Notices

Read pause for thought and prayer here

Church Picnic - Sunday 8th August 2010

Hosted by Paul and Alison Wright
Come along to a church picnic
Straight after church, coffee on arrival!
(Rain or shine - marquee on site).
at:
Brownings Farmhouse,
Biackboys,
TN22 5HG, on the B2102,
right hand side going towards Heathfield.
Bring a picnic and folding chairs/rugs.
Come prepared - if you fancy - for swimming,
field games (bring some) or a farm walk.
Blackboys Church are also invited.

Posted 24.07.2010

Framfield & Blackboys Summer Show, Saturday 14th August 1.30 - 5pm Framfield Recreation Ground. Fun for all the family! Fun dog show, Punch & Judy, wheelbarrow races, sideshows, stalls and refreshments.

Help needed - As part of our mission to the villages the Church has had a tent at the show where we offered free fruit punch and home-made biscuits and the opportunity to anybody that came by to come and sit and chat. If anyone would like to make some biscuits for the show would you please let our catering coordinator Delia Gillies know. It's a great opportunity for local people to come and meet the local church family.

Posted 24.07.2010

Service on the Rec - Sunday 15th August - 10.30 am Breakfast - Family Service at 11.00 am.

Traditionally Framfield Church has been given the opportunity to use the large marquee for the Sunday service following the Summer Show. This year we have our guest speaker Derek Hayman AKA 'Mr Paintbrush' who is a great speaker and highly entertaining (Derek lets his painting speak for him!)

The service is open to everyone and will begin with breakfast - bacon butties, donuts, tea/coffee and soft drinks etc. Please encourage anyone and everyone to come, it's going to be a really fun service and suitable for all the family - flyers are at the back of church.

Posted 24.07.2010

Work begins to replace water main:

Major roadworks in Framfield see - South East Water website and BBC News

Posted 17.07.2010

Prayer Partners:

Prayer Partner slips for JULY and AUGUST are now available in The Tin. New members of the partnership are always welcome - please contact Sally Clifton.

Posted 04.07.2010

FRAMFIELD PARISH LUNCH CLUB:

We have a happy Lunch Club group which meets every third Wednesday in the month at the Church Hall.  Numbers can range from 18 to 30.  We are non-profit making and any money that may be left over is given back for Church Hall funds.

I have been helping and running it for 21 years and so now my team of volunteers along with myself would like to retire.

Is there anyone who would be prepared to take over from us?  It really needs a team of 5 or 6 to share baking, cooking and the washing up.  We are happy to carry on until the end of the year.  I’m afraid the Club will fold if no one is found to take it on.

EVELYN WICKERSON

Posted 08.07.2010

Sound System Improvements:

The main body of the church has now been fitted with high quality speakers which will significantly improve the sound quality throughout the Nave area. To complement the speakers the Lectern and singers microphones have also been replaced. A special thank you to John Mordaunt for his expertise and hard work in making the improvements possible. Thanks also to Peter and Joan and especially to our benefactors for their kind assistance and support during the installation process. John welcomes your comments and trusts you will enjoy the improvements made to the system. More improvements to come!!!

Posted 27.06.2010

'Loving each other into life':

We would like to design a new logo to describe what we are about as a church and our mission. From our prayers the emphasis appears to be that we individually need to have a firm revelation of God's unconditional love and acceptance and the resulting positive self-image so that we can effectively' love our neighbours as ourselves' within the church, community and beyond. What do you think about the logo above? If anyone would like to design a logo for consideration by the PCC please submit it to Chris or the Churchwardens. (by Sunday 4th July if possible (no pressure!) - Thank you)

Posted 27.06.2010

New Initiative - Monthly Prayer Meeting

A regular prayer meeting will be held on the - 4th Sunday of each month at 5.00 pm to 5.45 pm in the Gage Chapel.
The initial meeting was on Sunday; 23rd May 2010 when our topic was 'What is God's mission and vision for Framfield Church?'.
It is intended that a variety of styles of prayer led by various individuals will be used to enhance the prayer life of the church as we seek to draw closer to God and pray for the church locally, nationally and worldwide as well as seeking God's guidance for our role in God's plan.

