Newsletter 05-11
To our Benefice Friends
We are extending a warm congratulations to Lisa this week as she was formally licenced as our Area Dean for the Tonbridge Deanery. She has been careful to review her commitments so that she can take up this responsibility without overstretching herself. Her first Deanery Evensong as Area Dean was on Thursday (Ascension Day), which was a lovely occasion. It was a real joy for our choirs from across the deanery to sing together.
Also on Ascension Day, the Church of England started the novena of prayer known as Thy Kingdom Come. You can join in this season of prayer using the free audio apps provided by the Church of England, containing audio for Morning, Evening, Day and Night Prayer from the booklet for all 11 days. The Daily Prayer for Thy Kingdom Come app has been updated with 2024 Sunday psalms and readings and the ability to set reminders for any or all the services at times that suit you. Download for Android or iOS.
Speaking of prayer, we will be moving to a new booklet for worship services on Sunday week (Trinity Sunday). There’s still a little time to give us feedback on the booklet that we had during the Easter season, but as things stand the booklet for ordinary time will be along very similar lines. To read Click Here.
Lastly the Church of England is putting on a webinar on moving our church towards net zero. If anyone has any enthusiasm for this matter, and is interested in attending this, please do get in touch, or to book directly Click Here.
In this edition:
Services:
Sunday 12th May: Easter 7
8am Holy Communion St John the Baptist
10am Morning Prayer with Christening St Mary the Virgin
Sunday 19th May: Pentecost
10am Sung Holy Communion St John the Baptist
10am Sung Holy Communion St Mary the Virgin
Sunday 26th of May: Trinity Sunday
8am Holy Communion St John the Baptist
10am Sung Matins St Mary the Virgin
5pm All Age Service, Fordcombe Village Hall
Life Events
In our prayers we hold those coming through our doors in the to mark their Life Events:
We have already had all of our May wedding and wedding celebrations but we continue to pray for William & Rachel, Rory & Hayley, Deborah and Neil;
We are looking forward to christening Ronin this Sunday, please pray for his family and all those undertaking to support him in his pilgrimage of faith.
Among the recently departed, we remember with thanksgiving Amy King. Amy’s funeral is at 1pm on Thursday 16th May at St John the Baptist in Penshurst. This is likely to be well attended. We recommend parking in the visitors’ area of Penshurst Place and walking through to the church. This is a five-minute walk.
And among those whose anniversary falls at this time, we remember with thanksgiving:
12-May
Carol Young
13-May
14-May
Edward (Ted) Dockerty
15-May
Thomas William Keen
16-May
Marjorie Kate Braiden
17-May
18-May
Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.
Learning and growing:
Updates, and some upcoming courses and events in the wider diocese –
Courses:
Intercessions Training
We are running a training session for existing and aspiring intercessors on Saturday June 15th. The training will run from 1100-1230 in Penshurst Church. Intercessory prayer is a feature of all services where we pray in Jesus’ name for one another and the world. It would be helpful to broaden our team of intercessors so that most Sundays’ prayers come from the congregation members rather than the clergy, as happens in Penshurst and Fordcombe, or a small handful of lay volunteers as happens in Chiddingstone. No previous training is needed just a desire to develop this part of your faith. Those who already pray will, I hope, be able to share their good practice with you.
Safeguarding Training
We encourage everyone who helps in church in a public facing way to carry out safeguarding training. For some posts it is a statutory requirement and for others a recommendation. On Saturday 15th June, after the intercessions training, we will be running a basic safeguarding course for those who would prefer to learn in person rather than complete the course at home and online; We will begin at 1245pm. The course takes around an hour to complete. This course is free and open to anyone who would like to attend.
Quiet Day: We will be holding a quiet day on Tuesday 18th June at Selby’s Oast. On the Leigh-Hildenborough border. The focus of the day will be prayer. Many thanks to Barbara Lloyd for making her home available for us to More details will follow next week
Orthodox spirituality and the Jesus prayer
28 May 2024,10am to 3pm at St Benedict’s Centre, West Malling More info
Updates:
Archdeacon Andy has decided to move on from his role as Archdeacon of Rochester, later this year. Read more
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 remember, we’re encouraged to share the new video highlighting the Church of England's ambition to be net zero carbon by 2030. Do watch, and consider whether you want to be part of this project bringing our beautiful Churches to Net Zero. Watch video
Events:
A Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving - 30th anniversary of women ordained to the priesthood
30 June 2024, 3:15pm at Rochester Cathedral More info
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).
With every blessing for the Easter Season
Lisa and Lindsay
