Good News Parish Magazine Our Saviour is Born High Downs Parish Happy Serving the villages of , Otterden, Stalisfield and Throwley Christmas

2019

4th or 5th (please check with Pub) 6pm !Christmas Lights Switch On Christmas !The Plough, Stalisfield 6th & 7th Jack and the Beanstalk 7.30pm Services !Stalisfield Village Hall 8th Christmas CaféStyle 10.30am !Eastling Village Hall Sunday 15th December 8th Children’s Christmas Party! Service of Carols and Readings at 5pm !Stalisfield Village Hall in Stalisfield Church 11th Otterden & Stalisfield W.I. 7.30pm !Stalisfield Village Hall 14th Seniors’ Christmas Tea! 4pm Sunday 22nd December !Stalisfield Village Hall Candlelit Nine Lessons and Carols at 5pm 15th Carol Service ! 5pm in Throwley Church !Stalisfield Church Please note 15th Copy deadline for January Good News new time ! [email protected] Christmas Eve 17th with Selling W.I. 2pm Nine Lessons & Carols at 4.30pm in Eastling Church !Eastling Village Hall 19th Carol Singing meet at 6pm Midnight Mass 11.30pm in Stalisfield Church !outside Stalisfield Village Hall 19th Carols on the Green ! 6.30pm !Throwley Forstal Green Christmas Day 22nd Carol Service ! 5pm Family Communion at 10am in Eastling Church !Throwley Church 24th Carol Service ! 4.30pm !Eastling Church 31st New Year’s Eve Disco Party 8 ‘til late !Eastling Village Hall

Traditional Carols around Stalisfield Carol Singing the Christmas tree. Thursday 19th December. Meet at on the Green outside the Throwley Forstal Green Village Hall 6pm. Thursday 19th December, 6.30 - 7.30pm We will be visiting a number of Get together with mulled wine and locations where we will be mince pies welcomed warmly. Bring you family and join your friends This year’s collection will be for Abbie’s Army, a charity dear to our hearts. and neighbours in Christmas cheer! Please come, join in the fun and make a [email protected] difference. For many, Christmas is a time of Trusting God in all things happiness and holiday. An By Lester Amann. opportunity for parties, concerts, Even if he wanted to face his know that God can be working out pantomimes and watching critics, Joseph can’t stay in His purposes. Mary and Joseph children perform nativity plays. Nazareth. He is compelled to came to know that in their We exchange colourful cards, and take Mary with him to hardships they were in God’s will. presents, and prepare special Bethlehem to complete a census. Like them, we too must trust God meals for family and friends. We The long journey, possibly all on in life-changing events. sing carols. We adorn our homes foot, must have been and churches with all kinds of “I know the plans I have for you” horrendous. Then in Bethlehem decorations. declares the Lord, “plans to prosper there is unsuitable you and not harm you, plans to give All our celebrations are a far cry accommodation for a birth. from that first Christmas. In our you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah It was likely that when the festivities it is easy to forget that 29:11) shepherds came and shared their when Jesus came life was hard. experience of an angel The Romans were an occupying messenger and the singing Christmas force in Israel. There was poverty. heavenly host, that their difficult (John1:1-14) The Jews were a captive and circumstances began to make oppressed people. They had Fumbling around in a frenzy, sense. Then, perhaps, sometime numerous worries and fears and From September stress levels rise, later when the Eastern men awaited their Messiah to give Dates collide, came with gifts that they were them freedom. Imagination falters reassured and encouraged that As presents and experiences fail to satisfy Mary was looking forward to God was with them in their The expectations of a world that walks marrying Joseph and living with difficulties. Also, when God told In the darkness of denial and Dawkins. him in