Coop Cheque for Superstars

The Superstars playgroup in Fordingbridge is the happy recipient of £4,500 thanks to donations to the Local Community Fund scheme from customers of the Fordingbridge Branch of Coop. Revd Kate Wilson of Avon Valley Churches and its associated charity Avon Valley Community Matters collected the giant cheque at the recent celebration event held at the Fordingbridge Store. She said:

 “I am so pleased to collect these generous funds on behalf of our thriving playgroup Superstars. Thank you so much to all those who donated and to the Coop team for supporting our charity. The funds will be put to very good use providing support and sensory toys for children with special needs to use at our weekly sessions.”

The campaign was set up to help support inclusion by integrating pre-school aged children with special educational needs or disabilities, with those who are able bodied, by providing access to developmentally appropriate activities. The funds will help support Avon Valley Community Matters’ weekly sensory-based playgroups for 0-5 year olds and their siblings and carers in the Fordingbridge area; Little Acorns is at 9.30am on Thursdays in Hale Village Hall and Superstars is held at 9.30am on Fridays at St Mary’s Hall in Fordingbridge. Each week there are seasonal crafts, sensory activities and toys as well as storytime, songs and snacks.

Avon Valley Community Matters (AVCM) was set up with the vision of strengthening the community by empowering local people of all ages to flourish in their emotional, physical, spiritual and social wellbeing. This is being achieved by developing activities to meet the needs of individuals and groups not being addressed. As well as the two playgroups, the charity runs a monthly Friendship Group for the lonely and bereaved on the first Tuesday of every month at the Ship Inn in Fordingbridge.

AVCM’s Friendship Group has been chosen as a Coop Community campaign for next year too! To make a donation please sign up to the donation scheme at www.coop.co.uk/communities and select cause 68718 when using your clubcard. The direct link to our cause is: https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/68718. For those who would prefer to phone, the Coop Membership number is 08000 686727 and is open Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm.

To date the charity have also organised activity bags for children during lockdown, cupcakes and hot-cross buns for young people and the elderly on Valentine’s Day and at Easter, a Den Building Day, hot meals and activities at Messy Church with much more planned including a Miscarriage Support Group.

To join one of our groups, become a volunteer or fundraiser, or to find more information about Avon Valley Community Matters, please visit www.avonvalleychurches.org.uk/avcmatters.

Remembrance Sunday

Members of the community, congregation and uniformed services gathered to our moving Remembrance Day services held at Stuckton Road Cemetery and at the Memorial Gates in Fordingbridge, followed by a procession to the service at St Mary's Church. Thank you to Julie and Ashley Francis for these wonderful photographs.

Bingo Night and Hot Supper

Update on recycling shed at St Boniface, Woodgreen

From Online to In Person

We were overjoyed to welcome with open arms from America our own Andrea Board, who found us online and came to visit our Avon Valley Churches in person. Andrea recently renewed her baptismal vows in a very moving service at St Mary’s in Fordingbridge. We are all so grateful to have Andrea in our extended Church family!

Community Civic Service

Wonderful to see so many at our Civic Service commemorating the life and work of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at St Mary’s in Fordingbridge, and those who attended our commemorative services at all our Churches.

Thank you to all who made it so special.

Easyfundraising

Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be raising free donations for Avon Valley Churches with easyfundraising? Click here to support us and find out more: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/avonvalleychurches/

Day of Prayer

Let us pray! On Wednesday 28 September, there will be a Day of Prayer for the future of the parish and, in particular, asking for God's help and guidance in the search for a new incumbent. It is hoped that prayer, silent or spoken, will be continuous throughout the day. Come and visit the relevant church at one or more of these times:

0800 (i.e. 0800 to 0900) – Hyde
0900 – Fordingbridge 
1000 – Breamore  
1100 – Woodgreen 
1200 – Sandleheath
1300 – Fordingbridge
1400 – Hyde  
1500 – Breamore
1600 – Hale 
1700 – Fordingbridge
1800 – Hyde 
1900 (until 2000) – Fordingbridge

The Six O’ Clock

Join our 6pm service on Sunday 4 September, followed by an optional, free, informal meal at St Mary’s Church in Fordingbridge. September’s theme is ‘The Church.’ Email office@avonvalleychurches.org.uk for more information.

Alpha Returns

Join us at 7pm from 14 September 2022… Alpha is a friendly way to find out about faith and so much more! Email curate@avonvalleychurches.org.uk for more information. Meal included.

Trevor holds Cross for 60 Years

Many congratulations to our dedicated Crucifer, Trevor Tague. Family, friends and congregation joined Trevor during last week’s service to help support and celebrate his 60 years of service as Crucifer at St Mary’s Church in Fordinbridge. What an amazing achievement - thank you Trevor!

Reflection: James Lovelock

Original uploader was Bruno Comby at English Wikipedia. - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., CC BY-SA 1.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3873472

James Lovelock has just died, aged 103. ‘Who was he?’ many will wonder. Well, he was a British Scientist and an Eco-warrior, a man ahead of his time. He worked for NASA and was recognised for his leading research work on ‘Life on Mars’. In Britain he specialised in Medical research. But he is world famous for his “Gaia Theory”. He saw this planet as a living organism imperilled by recent human activity. He measured pollution and realised that industrial output was polluting our atmosphere, and in the 1970s he warned that this would lead to fundamental future problems. Some agreed but did nothing. Others scoffed at his ideas. We now know that he was right about atmospheric pollution causing global-warming. James Lovelock also championed nuclear fuel in preference to burning fossil fuels. This was 50 years ago!

