News from St Margaret’s
SUPPORTING THE WHITEHAWK FOODBANK
Please continue to bring what you can:
non-perishable food and toiletries for women, men and children, please. Donations can be left in the church porch. Financial donations and donations through online supermarket shops can also be made – please see their website: https://thewhitehawk.foodbank.org.uk/
All Change!
Heather and I recently attended the ‘Archdeacon’s Visitation’ at Alfriston where we were sworn in as Churchwardens for another year.
The Archdeacon, when he addressed the gathering, took as his theme ‘Change’. He spoke of the enormous upheaval we have experienced as a result of the pandemic, and its effect upon the Church. He emphasised that things will not be going back to the way they were and that we must prepare ourselves for more change.
The restrictions imposed by the pandemic have highlighted problems that were already present within the church and have brought forward the need to address them.
The Church of England is losing its congregations, priests are retiring and some priests are being asked to take early retirement as churches are closed. This has a large impact on finances. Those churches spared closure, for the moment, are being asked to substantially increase the amount they contribute to the diocese.
St Margaret’s is not immune from this and that is why the meeting on 25th September is so important as we seek to find ways to adapt to the changes coming. The meeting from 1000-1500 is open to all the congregation, so please come along and share your ideas so that our response to the diocese will be representative of all our views and not only those of the PCC. Dawn Davidson
Two funerals
The funeral of Valerie Webb will be held in church on Monday 23rd August at 1500. Mervyn Peatfield’s funeral will be held in church on Tuesday 24th August at 1500. May they both rest in peace and rise in glory.
Quiz Night
We’ve booked a Quiz Night in the village hall (with fish and chips!)
on Saturday 23rd October, so please put that date in your diary. Watch this space for details of other events that are being planned.
Musical Theatre Project – the launch!
We’re looking forward to holding a music theatre day for local children on Saturday 21st August from 1000 with a performance and refreshments in St Margaret’s at 1800. All are welcome to attend the show! Jonathan Hodgson
Confirmation Service at St Margaret’s
The Bishop of Lewes, The Right Reverend Will Hazlewood, will be with us at 1800 on Sunday 21st November this year for a service of Baptism and Confirmation. We have two definite candidates for this. If you – or anyone you know – might be interested in being prepared for Baptism and/or Confirmation please let me know. Fr Anthony
Blister pack recycling scheme
The pharmacy in Woodingdean can no longer take blister packs for recycling. We’re looking for a volunteer (or a few on rotation) to take the packs we’ve collected to Superdrug on Western Road, Brighton. If you can help, please contact Fr Anthony who will put you in touch with Joanna Gurr who is organizing the scheme.
The Eucharist this Thursday will be celebrated by Fr Dominic Keech, Vicar of Brighton, St Nicholas of Myra.
Recorded audio services on www.stmargaret.org.uk/audio, on Alexa or on the ‘phone by dialling 01273 92 12 32. The church services are being recorded ‘live’ on Sundays at 1000 with an edited half-hour service ready to be heard from Sunday afternoon, or Monday morning at the latest.
COVID-19 test kits
On 12th August, Brighton & Hove City Council reported that ‘we had 1375 confirmed new COVID-19 cases in Brighton & Hove – higher than last week’s figure of 1135. This is up 21% on the previous week
equivalent to a weekly rate of 471 per 100,000 residents – up from 390.2 per 100,000 in the previous week; higher than the South East which was 253.3 per 100,000; higher than England, which was 296.6 per 100,000.’
