Future Events

yellow and green of foliage on the walls celebrates the festival of Christmas

Community Bread Basket

We are open again and meeting on the fourth Sunday of each month! Join us between 9.30am and 11.00am on Saturday 23 March in Plaxtol Parish Church for our usual cafe breakfast.

Our aim is to create a community hub where everyone is welcome to share in our monthly breakfast. Our hope is to create a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where neighbours and friends can get together. There is a book table and a children’s colouring table.

There will be a collection for the Chatham Foodbank. Boxes are placed in both our churches, normally over the fourth weekend of each month, for donations of food and toiletries, to coincide with our Community Bread Basket event.

The Magpie Centre in Chatham, which is connected to our link parish (All Saints’ Church in Chatham), appealed to us in February 2024 for donations of small kitchen equipment, including settings for 4 people (plates, cutlery etc) and small pots and pans, as well as clothes, towels and curtains. We are setting up collection points in St Giles Shipbourne and Plaxtol Church on the 4th Saturday of each month to coincide with the Community Bread Basket. Thank you for your support.

Lent Lunches

During Lent we meet at 12.30pm each Thursday to share a simple lunch of soup, say a simple midday prayer and make donations towards the cost of bibles as gifts for those leaving the Junior School at Shipbourne School (year 6) in July this year. These lunches will take place

~ at Plaxtol Church: 15 and 29 February, 14 March

~ at Shipbourne Church: 22 February, 7 and 21 March

Study and reflection in Lent

We hope that Lent will be a time for encouragement, exploration and growth as we prepare to celebrate the Easter mysteries at the end of March. Do consider joining these events – everyone will be welcome.

Study and reflection group – reading the Benefice Lent book Lydia by Paula Gooder (copies will be available in church or from the Rector for £10) and the Epistle of St Paul to the Philippians: the group will meet on four Wednesday mornings, starting on 21 February, at the Rectory. The sessions will be led by Marius Carboni. Meet at 10.30am for coffee for a a 10.45am start.

Book Club styled meeting – Donna Hayler will lead sessions at the Rectory at 10.30am for coffee before a 10.45am start; or at 7.30pm for coffee before a 7.45pm start.

Lent lectures on the Book of Revelation, given by the Rector in Shipbourne Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm on:

Monday 19 February

Monday 26 February

Monday 18 March

Adult Confirmation Class

The confirmation class will be held for any adults who would like to explore their faith further with a view to being confirmed on 14 July as part of the Benefice Silver Jubilee. These will be led by our Curate, Rev Mark Packer, on Wednesday evenings from 21 February at 14 Copse Road, Hildenborough TN11 9EE, at 7.30pm for coffee, for a start at 7.45pm.

Benefice Silver Jubilee

We are planning to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of our Benefice on Sunday 14 July. A highlight of the day will be the visit of our bishop for a confirmation service. This will be the first confirmation service in the Benefice for nine years. Further details of our plans for a weekend of celebration will follow.

Twenty five years ago the parishes of Shipbourne and Plaxtol were joined to create a new joint Benefice. Each parish has its own Parochial Church Council but the Rector serves both the parishes in the Benefice.

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