All Saints Whitstable Annual Report for 2016

ANNUAL DISTRICT CHURCH MEETING – REPORTS FOR 2016

Full agenda for the ADCM meeting on Sunday 2nd April at 11.15am at All Saints Church hall, and accounts for the year 2016, can be received by joining the All Saints Xtra email database.

If you wish to join the All Saints Xtra email database simply email the Vicar, Rev Simon Tillotson, at tillotsons@gmail.com and he will add your email to the database. Your email address will not be viewable to anyone other than Simon.

(NB We have a problem with Gmail and its powerful anti-spam feature. It is useful for stopping Spam but it is not good for mass mailing organisations like churches. If you are a Gmail user but have not received Xtra emails recently, please check either your Spam folder or most likely your Gmail generated Social or Promotions Folders if you are a Gmail client (googlemail). This is because some of our Xtra database with Gmail are not receiving Xtra because it is going direct to these subfolders as Gmail puts it there automatically. For those with Gmail who would like advice on how to have Gmail send Xtra direct to your inbox in future and avoid Promotions or Social Folders please ask Simon or watch this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDoqV-9bAU4)

VICAR’S REPORT

2016 was a good year for All Saints. We saw a regular appearance of newcomers at our services, had our largest Christmas attendance in the ten years I have been here, and saw a number of new initiatives get off the ground. In addition we had 44 baptisms and 12 weddings in the year and sadly, a larger number of funerals, which meant we were as busy as ever. It was also a pleasure that a large group from All Saints was confirmed at St Alphege Whitstable in May.

The new initiatives included the further development of Singing for Fun and Health which has now grown to a large enterprise ministering to many, and the appointment of our Musical Director Victoria Hall, who leads the choir and music group. A further development was the refurbishment of our Church organ which is due to be completed in February 2017. I am grateful to all those who served on the Organ Committee and who helped us get to our total of about £35,000 – all with the help of your generosity as well as a very generous grant from the waste company Viridor who give grants towards community projects. We also started work on raising money to resurface our car park and Churchyard paths and in February 2017 the main Church car park will be resurfaced as a result of this, though the appeal for the Churchyard paths and Shirley Hall car park will continue into the future.

Confirmation candidates after their first Communion - May 2016

One of the things that makes All Saints such an interesting place to worship is that we now have a range of ministers who bring their gifts. I am very grateful to all of the retired clergy who provide help and give variety to the service pattern both on Sundays and at our 10am Thursday Healing Communion . We were also specially blessed that Denise Blaskett was licensed as our Reader (no longer called Lay Reader) at a special service in Canterbury Cathedral in September. We look forward to Denise’s continued ministry amongst us in the coming years.

Personally, I have been involved in much of the life of the Church as you would expect, together with a number of community projects including the debt organisation Christians Against Poverty which helps those in Whitstable with debt issues, as a member of the Wynn Ellis Almshouses, and also as a governor at the Community College Whitstable which in 2016 went through a huge overhaul of its leadership structure. I also take assemblies at a number of schools in the town which is an important part of the Church’s outreach. At the same time, I continue as Team vicar of St Peter’s Church as well, which has in the last year started a Post Office inside its building as a way of reaching out to its locality.

A further initiative was the arrival of Holyballoo, a children’s craft and worship time after school on a Thursday, at the end of the year. It remains to be seen how this will fare in 2017 though I do hope it will grow in numbers and in its outreach. The Film Club has also continued to provide an important ministry of companionship to many in our community.

The Ministry Leadership Team continued to supervise the spiritual and worship aspects of the Church in tandem with the Church Council. Having the MLT in place has been a valuable form of support for myself.

I am very grateful to Margaret Arnold and Mike Binks for their hard work for the Church as Churchwardens. They work well together and the Church seems to have a happy atmosphere these days which visitors pick up and remark upon. I also want to thank Jane Askew for her help as Baptism Co-ordinator and the Baptism visiting team, and Karen Goodwin for all her help as Wedding Co-ordinator. 2017 looks like being a bumper year for weddings, with 20 weddings already booked for the year by mid-February.

In May we saw the welcome arrival of our German friends from Kleines Wiesental and Teltow for a visit as part of our Partnership exchange. My thanks go to all who made this visit possible. We can give thanks that the visit brought more people from All Saints into the life of the partnership.

I have been struck by the caring nature of some of our midweek groups – particularly the work of Cameo and the Prayer Shawl team who have once again shown how to demonstrate Christian love and support in such a dynamic way. Also my thanks go to those who serve as Pastoral Assistants and who take Communion out to those in need, as this is also vital work.

2016 was also of course the year of the EU Referendum and All Saints hosted an important debate on this issue in February which received positive reviews from those on both sides of the argument.

Our usual events including the Summer and Christmas fairs, fireworks, pet service, quizzes and barn dances all went well and my thanks go to the Social Committee for all their hard work with these events. I would also like to thank the Fabric committee for all their hard work as they start work on improving disabled toilet facilities at All Saints to fit in with modern day requirements and to ensure a disabled toilet is available for Church users when the hall is booked by another group.

Speaking of the Church Hall, 2016 was the last full year for Debbie Rowden as Hall Manager before she moves to Norfolk in the Spring of 2017. We thank her for her service. In particular though I want to finish this by paying tribute to our Church Office helpers who often work unnoticed. The Monday morning team and those who work on other mornings have shown us how to serve with commitment, humour and efficiency once again.

