New Year's Eve Zoomathon

Many thanks to those who joined in our New Year's Eve Zoomathon. Just a few of us, but it was a super enjoyable way to spend the evening in the midst of all the current restrictions.

Based on the Radio Two 'Three-Word Thursday' we began with 'Three Word 2020'. Here are our responses ...

"What, no hugs!!"          "Ohhhhh, no travel 😞"

"Dramas in pyjamas."         "Stuck at home 😠"

"Kitchen - Bed - Computer."

"Flights cancelled again!!" 

"Many long walks"

(FACTOID: between Jan 26th - Dec 31st 2020 Mrs Pauline Jackson has walked 5,847,271 steps!!!)

We had several quizzes  -  Aiste's Christmas Quiz, Cities in the Snow (Joy was definitely the winner here) and 'Zoomed In' which consisted of 12 famous landmark images zoomed to 500%  -  as the image is zoomed out slowly the number of points reduces  -  Aiste & Basel raced ahead of the pack with well over 200 points!!

We also played Blankety Blank and Hangman, both of which worked well 😀😀

We talked about who we would invite to dinner - anyone past or present who we'd want to spend an evening with. What an interesting bunch of people we chose  ...  Einstein, Jesus, Buddha, Cleopatra, Nelson Mandela, Professor Brian Cox, John Lennon, Queen Elizabeth, Mr Bean, Mother Teresa, Terry Waite, Boris Johnson and many more (some of whom I didn't know).

Our evening was brought to a close by us writing together an

A-Z of Hope for 2021 

Happy New Year

2020 was stolen from many but, let's face it, that year is done.

There are glimmers of hope on the horizon - promises yet to come.

So, what does 2021 hold for us?  What do we have to look forward to?

Well, let's start by entering this brand year with our attitude set on 'new'.

New year, new hopes, new adventures ahead, the story is partly ours to write.

So, let's enter 2021 with our vision set on LIGHT.

Light at the end of a long dark tunnel, light the hope for all.

Light to walk with your head held high and not stumble about and fall.

For me that Light is Jesus; it's my faith that keeps me strong.

What about you in this brand new year? What will help you carry on?

Take Ten - Farewell 2020

View Video:

Take Ten - Farewell 2020

What have we learned through this challenging year? If we never take time to stop and evaluate that we are where we want to be, doing what we truly want to do, we become nothing more than a hamster scurrying round and round on a perpetual wheel.

Staying Positive

I just read this excellent article by the BBC on '5 Ways to Stay Positive through the Winter'

The link below will take you to the full article, which is well worth a read. But here's the briefest precis from me ...

1. Get Moving - a great way to boost your mood. The release of endorphines into your bloodstream help produce increased feelings of well-being. It really doesn't have to be any form of formal exercise ... for me it works just to play some loud music and jig about my house for a while.

2. Stop Over-Thinking - don't dwell on the negative. Shift your mental focus, get active, make a plan, distract yourself with more positive and calm-inducing activities.

3. Set a New Target - a project large or small.  Take up a new hobby, try out a new recipe, introduce an activity that will promote your sense of achievement and self-worth.

4. Talk it Over - share your feelings and your struggles with a friend (or contact the Medway Campus Chaplain).  Talking things through with another person can help reframe your thoughts and gain better perspective.

5, Do it Badly! Don't wait - just have a go!  There's nothing much to be learned by always getting it right the first time. 

BBC article:

Five ways to stay Positive through the Winter

Photo Caption Competition - the results

During these strange and challenging times we need to find a bit of humour and some light relief where we can.  Thank you for all those who participated and brought a much needed smile to the lives of others 😂😂😂  A special thank you and well done to all our winners (enjoy spending your vouchers) and also to those who helped choose the final winning entry.

Here's a review of the winning captions...

Winner:
Jamila Mohammed (UoG)

Winner:
Alison Crump (UoK)

Winner:
Aiste Steponenaite (UoK)

Winner:
Claire Friday (GKSU)

Winner:
Charlie Philbeam-Bailey (UoG)

Winner:
Wim Melis (UoG)

Winner:
Alison Bratt (UoK)

Winner:
Alex Pine (UoG)

Winner:
Toby (UoG)

Thought for the week ...

Happy Christmas!!

