What happens for you when you read the bible? There may be some parts you enjoy more than others but do you wonder if the context, two thousand years later, means the same for us too?
Jane Nicholson with our director of music Leigh Jerwood perform a cover of Brenton Brown’s worship song, ‘Humble King’ during communion at our 7pm Maundy Thursday service.
Jesus shares all our fears, concerns, grief, and longings for physical healing, he feels these more deeply than we can image and shares all our emotional and spiritual pain.
Our May edition of the St Mark’s parish magazine, looking forward to ‘Thy Kingdom Come’, a time to reflect on prayer that starts at the end of May.
David, the Bishop of Basingstoke lead a confirmation service at St Mark’s Church, Pennington on Sunday 28th April at 3pm. Many from St Mark’s congregation, as well as from neighbouring St Thomas’s Church in Lymington and All Saints in Milford came to show their support for our candidates as they were confirmed – and Lauren as she was baptised – together with candidates from Lymington and Milford.
David, the Bishop of Basingstoke lead a confirmation service at St Mark’s Church, Pennington on Sunday 28th April at 3pm. Many from St Mark’s congregation, as well as from neighbouring St Thomas’s Church in Lymington and All Saints in Milford came to show their support for our candidates Bev and Alex as they were confirmed – and Lauren as she was baptised – together with candidates from Lymington and Milford.
From our Evensong service on Easter Sunday and it’s great news! Christ is risen and we have the promise of eternal life, called personally by name by Jesus. We are each called, we are known by Jesus. How often however do we not see what Jesus is doing for us, not seeing that he is there – and thus assume we’re walking alone?
It’s Good Friday. Today, we remember Jesus, and his journey to the cross. Pádraig Ó Tuama writes: “For me, Good Friday is the holiest day of the year. Not because of any worth in another brutal murder from another brutal occupying force. But because of the witness of a life lived with courage, even in the face of Roman torture. There are only two languages, Leunig says, love and fear.”
Jesus talks to his followers frankly about his death. About how his time is not forever with them, but soon to come to an end. What a terrible prospect this must have felt to the disciples around Jesus. They’d heard him speak: they’d seen his miracles: they’d shared his truth with others and devoted their lives to his cause. They were enjoying a good thing – and don’t we all want to hold on to that?
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayers strengthened him to accept God’s will the cup He wanted to be taken away was not. But through Prayer, he was able to go ahead to face his trial and crucifixion, and even with all the challenges of desertion, denial and betrayal from his disciples, he still led them out of that garden towards his destiny.