In fact, I think we are an amazing team at All Saints and an example of how Christian community can function effectively and joyfully. In this report, I would like to have named more names, but I fear if I had done so, I would have left out others needing a mention too. You are all, each of you, immensely appreciated and deeply valued.

With all this in mind, we go forward positively on our journey through 2017 knowing that our Lord is beside us on this journey.

With every good wish in Christ

Simon Tillotson

ARCHIVE REPORT

The Archive is where we retain our Historical Records together with many other items and documents. This enables us to have a picture of Church life, events and contacts with our local community in the past.

There are now 383 folders making up the archive but many of the more recent have been used to tidy up, sort documents into groups and improve the index detail. A start has been made in the scanning of some documents so that searching for information is easier and, in time, they may even become available on the web site. It is a time-consuming process so may be a few years yet.

Should you wish to enquire about an item that you have and think it may be a valuable addition to the Archive, please contact me.

Malcolm Waller, Church Archivist (01227 791540)

ADVENTURERS

Adventurers is the name of our Sunday School or Sunday Club. Numbers have varied from just two or three children to over twenty children with signs of a growing nucleus of families and children during the year which promises well for 2017. I am very grateful to our team of helpful volunteers who make this important provision possible. Please note that we try and run a united group during school holidays rather than provide no club at all. Once every so often, I go into the Sunday Club and lead a united time of worship and activity. I am much indebted to my clergy colleagues for making this possible. It is a useful thing for me to do in helping me build friendships with the children and parents.

Simon Tillotson

BAPTISMS

There were 44 baptisms last year of which 5 were adult baptisms. The majority of baptisms are of the under 5’s but there were two at 7 and 9 years. These children had requested baptism themselves. Baptisms are booked on Saturday mornings and take place on the first Sunday of the month, usually in the afternoon, there can be as many as six baptisms in a day. In a few cases, in agreement with the vicar, the baptisms are during the 10.00am service. The week after the baptism the families are invited back to the family service for a welcome from the congregation. Approximately 50% of families take up this invitation, at which they are given a book from All Saints’ Church to commemorate the occasion. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking Peri Hawken, Helen Parry and Debbie Tyler who work hard with me visiting and befriending the families and attending the baptisms. I would also like to thank the Saturday welcomers who are so meticulous in taking down the family details which I then transfer to the official register, and Wendy Bailey who attends all the baptisms on behalf of the Mother’s Union. It is a delightful ministry working with the young families and children and I would urge anyone interested in joining our team to speak to the vicar.

The statistics for Baptism in 2016 were:

Age under 1 year 23

1 – 5 years 14

6 – 11 years 2

Adult 5

TOTAL 44

Jane Askew, Baptism Co-ordinator

BELL- RINGERS

All Saints’ ringers continue to be a friendly, cheerful & loyal band. We have had our share of ups and downs during the year but, unlike many other towers, we are lucky that our membership has stayed constant and we have 12 ringers with 2 learners waiting in the wings.

We were very sorry that Derek had to give up ringing following a fall in May, and subsequent long illness. In March Derek received a certificate for 70 years’ membership of the KCACR, which is an incredible achievement. Towards the end of the year we gained two new recruits, Justin Po, a student at the University of Kent, and Christine Rogers who witnessed our ringing at her daughter’s wedding in the summer and thought she would like to learn. Both are making excellent progress.

In addition to ringing for the Sunday service and practising on Wednesday evening, we rang for St George’s Day, Remembrance Sunday, all Christmas services and we were privileged to ring half-muffled for Doug Saker’s funeral.

In September, we joined forces with St Alphege to compete in the District Call Change Competition at Birchington. In November, we hosted the first Canterbury District monthly lunchtime meeting where our homemade soups and cakes received much praise and Howard and Denise were made members of KCACR. Throughout the year we have continued to hold monthly practices with St Alphege when we alternate between our two towers. Our year was nicely rounded off by a very enjoyable Christmas meal at the Monument.

I should like to thank the ringers for their continued loyalty and support and for the friendship, fun and laughter we share together as a band. We practise on a Wednesday evening when anyone interested in learning to ring is welcome to join us. If you would like to keep up-to-date with Belfry news, then look at our Facebook page; Bell-ringing at All Saints, Whitstable.

Maureen Cooke Tower Captain, 01227 274817

Singing for Life and Health (see later report)

CAMEO

We have a membership of 40+ and an average weekly attendance of around 25. We chat, drink tea or coffee and have a slice of homemade cake – thanks to Lindsay for the glorious homemade cakes she produces every week. There are games of Scrabble, Rummicub and other board games but there are no compulsory activities, you can do as much or as little as you please. Outside activities were well attended with 2 tables fielded for the All Saints Quiz Night (we didn’t win but we didn’t come bottom either); Easter bonnet making and parade; guided tour of Elham Valley Vineyard with wine tasting and afternoon tea, and an evening at the theatre – Steven Sondheim’s “Company”. The year was finished off with a Christmas Lunch Buffet with live music which all contributed to.

This only happens due to the help provided at each session - setting up, serving tea, providing lifts, and clearing up at the end. Particular thanks to Barbara Allen, Pat Holland, Lindsay Clifford, Joan Malt, Christine Keil, Julie Handy, Monica Worth, Joan Garbutt, Lionel Osborn and Mike & Maureen Scammell for all they do.

