Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Happy Easter!
Easter Season 2018
Week Beginning: 22nd April 2018
Including the celebration of St George’s Day
10.30 am ~ St Peter & St Paul, Exton
Family Service, followed by Holy Communion
Click Here for the current PEW SHEET
Click Here for previous Pew Sheet
Click Here for a Simple Prayer Guide for use in the Easter Season
Click Here and Join us in Prayer
ROGATIONTIDE – Beating the Bounds – 
6 May 2018
Please consider getting Christian Aid Sponsorship as we Beat the Bounds blessing and celebrating our local farmland and joining the Christian Aid Walk too on 20th May 2018.
Numerous stopping-off or joining points along the way, and transport can be arranged.
Ends with a Rogation Service of Evensong at St Peter and St Paul church Exton at 6.30 pm.
Please speak to Nicholas Ridge, 01489 899102 or email if you would like to take part.
Bring & Buy Sale and Coffee Morning
in aid of the restoration of Droxford Church
Droxford Church
Wednesday, 9th May
10.00 am -1.00 pm
Any offers of help on the day gratefully received by Ann Symes (01489 877643)
Deanery Eucharist for Ascension Day
7.30 pm, Thursday 10th May, 2018
St Andrew’s Church Meonstoke SO32 3NA
Preacher: The Venerable Gavin Collins Archdeacon of The Meon
With the Gathered Choirs of our Deanery led by David Burgess
Followed by celebratory refreshments
~ All Welcome~
Fire Service – Thy Kingdom Come 2018
6.30 pm 13 May 18 Meonstoke
Focus on the Holy Spirit
Get ready for PENTECOST
An informal family service of prayers, music and readings featuring some of our young people.
CHRISTIAN AID 2018
Fight poverty step by step
South Hampshire Sponsored Walk
St Nicholas’ Church Hall, Wickham PO17 6HP
Sunday 20 May 2018
Enjoy a country ramble around Wickham this Christian Aid Week with a choice of walks: 10 miles, 5 miles, and a shorter family walk. Dogs on leads welcome.
Walks start 1.45pm (registration open from 1pm). car parking is available. We will complete our walk with complimentary tea and cake.
Click here for the POSTER. Click here for a sponsor form.
Email for details or phone
Anna Sketchley 01329 847095
Walk or Help or Sponsor
Well Done and Thanks
Thank you to all those who prepared the churches Easter by cleaning and arranging flowers.
Thank you the Easter giving, which will mean that our chosen charities will receive £1000 between them. Thank you.
Eastertide
The Great Fifty Days of Eastertide form a single festival period in which the tone of joy created at the Easter Vigil is sustained through the following seven weeks, and the Church celebrates the gloriously risen Christ:
Triumphant in his glory now,
his sceptre ruleth all,
earth, heaven and hell before him bow,
and at his footstool fall. (Fulbert of Chartres)
Early Christians gave the name Pentecost to this whole fifty-day span of rejoicing, which Tertullian calls ‘this most joyful period’ (laetissimum spatium).
It is sometimes also called ‘Great Sunday’. In those places where the custom of lighting the Easter Candle at the beginning of Easter is followed, the lit Candle stands prominently in church for all the Eastertide services. The
Alleluia appears frequently in liturgical speech and song; Morning Prayer begins with the traditional collection of Pauline texts known as the Easter Anthems, and white or gold vestments and decorations emphasize the joy
and brightness of the season.
On the fortieth day there has from the late fourth century been a particular celebration of Christ’s ascension. He commissions his disciples to continue his work, he promises the gift of the Holy Spirit, and then he is no longer
among them in the flesh. The ascension is therefore closely connected with the theme of mission. The arrival of the promised gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost completes and crowns the Easter Festival.
An Easter Prayer
Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity. Amen
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Hackney and Bishop’s Waltham Deaneries Link
For many years the Deanery has collected food and clothes for a variety of church needs in Hackney to be taken up in December. Earlier this year our friends in Hackney told us that they now have built up their local contacts including food collections in their local Waitrose and several Schools so that they no longer need distance support. They have asked us to convey their warm thanks for our help over the years. Because of this there will be no collection of food and clothes for Hackney this Autumn. We shall still be grateful for any gifts of money which can be made payable to Bishop’s Waltham Deanery and will support our seven partners including the Winter Night Shelter. We will hope to meet our partners again during a Walk of Prayer probably in August next year. Norman Chatfield.
Meon Valley Food Bank – PLEASE HELP
A very Big ‘Thank You’ for all your kind donations,
MVFB have been able to help a further 58 people over the first couple of weeks of December which would not be possible without all your support.
1275 people have now been given food since our opening in February 2015.
Being able to support our local people who are at ‘Financial Crisis Point’ with the provision of food is such a wonderful testimony to our local churches and Community.
The items needed for the coming week can be found in the Pew Sheet. Thank you.
Follow MVFB on twitter @MeonValleyFB or at www.meonvalleyfoodbank.co.uk.