Future dates as follows:- 25th July; 22nd August; 26th September; 24th October & 28th November.

Posted 23.05.2010

Posted 21.06.2010

Request for Local Accommodation - Young man with Christian background, Greg Shemwell, 25years old - Graduate Surveyor starting work with East Sussex County Council, Lewes (ESCC) on Monday 26th July. Greg is looking for shared accommodation; a suitable room, flat, or house to rent, preferably furnished, with a double size room, desk space, Internet access, safe parking, and a storage place for his bicycle, and ideally within about 20 minutes drive to ESCC. Budget - up to £450.00 per calendar month (including bills). Character references can be supplied if required. If anyone is able to help, can they please email Barry who will provide contact details.

[In accordance with our website security guidelines we do not include personal telephone or email addresses here]

Posted 13.06.2010

Web site for St Thomas a Becket - Our church website has now been running over six years. The site aims to be a useful resource to church members, and also to reach out to potential new members. We hope you will take a look and find it useful. We try very hard to keep it up to date and relevant. Any questions, comments or suggestions, e.mail us here

Posted 21.06.2010

Computer Scam - Beware !

If you are called by someone who claims to be from Microsoft telling you that you have a serious problem with your computer then it is definitely a scam. The aim is to get remote access to your personal information held on your PC. If you are contacted, hang up, and report to Sussex Police at Lewes - www.sussex.police.uk or Phone 01273 404868 ext 40111.

Posted 13.06.2010

Overlord March:

Posted 23.05.2010

Sunday Club - Urgent - We are in great need of some additional leaders and helpers for Sunday Club in order to fulfil our current commitments. If you feel a Godly urge to help out in this important ministry please speak to Rev Chris/Sarah Lawrence or one of the current leaders or helpers. All leaders and helpers will need to be CRB checked.

Posted 30.05.2010

Open day at Crowhurst Christian Healing Centre

Saturday 4th September 2.00 - 4.30pm. Come and have a look around and hear about who we are and what we do. Enjoy a walk in the grounds. Visit the art room, library and bookstall. Sample some refreshments; no charge. Bring family and friends. Healing services weekly - Tuesdays 7.30 pm & Thursday mornings 10:15 am

Posted 16.05.2010 rev 02.07.10

Website visitor statistics:
You may wonder what has happened to the "visitor numbers" in the Church Notices - changes have been made to the recording of these and on investigation I now have discovered there are a significant number of site visits recorded by "robots". These really should not count as visitors in the same way as a human visitor, as they are used only by search engines such as Google, Yahoo and others for indexing site content.
Future visitor statistics published in 2010 will exclude the "robot" visits and this may mean visit totals will appear lower. Full details on the website at:http://www.framfieldchurch.org.uk/visitorstats.html

From January we have figures for views by page:
http://www.framfieldchurch.org.uk/visitorbypage.html
Figures from Dec 2009 onwards were not reported in the notices and for the record were:
December 2009 - 1438, January 2010 - 2095, February 2010 - 1295
March 2010 - 2072, April 2010 - 2245, May 2010 - 2441
These are excluding any visits by robot search engines!

Barry

Posted 23.05.2010

Easy Fundraising - Between Rogation Sunday and Harvest Thanksgiving how about collecting loose change in one of the purpose made bags available at the back of church. It's really easy and within everybody's capability. If you would like to participate please collect a bag and return on 3rd October at the Harvest Thanksgiving Service- thank you.

Posted 30.05.2010

Robin and Marilyn Bilson - 'On the move'

With great regret we have to say farewell to everyone at St Thomas's as our
moving date has now been fixed for Thursday 10th June.
After 28 years it's going to be a big wrench leaving you ail and saying
goodbye to all our friends. We want to say thank you to you all for the
fellowship and friendship we have enjoyed at Framfield.
We are going to Whitchurch in Hampshire for a month before (we hope)
moving into our chosen house in Overton.
We would be so glad to see anyone who
might be passing on their way to the West Country!

We shall miss you - God bless you. Marilyn and Robin

Robin & Marilyn's last service with us will be on the 6th June - please stay for refreshments after the service as we say our farewells.

