Kate has been appointed ‘Ecumenical Development Officer: Church & Community’ by Churches Together in Wiltshire, jointly with the Diocese of Salisbury. The post involves working across the County with churches of different denominations, and in particular, for the first 18 months, with the Deanery of Heytesbury.

Kate will be leaving us in February (probably her last Sunday will be February 8th) to begin her new post on March 1st. While sorry to see Kate go, we are, of course, delighted that she has been given this appointment, which is very suited to her talents and enthusiasms.

Gary has been invited by the Bishop to become an Honorary Canon of Winchester Cathedral (he won’t be moving or changing jobs!), and will be installed at Evensong on February 8th in the Cathedral at 3.30p.m. (the same day as Kate leaves us - date beyond local control!). Everyone is welcome to attend the service if they wish.

There are around 20 Honorary Canons at the Cathedral, drawn from the clergy of the Diocese, who form part of the Greater Chapter of the Cathedral - we have the unusual distinction of having four Canons associated with the Parish - Canon John Davies, Canon Nigel Harley, Canon Bruce Hartnell (all Canons Emeriti - i.e., retired), and now Canon Gary).

You may already have heard that from a donation in Memory of Mike Milburn, our organist at St Alban’s who died last year, we have been able to purchase two replacement copiers for the Parish Office. Now, in memory of him, we have a new piano in the Choir Vestry at St Alban’s, which has replaced an extremely poor piano which has been there for some time. His memory lives on.

Also, the PCC, at its meeting in November, authorised the advertisement for a new Parish Organist - who will alternate between the two Churches. The hunt is on for the right person to fill the post.

We meet each month, on a Monday or Wednesday, in the Community Room at St Alban’s, to watch a film together - with a wide range of different types of film each year. Some are well known, some less familiar, some heart-warming or funny, some more challenging in their subject matter. All worth watching (I think, but then I usually do the choosing, after consultation with others).

The 2009 programme is in the Magazine - do keep it by you, and come along when you can. They are very pleasant evenings together.
Gary

The Annual Mission Committee Meeting in November reviewed our Coffee Mornings for 2008, was delighted at the amount we have been able to send to a wide variety of charities during the year, and has planned the events for this year. January’s Coffee Morning is on Wednesday, January 21st, and is in aid of the Hampshire and IOW Air Ambulance.

If you are unable to come on the morning, and would like to make a donation please use one of the brown Mission Envelopes in Church.

Mary Booy thanks everybody for collecting milk bottle tops. Please keep it up. They are made into Wellington boots and are greatly appreciated by the Rose Road Association which helps children with disabilities.

Seen by Gary in a B&B in America

May the roof above our heads

Never fall in.

And may the friends gathered beneath

Never fall out!