THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK FROM REVD CANON ANDREW MICKLEFIELD |
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In Common Worship 'Times & Seasons' for Advent it says: "Advent is a season of expectation and preparation, as the Church prepares to celebrate the coming of Christ". From where I am sitting in the Cathedral Office it looks like more like Christmas has come. The Christmas market is ready to go - it opens on 21 November and in Winchester High Street the Christmas lights dazzle already. |
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And yet, the seemingly forgotten, Advent hasn't even started. Can I encourage you to wind back? Perhaps you would consider bringing yourself, your ministry teams, your homegroup, your family to the amazing Advent Procession which will be in the Cathedral on Saturday 28 November at 6.30pm. It is a most moving, musical and reflective service of darkness to light and reminds us to pray the great Advent prayer - 'Maranatha - Our Lord, come'. |
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A Warm Welcome to +Kelly as She Begins Her Ministry Among Us |
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It was a joyful service to welcome Bishop Kelly to the diocese on Saturday at St Mary’s Andover which featured beautiful prayers and music, selfies and even a bread maker! Thank you to everyone who came and who took part, especially the wonderful children of St Mary's Old Basing, St Peter's Ropley and Oakley CofE Primary who asked the bishop some excellent questions and sang beautifully, reminding us all to 'carry our light' into dark places. |
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Amazing Answers to Prayer at Ringwood Churches |
Since January, the church of St Peter and St Paul in Ringwood have been holding daily prayer meetings, and have seen their Sunday congregation rise from around 20 people to over 100. Revd Steve Miles said, "it's been an amazing journey of learning how to love like God calls us to, in a way that isn't always comfortable.” |
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An Evening With Bear Grylls |
On Tuesday, Christchurch Priory and other churches in the Bournemouth Church Collective hosted an 'Evening with Bear Grylls.' Bear gave an inspirational talk about how faith has sustained him throughout his life and discussed his book 'The Greatest Story Ever Told', which retells the gospel though the eyes of those who knew Jesus best. |
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Avon Valley Churches Tell the Story of Revelation |
Avon Valley Churches recently brought their local community together to tell the story of the book of Revelation. Bishop Philip, who attended the performance, said, “I think it's important to make the Scriptures come alive in this kind of a way. The book of Revelation... [offers] a real message of hope in a time and in an age that can often be pretty short on that commodity.” |
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One Man’s Journey of Spiritual Thanksgiving |
Phil Carr, who worships at St Peter & St Paul, King’s Somborne, has always been a keen walker, but last October, pain in his hips while walking led to the discovery of unrelated prostate cancer. This month, Phil embarked on a two day ‘walk of thanksgiving’ along part of the Camino Way pilgrim’s trail, praying in gratitude for those who treated him and those who prayed for him. |
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+Philip Gives Impactful Sermon on Safeguarding Sunday |
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On Safeguarding Sunday, Bishop Philip preached at the Cathedral about why safeguarding is so important from God's perspective - a God we know cares for the vulnerable, provides safety and security, and stands against domination, exploitation and abuse. |
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New Faith & Generosity Lectionary Resource |
This month's lectionary reflection, for Sunday 30 November (the first Sunday of Advent), looks at Romans 13:11-14 and Matthew 24:36-44, where we're told to 'keep awake', to be ready, actively participate, and 'put on the armour of light'. These lectionary reflections can be used for preaching or personal reflection, drawing on readings from the Common Worship Lectionary for the chosen week. |
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Diocesan Education Project 2025-26: Bags of Hope |
This year's project from our Education Team is now ready to download. It includes resources and ideas which can be used by schools and churches. The project, 'Bags of Hope', focuses on displaced persons from a range of backgrounds, contexts and countries, considering the significance of a backpack for many migrants, when their whole life has to be transported, and what they must leave behind. |
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27 February, 9am, Central Hall Westminster
The ChurchWorks Summit is a chance to network, learn, collaborate, and contribute alongside senior church leaders, government ministers, public sector representatives, and charity leaders - all exploring how faith and policy can work together for the common good. The summit is hosted by Justin Brierley, and features an exciting lineup of speakers.
Book early-bird tickets here >>> |
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17 January, 4pm, St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Hambledon
Our neighbouring diocese is hosting a discussion on God and Creation where the Very Reverend David Fergusson, Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge, will give a talk discussing ways in which our churches can learn to value the created world for its own sake. |
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This Net Zero Carbon (NZC) Conference, hosted in association with the dioceses of Portsmouth, Guildford and Chichester, will be an inspirational, interactive and practical day conference to help you on your NZC journey. The theme for the conference is ‘Hope for a Cherished and Thriving Earth’. |
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Routes in the Records - Free Online Event |
27 November, 12pm, Online
Join an online event on 27 November exploring the rich and often overlooked stories of Black history within the Church of England’s archives.
This session will uncover historical records and the narratives they reveal, offering unique insights into the Church’s diverse heritage.
Find out more and book >>> |
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Events Around the Diocese |
27 November, 10am, Old Alresford Place |
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Around the Diocese and Beyond... |
Do you have a vacancy you'd like us to share?
Get in touch with communications@winchester.anglican.org. |
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