Upper Itchen Benefice

7th May 2026

SERVICES

SERVICE this week – Sunday 10^th May

09:30 Bramdean – Holy Communion

09:30 Beauworth – Rogation service

11:00 Kilmeston – Family Worship

15:00 Church in the Wood – Hymns in the Wood

Thursday 14^th May – Ascension Day

12:30 Cheriton – Holy Communion

With an opportunity to climb the Tower afterwards, if able

SERVICES NEXT WEEK – Sunday 17^th May

09:30 Cheriton – Holy Communion

11:00 Hinton Ampner – Holy Communion

14:00 Tichborne – Station of the Resurrection

NOTICES

APCM’s

Our various parishes are holding their APCMs in the next few weeks:-

Cheriton, St Michael and All Angels – Thursday 30^th April at 6pm in the church

Hinton Ampner, All Saints,-  Thursday 7^th May at 4pm in the church

Beauworth, St James – Friday 8^th May at 6pm in the village hall

Tichborne, St Andrew – Wednesday 20^th May at 6pm in St Andrew’s Church

CHURCH and VILLAGE FETES

Saturday 9^th May – Bramdean from 2-4:30pm at Bramdean House Gardens

Monday 25^th May – Cheriton from 1:30pm – 4pm at the Old Rectory Gardens

Saturday 6^th June – Kilmeston – save the date!

THE UPPER ROOM – A time of Prayer and Worship for Thy Kingdom Come: Saturday 16^th May 6:30pm at Winchester Cathedral

Save the date for a service of worship and prayer to mark the days from Ascension to Pentecost as part of the wider Thy Kingdom Come prayer initiative. No booking required! Everyone in the Diocese is invited. Together we will be praying for the renewal of the Holy Spirit for ourselves as well as for our churches and diocese, and for others to come to faith in Christ. Worship will be led by young people from around our diocese, Bishop Philip will be preaching, sung worship will be wonderfully varied and ranging from the cathedral organ to Taize to time led by a worship band. There will be prayer stations set up for creative personal prayer in the chapels. For more information contact kate.seagrave@winchesterdiocese.org.

BENEFICE ROGATION
The Benefice Rogation will take place on Saturday 16th May 2026.  It will take a similar form as previous years starting and finishing at the same place (church), perambulating about 14 miles, and ending up with supper at The Fox in Bramdean.  Participants can join and leave at any time along the route. Please contact Alex Green (alex@gomms.co.uk or 07538394141) to indicate where you plan to join the route, and whether you are participating in the supper party.

Shared Silences

Continuing our relationship of ‘Shared Silences’ with St. John’s Winchester, beginning at 3pm for an hour, with time for fellowship afterwards. Starting Wednesday 20^th May at St. John’s, and continuing Wednesday 17^th June at Ss Simon and Jude, Bramdean. Followed by Wednesday 15^th July at St John’s and Wednesday 19^th August at Ss Simon and Jude, Bramdean.

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A Prayer for the the village of Cheriton

O God of mercy and of might,

when tragedy strikes we can feel helpless and afraid

and so we blame you, we blame others, and we blame ourselves.

Help us to endure through sadness and shock;

Be to our community a steady and faithful friend,

Showing your unchanging steadfast loving-kindness

in acts of neighbourly kindness, support, and forgiveness.

Restore the peace and harmony of lives,

which you won, once and forever,

in the crucified and resurrected body of Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Amen. 

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War in Ukraine

As the heart-breaking news of war in Ukraine becomes more horrific every day, we rightly ask ourselves “what can I do to help”? In a seemingly hardened world, thank you for your sensitivity towards the hurt and harm of others; for laying oneself open to love another person is the first victory.

Read Scripture

Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” John 14.27

For in [Jesus] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. Colossians 1.19-20

Jesus said “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.” John 14.16-17

Pray to God

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

O ALMIGHTY God, King of all kings, and Governor of all things, whose power no creature is able to resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to them that truly repent: Save and deliver us, we humbly beseech thee, from the hands of our enemies; abate their pride, asswage their malice, and confound their devices; that we, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify thee, who art the only giver of all victory; through the merits of thy only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Act in Power

1. Examine your own intentions. Repent of any prejudice or selfishness that distorts your relationships with others, especially those in peril or debt. And receive God’s liberating forgiveness.
2. Intercede for the voiceless by lobbying our government. Consider writing to your MP (https://www.flickdrummond.com/).
3. Use your resources ethically. Ensure your own personal investments and business partnerships do not support warmongering nations.
4. Reach out to Eastern European citizens who may be friends, colleagues, or staff. Listen to what they want to say. Celebrate their cultures, and make them welcome.
5. Donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee Appeal for Ukraine (https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal)