Newsletter - 10/01
Dear Benefice Friends,
A very happy New Year to you all. As we step into 2026, my prayer is that you may know God’s peace, strength, and gentle guidance in the days ahead. May this new year be marked by hope renewed, faith deepened, and love shared generously with those around us.
The Advent and Christmas seasons were incredibly busy. There were over twenty-five services and events in church during December, and I was able to attend seventeen of them. I must offer heartfelt thanks to our visiting ministers who so generously led worship during Christmas week: Sally Musson, Revd Stephen Mitchell, Revd Fiona Haskett, and Revd Penny Stephens. I am also incredibly grateful to the staff of our primary and nursery schools, who brought together some beautiful musical and drama performances during the final weeks of the Autumn Term. The shared ministry of many enabled us to offer a rich and prayerful round of services across the benefice. It was a joy to welcome more than 1,000 people through our church doors in the 24 hours surrounding Christmas Day, a powerful sign of the continuing place our churches hold in the life of our communities. Thank you also to the readers, musicians, vergers, sidespeople, and many other volunteers who gave such time and effort to facilitate our community’s experience of church.
Many thanks this week to Edmund Byrne for organising work on the ceiling at St Mary’s Church. This has been an important piece of care for the building and should have resolved the issue of falling plaster inside the church. More information about forthcoming church tower works will be shared when it becomes available.
Some administrative news: Tabby, our administrator, has now returned from maternity leave and is working in tandem with Tracy for the next few weeks. I am not entirely sure who is doing what, but I know they have it all organised. What I can guarantee is that your January admin queries will be answered by a capable young professional woman whose first name begins with the letter T.
Please note the following upcoming funerals, and do hold the bereaved in your prayers: • Chloe Phillips – this Friday, 16th January at Kent and Sussex Crematorium, 10.45am • Ken Simmons – 21st January, 2.00pm, at Kent and Sussex Crematorium • Chris Robertson – 29th January at St Luke’s Church, 1:30pm
We continue to entrust Chloe, Ken, and Chris to God’s eternal care, and we pray especially for their families and friends as they grieve.
This Sunday, the lectionary draws us to the Baptism of Christ. As Jesus steps into the waters of the Jordan, we are reminded of our own baptism: that we are named, claimed, and beloved by God. Let us pray.
Eternal Father, at the baptism of Jesus you revealed him as your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Grant that we, who are born again by water and the Spirit, may be faithful to our calling as your children, and bear witness to your love in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
With every blessing for the week ahead,
Lisa
Revd Lisa Cornell Rector of Penshurst, Fordcombe and The Chiddingstones
In this edition:
Ø Services
Ø Life Events
Ø Learning and growing
Services:
Sunday 11 January
08:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Sunday 19 January
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
16:00 – Forest Church Christingle Service at St John’s, Penshurst
Sunday 26 Janaury
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
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)