Nazareth. Suddenly she Joseph in a dream to go with meets an angel; told she will be Mary and the infant to Egypt to Yet all the time pregnant with God’s Son and then escape Herod’s cruelty, they The light shines in that darkness, her fiancé wants to divorce her! knew that in a foreign land they All the time Her world is changed. Joseph too could trust God with their lives. The greatest gift shines on, is distressed. In the turmoil, God Our Christmas comes amidst All the time speaks to Joseph in a dream and life’s traumas and troubles. We There is hope and life has purpose. while this explains the miraculous may have on-going difficulties. pregnancy, he can’t stop the In our struggles we need to And with each turning to the light hurtful gossip or the doubters. Love switches on. Christ comes. Prayer Pointers by Daphne Kitching December 2019 We pray.... Eastling Church Sundays - For strength to stand with confidence before our Maker and Redeemer. Flower Rota Mondays - That God may bring in his kingdom with justice and mercy. 1st Dec - Trish Advent Candle Tuesdays - That God may establish among the nations his sceptre of 8th & 15th - Mel Small vases righteousness. 22nd - Communal decorating on Friday 20th Wednesdays - That we may seek Christ in the scriptures and recognize him in the breaking of that bread. at 10am All hands please. 29th - Christmas Flowers Thursdays - That God may bind up the brokenhearted, restore the sick and raise up all who have fallen. 5th Jan - Remove arrangements & dismantle Fridays - That the light of God’s coming may dawn on all who live in Tree. darkness and the shadow of death. If you would like to join the flower arranging Saturdays - That, with all the saints in light, we may shine forth as rota please call Bay on 01795 892036. lights for the world. Services in High Downs High Downs Parish 1st December Advent Sunday Parish Office Email: [email protected] Romans 13. 11 - end, Matthew 24. 36 - 44 facebook.com/highdownsbenefice Eastling 10.30 am Holy Communion by extension (CW) Priest in Charge Reverend Canon Steve Lillicrap 01795 522510 [email protected] 8th December Advent 2 Romans 15. 4 - 13, Matthew 3. 1 - 12 Reader Norman Fowler (01795 890412) 4 Meesons Close, Eastling Eastling 10.30 am CaféStyle in Village Hall Reader Caroline Ramshaw (01795 892088) Throwley 10.30 am Morning Prayer 4 Glebe Cottages, Eastling 15th December Advent 3 Churchwardens James 5. 7 - 10, Matthew 11. 2 - 11 Eastling Andrew Baxter (01795 890598) Stalisfield 5 pm Carol Service Administrator Janet Payne E mail: [email protected] 22nd December Advent 4 Stalisfield with Otterden Romans 1. 1 - 7, Matthew 1. 18 - end Jean West (01233 712270) Administrator Sheila Moger (01233 463746) Eastling 8 am Holy Communion (BCP) E mail: [email protected] Throwley 5 pm Nine Lessons and Carols Throwley Gaynore Moss (01795 890995)

Christmas Eve From the Registers Eastling 4.30 pm Nine Lessons and Carols Stalisfield 11.30pm Midnight Mass Interment of Ashes Olive and Sidney Simmonds Christmas Day 25th October 2019 at Eastling Hebrews 1. 1 - 12, John 1. 1 - 14 Eastling 10 am Family Communion Midweek Groups 29th December 1st Sunday of Christmas Tuesdays: Study group: 10th December, 9.30am. Hebrews 2. 10 - end, Matthew 2. 13 - end at Garden Cottage, Eastling. 01795 890368 No Service in High Downs Wednesdays: Study group, weekly, 7.30pm, 18 Beech 5th January 2020 Epiphany Close, . 01795 890338 1 John 3.22 - 4.6, Matthew 4. 12-17, 23-end Thursdays: Prayer group, weekly, 10.30am, Pinks Farm Eastling 10.30 am Holy Communion by extension (CW) Kettle Hill Road, Eastling. 01795 890338 Fridays: Study group, weekly, 10.45am, New House Farm, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (BCP) Service taken from the Book of Common Prayer, 1662. Eastling. 01795 890629 (CW) Service follows Common Worship Liturgy, 2000. You will be welcome at any of our groups.

