let’s celebrate learning! · over a hundred years the fete will feature all the popular...
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Let’s celebrate learning...!
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PLEASE NOTE: Copy deadline for the July/August issue of Rochester Link is 13 June 2014 at 4pm. Copy to [email protected]
Photo by Graham Lacdao
Women Priests – Calling, Cost & Celebration Saturday 28 June 2014 A celebration of 20 years of women priests in the CofE3.15pm Eucharist at Rochester Cathedral. The Bishop of Rochester will preside and preach. This celebration is open to everyone
The Rev Pat Iveson and the Rev Jacqueline Littlewood
JUNE 2014
2 ochester Link
What’s onJune 2014
Saturday 7CHELSFIELD Summer Garden Party with a theme of
“HATS”. Prize for the best one. St Martin of Tours, Chelsfield from 12.00pm-4.00pm. Family day, stalls, sideshows, prize draw, plants, refreshments and more. Skibbs Lane, Chelsfield Village. Free parking. Proceeds to St Martin’s Church and Christian Aid. www.stmartinchelsfield.org.uk
CRAYFORD St Paulinus Church Summer Fayre with emergency services theme at St Paulinus Church Hall, Manor Road, Crayford, Kent from 10am to 3pm. Come along to our summer fayre where there will be lots of stalls, entertainment including young dancers from the Sylvera dance school, children of St Paulinus School and music from a group of French folk people. There will be fun activities for children, a beer tent, raffles, a fire engine and ambulance and it will be great if you come along in fancy dress but you don’t have to!
GROOMBRIDGE Concert: ‘Songs of Faith’ The Baroque Singers, at St John Groombridge at 7.30pm. Featuring the expressive Missa Brevis by the Renaissance composer Andrea Gabrieli; the Cantigas de Amigo by Martin Codax from medieval Spain, Europe’s oldest surviving song cycle; and praise songs from the 13th century followers of St Francis of Assisi in Florence. The Baroque Singers will be accompanied by the medieval instruments of the early music group Cancionero. Tickets: £10 for adults; £ 5 for under 16s. are available from www.baroquesingers.ticketsource.co.uk
ROCHESTER Israel in Egypt (Handel) performed by Rochester Choral Society and Rochester Sinfonietta directed by Scott Farrell at Rochester Cathedral. Tickets: £18; £14 and £7 by phone 01634 401049. or online at www.rochesterchoral.org.uk/tickets
STROOD Book Sale at St Nicholas Church, High Street, Strood from 10.30am-12noon. All books 40p
Sunday 8BECKENHAM Big Pentecost Picnic Picnic on the Green
(by St George’s Church) from 12.30 – 3.30 pm. Picnic, church stalls and entertainment, plus bouncy castle!
Saturday 14BEXLEY Summer Fair at St John the Evangelist, Parkhill
Road, Bexley, Kent DA5 1JB from 11.00am-2.30pm. children’s corner, Face Painting, BBQ, Candy Floss, Bouncy castle, Coconut Shy, Books, Plants, Fire Engine (subject to operational requirements) plus much more. Come along and see for yourself.
BROMLEY Dementia conference from 9.30am - 1pm at St Peter and St Paul, Church Rd, Bromley, BR2 0EG. Conference is about understanding the condition, helping caregivers and making a dementia friendly church.
Tuesday 17WILMINGTON The Fellowship of Diocesan Pray-ers invite
you to a Quiet Morning led by Bishop Brian at St Michael and All Angels Wilmington, 9.30am for 10am-1pm. This is for anyone with a heart for prayer. Please bring a packed lunch if you wish to stay for time of fellowship afterwards..
Saturday 21DARTFORD Church fete at Christ Church, Dartford from
11am-3pm. Lots of stalls, flower demonstrations, fancy dress competition for all ages, BBQ, refreshments and much more.
GRAVESEND Summer Fair at St George’s Church, Gravesend from 11am to 2pm. Free entry along with free children’s activities and face painting. BBQ, cakes, fun and games and much more. For more details contact Neil Fisher at [email protected]
HORTON KIRBY - Annual Summer Fete at St Mary the Virgin, Horton Road, Horton Kirby DA4 9BN opening
2.00pm at Court Lodge, next door to the church. Numerous stalls including plants, cakes and pies, bottles, games and refreshments. Also a gymnastics display by pupils of Horton Kirby C of E Primary School. Entry by 50p raffle ticket for which there will be a cash prize.
OTFORD St Bartholomew’s Church Fair 2014 at in the grounds of Castle House, Otford at 2pm, lots to do, see and buy including plants, cakes, crafts, books, gifts, white elephant and much more. Enjoy a lovely tea in the beautiful grounds.
WATERINGBURY A Loving Tribute at the Church of St John the Baptist, Tonbridge Road, Wateringbury from 2pm – 5pm. An opportunity to dedicate a favourite flower in memory of a loved one or to mark a special occasion. Dedication cards and vases will be provided. Home made cakes and clotted cream teas.
WILMINGTON Kent chamber Choir and Northfleet Brass in concert at 7.30pm at St Michael and All Angels, Wilmington. The programme consists of a variety of pieces for choir; brass; and joint pieces. Tickets £10 (£5 children and students) available from Carole Chopourian 0l322 288235, [email protected], Rebecca Moate 07834 600563 or [email protected] and on the door.
