Benefice News
Here is the weekly news sheet for w/b 22nd February
What a week! Sometimes our mettle is tested by lots of situations cropping up at once and it certainly seems to be the case at the moment. However, we enter a season of ‘testing’, as it were. Christ was tested in the wilderness and life in all its fullness will always send things to try us.
In his sermon last week, Terry suggested that Lent though didn’t need to be miserable – surely we should be spreading a little joy too? He recommended trying to make someone laugh; not at anyone’s expense but because it makes these testing times lighter. At Deanery Chapter this week, I was greeted with supportive cheers as all my colleagues knew that BCI had been through a rough patch; it lifts the heart when we know others support us and we should know that God too will be with us as we pass through the storm.
This week’s services:
9.30am Combined Morning Prayer at Chalton.
We are very sorry that Idsworth remains closed this week. Please pray for the weather to improve and the river to start to recede. It is just too risky to ask members of the congregation to negotiate the ‘swamp’ that now surrounds the front gate and the footbridge.
11am – Parish Communion at Blendworth Church Centre.
Holy Trinity remains closed until the loss adjuster visits on Tuesday and the remains of the Pulpit are cleared under their direction.
We look forward to seeing you!
Revd Joy
Latest News and Upcoming Events
The Bible Course
The The Bible Course will run over the next three months. There are 8 sessions which cover all aspects of the Good book. If you would like to explore the Bible in more detail and feel more connected to God’s Word and see how Jesus features as much in the Old Testament as the New Testament, come along on Thursday evenings at 7pm on the following dates:
Thursday 22nd January
Thursday 12th February , Thursday 26th February
Thursday 12th March, Thursday 19th March, Thursday 26th March
Thursday 9th April, Thursday 16th April
All the sessions will be at Blendworth Hills Retirement Village’s Garden Room apart from Thursday 12th February which will be at Blendworth Church Centre Chapel.
The session lasts 90 minutes. If you have to miss a session, don’t worry; we can catch you up and there’s a study book to assist you. Please let me know if you’d like to join the course so that I can order the correct resources. To register either email/phone me or complete the registration form by following this link https://forms.gle/e9wFNnrsTo73pozZ8.
Churches Together Lent Course – Research and resources to encourage and equip you to be Talking Jesus
This Lent, Horndean & Clanfield Churches Together are combining for a Lent Course. We have chosen the Talking Jesus course which helps us to talk a little more openly and freely about our faith. I know a lot of us struggle with this.
The course will take place over Lent on two different days and times and we hope you will be able to join us at one or other of the sessions. You can find out more about the course here.
Don’t go into faith conversations blind. Discover research into the state of faith in the UK, and evangelism tools and resources based on the findings, to effectively reach people for Jesus in today’s cultural context.
Monday 23rd February
Monday 2nd March
Monday 9th March
Monday 16th March
Monday 23rd March
7.30pm at Catherington Church Hall
Thursday 26th February
Thursday 5th March
Thursday 12th March
Thursday 19th March
Thursday 26th March
11am at St Edmund’s RC Church, Horndean
Sessions will be led by local clergy including Revd Richard (Catherington & Clanfield), Revd Sam from the Baptist Church; Revd Joy (BCI)and Father James or Father Tom from the Catholic church. You can sign up here.
Lent Lunches
During Lent there will be a Lenten Lunch every week at the Blendworth Church Centre between 12pm and 2pm. Everyone is welcome.
Friday 20th February
Friday 27th February
Friday 6th March
Friday 13th March
Friday 20th March
Friday 27th March
Horndean and Clanfield Foodbank
foodbank@horndeanbaptistchurch.org.uk
We are collecting for the Horndean and Clanfield foodbanks. They need, cereals, long life milk, spreads, pasta and sauces, tea, small jars of coffee and biscuits, tinned fruit, custard, rice, noodles, snack pots, beans, hoops, macaroni cheese, toiletries, tinned vegetables, tinned meat, tinned fish, tinned pies. Please, no fresh produce or short date items. Details from Revd Joy.
Community Clothing Bank
Holy Trinity’s Clothing Bank at Blendworth Church Centre, Blendworth Lane, Waterlooville, PO8 0AA, will be open on the 4th Saturday of the month from 10am to 12pm or by appointment by contacting 07443 488864 or email Blendworth Church Centre.
What’s happening in The Benefice
You can find out about all our church services here. There are some special events in The Benefice coming up in the next few weeks. More details about these events can be found by selecting the images below.
Public Notice for the repair of Holy Trinity
NOTICE IS GIVEN that we are applying to the Consistory Court of the diocese for permission to carry out the following works as detailed in this Public Notice.
The BCI Churches
Revd Joy Windsor
Priest in Charge 07521 862285
We worship together on Sunday mornings, and are involved in many other aspects of church and village life. We would love to welcome you to any of our churches and get to know you, so please click on the links to find out more.
With a wealth of history to explore, and many unique and beautiful features we are well worth a visit.
Photographs from Revd Joy’s licensing and installation are on the About Us page.
Anna Chaplaincy
BCI Churches and the United Benefice of Catherington and Clanfield are looking for an Anna Chaplain who could come alongside our Anna Chaplain, Dawn, to accompany older people at this age and stage of their lives. It is an ecumenical, community-based, chaplaincy promoting the spiritual welfare of older people. Anna Chaplaincy is a person-centred and non-judgemental ministry for people of strong, little or no faith at all. We have expanded our ministry to 4 nursing and care homes and one sheltered housing complex. We are in need of someone willing to train as a Chaplain with the Diocese and to be able to work with our team of ‘Anna Friends’ to bring this ministry to our older residents. You would need to be able to give one to two days a month at minimum. Please talk to either Revd Richard or Revd Joy in the first instance.
About our Churches
Thank you for visiting our website which I hope you will find both welcoming and useful. The BCI Churches are a benefice of Holy Trinity in Blendworth, Saint Michael and All Angels in Chalton and Saint Hubert’s in Idsworth. However, we are more than just buildings; we are a community of people who are inspired by our faith in God, to learn from the teachings of Jesus and seek to be led by the Holy Spirit, to love and serve the community around us.
Our Safeguarding Policy
The Parishes of Blendworth, Chalton and Idsworth are fully committed to safeguarding all of God’s people. The Benefice Safeguarding Policy was agreed at the Benefice Standing Committee meeting held on 10th February 2025. If you have any questions, or to report a safeguarding concern, please contact Revd Joy, 07521 862285. If you prefer to contact somebody from outside of the parishes, please contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm Email: safeguarding@portsmouth.anglican.org, 023 9289 9665 or Out of Hours advice can be sought from the Thirtyone:eight helpline on 0303 003 1111, selecting option 2.
Registered Address: Benefice Office, Blendworth Lane, Waterlooville, PO8 0AA
