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This Sunday, 7th November, 10am
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This Sunday is the first Sunday of the month, but - off pattern - we will have traditional Order One Holy Communion at 10am. The service will include music and the choir and will be in person and by Zoom.
We look forward to welcoming Canon Gordon Oliver, who will lead our worship.
Here is the order of service. You will only need to print/access this if you are joining by Zoom at 10am; the usual service booklet will be supplied in church. This is the same order of service as on previous second and fifth Sundays, so you may already have printed it. Here also are the hymns and readings - again, only needed if you are joining by Zoom.
As safe as possible ...
Please note that, although the wearing of face masks in church is no longer compulsory, we ask you to continue to wear one if at all possible. The PCC Standing Committee has, once again, reviewed the Covid-related procedures in church. We will keep this under review, and, as Ruth said last Sunday, we are keen to hear your views; please let Ruth, the Churchwardens or another member of the PCC have any comments you may have.
Zoom Details for 10am
The Zoom link will be the usual one for Sunday services: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86563973122?pwd=SWtUY1pqNXJJdWFMSCtXc2hCTWhUdz09
Meeting ID: 865 6397 3122
Passcode: 613976
Please join from 9.45am.
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And to follow ...
Nov 14th, 10am, Remembrance Sunday
Nov 28th, 10am, Advent Sunday with Lights of Love Opening Family Service
Dec 1st, weekly on Wednesdays at 10am, Advent Holy Communion
Dec 3rd, 8pm, Combined Advent Service at The Friars
Dec 4th, 3pm, Brass Band Christmas Concert
Dec 5th, 3pm, A Service to Remember Those We Have Loved
Dec 11th, 6pm Carol Singing around Eccles
Dec 17th, 7pm, Carols in the Square with Brass Band
Dec 19th, 10am, Christingle Service with Community Youth Choir
Dec 19th, 4pm, Carol Service
Christmas Eve, 3pm, Crib Service
Christmas Eve, 11.30pm, Midnight Communion (mulled wine from 11pm)
Christmas Day, 8am and 10am, Christmas Communion
We want as many people as possible to know about our Advent and Christmas programme, including those who do not see this e-newsletter. We are looking at what we can do to spread the word but can you help by letting your friends and neighbours know, and if possible letting them have a copy of this newsletter?
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The photo above, taken in 2019, shows some of the trees ready for the stars to be added. Obviously Lights of Love, on the same scale, was not possible in 2020, although we did fill one tree with all the stars from 2019 (without asking for any money).
This year we are aiming to go ahead with it properly once again. Local organisations will be asked if they would like to sponsor a Christmas tree in church and for £5 the name of your loved one can be placed on a silver star and hung on one of the trees for the whole of the Christmas season. In this lovely way, the memory of those we have loved and lost will be part of Christmas. As before, half of whatever we raise will support the church and half will go to The Heart of Kent Hospice. In 2019 we raised approximately £1260 altogether!
It would be good to hang as many stars as possible by November 28th (Advent Sunday) which is when we'll have a Lights of Love Opening Family Service, but you will be able to add them all through December.
All the information about how to put a name on a star and make your donation is on this leaflet. Leaflets will also be available in church.
More information from Pam, Anita or me (Ruth).
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A message from Ann Game ...
At last, I hope that we are going to get back to normal! I am therefore asking you if you would like to make a donation towards the flowers in church for Christmas. If you would, please let me have your donation by Sunday 12th December, and give to either Anita, at the office, or myself.
Thanking you.
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Now coffee after the service is back, it's good to be able to reinstate our coffee charities. A reminder that the refreshments are free but you can donate towards the charities we are supporting via the collecting tins provided.
At the moment, whatever you donate towards your coffee will go to CAST, the wonderful Maidstone-based charity that links churches with schools to support the pupils in various ways - including through mentoring, which some members of our congregation offer.
From January - March 2022 we will be supporting the equally wonderful SERV Kent. SERV Kent, also known as the Bloodrunners is a charity that provides emergency courier services transporting blood products, samples and other patient-essential items for the major hospitals and hospices in Kent outside normal working hours
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Please could you continue to let friends and neighbours know about the Food Bank in the Brassey Centre, and pass on the information wherever you can, so that no-one in our parish goes hungry. See the latest information on the church website here and download a leaflet here.
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Brass Band Christmas Concert
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The Brass Band are back! This year's Christmas Concert will be in church on Saturday 4th December at 3pm. Tickets £10 from Aline (07771 636872). £1 for punch (non-alcoholic) and Aline's famous shortbread.
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Christmas Carols in Eccles
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A NEW community event in Eccles on Sat 11th Dec starting at 6pm for an hour or so.
We have been asked if we would lead some informal carol singing as we join with the people of Eccles walking round the village to distribute goodies to the children and older people and to pass on Christmas wishes. It would be lovely to be able to support this thoughtful gesture in this part of our parish. We have been invited to take round collection tins for the food bank at the same time. There will be mulled wine in Mackenders Close to follow. More information soon.
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There has been quite a lot of activity in and around the church recently to improve safety. You will have seen the handrails for the steps down from the churchyard path to the south door. You may not know about the new light switches next to the priest's door that mean that someone entering the church in the dark can turn on some lighting.
The latest change, for fire safety, is something we all need to know about. The tower, with its single access via a spiral staircase, has always been a concern. But now we have smoke alarms in the tower linked to the alarms in the kitchen and toilet. If one goes off, they all do. These work automatically but can also be operated by a new call point next to the light switches at the back of the church. Do have a look so you know where it is. If there were to be a fire or emergency in the church, everybody can be warned if the call point is operated.
Another good thing is that we now have emergency lighting in the church that will come on automatically if there is a power cut..
These improvements do not just happen. Thanks to all involved, including the PCC's Fabric Committee.
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Last week Ruth wrote " It looks like our annual planned giving will increase by nearly £8000!"
Gordon Sladen our Giving Secretary says we have now exceeded £8,000 as further responses have been received. What a wonderful outcome! Thank you all our givers, however you give. Your support is so important as it enables the mission and ministry of the church to continue and grow.
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