November 2015 Newsletter
Hello, may you be aware of God’s presence throughout your week. Blessings, Susanne
Supplies for refugees in Calais – message from Penny Callaghan from Life Church
We are in contact with a group taking supplies to the refugees in Calais. There are 5,000 in the camp, with far more men than women (ratio of 10:1), so they do not currently require items for women or children. Please ensure only items on the list are brought so that precious storage space can be used wisely.
Badly needed: trainers/hiking boots (men – European size 41-43); tents (even if incomplete, inc. covers, ground sheets, tarpaulins), travelling bags, candles/torches/lighters/matches, socks/belts, jackets (especially small/medium men size; NO wool)
Always needed: tracksuits/trousers/jeans (men size 28-32), hoodies/waterproofs, shirts/T-shirts, leggings/thermal tights (female), underwear, sleeping bags/duvets/mattresses/sleeping mats/blankets, woollen hats/scarves/gloves, male toiletries (soap/shower gel/razor/shaving gel/shampoo/ toothbrush/ toothpaste/ combs), pots/pans/gas stoves/plastic cups/plastic plates, cleaning products/sponges, non-electric kettles, plastic sacks, mobile phones (to stay in touch with loved ones), books (especially English as a second language and French/English dictionary), wooden pallets/thick plastic sheeting
I am happy to receive items at our house 6 Lower Mead, Petersfield GU31 4NR and to pass them onto the Chichester group. Please provide the items by the end of October. Thank you.
PACT Food Bank – Message from David Rice
The Food Bank now has a new structure with an organising committee and a team of volunteers to cover two sessions of taking in food donations and two sessions of handing out food packs each week. Thanks to all those who have so readily volunteered to make the transition to the new structure be largely pain-free! We are working towards having one job per committee member and being able to call on our volunteers only once or twice a month, according to their availability. We still need a couple more committee members and a further handful of volunteers to make this possible. If you would like to volunteer for this work, please contact David Rice (01428 642787: ).
If you know somebody who needs food support, please let them know that they cannot just turn up. There are a number of agencies who refer people to the Food Bank (local health centres, churches, schools, CAB, Winton House, Age Concern, etc – see the PACT website). People need a referral form from one of these agencies in order to use the Food Bank. Referral forms give details of location and opening times and it is important that people follow that advice so that they can be welcomed and supported as we intend. The location of the store is not being advertised as there is no-one there to deal with referrals and we would not want to cause distress either to someone seeking support or indeed to other users of the premises.
Because of a generous level of donations, we do have a reasonable stock of food to distribute and would encourage people to make this facility known to anyone who might need such help.
A TAIZÉ service in aid of The Medaille Trust
Sunday, 1st November 2015 at 4pm (St Laurence Church): Service followed by tea with a collection forThe Medaille Trust, a charity to support women, men and children freed from trafficking.
PACT prayer for Petersfield on 1st Thursday of every month
Thursday, 5th November, 2pm-3.30pm (28 Moggs Mead): Contact
OPEN Prayer: Grace and justice
Saturday, 7th November 2015 at 6pm (Sheet Church): Making space for worshipping and listening to God with time for discussion, music, creative responses, opportunity for silence, food and more. Upcoming topic: 5th December - Grace with Us
Cafe Church: Refugees – What should we do?
Sunday, 8th November from 5-7pm (Costa Cafe)
IMC Fun Evening with Lynne Todd Ukulele Group “Almost There” with supporting soloist Lauren Bergin
Saturday, 14th November from 7-10.30pm (Herne Farm Leisure Centre): Tickets £5; bar available & nibbles; retiring collection for IMC; for more info contact Tim & Gill Merriman02393 115900
Climate change prayer and fast on 1st day of every month
Sunday, 29th November: Action against climate change. There are 3 ways to get involved:
- Join UK rally in London
- Join climate march in Paris (Tearfund is organising walking pilgrimage to Paris or travel by train/coach together with Church of England, Christian Aid and CAFOD.)
- Lead prayers at your local church and send photos of the activity to the government.
For more info, check or e-mail
St Peter’s Barn Dance
Saturday, 21th November at 7pm for 7.30pm (St Peter’s Church): The band will be the Bursledon Village Band who claim to be Hampshire’s finest barn dance and ceilidh band! Tickets prices tbc - they will include supper. More details to follow. Contact Hattie Hughes on 01730 260 213
Advance notice:PACT Christmas Dinner
Would you be able to spare some time on Christmas Day to help provide lunch for people who would otherwise be alone at Christmas? We are looking for people to help with washing up, driving, and acting as table hosts. If you would be willing to help, please contact Katie Wigley as soon as possible. Leave a contact number or email address.
Spiritual food for thought
“Let’s remember Jesus was born in Asia in a borrowed barn before He and His family became refugees in Africa. Moses, Daniel, Priscilla, Aquila, Ezekiel, and the Israelites were also refugees. Onesimus was a run away slave of Philemon, a refugee who ran away from home and eventually became Bishop of Ephesus. Throughout history God has advanced His purposes by moving peoples around from one nation to another nation.God is sending people to us in Europe and North America so that we might love them and preach the gospel to them. Many of us have been praying for the Muslim world for decades. God is answering our prayers by bringing them to our doorsteps. There is a great spiritual hunger among many who have become disillusioned with Islam (Yes, persecuted Christians and others who are fleeing poverty are also coming.) If we close our doors to refugees and immigrants out of fear of losing our standard of living and comfort, we may be closing our doors to Jesus Himself. Remember Matt. 25:35 “I was a stranger and you invited me in.” (see for rest of blog post