2013 december · parish magazine december 2013 donation or 40p highlights for the month sunday 1st...

PARISH MAGAZINE

DECEMBER 2013 Donation or 40p

Highlights for the monthSunday 1st Christingle 16.00Saturday 7th Table Top Sale 10.00 (In the hall)Sunday 8th EllenorLions Lights of Love Service 16.00Tuesday 10th Semiquavers Christmas Concert 19.00Tuesday 24th Crib service 16.00

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IN REVIEW available at http://www.churchofengland.org

Vicar Sue Brewer [email protected]

Associate Priest Jacqueline Littlewood 560106Curate Jo Drew 364367

Pastoral Assistant Pam Kilby 332693Pastoral Assistant Jasmine Humphries 392713Pastoral Assistant Colin Parsonson 359713

Church Warden Jan Osborne 740763Church Warden Ian Brown 356339PCC Secretary Linda Riordan 746988PCC Treasurer Steve Humphries 392713

Reader Rosemary Austin 358702Reader Sheila Brown 356339Reader John Hougham 352138Reader Betty Martin 352696Reader Martin Sewell 745443

Who’s Who at www.christchurchgravesend.org.ukChrist Church

Deadline for the magazine is middleof the month prior to publication. Nextmonth Sunday 28 December for Jan-uary Copy: email [email protected] to a Church Warden or Mike Cubitt

Christ Church Hall is availablefor hireContact Rachel Pace01474 249508 or 07960 024917Well equipped, very suitable formeetings and childrens parties

Christ Church Milton-Next-Gravesend December 2013

Page 2 Who’s WhoPage 3 A new journeyPage 4 Shoe box thank youPage 5 First StepsPage 6 NoticesPage 8 Remembrance ServicePage 11 Les Johnson at 92Page 13 Merchant Navy servicePage 15 11/11/2013Page 18 Macmillan Coffee MorningPage 22 Semiquavers at ChristmasPage 24 Autumn Bazaar

Inside this Month


BIBLE NOTESSome people find it useful to have a set portion of the Bible to readeach day.The Bible Reading Fellowship have a booklet called “New Daylight”which sets out a short Bible reading and explanatory notes. Thesebooklets are priced at £4.00 (they do go up each year) for a four monthperiod.If you would like to try one of these booklets please let Julie Hill know.

FIRST STEPSIs a service especially designed for families with pre-school children, althoughall children in the family are welcome to come.We meet in the church at 1.45 pm on the second Wednesday in each monthfor a short service and then to enjoy a chat over a cup of tea.We are finished in plenty of time for parents to meet their other children fromschool.Why not come along with your children, you will be very welcome.Next date is Wednesday 11 December.

Would you like tobe part of a new

journey and a dif-ferent story?

That sounds rather intriguing, doesn’t it? We arelooking for buddies to work alongside our Baptismvisitors when they meet up with the families whoare bringing their children to be baptised. Ourchurch is truly blessed because we baptise aboutone hundred babies and children every year,bringing them into the family of the ChristianChurch. Baptism visitors have the chance to getalongside these families, to tell them a little aboutthe meaning of baptism and its symbols, aboutJesus and his story. It is truly a chance to showGod’s love to those who may not have heardabout it. It is a real privilege to meet people in

their own homes and to hear a bit about their sto-ry and to share this important part of their Chris-tian journey. Being a buddy would involve visitingwith one of the existing Baptism visitors and whoknows, in time you may feel able to become afully fledged Baptism visitor yourself. I know thatas I have walked with these families and sharedtheir journey and their story, my life has beenchanged and enriched. So look deep inside your-self and see if this is what God is calling you todo. You will not be alone; you will have lots ofsupport and you’ll be part of a great team. Whynot give it a try. I am happy to talk to you about it,as are Colin Parsonson, Jasmine Humphries, orMartin Sewell who are all part of our small butselect group of visitors. Sue too, will be happy toclarify what is involved. So don’t be shy; take thisleap of faith. It could enrich your journey and yourstory, too.

Rosemary Austin.


