news and information 24 may 2020
TRANSCRIPT
FOR THE COMING WEEKS
In accordance with Government and Church of England guidance all our public services and events are suspended for the time being and the Church building, Centre and office remain closed. (The email will continue to be checked daily.)
However, as a Church we remain “open”, if in different ways…
At 10am each Sunday there will be an online service which can be accessed via the Church’s facebook page (see above), the St. John’s Church Hildenborough Page on Youtube or the videos section on the phone App. Tim will be taking communion on behalf of all. This week “Gifts in Isolation” Acts 1: 6-14 & 1 John 5:18-21
Kids Church Online from 9.15am each Sunday. Access via the St John’s Kids and Families Facebook page. News, updates & resources on the facebook page and app.
Zoom Coffee at 11.30 am See notice on next page. Contact Sal for the link.
Online prayer meetings continue via Zoom at 10am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact Tim if you would like to be included.
Reflections and videos on facebook and YouTube
BCP Morning Prayer with a new talk each Tuesday from Susan Trowbridge available online (facebook and YouTube).
NEWS AND INFORMATION
24th May 2020
VICAR:
Revd. Tim Saiet 833596/07973 136968 [email protected]
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Marcus Hockley 07800887938
SENIORS’ PASTOR Susan Trowbridge 01732 833848
CHURCH WEBSITE www.stjohnshildenborough.co.uk
FACEBOOK PAGE St. John’s, Hildenborough
PHONE APP Download “Chancel” from your app store then search for St. John’s Hildenborough
OFFICE [email protected] or 833596
NOTICESHEET [email protected]
CONNECT WITH US…
OTHER EVENTS & INFO…
Kindness… Love in Action… Romans 12:10-13
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be
lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.
Practise hospitality.”
THE FOOD BANK A big thank you to everyone who has
been donating to the food bank. Please drop off long-life supplies to Chris at 38 Brookmead. However, do please note that we are unable to use perishable items such as bread. Many recipients have only a microwave and kettle so would be grateful for items that don’t require a conventional cooker. Please check the facebook page for an up to date list of what is needed. Suggested items are tagged on the end of these
notices. Thanks so much!
DOMESTIC ABUSE HELPLINE 0808 2000 2478
(Recorded before the use of places of worship was prohibited.)
ZOOM COFFEE Grab a coffee and join us by Zoom at
11.30am. In order to take part you will need to
download Zoom onto your device. This is free and easy to download. You can then obtain the relevant meeting link or ID number from Sal to join. Following advice from the Diocese we are not
displaying the link on any social media or other public platforms, so please only
pass on to immediate family and friends. If you would like to join and
don’t yet have the ID please contact Sal 07887 780567 or
WORSHIP BY TELEPHONE You can now listen to the St.
John’s Sunday Service on your telephone by dialling
01323 700396. You will be charged at local rates.
Please be patient as there may be a delay when you are left in “silence” for one to two minutes before the
service begins. Huge thanks to Janette Langan for
organising this!
RELEASE THE PRESSURE… 18-24 May is Mental Health
awareness week A new helpline is available through KCC for anyone with mental well-
being concerns. Don’t suffer in silence, text the word
Kent to 85258 or call 0800 107 0160 for free confidential support.
KINGDOM COME Is running this week up to
Pentecost on 31st May. If you have a favourite Bible Passage do send Sal a video of you reading it
– see notice below. Other resources, including a prayer
journal and the “Novena” booklet of 9 days of prayer and reflections are
available to download or purchase by going to
www.thykingdomcome.global/
PCC MEETING TUESDAY 12 MAY Your PCC met on 12th May via Zoom. Please scroll down to the end of the
notices to find the Highlights and keep yourself informed.
