St Giles Shortest Day Service

“The Census at Bethlehem” by Pieter Bruegel the Elder

How wonderful it is to have St Giles Hermitage, Godshill, in our Parish! On the shortest day, or the day with the longest night, we gathered there for a very special service, and it was well attended. 

Acknowledging the painful things in this troubled world, Rev Canon Helen Griffiss led it. She had created a montage, showing a scene of destruction, representing Gaza and other places where war and conflict have taken a terrible toll. We sang O little Town of Bethlehem with new relevant words.  

Everyone was given an unlit candlelight, representing a feeling of 'longing for light in darkness', which we were invited to put on a table at the base of a large lit candle. We sang Away in a Manger.

Helen based her talk on the C16th painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder “The Census at Bethlehem” in which we could see many people in a Flemish town very busy with their own jobs and chores, worries and concerns, and no one noticing the arrival of Joseph and Mary on a donkey in the snow. Mary’s calm and serene face is the only one in the painting turned to the viewer.  She is bringing Hope into the world. 

After her talk we sang In the Bleak Mid-winter.  We were then invited to go to the table to turn on our candlelights during the singing of Silent Night, reminding us that we are celebrating Jesus, who came into the world to bring Hope, and a Peace that can only be found in Him.

Mulled wine and mince pies concluded the meaningful service.

St Giles is open every day. It is a quiet space and Christian ‘books to borrow’, Christian leaflets as well as New Forest leaflets are all available. There is a beautiful mural painted by a local artist and wall panels showing the local history of Godshill.

Julie Francis - our newly commissioned Anna Chaplain

Julie was commissioned as Anna Chaplain by Canon Michael Anderson on 6th October at Holy Ascension Hyde Church. She has written this rather lovely article which has now appeared on the Anna Chaplaincy blog, as linked below:

Anna Chaplaincy expands in Hampshire parishes on the edge of the New Forest

Read about what it means to be an Anna Chaplain, and as Julie writes: “… with two Anna Chaplains in our parish, who knows what God has in store for us going forward?!”

Fordingbridge Open Gardens 25th May to 27th May

The Chosen

Book free ticket online:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/newlife/t-avopyvx

Or pop in and collect at:

The Branch, 1 High Street, Fordingbridge, SP6 1AS

or

AVCM Shop, 47A High Street, Fordingbridge, SP6 1AS

Jonathan Veira concert 7th October

Internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, author and humorous raconteur, Jonathan Veira, star of screen, stage, TV, churches and halls across the globe, from Guildford to Glyndebourne, from Lymington to La Scala, is bringing his entertaining one-man show to us to raise funds for our church, on 7th October.

Tickets (£10, including refreshments) from the Church Office, Melvyn Beynon (07711 469412) or other appointed ticket sellers at each of the AVC churches.

Tickets (£10, including refreshments) from the Church Office, Melvyn Beynon (07711 469412) or other appointed ticket sellers at each of the AVC churches.

Jonathan Veira - Who is he and what does he do?

Jonathan, as a singer and songwriter, has collaborated and performed with the likes of Richard Lennox, Pam Rhodes (Songs of Praise), Sue Rinaldi, Bryn Haworth and Paul Field to name but a few.

There are many videos online of Jonathan singing, including the following rendition of Bring Him Home at a recent concert:

For even more information about Jonathan, visit his website:

We hope to see you there!

God’s Acre at Hyde

God’s Acre at Hyde, a celebration of Hyde Church and Churchyard, will be held on Bank Holiday Monday, 29th May from 2pm to 5pm.

• Free entry.

• Plant sales,

• AVCM stall

• nature, adventure and ancestor trails

• music and spoken word concert

• wildlife photography exhibition

• free cream teas.

Bishop Debbie to visit AVC

Join us to welcome Bishop Debbie, Bishop of Southampton and Acting Bishop of Winchester, who will preside and preach at a 10am Whole Benefice service at St Mary's Church in Fordingbridge next Sunday 19 February.

Please come and welcome her to our parish!

Charity Shop Manager Vacancy

Avon Valley Community Matters is opening a new charity shop on Fordingbridge High Street!

We need a full time (and part time) Manager to run the shop for us. Could this be you? Retail experience preferred but individual training plan and specialist training provided. Please download the full Job Description on this web page to apply: www.avonvalleychurches.org.uk/avcmatters or email avcommunitymatters@gmail.com for more information.

Vacancy: Rector - Avon Valley Churches

See details on the Winchester Diocesan Website

Support our Charity’s New Shop

AVCM Charity Shop

Exciting news! The team behind Avon Valley Community Matters - the charity which organises the Friendship Group, two thriving local Playgroups, Messy Church and outreach projects for children, youth and the elderly - have decided to open a charity shop on Fordingbridge High Street. An opportunity which seems too good to miss has arisen to take over the lease of the Maze shop next to the Coop, and after careful research and consideration, the team has decided to go for it.

The Dream

With the objective of ‘reaching out to all’, it has been a long-held dream of the charity’s Trustees to run a shop which will generate income to fund outreach projects within our Churches and the community. More than just a shop selling recycled goods, our vision is also to create a safe, warm and welcoming space for the cold and lonely, by serving free tea and coffee, and help nurture young people with Special Educational Needs, and others in need of support, by offering them valuable retail experience. With an increasing focus on the environment, and the need to care for others being so great in our community, the AVCM team feel, although it’s nerve-wracking, that the time is right, that perhaps God is calling us…

Will you help support us in this new venture?

How You Can Help

In order to make this dream a success, we need your help with the following:

-          Financial donations, ideally a loan, to help fund the lease until the shop is self-sufficient

-          Volunteers to help clear and re-stock the current shop ready for opening in February

-          Volunteers to help work in the shop when it is up and running

-          To spread the news to help recruit a full-time and part-time Manager

If you can spare donations or your valuable time to support this wonderful new opportunity, we would love to hear from you. Click here to Donate or please email avcommunitymatters@gmail.com or call 01425 540669.

Thank you.

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.