On Sundays we currently have these service structures and times:
9:30am Bubble Church (doors open at 9:15am for refreshments)
10:15am Morning Worship for 30-40mins, with ‘thought for the day’ style talk/reflection.
11:15am Holy Communion (with refreshments being served from 10:50am).
Covid has not ‘gone away’: please do not attend services if you have Covid symptoms, even if you think it is just a cold.
For recordings of the 11.15am Holy Communion service simply click on the ‘Online Worship’ tab at the top of the website page and a new menu will appear. You can then select which service you wish to see.
The 10:15 Morning Worship service and the 11.15am Communion service at St John’s are both livestreamed via Zoom. Please contact Sue Blomley if you would like your name added to join the Zoom list. Other acts of worship and activities are advertised on our church website and Facebook pages.
Would you like to contribute to the work of our parish? Please use the QR code on this page to find out how. In church we have a card machine which is easy to use and saves us handling coins and notes. Please contact office@stjohnshythe.org for help or other alternatives.
Thank you!
’S LETTER
As we approach March, we enter the season of Lent. This lasts for forty days, but Sundays aren’t included as they are ‘feast days’, when you can break whatever fast you choose. It is a time when we reflect and prepare for the celebration of Easter: People fast or give up treats. Others choose to take something up: a Bible-reading plan, a good deed each day, etc. It’s often a time for people to think about their giving whether it be time, money or prayer resources. It is a good time to weigh up how we belong in our community.
In the church notices, we say there are three ways of belonging that are good for our church and good for our souls. We pray personally and corporately. We help by offering our gifts, talents and time to help the church run smoothly, and we give financially. Our finances suffered badly during Covid. Due to the increases in energy prices, our finances have not recovered and we still operate a deficit budget.
As we enter March, we look forward to the approach of spring and Eastertide. Signs of new life appear in our gardens as snowdrops and daffodils begin to peek out of the ground. We contemplate Christ’s crucifixion and look forward to Easter Sunday.
The theme of the Church of England’s Lent course is Living Hope. You can sign up to a daily email with readings and reflections here www.churchofengland.org/faith-life/what-we-believe/lent-holy -week-and-easter/living-hope-resources-lent-2025/
And you can join one of the Lent groups we’re running as a Church...
VICAR
VICAR’S LETTER
...the Lent course invites us to explore the hope God offers us - not wishful thinking, but something real, robust, alive. Each week it considers the idea of hope from a different angle as we journey with Jesus on the road that leads to the cross - and beyond: to the transforming hope of Easter Day. We will have two Lent groups running. These will use the appointed booklets which offer daily Bible readings, pictures, short reflections, prayers and practical ideas to help us grow in hope and in faith during Lent.
Jane’s group will be running on the following dates and times at her home in Dibden:
Tuesday 11 March 2.30-4pm
Wednesday 19th & 26th March 2.30-4pm
Wednesday 2nd & 9th April 2.30-4pm
Sue’s group will be running on a Thursday evening 13th March through to 10th April) in St John’s Hall at 7:30pm.
If you would like more information or to let Jane/Sue know that you’ll be coming, please get in touch with the Parish Office.
Isaiah 40:31 ‘But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint’ (NIV)
Let us be a people of HOPE in this season.
May God bless you
PARISH OF HYTHE MONTHLY PRAYER LIST
Psalm 84:1-2 How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for
We pray for those who have died, especially the families and friends of Winifred Hardwick
Tony Halliwell
In March we pray especially for: Bob & Faye, Rita & family, Brian, John, Mary, Tim & Pam, Val, Lee, Vera, Patricia, Christine, Caroline, Valerie, Veronica,
Kate, Chris & Max, Carol, Riley, Cindy and Steve, Rosemary, Phyllis & Tony, Angela and Nikki.
Cliff & Val
Pamela
Gary & Chris
Norman & Maureen
Photo by CatPix: taken at Waverley Abbey near Guildford
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Building the Church of Christ
We love our Church
With her limitations and her richness, She is our mother, For this reason we respect her, Always desiring that she becomes more beautiful.
A church where it is good to be alive
Where you can breathe, and say what you think. A church of freedom.
A church which listens before speaking, Which welcomes instead of passing judgment, Which forgives without wishing to condemn, A church of mercy.
A church where everyone understands what others have to say, Where the wisest of leaders understands that he/she doesn’t know Everything about their flock; but trusts them all the same. A church of wisdom.
A church where people dare to do more than they used to. A church about which people will not say, “See how well they are organised!” But “See how much they love each other!”
Church of St John & St Anne, our streets and village, You are still small, but you will increase. You are still fragile, but live in hope. Lift up your head and believe: The Lord is with you!
