Newsletter - 03-15

Dear Parishioners 

As we settle into the second week of Lent, my chocolate failings continue. However, I am working hard (with others) to keep the benefice and deanery afloat. 

As we approach the end of the first quarter of the year, I find myself in many strategic meetings. This week’s agendas included school governance, deanery children’s work, a clergy chapter gathering and many matters with the new Archdeacon. Tomorrow I am attending Diocesan Synod in Paddock Wood and next week I am away for two days at the Area Dean conference. On Thursday I will be at day two of the course ‘Spiritual Care for the Elderly’ described in last week’s mailing; also on Thursday, the Joint Council meets at 6:30pm. There is a phrase about rest and wickedness that may apply to me here! 

This Sunday there is a service of Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst at 1000. At 4pm we shall gather at Hartsland Farm for this month’s Forest Church. The weather forecast is favourable. I am so looking forward to sharing a celebration of springtime alongside children, families and some lovely livestock. Thank you to the Broad Family for hosting us once again. The address is Hartsland Farm, Walter’s Green TN11 8HD. Please park in the yard as directed. Please dress for life on a working farm. Boots are recommended. 

Please do print and return your nomination forms for the electoral roll. Tabby has provided links for these in her section of these mailings. If you have a friend who would like a form but has no access to a computer, please print for them or message me and I can drop one round. 

Until next week,

Lisa 

In this edition:

Ø  Electoral Roll

Ø  Services

Ø  Life Events

Ø  Learning and growing

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.

Services: 

Sunday March 16th: Lent 2

1000 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion

1600 Forest Church: Hartsland Farm, Walter’s Green

Sunday March 23rd: Lent 3

1000 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion

Sunday March 30th Lent 4 / Mothering Sunday

1000 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion

1000 St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway, Holy Communion

Readings and lections for March 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:

Weddings: As the 2025 wedding season approaches, Banns will soon begin to be read in Sunday services across the benefice. We pray for all couples marrying in our churches this year.

We ask you to pray for two-week-old Skye Morris, who is in neo natal care Pembury hospital. Skye was born several weeks early and, although she is doing well, we hold her and her family in our prayers as they navigate this challenging time.

Funerals: We hold the family and loved ones of Linn Lee in our prayers ahead of her upcoming funeral.

And we remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday. 

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 our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news 

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Newsletter - 03-21

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Newsletter - 03-07