‘PRAYER BOX’
The Collect for the seventh Sunday of Easter:
O God the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: we beseech you, leave us not comfortless, but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us and exalt us to the place where our Saviour is gone before, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen Please pray for: The family and friends of Richard Esdale who has passed away. Richard used to worship at St. John’s at 8am. The family and friends of Bill Bardwell who has also passed away. June Gallacher with circulatory problems. The Dyer family; Lesley is very poorly. The Wadsworth family following Ruth’s surgery on Friday. The Curtis family and their need for better housing. Kate Izzard and husband Bill. Bill is unwell and undergoing tests. John Snelling recovering at home after an infection. Arthur Gissing transferred to Edenbridge hospital due to the roof problems at the Cottage hospital. Give thanks that he is doing so well. Angela Juddery, Nadia Mulder, Albert Foord, David Hunter, Stewart Tapsell, Ben Sales, Sheena Talbert, Gillian Taylor, Tony Halstead and Caroline Gaunt, all with ongoing health issues. Anyone we know in a care home as the residents are especially vulnerable. Anyone locked down in poor accommodation or unsafe circumstances. Young people who may be doing exams now in unexpected ways. All those grieving loved ones, whether from Corona or other causes. All those we know who are unwell with Corona or other conditions and also for those carers amongst us. Those alone at home in isolation. All members of our Church Family who are unable to worship with us online and that we find other ways to keep them “connected”. Anyone who is unable to work on account of the outbreak and those with financial worries of Our healthcare and other key workers at this time. Give thanks for them and pray that they stay healthy. Wisdom and continued safety as lockdown is gradually relaxed. Teachers and families with children deciding whether to return to school in June. Our mission partners Rock (UK) and the Longbarn summer camps (see info below). If you or anyone you know would value prayer or would like a phone call please contact Tim. DO REMEMBER THE PRAYER CHAIN IS STILL UP AND RUNNING AND THE TEAM PRAYS EACH DAY: Prayer chain requests to Cynthia Fawcus 833397 between 6-7.30pm. Emergencies any time.
KINGDOM COME – Have you got a favourite Bible passage?
For Kingdom Come 21st to 31st of May we hope to create a series of people reading their favourite passages from the Bible!!! We may not manage to cover the whole Bible, but if you have a favourite or especially meaningful passage and can make a short video of you reading it please do send it to Sal. If you would like help with videoing please talk to Sal and likewise if you have a special passage but would prefer someone else to read it that can be arranged too. Definitely NOT limited to church members, so do get all your family and friends involved. Thanks so much!!!
YOUR OFFERING As with many charities and organisations, your Church is
currently suffering a serious downturn in income due to loss of rental income and plate collections from services. This in turn hampers our ability to help those in the community who really need it at this time and to support our mission partners. If you would like to make a donation towards the work and mission of the church this can be done in the following ways:
Directly to our LLoyds Bank account: Hildenborough PCC, A/C 00121509, Sort code
30-98-63. (Standing order or one-off donations.)
Using the “GIVT” app on your phone. If your donation is for a particular purpose
please let the treasurer know. Download “GIVT” from your app store and search for
St. John’s Hildenborough.
By PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/gb/fundraiser/charity/3202240 or just click the
button on the Facebook page.
If we are able to augment your contribution by claiming gift aid and you have not
already completed a declaration form, please contact the treasurer
And finally, if you’re shopping online, don’t forget you can select St. John’s as your chosen charity for contributions on ebay and Amazon Smile.
Thank you so much.
FINAL WORD “The greatest thing a man can do for his Heavenly Father is to be kind to
some of his other children” Henry Drummond
THE HEART OF COMMUNICATION with Rob Parsons OBE An online class
in public speaking with the Chairman and Founder of Care for the Family. 11th June 8-10pm from the comfort of your own home via YouTube. To book go to https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/events/heart-of-communication
SITUATION VACANT – LEAD RECRUITER (DBS ADMINISTRATOR)
St. John’s is in urgent need of a lead recruiter. In a nutshell the role involves administering the online processing of Disclosure and Barring Service applications for our employees and volunteers where these are necessary. The Diocese has temporarily appointed Tim to this role, but this is not something he can undertake long- term. Thanks to Sal who has offered to assist short-term. It would be lovely if another member of the Church family could take this on. Training is provided by the Diocese who are currently developing an online version. For more info or a more detailed job description, please speak to Tim or Sal. Thank you!
