February 2025

Stewards Scribblings

Well, here we are in a New Year and hopefully it will be a better year than last year. So far we have not had snow but the very thick frost is slippery under foot, even though it looks lovely in the sunshine.

Christmas Services were organised with the help of David Hanson as we were away. Then we had a delivery of puppies on Christmas Eve which brought home the reason for Advent with new life.

I am looking forward to Sandy's service next week, as she enjoys writing services. It is lovely that we are all versatile in different things and this makes life enjoyable and accessible to others.

Looking out into the garden I can see the bulbs coming up so it will not be long before snowdrops and crocuses are flowering to cheer us up. We are looking forward to February and getting to the beginning of the Easter season. Easter is late in April, which seems a long time away. Still, we have Shrove Tuesday in March to cheer us up and lighter evenings are coming.

Here's Wishing You all a Happy New Year.

Anne Pitchforth, Senior Steward

Money & Property Matters – and Barry’s Babblings

I almost decided to give you a rest from reading my 'Babblings' but I didn't want to disappoint you, my readers!! I also thought that you would like to know that Peter Watson and I have been doing a clearing out job in Centenary House - and we found a few treasures! There was a box full of past Messengers and I have been reading the issue dated September 2000 - the start of that Methodist Year.

At that time our Minister was Rev Roger Leslie and the Senior Steward Mrs Jill Read. The place was quite vibrant with Playgroup, Open House, Parent and Toddler group, Ladies Friendship Club, Tuesday Adventurers, Bible Study group, Ladies Supper Club, Wesley Guild and two services every Sunday!

Most of the kind folk who ran these groups are now in glory, but we still have some wonderful memories of those times. I notice that we held a 'Mission in the sun' Garden Party that raised £340 divided between Home and Overseas Missions. Our circuit presented 'Hopes and Dreams' at St Mary-in-the-Castle that explored the Lord's Prayer with the help of Shades.

Wendy Gorham wrote an article about the Festival Choir seeking a volunteer to accompany the singers - this was the forerunner of the Christchurch Singers.

Linked with the Bexhill Carnival we held a Christchurch Fun Day with a red balloon race and the balloons that travelled the furthest were all found in parts of France! Another interesting aspect was the compilation of the Circuit Strategy called 'Summary of Local Church Reviews'. Well, that was the start of the Millenium and we are now 25 years down the road in 2025.

As the hymn says 'We'll praise Him for all that is past, and trust Him for all that's to come'. I still feel that there is much to come from Christchurch. Zoom was not a word in 2000 and now we have a ZOOM quiz each month - do try and join in from the comfort of your own home - next one is on Friday February 21st at 7pm.

Talking of words - try to think of some of the words that have been introduced/invented since 2020 - like: woke, furlough, unconscious bias, PPE, WFH and Fake News.

Quite enough of my Babblings but it is good to look back and to take the best of the past and to bring it to the present and future. As the slogan says 'Yesterday was history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift, which is why it's called the present'.

Barry Turnwell, Church Treasurer and a Property Steward

Christchurch Messenger Website

You may know that much of the content of the Christchurch Messenger also ends up on this website but not all of it. So it is well worth your while to read the Messenger, but also to keep a watchful eye on the website, which is updated every month.

Over 17,500 visits (hits) are made to the website each year, around 48 each day. There are 18 web pages, and the most popular ones are the Home Page, News & Events, Diary, Contacts, Ninfield, and Christchurch Singers. There is also a link to the Winchelsea Chapel website.

If you have any comments or suggestions to make about the website, please let me know.

Peter Downes
Web Developer

Winchelsea Methodist Chapel News
www.winchelseachapel.org

On Saturday February 15th there will be a Methodist tradition of sharing in a 'Love Feast'. The day following Valentine's Day but this is not the type of celebration that we have in mind! A Methodist Love Feast is a sharing with light food and speaking of our faith and experiences. There will be a leader to guide our thoughts and some will recall that we have had similar meetings in the past.

Each year we also endeavour to celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and there are plans to meet together with full details awaited.

We do appreciate those who support the work and witness of this Methodist Heritage site, and always welcome new members who kindly make a small annual donation. Please consider to help in this way and I look forward to hearing from you.

Barry Turnwell, Publicity Officer

Membership Secretary 01424 216456