Last Sunday was ‘Stir Up Sunday’. By tradition the Sunday on which we are encouraged to stir up our Christmas pudding or cake mixture – and reflected in the Book of Common Prayer Collet: ‘Stir up we beseech thee O Lord … praying that we may bring forth the ‘fruits of righteousness’. That is a good thought for us to hold in mind as we approach Advent – how can we stir up our life of faith over the coming 4 weeks so that we are ready to welcome the Christ, to celebrate what lies at the heart of Christmas.As we continue to journey through a time of uncertainty as we live with COVID we can still mark the Advent Season in some way. Perhaps as well as Advent Calendars or Candles at home you can make a commitment to give some time and space to God and to reflect of the coming of the light into the darkness and confusion of the world.This leaflet contains a number of ways you can do this and we hope you may join us for some of them.We will continue to follow the guidance we have put in place with regard to face coverings in Church, maintain some spaced out seating, respecting one another’s space, how we administer communion.We appreciate that for some these moves will not be enough while for other they may be challenging and unsettling. Please do let the Ministry know your feelings and thoughts and we will be adapting and developing as we believe is best for the common good. Please continue to show the care and respect for each other- and our worship and love of God – that you have shown in such depth over the past months.Advent Book Club. There will be an opportunity once a week to meet on Zoom for an hour to explore a book with Revd Sam. The Book is the ‘Music of Eternity’ – meditations for advent with Evelyn Underhill. If you would like to join please contact Revd Sam as soon as possible,Fellowship Lunches These will meet each Wednesday in Advent (starting on Nov 30th) and they will include a discussion on some of the themes in the book led by one of the Ministry Team. This will be after the Noon Mass – please bring your own lunch.The themes for each week areAdvent 1 Welcoming God’s comingAdvent 2 Awaiting God’s comingAdvent 3 Recognising God’s comingAdvent 4 Embracing God’s comingAlso through Advent the rhythm of Parish life will continue – giving you opportunities in Advent to pause and reflect on the presence of Christ with you in your lives.Private Prayer and Public WorshipSt Mary’s is open each weekday (Monday to Friday) from 9am – Noon for Private PrayerAt Noon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at St Mary’s there is a Eucharist (which is also streamed).In addition, on Tuesday at 9.30am at St Faith’s and on Thursday at 10.30am at St Wilfrid’s there will be a Eucharist (these will not be streamed)There will be a streamed reflection around Noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays.Sundays there will be services at8am and 10am at St Mary’s;9am at St Faith’s and 11am at St Wilfrid’s.Coffee and ChatYou can gather and catch up with others at Coffee and Chat in St Mary’s each Friday at 11am) - you could stay on at the end for the Noon service if you wish. There is also a chance for Coffee and Chat at St Faith’s on a Tuesday and St Wilfrid’s on a Thursday after the service.Just Ask Saturdays 10 – 11am at St Mary’s – a chance to come and explore arranging Weddings and Christenings or ‘just ask’ the clergy anything!Comfort and JoyWe will again be supporting the Churches Homeless Action Voucher scheme. Can you give a Christmas card and a gift card/voucher (suggest £5) to share with one of the local charities supporting those on the margins? Sharing that precious gift of choice. To donate please place in the plate at Church or deliver to the Vicarage.Christmas HamperAs part of our support of the Hope into Action House and those who live there we are hoping to create a Christmas Hamper of things we would like. If you are attending an event or carol service in Advent why not bring an item of food (or something else) you would enjoy at Christmas to share with them.For details of other events refer to the attached leaflet...Since our last newsletter we have heard of the deaths of 3 special ladies in the life of our Parish. Angela Carpenter, Elizabeth Gunter and Mary Dewey. Each of them was an example of a life of faith and commitment – and all were very much a part of our church community at St Mary’s. Mary Dewey died most recently and we are awaiting details of the interment of her ashes – this will either be the 4th December or the 18th in the afternoon. Please contact us if you would like to know the date.Also since the last newsletter St Mary’s has hosted two major light installations. Both drew large numbers of people of all ages to explore them. All who visited were mesmerised and captivated by the two installations. There are some images in the attached leaflet for those who missed them. We very much hope that we will host further arts events in the coming year. Thank you to all who worked to serve refreshments at the ‘Ship of Gods’ – over 3 nights we served over 600 people and raised £860.There will be an arts installation through Advent which will be a reflection on the experience of refugees – watch out for it as you enter St Mary’s.Finally, if you would like to make a donation to provide flowers in our churches and help decorate them over Christmas – either in memory of someone or in thanksgiving for something – then please place money in a clearly marked envelope before Dec 17th – or if you would like to pay by BACS contact us for details (and mark payment ‘Flowers).Thank you as always to all of you for your support, your care for one another and your prayers for us and all we do, If you are aware of anyone who needs a call from the Ministry Team or you would like them added to our prayer list then please let me know.We hope that we will see you at some of our Advent activities and that we will together discover more of what lies at the heart of ChristmasBest wishesFather Bob vicar@portseaparish.co.uk 023 92 822687Other contact details in attached leaftlet...