A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of Faversham Foodbank December 2019 the wise men. Thank you for your contributions. it must be especially hard Close the door of hate and open the door of love all for those who are dependent on Foodbank to be surrounded over the world. Let kindness come with every gift by all the Christmas advertising for luxury food and presents that they cannot afford. Your generosity is much appreciated. and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us Items required for December from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. Long life fruit juice; shampoo; deodorant for both men and women; tinned fish: rice pudding; sponge puddings; May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy custard; biscuits. children and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen Eastling School News a substantial amount There is always so much to share from Term 1 ended with the towards the cost of a Eastling Primary School. We may be a traditional school Halloween Disco new school minibus. small school but we are definitely a where the children’s costumes were Eastling Primary School’s very active school, going from strength both wonderful and scary. The event annual Christingle Service will to strength always putting the was kindly organised by the FOES be held at St Mary’s on Tuesday 17th education and experiences of our (Friends of Eastling School). December. We look forward to a children first. The Test Results th On Tuesday 29 October, Acorn class wonderful afternoon. (11+) were once again extremely visited the pumpkin farm at Sevington We do have a few spaces available positive for Eastling Primary School. where the children all picked their own across the school for an immediate This year six of our children were pumpkins to bring back to school. The start. Any prospective parents successful, which is double the national following day the parents joined their looking for a Reception place for average. children to help carve and decorate September 2020 are welcome to call On 15th October Silver Birch class the pumpkins in the classroom. The the office on 01795 890252 to visited the Gunpowder Mill, Standard results were amazing with each design arrange a visit. For further Quay and Faversham Recreational being unique. information please visit our school Ground to look at features of the local Willow class had their first class website where photographs and area for geography. They then visited th assembly on Friday 8 November on newsletters are displayed and ‘The Horsebridge Arts Centre’ on 7th the theme of famous scientists. It was updated regularly November as part of the ‘Into Film a very informative and fun filled Festival’, where they watched a assembly to celebrate World Science screening of Two by Two, an animated Day. version of Noah’s Ark. On Wednesday National Anti-Bullying Week was 11th – 16th October, a group of Year 2 15th November and Shooting Star children visited Herne Bay High to Entertainments delivered a production participate in Basketball training. of the Ugly Duckling to the younger Representatives from the NSPCC children and Captain Wonderweb to visited the school on 17th October to KS2 as part of the school’s work on Free Range deliver some assemblies to all the Anti-Bullying. children followed by a workshop for Kelly Bronze Turkeys The Friends of Eastling School’s annual Years 5 and 6. Direct from our farm Pumpkin decorating competition took th Snoad Farm Meats On Friday 18 October Acorn class led place on 31st October with Tish Otterden their first whole school assembly on Neaves, chair of governors, having the the theme of themselves and people difficult job of judging the entries. 01795 890700 that help us. The children in Acorn There were pumpkins decorated as [email protected] class are still only 4 years old yet each snowmen, unicorns, Donald Trump, of them spoke clearly and confidently hedgehogs, spiders and Dracula to The Plough Inn, in front of the whole school and their name a few. We are delighted that Stalisfield; great food parents. this year FOES have agreed to donate and drink from the pub on your doorstep.

