FROM THE METHODIST MINISTER

Our Christian Fellowship Meeting this month will take the form of a Staged Conversation on the Anglican-Methodist Report, and the Rev. D. J. Meacham, Vicar of Sittingbourne will give the Anglican point of view and the Rev. T. Deakin, superintendent of our Medway Towns Circuit will speak on behalf of our Church. This will be, I think, the first visit of the Rev. Deakin to this Christian Fellowship: this fact plus the subject that brings us together, means that all our members should endeavour to be present. It is so important today for us to "get our facts right" and in view of the momentous decisions we shall ultimately have to make, it is very necessary that we do know what is taking place in our churches and what is suggested for the future.

At present we might say we are still at the pioneering stage, but we at Hartlip have been very much in the van of this movement in that links have already been forged between our two churches and we now recognise each other not as rival religious movements but fellow-Christians. It is out of such healthy relationships that real union must take place. Having reached this stage it is now important as the next step, to make ourselves aware of the implications not merely of our village church life, but of the tremendous changes and possibilities before us throughout the Church. Sometimes people seem shocked with horror at what they think is going to happen. But so often what they think has no relation to the real facts. It will not be easy to break our separate traditions and when we do we must do so in Christian love and because we see the tasks confronting the Church as too big for any single church or even a combination of churches. The challenge in all directions today demands a Church, virile in life, mobile and efficient in organisation, relevant in its message and clear in its vision.

DONALD WHITE.

PARISH NOTES

Annual Party

For our Sunday School children took place on 2nd January. Miss E. Woodcock, assisted by willing helpers (including several teenagers) and supported by parents' and friends' gifts of food and money, organised an excellent tea and plenty of games afterwards. At the end, prizes, awarded in all but one case for attendance, were presented to the following : Paul Davison, Graham Cole, Andrew Kift, Andrew Davison, Bernard Minison, Vivienne Cole, Deirdre Kyle, Hazel Kyle, Timothy Kift, Elizabeth Snape, Yvonne Cole.