Adapted from an adaptation of a work by Guy Deroubaix, Bishop of St Denis, Paris (1978-1996)
Our local ‘World Day of Prayer’ service will take place at Cornerstone on Friday 7th March at 2.00pm
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER 2025
Kia Orana! Our sisters in The Cook Islands welcome us and lead us for the Day of Prayer 2025. This group of 15 islands in the South Pacific Ocean has a rich and colourful Māori heritage and a deep connection to nature. Join with us as we pray together and reflect on the theme ‘I made you wonderful’. World Day of Prayer is an international, ecumenical organisation which enables us to hear the thoughts of women from all parts of the world: their hopes, concerns and prayers.
The preparation for the day is vast, the service begins with the writing country and theme being chosen a number of years earlier. Once written it goes to the International Committee in New York for translation and dissemination to the National Committee in each participating country. The service is then discussed and edited before being presented nationally, regionally and then locally for branches to make their plans.
Finally, at a church near you, on Friday 7 March 2025, people will gather to celebrate the service prepared by the women of The Cook Islands. The Day of Prayer is celebrated in over 120 countries. It begins in Samoa and prayer in native languages travels throughout the world — through Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas before finishing in American Samoa some 38 hours later. A worldwide wave of prayer…
Our local ‘World Day of Prayer service will take place at Cornerstone United Reform Church on Friday 7 March at 2.00pm. For further information and resources, visit the WDP website: www.wwdp.org.uk
EVENT: LEGO DISPLAY EXTRAVAGANZA
You’ll be pleased to hear that the Lego Display Extravaganza on Saturday 1st February was a total success. Over £1000 was raised for church funds. Many thanks to Elizabeth for organising this amazing event, and to all the exhibitors.
EVENT: LEGO DISPLAY EXTRAVAGANZA
EVENT: LEGO DISPLAY EXTRAVAGANZA
ONE WORLD: ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
A Humanitarian Plea from the Churches of Jerusalem: Defending the Dignity and Presence of the People of Gaza
As custodians of the Christian faith and conscience in this sacred land, we raise our voices in sorrow and steadfast resolve in the face of the ongoing suffering in Gaza. The devastation that has unfolded before the eyes of the world is a profound moral and humanitarian tragedy. Thousands of innocent lives have been lost, and entire communities stand in ruin, with the most vulnerable—children, the elderly, and the sick—enduring unimaginable hardship.
Amid this anguish, we are compelled to speak against the grave threat of mass displacement, an injustice that strikes at the very heart of human dignity. The people of Gaza, families who have lived for generations in the land of their ancestors, must not be forced into exile, stripped of whatever is left of their homes, their heritage, and their right to remain in the land that forms the essence of their identity. As Christians, we cannot be indifferent to such suffering, for the Gospel commands us to uphold the dignity of every human being. The words of our Lord remind us: “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed” (Isaiah 10:1-2).
In this critical moment, we acknowledge and support the position of His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, President El-Sisi of Egypt, and others, whose firm and principled stance has remained clear and unwavering in rejecting any attempt to uproot the people of Gaza from their land. Their relentless efforts to provide humanitarian aid, appeal to the world’s conscience, and insist on the protection of
ONE WORLD: ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
civilians exemplify leadership at its highest level of responsibility. In this same spirit, we also call for the release of all captives from both sides so that they can be safely reunited with their families. We appeal to all people of faith, to governments, and to the international community to act swiftly and decisively to halt this catastrophe. Let there be no justification for the uprooting of a people who have already suffered beyond measure. Let the sanctity of human life and the moral obligation to protect the defenceless outweigh the forces of destruction and despair. We call for an immediate unfettered humanitarian access to those in desperate need. To abandon them now would be to abandon our shared humanity.
As we lift our prayers for those in mourning, for the wounded, and for those who remain steadfast in the land of their forefathers, we remember the promise of Scripture: “The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down” (Psalm 145:14). May the God of mercy strengthen the afflicted, soften the hearts of those who hold power, and bring forth a peace that upholds justice, preserves human dignity, and safeguards the presence of all people in the land to which they belong.
The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, 14/02/2025
Article and Photo from the Anglican Communion News Service
Map: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs via Wikipedia
EVENT ON SHROVE TUESDAY - PANCAKES!!
BUBBLE CHURCH
We have had the most fantastic year and welcomed so many new families to St John’s and Bubble Church. Very soon we will have our first Bubble Church baptism!
We have taken loads of pictures over the year. On the next few pages are a few for you that give a taste of the fun we have, including one photo of some team members who were able to attend the SouthCentral Networking Day at St Paul’s in Winchester. We also held our very own Appreciation Afternoon, when all members of the team were given a certificate of appreciation for their help and support. We also had local and national updates for Bubble Church at this event.
We are delighted that Bubble Church families have started to stay for the 10.15am service, joined us at Messy Church and made enquiries about Baptism.
A few statistics for you from St John’s:
• our average attendance is 31,
• percentage of families coming which were un-churched or de-churched – 83%
• percentage of families now serving at Bubble Church – 26%
• percentage of families giving – 28%
All these figures are above the national average for Bubble Church!