COFFEE MORNINGFRIDAY 13 DECEMBER, 10.30 - 12.30

COLDHARBOUR ROAD, NORTHFLEETAdmission 80p including tea or coffee

also

QUIZ NIGHTFRIDAY 13 DECEMBER 7.30 PMELLENORLIONS HOSPICE COLDHARBOUR ROAD

£5 per PersonBOOKING ESSENTIAL

2013Shoe-boxCollection

Blythswood Care celebrated 20years ofcollecting shoe boxes in 2013; ChristChurch helped that celebration by deliv-ering 60 shoe boxes to the Rochesterdepot.THANK YOU to everyone who took thetime, trouble and energy to make up shoeboxes for the whole range of children andadults. It is surprising how many basicessentials you got into the boxes and

those little extras which are luxuries to therecipients.Blythswood were delighted to receive ourcontribution and started sorting immedi-ately for their onward journey to EasternEurope.If you buy shoes through the yearPLEASE save the boxes (average size isbest)- if you cannot keep them until nextyear I will store them. Several of ourregular “shoeboxers” collect itemsthroughout the year taking advantage ofsales and special offers and have thisyear doubled the number of boxes theywere able to provide. Once again THANKYOU to you all-• two small words that sayeverything. Bestwishes Veronica


FIRST STEPS13/ 11/ 13

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Today we are up to a crisp, sunny autumnmorning and the red, brown and golden leaveson the trees look beautiful. Our naughty littlesheep is really happy to see such a lovely dayand excited at the prospect of our First Stepsservice later. There is certainly a nip in the air,though the sunshine is lovely as he, his friendsand I walk up to church later. Today we aregoing to hear the story of the Good Samaritan,so our naughty little sheep’s friends want to sittogether on comfy seats. Once they are allsitting comfortably and everything is ready, wepatiently wait for people to arrive. For a bit wewonder if anyone is coming. Have they all gonesomewhere else on this fine and sunny day?But Mum Kelly arrives with Freya and Meganand then others join us and soon we have alively noisy crowd. And our service begins.We’re lighting five birthday candles for fivespecial people today and we sing “Happy Birth-day”. May the Lord bless and keep each one ofthem! Our story is one that Jesus told andeveryone is listening intently as we hear abouta poor man, a Jew, who, while travelling on alonely road is beaten by robbers and left fordead. Our naughty little sheep and his friendsare all looking a bit anxious, at this point. Wellthings don’t improve much in the next part ofthe story because not one but two holy people,who should know better, go straight past himwithout stopping, or even slowing down.What’s going on? We’re all getting a bit anxiousnow. Then we hear that a Samaritan, passingalong the road sees the poor man and helpshim straight away. He puts oil on his woundsand then he carefully puts him on his donkeyand takes him to the nearest inn where he paysfor him to be looked after until he is well. What

a kind man! And he’s a Samaritan, hated by theJews, a most unlikely rescuer!We thank God for Jesus and all his teachingand we ask Him to help us to be kind andloving, too. We sing about showing our love bysharing and we remember the people we loveand ask God to help us to love the people wedon’t even like and who don’t like us. That isn’tvery easy, is it? That is the point that Jesus ismaking. We sing “The Body Song” to help usremember how marvelously we are made andhow lucky we are to be alive and enjoying sucha lovely day. Our naughty little sheep asks if wecan sing “Jesus is a friend of mine” because itis one of his favourites and he wants us toremember all that Jesus has done for us, andhow lucky we are to have his friendship. And sowe do, with lots of jingling bells. Then whenwe’ve quietly said our prayers and our candleshave been blown out, our service is over onceagain..Out into the hall we go to have a chat, a drink,a munch and some playtime. Our naughty littlesheep and his friends watch with eyes likesaucers are Jacob and Ollie whiz around thehall at lightening speed on scooters while Reu-ben tries hard to keep up on his tractor. It’scertainly lively in the hall today. Watch out forthe little ones, you boys! Soon it’s time to packeverything away and say “Goodbye” until nexttime. We have had a great time and November13 has been a lucky day for us!We hope that everyone will comeback to see us again on 11 De-cember when we will be thinkingabout the Nativity and enjoyingsome Christmas goodies.All of us at First Steps wisheveryone a happy and blessedChristmas and everything goodin the year to come.God BlessRosemary Austin


Sunday 8th December4.00pm

ELLENORLIONSLIGHTS OF LOVE

SERVICEChristmas time can be a very difficult periodfor those who have lost loved ones. TheEllenorLions Hospices organise services onthe first full week of December which givepeople an opportunity to remember someonewho has died.

Christingleat Christ Church

Sunday 1 December at 4 pma magical start to Advent for all the family,

with oranges, sweets and candlesThe meaning of Christingle: the orange represents the world Godcreated, and the sweets all the good things in God’s creation. Thecandle represents Jesus, the light of the world, and the red ribbonthe love of Christ for his world

Have you had a look on theTraidcraft table recently?

We have some new items for sale. You might see something thattakes your fancy.