Saturday 28ASH Church Fete on Church Meadow, opposite St Peter
& St Paul’s Church, Ash, nr New Ash Green, TN15 7HD at 1.30pm. The official opening is at 1.45pm by the New Ash Green May Queen. In continuing a tradition going back over a hundred years the fete will feature all the popular favourites of a village fayre, including stalls, sides shows, miniature railway, children’s activities, garden and produce show, a wonderful tea tent and Bar-B -Q, Live Music from the award-winning Orbi Playa Big Band. and the grand draw with a £250 cash first prize. Ample car parking available, entrance is by donation.
BEXLEY St Mary’s Parish Church Summer Fair from 11.30. Usual stalls including live music, bouncy castle and BBQ. Entrance fee 50p for adults. Children free. All welcome.
GRAVESEND Gravesham Choral Society Summer Concert at St George’s Church, Gravesend at 7.30pm. A tuneful miscellany of sacred pieces by Mendelssohn, Tchaikowsky, Ireland, Purcell, Finzi and our own conductor Alan Vincent. With organist Malcolm Riley. Tickets £12 (£5 fulltime students).
Call 01474 816684 www.graveshamcs.co.uk
Saturday 28-Sunday 29WIGMORE Arts Weekend - Art and Craft Festival on
Saturday at 10.30am and Sunday at 11.00am at St Matthew’s Church, Drewery Drive, Gillingham ME8 0NS. Two day art show - over 40 talented artists exhibit throughout the church - art for sale. Musical entertainment throughout the day Saturday. Quiet Sunday Music of Praise Service 9.30am Sunday. Saturday only - huge craft fair/display, buy, try or just browse. Free entry. For more information email [email protected] or 01634 372508
Sunday 29PEMBURY Choral Eucharist with Quintus in St Peter’s
Old Church at 6.30pm, followed by refreshments.
VariousBORSTAL St Matthew’s Church will be marking the
centenary of the start of the Great War with a week’s commemorative event in the church. It will begin with ‘Cluster’ service on 22 June at 6.30pm, which will be a service of prayer, poetry and music, and conclude on 29 June with a special parish communion at 10.30am. The church will be open during the week for people to visit displays by the church and Pilgrim School as well as the village War Memorial, which is at the back of the church.
1 June 1000 Preach, St John, Higham2 June 0930 Bishop’s Staff Meeting, Rochester3 June 2000 Lead Bible Study – Pratts Bottom, Orpington4 June 1030 Hospital Chaplains’ Meeting, Bishop’s Lodge Sevenoaks 5 June 1100 Chair Mission Theology Advisory Group, London8 June 1000 Preach, St James, East Malling 1830 Confirmation – St John, Welling9 June 1400 Overseas Links Meeting, Bishop’s Lodge 1800 Licensing NHS Hospital Chaplains–St Mark, Bromley10 June 1130 National Safeguarding Panel, Lambeth Palace 1930 License the Rev Lawrence Smith as Priest-in-Charge of All Saints, Perry Street11 June 1000 Bishops’ Study Day Christ Church, Chislehurst12 June 1300 Lead West Kent School Service, St Stephen, Tonbridge 1600 Focus on Poverty 2015 meeting, Bishop’s Lodge13 June 1200 Africa Planning Day, Rochester14 June 1230 Lunch at French Huguenot Hospital, Rochester 1515 Preach at French Huguenot Hospital Service, Rochester Cathedral15 June 1830 Confirmation at St Matthew’s, Southborough.17 June 0930 Lead Quiet Morning for Diocesan Pray – ers, St Michaels, Wilmington18 June 1100 Preach at Founders’ Day Service, Morden College, Blackheath 1730 Bishop’s Council Meeting, Diocesan Office19 June 0800 Church Leaders’ Breakfast meeting, Maidstone 1000 Poverty and Hope meeting, Sevenoaks 1330 Speak at Schools’ Festival, Wrotham25 June 1000 Training Incumbents’ Conference, Worth Abbey 1930 Institution of Rev Alyson Davie at Meopham w Nurstead28 June 1515 Attend Celebration Service, Rochester Cathedral29 June 1030 Preach and preside, St Mary, Hunton30 June 1000 Ordinands’ Day, Diocesan Office 1900 Ordinands’ Supper, Sevenoaks
The Bishop of Tonbridge’s DiaryThe Rt Rev Dr Brian Castle
June
Lunchtime Recitals at St Luke’s Church, Eardley Road. Sevenoaks. Every Wednesday at 12.30pm Admission free. Lasting 30 minutes. Refreshments from 12 noonJune4 Caroline and Richard Walshaw – Soprano and Organ11 Lily Blackmore - Flute18 Chris Lawton – Organ25 Hugh Ockendon – Piano This Recital is part of the Sevenoaks Festival
Women Priests – Calling, Cost & Celebration
Saturday 28 June 2014A celebration of 20 years of women priests in the
CofE3.15pm Eucharist at the Rochester Cathedral.
The Bishop of Rochester will preside and preach.This celebration is open to everyone
3ochester Link
Are we celebrating enough?
