St Francis’, Valley Park is an Anglican Interregnum/Vacancy following the retirement of our resident minister and Vicar at the end of June 2017.
We are however very pleased to announce the appointment of The Revd. Dr. Sarah McClelland as Church of England Priest in Charge of Valley Park. Sarah’s Licensing Service will be held at St Francis Church on Advent Sunday, 2nd December, at 4.00 p.m.
We have also recently welcomed Rev’d Sue Keegan von Allmen and Rev’d Mark Robinson as newly appointed Methodist and URC Ministers, whose responsibilities include ministry at St. Francis’ as part of our LEP Clergy team. As we await the arrival of our new resident Anglican Priest in Charge it is very much business as usual, in so far as we are able. Our Church is being led by our Churchwardens, with visiting Anglican clergy supported by our designated Methodist and URC Ministers, leading Eucharistic worship, and lay leaders from among our Congregation leading other Services. Please contact our Parish Office in the first instance if you need advice or information from us.
Scroll down this page to see what is happening at St Francis’ in the next few days and weeks …
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St Francis’ welcomes Bishop Jonathan.
St Francis’ Church has an opportunity to welcome the Rt. Rev’d. Dr. Jonathan Frost, Bishop of Southampton, who is visiting us on Sunday 23rd September and will lead both the 8.45 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion Services. This will be the second time in a matter of months that Bishop Jonathan has been with us, as he chaired the selection process for the appointment of our new resident Minister, in June. |
Welcome to New URC Minister as he takes up post
Rev’d. Mark Robinson, who has newly joined the South West Hants Group of United Reformed Churches was formally inducted at a special service in Kings’ Road URC, Chandler’s Ford, on Friday 21st September.
Mark, who was previously based in Yorkshire, will be a Group Minister within the South West Hants Group but will have special responsibility for the United Reformed Church in Chandlers Ford and also for URC ministry at St. Francis’, Valley Park.
Mark’s wife is also an ordained URC Minister and will be working within the Southampton East Group of URC churches. |
General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
The new data protection regulations, relating to the holding, management and use of personal data by organisations came into force on Friday 25th May. St Francis’ Church takes its responsibilities under GDPR very seriously. You can read our new Data Privacy Notice, agreed by our Church Council on 9th May, here.
If you are a member of St Francis’ Church, or wish to remain in close contact with us, you may give us consent to hold, manage and use your personal data by downloading a Full Data Consent Form 2018 – 27-04-18 and completing and e-mailing it to us at <sfvp91@btconnect.com>.
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Happening this week at
St. Francis’.
Our “Duty Churchwarden” until
23rd September is Andrew Grove
Duty Warden from 24th – 30th September is Alison Rhodes.
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Note:
St Francis’ School Breakfast Club (7.30 a.m. – 9.00 a.m.) &
St Francis’ After School Club (3.30 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.)
held each weekday in School Terms.
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Saturday 22nd September:
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Sunday 23rd September:
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
8.45 a.m.: Said Holy Communion (Rt. Rev’d. Dr. Jonathan Frost, Bishop of Southampton);
10.00 a.m.: Parish Communion (Rt. Rev’d. Dr. Jonathan Frost, Bishop of Southampton);
4.00 p.m.: Messy Church (Elliot Grove and Michael Flack).
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Monday 24th September:
8.00 p.m.: House Groups Monthly Prayer Meeting: Large Meeting Room; All most welcome.
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Tuesday 25th September:
6.30 p.m. – 7.30 p.m.: St Francis Place & Park Surgery Patient Participation Forum; Main Church.
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Wednesday 26th September:
09.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon: St Francis’ Rendezvous Comunity Cafe; Large Meeting Room.
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Thursday 27th September:
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Friday 28th September:
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Saturday 29th September:
8.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.: Dicocese of Winchester, Bishops’ Commission For Mission (Youth and Families, and Disciple Makers) Autumn Programme: Day 1: Whole Church.
