December Xtra newsletter

Dear all

The wonderful season of Advent is upon us this Sunday and Christmas is just a few weeks away. May I wish you much peace and joy at this time of the year for your loved ones and family and a very happy and blessed Christmas when it arrives.

My wife Cathy and I are having two Christmas drinks parties which you are welcome to attend. The first is Saturday 20th December at the Vicarage from 8pm to 10pm  and the second is drinks before Midnight Communion from 9pm to 10.45pm on Christmas Eve. Please email me at tillotsons@gmail.com if you can come to both or either. Thanks. You would be warmly welcome. The Vicarage is to the left of the Church and Church hall on Church Street. This is our gift to you so please do not bring drinks or snacks with you but please let us know if you are coming so we have enough for those present.

Our Christmas Fair this Saturday from 10am to 2pm at the Church hall. Full details on this poster below.

 

PLEASE NOTE THERE IS AN ADVENT CAROL SERVICE THIS SUNDAY 30th NOVEMBER at 4pm. This is completely different from a Christmas Carol service as the music will be on an Advent theme (so no Christmas carols) but it is still very much worth coming along. I hope to see you there.

 

On Sundays in Advent I will be conducting three discussions at the church on Sunday evenings which you are most welcome to come to.

 

ADVENT DISCUSSIONS

 

      ALL FROM 7.45pm to 9.15pm AT ALL SAINTS CHURCH in the SOUTH CHAPEL

 

Sunday 7 December

Engaging with the spirit of atheism and agnosticism in our culture – how can I respond?

This will be a personal talk about my observations after 20 years in the ordained ministry at changes to our society and what I have learned from this. There will be an opportunity to have a conversation on this topic after my initial talk.

 

          Sunday 14 December

Finding God in doubt, suffering and searching - how can we respond?

I have noticed that many people are a mixture of faith and doubt, including may of us who have attended churches for many years. In what way can doubt be a healthy side of our spirituality, and when can it be harmful to our spirituality? Does the suffering in the world, or that we personally experience, put us off faith in God or make us more likely to become believers?

 

Sunday 21 December

Becoming the  church in the 21^st century   - how can the church respond?

This final evening will be an opportunity to think creatively about the future of the church with a specific focus on All Saints. What new ideas can we come up with to engage with people in our parish and to attract people to the life of faith and also, we hope, participation in church life too?

 

Please note I have written a number of pieces on my Blog recently. If you have not yet read them and would like to please click here:

 

http://simonsblogallsaints.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 

Please also note that I will be running a course for 13 weeks from the beginning of January to the end of March on Tuesday evenings at the Vicarage. I realise this is a long time but I believe that there are a number of people who would learn from the course.

Full details are here

 

http://findingfreedominchristallsaints.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 

ORGAN FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

So far Michael Cooke, Linda Annable, Linda Livingstone, Carol Sims, Jo Piper, Malcolm Waller and myself as Chair have agreed to be on this committee.

We need to raise £30,000 so that the organ can be properly cleaned and overhauled so that it can last many more decades. If the work is not carried out the organ could get into serious disrepair.

So we are hoping to form a committee that will be carrying out fundraising activities in the coming year.

It is possible that you spoke to me about the desire to be on the committee but in the rush of life I may have forgotten your kind offer - Can you let me know if this is the case please?

If you have not yet offered but would like to be on the committee, please can you let me know as soon as possible as I am hoping we will start work in December on this project.

 

SACRED SPACE WILL BE AT ALL SAINTS ON TUESDAY 23rd December from 8pm to 9pm. If you would like to be included on the Sacred Space email list please let me know. To find out about Sacred Space please watch this video.

Click here http://youtu.be/5dAleymy4Wk?list=UUI7svyt_SKYkyymxf2WY-hQ

 

 

CHRISTMAS EVENTS BELOW

 

 

 

 

November Xtra update

Our November extra newsletter starts as you might expect with....

 

FIREWORKS AT ALL SAINTS VICARAGE
ADVANCED TICKET SALES ARE THESE DAYS PRETTY MUCH ESSENTIAL. 

Our ever popular 'Firework Night at All Saints' will be held on Saturday 8th November.  

It is renowned for being a friendly  family event. You can enjoy hot dogs / burgers etc while waiting for the lighting of the fire and then the excitement of the fireworks!
Everyone's safety is very important to us so we don't allow any sparklers or other personal fireworks.