2 June All Day Bishop’s Staff meeting 2000 Beckenham Deanery meeting3 June 1100 Bishop’s Leadership Programme - London 1930 Kent Workplace Mission Trustees - Larkfield4 June 1500 Housing Justice Trustees - London5 June All Day House of Lords5-6 June All Day Senior Leadership Development Group - London7 June 10.30 Diocesan Youth Council - Bishopscourt 8 June 10.30 Preach: 75th Anniversary Service - Orpington, Christ Church 18.00 Confirmation - Chislehurst, Christ Church9-17 June Holiday18 June 1300 House of Bishops Standing Committee - London 1730 Bishop’s Council – Diocesan Office19 June 0800 Kent Church Leaders meeting - Maidstone Evening ‘For Everything a Season’ course – The Oasts20 June Morning ‘For Everything a Season’ course – The Oasts21 June All Day Healing ministry weekend - Crowhurst
22 June Morning Healing ministry weekend - Crowhurst 1830 Confirmation – Green Street Green, St Mary23 June 0930 Diocesan Finance Committee – Diocesan Office 1400 Senior Leadership Development Group – Lambeth Palace24 June Evening Garden Party – Bishopscourt25 June 1100 New Housing Areas Group – Churches Together in England 1730 Service for Headteachers and Chairs of Governors - Cathedral 1830 Education Garden Party - Bishopscourt26 June Evening Garden Party - Bishopscourt27 June Evening Garden Party - Bishopscourt28 June All Day 20th Anniversary of Ordination of Women as Priests – Diocesan events Evening Cathedral Development Trust Garden Party - Bishopscourt29 June 0930 Confirmation – East Peckham, Holy Trinity 1830 Songs of Praise - Lullingstone30 June 1200 Ordinands’ Day lunch - Bishopscourt
By the Rt Rev Dr Brian Castle
Dancing in the Streets, a book written by journalist and historian Barbara Ehrenreich, tells the story of joy and celebration. The book focuses on Britain and the western world, but takes the reader back to the ancient roots of ecstasy and ranges widely by drawing insights from a variety of cultures.
In early and medieval times, people’s natural exuberance founds shape and expression through the festivals of the church. Certainly, dancing in churches was allowed and enjoyed in the late Middle Ages. This sometimes posed problems as there was the ever-present danger that celebrating, lubricated and fuelled by locally brewed ale, could spill over into unruly behaviour. When this happened, Church officials, wanting to balance piety with riotous behaviour, had to read the riot act and bring some order into the celebrations. Generally, however, church members and its clergy were out there dancing and celebrating with the best of them.
The party-poopers of the day tended to be the civil authorities and ruling classes who were anxious for two reasons. First, there was concern about social order. Secondly there was a deeper concern that celebrating was potentially anarchic because it lifted the people temporarily out of their humdrum, dreary existence brought about by long working hours and little reward, and gave them a glimpse of what relationships and socialising could be like. The people experienced social and political liberation while the rulers feared civil disobedience. The story of dancing and celebration took a turn for the worse when the Church’s developing theology joined forces with the political philosophy of the ruling classes at the Reformation and public celebration became less acceptable. Communal celebration did not come to an end, but it became increasingly frowned upon.
Apart from occasional events like the
Olympics and royal occasions, when do we celebrate together? Urbanisation, the lure of the computer screen and the rise of a competitive market-based economy with its accompanying pressures have encouraged an environment where individualism gives momentum to a spiralling isolationism. When this is linked to a climate where festivities are discouraged there will be a negative effect on the mental and spiritual health of the people. In places, society has lost the art of corporate celebration and replaced it with over-indulgence: we, literally, are eating and drinking ourselves to death. Depression, regarded as the second most disabling illness across the globe, becomes more prominent. There is no evidence to suggest that depression (or Melancholy, as it was known before the twentieth century) is a phenomenon of the modern era, but there is evidence to suggest that communal celebration and festivities help alleviate it.
Celebration is in the DNA of the Christian faith. Celebration moves our focus beyond ourselves and our needs. The roots of celebration for the Christian are in praise and thanksgiving. There is the praise of God and thanksgiving for what God has done through Christ because of his love for humanity. Celebrating this energises other celebrations and parties. Celebrating in this way is a politically subversive act because it is rooted in God who is more powerful and influential than the rulers of this world. Therefore, the more we celebrate like this, the less this world has power over us and our allegiances.
Celebration is a form of mission. Are our churches places of real celebration? Are people attracted to our communities because they are places of joy? The point has already been made that celebrating is important from the perspective of individual and communal mental health and so the Christian faith has something to teach a society that swings between little celebration or over-indulgence. When distinguishing Christian behaviour from that of their pagan counterparts the early Christian author Tertullian wrote, ‘See how these Christians love one another.’ It would be a tribute if somebody could say of twenty-first Christians, ‘See how these Christians celebrate and enjoy themselves.’
