Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
God speaks to us in many different ways. In the summer of 2014 at the New Wine Summer Conference God used one particular song to speak to us and to begin leading us to a new adventure with him. Strangers who prayed with us at New Wine gave words of encouragement about our family and then I had a picture in which Jesus called me to follow him up a cliff face. From the top I saw the human race in all its misery, I felt the compassion of Jesus for the broken people and the broken relationships, and it broke my heart.
After thirty years of marriage, and raising three children to adulthood we knew that our lives were about to change. Our youngest son was in Plymouth studying medicine; and our daughter Naomi and her husband Matt Rodgers moved away to join the leadership team of a new church planting project in September 2014 (www.stswithinslincoln.org.uk). By the following May our other son Ali was married and working as a Youth and Worship Minister in Broxbourne (just north of Enfield). The house was rather quiet and even the introduction of a new puppy to keep our old Labrador company didn’t fill the gap.
In addition, my work as Year 6 teacher in a small village primary school was consuming me. God made me unsettled. Knowing that he had called all my children “out upon the waters” I wondered what God was calling us to do next.
During this time I was introduced to a young person who was in foster care and I was intrigued. Then while in Lincoln, at our son-in-law and daughter’s church, God spoke to me through another worship song. We sang about rescuing the lost and giving hope to the broken – could fostering be something that we could do? On the drive home I tentatively mentioned it to Martyn and he immediately agreed that we should explore the idea. We soon learnt about the desperate need for more carers and also worked out that we should be able to manage financially despite a drop in salary. Following a recommendation from some friends we applied to Safehouses (www.safehouses.org) and I took the plunge and resigned from teaching. The relief was immense!
We spent the summer of 2015 with a social worker rather than at New Wine. The assessment process was intense and intrusive, but as Christians we are used to
february 2016
ochesterLink
Copy deadline for the March issue of Rochester Link is 4pm on 12 February 2016. Copy to: [email protected]
All About Calais
See pages 6 and 7 for details
being reflective and looking deeply into our past and our motivations for things. The best thing was knowing that our own children were so supportive and they used their own experiences of trusting God to encourage us.
At the end of November we were approved as foster carers.
And on 3 January 2016 our adventure began with the arrival of our first placement! God has fulfilled his promises.
The Great UnknownYou call me out upon the watersThe great unknown where feet may failAnd there I find You in the mysteryIn oceans deepMy faith will standBy Jenny Burt
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Pictured above Jenny & Martyn Burt
2 ochester Link
Full time – 35 hoursBased in the Diocesan Office, RochesterDiocesan Grade 4Salary range £23,280 to £26,073 pro rata, depending on experience
We are recruiting for a Public Relations Assistant to join the Communications department supporting the parishes and diocesan office to deliver an integrated and professional communications strategy.
The successful candidate will need to demonstrate• A minimum of 2 years’ experience within a similar PR role• An appropriate Chartered Institute of Public Relations
qualification or equivalent• Excellent written English and the necessary skills to write
high quality press releases• Experience designing marketing material• Excellent communication skills with confidence in front of an
audience• A flexible and proactive approach to work while remaining
resilient and adaptable to changing priorities• Experience and understanding of Social media• Good working knowledge of Microsoft office• Able to work flexible hours outside of normal office hours• A full UK driving licence with own transport
Further details and an application form are available from: Jill Oxland Tel: 01634 560000 Email: [email protected] or go to www.rochester.anglican.org
Closing date for applications: Friday 5 FebruaryInterviews will take place week commencing 15 February
CONTACT USNews and letters to the Editor: [email protected] Telephone: 01634 560000
ADVERTISEMENTS Email: [email protected] Copy for The Link needs to be typed and submitted by email please. Images must be submitted as either a TIFF or a JPEG file of 300dpi. (Set your digital camera to the highest quality setting and we will try to do the rest for you.)
Typeset by JPS Designs - [email protected]. 07739 330996.
SEVENOAKSSt Luke’s Church, Eardley Road, Sevenoaks. 30 minute recitals from 12:30 pm. Admission Free. Refreshments from 12:00. 3 Feb: 3 Pupils from The Granville School. 11 Feb: Ingrid Cusido – Piano. 18 Feb: Hiroshi Kanazawa – Tenor, Michael Fields – Lute. 25 Feb: Hammig String Quartet
TUNBRIDGE WELLS6 February at 7.30pm. Church of King Charles the Martyr, TN1 1YX. Concert by Temenos Chamber Choir with Ensemble Hesperi, “Masters of the Baroque”. Tickets £12 (£6 students) from Sevenoaks Bookshop, Halls Bookshop (Tun Wells) or 01732 452715. www.temenos-chamberchoir.org.uk, www.mkctw.blogspot.com
What’s onPublic Relations Assistant
Do you worry about damp in your church building?
The Faith in Maintenance course aims to help volunteers who look after historic places of worship. We provide training to help you understand how your building works and how to solve problems caused by leaky gutters and blocked drains.
A Faith in Maintenance one-day course will help you:
• Recognise potential problems• Tackle common maintenance tasks• Understand inspections
and reports• Know when to call in expert help
As well as talks, the day includes a practical exercise in St Mary's Church looking at elements of a church building and learning to identify defects. There are also opportunities for discussion with professionals and other delegates. Everyone who attends receives a
free copy of the Good Maintenance Guide and after the course help is available via the SPAB’s telephone technical advice service. The course fee of £20.00 per person which does not attract VAT includes tea, coffee and a light lunch.
