September Newsletter
Dear friends
As we near the end of the month of September and approach the last quarter of 2025, our Harvest service yesterday was another reminder that it is for all of us and for the Church everywhere to seek to tell everyone about the Good News of Jesus Christ and to care for all that God has given us.
When we are able to rejoice and thank God that he made the world, we will want to look after it and go on looking after it. How can we all play our part in looking after Gillingham and keeping it clean and tidy, showing other people that we care for the environment and that we care for people too? As I said yesterday, perhaps this Harvest Sunday was a good day for us all to start to think even more about what we can do to care for what God has made, building on what we are already doing. Thank you so much for all the contributions for Medway Foodbank yesterday – a fantastic response and what will be a real blessing to those who benefit as will the offering for the work of Christian Aid. Thank you everyone.
Harvest 2025
In regard to caring for the world in which we live, this brings me to say how grateful we are to Fiona for being such an encouragement to us all to do what we can and not what we can’t. Those of us who were at Church Meeting this month received interesting information from Fiona and below is her summary of what she said:
‘You can recycle empty tablet blister packs at Boots in Chatham as well as empty make-up items. Register with BootsScan2recycle. Then scan the items and deposit them in the designated bin.
Ecosia is a search engine whose profits go into planting trees where they are most needed in the world.
Easyfundraising.org.uk gives donations to your chosen charity at no cost to you when you shop online. You can download the App and it gives you instructions on how to proceed.
The A Cleaner Medway Newsletter has highlighted the importance of recycling using the Medway Council scheme. Plastic and glass items should be rinsed with lids on and squashed. It is important that ‘dead’ batteries are recycled properly at supermarkets, libraries or at recycling centres. The reason why this is so important is that batteries can contain a small charge which can ignite fires when crushed with normal rubbish. The Newsletter also highlighted the pre-loved school uniform scheme and also advised that the Litter Lotto App has ceased trading.’
Since her report to Church Meeting Fiona also encourages accessing Medway Climate news. To sign up for the A Cleaner Medway Newsletter a reminder to go to the Medway Council’s waste and recycling page at www.medway.gov.uk/info/200132/waste_and_recycling.
So – a big thank you to Fiona. I am mindful that much of the above is helped by having computer access. I am sure that if that means you are missing out then please say so and we can help you to have useful information.
This leads me to promote our next litter pick in the immediate vicinity of the church – Sunday 12th October after coffee following morning worship – and as announced yesterday there is a community litter pick on The Lines next Saturday, 4th October, from 10.30 to 12.30.
Yesterday we launched our support for the Blythswood Care Shoebox Appeal and distributed the information leaflets. If you would like to fill a shoebox or give an item to go in one and do not yet have a leaflet we have some in church. Please bring your donations if at all possible by 31st October as they will then be going to the shoebox checking depot before ultimately being transported to Kosovo. As mentioned, all items must be new and this year we are asked not to fill boxes for babies. We are grateful to Lorna for enthusing us to participate – if you have any questions I am sure she will be pleased to answer them. Thank you to everyone participating today in the sponsored knit for the shoebox appeal – either knitting or sponsoring. All support, however small or large, is so much appreciated.
As part of our mission to the wider world we look forward to Wendy Piccinini sharing with us on behalf of The Leprosy Mission this coming Sunday, 5th October and to Chris Knott on behalf of Starfish Malawi on 26th October.
On 5th October we will again welcome Tom Hackett, Southern Synod’s Children and Youth Development Officer, to present the Lundie Memorial Award for September to Tinashe. We warmly congratulate Tinashe on achieving the Award for all that she is able to contribute regularly to Sunday worship in operating our sound system and live streaming our services.
A reminder of forthcoming important dates
Macmillan Cancer Coffee Morning 8th October 10 am to 12 noon.
Our next in house Christian Puppet Ministry is on Friday 24th October at 4.30 pm for children accompanied by a parent/adult carer throughout.
Kingfisher Singers concert Saturday 29th November at 2 pm followed by tea.
Our service on 2nd November will include the reading of names in our Book of Remembrance.
Remembrance Sunday is on 9th November and our service will begin at the earlier time of 10.45.
Advent Sunday is on 30th November.
Our service on 7th December will include the hanging of stars in memory of loved ones on the Christmas tree.
The service on the morning of December 14th will include the Nativity.
Our morning service on 21st December will include receptions into membership to which we really look forward and our Carol Service that evening will be at 6 pm.
On Christmas Eve Wednesday 24th December and on Christmas Day Thursday 25th December we have services in church at 4 pm and 10 am respectively.
Services beyond our church building:
Friday 31st October from 7 pm to 8.30 pm. Churches Together in Medway Saints Alive service at Rochester Cathedral.
Carols at KICC Sunday 7th December at 6 pm.
A reminder that our clocks go back by one hour at 2 am on Sunday 26th October.
As we continue to pray for a world in so much need may we all continue to pray that every day more and more people will come to know Jesus, the Saviour of the world.
God bless you all
Pam