Members of the worshipping congregation are the eyes, ears and hands of Pastoral Care, in their lives in ‘the church and community. Please also play your part as a member of this parish by exercising pastoral care to the best of your ability whenever the need arises.

At St Cross, there is a team of Lay Pastors who assist the Master and the Chaplain in caring for those in need. Each Lay Pastor is a volunteer who has undertaken training based on the Diocesan Training Course for pastoral care and has been commissioned by the church.

Lay Pastors visit people who are unwell, who have been bereaved, are lonely, housebound or troubled. They offer empathy, prayer and a confidential listening ear, as well as practical help.

If you, or someone you know, would like to talk to or be visited by a member of the Lay Pastors Group.

Please contact the Master, the Chaplain or Cled Jenkins, the Lay Pastors Co-ordinator, (Winchester 861552) who will arrange for one of the team to visit you.

Thanks Cled Jenkins

There are 5 files

The Financial Report (Excel spreadsheet) [Click here to download]

The Financial Report (pdf) [Click here to download]

Accounts Header (pdf) [Click here to download]

Accounting policies (pdf) [Click here to download]

Auditors Report (pdf) [Click here to download]

6 oz flour
4 oz sugar
2 oz lard
4 tablespoons milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
Jam

Rub 1 oz lard into the flour, add sugar and baking powder, then the 2 eggs well beaten and the milk.  Melt the other 1 oz lard in a pie dish.  Add a thick layer of jam, pour on the mixture and bake for ¾ to 1 hour in a moderate oven.  Turn out, upside down, and serve with custard of whipped cream on top.

The great Lutheran organist Johann Sebastian Bach provides all our organ pieces for March, many of them based on chorales/hymns appropriate to the season of Lent.  On Mothering Sunday (14 March)

the organ fugue uses a theme sung to the words of the Magnificat  -  the Song of Mary.

A range of charities was drawn up, both international and local, and the first charity we shall be supporting is our international selection.

Winchester Diocese is linked to the Anglican Province of Uganda, and Winchester Deanery in particular is linked to two Ugandan dioceses: North Kigezi and Muhabura, both in the far south west of the Province.

Over the coming month, our parish will be thinking of Muhabura, in particular the Potter’s Village. This was set up by The Rev’d Jenny Green to provide a home for destitute babies and young children. Currently the project cares for 30 babies (21 in Potter’s Village itself and 9 in foster homes). Prior to arriving at the project, these babies were all close to death. The charity provides these babies with a safe environment as well as love and care. As well as the babies, Potter’s Village also supports pregnant teenage girls and provides family support. The aim is to provide all the children with long term help to get them out of the cycle of poverty, and to teach them the skills they need – for example Potter’s Village aims to become as self-sufficient as possible with livestock, vegetable garden and woodland to provide firewood.

The money we raise at St Cross will go towards the centre – either the running costs (in the region of £2,800 per month) or toward one of the projects the charity hopes to undertake. These include additional facilities to enable more children to be taken in; education and play equipment; more day care service provision for children in the local community and training for staff/foster parents/local parents on child care and protection issues.

For more information on Muhabura and the Potter’s Village charity, please look out for a display in church, or contact Jill Baker who can tell you more. Please also pray for the children, The Rev’d Jenny Green and all those who work at the centre.

If you wish to donate towards this charity, the main collection will be held on Mothering Sunday, 14 March. If, however, you are unable to attend on Mothering Sunday, there will be a retiring collection at the door on the two Sundays following. Please remember when giving this money that if you are a UK taxpayer we are able to claim gift aid on donations, so please complete your details on a blue envelope.

Alison Carver
PCC Member

Jesus had to wait for his public ministry to begin – he spent time in the wilderness soaking up the isolation and the painful temptations put before him, and yet overcame that period of time stronger and then, filled with the Holy Spirit, was able to begin his public preaching, teaching and healing ministry.

The origin of the season of Lent, as you may well recall, is not just reminiscent of Jesus’ time in the wilderness, which is an important and secondary theme for the season, in which Christians undertake rigorous soul searching in the lead up to the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus – but Lent was first undertaken by baptismal candidates. It was seen as the final preparation before initiation into the Church in the Easter liturgy, and also those at that time who had been excommunicated by their sin were re-admitted after a period of penance.

As we approach Holy Week and Easter we have another chance to explore that time of waiting as we lead into the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus. On the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week we have a Compline service and address. On Maundy Thursday there is the Holy Eucharist which then leads into our vigil. On Good Friday there is the Liturgy & Meditation (12-3pm) service with Ann Lewin leading the Meditations; and on Easter Day we celebrate that Christ is Risen!

So why not during this Lenten time reflect upon how we might use our time more effectively for the Lord, as we continue to learn what it means to wait on God and find our strength in Him.

“I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”

Psalm 27:13-14

Michael