Newsletter -07 - 26
Greetings from Penshurst Rectory
As is traditional, the first week of the school holiday has included a lot of weather! Whilst the verdant green of my lawn is lovely, the weeds that have grown exponentially in my flowerbeds are bringing me less pleasure.
On Saturday between 10am and 12noon there will be a working party gardening and cleaning the chapel in Poundsbridge. We had our first of this summer’s Poundsbridge services on Sunday evening. Fourteen adults and five canines enjoyed BCP Evening prayer and shared some traditional hymns. I never cease to be moved by the special peace and comfort this place offers our community.
On Saturday afternoon, Hannah and Richard will be marrying at St John the Baptist in Penshurst. Next week there are three weddings in the benefice. Eilrys and Harry marry on Wednesday at St Mary’s. Harry and Anna will marry in Penshurst on Friday and Katie and Sam at St Mary’s on Saturday. We wish them all a blessed wedding day and a long and happy marriage. Thank you to all of those who support our wedding ministry.
I am grateful to Rev’d Fiona Haskett for leading a service of Holy Communion at St Mary’s this Sunday. I shall be leading the same at St John the Baptist in Penshurst. Both services begin at 1000. On Monday and Tuesday two funerals are being led by Jane Rosam a local Licenced Lay Minster. We pray for the loved ones of Desmond Gower whose service is at St Luke’s on Monday and Mary Clifford Baynes whose funeral is at St Mary’s on Tuesday.
As our news media reveal the worsening of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, I close this week with a prayer from the Cafod Charity website. (Cafod.org.uk)
A prayer for peace in the Middle East
Christ, Prince of Peace,
hear our prayer and lament,
for our suffering sisters and brothers.
Our hearts are heavy as we witness lives torn apart,
as we see the faces of frightened children
and hear the pleas of those without water or food.
We pray for the dead and the grieving,
for the injured and the afraid.
We pray for courage and perseverance,
for those working for healing and to bring aid.
We pray for world leaders,
that they may strive for a just and lasting peace.
God of new beginnings,
in your ways are compassion and hope.
Open our hearts to dialogue and understanding.
Lead us all to answer your call
to become peacemakers
today, and all the days of our life.
Amen.
I wish you a blessed week ahead and pray for peace wherever conflict is present.
Lisa
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
Sunday 27 July
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 Holy Communion at St Mary's at Chiddingstone
Sunday 03 August
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Sunday 10 August
0800 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 Holy Communion at St Peters, Fordcombe
1000 Matins at St Mary’s at Chiddingstone
Sunday 17 August
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Sunday 24 August
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 Holy Communion at St Mary’s at Chiddingstone
Sunday 31 August
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)
