Newsletter 2024 04-12
To our Benefice Friends
It was good to see those who came to the meetings on Wednesday, as we accomplished the preliminaries for our annual meeting. Do come along to the annual meeting on Sunday. It is a chance to catch up on what’s been happening over the past year and to think about our future plans. The agenda for the meeting was published two weeks ago, but is attached here for ease.
Our residual PCC meetings took place on Wednesday evening, but attendance was quite low. For good order’s sake we attach all of the financial reports shared in these meetings. The residual PCC accounts were recommended for ratification by those in attendance on Wednesday. The decision to ratify is taken at the short meetings of parishioners (formerly called Vestry Meetings) which precede the main APCM. The Joint Council reports financial reports also need to be ratified at the APCM. The accounts have been available for inspection for a while, but for good order’s sake we also attach them here for your perusal.
Lisa is back from her post Holy Week holiday. Although the rest and refreshment was much appreciated, her Labrador became very unwell during her time away. Lisa needs to take Dibley to a specialist vet this Wednesday 17th April and will therefore not be working. Please direct any urgent queries to the wardens or Benefice Office.
In this edition:
Services:
Sunday 14th April: Easter 3
8am Holy Communion St John the Baptist
10am Sung Holy Communion St Mary the Virgin
A slightly shorter service followed by our annual parochial meeting in Chiddingstone Village Hall.
Sunday the 21st April: Easter 4
8am Morning Prayer St Mary the Virgin
10am Holy Communion St Peter
6pm Evensong St John the Baptist
As we move into a new season, we begin our second year of our process of reflection regarding our worship together. This season’s booklet should be more familiar and comfortable than the last. It aims to incorporate the feedback we’ve had, as well as the results of the more structured part of the process. You can find more here, as well as a link to let us know what you think.
Life Events
In our prayers we hold those coming though our doors in the to mark their Life Events:
To be married, Eleanor & Matthew, later this month, and to be Christened, Kit Alun-Jones, last weekend.
Among the recently departed, we remember with thanksgiving Pamela Hazeldine, Betty Greagsby and Mary Garrett
And among those whose anniversary falls at this time we remember:
14-Apr James Edward Everest, Ronald Victor Taylor, Ronald John Lorimer
15-Apr Arthur Johnson, Ronald H Theobald, Eveline Cynthia Saunders, Donal Keith Johnson
16-Apr Ethel Mary Hewitt, Edith Dolphin
17-Apr
18-Apr Dorothy Gardener
19-Apr
20-Apr Rachel Shirley Lloyd
Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.
Learning and growing:
Updates, and some upcoming courses and events in the wider diocese –
Updates:
Diocesan synod met recently. You can read the summary here.
And in the wider Church Archbishop Justin reiterates his call for ceasefire in Gaza - "If nothing changes in the war in Gaza then famine is imminent."
Events:
Come And Eat With Me Exhibition - Returning by popular demand, this installation at Rochester Cathedral takes as its inspiration Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper painting. Eighteen artists from Kent participated in painting ‘icon’ inspired roundels portraying the twelve disciples, and other important characters in the life of Christ. On display on the Fenland Oak Table until 4 April. Find out more
Easter Quiet Day at St Benedict’s Centre, West Malling, led by Revd Joel Love - 4 May at 9.30 for a 10am start, the day ends at 3pm Find out more.
PLANS TO MARK WOMEN'S MINISTRY - This year is the 30th anniversary of the first women in the Church of England to be ordained as priests. To mark this special occasion, and to give thanks for all women’s ministry, a service of Evensong is being planned for Sunday 30 June, at Rochester Cathedral. More details will be shared soon, however, in the meantime, please do save the date.
Courses:
'Let's end poverty' webinar
23 April (5.30pm to 6pm) hosted by Bishop Simon, aimed at people who want to take practical steps towards a better vision for the UK’s poor. Register to find out more.
Praying together – A course to encourage individuals to grow together in prayer – 25 April and 2, 9, 16 May at 7.30pm-9.30pm at the St Benedict’s Centre in West Malling. Find out more.
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).
With every blessing for the Easter Season
Lisa and Lindsay