St Mary's Church Fundraising Sale

Saturday 13th April between 10:00am - 11:30am

Homemade Cakes, Jams, Pickles, Scones and Savouries

Also Puzzles, Books, Bric-à-brac and sometimes Plants

Something for everyone!

Refreshments

Please help support this ancient building - Thank you

🍰 🍓 🧩 📚 🎨 🪴 ☕️ ➕

Upchurch Matters

Upchurch Choral Society Presents Music for Springtime

Please join us for a concert of favourite anthems and songs from the shows.

Entry and programme - £12 on the door (Children free).

Refreshments will be available during the interval, kindly provided by The Friends of St Mary’s.

For more information, contact UCS Secretary Sue Rossiter.

Tel: 01634 234780 Email: sue.rossiter1@outlook.com

Sue Rossiter

The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church

On the 2nd Thursday of each month.

The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church opens its doors again on Thursday the 11th of April, between 2:00pm and 4:30pm.

We know this is the school holidays, but we will still be there. Come and join us.

As usual, we will be offering delicious cakes and savouries.

We will of course have our fantastic kids' snack deal - 5 items and a drink for £1. Where else would you get such wonderful value?

There will be crafts, a story for the children and a warm welcome for everyone.  

All of this helps us support 4 children in Uganda go to school and supply breakfast for a group of Ugandan children at their Saturday Club. How special is that? 

Gill Gay and the Rainbow Café Team

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Swale Foodbank Collection - April

Swale Foodbank Collection

Thank you to everyone who came and donated food and other much needed items in March.

Again, you amazed us with your generosity!

We were also blessed by donations from Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. A big thank you to them and their leaders who organised it.

Sadly, as I said last month, foodbanks have had to advise those in receipt of parcels that they can now only visit the centres once a month.

There are now so many families using foodbanks that they can only keep up with the need by restricting use.

It's a very sad state of affairs.

But you, the lovely people of Upchurch, are doing more than your bit.

The 3rd is quite close to the bank holiday, but we will be there collecting your generous foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday the 3rd of April, between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Please bring your items in carrier bags.

We will then deliver them to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

All donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date.

Thank you

May God bless you ❤️

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

The Church Clock

There is currently a mechanical problem with the motor on the Church Clock, which means there are no chimes.

Upchurch Parish Council is aware and has called the engineer to resolve the fault ASAP so the village will hear the chimes again in due course.

Upchurch Parish Council

St Mary's Church Fundraising Sale

Saturday 9h March between 10:00am - 11:30am

Homemade Cakes, Jams, Pickles, Scones and Savouries

Also Puzzles, Books, Bric-à-brac and sometimes Plants

Something for everyone!

Refreshments

Please help support this ancient building - Thank you

🍰 🍓 🧩 📚 🎨 🪴 ☕️ ➕

Upchurch Matters

The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church

On the 2nd Thursday of each month.

The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church opens its doors again on Thursday the 14th of March, between 2:00pm and 4:30pm.

The first hour and a half is usually a more peaceful time for the grown ups, but if you have a toddler, you are very welcome too.

We are going to introduce the opportunity to play Rummikub.

Never played it?

It's very addictive!

Come along, and we will show you how.

Or you can just come and chat and enjoy our delicious home cooked cakes and savouries.

Where else can you get a hot drink and a slice of homemade cake for £2?

And, of course, when the children come out of school, we will be ready with our amazing snack deal of 5 items and a drink for £1, followed by crafts and a story for them to enjoy.

And if that's not enough good stuff, our income gives 4 children a chance to go to school in Uganda and feeds breakfast to a group of Ugandan children at their Saturday Breakfast Club.

Everyone is welcome.

Gill Gay and the Rainbow Café Team

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Swale Foodbank Collection - March

Swale Foodbank Collection

Thank you again, Upchurch.

The amount of food and other items we transported to the foodbank warehouse in February was amazing.

We love waiting opposite the church on foodbank day because your generosity warms and lightens our hearts.

In a world where love is often missing, you are certainly blessing people, so may God bless you ❤️

I will be collecting your generous foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday the 6th of March, between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Please bring your items in carrier bags.

