced and prayed for by Bishop Michael before the Dean took their oaths of service and led them to the stalls of their Canonry.
Congratulations to Simon and James on their installation as members of the college of Canons of Winchester Cathedral at this special service.
A Karamoja evening will be held on Friday, 18th January at the St. Lawrence Parish Centre, Vicarage Hill, Alton, starting at 8.00pm.
The Revd John Ellison, from Northanger Benefice, will present a film on his visit to Karamoja in June and July last year, when he attended the consecration of the new North Karamoja Bishop, James Nasak.
Kennett Westmacott, the Karamoja Link Chairman, and the Revd James Campbell, from Bentley and Binstead, will also talk about their visits to Karamoja, earlier last year. There will also be an update on support provided to Karamoja through the Alton Deanery Karamoja Link, including the Deanery's recently adopted Student Bursary Scheme.
Tea and coffee refreshments will be provided and you are warmly invited, particularly if you were unable to attend the similar presentations given at the recent Karamoja Supper.
David Hayward
Related Links:
Faith In Action: Karamoja
Karamoja Update
Karamoja Visit
The congregation at the Family Service on Sunday, January 13th was privileged to witness the blessing, by Charlie Shaylor, of ten Lion Children's First Bibles.
Many thanks to the anonymous and generous donor who was responsible for making these bibles available to the children of St Andrew's.
At 12.30pm on Sunday, 16th March we were pleased to have a Service of Baptism at which we welcomed Molly Kate Christer from Friars Oak and Oliver Patrick Scott from Wield Road, into the family of our Church.
Sidney Shrimpton, resident of Abbey Road for 20 years, passed away at home on Sunday, 24th February.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Bess, their family and friends.
Sidney's funeral took place at St Andrew's on Friday, 7th March and he was laid to rest at Medstead cemetery.
We were pleased to welcome Gareth Smith and Melanie Mitchell to St Andrew's for their wedding on Saturday, 2nd February, at noon.
Please pray for Gareth and Melanie as they embark on their lives together.
At 12.30pm on Sunday, 27th January we welcomed the Revd Jane Walker from All Saints, Alton to our church to baptise Theo and Matilda Thomas.
It is with great pleasure we welcome Theo and Matilda into the family of our Church.
Congratulations to Karen and Bradley Prior on the safe arrival of Sophie Valerie Rose, born on Thursday, 24th January at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, weighing 7lbs 2oz.
A sister for Nathan and grandchild number eight for Peter!
On Sunday, 20th January Nathan and Catharine Smoothy brought their children, Matthew and Benjamin to St. Andrew's for Benjamin's Baptism, at the 11.00am service of Parish Communion.
Surrounded by his family, godparents and friends, Benjamin almost slept though it all, stirring only slighty when Ben made the sign of the cross and for the lighting of his special Baptismal candle.
Benjamin is warmly welcomed into our Church family and we were delighted to have the opportunity to take part in his Baptism. We pray for God's blessing on him and his family, his godparents and friends.
