Services this Sunday

 Sunday 1 June

10am Parish Communion – St Swithun’s, Martyr Worthy

4pm Café Church – Itchen Abbas Village Hall

Revd Peter’s Farewell Services

On Sunday two special services were held to say farewell to Revd Peter and his wife Georgie as Peter’s service as Rector of the Parish of the Itchen Valley draws to a close.

In the morning, Peter led and preached at a Parish Communion service held at St John’s, Itchen Abbas, where he drew on 1 Peter 5:1-11 and John 21:9-17 in delivering a moving and powerful sermon.     After the Intercessions (which were led beautifully by Sarah Hunt), Sarah Noble and Tim Clapp led specific prayers for Peter and Georgie, expressing gratitude for their ministry amongst us and its impact as well as seeking God’s best for their future.   Thereafter Lavinia Owen, John Bouldin, Gerry Stacey and John Barber paid individual tributes to Peter and Georgie, speaking of different dimensions of their time with and service to us, eliciting both smiles and tears, and John concluded this part of the service by speaking the words of Psalm 23 over Peter and Georgie as a blessing.

A happy moment after the Parish Communion service at St John’s, Itchen Abbas on Sunday morning

In the evening, Peter led Evensong at St Swithun’s, Martyr Worthy, at which Gerry Stacey gave an inspiring sermon based on Micah 6:8 (‘And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’)   After the conclusion of the service, the congregation enjoyed a warm, relaxed time of socialising over wine and canapes (generously provided by Verity Coleman, Lucinda Ffennell, Gilly Greenwood and Sally Johnston), which provided a good opportunity to individual expressions of thanks and farewells to Peter and Georgie (true to form, Georgie led a UTX session for younger members of our congregation (she is much loved by them and has made a huge difference to them) in the late afternoon, but happily was able to join in this social time thereafter).

A link to the readings on which Peter’s sermon drew can be found here

This short clip, filmed in Galilee, can give you a visual idea of the setting for Sunday’s Gospel passage (John 21:9-17).

The recording of Peter’s sermon can be accessed here:

A relaxed Peter and Georgie after Evensong on Sunday evening

It is with great sadness we announce the deaths of Veronica (Nicky) Stent, wife of Mark and long-time resident of Avington and Charles Lund, husband of Pauline and resident of Easton.

 2pm – Friday 6 June

Funeral Service for the life of Diana Ekins at St Mary’s, Easton (parking available in Old School Field, Church Lane).

for global peace

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

for the families and friends of the late Nicky Stent and Charles Lund as they mourn their loss

for the family and friends of the late Diana Ekins as her Funeral Service takes place next week

for Sophia and Jack as their marriage is blessed

for Francesca and Joseph, Alice and Tommy as their banns are read for the first time

for Ophelia Pyle as she is baptised

Sunday’s readings can be read here