What's On
ALL CHURCH SERVICES & MEETINGS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, IN LINE WITH ADVICE ON COVID-19
As well as below please see our COVID-19 Page which includes details how you can join us virtually to worship this Sunday.
We will regularly update our Pew Sheet, Vicar's blog and Captain Graham Bibby's Log on this page so please revisit each week for an update.
Captain Bibby's Log for 7th June
In case you missed last week:
Captain Graham's Log for 31st May - Pentecost
There was no Vicar's Blog last week.
APCM & Reports
Due to Covid our APCM has had to be deferred. Reports to the APCM for the year can be viewed here. Reports to APCM 2020.
VE DAY 75
The commemoration of the end of the second world war in Europe was massively affected by Covid. The event was however marked by families around the village throughout the day. During the week there was a poster in the porch and on the day the flag flew from the tower. At the memorial the vicar placed a wreath. There were two other items, a display done by Nancy, a girl at Roseacre School and a large representation of a kneeling soldier with doves of peace. The bell was rung for the start of the silence at 11am and a few people gathered spontaneously to pay their respects. The vicar concluded the silence with the usual words of remembrance. At 7pm the single bell that can be used was rung for five minute
Sunday Morning
The Vicar's intention, during this time is to celebrate Communion each Sunday at the usual time of 9.45am. You are invited to pause at this time and spiritually join with him before joining Mark Pavey for the benefice live stream service at 10am.
https://www.facebook.com/northdownschurches
Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4KnCwLrj4ACApkv_UEyXvg
These services remain available after being live streamed.
LATEST ADVICE ABOUT CURRENT VIRUS
1. Maintain good hygiene including, for example, priests and servers washing their hands and using alcohol-based hand-sanitiser before Holy Communnion.
2. Parishioners with coughs and sneezes should be encouraged to receive Communion in one kind only, and to refrain from handshaking during the Peace.
3. Avoid the practice of ‘intinction’ – when the consecrated bread is dipped into the wine – as this could represent an infection transmission route.
CAN’T COME TO CHURCH?
The situation with the virus is rapidly changing. If you are unable to come to Sunday services you might consider:
1. Personal visit to church, church is open from 10am to late afternoon.
2. Daily morning prayer, 9.15am Monday to Saturday. This does not have a large number present.
3. Radio. BBC Radio 4, Sunday Worship at 8.10am, Radio 3, Choral Evensong, Sunday 3pm,, Weds 3.30pm. The BBC can be accessed at anytime for recordings of these services.
4. TV. BBC 1 Songs of Praise Sunday 1.15pm.
5. Internet, search All Souls, Langham Place,London and St James,Muswell Hill, London for recordings of services and talks. Take care esp of content, you can always check something out with vicar. Please email office if you come across good internet resources.
6. Do more of personal devotions – pray and read the bible. Also read other Christian books.
FUND RAISING COMMITTEE
The Fund Raising Committee for the Holy Cross Church Bearsted, under the logo ‘Raise the Roof’, would like to bring you up to date with news of our fund raising activities.Since October 2017 we have held numerous events, including: quiz evenings, a murder mystery evening, a weekend flower festival, an ecumenical music hall evening with churches from Bearsted and the wider community, and 3 Christmas Fayres. We have received generous gift donations from various local concerts, and from the Bearsted and Thurnham Summer Fayre Committee.
Our fund raising efforts are as a direct result of the recent Quinquennial Report which highlighted the need to have our roof repaired. The repairs are extensive and costs will reflect this. Therefore in addition to our efforts, we are approaching Charitable Trusts to seek financial support. At the time of going to press, we have been successful in being voted a Grant donation from The Cobtree
Trust. Their Grant of £10,000 plus an offer of £10,000 as an interest free loan is a tremendous start.
We have so far raised £21,396.00 and this is due to the wonderful support given to all the above events by the People of Bearsted and the surrounding communities. This is also due to the commitment and sheer hard work of all those involved in organising and volunteering their time and energies to making the above events happen. Thank you.
CHURCH OFFICE – WEDNESDAY EVENINGS
Please note that for an experimental time the Parish Office will be discontinued on a Wednesday
Evening. The office is open as usual Monday mornings and Thursday all day.
SAMARA AID APPEAL
Latest update can be found here
TALKS/SERMONS
These can be found on Sermons and Talks page of the web-site including last Sunday's at Holy Cross. Click here or select "Sermons and Talks" from the "What's On" menu bar above.
HOMEGROUPS Homegroups at Holy Cross continue to meet regularly providing an opportunity to enquire about and discuss our faith and also to meet socially in an informal setting.
These are the groups, some are temporarily suspended at the moment:-
- Every Thursday afternoon - Les Smith (8 members)
- Every Monday evening - Julie Osborn (7 members)
- Every other Monday evening - Ian Clark (7 members)
- Every Tuesday evening - Andy Haines (10 members)
- Every Tuesday evening - Richard Sutch (6 members)
- Every other Thursday evening - Sandra Brabyn (9 members)
- Every Wednesday morning (ladies group) - Diana Sandford (11 members)
- Every other Thursday evening - Juliet Mee (9 members)
All these groups welcome new members. If you are interested in joining a group post Covid-19 please contact
Liz Richardson - 738463