If there is something you would like to try but is not on the tablehave a word with John Hill

There are a number of Christmas related items on the Traidcraftstall, if you wish to order any of these please use the forms provided

or speak to John Hill

(During this service, there will be an opportunityto remember loved ones who will be missed this

Christmas)Followed by mince pies and mulled wine

CHRISTMAS EVE 4.00 p.m.CRIB SERVICE

– A Service especially for families.Bring unwrapped presents for the

children at the women’s refuge



Just a small section of the hundreds ofGravesham residents who attended thememorial service at the War Memorial

Members of the services arriving for the service atWindmill Gardens for the memorial service on Sunday

10 November


Photos from Remembrance Service at Windmill Gar-dens Memorial on Sunday 10 November. The Servicewas led by Reverend Jacqueline Littlewood, accom-

panied by the choir from Christ Church


MonthlyWORKING PARTY

‘In order to save on expensive cleaning and maintenance, we hold a monthlyworking party on a Saturday morning starting at 09.30.Together we clean and tidy the church, do a bit of necessary DIY or gardening,have a coffee and often some home-made goodies – and finish by about 11.30.We are enormously grateful to the few loyal helpers who turn up month aftermonth – but we desperately need a few more.Please consider putting the dates into your diary and coming along. All arewelcome – if you can do basic DIY please let us know in advance so that thechurchwardens can plan jobs in advance.

Working party is almost always on the 2nd Saturday of each month…NOTE the next one will be on 14 DECEMBER at 9.30.

See you there, Sue

A BIG thank you to all who contributed tomaking the Winter Fayre such a hugesuccess the total raised so far

2340Conscience money accepted


GRAVESHAM FOOD BANKMany thanks to those who support the food bank.

Below is a list of items required at the moment

Milk (UHT) - CustardToothpaste - Hot chocolate

Shampoo - Sweets/treatsBreakfast cereal (not porridge) - Marmite

Fruit juice/squash - Toilet rollSponge pudding - Deodorant

Tinned potatoes - Laundry liquid/tablets

This list is only a few of the items that can help those less fortunate than ourselves,any tinned or non-perishable items are most welcome

Deep in

Reflections

of yearspast!Les Johnson, former memberof Christ Church choir butnow largely housebound, cel-ebrating 92nd birthday in Oc-tober this year with sherryand cake, in the company ofRosemary, Anne and Colin.

Cheers Les!


THE Mustard Seed aims to provide an informal and friendly tea at 3.00 pmon the third Thursday of every month in Christ Church hall.It is a venture that offers the opportunity to meet new friends and reminisceabout old times.The Mustard Seed, as the parable says (Mark4; 3-32) is very small - likedust - but has the potential to develop into one of the largest plants.Please join us as we plant the Mustard Seed and assist to make it flourish.Who knows what may happen!TheMustard Seed is in its second year now, and the next gathering will beon Thursday 19 December. You are so welcome.For further details please contact any member of the pastoral careteam. Pastoral assistants Pam Kilby, Colin Parsonson, JasmineHumphries or Curate Jo Drew

THE MUSTARD SEED

Youth activities for all young people—School Yrs 7—11.

Regular meetings will be between 4.00-5.30pmat the ’Word on the Street’ house, 7 Warrior Avenue,

Gravesend DA12 5NA.

Programme:Sat 7th Dec 4—5.30pm at 7 Warrior Avenue

For more information contact:Lusa 01474 352500 [email protected] 01474 352643 [email protected] 01474 249792 [email protected] 01474 364367 [email protected]


His Worshipfulthe Mayor ofGravesham,CouncillorDerek Sales,Standard bear-ers and some ofthe congrega-tion at the Mer-chant NavyRemembranceService held atBawley Bay,Royal Pier Road


Exciting new Youth Choir inGravesendIf you are aged between 7 and 17and enjoy singing then comealong!

� Join a friendly group of singers

� Learn great music of differentstyles and

� Perform at concerts andservices

For further information visitwww.christchurchgravesend.org.uk

� Or call 01474 534517

Join the

New youth choir inGravesendWe meet weekly forRehearsalsat Christ ChurchTuesday evenings6.15 pm to 7.30 pm

The annual service

to commemorate

St Andrewwill be held• on

Saturday, 30th November at 11.00 a.m.

in St Andrew's Mission Church/Arts Centre,

With Major Pat Carton of The Salvation Army

Royal Pier Road, Bawley Bay, Gravesend

Lest WeForgetService of Remembrance11th November 2013 at11 a.m . CommunitySquare, Gravesend towncentre.


V

‘We always need volunteers… thechurch runs because of thegenerous service of volunteers.

lunteers needed.....o

.

If you have time andenthusiasm to spare but youare not sure where yourtalents can be used,Sue would be glad to meetyou for a cup of coffee and totalk through possibilities.

