News From :

St Augustine’s Church.

At the Heart of the Parish

April 2020 PRICE 50p

St Augustine’s Parish Church, Rock Avenue, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 5PW

THE ROCK

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THE CHURCH TEAM

Follow us on Facebook as ‘facebook.com/StAsGillingham/’ And A Church Near You as:

‘www.achurchnearyou.com/church/9893/’

Parish Priest:

The Rev’d Canon Antony Lane St Augustine’s Vicarage, Rock Avenue, Gillingham ME7 5PW (01634 850288)

Curate Nicky Rawlins (07988 366974)

Church Wardens: Jenny Coe (322077), Sheila McSherry (786018)

Assistant Church Warden

Brian Hooper

Reader: Marjorie Barry

PCC Secretary: Caroline Bubb

PCC Treasurer: Martin Harris

Parish Office: Christine Warren

Chair of Education Committee

Nicky Rawlins

Chair of Pastoral Committee

Position Vacant

Chair of Operations Committee:

Position Vacant

Choir: Position Vacant

Music Group: David Hodges

Head Server: Andrew Gray (571589)

The Recorder of Planned Giving:

Martin Harris

Bookings Secretary: Tony Felmingham (854477)

Editor - Parish News

Peter Wareing (353582)

Magazine Advertising Susan Gray (571589)

Magazine Finance Pam Swift

Bell Ringer Phillip Airey

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From Marjorie Barry

As I write the daffodils are blooming in my garden and the new leaves are appearing on the shrubs. It’s spring-time, and we have left what Gilbert, in the operetta “The Pirates of Penzance”, called “That beastly month of February” behind, at last. Soon it will be Easter. Spring and Easter go together for us in the northern hemisphere. They mean new life. I wonder how it is in Australia, where Easter comes in their autumn. Already the shops are full of Easter eggs, and Hot Cross buns are there to be bought all year round. For Christians Easter is a time to celebrate the truth that Jesus of Nazareth, who had been put to death by his enemies, was raised to life again by his heavenly Father. He was seen and spoken to and touched and eaten with by many ordinary people who bore witness to this fact. In the words of Peter, the Galilean fisherman, “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.” You couldn’t get a more down-to-earth witness than Peter, who didn’t go in for theology. He believed the evidence of his own eyes. All this happened a long time ago, but it is the experience of many of today’s Christians that Jesus lives NOW, but in a different way of being, and he is able to change and strengthen those who believe in him. I once read that a way of understanding this is to look at a tree that has been cut down. The ring you see exposed on the inside wood of the tree is not present just in that place. It goes right through the trunk, from the top to the bottom. In a similar way, go into any part of Earth’s history and God is present. He chose to show himself at one particular time and place in man’s history in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. During the week preceding Easter Day, St Augustine’s keeps Holy Week with several different services: from the solemn walk round the church following the Stations of the Cross, through Maundy Thursday, when the clergy follow Jesus’ example and wash some of their congregation’s feet, to Good Friday, and the Eve of Easter, itself the lighting of the Easter Fire from which the Easter candles are lit. We would be so pleased to see you at any of these services, which really do bring to life those happenings in Jerusalem so many years ago, and make Easter day itself, when it comes, so much more meaningful. Everyone here at St. Augustine’s wishes you a very happy and blessed Easter.

Marjorie Barry, Licensed Lay Minister.

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William Wordsworth, the Romantic poet always associated with the Lake District, was born 250 years ago, on 7

th April 1770. He was Poet Laureate

from 1843 to 1850, though he produced no new poetry during that period. In his youth Wordsworth travelled in France and came to share the radical politics of the French Revolution. He also fell in love with Annette Vallon, by whom he had a daughter in 1792. They were kept apart by the difficult relationship between England and France, but eventually met again, and the poet supported his daughter, though he married Mary

Hutchinson, a friend of his beloved sister and muse, Dorothy. He had five children with Mary, three of whom predeceased them. Wordsworth’s political views soon softened, and he never rejected Christianity. He has been described as a “Church of England pantheist” and saw himself as a people’s poet. He produced Lyrical Ballads in 1798 with his friend Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who inspired his last great poem, The Prelude. Many Christians, especially those in the Anglo-Catholic movement, deeply admired Wordsworth. During his later years and in the next generation, he was regarded as a defender of the Faith. He himself seemed content that many found his poetry helpful in trying times.

