Welcome to our March Xtra newsletter!
Here I am writing virtually snowed in at the Vicarage! I am concerned for anyone who may need shopping done so if you hear of anyone please let me know. I am sure we can find volunteers in the church to help.
Here is the Xtra update for March, which, rumour has it, starts tomorrow....though it feels more like January today
An important post in the life of our church is currently still being advertised.
ALL SAINTS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES' MINISTER
An exciting new post for our church to help our outreach to our community.
Can you help strengthen our Sunday Club and other groups that meet midweek and help ensure All Saints is able to reach out more effectively to the younger age groups within our community. If so please consider applying for this post!
18 hours a week, £22,500 Per year Pro Rata - Applications close 8th March 2018.
For full terms and for downloads of job description, job application form and further information please click HERE MOTHERING SUNDAY - Our annual Mothering Sunday service is coming up soon on March 11th. At this service, all ladies present, whether they be mothers or not, are given flowers as we celebrate the inclusive nature of Mothering Sunday and the fact that it is about caring for each other, as well as celebrating the vocation of motherhood. We hope to see you with us at 10am on Sunday 11th March
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES AT ALL SAINTS WHITSTABLE
There is a lot happening this Holy Week and Easter at All Saints and we look forward to seeing you at our services.
Monday 26th March - Sacred Space in the church from 8pm to 9pm
Tuesday 27th March - Compline at 8pm in the church
Wednesday 28th March - Evening Prayer at 5pm
Maundy Thursday 10am - Healing Eucharist
Maundy Thursday 7.30pm Agape supper and optional foot washing followed by Stripping of the Altar. Please sign up at the back of church or email Simon at tillotsons@gmail.com if you wish to attend this special event. NB It is only a ceremonial light meal. You are advised to have your evening meal before attending this event
Good Friday 9.30am We assemble at St John's Swalecliffe for the Walk of Witness. We walk along the seafront to the Harbour which we aim to arrive at approximately 11am. You can meet us there if you prefer. We then finish the walk at St Alphege Whitstable at about 11.30am.
Good Friday 12 noon to 3pm. Three Hours at the cross back at All Saints. Three hours of prayers and devotions and reflections. You are welcome to stay the whole three hours or if you prefer to arrive and depart at the top of each hour.
Holy Saturday 8pm Easter Vigil and Renewal of Baptism Promises at St Peter's Church Whitstable
Easter Sunday 6.15am Easter Sunrise service on the Promenade below the Marine Hotel followed by a church service
Easter Sunday 8am Holy Communion Book of Common Prayer
10am Sung Holy Communion and Easter Egg hunt for children
CLICK ON POSTER TO SEE IN LARGE SCREEN SIZE
ALPHA COURSE
Quite a number of people from our current congregation came to a deeper faith through attending Alpha and I am intending to run another course after Easter.
To find out about Alpha please visit
In my experience it is one of the best ways of growing in the Christian faith and of finding a deeper faith for the first time too. I therefore strongly recommend attendance. We will watch a video and then discuss the matter afterwards.
CLICK ON POSTER PLEASE TO READ TEXT IN FULL SCREEN FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALPHA
Please let me know if you would like to attend my emailing me, Rev Simon Tillotson, at tillotsons@gmail.com or calling 01227 272308.
This Alpha course will not have a meal - just tea and coffee at the beginning of each evening.
CONFIRMATION
The Whitstable Team Confirmation service this year will take place on Saturday 12th May at 6pm at Seasalter Christian Centre. It is time therefore to ask the question – is there anyone who would like to be confirmed this year?
There is also an option to “Renew your Baptism Promises” at the Confirmation service if you have already been Confirmed but it was some time ago and you would like to renew your commitment to God.
Being confirmed means that you agree to take upon yourself the promises of baptism that were made for you when you were a child, or recommitting to God in a new way if you said your baptism promises yourself as an older child or adult.
In order to take on these promises for yourself, and thereby make a public profession of your Christian faith, it is important that all Confirmation candidates attend a number of meetings which I will be taking in March, and also to some extent in April.
In order to work out when these meetings can be I need to hear from candidates as soon as possible. If your child is interested, they should be in Year 6 or above this academic year. We will sort out meetings to suit you. Historically these have normally taken place after school has finished on a weekday, though I can also do weekends if weekdays are impossible.
For adults, I already have two confirmation candidates who will be meeting me on some Monday afternoons when I am available at 12.30pm to 1.30pm. If you would like to join that group that would be great.
If you would prefer an evening group please also let me know. You could attend our Lent course as part of your preparation which is on Tuesday evenings as well as a number of other options to help you prepare for Confirmation.
Receiving bread and wine, the body and blood of Jesus, is one of the greatest privileges and it is important those who are confirmed are prepared sufficiently so that they can fully understand what this sacrament means. Give me a call on 01227 272308 or email me at tillotsons@gmail.com.
A number of groups run within the life of the church
SINGING FOR FUN AND HEALTH
This takes place on the third Wednesday of each month at 2.30pm to 4pm at All Saints Church hall. This is great fun - a chance to singalong to a mixture of all sorts of songs in a relaxed setting in the hall with tea, coffee and cake.
CAMEO
A group that meets every Monday in the Church hall from 2pm to 3.30pm, apart from Bank Holidays. Cameo stands for Come And Meet Each Other. It is a friendly group where you can come and chat and make new friends.