We will then deliver them to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

All donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date.

Thank you

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Annual Memorial Service at St Mary the Virgin, Upchurch

Come and remember your departed loved ones with us in St Mary’s, Upchurch, on Sunday the 25th of February 2024, at 4:00pm.

Sue Rossiter

St Mary's Church Fundraising Sale

Saturday 10th February between 10:00am - 11:30am

Homemade Cakes, Jams, Pickles, Scones and Savouries

Also Puzzles, Books, Bric-à-brac and sometimes Plants

Something for everyone!

Refreshments

Please help support this ancient building - Thank you

🍰 🍓 🧩 📚 🎨 🪴 ☕️ ➕

Upchurch Matters

The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church

On the 2nd Thursday of each month.

The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church opens its doors again on Thursday the 8th of February, between 2:00pm and 4:30pm.

We will be serving delicious homemade cakes and savouries, and for the children, we have our wonderful snack deal, which consists of 5 items of their choosing with a drink, all for £1. They can also enjoy some brilliant crafts and a story. 

You will receive a very warm welcome, and while you are eating our delicious cakes and savouries, you will be helping us pay the school fees for 4 children in Uganda and give breakfast to a group of Ugandan children at their Saturday Club.

How amazing is that - lovely cakes and savouries - the children have a great time - and you help us support some children in Uganda.

Gill Gay and the Rainbow Café Team

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Swale Foodbank Collection - February

Swale Foodbank Collection

Thank you to everyone who came along that first Wednesday in January. 

As ever, your kindness and generosity were amazing, especially as I was collecting just after Christmas and New Year.

It is even more important to keep the support going during these cold months. Everything is so expensive now.

More and more people/families are finding themselves struggling. So thank you for your big hearts.

I will be collecting your generous foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday the 7th of February, between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Please bring your items in carrier bags.

We will then deliver them to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

All donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date.

God bless you for your amazing kindness and for being bringers of hope ❤️

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Swale Foodbank Collection - January

Swale Foodbank Collection

Thank you, Upchurch, for all your love and care for vulnerable people throughout 2023.

We have begun a new year, and while there are still families in danger of going hungry, I will continue collecting your wonderful gifts throughout 2024.

I will be collecting your generous foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday the 3rd of January, between 10:30am and 11:30am. I know you will be there too.

Please bring your items in carrier bags.

We will then deliver them to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

All donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date.

God bless your loving, generous hearts. May he pour many blessings into your lives in 2024 ❤️

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

New Music Director Required for Upchurch Choral Society

Following the departure of our Music Director, Upchurch Choral Society is now without a Conductor and requires a new one as soon as possible.

We are a friendly SATB choir of about 34 members with mixed musical abilities. The choir was formed over 50 years ago and has grown from a small village choral group to the society we are today.

We would like to increase our membership and musical standards, sing a varied repertoire and develop generally.

We perform two, sometimes three concerts every year using a variety of choral music. Rehearsals are in St Mary’s church in Upchurch on Friday evenings from 7:45pm to 9:15pm.

The church has an organ and an electric piano and we have an excellent Accompanist.

If you are interested in becoming our new MD, please contact our secretary for an application form and job description to be returned by Wednesday the 31st of January 2024 to:

Mrs S E Rossiter, 114 Chaffes Lane, Upchurch, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 7BH, or Email: sue.rossiter1@outlook.com

Sue Rossiter

The Salvation Army and Swale Foodbank - Christmas Food Hampers Appeal - Thank You

Dear Upchurch,

You very generously donated three carloads, with boots, back seats and front passenger seats, all full of gifts for this year's joint Salvation Army and Swale Foodbank - Christmas Food Hampers Appeal outside the church on Wednesday the 6th of December.

My car carried the wonderful Hampers of Hope, but we also had bags and bags of Christmas goodies, toys, gifts, knitted items and staple foods.

What a generous village Upchurch is. Esther, the Project Manager at Swale Foodbank (the lady in the red standing in their Christmas aisle), was amazed, and she sends her blessings.