Article from Parish Pump’

William Wordsworth – the ‘Church of England Pantheist’

Did you know you can donate to Church funds by phone – To help maintain our lovely building for the future – text STAG001 to 70970 to donate £5

The PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST AUGUSTINE GILLINGHAM needs to raise funds for this and for other charitable purposes.

*Your donation is to the National Funding Scheme (NFS), operating as DONATE, a charity registered in England and Wales (1149800) and Scotland (SC045106) and indicates a specific campaign. NFS takes a minor share of any Gift Aid (or a maximum of 5% on a donation without Gift Aid) to cover advertising and transaction services. Text charges will be as per your standard network plan. Please see

www.easydonate.org for full details. To access our customer support please

email us at: hello@nationalfundingscheme.org or call 020 3174 2276

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Church of England sets 2030 Net Zero carbon target The Church of England’s General Synod has now set new targets for all parts of the church to work to become carbon ‘net zero’ by 2030. The original target was 2045. At its February 2020 meeting, members voted in favour of a revised date encouraging all parts of the Church of England to take action and ramp-up efforts to reduce emissions. The motion follows the launch of the Church of England’s first ever Green Lent (#LiveLent) campaign for 2020. The Church of England has also announced an appliance-style footprinting tool for parishes to calculate their carbon footprint. Following the debate, The Bishop of Salisbury, Nick Holtam, the Church of England’s lead bishop for the Environment said: “To reach Synod’s target of 2030 we will each need to hear this as an urgent call to action. This is a social justice issue, and if the Church is to hold others to account, we have to get our own house in order.

Church Snippets

The Summer Garden Party and Cream Teas will be held on Saturday 20

th

June 2 – 4pm for the community. There will be some stalls and games, and nearer the time will be looking for help on the day.

GOLF: In the year that the Open Championship returns to Sandwich. June 20th will see some of the nine hole course that was in the Cathedral last summer come to St Augustine’s. We are the only church in the country to be allowed the golf by the Trustees of the Rochester Bridge Trust so it’s an opportunity not to be missed. The course will be inside the church Nave and will run there from June 20th until July 5th within set opening times and allowing for visits from both local schools. More details later - but enquiries to project.office@sagk.org.uk

Ride and Stride 2020 Saturday 12

th September, save the date –

and start planning your route!

Save the dates!!

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CAR TAX AND COUNCIL TAX PAYMENTS GAS CARDS & ELECTRICITY KEYS CHARGED

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100 Club News and Numbers! Another month and another round of lucky winners! We now have 95 members and anyone can join throughout the year or perhaps purchase a Project Ball!

Winning Numbers for March 2020: £10 Prizes: £5 Prizes: 49, 66, 55 and 27 58 and 44

Congratulations to our March winners and we will look forward to distributing more prizes in April. If you do wish to join, the fee of £12 can be paid by cash, cheque or bank transfer to either Caroline (574425) or Laura (570917).

Jumble Sale The jumble sale on 29th February (remember the different date due to the Walk Through the Bible on the 7th March?) raised over £200. Well done everyone!

Due to the late date of Easter, please put it your diaries now: APCM Sunday April 26th at 9.30am.

Our Eucharist that day will begin at 9.30am (This will save time later in the morning) A Parish Breakfast at 10.30am (to enjoy each other’s company and eat some fine cakes) APCM in the Lady Chapel will begin at 11.15am. It should be finished by 12.15pm! Please do all you can to make this a priority; your support is vital and appreciated as there will be much to be reported, elections of Churchwardens and PCC members, with the Finance report and receiving audited accounts for 2019.