The Autumn seems uncertain as to whether it will start or not – certainly weather-wise as we switch from torrential rain and winds to warm sunshine.In Church life however there is a definite familiar feel to Autumn having arrived. As we continue to respond to the situation with COVID and seek to take sensible measures to ensure that we reduce the risks of spreading any infections, so the number of events and activities begins to take on a well-trod pattern.Over the coming weeks we will continue to maintain in each Church areas set up and following the previous regulations – so please do come and sit there if you would feel ‘safer’ doing so. In addition, we are requesting and advising that we continue to wear face coverings for worship and while indoors. If you wish to not wear a face covering, we ask that you respect one another and sit in the area at the front (East End). Singing It has been good over the last weeks to hear the return of singing in all 3 Churches and we will continue to review and expand what is sung at each service.Communion The sharing of the chalice (common cup) is one of the areas of highest risk in potential transmission of the virus so we have decided to continue with communion in one kind Those sitting in rows of seats are invited to come forward to receive standing – please keep a respectful distance between one another. Those seated at East end continue to have communion brought to them. The Ministers will continue to hand sanitise and wear face coverings to administer communion.Refreshments - Tea and Coffee on Sundays. At St Mary’s this is served at the West End – if you wish to join the team providing this please let Fr Bob know. St Wilfrid’s are meeting for Coffee before the 11am and St Faith’s after the 9am.We appreciate that for some these moves will not be enough while for other they may be challenging and unsettling. Please do let the Ministry know your feelings and thoughts and we will be adapting and developing as we believe is best for the common good. We will update you each month of any changes that are proposed. Please continue to show the care and respect for each other- and our worship and love of God – that you have shown in such depth over the past months.Young Families/Church Sadly as there is no natural light or ventilation in the Vestry Hall, we are unable at St Mary’s to resume Young Church each Sunday. We continue to review and explore this. So, we will hold a Young Families celebration – with activities at tables – in the Church on Sunday Oct 17th and Nov 7th. On Nov 7thWe will chat with those there about what might be possible to arrange for activities during the main service and how we might plan for the Nativity!The rhythm of Parish life also continues Private Prayer and Public WorshipSt Mary’s is open each weekday (Monday to Friday) from 9am – Noon for Private Prayer At Noon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at St Mary’s there is a Eucharist (which is also streamed). In addition, on Tuesday at 9.30am at St Faith’s and on Thursday at 10.30am at St Wilfrid’s there will be a Eucharist (these will not be streamed)There will be a streamed reflection around Noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sundays there will be services at 8am and 10am at St Mary’s; 9am at St Faith’s and 11am at St Wilfrid’s.Coffee and Chat You can gather and catch up with others at Coffee and Chat in St Mary’s each Friday at 11am. (Moved into the Church for the Autumn) - you could stay on at the end for the Noon service if you wish. There is also a chance for Coffee and Chat at St Faith’s on a Tuesday and St Wilfrid’s on a Thursday after the service.Just Ask Saturdays 10 – 11am at St Mary’s – a chance to come and explore arranging Weddings and Christenings or ‘just ask’ the clergy anything!Last month we held Deacon Ken’s funeral at St Wilfrid’s and St Mary’s. Words here will not suffice to capture the life and ministry of this faithful servant of God and his people. We reflected on his life and gave thanks for all he has shared with us. His ashes will be interred with Jean’s in the coming weeks at St Mary’sThere is a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks and we hope you might come and experience some of them. The first is a stunning Arts Installation –‘Where there is light’ a light and sound reflection as part of the national ‘Journeys International Festival’. To visit you need to book a 30 min slot – either let us know when you wish to come or visit Where There is Light - Portsmouth Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite During the installation Oct 15th – 24th– the Church will be open as usual and services will continue at the East End – if you would be happy to come and welcome visitors to the Church during that time for an hour or so please let us know.Then on Oct 28th we will be hosting a theatrical performance which is touring the city as we prepare for COP26 and focus on environmental issues. It is part of the Portsmouth Climate Festival. ‘The Adventures of Florence and the Mermaid’s tears’ is a mini Musical, written specially for Portsmouth, family-friendly and climate relevant. To book seats let us know or visit Florence and the Mermaid's Tears-Mini Musical-St Mary's Portsea Tickets, Thu 28 Oct 2021 at 12:30 | EventbriteFinally in October we will host our first ever Parish Autumn Fair – this year the PCC has decided that rather than try to run 3 events (one in each church) with our limited resources and COVID awareness we will hold one Fair with all 3 Churches taking