The Haven Churches

A Pastoral Note from the Vicar - Moving Forward in Faith, Hope, and Gratitude

Dear Friends,

As we move into the beautiful month of June, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for our Haven Churches community. We have recently completed our Annual Parochial Church Meetings (APCMs), and it is with a sense of shared purpose that we now move forward in faith and hope into the coming year.

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has served on our PCCs over the past year. Your dedication behind the scenes keeps our benefice grounded. Equally, I want to offer a warm welcome and my sincere gratitude to those who have stepped forward as new members. Thank you for saying "yes" to guiding our churches into the future.

News from Across the Benefice

St Helen’s Church

• Social & Fundraising Group: This newly formed group is well under way, putting together an exciting calendar of wonderful events. Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming dates!
• Welcome to Sam Penman: We are delighted to announce that Sam Penman will be starting his contract as our new Groundsman for St. Helen’s Churchyard on 1st June. Sam brings great experience from previously working in the churchyard. Welcome back, Sam!

St Peter’s Church

• Flower Festival Success: A massive thank you to everyone involved in the recent Flower Festival. It was a spectacular success and brought so much joy and colour to our community.
• Church Hall Renovations: The hall renovation is coming along beautifully. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Wayne for his sheer determination, hard work, and tireless energy on this project.
• Looking Ahead: Once completed, St Peter’s plans to expand the use of the hall for vibrant new outreach programs, social occasions, and fundraising events.

St Mary’s Church

• Our Social Superstars: St Mary’s own dedicated social team has been working exceptionally hard, as always. They have a brilliant agenda of social events lined up for us to look forward to.

St John the Baptist Church, Yaverland

I am absolutely delighted to welcome Stewart White onto the Parochial Church Council (PCC) to support the ongoing work and mission of our church. The PCC plays a vital role in the life of our parish, and we are incredibly grateful to Stewart for his willingness to step into this role to support Andrew and the PCC members. I am very much looking forward to getting to know him better and working alongside him in the coming months.

Congratulations, Lynne!

Saturday 23rd May was a milestone day for our church family as Lynne Ferguson was officially accepted for Reader Training. Lynne will be undertaking her studies at the wonderful Sarum College in Salisbury. As she embarks on this exciting theological and pastoral journey, she will be fully supported by myself and Caroline, our current Reader.

We look forward with immense joy to Lynne’s future ministry amongst us.

Please shower Lynne with congratulations and hold her in your prayers as she begins her studies.

Celebrating Our Local Schools
Joy in Our Churches

As the academic year draws to a close, we are thrilled to be hosting the end-of-year events for both Brading and Nettlestone and Seaview schools inside our church buildings. It is always a profound joy and privilege to welcome the children, teachers, and parents into our sacred spaces. These services are a wonderful reminder of the strong, vital links we share with our local schools. We pray that these end-of-year celebrations are filled with happy memories for the children as they look toward their next steps.

Our Reader, Caroline, has recently launched our brand-new Haven Fellowship Group, and I had the absolute pleasure of going along to their meeting this month.

We began the evening with a delicious supper, which set a wonderful, relaxed tone for the night. Afterward, Caroline led us in a deeply thought-provoking discussion centred around Pentecost. It was a marvellous evening of fellowship, and I want to extend a huge thank you to both Caroline and Simon for putting so much care into preparing such an enjoyable and welcoming space. It is certainly not too late to get involved!

If you are looking for a place to enjoy some informal theology, good discussion, and a shared meal, I warmly encourage you to go along to the next one. Everyone is welcome, no matter where you are on your faith journey. Speak to Caroline to find out details for the next meeting!

Love is in the Air!

Over the next couple of months, we have several weddings coming up at both St Helen’s and St Peter’s. Please keep these couples in your prayers as they prepare to take their vows.

Keeping Connected

Please remember to take your Pew Sheets home with you each week, as they contain all the vital details and dates for upcoming events across the benefice.

You can also find a wealth of information on The Haven Churches Website. A huge thank you to Philip for his hard work in editing and keeping the site updated for us all.

To all of our church officers and volunteers who keep the cogs turning day in and day out: your grace, energy, and unwavering commitment are deeply appreciated. I cannot thank you enough.

There is so much life, prayer, and activity happening across our parishes right now, and I am fully aware that there are many wonderful things going on across the benefice that I simply haven't had the space to mention in this short note. Thank you to everyone who quietly pours their time and heart into keeping our church communities thriving.

Alongside my day-to-day ministry here with you, part of my wider role is serving as an Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands (ADDO) for the diocese. This involves discerning and mentoring those who are exploring a call to ordained ministry. It is a part of my work that brings me immense joy, and I will be continuing to fulfil this role in the days ahead as I journey alongside my current candidates.