Fr. Antony

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Medway Food Bank 2020 Shopping Needs

• Powdered/dried/UHT milk • Fruit juice—UHT long life • Squash/soft drinks • Cooking/pasta sauce • Tinned tomatoes/tinned fruit • Tinned dessert/sponge pudding • Custard—ready made • Tinned ham or tinned corned beef • Sugar (0.5 kg) • Washing powder/liquid (small) • Shaving foam + Shower gel • Razors/toothbrushes/shampoo • Toilet rolls —small • Kitchen rolls • Washing up liquid • Shampoo Please note that all donations are gratefully received, but at present we DO NOT need tinned soup, baked

beans, pasta, biscuits, baby foods, soap bars, breakfast cereals, pet food, sweets, chocolate, feminine hygiene products Thank you for your support to stop UK hunger — it really does make a difference.

info@medway.foodbank.org.uk Medway Foodbank

info@medway.foodbank.org.uk 01634 757057

Registered Charity

No: 1166505 Please also note that St Augustine’s acts as a collecting point for

the Foodbank, and items can be dropped off on Wednesday and Thurs-day morning between 9am and 11am, and on a Sunday morning between 9am and 12 noon.

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Another Holy Week is about to come, as is another Pam Sunday. Eileen and I sometimes take a walk down Memory Lane, when we recall our time at The Benefice of Wateringbury, Teston and East Farleigh, and the people and events we encountered during those years. Palm Sunday was something of an event for the Church and village of Wateringbury. We always gathered in the village car park for the first part of the service. And without fail, a local small-holder loaned us her donkey to recreate Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem. On one occasion, I was already robed up and waiting in the crowded car park for our donkey to appear. Eileen was just about to leave the rectory at Teston to head along the Tonbridge Road to join us at Wateringbury, when the phone rang. “I’m sorry”, said the voice, “I don’t think the donkey can be with you this year!” Eileen put the phone down and cried “Oh God, we always have the donkey for Palm Sunday!”. As she was about to leave the Rectory, the phone rang again “All’s well, the donkey is on his way!” Depending upon his mood, the donkey appeared to have two speeds, dead slow or full speed ahead! I headed up our procession holding up the Processional Cross and keeping pace with the donkey. As a National Service soldier I had learned how to do both the quick and slow march; depending on the how the donkey was feeling, both forms came in useful on Palm Sunday at Wateringbury. Generally speaking, our four footed friend was very well behaved, and I’m glad to say never felt the need to do what donkeys do, both on the road, and I’m delighted to say, in the church. On one occasion, we did experience something of a hold up to the proceedings. When we reached St. John’s Church, we then turned right off the road, then up the Church Path (quite a steep slope), then a step-up into the Church porch. Up until that point, our donkey was doing well, that is until he entered the confined space of the Church porch, when he decided to turn sideways on, blocking the porch completely and bringing the procession to a juddering halt! Several people, including a farmer’s wife, struggled to turn the reluctant donkey back on course. After much pushing and pulling, he finally agreed to step into the Church, and thankfully behaved like a perfect gentleman for the rest of the service. At the conclusion of the Palm Sunday Service, I went to him standing at the back of the Church and blessed him, making the sign of the cross on his hairy head.

Continued on page 34

Reflections on a Country Parish and a Reluctant Donkey

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At the moment, this is what we are doing at St Augustine’s to help combat the spread of Covid –19 Coronavirus; this advice may change; we will keep you informed: • We offer Communion in one kind

only to all communicants i.e. the consecrated bread/wafer/host, with the priest alone taking the wine. Also, priests are not intincting;

• We have suspended handshaking and other direct physical contact during the sharing of the peace;

• We have suspended direct physical contact as part of a blessing or ‘laying on of hands’ by the priest.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written to clergy to update them on this guidance. We have hand-sanitisers available for parishioners to use. In addition, priests presiding at the Eucharist, communion administrators and servers are washing their hands, preferably with an alcohol-based (minimum 60%) hand-sanitiser. Best hygiene practice will continue to be observed in all pastoral contacts.. Current advice from Public Health England for everyone is: Individuals should follow good hygiene practices including:

• Carry tissues and using them to catch coughs and sneezes, and binning the tissue

• Wash hands with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. This is particularly important after taking public transport.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• If you feel unwell, stay at home, do not attend work or school.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home and work environment.