Feel like a little company on a Monday afternoon? You would be very welcome - just drop in, any Monday between 2.00-3.30pm (except bank holidays). No obligation to come every week – just when you feel like it.

Linda Young 01227 278681 / jondieon@aol.com

CHOIR REPORT

The Adult Choir at All Saints’ Church is progressing really well. We have a steady stream of female soprano and alto members at both practice and our regular services. With our ongoing recruiting efforts, we have had lots of new people try out the choir to see if it’s for them and a deﬁnite couple of permanent new members as a result.

The choir are lucky to have the extra support of members from St Alphege’s Choir for Evensong and other services, such as weddings and funerals, and we are very grateful for this.

I believe some members of the congregation would like to come to a practice to try out and I very much hope that they pursue this! We must try and ﬁnd some men! I heard all of the men sing a few verses of ‘We Three Kings’ this year and I know they’re out there! They just need to ﬁnd us (Thursdays 7:15 - 8:45pm in the Church).

As a matter for consideration, Holy Trinity Church, Ramsgate, have approached me with an idea of doing a joint Evensong sometime this year. I think it would be wonderful to establish yet another musical and spiritual connection with another Church. My initial thought is to do this once a year, alternating venues; however, we shall have to think about the logistics and practicalities.

Our choir is going from strength to strength, sounding even better every week. Highlights of this year have included the Advent Carol Service. The music group are developing well too. The regular instruments are ﬂute, bassoon, keyboard and drum kit. I am biased, but I truly believe it sounds lovely. The combination of the woodwind instruments sounds great and I think the addition of the drum kit lifts every song to another dimension. For the family services we are lucky to have what I like to call our Music Orchestra, with the addition of the recorder, bass and many more vocals.

The junior Choir has made a positive start. We are small but strong in numbers and ﬁrmly believe that this time next year, we will be into double ﬁgures! I plan to give some leaﬂets to the Brownies to encourage even more of them to join us. I’d like to thank Simon especially for his ongoing support and administrative help with the Junior Choir, Michael for his assistance and support, and most importantly, the choir and music group for their continued hard work and commitment to the life of the Church and parishioners.

Victoria Hall, Choir and Music Group Leader

CHURCHWARDENS REPORT

2016 was a very positive and rewarding year for All Saints. The family service attendances are growing with more families and young people joining us in worship on the second Sunday. Our music group under our newly appointed Choir Mistress, Victoria, has added much to this service encouraging new members to sing and play and she is now organising a Junior Choir. We have to congratulate her on the success of her hard work at all 10 am services.

After many years as treasurer and vestry auditor, Brian Witts will now be retiring from his financial duties in the Church. He thinks that at the age of ninety he needs to hang up his balance sheet. Thank you Brian for all the work you have done for All Saints’ Church, not just as Vestry Auditor, but also as Treasurer for many years. Our new vestry auditor Brian Reynolds is in training.

And still another change in personnel; Debra our hall caretaker will be moving to Norwich. She has worked for All Saints for 10 years and has done an amazing job, hiring and cleaning the hall – thank you Debra, we really do appreciate your work and you will be missed. We are now however in the process of finding a replacement.

The events held during the past year have also been successful – the Pet Service was well attended by people and animals. The holiday club held in the hall was very successful and it was good to see Simon playing ‘Port and Starboard’ with 29 children. We hope this event will continue. The Summer Fayre, the Fireworks and the Christmas Fayre also continue to be fun and community centred.

The new mid-week service Holyballoo for children and families has begun and we pray that more families will join Simon in this fun/worship.

So much goes on in the community of All Saints and we are always looking for help, especially driving the elderly to Church on a Sunday, Sidespeople, Sound System operators and much more. There are forms at the back of the Church outlining where your help is needed or just join one of the groups listed in this booklet. You will be very welcome.

Thank you to the uniformed organisations who support us during the year, especially at the Remembrance Day Service; it was great to see so many children, young people and their leaders parading through the Church and then out to the memorial.

What a success this Christmas as been at All Saints! Approximately 1,200 people came through the Church door! The singing around the Christmas tree and collections in Church raised £528 for Catching Lives (a local charity for the homeless), and £175 was raised for Porchlight, a national charity for the homeless.

We begin 2017 on a strong and firm footing. Let us all pray that it continues and that we are all able to support each other on our Christian journey.

Thank you to all those who have helped us as Churchwardens and thank you to all who minister to us in our services, especially Simon supported by his wife Cathy.

Margaret Arnold and Mike Binks - Churchwardens

Just one of the many social events at All Saints during the year

CHURCHYARD

2016 was quite a busy year in All Saints’ Church and Churchyard.

There were 14 burials and 15 recorded interment of ashes in the Churchyard, nearly twice the usual number! This is in addition to the funeral services held in Church where the deceased is not buried at All Saints.

In the rush and bustle of a busy world, All Saints’ Churchyard continues to be a haven for birds and wildlife and an oasis of God’s peace and calm. It is visited by many people caring for graves, visiting deceased relatives / friends, or passing through along the public footpath. Many people walk their dogs through the grounds and happily I can report that, since signs were put up following a DCC resolution, most dogs are now walked on leads.