Our bedrooms are now ready ask us to A Family run business on look around or visit our website for more details. A D Pink Electrical your door step offering job opportunities to build DIARY DATES All types of domestic electrical your career. 4th or 5th December (please check installations undertaken, from full with pub)- Christmas Tree Lights rewires to single sockets. We are currently recruiting Switch On! 6 - 7pm Garden and security lighting. for casual team members - Join the village for carols and mulled wine restaurant, bar, kitchen & around the tree. Mince pies and Christmas Landlords’ Electrical Safety housekeeping for our NEW activities for children in the pub. Certificates. Fully insured bedrooms New Year’s Eve Spectacular NICEIC Part P Willingness to work is essential, Book your tables now to join us for a New Domestic Installer experience not required, train and Year’s Eve music/meal spectacular 5pm - 11.30pm Local Tradesman earn at the same time in our Family run Pub Keep up to date by following us on Tel: 01622 884774 Please send your details to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram 07761 559 744 [email protected] Stalisfield Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 0HY or pop in to see us with your details or CV Tel: 01795 890 256 theploughinnstalisfield.co.uk Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Stalisfield Highlife Our annual Seniors’ Christmas Tea will be held in Stalisfield Village Hall on Saturday 14th December from 4pm. If you are over 60, live locally and Eastling Gardeners’ would like to attend, please contact Tracey no later than 7th December to Come and celebrate Club reserve your seat and arrange New Year's Party transportation, if needed. Tracey’s Christmas on 9th January 2020 phone number is 01795 890517 or with Stalisfield and e m a i l h e r a t in Eastling Village Hall [email protected] Otterden at 7.30pm Even if you are a regular attendee Sunday 15th December at Andrew Higgs will be please ensure you reserve your place. 5pm - a service of carols giving a wine tasting, We had a big turn out and great time followed by yet more wine last year, so we look forward to seeing and readings in Stalisfield you for another festive celebration. Church and home-made nibbles Free to members, non- Join us for mulled wine and members, who are very mince pies afterwards. welcome, pay £4 For further information CHRISTMAS TREES 2019 contact Clive on 890160 Thank you for your great support last year by raising £10,465 for 200 trees.As last year, as previously listed, NEW donations are being given to some 44 local parishes and nearly 20 YEAR’S EVE charities. As before, the arrangement is ISCO for you to make a donation for D your tree; over half will be returned to your parish church PARTY with the balance going to the 20 charities. This is a great chance December 31st – 8.00 ‘til late for you to raise funds for your parish church and some deserving at Eastling Village Hall charities at the same time. As all the trees are growing they will Dress to Impress or come casual if you prefer. Bring remain in the ground until your own party food to share and your favourite tipple. collected. Tables of 10 or share a table and make new friends on Please phone or email us to the night…everyone welcome. The hall will be dressed fix a date, preferably at in cabaret style with tablecloths and soft lighting. weekends, to visit to select Limited number of tickets available, £5 per person, prior to collection nearer payable in advance. Call Trudy on 07881 630219 or Christmas. email [email protected] Trees are available for All proceeds go to the Village Hall and Seniors’ selection. PLEASE Christmas Lunch CONTACT US TO TELL US WHEN YOU’D LIKE TO COME! Alison and Peter Howard, Nashs Farmhouse, Luddenham, Faversham, Kent ME13 0TQ.Tel 01795 532596, email nashsfarmhouse @btinternet.com Otterden and Stalisfield W.I. Eastling

Several of our Group went on an on this topic as it is his 'day job', as well as Volunteers. afternoon outing to the Copper Rivet travelling to many countries to explore the Our volunteering activities Distillery on 23rd October. Built in the source of the wines. The evening finished have been effected by premises of a Victorian Pump House at with a raffle with prizes donated by the illnesses and other changes Chatham Dockyard, the renovated Group. that mean we need some new recruits. We work in three building itself was quite interesting. We The last Meeting of the year will be on areas – the tidy up team joined other parties to be given an Wednesday 11th December, a week later which service various roads official tour of the Distillery, which was a than usual due to the Christmas Pantomime. and footpaths clearing spotless work of art built of stainless By popular demand we will be rubbish; heavenly cleaners steel and