I’ve given up sweets, cakes and biscuits for Lent. Possibly a bad choice, and each year I get to about the halfway point and think that maybe next year I’ll give up something I don’t like as much.
But that’s not really the point. In fact, giving up things per se isn’t really the point. It’s more to do with doing some self-reflection and assessing your spiritual life, [Read more…] about What Is Lent All About?
Eastleigh Basics Bank is busier than ever – there are often people waiting outside for it to open when I arrive at around 10.00 am with our donations from Chandler’s Ford.
Shop manager Dave Keating has recently had surgery, so the shop is currently staffed by Denise and Dom from Chandler’s Ford Methodist church, together with a team of volunteers. [Read more…] about Eastleigh Basics Bank Update
Beginning on 6 April 2014 is the last part of Lent – Passiontide as it’s often called. The Christian story approaches one of its climaxes with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Four writers tell the story in the Bible – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – several decades after it happened.
Not surprisingly they have slightly different accounts of what happened, but one constant is this worrying truth. The religious leaders of the day [Read more…] about The Passion of Christ at St. Boniface
Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church will be presenting The Crossroad, a musical drama, from 10th to 12th of April (Thursday to Saturday).
The Crossroad was written and performed in Truro last year and has been specially adapted by Mike Standing.
50 people from 9 local churches are taking part. [Read more…] about The Crossroad: Musical Drama At Methodist Church
As you may have seen in the media over the past few months, Archbishop Justin Welby is encouraging church people to get involved with their local credit union.
Credit unions offer a realistic alternative to ‘pay day’ lenders for people on low incomes or with a poor credit history, who need ways to save small amounts and to borrow money. [Read more…] about The Church And Credit Unions
Linda Read from Chandler’s Ford never stops doing crazy things.
What has she done in the past 15 years? Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, a 100-mile trek along the Great Wall of China, parachute jump, flying a microlight plane, paragliding off a mountain in Turkey……
In March – April, Linda will be trekking to Everest Base Camp. [Read more…] about Linda Read: Fun, Passion, Living Life To The Full
The Parish of Chandler’s Ford has recently appointed an organ scholar, Sarah Akponasa (a student of Chemistry at the University of Southampton, from Oxford).
Sarah will be helping with some services and, under the organ scholarship scheme, has lessons from Dr. Hugh Benham, director of music at St Boniface.
These include help with [Read more…] about Hugh Benham Introduces New Parish Organ Scholar
This post John Tavener was written by Dr. Hugh Benham, writer, composer, and choir director of St. Boniface church in Chandler’s Ford.
I interviewed Dr. Hugh Benham last year in this post: Concert, Life And Passion.
Hugh celebrated the life of the brilliant composer Sir John Tavener with us. [Read more…] about John Tavener
As we are still in the Christmas season, I’ve decided to take a look at a character in the Nativity story who I think is quite underrated.
Judging by the title, you should know who I’m talking about. [Read more…] about Why Joseph Is Underrated
We went for a pleasant walk this afternoon along the Hiltingbury Lakes in Chandler’s Ford.
It was such a cool, lovely breezy walk. The water ran pretty fast.
Some people were fishing. [Read more…] about A Nice Sunday Surprise: Church at Four in Hiltingbury
Is church boring?
People who went to the Crib Service at St. Boniface Church on Christmas Eve may answer “No”.
On Christmas Eve, the traditional family Crib Service was turned into an evening of entertainment, in the form of Who Wants To Be A Christmas Millionaire?
One of the traditional sounds of Christmas is that of church bells.
I’m not sure why it is a traditional sound of Christmas, as church bells are rung through the year – most Sundays, as well as other celebratory events such as weddings and christenings.
But as you hear the peal of bells drifting [Read more…] about The Art Of Bell Ringing
This morning, I attended the Christingle Service at the Parish Church of Chandler’s Ford. The church was packed with local parents and their children. Nearly 100 Christingles were given out.
Do you know the meanings of Christingle? [Read more…] about Christingle Celebration In Chandler’s Ford
I picked up a postcard by the Eastleigh Basics Bank last month in Eastleigh.
It asks an important question: “What are you opening this Christmas?”
The postcard features two images. One shows someone opening a bottle of champagne; another shows a person opening a tin of food. [Read more…] about What Are You Opening This Christmas?
Carol singing at Asda on Monday evening in Chandler’s Ford was a rather unusual experience.
Simon Farrenden and his Chandler’s Ford Brass Band were playing at the optician corner of the shop.
Rev. Peter Cornick from the Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church was playing the euphonium in front of modest ladies pyjamas, [Read more…] about Beautiful Carol Singing At Asda In Chandler’s Ford
It is said that there is no such thing as a ‘free lunch’ but shoppers emerging from Waitrose in Chandler’s Ford on Friday morning were surprised to discover that there is such a thing as a free mince pie!
Churches Together in Chandler’s Ford (CTCF) comprises representatives from St Boniface and St Martin in the Wood, St Edward the Confessor (The Catholic Parish of St Swithun Wells), [Read more…] about Christmas Wishes With Free Mince Pies
In Chandler’s Ford, there has been a fascinating tradition of the Posada figures visiting local families.
This Mexican Posada (Las Posadas) tradition has been established by the St. Boniface Church in Chandler’s Ford.
The word Posada (Las Posadas) means “inn” or “shelter” in Spanish, [Read more…] about Posada Figures Visiting Chandler’s Ford
I like taking random pictures of Chandler’s Ford. Last week, I found that the Vicarage of the parish church got a new sign.
Would you like to see the difference of the old and new signs?
The old sign of the Vicarage of the Parish Church of Chandler’s Ford used to carry a bold white word “VICARAGE” against the cherry red background. [Read more…] about Tale Of Chandler’s Ford Vicarage
Update: This event took place in 2013.
Don’t miss…
The Nine Lessons and Carols
at Parish of Chandler’s Ford, St Boniface CofE Church,
Hursley Road SO53 2FT [Read more…] about Don’t Miss The Nine Lessons And Carols In Chandler’s Ford (2013)
There are many types of graduation celebration in life. In Chandler’s Ford last weekend, there was an amazing, unique graduation celebration.
It was a graduation celebration for the new street pastors in Chandler’s Ford. You may even recognise some of them.
The newly commissioned street pastors are [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Street Pastors: Listening, Caring And Helping
![Sir John Tavener features in Word Made Flesh: By Devlin crow (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://chandlersfordtoday.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Sir_John_Tavener_features_in_Word_Made_Flesh-220x220.jpg)
