It now seems almost certain that All Hallows will end this Financial Year with a deficit of around £14 thousand. As I explained in February’s Newsletter, this is due to a combination of factors which we could not have foreseen:

•  Reduced car parking revenue (no summer concerts)
• The recession (several generous givers had to withdraw or reduce)
• Higher than expected maintenance costs for our Grade I listed building and ageing Hall

This is a very serious situation - we cannot afford to end the next Financial Year with a deficit.

 In order to turn this deficit around and ensure we end next year in the black, we are:

• Asking for one-off donations/legacies
• Encouraging planned giving through the monthly Stewardship and Envelope Schemes
• Organising Fundraising Events – including a repeat of the Abseil down the Tower 

Let us pray for a generous response to these initiatives.

Mother Nicola

Over the past few months it has become increasingly apparent that All Hallows will end this financial year with a substantial deficit – well into five figures. The main reasons for this are threefold:

• Loss of Planned Giving income, largely due to the effects of the economic downturn on several of our most generous givers
• Reduced Car Park revenue as there were no summer concerts at Twickenham Stadium in 2009
• Increased costs for maintaining our Grade I listed church and ageing Parish Hall

In addition to the above, we are required to pay our Common Fund contribution of over £50,000 per annum to the Diocese of London and we receive absolutely no financial help from anywhere.  We are not profligate spenders, our income is used wisely and costs are kept to the bare minimum.

This situation is clearly one that cannot continue and we are considering how best to reduce the existing deficit, whilst ensuring we end next year in a healthier financial position.  The favoured strategy at the moment is to approach those who do not currently give to the church through Planned Giving but who nevertheless feel part of the All Hallows community.  Many people simply do not realise that churches such as ours must be totally self sufficient, on top of which we have to pay the Common Fund payment to the Diocese.  We also plan to hold a major fundraising event, perhaps another Sponsored Abseil down the Tower. 

Further details of our financial situation will appear in the Annual Report and Accounts and I would like to invite everyone living in the Parish to attend our Annual Meeting, which will be held in the Parish Hall on Wednesday April 21^st at 8 p.m.

In the meantime if you have any suggestions, or would like to make a donation, please could you be in touch.  Contact details appear elsewhere in this Newsletter.

Lent 2010

After the excesses of Shrove Tuesday (pancake day!) Ash Wednesday is on February 17^th this year and there will be a Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes at 9.30 a.m. in the Chapel and 8.00 p.m. in the Church.  On this reflective day we call to mind our sins, ask and receive God’s forgiveness and resolve to do better during Lent as we prepare for the joy of Easter.

Lent Courses

Sermon Series on prayer:

10 a.m. on Sundays February 21^st, March 7^th and March 21^st

Countless people struggle with prayer, not realising that there is no ‘right way’ to pray.  There are many different approaches to prayer and finding what works for you at this stage in your life requires constant experimentation.  These three linked addresses will explore a very different way of praying, which may or may not suit you – come along and find out!

Lent Study Group – Meals with Jesus:

An exploration of occasions in the Bible when Jesus ate and drank with others:

Mondays at 8 p.m.- repeated on Wednesdays at 10.30 a.m.- starting on Monday 22^nd February for five weeks, the last one being on Wednesday 24^th March.

Tea/coffee and biscuits will be provided.

Family Passover Supper:

The chance to experience an authentic Jewish Passover - children are essential to the proceedings!

Saturday March 27^th at 5 p.m.

(Tickets will be on sale from the Parish Office and will include a light supper)

Details of worship at All Hallows during Holy Week and Easter will be sent out with the March Newsletter

Traditionally, Christians are called to pay particular attention to three things during Lent:

• Prayer
• Fasting
• Almsgiving

I hope and pray that the courses and worship on offer at All Hallows will give you the impetus you need to keep a Holy Lent this year. 

Mother Nicola

A new venture for All Hallows, a Passover Supper is being arranged for Saturday 27th March in the Parish Hall at 5.00pm.  This will be an event for learning and congregating and though it will be based around a service for Passover, it will also be a chance for us as Christians to see how Jesus would have shared the supper.

If you wish to come along to the Supper, tickets cost £5 each or £10 for a family, and everyone is asked to bring along a contribution to supper (it doesn’t have to be ‘Passover’ food - just something to share with others.)

Please contact the Parish Office 020 8241 2345 parishadmin@allhallowstwick.org.uk for more information and to purchase tickets and let us know what food you wish to bring along.

The Breakfast Club is for children from Year 7 upwards (11 years and up).

The Breakfast Club meet in the Long Room at the back of the Main Hall from 10.00am, where refreshments are available.  The group is run by a youth leader and  involves a discussion on many subjects, including Christian fellowship and subjects which affect our young people in the community.  The session concludes with everyone coming into the church for the Eucharist and final hymn.

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The Young Bell Ringers meet during term time.

The courses are open to all from the age of 10 upwards, but if you are younger and are able to pull the bells you are most welcome.

The dates for the rest of the 2nd half of this term will be:

• 7th March
• 14th March
• 21st March
  Dates for the 1st half of the summer term will be announced soon!

The sessions will be held in the Bell Tower on Sundays from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, and will be lead by Otto Benz, our Bell Ringing Co-ordinator.

Though ringing the bells is an important part of worship, it is also:

• a fun way of learning a new and different skill
• a time and place to meet and spend time with friends
• a chance to have the opportunity to be a part of the church
• a valued hobby/ability to have on your cv for university

If you are interested in joining in the fun, please call Alex in the office on 020 8241 2345 or email on parishadmin@allhallowstwick.org.uk

Our Mothering Sunday service this year takes place on Sunday 14th March at 10.00am.  All are welcome to bring along their mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, godmothers etc Posies will be given out during this service. 

This 10.00am service will be the only one this Sunday morning - it will incorporate the usual services, including the 8.30am and the 11.30am , so please make a note of the time in your diaries!!

The service is followed by a cooked breakfast in the Parish Hall.

There will be a service of music and readings for Passiontide on Sunday 21st March at 6.30pm.  The choir will be leading this service with music including Lotte and Palestrina.

We are holding a Talent Show on Sunday 9th May where everybody has the chance to chow off their skills…singing, dancing, playing and instrument, juggling… etc…  the Show commences at 3.00pm.

Cost is £5.00 per entry into the Show and £5 entry on the day for those in the audience - price includes afternoon tea at the interval!!

Please remember - this is a fun event and not to be taken too seriously.  It’s not the X Factor but there will be small prizes given out…

If you wish to enter the Talent Show or are interested in coming along to watch, please contact the Parish Office on 020 8241 2345 or parishadmin@allhallowstwick.org.uk