An article from last week’s Guardian by Giles Fraser on the current persecution that Christians face in today’s world. I was up before dawn this morning, preparing for our first service of Easter. This meant that, around the same time as bombs were going offin churches in Sri Lanka, I was reading a passage to my congregation taken from the book of Ezekiel. The passage tells … Continue reading As the Sri Lanka attacks show, Christians worldwide face serious persecution

Is there a better way to spend a Sunday than going to a great church service and having a bring and share lunch together afterwards, followed with everyone decanting to the swimming pool in Ringwood (that has been booked privately) for an hour’s swim? The only thing that could possibly make such a Sunday even better would be to raise money for charity at the … Continue reading A day of fun whilst raising money for Mercy Ships

This weekend St Mary’s is hosting a bring and share lunch and swim following the service at 10.30 am (with an hour’s break between eating and swimming). The whole of Ringwood swimming pool is privately booked for the St Mary’s congregation, whatever your age, jump in and have fun in the pool. The swimming starts at 13.45 and it’s £5 and adult – all proceeds … Continue reading St Mary’s bring and share lunch, and a swim – all for charity

This picture is by Morten Morland, a cartoonist for the Times and it was in the Times newspaper today. The saying goes – a picture paints a thousand words – and this picture certainly does achieve that. On the day when Christians gathered to celebrate the risen Christ, 290 people, many of whom were Christian, were murdered in Sri Lanka as they gathered together in … Continue reading Christianity in the crosshairs

As well as the joyful and triumphant celebration of Easter Sunday, the Sunday service at St Mary’s was also a special occasion as it saw the unveiling of the new banner at St Mary’s Church to remember Ruth Perkins. The banner was kindly donated to the church by the Perkins family, who were at the service to see the banner in all its glory. The … Continue reading A new banner to celebrate the life of Ruth Perkins

It was a glorious day to celebrate the risen Christ. Across our three churches, services were held to remember the joyous moment when Christ defeated death on the cross. All three church services at Thorney Hill, St Michael’s and St Mary’s were busy with a packed congregation gathered together as a community to celebrate the joy of Easter Sunday. Thorney Hill and St Micheal’s held … Continue reading Easter Sunday celebrated across the benefice

The the sun was shining and the doors and windows were open as the congregation gathered together in the resource centre at St Mary’s church, to remember the momentous moment when Christ was sacrificed.  The service was informal and was attended by an array of people of all different ages with hymns sung, an Easter quiz, an engaging talk and a wonderful buffet of food … Continue reading A sunny and joyful Good Friday all-age service