Alzheimer’s & Dementia Support Services, based in Northfleet is a local charityfor local people and here to offer help, advice and support to those living withDementia. We can offer help in a numbers of ways:-

v Day care,

v Befriending

v Support at Home/Support at Home plus/One to One Support

v Carers Support Groups

v 24 Helpline (0800 500 3014)

v Singing for Brain

v Dementia Cafes………. and so much more.

If you or someone you knows need help please contact us via our website,www.ald-dem.org, or by telephoning us on 01474 325133 or by writing toAlzheimer’s and Dementia Support Services, The Basement, Dene HolmHouse, Dene Holm Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 8JY.

As with most charities nowadays we also need volunteers to help us. We havevolunteer vacancies in all the above areas and of course in our fundraising ef-forts. If you would like to support us by becoming a member or raising funds forus, in sponsorship, holding an event, coffee morning or whatever you feel isappropriate, please do let us know and contact us.

Alzheimers & DementiaSUPPORT SERVICES


The Winter Warmer Walk

Saturday 28th•December 2013Historical Guided walk from Chalk Church to Denton

(Circular walk)

Meet: 10.00 am at Chalk Church, Church Lane, ChalkGuide: Christoph Bull 07702287147 – Donations welcome – no need to

book just turn up.Car Parking at Chalk Church.

Gravesend Historical Society event.

To book tickets please visitwww.demelza.org.ukOr telephone; 01795845288For more information please email:[email protected] Charity Number 1039651

tick

et prices per concert

Adults £12Children £6Family £30

A Celebration of ChristmasFeaturing Old Royal Naval College Chapel Choir

Special guest readers Traditional Christmas Carols for all the family

Featuring Phoenix Choir, EastbourneSpecial guest readers Traditional Christmas Carols for all the family

Featuring The Choir of Canterbury CathedralDirected by Dr David Flood, Organist and Master of Choristers

Special guest readers Traditional Christmas Carols for all the family

DemelzaLooks forward to welcoming you to


Macmillan CancerRelief Coffee Morn-ing at Christ Church

Photos courtesy Jac-queline Littlewood


A big thank you to everyonewho supported the MacmillanCoffee Morning on 30 Octo-ber. £180 has been sent tothe charity.


Gravesham 50+Winter Forum

The next 50+ Forum will take place on

Thursday, 12 December 2013at Gravesend Old Town Hall•from 10.30am to 1pm(followed by a buffet lunch) - Please note the new venue.

If you wish to attend you must book a place•so please contactme as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as places are lim-ited.Jackie DentonCommunity Engagement / Diversity & Equality OfficerTel: 01474 33 77 25E-mail: [email protected]

Importantnotice

‘Services afterChristmas’

‘There will be noweekday services af-

ter Christmas Day,until the 10am service

on New Year’s Day.Then no weekday

services until the nor-mal pattern resumes

on Monday6th•January’

Come andSing!

Please come and join us on

Friday 20th•December,

starting at 7pm inChurch,

as we go Carol Singing to some ofthe residential Care homes in

the parish.• Wrap up warm.Bring a torch. Children wel-

come!’


%……….............................................. ......................................................................... .................................. .Soroptimist International Gravesend & District – Annual Quiz – Saturday 11th January 2014Please let Sheila Knight know how many Tickets are required (Admission by Ticket only)Contact Name .......................................Tel No................................................................Total Number attending ........................................................................... ........................ Returnto Sheila Knight, by 3rd January to 2 The Downage, GRAVESEND Kent, DA11 7NB

Tel/fax 01474 564234 E-mail [email protected] INCLUDE A STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE AS TICKETS MUST BE BOOKED

IN ADVANCE — SEATING IS LIMITED

A Fun Evening on Saturday 11th January 2014 7.00for 7.30 p.m. Prompt Start.

At Christ Church Hall, Old Road East, Gravesend.

ProceedsProceedsto support our Link Clubto support our Link Club

Freetown, Sierra LeoneFreetown, Sierra Leone£5.00 entry per person

RaffleRaffle

Bring your ownSnacks andDrinks

Teams -

Maximum

6 in each

Admission by Ticket only

Soroptimist International ofGravesend & District


Semiquavers is going from strength to strength - we have had an amazing term sofar with 8 new singers. A big welcome to Alicia, Martha, Erin, Zalina, Elliot, Oscar,Harry and Bradley! This takes us up to an amazing 33 children singing in ChristChurch. Sadly we have had to say goodbye to Melissa who has moved to Spain anda temporary farewell to Dreadna who is concentrating on her schoolwork for a while,they will both be missed.We are having our busiest term to date - we have even had to turn down quite a fewrequests for Semiquavers to sing in the community because we just don't have thetime. Unsurprisingly, this term our repertoire has been decidedly Christmassy, withthe exception ofour Harvest an-them "Badgersand Hedgehogs"which we sangduring the 10amAll age service.Don't worry if youmissed it, you canstill catch it againat our concert -more details onthat further down!

