Newsletter - 08-30
Warmest greetings from Penshurst Rectory.
Another busy week in the parish. Last week’s occasional offices are closely followed by three baptisms and a wedding this weekend. That reminds me of a film title! Congratulations to Rachel and Todd, who marry at St Mary’s on Saturday; and to Emily, Charlotte and George, who will be baptised across the weekend. Of course, all life stages are part of the church’s brief, and we hold in prayer the family of Mary Garrett, whose ashes were interred in St Luke’s this week; and Stewart Tucker, whose funeral takes place at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium on Tuesday at 1430. We were sad to learn of the death of Donald Shepherd last Sunday. We hold his loved ones in prayer as they mourn.
As the new school term unfolds next week, I am pleased to say that Forest Church is returning. People from across the benefice are warmly invited to bring their loved ones for a picnic and outdoor church service at Chiddingstone Village Hall at 4pm on Sunday 8th September. We will use the gardens behind and have access to the school playground for the duration of our time together. The theme of the service is new beginnings. Please bring a picnic suitable for your family. We will provide some tea, coffee, soft drinks and a few nibbles.
There are two things to look out for in your inboxes in the next few weeks. Our harvest services will be at St Luke’s and St John the Baptist on Sunday October 6 and St Peter’s on Sunday August 13th. The noticeboard in Chiddingstone advises people to save the date for the Chiddingstone Harvest lunch on 6th October. When further details have been shared with me, I will pass them on. Also, our church harvest services are timed to work with the local schools’ harvest celebrations. The schools will be collecting items for local foodbanks, and we would like to encourage collections for the same in our Sunday services.
If you hold any role formally or informally across our church family, you will soon be receiving details of a code of conduct used by the Joint Council. Awareness of a code is considered as best practice for charity trustees and most people working in the voluntary sector. The code contains common sense advice and is not designed to be burdensome. The code is being issued as part of our safeguarding compliance procedures. The document is going through its final checking stages and will be shared by our administrator to individuals and those who lead teams to forward to those they oversee. It is likely that the document will be sent out before the next newsletter arrives. No action is needed on receipt, but your options are explained in the document.
Until next week, may God bless you richly.
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
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
Sunday 15 September
1000 Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 Holy Communion at St Mary the Virgin, Chiddingstone
1700 All Age Service at Fordcombe Village Hall
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: We hold Rachel and Todd in our prayers as they prepare to celebrate their marriage this weekend.
Christenings: We pray for Emily, Charlotte and George and their families well as they approach their upcoming baptisms, and wish them well on their pilgrimage of faith.
Funerals: We continue to hold the late Jean Lorimer, Donald Shepherd 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