Monday 9 June 2014Churchcross House, Church Lane,Barming, Kent ME16 9HARefreshments 7.30pm for 8pm start
Wednesday 11 June 2014St Nicholas Church, Farnborough, Orpington BR6 9QBRefreshments 7.30pm for 8pm start
Wednesday 18 June 2014St Justus ChurchThe Fairway, ROCHESTER ME1 2QQRefreshments 7.30pm for 8pm start
Open to Messy leaders/team members and helpers and all those interested in Messy Church! To book contact Caroline Clarke 07703 103366 or Email: [email protected]
MESSY MEET-UP An opportunity to meet up with other Messy Church leaders and helpers and to share news, information and ideas. Guest speaker Cheryl Trice, Diocesan Advisor for Youth Work will share ideas on how to engage teenagers in Messy Church
Bishop James’ diary - June
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Military meeting at SevenoaksFor many years the Soldiers’
and Airmen’s Scripture Readers’ Association (SASRA) has held an annual meeting in Sevenoaks, an event which has drawn an encouraging attendance and wholehearted singing.
The lead speaker at this year’s meeting on Monday 9 June at St Nicholas Church will be Colonel John Lewis who assumed the Chairmanship of the SASRA Council in August 2013. Colonel Lewis has had wide operational experience as a specialist in military logistics, including tours of duty in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. During an exchange tour in Australia he met his future wife. His commitment to the work of the Gospel throughout the Armed Services is also evident in his Trusteeship of the Naval, Military and Air Force Bible Society.
The second speaker will be Army Scripture Reader Roddy Macleod who works at the Army Training Regiment at Pirbright in Surrey. Having spent his early life in the Western Isles, he served in the Queen’s Own Highlanders, including the first Iraq War in 1991. On leaving the Army he admits to having been involved in a drug culture before being rescued by the Christian Gospel. In due course this decisive influence in his life led to his becoming an Army Scripture Reader with a significant ministry among recruits, who often face a cultural shock of joining the Army, as well as among soldiers at
KidzpraiseBy John Manley
There’s no better way to reach out to the local community than with a parent and toddler group. That’s what the vicar of Aylesford, the Rev Chris Van Straaten thought when applying for a £100 grant from the Bishop’s Fund for Mission, as part of the Hope 2014 programme.
Now St Peter & St Paul’s Church in the picturesque village of Aylesford runs Kidzpraise, a parent and toddler praise group, for an hour and a half every Wednesday.
Hope 2014 is a national programme of practical support, advice and finance to help bring churches together to transform their
communities. The aim of Hope 2014 is to leave a legacy of lasting spiritual change, with churches at the heart of their communities. Help from Diocesan Missioners is on hand to help parishes make plans for mission initiatives that enable community engagement.
Hope 2014 runs alongside the Church’s Intentional Evangelism strategy to make new disciples, to place prayer and evangelism at the heart of every parish, and to make the Church a more relevant and influential part of people’s lives over the coming years. “We didn’t have any work with small children on weekdays, so we started a parent and toddler group,” Chris said. “We used the grant for a carpet for the children to sit on, and ribbon flags for them to wave during games and songs.”
“The children play games at the beginning of each session, followed by show-and-tell and birthdays and songs,” Chris explained. “Then
we have a Bible story, and more songs - activity songs with flags and musical instruments.” The charge is only £1 per family, and the group meets, not in the ancient church on top of the hill overlooking the village and the river Medway, but in the church’s Brassey Centre, which used to house the village school. “The group has a Christian flavour,” according to Chris. “We didn’t want it to be heavy at all, but lightly Christian throughout. The aim is for outreach.”
It’s still early days, as Kidzpraise has only been going for a month, but there are five regular families so far, and Chris plans to expand the group, advertising at local schools and at other parent and toddler groups held on different days of the week.
But Kidzpraise is only part of Aylesford church’s outreach, said Chris, who moved to the parish from Gillingham seven years ago.
“Hope 2014 and Intentional Evangelism coincided to give us fresh impetus to try new things,” Chris said. Among other activities, Aylesford church has started a youth group, runs a social group for younger women, hosts Friendship Afternoons for older parishioners, and recently converted a confirmation class into one of its traditional home groups. On top of that, Chris is looking at hooking up with the Diocese to provide financial services to those in need through a credit union. As Chris says, outreach is central to Aylesford church’s mission: “We’re always trying to be part of the community and to grow our Christian family.”St Peter & St Paul, Aylesford
Headley Court who are recovering from serious wounds and amputations following military operations.
This meeting, which is open to all members
of the public, will begin at 8pm, but light refreshments will be available from 7.30pm in the Undercroft of St Nicholas Church.
Colonel John Lewis
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Let’s celebrate learning!By Dr Sally Musson
Let’s celebrate learning...! and we did this with praise and thanksgiving at St Andrew’s Church, Paddock Wood on Sunday 11 May.
21 students with their families and friends gathered to receive certificates for the Foundation in Christian Ministry (Stage 1) and commendation by Bishop James for local ministry in their respective parishes. The Rev Dr Neil Evans, Director of Ministry, Diocese of London, and External Quality Adviser for the course, encouraged us in understanding ministry as developing the gifts people have, rather than ‘filling jobs that need doing’.
Our diverse group was excited and somewhat daunted to be ‘guinea pigs’ of this new course, the successor to Reader, Pastoral Assistant and Evangelist training. Those receiving certificates had completed 5 terms of training, before going on to various forms of ministry. 15 will continue for another 4 terms towards becoming Licensed Lay Ministers.
