Welcome, Christ Church & St Mary Magdalen and St Peter and St Paul, St Leonards on Sea is your Parish, serving the community of central St Leonards.
We exist to worship God, to enable people of all ages to respond to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to work in love and fellowship for God's kingdom on earth. This website will give you a glimpse of our life and ministry, but nothing substitutes for an actual visit. So, do join us. A warm welcome awaits!
The Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament
CBS FESTIVAL
Christ Church
St Leonard’s on Sea
Saturday 20th October 2018
All Welcome!
*CBS Priests Associate are invited to concelebrate – please inform District Superior Fr Luke Irvine-
- 12.00 Noon Sung Mass
- 1pm Lunch (£5 or bring sandwiches –hot drinks provided)
- 1.45pm District Council Meeting for all CBS members Guest Speaker – Father Peter Anthony as part of the Diocesan Year of Prayer
- 3.00pm Procession of the Blessed Sacrament
- and Benediction
Stewardship Campaign 2018
We are renewing our invitation today, to all who worship here at Christ Church, and all of goodwill, to revisit and review their financial support and commitment.
As a Parish we have been greatly blessed by extraordinary generosity and faithfulness from previous generations. As the hymn puts it, “these stones that have echoed their praises are holy.” However, for several years we have been living beyond our present means. The PCC have, for some time, been working to ensure good financial management and cutting unnecessary costs. Even so, this year alone we are projecting a nearly £42,850 deficit in our budget. Clearly this is an unsustainable financial position.
At present we are able to meet the deficit by using money from generous legacies left to the Rector and Wardens. This money was not left, primarily, to help us meet the everyday running costs of our church and parish (lighting, heating, candles, incense, clergy, music etc). We long to liberate these precious gifts to help resource some of the exciting and hopeful ambitions of our Mission Action
Plan, such as expanding our ministry to children and families and working to care for some of the most vulnerable and deprived of our community. In short, we want to move from mere survival to proper stewardship and optimism for the future.
To that end the PCC have agreed to work, over the next five years, to increase income by £8,570 year on year to meet our day to day running costs. That is £164.80 extra a week. We can make this happen if we each increase our giving by £1.50 a week.
Our major financial commitment is known as the Parish Contribution. This is our contribution to what is the largest cost, as in most organisations: paid staff – the Rector and the Curate. This year the cost of ministry in a Parish in our Diocese is about £72,000.
We are more than thankful for the generosity of all who give. Most of us face personal financial challenges. What we are asking is for everyone to consider their giving, and to ensure that it is regular i.e. whether or not we are in church that Sunday. Could you look at your disposable income i.e. after basic outgoings: housing costs, food etc. and see what you can commit? The cost of a coffee and slice of cake in a cafe is, say, £5. If everyone managed just that weekly, we would increase our income. If it is possible to regularly give £10 a week our financial situation, and opportunity for resourcing further mission and ministry into the future, would be transformed.
Today we are inviting you to take up the Parish Giving Scheme. Literature and information about this is available at the back of church. If this scheme can become the principal funding method for our church, we will have inflation-
Donations can be made on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis. They are collected by Direct Debit on the first day of the month. The gift is then passed onto the specified church within ten days of collection. Gift Aid will be sent separately once PGS has received it from HMRC. By offering this scheme in the parish and through donors' generous commitments, we can be assured of a regular, tax efficient source of income which has the capacity to increase with the cost of living, yet involves virtually no administration. With the help of the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS), donors benefit from a system that is secure, confidential and easy to use, while supporting the Church today and for the future.
Thank you for your prayerful consideration of this letter, and for your generosity in so many ways.
Fr Luke
2018 – The Year of Prayer
Following on from the Year of Mercy (2016) and the Year of the Bible (2017), Bishop Martin invites the Diocese to share 2018 as the Year of Prayer. As part of this we will be hosting a series of seminars throughout 2018. All are welcome -
Year of Prayer Seminar -
“Praying the Scriptures” Fr Peter Anthony, Kentish Town
Year of Prayer Seminar -
“Prayer and social action” Fr James Lawson, St Stephen’s House
Each day will begin with Mass at 10:30am in Christ Church, followed by coffee
and part 1 (lecture). 12:30pm Lunch. 1:15pm/1:30pm Part 2 (facilitated
discussion/reflection/feedback). 3pm Evening Prayer. Tea/home.
NEXT SUNDAY
21st October 2018
XXIX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Mass 8am
Morning Prayer 9:15am
Confessions 9:45am
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 9:45am (Lady Chapel)
PARISH MASS 10:15am