Christian Aid, which already has an excellent track record of working with local partners in Northwest Syria, has launched a Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal in response to the devastating earthquake. We would encourage you to make a donation using the link www.christianaid.org.uk There is also a bucket in Church for your donations. Thank you.
Following the horrendous scenes in Turkey and Syria, St Peter’s Church has immediately sent £500.00 to the ShelterBox Emergency Appeal which will provide urgently needed specialised tents for those without shelter. See www.shelterbox.org for full details. This is in addition to the collection being made for the Christian Aid Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal.
Warm Welcome Space
The Warm Welcome Space, our joint venture with St Peter’s Baptist Church, takes place on Monday mornings starting at 9.30am and will continue each Monday at the same time until further notice. The Baptist Church of St Peter’s in Vicarage Street also holds a Warm Welcome Space on Wednesdays at 12.30-3.30pm. For further details please contact Roy Brown – 07763 964539.
Other local venues offering a Warm Welcome Space include:
Queen’s Road Baptist Church, Broadstairs – Wednesdays 1.00pm – 4.00pm
The Vale United Reformed Church, Broadstairs – Tuesdays 2.00pm – 4.00pm.
The Pavilion Youth & Community Café, St Peter’s Recreation Ground, Broadstairs – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays – 9.00am – 2.00pm.
See https://www.warmwelcome.uk for details of venues and what they offer.
The quiz run by the St Peter’s Village Tour on Friday 3rd February was a great success. About a hundred people enjoyed a fun evening and £899.00 was raised. This amount is to be given to the Church to purchase a defibrillator for the Church Hall. Our grateful thanks go to the Village Tour for their hard work and generosity.
Canterbury Cathedral Pass – Current passes will only be valid until 28th February. To check if you are eligible to apply for a new Cathedral Pass, please see https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/visit/the-cathedral-pass/
Confirmation has been received from Robin Page, Treasurer, that St Peter’s Toddler Group has received a cheque for £500.00 for the top prize in the Green Token Scheme run by ASDA Broadstairs. A big thank you to everyone who voted. The money will be used towards a new playhouse and more toys and equipment. Thank you also to all the volunteers who make it possible to run St Peter’s Toddler Group but in order to keep the group going forward in to its second year, more volunteers would be most welcome. If you can spare a couple of hours once or twice a month during term time and would be happy to chat to families and enjoy a cuppa, please let Laura know in the Parish Office. The sessions run from 9.30am – 11.00am on Thursday mornings in the Main Hall. Please ensure that you check our Facebook page and the St Peter’s Church website for information as to when sessions are running. Due to possible teachers’ strikes the sessions on Thursday 2nd March and Thursday 16th March may need to be cancelled due to childcare required and reduced volunteer levels. Parents will be notified at the session the week before and Facebook and St Peter’s Church website will be updated as appropriate.
Fundraising
Boot Fair – 11th March
Quiz Night – 31st March
Summer Fair – Saturday 24th June 2023
Christmas Fayre – Saturday 25th November 2023
To Book – Tables and tickets, etc. for all fundraising events can be purchased via the Parish Office, Hopeville Avenue between 9.30am – 12.30pm weekdays. You can also either ring to book – (01843) 866061 or email parishoffice@stpeterinthanet.org.uk Thank you, Fundraising Team.
Alison Burgess – Robert Burgess would like to thank all the friends who sent him kind messages of sympathy on the death of his wife. He would also like to thank all the helpers who made the Service of Thanksgiving and the gathering afterwards so gratifying. Alison would have been pleased.
Please contact Carol Lamont (01843) 309728 if you would like to volunteer to make the tea and coffee after the 9.30am Sunday service. Thank you.
Two of our Church cleaners have moved away, which has depleted our team. Please consider joining the cleaning team, so we can keep our lovely Church in pristine condition. For more information, please speak to Richard or Edwina Baker.