The start of the journey: September 2012 saw young, and ‘young at heart’, students at the start of a new stage in their Christian journey.
Many did not have a clear vision of where God was leading but, if they did, this was soon challenged. One student giving her testimony at the service said:
“The course addresses many preconceived ideas; it extends your
knowledge and confronts your current belief systems. This can be hard and hit more deeply than you
can imagine.”
Another compared the course to a gap year and the opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills and embrace new experiences. The only trouble was that “usually for a gap year you leave things behind as you travel to new places. This was not the case for us. We were doing this course on top of our normal lives”. She provided an apt visual image of juggling a large number of plates simultaneously.
The journey itself: The course necessitates commitment and sacrifice from the students and asks no less of our tutors, learning advisers, and our course director, Alison Callway. Sincere thanks to them all, and to our families and our clergy who have supported us. The journey challenged us all in different ways, helping us see things from different perspectives. In the words of another student:
“The course has helped me to overcome my ‘judgemental’
attitudes, and become more inclusive of people who are
different from me.”
We have, indeed, experienced a closer walk with God through our learning, our prayer, our fellowship, and through wrestling with our assignments!
The continuing journey: It is a continuing journey for us all. The Bishop, speaking on Acts 2: 42-47 and 1 Peter 2:19-25, emphasised the importance of local ministry but also stressed the challenges and suffering involved. But Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is always there for us.
The Foundation in Christian Ministry might have turned many of our lives upside down, but this shared journey has been so rewarding thus far, and who knows what is around the corner?
So let’s keep celebrating learning!
Bishop James with Dr Sally Musson
Bishop James and the Rev Dr Neil Evans with “Foundation in Christian Ministry” students
7ochester Link
Water Aid Harvest Appeal
This harvest, will your church help bring the basic need of safe, clean water to a community like Mecheke in Ethiopia?
Mecheke is in the Konso region of Ethiopia, where drought is common and causes immense misery, hunger and death. Around 3,000 people struggle to survive in Mecheke, scraping out a very meagre existence growing crops like sorghum.
The balance between life and death is incredibly delicate. That’s because the nearest water source is the Morgare stream, which is little more than a polluted trickle. It takes an hour to get there and back, down a very steep track. It is so bad that many women and girls fall and break their wrists and legs.
Young children here die from diarrhoeal diseases, and do not go to school because they have to collect water that could kill them. Farmers cannot grow enough food because they have so little water. The failure of crops forces many men to stop farming and enter the mines, which are dangerous places to earn a living.
Churches in the UK have already brought clean, safe water to neighbouring village Lahyte with their kind donations. Could your church hold a collection this harvest to do the same for Mecheke?
In Lahyte, churches have helped to provide
safe water throughout the village all year long, and every household now has their own latrine. Children no longer die from drinking dirty water. Women spend less time collecting water and more time helping their husbands to grow food, while their children have the chance to go to school.
We have plenty of resources to offer including:
•A Powerpoint presentation explaining the situation in Mecheke and how your church can help
•Accompanying notes for the presentation • An inspirational video showing the amazing
impact of support from churches around the UK
•Sunday school resources including an activity sheet, downloadable bunting and a collection tin template
•A poster to display in your church•Sermon notes•Paying-in form to send in your donations
after your collection
In villages like Mecheke, your church’s Harvest collection could help pay for a public tapstand, delivering safe water into the heart of the community. Please join us today to make a difference to communities across the world.
If you would like to hold a collection to support our work this harvest you can order a resource pack by visiting http://www.wateraid.org/uk/harvest/churches, emailing [email protected] or calling 020 7793 4594. Clean water arrives in Lahyte
How Dementia Friendly Are We?By Julia Burton-Jones
Having lived in many places over the course of my life I have made plenty of friends. I see most of my friends infrequently, but it is nice to know they are there. If I am diagnosed with dementia one day, I would like to think my friends will remain my friends. Sadly, all too often this is not the case. Friends don’t know what to say and stay away at the very moment you most need them. Statistics gathered for the Alzheimer’s Society report Dementia 2012 are alarming. 67% of people with dementia questioned did not always feel part of the community. 61% felt lonely always or some of the time. 44% felt they lost friends after being diagnosed.
Given that one in three people who reach retirement age will die with dementia, this
concerns us all, which is why there is a national drive to increase awareness. Television adverts for the Dementia Friends campaign feature Gina, who is living with dementia, alongside celebrity supporters singing along to ‘I’ll get by with a little help from my friends’.
So how do churches in Rochester Diocese
fit in? Are we joining forces with others in our local areas to make our towns and villages places where people with dementia feel valued? What about people with dementia in our congregations? Do they feel welcome and accepted?
As a Dementia Friends Champion, I have been asked by the Mission and Community Engagement team to work on a project in Rochester Archdeaconry. I am discovering wonderful ways Christians are showing friendship to their neighbours with dementia:
- Christ Church in Milton-Next-Gravesend welcomes people to Mustard Seed on a Thursday afternoon each month;
- St John Meopham provides a Tuesday morning support group finishing with lunch for people with dementia and their supporters, in partnership with the charity Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Services;
- St Nicholas, Strood has a day centre for people with dementia;
- St Stephen, Chatham has a Dementia Care Group which meets on the fourth Thursday of the month;
- All Saints Chatham is hosting a Dementia Family Engagement Event on Monday 9 June (contact the Admiral Nursing Service on 01634 382080). I could go on.
