GIVE AND TAKE
There is a story told to children o a tree and a boy who were good friends. From the time the boy was little, the tree happily gave him every thing he ever asked of it; branches to climb and fruit to eat, and when the boy became a man, even timber for his home.
The tree gave and gave1 the boy took and took. In the end the tree was an old stump and the boy an old man. But because it had been a giver rather than a receiver, the old stump was happy.... the man was old and empty.
I don’t know if the writer of that story knew the saying of Jesus Christ; ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), but that story captures its meaning. There arc some who will finish this life unhappy because they will have tried to pursue happiness by seeking and taking everything for self. S.A.
Thanet churches open Christmas will take place at Cliftonville Centre, St. Paul’s Road. There will be two full day events, one on Christmas Day and the other on Boxing Day, on both days we will provide cooked dinners. We also hope to provide lunches every day for the week beginning Monday 27th December, for the homeless.
We are particularly looking for volunteers with catering skills and Food hygiene Certificates, but whatever, we can not offer meals to the homeless without the help of volunteers.
We need you
We will also be working in conjunction with a Christmas Shelter project run by the Scrine Foundation, which will run 11 days over Christmas at St. Paul’s Vicarage, aimed at people who are street homeless.
The Open Christmas has run very successfully in the past and has served food, friendship, and entertainment to about 120 people daily during the Christmas 2002.
We are relying on volunteers from all local churches and hope to build on the successes of Festival of Hope.
If you can volunteer or would like further information please phone Jeremy l1sher
on 582 017 or 0771 4625 791
Christmas is the time of giving, so why not give of your time to people who need it.
2Corithinians 6 & 1 lb
Remember this:
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows
generously will also reap generously
And through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Union Church
Let us give thanks
For freedom and its blessings
The right to speak and be understood
Let thanks ascend not only on thanksgiving
But every day -------- for it is right we should
And we would know the lasting joy Ordained by God to share The boundless blessings heretofore received:
That everywhere there’s blessings meted out beyond our power to comprehend.
Through joy or sorrow he our lot there are blessings without end.
Now upon the open canvas of the countryside
Nature paints the old familiar scenes of harvest-tide.
Underneath the summer sky the pictures are unrolled ………….
Rows of sheaves and fie1ds f stubble, yellow brown and gold.
Even grain of corn that’s gathered is a miracle.
We see the work of God in every Harvest Festival
The bounteous gifts of providence before our eyes are spread, answering the age-old prayer, ~
Give us our daily bread”.
Jesus has come into the world to give us faith.
We will carry the faith with us
Jesus has come into the world to give us hope.
We will carry the hope with us
Jesus has come into the world to give us love
We will carry the love with us to give us joy and praising, singing
and dancing
Jesus has come into the world
That all may know that Jesus HAS come Into the world. Amen
Almighty God, You have broken the tyranny of sin and have sent the Spirit of Your Son into our hearts, whereby we call you Father; give us grace to dedicate our freedom to Your service, that we and all creation may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. In the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever, Amen.
~ Since the first day that you set
~ your mind to gain understanding and humble
~ yourself before God, your words were heard
Daniel 10: 12
It is with great regret and much sadness that I share with you the news of the death of Cathy Fox, in Spain on 27th July 2004. Cathie was a wonderful friend to Alan and myself. Cathy adopted Buckingham Road as her English Church after visiting the members one coffee morning in December 2001.
Cathy told me how, after her very first visit, how she felt so welcomed by the members, she never forgot the kindness shown to her, she was particularly fond of Ron Love, and always enquired about the health of everyone she had met from the coffee morning. Cathy gave much to Thanet’s local community, a ‘dedicated special needs teacher for many years, and she loved her job and the children she worked with. During her illness, so bravely borne, Cathy never moaned, never said “why me” more “why not me”. Cathie’s positive attitude to life was and will remain an inspiration to all that had the privilege and pleasure to have known her.
As a long time friend, over 20 years, I shall miss our long chats, miss her loving and generous nature, and miss her correcting my Spanish vocabulary! “Reposo en tranquifidad, me especial Amgia” Valerie and Alan (Mannering)
SPONSORSHIP NEEDED — PLEASE
In April this year, whilst Cathy was recovering from a tough round of chemo, Alan and I sat with Cathie in the warm Spanish sunshine at Empuriabrava’s Sky Diving School, sipping hot chocolate.. Cathy looked at the colourful parachutes opening up and floating down to earth — “I would love to have a go at that” she said. There and then it was decided that Cathy, Alan and myself would undertake a Charity jump to raise money for the local cancer unit There are ho Hospices in Spain, so care in the final stages of this terrible ~disease is dependant of family and friends — however the local cancer unit are slowly building up a network of support. There will be 8 friends of ours who will be completing the “Sky Jumping” induding Cathie’s disabled sister, Bernice. The jump will take place on Friday 10th September, in memory of Cathie and to help fulfill her promise to support other Cancer sufferers. Any donations would be gratefully received, and can be sent to Ron Love, at Buckingham Road Church. -
Thank you in advance. Valerie - -
Hi everyone!
