Dear Friends at Christ Church,
It is with regret that I have to let you know that our mission trip to Romania planned for August 2019 will no longer be going ahead.
Thank you for your prayers, enthusiasm and support for what we were hoping to do - and we will keep you posted with our next mission opportunity when one arises! This was a very difficult decision for the young people, their parents, and for myself - and it is unfortunate that the terms and conditions laid down by the other organisation we were joining with were quite unreasonable and we could not agree to them. Our fundraising efforts have raised over £450 and we will be giving a donation towards Impact Romania for their important work.
We are all gutted by this - but know that God has something better lined up for us! We are thinking of UK mission opportunities, and I am currently liaising with our mission partners in Latvia and Germany!
This means that we have put a pause on our fundraising events: 17th February (bake sale), 30th March (Afternoon tea) and 13th April (Bingo and Quiz night). We will continue to host our bake sales on 17th March and 14th April and collect loose change for "100 x1p Squares" to generate funds for a future CCO Youth mission opportunity. Thank you for prizes and tins which we will use.
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SAFEGUARDING:
The safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults in our churches is of utmost importance and the Diocese and Christ Church takes its responsibilities in this area very seriously.
In 2017 the House of Bishops published the Safeguarding Training and Development Practice Guidance for staff and volunteers in churches.
The training is divided into various modules. C0 – basic awareness – is recommended for those who would like a basic awareness of safeguarding.
With this is mind, Andy Goddard and I will be leading a C0 training course on 23rd February at Christ Church from 10am to 12 noon. Although compulsory for anyone who works with children, young people or vulnerable adults, it is also available to all members of the congregation.
Please sign up on the sheet at the back of church or let Jennie Mapp (jenniemapp@gmail.com) know if you can attend. For those unable to attend, it is also available online (www.rochester.anglican.org/resources/safeguarding/c0/) – please let Jennie Mapp (jenniemapp@gmail.com) know if you do this course online so that we have a record of who has completed the course.
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LADIES:
CCO Women's Ministry ‘Clothes Swap’ evening Saturday 16th February, 7pm-9pm £5 entry (includes first drink and snacks). Suitable for ladies age 16+. Please bring clean, good condition, quality items of clothing you no longer wear and use them as currency to take home something you will love! There will also be several 'Ecological stalls' (How to make Ecobricks, Morsbags, Bees wax wraps), tips on recycling and recycled packaging bags/purses for sale.
There are certain 'Rules' for the clothes swop - click on the link to see what they are.
Please let Judith Motto (judemotto@googlemail.com) know if you can loan a clothes rail, portable dressing screen, a freestanding mirror or hangers - or help on the night with a stall, sorting clothes or refreshments.
Items that are left over from the Swish will be donated to a local charity. All profits from the evening will go to 'Daughter Arise', a Christian based company which believes in showing the love of Jesus through action by supporting vulnerable people in our community.
Think of inviting a friend!
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Andrena Palmer
Youth and Community Minister, Christ Church Orpington