It is also lovely to see the children from the nursery using the Churchyard as part of their activities (always well supervised and appropriate to the sacred space). In particular, their annual event ‘Light up All Saints’ where they walk through the Churchyard with lanterns, torches and other pretty lights. In addition to Remembrance Sunday, when the Family service concludes with the 2 minutes silence and prayers at the War Memorial in our Churchyard, we also have a with an Act of Remembrance on Armistice Day (11/11), when we are joined by children from St Mary’s school who also lay a wreath.

The Churchyard is certainly looking in good shape, not only from my work as groundsman, but also the efforts of all those who help me in maintaining the area – thanks particularly to Michael Binks (Churchwarden) for much grass cutting, pruning and leaf clearance, and also other members of the congregation for their help, either individually or as part of one of our occasional working parties. THANK YOU.

Philip Williams, Groundsman (07787 127643), pdwilliams57@gmail.com

COMMUNION IN THE COMMUNITY

As part of our pastoral care, a team of people regularly visit people at home, bringing them Holy Communion if they are temporarily or long-term unable to get to Church. (See also under Pastoral Care Scheme for wider visiting).

David Sims

CONTACT WITH SCHOOLS

I continue to take assemblies at the Endowed School and Swalecliffe Primary School which are both fruitful forms of contact with our community, both teachers and pupils. Also, in the last year, I have rejoined the governors at the Community College Whistable (formerly the Sir William Nottidge school), having served before a few years ago. I find my experience of being involved at all three schools extremely important to my ministry as a vicar. It is not to be seen in any way as something separate from my work but as a living embodiment of the need for clergy to be out in the community in this way. Please pray for me as I go to these schools and for my important role as a governor at Whitstable’s only Secondary School. Please also pray that I will be given more opportunities to take assemblies at the Community College, Whitstable.

Simon Tillotson

DEANERY

Reculver Deanery consists of the Anglican Churches in Whitstable Team, Herne Bay, Reculver, Herne, Greenhill and Hoath. All Saints has 3 Deanery Synod members who are elected for a 3 year term (so 3 are due to be elected at the 2017 ADCM for 3 years). Synod members are also ex-officio members of both PCC and DCC.

Usually any business to be dealt with by the Deanery Synod is dealt at a very short meeting of the Synod (typically only a few minutes, to approve finances etc) at the end of a Deanery Open Meeting.

These themed meetings are open to anyone in the Deanery, and you are all encouraged to attend any of them that appeal to you - do keep an eye open in the Church notices for details throughout the year. The themes of the meetings in 2016 were:–

· April - Loving yourself as your neighbour – self-care for Christians – led by Sarah Chapman who is the Diocesan Healing and Wholeness advisor and highlighted the danger of being so busy that we neglect ourselves.

· July - Sharing our Stories – Churches were asked to give a short presentation on something currently happening in their Church – whether tough, puzzling, encouraging, hopeful or challenging. Stories included the Post Office in St Peters, several different aspects of Children’s ministry, and an excellent presentation from Pat Holland about Singing For Fun and Health at All Saints.
Each presentation was followed by a clergy reflection and prayers about the project.

· Another meeting was planned to be held in October–The challenge of reaching men for Christ –starting with breakfast, followed by a talk from an outside speaker, then discussion and prayer.
Unfortunately,due to a lack of people signing up in advance, this had to be cancelled. However, this may be rescheduled at a later date.

Christine Williams

DISTRICT CHURCH COUNCIL

We are fortunate to have Council members from a wide variety of backgrounds, all of whom generously contribute their time and expertise to the good of the Church and its place in the Community. During the past year we have had six meetings and much has been debated in relation to the maintenance of the Church buildings and grounds, as well as ways in which the Church can attract and encourage new members to its congregation. Our involvement in community organisations and the welcome that All Saints offers those using our facilities, are issues regularly discussed, and the reports in this booklet reflect the range of activities involved and the tremendous hard work and dedication that goes into maintaining them.

Clare Levere, Secretary to the DCC

ELECTORAL ROLL AT MARCH 2017

Roll numbers have changed very little over the year starting at 185 in March 2016 and ending at 187 this year.

We have lost 4 people during the year, namely Mary Parry, Margaret King, Amy Wheal and very recently, Gladys Norrington. There have been 6 additions to the Roll, namely Julie Barton, Daniel and Janet Livermore, Leonora Smale and David and Claire Cramphorn.

All regular worshippers are invited to be on the roll and are asked to complete the appropriate form which is available from the table in the Church or from the Electoral Roll Officer. If you are not sure whether you are on the Roll, please contact Brian Percival on 01227 262435.

FABRIC COMMITTEE

It has been a good year for the Committee with 5 meetings and I would like to thank all the members of the committee for attending the meetings and for their input. Personally, I find them both enjoyable and rewarding.

Overall the year has seen some progress in long standing projects, as well as the usual every day repairs, replacements etc. that never seem to end.

At the start of the year we were focused on planning for a new Toilet in the West porch of the Church, this would have also made feasible a refreshment area at the back of the Church in the library area. Unfortunately, this became impossible due to drainage issues and so had to be discontinued, along with the refreshment area. However, it was replaced with plans to upgrade the toilet next to the Thorpe Room to meet the current Disabled requirements. Plans have been drawn up, the project discussed with the Church Council and approved by both the DCC and the Fabric committee. We have been given a likely total cost of about £25,000, plus VAT, which we can meet from Church funds. We are also exploring the possibility of a Grant, which I understand is quite likely, which will reduce the cost to us. The plans have now been submitted to the Council. We do not need actual planning permission but, as the area is for public access, they will check that it does meet current standards for disabled users.

