Please note: Lent Lunches start on Friday 14 March (not this Friday as was announced in church), details below.

This Sunday

 8.30am Holy Communion- St Mary’s, Easton

10am Valley Worship (and Ark) –  St Swithun’s, Martyr Worthy

Pancake Party

What a great success our Parish Pancake Party was, almost 80 people enjoyed over 300 pancakes!  Special thanks to Gerry, Theo, Charlotte, Jean and Jenny for all their hard work in making it a such a great success.

Valley Worship this Sunday at 10am

We do hope you will be able to attend Valley Worship at 10am this Sunday (9 March) at St Swithun’s, Martyr Worthy.

As you will know, during our Valley Worship services over the last few months, Nicky and John Barber have been speaking on 1 Peter. They will continue taking themes out of the book and delving into them.

It would be really helpful if those coming along could read the whole book before we start: it is quite short – only 5 chapters—and you can read it from this link. If you weren’t able to join us in previous months, you can listen to the talks on the sermons page of our website which can be found here.

If you haven’t got the time to read the full text, John will be speaking on the following verses this Sunday:

1 Peter 1, verses 13-16

¹³ Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

 While we are enjoying the service, the children will be entertained in the Ark at the Village Hall: so please do feel free to drop them there beforehand, where they will be made very welcome.

Enjoying Luke’s Gospel in Lent

On Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent, our Gospel readings will be coming this year from the Gospel of Luke.

During these next five weeks there will be an opportunity to study together Luke’s five great chapters (Luke 19-23, one chapter each week) that tell the story of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem and his journey towards the crucifixion. There will be a daytime and evening option for this:

• Wednesdays (starting 12 March): from 12.30-1.30pm in St John’s, Itchen Abbas, over a cup of soup;
• Thursdays (starting 13 March): from 7.45-8.45pm in the Rectory, over a cup of coffee or tea.

Do please consider joining us for one of these series: it will be a great opportunity to do some Bible Study together and to think in fresh ways about the often too-familiar story of Jesus.

May Lent 2025 be a time in which we each grow in our knowledge of Jesus and his love.

ADCMs

It is the time of year when each church holds their ADCMs prior to the Parish APCM (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) which will this year be held on Friday 28 March (details below).

Avington’s meeting will be held at 8pm on Thursday 6 March at The Old Rectory, Avington.

Martyr Worthy’s meeting will be held at 11am (after Valley Worship) on Sunday 9 March at St Swithun’s.

Easton’s meeting will be held at 11am (after Parish Communion) on Sunday 16 March at St Mary’s, Easton.

Itchen Abbas’s meeting: details to be confirmed.

 An entirely NEW Electoral Roll – DEADLINE THURSDAY 13 MARCH– It is the time of year when our Electoral Roll is revisited in time for our APCM.  This year a new roll is required, which happens every five years, and this means that, rather than just renewing our existing list, everyone will need to complete a form to be included on the new Electoral Roll.  The notice period is 60 days and has begun. If you would like to be on the Itchen Valley Churches Electoral Roll, please download the form from this link, complete it and return it to the Parish Office by Thursday 13 March. This can also be scanned and returned by email to admin@itchenvalleychurches.org.  If you would like to a have a form in hardcopy, please let Beccy know.

for global peace

for those who are ill or suffering at the moment or for those recently bereaved

including John Lang and his family as they mourn the loss of Joanna

Revd. Canon Andrew Micklefield is being installed as Winchester Cathedral’s Canon Treasurer at Evensong at 5.30pm on Sunday 5 April at the cathedral.  He has asked us to say that everyone from the Itchen Valley parish is most welcome.