BEREAVEMENT COFFEE MORNING - All who have been bereaved during the last year are invited to a coffee morning on or near All Soul's Day (1st November). There is a talk by the clergy and prayers. Those attending thenhave the opportunity to light a votive candle in the loved one's memory. This is followed by refreshments and a chance to talk to the clergy and LPAs.
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Lay Pastoral Assistants (LPAs) are men and women who have been trained and are authorised to assist the vicar with visiting and helping people in various areas of church responsibility in the parish. Our first LPA was authorised over 20 years ago and, following several training courses, this number has now increased to 34. Below are some of the areas in which they are involved.
WELCOMING COMMITTEE – This is made up of LPAs, two of whom, at the beginning of services, look out for new people. These are then given a Welcome Pack that contains information on all activities at both St. Mark's and St. Saviour's.
BAPTISMAL CARE - All families who have arranged to have their child to be baptised at the church are visited at their home before the baptism by an LPA. The LPA then explains the service and gives them a baptism service sheet.
BAPTISM SERVICE – LPAs attend each Baptism Service to welcome those who come and to give out a list of the dates of the Pram Services after the service.
BIRTHDAY CARDS – These are delivered to all children who have been baptised at the church up to and including their 5th birthday.
PRAM SERVICES – LPAs attend these services that are held four times a year for all children under school age. A short service including singing, a story and prayers is held in church, followed by play and refreshments in the hall.
HOUSEBOUND AND THE SICK – LPAs visit the homes of the housebound and sick on a regular basis.
HOSPITAL VISITING – LPAs visit all members of our Church who are in hospital or nursing homes.
POST-BEREAVEMENT CARE - All families who have lost a loved one are visited, or phoned if they are far away, to give continuing support.
28 people from St. Mark’s visit the RNLI College, Poole
The visit, organised by Heather Davidson, was very much enjoyed by everyone. A two-course
cooked lunch was followed by a tour of the college. We were shown the training rooms,
were able to watch on monitors an exercise to rescue two divers off the coast of
Swanage all done with a simulator and computers; no one got wet, although it is possible
to get sea sick in the lifeboat as the computerised sea seen through the windows
goes up and down a bit! We were shown the accommodation available for crew members
and RNLI members, the restaurants and snack bars and finally, the training pool which
can be transformed into a storm at sea at night with wave and wind machines, torrential
rain through hose pipes and the lights turned out. The brave crews are all volunteers
so everything is done to ensure they have the very best equipment and training. The
college, and the whole of the RNLI, are maintained solely by donations and legacies
from the public.
LAY PASTORAL ASSISTANTS (LPAs)
