The monthly e-newsletter from the Team Vicar of All Saints Whitstable, Rev Simon Tillotson
Visit our website for more info - www.allsaintswhitstable.org

Wednesday 26 August 2015

November 2015 Xtra newsletter

Simon our vicar writes...

Dear all

November is an important month in the life of All Saints church.

It is the month when we welcome nearly 500 adults and children to the Vicarage garden for the Fireworks. Here are the details.


FIREWORK NIGHT AT ALL SAINTS

Saturday 7 November
Gates open at 6.15 pm
Refreshments, Glow Bracelets, Sideshows, Bonfire, Fireworks
Tickets: Adults £5, Child £1*(aged 3-15, accompanied by adult), under 3s are free.
Available after Sunday 10 am service or from Church Office on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays between 10 and 11.30 am
or from Church Office on Friday between 10 am and 12.30 pm.
We recommend that you get your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. Tickets on the gate will be subject to availability as there is a limit to the numbers of people due to insurance and safety reasons.
No sparklers or personal fireworks are allowed for insurance and safety reasons



Before then we have a special service this Sunday November 1st at 10am. It is our Patronal Festival for All Saints.

It would be great if you are able to attend. Having a good congregation present at our patronal festival is an important thing. If you are able to come, please do! Please pray for me as I prepare to preach on the significance of All Saints for us today.

That same day, Sunday 1st November, at 6.30pm we have our service for All Souls where we remember those who have died either in the last year or in past years. We will be reading out a list of  names that has already been given to us but if you have any new names to give me please email them to me at tillotsons@gmail.com
Alternatively if you are in church on Thursday this week or Saturday or Sunday there is a list where you can write the names.
 


Remembrance Sunday will be observed on Sunday 8th November at our 10am service. We do hope to see you there. It will be suitable for all ages though rather more subdued than our usual Family service for obvious reasons. Still, we think it is good that all ages come to this service and children of all ages are most welcome! Please also remember to join me on the 11th November at the War memorial outside church at 10.50am to 11.05am. Thank you.


THE NEXT JUMBLE SALE Organised by the Scouts will take place from 2pm on Saturday 14th November. Please do come along and support the good work that they do! At the church hall.


PILGRIM COURSE

Also continuing in November is the Pilgrim Course. The Pilgrim Course is a national initiative set up by the Church of England as a way of exploring  the central truths of Christianity in a relaxed setting whilst still leaving lots of room for questioning and searching in a non dogmatic atmosphere.
There are two websites to explore if you are thinking of attending the course.

The first one is the national one and can be found here.

The second website is the one I have created with the dates - either attending Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning - and some of the course content. To visit this please click here.

In November we will be beginning the second part of Pilgrim which has six weeks to it and will be looking at the Lord's Prayer. Each module stands on its own so it is possible to come to just this module. Let me know and I will give you the exact dates of when the Lord's Prayer module will begin (I cannot publish these now as they may be open to change due to commitments such as funerals and so on)

I do need to say that Pilgrim can be for anyone. Even if you have been a Christian for many years it is always helpful to go back over the basics.

I have to say the conversations on Pilgrim module 1 have been about the best conversations I have had on theological issues in a church context.



THE LABYRINTH





The labyrinth is an ancient symbol, metaphor and experience of prayer, holding, healing and renewal. It is one path, a journey into one's deeper self and into God.  It was well established in Christian tradition over the centuries then somewhat lost.  It is now resurgent in many churches as an opportunity for spiritual renewal and encouragement on your journey.  Do come and “walk the path”.

Introduced by Dr Martin Garsed, you are invited to come, explore and learn about the Labyrinth in All Saint’s church, Whitstable,

The Labyrinth will take place on Saturday 21 November

12 midday - 3 pm


SINGING FOR LIFE AND HEALTH

This group has been set up with huge energy and commitment by Pat and Aubrey Holland and their busy team of volunteers.
Here is a reminder of the coming dates

CHRISTMAS CARDS

All Saints church Christmas cards are now on sale in the hall after 10am service on Sundays, and from the Church Office during opening hours on Tuesday/Thursday/Friday

CHURCH FAMILY BREAKFAST 
Why not join the regulars for breakfast in the hall every 3rd Sunday from 8.30am (arrive any time up to 9.15) - caters for all tastes - choice of cereals/porridge, bread rolls, toast, croissants, tea/coffee/fruit juice etc.  Hope to see you on Sunday 15th November.

Please note the current team are urgently looking for new volunteers to come forward. Please will you consider it? 

Simon's Blog - the Dangers of "Do -It- Yourself" Christianity

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


ALL SAINTS FILM CLUB

The All Saints Film Club continues throughout November and into December, stopping for its Christmas break with its final film of 2015 on 17th December . The film club has taken the decision to show certificate 15 films as well as Us, 12s and PGs. I realise all adults reading this will have seen plenty of 15 films if not 18 certificate films in their time but it was still quite a decision as some of the language in certificate 15 films is pretty dreadful for a church film club. However, we have been running for nearly five years now and were beginning to run out of ideas for Us, 12s and PGs!

The programme for the Film Club can be found here.





 CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) meets on Mondays (apart from Bank Holidays) from 2pm to 3.30pm in the church hall. Cake, coffee, tea and chat. Just come along, everyone welcome –  coffee, tea, cake and chat for anyone of any age – no entrance fee.  A good way to meet new people and make new friends - especially if you have recently moved to Whitstable.



DIOCESAN MISSION AND MINISTRY PRIORITIES FOR 2016

A series of Resource Roadshows, hosted by Bishop Trevor, have unveiled the key strategic priorities for the diocese from 2016 onwards. They’ve been developed to support the overriding objectives of the diocese and to help all of us channel our energies where they are most required. We each have a valuable part to play in discerning what living out these priorities might look like within our own community, and so as a parish we are encouraged to read the priorities and find out more. Please see Simon for a copy or visit www.canterburydiocese.org/priorities2016


GERMAN EXCHANGE

On 4 – 8 May 2016 we will be hosting our German Christian brothers and sisters from the Black Forest and Berlin.  This is a great opportunity to make new friends – many of whom speak English!  Can you let us know if you would be willing to provide bed and breakfast for our visitors and whether or not you speak a little German?  (The first year we hosted we didn’t speak a word of German and our guest didn’t speak any English but we managed with lots of mime and laughter!)  We obviously need to know how many people you can accommodate and quite understand that things can change between now and next year - this is just for early planning.    Please ring us on 274711 or email dennis.button@virgin.net

Dennis and Roz Button

HELP NEEDED!

Coffee rota and coffee and tea/biscuits supply organiser needed from January 2016.  

Can you let me know or one of the churchwardens know if you would be willing to take on this task?


MESSAGES FROM OTHER CHURCHES
 

From Rev David Vannerley, Team Vicar of Swalecliffe

 I am urgently seeking volunteers to take part in an Emergency Preparedness exercise on 3rd November. You would need to be available from 0800 to 1500, food & transport will be provided. You will need to have a swimming costume under warm clothes and might get a bit wet. Please respond to dvv1: from David Vannerley, in role as Organising Chaplain, Kent Critical Incident Chaplaincy Service.

From Rev Rachel Webbley, Team Vicar of St Alphege Whitstable

(Rachel has asked me to advertise the following need. As we are a team I am more than happy to do this.)

 As you know I run a homework club at St Andrew’s Church, Grimshill Rd every Wednesday in term time from 3.30 – 5pm. As more and more children come along, we need more adults available to hear reading or help with simple Maths, English or other homework. We also have a ‘lego pool’, and usually offer craft activities and games, so are looking for adults who enjoy interacting with lively children for a short while!
All of these roles require a DBS check, and I and the children’s ministry team at St Alphege Church will offer on-going support.
If you would like any further information about any of the roles outlined above, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. My email is vicar@stalphege.org.uk, or you can leave a message for me at the St Alphege Infant school office.
Thank you for your support.
Rev Rachel C Webbley
Team Vicar Whitstable St Alphege
www.stalphege.org.uk



From Rosemary Berry - member of St John's Swalecliffe



Helping Syrians to stay in Syria
I half-heard a story on the radio, before I left for church this morning. A European village was grumbling because 1,000 refugees had come to their village, and they were only a 100 persons. My mind went back to ‘our’ village of 200 adults looking after 8,500 refugees (IDPs) without the benefit of electricity; and when the water supply was a bucket on a string, almost no food or medicines. Other villages rallied round, when they could.  
We take our cue from the village. They took in people of mixed ethnicity and religions: there were a few Christians in the camp and some Arabs. When people suggest bad things about an ethnic group, I refer to the village. What did they do? They took in everyone who needed to be taken in.
What are we up to? We have an Events Team to organise the Website Launch, in November; a Team of Translators (Arabic, Turkish & Kurdish) to translate some of the website and also key documents, which people in the village need to share and we’re working with Hive, the Business Team at the university to improve the Bee-Keeping and Sewing Projects. They are also helping us design a new project.  
My bank manager asked me “What do you do in the evenings? How do you relax?” If I do manage to relax, for a couple of hours, I seldom sleep, and so it’s quite easy to miss breakfast. However, I am very lucky, I have a fridge and usually something in it!


 





Location of Church - Click on picture!

All Saints Whitstable

All Saints Whitstable is a Church of England church in the Church Street area of Whitstable, between the railway station and the Thanet Way.
It has been in existence since at least the 12th century.
It is one of six churches that make up the Whitstable Team Ministry.
Church service times are 8am Holy Communion (BCP) and 10am Sung Communion on Sundays, with a Sunday Club for children.
A Family Communion takes place at 10am on the Second Sunday of each month where the children stay in church.
For more information on other services and general information please visit our main website which is www.allsaintswhitstable.com or email the Vicar Rev Simon Tillotson at tillotsons@gmail.com

The Holy Trinity by Andrei Rublev

The Holy Trinity by Andrei Rublev

MONTHLY REMINDERS

If you do not receive a monthly reminder about this e-letter yet why not email the Vicar at tillotsons@gmail.com and he will add your email address to the database. Then you will receive an email once a month, with the occasional one mid month, to keep you informed of things going on in the life of the church and the wider community.

All Saints Church Monthly Newsletter

All Saints Church Monthly Newsletter

Location of church

Location of church
Click on map for further details