copper. During the tour there making Christmas Wreaths, who clean the church for was a tasting of their Vodka and Gin. providing our own foliage and major festivals 3 or 4 times a Whisky is now also being produced, but decorations. The wreath year and the driver group will not be available to drink until next oasis are available to who assist with medical year. The company is the only purchase. A glass of bubbly appointments and shopping. spirit maker in Kent and only one of a few and seasonal nibbles will also be provided Please contact Julia Bailey if in the UK that undertakes the complete to give the evening the Christmas you feel able to join any of process of brewing and distilling from atmosphere. our groups. grain to glass. Upon completion of the Although we don't have an official Meeting [email protected] tour, there was a glass of ice cold gin and in January, arrangements are being made 01795 890401 tonic waiting for us all to consume - very for an evening out at the Carpenters Arms, refreshing. We were very taken with the Eastling. This is to brighten up a quiet, taste of the produce, so all of us dark month instead of a Christmas meal, as purchased their products (some might December normally has many events that even make it to Christmas as presents!). our ladies attend. More details to follow Afterwards, we went next door to finish at a later date. off with Tea and Cake, of course. That just leaves us to wish you all Continuing in the theme of alcohol, a Happy and Peaceful Christmas November's Meeting was the popular bi- from Otterden & Stalisfield W.I. annual Wine Tasting, which attracted If you would like to come along Painters Forstal with Selling W.I. about 35 ladies and their guests. Andrew and try our Meetings next year, Higgs had selected 6 wines for us to We are definitely in suspension! We please contact our President Ellie taste, informing us of their origins and Cameron on 01795 892016 or our had a lovely talk from Sandy Moriarty tastes that we should expect from each Secretary Helen Brooks on 07477 at our AGM, all about Denmans one. Andrew is extremely knowledgeable 580727. which as you may know is in Oxfordshire and owned by the W.I. They put on different courses and all Short Mat Bowls the tutors are first class. On Tuesday 17th December we will Our competition teams have started the have a demonstration on how to make 2019/20 season in the 2nd division, but not on chocolate liqueurs ( yummy ) - a a good note, our first game was away to Hover Speed at their venue at Broadstairs. This was a fitting way to end our time as W.I. disaster for us losing on both mats - Nil points. On 22nd October we members, although some will be played away to Aylesham where Des Briggs, Bryan Sealey and Roy Piles going on to other branches I hope. It had a good win, but our other team lost and we came back home with has been a pleasure to be your just 2 points. Our next game was Hover Speed coming to Easting for the President and I thank you all for you return match and it was nice for team John Hobbs, Eileen Piles and John support over the past 5 years. Graham to have a win, result was that we won on both mats and gained Barbara Elliott 6 points. On 1st November Aylesham came to Eastling, we won on one mat and EASTLING VILLAGE HALL lost on the other but we had more overall shots, so finished with 4 To book ring Hayley on points. 12th November away to Minster (Thanet) Des, Bryan and Roy on 01795 890968 www.eastlingvillagehall.co.uk won 21 shots to 9 shots and, although we all felt for our other team who lost on the last end, we were all pleased at coming home up the Thanet A beautiful hall in a lovely village location for your wedding, club, sports or meetings. way with 4 points. The large hall has pretty grounds, car parking, meeting New members are always welcome, join us on Fridays at 7.30pm in rooms and fully equipped facilities for professional or self-catering occasions. Eastling village hall. Call Roy on 01795 537162 for more information. I wanted a little something on nature to complete this issue and came upon an interesting website by Jenny Steel:http://www.wildlife- Neighbourhood Watch gardening.co.uk Jenny has kindly granted permission to use the Village Warden 07794 following - if you are interested do look up the site it contains all sorts of interesting facts and pictures - Ed 010 394 or 01795 890848 Wildlife Garden Maintenance in December Police 101 Emergency 999 The winter solstice on the 21st of this is a wildlife magnet, providing On top of the scams that are already around month has a significant effect on our nesting and hibernation places, food there are a couple more to note. winter garden wildlife. As soon as the and shelter. Hedges are also length of daylight increases, many important corridors in urban areas, Letters have been arriving telling people