Pew News for Sunday 10th August

FAMILY WALKS: On Tuesdays in June, July, August and September at 4pm we will be holding family walks starting and finishing at St Catherine.  The routes will be about 4 miles in length – some circular.  We will have a picnic tea in the church grounds/building afterwards and there will be a chance to view the church.  Please join us with your youngsters and oldsters for these FREE sociable walks with some mindful themes.  Contact Julia for any more detail.

Walk 3: Tuesday 12th August at 4pm

Walking As Pilgrimage to Sacred Place. We walk as pilgrims to St Augustine’s Cross near Cliffsend.

Walk 4: Tuesday 16 September at 4pm. Walking with Biblical Landscape

During this walk to Pegwell Bay, biblical landscapes will be brought to our imaginations.

VJ DAY – 80 YEAR ANNIVERSARY: 11am, 15^th August at the Spitfire and Hurricane Museum – a service led by Rev Brian Griffiths, followed by “Kentones”, singing group, performing and then again at 1:30pm

THANET FOOD BANK: All items of long-shelf-life food is very welcome, but the stocks of

baked beans, ring-pull tinned desserts, tinned fish and tinned meals are particularly low.

SPIRITUALITY HOUR: Spirituality Hour continues monthly at St Laurence in the candlelit Beckett Chapel – refreshments at 7pm for 7.30pm,10^th  September, 1^st October, 5^th November

RAMSGATE SEA SCOUTS: I'm reaching out from 6th Ramsgate Royal Harbour Sea Scouts, where we're currently looking for just one or two more adults to help us lead our Beaver Scout group (ages 6–8) on weekday evenings. This is a wonderful opportunity for someone who's looking to serve their community in a fun, supportive environment. We provide full training, DBS  checks, and tons of guidance — and the joy of seeing children grow in confidence is truly priceless. – Matthew Sayer, Group Lead Volunteer matthewsayer@6thramsgateseascouts.org.uk

ST LAURENCE CLOCK RESTORATION APPEAL: Thank you all who came and supported the Organ Recital last week.  We raised £201.00 for the restoration fund. At the end of July the total raised stood at £17,358.16. We have several more events planned this year and would love to hit the £20,000 by the end of the year. Saturday 13^th September is Heritage Open Day and St Laurence church will be open for people to come and look round. There will also be a display on the clock restoration works and appeal along with a display on the bells and bellringing. Please come along and support us.  Dates for your diary, 1^st November: Quiznight. 19^th December: the Thanet Light Orchestra will be performing a Christmas Concert.

BELLRINGING: Saturday 16^th August St Laurence is hosting an Association of Ringing Teachers (ART), Teacher Training Day. This will be when experienced ringers who want to take the next step in teaching others to ring church bells will learn how to do so. We will have the bells fully muffled for the day so there will be minimal noise interference for all who live close by. Last week the St Laurence ringers were interviewed by Radio Kent for a piece on bell ringing if you did not catch the broadcast, it can be found on BBC Sounds Radio Kent: “The Wake up Call - Friday” 1^st August 2025 and the piece starts at 3:28:20. It will be available until the end of the month.

PARISH WIDE PASTORAL COURSE - to increase the number of Lay people able and confident in pastoral care within this Parish and home-visiting – please speak to your church’s Focal Minister or LLM Reader if you are interested in attending. At St Christopher’s 11am- 1pm Saturdays 20 Sept  18 Oct,  15 Nov.

Session 1:  20 Sept: Listening Skills with Marcia Neve 4 strategies for helping others with Yasmin Bailey A Good Visit v a Bad Visit with Revd Brian Giffiths  Safeguarding principles & signposting  with Revd Catherine Tucker & PSO Kevin Spain

Session 2: 18 Oct: Grief Work with Revd Ken Cox Mental Health & Dementia with Revd Catherine Tucker & LLM Judith Andrews Physical Disability with LLM Frances Barnes  Pastoral Conversational Skills with Revd Ken Cox

Session 3: 15 Nov:  Resolving Conflicts within Family settings with Revd Phil Barnes Working with Diversity & Difference with Revd Catherine Tucker