Newsletter - 07-13
To our benefice friends,
I hope that you have all had a good week. We seem to have had all of the seasons in the last few days. I am sure it is good for the garden, if not our mood! As our local schools move into the last week of term we have several performances of school plays, leavers’ events and end of term services across the benefice. I look forward to welcoming many families to church this week, or catching up with you in school.
On Tuesday, about 300 people gathered in St John the Baptist church in Penshurst for the funeral of Clint French. A long-time participant in shooting at Penshurst Place and well known in the world of field sports, Clint was given a rousing send off in a service led by Rev’d Simon Rowlands, the Vicar of Faversham.
The late notification of Jean Lorimer’s death meant that I was not able to pay proper tribute to her in last week’s mailing. Jean was a really lovely lady and incredibly precious to the people of Chiddingstone to whom she ministered. She was part of the first wave of ordained women in our diocese. Jean had a rock-solid faith and a heart for pastoral ministry. After some years of deteriorating health, we give thanks that Jean is now at rest in the arms of her heavenly father. No funeral arrangements have been shared with me yet, but I will make them known once the information reaches me. I hope someone close to her might write a fuller obituary for Jean ready for the August magazine deadline next week.
Rev’d Lindsay has been serving on General Synod this week. A busy agenda with long debates and much information to process. Excitement in the Chid Rectory also surrounded exam results. We send congratulations to Morgan for his IB results. His excellent scores means that he can begin his degree apprenticeship in September. And finally, Lindsay’s final service in the benefice will be evensong at St Peter’s Fordcombe at 6pm on Sunday August 18th.
With every blessing for the week ahead.
Lisa
In this edition
Ø Services
Services:
Sunday 14th July: Trinity 7
10am Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
Sunday 21st July: Trinity 8
10am Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Sunday 28th July: Trinity 9
10am Holy Communion at St Mary the Virgin, Chiddingstone
10am Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
To download a full overview of July and August services please Click Here.
Life Events:
In our prayers we hold those coming through our doors this month to mark their Life Events:
Upcoming weddings: on Saturday we married Amy and Richard, and hold them in our prayers as they begin their journey in marriage.
Christenings: We will baptise Fergus and Charlotte in July, and wish them well on this pilgrimage of faith.
Funerals: We continue to hold the late Jean Lorimer and her family in our prayers. A much-loved minister in Chiddingstone, who will be missed by many. We will update you with further details on the funeral in due course.
And among those whose anniversary falls at this time, we remember with thanksgiving:
13-Jul
14-Jul
Florence Constance (Poppy) Jenner
Alan Ewan Donald
15-Jul
Ellen Annie Matkins
16-Jul
Arthur Pearson
Walter (Wally) Henry Leppard
Joan Wilks
17-Jul
18-Jul
Gillian Muriel Killingbeck
19-Jul
Ronald James Bassett
Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.
Learning and growing:
Updates:
Ø 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
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
With every blessing,
Lisa