Date: 18 March 2016Time: 10am – 4pmVenue: St Mary’s Church, St Mary Cray, BR5 3NL
To book a place please contact: Peter Moyle on [email protected]
SPAB Faith In Maintenance: Training Days
New CAP Debt Centre for Erith and Thamesmead Churches in Erith have combined with other local churches to set up a new CAP Debt Centre serving the area covered by the Erith and Plumstead Deaneries.
Erith and Thamesmead CAP centre, which was launched on 15th January at Bexley College by local MP Teresa Pearce, is an ecumenical venture supported by Anglican, Methodist, URC, Baptist and independent churches.
The service that the centre offers is designed to enable people trapped in spiralling debt the opportunity to become debt free. Negotiations with creditors are carried out by Christians Against Poverty from
their base in Bradford, and the centre and its volunteers provide support to the person until they are debt free. Julie Conalty, Area Dean of Erith, said: “We are delighted to have got this centre up and running. There is a real need for it in this area and it is wonderful to have done this as a collaborative venture with the other churches. We are also very pleased to be working in partnership with Christians Against Poverty and using their award winning service. We are also very grateful to the Church Urban Fund for their financial support, as well as to the Diocese of Rochester and Woolwich Episcopal Area .”
Caroline Clarke, Community Engagement Advisor for the Diocese of Rochester and CreditWise leader said: “This is a super achievement and blessing. Thank you to all those involved for your hard work and determination to work both ecumenically and across two dioceses in order to get this CAP Centre open. This was in direct response to the local need to help and support people to become debt free, and is part of a wider vision to ensure access to responsible credit for all: work to open a branch of Kent Savers Credit Union in the area is ongoing.”
By Caroline Clarke
Christians against Poverty
Our Journey with Us programme is an opportunity to experience the life and mission of the church in another culture.
We arrange short-term placements, of up to one year, for self-funding volunteers aged 18 to 80.
ContactHabib Nader on 020 7921 [email protected]/journey
Us. The new name for USPG
Registered charity number 234518
Have a life-changing experience with Us.
BE SEEN
To advertise in this newspaper,
contact Glenda or Michelle on
01752 225623or email
3ochester Link
What makes churches grow?
On page 23 he says, “Shape the church around the people, not the people around the church.” I think this is a very powerful statement. We do have a tendency, if we’re not careful, to try to get people to fit in with our view of what Jesus is like, how people should worship and how they should conduct themselves in and around the church. Our approach can be very building focussed, and somewhat ‘committed to the regular member of the church’ focussed! The idea that we should shape the church around the people is much more challenging and stimulating, and will probably be one of the options that makes a real difference to the life and vitality of your church.
Much later in the book (p.181) Jackson talks about ‘non-Church goers who know nothing of the Bible or the Christian faith’ and how they are astonished many of us have to dress in warm clothes during the winter to attend church. He says, “They do not take kindly to being told constantly to stand, sit, sing and listen to me.” Now some of that may be true in some places, but even if it isn’t I think we need to take very seriously the fact that Joe Public is a long, long way away from where we are. Even if we do manage to get them into the church building (and
by ‘we’ I mean those regular, committed church-goers) it is quite a challenge to remember what church was like when we first started going, especially if we have been attending since we were young children.
This leads me on to his comment about a survey he had been looking at: “Results are decisive and universal - churches making changes grow and those that don’t shrink.” And if you wonder where everybody is in your church (because they are certainly not in the building when you are there), you may need to think about ‘are you making sufficient changes’? Because whether we like it or not, churches are living expressions of God’s Holy Spirit and Grace, living expressions of those who know their need of God and a desire to worship Him. If, however, we can respond, then we have those opportunities to adapt more quickly to a very changing culture and demand that is outside of our buildings.
His final comment on page 282 reads: “Of course it doesn’t matter what strand of the Christian church you come from – if your faith is infectious your church will grow.” Now I realise infectious will mean different things to different people, but there ought to be something
This is the title of a book written by Bob Jackson in 2015. It is not the first time that Jackson has tried to get people thinking about the Church in general, and more particularly about their own church.
Bishop James’ DiaryFebruary Monday 1 8.40am Licensing of The Rev Julie Bowen as School Chaplain, St Olave’s Grammar School, Orpington 3.30pm Prison Year Planning, London Tuesday 2 2.30pm Finance Committee Wednesday 3 All Day Bishops’ Leadershipto Friday 5 Programme, Cambridge Sunday 7 Morning Licensed Lay Ministers’ Residential, Aylesford Monday 8 2pm House of Lords Tuesday 9 9.30am Blessing of new classroom, Keston Primary School 11.30am Trinity Church of England School, Bromley Wednesday 10 11am Senior Leadership Discernment, London Thursday 11 All day Bishop’s Staff Meeting 8pm Clergy Ministerial Development Evening, St Justus, Rochester Friday 12 2.30pm Investment Review Group, Rochester
Sunday 14 9.45am Preach and Preside, East Malling Monday 15 All Day General Synod, London to Wednesday 17 Thursday 18 7.30pm Lord Mayor’s Dinner for Bishops Monday 22 8.30am Kent Police Chaplaincy meeting, Maidstone Tuesday 23 5pm All Party Penal Affairs Group, House of Commons 7.30pm Kent Workplace Mission Trustees Meeting, Larkfield Wednesday 24 11am Consecration, Westminster Abbey 6.30pm Joint Archdeaconry Mission and Pastoral Working Groups, Meopham Thursday 25 2.30pm HR Group Meeting, Bishopscourt 5.30pm Bishop’s Council Friday 26 All Day Licensed Lay Ministers’to Sunday 28 Residential, Ashburnham Place Monday 29 All Day Annual Leave
Full timeBased in the Diocesan Office, RochesterDiocesan Grade 8Salary range £34,808 to £39,930 depending on experience
We are currently recruiting a new post for a Management Accountant to join the diocese to assist in the development and maintenance of monthly management accounting information. The successful candidate will produce management information for the Rochester Diocesan Society and Board of Finance (RDSBF), consolidate budget and forecast, reconciliations and year end processes for the preparation of statutory accounts.
