Newsletter 04-20
To our Benefice Friends
We hope that you have had a good week. With the children back at school and college the rush hour traffic is once again a feature. We hold in prayer all those preparing for study leave and exams in the weeks ahead.
Last Sunday the APCM meetings were held in Chiddingstone Village Hall. Should you have missed the Rector and Joint Council report being read in person it is available to read (or enjoy again!) Click Here.
The new Joint Council meets this coming Thursday at St Luke’s Parish Room at 7pm. This meeting will appoint JC roles, identify strategic priorities for the year ahead, plan meeting dates and sign off various statutory documents and declarations. Four positions on the JC remain unfilled: Benefice Treasurer; Rep for older people; Rep for Buildings and Rep for Children and Families. It will be much easier to move our Joint Benefice forward with a broad team of people representing different locations and age groups. If you are interested in serving on the JC you can still be co-opted. If you have the skills and time to share, please will you write to Tabitha (JC Secretary) at the office email, and we can progress things. JC meetings are held bi-monthly with a wardens and clergy meeting in the opposite months to sort through operational matters in the parishes.
In last week’s meeting some people commented that they were not able to see all of the attachments with this weekly mailing. Please note that the attachments come in the form of links rather than as separate documents. Where an external document is referenced we will always add a ‘Click Here’ link for you to read further. This will usually take you to a separate webpage, however if we reference a downloadable document you may need to check the ‘Downloads’ folder on your computer if the file doesn’t open automatically. Any further issues or questions please contact Tabitha, who will be able to help.
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
Sunday the 21st April: Easter 4
8am Morning Prayer St Mary the Virgin
10am Holy Communion St Peter
6pm Evening Prayer St John the Baptist
Sunday 28th April: Easter 5
10am Holy Communion St John the Baptist
5pm All Age Service Fordcombe Village Hall
6pm Compline St Mary the Virgin
Sunday 5th May: Easter 6
8am Morning Prayer St Mary the Virgin
10am Holy Communion St John the Baptist
Sunday 12th May: Easter 7/ Sunday After Ascencion
8am Holy Communion St Peter
10am Morning Prayer with Baptism St Mary the Virgin
4pm Forest Church Hartsland Farm, Walters Green Road, TN11 8HD
As we move into a new season, we begin our second year of our process of reflection regarding our worship together. This season’s booklet should be more familiar & comfortable than last. It aims to incorporate the feedback we’ve had, as well as the results of the more structured part of the process. You can find more Click Here, as well as a link to let us know what you think.
Life Events
In our prayers we hold those coming though our doors in the to mark their Life Events:
To be married, Eleanor & Matthew, later this week, William & Rachel, and Rory and Hayley early next month.
To be Christened, Ronin and Rosie in May.
Among the recently departed, we remember with thanksgiving Pamela Hazeldine and Betty Greagsby, whose funerals were held recently, and Mary Garrett whose funeral is on Monday 29th May at 1130 at Kent and Sussex Crematorium.
And among those whose anniversary falls at this time we remember:
21-Apr
George Arthur Boakes
Kevin Stuart Boakes
22-Apr
Edith Gertrude Evans
23-Apr
24-Apr
25-Apr
Nora Cox
Colin John Blundon
26-Apr
27-Apr
Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.
Learning and growing:
Updates, and some upcoming courses and events in the wider diocese –
Updates:
Diocesan synod met recently. You can read the summary if you Click Here.
And in the wider Church Archbishop Justin reiterates his call for ceasefire in Gaza - "If nothing changes in the war in Gaza then famine is imminent."
Events:
Come And Eat With Me Exhibition - Returning by popular demand, this installation at Rochester Cathedral takes as its inspiration Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper painting. Eighteen artists from Kent participated in painting ‘icon’ inspired roundels portraying the twelve disciples, and other important characters in the life of Christ. On display on the Fenland Oak Table until 4 April. Click Here
Easter Quiet Day at St Benedict’s Centre, West Malling, led by Revd Joel Love - 4 May at 9.30 for a 10am start, the day ends at 3pm to find out more Click Here
PLANS TO MARK WOMEN'S MINISTRY - This year is the 30th anniversary of the first women in the Church of England to be ordained as priests. To mark this special occasion, and to give thanks for all women’s ministry, a service of Evensong is being planned for Sunday 30 June, at Rochester Cathedral. More details will be shared soon, however, in the meantime, please do save the date.
Courses:
'Let's end poverty' webinar
23 April (5.30pm to 6pm) hosted by Bishop Simon, aimed at people who want to take practical steps towards a better vision for the UK’s poor. Register to find out more.
Praying together – A course to encourage individuals to grow together in prayer – 25 April and 2, 9, 16 May at 7.30pm-9.30pm at the St Benedict’s Centre in West Malling. Find out more.
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).
With every blessing for the Easter Season
Lisa and Lindsay