FAITH IN THE COMMUNITY: Join us for pancakes, panto and so much more
By the Ven Bob White, vicar, St Mary’s Church, Fratton
ONE of the things that I often get asked is ‘What do you enjoy about being a vicar?’
The answer I always give is a simple one – the fact that no two days are ever the same!
Being a parish priest is a wonderful experience – supporting families giving thanks for a child; being with young couples as they prepare for weddings; and walking with the bereaved as they grieve.
Then there is the work with schools, community groups and others, and the various events and celebrations we are invited to be part of.
All of this alongside being part of a diverse community of people of all ages as they worship and explore what it means to follow Jesus in our world today.
The next couple of weeks reflect this, and you are invited to share in this experience with me. On Tuesday, February 17, we will mark Shrove Tuesday at St Mary’s Church. At 6pm there will be the highly competitive pancake races along the long aisle.
This will be followed by sharing in food provided by African members of our church. The evening starts at 7pm and ends with a quiz night led by one of our community.
This prepares us for the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday, which is on February 18, when we will hold services at St Mary’s at midday and 7pm. At these services we will remind ourselves of how without God’s love and presence with us we are no more than dust and ashes.
We will also be committing ourselves to spend the next six weeks spending time thinking about our life with God and the basics of that life.
Then to complete the variety we will be inviting everyone to join us for the parish pantomime, which this year is Treasure Island. It takes place on Saturday, February 28 at St Faith’s Church in Crasswell Street, Landport.
Young (and older) members of our churches will be performing alongside our clergy and seeking to entertain you! I will be dusting down the wig, eyelashes and frocks and trying to learn the lines as a pantomime dame.
This fortnight is but a snapshot of that common life which I enjoy being part of. I hope you might come and share in it.
Tickets are available for the Shrove Tuesday and Pantomime events from the church office at St Mary’s on 023-9281 4444.
ST MARY’S CHURCH, Fratton Road, Fratton, Portsmouth, PO1 5PA