subtle changes can be observed linking gardens, allotments and green that they have won an enormous amount especially in the behaviour of some spaces to allow wildlife to move about of money on the Postcode Lottery bird species. Song thrushes will soon in safety. Include hawthorn, irrespective of whether they do start to sing from treetops or roofs to blackthorn and wild roses for their contribute to this or not. The letter is on define their territory, in preparation protective prickles as well as the wild poor quality paper and badly printed and for the breeding season ahead. Great Viburnum, spindle, holly, wild privet actually shows lottery numbers which tits may investigate nest boxes, and buckthorn. Mulch your hedge or they say are your numbers. The postcode especially on sunny days. For many tree well after planting and water if lottery is as it says, if you do that lottery people December is a time to enjoy the the weather is dry, until established. garden from the comfort of the house, your ‘numbers’ are your postcode. The Even in the tiniest garden it is but there are still important jobs you letter burns very well ! possible to provide food, water and can do to ensure your local wildlife shelter from bad weather for Nuisance phone calls have been received survives the winter. common garden birds. On a balcony purporting to be from the Inland In a small garden, native shrubs such or small patio make sure hanging Revenue telling that the valuation of your as goat willow, dogwood or hazel need feeders are topped up. Birds will property has been miscalculated and you to be kept in check to prevent them venture closer to the house as food could be due a rebate on rates for a from taking over completely. These supplies run out. In colder weather much as £4000. Treat this and any other valuable species attract a large variety an ‘umbrella’ cut from a conifer and nuisance call with contempt and cut the of moth caterpillars and other insects laid on the ground can keep an area call off. and are well worth growing. They can free of frost, allowing birds like be ‘coppiced’ this month, which means robins and wrens to find insects, but Usual Christmas message from the police cutting them to within 10 cms of the make sure local cats can’t use this - do not drive under the influence of ground, encouraging them to as a hiding place. Special seed drink/drugs. For the small cost of a taxi produce new strong shoots from and peanut feeders with you could not only save a life or serious the base next spring. If plastic suckers can be injury but all the heartache and sadness dogwood still has shiny attached to windows, which is always left behind. black berries, delay and small drinking coppicing this species until saucers of fresh water Please report any suspicious vehicles that the fruits have all been eaten will be used when may be seen in our locality as the nasties by wood mice or birds. lodged in a window box. will be around looking for easy pickings. This is still only the beginning of the When the weather is too miserable to Have a great Christmas and take care winter and if the weather is mild, an venture out, keep up to date with Alan Willson ideal time to plant a tree or a hedge. what’s in your garden Choose a native tree if you have the by starting a wildlife space – silver birch or rowan would be journal. A catalogue of JM WEBSTER good choices for gardens as they the birds feeding, support many insect species and mammals passing PLUMBING AND HEATING SERVICES insectivorous birds. Rowan berries through or unusual OIL TANK INSTALLATION AND INSPECTIONS are also a favourite with blackbirds sighting of insects out and thrushes. Native mixed hedging of hibernation can be OIL GAS LPG valuable information INSTALLATION SERVICE AND REPAIR now or at any time Plasterer throughout the BATHROOMS AND GENERAL PLUMBING P.Hadley year. OFTEC AND GAS SAFE REGISTERED by Jenny Steel • Ceilings or Walls, Old or New [email protected] • Over skimming of Artex • Coving 07971 589 019 • Tiling Ceramic or Stone • Plaster Boarding • Tanking of Cellars • Rendering Barnie’s Sweeps Lime Plastering and Restoration Work • Professional Brush & Vacuum Chimney No job too Large or Small Sweeping Service for Open Fires and Wood Burners Friendly Clean and Reliable Service Clean Efficient Service For a no obligation free estimate or advice call Paul on Institute of Chimney Sweeps Trained and Fully Insured 07740 530426 Marcus Hammond Certificate Issued after Sweeping For Further Details please call Berni on Working in Partnership with Tom Winter, Tel: 01795 473959 Mob: 07592 511612 01795 581755 or 07751 109300 Painter and Decorator Email: [email protected] Visit me at www.barniessweeps.co.uk The Incarnation: fearfully and wonderfully made by Dr Ruth M. Bancewicz, who is Church Engagement Director at