The successful candidate will need to;• Be a Qualified accountant from one of the
CCAB-recognised Accountancy bodies or equivalent (ACCA, CIMA, ACA etc)
• Have a minimum of 3 years’ experience, including annual budget preparation, financial modelling and analysis, cash flow reporting and statutory accounts.
• Have experience of computerised accounting systems, preferably NAV/MS Dynamic 2013, including report writing.
• Proficient Microsoft Office user, in particular a strong aptitude in Excel.
• Demonstrate the ability to ‘think outside the box’ and to assimilate data into meaningful financial information.
• Have a meticulous and methodical approach, with experience of developing and improving working practices in line with organisational needs
• Have proven experience in delivery of accurate, high quality work and reports to deadlines and to required standards
• Have developed strong project management and administrative skills with the ability to remain motivated under pressure
• Have excellent standard of written and verbal English with the ability to build relationships and communicate effectively at all levels both within and outside of the organisation
Further details and an application form are available from: Jill Oxland Tel: 01634 560000 Email: [email protected] or go to www.rochester.anglican.org
Closing date for applications: Monday 29 February 2016
Management Accountant
that just makes those outside of the church want to know more. Isn’t that what the Gospel means? Bob Jackson, ‘What makes churches grow?’, published by Church House Publishing, London, 2015
The Ven. Dr Paul WrightArchdeacon of Bromley & Bexley
4 ochester LinkAdvertising Feature
FREE DELIVERY AVAILABLE
- order by 1st March, see below
Special Edition
Original
Dark
This year The Real Easter Egg range has had a makeover and each single boxed egg includes a unique copy of the Easter story in the shape of a pull out 37 cm high cross illustrated by Helen Cann.
Please note the Dark and Special Edition eggs are not being sold in supermarkets but can be bought from independent stores or ordered online.
*There is a charitable donation for every 150g egg sold.
It’s time to reclaim Easter!Out of the 80 million Easter eggs sold in this part of the world every year, The Real Easter Egg is the only one which has an Easter story booklet in the box, is made of Fairtrade chocolate and makes a donation to charity from its sales.*
To allow us to continue to make The Real Easter Egg, we need people to switch and buy. As Easter is very early this year, we need to communicate this as soon as possible. Don’t forget, delivery is free if you spend more than £45 and order by 1st March 2016. So we need a champion to encourage people to buy directly from us. See below or have a look at the free resources at www.realeasteregg.co.uk
How you can helpWe sell the Real Easter Egg in three ways: by people buying directly from us, from independent retailers and from supermarkets. The supermarkets, which are stocking the eggs, will only ever have about 12 eggs on display in any one store. So they would be simply overwhelmed by the demand from a typical church. Last year, hundreds of churches placed orders directly with us in quantities ranging from 12-1,000 eggs. Direct sales are very important for our company to trade. So we hope you will join the campaign and encourage people to buy directly from us.
Tastes good and does goodThe Real Easter Egg was launched in 2010. It was a real struggle as all the supermarkets turned it down at first. To date, we have sold more than one million eggs with 750,000 of these sent through the post directly to churches and schools. Not only has there been an increase in Fairtrade chocolate sales, but nearly £200,000 has been donated to charity.
FREE DELIVERY
*Free delivery on orders over £45 and received by 1st March.
Pay online by card - The simplest way to pay is to visit our online shop at www.realeasteregg.co.uk
Payment by cheque - Complete the form below and return to: The Meaningful Chocolate Company, 11a Eagle Brow, Lymm, WA13 0LP. Cheques payable to ‘The Meaningful Chocolate Company Ltd’.
Delivery Address:
Title: First Name: Surname:
Tel. No: (Daytime) Email:
No. of Eggs Total
Postage & PackagingSee terms and conditions below
FREE*or £4.95
How to order
Original Real Easter Egg (150g) (£3.99 each must be ordered in multiples of 6) £23.94
Special Edition Real Easter Egg (280g)Can be ordered in singles, each egg £9.99
Dark Real Easter Egg (180g)(£5.50 each must be ordered in multiples of 6) £33.00
Grand Total
Original (RRP £3.99)A fresh new design. Includes the Easter story in the shape of a cross, a high quality milkchocolate egg (125g) and Yummy Bar (25g). Must be ordered from us in multiples of 6.Includes a donation to Traidcraft Exchange.
Special Edition (RRP £9.99) Contains a high quality milk chocolate egg (200g), an olive wood holding cross keyring from Bethlehem, a cross shaped Easter story and an orange milk chocolate bar (80g). Not available in Tesco this year. Can be ordered in singles.