Adapted from advice given by Revd Dr Brendan McCarthy, the Archbishops' Council's National Adviser on Medical Ethics and Social Care Policy

KEEP CALM AND WASH YOUR HANDS

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Year of Pilgrimage

You may remember that we mentioned the Year of Cathedrals and The Year of Pilgrimage in last month’s The Rock? Here is a prayer that you might like to use, if you go on a pilgrimage:

Loving God, draw us on the journey

to the places of holiness, the places of peace,

the places of fellowship, the places of encounter,

the places of beauty, the places where faith has been lived,

your love made known, your hope held out

in the past, for the present, into the future.

Amen

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It was: 500 years ago, on 6

th April 1520 that Raphael, Italian Renaissance artist and

architect, died, aged 37. (Unknown illness.) 250 years ago, on 7

th April 1770 that William Wordsworth, British Romantic

poet, was born. He was Poet Laureatte 1843-50. 200 years ago, on 8

th April 1820 that the famous Ancient Greek statue of the

Venus de Milo was discovered on the island of Milos in the Aegean. 150 years ago, on 22

nd April 1870 that Vladimir Lenin, Russian communist

politician and revolutionary was born. First head of state of the Soviet Union, founder of the Russian Communist party, leader of the Bolshevik Revolution, 100 years ago, on 25

th April 1920 that Britain was assigned the Mandate for

Palestine. It officially took control of Mandatory Palestine in September 1923 and held it until the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. 75 years ago, from 1

st April 1945 to 22

nd June: The Battle of Okinawa. The

largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War. Allied victory. 75 years ago, in April following concentration camps & prison were liberated: Buchenwald (11

th April); Bergen-Belsen (15

th April); Colditz Castle (16

th April);

Dachau (29th April). Liberated by either US, British or Canadian forces.

75 years ago, on 29

th and 30

th April: Austrian-born German Nazi Party leader

& dictator Adolf Hitler married his partner Eva Braun in his Berlin bunker. 65 years ago, on 15

th April 1955 that American fast-food pioneer Ray Kroc

opened his first McDonald’s franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois. 50 years ago, on 28

th April 1970 that US President Richard Nixon announced

that the USA was sending troops into Cambodia to hunt Viet Cong, sparking widespread protests. 40 years ago, on 29

th April 1980 that Alfred Hitchcock, British-born American

film director & producer (Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho, & many more) died. 30 years ago, on 24

th April 1990 that the Hubble Space Telescope was

launched. 15 years ago, on 2

nd April 2005 that Pope John Paul II died.

Also 15 years ago, on 9

th April 2005 that Charles, Prince of Wales married

Camilla Parker Bowles, who gained the title the Duchess of Cornwall. 10 years ago, from 15

th April to 21

st April, that Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull

volcano erupted explosively, sending a plume of volcanic ash across NW Europe. Air travel was disrupted for six days.

All in the Month of APRIL

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Word Search Even as Jesus ate that last Passover meal with His disciples, He warned them He was about to be betrayed. He took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them; He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them to drink. The Old Covenant, based on Law, was ticking away its final hours; the New Covenant, based on Christ’s body and His blood, was about to be ushered in. Jesus prayed in Gethesame that this fearful cup might be removed from Him, but even more, that God’s will might be done. And it was. From Easter onwards we can only approach God through His Son, Jesus Christ, not on our own merit. Jesus Ate Last Passover Meal Disciples Warned Betrayed Bread Blessed Wine Thanks Drink Covenant Law Old New Body Blood Gethsemane Cup Removed Will Easter Approach God

Solution to this month’s word search can be found on page 28

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This series is written by Dr Ruth M. Bancewicz, who is Church Engagement Director at The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge. Ruth writes on the positive relationship between Science and Christian faith. How Can a Christian be a Scientist? I used to ask this question as a student. I wondered, who could make it in the world of science and still hold onto their faith? Soon enough I met a good number of successful scientists who were sincere Christians, some of whom were at my own university. So what do people like this make of the opportunities and challenges that a life in science holds for a Christian? Science is an exercise in observing and measuring things in the world, and coming up with general principles about the way things are. Exploring the world is a great thing to do to express our gratitude to the Creator. There is a sense of awe and wonder that comes when we expand our minds and our horizons by discovering things about the universe can feed into our worship. Of course, there may be things in science that some Christians don’t want to get involved in because of what they believe. But there should also be ethical issues that make them want to get stuck into new research that will help people, protect creation, or tackle injustices. I am glad to see that many senior scientists do their best to find appropriate ways to make their own faith visible, so that people like my younger self can find role models and mentors. Another helpful thing about science is that although our beliefs may at times affect what we notice about the world and how we interpret our data, they shouldn’t affect the outcome of experiments themselves. This means that a scientist can be respected by her colleagues for doing good work, regardless of what she believes and what her colleagues think of that worldview. In my work at The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, and my involvement with Christians in Science, I have the privilege of meeting a great number of scientists who are also Christians. One of the most famous living biologists is Francis Collins, who was Director of the project to decode the whole of human DNA. He wrote that it is “possible for the scientist-believer to be intellectually fulfilled and spiritually alive, both worshipping God and using the tools of science to uncover some of the awesome mysteries of His creation.” (Francis Collins, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief (Simon and Schuster, 2007)

