November Newsletter
Dear friends
How are you?
In Revelation 7:9-17 [NIV] we read, ‘After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever Amen!”
Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
A passage which speaks to us particularly perhaps at this time of year as yesterday marked our annual special service in the life of the church as we remembered with thanksgiving to God the lives of people known to us who once walked this earth – among others, those whose names are in our Book of Remembrance. The opportunity to light a candle in their memory is always a poignant moment.
Revelation 7:9-17 equips us to hear God’s call and encourage us to know what it is to rejoice that God longs to work in and through us on life’s journey when, with our co-operation through faith and in action, we own God’s ongoing process for us to become more like Jesus. The process will complete when, whenever the time comes, we are united with Christ for ever, made perfect in the presence of God. And so it was that yesterday in our time of public worship we thanked God for those remembered who have experienced that which we trust is yet to be fully ours. Scripture tells us that all who have been faithful are singing before the throne of God – all sorrows ended – sins forgiven – suffering ended. Let us hold on to knowing that the great crowd in heaven praise God knowing that salvation comes through the power of the Cross and the grace of God. Friends, we live in a world where Revelation 7:17 is the answer to its every need, including ours. ‘For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’
I leave you to reflect mindful too that Remembrance Sunday is on 8th November.
Before I turn to important dates approaching, Fiona reminds us that now we are in November we can feed the birds with nuts and seeds – along with meal worms and suet blocks and fat balls which can be fed to the birds all year. Mindful too that hedgehogs are special members of God’s creation everyone is reminded to check bonfire pile material before setting light to the fire.
Significant dates for us all to be reminded about:
SUNDAY 8TH NOVEMBER IS REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY. OUR SERVICE WILL BEGIN AT THE EARLIER TIME OF 10.45 AM IN ORDER THAT WE CAN KEEP SILENCE WITH THE NATION AT 11 AM. Anyone arriving a few minutes before 11 am will be asked to please wait in the vestibule until after the silence.
SATURDAY 14TH NOVEMBER. Kingfisher Singers Concert in the church at 2.30 pm followed by a light strawberry tea. Please extend invitations to family and friends.
SUNDAY 29TH NOVEMBER marks the beginning Advent.
SUNDAY 6TH DECEMBER. The service at 11 am will include the hanging of stars on the Christmas tree in memory of loved ones.
SUNDAY 6TH DECEMBER. Christmas Connect at KICC at 6 pm to which everyone is invited.
SUNDAY 13TH DECEMBER.The service at 11 am will include the Nativity.
SUNDAY 20TH DECEMBER. The service at 11 am will include Holy Communion and reception into membership.
SUNDAY 20TH DECEMBER at 6 pm. Carol service followed by coffee/tea and mince pies.
CHRISTMAS EVE, 24TH DECEMBER. Service at 4 pm
CHRISTMAS DAY, 25TH DECMEBER. Service at 10 am
Special Notice: The arrangements for switching on of lights in Gillingham High Street are different this year. Details to follow but the date is Friday 27th November with carol singing from 3.30 to 4 pm.
Our Christian puppet times for the remainder of the year are on Friday 20th November and Friday 11th December, both at 4.30 pm.
Our text for 2027 will be launched during worship on Sunday 17th January. The text will be adopted by Church Meeting on 10th January. Everyone is invited to prayerfully suggest a text for consideration. There will be a box in church for suggestions. Please submit by
3rd January. Thank you.
This time of year always provides an extra opportunity to proclaim Jesus as Lord, Jesus the light of the world. Please use every opportunity to get the message out there and encourage family and friends to join with us in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.
As we celebrate too the call of our new Synod Moderator and new Synod Clerk please thank God for them and pray for them. Pray too for the gathering at Staplehurst URC next Saturday, 7th November when the Moderators of General Assembly and of Southern Synod will be present.
God bless you all as we prepare for Remembrance Sunday, Advent and Christmas.
Pam