Please keep our diocesan candidates in your prayers as they seek to follow God's calling.

Finally, Chris and I will be taking a holiday from 1st until 14th June.

We are both so looking forward to some quality time together, along with 'the girls' (our dogs!). As many of you know, Chris has not been in the best of health lately, so this holiday is much needed for his rest and revival. As for me? I fully intend to don my swimsuit and get into the water!

I look forward to returning refreshed to continue serving you, just as God has called me to do, with love and in humility. Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support, prayers, and partnership in the Gospel.

Yours in Christ

Karen

31 May 2026

A Spring in My Step (and New Sparkles on My Toes!)

I hope you all had a truly blessed and joyful Easter. Reflecting on our time together across the benefice, my heart is full. From the solemnity of our Holy Week services to the sheer, unadulterated chaos of the Sheep Treasure Hunt and Easter Egg hunts, it was a season to remember. Seeing so many families and children filling our pews, with Chris and I sporting the obligatory (and highly stylish) bunny ears! Events like these don't just "happen", and I want to extend a massive thank you to every single person who volunteered their time and energy. You made our Easter celebrations across the four churches feel incredibly special.

Once the whirlwind subsided, Chris and I managed a couple of days away, followed by some quiet time at home with the girls. Now, I'll be the first to admit: I am not very good at sitting still. I find it a genuine challenge to truly switch off and relax but I did manage to spend some time pottering in the garden, dreaming of summer blooms. Looking ahead, May is shaping up to be just as vibrant. We have some wonderful events coming up that I'd love for you to support. More about what is happening across our churches can be found in the May Edition of What's On.

As the days lengthen, I find myself filled with a renewed sense of optimism. I feel a fresh energy for the ministry God has called me to here, moving forward with a real "spring" in my step.

Speaking of steps... many of you know about my affinity for Crocs. I know they are a bit like Marmite - you either love them or you really, really don't - but for my arthritic toe joints, they are a godsend. The days of high heels are a distant, torturous memory! I look longingly in shoe shop windows at the towering heels and give myself a stiff talking to. I would certainly constitute a medical emergency if I dared to try and totter a few steps in them. My poor toes would be screaming for mercy.

I have realised, with some joy, that as long as I am upright, functional, doing my best and maybe even dressed in something vaguely matching I am winning at life. The rest I leave to the generous love of Christ and caffeine.

I've recently expanded the collection to include a sparkly lilac pair (to match the gold ones) and a risky pair of white ones - though I'm told they are dishwasher safe, so wish me luck! I've even gathered some new Jibbitz (those little pop-in charms) for a very special upcoming wedding. My size eights might not be the height of glamour, but they allow me to stride across the benefice pain-free. My trusty black pair, adorned with "Rev" in charms, has already covered many miles, helping me get out and do what I love most, to meet you all exactly where you are.

Whatever your May holds, i hope it is a month of growth, sunshine, and many blessings. I look forward to seeing you out and about - look for the new sparkles on my feet!

With every blessing,

Revd Karen

May 2026

Vicar's Easter Message

Dear Haven Churches Family,

As the shadows of Lent begin to lengthen and we turn our hearts toward the dawn of Easter, I find myself reflecting on the journey we have shared. This season is the heartbeat of our faith—the most significant moment in our church calendar—where we move from the profound solemnity of the cross to the radiant joy of the empty tomb.

Reflecting on Immense Love

At the centre of our Easter celebration is a love so vast it defies human measure. We see this love in Jesus’ willingness to lay down his life for each of us. It was not a distant, abstract sacrifice, but a personal act of devotion intended to bridge the gap between heaven and earth.

To help us sit with this mystery, I encourage you to visit the Haven Churches Website. There, you will find our Holy Week reflections, which are rooted in the ‘Draw Near’ booklet from our recent Lent Course. May these words provide a space for quiet contemplation as we follow the path to Calvary.

A Community of Service and Celebration

Looking back on these past weeks, my heart is full. Our Lent Lunches were a resounding success, and the sense of fellowship in the room was palpable.

• A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came along, to those who donated so generously, and especially to the volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make these events so wonderful.

We are also blessed by the energy of our local schools. It is a joy to see the Easter story through the eyes of our young people:

• Nettlestone School: On March 26th, the Year 6 children led their own service based on the Resurrection. Their leadership and insight are a gift to us all.
• St Helen’s School: We recently enjoyed a marvellous assembly, complete with the wonderful blessing of the quail chicks—a perfect, fragile symbol of new life and God’s hand in creation.