The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge. Ruth writes on the positive relationship between Science and Christian faith. MD’s My frame was not hidden from you developing into a baby. The TILING when I was made in the secret incarnation meant that God’s Son Quality Walls & Floors place,when I was woven together in went through all the stages in the the depths of the earth. diagram in my developmental Kitchen, Bathroom, Conservatories biology textbook: ‘zygote’, Supply & Fix or Fix Only Your eyes saw my unformed body; Preparation Work & Floor Leveling all the days ordained for me were ‘morula’, ‘blastocyst’, implantation, Under Floor Heating written in your book before one of and so on. Bathroom, En-suite & Cloakroom Installation Undertaken them came to be. Psalm 139:15-16 Jesus was there in the beginning, Free Estimates, Friendly Advice and Reliable Service and all life owes its existence to You began life as a single cell. For a 01795 531516 - 07952 733909 Him. But instead of remaining few hours you were a miniscule but 5 Baybank, Painter’s Forstal, Faversham, ME13 0EE highly complex blob of jelly, until it aloof, He chose to become one of NIG Registered Liability Insurance Cover began to divide: two cells, four, us. The Son of God shared the same eight, sixteen, a ball, kind of DNA as every other a hollow ball, and organism on the planet. Wags & Tales t h e n s o m e t h i n g He knows what it feels more recognisably like to have a body, to l i k e a l i v i n g feel hungry and thirsty, organism. You were pain and pleasure, dark and light. still tiny, but Professional developing a In Psalm 139, the writer Home from Home Dog Boarding nervous system, a is meditating on God’s Human egg soon after intimate knowledge of One family’s dog/dogs at a time, head, a body, arms fertilisation viewed using Him, which began when in our home, we have 3 acres and lovely and legs. Nomarski optics. The two walks parental pronuclei are clearly He was an embryo. Fully Insured, Enhanced DBS Check Until recently I visible and have not yet fused. hadn’t thought much There is nothing God Canine first aid course. about Jesus being an doesn’t know about Him, Also Dog Walking service embryo. Somehow, I find that and even darkness cannot obscure for the surrounding areas. thought even more shocking than Him from God’s sight. The For more details please contact: His birth. How could God, who incarnation means that God’s Trudie on 01795 890114 made the universe, have become intimacy with us now extends even or 0771 4455 769 something so completely and utterly further. He became one of us, lived vulnerable? Maybe in the past, when alongside us, and shared our very the development of a child happened fragile material nature. in ‘secret’, it was possible just to let The transcendent God is also that part of the Christmas story go immanent, longing for us to relate to untold. Him as Father. He became as fragile as we are so He could rescue us Today, when we see images of a from the messes we so often find developing child, or even embryos ourselves in. With His help, we can outside the womb, it is harder to remember what it means to be ignore the process of Jesus fearfully and wonderfully made. Izzy's Odd Jobs For all your general jobs: Gardening, DIY, Cleaning, Animals (i.e. horses, dogs, cats, etc.). If interested/have any enquiries contact me on 07455 394605. Always happy to help. References available on request. CHRISTMAS Children’s Christmas Party CAFE STYLE Sunday 8th December The children of Stalisfield, Otterden and surrounding area are invited to our lovely Village Hall for the Annual Christmas Party. Suitable for ALL ages 0-18, every child is welcome! There will be food, drink, games galore, a ‘Secret Room’ and if we’re all really good; a special visitor! Registration ESSENTIAL you’ll receive a SUNDAYSUNDAY 8th13t hDECEMBER DECEMBER confirmation e-mail in return. 10.30am10am Tunes Book your place now with Su at [email protected] EEASTLINGASTLING VILLAGEVILLAGE HALL HALL or on 01795 890334. CAROLS - COFFEE - CAKE - The more the merrier..... CRAFT - CHAT E WORSHIP YON VER E OME IN A ELC W RELAXED CAFE SETTING

The Stalisfield Pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk Friday December 6th and Saturday December 7th at 7.30pm in Stalisfield Village Hall When Jack buys some “magic beans” from Fairy Dust it leads to some very unpredictable results! This traditional pantomime is given its customary Stalisfield spin. An evening of fun and surprises for all the family. Tickets are £6 for adults and £4 for children and are available from Sharon on 01795 890415 or from [email protected].

Wise? When I told my children the story of how the Wise Men brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the infant Jesus, my six-year-old daughter was not impressed. "Mum, a Wise Woman would have brought nappies."