Benefice News
Here is the weekly news sheet for w/b 1st February
The Anna Chaplaincy team was named after Anna in our Gospel story this week. We know for sure she ‘was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four’ (Luke 2;36-37). She was a widow steeped in spiritual disciplines as the passage goes on to explain. When Jesus is carried into the temple, her words ring out confidently voicing her conviction that God is on the move and bringing about salvation. So close was her relationship with God that he chose her to be there to witness and prophetically announce the news to all who would listen.
Too often we fail those of the 3rd age, to listen to their experiences, to see the life lived, in adult before us. We have so much to learn. Our passage shows us how important God see’s the role the elderly have in teaching us. That is the gift we see as we seek to meet the spiritual needs of those in residential and care homes. Some of their abilities may have ceased, but to be present as they worship God in such a unique way, can only amaze us as we lead those services. If you feel called to this unique service, please talk to me.
Please pray for all Anna Chaplains and Anna friends this week and the people they visit:
We look forward to seeing you!
Dawn
Latest News and Upcoming Events
The Bible Course
I am proposing to run The Bible Course 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.
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.
Launch of a new film about Saint Hubert’s
The film tells the story, in an exciting and holistic approach, about this special church and its surroundings.
One of Hampshire’s oldest churches – St Hubert’s at Idsworth – is now using modern technology to tell its fascinating story for all its many visitors to enjoy. Accessible by a QR code at the church, the 20-minute film is the result of a collaborative project between the Parochial Church Council of St Hubert’s and the University of Portsmouth’s Heritage Hub.
The film looks at the rich history of the location and the present, almost 1,000-year-old, church building, with its nationally important wall paintings, alongside landscape, archaeology, people, usage and conservation. “The film aims, and has the capacity, to raise awareness and communicate key narratives of this significant historic site to local, national and international audiences.”
Press play to view.
St Hubert’s is open every day from 9.00 am until 6.00 pm from 1st April until 30th September and from 9.00 am until 4.00 pm from 1st October until 31st March. There are church services every Sunday at 9.30 pm unless otherwise stated on the church notice board or on the calendar.
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
