Newsletter -11 - 22
Greetings from a chilly Penshurst!
After such a warm year my gloves and hats have been redeployed this week. The first frosts and mellow sunrises are so beautiful, but a slight shock to the system!
This Sunday we celebrate Christ the King, the final Sunday of the Church year. It reminds us that Jesus’ kingship is one of compassion and steady guidance, not power or pomp. For our rural communities, this feast is a gentle encouragement: as the seasons turn and winter approaches, Christ’s reign brings hope, peace, and a sense of order amid change. His kingdom grows wherever love and neighbourliness are shared. This final feast of the church year also leads us into Advent, helping us look toward the promise of Christ’s coming with renewed trust and confidence.
Services tomorrow are at 1000. My thanks to Fr Stephen Mitchell for leading at St Luke’s. I shall be at St John the Baptist as usual.
A Prayer for the Changing Season
Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God,
as the seasons turn and the daylight shifts,
we look to you as the eternal Light that no darkness can overcome.
In this time of change, steady our hearts.
Let the shortening days remind us that your presence shines
even when shadows grow long,
and let the coming light stir hope within our parish community.
Bless us with renewed faith,
that we may see your hand in the rhythms of creation
and trust your guidance through every season of our lives.
May your radiant love warm the cold places of our world,
and may your truth, bright and steadfast, lead us ever closer to you.
Reign in our hearts, O Christ our King,
now and forever.
Amen.
With every blessing for the week ahead
Lisa
We hope to see you at the Piano Gala on the 18th December
Christmas Cards Now Available
Our new Christmas cards are on sale! Each pack contains 5 cards with envelopes for £5. All proceeds will go to the Friends of St John’s.
If you’d like to purchase a pack, please contact Matthew Stevens at matthewshakeystevens@gmail.com or Stephen Hazell-Smith at loftskand@hotmail.com.
A preview of the design is attached.
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
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 Luke’s, Parish Room, Chiddingstone: Quiet Afternoon.
To reserve a place email barbaramlloyd@gmail.com or just come on the day.
Sunday 30th November - Advent 1
1000 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
1600 – Forest Church, Penshurst Rectory Garden.
Sunday 07th December
1000 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
Sunday 14th December
0800 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
1000 St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway: Holy Communion.
1000 St Peters, Fordcombe: Holly Communion
Sunday 21st December
1000 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
1800 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Nine Lessons and Carols
1800 St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway: Nine Lessons and Carols
Wednesday 24th December
2200 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion for Christmas Night
1600 St Peters, Fordcombe: Carol Service
1730 St Mary’s, Chiddingstone: Carols by Candlelight
2330: St Mary’s, Chiddingstone: Midnight Mass
Thursday 25th December
1030 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: All Age Service for Christmas Day
1030 St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway: All Age Holy Communon
09:00 St Peters, Fordcombe: Holly Communion
Sunday 28th December
0800 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
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)