Dark (RRP £5.50)An egg made from premium dark Fairtrade chocolate (165g) with 3dark chocolate squares (15g) and a cross shaped Easter story.Must be ordered from us in multiples of 6.
if ordered before 1st March 2016*
David Marshall and Larry Bush receiving thedonation cheque from egg sales in 2015.
NEWBeautiful Easter
story design
5ochester Link
As part of this doctorate, I have had the opportunity to consider a number of aspects related to the training, education and formation of people for ministry. I have discovered that there are many myths and legends concerning exactly what should take place and what actually takes place. The cohort is made up of people such as lecturers in nursing and radiography to school principals and clergy. This diversity enabled rich conversations to take place. One myth and legend is addressed in an article published in the Journal of Adult Theological Education in 2013, where I explained the importance of and reason why theological reflection is so vital for ministerial formation. Rather than it simply being a meandering of the mind, reflection is an important skill for developing tacit knowledge and transformative learning.
Another myth and legend I have been able to research is the fear that the academic dog wags the ministry tail, discussed and explored in a 2015 publication called ‘Being Christian in Education’ available on Amazon. The book was launched on Thursday 5 December as part of a lecture by The Rev Dr Ian O’Harae, Visiting Scholar at NICER, entitled ‘Christian Leadership and online learning’.
The lecture identified ways in which Christians can embrace opportunities to lead the future in online learning and established a framework for leadership, explored the relationship between identity and community and encouraged Christians to develop authentic learning communities that will be culturally relevant as well as mission-oriented
By Trevor Gerhardt
Myth and Legends: Academic Tails Wagging Ministry DogsAs part of Canterbury Christ Church University’s special Jubilee celebrations in 2012, the Faculty of Education launched a brand new Doctorate in Education: Christianity, faith and education, to celebrate the foundation of the University in 1962 as a Church of England college to train teachers for Church schools.
After much consultation and prayer a way forward has been agreed by the Bishop’s Council.
Mother Mary David, the Abbess of Malling Abbey, said ‘The Sisters of Malling Abbey are delighted to welcome the new St Benedict’s Centre to share their site. This collaboration with the Diocese of Rochester is an expression of our desire to be good stewards of this sacred place and to contribute to the life of the Church in our Diocese and in the wider Church’.
It is envisaged that St Benedict’s Centre will offer a non-residential space for individuals and groups to learn, to reflect, to retreat and to pray. This could be used for PCC away days as well as individual quiet days. There will be opportunities for groups or individuals to participate in a variety of led programmes.
The Centre will also become the home for SEITE (South East Institute for Theological Education). The Sisters look forward to having their horizons broadened by the presence of those engaged in theological study and reflection and personal formation as they prepare to serve God’s people.
The Rev Canon Christopher DenchSenior Responsible Officer
During the last 2 years the Sisters of Malling Abbey have been in discussion with the Diocese of Rochester about the future change of use for Malling Abbey.
Malling Abbey Update
Details of the results of the planning application and booking will be made available in the future editions of Link. Please commend this work and the life of community at the Abbey to your prayers.
Birchwood House Rest Home
Residential Home forthe ElderlyRespite care & shortstay available
A beautifully refurbished Georgian manor house, setin 6 acres of glorious Kent countryside, within easyreach of Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.• All rooms have en-suite facilities & nurse call
system. Lift to all floors.• Excellent home cooking, with special diets catered
for.• Hairdressing, chiropody, library and mobile shop.• Monthly in-house Holy Communion and links to
the local church.Stockland Green Road,
Speldhurst, Kent TN3 0TUTelephone: Langton (01892 86) 3559
NATIONAL FRUIT TREE SPECIALISTS
One of the UK's largest suppliers of fruit trees and soft fruit plants including Cranberries and Goji Berries
NATIONWIDE DELIVERY
DEACONS NURSERYGodshill, Isle of Wight PO38 3HW
01983 840750 (24hrs) Tel: 01983 522243 Fax: 01983 523575Email: [email protected] or visit our website
www.deaconsnurseryfruits.co.uk
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS OF OUR LATEST SPECIAL OFFERS
enhancing church interiorsRonald Emett fine furniture
01308 868025 www.ronaldemettfurniture.com
St M
ary,
Bea
min
ster
, Dor
set
CHURCH PEWSUNCOMFORTABLE?
WHY NOT TRY SAFEFOAM’S TOP QUALITYUPHOLSTERED FOAM PEW CUSHIONS?
www.safefoam.co.uk Freephone 0800 015 44 33Free Sample Pack of foam & fabrics sent by first class mail
When phoning please quote RL0216
Safefoam, Green Lane, Riley Green,Hoghton, Preston PR5 0SN
6 ochester Link
All About CalaisThe trip to the Calais jungles seems such a long way away separated as it is now by the frenzy, clamour and glitz that now forms around a western Christmas.
In reality the people we met, the conversations we had and the things
we saw still run through our minds like a video playing. You cannot look into the eyes of starving people, desperate people and scared children and easily forget them. It was their eyes that said it all, even when language was a barrier. The man pleading for gloves when we had no more to give to cover the stump on his right arm where his hand had been cut away stared with eyes that no longer had hope. Such was the intensity of the November trip to the Jungles. We also admit that it has been very hard to commit this reflection to paper as of by doing so we would in some way diminish the situations that these fellow human beings find themselves in.
Even among the makeshift shacks and flimsy tents we found amazing people: French nationals living in the camp trying to help; young English teachers coming into the camp every day to give the growing number of children some education; a mid twenties English man who, on his hitch hiking travels, met some people from the jungle and decided that he could do something to help - build wooden shacks, “Reckon God’s in this, Father “he tells Paul as we stop to chat.
We met two cousins fleeing for their lives from northern Pakistan. ”We are Shia Muslims fleeing because the Sunni Muslims have already killed our brother and there is a contract out on us”. “There are very few Shias here. All we want is to stay here in France and to continue our education at
university. One day we will be teachers of Mathematics like our father.”
Then we came across the group of Christian Ethiopian women who helped us distribute goods at our second stop Their tee shirts displaying the words “Loving like Jesus loved. Serving like Jesus served.” They displayed a gentle grace and calmness of spirit but still with the familiar plea as well “Please take us home with you.” On our visit the 30 portable loos were being emptied and we saw four stand pipes with cold water. Hardly adequate for the thousands there as the University of Birmingham report on the health of the camp details. On the ground there is clear evidence of so called ‘brokers’ who enable people to move from country to
country. Of course others would label things differently! Our little diocesan effort touched at least 800 people including children as young as 18 months. You must be desperate to drag a toddler around the world in such circumstances. It was the little we could do and as our living room filled up with more and more goods before the trip, we were bowled over by the generosity of the people of the parishes that helped us out. We were grateful for the help of Alex and his mates who simply turned up one Sunday to help us pack and load and to Helen and Martin who travelled with us.
Since our visit another smaller visit carrying food has taken place and there is now evidence of at least some drainage pipes being laid in the centre
7ochester Link
of the camp and a line of cables bringing some light to the main area.
As we write this there is now news of a new tented camp to be erected outside of Dunkirk.That will give some sort of order but will surely act as a magnet now from Calais and that, in turn, will cause internal fighting once again which gives these people such bad press.
With gratitude to all of you who have prayed for us.
Paul and Jean Kerr
We would ask you to respond to the needs of the various aid agencies working not only in Calais but in the Lebanon and other areas of the world coping with vast numbers of people who are displaced. UNICEF, www.unicef.org.uk, United Society www.weareus.org.uk, Christian Aid, www.christianaid.org.uk Red Cross, www.redcross.org.uk etc
There will a pack coming out from Bishop James concerning further ways in which we might engage particularly with unaccompanied minors . Please consider how you might be able to respond to it.
So what now? We simply could repeat the process over and over again but perhaps we need to respond in various ways now.
• We will keep alert via our contacts in Calais to any sudden requests for practical help of a specific kind especially when/if the weather turns colder.
• We would invite parishes to engage in any local refugee forums that they can. This tide of humanity will not turn back any day soon and we must, as Christians take a lead in in helping our communities be prepared again to welcome and engage with those fleeing material poverty, physical violence and spiritual persecution.
• We would ask congregations to pray for our government and their local MPs for wisdom and righteousness in judgements in debates on immigration.
8 ochester Link
e-mail [email protected] or visit us online at genesiscars.org.uk
Our team is ready to help you...
Call 0800 230 0238
GenesisCarsCreating the ultimate car buying experience
.org.uk
The 100% bespoke car buying service for the Christian community.
Just tell us what you’re looking for, give a price range, then sit back, relax and let us do the rest!
£10995FROM ONLY
2015 Ford Focus Zetec Eco Boost 5DR Choice of colours £5995
FROM ONLYVauxhall Zafira 7 seater 1.6 Design
£8995ONLY
2012, 62 Reg Nissan Juke 1.6 Acenta Automatic in blue, 29k miles£4995
ONLY
2007 07 Reg Honda CRV 2.0 Executive Automatic in Silver 93k miles
Scoop Purchase!
Limited Stock!!
Save over
£7000on cost when new!
Common Awards Common Award Mixed-Mode Training
Certificate in Theological Studies
Undergraduate & Postgraduate courses (BA, BTh, MTh, MSt, MPhil, DPhil) plus ministerial training
01752 228000 l www.nicolahurst.co.uk65 Hyde Park Rd l Plymouth l PL3 4JN
Scan here for more info
A unique gallery, now open 6 years, selling jewellery, glass, ceramics and other gift items;
all hand made in the UK.
Buy online at www.nicolahurst.co.uk
Nicola makes jewellery on her premises in Plymouth. Commissions and repairs undertaken.
Regular exhibitions showcasing new jewellers.
BE SEENYou can advertise in this newspaper with a monthly circulation of 18,000, at a very reasonable cost, reaching a great church audience in parishes throughout the Diocese of Rochester which covers
parts of Greater London and Kent.. We can also help you to advertise in seven other Diocesan
newspapers throughout the South of England and the Home Counties, with a total circulation of nearly 170,000.
To fi nd out more, contact Glenda or Michelle on
01752 225623or email [email protected]
RL
9ochester Link
Christmas, wonderful as it can be, is also a time when families sometimes fall out and the same can be true for the church family!
If your church is experiencing conflict between church folk, then you do not need to struggle alone. For several years now Rochester Diocese has been running a mediation service for its churches where conflict is causing the church to take its eye off its main mission.
