Newsletter -05 - 26
Greetings from Penshurst Rectory,
For many of you today is the beginning of one or two weeks of half term as well as a Bank Holiday weekend. I do hope the weather is not as grim as forecast. We are still two Sundays away from Pentecost so whilst many will call this Whitsun weekend…it isn’t yet!
Saturday 24th marks the start of our Benefice wedding season. Alex and Vicky are tying the knot after a long engagement. May they share a blessed day with their loved ones. It has been an honour to see this couple grown in love and faith together and we are so pleased that they are returning to Chiddingstone from their new home in Herefordshire. Thanks to Revs. Hannah and Mandy from Weald for taking the service. There will be a wedding at St Luke’s next Saturday when Lauren and Ben will be exchanging vows led by Rev’d Andrew Smith.
On Sunday 25th a service of Holy Communion will be at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone at 1000 led by Fr Stephen Mitchell. We are very grateful for Stephen’s ministry with us. I shall be leading the service at St John the Baptist also at 1000. Ascension Day falls on Thursday, and Penshurst will be hosting the Deanery service of Holy Communion at 7pm. All are welcome. This Thursday also marks the beginning of ten days of prayer across the worldwide church called “Thy Kingdom Come.” This is a time of reflection which covers the period between Ascension Day and Pentecost. There are many copies of a Novena available to collect and use for free. This year we are considering the Lord’s Prayer with a series of daily reflections. The books are on the welcome table at St John the Baptist.
There are many other resources to use here: www.thykingdomcome.global
This week we said a sad goodbye to Charles Beare at a well-attended service at St Mary’s. John Byrne’s funeral is scheduled for 5th June in Penshurst. We continue to hold their families in prayer at this sad time.
Last weekend we celebrated the baptisms of Ivo and Greysie. It was so lovely to be with very proud families helping their children take their first steps in their journey of faith. And finally, I have a few candidates who are exploring confirmation. If you would like to discuss your own confirmation or encourage your family members to take this step, please do be in touch. I hope to run confirmation classes starting in late summer.
Until next week I pray that you will know the love of God surrounding you and enjoy the benefits of a three day weekend.
With every blessing
Rev’d Lisa Cornell
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
Thursday 29th May
1900 Holy Communion at Tonbridge Deanery Ascension Day at St John the Baptist, Penshurst.
Sunday 1st June – Easter 7
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Sunday 8th June -Pentecost (Red Altar Frontal)
0800 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 Holy Communion at St Peter’s Fordcombe
1000 Holy Communion/Matins (TBC) at St Marys, Chiddingstone.
Sunday 15th June – Trinity Sunday (White Altar Frontal)
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Sunday 22nd June – Trinity 1 (Green Altar Frontal)
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Evening Service at Fordcombe Village Hall (Time TBC)
1000 Holy Communion/Matins (TBC) at St Marys, Chiddingstone.
Sunday 29th June – Trinity 2 (Green Altar Frontal)
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Life Events:
Ø We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
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)
