Newsletter - 09-06
This week’s mailing begins with very sad news. Rev’d Martin Beaumont died last Friday after a period of illness. Martin was a warm and lovely man and much-loved in the community. He served locally as Chaplain at Tonbridge School and as Rector in the Chiddingstone parishes before moving to the west country. We send sincere condolences to Ruth and all of their family, and to all those affected by Martin’s death. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. We have not yet been given any funeral details, but we will share them as soon as they are available.
The morning services this week are at 0800 in Penshurst and 1000 in Fordcombe. Chiddingstone will be hosting the 4pm Forest Church service. See below.
St Mary’s, Chiddingstone will be very busy in the latter half of the week. Tiffany and Ralph are marrying at lunchtime on Thursday and we wish them well as they prepare for their big day. The funeral of the late Rev’d Jean Lorimer takes place on Friday 13th September. Jean’s final journey to the crematorium will see her coffin driven through the village at 1000. You may wish to be in the village to pay your respects. Her memorial service is at 3pm in St Mary’s. Thank you to John Gordon-Reid and many others for planning this celebration of Jean’s life. To minimise disruption to the school pick-up, please park at Chiddingstone Castle, if at all possible. There is a tea afterwards at The Causeway Village Hall. I am very grateful to Rev’d Judi Hammill for leading this service in her capacity as Bishops Advisor for Ordained Women’s Ministry.
The schools are all back and working, and it was lovely to lead worship in Penshurst School on Thursday. We considered all we needed to pray for at the start of a school year - that we would like to give thanks for and those things where we feel the need to ask God for extra support and encouragement. As I prayed on Thursday, I hope that the school year will be as shiny as any new shoes, and as comfortable as those that are already well-worn. New beginnings are the focus for Forest Church on Sunday 8th at 4pm, please meet in the village hall and gardens and bring a picnic.
Please note that I am changing broadband providers, and the Rectory landline number will be changing. I hope to confirm the new number in the next weekly mailing. I shall be on annual leave for 10 days from Friday 13th September. Please direct any queries to the church wardens or Tabitha, our administrator.
This Sunday the church marks the Accession to the throne of our King. In the collect for the day it is written: “Bless our sovereign Lord, King Charles and all under authority under him; that they may order all things in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace, to the honour and glory of your name and the good of your Church and people.”
I can think of no better prayer for us all.
In this edition
Ø Services
Services:
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
Sunday 22 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 Tiffany and Ralph in our prayers as they prepare to celebrate their marriage this weekend.
Christenings: We pray for Olivia and her family as they approach her upcoming baptism, and wish them well on this pilgrimage of faith.
Funerals: We continue to hold the late Jean Lorimer and Martin Beaumont, 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