We sang inGravesend towncentre on 16th No-vember in ourbrand new Semi-quaver hats! Theylook really good on the kids (the jury is out as to whether they look quite so good onHelen and Debbie!) Despite the cold, the singers did fantastically and really enjoyedtheir first experience of outdoor performing… it will not be the only time they aresinging outside this Christmas - We have been lucky enough to get an hour slotsinging round the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square on 15th December at 2pm - weare all really excited and hope that lots of people will come up to London to supportus and cheer us on.

Singing in New Road in new hats!Singing in New Roadin new hats!

Semiquavers

Christmas Concert

Our Christmas concert is on Tuesday 10th December at 7pm in Christ Church. Tickets are £3for adults and free for children. Please come and support us, and bring your friends! Not only is

it a great encouragement to the children to have a full house, Legal and General Investment Manage-ment have agreed to match whatever we make up to the value of £500, so it is important that we getas many people as possible to buy tickets so we can take full advantage of this. For tickets pleasesee Gill Campbell or call her on 01474 534517.The Semiquavers will also be singing at the Christingle Service and Lessons and Carols at ChristChurch and the Advent Service at St. Mary's - details below.

Dates for your DiarySunday 1st December - 4pm Christingle Christ ChurchTuesday 10th December - 7pm Christmas Concert Christ ChurchSunday 15th December - 2pm Carol Singing Trafalgar SquareSunday 22nd December - 6pm Lessons and Carols Christ Church

If you, or someone you know are interested in joining Semiquavers in January, please contact usvia email [email protected] or phoneHelen 07888 680649 or Debbie 07903 829126


Two pages of picturesfrom the very successfulwinter bazaar courtesyof Jacqueline Littlewood


What happens at Christ Church?

Weekday ServicesHoly Communion (said)

Monday and Saturday 8am.Tuesday & Thursday 7.00am.

Wednesday 10.00am

Sunday Services8.00 am Holy Communion (said)10.00 am Communion with crèche & God’s Gang

On the 2nd Sunday All-Age serviceEvening Service - see inside magazine for details.

Office hoursFriday 6:30 pm until 7:30 pm

Regular activities and youth organisationsThere are a wide variety of clubs for you:-Daily Christ Church Pre-school (2½ upwards)Monday Music Group; BrowniesTuesday Cubs and SemiquaversWednesday Guides; Mothers Union (1st Wednesday)

First Steps (under 5’s and carers) 2nd Wednesday 1.45pm

Ifield Ladies (every third Wednesday)Thursday Beavers/Brownies; Choir Practice:3.00 p.m. Mustard Seed (every third)2 - 3.30 Forgetmenot Singing 2nd & 4th Thurs afternoonFriday Scouts; Parent and ToddlerSaturday Working Party (9.30 a.m. every second)

Registered Charity no. 1130741

For further informationContact

The Church Wardens

Wednesday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

108.00 Service10.00 Service

16.00 Christingle


16.00 EllenorLionsHospice-Lights of

Love Service



18.30 Lessons andCarols Service


30NO SERVICES

31NO SERVICES

January 1

10.00 Service

2

NO SERVICES

3

NO SERVICES

428

NO SERVICES

21

08.00 Service

14

08.00 Service09.30 Working Party

708.00 Service

10.00 TABLE SALE16.00 Youth Club at

Warrior Avenue

613.15 Parent and

Toddlers16.45 Service

18.30 Office hoursSCOUTS

1313.15 Parent and

Toddlers16.45 Service

18.30 Office hoursSCOUTS

2016.45 Service

19.00 COME ANDSING

27NO SERVICES

2508.00 Service

10.00 Service withCarols


1110.00 Service

13.45 First Steps16.45 Service

26

NO SERVICES

1907.00 Service

15.00 Mustard Seed16.45 ServiceBROWNIES

Choir practice

1207.00 Service16.45 ServiceBROWNIES

Choir practice


Choir practice


20.00 Mothers’ Union


CUBS18.15 Semiquavers


CUBS19.00 SemiquaversChristmas Concert




CUBS18.15 Semiquavers



2407.00 Service

16.00 Crib Service23.30 Midnight Mass


CALENDAR DECEMBER 2013

CharityTable

2013 december · parish magazine december 2013 donation or 40p highlights for the month sunday 1st...

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