Rev Chris update – 12th June 2022

Dear all,

Well, what a wonderful weekend for the Platinum Jubilee. The weather might not have been quite where we would have liked it to have been but nevertheless spirits were not dampened. I do hope that you managed to get along to one of the various celebrations taking place, that started at church on the Tuesday with a special ‘Tuesday Café Jubilee Lunch’.

I know that there were various street party’s, and the ACA had an event as did the Millennium Green (It is not my place to ‘advertise’ but there was Goacher’s Beer available at the green and I had a chat with Phil Goacher himself, who makes exceedingly good beer!).

On Sunday our morning service was a wonderful occasion to give thanks to God for the devoted service of her majesty and this was followed by a superb lunch in the main church hall, which had been beautifully adorned. Many people also took the opportunity to come along with their families to the afternoon tea, as we live streamed the pageant, and then stayed for our informal Oasis in the Afternoon Service and BBQ with a brief time of prayer and singing of the National Anthem.

Thank you to all who worked so hard to make the events of last week so memorable as we celebrated the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty. After the difficulties of the last couple of years I think we all felt a huge sense of joyous community cohesion that will be long remembered.

Lunch in the hall above, dedication of new flags below that took place at the end of our service.

Amongst the forthcoming services and events let me draw your attention to the concert in church on the 25th June ‘Man of Straw’ as the accomplished singer/songwriter, John Cunningham, performs in aid of the charity for the homeless, Make a Difference Maidstone (MADM), and for church funds.

Please also note that the 26th of June ‘ENCOUNTER’ service will be live in church. Jackie Wilkinson who leads this service of contemporary worship will be with us with her usual blend of praise songs with a thoughtful message and prayer. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Blessings,

Rev Chris

p.s. no message from me next week as I shall be in Oberammergau, in Germany, to see the Passion Play, about the last week of the life of Jesus, that the village performs every ten years (tickets booked for 2020 but postponed due to Covid). I’m sure I’ll have something to say about it when I’m back, assuming I can get a flight of course!!

p.p.s. Many thanks for the loan of all the bunting for Jubilee weekend.  Please collect your bunting from the back of church.  Thank you

 

FOODBANK

Thank you for all the support given to the Foodbank. As you can imagine the increased cost of living is starting to have an impact on those in the most vulnerable positions. However there are stories of great hope and I have been told of one in particular concerning someone who has been supported, by the goods that people from St Nicholas have given, over a period of months because he was out of work. Others sources had been only able to provide him with occasional food parcels but the stock that we have kept him supplied on an ongoing basis up to the point where he now has a job and is more able to support himself. This is such a heart warming story of how lives can be touched at a time of great need.

Rev Chris

 

Men’s Breakfast – Calling all men
After a period when we could not meet due to Covid I am looking at re-starting the monthly Men’s Breakfast sessions.
Due to the use of the main hall on a Saturday we now would be meeting at the back of the church; we have facilities to boil eggs and make tea and toast, so very much as before. Initially I would like to find out if anyone would be interested in this and when and at what time people would like to meet. My thoughts would be to continue to meet once a month say, Saturday between 8.30am-10am approx.
Previously we had speakers come to us or else we just sat and talked about any subjects.
It would be good to get all ages involved although I appreciate men with young families may have activities to go to with children.
If you are interested please could you either drop me an email bishokevin@gmail.com or call 07958161450 that would be a start to find a suitable date for the majority.
Kevin Bishop