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Sunday 30th September:
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
8.45 a.m.: Said Holy Communion (Rev’d Arthur Croad);
10.00 a.m.: Morning Worship (Steve Williams and Phil Watts).
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MESSY CHURCH
Craft, Activities, Afternoon Tea, Celebration.
The fun way to do church
for all the family.
Next Session –
THIS SUNDAY:
Sunday 23rd September
Theme: Creating and Caring
Click this link to find out More:
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ST FRANCIS’ RENDEZVOUS COMMUNITY CAFE
Café Open every Wednesday
9.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon.
All members of the Community of all ages most welcome.
Creche with toys and games for children.
Community Information Point for Local Community, Health
and Benefits Information.
More:
NOTE: NOW WEEKLY OPENING
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MEN’S BREAKFAST
Join us for a
“Full English”,
fellowship and
Thought for the Day
Next Breakfast:
Saturday 13th October (TBC)
8.15 a.m. for 8.30 a.m.
This will be a Church Family Breakfast ahead of the Autumn Church Garden “Tidy Day”.
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Glitter and Glue
 Glitter and Glue is an hour of
craft, messy play, stories and
songs for the under fives
and their parents/carers.
Glitter and Glue is held monthly in term-time –
all pre-school children and
their carers are welcome.
Next Session:
Friday 12th October
10.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.
More:
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INFORMATION:
St Francis’ Church in action:
To find out more about what else we are doing through the coming year please click on the link: Copy of Church-planner-2017-V3.3.
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What were we doing in 2017?
To read about the Ministry, Mission and Witness we undertook, and how we used the Financial Resources gifted to us in 2017, please click on St Francis Annual Report 2017
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What are our strategic plans for Ministry and Mission in the coming months?
To read our latest Parish Mission Action Plan (pMAP) please click on:
St Francis Valley Park – pMap 2017 – 2020 – v 2-2,
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Safeguarding those at risk:
To find our policies on Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults please click here;
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Data Protection:
To read our Data Protection Policies please click here. Please let the Parish Office know if you no longer wish us to hold your information.
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To contact us:
For our contact details please click here.
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Some of our Home Groups develop their studies around the central theme of our Sunday worship and study.
Our focus for the central part of the Trinity Season is Christian Leadership, and comparing and contrasting the lives of King David and Jesus Christ:
17. God’s Promise to David.
Here are some local notes for personal reflection.
Key Readings:
- 2 Samuel, Ch. 7, vs. 1 – 17;
- Mark, Ch. 9, vs. 30 – 37.
“Whoever wants to be first must be the very last, & the servant of all”. What an instruction for leaders – and for us all in a society that still places great value on status.
Both readings show how those, aware that they are in a privileged position in God’s kingdom, also seek worldly endorsement – the temple David proposes is a grand design and he must be aware the status that it would also bring him: ‘the king who built a house for God himself!’ This is a real risk for all those in church leadership of any level. Read on in 2 Samuel to Ch. 7, vs. 18+ and see how David reflected on this and, as so often before, re-established God’s higher status in their relationship.
Jesus’ teaching does not mean we should be servile or self-defeating – he knew his church would need strong, dynamic leaders who would fight to continue his message and legacy, and this is still the call to many today. But he intended for this leadership to be servant-hearted – which he role-modelled so well throughout his life and never more clearly than at the last supper (see also John, Ch. 13, vs. 1 – 17). We can apply this to all our life – family, work, church and in all we do; that extra mile.
- Have you ever wanted to do great things for God?
- How did it go, how did it feel?
- In what ways has God used you to make His kingdom grow?
- Later in 2 Samuel Ch. 7, David prays for God to fulfil His promises. How good are we at trusting God to keep His promises to us and our community?
- As Christians do we trust in God or do we try to control ourselves, hoping our works will help us be close to God, forgetting that we need to take up our cross?
- At this time what is your cross? Offer this to God today!
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DIOCESE OF WINCHESTER
WESSEX PROVINCE