News
HELP NEEDED	1) A CHURCH CLEANING CO-ORDINATOR to oversee the various cleaning activities 2) COFFEE ROTA AFTER 9.45 SERVICE Please see Anne Shefford if you can help .
ENGAGE 2012	We are six months away from this event at Ashburnham House in Sussex. Over 100 have booked for this event but places are still available. Leaflets and booking forms are available on the church website and at the back of church.
PRAYER DIARY AT BACK OF CHURCH	Please pick up a prayer diary from the back of church - it tells you where the services are in the diocese during the week 18th - 27th May
CHILDREN'S SOCIETY	A total of £272.52 was raised for this charity through the home boxes. The Children's Society has worked alongside the Church of England since the late 1800s to create positive change and give new hope to some of the most disadvantaged children in the country. The money raised will go towards helping children trapped in a vicious circle of fear and harm. If anyone would like to have a box at home please speak to me. It is a relatively easy way to donate - just put loose, small change from your pocket into the box! thank you Jill Clifford
CHRISTIAN DANCE WORKSHOP	An invitation to meet up with others who are interested in dance and movement in a worship setting. Our next meeting is Saturday 19th May from 2-4pm at Grace Community Church, Grove Road. For further information contact Christine Holland Md. 749911
3RD JUNE - JUBILEE WEEKEND SERVICE	On the 3rd June the services at Holy Cross and New Way will start earlier at 9.30am and finish prompt at 10.30am. There will be a Joint village service on the green at 11am. Everyone is invited to attend Evensong at 6.30pm at Westminster Abbey - John will be preaching. You may like to combine it with watching the River Pageant and then stay on for Evensong.
THURNHAM SCHOOL ' MESSY CHURCH' SERVICE (20TH MAY 9.45AM)	We are starting to hold termly 'Messy Church' services in Thurnham school starting in May. These will be activity packed times particularly aimed at families. Please could we ask for the donation of the cardboard tube inside of kitchen rolls (once you have used the kitchen roll!) for one of our craft activities? Please leave them in the box at the back of Church/at New Way by 13 May. Messy Church is, by its nature, very labour-intensive. We would be happy to hear from any volunteers who might be interested in helping with craft or refreshments or welcoming once in a while on a 3rd Sunday at 9.45am (the services are every other month). Everything is prepared in advance for you - we are looking for willing hands and a warm welcome from you. Many thanks Jill Rushton, Michelle Mackey, Virginia Corbyn.
ALPHA COURSE BEGINS	Begins Monday 24th September - The Alpha Course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed, low key, friendly and fun way. Each session begins with a meal together which gives an opportunity to get to know each other. This is followed by a talk which looks at topics such as 'Who is Jesus?' and 'Why did he die?'. Then there is the opportunity to discuss issues the talk has raised in small groups. The venue this year will be in the Church Room at Holy Cross, plus an Away Day at Otham Church. There is no charge for the Alpha course although you may be asked to make a contribution towards food. For further information contact Revd. Lesley Ludlow 01622 673536 or lesley.ludlow@blueyonder.co.uk.
MAY'S TODDLER PRAISE - FRIDAY 18TH MAY- BURIED TREASURE	The next baby and toddler service will be held on Friday 18th May for parents, grandparents and carers with 0-4 year olds. The theme this month is Buried Treasure and pirate costumes are optional!! The session will be held in the Holy Cross Church Room from 1.30-2.30pm. There will be activities, songs, refreshments and of course treasure to find.
TODDLER GROUPS TRIP TO KENT LIFE (15TH + 17TH MAY)	Tuesday's Toddler Group and Thursday's Toddler Group will meet in the car park at Kent Life (near the Malta) at 10am on the 15th and 17th May. Bring a packed lunch and stay for as long as you can.
SERVICES AT ST MARY'S	The services at St Mary's will continue as usual until after May 6th when they will be suspended unless and until announcements are made to the contrary. We will hold a service at St Mary's on every Monday morning with an organist starting on May 14th at 10.30am. On Friday 25th May there will also be a 3pm service at St Mary's as part of the deanery programme for the diocesan Novena (nine days) of prayer.
KEEPING HOLY CROSS OPEN	We are looking for volunteers to "church sit" on saturday and sunday afternoons between 2 and 5 pm This is in order to allow visitors to come and see the church and also allow people to come and have some quiet time. Please sign the list at the back of the church or speak to Helen Judges.
CHRISTIAN AID WEEK	Christian Aid week runs from 13th to 19th May. This year we will be marking the week by holding a house to house collectioon in Bearsted and Thurnham. In order for us to play our part in what one bishop described as 'one of the biggest acts of Christian witness in the country', we need volunteers to deliver and collect envelopes. Even if you can only do a few houses, any help would be much appreciated. Please speak to Helen Judges if you can help or need more information.There will also be a charity evensong with a gueat speaker from Christian Aid on 20th May
NEW WAY HELP	New Way needs more people to help with projection of the service onto the screen. Please contact Nat or Lesley.