She did say out of all the collections she receives, Upchurch is the most generous.

So be proud, Upchurch, your Godly kindness is noted. You have spread joy and light this Christmas.

Thanks also to Sally at Upchurch's Co-op for their collection point in store, where you kindly left your donations.

Thanks also to everyone who joined us for Carol Singing in Upchurch on Wednesday the 6th at Beckenham Park, Monday the 11th on the corner of Marstan Close and Chaffes Lane, and Monday the 18th, opposite the church by the village Christmas tree.

Over the three nights, you helped us raise a total of £156.35 towards The Salvation Army and Swale Foodbank - Christmas Food Hampers Appeal.

As well as raising money to help vulnerable people, it was really good fun.

We finished by the village Christmas tree with mulled wine and mince pies.

Thank you, and may God bless you ❤️

Enjoy your Christmas!

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

The Christmas Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church

On the 2nd Thursday of each month.

The Christmas Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church opens its doors on Thursday the 14th of December, between 2:00pm and 4:30pm.

The café serves hot and cold drinks, delicious homemade cakes and savouries, including our £1 children's snack deal (5 items and a drink), with Christmas stories and crafts to entertain them.

You will receive a warm welcome and be helping us support four Ugandan children through school.

Everybody welcome!

Gill Gay and the Rainbow Café Team

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

St Mary's Church Fundraising Sale

Saturday 9th December between 10:00am - 11:30am

Homemade Cakes, Jams, Pickles, Scones and Savouries

Also Puzzles, Books, Bric-à-brac and sometimes Plants

Something for everyone!

Refreshments

Please help support this ancient building - Thank you

🍰 🍓 🧩 📚 🎨 🪴 ☕️ ➕

Upchurch Matters

The Salvation Army - Christmas Food Hampers | Swale Foodbank - Christmas Collection | Carol Singing in Upchurch

The Salvation Army - Christmas Food Hampers

The hamper boxes are ready!

I know that with the help of Upchurch residents, UpARA and St Mary's / Uplift churches, they will soon be full of Christmas goodies for the four struggling families that are being supported by Swale Foodbank and the Salvation Army.

They have joined together this year to try and help vulnerable people through Christmas. You may have seen the posters. They are trying to fill over 400 hampers. You are doing your bit - bless you.

Please visit: www.giftofchristmas.co.uk where you can read what's happening and join their Facebook group with more info.

Swale Foodbank - Christmas Collection

As well as the hampers, with the help of Santa's little helpers, Sue and Georgina, I will be collecting all your Christmas gifts for Swale Foodbank at the bus stop opposite the church on Wednesday, the 6th of December, between 10:30am and 11:30am. If you could go completely Christmas, that would be fantastic.

If you are able to provide long-lasting Christmas-type food, for example:

Christmas Pudding

Christmas Cake

Tinned Ham

Christmas Treat Stockings

Tinned Cream

After Eight Mints

Christmas Twiglets and other savoury treats

Biscuits to go with Cheese

Nuts and Crisps

Squash and Drinks

Please bring your items in carrier bags.

We will then deliver them to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

All donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date.

We are also collecting new toys, gift sets and new hats, scarves and gloves if you would like to donate a gift. These gifts need to be unwrapped.

The Salvation Army will be running a pop-up shop where families known to them will be able to come along and choose a gift for each member of their family. 

I think that's such a wonderful idea.

Can you help?

Carol Singing in Upchurch

I haven't finished yet. I'm gathering groups for carol singing on:

Wednesday the 6th of December at Beckenham Park, between 5:30pm and 6:00pm.

Monday the 11th of December on the corner of Marstan Close and Chaffes Lane, between 6:30pm and 7:30pm.

Monday the 18th of December, opposite the church by the village Christmas tree, between 6:30pm and 7:30pm.

Please come and lend your voice. Or come and pop some coins in our containers.

All proceeds will go to the Swale Foodbank and The Salvation Army appeal.

God bless you - you have stood with those struggling for the whole of this year.

I have no doubt that you will stand with them through this Christmas too.

Thank you, and may God bless you ❤️

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk