Parish of Bishopstoke

Dear Friends As we enter the season of Remembrance there is an extra level of poignance this year as we realise that it is 100 years since the end of World War 1. A hundred years is long time and yet World War 1 still seems like recent history – near enough that we are connected in some way with it. It was only in 2009 that we lost Britain's last survivor of the First World War trenches, Harry Patch, known as 'The Last Tommy’. It is good that we remember, and it is good to

In Bishopstoke we will be marking the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War One in some special ways. On Sunday 11 November, there will be an Act of Remembrance on Glebe Meadow starting at 10.45 am, including the two minutes’ silence and the laying of wreaths at the war memorial. This will finish at about 11.15 am, and people are then most welcome to make their way up to St Mary’s if they wish for a short service for all ages from 11.30 am – 12 noon. (There will still b

Each year, on Remembrance Sunday, the ringers at St Mary’s church have marked the occasion by ringing before the morning service with the bells half muffled in memory of those who died in the First World War and the many conflicts since. This special type of ringing involves tying a leather pad, called a muffle, to one side of each clapper. When it is rung, a bell swings through a full circle then back again. The bell sounds alternately loud and quiet, an effect sometimes

During December we’d like to place as many small knitted angels as possible around Bishopstoke and also give them to younger children at school if there are enough. Some people are already working on this, but it would be great to have even more. They are being made in various, shapes, sizes and colours, but tend to be about 6 inches / 15 cm tall. If you’d like a pattern or ideas, please contact Wendy Dale on 8064 2292. And once they are done, please bring them to either c

Thank you so much for all the food donations for the Basics Bank – they were much appreciated. We also raised a total of £325 (plus some Gift Aid) for Embrace the Middle East’s ‘Hampers of Hope’ appeal for refugees in Lebanon. If you would like to find out more about EME or support them, there are magazines and gifts & cards catalogues at the back of church.

On behalf of Margaret Sharp and myself, I would like to thank everyone who helped make this such a successful event. In all, we raised £340. It was great to see everyone chatting away, particularly as we hosted some visitors. God bless you all, Joy Barnard

Dear Friends I thoroughly enjoyed Bishopstoke Players’ rendition of ‘The Vicar of Dibley’ last week. As always, there was great acting, and it’s so good to see so many local people really involved in it. I discovered that Dibley Parish Church is dedicated to St Barnabas. It’s not uncommon to find this misspelled as ‘Barnabus’ as if it was a Latin name. But it’s actually Hebrew – and a nickname… In the early church – not long after the resurrection of Jesus and Pentecost –

This year, our All Souls service will take place on Sunday 4 November at 3.30 pm at St Mary’s. This is a time when you can come to church to remember departed loved ones, whether they have passed away recently or several years ago. The gentle service will last about 40 minutes and there will be the opportunity to light candles in memory of your loved ones. Afterwards, refreshments will be served and people will be around for a chat, if you would like to stay.

This year’s Anniversary Service will be on Wednesday 24th October at 2.30 pm at St Paul's, and we are delighted that Revd Jono Harvey (pioneer curate in Eastleigh until recently) will be our speaker. EVERYONE is very welcome and the service will be followed by refreshments for all those able to stay. Please come and help us celebrate 41 years of prayer, love and fellowship.

Our second ‘Wave of Light’ service will take place at St Mary’s at 7 pm on Monday 15 October – Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day. It will be a gentle time for anyone who has lost a baby (before or after birth), or young child, to come, reflect and remember. It will last about 35 minutes and will be followed by refreshments for those who wish to stay.