Weekly Newsletter 

Dear Church Family

We trust you’ve had a good half-term and have adjusted to the clocks changing.

Please remember to pray for our Kid’s Church and Younger Youth ‘Light Party’ happening today (31 October) between 5pm and 7pm.  We are grateful to those involved in the planning and running of this event that honours Jesus as the Light of the world.  What a wonderful promise Jesus gives us in John’s Gospel, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” How blessed we are to know Jesus, the  source of all light.  We are to be the light of Christ in the world because Jesus calls his followers to be beacons of the truth, goodness, grace, hope and love.  Let us walk in the light every day and bring glory to our Lord and Saviour.

Every blessing!

Here are a few things you might like to know about:

  • Our next monthly day of prayer and fasting will be this coming Tuesday, 4 November.  We’ll be praying and fasting for God’s Kingdom to come in Sittingbourne and beyond, as well as for the future direction of our church.  There are other ways of fasting if you’re unable to fast from food completely – abstaining from sweet foods, tea, coffee, TV or social media, for example. 

  •  There will be no Thursday prayers on 6 November but they’ll be back the week after. 

  • Our Remembrance Sunday services will be on 9 November.  Two minutes’ silence will be observed at 11am.

  • The next Deanery Synod meeting will be at Tunstall Church at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 12 November.  Anyone is welcome to attend as it will be an open meeting.  Just email us at office@htsb.church by the end of Wednesday, 5 November if you’d like to come along.  

  • Our much-loved, historic church building had its five-yearly inspection at the end of 2024, and a programme of works totalling roughly £75,000 was drawn up to keep it structurally safe and sound.  Some of the work has already been completed, but the remainder must be completed by 2029.  We will be holding a special Gift Day on Sunday November 23rd to focus our efforts on this major project, as well as sending out a letter giving more information.

  •  Our next Women’s Breakfast will be from 9am to 11am on Saturday, 6th December. Our theme will be: “The Gift of a Woman’s Presence.”  It will be a time of food, fellowship, and encouragement as we celebrate the gift women are to one another and to God.  As part of the morning, we invite you to bring along one small everyday toiletry item such as soap, toothpaste, roll-on deodorant or shower gel to donate to Sateda, our local domestic abuse charity.  This is a wonderful way to share gratitude and bless a woman in need.  

  •  Christmas collection – this year, we’ll be collecting Christmas toiletry gifts for adult CAP clients and toys or games for their children.  If you’d like to contribute, please have a chat with Laura on Sunday.  The deadline for donations will be Sunday, 7 December. 

With love and prayers,

Gill and your Staff Team