All posts by stmarysredbournorg

Events

Shrove Tuesday: Pancake Bash & Ash

Leave a comment

Please join us in the courtyard at 4.00pm on Shrove Tuesday, 21st February where we will be burning last year’s palm crosses and then enjoying some pancakes together.

If you have any palm crosses from last year, do bring them along. We will be burning them to make ash for our Ash Wednesday services.

We’ll meet at 4.00pm in the courtyard, to be followed by pancakes until 5.00pm.

There is no charge, pancakes are free. No need to sign up – just come along. Dairy free option available (oat milk).

All ages are welcome – see you there!

Articles

Looking After the Garden of Rest

Leave a comment

Our beautiful churchyard, graveyard and the Garden of Rest where ashes are interred are much-loved green spaces for the whole village community, and places of comfort and reflection for those grieving loved ones. They are also a haven for wildlife, insects and wild flowers.

As such, we are committed to the ongoing upkeep of these areas, making sure they look their best all year round. We have a dedicated team of churchyard volunteers who spend many hours each month mowing, clearing, weeding and planting. We also work with people from the Community Payback Scheme who visit weekly to assist with all areas of maintenance.

Looking After the Garden of Rest

In order to keep this particular area tidy and under control, it is important that we all keep to the regulations which are provided to  families when ashes are interred.

These are in line with churchyards across the country, and are designed to allow for mowing and maintenance, to protect wildlife and for the safety of our visitors.

Permitted:
  • Natural flowers (not in any packaging please) may be laid on the lawn
  • Plaques no larger than 8″ x 6″ / 20cm x 15cm – only in the Rose Beds
Not Permitted:
  • Artificial Flowers
  • Vases or flower tubes
  • Plant Pots
  • Any other form of memorial

Please note that flowers may need to be moved whilst we’re mowing. If they are still reasonably fresh, they will be replaced as near as possible to where they were taken from.

If you have placed any items in the Garden of Rest which are not permitted, we would be most grateful if you could arrange for these to be removed by the beginning of March. If that won’t be possible for any reason, do let us know and we’ll do our best to help out.

After this time we will begin the process of removing items that are not permitted, so that we can restore the lawn to a fine condition for all to appreciate.

How can I get involved in helping out in the churchyard?

Our churchyard team are always grateful to hear from new volunteers. They meet every four to six weeks on a rota basis, usually on Saturday mornings, but can also allocate jobs to be undertaken in your own time.

Please get in touch with David Swift to find out more or to volunteer.

News

Discussion Groups with Vicar Candidates

2 Comments

Do you enjoy chatting, listening, and debating? Would you like to meet some of the shortlisted candidates for our new vicar?

We are in need of a wide range of participants to get involved in discussion groups which will be led by each of the four shortlisted candidates on Monday 20th February.

The discussions will be friendly and informal, and will cover a range of issues and ideas, based around a passage from the bible. There is no need for any background knowledge or theological training – if you’re good at chatting and listening, and open to sharing thoughts and ideas with others you will be more than qualified to join in!

Each discussion group will last 30 minutes, and you’re welcome to sign up to attend one or two of these, (no more than two please, or it disadvantages candidates running the later groups). These will be at 9:30am, 10:15am, 11:15am, 12:00pm in the Upper Room at church on Monday 20th February.

To sign up: please add your name to the list in church or e-mail the Churchwardens.