Week Ten Winner

Photo Caption Competition Winner

week 10 of 10

I do hope that this competition has brought a bit of a smile to your face this past term, in the midst of what has been a rather dreary and depressing year 😕😕

Didn't get as many responses this week but I guess amny have already switched off for Christmas  ... very understandable.

My runner up this week is ...

"Why do I always have to set up the camera

for my photoshoot, but humans take all the

credit for the pictures."

Aiste (UoK)

"That moment when you realise that it was a different

type of scientist that's responsible for all close shots

of wildlife we have been seeing on NatGeo."

Bamidele (UoG)

But our week 10 winner, chosen by ME 😂 is ...

"Elsa! Stop singing and dancing for

one second and just say, Cheese!"

Toby (UoG)

Take Ten - The Light of Christmas

View Video:

Take Ten - The Light of Christmas

Christmas is one of three pivotal events in the Christian calendar. This celebration is about LIGHT - Light as Truth and Illumination, Light as Comfort and Light as Hope.

Thought for the week ...

We've just been placed into extremely tight restrictions here in the south-east, in response to the increasing number of covid infections.  I have two close friends who work in intensive care at Medway hospital, life/work there is really tough and demanding, for some, life itself truly hangs in the balance. 

I can no longer go home to visit my family this Christmas and that, quite frankly - SUCKS!!  However, the protection and safety of my family is the highest priority and I would rather sacrifice now in order to have a big family bash when this is all over. And so, in the  midst of my tears of sadness and disappointment, I CHOOSE to put my HOPE in JESUS, Saviour of the World, author and perfecter of my faith.

Week Nine Winner

Photo Caption Competition Winner

week 9 of 10

Oh, how cute!!!

I've narrowed the running down to four possible entries. The runners up are ...

"I can't believe Christmas is cancelled!"

Rhandi (UoG)

"2020 - a year in pictures."

Supattra (UoG)

"How you feel when you see people's fitness goals and achievements in instagram."

Omolade (UoK)

And this week's winner, chosen by Cat Dennis from GKSU is ...

"I still can't find Wally!

Where is Wally?"

Alex (UoG)

Photo Caption Competition - week 10

YOUR LAST CHANCE ...

 

OPEN to all Medway Campus students and staff.

Your chance to win a £10 Amazon voucher.

Submit your name, university email address

and caption suggestion to:

medwaycampuschaplain@gre.ac.uk

before midnight on Wednesday, Dec 23rd 2020.

Take Ten - That Empty Chair

In this strange and challenging year many people have experienced loss and their grief process has been overshadowed by the restrictions that Covid have brought to our lives. Especially, as we draw close to the Christmas season we are confronted with ‘that empty chair’ at the dinner table, that empty space in the family gathering.

View Video:

Take Ten - That Empty Chair

Christmas Traditions

Trees, Cards, Crackers and Carols 

Christmas traditions vary from nation to nation. In Ukraine you'll find that a spider or spider's web on the Christmas tree is a sign of good luck. In the USA, a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking means you've been naughty. In India, Christmas is known as 'Bada Din' (the Big Day), whereas in Iran it's known as 'Little Feast'.

So what are the origins of some of the things that we now take for granted at the Christmas season?

Well, the idea of decorating a Christmas tree came to the UK from Germany and was made popular by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Ever since 1947, Norway has donated a tree to London to say thank you for helping them during World War II. Each year this beautifully decorated tree bring thousands of people to Trafalgar Square.

Over the years, some have read spiritual significance in to the Christmas tree ... it's triangular shape representing the Trinity, the fact that it is an evergreen signifying eternal life.

Sir Cole, founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum, is renown to have created the first ever Christmas card, though the idea took several decades to really catch on. Sadly, with the growing cost of postage and the rise of online communication, the humble and often meaningful Christmas card is in decline.

In all the travelling I've done, I've discovered that the Christmas cracker is quintessentially British. They were first created by Tom Smith, a London sweet maker, around 1845. No British Christmas dinner would be the same without a cracker to pull with friends and family. Each one containing a paper hat, a small gift and a ridiculously cheesy joke. 

And finally, Christmas carolling.  The timing of Christmas came about from the winter solstice celebrations. As the shortest day of the year passed, people looked with hope towards the spring. The word 'carol' means a dance or song of praise and, as December 25th was adopted, early Christians began to write carols with a specifically Christian theme.

