The first Canterbury COP (Conference of the Parishes) event was held on Saturday 30th September at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge during which speakers and guests discussed what can be done within the Diocese of Canterbury to combat climate change. With speakers talking on a range of issues, the event was also an opportunity for young people to share their thoughts on environmental issues. Find out more by following the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3Gqx-_3zTw If you want to know more and become involved in what we are doing at St Peter’s, contact Rev’d David Tate ((01843) 447861) who also acts as ECO Champion for Thanet Deanery. We want to lead the way and have achieved a Silver Award for what St Peter’s does and teaches in response to climate change and protecting God’s creation. Climate change is not going away.
Fundraising – The outcomes and the funds raised from Saturday’s Festive Fayre will be announced at a later date. Thank you to everyone who helped and contributed to it in any way. Without your efforts no Festive Fayre would be possible.
CHOIR SOS: We are once again inviting you to join us for our annual Festive singing. We need altos and tenors in particular.
- Rehearsals 7.00-8.00pm on 1st December, 8th December, 15th December (Run-through).
- Events: Saturday 9th December, 4.00pm – Christmas Tree Festival Performance; Sunday 17th December – 4.00pm – Carol Service.
Advent Prayers and Resources – Advent is a good time for us to rejoin together as a Church community and pray as one. We have produced a form of Daily Prayer which can be used for a short quiet time at some point during your day. We encourage you to take one home with you and use it as we journey through Advent towards Christmas. There are also a small number of Advent themed books available to borrow. Please help yourself and return them in the New Year.
The Christmas Tree Festival will take place from midday on Friday 8th December and from 10.00am on Saturday 9th December. There will be a concert of Christmas organ music performed by David Lammler on Saturday 9th December at 7.30pm, tickets are £7.50 and are available at the Parish Office. Trees will remain on display on Sunday at the usual services. The theme this year is “Joy to the World”. If any group wishes to sponsor a tree, please contact Sue Brooks by emailing s.brooks231@btinternet.com or by calling (01843) 604700.
Garden of Remembrance – You may not be aware that we now have a shed close to the Church to keep tools etc. in so I don’t need to bring down my own every time I do work in the Garden of Remembrance. We now need to stock it with the necessary gardening equipment. Heather Wood, very kindly, donated several items following her recent move but others are still needed. So, I was wondering if anyone had the following spare items: wheelbarrow, hand trowel, fork, secateurs, shears, lopper, dustpan and brush. If you do then please let me know or give me, Don Bumpstead, a ring on (01843) 602287. Thank you.
Charity Partners for St Peter’s – The members of the congregation at St Peter’s are very generous in their individual giving, but as a Church we have no mission partners whom we might support, and I would like to explore this with you. Over the coming months the PCC will be looking at the ways in which we might partner with charities and missions; thinking about how we could support them financially and prayerfully. Therefore, we are looking for suggestions from the congregation of charities that we could partner up with for a six-month period. This would be on a year-by-year basis, with one local and one international charity chosen each year. If you know of any charities which you think it would be good for our Church to support, please send suggestions to Rev’d Matt via revmatt@stpeterinthanet.org.uk and a small team will then consider who we might work with. Many thanks. Rev’d Matt and Rev’d Alice.
Church Cleaning – Several of our regular cleaners have moved away, or are no longer able to help. We have previously split the cleaning into sections, with one person responsible for their part. Cleaning is usually done on a Friday morning, but access can be arranged to suit individuals. Depending on Church use, cleaning does not have to be done every week. Please help if you can to keep our lovely Church clean and tidy. Please contact Richard or Edwina Baker on (01843) 865090 if you can help. Thank you.
Thanet Food Link – Thank you so much for all those who give so generously to this food bank. They are desperately in need of pasta sauces, cream crackers and biscuits. Items can be left in Church on a Sunday 9.30am – 11.00am or Wednesday morning 10.00am – 12 noon. Please would you bring donations of food into Church and not leave them in the South Porch. The baskets are in Church on the pews behind the information shelf, on the South side. This has become necessary because of recent thefts. Thank you. Sylvia Mills.
Rough Sleeping; The Homeless – As the colder weather approaches, I will start collecting for the rough sleepers. There is a box in the Church Porch. I will take your gifts to The Salvation Army in Ramsgate. Please donate gloves, hats and thick socks. The Salvation Army takes hot soup, food and clothing to rough sleepers and also offers breakfast in its building in Ramsgate. (If you are concerned for someone who is sleeping rough you can report the circumstances to thestreetlink.org.uk/start ). Thank you for your help. June Binfield.
St Peter’s Old Boys and Community Association – Don’t know what to do with your postage stamps? Why not bring them in to us. We are collecting for the RNIB. (These can be brought into the Parish Office or left in post box outside.) Many thanks for your support. St Peter’s Old Boys.
Photographs – Please do not take photos during the service. If you want to take them after the service has finished, please ensure you only take a picture of your own child or family member. Please obtain permission from anyone else before you take their photo. Thank you.
Morning Prayer is held via Zoom on Monday mornings at 9.15am and in Church (in St James’s Chapel) on Wednesday mornings at 9.15am. Please enter the Church through the 1832 door. For the Zoom link, please contact Rev’d Alice at revalice@stpeterinthanet.org.uk and she will email you the link.
The Monday Home Group meets weekly at 2.30pm at 92 Dumpton Park Drive, Broadstairs, CT10 1R, and we are currently reflecting on the Bible readings heard in Church the previous day. But from Monday 27th November we start a 4-week series looking at one of Advent’s great set of themes: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Please do think of joining us, even as a one-off – each session is a stand-alone, and lasts 90 minutes – always finishing with prayer, a cuppa and fellowship! More details (and/or if you’d like a lift) from Michael and 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’d Alice on revalice@stpeterinthanet.org.uk and do come if you can!
The Wednesday Home Group will be meeting in Advent on 6th, 13th and 20th December at 2.30pm at 21 Fig Tree Road, Broadstairs, CT10 3AQ. We will be looking at aspects of God’s plan from the Creation to the Resurrection. You are all welcome to come to any or all of these meetings. Please bring a Bible. We read passages from the Bible and share insights and discussion and end with a cup of tea and fellowship. For more information or if you need a lift, please contact junebinfield@outlook.com or (01843) 861286 or 07711 072233.