Thanet Food Link – Thank you so much for all those who give so generously to this food bank. The coordinator has said that they are desperately in need of hot dogs, tinned and instant mashed potato, soup, pasta sauce and whole long life milk. Items can be left in Church on a Sunday 9.30am – 11.00am or Wednesday morning 10.00am – 12 noon. Thank you.
The Homeless – I have been able to take gifts recently and The Salvation Army is very appreciative, thank you. I am collecting warm gloves, scarves, hats, socks and any thermal garments which I give to The Salvation Army, who are helping large numbers of homeless who are sleeping rough on the streets. There is a box in the Church Porch. (Please do NOT give large items like suitcases which I cannot donate). Thank you for your kindness, June Binfield, junebinfield@outlook.com or (01843) 861286 or 07711 072233.
Missing – Can you help to be the ears and eyes of our Church family? Do you care about those around you? If the answer is yes, then next time you’re in Church look around you. If a familiar face has been missing for some weeks do something about it – make enquiries, make a phone call mention it to someone. THIS IS NOT BEING NOSEY but showing concern for our Church family. Next time it could be you missing from that pew – WOULD ANYONE CARE?
Your tower needs you for the Coronation of King Charles III – This is your opportunity to take part. Bell ringing is fun and for all ages 10+ to adults, for all faiths and none. You don’t need to be musical or strong. It is a gentle workout with mental stimulation, a great way to make friends and be part of the community. An inexpensive all year-round hobby, that can take you to some amazing places. A traditional skill and a lifelong learning experience. Along with a growing number of bell towers in the country we find ourselves struggling for numbers to ring for services, weddings and funerals. If you have ever wanted to have a try or would like to find out more then please contact me Sarat White 07548917611 or visit https://stpeterinthanet.org.uk/c/bell-ringers/
Morning Prayer is held via Zoom on a Monday and Thursday morning at 9.00am and in Church (in St James’s Chapel) on a Wednesday morning at 9.00am. Please enter the Church through the 1832 door. For the Zoom link, please contact Rev Alice at curate@stpeterinthanet.org.uk and she will email you the link.
The Monday Home Group meets weekly at 2.30pm at 92 Dumpton Park Drive, CT10 1RL when we are currently reflecting on the Bible Readings heard in Church the previous day. On Monday 27th February we will start our Lent Course ‘Rhythms of Life’ which will run for 5 weeks. Drawing on a Bible passage, mini videos and short discussion notes we’ll reflect on the course’s five themes of Resting, Creating, Sharing, Encouraging, and Celebrating. You’d be most welcome to join us, even on an occasional basis (each session is a stand-alone). For more details about any of this do contact Michael or Elspeth Cooke on (01843) 863293.
‘Hour of Prayer’ in Church on Wednesdays 11.00am – 12 Noon – A non-led opportunity to sit quietly with God, to light a candle if you would like to, and – if you feel God has said something to you which you’d like to share – to write that down for others to pray over. Come for as long or as short a time as you like, and be renewed and refreshed by God. Any questions, please contact Rev Alice on curate@stpeterinthanet.org.uk and do come if you can!
The Wednesday Group – The next meeting is on Wednesday 1st March when we will begin our Lent Course. Please bring a Bible. We start at 2.30pm and we have time to pray together and share a cup of tea before you go home. We will meet weekly on Wednesdays in Lent. Our Lent Course is based on a book recommended by the Archbishop of Canterbury, ‘Failure: What Jesus Said about Sin, Mistakes and Messing Stuff Up’ by Emma Ineson. I have a booklet for each person who comes, which is called ‘Dust and Glory’, written by Emma. Each week has a theme and the booklet provides a Bible reading and a Reflection for each of the 40 days of Lent. All are welcome and do attend all or any of the sessions as you can. We meet at 21 Fig Tree Road, Broadstairs, CT10 3AQ. For more information or if you need a lift, please contact June Binfield, junebinfield@outlook.com or (01843) 861286 or 07711 072233.