News in brief...
- Check
for their 'most wanted' page by clicking on their logo - Our online Book of Condolence for the life of His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh can be accessed here and via our main menu.
Looking Out...
A simple, moving, fitting funeral service for His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh - Covid is a respector of no one, and I'm sure so many can relate this past year to the denial of our accepted rituals and rites when a loved one is lost. This most personal of services, without the pomp, and no doubt chore, of endless dignitories having to be acknowledged, just maybe allowed the Queen and her family some personal time and space.
In Remembrance of the life
of His Royal Highness, Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh
who died today - Friday 9th April 2021
I write to advise you that we will ring a bell at 12 midday on Saturday 10th April, in memoriam. For our benefice this will be in St. Margaret’s and also East Langdon church, as, throughout the country, bells are tolled.
During
this week prayers will be said in all our churches of
St
Margaret’s-at-Cliffe, Westcliffe, East and West Langdon.
This prayer from the Church of England will be said-
God
of our lives,
we give thanks for the life of Prince Philip,
for
his love of our country,
and for his devotion to duty.
We
entrust him now to your love and mercy,
through our Redeemer Jesus
Christ.
Amen.
Areas for floral tributes are available at each church outside, by the church door, or it is suggested donations to a suitable charity may also be made.
A Book
of Condolence is open and available here on
our website.
We continue to pray for our Queen and her family at this time of sadness and grief.
Revd Kaz Reeves, Vicar
How wonderful to be able to celebrate Easter together again! - with our churches as full as safety allowed, and accompanied by beautiful music from the choir at St Margaret's, it was a joy to listen to the Word being preached in person on such an important day in our church calendar. With everything else so changed (including the weather - did you catch the snow today?!) to do something that felt almost normal was very welcome.
Welcome! The Rev'd Kaz Reeves was formally licenced as our Priest-in-Charge at a beautiful service last night (17th March) in St Margaret's church. Officiated by Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, the theme for the service was "The Good Shepherd", and how we all have a responsibility to be that shepherd and to be brave and bold in sharing and showing our faith in all that we do. We are blessed to have Kaz be our minister, to build on what's gone before and lay firm foundations for what is to come.
Get those jabs in your arms... we still need to be mindful of the hands/face/space requirements, but this will make a huge difference. God gave us brains for a reason, and they've certainly showed us what an incredible capacity for research and innovation we have.
We still need to do all we can, as a caring society, to minimise the spread of this disease, but we can really champion the hope that we will get through this. Stay safe and if you are in need of anything, even if it's just a chat, get in touch with us or the St Margaret's Hub and we will find someone who can help.
Churches are open for services, but see schedule
All the usual hands/face/space stuff applies.
1.9 million emergency food
parcels given out by Trussell Trust food banks from April 2019 to March
2020 - 1.2 million given out March to September 2020.
Whilst the
Trussell Trust are the largest foodbank organisation, they are by no
means the only ones. Food poverty is real and should not be happening.
1.2 million. In six months. In all of 2010 the number was 41,000.
I'll just let that sink in. You can read more on www.trusselltrust.org.
Saw this... 
...thought it was kind of lovely.