Newsletter -06 - 20
Dear Parishioners
As I write this on the coach returning from the Year Six trip to Rochester Cathedral, I reflect on what a lovely day it has been. Although officially a helper with Penshurst School, it was a pleasure to be alongside children and staff from Chiddingstone School as well. The Diocese of Rochester invites all pupils leaving Church of England primary schools to attend their Schools Festivals. Over 3,000 children and staff have passed through the Cathedral this week. The activities are beautifully crafted to help the children reflect upon their primary school years and look forward to their move to secondary school.
It has also been a glorious week of good weather. With the exception of one day, I was blessed with sunshine during my holiday in Dorset. I do hope the hot weather is not proving too challenging for you all—thankfully, our churches offer a cool refuge! Even so, I may forgo wearing a chasuble this Sunday.
There are 10:00 am services of Holy Communion this week at St John the Baptist in Penshurst and St Mary’s in Chiddingstone. In the afternoon, there will be baptisms in both churches. We pray for Flora Sybil Josephine Wooltorton and Amelie Aurora Geere and their parents and Godparents as they are baptised into the Church of God.
This past Tuesday, we said a final farewell to Philip Hazeldine, and on Thursday, the loved ones of Robert Cheliotis will gather at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium for his funeral.
In the coming week, I have a number of meetings that will take me out of the parish, so please accept my apologies in advance if there are delays in replying to emails or phone messages. I am particularly looking forward to my day as Duty Priest at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday 27th, followed by the Petertide Ordinations at Rochester Cathedral on Saturday 28th.
As we approach the longest day of the year this Saturday, let us give thanks for the light of the world, Jesus Christ.
Wishing you all a blessed week ahead.
Lisa
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
Sunday 22nd June – Trinity 1 (Green Altar Frontal)
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
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)
