Newsletter -08 - 09
Greetings from Penshurst Rectory
Ministry life in the benefice has been unusually quiet this week. With only one occasional office, a burial of ashes in Poundsbridge and just two other services for me to lead, I have had a little more ‘me time’ than usual. After a relentless few months, I have readily embraced the slower pace. I have even had time to enjoy the latest Richard Coles Canon Clement novel. This murder mystery series set in a rural parish in the early 1990s offers a witty and well-observed account of life in rural parishes. Lined up for my holiday next week is the debut novel by local author Rev’d Penny Stephens. I hope that she will bring some copies of “Till death us do part” to autograph when she leads a service in Chiddingstone later in the month. More information about the book is here: revpennystephens.com/
Each part of the benefice has a service this Sunday. I shall be leading an 0800 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist in Penshurst, a 1000 Holy Communion and a 12-noon baptism in St Peter’s Fordcombe, and an 1800 Evening Prayer service at Poundsbridge Chapel. Rev’d Fiona Haskett is leading a 1000 service at St Mary’s. I am grateful to her and the team of PTOs who are leading services across the deanery for parishes in vacancy or covering clergy holidays.
I shall be taking advantage of some much longed-for diary space and will be in York for much of next week. Please direct any urgent queries to your church wardens or to Tracy our lovely administrator. I shall be back to my desk during the second half of Friday.
With every blessing for the week ahead
Lisa
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
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)
