March 2017 calendar

India 2018 Auction

The vision of Gillingham to Bangalore (India 2018) actually goes beyond 2018. It's long-term vision is for St Mark's Church to establish an on-going partnership with mission and ministry in India.

It is a partnership in the strict sense that we are not just about going to India in 2018. It is a two-way path. We are working towards making it possible to welcome back Indian Pastors and leaders to visit, serve and teach us here in the UK.

It's purpose is also to renew our missionary DNA of St Mark's and the blessing that past Exodus projects and such have been in the last century.

Deano's reading from the

First Book of Generosity

Chapter 3 verse 5  (Revised Standing Version)

'To the Church of St Mark's in Gillingham write:

There will be a might wind,

shouldst thou partake too much

of the soup of the lentil and I say unto you;

giveth this day most generously in your bidding

- especially for Lot 20 -

that I may bless you in your passage to India.

Search diligently into your hearts

and the darkness recesses of your wallets.

For it is written - to those that do dig deep

for a classic mini car ride or a three-course

Pakistani meal, to them I shall show favour

and decree there are no more hold ups

in thy quest for an accessible toilet

and that the Gills shall not suffer relegation.

This is possibly not the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Over the coming year we have a number of fundraising events planned, so that we can truly bless these ministries. Sunday, Feb 26th was the very first of our events ... an Auction of Gifts & Talents.  There were so many wonderful things on offer, including:

Transport for that special night out, transport to Gatwick & Heathrow, or simply for that shopping trip ...

Drum lessons ...

 Gardening ...

 Dog-walking ...

 A plethora of meals - Pakistani, Chinese, Sunday roast and so much more ...




And even ballroom dancing lessons, which several students took advantage of ...





I'd like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all those who made soup and helped serve, to Pauline for her help with all things admin on the day, to Chris & Gary for helping keep me sane(ish) and, especially, to Deano for his amazing job as auctioneer :-)

In total we raised £2,006

How amazing is that!!!

Celebration

If you've read the 'All things new' post from Feb 16th you will know that I have much to celebrate ... a new haircut, new job, sometime soon a new home, and I recently turned a new age :-)  Thank you to all those students who 'invaded' my home on Saturday with pizza and cake galore!! It was a lovely evening.

Pancake Night

Shrove Tuesday  - better know as Pancake Night  -  is that last day before the Christian season of Lent, which is the 40 days leading up to Easter.  Typically, on this day people eat pancakes in order to use up certain items in their kitchen before a season to fasting and preparation.

We celebrated a week early at TABLEtalk, enjoying a feast of pancakes (many thanks to all those who cooked) followed by games, chatting and lots of laughs doing a mannequin challenge (thanks Attia).

 

A wedding

Valentine's Day has been and gone once again; and it's great to know that I can go away and leave TABLEtalk in the capable hands of Lesley, Wayne and Saju :-)


A special thank you to Saju for coming along and facilitating our 'wedding'  ...  this year between Basim and Pesila :-)

Happy Birthday, Areti :-)