Dear all
I am pleased to say there are one or two signs of Spring on the horizon as I write this! I do hope you are all keeping well.
It seems that there is yet again a great deal to tell you about!
Firstly, if anyone is interested in being Confirmed this year please click on this website - but remember please to come back to this newsletter once you have finished reading it.
The website is
http://confirmation2017.blogspot.co.uk/
Secondly, over 20 people attended our Celtic Christianity course which has just finished. If you would like to hear the course from your computer (only via a desktop or laptop not a mobile phone) then please click here for the website for that course.
https://celticchristianityallsaints.blogspot.co.uk/
LENT
Lent begins on 1st March, just a few days away.
On Shrove Tuesday - this coming Tuesday - we have our special "Burning of Palm Crosses Service" at All Saints at 7pm. This only lasts about 10 minutes but is a moving ceremony. Please do not hand your palm cross into church on Sunday but bring your cross to the ceremony. If you cannot make it to the service please put the palm cross through the Vicarage letterbox before Tuesday.
At 8pm on Shrove Tuesday we have Sacred Space for an hour. Please remember to bring a torch. It is a fitting way to mark the evening before the beginning of Lent.
On Ash Wednesday, 1st March, we have our annual Solemn Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes service at 8pm. Preacher and Celebrant - Rev Simon Tillotson.
If you have not been to this service before please do consider attending . It is a very moving service and an important one as we look at our walk with Christ and turn from anything wrong in our lives and turn towards the light of Christ. The imposition of ashes reminds us of our own mortality and our need to focus our Christian life on the "narrow path" of holiness that Jesus refers to in the Gospels.
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER
Details will appear on our church website towards the end of March. Easter itself this year is not till Sunday 16th April which is very late compared to normal.
OTHER MATTERS........
HOLYBALLOO
A reminder that Holyballoo starts again on Thursday 23rd February from 3.15pm to 4.15pm at All Saints church hall, Church Street, CT5 1PG. Suitable for parents/guardians to bring their young children to, it includes tea and coffee, craft work for the children and a game and usually a very gentle Christian teaching message led by the Vicar, Rev Simon Tillotson
Entrance will be round the back of the hall through the door nearest All Saints nursery school as the car park is being retarmacked
It is free of charge.
ECUMENICAL PRAYER MEETINGS
Churches Together in Whitstable are organising a series of Ecumenical Prayer meetings. These are very much not part of the "Notices from other churches" section of this newsletter. We are just as involved as any other church and will be hosting one in June. If you are able to come along to this Monday's meeting that would be greatly appreciated.
The Churches Together in Whitstable Away Day for ministers last autumn decided that we would hold these instead of the Westmeads service this year so please come and join with your brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer!
CLICK ON PICTURE BELOW FOR FULL SIZE
Bishop Trevor Willmott visits the Deanery
Bishop Trevor is coming to Reculver Deanery for two meetings
during Lent. An opportunity to learn and
grow. The first will be at Christ Church Herne Bay on Tuesday 7th
March at 7.30pm. The second will be at our church, All Saints, on
Wednesday 22nd March at 7.30pm. Please book the dates in
your diary. The two evenings will not be the same and people are
encouraged to try and attend both if that is possible. Thank you.
REDEDICATION OF CHURCH ORGAN
Rev Simon Tillotson (above) with Tarquin Wiggins who has restored our organ
Vicar issues special invitation to parishioners to church on Sunday 5th March
Special
prayers of thanksgiving and recommissioning will be held at the Sunday
morning service at 10am on Sunday 5th March at All Saints Whitstable for
the Church organ which has been carefully and skilfully restored to
pristine condition.
After a project costing nearly £36,000, the All Saints Whitstable church organ was restored by the Organ Restorer and Tuner Tarquin Wiggins.
The organ had been in use up to its restoration but was showing signs of needing a complete overhaul.
It had to be painstakingly dismantled. Many of its 100 year old parts were renewed completely and others were refurbished. Decades of dirt and dust were removed from all areas of the organ. It was an intricate and delicate procedure taking hundreds of hours from an expert with decades of experience.
