To find the latest articles available on the website please use the side menu or use the button below
The latest services are always available by clicking on the link below.
We offer comprehensive information for the bride and groom considering marrying in the parish of Swaythling
Visit The Reverend Canon Gary Philbrick on Facebook by clicking on the link below.
We met on May 25, the day the church remembers The Venerable Bede, church leader and historian in the 8th Century, when the Christian church was struggling to establish itself in this country, and making important decisions about its future.
The first item on our agenda was to look at the proposals which the Deanery Synod will be voting on in June, about the right way to implement the decision which the Church of England has taken to allow the appointment of Women as Bishops.
Various proposals have been made, taking account of the position of those who cannot accept the ministry of women.
The main division is between those who think that a code of practice would be sufficient to safeguard their needs, and those who think that there needs to be definite legislation to ensure that they are cared for.
We looked briefly at the Deanery Mission and Pastoral Plan, which has been drawn up to deal with the constraints imposed on the deployment of clergy by the current financial situation in the Diocese.
This will be discussed more fully at the next PCC meeting, when we shall look at ways in which the resources and skills available in parishes can be shared more effectively than they are at present.
We thought about how we present ourselves as a church to those outside it – is our publicity attractive as well as informative?
We recognized that there is no substitute for personal contact, but we have a brand-new new website to help people to find us, and see what we are about.
Back to Church Sunday on 25 September will be a good occasion to test out our welcoming skills.
The small group which was set up at our last meeting to discuss the parish’s Baptism policy will meet shortly to look at ways of helping those who bring their babies for baptism to become more integrated into the life of the church.
There is always a certain amount of housekeeping to deal with at these meetings: our finances will look a lot better when we eventually receive all the tax due to us in respect of Gift Aid.
(We got rather behind with this after Brian Payne’s death, but Alex Babbage is making progress with retrieving the backlog.)
Work is in progress to replace the statue of Alban, and the Hall doors at St Mary’s.
We heard that the local German (Lutheran) Church will meet at St Mary’s on the second Saturday of each month.
By the time this magazine is published, Sheena will have been ordained priest, and will have presided at the Eucharist for the first time.
The lunch to celebrate that event will be one of several social gatherings planned for the next few months – and of course, we shall have enjoyed the summer fete too.
Jean Hasler, who is moving to be near her family, has given the parish the Home Communion set that she has used as a lay pastor, which is not only a lovely and useful gift, but will be a fitting reminder of all she has contributed to the life of the parish.
In the wider community, we learned about the growth of the chaplaincy work at Cantell School, and the proposal to set up School Pastors (rather like Street Pastors) to be around at times when local children might be vulnerable and needing a friendly presence.
All in all, much to be thankful for, and much to pray for.
How a PCC is defined in the ‘Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956’
General functions of council.
(1) It shall be the duty of the minister and the parochial church council to consult together on matters of general concern and importance to the parish.
(2) The functions of parochial church councils shall include—
(a) co-operation with the minister in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical;
(b) the consideration and discussions of matters concerning the Church of England or any other matters of religious or public interest, but not the declaration of the doctrine of the Church on any question;
(c) making known and putting into effect any provision made by the diocesan synod or the deanery synod, but without prejudice to the powers of the council on any particular matter;
(d) giving advice to the diocesan synod and the deanery synod on any matter referred to the council;
(e) raising such matters as the council consider appropriate with the diocesan synod or deanery synod.
(3) In the exercise of its functions the parochial church council shall take into consideration any expression of opinion by any parochial church meeting.