Services this Sunday

Sunday 11 May

8.30am Holy Communion – St Mary’s, Easton

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

Valley Worship this Sunday at 10am

We do hope you will be able to attend Valley Worship at 10am this Sunday (11 May) 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, Nicky will be speaking on the following verses this Sunday:

1 Peter 1, verses 14-23

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.”

 ¹⁷ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. ¹⁸ For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.²⁰ He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

 ²² Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. ²³ For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

We are looking forward to welcoming the Bishop of Winchester, The Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, to our 10am Parish Communion this Sunday (18^th May) at St Swithun’s, Martyr Worthy.  Please note that this will be our only service that day and the advertised 8.30am Holy Communion has been cancelled to enable everyone to attend the 10am service with the Bishop.  Our Ark will be open for the children to have some fun so please feel free to drop them at the Village Hall before the service starts.

Tickets to the Sparkling Preview can be purchased from this link https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/itchen-valley-pcc/t-rpkyyxk

The ticket price for the Sparkling Preview also includes entry into all of the participating open gardens and church display for the entire Flower Festival weekend, tickets for the open gardens can be purchased at any of the gardens or church during the weekend.

As you will no doubt be aware by now, Revd Peter has resigned from his position as Rector of the Itchen Valley; his message to the Parish can be read here.  We are very grateful to both Peter and Georgie for all they have brought to this Parish.  The final services led by Peter will be on Sunday 25^th May and we look forward to sharing more information with you about this day once details are finalised.

Please continue to pray for our Parish and the season we are entering and for all that are working so hard during this time to ensure we continue to flourish as a community.

For any information about weddings, baptisms, funerals or of a pastoral or administrative nature during this time please contact our administrator Beccy Clark  admin@itchenvalleychurches.org.

Please continue to check our website for any changes to details of services.

for global peace

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

including James Ekins and his family as they mourn the loss of Diana

for Cat and Henry as their banns are read for the first time