Posted 30.05.2010

Thank You - To all who contributed Sunday's BBQ (May 9th) and special thank you to Peter Tomsett & Sally Clifton for organising the afternoon walk and yummy cream tea at the Blackboys Inn. A good time was had by all.

Posted 16.05.2010

Westminster Petition - Christians are being asked to sign a petition to show our solidarity in asking for the maintenance of Christian traditions in the UK. i.e

• WE BELIEVE that protecting human life, protecting marriage, and protecting freedom of conscience are foundational for creating and maintaining strong families, caring communities and a just society.
• WE INVITE Christians of all denominations who subscribe to the historic Christian faith to sign the Westminster 2010 Declaration of Christian Conscience.
• WE CALL upon all ministers of parliament that they will 'respect, uphold and protect the right of Christians to hold and express Christian beliefs and act according to Christian conscience'. See www.westminster2010.org.uk

Posted 16.05.2010

Mrs Anne Stanley (1924 – 2010):

Some of you may remember Anne, who passed away recently in the Wirral in Cheshire. She lived in our parish for many years and was a very active member of the local community as well as our Parish church. Amongst her many activities, she was clerk to the Parish Council and Church Warden at St. Thomas À Becket. She was treasurer of the local branch of the Women’s Institute. She was a very gifted lady using her needlework skills to great effect.

She has requested that her ashes be interred in the churchyard of our Parish Church and that any donations in her memory be given to the Church. Cheques should be made payable to Framfield Parish Church Re; Anne Stanley.

On Saturday 15 May 2010 at 3 pm there will be a celebration of Anne’s life in the church followed by the interment of her ashes in the churchyard. This will be followed by refreshments in the church hall. All are welcome to attend.

Posted 15.03.2010

Annual Meeting (APCM) Tuesday 20th April 2010 - Update.

During the meeting the following (*) were nominated to serve as Church Wardens and as members of the Parochial Church Council (PCC).

Church Wardens - Mr Peter Tomsett* & Mrs Joan Burne*

PCC Members & Deanery Synod
Rev Chris Lawrence - Chairman
Dr Rod Trickey (Synod)
Jonathan Fenton-Vince (PCC & Synod)
Colin Campbell
Norman Jones (Treasurer)
Diane Kentish-Barnes (Co-opted - PCC Secretary)
Paul Wright
Sally Clifton
Jean Holloway*
John Mordaunt*
Eric Panton*
Ann Press*

Posted 25.04.2010

Regular at St Thomas à Becket? Then why not become a voting member - Electoral Roll forms are at the back of the church.

Posted 28.03.2010

UCB (United Christian Broadcasters) Tune in on DAB Radio. Excellent, teaching, music & encouragement throughout the day and night - Programme schedule flyer at back of church and here.

Posted 04.04.2010

Operation Godsend:

It is with regret that, due to lack of demand, it has been decided to discontinue the service of Operation Godsend after Easter – at the end of April 2010.

It has been running for over ten years, and during that time has helped many people, but it seems to have run its course.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have participated in the scheme over the years, very warmly for their help in many ways – driving, answering the phone, being on call for assistance etc.  Operation Godsend would not have existed without you.

For the few who have used the scheme recently, arrangements will be made on a personal basis.

Marian Filtness

Posted 07.03.2010

8.00 am Holy Communion:

PLEASE NOTE: From April 2010 onwards there will be 2 BCP services at 8 am on the SECOND and FOURTH Sundays of the month.

The next service will therefore be on 25th July at 8.00 am.

Posted 20.07.2010

Church Rotas. Many thanks to all those who have volunteered to help on the respective rotas - your service is greatly appreciated by God and everyone within this fellowship and community.

There are a few remaining vacancies on the church cleaning and brass cleaning rotas if you feel led to help please add your name in any of the vacant places - Master List on the Notice Board. Thank You.

Posted 07.03.2010

Church Cleaning & Brass Cleaning Rotas. There are a few vacancies on the respective rotas which we need to fill in order to keep God's church in good order. These are not onerous tasks; if you feel led to help please add your name in any of the vacant places - Master List on the Notice Board. Thank You.

