Stewards Scribblings

Hi Everyone,

We are just getting ourselves together after our Harvest Festival Sunday. The service was led by Wendy and Barry in the church and we had a good attendance. Afterwards we had a lovely shared meal, which was very enjoyable.

The usual Harvest Auction was held in the church this year, as it saved moving all the produce into the hall. Barry has reported that £60 was raised for the 'All We Can' Methodist charity from the auction of the fresh produce, and there was also a large amount of dry goods for the food bank. 'Bringing in the sheaves' was sung as it has become an annual tradition and everyone asks for it, although it is reminiscent of a bygone era!

I think the next special service to be thought about is Remembrance Sunday, so we will have to get our brains together for that service.

Christmas is only 14 weeks away, so Autumn is nearly upon us when the leaves on the trees begin to drop and non-hardy plants will have to be brought in so that frost does not get at them. I look forward to sitting by the fire to keep warm, but probably like a lot of people this year I will be having to put on an extra jumper instead.

Lastly, I think most of us are thinking of Joan and hoping that she will be home soon to keep Barry in order and less stressed.

Here's hoping you are all well (as can be) and look forward to seeing you at church each week.

God bless,

Anne Pitchforth, Senior Steward

Money & Property Matters – and Barry’s Babblings

Just a word to thank you all for the prayers and concern that you have shown to Joan (and to me and my family) over the past weeks. It has been a very worrying time and hopefully Joan is well on the road to recovery. We are very grateful to you all.

I feel that we all enjoyed our lovely Harvest Festival celebration. The church looked beautiful, the 'bring and share' lunch was tasty and the auction great fun (with £60 being raised for 'All we Can' Methodist charity). The table was stacked with gifts for the local Foodbank, which we have delivered there.

Wendy and I enjoyed planning and leading the worship, and we all had a good sing and celebration. Have you managed to find any more words that use the letters 'HARVEST'? Thanks to all who joined with us in our act of worship.

October will see the installation of new Audio Visual equipment in the church and around the halls. We are grateful for donations that have assisted with the cost, and the balance will come from legacies that we hold (and that were generously given).

Tuesday 22nd October sees the meeting of the Church Council. There have been two brief interim meetings to allow the process for the appointment of a new Lay Worker, and also for the AV equipment to be installed.

This brings me to an important point - we STILL do not have a secretary for the Church Council. It is not an onerous task and the main activity is to produce the Minutes of the meeting (usually twice a year). Occasionally a few letters have to be sent. Please do offer to help out and I am sure that the Minister would be delighted to hear from you. We cannot function without this appointment!

Sunday October 27th is a special day - British Summer Time ends, One World Week ends and it is also Bible Sunday. The latter I feel is very important and those of you that read Spotlight - the Circuit magazine- will see that I have devised a quiz around the Bible. The Bible is central to all our worship, and each Sunday is displayed on the communion table. I would suggest that John 3 verse 16 is the most famous and well loved verse in the Bible. Enjoy a good read!

Quite enough from me and a word from a very, very old chorus:

The best book to read is the Bible,
The best book to read is the Bible.
If you read it every day, it will help you on your way
O! the best book to read is the Bible!

Every blessing

Barry Turnwell, Church Treasurer and a Property Steward

Christchurch Messenger Website

You may know that much of the content of the Christchurch Messenger also ends up on this website but not all of it. So it is well worth your while to read the Messenger, but also to keep a watchful eye on the website, which is updated every month.

Over 17,500 visits (hits) are made to the website each year, around 48 each day. There are 18 web pages, and the most popular ones are the Home Page, News & Events, Diary, Contacts, Ninfield, and Christchurch Singers. There is also a link to the Winchelsea Chapel website.

If you have any comments or suggestions to make about the website, please let me know.

Peter Downes
Web Developer

Winchelsea Methodist Chapel News
www.winchelseachapel.org

On Saturday October 5th we have our Harvest Festival at 10.30am for 11am. We are delighted that this will be led by Wendy Hatch and Keith Miller from our Pett church. Please do try to come along and enjoy the morning - coffee from 10.30am. There will be a collection for 'All we Can' Methodist charity.

Come ye thankful people come!

Many thanks to all who have joined/renewed their Friends membership for the Chapel - we would love to have a few more Friends and there is a Newsletter in the vestibule or do have a word with me.

Barry Turnwell, Publicity Officer