ST MARK’S MAGAZINE - JULY 2024July is almost upon us and already Swanage is preparing for the busy summer season. Swanage, like most seaside towns have thousands of visitors, especially in the summer months, some new visitors and some who are regular visitors, returning to our beautiful town and countryside. We have had several events in the town already; including Steam Train events, a Pirate Festival, and a Fairy Festival. Many other events are planned, including the Town Band Concerts, the Jazz Festival, and of course our annual Carnival and Carnival Parade which is always exciting, fun and eventful. At the end of May, several of us joined Bishop Karen on the St Aldhelm Pilgrimage. We had a lovely walk in the sunshine and celebrated Holy Communion in the chapel. Several of us had taken a picnic lunch and then took the opportunity to have a walk around the historic site. I went to see the nearby memorial to Dr Bill Penley, CB, CBE, Radar Pioneer, whose scientific works had such a significant role in World War Two. Bill Penley will also be dearly remembered for being a faithful member and a Church Warden of St Marks. On Saturday 8th June, the Royal British Legion and Swanage Town marked the D-Day 80-year Commemorations with a Military Parade through the town followed by a Service at the War Memorial. On Sunday 9th June at 3:30pm we held a musical extravaganza, in aid of the Herston Village Hall Youth Club’s Summer Holiday programme, with a varied programme of light music and verse, raising an amazing sum of £600.00. Several members of the Youth Club attended and were delighted with the generous donation received. On Sunday 21st July we will be looking forward to meeting our new Team Curate, Rev. Natalie Davies. We hope that Natalie and her family will be very happy in Swanage and we’ll be sure to give Natalie a very warm ‘St Marks Welcome! Definitely an occasion for cake! On Sunday 28th July we will join with Churches Together in Swanage for the Carnival Service (full details to follow) There will be no service at St Marks that morning. The church garden is looking beautiful and colourful, now, and especially the wonderful roses! With special thanks to David Hudson and Tony Nash, who keep the garden looking so lovely. Looking forward to August; we are planning a Pimms and Hymns afternoon tea in the church garden, on Sunday 4th August. A ‘free event’ with donations to Cancer Research. (providing the church wall has been repaired) Further details nearer the date. Swanage my Happy Place!May God Bless and Keep YouAnne Roper Church Warden
ST MARK’S MAGAZINE - JUNE 2024Sunday 2nd June - 10am Holy Communion Tuesday 4th June - 7pm Bible Study Group Sunday 9th June - 10am Holy Communion Sunday 9th June - 3.30pm Afternoon Concert of light music and verse by St Mark's musicians and friends, followed by refreshmentsSunday 16th June - 10am Holy Communion Tuesday 18th June - 7pm Bible Study Group Sunday 23rd June - 10am Holy CommunionSunday 30th June - 10am Celebration Service with St Mark’s BandEvery Week:Choir Rehearsal - Mondays 6:15 - 7pmPrayer and Share - Wednesdays 10am – 10.45am. You don't need me to tell you that, as we approach the mid-point of the year, Swanage has undertaken its transformation from the peaceful (!) town it has been through the winter and spring months into a full-blown seaside resort. The winter storm protection blocks disappeared a few months ago, the roofs have been taken off some of the double decker buses, the deck chairs have appeared, along with various huts on the beach-front. Visitors have taken over and, except in the very worst weather, people in large numbers are all over the beach. The visitors are not only on the seafront and in the shops; it is the time of year when we hope to be in a position to welcome some of them into our services. I know that they will get a good welcome in St Mark's and the other churches in the town; just as we would hope for such a welcome if we strayed into an unfamiliar church when we were on holiday.In May we celebrated the last two major festivals of the church year for a while - Ascension Day on the 9th and Pentecost on the 19th. From now on, until Advent, we have our familiar pattern of services and the opportunity to explore in our readings, hymns and sermons other aspects of our faith, not directly related to the themes of the