Chaplaincy News - October 2022

It has been so great these past few weeks to see the campus full again. If you are a returning student … welcome back, may this year ahead be a fruitful one for you. If you are a new student, just arrived, we offer you a warm welcome to our Medway family.

As Medway Campus Chaplain I am here to help support both students and staff. I am a Christian, but my door is open to you regardless of faith, ethnicity or gender identity.

Lynne

Welcome & Community, Pastoral Care

& Well-Being, Faith Provision

Woohoo!!

TABLEtalk is back in person!!

Where?     The Oasis Lounge, Rochester building (UoK)

When?       Thursday evenings 

                       7:30-9:30pm (starting Sept 29^th)

What is it?  A place of community & belonging. A social, fun, interactive discussion night. The perfect opportunity for international students to:

    **  Improve their English language 

          skills.

    **  Engage in fun, interactive 

          discussions.

    **  Gain increased understanding of 

          cross-cultural communication and

          dynamics.

    **  Make some deep friendships, which will 

          stand the test of time and distance.

TABLEtalk has been running since 2004 and in that time we have welcomed students from over 80 different nationalities.

“I enjoyed all the activities/gatherings/events that I witnessed with the Chaplain. TABLEtalk was a key target and a weekly countdown for me as it took my head off any stresses whether academic or personal. I learned new things, had fun, practice  my English, gained more confidence in speaking with people and getting to know them. It has countless advantages. Thanks, for everything.” 

Ahmad (Egypt)

Our World Café runs every Wednesday

and is open to all Medway students.

You can still access our BARGAIN CORNER, though our opening times are more ad hoc. Simply contact the Chaplain for more information.

TAKE TEN – Tourist or Pilgrim?

There are some subtle, yet important differences between being a tourist or pilgrim.

View video:  https://youtu.be/hB6yLW9jPyo

WHAT’S ON DIARY DATES

Oct 2^nd

Sacred Space

A monthly event for Christian students.

2-5pm

Oct 4^th

Chaplaincy Pop-Up

Drill Hall Library  10am-2pm

Oct 6^th

Chaplaincy Pop-Up

Rowan Williams building  11am-1:30pm

Oct 6^th

TABLEtalk: ‘Survive or Thrive?’

Oasis Lounge, Rochester bldg.  7:30-9:30pm

Oct 10^th

World Mental Health Day

Watch out for activities across campus

Oct 11^th

Chaplaincy Pop-Up

Drill Hall Library  10am-2pm

Oct 13^th

TABLEtalk: ‘Culture Shock!’

Oasis Lounge, Rochester bldg.  7:30-9:30pm

Oct 18^th

Staff Coffee Break 

Oasis Lounge, Rochester bldg. 11am-1pm

Oct 20^th

TABLEtalk: ‘Games Galore!’

Oasis Lounge, Rochester bldg.  7:30-9:30pm

Oct 21^st

Chaplaincy Pop-Up

Drill Hall Library  10am-2pm

Oct 22^nd

Oxford Trip

More info to follow. Places will be limited.

Oct 27^th

TABLEtalk: ‘Truth or Lies’

Oasis Lounge, Rochester bldg.  7:30-9:30pm

 

Email the Campus Chaplain for further information regarding any of these events. Follow Medway Campus Chaplaincy on Facebook to keep up with events and news.

Bargain Corner update

Our fabulous Bargain Corner has been fully open from Monday, Sept 12th until Thursday, Sept 29th.

That's 65 hours of sales time!

This was made possible by 8 wonderful volunteers (Niduka, Pauline, Frank, Manuela, Izzy, Sue, Shijo & Denise), giving a total of 102 volunteering hours, to help and serve our students.

During that time we have saved 896 items from going to landfill!!!  That's everything from a piece of cutlery to a double duvet.

In total we made just over £550, which will be fed directly back to subsidising student activities!!!

Things will now look a bit different in Pilkington but DON'T PANIC 😲😲😲, you can still purchase items, but our opening hours are a more ad hoc.  If you are in need of items you can contact me (Lynne Martin) or simply call by my office.

** KEEP THE DONATIONS COMING **

Take Ten - Tourist or Pilgrim?

View video:

Take Ten - Tourist or Pilgrim?

Being a tourist or a pilgrim maybe seem similar, as they both relate to journeying. However, there are some subtle, yet important differences in the way in they approach life and all that it entails. Which are you?

