Weekly Newsletter 

Dear Church Family,

Welcome to our bumper Newsletter for the Sundays of August in which you’ll find information to take you through the Summer Holiday period.

Recently we finished our sermon series – Look at Jesus, the Living God - and what wonderful teaching we’ve had as we have faithfully looked at the text of the whole of The Gospel of John.  Now we’re having a short series, Encounters with Jesus, looking at some of the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel.  

In the next five weeks we’re going to be worshipping together as a church family with our Summer Sundays – all-age services with something for everyone.  Our Kids and Younger Youth Teams will have a well-deserved rest before getting going again next term!

It’s also great to look back over this academic year and see just how much we’ve grown as a church, how much God had blessed us and how much we have seen Him do amongst us.  We’ve had amazing baptisms, fantastic study courses, an incredible Gift Day, encouraging prayer and worship times, an Ordination, Younger Youth Campout and many other reasons to celebrate new-found or renewed faith in Christ. So, thank you Jesus that you are and always will be Lord of your church – that role is not vacant!

It’s also good to say that the Pastoral Reorganisation in our Deanery has been completed and that all the legalities are being sorted; so, at last we are able to get our Parish Profiles and Job and Person Specifications ready for advertising!  That won’t happen just yet, but we pray it will be in the Autumn of this year.

Whatever you’re going to be doing in the next few weeks we’d love to see you on a Sunday and we`d love it if you would pray about the following things with us too:

‍ ‍August 2nd – 8th ‍ ‍

  • The ongoing appointment process for our next Vicar and the other churches in our Deanery also in Vacancy;

  • The work of Tearfund and Open Doors as they respond to great needs in the world;

  • The Staff Team at HT as we go into light duties mode!

‍ ‍‍August 9th – 15th‍ ‍

  • An increase in our church finances to enable us to fulfil current obligations and extend our ministry in this town;

  • The work of Swale Christians Against Poverty and Foodbank as they seek to support local people in need;

  • Bob and The Band as they lead us in sung worship week by week.

‍ August 16th - 22nd‍ ‍

  • Leaders planning the next term for Thursday Stay and Play, Love Laughter Lunch, Homegroups, Kids Church and Younger Youth;                    

  •  The ongoing support given to MentalkHealth by our team of volunteers;

  • The ministry of Street Pastors in Sittingbourne Town Centre through the coming weeks.‍ ‍

August 23rd – 29th ‍ ‍

  • Service Leaders and Preachers as they faithfully serve Jesus and His church;

  • The work of Mission Aviation Fellowship and Mercy Ships as they serve the Lord in difficult situations across the world;

  • Your family and friends especially any who do not yet know Jesus.

‍August 30th - September 5th

  • Those who are going back to or starting school, college or University this week – children, young people and adults;

  • The work of New Wine in supporting church leaders and local churches in this country and abroad;

  • All our wonderful teams – Thursday Prayers, Drinks, Doors, Prayer Ministry, Bible Readers and Pray-ers - and your own ministry for the coming term – what is the Lord asking of you? ‍ ‍

‘I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.’ Psalm 116:1

Thank You for your partnership in the Gospel – we are TEAM TRINITY – and we delight in being part of what God is doing in and through us all. ‍ ‍

Have a good summer and if you need to contact us please use office@htsb.church and we will respond as soon as we can. ‍‍‍ ‍

Here are some things we think you’d like to know…

  • School Leavers - If you have left school and will be going to University, College, into an apprenticeship or employment we would love you to tell us because we would love to pray with you and send you out in Jesus’ name. Please email office@htsb.church and tell us when and where you’re off to!

  • A Psalm for Sittingbourne – Susan has written a thought-provoking psalm which gives us wonderful insights into the history of both our town and our churches. Copies are available at HT.  Do read it through prayerfully and join us in thanking God for His faithfulness to us in the past and his ongoing plans for the future as come September we all prepare to GO AGAIN!

  • Our next monthly day of prayer and fasting will be on Tuesday, 4 August.   Our prayers are for revival to come in Sittingbourne and beyond, as well as for the future direction of Holy Trinity…but don’t let this restrict you!  Feel free to pray and fast for any other major concerns that are weighing on your heart.  Please don’t fast from food if you’re unable to do so safely – there are lots of alternative things to fast from, or you can increase your bible reading instead.

  • Thank you to everyone who has responded to us regarding being baptised at HT.  We’re now aiming to have a baptism service in October.  If you’re exploring the possibility of being baptised, email us at office@htsb.church or  have a chat with Ann at one of our Sunday services.

  • There will be extra demand on our local Foodbank during the summer holidays.  Please pray for the team and don’t forget to donate items either here at HT or in local supermarkets.  Many thanks for all your generous giving so far!

‍With our love and prayers,

Ann and the Staff Team