Newsletter -07- 19
Greetings from Penshurst Rectory
It has finally rained. Not something I would normally rejoice in, but my garden is delighted.
The final week of term for our three local primary schools has seen me dashing around the benefice. With three leavers’ services—one per school—school productions in each, a leaving party for Mr Blackburn, and prize-givings in each setting, it was lovely to be invited to share in so much energy and enthusiasm. I was delighted to receive some flowers from Chiddingstone as a thank you for my time as a governor. The transition from Year 6 to Year 7 feels huge, and it is fair to say that many parental tissues were deployed at our church services. We congratulate all those moving up to secondary school on their primary school achievements. I wish everyone in our school community a restful holiday.
The personal notices in The Times newspaper are sometimes informally described as “hatch, match, and dispatch.” My diary this week covered all three aspects. Four children were baptised last weekend. We pray for Ottilie, Theo, Maggie, and Renly as they begin their journey of faith. On Thursday, Jacqueline Bullen, formerly of Bough Beech, was laid to rest in the woodland burial ground in Edenbridge. We pray for her family and friends as they mourn her loss. Jean Pierre and Georgia were married at St John the Baptist on Friday afternoon, and William and Lucy’s wedding is this afternoon.
Tomorrow there are two services in the Benefice: Holy Communion at 10:00 in Penshurst, and at 6:00 pm there is a BCP Evening Prayer service at Poundsbridge. Parking is always tricky in Coopers Lane, and many people walk to these services. Dogs are most welcome to bring their owners to the chapel if a walkies-and-church combo works for you!
A reminder that the monthly working party will be at Poundsbridge between 10:00 and noon on Saturday 26th. Please bring your own tools and drinks. I have received much positive feedback about the upkeep of the churchyard this year, and I thank the people involved who are volunteering to support our professional gardeners.
As the big holiday getaway begins, I hope the roads are kind. I pray for everyone’s safety as they travel.
With every blessing,
Rev’d Lisa
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
Sunday 20th July
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1800 Evening Prayer at All Souls’ Poundsbridge
Sunday 27th July
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Sunday 03rd August
1000 Holy Communionat 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)