Drawing Near Together

My deepest hope this year is that we, as a community, will draw nearer to God. We have curated a breadth of services designed to meet you wherever you are on your spiritual journey. Whether you find God in the quiet or the quirky, there is a place for you:

• The Sunrise Service at St Helen’s: Witnessing the light break over the horizon as we proclaim "He is Risen".
• The Sheep Treasure Hunt in Seaview: A joyful way for families to engage with the season.
• Traditional Services: Found throughout our parishes, honouring the depth of our liturgy.

Easter is the fulfilment of a promise—a promise of life eternal and a love that never lets us go. My prayer for each of you is that you feel the warmth of Christ’s presence this season. May the reality of the Resurrection settle in your hearts, bringing you peace, hope, and renewed purpose.

Let us celebrate together. Let us draw near to Him.

With every blessing,

Revd Karen

Easter 2026

The most Significant Season of the Christian Year

Warm Welcome from the Vicarage.

The view from my window this morning is quite the comedy act. As I sit here writing to you, our cat Dibley (with a name like that, he really had no choice but to be a character!) is currently stalking imaginary prey in the garden. He’s just given me a proper chuckle; he misjudged a leap into a particularly thick patch of ornamental grass and vanished entirely for a second. Emerging a bit ruffled, he's now ‘styling it out’ - walking away with that exaggerated feline dignity that says, ‘I absolutely meant to do that'. Dibley’s antics are a gentle reminder of the joy and new life that April brings to the Haven Churches. As the garden wakes up, we find ourselves entering the most significant season of the Christian year: Easter.

Easter is the cornerstone of our faith, It is the moment we celebrate the Resurrection - the promise that light overcomes darkness and that hope is never lost. Whether you are a lifelong member of our congregations or have never stepped through our doors before, please know that you are welcome here. Easter is a story for everyone, and our doors are open to all who wish to share in this season of renewal. All our service times are listed on this website, and we truly look forward to seeing some new faces alongside the familiar ones.

We have a wonderful array of activities planned across our villages to celebrate the season:

Seaview: Join us for our whimsical Sheep Treasure Hunt. Brading: Get your searching eyes ready for the Egg Hunt.
St Helens: We have both an Egg Hunt and the Decorated Easter Basket Competition.

For those who don't mind an early start, I invite You to join us at the crack of dawn for our Sunrise Service at St Helens Old Church on Easter Day. There is something profoundly moving about watching the sun crest the horizon as we celebrate the feast of the Resurrection together.

Once the Easter bells have fallen silent, Chris and I are hoping to snatch a few days of rest. As many of you know, our schedules often mean we are like ‘ships in the night’ - he arrives home from work just as I’m heading out for evening meetings or pastoral visits. It will be such a treat to simply be in the same place at the same time for a few days!

We plan to head to the coast with ‘the girls', Marnie and Willow. While I am still debating whether I’m brave enough to dip my toes back into the sea (it’s still a bit brisk for me!), the girls have no such hesitation. Once they're in the water, it’s a battle to get them out!

We’re also hoping for a beach picnic. For me, a picnic isn't quite right without a hard-boiled egg - that unmistakable scent as you unwrap it is pure childhood nostalgia. Of course, we’ll have a flask of hot coffee for us, and a supply of cooked sausages for the dogs so they don't feel left out of the feast.

Looking slightly further ahead into April and May, we will be holding our APCMs (Annual Parochial Church Meetings). This is the time when we look for volunteers to join our PCCs (Parochial Church Councils).

I often describe the PCC as the ‘engine’ of the church. While much of the work happens unseen, it is vital. These dedicated teams ensure that our buildings stay open and welcoming, and that we can continue to provide the weddings, funerals, and christenings that sit at the heart of our community.

A note on volunteering: being on the PCC is not an onerous task, but it is a crucial one. We are always looking for new perspectives. As the saying goes, ‘many hands make light work’, and spreading the load ensures our church remains a vibrant, functional space for everyone.

If you’re curious about what’s involved, or feel a nudge to help out in any capacity - big or small - please do let me know. I am constantly mindful that it takes a whole team of dedicated volunteers to keep the Haven Churches sailing smoothly.

Wishing you all a blessed, joyful, and perhaps slightly ‘daft’ April (courtesy of Dibley).

With every blessing,
Revd Karen

April 2026

A Season of Deeper Reflection

As we turn the corner into February, the pace of the year seems to shift. We move from the celebration of Epiphany into a season of deeper reflection.

Shrove Tuesday falls on 17th February, followed immediately by Ash Wednesday on 18th February. It is a rhythm of ‘feasting and fasting’ that has guided the Church for centuries.

Pancake Day is the last hurrah! You might know it as Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day. Historically, this was the day to ‘shrive’ (confess) and to clear the cupboards of rich foods like eggs, sugar, and fats before the 40-day fast of Lent. Traditionally we enjoy our pancakes and lemon on the 17th.

