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Welcome to Christ Church, Blacklands & St. Andrew, Laton Road, Hastings
General News and Notes
The deadline for the December edition is Noon WEDNESDAY 27th November
If you have articles or items of interest for the newsletter, please ring Debbie Dann on 01424-717004 or email to debbie@dann-home.me.uk
The advertisers pay for most of the cost of the paper copies of the newsletter so we do not charge for it, however we are not able to endorse or guarantee the service they give. If you would like to make a contribution to the cost of the newsletter please place it in the box at the back of the Church.
The paper newsletter is printed by Plastica. For all printing needs please contact print@plasticapools.net
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Women’s Fellowship
We are welcoming Edward Preston as our speaker on Monday 11th November with his talk “Bygone Bohemia”. At the end of the month on 25th November Helen & Mike Patten are joining us to give a presentation on the work of The Bible Society.
Meetings in the Parish Hall start at 2:30 p.m. The Entrance fee is £2.00 including tea & raffle.
Helen Gossling: 01424 423124
Tea N’ Chat
We will meet on Monday 4th and 18th November starting at 2:00 p.m.
Please try to support this friendly group or at least come and give us a try. We really laugh a lot.
Parish Group
The October meeting had members enthralled as local Trug maker John Carnell talked about the history of trugs and then used his 40 years of experience to demonstrate his craft as he made a Trug using locally sourced willow and chestnut wood. John had also brought along a selection of Trugs of all sizes and shapes, some of them more than 100 years old. Altogether a very interesting meeting. The next meeting of the Parish Group will be on Monday 18th November when the talk will be about “The Kent and Sussex Air Ambulance Service”
Christmas Fair
Blacklands will be holding our Christmas Fair on Saturday 23rd November, from 10.00am to noon. Please see a member of the PCC if you can offer to help and please bring in donations for the fair.
To Everyone at Blacklands Church
Thank you for your kind support of the Seaview Project which is much appreciated. The donation of your Harvest Festival goods will enable us to provide meals at our day centre to those on the fringes of society who need daily care. You are no doubt aware that in these tricky economic times fund raising is very difficult and this makes your contribution all the more valuable to us.
For those of you who are not aware of the work we undertake I have attached a summary of our aims, objectives and services we provide at the Seaview Project. Further information can be found on our website at www.seaviewproject.org.uk
We are always seeking gifts of food or warm clothing and any donations are gratefully received. Raising funds for services for the homeless and needy has never been at the fashionable end of charitable giving.
Steve Sampson (Trustee)
(A summary of the Seaview Project is displayed on the church notice board)
Voices Wanted
To sing Carols, on the 11th December at 2:30 p.m., in Fabee nursing home, (on the corner of Fearon Road and St. Helen’s Park Road). Jean Gill will bring her keyboard and anyone is welcome to come and sing along. We are always made most welcome by residents, staff and visitors, enjoying a very happy hour. Look forward to seeing you, for what is most probably the first Carol concert of the season. Best wishes, God Bless,
Margaret Turner
Thanks from Norman
I had a phone call from Norman Illman our organist earlier today (23rd October). He was delighted to receive the “Get Well” card from the church and would like to thank everyone for their best wishes. He said he is recovering, slowly but surely.
Jean
Winter Wonderland
Following the success of last year, when Paul and Rosina Brockington transformed their front garden into a fairy-land of Christmas light, they have now planned an enhanced repeat. Opening on Friday 29th November at 6:00 p.m., entertainment, including The Melodians Choir singing carols, will herald countdown to the “switch-on” at 6:30 p.m., which will also bring new surprises. No.35 St.Helen’s Park Road is a few yards from Blacklands Church (almost opposite Fearon Road), and the illuminations will continue nightly between dusk and 10 p.m., until 31st December. It is a very “moving” event, which delights children and adults alike. Last year resulted in over £1,500 being donated to St.Michael’s Hospice. Maybe with everyone’s support this year it will enable this sum to be exceeded?
Don Valentine
Christmas Organ Concert
“Music for Advent”
By Stephen Page
There will be a Christmas Organ Concert performed by Stephen Page on Saturday 30th November at 2:00 p.m. The concert will include a few carols and will be followed by mince pies and tea. Please come to start off our Christmas season, admission will be £3
How to send an Email
Following an intense course at the Isabel Blackman Centre (6 weeks) I was launched onto a career with our home computer, and share this with you, don’t How to send an email.
Ask permission. Arrange chair. Sit comfortably to avoid back strain. Raise the lid of the computer. Can you see the screen? Are you sure? Wait for the boss’s name to appear. Type in the secret code if you can remember it. It helps to put in the correct e. mail address. Don’t take too long, there is more important work to do! (E.g., sermon notes). Ignore any suggestion that you have got it wrong, deep sighs or heavy breathing! Be confident! Beware don’t break this valuable piece of equipment, which has taken over your life. Keep trying. Keep hoping for more success! If the machine is declared damaged the next day, i.e., it has stopped working, don’t worry!
There has been a power cut!!
Pam
P.S. Following a number of adverse comments from You know who….I think I’ll go and put the kettle on.
Harvest Display and Harvest Supper
Leslie and I would like to thank everyone who contributed towards decorating the church and put on such a lovely Harvest display. Also, thank you to Helen, Jan, Pat, Leslie and Ross for their efforts in making the Harvest Supper such a success. All their hard work was really appreciated.
There are photographs from this year’s celebrations here.
Bible Study
There will be Bible study sessions on 12th November and 10th December at 14 Park View starting at 7:30 p.m.
All welcome to join this friendly little group.
Jean
First Sunday Walks
Church Together and Loaf Project invite everyone to join in some more walks.
3rd November starting at 2:00 p.m. Battle Great Wood and beyond. Meet at Great Wood car park Marley Lane.
Our New Year Resolutions ………Now!
All members of the PCC have mailed their PARISH GIVING FORMS to Gloucester, so that their revised monthly giving by Direct Debit will be effective from 1st January 2014.
The first indication of how well we have done will be when our Church Treasurer learns of the total credited 01424-including Gift-Aid to Blacklands Church account and reports to the PCC on 13th January.
This information is very important for planning expenditure for the year; there are numerous repair and restoration works to be dealt with to comply with present legislation and Diocesan requirements.
All members on the church Electoral Roll received the ‘Giving Package’ in September, with stamped addressed envelopes, which should reach Gloucester by 30th November latest.
Together we can achieve much to keep Blacklands viable! We will gladly answer any questions or doubts about the Scheme.
Leslie Adams 01424-427307, Jean Wilson 01424-422630, Bill Burrows 01424-460942
Don Valentine 01424-428832