Mothers’ Union hosted a successful new event at St Peter’s centre on Thursday 12^th April.

 We thought that families might like something fun to do, especially if the holidays hadn’t been sunny (we predicted that one correctly) so we hosted an arty ‘sea adventure’. All ages came together to create; we made all sorts of sea creatures, seaweed, anemones, crustaceans, pebbles and boats and we put everything together onto a big blue sheet for all to see.

 It was a great atmosphere. There were delicious home-made cakes, tea and squash to keep us refreshed. And lots of chit-chat as we drew, cut and stuck. Many thanks to all those involved.

 A number of people asked us when this is happening again. We would really like to have a re-run but we can’t do it without help! So if you are you a baker, you enjoy arts and crafts, or you are just able to buy some materials (no cost to yourselves) please let Janet Everett know (01202 083245). We look forward to hearing from you!

Our Easter Garden this year was, to say the least unusual. Following our Lenten focus on the environment our youth group ‘SPY’ created this stunning garden linking the death and resurrection of Christ with our destruction and our hoped for regeneration of the world.

The garden was in two parts with the cross surrounded by waste in one and, in the other a show of natural flowers surrounded by artificial ones made from thrown away tin cans. The natural and the recycled together show us how to care for our common home

For  some time now we have been working together with the other churches of Poole to offer a welcome to refugees and we have managed to place four refugee families in accommodation in the town. We employ a co-ordinator, Anita Dalkin,  to manage this work and Anita ensures that the refugees have not only a house but social and spiritual support aswell.

On 23 April we’re holding a refugee forum where we can hear about what has been done and plan for the future.

Click here to book your place through Eventbrite

23 March 2018

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

“so, Jesus got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him…” (John ch. 13 v. 4)

We are writing to you to ask for your prayers as Holy Week begins and as the Independent Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse has finished its hearing into matters in the Diocese of Chichester. Please will you pray this Holy Week especially for all those involved, and for all affected by safeguarding issues.

We want to emphasise the crucial importance for the Church of England to be a safe place for all who join in the worship of the living God, in God’s mission, and in ministry. Clearly, we need to hear what the Inquiry will say when they issue their report, but, we are convinced that there is much we are doing and much we can do better about safeguarding. Thank you for all that you do. As the Archbishop of Canterbury said last week at the hearing, the vast majority of our parishes are safe places and many thousands of people, mainly volunteers, are working hard to ensure church is safe and understand the need for training, good record keeping and are committed to having policies and practices in place and kept under review.

The heart of the Church is in the parishes and other local congregations and we are very grateful to all of you who are working so diligently, right across the Church of England. The work of clergy is very demanding. We give thanks and pray for all of you and for all you do, as we move through this week called Holy. At this season we will welcome many new people and occasional visitors. May we ask you all to consider how we ensure a safe and joyful welcome to all who enter our doors, in particular on Easter Day?

We take very seriously all that has been heard by the Inquiry. Archbishop Justin said when he gave evidence last week that he had learned again through listening and reading the evidence given to the Inquiry, that we must not simply say sorry, but that we must also take action that demonstrates clearly that we have learnt the lessons. It is a fact that Bishops and Archbishops are now rightly required to listen, learn and act in accordance with safeguarding legislation and good practice. We are thankful to our episcopal colleagues for all that they are doing in this area and we are grateful to Bishop Martin Warner (Bishop of Chichester) and all his team in Chichester for the particular work they have done and are doing.

There is, of course, absolutely no room for complacency. We need to learn the lessons from what has gone wrong and from the shocking abuse. There are more hearings to come which will focus on the Church of England as part of the IICSA process. So, we do need to continue to listen carefully to all that IICSA has to say and, above all, to listen to the voices of the survivors.