Over the years we have discussed various proposals to replace the windows in the Church Hall. Finally we came up with a solution and decided to renovate them, rather than replace. The large end window overlooking the cemetery was in a bad state and looked as though it could fall out at any time. That one has been taken out, totally renovated and reinstalled with new glass and hard wood surround. With periodic repainting, it should last a further 80 years. Two or three more, smaller windows do need renovating in the foreseeable future, but these will be done when necessary.

By the time this meeting has been held, the Main Car Park should have been resurfaced. I would like to thank Simon for taking on board the main workload for arranging this. The more long term requirement for resurfacing the various paths in the cemetery will be an on-going project.

We had a survey done by the Church Insurers recently and I am pleased to tell you that nothing major was found, a few minor issues have been, or soon will be addressed. The Church is covered up to £7.9 million and the Hall to £1.11 million.

Finally, I want to thank everyone on the Committee and others who so freely and willingly give their time to the Fabric Committee or the Church. This Church, our Church, only exists because we are all prepared to make the effort.Michael Binks, Fabric Committee and Church Warden

FILM CLUB

The Film Club continues to meet every Thursday apart from a few weeks off each year in the summer. Numbers vary from about 10 to 25 and membership is only £10 for the year. It provides a useful social event for many, as there is an interval half way through when people can catch up with each other over a tea or coffee. Please let me know if you would like to see the latest programme or simply turn up at the hall on a Thursday at 11am. I am very grateful to David Woodnutt who assists me, though it would be good to have a third person who was able to help when neither David nor I are available. You would need to be taught how to set up our Film Club system, so some confidence with leads and sockets would be helpful!

Simon Tillotson

FLOWER REPORT

2016 was a very busy year for the flower ladies plus Malc. However, we survived and worked hard throughout the year to bring flowers and arrangements into the Church for festivals, services and brides. We now look forward to Easter and displaying the Easter lilies given by members of the congregation in remembrance of a loved one - a privilege and a joy to do.

Thank you to Kayte, Viv and Malc who work each week with the flowers and also to Christine Binks, Linda Annable and Berit Garsed who help when needed. If you think you would like to join us, we would love to meet you so please give me a ring for a chat.

Margaret Arnold 01227 793588

HEALING MINISTRY

If people cannot for any reason, attend the Sunday morning services, a service is held in the South Aisle every Thursday morning at 10am, at which there is an opportunity to receive prayer for healing and wholeness in body, mind and spirit, within the context of Holy Communion. All welcome.

About three times a year, the Healing Ministry is also offered at the 10am main service. After every service, prayer and/or a confidential conversation is available in the West Porch.

Should anyone who generally attends the 8am service feel in need at any time of special prayer, do please get in touch with Simon, the Vicar, who will be pleased to offer you this ministry or pass you on to others in the Healing Ministry team.

David Sims

Our German exchange in May provided quite a lot of fun

HOLYBALLOO

We stopped Celebrate in 2014 because we felt it was leading to a divided Church. Generally speaking the change has been appreciated, though we have lost some families who find formal Church difficult. Therefore, the MLT, together with the DCC, took the decision to start a midweek event after school for families with young children that involved informal worship and could also hopefully provide a new link between our parish and our Sunday morning services. Holyballoo therefore started in November 2016. It has been craft centred rather than worship centred but this seems to be working well. Craft is after all a form of worship. For the parents who attend it is also a time to unwind away from the demands of work and home. Numbers are quite fragile at the moment so we would ask for your prayers for its future. It takes place on Thursdays during term time at 3.15pm to 4.15pm in the Church hall so come along if you are interested.

The Holyballoo staff team – Chris Binks, Clare Levere, Ruth Smith, Simon Tillotson

MINISTRY LEADERSHIP TEAM

The Ministry Leadership Team continued to meet regularly in 2016 in order to assess our worship, outreach and general life as a Church. It also helped to plan the successful Novena in the early summer and has examined many pastoral and outreach areas of our Church life. It approved my idea to start Holyballoo towards the end of the year and also drew up the terms of reference for our Musical Director. Any proposals are brought to the Church Council who always have a final say on any major decisions.

Margaret Arnold, Denise Blaskett, Chris Lovelock, Helen Parry, Julia Seath, Anne Rees, Simon Tillotson, Paula Trewin MBE

MOTHERS' UNION

The Mothers' Union is an international Christian membership charity of 4 million members living in 83 countries, who share our heartfelt vision - to bring about a world where God's love is shown through loving, respectful and flourishing relationships.

In Whitstable we are a Team Fellowship Branch. Our membership represents all five Anglican Churches and we play an important part in the local community by our involvement with many projects. Amongst many things, we distribute M.U Baptism booklets, help with Marriage Preparation talks, send M.U Wedding Cards to couples getting married etc.

We usually meet in the morning of the second Tuesday of the month at the Seasalter

Christian Centre and in the afternoon of the third Thursday in the Thorpe Room, All Saints'

Hall when we have some interesting speakers on varying topics. Details of our forthcoming meetings can be found in Unity and also on our Church weekly notice sheets and we are always pleased to welcome visitors and new members.