God in the Sciences

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Picture Parable

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The Great Raphael Five hundred years ago, on 6

th April 1520, Italian Renaissance artist and

architect Raphael died in Rome of an unknown illness. He was 37. Born Raffaello Sanzio at Urbino, he was orphaned at the age of 11 and led something of a nomadic life. He was immersed in neoplatonic philosophy, as was the pre-Reformation Church of his time, which combined wealth, intrigue and political power, often to the detriment of spiritual coherence. Raphael’s work, however, was of the highest quality. Best known for his Madonnas and for his large figure compositions in the Vatican, he achieved tremendous clarity and lucidity, trying to develop a calmer, more accessible style than Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. He spent his early years in various North Italian centres, then absorbed a great deal from the artistic hub of Florence before spending a celebrity-style last 12 years in Rome, working for two Popes. He eventually put together an impressive – possibly uniquely large – workshop of 50 pupils and assistants. He never married, but was deeply attached to ‘La Fornarina’ – Margherita Luti, the daughter of a baker from Siena. His grand funeral was attended by large crowds: four cardinals in purple carried his body, and he was buried at the Pantheon, at his own request.

The Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope was launched 30 years ago, on 24th April 1990. It

was named after Edwin Hubble, an outstanding expert on extragalactic astronomy in the 1920s and 1930s. The launch, originally scheduled for 1983, had been delayed by technical and budget problems and by the Challenger disaster. Ironically the NASA error that caused the Challenger tragedy was similar to the one that led to the Hubble telescope being launched with a defective mirror – unwillingness to accept technical warnings when there was great pressure from above to go ahead. In the case of the Hubble telescope, also built by NASA with help from the European Space Agency, a more basic machine revealed the problem with the mirror, but those in charge did not believe it because a newer, more complex machine had given the go-ahead. The problem was put right by astronauts in 1993 – the telescope was always designed to be serviced in orbit – and since then its position outside the Earth’s atmosphere has enabled it to record many detailed visible light images that have enabled scientists a deep view into space, leading to new theories in astrophysics. The telescope is estimated to remain in working order until 2030-2040.

Articles by Tim L:enton, Parish Pump

Rafael and Hubble

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At the moment, the drying winds and warmer sunshine have not arrived, maybe by the time this is published things will have changed. The soil is still very wet, and any sowing is difficult to do, it is possibly worth waiting a little longer. As the month progresses, more can be sown inside and pricked out

or potted on to give them a head start if it stays wet. The more tender veg like runner beans, tomatoes, marrows, courgettes and sweet corn leave until towards the end of the month before sowing in gentle heat indoors, then potting on for planting out mid to late May. Hanging baskets can be planted up with large plug plants mid-April and kept indoors to get established before putting out when fear of frost has gone.

As spring bulbs finish flowering, dead head them to stop them forming seed. Many bulbs seem to be blind this year, that have been planted for a number of years. Overcrowding or too near the surface are two reasons, another is, we have not had any really cold weather this winter. Many bulbs need a cold period for the flower to develop.

Perennial Salvias which are very popular now, they and Penstemons can be cut back now if the top growth was left to protect them through the winter. Divide ferns and replant in shady areas, grass seed and turf be sown and laid after first preparing the soil; remember grass roots go deeper than we think. Towards the end of the month, plant Gladioli and lilies for late summer flowering. During mid-March and April, the delicate Wood Anemones will be in flower in the woods. They look so fragile but will stand winter weather. I enjoy seeing them every year, followed by Bluebells. Another fact to ponder, the number of radish consumed in the UK every year equals the weight of 40 Blue Whales!

