Newsletter - 02-07
Dear Parishioners
I have had a lovely week in the parish. I so enjoyed baptising Andrea at St Mary’s last Sunday. She was such a sunny infant who charmed several generations of family and friends. Wedding planning has taken up a lot of my time this week and next Saturday many of our wedding couples from across the benefice will be meeting together in Fordcombe for a wedding preparation afternoon.
A spike in the local death rate means that our local funeral directors are incredibly busy at present. We give thanks for their care to all of our families. Locally we have four Penshurst funerals planned. On Thursday 13th, we will say a final goodbye to Bob Atkins as we celebrate his life in a service at 1400 in St John the Baptist Church. On 20th February at 1130, we will celebrate the life of Joyce Evans at The Kent and Sussex Crematorium. On 25th February we will bid farewell to Mike Hill. A private cremation in the morning will be followed in the afternoon by a memorial service in church. I await confirmation of the start time, but it is likely to be around 1400. On 28th February we will celebrate the life of Mike Collin. A private morning service at Poundsbridge will be followed by a memorial service in church at 1430. We thank God for the lives of these four people and hold all of their loved ones in prayer.
This Sunday our 1000 service will be in Fordcombe and I look forward to seeing many of you there. At Chiddingstone, a Matins service will be led by Brian Buck at 1000 at St Luke’s.
With every blessing for the week ahead,
Lisa
In this edition:
Ø Services
Ø Electoral Roll
Services:
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
Sunday February 23rd: 2nd Sunday before Lent
1000 St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway: Matins
1000 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
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 following her baptism last Sunday.
Funerals: We hold the family and loved ones of Bob Atkins, Joyce Evans, 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
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
