Welcome to the web site for St George’s Church and its Parish magazine, St George’s News.
This is the world’s longest running Parish Magazine on the Internet - we were the first parish magazine on the web, our On-Line edition started in February 1996. You will find many interesting articles here on a wide variety of subjects. If you want a copy of the printed version, you can subscribe here.
St George’s Church welcomes visitors. During the week, the Church is open from 9.30am until 3pm. (mornings only during school holidays).
Usually there is a mid-week Eucharist at 10am on Wednesdays. Sunday services are 8am and 10am. Sunday School and Sunday School Baby & Toddler Group, 9.45am in the hall during term times. However all services are cancelled at the moment.
SAFEGUARDING. To contact the Parish Safeguarding Officer email safeguarding@stgeorges.church
St George’s Church Waterlooville adopts and follows the House of Bishop’s ‘Promoting a Safer Church’ policy. For more detailed information click HERE
9th April 2020
Churchwarden’s message
Dear All,
I hope this Maundy Thursday finds you well in what is continuing to be a very strange Holy Week for us all, separated from our church, friends and family.
The Bulletin for this week, with an Easter message from Fr Colin, is HERE. The Reading Sheet is on the ‘at home resources’ page HERE.
I promised to provide you with some viewing resources for the remainder of Holy Week. They are as follows.
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Anytime : +Christopher’s reflections on Jesus’ prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane : https://youtu.be/Lls3-A8BbhM
7pm : St George’s Church – invitation to read and pray together our Maundy Service prepared by Fr Colin
8.15pm : Maundy Thursday Watch of Prayer – on the Cathedral website https://www.facebook.com/portsmouthcathedral/
GOOD FRIDAY
9.30am: Diocesan schools adviser Sue Bowen will present a broadcast designed to explain the significance of the cross for children, from her home and garden. Tune in on our Youtube channel on www.youtube.com/portsmouthdiocese. The video will also be posted on the diocesan website here: https://bit.ly/33GRRqD
10am: Cathedral clergy will present an all-age service, during which children will be invited to use everyday items from around the house to explore the significance of the cross (details of which items you might need are here: https://bit.ly/2XvNpdx). It will be streamed live on their Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/portsmouthcathedral
12noon-3pm: the Dean of Portsmouth will present a series of addresses, readings, prayers and music for Good Friday, followed at 2pm by the Liturgy of the Passion. Details here: https://bit.ly/2XvNpdx
2pm : St George’s Church – invitation to read and pray together the Good Friday liturgy prepared by Fr Colin
EASTER EVE:
8pm: Bishop Christopher will present a short address the night before Easter Sunday via Facebook Live. Details: https://bit.ly/3aUtLeP. The video will also be posted on the diocesan website here:https://bit.ly/33GRRqD
EASTER SUNDAY:
9am: Bishop Christopher will present an Easter celebration from his home via both the Diocesan and Cathedral Facebook pages. Among those featured will be three choristers from Portsmouth Cathedral who will be singing from their own home. Details here: https://bit.ly/2Xjvjez The video will also be posted on the diocesan website here: https://bit.ly/33GRRqD
10am : St George’s Church – invitation to pray together the Easter Sunday service prepared by Fr Colin
11am : Urbi et Orbi - Pope Francis’ Easter message and blessing from St Peter’s Square
11.45am : Easter Sunday Worship from Bangor Cathedral
1.15pm : Easter Sunday Songs of Praise
5.30pm: An Easter celebration from Portsmouth Cathedral, including an address from the Dean, will be broadcast on the Portsmouth Cathedral’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/portsmouthcathedral
One final message for you. The Easter 2020 Edition of the Parish Magazine is now available online. You can find it HERE
Please remember if you need anything, or want to talk with someone, to get in touch by replying to this email or alternatively by contacting a.morgan@stgeorges.church or l.handy@stgeorges.church
Whilst I appreciate we are only at Maundy Thursday and have Good Friday and Easter Saturday to come, I won’t be writing again until next week so let me take the opportunity now of wishing a very happy and blessed Easter to you all.
God bless,
Chris
3rd April 2020
St George’s News, Easter 2020 Issue
The latest issue of the Church Magazine has now been published. As we are unable to access the Church Photocopier, printed copies will be available at some future date; meanwhile the Magazine can be downloaded, viewed on your computer, and printed out at home. For the magazine, go to the St George’s News home page HERE
23rd March 2020
Churchwarden’s message
Dear All –
I write further to my last email, and following the Prime Minister’s announcement tonight.
For those that did not see it, the country is effectively in lockdown for the next 3 weeks. Nobody is allowed to leave their home except to buy essential food (or collect medicines). I will be asking our pastoral team to ensure contact over the next 24 hours with all those that we have identified as potentially vulnerable, and to continue to do so.
The practical effect of the Prime Minister’s announcement, of course, is that the church is now closed and locked shut for at least this next 3 week period. There will be no services of any kind nor even the opportunity to come to church to sit and pray. This is, to our knowledge, the first time this has ever happened and I know all this is hard to bear. I have, therefore, asked Fr Colin to address you directly.
23rd March 2020
Message from Fr Colin
“This is truly an unprecedented situation, but these are indeed unprecedented times. The church will need to remain closed for the time being, but please continue to pray at home for the church and for the world and for all people in need at this time. Please also remember in your prayers those who work in the emergency services and continue in their duties in spite of personal risk to themselves. As a church, we will continue to care for those in our community who are vulnerable and our pastoral team will keep in contact with those who might be on their own and might need our support. Look after yourselves, reflect on how you might help each other and pray for a swift resolution to the current crisis. Please be assured of my continued prayers for you all. I look forward to a time when we can meet together, worship together, and celebrate together. With love and prayers, Fr Colin.”
