Newsletter -06 -28
Dear friends,
This Sunday, 29th June, we celebrate the Feast of St Peter and St Paul—a big day in the Church calendar, and especially meaningful for us at St Peter’s, Fordcombe, as it's our Patronal Festival.
It’s a time to come together with joy and gratitude, as we remember the lives and witness of these two great saints, whose faith helped shape the early Church and continues to inspire us today.
Funnily enough, I’m writing this from beneath the great dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, where I’m on duty today as one of the volunteer priests. Tomorrow, I’ll be in Rochester Cathedral for the ordination of two friends—please do keep them, and all those being ordained this Petertide, in your prayers. I hear 36 new deacons will be ordained here at St Paul’s this weekend, and preparations are in full swing. There’s even a whole art to "holy chair moving"!
Being part of the volunteer priest team here in the City is always a joy. There are more than 40 of us from around the home counties, helping to support the daily worship and pastoral ministry of the cathedral. It’s a real privilege—and also a lesson in multitasking: I spend as much time offering prayers as I do directing tourists to the loos!
Back at home in the parishes, we’ll be celebrating with a Service of Holy Communion at 10:00am at St John the Baptist, Penshurst. Everyone is very welcome.
This week we hold in our prayers:
Flora, Amelie and Vallie, recently baptised
The family of Robert Cheliotis, following his funeral on Thursday
And those whose year’s mind falls around this time
Finally, a Prayer for Petertide:
Almighty God,
whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you in their death as in their life:
grant that your Church, inspired by their teaching and example,
and made one by your Spirit,
may ever stand firm upon the one foundation,
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
With every blessing,
The Rector
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
Sunday 29th June – Trinity 2 (Green Altar Frontal)
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Sunday 6th July
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Sunday 13th July
0800 Holy Communionat St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
1000 Matins at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 20th July
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1800 Evening Prayer at All Souls’ Poundsbridge
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)
