Newsletter -12 - 06
Greetings from Penshurst Rectory
What a busy week it has been! Two funerals, several school visits, a variety of trustee and school governor meetings and administrative tasks, and, this afternoon, a two-hour duty as a Christmas Elf at the Penshurst Christmas Market. I certainly have a varied ministry.
At the heart of being a priest is the call to shepherd the flock through every season of life. This can mean being alongside families during their difficult times. I am sad to share with you the death of Chloe Phillips, a long-time resident of Wellers Town. Chloe became very unwell about five weeks ago and died peacefully on Thursday morning. I shall miss her very much. We shared a love of dogs, a strong faith, and a wacky sense of humour. Chloe mainly worshipped in the Chiddingstone churches, but her family was well known in Penshurst. Please hold her children, Tim and Caroline, her grandchildren, and her wider circle of family and friends in your prayers. Funeral details will follow in due course.
Next week, my diary is relatively quiet. I shall be taking a few days off to rest before the madness of the final week of the school term and the lead-up to Christmas. Please be aware that my response time to emails may be slower than usual. Normal service will be resumed on Thursday the 11th.
This Sunday marks the Second Sunday in Advent. The collect for this day is one of my favourite reflections on scripture. I hope it inspires you in the week ahead:
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
With every blessing for the week ahead
Lisa
We hope to see you at the upcoming events.
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 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)