Photos courtesy of Pixabay

Green Toes.

Gardening Tips from Green Toes

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YOUR PARISH NEWS

Please submit contributions for the

May 2020 issue by

Friday 17th April 2020

Articles are always gratefully received. We prefer articles to be typed and sent via

email, although short handwritten pieces will be accepted.

Articles for publication can be left at the Church in the pigeonhole marked “Editor”,

or e-mailed directly to:

magazine.editor@sagk.org.uk

Editor: Peter Wareing (353582)

Advertising: Sue Gray (571589)

Finance & Distribution: Pam Swift

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Holy Week & Easter 2020

Sunday 5th

– Palm Sunday (Celebrating Jesus’ Triumphant entry into Jerusalem) (This service will begin in the Parish Hall for the Procession to church) 10am High Mass (including incense), Procession of Palms & The Passion Gospel. Wednesday 8

th March

9.30am Low Mass and Homily 7.45pm Stations of the Cross Thursday 9

th – Maundy Thursday- The Last Supper, Watch in Gethsemane & Arrest

& Trial of Jesus 8.30am Morning Prayer 8pm High Mass of The Last Supper, The Washing of Feet & Procession to the Altar

of Repose. (The Lady Chapel depicts in symbol the Garden of Gethsemane) (including incense)

9.15pm 10.00pm – Silent prayer/watch by candlelight (come & go as you please) 9.45pm Compline (A late evening service) Friday 10

th April – Good Friday – Jesus is Crucified

9.00am Morning Prayer & Litany. 10.00am Family Service 2pm (The Last Hour) – The Liturgy of Good Friday & Passion Gospel Easter (The Festival begins on Holy Saturday at sunset) All Welcome 7.30pm First ceremonies of Easter, Blessing of the New Fire, Renewal of Baptism & Confirmation Vows, and First Mass of Easter (including incense) Sunday 12

th April – Easter Day (Jesus is Risen! - Hail thee Festival Day.

10am High Mass, Procession & Sermon of The Resurrection The Sacrament of Reconciliation (or Confession) is available during Lent & Holy Week and in the run up to Easter by appointment with Fr. Antony (01634 850288) Please note that April 26

h this year is the Annual Parish Church Meeting. The Service will

begin at 9.30am (not 10.00am) followed by breakfast & fellowship and APCM in the Lady Chapel at 11.15am Please support. Please also note that there may be other joint events planned in the Deanery, but that this might change with respect to advice on Covid-19 Coronavirus, as might these services. Keep a lookout on our Facebook and A Church Near You pages for up to date information.

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Need to contact your local Councillor? Gillingham South: Councillor Dan McDonald Mobile: 07580 102024 Email: dan.mcdonald@medway.gov.uk Councillor Clive Johnson Mobile: 07802 872592 Email: clive.johnson@medway.gov.uk Councillor Naushabah Khan Phone: 07810 823398 Email: naushabah-khan@outlook.com Watling: Councillor Wendy Purdy Home phone: 01634 578669 Email: johnpurdy@btinternet.comCouncillor Chrissy Stamp. Phone: 07557 981138 Email: chrissy.stamp@medway.gov.uk

Solution to the Sudoku Puzzle on page 32

Community Corner

Solution to the Word Search on page 16

Community Corner Do you use the library service? Did you know the mobile library visits areas of our parish? It stops in Preston Avenue, on a Wednesday, every two weeks between 12.05 and 1.05pm. Dates are: 1, 15 and 29 April There is also one that stops in Seaton Road, the times for here are between 9.30 and 10.30am, again every two weeks, on a Monday. These dates are: 6 and 20 April Medway Mobile Library carries fiction and non-fiction books for children and adults. The library also books in large print and spoken word CDs. Books can be returned to the mobile library even if borrowed from other Medway libraries.