Posted 21.02.2010

Future Men's Breakfast Dates for your diary - 2010

Posted 22.07.2010

Sound Desk Operator(s) As a church we could really do with one or two additional individuals being trained to operate the sound desk for services and other occasions. If anyone would like to help please speak to the Church Warden, or Chris Lawrence. Thank You

Posted 17.01.2010

Christian Radio broadcasting

We can praise God that 2 Christian Radio stations have been given a national digital licence to broadcast.
These stations are Premier Christian Radio and UCB (United Christian Broadcasting), and they provide a good digital signal in our area, so if you have a DAB radio receiver, get tuned in, and if you don't then it's a good reason to put one on your Christmas present list.
These 2 stations provide a range of topics including news, music, talks, Bible studies and interesting interviews.

Schedules can be seen at http://www.premierradio.org.uk/schedule.aspx and
http://ucbmedia.co.uk/home/files/ucbuksched.pdf

Posted 13.12.2009

Pilgrim Hall Bookshop:

Don't forget to pop into your local Christian Resource Centre.

For a large selection of Christian cards, candles, diaries and calendars, gifts, music and of course books!

Opening Times: Tuesday to Friday 12.00 to 4.00 pm Saturday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm

PLEASE USE IT OR LOSE IT!!

Posted 02.04.2010

Church Clock 2 - Due to a Health & Safety directive regarding the safe climbing of the ladders within the bell tower, the church clock is currently inoperative. We are required to make the necessary modifications to the ladders or install a safety system so that any operative is prevented from falling. The church architect is due to visit this week to advise on the best way forward and we hope to have the clock operative again ASAP.

Posted 30.05.2009

Church Clock 1 - Just in case you haven't heard the church clock chiming again. It is now repaired and in full working order. We are grateful to the 'Friends Association" for arranging and financing the work.

Posted 15.06.2008

Church parking at Hare and Hounds:

Raf at The Hare & Hounds has asked that we should park at the back of the car park. Parking on the front confuses potential customers into thinking the inn is full and so they may drive past. We have also been allocated permits to park there with his permission on Sundays up to 12 noon. (see Rev. Chris Lawrence or Marilyn Bilson.)

Please do not abuse his welcome, it is his car park for his customers which he is allowing us to use !

Posted 17.05.2009

Grateful Thanks:

The following appeared in a recent edition of The Countryman magazine. With the Editor's permission I would like to share it with you:

An old Worcestershire man who, having lost his wife, was trying to put into words the wonderful support he was receiving from his children. He just kept repeating the phrase: "They won't let wind blow on me"

I too just want to say how grateful I am for all my friends at St Thomas a Becket who at this time "keep the wind from blowing on me". Thank you.

Peter Tomsett.

Posted 08.03.2009

Parking at the Church Hall / Vicarage:

To whom it may concern. Parking at the rear of the church hall is restricted to the family and friends of the resident clergyman and those who are visiting the Church Office or Vicarage on official business. The only exceptions are for disabled drivers displaying disabled badges (there are two Wealden District Council (WDC) approved disabled places outside the hall) and anyone who is dropping off uncarryable items to the church hall for functions e.g. food for Lunch Club. Vehicles must then be moved to the highway. Following the Christmas Party we had the unfortunate task of towing out the car of a disabled member of the congregation who got stuck in the field because the disabled parking spaces (and all other spaces!) were occupied by vehicles that shouldn't have been there. This caused considerable embarrassment. The parking area behind the hall is Not a Public Car Park - Please observe the WDC notice at the top of the drive.

Posted 14.12.2008

Mid-week communion services:

Mid week communion services will take place on the third Wednesday of each month only and will normally coincide with the parish lunch club. We thought people might like to come to communion and then, after a short break, go and have some lunch in the Church Hall! Obviously we will keep this under review but, as matters stand with so few attending, it does not seem appropriate to hold the service every week. Moving to one particular Wednesday in the month should eliminate uncertainty. The next Wednesday communion will be 18th August 2010.

Posted 22.07.2010

NO PARKING PLEASE !

We have recently been reminded that people are using the Southern Water drive to gain access to the Churchyard. May we remind you that there is no access via that route.  The route must at all times be kept open for Southern Water and residents to obtain access. We would appreciate the courtesy to these parties by using the main entrance to the churchyard off Church Approach.