great festivals.This rather "quieter" time allows Anne and me to thank all those members of St Mark's who do so much to make our services the enjoyable and spiritually satisfying times that they are. This includes those who welcome everyone who comes through the door, who read lessons and lead intercession as well as our wonderful musicians (who, as well as being on duty on a Sunday, will be "on show" at our afternoon concert on 9th June). There are those who arrange flowers at times when nobody is looking, who deliver church magazines, who look after our garden and keep the kitchen and other parts of our church clean. So many skills were on show, and time willingly given, on our "Many Hands at St Mark's" Day in April. People were polishing pews, dusting odd corners, both on the floor and on ladders, clearing the shed, taking rubbish to the tip, weeding the garden and doing so much more, including, of course, providing refreshment for those doing the other jobs.It was a very pleasant social activity as well and the more usual social events have continued with the wonderful Pizza Night in April and the visit from the Purbeck Village Quire last month. I have already mentioned the "home grown" concert to come at 3.30pm on the 9th June. Other events are planned - watch this space! If you're feeling left out, we are planning another "Many Hands" day later in the year - and we are always on the lookout for other people to act as welcomers, lesson readers and leaders of intercessions. Do speak to either Anne or me if you want to join the teams.May I wish you all a happy summer ahead.John WayChurchwarden
NEWS - MAY 2024 Sunday 5th May - 10am Holy Communion - Rev John Cooper Tuesday 7th May - Bible Study Group 7pm Sunday 12th May - 10am Holy Communion - Rev. Ian Bird Saturday 18th May - 7pm Concert with Purbeck Village QuireSunday 19th May - 10am PENTECOST Holy Communion 10am Tuesday 21st May - Bible Study Group 7pm Sunday 26th May - 10am CelebraTion! Service with St Mark’s BandChoir Rehearsal – Mondays 6:15 - 7pmPrayer and Share - is every Wednesday 10am – 10.45am. HOLY WEEK and EASTER was a good time. St Mark’s School pup]ils and parents came to separate Easter Services for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. A group of Year 5 pupils helped to plan the KS2 service. Good numbers attended the Reflection and Compline Services – thanks to Margaret Williams and John Cooper for their thoughtful reflections. A short Good Friday service was followed by the Churches Together Walk of Witness and service at the Bandstand. (Many thanks to Colin for music at this service). Easter Sunday saw some newcomers join in the service, swelling our numbers.Anne Roper organised a very successful Pizza evening – we all had a great time at Coastal Crust Pizzas. The next day lots of us worked off the Pizzas at the Many Hands at St Mark’s Day with cleaning, gardening and a major effort to sort out the shed! I don’t know where all the stuff came from, but 5 carloads went to the tip! On Saturday 18th May, 7pm, St Mark’s will host a concert by The Purbeck Village Quire. The Quire sings West Gallery music – the sort of music about which Thomas Hardy wrote in his Wessex Tales. Admission is FREE! but we hope delicious refreshments and a generous retiring collection will raise lots of money for the Herston Village Hall rebuilding fund. Please come along and invite your friends!Rev. Dave RichardsResident Priest
We have had a wonderful year, filled with both laughter and tears, a year full of celebration and social events; building on our fellowship and discipleship both in Church, St Mark's School, and the local Herston community. We have had an afternoon Pimm's & Hymns Garden Party, supporting the local Greengage Garden Project, a fundraising musical concert supporting Wear It Pink Breast Cancer Support, and our Harvest Festival and Harvest Lunch, supporting Swanage Food Bank. On each occasion we welcomed new people into our church and fellowship. Sadly, we have also said a fond farewell to some dear friends and members of our Church family, sharing some tears, a smile, and a little laughter as we celebrated their life. Advent is here, and we now set our hearts, prayers and worship to a time of preparation for God's wonderful gift to us, his Son, our Saviour, at Christmas.Anne Roper, Churchwarden - December 2023
