Newsletter -07 -04
Another busy week in the parish!
Last Sunday the Church Fete in Chiddingstone Causeway raised valuable funds for the local church. Thank you to all the people whose hard work made this such a great success. We look forward to the Chid village fete next weekend which is pirate themed.
Congratulations to Angela Ventin, our Fordcombe Church warden. Angela received a Commendation Certificate from Bishop Jonathan at a celebration service at Bishopscourt on Monday 30th June attended by friends and family. Angela we are very proud of all you have achieved. Well done! This has been awarded after two years studying the Foundations of Christian Ministry Course. Now she holds the certificate, Angela receives the Bishop’s authority to undertake more extensive duties in the parish, including some preaching and leading of services. Angela will be adding to this qualification by training as an Anna Chaplain later in the year. I have just completed the same training and look forward to working in this field with Angela once she is qualified.
Our schools are very busy with end of term events- plays, festivals, sports days, governor meetings and the like. The Arts afternoon at Fordcombe School was splendid. It is wonderful to see the children’s work showcased across our three local schools. We are very lucky to have such vibrant schools in our benefice.
The Joint Council met this week and have signed off plans for services and various works taking place in the next two months. Safety fencing will be installed next week around St Mary’s Church to protect visitors from the risk of further falling masonry. We are hoping to receive an update very soon from Diocesan HQ about our pastoral reorganisation process. As soon as there is news, I will share it with the PCCs.
Congratulations to Jamie and Caroline whose wedding will be at St John the Baptist on Saturday afternoon and we wish Savanna every blessing as she is baptised by Rev’d Ray Shergill this Sunday.
There are two funerals scheduled for our benefice flock. On 17th July at 1100, Jacqueline Bullen will be laid to rest at Edenbridge Woodland Burial ground. And on 29th July (Time still TBC) Mary Clifford Baynes funeral will be held at St Mary’s. We pray for Jacqueline and Mary’s loved ones as they mourn.
In the week ahead I will be having two days away from work- Monday7th my usual rest day and Friday 11th. I did not have a rest day this week so I am taking an extra day in lieu.
I look forward to seeing many of you in church on Sunday.
With every blessing
Lisa
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
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)