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Penny Pot Are you one of those who throw their spare coppers away? If you have any spare coppers, we have a Penny Project pot in the Welcome area, or we will collect them from you. Just phone Andrew (571589), we have already banked over £50 Thank you

Safeguarding As a Diocese we take our safeguarding responsibilities seriously and we are committed to ensuring that our churches and buildings are safe places.

If you or someone you are concerned about is in immediate danger, please call the police on 999. Lead Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser and Rochester Cathedral Safeguard-ing Officer Greg Barry: Tel: 01634 560000 or M: 07585 952174.Email:greg.barry@rochester.anglican.org

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Notes

Crossword Answers March 2020 ACROSS: 1, Planet. 4, Rugged. 7, True. 8, Augustus. 9, Attitude. 13, Bed. 16, Participation. 17, War. 19, Hillside. 24, Baldhead. 25, Bede. 26, Census. 27, Aris-en. DOWN: 1, Path. 2, Adulterer. 3, Tract. 4, Rigid. 5, Gust. 6, Exude. 10, Irish. 11, Uriel. 12, Esau’s. 13, Blindness. 14, Deny. 15, Spew. 18, Awake. 20, Ideas. 21, Lydia. 22, Odes. 23, Lean.

Crossword

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This crossword, reproduced by kind permission of BRF and John Capon, was originally published in Three Down, Nine Across, by John Capon (£6.99 BRF).

Crossword Clues Across 1 Relating to the whole universe (6) 4 The disciple who made the remark in 8 Across (John 20:24) (6) 8 ‘Unless I see the nail marks — — hands, I will not believe it’ (John 20:25) (2,3) 9 He urged King Jehoiakim not to burn the scroll containing Jeremiah’s message (Jeremiah 36:25) (7) 10 Baptist minister and controversial founder of America’s Moral Majority, Jerry — (7) 11 ‘Look, here is — . Why shouldn’t I be baptized?’ (Acts 8:36) (5) 12 Repossessed (Genesis 14:16) (9) 17 Port from which Paul sailed on his last journey to Rome (Acts 27:3–4) (5) 19 ‘Moses was not aware that his face was — because he had spoken with the Lord’ (Exodus 34:29) (7) 21 Roonwit, C.S. Lewis’s half-man, half-horse (7) 22 Grill (Luke 24:42) (5) 23 ‘The lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the — apostles’ (Acts 1:26) (6) 24 ‘I was sick and you looked after me, I was in — and you came to visit me’ (Matthew 25:36) (6) Down 1 Coastal rockfaces (Psalm 141:6) (6) 2 Academic (1 Corinthians 1:20) (7) 3 Publish (Daniel 6:26) (5) 5 For example, the Crusades (4,3) 6 11 Across is certainly this (5) 7 He reps (anag.) (6) 9 Liberator (Psalm 18:2) (9) 13 Man who asked the question in 11 Across was in charge of all her treasury (Acts 8:27) (7) 14 They must be ‘worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine’ (1 Timo-

thy 3:8) (7) 15 The human mind or soul (6) 16 ‘O Lord, while precious children starve, the tools of war increase; their bread is

— ’ (Graham Kendrick) (6) 18 ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not — ’ (Matthew 11:17) (5) 20 Bared (anag.) (5)

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Intermediate Level Sudoku Puzzle (Solution on Page 28)

Work it Out Here

Cartoons

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WORSHIP AT ST AUGUSTINE’S CHURCH

Full details of Church Worship are shown on the back cover. All are welcome to join us after the services for light refreshments, served in the church room.

LIGHT During the Sunday 10 am service (term-time only), the younger children (3-11’s) meet in the church room, and an in-church play area is provided for the under 3’s.

WHO TO CONTACT

Initial arrangements for Holy baptism, Weddings and Banns of Marriage should be made in the first instance at the Parish office, Thursday evening 7.30 pm – 8.30 pm in the main church building. If, unfortunately, you have to arrange a funeral and you wish someone from St Augustine’s to take the service in church, at the Crematorium, or the Cem-etery, please indicate this to the Undertaker. If you are unable to attend church and would like Holy Communion taken at your home, please contact the Vicarage on 01634 850288. Anyone wishing to book the Church Room or the Church Hall should contact Tony Felmingham on 01634 854477 Full details of the Church Team and the Groups can be found on the inside covers of this magazine.

