Feb 2025 Web Edition by philmex1

The Parish of Hythe

St. John the Baptist

St. Anne

Isaiah 52:7-10

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THE PARISH OF ST JOHN

S AND ST ANNE’S, HYTHE

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).

Café Church will continue on the 1st Sunday at 5pm -7pm.

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!

VICAR’S LETTER

Dear friends, firstly I would like to say thank you to many of you who’ve welcomed me back into work as Vicar in the Parish of Hythe. Your love has helped me to take important steps on my road to recovery! I’m currently on a reduced hours return to work, which will gently increase, allow me to build resilience, and put in place adjustments to how I work which will enable me to return fully once I have a diagnosis.

I would also like to thank everyone who has covered services during my absence, and as I start to take part in services. Great team-work and unity make serving here a joy.

It’s also a joy to see how the church has developed during my time off…its been lovely to see new faces in all three congregations: growth (spiritual and numerical) is a key element of testing if a church is healthy, and it’s good to report that we are growing, mostly with unchurched/dechurched people, who are beginning to experience Jesus for themselves for the first time.

1 John 4:7-8

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

February is a month of love. It’s been hijacked by commercialism, but February the 14th, as we all know: is St Valentine’s Day. A day where we show our love to our loved one, or take particular time to remember our loved one who is no longer with us (for whatever reason).

VICAR’S LETTER

Hearts, chocolates, wine, date nights, going out for a meal, writing a card: are all ways of showing our love! If I was in charge (no thanks!), I would declare February as a month of love and appreciation for one another. Would you join me in a gratitude challenge in February: showing our appreciation for those around us, for all they (seen and unseen)? Let’s flood our church and wider community with love this February.

God bless you

Love Lee

Rev Lee Davies Vicar of Hythe

©CatPix

p.s. We have had our roof evaluated and been advised as to what needs doing to stop the arch being corroded with further leaks. We are now awaiting quotes for the work, and once that work has been completed, we can then deal with the damp plaster and improve the condition of the arch in the sanctuary area. Thankfully, the rest of the roof got an ‘all clear’ from the roofers.

PARISH OF HYTHE MONTHLY PRAYER LIST

I will never under any circumstance desert you.. Hebrews 13:5

In February we pray especially for:

Cliff & Val , 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, Win and Rosemary, Phyllis & Tony, Angela, and Nikki.

Photo by PrestonPix: taken on the ‘grief trail’ at Waverley Abbey near Guildford

ARTICLE: THE CROSSINGS

“The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head…”

(Luke 9:58)

No doubt many of you know about The Crossings. But in case you don't, or only know a bit about us, read on!

Homelessness, or uncertainty about housing, has a very negative effect on people. The Crossings has been the Waterside Churches’ response to homelessness in the area since 2019. Volunteers and a part-time Project Leader run drop-ins and visits to homes across the Waterside. We are here to show compassion and give support to people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, vulnerable or marginalised.

With the new government pledging to build more affordable housing, we look forward to seeing the effects of it in our area. At The Crossings we seek to build stronger community relationships and, in

ARTICLE: THE CROSSINGS

turn, help those facing uncertainty in their housing situation.

Drop-ins are held from 10 am to 1 pm, on Thursdays at Blackfield Baptist Church hall and Saturdays at Cornerstone in Hythe (also on the first and third Wednesdays at St John’s Church hall in Marchwood, by appointment). Every drop-in session is different, depending on who walks through the door, but we aim always to provide a warm welcome and a listening ear.

Often people are facing eviction, or are sofa surfing, and need help approaching the council. Sometimes we have rough sleepers visit and we are able to support them practically, including with Foodbank referrals. In 2024 we had over 170 visits to our drop-ins.

We have a strong partnership with the Homeless and Housing team at New Forest District Council. Every first and third Thursday of the month one of their team is available for support. Providing this direct contact enables faster answers and deeper support provision.

When we are made aware of someone sleeping rough, a different side of our support kicks in. We can work with the Waterside Community Fund and the Foodbank to help with food and clothing. We can also help with providing a place to wash, and in accessing Universal Credit, a GP and a bank in Southampton.

