Newsletter - 10/07
Rector's newsletter for 10th July 2026
I have just watched Arthur Fery's final game in this year's Wimbledon. What a magnificent young player and such an example for our young people to follow.
Unusually, this Sunday all four of our parish churches will be in use. There is a Holy Communion at 8.00 am at St John the Baptist, Penshurst and at 10.00 am at both St Peter’s, Fordcombe and St Mary’s, Chiddingstone. Later in the day we’ll also celebrate two baptisms, Ted at St John the Baptist and Sullivan at St Luke’s. We give thanks for the gift of new life in Christ and pray for all who visit our churches this weekend to know the love of God afresh.
We continue to pray for all who are ill, grieving or going through difficult times. We especially think of the family of Kathleen O’Brien, whose funeral took place on Tuesday, and Jacquie Maddocks, whose life will be celebrated this coming Wednesday at 1215 at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium.
It’s also been quite a week for sport. As the weekend unfolds, I pray for the England Football squad’s success in the Quarter Final on Saturday evening. I do not know enough about the teams to make any informed comment about our prospects. Nonetheless I pray for good sportsmanship and skill to be shown and a just outcome for both teams. I do know who I hope will win!
Lastly, I would like to offer thanks to D,’Arcy Trinkwon for his wonderful recital last Friday. The programme covered 400 years of composers' work and showed the huge versatility of the organ. Themes covered by the music spoke into the highs and lows of the human experience and was very moving. All who attended were mesmerized by the music and the video feed showing us the full body workout undertaken by the organist at work. You may want to pencil in D'Arcy's next recital in October as part of the Penshurst Musical Festival on 16 and 17 October.
With every blessing for the week ahead,
Lisa
Sunday 12 July
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 Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 19 July
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 26 July
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
18:00 - Evening Prayer to celebrate Lammastide, All Souls, Poundsbridge
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)