BECKET EVENT IN THE CATHEDRAL	Tuesday 22 May, Exhibition: 6.45-7.30pm, talk 7.30-8.15pm. Acclaimed Tudor historian, John Guy will talk about his new biography, Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral's nave. Tickets 35 from Waterstones, Canterbury 01227 456343.
BIG JUBILEE THANK YOU	Please add you own well wishes and signature to the list at the back of church for the Queen's Jubilee.
ORGAN DONATION	No, not your heart or kidneys! In recent weeks we have been accompanied in our worship by piano not the organ. This is because the organ has been dismantled for maintenance and improvement. This is the first major cleaning and repair for 25 years. This work is labour-intensive and time-consuming and therefore expensive. The cost of this is £12,000. The PCC has underwritten this cost. However if the PCC pays the full amount from its funds this will mean that our legacy fund will be almost entirely depleted. There may be parishioners who would like to make a financial contribution to this work; either to the whole or to one of the parts. Gifts can be anonymous and/or in memory of a loved ones. If you are a UK tax payer please use the Gift Aid declaration below and place in the offertory plate as part of your offering to God or forward to Treasurer/Vicar. If you have any old gold that you do not want please also consider donating it towards the payment for the repairs to the organ. Place it in an envelope with your name and an orange gift aid envelope and pass to a churchwarden or the vicar.
STAMPS	Please can you all remember to save your used stamps to give them to Charity. We have a box at the back of the church for used stamps or many other Charities collect stamps too! - Thanks Janice Gillard
FLOWERS AT HOLY CROSS	A huge thank you to all those who have contributed so generously both in time and money towards the flowers in church during 2011. The rota for giving flowers for 2012 and into 2013 is now at the back of church. We rely entirely on donations to the flower fund to finance all the flowers in church throughout the year, no costs come from general church funds. Please consider carefully if you would be able to donate flowers for one week of the year. This can be an ideal opportunity to remember a loved one or to celebrate a special anniversary or birthday and at the same time to allow others to enjoy your flowers. I am sometimes asked how much should be donated; this is a very personal matter and we would be pleased to arrange flowers whatever the donation but it may be helpful for you to know that we usually spend between £10 and £15. Where possible we are very happy to work to special request e.g. certain colours or types of flowers. Any remaining money is put towards flowers for weeks when there is no donation and for Festivals. Why not look at the rota today and find a date that is special to you. Joan 737551
ORDINATIONS 2012	Ordinations this year will be on Saturday 30th June. Deacons (Alan Pinnegar, our new curate) will be in the morning and Priests in the afternoon.
BAPTISM HELPERS NEEDED	We are short of Baptism helpers - this involves helping make tea for the couples on the Baptism Preparation nights and helping at the Baptism services with handing out books and everyone. We usually hold baptism preparation classes on a Wednesday evening from 7-9pm about 8 a year (the more people we get to help the less this comes round!) and the Baptism held at 3.30pm on a Sunday afternoon for 1 hour - we have about 10 in the year so again the more people we have on a list the less times they have to help! If you are interested in helping please sign the list at the back of church or speak to John - thank you
ORANGE/GREEN ENVELOPES	Orange/Green Envelopes - if you are a taxpayer, do please remember to use the orange/green envelopes if you wish to contribute to the collection at services. If you are already a member of the Planned Giving Scheme and wish to give any additional sum, please remember to put this in one of the envelopes provided. We can reclaim 25p for every pound you contribute, provided you complete the details on the envelope, and your gift will be much appreciated. This is especially important during the coming Christmas season when the church will also be supporting nominated charities through giving at services.
SERVERS	The serving team has been on the short side for some time. With one member moving away and another to a new area of ministry we are in need of several new servers. If you can help with this please contact the vicar.
ENGAGE 2012	Leaflets and booking forms for our next Church Weekend Away 'ENGAGE 2012' are now available at the back of church, or from the church web-site under 'News/Diary' selecting 'Engage 2012'. We are returning to Ashburnham Place in East Sussex 16th -18th November 2012. To join us please complete and return booking forms with appropriate deposit as soon as possible.
PARISH DIARY	Now that there are so many meetings taking place, it would be helpful if you would use the diary kept at the back of church, to note arrangements (time and place), in an effort to avoid clashes. The calender in the office will still be used for church services and bookings for the church room.
HOMEGROUPS ENCOURAGE SPIRITUAL GROWTH	If you are not yet a member of a homegroup do consider joining one. They are an ideal way to learn, an opportunity to discuss your faith and a good way to get to know a small group of people well, especially if you are new to the church. There are groups meeting on different evenings during the week and some meet during the day. Please telephone 737267 - all welcome.
	To respond to any of the items above please email: admin@holycrosschurch.co.uk