Notices for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 16, 2025

The following activities are taking place each week. All are welcome to join us:

Sundays

  • 8:00am – BCM Communion Service
  • 10:00am – Contemporary Service (Communion service on the first and third Sunday of the month, informal morning praise on the second and fourth Sunday of the month)

Mondays

  • 9:00 – 9:30am – Morning Prayer on Zoom with St Thomas and St Mark’s – Parish Prayer zoom link

Tuesdays

  • 9:00 – 9:30am – Morning Prayer on Zoom with St Thomas and St Mark’s – Parish Prayer zoom link
  • 1:30 – 4:00m – Strictly Come Crafting. 2nd & 4th Tuesday at the Community Hall. Contacts Dorothy Davies 01590 676163 or Shirley Saunders 01590 677628
  • 2:30 – 3.45pm – Friendship Teas 1st Tuesday in month (except in August) at the Community Hall. Contacts Shirley Saunders  01590 677628 or Pat Wright 01590 678416

Wednesdays

  • 9:00 – 9:30am – Morning Prayer on Zoom with St Thomas and St Mark’s – Parish Prayer zoom link
  • 10:15 – 10:30am – Morning Prayer at St Mark’s Church (4th Wednesday only)
  • 10:30 – 11:30am – Coffee at St Mark’s Church (4th Wednesday only)

Thursdays

  • 9:00 – 9:30am – Morning Prayer on Zoom with St Thomas and St Mark’s – Parish Prayer zoom link
  • 12:00 – 12:45pm – Advice Outreach, from NFDC and Citizens Advice
  • 12:45 – 1:45pm – Fareshare Larder – St Mark’s Community Hall Car Park

Fridays

  • 9:00 – 9:30am – Morning Prayer on Zoom with St Thomas and St Mark’s – Parish Prayer zoom link

Saturdays

  • 9:00 – 9:30am – Morning Prayer on Zoom with St Thomas and St Mark’s – Parish Prayer zoom link

Spring Watch – St Mark’s Style!

How lovely that Blue Tit families have chosen St Mark’s church in Pennington as their home this spring! The Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is a small and colourful bird, easily recognised by its vibrant blue wings, yellow chest, and lively nature. These charming birds are known for their acrobatic antics in the trees and their cheerful, high-pitched calls that brighten any garden or green space.

Bird boxes like the one in our church grounds play a vital role in supporting native bird populations, especially as natural nesting sites become scarcer due to urban development and habitat loss. Providing a safe place to raise their young helps species like the Blue Tit thrive, and contributes to broader conservation efforts. We are thrilled that our churchyard, with its peaceful environment and greenery, has become a haven for wildlife. It’s a joy to see nature flourishing right here in our community, and a reminder of the small but important ways we can care for creation.

a handful of fledgling Blue Tits, recently emerged from their nest and still covered in soft juvenile feathers. At this stage, they are just beginning to explore the world beyond the nest box, with stubby wings and fluffy down still visible. They huddle together for warmth and reassurance, a natural behaviour in young birds that haven't fully gained their independence.
This fledgling, with its soft downy feathers and wide yellow gape, is a clear sign that the nesting season is in full swing.
newly hatched chicks, still blind and mostly featherless, are nestled together in a beautifully crafted nest made of moss, animal hair, and feathers. Their translucent pink skin and closed eyes show just how vulnerable and dependent they are at this stage. A few wide-open beaks are visible—classic begging behaviour as they instinctively call out for food from their parents.

Upgraded Sound System for St Marks

Thank you to all those that have generously donated to our recent appeal for contributions to assist with the costs of the roof and heating repairs.

We have just received permission to modernise our sound system in the Church which will be to the benefit of all our congregations and if you are able to help with The cost which will be £5,000 we would be very grateful. these are challenging times for many, we ask you to prayerfully consider what you might be able to give to help us. Every contribution, no matter the size, is deeply appreciated and makes a meaningful difference in preserving our church for current and future generations. A box will be at the back of church for any donations to help fund this new sound system.

Thank you for your ongoing support, prayers, and commitment to our church family. If you would like to contribute specifically toward these expenses, you can do so here.

The Gospel Walk

Still in planning but will you join us for The Gospel Walk at some point in May or June: a pilgrimage that connects our community with the rich spiritual heritage of the Gospels? This special walk is not just a journey through the stunning landscapes of Hampshire but a journey through faith, as we visit churches named after the Gospel writers—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

A fundraising walk to help towards the cost of our new sound system, can you help with the planning or interested in taking part? Reach out to Paul if you are!

Easy Fundraising

As you shop online, consider using Easy Fundraising to start that journey; doing so, you can help St Marks through affiliation as you shop on many online stores! Details available here:

https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stmarkspcc

Holy Communion Intinction

The CoE’s national policy is that intinction (dipping) of wafers is not permitted, to keep safe those with particular health conditions. Those with severe allergies, particularly to gluten, can become seriously ill. There is a chance that a person’s fingers could touch the outside of the chalice or the wine, as hands carry many more germs than found on our lips.

It is important to remember receiving Communion in ‘one kind’ is still Communion ‘in full’.

Jubilee Singers Concert

On Saturday June 7th the Jubilee Singers will be singing in our church at 2pm. We will be meeting with the organisers this Wednesday to finalise details. Make a note in your diaries to come and enjoy a fun singing afternoon.

Full Fibre Broadband

Join us for a community meeting at St Mark’s Community Hall on Monday May 19th 2025 from 6.15 – 7.30pm. The meeting will hear more about the plans Wessex Internet have for our community.

Craft Market

Every Wednesday from 10.30am – 3pm in the United Reformed Church Hall there is an artisan craft market. They are selling local New Forest products e.g. cakes, jams, gifts, decorations, etc. The URC are members of Christians Together in Lymington and Pennington and it would be a friendly gesture to support their efforts.

Pennington Community Hub

The Community Hub continues it’s successful work on Thursday in the Community Hall from 12pm to 2pm.

Daily Prayer

With St Thomas in Lymington, we continue to ‘pray for our nation, for its leaders, its health and essential services and all those who suffer’ this week at 9am on Zoom. Led by members of St Mark’s and St Thomas congregations, this now runs Monday through Friday.

Daily prayer is also taking place in St Thomas church from 9am on Saturdays

Coming together, we offer daily prayer for the situation in Ukraine.

Please do join them either by computer or phone:

  • https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
  • Meeting ID: 895 2990 2640 Passcode: 2020
  • Dial in from a landline phone: 0131 460 1196

St Mark’s Flower Decoration

If you would like to give flowers to commemorate an anniversary or other special day, or remember a relative or friend, please enter your name on the poster at the back of church against the date you would like your flowers to decorate the church and/or contact:- Lin Haley on 01590 677904

YouTube and Facebook

All our services can be found on our YouTube channel here. We also post details about or services and events on our Facebook page too, here.

Online Connection Information

Zoom Details

  • Pennington Church General Zoom link:
  • From a landline phone: 0203 481 5240 Meeting ID: 944 5816 8956 Passcode: 1839
  • Parish Prayer Zoom Link:
  • From a landline phone: 0203 481 5240 Meeting ID: 895 2990 2640 Passcode: 2020

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PenningtonChurch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMarksChurchPennington