Newsletter 27/01/24
To our Benefice Friends,
It has been agreeable to be a little warmer, this week, if wetter, as Lisa & Lindsay have got on with the humb drum business of parish admin. This Sunday is the last Sunday of Christmas-and-Epiphany (don’t forget to put away any remaining decorations!) and Lent will be on us before we know it.
Do keep an eye on our website - https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk for services (currently one mid-morning service only, each week) and news. It’s being tweaked regularly, so let us know if we’ve missed something. And a reminder that we’re trying to encourage folk to visit it, so that it’s internet ‘presence’ increases, which means it will show up better if people search for it.
Also, on the subject of Lent, now is the time to start considering adding Lenten discipline to things, this year. Below are details of the lent groups and lent book (you can read the latter without attending the former, if you’d prefer) and there is always the digital candle if you would like a little bit of prayer & scripture on your phone (mostly) each day - contact Lindsay for the link.
You may, too, consider supporting the benefice with a regular direct debit, via our website, or by offering yourself to fill one of the vacancies Lisa mentioned last week:
Benefice Treasurer;
Benefice Safeguarding Lead, and/or parish safeguarding officer for Chiddingstone or Penhurst;
Benefice lead recruiter (a purely administrative role);
Benefice Buildings Rep;
Chiddingstone Church Warden;
Joint Council Member in one of the new roles to be formed in the upcoming annual meeting.
Lent Groups
We will be reading Loving My Neighbour together, with our Lent groups meeting each week to discuss the chapter –
Wednesdays, From 21st Feb, 7.30– 9pm hosted by Penshurst Homegroup Rectory,
Fridays at Chiddingstone Rectory, 1345 for 2 (note change of time).
All comers welcome!
From our memorial book, we remember with thanksgiving:
28-Jan
29-Jan
Hazel Anne Swinglehurst
30-Jan
31-Jan
Edwina (Jackie) Hall
01-Feb
02-Feb
Jean Virginia Grace Beasley
Anthony Tredissar Freeman
William Norman Bishop
Mabel Rose Hills
03-Feb
Rupert Edward Vicary
Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.
The upcoming services are –
Sunday 28th January
10.00am: United Benefice Sung Holy Communion at St John the Baptist Church Penshurst
6pm: United Benefice Compline at St Mary the Virgin Church in the Chapel.
Please mark in your diaries –
Ash Wednesday
0915 Ash Wednesday Service led by Fordcombe School at St Peter’s
1800 Ash Wednesday Holy Communion with the Imposition of Ashes at St Luke’s
1900 A service to celebrate St Valentine’s Day. St Luke’s at St Luke’s.
Sunday 28th February
8am: Morning Prayer at St John the Baptist Church Penshurst
10am: United Benefice Sung Holy Communion at St Luke’s Chiddingtone Causeway
Learning and growing:
Some upcoming courses in the wider diocese -
“In the beginning was the Word…”
A Quiet Day with space to prayerfully experiment with words and ways of writing.
Saturday 3 February 2024 10am - 3pm
at St Benedict’s Centre, West Malling ME196JX
For more information, see the Diocesan website.
A Quiet Day in Lent with space to prayerfully reflect on key moments in Jesus' ministry
Saturday 24 February 2024 10am - 3pm
For more information, see the Diocesan website.
An Introduction to Christian Meditation
Saturday 23rd March 2024 10am - 3pm
at St Benedict’s Centre, West Malling ME196JX
For more information, see the Diocesan website.
It’s your calling, It’s Your Calling is aimed at those exploring where God may be calling and looks at our journey and the gifts that God has given us, as well as the Biblical understanding of vocation. The day gives an opportunity to meet others on a similar quest and to take time to think where God could be calling.
24th February, St Andrew’s Church Paddock Wood
You will need your incumbent’s approval to attend this event. Please download and complete the booking form that you will receive a link to in your confirmation email. You should return it to the address given at least one week before the event.
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).
Best wishes,
Lisa & Lindsay