Parish of Bishopstoke

Dear Friends Easter is coming. I don’t know how that makes you feel. For me there is always a mixture of emotions. Easter Day is one of the most incredible days of my year. It is a day of joy and excitement, of overwhelming gratitude and celebration. However, to get to Easter Sunday I have to first journey through Good Friday and, as we call it in our house, ‘weird Saturday’. Now for many people Easter is all about chocolate eggs, bunnies and a few days off. Even for man

I made a big mistake, like Lot’s wife in the Bible. I should have kept my eyes down and headed briskly past the window and out of the school gates. But I glanced back through the window. I thought I would catch sight of him already engaging with others, lost in the wonderful world of the primary classroom. I wanted reassurance that he was all right. I thought I wouldn’t be seen. Mistake! It tore at my heart. Dwarfed in his new grey uniform; tiny purple knees touching;

I thank everyone who braved the awful weather to come to the PHF coffee morning on 10th February. With your help, and several very generous donations, we raised £218.90. Thank you so much. I would also like to thank my friends in PHF for their love, loyalty and hard work.

This book by Mark Tanner, Bishop of Berwick, according to Archbishop John Sentamu, is ‘a gem – highly practical, light hearted and down to earth.’ As we again approach the time of our Church Annual Parochial Meeting (APCM) it is a book that would be informative for existing Parochial Church Council (PCC) members, those thinking about becoming PCC members or, in fact, full of information for anyone wondering how a church community functions – who does what, why and when? It

We are used to seeing Fairtrade products on the shelves of shops and supermarkets, but they remain there only if there is demand. Many Fairtrade fruits and fruit juices have disappeared from the shelves. Getting our five a day is good for our health — and good for the health of Fairtrade farmers and producers if we buy their products. Make sure demand stays high and don’t be afraid to ask supermarkets to stock these products and tell them why as ‘prophetic global citizens’