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
Lone Working in Church – A Quick Reminder
If you’re ever working alone in the church building, please take a few simple steps to stay safe:
- a) Make sure all outside doors are locked
- b) Keep a mobile phone with you
- c) Let someone know where you are and how long you plan to be
It’s not just sensible, it helps us all look out for each other!
Basics Bank
A basket is at the back of church for donations of non-perishable food in date (dried/tinned), personal hygiene products (e.g. washing powder, toothpaste)
PCAG (Pennington Community Action Group)
Flowers have been planted outside Tesco Express store this past week to make our village more attractive. The phone kiosk by Hazel Road is also being repainted/windows repaired and plants/books can be placed there for anyone to take away for their garden/house.
Friendship Tea — Your Thoughts Welcome
Although we’ve had positive comments about our monthly Friendship Tea, attendance has dropped significantly — especially at the summer cream tea on 1st July, which was poorly attended despite all the effort put in.
We’re reluctantly considering whether it’s still viable to continue. If this is something you value, we really need your support — by coming along, encouraging others, or sharing ideas for a new approach. Do please let Shirley or Pat know your thoughts.
Minstead Trust – Performance of ‘The Rivals’
Culture in Common have offered us some reduced rate tickets and a free minibus ride to Furzey Gardens on Tuesday 5th August 7pm to see an outside performance of Sheridan’s comic masterpiece – the Rivals. Tickets: £11.50 (usually £21.50) with free return ride too. 3 pick up points in Pennington. If you are keen to take up this offer please add your name and contact details to the form at the back of church to reserve a place & buy a ticket. See Eve for details.
St Barbe Out and About – Pennington
Monday 4 August – Ages 3+ | Drop-in 11-12:30| FREE
St Barbe’s are popping over to Pennington to bring you some family fun activities inspired by their іViva México! exhibition.
Mexican Fiesta! Make a Mexican inspired musical instrument and party decorations. St Barbe’s provide the materials and inspiration – children can cut, stick and colour to their hearts content!
St Mark’s Summer Fair
We will be holding our Summer Fair on Saturday August 9th from 10 – 12 in St Mark’s Community Hall and Car Park. Please let the PCC know if you are interested in running a stall, helping with setting up the event/ refreshments.
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.
Change of Plans: Join Our Parish Rogation Walk for St Mark’s!
Saturday 23rd August 2025
We will be holding a shorter, traditional “Beating the Bounds” sponsored walk right here around our parish. This ancient Rogationtide custom involves walking the parish boundaries to pray for God’s blessing on our community and the land. It’s a wonderful way to connect with local heritage, enjoy fellowship, and appreciate our surroundings.
We warmly invite you to join this special walk, starting from St Marks Church at 10am, covering just under thirteen miles around the parish. All sponsorship will directly support the work of St Mark’s Church here in Pennington. More details will be available soon in our notices and our social media. We hope you can join us!
What is a Rogation Walk or “Beating the Bounds”?
“Beating the Bounds” is a centuries-old tradition, historically carried out around Rogationtide – the days leading up to Ascension Day. In times past, before detailed maps were common, parishioners would walk the boundaries of their parish. This served several purposes: to impress the parish layout on the memory of the community (especially the younger generation, who would sometimes ceremonially tap boundary markers with willow wands!), to check for any encroachments, and, crucially, to pray for God’s blessing on the land, the crops, and the community for the coming year.
These walks were, and still are, a beautiful way to:
- Acknowledge and give thanks for the local environment that sustains us.
- Pray for the well-being of our parish and all who live and work within it.
- Foster a sense of community as we walk and reflect together.
- Remember our local heritage and the generations who have walked these paths before us.
While we may not be physically “beating” any boundary stones, the spirit of this tradition – of prayer, community, and thanksgiving for our local area – is something we can all embrace.
Walk With Us for St Mark’s!
We warmly invite you to join this special sponsored Rogation walk around our parish. It will be a shorter, more accessible route, suitable for many. All funds raised will go directly towards supporting the vital work and mission of St Mark’s Church here in Pennington.
This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fellowship, appreciate our beautiful parish, and contribute to the flourishing of our church community.
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’.
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
- 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