Thank you for your cooperation

Posted 20.01.2008

Blackboys Baptist Church:

Welcome Baptist Church Blackboys meets even Sunday 5 pm – 6 pm in the Village Hall, Gun Road for a cafe-style time of friendship, worship, Bible teaching - and cakes.

You are always welcome.

There are groups of all ages every Sunday, and once a month is our family time together.

We are passionate about children and young people and are responsible for the following groups in Blackboys village:

LITTLE STARS (baby and toddlers) Fridays 10.30 am – 12 noon:
Village Hall: Emma Doherty

CRUSADERS (4-11s) Fridays 3.15 pm - 4.15pm:
Blackboys School: Suzanne Hammond

LIFE2THEMAX (11-16s) Weds 6.30 pm - 8.00 pm:
Village hall: Brendan & Suzanne Hammond

Visit their website at: http://www.welcomechurch.org.uk

Posted 20.01.2008

Local blood donor sessions:

We have been advised that stocks of blood are currently much lower than required.  Support for this vital service is urgently needed – if you feel you can help, you can book an appointment by calling 0845 7711 711 or walk into the Civic Centre – times detailed on poster in church.

Posted 16.11.2007

Bats:

Over the last couple of weeks we have found a number of bats on the floor of the church – 4 last Sunday !   Apparently this miserable summer we have experienced has been disastrous for bats, just not enough insects around.  On Monday Jenny Clark – a local bat rescuer – came over to the church, examined  3 of the above mentioned 4, pronounced, regrettably, that they were all dead.   It seems however, that they died not, as suspected, from malnutrition as there are plenty of spiders etc. in the church but from dehydration – possibly their mothers had not guided them to the exits. 

We subsequently learnt that the fourth bat had been taken by the Newton family to Raystede and put into the care of another bat rescuer – we are advised it will survive.

If any more should be found, we are asked to follow these guidelines :

1. Do not touch or pick up – they may not be moving but they may not be dead.
2. Cover with a glass jar, slide a piece of cardboard underneath and place in a warm box – all this equipment is now on the window sill at the back of the church – whatever may be ailing them, they need to feel warm.
3. Call Jenny – 01342 823189 – who will come and advise.

Posted 27.09.2007

The Monthly Rota:

is now being updated regularly on the web site – do please advise changes to the office.

There will now be a copy on the main church notice board but, if you require your own copy please ask.   All those who have asked for their own copy will find them in church in the usual way.

If you are unable to fulfil a duty allocated to you, please try to swap with someone else and notify the Church Office.  Please refer back to the office only if you are totally unable to make a change with someone else.

Thank you.

Posted 13.09.2006

FPEC:

Have you joined yet ?  FPEC – Framfield Parish E-Community – an electronic notice board for all the community, all sorts of useful local information !  Pick up a leaflet before you leave church today.  Don’t forget – its free !

More details here

Posted 12.04.2006

Child Protection Policy:

You may not be aware that we have a Child Protection Policy at St. Thomas a Becket church – in common with other churches in the Diocese.  A copy is on the Notice Board in Church.

The Anglican Church takes its responsibilities towards children and young people very seriously, and there is a Bishop's Adviser for Safeguarding Children and Adults (formerly known as the Child Protection Advisor for the Diocese), to whom we are answerable. The link person for our church is now Vicki Champion.

Vicki is known as our Child Protection Representative, and any queries can be addressed to her in the first instance.

All voluntary workers offering to help within the various children’s groups will be asked to have a C.R.B. check, before taking up their duties. (Criminal Records Bureau - this is now a statutory requirement).  Please don’t be put off by this – it is really not difficult to obtain.

I am sure you will be aware from stories in the press, that the church needs to be above reproach in all aspects of child care, and we need to protect our helpers as well as the children entrusted to them.

We have recently obtained the latest edition of the House of Bishops’ policy on Child Protection, called “Protecting All God’s Children”.  It will be kept in the church library for the next two weeks and thereafter in the church office, if anyone would like to see it and use it for reference.

Also see:
http://www.diochi.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=activities.content&cmid=72

Posted 25.01.2010