I also hear sad stories, like the experience of the husband grieving over the growing invisibility of his wife with dementia who had been a central member of their church.
We are running six events in June and early July. Please come along to find out about dementia and explore the role of local churches. We would also like you to share what has worked well and ideas you have for creating dementia friendly churches, especially if you are a person living with dementia.
Dementia Friendly Church Events: - St Edmund, Dartford, 2.00 – 5.00
on Monday 23 June; - St Justus, Rochester, 9.30 – 12.30
on Tuesday 24 June; - St John the Baptist, Meopham,
9.30 – 12.30 on Saturday 28 June; - St Aidan, Gravesend, 9.30 – 12.30
on Monday 30 June; - St Nicholas, Strood, 9.30 – 12.30
on Tuesday 1 July; - St Matthew, Gillingham, 2.00 –
5.00 on Thursday 3 July.
For a booking form contact Carol at [email protected].
To share ideas and experiences, contact Julia at [email protected].
8 ochester Link
Burrswood Hospital is a 40 bed independent, charitable, non-surgical hospital off ering the highest standards of clinical care. Set in beautiful grounds on the Kent/Sussex border, Burrswood is one of the few Christian hospitals registered with the CQC and we are at the forefront of practising whole-
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ST. MARY’S CONVENTWANTAGESt Mary’s Convent is set in a tranquil location in the shadows of the Lambourn Downs.Providing comfortable and fl exible accommodation and facilities. Home cooked food using fresh wholesome ingredients.Suitable for Group Quiet Days and Group Retreats. Including conference facilities and private individual visits.The Guest Wing is a calm still place enabling peace and spiritual refreshment for all.
For further details please contact:St Mary’s Convent, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 9DJTel: 01235 763141Email: [email protected]
MARTIN K CROSSChurch Organ Builders
The Church Organ Works : Foxton Road : Grays : RM20 4XXTelephone : 01375 380703 / 07831 509114Email : [email protected]
With nearly 90 pipe organs in our care withinthe Diocese of Rochester and a well-established,fully equipped workshop close to the DartfordCrossing, we can cater for every aspect ofyour pipe organ requirements. Contact us for:-
Tuning & Maintenance Cleaning & OverhaulHistoric Restoration Rebuilding
There is none like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
1Ch 17:20 (ESV)
9ochester Link
Ann Blatcher retiresAnn has been associated with St
Martin’s Church, Chelsfield for 60 years, much of this time she was actually on the PCC! In trying to list all the things she has done in this time the writer has struggled to find any stone that she has not turned.
From early days she became a bell ringer, read lessons, cleaned the church, and was a born organiser. It was not really until the Rev Canon Leslie Virgo became rector that she really took off. Greatly impressed by his intellect and imagination, and sound Christian principles, she was mentored, eventually becoming a Reader, the first woman to do so at St Martin. At the same time she had taken on numerous other roles, keeping registers up to date, creating a churchyard record that many churches would envy, and looking after our historic registers and archival material, server and assistant, and even Churchwarden ( yet again the only woman to do so).
During Leslie’s long incumbency she not only helped him with the care of the rectory and himself, but looked after the vestments and linen at church. Her gifts of organising and dealing with people and worship, honed to perfection by Leslie, made her popular, and in her capacity as Reader she was allowed to take many funerals, often of cherished members of St Martin who had been there since before she
came. She has been behind many a fete and special occasions, and, when not involved with “On Stage” at church, has been very much “On Stage” with the Chelsfield Players either acting, directing, prompt and props, and eventually Chair. Never afraid to be in front of an audience she has made an excellent preacher, and her other skill in art has often been put to good
use. It is good to know that even though she has now properly retired from services, many of her other skills and roles will continue. Having been through three interregna she has really earned this rest from greater responsibility. However, like all self-driven people I cannot see her simply sitting in a chair and watching TV for the rest of her life!
Lay Ministers on the 10 day Pilgrimage
Janice Keen, Bishop’s Adviser on Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults is leading a training session which will take place on Tuesday 21 October at Chislehurst Christ Church from 10am to 1pm, introducing the five diocesan safeguarding policies and guidance documents:
The Protection and Safeguarding of Children
The Protection and Safeguarding of Adults when they are Vulnerable
Responding Appropriately to Domestic Abuse
Responding Positively to those who have Suffered Sexual Abuse
Safer Recruitment June 2013June Training Sessions
In June there will be 3 sessions on Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Applications via CCPAS E-bulk online system. DBS applications for the Diocese of Rochester will be going online 1 July 2014. Training has been arranged for Parish Disclosure Officers/
Verifiers and Incumbents on the following dates.
