Our small groups will return from 11th January, meeting Mondays from 10:30-12:00 and Wednesdays – the time changes to 6:30-8:00pm.
Arwen Mary Folkes shared this idea online. “Gentle January’: Gentle with ourselves, gentle with each other, gentle with the to-do lists and plans, and gentle with our creation. Gentle tones of voice to accompany gentle footsteps and gentle thoughts, all of which can be gently brought into our pauses and prayers. ‘Gentle January’ sounds quite inviting to me, better than a grey or dry January. Who’s in?”
Little did I know, when I wrote you two weeks ago, that we would now be entering Tier 4 in the New Forest. You will no doubt already be aware of many of the Tier 4 restrictions and the strong stay at home messaging.
Our monthly draw club met at the end of December; did your numbers come out?
Sunday the 27th December is the the first Sunday of Christmas – and for our 10am service today it’s St Thomas taking the lead as St Mark’s provide the music, prayers with Linda Lee – chaplain at Lymington New Forest hospital – leading our sermon.
Notices for the first Sunday of Christmas – in the week following Christmas Day, we’re taking a week off!
It’s Christmas Day! Peter from St Thomas and Rachel from St Mark’s jointly lead our service today, with music and readings coming from both of our churches also. We also answer the question about the best way to break open a Chocolate Orange – all you need is a balcony…
We’ve reached Christmas Day and as we celebrate the bright new dawn, we come together to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Todays board is decorated by our vicar, Revd Rachel Noel, celebrating the community of Pennington who have worked together through lockdown to create this advent calendar. Our story is read by Rt Rev Debbie Sellin, the Bishop of Southampton.
It’s nearly Christmas Day and as we look forward to the bright new dawn, we come together to celebrate the upcoming birth of Christ.