FILM CLUB
The Film club meets on Thursdays from 11.15am to about 1.30pm nearly every week. It runs a mixture of films. Membership is £10 till the end of 2018 but we also ask for a contribution of £1 per person per week towards refreshments and heating costs.
The programme for the film club can be found by clicking HERE Send me an email for any of these groups and I will forward it to the group organiser.
tillotsons@gmail.com
Alternatively please feel welcome to call me on 01227 272308
Please consider coming to a mid week Communion service where we pray for people and are strengthened for our spiritual journey.
Thursdays at 10am every week at All Saints Church.
HOLYBALLOO
Holyballoo is the name of our after school club for parents/guardians and children of any age. It takes place in the church hall. We have recently purchased some new games for the children and we have some exciting craft. There is usually a short Christian video and short message as part of the afternoon. The parents and guardians enjoy catching up with each other over a cup of tea or coffee.
Sorry - no unaccompanied children.
There is no charge for Holyballoo. It takes place on Thursdays from 3.15pm to 4.15pm at All Saints church hall.
Just come along.
SACRED SPACE
The dates for Sacred Space have now been organised. Please click on the poster to see if in large format on your computer screen.
From Rev Keith McNicol
A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
13 to 22 November 2018
With the Rev’d Keith McNicol
Keith is leading a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land again in November. This will be a time of discovery, prayer and reflection, and if you have been to the Holy Land before, a time of consolidation.
We stay in a Jewish hotel at Tiberias on Lake Galilee for 4 nights, then drive through the West Bank to a Palestinian hotel just outside the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem for 5 nights, returning home during the evening of November 22.
Part one of our Pilgrimage will be to go to places Jesus went during his lakeside ministry including Galilee, Capernaum, Tabgha and Nazareth.
When in Jerusalem, we will explore Jerusalem Old City and see the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Mount of Olives, Bethany and other key places in Our Lord’s ministry.
The cost is £1915 which covers everything including travel, hotels and food. You will however, need some pocket money for incidentals.
If you would like to know more, please contact Keith. His email is: keithmcnicol2@gmail.com
HUGE THANKS to Phillip Williams for his 35 years as Groundsperson and Gardener at All saints Whitstable. Phillip has served the church admirably over the years and we are very grateful to him and wish him a blessed retirement, though he will still act as our Churchyard sexton for burials.
We appointed Jason Tongue recently to be Phillip's successor. We wish Jason all the best as he takes on this important role.
HUGE THANKS to Phillip Williams for his 35 years as Groundsperson and Gardener at All saints Whitstable. Phillip has served the church admirably over the years and we are very grateful to him and wish him a blessed retirement, though he will still act as our Churchyard sexton for burials.
We appointed Jason Tongue recently to be Phillip's successor. We wish Jason all the best as he takes on this important role.
 |
| Jason Tongue, our new Groundsperson at All Saints |
ALL SAINTS ANNUAL DISTRICT GENERAL MEETING is on SUNDAY 18 MARCH at 11.30 am in the church hall and an Annual Report booklet for 2017 has been prepared.
You can find the annual report online by clicking
ALL SAINTS LENT COURSE
“What is true and what is false?
A three week look at the doctrine of Christ or “Christology” from two different perspectives.
6 March
Introduction to the work of N T Wright looking at the orthodox responses to the Da Vinci Code as a starting point
Please note slight change of subject matter from previously advertised
Please note slight change of subject matter from previously advertised
13 More on N T Wright
20 March Barbara Thiering
20 March Barbara Thiering
Wright and Thiering come at Christology from completely different points of view. Understanding both helps us in our own academic process.
Sessions held at the Vicarage. 7.30pm to 9.15pm. Please let Simon know if you are planning to attend by emailing him at tillotsons@gmail.com
NOTICES FROM OTHER ORGANISATIONS AND CHURCHES
FROM STONES AND SNAKES TO
BREAD AND FISHES
A gathering to explore roads to inclusion of Lesbian,
Gay and Trans people in Church.
21st April 2018 St Stephen’s Canterbury CT2 7AB
12.30 Lunch 14.
16.00 Open Table Eucharist 16.30 Tea and farewells.
All welcome: no charge but contact petertoon@aol.com to book for catering purposes.
The Whitstable Christian Aid AGM will be held at:
on Thursday 8 March at 4pm
You are warmly invited to attend. If you find you cannot come, please find someone from your community who can.
Christian Aid dates for your diaries are:
Quiz Evening at Seasalter Christian Centre on Saturday 17 March 7 for 7.30pm.
£5.00 per person. 8 rounds. Raffle prizes donated will be most welcome.
Christian Aid Week begins on Sunday 13 May at St John's Methodist Church at 6pm.
A Christian Aid Family Dance evening on 7 July at Seasalter Christian Centre - more information coming.
A Christian Aid Barn Dance on 27 October at Seasalter Christian Centre.
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Sent to me by Amanda Boucherat of St John's Swalecliffe
A Talking Newspaper for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Registered Charity 1030674
The WHITSTABLE ECHO is a talking newspaper with local news and information for the blind and visually impaired which is delivered each Saturday to its listeners.
We supply the simple equipment needed and new listeners are given help with its use. All aspects of the service are free of charge.
If you know of anyone who may be eligible, and who would like to receive the Whitstable Echo, please contact Brian Palmer on 01227 262685.
If you would like to know more about joining the team that produces the Whitstable Echo, please contact Sue Vargyas at: susanvargyas@hotmail.com
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