The first thing to let you know about if you do not know already is our Valentine dance. This promises to be a lovely occasion and you don't have to have a partner to come along. It's a wonderful occasion.
VALENTINE DANCE
come and join us on
Saturday 14th February
at 7.30pm
in the Church Hall
Dancing to ‘Maelstrom’ 6 piece band
Tickets £6 - available from Phillip
Williams and members of the Social
Committee or phone 263095 / 07787
127641
Please bring your own drinks and
glasses (crisps / snacks will be
provided)
Dress Code Smart
This has been very popular
in the past,
so come for a really
enjoyable evening
Secondly, this coming Sunday, 8th February, is our Family Communion and we have two children from our regular Sunday school who are being baptised at this service, Evan and Savannah Marara. Please pray for them as they prepare for this big day in their lives and please come to the service, at 10am. By far the majority of our baptisms (christenings) are in the afternoons, but it is lovely when a family requests one in the morning, and always special when we know them well.
CONFIRMATION
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Are you or your children interested in being confirmed this year? Our Deanery Confirmation is Saturday 2nd May at 6pm at Christ Church, in the centre of Herne Bay. Bishop Trevor Willmott (above) will be taking the service as our effective Bishop for the Diocese of Canterbury (although the Archbishop is technically the Bishop of the Diocese, Bishop Trevor is the Bishop who does the huge majority of the ministry here as Archbishop Justin is obviously busy in the wider church world).
A number of adults have expressed an interest in confirmation. Could they please email me or phone me about when would be best for them to have their classes of which there are usually half a dozen - I can do most Wednesday evenings, some Saturday mornings, some Saturday afternoons and some Sunday afternoons. Please let me know what you can do and I will be in touch.
If it's a child that is interested in being confirmed it is best to have these classes on a weekday after school. The child has to be of secondary school age come September this year. I could do 4pm or 5pm on Tuesdays or Wednesdays here at the Vicarage. Please let me know what is best.
There is also the option of having your Baptism and Confirmation "renewed". If it seems a long time since you were confirmed, there is now a liturgy that takes part at the Confirmation service where you can recommit to God in a new way. The above times for classes for this would still apply so please speak to me if you are interested.
COFFEE ROTA
We are urgently in need of people to help with the coffee rota
This Sunday 8th February we are short of people for our 10am service - can you help? Please let me know if you can.
One group in need of new helpers is doing the following dates
May 10th, September 13th, December 13th - please email Karen our co-ordinator for the rota know if you can help at this email address
kag@goodwin95.plus.com
Karen and Liz are already doing these particular dates but need a couple of extra helpers
Another group is doing coffee and tea on these dates
June 14th, October 11th - again please let Karen know if you can help via the email above. We have two people who have very kindly come forward for this, Debbie and Liz (not the same Liz as above!), but we need a couple more to help them please.
CHURCHWARDEN VACANCY
Contrary to any rumours going round we have not been able to find a person who would be willing to take on the role of churchwarden from March 22nd (NB our Annual District Church meeting is this day, Sunday 22nd March, at 4pm in the church hall).
This is getting quite urgent now so please can you speak to myself or Christine and Linda our churchwardens if you think you could manage this very large and responsible task in the church, yet one which is very fulfilling too. I can send you a role specification if you would like more information first. Please will you pray about it. Thank you. I would be so grateful.
CHURCH COUNCIL SECRETARY
We are also in need of a new Secretary for the Church Council from the ADCM on 22nd March, so if you would be interested in this please can you let me know or a churchwarden know. Thank you.
The meetings are once every two months on average and help is also required compiling the Annual Report.
ASH WEDNESDAY
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A very important date in our annual calendar, there will be the special Service of Ashing and Solemn Eucharist at All Saints on Ash Wednesday at 8pm. This is Wednesday 18th February. It is preceded by a special service at 7pm on Shrove Tuesday when we burn the Palm Crosses at the door of the church. The service on Shrove Tuesday starts in church at 7pm. Please bring your Palm Cross to this service.