Margaret Lakin-Hall 262471

ORGANIST’S REPORT

Progress is steady. Membership-wise, we welcome Penny, Julie and Pauline (Brownie leaders), but who is more important than Victoria Hall, who has come to us as our Choir Leader with her husband, Chris, who plays drums in the music group. Victoria is already making progress in the training of the existing choir, and encouraging new people to join. In January of this year, she started a junior choir which rehearses in the Church Hall on Thursday evenings just before Brownies. The choir sang at her wedding last summer. We welcome back Jenny, after a spate of ill-health. Unfortunately we have lost Mark who has moved to Ramsgate and, as far as is known, is a member of the choir of Holy Trinity Church. We also lost one of the most loyal members of any choir – Richard – who has moved to Eastbourne, following the death of Cathy, his wife.

We now have Choral Evensong at 1600 during GMT, reverting to 1830 during BST. My thanks to the choir for voluntarily singing occasionally at funerals. However, we still need more voices because due to age, the voice drops in pitch. Many, if not all of our sopranos, are now unable to sing anything above Treble “F”, therefore making them altos. I am looking for people of the “just-left-University-and-are-settling-down” type – people who will be loyal to the choir and not leave after a few months because they are moving away – men in particular – the younger end of the adult age-range. I hope that Victoria will be able to develop her junior choir to fulfil this role in the future. Maurig and Christine still help out at Choral Evensong, and now we have a clergy-person, in the shape of Keith McNicoll who will say the State Prayers (those between the Anthem and the last hymn), and give the Blessing at the end of the service.

On another note, you will not have failed to notice that at the time of writing, the South Aisle has been full of organ pipes and bits of action, all of which have been cleaned and restored. We now await the procedure which will modernise the keyboards with up-to-date stop aids, and the addition of one or two small ranks of pipes which will complete the Great and Swell Specifications, thus giving the organ what it should have had years ago and never did! Also, I still hope to bring the disused organ of St Andrew’s Church, to be played from a third keyboard and to be coupled into the main organ. There have been a lot of favourable comments about my Keyboard which has been acting heroically as an electronic substitute during the time the organ has been in pieces. If it had not been for that, it would have been the piano, at best, and unaccompanied, at worst. Thanks to the splendid fundraising abilities of All Saints’ Church, our organ will be good for at least 60 years, after which I will have to arrange a further fund-raise!

Michael N Cooke, F.R.C.O., A.R.C.M.

PCC REPORT

The PCC is the body that represents the five Team Churches of Whitstable. It met four times during the year. Most of the work it does is just standard administration of team matters, but of note this year were the following:

a) The Raise the Roof campaign to raise money for a new roof for St Alphege, Whitstable;

b) St John's Swalecliffe now has a paid Children and Family Worker, Naomi Smith, who has completed her first full year;

c) St Peter's Whitstable now has a post office inside its main building as a service to the community and to help with its general outreach;

d) Continued outreach into the St Andrew's part of town by St Alphege Whitstable who have pastoral responsibility for that area;

e) Various projects taking place at St Alphege Seasalter, including plans for refurbishing the old Church.

Simon continues to meet every Monday with the other colleagues from the team and to work together with them on a number of projects in the town.

Please pray for the work of our Team PCC. Thank you

Simon Tillotson

Our Reader Denise Blaskett was licensed in September at Canterbury Cathedral

PASTORAL CARE SCHEME

A relatively small group of pastoral assistants and people authorised to take out Communion to people’s homes is currently in existence. We meet every two or three months to discuss how our visiting is going and also email each other with important pastoral news. It would be good to see some more people come forward to be a pastoral assistant, so if you think this might be what you are called to do, please let me know. Most pastoral assistants only visit one or two people regularly, and this is still perfectly satisfactory and greatly appreciated.
As has been pointed out before, the presence of Cameo, Singing for Life and Health, the Film club and our well attended Thursday 10am service, as well as the outstanding pastoral work of the Prayer Shawl team, mean that we have pastoral structures in place now which create much social support for members of All Saints and for those who may not be Churchgoers but who nonetheless attend these groups. Therefore, despite the fact that our team of pastoral assistants is smaller than in previous years, we are confident that we are just as caring a Church as we ever have been. Particular thanks to Christine Daldorph for her work creating the large cards which we so often give out to people.Those currently taking part in the Pastoral Care Scheme and Home Communion visiting are Margaret Arnold, Roz Button, Des Collins, Christine Daldorph, Berit Garsed, Pat Hudgell, Janet Livermore, David Sims, Heather Scott and Simon Tillotson.

PRAYER SHAWL GROUP

Our small group is now in its third year of being. We meet twice a month in The Monument and create shawls and scarves as a ‘Hug of love’ to give to members of the Church Community and those outside who need some extra support as they face challenging situations.

Each shawl is made with prayer and blessed at our healing communion service before being packaged and taken by Simon our vicar or given by friends directly to the recipient. We have made very many now between us and they have been given to lots of different people including Theresa May, our Prime Minister, and a homeless lady living in Whitstable, as well as much loved members of our congregation.

We are amazed at the responses we receive from people to hear how much these items with the prayer attached to them are valued.

“Little is much when God is in it” - 1924 hymn by Kittie L. Suffield

Pat Holland

READER’S REPORT

Last year was the second year of my training as a reader and culminated in a wonderful service at the Cathedral at which I was licensed as a reader. It was good to have some of you there.