We can all agree that right at the beginning of the Bible, in Genesis, mankind is commissioned by God to care for this earth and all creation. Manifestly we have failed and we are now in trouble, as the current weather reminds us. James Lovelock also warned that with global warming there would be large new arid areas in the world, and these would lead to mass migrations with a consequential influx of refugees into more temperate countries. This also is already starting to happen!

All this raises the question as to how much the Church should raise its voice to support the care of God’s planet. Surely we should not leave it to the likes of the brilliant James Lovelock to be lone voices in this commercial world.

Jeremy Houghton-Brown

Focal Ministers?

Focal Ministers are ‘go to’ people in each of our congregations. What can we ‘go to’ them for? Anything for which you might like to give some feedback, gain some information, pastoral concerns, have a moan, give some appreciation, inform of newcomers, pass the time of day! We are not saying we alone can meet these needs but will act as a conduit, and as far as possible, ensure action is taken if needed. Responsibilities will vary from church to church. I am sure the focal Ministers will always direct you to the appropriate person to manage your concern.

In addition to our full-time assistant curate Tom, our Churchwardens, our Lay Worship Leaders and Lay Pastoral Team, our ordinand Jo, each of our churches has appointed Focal Ministers:

• Fordingbridge with Godshill and Sandleheath - Mark Ward and John Towler

• Breamore - Nigel Coates and Mary Melbourne

• Hale and Woodgreen - Ruth Crosland & Ministry Team

• Hyde - Michael Anderson and Kate Wilson

Why do we need Focal Ministers?

Even when we have an incumbent it is not possible for this person to be in each church every Sunday. We are currently that person missing, so I guess it emphasises the need to have a minister to ‘go to’. For Lay and Ordained Ministers alike, the role is about leadership for worship and the mission of the church.

Pray for them that, as this week’s gospel admonishes us, to ‘be dressed for action and have your lamps lit’. May they be alert for action and a source of illumination for all of us.

Rev’d John Towler

All Saints Mudeford Church Fire

Sadly due to a major fire on the evening of 14th July, All Saints is closed for the foreseeable future. Many people in our area are closely connected to All Saints, so please pray for their church as they find, with God’s help, their way forward.

Help with the restoration efforts by donating here.

Rejoicing that the recent Kinkiizi Lunch went so well.

Having felt prompted to do something to support our Partner Deanery in Kinkiizi, for whom life is much tougher than it is for us here,  Sarah Perrelle and Pat Bloomfield planned what was going to be a Ploughmans’ Lunch but with God’s guidance, and Gill Tybjerg’s inspiration morphed into an African-style Lunch!

Gill  had made chapattis, which we ate while listening to her presentation which raised awareness of how hard it is to live in Uganda. Sarah’s Kitchen team served a delicious lunch with a difference.  Table hosts looked after their tables for the 2 course meal, and over tea/coffee the Raffle prizes were distributed.

The final amount sent off after the Kinkiizi Lunch was £455!  Feeling so thankful for all the help and support given by so many, for all who bought tickets and came, for generous donations and the delicious puddings.

Tent Service at Frogham raises funds for TEARFUND and Salisbury Hospice

The return of Frogham Fair also saw the return of Holy Ascension Hyde’s Tent Service, featuring “Songs of Praise” with the Hyde Band and Alex & the Mustard Seeds - and much more! Funds were raised for TEARFUND’s work in Ukraine and for Salisbury Hospice.

55 Bunnies & Bears to Syria

Thank you Pat Bloomfield and all who worked hard in Ringwood and Fordingbridge to support Samara's Aid by creating 55 delightful bunnies and bears! The toys were knitted with love and will soon be on their way to bring comfort and hope to little ones in Syria who are living in poverty, have suffered trauma, are orphaned or bereaved. Any late bunnies or bears will be forwarded to Samara’s Aid. Well done everyone!

Lifts to Church

Some people have arrangements in place that work well, but not everyone knows whom to ring if they need a lift to church or a church event. If you might be able to help with a lift now and then, please inform the person in your church (see below), who will collect names and phone numbers. They will send the Lift List for their church to the Rev Kate Wilson (kate.wilson501@gmail.com), who has kindly offered to be the “Lift Hub” for the Parish.

Breamore: Mary Melbourne; Hyde: Julie Francis; Sandleheath: Sue Ledger; Hale & Woodgreen: Lynda Warne; Fordingbridge: Nigel Spratt

Anyone who needs a lift, please do contact 07770 944054.

Farewell Service for Canon Gary

Such a lovely send-off for our Rev Canon Gary Philbrick at his Farewell Service at Burgate School in Fordingbridge this afternoon. Moving tributes, anecdotes, photographs and hymns were shared and enjoyed by so many there to celebrate his ministry, throughout the Parish, from 2013-2022.

Rector, Preacher, Bell Ringer, Pianist, Organist, Composer, Mentor and Friend to many and so much more... go well in your new roles at Winchester and thank you for everything Gary!

Kinkiizi Lunch

12-2.30pm Saturday 18 June 2022

Funds raised to be donated to the Kinkiizi Community in Uganda.

Tickets £10

Call Pat on 07985 938644

Raffle draw and prizes!