Nikki McVeagh has been mediating for 16 years, and as Diocesan Mediator since 2004, encouraging parties in dispute to put themselves in the other side’s shoes and see how resolution can be achieved. The process is simple. It is usually the vicar who contacts the Diocese, or Nikki direct, either as one of the parties wanting help,
or on behalf of members of their church. The vicar will need to give permission for a mediation to proceed, (as will the Diocesan Secretary and Archdeacon to ensure I as mediator can maintain impartiality and it is a suitable case for mediation.) If invited to help, I would as mediator go and visit each party separately and would be non-judgmental, impartial and confidential. Each party will be given space to express the difficulties they face, find what they need to resolve the conflict, and say what they can do to help resolve the issue. As mediator I would only report to the other side what I am authorised to, so confidentiality is kept. The parties would then be encouraged to meet together with me in a neutral venue to have time and respectful space to say what has
been troubling each party, what they need to resolve the issue, and what each could do to progress the matter.
It is a very positive process. Usually agreement is reached and if agreed, a written confidential agreement drawn up to be evaluated 3 months hence to check agreement is still working.
The process is free, except for the mediator’s travel expenses which the church will be requested to cover if they are able.And the best bit is that it works!
So please try it if there is conflict troubling your church, there is nothing to lose.
You would be welcome to ring for an exploratory chat on 07870 956677.
By Nikki McVeagh
Mediation in Diocese of Rochester
“But Vicar, other Churches just buy a bottle of oil for the candles!”from Heather White. Congratulations to Heather and our thanks to the others who took the time to enter the competition.
Nearly there. Stop blubbering, boy!Watch out Vicar - I think she’s going to dive . . .Heather White
Phew! I think Jonah’s still inside!Don Bower
The Vicar was glad that Sevenoaks Whale-weigh Station was just down the road from St Mary’sHe’s got the whole wide whale in his hands . . .Gill Paterson
Some of the components from the “Build your own Bishop of Tonbridge” pack were a bit unwieldy”The Rev Richard Martin
Caption Competition
December 2016 Caption Competition Winner is:
The Rev Dr Joel LoveThe Rev Dr Joel Love has been welcomed to the Sir John Hawkins Hospital in Chatham as a Trustee by Mr Neil Wood. Rev Love is the Vicar of the church of St Peter with St Margaret, Rochester.
Admiral Sir John Hawkins was an English naval commander and administrator, merchant, navigator, shipbuilder, privateer and slave trader.
The hospital was built in 1594 and renovated in 2008. It offers age exclusive housing for needy or disabled people who have previously served in the British military regular or reserved forces, or those employed in the dockyards or in refitting HM warships.
Dr Love and Mr Wood are shown in the image.
Annual Conference 2016
18-21 April 2016High Leigh Conference Centre
Song of CreationTransforming Worship and the
WorldGuest Speakers:
Revd Canon Sue Wallace and Michelle Moran
For bookings or for further information visit
www.onfi remission.org.uk
Travel Insurance
UKBASED
FT TRAVELINSURANCE
Arranged for Rochester Link readers
Conditions apply Please call for details ~0116 272 0500
Authorised & regulated by the FCA
Our insurance has a customer 24-hour helpline, full medical cover with most pre-existing medical conditions accepted and,
most importantly, an air ambulance get you home service.
Annual (max. age 85) and single (no max. age) cover for UK, Europe and worldwide holidays
Real and friendly people... not machines!
JANUARY SALE EXTENDED£30 OFF any Long Stay cover of 31 days or more
ANNUAL MULTI-TRIP OFFER EXTENDED£20 OFF any Annual policy if purchased in February
Metalsmith www.steelyourself.co.uk
Conscientious and reliable, Ian Marshall provides new work and maintenance for a
number of churches.To join his list of satisfi ed customers
call: 020 8850 7851 or 077 6666 2747
WWW.CROSSRHYTHMS.CO.UK/DIRECT OR CALL 01782 251000
Thousands of CDs and DVDs at only £9.97
And thousands of CDs and DVDs now have FREE POSTAGE
Check out thousands of amazing
books and DVDs...
Do your shopping in comfort
and confidence at Cross Rhythms Direct.
Music, books and DVDs for life...
10 Advertising Featureochester Link
Imagine what it is like to be unjustly imprisoned and tortured. ACAT is an ecumenical movement and a registered charity (no. 1072628). We are a campaigning organisation that takes up individual cases and situations in countries where torture, assassination and death threats are widespread and often hidden by ruling governments. ACAT seeks to make individual Christians in the UK and their Churches aware of one of the major evils of modern society. Remembering that Jesus himself was a victim of torture, we aim to involve Christians in its abolition. Our Patrons include – Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Bishop Declan Lang, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Archbishop John Sentamu and Professor Lord David Alton. You can help us by learning about our work, joining us in prayer, and sending appeals to governments and embassies. We run an annual Christmas Greetings campaign posting messages to those of any faith or none who have been unjustly imprisoned and often tortured. Even just a coloured greetings card is of enormous help to someone in a darkened cell. A similar campaign at Easter focuses solely on Christian prisoners. For information, materials and how to join us see www.acatuk.org.uk, or e-mail [email protected], Or write to us at 19 The Square, Knowle Park, Bristol BS4 2ST
ACTION BY CHRISTIANS AGAINST TORTURE ACAT-UK
*Based on personal Contract Hire (PCH) payment profile 9+47. Finance subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be 18 or over. Guarantee/indemnity may be required. We can introduce you to a limited number of carefully selected finance providers. We may receive a commission from them for the introduction.
