Fareham United Reformed Church

Mrs Molly Freeman and Revd Paul Bedford with the Mayor and Mayoress of FarehamThe team of volunteers, led by Edwin Cutress and Molly Freeman, who care for the church garden have been rewarded by winning two awards in the annual Fareham in Bloom Competition. The garden was awarded a silver medal in the Community Garden section and also received a special voluntary award for Dedication to the Community and Park Services.
The awards, presented by the Mayor and Mayoress of Fareham, were received by Mrs Molly Freeman and the Revd Paul Bedford.
The prize winning gardenAnother part of the gardenSilver Award CertificateCommunity Award

The Festival featured art work from Year 7 and the staff of the Art Department at Cams Hill School and members and friends of the church.
From the Staff at Cams Hill School
From friends at Sarisbury Green
From the Choir
Table of Art and Craft from friends at Bishop's Waltham
A display featuring Reform

A celebration cake and loaded tea table
Eating and talking
Cutting the Cake
Everyone likes tea!
Time for a chat

Fun for Under Fives meets each Monday morning at 9.30am in term time. It provides an opportunity for small children to play in a safe environment and gives parents and carers a chance to meet together socially. The beginning of the new school year means that is no longer a waiting list and new faces will be very welcome. The leader, Audrey Mann, will be at the church at 9.30am each Monday morning and will be able to show just what is available at each session.

Showing their faith in the power of prayer members and friends took part in 12 hours of continuous prayer on Saturday May 22nd. Prayer stations were placed around the sanctuary for silent prayer and meditation and every two hours there was a short meditation and prayer led by various members. Those taking part were asked to pray for the church, the community and the world as well as for their personal concerns.

The Christmas Experience on December 5th was a great success with many taking the opportunity to do Christmas shopping. Father Christmas in his fairyland grotto was very popular with smaller visitors and throughout the morning the Christmas Story was told in the Sanctuary, whilst those waiting to visit the grotto could look at a Nativity Scene in the atrium.

A group from the congregation together with friends from Sarisbury Green United Reformed Church attended the BBC Songs of Praise Big Sing at the Royal Albert Hall in London recently. The evening covered items for 3 programmes including the Big Sing Christmas Party and featured interviews and songs from Bryn Terfel, Ruby Turner, Jodie Prenger, Amy Nuttall and The Soldiers. The evening was presented by Aled Jones and the music was led by Paul Leddington Wright.

For the third time the garden of the church has been awarded a Bronze Medal in the Fareham In Bloom annual competition. The garden is tended by a small group of volunteers led by Edwin Cutress.

Sunday June 28th was a special day for the Junior Church. After a brief introduction the adult congregation joined with the younger children in small groups throughout the building, learning about Jacob and his story, producing pictures, models and other craftwork. The congregation came together for the last part of the service to find out what each group had learned. What became clear was that the children had much to teach the adults in their understanding of the love of God and what it means in their lives, and how Jacob experienced that love in his journey.