MISSION NEWS Longbarn (SU) Camps. Scripture Union has come to the difficult
and upsetting conclusion that they will not be able to run any residential holidays in July and August this year. So the Longbarn camps have been cancelled. This is a great loss of outreach and many local families will really miss the camps. Pray for all those who would have attended in any capacity and that the Lord might reach them in other ways. Rock(UK) Pray for the newly appointed CEO Malcolm Maclean who takes up the role at a difficult time. The suspension of operation of the centres will have a huge impact for this charity whose activities are very seasonal. Pray for a massive response to their “Rock UK Lifeline Appeal” and do consider donating yourself at [email protected]
KEEPING YOU INFORMED… MAY MEETING – HIGHLIGHTS
(Meeting held via Zoom 12/05/2020)
General Update Our online services, Kids Church, Bright Sparks and other activities are
going well and proving extremely popular. The main Sunday service has had in excess of
600 views in recent weeks (built up over the course of a week or more) and so is
reaching people who would not ordinarily come to Church, even if some viewers do not
watch the entire service. The service is now also available to listen to by phone for those
who are not online. Kids Church is attracting around 40 families and Marcus is also now
starting school assemblies. The Vicar is now permitted to enter the church to stream or
film services (amongst other things) and so parts of the service can now come from
inside the Church building. Tim will also be checking the fabric of the building on his
visits.
Love in Action/Vicar’s Discretionary Fund Huge thanks to everyone who continues to
contribute. There is currently £1300 in the discretionary fund and £1045 from the
facebook appeal available to assist the particular family in need in the village and others.
Please do keep your donations coming.
Food Bank Again thanks to everyone who has contributed to the foodbank. It really is
making a difference and Jess is regularly delivering food parcels to local residents in
need. Please do note, however, that the bank is unable to make use of perishable items
such as bread. Many recipients have only a microwave and kettle so would especially
welcome foods that can be used without a conventional cooker. Please check the
Facebook page for an up to date list of what is needed. A number of people are also
being helped with shopping by the team of volunteers from St. John’s.
Church Finances & Fundraising Church finances showed a slight improvement in April
and costs were just covered thanks mainly to some significant one-off donations which
countered the absence of rental income from the Fellowes Way property. Efforts
continue to be made to bear down on costs, but it was still going to be essential to find
ways to increase income on an ongoing basis. In view of this a fundraising appeal was
being undertaken and Nancy (our fundraising leader) had been very active alongside
Chris, our treasurer, in setting up many different ways to facilitate giving to the Church.
If you value our online services and other resources and would like the Church to be able
to continue ministering to the community, do please continue to donate at this time… or
consider making a donation if you have not done so before. Donations can be made:
1) Directly to the Church’s bank account as follows: Lloyds Bank, Hildenborough PCC,
A/C 00121509, sort code 30-98-63;
2) Via PayPal – soon to be a donate “button” on the Facebook page;
3) By downloading the GIVT app.
You can also add to Church funds by making purchases using Amazon Smile or through
eBay.
If you are a taxpayer and we can augment your donation by claiming gift aid, please
contact the treasurer for a form, [email protected].
Thanks so much!
Mission Payments St. John’s currently supports as mission partners, Children’s
Worskshop, Rock UK, Release International and Tearfund. An annual donation is also
made towards the SU Longbarn camps. (The fate of this year’s camps is still undecided,
but the site nevertheless requires maintenance and protection.) The PCC reaffirmed its
commitment to support these partners financially. At the April meeting the decision
was taken to delay the April mission instalment until the Church’s own finances showed
some easing. Please note that at no point was a decision made to stop payments
altogether. As the Church finances have now showed some small improvement, the PCC
agreed to make a payment on account of the April instalment as follows: to Children’s
Workshop £200 and to each of Tearfund, Release International, Rock UK and Longbarn,
£100, totalling £600. The situation will be reviewed again at the end of May.
The Future It is unlikely that full worship services for everyone in Church will resume
any time soon, but there is a possibility that Church buildings may be able to open from
July and the PCC is looking at ways this could be utilised. An open air service might also
be considered, but there are issues of permissions and audio equipment, not to mention
weather! In view of the popularity and “any time” access of the online services, some
kind of online service or programme is likely to remain a permanent feature of our
Church even when lockdown ends.
If you wish to contact the PCC you can do so via the secretary, Amanda Willmont, at
St John’s Food Bank ‘A Little Help’
Please donate from this list: UHT Milk Tinned fruit Tinned meals Tinned meat and fish Tinned carrots/peas/mixed veg Microwave rice Tinned potatoes Instant Mash Snacks (crisps, biscuits, bars) Breakfast cereal Pasta ‘n’ sauce (just add water stuff) Instant noodles Pot noodles Please note that we cannot give out things that have been split from a multi-pack. Thanks so very much for your continued help!!!