CHURCH FAMILY NEWS

Lord, we lift before you all in our church family who are walking through difficult times. We remember those living with long‑term illness, those in hospital separated from loved ones, and those who are grieving. May they sense your nearness in every moment and find strength beyond their own.

We give thanks for those standing on the threshold of new opportunities, especially in employment. Grant them confidence, clarity, and the tools they need to step forward with courage.

Lord, make your presence known in each of their lives. Surround them with comfort, steady their hearts, and let them feel held in your unfailing care. Amen

AWAY DAY!  – 2 MAY 2026, PETERSFIELD URC Dear Friends, We’d love you to consider joining us on an away day.  The date is a few months away, which gives you time to consider, plan and sign up.  Feel free to suggest a theme for the day and let us know beforehand.  This is a time for everyone to have fun and fellowship in a relaxed environment. We are hoping to provide transport.

LENT SERVICES ON ZOOM                                                                                            

A reminder that Reverend Mike Perrott is holding a Zoom Lent Bible Study for 6.30 pm on the Sunday evenings of Lent, including Palm Sunday which anyone from the Fellowship is welcome to join.  They are well worth attending. Just to confirm the dates which are left:

• Lent 3, 8 March 
• Lent 4, 15 March 
• Lent 5, 22 March
• Lent 6, 29 March (Palm Sunday)

Anyone who is interested can email Mike [email protected] the week before each session and he will send notes including the Passcode and ID.   

Ideas for Keeping Lent Holy by Nadia Bolz-Weber Part 2

How did you get on with part 1 in February’s Outlook? Please let me know if you joined in with this. Here are the rest of the ideas:-

(Sundays have  no action)

Day 29: Write a thank you note to your favourite teacher

Day 30: Invest in canvas shopping bags – and use them!

Day 31: Buy a fairly traded product you’ve not tried before

Day 32: Donate art supplies to your local primary school

Day 33: Read John 8:1-11

Day 34: Worship at a friend’s mosque, synagogue or church and look for the beauty

(Sunday)

Day 35: Confess a secret

Day 36: No sugar day – where else is there sweetness in your life?

Day 37: Give £5 to a local social enterprise

Day 38: Educate yourself about a saint www.catholic.org/saints

Day 39: Pray for peace

Day 40: Pray for your enemies (you probably have new ones by now) then decide which of these exercises you’ll keep for good.

DONATIONS TO SCM BASICS BANK:

As always, please use the donation drop-off point at church. They have shared that there is an urgent need for:

• Tinned Meat and fish
• Toilet rolls
• Noodles
• Soup
• Cook-in sauces
• Coffee, sugar, tea bags
• Jams & spreads
• Dog & Cat food
• UHT milk
• Large nappies sizes 4-6
• Tinned vegetables & fruit esp tomatoes
• All toiletries, esp deodorants

Alternatively, if you would rather, they can accept monetary donations via their website  http://southamptoncitymission.co.uk/give 

COME AND SHARE IN THE JOY OF EASTER!

With Easter just around the corner, have a look at all that we have got coming up to celebrate! Have a look at our headlines at the top of the page, or visit our services page.

Would you like the opportunity to read from the Bible during the service on a Sunday?  Please make Dave aware and he will pop you on the rota as a reader.  With thanks.

Following our appeal and the kind donation of plastic sweet and chocolate tubs, I am pleased to announce that Teddy, the young boy from Hamble, has exceeded his target and collected 11,233 tubs, which are now saved from landfill. Thank you, all, and especially Margaret, who delivered them.

 

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS

Dear Friends, During the last few months we’ve prayed for many of our friends who have been unwell in body,  mind, or spirit, and all who are experiencing difficult times.  We continue to uphold them in our thoughts and prayers and think especially of the family and friends of one of our congregation members as they mourn their loss.  We give thanks for their many years of service.  Dear Lord, we ask that you surround all those in need with your healing presence. Bring comfort where there is pain, clarity where there is confusion, and calm where there is anxiety. May they feel supported, upheld, and never alone.  Amen. In Christian love, Anne

BOARD GAMES EVENING – Come along for a fun evening on Friday 6 February 2026 at     7.30 pm. Light refreshments provided.

AWAY DAY!  – 2 MAY 2026, PETERSFIELD URC Dear Friends, We’d love you to consider joining us on an away day.  The date is a few months away, which gives you time to consider, plan and sign up.  Feel free to suggest a theme for the day and let us know beforehand.  This is a time for everyone to have fun and fellowship in a relaxed environment. We are hoping to provide transport.

FUTURE EVENTS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN FELLOWSHIP

ABBEY URC – Sunday 15 February 2026 at 10.30 am, A Celebration of Love – led by the Reverend Terry Hinks. Abbey URC is open every Saturday morning for a quiet time of prayer and meditation.

BITTERNE PARK URC – Saturday 21 February, Coffee Morning

Saturday 28 March,11.00 am – 2.00 pm Easter Market, including refreshments, lunch. Friday 8 May, 6.30 pm Beetle Drive, including Bangers and mash.

Ideas for Keeping Lent Holy Part 1 by Nadia Bolz-Weber & adapted for the UK by Rev Sarah Hall. Did you do this last year? How did you do?

From Wednesday February 18^th

Day 1: Pray for your enemies

Day 2: Walk, carpool, bike or bus it.

Day 3: Don’t turn on the radio

Day 4: Give £5 to a charity of your choosing

Day 5: Take 5 minutes of silence at noon

Day 6: Look out the window until you find something of beauty you had not noticed before.

Day 7: Give 3 items of clothing, books, DVDs or CDs to charity

Day 8: No gossip day

Day 9: Do someone else’s chore

Day 10: Buy a few fast food gift cards to give to homeless people you encounter

Day 11: Call an old friend

Day 12: Pray the paper (pray for people and situations in today’s news)

Day 13: Read Psalm 139

Day 14: Pay a few sincere compliments

Day 15: Bring your own mug to a coffee shop

Day 16: Educate yourself about human trafficking https://urc.org.uk/modern-slavery/

Day 17: Forgive someone

Day 18: Don’t use the Internet except for necessities

Day 19: Change one light in your house to LED

Day 20: Try out YouTube morning prayer with the Iona Community
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwDTTUFoQ5YQRfA5bUi8ObQ

Day 21: Ask for help

Day 22: Tell someone what you are grateful for

Day 23: Introduce yourself to a neighbour

Day 24: Read Psalm 121

Day 25: Bake a cake

Day 26: No shopping day

Day 27: Hug a tree

Day 28: Light a candle

To be continued next issue….

LENT SERVICES ON ZOOM                                                                                          

Dear Friends, The Reverend Mike Perrott will be preparing a Zoom Lent Bible Study for 6.30 pm on the Sunday evenings of Lent, including Palm Sunday which anyone from the Fellowship is welcome to join.  Just to confirm the dates:

Lent 1,   22 February                                                                                                                    Lent 2,     1 March                                                                                                                 Lent 3,     8 March                                                                                                             Lent 4,   15 March                                                                                                           Lent 5,   22 March                                                                                                           Lent 6,   29 March (Palm Sunday)

Anyone who is interested can email Mike [email protected] the week before each session and he will send notes including the Passcode and ID.      God Bless.

New funding for church repairs and VAT changes

The Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme has been a lifeline for historic churches – saving them 20 per cent on repair costs. But the future of the scheme is uncertain – and churches, chapels, meeting houses and cathedrals across the country will be paying up to a fifth more for repairs, like leaking roofs and crumbling towers. Some of them cannot afford to do these repairs anymore, putting heritage and church buildings across the country at risk of disrepair and closure. 

On the 22 January 2026, the UK Government confirmed the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will end in March 2026. It will be replaced by a £230 million package to protect and preserve heritage buildings, including listed places of worship. The UK Government has also decided that a spending cap/limit of £25,000 will now apply for each grant, and that the overall budget of the scheme has been reduced by almost half.

The scheme offers tremendous value for money. For every £1 invested in a church building, £16 of social good is generated, for example food banks, warm spaces, clubs etc. The Trust strongly believes that the Grants scheme should be retained and made permanent – it’s vital to help these buildings stay open, serving local people, and it’s the poorest and most isolated who will suffer most if these buildings are forced to close. Churches depend overwhelmingly on volunteers so the new proposed scheme will need to be simple, accessible and predictable if it is to be a success. A major concern is that in future listed places of worship will have to bear the full cost of VAT on repairs. This brings to an end a system that has operated successfully for over 20 years. It means that in future local people will have to raise money not just to repair churches but to pay a 20% tax to the Government.”

