Our new Curate
Our Curate-to-be, Mark Packer, and his wife, Susan, have been with us from the beginning of July. Mark’s ordination took place in Rochester Cathedral on Saturday 25th September and he was formally welcomed and licensed at the Harvest Festival Family Service on Sunday 26th September.
Harvest Supper 2021
The Harvest Supper will take place in the Home Farm Barn on Friday 8 October 2021 at 7.30pm for 8.00pm, by kind permission of the Fairlawne Estate. You can buy tickets at Plaxtol Stores, Shipbourne Farmers’ Market (Thursdays, 9-11am) or at church services in the benefice. Prices are unchanged at £10.00 for adults and £5.00 for children (12 and under).
Andy Doughty and Viv Packer are organising the supper. They have asked for volunteers to make shepherd’s pies, vegetarian dishes, salads and apple crumbles (a dish to feed 8 people is ideal). Please bring the food with you on the evening. They would also welcome any help to lay the tables in the Barn on Friday lunchtime from 1.30pm and to clear up after the event. Please sign up if you are able to help, either at the back of St Giles’ Church or on the list at Plaxtol Church.
There will be a raffle on the evening and if you would like to donate any prizes please contact either Andy or Viv. Funds raised on the evening will go to St Giles Shipbourne and Plaxtol Church.
Contact Andy at 07801 039807 or [email protected] or Viv at 07768 397936 or [email protected]
Please remember that it is not possible to heat the Barn so please wrap up warmly and remember we use straw bales as seats so you may wish to bring a cushion. You will need cash for the pay bar and the raffle.
We look forward to seeing you all!
Churchyard working party
Come to the churchyard on Saturday 16 October from 9.30am onwards, for a morning of clearing vegetation! Bring your own tools – secateurs, shears, strimmers etc – and protective clothing. With luck it will be reasonable weather. We aim to remove shrubs, brambles and other unwanted growth to keep our churchyard looking welcoming to the many visitors who come here. Hot and cold drinks will be available as refreshments, as well as home made cake.
Community Bread Basket
We are opening again! Join us between 9.30am and 11.30am for a cafe style breakfast on Saturday 23 October in Plaxtol Parish Church. There will be a collection for the Chatham Foodbank. Boxes will be placed in both our churches over the fourth weekend of each month for donations of food and toiletries, to coincide with our Community Bread Basket event.
The next Community Bread Basket breakfast will take place on Saturday 27 November.
Mums Ahoy!
A time for coffee hospitality and mutual support…..and perhaps even singing, music making, discussion….for Mums, Dads and carers and pre-school children. We will meet normally each month in Plaxtol Church on the fourth Thursday of each month at 9.30am. Note that because of the Coronavirus pandemic, meetings of the Mums Ahoy! group have been suspended from March 2020 until further notice.
The Rector writes: “We still want to offer hospitality to any who might appreciate the chance to have a nice cup of coffee made for them……..We are not offering coffee for a chance to ram the Bible down your throat! We’re looking to serve this section of our community as a gentle expression of our faith and God’s love for all.”