The Parish Church of St George the Martyr, Waterlooville
APCM and Parish Lunch
After the Annual Parochial Church meeting on Sunday 6th April, at which a new Churchwarden and members of the Parochial Church Council were elected, the Parish Lunch was held in the Church Hall.
This year fifty six people, including invited guests, were served soup, cold meat, jacket potatoes and salad, and profiteroles with cream, together with wine or soft drinks, and coffee.
Palm Sunday
We gathered at 10.am at the new Berewood Estate office before following Fr Mike, the Servers, musicians and choir, plus Barney the donkey in procession to St George’s.
Our donkey seemed unperturbed by the crowd, calmly playing his part. (We were sad to learn from Helen at Keydell’s that he has since died.)
Good Friday
At 11.20.am on Good Friday we met at the Baptist Church, our service continued at the Roman Catholic Church and in the Precinct, with people taking turns to carry the cross. Our journey ended at St George’s, where tea and coffee and hot cross buns were served in the Church Hall.
Holy Saturday
Our Seder meal, on Holy Saturday, followed the centuries old tradition and afterwards we gathered for the Lighting of the New Fire and the blessing of the Easter Candle. (See photographs on page 34).
Our Easter Celebrations concluded on Easter Day with Festival Evensong and Devotions and a celebratory drink.
Film Club (April 9th) Bridget Jones’ Diary.
This comedy follows the exploits of accident prone Bridget (Renée Zellweger) as she pines for the dashing but devious Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) then settles for the equally dishy but dull Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). Presumably they don’t live happily ever after as there is a sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason which has yet to reach our film club.
Film Club (April 30th) Cabaret
There is a dark side to this musical whose main characters, singer Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli) and English Teacher Brian Roberts (Michael York) fall in love and eventually part in 1930’s Berlin. The persecution of the Jewish people is increasing as the Nazi Party gain control over Germany, and this love story is played out amidst the sinister prelude to World War II.
Film Club (May 15th) Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre, unloved and mistreated firstly by her family and then at Lowood School, is sent to be Governess to Mr Edward Rochester’s ward at rather creepy Thornfield Hall.
After a bad start Jane and Mr Rochester fall in love, but at their hasty marriage a dark secret is revealed and Jane flees to the sanctuary of St John Rivers and his sisters. After unexpectedly becoming an heiress she divides the money between herself and her new ‘family’ and is contemplating missionary work when she feels drawn to return to Thornfield Hall, now a burnt ruin.
The housekeeper, kindly Mrs Fairfax explains all and Jane finds love again with Mr Rochester.
Outing to Chartwell and Bellingham, Sunday 11th May.
We left for Chartwell soon after 11.am, after the 10.am service. Our coach driver, Lucy, was excellent, managing to negotiate narrow lanes and expertly reversing into a small gateway when we missed the entry to Chartwell which was only signed for ‘car park’ and not coaches.
Tony and Jane handed out tickets for us to tour the house at 2.pm or 2.15.pm, we then went our separate ways, most to the restaurant for coffee or lunch.
The house was very interesting and included photos of Sir Winston Churchill and his family, also famous politicians and military people, and an exhibition of uniforms and medals.
We had time for a quick look around the gardens and a cream tea before the coach took us on to Bellingham and St Dunstan’s Church. Fr Timon was there to greet us, with Noreen, Tabitha and Rachel.
We greatly increased his congregation for the evening service and afterwards Fr Timon’s family and members of St Dunstan’s congregation had laid on a lovely buffet for us in the church hall.
After a quick look around the Vicarage and its garden we headed home, arriving back at Waterlooville after 10.pm.
It was a really great day out. The weather stayed dry, although chilly, Chartwell was well worth visiting and it was lovely to see Fr Timon and his family again.
Walsingham Pilgrimage
On the weekend after Easter, 18 pilgrims from St. George's church travelled to Norfolk to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. The motto of the weekend is "we pray hard and we play hard". There are many services to attend and many social gatherings. This photo comes at the end of the service of “The Stations of the Resurrection”.
Festival Edition 2014
News from the Pews
Janet Johnson