As I write our news for April, I am looking out of the window on this cold and windy day mid March and wondering when the rain will stop and the sun will shine, heralding the start of Spring!!! The beautiful yellow daffodils have been trying their best, in the wind and rain, to brighten the gloomy days and the buds are starting to form on the trees, hedges and shrubs, so fingers crossed Spring is on its way. Oh! for some warming sunshine!!

We have had an eventful March, and here are some highlights. With Holy Week and Easter, in April, we have much to look forward to.

We celebrated St David’s Day, on 1st March, and after the service several of us enjoyed a lovely Sunday roast lunch, at the Globe, and even surprised Dave with his very own St David’s Day Hat and daffodil!

At the World Day of Prayer, on 6th March, held at EBC, St Marks Church was well represented by Suzanne Hudson and Carol Richards, who wore beautifully coloured Nigerian costumes, especially for the occasion, as Nigerian Christian women had prepared the special service.

The Lent Course, at St Marks, continues to be well attended, with people from all the churches in Swanage coming together to listen, reflect and discuss the Lenten course.

Our Lent Lunch for Christian Aid, on Friday 13th March was a great success and the ‘A Team’ of helpers were there to make sure everyone was fed and well looked after.

Mothering Sunday on 15th March was celebrated with everyone receiving a lovely posy of daffodils to take home.

Our AGM is on Sunday 22nd March, when we elect our church members to serve for St Marks Committee, PCC, Deanery Synod, and as officers on the various voluntary groups within the Parish. With grateful ‘Thanks’ in advance, to those who will be elected.

On Sunday 29th March, Palm Sunday, we are looking forward to giving a true St Marks welcome to Revd Natalie Davies, at our Celebration Service, with cakes and refreshments, as usual!

Later that same afternoon at 3pm, we are holding a special Easter Teddy Bear’s Picnic, for children aged 3 – 8 (accompanied by at least one grown-up.) There will be a FREE Picnic food & drink for children as well as tea, coffee & cake for grown-ups.

John and I, on behalf of everyone at St Marks, would like to give a special mention and ‘Thank You’ to David Hudson, who has beautifully repaired and expertly crafted our new Church Staffs, which were vandalised, a couple of years ago, and were awaiting repair. We will be immensely proud to show these off, to Bishop Karen, next time she comes to visit!!

In April; we will continue our Lenten journey, from Palm Sunday celebration, through Holy Week, to Gethsemane, the Garden of Tears, and finally to Golgotha, ‘Place of the Skull,’ and the Cross…..

The Easter Services, in all the churches, will give us all a chance to come to reflect and worship and especially on Easter Sunday, to come together to Celebrate and Rejoice, Christs’ Resurrection and triumph.

On Sunday 26th April; the celebrations will continue when we will come together to Celebrate St Marks Day, at the ‘Party Church’.

A prayer to close……

On the first day of Creation,

God said, ‘Let there be light!’

On the first day of Resurrection,

The Father said, ‘Let there be Jesus!’

Rejoice therefore that the darkness is passing,

As the dayspring from on high dawns upon us.

Halleluiah!

May God Bless and Keep You.

Anne Roper

Church Warden