 The Trust says “Museums and galleries offering free admission do not have to pay VAT on repairs, but in future churches will. We call on the Government to end this unfairness and not to expect local volunteers to pay these extra taxes.”

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport have now been given their budget for the next few years. It is now up to them to decide if they will fund the scheme. Please write to your MP to request that the Listed Places of Worship Scheme is made permanent – a template and more information can be found at https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/impact/campaigns/save-listed-places-worship-grants-scheme as a final decision is expected very soon.

Over 13000 churches have benefitted from the scheme and have been supported in keeping their buildings windproof and watertight, safeguarding the future of some of our most important local heritage. We have 2 listed churches near us, Holy Saviour and Church of the Ascension in Bitterne Park. The scheme changes will also greatly affect old churches in small towns and villages.    

Unbelievably, there remains no VAT chargeable if a listed church is demolished.

Maria.

CHRISTINGLE MAKERS

Thank you to all our amazing Christingle makers and our orange gatherers, it is a very beautiful tradition, we have a lot of fun and a gorgeous catch up. See you next year and any newcomers always welcome. Much love and thanks, with God’s blessings, Liz

A message from Southampton City Mission

Southampton City Mision is partnering with One Body Southampton, the Message Trust & local churches to host God’s Story in Southampton, a one-day conference on Saturday 21st March at Highfield Church. This is a chance to hear powerful stories of faith, transformation, and hope across our city — and discover how you can join in with what God is doing.

The day runs 9:30am – 3:30pm, with inspiring talks, worship, and time to connect across churches and ministries. We’re thrilled to welcome Sam Ward, Director of Ministry at The Message Trust, as our keynote speaker, with Theo Amer from New Community Church, Southampton, sharing stories from across the city.

There’s something for everyone:

• Children (5–10 yrs) — ‘Discovering that we are sent’ led by SCM Schools, Ellie, Joyce & Reuben
• Youth (11–17 yrs) — ‘Chosen, Restored, Sent’ led by YTH Church & Youth Fest, plus free breakfast!

Tickets: £14 adults — Early Bird £10 until midnight, 31st January 2026.
Children attend free; registration required for all under-18s.

Book your place at https://q.me-qr.com/QBGiy7Mq

SOUTHERN FELLOWSHIP ANNIVERSARY SERVICE

Saturday 9 May 2026 at 2.00 pm at Braishfield United Reformed Church.  Service to be led by the Reverend Mike Perrott.

The United Reformed Church would like to share this fantastic opportunity for young people this summer – Limitless festival 2026!

 

December

Lyndhurst Baptist Church is holding their Christmas Experience on Tuesday 2nd of December from 6pm – 8pm.  Please look at their website for a video to see how wonderful it is. The whole church is converted into the Christmas story. Entrance is free, with refreshments.

The Girls and Boys Brigades are having a special Christmas carol service at 7pm on Monday 8^th December.   All are welcome.

Scratch Christmas Complete Appeal We have already received a generous number of toys and books for this appeal. Thank you so much; you will be making so many children’s Christmases’ so much happier. The last day for this appeal is Sunday 7^th December.

 
Community Carolling dates in December with the Salvation Army Band, times are all from 7pm to 8.30pm

Monday 8^th – Douglas Crescent

Wednesday 10^th – Vokes Close, Franklyn Ave, Cunningham Cres

Friday 12^th – Brownlow Avenue, Monday 15^th St Aubins.

Their Santa’s Grotto and Tree Festival is Saturdays 6^th, 13^th and 20^th December, 10am to 1pm, 93 North East Road, SO19 8AF.

Bitterne URC Ladies Group

This is a very new group that we have set up at the church for any ladies over the age of 18. There is no upper age limit. We have only had a few meetings which have been fun. We have tried hand bell ringing and made Christmas tree decorations for the Christmas Tree Festival. In the New Year we are having a session singing for wellbeing in January 2026 and a speaker for February.

We meet on Saturday mornings, dates are announced in the church magazine. If you wish to know more about the group, contact us

Delicious Sounds Choir with the Bees Knees Duo –  Winter Concert – Sunday 7^th December, 2.30pm at Peartree Church. Adults £10 and children free. Includes mince pie and mulled wine.

Its ADVENT! If you receive the URC newsletter by email, you will have a link to Eco Congregation Scotland and their online Eco Advent calendar. There is a short video for each day of Advent, giving you a Christian and green message, or see https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/advent-2025/