PARISH POSTBAG

 

Ode to joy (the organ is back)

What a pleasure it was to come into the church on Sunday 3^rd August and hear the organ for the first time in many months. Alright, it is only about half installed but by the time you read this it will nearly being there. It will probably coincide with the return of our Director of Music, Stephen, who is at the moment examining near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and of course he will be over the moon. I thought I would carry on the theme by reproducing Rupert Parry’s verse to the organ:

 

Seated one day at the organ I was weary and ill at ease

And my fingers wandered idly over the noisy keys.

I know not what I was playing or what I was thinking then

But I struck one chord of music

Like the sound of a great Amen

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem hark how the angels sing

Hosanna in the highest Hosanna to the King

Hosanna in the highest Hosanna to the King”

 

Banquet in the garden

A very good number of us gathered in the Parish Hall garden to enjoy a barbecue on Sunday 3^rd August. This was arranged by the Social Committee and what a splendid job they all made of it. Of course the smell from a barbecue is very inviting and the food did it justice. In fact this is the first barbecue I’ve been to for years and I found it most enjoyable. I feel every one involved should be given a pat on the back for preparing such a sumptuous repast. The weather was kind. Did you have time to look at the garden? I feel we must thank Fred Partington together with Community Service for providing such a lovely backdrop to our festivities.

 

New Comers

Have you seen two lovely young ladies who have been attending the church just recently? They are Isabelle and Léa. Keep Maureen Clark away from them or she might pick them both up and run!

 

Another new arrival

By the time you read this we are only about three weeks away from welcoming our new Vicar, the Revd Matt Thompson, together with his wife Michelle, and not forgetting their daughter Ellie. It gives us great pleasure to contemplate the new ministry the Vicar will be able to provide. The 21^st September is another milestone in the life of St. Peter’s as the Revd. Matt will become the 43^rd incumbent to be installed since 1322. He will be the ninth Vicar that Joan Heys, our chorister, will have known although the first two she would not remember because of being a wee child!

 

Aren’t Birthdays fun!

My everlasting thanks to everyone at St. Peter’s for enabling me to enjoy my 80^th birthday. The “party” on Sunday 27^th was to me very moving with so many friends making it a memorable occasion. Pam Lewis came up trumps with the cake with which I was able to boast my affiliation to Portsmouth Football Club (FA Cup Winners you know!). For the many cards I received: so many thanks. It didn’t quite finish there as the following Sunday I preached a sermon, sitting of course, which also celebrated the 40 years since I first stepped foot into a pulpit. Afterwards, to my great surprise, Evelyn, our Church Warden, presented me with a birthday card which contained over 70 names of the congregation and choir of St. Peter’s which were kindly collected by Christine Walsh, without me knowing! This I will treasure and in fact I’m going to frame it.                                                                                                                                       

Postman David