The work was carried out at Mr Wiggins' workshop in London and also in situ at the church over a period of several months from late 2016 to February 2017.
The money included a substantial grant of £13,797 from Viridor Credits who work on behalf of Viridor, the well known UK company which serves residential and commercial customers through recycling, composting, waste to energy plants, clinical waste services, and liquid and dry waste collection. Also many private donations were given from members of the congregation and the general public.Rev Simon Tillotson said "I am so grateful to all who gave to this project. We are particularly grateful to Viridor for their wonderful generosity and have installed a Viridor plaque in the north porch in recognition of this. The organ has been used for so many weddings, Sunday services and also, sadly, funerals, over the years, and is therefore a much loved "friend" of many people in Whitstable. We could not see it - or should I say her? - gradually falling apart. We have restored it for future generations. I would particularly like to invite those who have benefitted from its services in previous years to attend this service on Sunday 5th March at the church at 10am"
After a project costing nearly £36,000, the All Saints Whitstable church organ was restored by the Organ Restorer and Tuner Tarquin Wiggins.
The organ had been in use up to its restoration but was showing signs of needing a complete overhaul.
It had to be painstakingly dismantled. Many of its 100 year old parts were renewed completely and others were refurbished. Decades of dirt and dust were removed from all areas of the organ. It was an intricate and delicate procedure taking hundreds of hours from an expert with decades of experience.
The work was carried out at Mr Wiggins' workshop in London and also in situ at the church over a period of several months from late 2016 to February 2017.
The money included a substantial grant of £13,797 from Viridor Credits who work on behalf of Viridor, the well known UK company which serves residential and commercial customers through recycling, composting, waste to energy plants, clinical waste services, and liquid and dry waste collection. Also many private donations were given from members of the congregation and the general public.Rev Simon Tillotson said "I am so grateful to all who gave to this project. We are particularly grateful to Viridor for their wonderful generosity and have installed a Viridor plaque in the north porch in recognition of this. The organ has been used for so many weddings, Sunday services and also, sadly, funerals, over the years, and is therefore a much loved "friend" of many people in Whitstable. We could not see it - or should I say her? - gradually falling apart. We have restored it for future generations. I would particularly like to invite those who have benefitted from its services in previous years to attend this service on Sunday 5th March at the church at 10am"
PLEASE COME TO THIS SPECIAL SERVICE ON 5th MARCH AT 10am.
FAMILY SERVICES in MARCH
There are two Family Communions in February, as our Mothering Sunday service is also a Family service too.
The First Family Communion will be on Sunday 12th March at 10am - speaker Paula Trewin MBE. Please note that there will be a cake stall organised by the Sunday Club after this first Family service in March.
The Second Family Communion will be our Mothering Sunday Family Service on Sunday 26th March at 10am - speaker Rev Simon Tillotson. All children present will be given posies to give to their mothers.
PHILOSOPHY COURSE
Simon writes...
After a successful Celtic Christianity course I am now intending to focus on another key interest of mine - the relationship between Philosophy and Christianity
To find our more about this course please visit this website and let me know if you are interested in attending the course. Please note it runs over into the summer months too.
Click here
MUSIC MATTERS!
VICTORIA HALL launches a Junior Choir and also appeals for more singers for our adult choir. In this video she talks about our adult choir first and then our Junior Choir. This video was recorded last December but the information in it is still accurate. We now have three Juniors with more expected to join in September.
VICTORIA HALL launches a Junior Choir and also appeals for more singers for our adult choir. In this video she talks about our adult choir first and then our Junior Choir. This video was recorded last December but the information in it is still accurate. We now have three Juniors with more expected to join in September.