Gates open at 6.15pm and the ticket price is unchanged - Adults £5 and children £1

TICKETS AVAILABLE
Sundays 11.15 -12 from Church Hall (through main glass doors)

Fridays / Saturdays 10 -12 from Church Office (up ramp at churchyard end of hall)



On Sunday 9th November we have our
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY FAMILY SERVICE with HOLY COMMUNION
This will be at 10am and will finish at 11.05am after the two minutes silence outside church.
It is the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War this year and are hearts are heavy because of that and also because of all the conflicts in the world today.
PLEASE COME TO THIS SERVICE AND PRAY FOR A MORE PEACEFUL WORLD

CHRISTMAS FAIR
The Christmas Fair will take place on Saturday 29th November from 10am to 2pm at All Saints Church hall, Church Street, CT5 1PG
There will be lots of  opportunities for buying Christmas presents. Stalls include Christmas cards, crafts, books, cakes, tombola, face painting, refreshments (including lunches etc)
And Father Christmas will be there


SACRED SPACE
Monday 24th November 8pm to 9pm in church
Silence, Taize music, prayer, meditation
Please remember to bring a torch




FULL DETAILS OF CHRISTMAS SERVICES





Christmas Carols under the Yew Trees with Whitstable Brass
This will take place just outside the church under the Yew trees on Wednesday 17th December from 7pm.
Please bring a torch and wrap up warm. It is followed by mince pies and mulled wine in the Church hall.
All Saints Whitstable, Church Street is off Castle Road, Ham Shades Lane and the Thanet Way—post code is CT5 1PG

CHRISTMAS SERVICES As well as the carol singing (above) we have the following:

Saturday 20th December at 4pm—Christingle service in church.
This is where each child is given a Christingle which is an orange with a   candle and ribbon and other items attached to it. Carols are sung and the meaning of the Christingle is explained. The service normally lasts about 45 minutes and is a lovely service.

Wednesday 24th December—Christmas Eve
3pm and 4.15pm—Our highly popular Crib Services. We  moved to two  
services last year as although our church seats 350 people we were over capacity the year before. 

11.15pm—Midnight Holy Communion also known as Midnight
Mass. A wonderful way to welcome in Christmas, which begins at Midnight
on Christmas Day morning, not in early November as our popular culture would have us believe!
And please remember—Christmas is not over on Boxing Day –it lasts a good 12 days after Christmas!

Thursday 25th December—Christmas Day
8am and 10am Holy Communion services for Christmas  Further opportunities to explore the spiritual dimension of Christmas

 

 

 

ADVENT TALKS

 

Simon will be giving three advent talks in the Church over Advent with a chance to discuss afterwards. Each evening will begin at 7.45pm and finish at 8.50pm.

 

Sunday 7th December 8pm in All Saints church

Week 1 - Engaging with the spirit of atheism and agnosticism in our culture - how can I respond?

 

 

Sunday 14th December 8pm in All Saints church

Week 2 - Finding God in doubt, suffering and searching - how can we respond?

 

Sunday 21st December 8pm in All Saints church

Week 3 - Becoming the church in the 21st century - how can the church respond?

 

 

Mindfulness, Meditation and Buddhism and its relationship with Christianity - where is the truth? Click on link below

http://simonsblogallsaints.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 

MORE NEWS

 

Canterbury Diocese's E-Bulletin can be found here

 

http://www.canterburydiocese.org/media/ebulletin/november2014/default.htm

 

 

 

 

 

St Peter's Contemporary Theology Group 2015 Programme

St Peter's Contemporary Theology Group is an ecumenical gathering that meets on the third Wednesday of each month, from January to June, at St Peter's Methodist Church, Canterbury. Unless otherwise advertised, meetings start at 7.45 pm and
finish promptly at 9.15 pm.

Whatever your interests or viewpoint, you will be most welcome to join us. There is a charge of £3 at the door so that we can give each speaker an honorarium as well as expenses. A season ticket at £12 is also available, covering all six lectures (therefore two lectures are free), either at the door or by writing to Jane Gallagher at 193B Wincheap, Canterbury, CT1 3TP and enclosing a cheque made out to Contemporary Theology Group and a stamped addressed envelope.

Wednesday 21 January, 7.30 – 9 pm
William Lamb Reading Scripture: a spiritual or a critical exercise?
Please note early start at 7.30 pm to finish promptly at 9 pm.

Wednesday 18 February
Alan Gregory Divine Power in the Modern Imagination: from the Sublime to the Beautiful.

Wednesday 18 March
Jeremy Carrette The Psychology of Religious Experience.

Wednesday 15 April
Ann Widdecombe Faith and Public Life.

Wednesday 20 May
C.J. (Jonty) Driver Apartheid and after.

Wednesday 17 June
Josiah Fearon, Bishop of Kaduna, Nigeria. Christians and Muslims today.

 

Food Bank Volunteer Vacancies:
Van Drivers 
Administration
Packing Supervisor 
Weekly packers

If you are interested in any of the volunteer vacancies, 
Please email volunteers@canterburyfoodbank.orgwww.canterburyfoodbank.org