It's been a tough two years and most of the time I feel I have been in training as a juggler!! I work full time and the time I devote to my training includes evenings and some weekends. There is a residential weekend once a year, a Saturday school once a term and an evening class once a week. We also have four tutorials per year. Then there is the expectation to provide, two academic essays per term. This is in addition to any sermons I preach, prayers I write, bells I ring, or meetings that I attend in my commitment to MLT, PCC and Synod. And Breathe!! I hear you say!!!

But my training does not end there: I have another two years of study to go, so I'm just over half way there.

I could not do this, without all of your kind words of encouragement along the way, so thank you one and all. Sometimes, when I feel like I'm about to drop my juggling balls, I want to give up, but I know that God has set me on this path and I really enjoy serving him in any way I can. So if you see me looking frazzled, it's probably because I have an essay due.

If you would like to know more about my role, please come and talk to me.

Denise Blaskett

Reflective Scripture Group

The group has been meeting regularly, usually on the third Monday of the month from 8 to 9 pm at home. We first listen to, then each one reads to themselves, the Gospel reading for the following Sunday. After a time of meditating/pondering on the passage, anyone, as, when and if they wish to, repeat a word or phrase from the reading that might have touched them in some way. There is no obligation to do so, nor commentary or discussion on what has been said. It is an ancient way of "praying the Scriptures", not a Bible study. It is led by the Holy Spirit for each participant. It is not structured and participants come as and when they wish or are able to. We are between 4, sometimes 8 or 9 on any given evening. There is room for more.

Do think about coming and exploring this unique way of praying "The Word of God". You are most welcome. The dates are published in the weekly notices.

Martin and Berit Garsed, 19 Gloucester Rd, Tankerton, 01227 266212

Sadly it rained at the Summer Fete but the Abbey Ukulele Group entertained us in the hall

SACRED SPACE

This has continued once a month throughout 2016 and will do so, I believe, for years to come as it is such a powerful spiritual experience for those who attend. We meet in near darkness at 8pm with just candlelight in the Church and the sound of Taize music and the smell of incense. There is then 45 minutes of time for quietness and prayer before spoken prayers are said at 8.45pm. We then conclude at 9pm. Numbers are not particularly high so we would like to see more folk attend. Please do bring a torch. Please look out for it on the notices or website as dates are advertised. Simon Tillotson

SACRISTANS’ REPORT

The sacristy team have continued their work throughout the year. Week by week they have been carrying out their duties preparing everything needed for the celebration of the Eucharist. Routine tasks include the scalding of chalices, the care of altar linen servers amices and priests’ vestments. The sacristans are also responsible for keeping the communion vessels in good order and for changing the altar frontals to reflect the passing seasons of the year. In 2016 we were fortunate enough to have a new purple frontal for the central altar for use during Lent and Advent. Many thanks to Rowena Church for taking on this tricky task.

Sacristans – Doreen Austin, Margaret Finch, Barbara Tinson.

SAFEGUARDING REPORT 2017

The safeguarding team, Julia Seath (Adult Safeguarding Lead), Peri Hawkins (Child Safeguarding Lead) and Linda Young (DBS Lead) have continued their work advising and supporting the Church in working to Church of England safeguarding policies and procedures. This year 23 All Saints’ helpers and volunteers undertook their safeguarding training at Seasalter Christian Centre. For any concerns about children, young people or vulnerable adults, please contact any of the team members. Peri Hawkins, Safeguarding Children's Lead

SATURDAY WELCOMERS

Welcoming visitors to our Church at Church services and other times when the Church is open is a very important part of our mission. We are blessed to have people who, on a rota, volunteer their time on a Saturday morning to meet and greet visitors from 10.00am to 12.00 noon. Many thanks this past year to Wendy Bailey, Anthea Bryant, Judith Jewiss, Mike & Maureen Scammell, Karen Goodwin, Pat Hudgel, Doreen Austin, Malcolm Waller, John & Jane Naylor, Christine & Phillip Williams and Rev’d Fred Smale (who sadly died this year).

We would be very pleased to have others join this small team. Can you spare 2 hours on a Saturday morning, ~7 times a year, to welcome visitors, chat and make a cup of tea/coffee and help with baptismal and wedding enquiries and initial bookings? The paper work isn’t complicated, help is provided until you feel confident and it is not physically challenging. If you feel you would like to join this group or would like to know more about the who, how, what, where details of the job, please contact me.

Linda Young 01227 278681 / jondieon@aol.com

SERVERS

Our Servers assist the clergy at Sunday and mid-week services here at All Saints Church. They are also involved in processions for Blessing of the Water and Landing of the Catch at the Oyster Festival, and in serving for Cursillo services, including those held in Canterbury Cathedral. In addition to his duties as a server, Brian Percival has taken on the task of making the Paschal candle, which is freshly made by hand for Easter each year.

Unfortunately, David Sims has had to stop serving altogether now, and Allen Shilling is still unable to serve having had some setbacks in his recovery from knee operations. Julia Seath is very limited in her availability due to her husband’s ill-health.

I am grateful to Dennis Button for serving when no-one else is available at our 8am Sunday service, and other servers who are serving more often to cover gaps in the rota. I am pleased to welcome Maria Roberts, who has joined us since last year’s report, and is a very loyal member of our team.

