St. John's is 97!

Centenary Appeal 2004-2007

We will soon be celebrating together the first 100 years of St. John's here in St. Raphaël. We plan to hold a series of celebratory events during the centenary year in 2007, but before that we need to restore our building so that we can take the church into its second century in style.

All of you who receive the newsletter have a connection of one kind or another with St. John's and St. John's will mean something to each of us in our different ways, as these few comments illustrate.

"I think of St. John's as my family"

"Even when we are in England we call it our church"

"It's like coming back home"

Thanks to the faithfulness of previous congregations, the church and its ministry have been maintained and have grown, over the years till today. We would like to share with you the plans and needs of St. John's in our time.

The church has in its funds money to pay initially for our share of the masonry and ironwork and windows but not for the exterior painting, or the work to the interior. We have, however, been kindly offered an interest free loan so that we can paint the outside of the building, but this needs to be repaid as soon as possible. Our plan for raising the necessary funds is:

• To run the appeal for the three years leading up to the centenary in 2007. ·
• To ask you, the present congregation, and friends everywhere, to pledge to help St. John's over these three years. We do appreciate the help you already give us. ·
• To ask you to pledge a minimum of £100 or 150 euros a year for the next years. This works out at 3 euros, or £2 a week. ·
• If direct giving is difficult for you perhaps you could organize a fund raising event either here or back in the U.K. Ideas that have been popular here are: quiz lunch, dinner party, book sale, musical evening. ·
• We will also be approaching companies and foundations, but these are hard-pressed these days so ultimately it is up to us. ·
• To ask you to support St. John's by your prayers as this is the key to our future

We do thank you for your support in everyway and will keep you informed of the appeal as it progresses.

So that we can plan effectively we would be grateful if you could print and send this back to St. John's Church, Avenue Paul Doumer, St. Raphael, 83700, France as soon as possible.

I/We want to help St. John's church in its centenary appeal and promise to try and give …………… a year each year for the next three years. Please tick as appropriate;

• I/We will send a cheque through the diocese in Europe so that tax can be recovered.
• Enclose a cheque for ……………………
• Will send a cheque later in the year
• Would like a receipt

or send an email to the Chaplain