MORE LENTEN NEWS
ALL SAINTS LENT QUIET DAY
25th March from 10am - 4pm at Franciscan International Study Centre, Giles Lane, Canterbury Ending with tea and homemade cake Led by Revd Canon Toby Marchant Suggested donation £10.00 or whatever you can afford. Please bring a packed lunch. Tea/coffee available throughout the day. Please let Anne Rees know if you are coming or want further details
annemrees@gmail.com
Tel: 01227 275261
Tel: 01227 275261
THE LABYRINTH
In St Alphege Church on SATURDAY 1st APRIL
from 9.30 to 11.00 am
from 9.30 to 11.00 am
An ancient healing experience for many.
An opportunity to slow down and reflect on your NOW.
A sacred window as we approach Easter.
Facilitated by Dr Martin Garsed
An opportunity to slow down and reflect on your NOW.
A sacred window as we approach Easter.
Facilitated by Dr Martin Garsed
LOOKING AHEAD IN APRIL
Please can you make a note in your diary that the
All Saints Annual District Church Meeting
will be on
Sunday April 2nd at 11.15am straight after the 10am service.
We hope to finish it by 12 noon. There will be an opportunity for those who wish to stay for a Bring and Share Lunch.
We are looking for new members of our Church Council. If you would like to stand please talk to Simon or one of our Churchwardens. Meetings take place every two months and there is also an expectation that you attend a sub-committee in the intervening month.
COFFEE ROTA
Please email Pat Hudgell at wigbazzza@gmail.com if you have any questions about the below rota - remember to click on the rota to see it in large screen format
COFFEE ROTA
Please email Pat Hudgell at wigbazzza@gmail.com if you have any questions about the below rota - remember to click on the rota to see it in large screen format
NEWS FROM CHRISTIANS AGAINST POVERTY - CAP - who we regularly support
Click to read in large screen format
MORE NEWS FROM OTHER CHURCHES AND ORGANISATIONS
3rd
Whitstable (All Saints) Scout Group will be holding their first Jumble Sale of
2017 in All Saints Church Hall, Church
Street, Whitstable , CT5 1PG on Saturday 25th February.
Doors open at 2pm and the admission fee is 20p each. Jumble may be brought to
the hall between 9am and 11am on the morning of the sale.
The Diocese of Canterbury
Sheila Rooke, Safeguarding Administrator Diocesan House, Lady Wootton's Green, Canterbury CT1 1NQ Tel: 01227 459401 srooke@diocant.org www.canterburydiocese.org |
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Dear colleagues,
As
you will be aware the diocese offers safeguarding training to parishes
which is delivered by a small group of trainers. We emailed round last
year and several people came forward expressing interest
but
we are looking to enlarge the team still further as we implement the new parish training course designed by the national church.
Would you, or anyone you know, have the necessary experience and expertise to deliver this training to groups of up to
30 people in parish/benefice settings? A background in social work or an allied profession is helpful. Full
training on the materials will be given, along with ongoing support.
All training courses are delivered by two trainers. We offer a flat rate of £25 per hour to cover time and expenses.
Anyone interested should contact Lesley Weaver on lweaver@diocant.org
or 07971626567 or the Safeguarding Office on 01227 459401.
Best wishes,
Sheila
Sheila RookeSafeguarding Administrator
This email has been sent to PDOs, Assistant PDOs, CP Co-ordinators, AP Co-Ordinators and parish Secretaries.
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CLICK ON POSTER TO READ IN FULL SIZE ON SCREEN
St Peter's Contemporary Theology Group
2017 Programme
The St Peter's Contemporary Theology Group is an ecumenical
gathering that meets (usually) on the third Wednesday of each month from January to
June at St Peter's Methodist Church, Canterbury. Please
note that the January meeting this year is on the fourth Wednesday. The church is about 200 metres from the Westgate
Towers, towards the City Centre. The nearest public car park is Pound Lane. Meetings (usually) start at 7.45 pm and finish
promptly at 9.15 pm.
Our
meetings are open to all who are interested in honest and lively discussion on
contemporary themes in theology and religion. Whatever your interests or
viewpoint, you will be most welcome to join us. There is a charge of £3
at the door to cover the expenses of our speakers and an honorarium. Students
under 25 are not charged an entrance fee.