Is it just me, or does the arrival of February always feel like a high-stakes culinary transition? We go from the dizzying heights of sugar-laden batter to the sobering reality of ‘remember you are dust’ in exactly twenty-four hours.

The Great Vicarage Flip-Off... In the Vicarage, Shrove Tuesday is a marathon, not a sprint. My ritual involves mixing a vat of batter large enough to coat a small car and standing over the stove until Chris finally admits defeat. It is a battle of wills: my arm’s flipping stamina versus Chris’s appetite.

I know some of you are traditionalists, sticking to a modest squeeze of lemon and a dusting of sugar. But why stop there? We live in an age of culinary enlightenment! I suspect some of you are secretly hiding chocolate sauce, sprinkles, maple syrup, or even crispy bacon behind your kitchen doors. Go on - be exotic. It’s the last hurrah!

Of course, I don’t cook alone. I am closely supervised by ‘the girls’, Marnie and Willow. If you think a Vicar is immune to temptation, you haven’t seen two dogs wielding pleading chocolate-button eyes while I’m mid-flip. Naturally, a few morsels of pancake ‘accidentally’ fall their way. I’m only human, and those eyes are a spiritual trial in themselves.

Please be mindful of the Ten Commandments of the Frying Pan:

• Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s toppings, even if they have the fancy maple syrup and you only have a lowly lemon.
• Thou shalt honour the first pancake, for it is a sacrificial lamb and usually looks like a topographical map of the Moon.
• Thou shalt flip with ‘Accomplished Aplomb’, or at least with enough height to clear the extractor fan.
• Thou shalt not bear false witness about how many pancakes thou hast actually consumed.
• Thou shalt remember the ‘Dogs’ Tax’, for Marnie and Willow are watching, and their chocolate-button eyes see all.
• Thou shalt not use a cold pan, lest thy pancake become a sad, pale frisbee.
• Thou shalt experiment with bacon, for it is the path to culinary enlightenment.
• Thou shalt scrape the ceiling if the flip goes awry, for cleanliness is next to godliness.
• Thou shalt keep the batter flowing until your supply is exhausted or your family admits defeat.
• Thou shalt prepare thy heart for tomorrow, for once the last crumb is gone, the ashes beckon us to Lent.

Then we go from Syrup to Soot. The party ends promptly on Wednesday, 18th February, as we gather at St Mary’s and St Helen’s churches for our Ash Wednesday services (see the item in the February 2026 Edition of What's On for further details).

If Tuesday is for filling our stomachs, Wednesday is for checking our souls. We’ll be performing the ‘imposition of ashes’, where I smudge a charcoal cross on your forehead.

‘Why the messy forehead?’ you might ask. Well, it’s the ultimate reality check. When I say, ‘Remember that you are dust’, it’s a way of admitting we aren’t the centre of the universe. It’s a bit of a ‘spiritual exfoliation’ - stripping away the ego (and the maple syrup) to remember that we belong to God. We wear the cross of ashes because it’s a sign that even in our messiest, dustiest moments, we are claimed by Christ. We are clearing the decks, physically and spiritually, to make room for God.

This is one of the most poignant services of the year. It marks the start of Lent - a season of 40 days (mirroring Jesus’ time in the wilderness) where we examine our hearts, practise self-discipline, and prepare for the joy of the Resurrection.

Lent isn’t about being miserable; it’s about being honest. It’s an opportunity to strip away the distractions and noise of modern life to see what really matters.

Whether you are a regular at church, or haven't stepped through our doors in years, you are warmly invited to join us on 18th February. Come as you are - dust, ashes, and all.

The Haven Churches will be holding a Lent Course based upon the book of reflections, ‘Draw Near’, over four Wednesday evenings at 6.00 pm, starting on 25th February (see the item in the February 2026 Edition of What's On for further details).

Revd Karen

February 2026

A New Year Message from Revd Karen

Dear Friends

As you stand at the threshold of this New Year, may you feel the steady presence of the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

May the hope of Christ be more than a distant wish for you; may it be an anchor for your soul, firm and secure. In the quiet coastal beauty of your parishes, may you hear the whisper of the Spirit promising that you are never alone.

As the calendar turns, may you be filled with:

❖ The Promise of Renewal: That in Christ, all things are being made new, and His mercies are fresh every morning.

❖ The Promise of Peace: A peace that surpasses all understanding, guarding your hearts and minds regardless of what the year brings

❖ The Promise of Purpose: The assurance that you are called by name to be a light in your community, reflecting the warmth of His love.

May the Haven Benefice truly be a haven - a place of safety, rest, and radical hospitality. May your churches be vibrant witnesses to the truth that the darkness has not overcome the Light.

"Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:20)

Wishing you a year filled with the grace, joy, and the unmistakable peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revd Karen

January 2026