Thought for the week ...

Rochester Quiz Trail

Over 30 of us gathered together for our trip and quiz trail in Rochester yesterday. Eighteen of us from Medway campus and the remainder travelling down from Greenwich.

The quiz trail, yet again, proved to be a popular way for students to explore the beauty and history of Rochester; and everyone was happy with their chocolate bar prizes 😀😀

My very, very favourite answer of all time, was that a 'cooper' makes 'Sunday Roast'.  This answer was outside a local pub and the number of letters fit, so 👍👍👍 for creativity!!

Students sent me a number of photos, and we also had some encouraging feedback ...

"The trip was really good. I enjoyed it a lot. I like the quiz, it was tricky but was fun too. There's nothing I didn't like about the trip."  Dayana

"Thank you, I enjoyed the quiz, a visit to the museum (so beautiful), and a walk around the shops."  Temidayo

"I enjoyed the trip very much! Thanks for being kind enough for awarding us chocolates even after giving wr0ng answers." Pushkar

"It was a memorable trip for me too walking through the grounds of Rochester and finding answers for your well put questions. Thanks for arranging this amazing quiz trail. I am looking forward for more of these fun filled trips."  Shri

"My friends and I loved the trip and the activities. So grateful to you for the fun day. I was just sharing with my family that we have such a good time with you today. I loved that the activity involved the historical aspects of the town and make us use our knowledge as well as our observational skills to complete the activity. It was a beautiful, learning experience."  Sumedha

"I loved the trip to Rochester and I'm looking forward to upcoming trips"  Gokul

For me personally, it was also good to enjoy meeting Ahmed's father and brother, Mahmud, who joined us for the day. We enjoyed a fabulous lunch together in one of my favourite restaurants.  Thank you 😀

Farewell to a true & faithful servant

I wonder if you watched the state funeral of our beloved Queen Elizabeth II today.  Just a few students joined me at the Medway Campus, yet globally, those were expected to watch, was set to exceed 4 billion.

For the passed ten days tributes have poured in from around the country and around the globe, in honour and respect of our longest serving monarch. For many of us, the only monarch we have known.

US president, Joe Biden, said: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era.”

“Her Majesty served the British people with exceptional dignity,” said Ireland's president, Michael Higgins, “Her personal commitment to her role and extraordinary sense of duty were the hallmarks of her period as Queen, which will hold a unique place in British history.”

Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, called the Queen “a constant presence in our lives” and said he would always “remember and cherish Her Majesty’s wisdom, compassion, and warmth”.

President Macron of France described Queen Elizabeth II as "a kind-hearted queen who has left a lasting impression on her country and her century."

We must not forget, however, that as we honour and celebrate the life of a true servant of our nation, there is a family who mourn the loss of a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  They have not been able to mourn in silence and solitude but rather, in the spotlight of the public eye. Let us pray for them as they grieve, and let us prayer for King Charles III as he steps into a monarch's shoes.

For me personally, the Queen's passing is a great loss to our nation. She is a woman for whom I have long had the deepest respect.  She has served our nation faithfully and graciously, she had the most beautiful of smiles that never, ever appeared forced. More than that, she was a faithful follower and servant of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In 2000, she said, “For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.”

She described Jesus as "an inspiration and an anchor" in her life. Going on to say Jesus was, "A role model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. Christ's example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people of whatever faith or none."

Thought for the week ...

UoG Welcome weekend

As always, it was a pleasure to work alongside the University of Greenwich Accommodation staff as they welcomed new students in to halls of residence.  With Frank's faithful help, offered a smile and a warm welcome, made tea & coffee, offered snacks and generally chatted with new students and some tearful mums as they arrived.

Thought for the week ...

Thought for the week ...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Two of my very favourite Sri Lankan alumni students have recently got married and I want to take this opportunity to pass on my CONGRATULATIONS and my prayers to them and their lovely new husbands 😀💖💖

On March 20th '22, I had the pleasure of attending Sonali & Adey's civil ceremony, but sadly wasn't in Sri Lanka this past month (August 13th) for their spiritual ceremony and family celebration.

On August 24th, I attended (online) the wedding of Veroni and Mark, whose ceremony took place in Denmark.

Can I offer you all my love, my friendship, my hopes and my prayers. May your marriages be blessed beyond measure. May laughter and joy fill your homes. May you always be a safe space for each other. Oodles of love, Lynne  xx xx