2 June 2014 at St Andrew, Paddock Wood3 June 2014 at St Justus Rochester5 June 2014 at Christ Church, Orpington Bookings can be made on the diocesan
website: www.rochester.anglican.org. Please ensure a separate booking is completed for each person who wishes to attend. If you have any queries about these sessions, please contact Janice by emailing her at [email protected]
Safeguarding training sessions
By Karen Senior
On 7 April a group of Lay Ministers from the Diocese, along with some spouses and friends, set off for a 10 day pilgrimage in the Holy Land, led by my husband the Rev Brian Senior and myself, with the invaluable help of our local Christian Arab guide.
For most of the group this was their first visit to the Holy Land, so we visited the traditional sites such as the Church of the Nativity, the Via Dolorosa, and the Sea of Galilee, where one of the pilgrims reflected: “Jerusalem was interesting and I’m glad I went, but I never realised how touched I would be spiritually once I reached the shores of the Sea of Galilee”.
We also met a number of local Christians, and visited the Bethlehem Arab Rehabilitation in Beit Jala, and the Jeel Al-Amal school and boys home in Bethany. On the Thursday evening Dean Hosam Naoum from St George’s Cathedral met with us, and we learned something of the differences between Rochester Diocese and the Diocese of the Middle East, which includes Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, in addition to Israel and Palestine. The Christian Community in the Middle East is now a tiny percentage of the
population, but they have a vital role in the ministry of peace and reconciliation. One of our group commented “I was particularly struck by the patience, good humour, and wisdom of people we met in the face of much injustice and inequality. For them, peace and a desire for reconciliation are very day virtues”.
One of the many, many highlights was being
privileged to be able to join the congregation at St George’s Cathedral on Palm Sunday, processing with fresh palm crosses and singing Palm Sunday hymns in English as the local Christians sung the same words in Arabic, in the very city where the events we were commemorating took place.
The Ven Dr Paul Wright and Ann Blatcher
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11ochester Link
Praying the wayWorldTroubled areas of the world, Ukraine, Africa and Syria. For the persecuted Church.
DioceseThe Festival of Pentecost and renewal. For our Bishops James and Brian, all clergy and lay workers.Quiet Morning 17 at Wilmington.
Bromley & Bexley Beckenham DeaneryBeckenham, Christ Church Eils Shipton, ordinand in training.Beckenham, St Paul Those preparing for marriage.Beckenham, St George Junior Choir.Penge, St John the Evangelist Thanks growth of Big Fish for dads and children. Nigel Poole our associate minister.
Bromley DeaneryHayes Thanks for team of churchwardens and deputies.
Sidcup DeanerySidcup, St John Lark in the Park
Rochester Cobham DeaneryMeopham with Nurstead. Civic Service, giving thanks. For the installation of the Rev Alyson Davie.Ash and Ridley Our Pilgrim Groups.Fawkham and Hartley Weddings this month.Istead Rise Monthly Car Washing team will bless community.Longfield For the Longfield festival.
Dartford DeaneryThanks for the Swanley Foodbank, for those who use it and help run it.Crockenhill Way forward for our Church room and for love in action.Horton Kirby and Sutton at Hone. Those working in the grounds of Sutton Court and pray for their futures.Darenth For the PCC members and newly elected churchwarden.Dartford, Christ Church. For the Overflow weekend sharing with St Peter Hextable on 26-28
Gillingham DeaneryBredhurst, St Peter Thanks for the life of Marilyn Lewis.
Giillingham, St Luke the Evangelist For new opportunities from our audit.Gillingham, St Mary Magdalene For the forthcoming vacancy here.Holy Trinity, Gillingham For our children and young people’s work.Gillingham, St Barnabas For the mission here and in our community..Gravesend DeaneryFor those taking exams in schools, colleges and universities. For God’s guidance and presence in all our activities.
TonbridgePaddock Wood DeaneryYalding with Collier Street Those still living in temporary accommodation.
Sevenoaks DeaneryBrasted Messy Church starting on 29.Kippington, St Mary. 8 Church Birthday and with reaching the community.Sevenoaks, St Luke Outreach activities; Sevenoaks Summer Festival.Weald 17 Evening Special with the Rev
Canon Jean Kerr, our future vision. Shoreham DeaneryShoreham Volunteers to be parish prayer representatives.Ightham. Thanks for Messy Church.Stansted with Fairseat and Vigo Pastoral Group and encouraging Sunday Club.Platt A Youth Worker.
Tonbridge DeaneryCrockham Hill. For village school.Tonbridge, St Peter and St Paul Continuing ministry following the Passion Play.Edenbridge Friday Youth Club.Hever, Four Elms and Mark Beech. Development of music and choir.
Tunbridge Wells DeaneryTunbridge Wells, St Luke. Those taking exams.Rusthall Joint Pentecostal service.Tunbridge Wells, King Charles the Martyr Church fete preparations.Tunbridge Wells, St James BBQ on church grounds.Tunbridge Wells, St John. 7 Women’s Day.Burrswood For patients, staff and volunteers.
