It was good to welcome the Rev. Norman Setchell to take our service on Sunday, 23 January. Mr. Setchell is the former Minister of St Columba United Reformed Church, one of the three churches which came together to form The Beacon. He is now Chaplain at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

On Sunday 6 February, we were pleased to have the Rev. Nigel Uden, Moderator of the Southern Synod of the United Reformed Church, to lead our worship. During the service, the Constitution of the Beacon Church and Christian Centre was signed by Mr. Uden and six representatives from our church.

Our Minister, the Rev. John Lines, was on sabbatical during February, studying homelessness in various parts of the country, meeting those who are homeless, and talking to those who care for them and provide support.

He returned on Sunday 27 February to conduct our morning service at which we laid up several Standards and Colours that had come from other churches. They included the Royal Naval Old Comrades Association Standards, as well as Flags and Colours of the Guides and Scouts who used to meet at St. Columba United Reformed Church.

On Sunday 13 March we were pleased to welcome Shawna Higgins into the family of The Beacon by Baptism. We keep Shawna and her mother Kayleigh in our prayers.

During Holy Week, we joined with Christians from other churches in the town for various special events. These included a united Palm Sunday service, and the Good Friday Procession of Witness through the town centre which culminated in three crosses being carried up onto the Western Heights, where they stand as a witness to the events of that first Good Friday. On Easter Sunday, there was a Sunrise Service overlooking the harbour and the Channel.

We were pleased to welcome Ivana Pericova to our church on Sunday 12 June. Ivana is from Macedonia, and was spending three months in the London South-East District. She has attended various church services and activities, and has seen some of the local projects in action.

It was Port Sunday on 10 July, and members of our church music group were among those who provided the music for the special service held at Dover Lifeboat Station.

Dover Regatta took place on Saturday and Sunday, 6 and 7 August, and included a Songs of Praise service which was attended by Christians from many of the churches in Dover, including The Beacon.

On Sunday 31 July, we gathered to wish our Minister, the Rev. John Lines, well as he retired. It was our opportunity to thank John and Christine for all they have done during their time in Dover.

We held our Junior Church Anniversary service on Sunday, 18 September, and it was our annual church meeting on Sunday 25 September.

On Sunday 9 October we held our Harvest Festival service when we brought gifts of money to help provide a water supply for a village in Uganda, and towards the cost of a new roof for a shelter where orphans are looked after when they leave hospital..Gifts of food and produce which were brought by members of the Junior Church were donated to the St. Martin's Emmaus Community in Dover.

We were pleased to welcome the Rev. Fr. Peter Sherred again to conduct our service on Sunday 16 October. As always, his message was inspiring.

On Sunday, 20 November, we held our annual Toy Service and Junior Church Prizegiving. Our children and young people brought toys, books and games they no longer needed to be sent to less fortunate children in Ukraine, via Humanitarian Aid. And the members of our Junior Church received prizes for attendance during the past year. Making the presentations this year was Lisa Allinson, our Minister's wife.

We were pleased to see so many people at our Candlelight Carol Service just before Christmas, and at our services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

We are sorry to have to report the deaths of Hilda Welburn, Stephen Higgins, Kath Newble, Hilda Driver, Doreen Hallybone, Edna West, Martha Donaldson, Issy Bailey's mother and sister, and Viv Leggatt's brother in France.