The Parish Church of St George the Martyr, Waterlooville

From the Parish Priest

Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday (February 17th) is an important season in the Church’s year.  Traditionally it has been used by the Christian Church as a period of teaching.  This year you are invited to join St. George’s Lent Pilgrimage by focusing on themes found in the Old Testament.  

Each Tuesday evening one of the parish clergy will introduce the theme.  The sessions will have time for your questions, refreshments will be served and the evening will conclude with the short evening service of Compline.  

You are asked to commit yourself to all five sessions, but if Tuesday evenings are not convenient for you, there will be a shortened version on Wednesday mornings following the Eucharist.  Please bring a Bible to the sessions and sign the list at the back of Church to join the Lent Pilgrimage 2010.

The themes are:

 Jesus Christ: Jew or Christian? Prophet or Messiah?

 Social Conscience: why did the prophets speak? What did they teach?

 God made the World: is it truth or myth? Did Adam and Eve really live?

 Suffering: did God make a mistake? Why do people suffer?

 Sacrifice: why did Christ die? Did he have any choice?

Easter itself will be very exciting this year.  Not only does it celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ - surely the corner stone of our faith - but also it begins a year marking the 40th anniversary of the “new” Church building.  It was consecrated in April 1970.  Following the Easter Parish Eucharist, a cake will be cut, wine will be served and a photo taken of St. George’s congregation 2010.  

Details of all the Lent, Holy Week and Easter services, and also of the Lent Pilgrimage 2010, are printed in the special leaflets available in Church.  Please make sure you get copies and take them home!

Fr Mike Sheffield

Winter and Lent Edition 2010