Intercession during June
Prayer topics for July/August should be sent to Judith Howard by 3 June.: 10 Mount Pleasant Road, Weald, Sevenoaks Kent. TN14 6QE 01732 458285 [email protected]
1 Jun Our Archbishops: Justin Welby and John Sentamu2 Jun Bishop’s Staff: meeting today3 Jun Stone, St Mary4 Jun State Opening of Parliament: for HM The Queen, Members of Parliament and Peers. Diocesan Study Tour to Holy Land: for an inspiring and fruitful visit5 Jun Swanley, St Mary the Virgin: for the appointment of a new Vicar6 Jun Swanley, St Paul and Hextable, St Peter7 Jun Diocesan Youth Council meeting today8 Jun Gillingham Deanery: the Rev Bonnie Appleton (Area Dean); Linda Bailey (Lay Chair)9 Jun Wilmington
10 Jun St Mary’s Abbey West Malling: Mother Mary David (Abbess)11 Jun Clergy Study Day today – for confidence and wisdom in articulating the faith in today’s world12 Jun Gillingham, Holy Trinity13 Jun Gillingham, St Augustine14 Jun Gillingham, St Barnabas15 Jun Our work of community engagement at parish and diocesan levels16 Jun Gillingham, St Luke17 Jun Gillingham, St Mark and St Mary’s Island Church18 Jun Bishop’s Council meeting this evening19 Jun Gillingham, St Mary Magdalene20 Jun Rainham, St Margaret21 Jun South Gillingham Team
22 Jun Gravesend Deanery: the Rev Sue Brewer (Area Dean); David Williams (Lay Chair)23 Jun The Pilsdon Community at Malling: the Rev Pam Rink (Guardian)24 Jun Chalk, St Mary the Virgin25 Jun Church Schools: Headteachers and Chairs of Governors26 Jun Gravesend, Holy Family with Ifield27 Jun Gravesend, St Aidan28 Jun Women Priests in the Diocese: in thanksgiving for 20 years of women’s priestly ministry (Cathedral service today)29 Jun The Archdeacons: The Ven Dr Paul Wright; The Ven Simon Burton- Jones; the Ven Clive Mansell’30 Jun Gravesend, St George
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12 ochester Link
Making Sense of Research
Bishop James visits St Mary’s Island C of E Primary School on 1 MayHeadteacher Mrs Christine Euston said, “The staff, governors and pupils of St Mary’s Island School, Chatham were delighted to receive a visit from the Bishop to share in our celebrations of our good Ofsted rating. The staff and children enjoyed the visit very much, especially when Bishop James took part in mental maths with Year 6. We wish to thank the Bishop for fitting us to his very busy schedule.”
By the Rev Trevor Gerhardt
As a youth worker for a Baptist church in South Africa in the late 1980’s, I decided to conduct a small scale survey in order to have a more informed view on which kind of youth programme would be the most relevant to the youth.
The survey questionnaire was anonymous and asked questions about likes, hobbies, fears and aspirations. I discovered that many of my assumptions about my young audience were misinformed. Quite a few of the youth programmes on offer at the time were therefore irrelevant and missing the mark. As a result of the short survey, I started an ‘ice-cream bar’ which basically was an hour-long panel discussion event (with free ice-cream) around a number of topics which the survey had revealed as relevant.
Research such as the survey example above can be an extremely useful tool in enabling one to get to grips with an issue or topic.
Working for the Brighton and Hove Methodist Circuit as a free-church chaplain on both university campuses in Brighton seeking to develop the student work for the Methodist circuit, I became aware of very damning statements being made about the future of Methodism. These statements were found in publications and often used in talks and conferences as well. One such statement predicted that the last Methodist candle would be snuffed out by 2037. It was communications like this which inspired me to do my MA degree on seeking to understand
this apparent decline in Methodism. Whilst conducting my MA research I learned that these statements about Methodism were based on statistical evidence of Sunday attendance. In other words, the totals of people attending Sunday services gathered over a long period time which then indicated a constant decline. Based on the assumption that this decline would continue, the prediction was therefore that the last Methodist church would close in 2037. The local Methodist church where I attended however had 3 times the national average Methodist church Sunday attendance measured in 2005. This church was not declining and was not following the national trend of declining Sunday church attendance. I wanted to understand why this was the case and how this local church impacted upon the student population in Brighton? Again, I used research and tools such as statistics, surveys, interviews and a review of literature to help me shape my ministry. What I discovered was encouraging, insightful and helped to shape the strategy towards reaching out to local students by the Methodist churches.
The European Union sponsors a programme called the Erasmus Intensive Programme (EIP) to enhance the experience of doctoral studies across participating universities. I was successfully selected to participate in this programme as a doctoral student from Canterbury Christ Church University. Together with delegates from Universities from Italy, Lithuania and Turkey, we will live and learn together for 2 weeks in Joensuu, Finland. The 2 weeks will allow me, in my doctoral studies about the training of curates, to further explore how research will enable me to better understand and improve the training of curates. The EIP is about collaboration,
cosmopolitanism and communities as we learn together to enhance our methodology in research.
The Annual Research Conference this year continues with this theme of research by having Mike Higton as the main speaker on the theme, ‘Research as a partner in the gospel’. Mike has been appointed by the University of
Durham to head up the Church of England National Common Awards programme and curriculum. Bookings for this event will be open before the summer and any abstracts from those engaged in MA or PhD studies are welcome and can be sent to Trevor Gerhardt at the diocesan office.
Please ring 01643560000 or email [email protected]