Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!I hope and pray that the Christmastide was a blessed time for you and yours.A huge thank you to everyone who made our Christmas Services so wonderful!Thank you to all those who cleaned and decorated the churches so beautifully.Thank you to everyone who assisted with the services: leading, reading, sides-persons, marshalling children and sheep, setting up and clearing away, providing refreshments …Thank you to all the congregations and musicians who played and sang and lifted our worship at Carol Services, Activities and Christmas Night and Christmas Morning services.Thank you, too, for all the kindness shown to Linda and Me over the Christmas period – thank you for the kind gifts and cards. We struggle to get cards to everyone personally, but we do make a donation to Crisis and Embrace the Middle East with what we would have spent on postage and cards.THIS SUNDAY – 29th DECEMBER8 amat All Saints, East MeonHoly Communion from the Book of Common Prayer (said)The Sunday after Christmas Day10.30 amat St John the Evangelist, West Meon.Join us in celebrating the Patron of two of our churches, St John the Evangelistand as the New Year approaches in renewing our side of the Covenant between humankind and God.All Welcome!Services for the remainder of the Christmas Season5th January 2025 – The Epiphany8 am Holy Communion (BCP) - East Meon9 am Mattins BCP - Warnford10.30 am Benefice Eucharist - East Meon12th January – The Baptism of Christ and Plough Sunday8 am Holy Communion (BCP) - East Meon – Plough Sunday9 am Eucharist – Langrish -DEDICATION SERVICE10.30 am Benefice Eucharist - West Meon – The Baptism of Christ19th January – Epiphany 28 am Holy Communion (BCP) - East Meon9 am Holy Communion (BCP) - Warnford10.30 am Service of the Word - East Meon26th January – Epiphany 3 and the Conversion of St Paul8 am Holy Communion (BCP) - East Meon10.30 am Benefice Eucharist - Langrish10.30 am Service of the Word - West Meon2nd February – Candlemas8 am Holy Communion (BCP) - East Meon9 am Mattins BCP - Warnford10.30 am Benefice Eucharist - East MeonWith every blessing,Fr Tony
Thank you from Father TonyTogether with both our schools, we recently celebrated St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra at West Meon on 8th December (St Nicholas’ Day is 6th December). Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors and children, amongst other people. His legend speaks of him giving three girls a dowry to allow them to marry when their family fell on hard times. He delivered the gifts at night to avoid being recognised – Nicholas is the original Santa Claus – Father Christmas. Across the parishes, we have collected quantities of mostly brand-new toys for children, who have to spend their Christmases in women’s refuges or in homeless hostels - escaping violence and abuse, but with very little other joy. At our TOY SERVICE, we launched our anonymous toy collection for the children who will spend Christmas at the Roberts Centre in Portsmouth. The generosity this year has been wonderful THANK YOU! You have brought happiness to those children, and joy into your heart, by giving with willingness.
Nativity Services for All Ages 4 pm on Christmas EveOn 24th December, there will be the ‘Nativity from Scratch’ at West Meon – back by popular demand,AND,the ever popular ‘Scratch Nativity’ will be held in Langrish.Children and Adults are invited to come dressed as one of the characters, as they remember the ‘Christmas Story’.
The weather did not hold for us this year and unfortunately we held the service in the rain. However this did not daunt the villagers who turned up on this soggy morning (coffee at the cafe) with umbrellas, sandwiches and a sunny disposition, if nothing else.The service was presided over by Canon Terry Louden and we had children and dogs too so a worthy congregation from all the parishes of the Upper Meon Benefice.
