New Priest in Charge/Vicar – The Churchwardens are progressing well with the development of a Parish Profile which will complement our quest for a new Priest in Charge/Vicar to join us at St Peter’s. The initial draft copy has been sent to the Area Dean, and Archdeacon Will at Canterbury has responded with some helpful suggestions as to how we could enhance this document further. Everyone remains hopeful that it won’t be too long now before this can be finalised and an advertisement placed stating our desire for a replacement for Jan. Keep praying!
Warm Welcome Space
The Warm Welcome Space, our joint venture with St Peter’s Baptist Church, is open in the foyer every Monday morning between 9.30am and 12.30pm and will continue each Monday at the same time until further notice. It is not, as yet, attracting many users. If you know of anyone who might benefit from it please let them know. Tea, coffee and biscuits are available (no charge, of course) so anyone who needs a warm-up should just call in. 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.
See https://www.warmwelcome.uk for further details of venues and what they offer.
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.
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.
Thank you to all the volunteers who make it possible to run St Peter’s Toddler Group but in order to keep the group going, 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. Due to possible teachers’ strikes the session on Thursday 16th March may need to be cancelled. Parents will be notified at the session the week before and Facebook and St Peter’s Church website will be updated as appropriate.
Easter Lilies – If you would like to provide a lily, for Church decoration, in memory of a loved one, please see Laura in the office who will arrange it. Cost is £5.00 per lily and the names of the loved ones will be put on the altar at Easter. Please ensure that this is arranged by Friday 2nd April.
Fundraising
The next Boot Fair, the last of the ‘Spring Season’, will take place on Saturday 11th March. Tables are, as usual, £10.00 each to hire and teas, coffees and hot bacon rolls will be available for purchase. The event will run from 9.00am to noon (the Hall opens for sellers at 8.00am).
We are running another Quiz Night on Friday 31st March, starting at 7.00pm in the Main Hall. The doors open at 6.30pm and Jane Green will be the ‘Quizmaster’. During the interval freshly cooked Fish & Chips will be provided – but please bring your own cutlery and drinks etc. – and the raffle will be drawn. Costs have risen and we have, unfortunately, been forced to increase or entry fee again, so tickets will cost £12.50 each. Please let Laura in the Parish Office know if you have any special dietary requirements which need to be taken into account.
A performance by The Merry Opera Company of a dramatisation of Handel’s Messiah will take place on Saturday 15th April in the Church. The performance will begin at 7.30pm and there will be a 20 minute interval. Anyone who has seen The Merry Opera Company before will know just how good and professional they are so we expect it to be a wonderful evening and well worth the £18.00 entry fee. You can book via the Merry Opera website at the following address: https://www.merryopera.co.uk/themerrymessiah Follow the link to St Peter-in-Thanet Church. We all look forward to seeing you there.
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, Roy Brown, Fundraising Team.
Loose Change Boxes – Where has all the loose change gone!! This very valuable scheme has unfortunately dwindled to a trickle to the extent that over the last 5 months I am only receiving an average of one a month. Also due to personal and health reasons I am sorry to say I am not prepared to manage the scheme for much longer. Would anyone like to take this on? If no one comes forward it will cease to operate. In the meantime, those that still have boxes please would you hand them into the Parish Office even though they are only partially filled. Many grateful thanks for all those that have contributed in the past to make this so successful – raising in excess of £9,000 over the years. Don Bumpstead.
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. 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/
The Late Mrs 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.
Sally and John Wood – Sally and John are in the process of moving to Norfolk to be near their daughter. Sally was our Parish Administrator for many years, and lately one of our Church cleaners, and has looked after the churchyard at the front of the Church to the South Porch. A collection for a gift is being arranged, and if you would like to contribute, please give your contribution to Robin Page. There is also a card by the South Door.
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.