Newsletter -05 - 31
Dear Parishioners
I type my part of this mailing enjoying the late evening sun in my garden with the delightful birdsong being interrupted by Dibley the Labrador and her new squeaky ball. Get a dog, they said….
On Thursday we held the Deanery Ascension Day service at St John the Baptist Church. There were representatives from most local parishes and a great celebratory feel to begin this last ten days of the Easter Season. As I mentioned last week, the period between Ascension and Pentecost is marked by ten days of prayer across the worldwide church called “Thy Kingdom Come.” There are many copies of a Novena written for this occasion available. 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
Thy Kingdom Come 2025 - 29th May - 8th June This year we're very excited to be celebrating the 10th year of Thy Kingdom Come! We'll have all of the usual resources and videos as well as some special anniversary content!
www.thykingdomcome.global
Congratulations to Vicky and Alex who married in St Mary’s last Saturday. The combination of hunting hounds and a ring bearing owl made for a unique atmosphere. The occasion was marked by a fly past of Spitfires over the castle later in the afternoon. Thank you to Rev’d Hannah for taking this service. On Saturday Fr Andrew Smith will be leading a wedding ceremony for Lauren and Ben at St Luke’s in Chiddingstone Causeway. Thank you to all of you who work hard to make our various wedding days so special.
On Friday we shall say a fond farewell to John Byrne. His funeral is at 1430 in Penshurst. We are also sad to learn this week of the death of John Hazeldine. His funeral will be in Penshurst on 17th June. Also, on Saturday the family of Brian Woolett will be gathering at, Poundsbridge to lay his ashes to rest. We pray for all those bereaved or whose year’s mind falls at this time.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the 1000 Holy Communion service this Sunday.
With every blessing
Rev’d Lisa Cornell
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
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)