I cant believe it is almost a year since we left England for our biq adventure! Things have settled down in to more ol a routine now — work and school etc. Chelsea is continuing to do well at school and the youth activities she is involved in. The Youth Group entered a 5 mm f~m into a local film festival — she was one of the Directors and really enjoyed the experience. Her school produce a newspaper periodically and Chelsea is one of the editors! So she has been keeping pretty busy. Charlie has become a tChess addict — playing as much as he can in playtime at school and has become pretty good! He has been enjoying the garden whenever possible -~ along with his stepbrothers Nick and Jon, climbing trees, riding hikes and they are all building a treehouse at the moment!
July was the birthday month — Chelsea turned 13 and I turned 40! I can’t quite believe it Chelsea had a sleepover party with friends from school — music/makeup/pizzas — they had a great time. The same night Gary cooked a curry for 5 couples we have become good friends with. It was a lovely evening, they clubbed together and got me a serving dish with a lovely design on and also got together and wrote me a poem which they read out during the evening! It is quite long, hut 1 would love to share it with you. I think the poem shows that we have really settled in here and have made good friends:
There was one reason only - one reason she come
To follow her heart and to take. Gary’s name
So the family - thankfully - joined our Church
(Giving our numbers a big forward lurch)
And from there all our friendships grew arid grew
For Philippa’s so caring, fun, grounded and true
She’s helpful, she’s honest; her priorities are right
We are all so pleased She took that long haul flight
To have her in Kiwi land - to down Under toughen
To fire up the Barbie and butter a muffin
But that’s not all - this is no story of sob
We liked her so much we gave her a job!
For Philippa’s youthful - what 33, 34?
What a surprise 40”s khocking on the door!
So Happy Birthday Philippa from your Kiwi mates
Have a wonderful day - we think you’re great!
Weare so very happy with us you are here
You, Gary, kids - for you we all care
God bless you with Good Things noon, night and morn
YOU are 40 and thrivin Philippa Lawn!
For a country down under she’d barely seen
She eft snow, she left dumplings, she left the Queen
For this country down here oh why did she come?
The scenery, the food, the lifestyle, the sun?
She didn’t know us gathered here not at all
Until one day the church got a call
“Hello - I’m Philippa I’ve come from abroad”
“I’m looking for somewhere to worship the Lord”
“I married a Kiwi and now I’m his wife”
“I’ve got two - he’s got three - together we’ve, five”
”Five!” the response “Come now, welcome, lets meet”
“And to make them stay we’ll offer them treats”
So there arrived Philippa, Gary and all their add-ons
Chelsea, Charlie, Nick, Tina and Jon
And on the first meeting it was seen why she chose
A silver fern over an English rose
A “She’ll be right” over on “Evening’ Gov’
The twinkle in their eyes spoke only of love
Their stolen cuddles, their soft glances - we sighted
Why she left Yorkshire pudding and Manchester United
What a great poem! I was really touched and it made me realise that we have achieved a lot in just a few months, That’s all for now, we are looking forward to seeing you all in December. Take care and God bless you all,
Philippa
On seeing the final accounts of the Festival of hope
It give me a sense of to See these accounts. When the first meeting was called it seemed an amazing amount of money was raise but with prayer, faith and hard work all the churches came together and we did it! During the days of the Festival and “On the Move” there seemed to be an amazirig lot to do, but with prayer, faith, hard work arid all the churches coming together we did it! May we continue our fellowship with all the churches in Thanet arid with prayer, faith and hard work Continue to spread God’s word.
Cherry
HARVEST
Once again it’s Harvest Festival Time a time when we celebrate and give thank for all the food that grows in the fields, for a bountiful harvest, for the birds the’ flowers, the sun and rain.
And the Harvest hymn tells us:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
But things change we don’t sing hymns like this we have the modem ones more with it. As my Grandchildren tell me.
And now instead of fresh fruit and vegetables and the baked bread we get tin vegetables and fruit and sliced bread.
But there are some things that do not change.
There are still people here and in many parts of the world were all things are not bright and beautiful and were all things are not wise and wonderful Where there is a shortage of food and water
The beauty has been destroyed by war and creed because all were not wise.
There is another harvest the harvest from the seed sown by all who have spread the good news “Gods disciples..”
The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest) therefore, to send out workers into the harvest fields. Matthew 9: 37-38
Those that sow also will they reap, so let us the church the people not the brick’ and mortar go out and spread his word tell the good news sow the seed and then reap the harvest and rejoice in the harvest.
Then and only then we will begin to see another change a change back to God, back to the way God wants us to go, wants us to live
Loving one and other, loving our neighbours as ourselves.
Living in Gods Peace and Love.