Back in June 2024, for the second time, we had a stand at Fawley's Armed Forces Day, to make more people aware of The Crossings and what we do. Many visitors took part in our tombola. Great conversations were had and leaflets were handed out. Thank

ARTICLE: THE CROSSINGS

you to all who came by, to the organisers and to the cadets who helped us set up.

At the end of June we joined the local Rotary club for our first sponsored walk, held in the woods of the Beaulieu estate. We raised just over £900. 25% will go towards Rotary’s causes and 75% to our work. Many thanks to those who donated or took part!

In October in Marchwood there was a Cookie Week, initiated by the local baker, in which £326 was raised. If you would like to do anything to raise funds, do go to our JustGiving page and get involved!

We do so appreciate Waterside churches for your support in this work. Thank you!

Andy Clarke (Project Leader)

Annette Ruddock (one of many volunteers)

You can find out more at thecrossings.org.uk, on Facebook, or by calling Andy Clarke on 07486 551272.

Website: https://thecrossings.org.uk/

MOTHERS’ UNION

At our January meeting, we held our Annual General Meeting. Subscriptions were collected. We are in great need for speakers for meetings in 2025. The ladies from the Women’s Refuge had sent us a ‘Thank you’ letter for our support, and Serena had sent a note to thank us for our help in assisting a young woman in Rwanda to purchase a sewing machine.

Jenny told of the ongoing situation at the bank, and also reminded us about the World Day of Prayer service on March 7th at ‘Cornerstone’.

We also noted the Deanery Lady Day Service on 25th March at 10:30am at St Nicholas’ Church in Brockenhurst. Arrangements for lifts will be listed at next month's meeting.

Jane told us about her links with a Mothers’ Union branch in Malawi, and perhaps plans to be in contact with their members. She will tell us more at our February meeting on the 13th at 2:30pm at St John’s Hall. All are welcome. Our sales table will be blue.

Sue Harvey

June Smith

CHILDREN & YOUTH AT CHRISTMAS

Donations to the Scratch Christmas Complete Project

Creative Crafts at Youth Club

Messy Christmas!

CHILDREN & YOUTH AT CHRISTMAS

Joint Toddlers and Little Footprints

Christmas Party

Of course, you must have

Nativity scenes

Creative Christmas

scenes at Christmas!

Messy Church

EVENT: SKITTLES AT THE HYTHE CLUB

TUESDAY & SATURDAY MORNINGS AT ST JOHN’S

EVENT: LEGO DISPLAY EXTRAVAGANZA

Lego Exhibition comes to Hythe!

Come and check out our LEGO® Exhibition in Hythe on Saturday 1st February 2025 from 10:00 – 4:00pm. St John’s Church, New Road, Hythe will be hosting their first LEGO® event where people of all ages can come along.

Enthusiastic local LEGO® model makers will be displaying and talking about their toy-brick works of art. At the exhibition, you will see a variety of different models on display from the past 30 years featuring many different LEGO® ranges. The displays will include City, Creator, Harry Potter, funfair, technic vehicles, Minecraft, Space and Star Wars.

Entrance is just £2.00 per person, kids go free!

Organiser Elizabeth Deadman said: “We ae aiming to have a fun event sharing our passion for all things LEGO®!

Photos: https://pixabay.com/photos/lego-children-toy-multicoloured674881 /and PrestonPix.

DISCLAIMER - We are not affiliated/endorsed in any way with/by the LEGO® brand - all opinions, services and policies are provided solely by ourselves and all genuine LEGO® sets have been purchased for our own personal collection and use - we are in no way representing LEGO® as a brand. LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO® Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorise, or endorse this business or our events.

We would like to say ‘thank you’ for the lovely card and flowers, sent to us by the church, when Andy's dad passed away. Thank you also, to all the people who stepped in to cover us on the tech team, the tea and coffee rota, and Little Footprints. Your thoughts and prayers were very much appreciated.

Andy & Tricia