Newsletter - 04-04
Greetings from Penshurst. What a beautiful week we have had. Drying washing outside and clean shoes after dog walks have made me disproportionately excited.
We are so lucky to have three wonderful church schools in our benefice, but everyone is exhausted and needs a well-deserved rest. By the time you read this bulletin, I will have attended school end of term services in Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone. For those heading away for the holidays, I pray for safe journeys and a restful break. For everyone else lets hope we can enjoy life at a more sedate pace.
Apart from the school services, life in the parishes has been relatively quiet this week. For me the week has been bookended with study. I attended an interesting conference in London hosted by the campaign group WATCH (Women and the Church) which was marking the ten-year anniversary of the appointment of female bishops and evaluated issues of equality and inclusion in the church.
This Saturday, I shall be attending the Bishop’s Study Day in Bromley. This is a chance for ordained and lay ministers to learn together. The course flyer tells me that day will “encourage and equip leaders to help grow safe and healthy churches that fulfil their apostolic and prophetic calling to seek first the kingdom of God.” The speakers include The Rt Revd Mark Tanner Bishop of Chester and Chine McDonald Director of the think-tank Theos. This training day is to complement the safeguarding training being undertaken across the parishes and is part of the outworking of the new strategic plan for the diocese. Details are here: https://www.rochester.anglican.org/about-us/ourvision/
The recent pressure of work has meant that I have not had an uninterrupted day off during March. The diary is just like that sometimes. I am taking 48 hours off from Thursday evening (10th) until Saturday evening (12th) next week. I am hoping two days and a night away will recharge my batteries enough to help me through Holy Week. I will also be taking some leave when my duties are complete on Easter Day through until 29th April. I plan to also hold a lighter diary on my first week back and ease myself back up to a full pace of working. Please bear with me as I rest and recuperate.
I am aware that not everyone is well enough to attend church and that for some people receiving Holy Communion at Easter is very important. If you would like to receive Holy Communion during Holy Week please be in touch and I will do my best to schedule a visit. I already have a few people in the diary for Easter Day but good availability on Wednesday 16th
Wishing you a blessed week ahead
Lisa
In this edition:
Ø Services
Ø Electoral Roll
Ø Bells project at St John the Baptist
Services:
Sunday April 6th Lent 5 start of Passiontide
10:00 St John the Baptist, Penshurst, Holy Communion
Sunday April 13th / Palm Sunday
08:00 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
10:00 St Peters, Fordcombe: Holy Communion
10:00 St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway, Holly Communion
Readings and lections for March and April can be found if you Click Here.
Sunday April 20th: Easter Sunday
08:00 St Peter’s, Fordcombe: Holy Communion
10:00 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion and Family Service
10:00 St Mary’s , Chiddingstone: Holy Communion
Sunday April 27th: Low Sunday
10:00 St Peter’s, Fordcombe
Life Events:
Ø In our prayers we hold those coming through our doors this month to mark their life events:
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.
Electoral Roll:
Ø The High Weald Churches electoral roll is still 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 roll will be finalised by 14 April ahead of the next APCM.
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