UP TO 4,000 USED CARS PRICE CHECKED DAILY, COMPREHENSIVELY CHECKED & FULLY GUARANTEED
PARTEXCHANGEWELCOME
FULL HISTORY CHECK
FLEXIBLE FINANCE AVAILABLE
NATIONWIDE DELIVERY TO YOUR DOOR
BRAND NEW CARS AVAILABLEALL MAKES
NISSAN NOTE 1.2 VISIA 5DR
£119.76PER MONTH*
48 MONTHS (9+47)
BRAND NEW
Paulo Marco Fulvio
The best website to buy a carAMAZING!
Call 0845 122 6910AUTOSAVE.CO.UK
AUTOSAVE... SERVING THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FOR OVER 35 YEARS
FIAT 500 1.2 POP 3DR RED 22K
12 REG
ONLY £5499FORD FIESTA 1.25 EDGE 3DR BLUE 34K
62 REG
ONLY £5771VAUXHALL ZAFIRA 1.6i DESIGN 5DR GREY 37K
62 REG
ONLY £6751
ST. MARY’S CONVENTWANTAGE
St Mary’s Convent offers a variety of facilities and fl exible accommodation for Group Quiet Days and Group Retreats. Also, Conference facilities and private stays.Theological Library may be available on request.
For further details please contact:St Mary’s Convent, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 9DJTel: 01235 763141Email: [email protected]
BE SEEN
To advertise in this newspaper,
contact Glenda or Michelle on
01752 225623or email
11ochester Link
IntercessionRochester Diocese - February 2016
Monday1 FebruaryBrigid, abbess, c.525
Barnehurst, St MartinVicar: The Rev Gareth Bowen
Tuesday 2 FebruaryThe Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)
Wednesday 3 FebruaryAnskar, Archbishop of Hamburg, Missionary in Denmark and Sweden, 865
For the Diocesan Baptism Day, and all who nurture the faith of catechumens.
Belvedere, St Augustine of Canterbury
Vicar: The Rev Clive Jones
Tunbridge Wells, St JohnVicar: The Rev Giles Walter
Bexleyheath, Christ ChurchVicar: The Rev Trevor Wyatt
For Queen Elizabeth II and those who serve the national Church.
Companions of Christ: Convenor: The Rev Canon Susanne Carlsson
Friday5 February
Thursday 4 FebruaryGilbert of Sempringham, Founder of the Gilbertine Order, 1189
Saturday 6 FebruaryThe Martyrs of Japan, 1597;Accession of Queen Elizabeth the II, 1952
Sunday 7 FebruarySunday next before Lent
Monday8 February
Bexleyheath, St PeterVicar: The Rev Jim Charles
Tuesday9 February
Bostall Heath, St AndrewVicar: The Rev Sulaiman Shahzad
Wednesday10 FebruaryAsh Wednesday
For all penitents, burdened by the weight of their sin.
Thursday11 February
Crayford, St PaulinusRector: The Rev Canon Antony Lane
Friday12 February
Erith, Christ Church Vicar: The Rev Julie Conalty
Saturday13 February
Erith, St John the BaptistVicar: The Rev Rob Radcliffe
Sunday 14 February Valentine, Martyr at Rome, c.269Lent 1
Rochester ArchdeaconryArchdeacon: The Venerable Simon Burton Jones
Monday 15 February Sigfrid, Bishop, 1045;Thomas Bray, priest, founder of SPCK and SPG, 1730
For the Mission and Community Engagement TeamDirector: The Rev Canon Jean Kerr
Thursday18 February
Friday19 FebruaryEmber Day
Slade Green, St AugustineVicar: The Rev Ann Tarper
For all those discerning vocations, and those having their vocation examined.
For diversity among those called to minister in this Diocese.
Sidcup DeaneryArea Dean: The Rev Colin TerryLay Chair: Mrs Madeleine Waggett
Welling, St John the EvangelistVicar: The Rev Adam Foot
For all those whose loyalty to Christ is being tested, or who doubt Christ’s faithfulness to them.
Sunday 21 FebruaryLent 2
Saturday20 February Ember Day
Monday 22 February
Tuesday 23 FebruaryPolycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr, c.155
Wednesday24 February
Chelsfield, St Martin of Tours. Rector: The Rev John Tranter
Thursday 25 February
Cray, St BarnabasVicar: The Rev Neil Coleman
Friday 26 February
For farmers, and those who work in the countryside.
Saturday27 FebruaryGeorge Herbert, Priest, Poet, 1633
For maternity wards, midwives and expectant parents.
Sunday 28 FebruaryLent 3
Estonian Evangelical Lutheran ChurchArchbishop Urmas Viilma
Monday 29 February
Crofton, St PaulVicar: The Rev Canon Bimbi Abayomi-Cole
Northumberland Heath, St PaulVicar: The Rev Clive Beazley-Long
Tuesday16 February
Wednesday 17 FebruaryJanani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda, Martyr, 1977 Ember Day
For those who fear to confess their vocation.
• Historically, the Church has been a patron of the arts, and has encouraged poets, artists, dramatists and musicians. Honouring copyright is a simple, everyday path to doing just that.
• It is courteous to acknowledge the work of others. We should not be claiming other people’s art as our own work - which is what we implicitly do when we publish it without acknowledgement.