A season ticket of £12 is also available, covering all the lectures
(therefore two lectures are free), either at the door or by writing to P J
Knight at 28 Forty Acres Road, Canterbury, CT2 7HL, enclosing a cheque
made out to Contemporary Theology Group and an s.a.e.
Wednesday 15 March
John
Bell – Church
of Scotland minister, hymn writer, broadcaster and former student activist,
member of the Iona Community, concerned with the renewal of congregational worship.
The Danger and Delight of Congregational Song.
Wednesday 19 April
Robert
Willis – Dean of Canterbury, Deputy
Lieutenant of Kent, accomplished pianist and opera enthusiast and writer of several hymns.
[In
this the 500th anniversary of Luther’s ninety-five theses …]
Is
the Church in Need of a New Reformation?
Wednesday 17 May
Ilan Pappé – Jewish Israeli historian, Professor of Social Sciences
and International Studies at the University
of Exeter, author of (among others) The Ethnic Cleansing
of Palestine.
[In this the centenary of the Balfour Declaration, and the 50th
anniversary of the occupation of the Palestinian Territories …]
The Palestinian 1948 Catastrophe and its Relevance Today.
Wednesday 21 June – Please note that this meeting will start at
7.30 pm and finish at 9 pm.
Andrew Chandler – Reader in Modern History at Chichester University, founder
of the George
Bell Institute to support the work of international scholars and thinkers,
interested in the interrelationship of politics, religion and diplomacy across the
twentieth century.
The Legacy of Bishop George Bell.
For further details
about any of these meetings please contact any of the following:
Judith Dimond: jidbaskets@gmail.com; Keith
Dimond: krdkent@gmail.com;
Stephen Prickett: atsp@quikmail.co.uk; Doreen Rosman: 01227 452242
Radical Welcome! Saturday March 18th 10 am - 4.30 pm Following
our celebration of inclusion last weekend St Stephens Canterbury will
be holding a study day in church to help us all understand exclusion and welcome people better All welcome, lunch included, no charge but please register as soon as possible as places are limited - by signing sheet at the back of church or emailing petertoon@aol.com
Peter D Toon
48 Broad Street CT1 2Ls
Diocesan Secretary
Diocesan House,
Lady Wootton's Green, Canterbury Kent CT1 1NQ Tel: 01227 459401 jhills@diocant.org |
Dear colleagues,
Prayer
connects us to God: the air we all breathe, our magnetic north, our
daily bread. Through prayer we are rooted in God and discern a direction
of travel.
As a diocesan family, we are a praying people, together in community, rooted in a shared life of prayer.
The
Open Diocesan Synod on 11 March at the John Wallis Academy, Ashford,
will focus on to ‘renewing our life together in prayer.’ It will be a
morning of inspiration and challenge and all
are welcome to join us - whatever your age or tradition, however you
may relish or struggle with prayer. Together, we’ll engage in
conversation, share ideas and tools to take away so that we and our
communities might renew our commitment to a life rooted in
prayer.
We
will be joined on the day by Sonia Beranger, Sub-Prior of the Community
of St Anselm’s at Lambeth Palace, who will share with us how prayer is
both a challenge and a pathway to the wonder of God. She will lead us
in ‘breaking open the word’ as we spend time listening in prayer
together. We’ll also hear from others whose lives have been transformed
by different ways of praying and there will be a
free resource pack to take back to our church communities. Save the
date and book online
here.
At the event, Bishop Trevor will issue a call to prayer
to the diocese. A call to renew our life together in prayer and join together
in a Diocesan Day of Prayer on 18 November 2017. From Margate to
Maidstone, from Sheppey to Sandwich, from Dungeness to Deal: we will be called
to share in prayer to renew us for God’s service. There will be opportunities
for everybody to get involved in all kinds of ways, whoever and wherever you
are. Save the date!
Kind regards,
Diocesan Secretary |
