What Colour is a Copper Beech?

What Colour is a Copper Beech? I try to tell the colours – Purple or red or green, A tender pink or brilliant bronze; All these are often seen. This tree is a chameleon, Changing with shade and light, At times a sombre presence, Then dazzling startled sight. This evening, as it happened, Just as […]

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Seeing Ourselves as Others See Us

Our June Bible Study continued the theme of mission by examining the meaning of the word ‘church’, and considering the unintentional messages that we may be sending to people outside. We started by reminding ourselves that the church is a group of people, not a building, and recognising that we need to study two books […]

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CORE Skills Certificates Presented

During morning worship on 19 June, certificates were presented to a group of our folk who shared in the CORE Skills course over the winter.  The aim of CORE is to extend and develop key skills for children’s ministry.   Phil Ray, Children’s and Youth Development Officer for URC Wessex Synod, led the course and presented […]

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Wessex Synod Day at Fawley – Photos

Despite some heavy rainshowers, everyone agreed that the Wessex Synod Day was a great success.  Crowds of people of all ages came from churches throughout Wessex Synod to enjoy a relaxing, fun day at Fawley Hill Estate, the home of Sir William and Lady McAlpine. A colourful display of bunting from all the participating churches. […]

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A Room with a View…

The goldfinches are back on our seed-hopper.  We can see them from our patio window.  They are a joy to behold, with their bright red faces and a vivid yellow flash on their black wings.  As this window faces west, I can sometimes pause to contemplate the glow of the setting sun. Useful things, windows.  […]

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Pilots Anniversary Preparations

Our Pilots group has been busy in recent weeks studying the different decades in preparation for their anniversary celebrations.  The photos show Pilots wrestling with the Rubik’s cube and other 1980s puzzles, and visiting Milestones Museum in Basingstoke to learn about the past. On Sunday 3rd July 2011 Pilots will hold a special 75th Anniversary […]

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Christian Aid Week: The Barista Bishop

The Bishop of Oxford tried his hand as a barista to raise awareness of how small-scale coffee farmers in Nicaragua have been supported by Christian Aid to work their way out of poverty. Bishop John Pritchard learned to make lattes and cappuccinos at AMT Coffee in Oxford ahead of Christian Aid Week, drawing attention to the […]

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Nails in the Fence

There once was a young boy who had a bad temper.  His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.  Over the next […]

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