Newsletter - 08-23
Greetings from a sunny Penshurst Rectory. The school summer holidays seem to be galloping to an end. Next week, for many, will be a mix of purchasing new school shoes, sourcing kit and trying to move children back into a term time bedtime routine. The harvest continues apace, and I am trying to manage an enormous quantity of fruit in the garden... A lovely problem to have, I know!
Thank you to all of you who attended Rev’d Lindsay’s final service last Sunday. A traditional Evensong, a splendid sermon by Lindsay and the choir in beautiful voice all rounded off with wine, nibbles and good conversation. Lindsay was delighted with her gift of Euros to take to Ireland with her and she thanks you for your generosity and good wishes.
This is a busy week ahead for occasional offices: James and Alice are marrying in Penshurst on Friday, and Emily and James in Chiddingstone on Saturday. We wish them every blessing in their new lives together. We pray that the weather will be kind. Young Isabelle will be baptised on Sunday afternoon. We are so pleased that our church family will be blessed with another new member. I am also preparing candidates for confirmation. It is not too late to join in with these classes should you like to be baptised or confirmed as an adult at the end of September. On Wednesday afternoon, we will be laying to rest the ashes of Mary Garrett in St Luke’s churchyard. The Church is here for you at all your life events and every day. Please do be in touch if we can be of service to you.
I am now able to share more details of two forthcoming funerals. Mr Stewart Tucker of Fordcombe, will be laid to rest at The Kent and Sussex Crematorium on 3rd September at 1430. As previously flagged, Jean Lorimer’s funeral takes place on Friday September 13th. Rev’d Jean’s final journey to the Crematorium will include a brief pause in Chiddingstone Village at 1000. A service celebrating her life will be held in St Mary’s Church starting at 3pm. The service will be led by The Bishop’s Advisor for Ordained Women’s Ministry, Rev’d Judi Hammill. There will be a tea afterwards at The Causeway Village Hall. Given the pressure on parking spaces in the village during term time, please car share if at all possible. Overflow parking will be at Chiddingstone Castle.
I hope to see many of you on Bank Holiday Monday at The Duck Race in Penshurst. A fun few hours guaranteed and an event suitable for all ages.
In this edition
Ø Services
Services:
Sunday 25 August: Trinity 13
1000 Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
Sunday 1 September
1000 Holy Communion at St John’s, Penshurst
1000 Matins at St Mary the Virgin, Chiddingstone
Sunday 8 September
0800 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
1600 Forest Church in Chiddingstone
To download a full copy of the September service plan, hymns and lections click here.
Life Events:
In our prayers we hold those coming through our doors this month to mark their life events:
Weddings: this month will welcome James and Alice, James and Emily; and Rachel and Todd to celebrate their marriages. We hold them in our prayers.
Christenings: We wish Isabelle, Emily and Charlotte and their families well on their pilgrimage of faith, as they approach their upcoming baptisms.
Funerals: We continue to hold the late Jean Lorimer and Stewart Tucker, and their families, in our prayers ahead of their funerals.
And we remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
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
