News in brief...
- Check
for their 'most wanted' page -
St Margaret's Benefice is currently in a period of Interregnum.
"Interregnum? I thought that was when Charles I was removed from his head?"
Well, yes, it was, but it is also the term used in the Church of England for when a parish no longer has a licenced priest. Our wonderful Reverend Diane retired Autumn last year, and so we are embarking on the process of finding a new incumbent. In the mean time, we are extremely lucky to have a number of retired clergy (ie are no longer licenced to a particular parish) living in the village and surrounding area, who will be taking services that require an ordained minister. Take a look on our Clergy page to see who they are. - We're trying our best to help occupy our youngsters - see what they've been up to here.
- The Harvest Treasure Hunt activity pack is now available in the box in the church porch in lieu of our October Saturday Service
- The Saturday Service "Boots on the Ground" Remembrance project is ready for inspection! Find out more here.
- The Parish News is back in print! The latest edition is being distributed and will be in the Village Shop and Church, with the deadline for the December issue being17th November
- for more news, go to our News... page. I know, it's seamless!
Looking Out...
Lockdown II - OK folks, time to do it all again. 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.
St Margaret's church will be open for private prayer on Sundays between 10am and 11am. All the usual hands/face/space stuff applies.
Lost - it was just a matter of time. Five souls defeated by the waves, weather, bureaucracy, red tape, blind eyes, washed hands, pulled up ladders, shrugged shoulders. Rasoul Iran-Nejad, 35, Shiva Mohammad Panahi, 35, Anita, 9, and Armin, 6. Searchers are still looking for Artin, 15 months. Who do you know of those ages? Are they really any different?
Dover Food Bank were extremely grateful for our harvest donations - as they always are, but at this time, as more and more families find themselves pushed to the edge, they are even more important. Please have a think when you are next shopping and maybe add an extra tin or two to the trolley. The collection box is in St Margaret's church porch ready and waiting to be filled with your generocity and love.
The world's worst humanitarian crisis is happening the Yemen - war, famine, aid supplies stopped because of Covid-19 border closures, a healthcare system collapsed with the added pressure of coronavirus. UNICEF and other international aid organisations are striving to intervene in this catastrophe. If you've saved a few pounds a week from not being able to get that coffee, maybe you could find a charity that would really appreciate it right now?
28,000 people - Councils report nearly 5 times as many rough sleepers in 2018 than the official government figures, as a Freedom of Information request from the councils discovered. The government pledge to "fight the scourge of homelessness". How about we fight the scourge of the causes of homelessness, and maybe that would make a difference? Sweeping people off the streets doesn't solve the problem, it takes it from under our noses - the BBC have a pertinent report on their website right now, you can find it if you click here.
1.6million food parcels issued by Trussell Trust Food Banks in 2018 - that's up from 41,000 in 2010. I'll just let that sink in.
Saw this... 
...thought it was kind of lovely.