Morning Service for Trinity 11 2023
The story of Joseph and his technicolour dream coat is one that still told and still known, largely thanks to Andrew Lloyd Webber. Its a story which has everything, avarice, greed, jealousy, sibling rivalry, sex, politics, and power – no wonder it’s so popular – but in the end it’s a story of just what the presence of faith can do in a human life – to transform a curse into a blessing, tragedy into victory, despair into hope , and, finally , death into salvation.
Morning Service for Trinity 10 2023
You all know the story of Joseph so I won’t go into it now – I’ll save that for a later date – suffice it to say that what got Joseph into trouble was as much as anything his dreams – specifically dreams of pre-eminence over his brothers, you remember how he dreamed of the sun and the moon and 11 stars all bowing down to him. Of course, it didn’t help that he was his father’s favourite – but they could cope with that, they proved that by their later tolerance of Benjamin, it was Joseph’s dreams of lordship over them that was just too much. They even say ‘here comes the dreamer.” It was the dreams that caused the problem.
Morning Service for Trinity 9 2023
There is a story of a boy who, hearing of Albert Schweitzer and his work in Lambaréné hospital in Gabon used his pocket money to buy a bottle of aspirin and asked the US Airforce to drop it over his hospital. The story got out and four and half tons of medical supplies were eventually airlifted to Schweitzer’s hospital. He said, “I never thought that one child could do so much.” At the heart of the feeding of the 5,000 is one boy offering to share his lunch. A fact omitted by St Matthew – there’s no boy in his account.
Morning Service for Trinity 8 2023
More parables for us to ponder, parables we have known from our childhood, and heard countless sermons on, I am sure. Most of you will know my thoughts regarding the interpretation of the parables – how I believe their re-telling by the gospel and pseudo-gospel writers to have have been much influenced by the writers’ own situations and the audiences they were writing for. This is not revolutionary stuff – all academic biblical scholars would hold this position.
Morning Service for Trinity 7 2023
Is God real to you? Have you been introduced to him? That’s a daft question I know – you’re sitting in church aren’t you, how could you have avoided God? Well if you were listening to this morning’s reading form Genesis, from the saga of Jacob, it’s not such a daft question.
Otterbourne Christmas Market
Our annual Christmas Fair is being held on Saturday 25th November in Otterbourne Village Hall. Doors open at 12 noon. As well as a variety of stalls, we will be serving food and drinks. In the evening, we are holding a Quiz Night at 7.30pm with a fish and chip supper. If you are interested […]
Hursley Hub
Everyone is welcome to join us for a hot drink, breakfast rolls and home-made cake in th church room at All Saints’, Hursley on Saturday 18th November. Come along between 9.30 am – 12.30 pm for friendly chat.
An Evening with The Gents of St. John’s
The Gents of St John’s are a close-harmony group made up of the world-renowned choral scholars from St John’s College, Cambridge. Join them on Saturday 23rd September 2023 for an evening of music spanning over 600 years in All Saints Church, Hursley. The concert starts at 7.30pm and there will be a fifteen minute interval. […]
Monthly Coffee Mornings
Coffee mornings are usually held on the first Monday of the month at 10am in St. Matthew’s, Otterbourne church room. Tea, coffee, cake and biscuits will be on offer with donations benefiting a local charity.Drop in for as little or as long as you can.
Harvest Bring and Share Supper
Please do join us on Sunday 1st October for the Harvest celebration in Otterbourne Village Hall. The supper will begin at 7pm following on from the Choral Evensong service in St. Matthew’s, Otterbourne. Everyone will receive a warm, friendly welcome.
Concert at All Saints’, Hursley. Date for your diary
We are honoured to announce that The Gents of St John’s, Cambridge will be visiting All Saints’ on Saturday 23rd September for an evening of music. The Gents of St John’s are a close-harmony group made up of the world-renowned choral scholars from St John’s College, Cambridge. The evening will showcase music spanning over 600 […]
Morning Service for Trinity 6 2023
We all know about the parable of the sower don’t we, it’s been a favourite with Sunday schools and school assemblies for a couple of thousand years. Even if we no longer live in an agricultural economy, even though we don’t sow our seed by ‘broadcasting’ it indiscriminately anymore, we can all get the analogy. We all get the point that if you are in the business of sowing seed you’re going to get a few failures – we also get the more disturbing point that the success of the seed depends on the nature of the ground onto which it falls – and in turn we might be the one doing the sowing, or the ground that must nurture the seed and bring it to fruitfulness.
Morning Service for Trinity 5 2023
When the bishop’s ship stopped at a remote island for a day, he determined to use the time as profitably as possible. He strolled along the seashore and came across three fishermen mending their nets. In pidgin English they explained to him that centuries before their village had been converted by missionaries. “We, Christians!” they said, proudly pointing to one another.
Morning Service for Trinity 4 2023
“Take your so, your only son, whom you love…”
The Story of Abraham and Isaac is not very nice – it is certainly not suitable for children. This is not an acceptable story for our times – it does not present a gentle, ‘it’s there if you want it,’ view of faith and God. In our time, an hour on a Sunday morning is too much to sacrifice.
Morning Service for Trinity 3 2023
Hagar – what does she mean to you? Does she mean anything to you?
We saw her this morning – in the dry and empty desert in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. There she was, her precious son Ishmael, dying from thirst, she leaves him in his delirium, not able to watch him die – victims both.
Morning Service for Trinity 2 2023
“Is anything impossible for God?”
Surely that’s the question. Was it impossible for Jesus’ disciples to “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons”? Was it impossible for Abraham at over 100 and Sarah in her Nineties to have a son? Is it impossible for us to have the faith that Paul speaks of, a faith that gives us a hope that will not disappoint, a faith that God’s love has really been poured into our hearts, a faith that God has proved his love for us because Christ died for us?
Charlotte Yonge
On 3 September , we will be holding a special Choral Evensong at St. Matthew’s, Otterbourne which will feature hymns which would have been around during the time of Charlotte Yonge, a famous and successful authoress of the 19th century who lived all her life in Otterbourne. After the service, cheese and wine will be […]
Bring and Share Lunch
The Recory Summer lunch will be held in the Rectory garden on Sunday 16th July at 12.30pm. Please do come along and join us. Everyone will recieve a warm welcome.
Otterbourne village fete
The fete will be Sunday 25th June 1-4pm on Otterbourne Rec. There will be a fun dog show (weather permitting), Otterbourne CE Primary School Maypole dancing, a dog obedience demonstration, Otterbourne Brass Band, and a BBQ and Bar. There will also be refreshments, ice-creams, a sweetie stall, lots of children’s stalls & games, a bouncy […]
Open gardens in Compon Street
Six gardens, including one listed garden, will be open between Compton Street and Place Lane on Sataurday 24th June. The afternoon starts at 2pm and finishes at 5pm. There will also be flower arrangements on display in all Saints Church, Compton as well as a history tour in the church. Cream Teas will be served […]