Newsletter 04-26
To our Benefice Friends
This week, Lisa and Lindsay have been quite bureaucratic, attending myriad meetings, including Chiddingstone Parish Council’s AGM, Lisa’s first Deanery Chapter meeting as very-nearly Area Dean, and our first Joint Council of the new year (post-APCM).
These were all turning point meetings, in which we looked both backwards and forwards, garnering the wisdom of the last year and looking to set up the principles and processes that will carry us through the next twelve months.
We also had the first wedding of the season, which – as ever – a great celebration. We wish Eleanor and Matthew all the best.
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
Sunday 28th April: Easter 5
10am Holy Communion St John the Baptist
5pm All Age Service Fordcombe Village Hall
6pm Compline St Mary the Virgin
Sunday 5th May: Easter 6
8am Morning Prayer St Mary the Virgin
10am Holy Communion St Peter’s, Fordcombe
Thursday 9th May: Ascension Day service
7pm Choral Evensong St Paul's Church (Four Elms)
Sunday 12th May: Easter 7
8am Holy Communion St John the Baptist
10am Morning Prayer + Christening St Mary the Virgin
4pm Forest Church Rogation Walters Green
Sunday 19th May: Pentecost
10am Holy Communion St John the Baptist
10am Holy Communion St Mary the Virgin
Life Events
In our prayers we hold those coming through our doors in the to mark their life events:
To be married/celebrate their wedding, William and Rachel, Rory and Hayley, Deborah and Neil
to be Christened, Ronin and Rosie will be baptised in May
Among the recently departed, we remember Mary Garrett, a former resident of Fordcombe with long connections to the church. Mary’s funeral is at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium on Monday at 11:30. We pray for her children, grandchildren, siblings, family and friends.
Also Amy King, who died following a tragic accident last week. We pray for her husband Neil and their children Arthur and Isabel. Amy’s funeral will be at St John the Baptist in Penshurst at 13:00 on the 16th of May.
And among those whose anniversary falls at this time we remember with thanksgiving:
28-Apr
Florence Dolly Lee
29-Apr
30-Apr
Hilda Firminger
01-May
Lorna Catherine Latten
02-May
03-May
04-May
John Denton
05-May
Peter Cyril Jackson
06-May
Sheila Wright
Pamela Wilkinson
07-May
Fredrick Huntley
Jane Eglatine Streatfeild
Veronica Watts
08-May
Patrick (Paddy) Charles Redmond Cooke
09-May
10-May
Beatrice Gandon
Anthony Newburn Wood
11-May
Timothy Alick Spencer Theobald
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:
Archdeacon Andy has decided to move on from his role as Archdeacon of Rochester, later this year. Read more
All Clergy, Churchwardens, Parish Safeguarding Officers, and PCC Secretaries in the Diocese were written to last week about 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.
Lastly, we’re encouraged to share the new video highlighting the Church of England's ambition to be net zero carbon by 2030. Do watch, and consider whether you want to be part of this project bringing our beautiful Churches to Net Zero. Watch video
Events:
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.
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