Newsletter -08 - 02
I am quite possibly not the only person who realised it was August and wondered how the year has gone by so fast. Yet here we are. Thomas Hardy wrote:
A shaded lamp and a waving blind,
And the beat of a clock from a distant floor:
On this scene enter—winged, horned, and spined—
A longlegs, a moth, and a dumbledore.
While ’mid my page there idly stands
A sleepy fly, that rubs its hands ...
An August Midnight, 1899
This is a strange time of year when our landscapes are such vibrant colours; as farmers gather their harvests; and all that work setting out our gardens bears fruit. Yet as we contemplate the beauty, I can’t be the only person plagued by wasps when I eat al fresco, moths if I dare leave a light on at dusk and a sense that there are biting insects everywhere! I thank the Lord for the invention of antihistamines!
The parish has been remarkably busy this week. Funerals on Monday and Tuesday; weddings on Friday in Penshurst and Wednesday and Saturday in Chiddingstone. Add to that the communal labours of the working party at Poundsbridge; the arrival of Heras fencing to secure the site around masonry falls at St Mary’s and an invitation to the relaunch of the Toy Museum at Penshurst Place on Thursday (worth a visit, for the Pac Man machine alone!) ministry life has been busy and varied. Thank you to the team of ministers who have supported services across the benefice this week: Fiona, Jane (twice), Rob, Jago and Laura have been most excellent. Thank you also to the wardens and other volunteers who work to ensure that occasional offices and Sunday services run smoothly.
There is a service of Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst, this Sunday at 1000. I look forward to seeing many of you there.
With every blessing for the week ahead
Lisa
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
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)