Ash Wednesday is the day when we bring to God our sins and ask for his forgiveness. I realise we do this every day of our lives, but it is a day when we are specially conscious of our brokenness and waywardness and where we commit to following Him with a more pure and whole-hearted devotion, especially in the light of the season of Lent starting on the same day.
I find this whole experience extremely healthy and spiritually strengthening, not gloomy or sad at all. What would our society be like if everyone faced up to their shortcomings and tried to live purer and more holy lives? A lot better I am sure.
We have to be honest with ourselves and with others and in our prayer lives with God about the fact that we are far from perfect, and seek His strength to live better lives. If we don't do this we run the risk of becoming spiritually stagnant. We are not condemning ourselves, simply being honest and attempting by God's grace to live more wholesome and holy lives in the future.
CHURCH FAMILY BREAKFAST
Why not start your day and join the regulars for breakfast in the hall every 3rd Sunday of the month (8.30 – 9.30 am)? It’s another social occasion for our church family. Hope to see you on 15 February. Helpers for the Breakfast are also needed – please speak to Anne Cross, Paula Comins or Maggs Seppala or either churchwarden for details
GERMAN EXCHANGE 2015
Message from David Sims
The dates are 13 - 17 May and we will be staying with families in Tegernau and nearby villages in the attractive Black Forest area of Southern Germany. Also friends from Teltow, Berlin, whom some of us visited last May/June, will also be there. We shall be renewing/making friendships, going to church, having discussions, eating and drinking extremely well and sightseeing. We intend to take a mini-bus to Ashford; train to Paris and then on to Basel. The current price is £100 return, if we book early! It gradually gets dearer . . . Please let me know by 15 February Thank you. David Sims 263616
I have written a piece about the German Exchange here which gives more details
Dear
all
Our
partnership with several churches in Germany has been going on for well over a
quarter of a century and we have another trip planned to Germany, to the
beautiful area of the Black Forest, in May.
The
dates are in the noticesheet and the contact information too.
Please
may I encourage you to think about coming on this trip? It is free of charge
apart from the cost of travel there and back because we stay with host
families.
I
have been on two occasions to the Black Forest and once to Teltow and enjoyed
every minute of both visits. The German hosts are extremely welcoming and kind
and we have great trips out and discussions and all sorts of other enjoyable
events.
God
does indeed seem to have blessed the partnership.
But,
to be honest, we do need new faces and new interest in order to keep this
partnership alive and vibrant. Of course I am glad we have our regular group
coming, but it would be lovely if we could see some new people as well, so will
you consider coming this year?
The two people to talk to are David Sims on 263616 and Michael Cooke on 272427, though if you are planning to come please give your name and details to David Sims. Of course also feel most welcome to talk to me too.
The two people to talk to are David Sims on 263616 and Michael Cooke on 272427, though if you are planning to come please give your name and details to David Sims. Of course also feel most welcome to talk to me too.
It
is fun, it is warm, it is worth the effort of time and travel out there. But I
really hope and pray we will see more interest from the congregation this year.
So
will you pray about it and ask yourself the question – is this for me? Is this
for us?
Thank
you
Simon
I will include all the information about Mothering Sunday, Holy Week and Easter in the March mailing
For the latest on my blog please read my reflections on being at Lee Abbey
Please look at our display about Cursillo and homegroups in the church. I am intending to keep this in place till 22nd February when there will be a new focus on "Practical help for the church". If you help with working parties looking after the churchyard or church, or serve on the Church Council, or help in other ways behind the scenes, would you be willing to give a five minute talk at this service about this in order to encourage others to serve too. You may feel a bit hesitant as you would probably prefer not to pay attention to your service, but it would honestly help others to come forward I think too. Do you enjoy it? Have you met others in the church? Has it helped your spiritual life to help in practical ways?
https://www.canterburydiocese.org/spirituality-and-discipleship/e-news-subscribe/
You would need to navigate around that link to find out more information about what it is please but I recommend it!
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIOCESE PLEASE CLICK HERE
https://www.canterburydiocese.org/media/ebulletin/february2015/default.htm
THANK YOU!
Rev Simon Tillotson
01227 272308
tillotsons@gmail.com
A lot more information about the church can be found on our church website
www.allsaintswhitstable.com
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