Newsletter -11 - 08
Rector’s weekly update: It has been unusually quiet in the parish this week. Although the fireworks at the Leicester Arms on Wednesday offered brief and dramatic contrast. The film set in Penshurst has been scaled down but will come back to life again on Monday. Across the parishes are interminable sets of roadworks. I think the collective noun for such projects could be a frustration of traffic lights. They seem to spring up from nowhere, along with what feel like random road closures.
Over the next few days, we mark Remembrance across the nation. Each of our four local churches has its part to play. Beautiful altar frontals in St Luke’s and St Mary’s crafted locally to commemorate those fallen, are once again on display. In St John the Baptist, the floral tributes have been boosted by hundreds of knitted and crocheted poppies. These form a cascade between the Sidney Chapel and pulpit. The local knit and natter group has crafted these over many months, and I am delighted with the result. St Peter’s will host a short act of worship and offer refreshments at the war memorial on Tuesday 11th after the community event on the Green starting at 1045am.
Sunday’s services begin with an 0800 Holy Communion in Penshurst (not Fordcombe as has been printed on some notices). The Remembrance Service at St Mary’s will be led by Rev’d Canon David Kitley and I shall lead proceedings at St John the Baptist. We ask the congregation to be seated for 1045am, ready for the services to begin at 1050.
Message from Tracy (Benefice Administrator)
Thank you all for your prayers for my mum and grandmother last week. I’m happy to share that both are healthy and doing well and I have heard from them both. I continue to keep Jamaica, along with my extended family and friends there, in my prayers.
The Rectors end this week’s mailing with this prayer from The Church of England funeral liturgy:
A prayer of commemoration for the fallen.
Father of all, remember your holy promise,
and look with love on all your people, living and departed.
On this day we especially ask that you would hold forever
all who have suffered during war, those who returned scarred by warfare,
those who waited anxiously at home,
and those who returned wounded, and disillusioned;
those who mourned, and those communities that were diminished and suffered loss.
Remember too those who acted with kindly compassion,
those who bravely risked their own lives for their comrades,
and those who in the aftermath of war, worked tirelessly for a more peaceful world.
And as you remember them, remember us, O Lord;
grant us peace in our time and a longing for the day when people of every language, race, and nation will be brought into the unity of Christ’s kingdom.
This we ask in the name of the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
I wish you a blessed week ahead.
Lisa
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
Sunday 9th November Remembrance Sunday
0800: St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
1045 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Remembrance Sunday Service
1050 St Mary’s, Chiddingstone: Remembrance Sunday Service.
Tuesday 11th November
St Mary’s, Chiddingstone School and Community Remembrance Events. Time TBC (please check school and parish website for details)
1045 - Fordcombe Village Green and Community Remembrance Events. Followed by Short service at St Peter’s War Memorial with refreshments in Church.
Sunday 16th November – 2nd Sunday before Advent
1000 -St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
1600 – Forest Church, Penshurst Rectory Garden
Sunday 23rd November - Christ The King
1000 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
1000 St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway: Holy Communion
Tuesday 25th November - Quiet Morning
1330 St Lukes, Parish Room, Chiddingstone: Quiet Morning.
To reserve a place email barbaramlloyd@gmail.com or just come on the day.
Life Events:
Ø We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Ø Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Ø Mailing:
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