National statistics
• 1,600 children have come to Bubble Church
• 1,600 adults have come to Bubble Church
• Total average attendance including team – 34
• 56 Bubble Churches, in half of all the dioceses.
We will soon be celebrating our first birthday! Time has whizzed by so quickly and we have a great start to our Sunday morning services. Chris McMahon Bubble Church Champion
BUBBLE CHURCH
Photos courtesy of Chris McMahon
MESSY CHURCH
Here are some recent photos from Messy Church. We offer a range of activities for young people including making giant bubbles!
MESSY CHURCH
Photos courtesy of Chris McMahon
SUNDAYS
Electoral Roll
Every six years we are required to do a complete revision of the electoral roll and this is the case this year. Anyone who wishes to be on the electoral roll must fill in a form which you can get either from the back of church or from the Parish Office. The renewal of the electoral roll starts on Sunday 16th February, and runs through to Sunday 13th April. Completed forms must be returned to the Parish Office by 13th April and then Shadia will collate all the details.
Hannah Rowlandson Parish Administrator
Contact / Emergency Forms
We also need to update our contacts / permissions lists in keeping with Data Protection legislation. The forms are important as they give the parish permission to contact you via your address, phone number and email address. The form also includes extra consent clauses allowing us to take your photo or film you during church events for use on the church website or in our parish magazine.
More crucially, these forms are also used as emergency contact details for people who are regularly using our buildings. Occasionally accidents or episodes of ill health can happen and the forms are vital if we need to contact a friend or relative in an emergency.
The consent forms will be circulated after the next PCC meeting on Wednesday 6 March. Please complete the form, sign it and return it to me or Hannah in the parish office.
If you have any questions, please do get in touch!
Phil Preston philmex123@gmail.com Data Protection Officer
MOTHERS
’ UNION
Our February meeting was taken up with beginning to establish a link between our branch and members of a group in Malawi. Jane was able to video our group in Hythe with messages from each of us to introduce facets of our surrounding area, and some examples of our meetings. These will be sent to the Mothers’ Union group in Malawi. We had a very lively afternoon.
There will be no official meeting in March, as members will be attending the ‘World Day of Prayer’ service on Friday 7th March at 2.00pm at Cornerstone United Reform Church. On Tuesday 25th March, some of us will be going to St Nicholas’ Church in Brockenhurst for the annual deanery Lady Day service at 10.30am.
Our meeting in April is on Thursday 10th April at 2.30pm in St John’ Hall. Visitors are always welcome.
Sue Harvey June Smith
Want to have your say on the next Archbishop of Canterbury? The Church of England is seeking people’s views on what they think the qualities, values, and vision of the next Archbishop should be!! Visit the Church of England website for more details!
The UK Government has designated Sunday 9th March as a national day of reflection, marking the anniversary of the start of the Covid19 pandemic. The day is an opportunity to pause and remember those who lost their lives since the pandemic began and to honour the tireless work and acts of kindness shown during such an unprecedented time.
Lee
CHILDREN’S SOCIETY COFFEE MORNING
• It’s allergy season again!? You’ve got to be pollen my leg.
• Does February march? No, but April may!
• Which month of the year is the shortest? May. It has only three letters.
• What did the soil say to the rain? You’d better stop or my name will be mud!
• The bed warehouse is having a spring sale. Unfortunately the rest of the beds are still full price.
• Why is the letter ‘A’ like a flower? Because a ‘B’ comes after it.
• When is it impossible to plant flowers? When you haven’t botany.
• I just opened a flower shop. Business is blooming.
• Should I plant flowers in March and April? May as well.
• Why was the bee angry? You’d be buzzing too, if someone stole your honey and nectar.
• Why don’t skeletons go on holiday in springtime? They have nobody to go with.
• What did the parents say to their children when they went to the beach in spring? “Long time, no sea!”
• When is the best time to buy a trampoline? Springtime!
VICAR: Rev Lee Davies (0756 5763803) Vicar@stjohnshythe.org
LICENSED LAY MINISTER: Sue Blomley (023 80849482) sue.blomley@gmail.com
CHURCH WARDENS:
Martin Deadman (023 81782640) mdeadman@gmail.com Craig Fowkes (07546218718) craigfowkes@aol.co.uk
PRO-WARDEN: Carol Moody (023 80843559) cazbam02@btinternet.com
CHILDREN & FAMILIES PASTOR: Chris McMahon via Hall Office (023 80844336) families@stjohnshythe.org
ST JOHN’S HALL: (023 80844336) office@stjohnshythe.org
‘CONTACT’
EDITORS: Phil & Cat Preston philmex123@gmail.com
ADVERTISING: via Hall Office (023 80844336) office@stjohnshythe.org
DISTRIBUTION: Veronica Clasby (023 80844336)
NOTE FROM THE EDITORS
We hope you enjoy this issue of ‘Contact’: you are warmly invited to contribute items to the magazine.
Contributions by the 14th of the month please!
Would you like to advertise in ‘Contact’?
Please contact St John’s Hall Office: 023 80844336