part. It will be on Saturday Oct 30th at 10am at St Mary’s – can you help us on the day ? Do you have things we can sell?Can you encourage family and friends to come along? Hope to see you there!Other eventsMonday Oct 11th 5pm Choir Open evening at St Mary’s – A chance for young people to come and explore what being part of the Choir is like and what it involves.Tuesday Oct 12th 7pm St Wilfrid’s Patronal MassWe welcome Ven Peter Sutton as our Preacher as we gather at St Wilfrid’s to pray for that community and the community it seeks to serve.Wednesday Oct 13th 7pm PCC meets at St Faith’sMonday Oct 18th 7pm Monday Men meets at St Mary’s – contact Revd MarcusTuesday Oct 19th Organ Recital by Brian Moles at St Mary’s As part of the Light Installation Brian will provide an improvised accompaniment to the lightsWednesday Oct 20th 12.30pm Fellowship lunch at St Mary’s After the Noon Mass you are invited to bring a lunch and join in a conversation. Drinks are provided. Contact Mthr CharlotteSaturday Oct 23rd 11am Organ Project Photo Workshop The third photography workshop led by Linda Mason – contact Matt Dixon for detailsSaturday Oct 30th 7.30pm Royal British Legion ConcertAt St Mary’s – to mark the Centenary of the RBL – 3 RBL bands will perform together, Watch out for further details.Sunday Oct 31st 3pm Service for those bereaved in the past year at St Mary’sTuesday Nov 2nd 7pm All Souls Day Requiem Mass at St Mary’sThe Choir will sing parts of Faure’s Requiem as we remember those who have died whom we have loved. There is a list in Church for you to place the names of those you wish to come and pray for (also Requiems at St Mary’s on 3rd Nov at Noon; St Wilfrid’s 4th Nov at 10.30am and St Faith’s 9th Nov at 9.30am)As we said at the start of this newsletter there is a sense of the familiar Autumn Pattern returning – in addition to all that is to come we have since the last newsletter had our Bar B Q lunch … the sponsored Bike Ride …the start of the Royal Marine Concerts … hosted a Diocesan Day of Prayer and 2 Diocesan and 1 Deanery conference …restored the flagpole … held Messy Harvest … a Harvest Quiet Day and our Harvest celebrations – including the return of the Panto Players …All of this and everything else we do is only possible with your support and financial generosity and to the hard work of our dedicated team of staff and volunteers – thank you to each and every one of them for all they do.Finally let us all continue to hold one another in our prayers and thoughts, and to be aware of others prayers and care for each of us.
Over the coming weeks we will hear much of COP26. If you do not yet know what this is it is an international gathering in Glasgow to establish agreements on a response to climate justice and the need for all of us to work ‘Together for our Planet’. While the focus will be on Governments and other International Bodies and the commitments they can make – it is equally important that each of us are aware of the part we can play and how we can influence our stewardship of the gifts of Creation.There are a number of ways we can do this and over the Harvest Weekend this year we will be exploring how we can respond and raise awareness with others of the need to act now.We can also show a very practical and local way of responding which is by sharing the food we have with those around us who may not be able to obtain food so easily. We do this ‘With thankful hearts’.We hope that you will find a way to share in our Harvest and our reflecting and make a commitment yourself to become involved in seeking climate justice.Read the attached Monthly News Letter to find out more.
The announcements from the Government around July 19th have led to a shift in culture. We are no longer held accountable by regulations and restrictions. Instead, we are now all ‘responsible’ for the actions we take and the way we respond to COVID. However, although no legal regulation there are various documents of guidance and recommendation with encouragement to do certain things – both issued by the Government and the Church of England. It was reassuring most of these appeared on the Friday before we were due to implement on the Monday! The PCC met to discuss the situation and how we as a Parish would respond. It was agreed that our guiding principle was to balance the various individual wants and wishes with the needs and weekly being of the whole Body of Christ. We have within our community the full spectrum of response – why can’t we just return to ‘normal’? through to ‘I don’t yet feel safe or comfortable being with others. – and a whole range of shades of thinking in between!The PCC has approved a gradual change over the coming weeks – testing and checking how comfortable people feel and monitoring the wider context in society. We will throughout the coming weeks always maintain in each Church areas set up and following the previous regulations – so please do come and sit there if you would feel ‘safer’ doing so.In general the following are the key steps:We are requesting and advising that we continue to wear face coverings for worship and while indoors. If you wish to not wear a face covering, we ask that you respect one another and sit in the area at the front (East End). From Sunday Aug 1st St Mary’s will establish an area at the front of some chairs in rows for those who wish to sit there. The West end of the Church will remain socially distanced. St Faith’s and St Wilfrid’s will also review their seating.Full details and coming events in the attached document.
