Dear Friends,
Churchyard Restoration in-action:
Let me begin by celebrating ten cherry trees being planted on Thursday in St Peter’s Churchyard as a real high point of a vastly successful churchyard restoration project which has been running since last August and some photos are attached. It is a partnership with Dorset Wildlife Trust, and also with BCP Council, the Rotary Club of Bournemouth, and AFC Bournemouth (Cherries!), all of which have contributed financially to enable this visionary project to happen. This is also a project to which many members of St Peter’s Church, represented in one of the attached photos by Parish Wardens Jane and Chris, have contributed their enthusiasm and sheer hard work. Steve Jones is yet another worker from St Peter’s who is one of many who have put in incredible hours of work clearing the churchyard. Jane has valiantly master-minded the whole project – for which huge thanks! – and the hands-on project leader, who drove up from near Woking to lead the churchyard team was Mark Richmond. Well done to all involved!
We look forward to the next stage of this exciting development – see the designers’ drawings on display at the back of St Peter’s.
Today’s video worship opportunities:
Follow these links to access a video recorded by Lucinda, another with Prayers from me.
Worship in person: St Peter’s reopens today, & St Stephen’s & St Augustin’s next Sunday
I greatly look forward to joining in worship with many of you.
Give thanks for Susan Green and for Derek Cartledge, both of whom have sadly died recently. Derek’s funeral is on Thursday.
Pray for Jennie Maund, in hospital. Pray also for Sandra and Gary, to be married in St Peter’s on Friday.
Sacred Space online zoom 6.30pm Palm Sunday, 28th March
The Rev’d Dr Chris Steed writes:
“Hello everyone, here is an invitation to do something different. Changing the world starts with what happens inside us. We can’t renew the way things are organised in society without being renewed ourselves. This is an opportunity to get behind the structures and walls that shape our lives to have an enlivening, inspiring brush with Spirit. The living Christ is still around though in a different form to when he rode into the city on Palm Sunday to take on power.
What? – Sacred Space (an hour of sacred song, meditation, Bible reading and prayer – plus a pub quiz question or two to start!)
When? – starting Palm Sunday at 6.30pm every other fortnight for a bit – maybe a couple of months and see how it goes
Where? – on-line to start with, then in the beautiful Sacred Space called St Peter’s Church as things open up
Who? – YOU (especially if you are either under the age of 40 or just happy to enlarge your sense of who God can be for you in a way that feeds the spirit)
A zoom link is below. Rev Chris doesn’t want to sit there by himself so pass the word on and come on this journey for a while…….”
Join Zoom Meeting: SACRED SPACE ZOOM LINK
Meeting ID: 819 6110 2015
Passcode: 972491
Contact CHRIS or me, IAN, by clicking on either of our names in blue, if you want to know more or are interested in joining in.
Lent Study Course : The Sign of Jonah
The Rev’d Dr Paul Collins leads a discussion group on zoom every Thursday evening in Lent at 7pm.
Follow this zoom link to join us:
Meeting ID: 847 8506 1335
Passcode: 419959
His latest video, ‘The citizens of Ninevah’, can be accessed via this link on YouTube
Wednesday Ethics Forums
‘Virtually Healthy: what ethics apply to digital meetings?’ was last Wednesday’s excellent discussion, which can be accessed as a video by following this link: Ethics of Digital Meetings
On Wednesday, 24th March, at 3pm, you can join our final discussion of this series (more in the Autumn), on ‘Stop and Search, unconscious bias? Police use of ‘stop and search’ powers’. Dr Gareth Sherwood will chair the meeting, with contributions from Russell Slatford, Head of Bournemouth Collegiate School, Louise Hall, President of AUB Student Union, Inspector Danny Tamblyn and Superintendent Chris Naughton. Join us by following this zoom link: ETHICS FORUM ZOOM LINK
Meeting ID: 876 1777 1061
Passcode: 048975
Ringing – Monday 23rd March – Marie Curie
The Church of England is supportive of the Marie Curie day of Reflection on Monday, and in particular, have asked that a bell be rung if possible.
Here’s the link for full information: Marie Curie Day of Reflection
Therefore at St Peter’s, the tenor will be tolled slowly for 5 minutes prior to noon, will be silent for the minute and then rung at normal speed 948 times (so for c. 30 minutes) afterwards. 948 is the current reported number of Covid deaths in the BCP area, so please share this information with your wider network, and spread the word of what our bellringers are doing in support of Marie Curie.
Annual Meeting zoom links will be sent out near the time and the dates are as follows:
St Stephen’s ADCM – Sunday 28th March, 12pm
St Augustin’s ADCM – Sunday 11th April, 11.15am
St Peter’s ADCM – Monday 12th April, 6pm
APCM – Thursday 29th April, 6.30pm
Make a note in your diaries and look out for the relevant links in the upcoming weekly emails.
And if you contribute to any of these meetings by producing a report, please ensure these are sent to Lisa this week for inclusion in the relevant report pack.
Linda Whalley’s Funeral Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration of her life is being uploaded to our YouTube channel as I write this, so will be able to be viewed on our YouTube channel from tomorrow by following this link: YouTube Please keep checking as we will upload it as soon as we have it.
May she rest in peace, and risen in glory.
Enjoy this glorious Spring weather!
May God bless you richly,
Ian
The Rev’d Dr Ian Terry
DTh, PhD, MA, FRSA
Team Rector of Bournemouth Town Centre Parish,
Visiting Fellow with Bournemouth University,
18 Wimborne Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH2 6NT
01202 554058
07733 336047
Registered Charity Number: 1186400