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Place of Welcome Every Wednesday pop in any time between 9am and 11am for free tea / coffee a biscuit or two – and sometimes cake . First Wednesday in the month – book drop and swap – come and pick up a book – read it and return it for another. Pop in events on a regular basis include Medway Adult Education, Autism

South East, SATEDA and MASH ( Medway Asthma Self Help)

Please look out for updates regarding Place of Welcome, particularly

with regard to Covid-19 Coronavirus advice.

From the Parish Register

Deaths:

Terry Bowgen Doreen Airey

HOPE Together is inviting Christians of all

denominations to pray for 20 minutes on the 20th of

every month, throughout 2020, each evening at 20:20

Continued from page 10 It was quite an occasion for Wateringbury, with Special Constables making sure that the traffic on the Tonbridge Road pulled over to let our procession pass safely on its way to St. John The Baptist Church. Our donkey for the day producing smiles from the car drivers. For those with ears to hear and eyes to see, this was not just a jolly outing for church people; “The King of glory was passing on his way!”

Yours in Faith, Fr Denys

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GROUPS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

LIGHT For children aged 5-11. Sundays at 10 am during term

time. Contact: Churchwardens Kingsquad At Byron School - for children from Years 2-6. Thursdays 3.30-4.30 pm during term time. Tel School on 852981. St Augustine's Baby Club For parents and carers of babies up to 2½ years. 9.45-11.45am Friday in the Church Room. Term time only.

Contact Gillian Cordier on 855192 Coffee Morning For anyone on their own or those who would like to make

new friends. 10.15-11.15, every Thursday in the Church Room. Contact Gloria Turner on 572107

Flower Group Contact Jenny Coe on 322077 Place of Welcome Every Wednesday 9.00—11.00. Everyone welcome. In the

Church. UNIFORMED GROUPS 3

rd Gillingham Guides In the Church Hall on Fridays at 6.30pm

Contact Caroline Bubb on 574425 3

rd Gillingham Brownie Guides In the Church Hall on Wednesdays at 5.45pm

Contact Grace Sladden on 280583 Gillingham West In the Church Hall on Wednesdays at 5.00pm (St Augustine's) Rainbows Contact Grace Sladden on 280583 5

th Gillingham Scout Group Contact the Group Leader, Gay Worden on 571677

Beaver Colony In the Church Hall on Mondays 4.45-6pm Contact Sandra Bowring on 579261 Tigers Cub Scouts In the Church Hall on Mondays 6.15-7.45pm Contact Ann Last on 305066 Jaguar Scouts In the Church Hall on Mondays 7.45-9.15pm Contact Christopher Divers on 580910

ST AUGUSTINE’S PARISH CALENDAR FOR APRIL 2020

Wednesday 1st 9.00 am -11.00 am Place of Welcome

Thursday 2nd 9.30 am 10.15 am

Holy Communion Coffee Morning

Saturday 4th 2.00 pm Jumble Sale Church Hall

Palm Sunday 5th 10.00 am Parish Eucharist with Incense

Holy Week 8

th, 9

th,

10th

Please read page 27 for full details of services on these days.

Wednesday 8th 9.00 am -11.00 am Place of Welcome . + Please read p 27 for full details

Easter Triduum 9th Maundy Thursday Please read page 27 for full details of services

Easter Triduum 10th Good Friday Please read page 27 for full details of services

Easter Triduum 11th Easter Saturday Please read page 27 for full details of services

Easter Sunday 12th 10.00 am Parish Eucharist

Wednesday 15th 9.00 am -11.00 am Place of Welcome

Thursday 16th 9.30 am 10.15 am

Holy Communion Coffee Morning

Sunday Easter 2 19th 10.00 am Parish Eucharist

Wednesday 22nd 9.00 am -11.00 am Place of Welcome

Thursday St George

23rd 9.30 am 10.15 am

Holy Communion Coffee Morning

Sunday Easter 3 26th 9.30 am 10.30 am 11.15 am

Parish Eucharist Refreshments APCM

Wednesday 29th 9.00 am -11.00 am Place of Welcome

Thursday 30th 9.30 am 10.15 am

Holy Communion Coffee Morning