As we enter ‘Ordinary Time’, we start a new series with the support of the diocese, ‘Generous June’ – with a focus on God’s generosity to us and how we can be generous in return. St Thomas lead, with support from St Mark’s – and the Rt Revd Bishop Sellin, the Bishop of Southampton, leads our sermon today.
Our newest BCM candidate, Jane, leads from the lady chapel at St Mark’s today, whilst St Thomas bring the music, sermon and prayers. Today, we think about a prayerful community – as we look forward to Thy Kingdom Come.
We’re leading once more from St Mark’s, where one of our BCM Worship team tie together the hymns, prayer and sermon from our friends at St Thomas. Our focus today is on a Jesus centred community – as Peter gets to task on vines in the vicarage!
As part of our APCM (that’s the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, if you didn’t know but were too afraid to ask!), we’ve put together a video version too. Where so much of the past twelve months was turned upside down and went online because of pandemic lockdowns and restrictions, it felt especially right to be able to recollect on what we’ve achieved in the past year.
Today, and it’s all from St Mark’s – as we celebrate St Mark and our patronal festival! A chance to look back over the last year as our sermon today gives way to a look at all we’ve achieved with our friends at St Thomas over the past twelve months.
We’ve reached the end of Lent and from the lows of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, we’ve reached Easter day. For our 10am service, St Thomas lead and St Mark’s bring the music, prayers and sermon.
Sunday the 28th March is Palm Sunday and brings us into the last week of Lent – as we come into Holy Week and the journey to the cross at Easter. For our 10am service we’re proud to present our dramatized Passion reading, brought by members of both St Mark’s and St Thomas churches.
Sunday the 28th February is the Second Sunday of Lent and for our 10am service it’s Paul and Eve – BCM Worship and Creation Care – who are taking the lead with a focus on fair trade. How we shop makes a difference – a cheap deal for us can mean continued poverty for others and detrimental climate change for us all!
Sunday the 21st February is the First Sunday of Lent and for our 10am service it’s St Thomas who are taking the lead with a focus on fasting …and over to St Mark’s to talk about food in prayers! Today George Kidner, taking part in the Bishops Permission to Preach, brings the sermon.
Wednesday 17th February is Ash Wednesday and St Mark’s and St Thomas churches come together for a 6pm service of ashing. Ash Wednesday focuses the Christian’s heart on repentance and prayer, through personal and communal confession.
