Supporting refugee families from Afghanistan

Svenja Powell writes:
Canterbury Welcomes Refugees is working with Canterbury City Council and other organisations to welcome and support newly arriving refugee families from Afghanistan. It has just been publicised that over 100 refugees will initially be housed in a hotel in Canterbury before being found more permanent accommodation across the country. There will be children of all ages.

We are looking for children’s toys, new or in good condition for children of all ages. These should for obvious reasons not include soldiers, toy guns or any other war related items. As the families do not have much space, please only relatively small toys, including toy cars, Lego, dolls, washed of new cuddly toys etc. Picture books or books with few words/language learning books are also welcome as are writing and arts and crafts materials. Some outdoor toys that can be taken to a park would also be welcome. 

Please drop toy donations off from Monday, 23rd August at: 
St Mary Bredin Church
59 Nunnery Fields
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 3JN
01227 453777
https://www.smb.org.uk/

Due to other events taking place at SMB, please drop toy donations between 2pm and 4pm at the church office if at all possible. If you have any queries, please contact Svenja via canterburywelcomesrefugees@outlook.com

I would like to thank you all and will keep you posted on other needs as we become aware of them.

Deanery Visitation by Bishop Rose

On Thursday 9th September, Bishop Rose will be visiting the Canterbury Deanery. She has a full programme of visits to various activities in the Deanery that day ending with an open meeting in the Chapel of Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, CT1 1QU at 7:30pm at which she will be answering questions from participants about the life of the Diocese and Deanery.

Wednesday Communion and Acorn Café

As part of our gradual and careful return to normal, we will be restarting our mid-week 10.15am Communion service and the Acorn Café from Wednesday 25th August. Do join us if you’d like to.

Churchyard News

Thanks to all those who came to the working party last Wednesday to open up the woodland at the south-east corner of the churchyard. Already this area looks better, is safer and more accessible – if you haven’t been there lately do go and take a look. Once it has had a couple of weeks to settle we need to decide how to make this area more attractive and welcoming for the future. Please send any ideas on how to do we might do this to churchyard@ststephenscanterbury.net.

We had so many people join us that we were also able to start clearing some of the neglected graves, and one of these has already been adopted – that is, someone has agreed to plant it up appropriately and keep it in order in future. There are a number of graves in the churchyard which no longer have friends or relatives to care for them; if you are interested in adopting one of these please also contact churchyard@ststephenscanterbury.net to discuss the possibilities.  

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