Have you considered becoming a server? Our numbers are falling and we would welcome some new blood – no previous experience required – just a desire to serve Our Lord at His Altar. So if you are interested, or just inquisitive about this role in All Saints’ Church, then please speak to myself or Simon.

Phillip Williams, HeadServer.(07787 127643), pdwilliams57@gmail.com

3^rd WHITSTABLE (ALL SAINTS’) SCOUT GROUP

Attendance at the Group is just over 60 young people each week. The Leader situation still remains poor, with a couple of leaders “multitasking”, so more help is still required. It is only the dedication of our Leaders that make the many activities the Group takes part in possible.

All sections worked on Challenge and Activity badges during the past year. Several Cubs attended the District Cub Camp in June. The Scouts and Explorer Scouts camped at the Belchamps Scout Activity Centre near Southend. Members from all sections of the Group have taken part in swimming and sports competitions. A beach barbeque and treasure hunts have also featured, whilst all sections have continued with normal Scout training work, aiming for the Chief Scouts Award for the relevant section.

Explorer Scouts continue to work for the Duke of Edinburgh awards More Leaders are still required to organise and direct these activities to make it possible for Scouting to continue with the Group here at All Saints. If you would like to help, please get in touch. If you have a young member in your family who would like to join, please get in touch with the relevant contact number below. We currently have a waiting list for Beaver Scouts, so if you wish your son/daughter to join, please get in touch as new entrants are taken in on a first come, first served basis.

Section	Age	Day and Time	Leader
Beavers	6-8 years	Tuesday 1700-1815	Ms Jackman - 687253
Cubs	8-10 ½ years	Tuesday 1830-2000	Mr Woolgar - 264238
Scouts	10 ½ - 14 years	Friday 1900-2030	Mr Haseltine - 07852 956778
Explorer Scouts	14-18 years	Thursday 1915-2045	Mr Maley - 687253

Thank you to those who support out Jumble Sales by providing a never ending supply of goods, and used stamps for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Group Scot Leader, Peter Woolgar, 264238 (From 1^st January 2017, Mr Peter Maley 687253)

SINGING FOR FUN AND HEALTH

We are just about to start our third year of Singing for Fun and Health. We have a very committed group of helpers from the Church who work hard each month to make the sessions friendly and fun for all those who come along and join us. We have an average of 50 people per session but about 80 at Christmas. AGEUK often bring along quite a few folk to join us too. As well as hearty singing we enjoy a time of refreshment and a good chat and many new friendships have begun.

This last year we welcomed the All Saints Nursery to join us at our Easter session, we had a wonderful party to celebrate the Queens 90^th birthday, an excellent Christmas song and Carol afternoon with an 8-piece band gathered mainly from the Church and at the time of writing we are expecting the Abbey Ukulele Players from Faversham to lead our February session. Plenty of variety! This group is aimed at bringing health and wellbeing through singing into our community and building friendships to combat loneliness and isolation.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Psalm 100.

Pat and Aubrey Holland

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

2016 was another busy year for the Social Committee. Our main events for the year started off with the successful fish and chips Quiz Evening enjoyed by all. The Summer Fete, albeit wet(!) showed the versatile commitment of the team to carry on regardless and prove that the elements can be overcome. The Harvest Supper/Barn Dance was very well supported and enjoyed, with raffle proceeds being donated to ‘Catching Lives’. To complete our social calendar, the Christmas Fair also proved to be very successful and was much enjoyed. We also assisted at the agape meal, the very successful Firework display and, to top it all, Carols under the Yew Tree, where proceeds were also donated to ‘Catching Lives’. Our All Saints Christmas cards and pens continue to sell and raise further funds.

I would like to say a BIG thank you to the Social Committee for all their loyal commitment and hard work; it has been a real team effort. Many thanks also to all those who helped in whatever capacity and, of course, to all of those who supported us at the various events.

John Johnson

Weddings

We were fortunate to have 12 weddings that took place at All Saints in 2016. Bookings were unusually low at the start of the year but further bookings came in throughout the year. The summer months remain the most popular for wedding bookings, from May through to September with one December booking.

The couples are invited to two wedding preparation events: one is held at All Saints and the other at Seasalter Christian Centre. The preparation day at All Saints takes place early in the year and is run by Simon. This covers all practical aspects of the wedding – hymns, prayers, music choices, fees etc. It also gives the couples the opportunity to meet with the other couples getting married at All Saints in the same year. The session with Simon in the Church lasts for between two to three hours and afterwards the couples come over to All Saints’ Hall for refreshments prepared by Jane and myself. This also gives us the chance to meet the couples and to answer any questions along with Simon. It is lovely to hear the couples chatting to each other about their forthcoming weddings and all the preparations taking place!

I manage the wedding administration, sending the invoices, writing the banns in the Banns Book to be read in Church and circulating the monthly rota showing the requirements of the couples. Jane Askew helps with the wedding rehearsals and Angela Sandey with the wedding registers. It is a very enjoyable role and one that I feel privileged to have.

Karen Goodwin, Wedding Co-ordinator

Full agenda for the ADCM meeting on Sunday 2nd April at 11.15am at All Saints Church hall, and accounts for the year 2016, can be received by joining the All Saints Xtra email database. If you are already part of this database but have not received the report, please check either your Spam folder or your Social or Promotions Folders if you are a Gmail client (googlemail).

Wednesday 8 March 2017