We are delighted to announce, that after 3 years and 10 months in vacancy, Rev Simon John Franklin was inducted into the pastorate of Swanage and Wareham at Swanage URC on Saturday 13th June.
Simon comes to us from Littlehampton (from one seaside to another!) and brings his wife Jilly to share the sea views from the Swanage manse!
Photos from the induction weekend coming shortly!
Recent Fundraising
HYPED
The collection taken at the Christingle Service on Christmas Eve, as well as the donations to the Christmas Card Tree, have been donated to the local charity, HYPED (Homeless Young People in East Dorset).
CHILDREN IN NEED
Olivia decided that she wanted to do her bit towards the BBC Children in Need Appeal. With the help of her parents and grandparents she manned the cake stall following our Service on Sunday 16th November. Olivia presented each customer with a Pudsey Bear sticker.
Over £76 was raised for this very worthwhile cause. Olivia will celebrate her fourth birthday just after Christmas.
CONGO APPEAL
A retiring collection following the service on Sunday 4th December raised £180. This has been sent to the Disasters Emergency Committee. We are grateful to our friends from the Methodist Church for their support, as this was our regular monthly joint service.
SUNDAY SERENADE
Around twice a year the musical talent of the Church gathers to entertain. A Sunday Serenade on 23rd November was one of these occasions. It was billed as ‘A Concert with something for everyone to enjoy – including afternoon tea’. It certainly fulfilled its promise.Sixty or so friends enjoyed a concert performed by musicians of all ages. Cantilena, a ladies singing group, started the afternoon by singing ‘The Heavenly Aeroplane’; ‘O Happy Day’ and ‘Steal Away’. Evie followed this with a flute solo, ‘Sea Shore’. The entertainment continued with poems, a piano solo by Ryan, and a second appearance of Evie, this time on violin. Cantilena closed the first half with a medley of songs, including Panis Angelicus.
A delicious traditional English tea was served during the interval. During the second half the entertainment continued with the URC Hand Bell Ringers, a reading of A A Milne’s, ‘King John’s Christmas’, a vocal solo from Ryan, and an oboe solo by Sarah who also trains the singing group. The afternoon drew to a close with a final trio of songs from Cantilena. All in all, it was a very entertaining afternoon which set the mood for Christmas. The afternoon raised funds for the new headquarters for the Girl Guides in Swanage.
SHOEBOXES
For a number of years Swanage URC has supported the appeal from Blythswood, in sending out Shoeboxes filled with presents and much needed everyday essentials to those in need - in Eastern Europe, India and the Philippines. This year 53 boxes were sent and were part of an amazing total of 127,000 sent this year from the UK.
21st December 2008
Christmas is coming . . . and indeed coming very quickly. Our recent services have been well attended and have also been very enjoyable occasions continue reading » »