Newsletter - 01-31
Warm greetings from Penshurst Rectory
A busy week in the parish is behind us and lies ahead. Funerals rather dominate my diary at present. This week we were sad to learn of the deaths of Michael Collin and Michael Hill, both long term residents of Penshurst. Their funerals will be later in the month, and we will confirm the details in next week’s mailing.
As I type the 2023-24 tax return deadline is looming at midnight. I am sure that I was not the only person hurriedly form filling this week! We are in the process of finalising our parish and benefice accounts for 2024 and preparing for our APCM. Every six years we have to revise and renew the electoral roll. The process for our parishes begins today and we ask for you to return your paperwork before the end of March. Although the APCM is not until early May, we would like to have this substantial piece of administration completed as fully as possible before Tabby, our administrator, goes on maternity leave. Tabby has supplied instructions below. Please note that all people who wish to be on the electoral roll must apply afresh using the forms provided. Given we are in the process of making big decisions about our benefice’s future, please do apply to join the roll so that your opinions can be included in any voting that takes place.
Earlier this week I met with fellow Area Deans and with the acting and soon to be Archdeacons of Tonbridge. Archdeacon Elect Nick Cornell will be writing to PCCs very soon to explain the next steps in our pastoral reorganisation consultation. Nick is in the process of leaving his Tunbridge Wells parish, moving house and starting his new job. Please pray for him as he works with us and circa 90 parishes across six deaneries. May we all prayerfully discern God’s will during our discussions in and between the parishes in the benefice.
I wish you a blessed week ahead
Lisa
In this edition:
Ø Services
Ø Electoral Roll
Ø Prayer
Services:
Sunday 2 February: Candlemas (The last Sunday of Christmas)
1000 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
Sunday 9 February: 4th Sunday before Lent
1000 St Peter’s Fordcombe: Holy Communion
1000 St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway: Holy Communion
Sunday February 16th 3rd Sunday before Lent
1000 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
1600 Forest Church Penshurst Rectory
Readings and lections for February can be found if you Click Here.
Life Events:
Ø In our prayers we hold those coming through our doors this month to mark their life events:
Baptisms: We hold Andrea and her family in our prayers ahead of her baptism on Sunday.
Funerals: We hold the family and loved ones of Bob Atkins, Michael Collin and Michael Hill in our prayers ahead of their upcoming funerals.
And we remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Electoral Roll:
Ø The High Weald Churches electoral roll is now open for applications ahead of the 2025 Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) – Click Here to read the full notice from the Diocese. Please note that every six years the electoral roll must undergo complete revision, which is taking place this year, therefore everyone who would like to be included should fill out and return an application form - Click Here to download. Forms can be printed, or collected from church, and returned to a churchwarden, or filled in electronically and returned via email to the office. The deadline for applications is 31 March, and the roll will be finalised by 14 April ahead of the next APCM.
Learning and growing:
Ø 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
Prayer:
Ø While discussions are taking place about the Benefice I would like to suggest a few of us meet on the morning of Tuesday February 4th to hold it all in prayer. I’m happy to host. Please do contact me if you would like to come - I’m looking for an equal representation from each church if possible! You can contact me on Barbaramlloyd@gmail.com or 07802 537652
- Barbara Lloyd
Mailing:
Ø 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
