Newsletter - 23/01
Dear Benefice Friends,
This has been a relatively quiet but varied week for me. The mud from wellies and paw prints has presented nearly as much of a challenge as the plethora of local road closures; a reminder of winter making itself firmly known!
Last Saturday, I taught the first half of the Diocesan Hearing God’s Word course, which was a real joy. It was heartening to spend time with others reflecting deeply on how God speaks through Scripture and prayer, and to witness such openness, generosity, and engagement.
On Sunday we shared a truly lovely Christingle service in Penshurst. It was a delight to be reminded, through the simple and powerful symbolism of the Christingle, of Christ as the light of the world; light shining in the darkness, and a light we are called to carry into our daily lives.
During the week I led collective worship in two of our local schools and also had a busy few days fulfilling my responsibilities as a school governor. As ever, it is a real privilege to be present in our schools, to spend time with children and staff, and to support their life and work in these different ways.
In our worship this week, the Church remembers the Conversion of St Paul. Paul’s dramatic encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus reminds us that God can turn hearts and lives around in ways we could never plan or predict. His story is one of grace, transformation, and wholehearted obedience; themes that continue to speak powerfully into our own discipleship and into the life of the Church today.
Looking ahead, this Saturday I shall be attending an online safeguarding conference run jointly by the Dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester. Then on Tuesday I will be at St Paul’s Cathedral for an all-day training event as part of my role on the chaplaincy team there. Please do keep these commitments, and all whom they serve, in your prayers.
Thank you, as always, for your prayers, encouragement, and faithfulness. It is a blessing to journey together, and my prayer is that we may continue to walk side by side, open to God’s transforming work in our lives and in our community.
With every blessing,
Lisa
A Prayer for the Week Ahead
Lord Jesus Christ,
you met Paul on the road and changed his heart and mind,
turning zeal into love and blindness into true sight.
As Paul prayed for the Church in Ephesus,
so we pray that you would strengthen us in our inner being by your Spirit,
that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith,
and that we, being rooted and grounded in love,
may know the breadth and length and height and depth of that love
which surpasses all knowledge.
Give us changed hearts and renewed minds.
Teach us the humility and freedom of submitting ourselves to you,
trusting not in our own understanding
but in your wisdom, mercy, and grace.
To you be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
now and for ever.
Amen.
In this edition:
Ø Services
Ø Life Events
Ø Learning and growing
Services:
Sunday 25 January
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Sunday 1 February
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Sunday 8 February
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
Sunday 15 February
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
16:00 – Forest Church at Penshurst
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)