Holy Week is about listening to God, the priority for all Christians. Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied him, and the rest deserted him. The crowds turned on him. As we go through these days together again let us affirm our commitment to listen to God and to build up the relationships between us as those who are disciples of Jesus Christ. The various signs and powerful actions of this week; the Renewal of Ordination vows and the Blessing of the Oils on Maundy Thursday; the foot washing and stripping of the altars on Maundy Thursday evening; the starkness of the bare church on Good Friday; the waiting and dead silence of Holy Saturday; and the sheer unalloyed joy on Easter Day; all of these give us the opportunity to renew our trust, ensure we are open and honest one with another and commit ourselves with renewed energy to respond to the good news.

Christ is alive and so we proclaim the gospel afresh and confidently in this generation. It is indeed the wisdom of God, the power of God for salvation.

Yours in Christ,

The Most Revd & Rt Hon Justin Welby
Archbishop of Canterbury

The Most Revd & Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu
Archbishop of York

During Holy Week we follow the way of the Cross with our Lord in a range of  reflective and symbolic ways. On the Tuesday evening of Holy week we welcome Brother Hugh SSF from the Franciscan community at Hilfield for the concluding session of our Lent study on caring for the environment.

All are welcome to join in treading this path together

All are especially welcome to celebrate the glorious Resurrection of our Lord on Easter Day

Click on the image below to see full details of St.Peter’s services and devotions for Holy Week and Easter

11 March is Mothering Sunday, sometimes called Mother’s Day

At 10am there will be our big ‘Family Service’ with lots of stuff for children and some presents for our mums

Then, in the evening at 6.30pm, something special, a service of wholeness and healing for those who normally avoid church on Mothering Sunday.

This Mothering Sunday Healing Service offers a safe space for those who find Mothering Sunday difficult. Whatever your story, whether you’re grieving the loss of a mother, the loss of a child, or a baby through miscarriage; whether you’re struggling with infertility or childlessness, singleness or a difficult relationship; whether you never even knew your mother or any other reason why you might find Mothering Sunday painful, this quiet, reflective service has been designed with you in mind. It will be an informal gathering with music, reflection, prayer and the chance to light a candle, while we acknowledge the bittersweet emotions surrounding Mothering Sunday. It will be a time which offers the space to grieve, the permission to lament and the opportunity to invite the God who loves us into our stories of struggle. Everyone is welcome to attend, with no compulsion to disclose your pain.

For more information, contact Fr Jonny:  curate@stpetersparkstone.org.uk

 Our Lent study this year is about caring for our environment.

We began by hearing from  Brother Hugh of the Society of St.Francis at Hilfield who started us off on our exploration of how and why Christians care for our common home. Hilfield has just been awarded the GOLD standard for ‘eco-church’ and they are in the forefront of developments. Hugh will return for a final session on the Tuesday of Holy Week, 27 March.

Between now and then we join together in small groups to reflect and discuss the issues involved for Christians in caring for the planet

Click here for full details and info about how to get involved.

 If in doubt ring 01202749085

or email office@stpetersparkstone.org.uk

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard in all sorts of different ways for our Christmas celebrations. And thanks to Adam for these photos.

This year we were able to give a Real Advent Calendar to every child at Baden-Powell and St.Peter’s school. Its a big school with upwards of 720 children but all this was made possible by a legacy from John Williams, a faithful and long standing member of our congregation.

Real Advent Calendars are just what the name suggests. Unlike many commercial versions they actually tell the story of Christmas, and they do so in a way which helps children prepare for the Festival. Along with the Calendar itself there’s an activity book with reflections and activities for each day up until Christmas Eve; and of course there is also the ever popular chocolate. Here it is fairtrade chocolate from the Meaningful Chocolate Company.

On 30 November Fr. Michael introduced the calendars to the children during Collective Worship ( to a great deal of excitement we might add!) and in the afternoon members of the congregation visited all the classrooms to give the calendars out, just in time for December 1.

We’re delighted to have been able to do this and hopeful that it will connect the children to Christmas in a special and meaningful way.

As always in November we remember our loved ones who have died and relatives of those whose funerals we’ve conducted joined regular members of St.Peter’s congregation to reflect on death and commend http://www.mindanews.com/buy-accutane/ their loved ones into God’s everlasting arms. we lit candles and many brought photos or other objects that were important for them