Hope you all had a super Christmas and a very Happy new Year to everyone.

We are back at Barnababies this Thursday, 5th January. 9-11am.

Amazingly I have managed to get organised enough to plan the crafts for this half term so this is what we will be doing:-

5th January – New Year Crowns

12th January – Animal Masks

19th January – Butterfly fridge magnets

26th January – Musical Shakers

2nd February – Stained Glass Windows

9th February – Something for Valentines Day

Looking forward to seeing you all on Thursday.

Sarah & Freya x

The Service

The service is a gift to John from us all, and we hope that people will feel able to join in the singing whenever possible.

Parking

There is a large car park in the school grounds, next to the chapel. The entrance you should use for the school chapel and for the car park is situated on the B245 about 50 yards from the main school entrance. Please do not use the main entrance to the school on Tonbridge high street.

Refreshments

After the memorial service there will be refreshments served at the school during which people may, if they wish, pay their own tributes to John (there will also be a book of remembrance).

Donations

In lieu of flowers people are invited to make a donation to charities that were important to John. Details of these charities and how to make a donation will appear on the order of service, but I shall also try to email them to you in advance.

Directions to the Chapel are attached to this email or here https://sites.google.com/site/directions4john/

We very much hope you will be able to come and join us on a day of celebration of John’s life.

Saturday 12th May 2012 Departing at 7:30am from St Barnabas
Sunday 13th May 2012 Returning by 10:00 pm to St Barnabas

Adult Cost: approx  £54.00 TBC
Child Cost: approx £32.40 TBC

The St Barnabas’ Church annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of our Lady of Walsingham will take place from Saturday 12th to Sunday 13th of May. The pilgrimage provides a wonderful opportunity for profound spiritual enrichment in the context of this small Norfolk village that has been a pilgrimage destination since the 11th Century.

For more information about the shrine you might like to visit: http://www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk The pilgrimage also offers a splendid chance for fellowship and fun.

At present we have 20 places booked. I propose that we travel by minibus from St Barnabas. This will add just a further £5 to the adult cost identified above.

To confirm your booking you need to make a deposit of £20 per person (including children). Please contact Jon Sparke 01732 508665

This is to give you plenty of notice that the FiF Rochester committee will be organising a family pilgrimage to Aylesford on Sat 19 May 2012. Bishop Norman Banks has agreed to celebrate and preach at 12 noon and hopefully we will have some children’s activities too. A picnic lunch will follow and the day will end with Benediction & devotions.

It is hoped that this will be well supported and that parishioners will draw encouragement from the family/all age nature of this pilgrimage.

Please put the date in your parish diaries!

Thanks

Fr Clive

Belvedere

If you would like to come along and want more information please visit our contacts page

We have had a super half term. In craft time we have made firework pictures, decorated pumpkins and as it got closer to christmas we decorated stockings and made a gift for someone special. The highlight of this term was without doubt the Christmas party. There was no time for playing as we did cake decorating, face painting and made beautiful calendars. We played games, danced with our balloons and just as songtime was finishing with sleeping bunnies none other than Father Christmas showed up with a gift for everyone. We finished with yummy food for the children and more coffee and mince pies for the grown ups.

We had to say goodbye to Mary who is so grown up now that she is starting nursery in January. Good luck Mary. Vicky, don’t forget to pop in for coffee (or at 10.30am for tidy up time!!!).

Have a fabulous Christmas everyone and thank you for all your help. I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year. We are back on 5th January.

Love

Sarahx