Whilst all of these things have come to shape and bring colour to our Christmas celebrations they are no replacement for the True message of Christmas which is the birth of Jesus Christ, Saviour and Redeemer of the World 😀😀😀

Chaplaincy letter

Dear Staff & Students at the Medway Campus,

It's become a bit of a cliche to say 'this has been a tough & challenging year', though it remains the truth. I simply wanted to write to express my own personal thanks for your extremely hard work this past term. As with my own role, we have all had to think outside the box and find new ways of doing things. In March I had never even heard of Zoom, now in December I have a You-Tube channel (Take Ten with Lynne). Not bad for a technophobe!

In addition to thanking you for your hard work, I would like to wish you and all your family true peace and rest this Christmas season. My thoughts and prayers are especially with all those who have experienced the loss of a loved one during this year Whether or not you are a person of faith, I pray that you will know a peace and comfort beyond human understanding in this time.

I wish you all a very Happy and Blessed Christmas.

See you next term.

Blessings.

Lynne 

Thought for the week ...

Week Eight Winner

Photo Caption Competition Winner

8 of 10

Such a great photo 😀😀  Here are our runners up for the week:

"Tell the foot, cuz the face ain't listening!"

Amanda (UoG)

"I sense much fear in you."

Toby (UoG)

"Not now, I'm meditating."

Bamidele (UoG)

"No more alcohol for me - I don't drink and fly."

Tali (UoK)

"Stop! I've not had coffee yet!"

Hayley (UoG)

And the winner, chosen by Mike McGibbon

(University of Greenwich) is ...

"No, Ursula, I'm not Britain's peace dove

sent to the EU

- I'm Boris the Brexit Buzzard!!"

Alison (UoK)

Photo Caption Competition - week 9

Our penultimate week ...

 

OPEN to all Medway Campus students and staff.

Your chance to win a £10 Amazon voucher.

Submit your name, university email address

and caption suggestion to:

medwaycampuschaplain@gre.ac.uk

before midnight on Thursday, Dec 17th 2020.

Take Ten - Decisions! Decisions!

Nelson Mandela once said “Don’t settle for a life that’s less than you are capable of living.”  

Fostering the art of good decision making will help us to live life more intentionally and, in such a way, as to be more fulfilling. Join us for eight tips on the art of decision making.

View Video:

Take Ten - Decisions! Decisions!

Thought for the Week ...

Week Seven Winner

 Photo Caption Competition Winner

Week 7 of 10

Woe is me, a serious lack of entries this week!  Only three made it in to my short list. So to help me decide I messaged a group of friends, students and colleagues to take part in an anonymous vote.

Runners up were ...

“But Professor Chris Whitty said we

can’t hug each other!!”

Alison (UoK)

"The person who is happy to share stupid

moments with you is the one you should

spend your entire life with."

Aiste (UoK)

And the winner is ...

"Where did you say that puddle was? After the next bend!"

Wim (UoG)

Photo Caption Competition - week 8

 

OPEN to all Medway Campus students and staff.

Your chance to win a £10 Amazon voucher.

Submit your name, university email address

and caption suggestion to:

medwaycampuschaplain@gre.ac.uk

before midnight on Thursday, Dec 10th 2020.

Take Ten - The Power of the Tongue

Words have the power to help and to heal, but also to hurt and to humiliate. The Bible says, "The tongue has the power of life and death."  What impact do our words have on the lives and wellbeing of others?

View Video:

Take Ten - The Power of the Tongue

Crime Prevention this Christmas

Sadly, crime rates can increase over the Christmas period. There are some simple things you can do to protect your property and belongings ...

👉 Keep keys, cash and expensive items out of sight

👉 Use a timer switch on lights to make your home look occupied, when you're away

👉 Keep gates locked a boundaries secure

👉 Keep hedges cut for better surveillance

👉 Close and secure all doors and windows when you leave home

👉 Lock away bikes, tools, garden equipment, etc. These can either be stolen or used to assist break-in

👉 Consider installing an alarm system

👉 Mark valuable property and keep an inventory of valuables, along with photos

👉 Consider appropriate insurance

SECOND-HAND GOODS

👉 DON'T be tempted by cheap deals. If an offer looks too good to be true it probably is! Only buy goods from a source that you know is genuine.

👉 Handling or trading in stolen goods is a crime. If caught, you could receive a fine of up to £5,000 or up to 14 years in prison.

Check out:

Burglary Prevention Toolkit

Thought for the week ...

Week Six Winner

Photo Caption Competition Winner

week 6 of 10

This image lends itself to so much caption creativity 😉😊😁

Here are my runners up for this week ...

"What do you mean lockdown haircut ... 

this is my usual style."

David (Drill Hall Library)

"Second lockdown and only 50 toilet rolls left."

Alex (UoG)

"Matt Hancock promises new Covid-19 vaccine

will have no side effects!!"

Alison (UoK)

Our winner this week was chosen by Kirsten Wynn, UoG Associate Chaplain:

"Margaret was on her 5th coffee and starting to see parallel dimensions."

Charlotte (UoG)

Photo Caption Competition - week 7

 

OPEN to all Medway Campus students and staff.

Your chance to win a £10 Amazon voucher.

Submit your name, university email address

and caption suggestion to:

medwaycampuschaplain@gre.ac.uk

before midnight on Thursday, Dec 3rd 2020.

Upcoming Christmas Events

Sunday, December 6th

from 6pm

Christmas Connect

More information: https://christmasconnect.org.uk/

Youtube Christmas Connect

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfSiPlzcvZWodHEa4Wg712Q

Instagram @christmasconnect

Twitter @christmasconne2

Sunday, December 13th

from 3pm

Music Man Project

online Christmas Concert

Please support the Music Man Project (Kent)

This excellent charity helps those with physical and learning disability through the medium of music and singing.

The concert will be 'broadcast' on YouTube and Facebook. A link will be sent out nearer the time so that you can join us on YouTube, or if you are on Facebook, keep an eye out for more details on The Music Man Project Kent page.

Please click on the link to find out more and make a donation.

I will definitely be logging on for this 😁😁

THANK YOU!
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mmp-kent-christmasconcert2020

Wednesday, December 16th

from 6pm

Do0rstep Carols

Carols on your Doorstep

When? December 16th from 6pm

Where? Your doorstep!

How? Sing along with the Radio!

Fir more information

https://www.doorstepcarols.co.uk/

Sunday, December 20th

from 5:30pm

Christmas Concert

I will definitely be logging on for this 😁😁

A group of musicians, including several alumni of the University of Kent (Medway) have come together as the KSL Music Collective (comprising musicians from Kent, Surrey and London) to bring Christmas cheer to audiences far and wide through a Virtual Christmas Concert – The Spirit of Christmas. The concert is organised by Arun Silva, an organist and singer and alumnus of the University of Kent at Medway.

Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/32MCooVls

Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/128984934411

Raising funds to support the excellent work of

Medway Street Angels

Justgiving: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/christmasconcertmsa?utm_term=5zyw4pywy

Take Ten - What is Prayer?

Prayer is expressed in different ways for different faiths. For me personally, as a Christian, the essence of prayer is this - it’s about dialogue and relationship with a living God. We are all different – our own prayer-style will come as an expression of the personality God has given us; the pattern or style of prayer that fosters my own walk with God may not look the same as yours.

View video:

Take Take - What is Prayer?

Thought for the week ...

Photo Caption Competition - week 6

 

OPEN to all Medway Campus students and staff.

Your chance to win a £10 Amazon voucher.

Submit your name, university email address

and caption suggestion to:

medwaycampuschaplain@gre.ac.uk

before midnight on Thursday, Nov 26th 2020.

Week Five Winner

Photo Caption Competition Winner

week 5 of 10

I've really enjoyed receiving this week's responses 😆 Many thanks to all those who participated.

Runners up this week are:

"Strictly Christmas Special to feature

Anne Widdicombe paired with John Sargent."

Bruce (UoG)

"Buck's new 'horse' was a bit bull-ish."

Charlotte (UoG)

"Take up a hobby during lockdown they said.

It’ll be fun they said.”

Caroline (UoG)

"That worked better in rehearsals"

Hayley (UoG)

And the winner, chosen by Sue Plummer (Christ Church Canterbury University) is ...

"If 2020 was an animal!"

Claire (GKSU)