‘Copyright’ is the legal protection of a piece of writing. Any original piece of writing automatically has copyright protection - and ought not to be copied without permission.
Copyright means that something you write and produce is yours, and nobody else can use it without permission (or, at least, not until you’ve been dead for 70 years). So reproducing other people’s work - hymns, translations of the Bible, prayers etc - without permission is theft. The penalties for copyright infringement can be severe.
Even if you are copying something for your own use, you ought to note the copyright and ensure you have permission. This applies to print, recording, projection, web-based uses (live streaming or services such as YouTube or Vimeo), or any form of published work. It makes no difference whether you are producing it for news sheets, orders of service, handouts, overheads/powerpoint, an “extra” copy for the musician, or even if you are recording the service. Anytime you reproduce a copyrighted work you need to obtain permission.
The easiest way to get your copyright information – and permission – is through a CCLI license. The software they give you will tell you the copyright information of the songs they cover. You must, by law, display the author and the copyright when you reproduce somebody else’s material.Common Worship was produced with the production of local leaflets in mind from the start. So we already have permission for the texts to be reproduced for personal reference and for local, non-commercial publications - as set out in A Brief Guide to Liturgical Copyright. As long as:• The text is not altered in any way. • The copies are not sold.• The name of the parish, team or group
ministry, cathedral or institution is shown on the front cover (or first page if there is no cover). In the case of a single occasion use, the date of the service must also be included.
• In the case of reproduction for repeated use the number of copies made from the same original does not exceed 500.
• The correct copyright acknowledgement is included, as specified in A Brief Guide to Liturgical Copyright.
• A Brief Guide to Liturgical Copyright also includes a list of the copyright acknowledgements for the principal English Bible translations.
This is not just the law of the land, or best practice, it is good discipleship and the honouring of our neighbour’s work.
A Plea for Copyright Acknowledgement
In the course of my working day, a fair number of orders of service cross my desk. More often than I’d like, I’m sending them back asking for copyright acknowledgements to be added. (Sometimes, I fear, they cross my desk without copyright acknowledgement, and I don’t notice.) This is why I keep banging the copyright drum, keep insisting that orders of service should clearly display the source and copyright of the material they include:
• The Church ought to model law-abiding behaviour. We teach that God is the source of law, and the just as we keep the ‘universal’ laws regarding theft, murder, arson et cetera, so we are obliged to keep the law of the land. This applies whether the law is for our benefit, and suits us, or whether the law is for the benefit of others, and causes us nuisance.
If you, or someone you know would like
more information about Gilead or would like to make an application,
please contact: Laura Alm
Tel: 01837 851240 Fax: 01837 851520
www.gilead.org.uk
Gilead Foundations is a Therapeutic Community,
Based on a 300 acre dairy farm in rural Devon, Gilead uses the Genesis Process Relapse Prevention programme with our clients.
offering a residential rehabilitation programme, called KEY, for people with life-controlling addictions, such as drug or alcohol abuse, homelessness, gambling, eating disorders, self harm, and other addictive behaviours.
12 ochester Link
Vocations Day
Booking forms will be available from the beginning of February, please contact Val Butler on 01634 560000 or at [email protected] for a form, or if you would like further information contact the lead Vocation Advisor, the Rev Canon Mark Griffin on [email protected] or one of the Vocation Advisors spread across the Diocese whose details appear on the Vocation pages of the Rochester Diocesan website.
As a Diocese we celebrate calling in its widest perspective - we are thinking not just about ordination and licensed lay ministry but about the full range of ministries and opportunities, all the ways we can serve God and those around us in the world and in the church.
To help you explore where God may be calling, to hear more about the opportunities that are around and to meet others thinking about using their gifts, the Ministry and Formation Team are running a Diocesan Vocations Day in the spring. “Called to Be” is taking place at St Andrew Paddock Wood, happening on Saturday 23 April from 10.30am- 3.30pm, and is open to everyone, whether you feel a specific calling or whether you simply want to dip a toe in the water.
We are very fortunate to have two excellent keynote speakers, Bishop James and the Rev Canon Jean Kerr. Both Bishop James and Jean have a great passion for vocation and encouraging ministry, and will challenge and encourage us all.
As well as our speakers, there will be an opportunity to attend three workshops during the day. The subjects for the workshops include healing and wholeness, young vocations, chaplaincy, licensed lay
ministry, opportunities for ministry in mission, the ordination route, spirituality ministries and working with children and young people. There are also workshops on key subjects in the life of the church and individuals, women’s ministry, encouraging Minority Ethnic Anglicans in ministry, community engagement, and music and ministry. The workshops are being led by experts in their individual fields including the acting Diocesan Director of Ordinands, members of diocesan staff, a hospital chaplain, the Training Officer for Lay Ministries and other experienced ministers. So there will be plenty of relevant and up to date information and expertise.
There will be a marketplace which will run through the day with information about ministry within the church, people from various organisations in the diocese and experts from other agencies operating in the wider church. We will also have a bookstall with books about vocation for sale.
The Diocese has a team of Vocation Advisors across the deaneries of the Diocese and they will be on hand to talk individually or to give information about opportunities to explore your calling further after 23 April, especially our It’s Your Calling events, which run regularly during the year.
Each of us has a story to tell of God at work in our lives. Each of us have skills and talents, the gifts that make us the people we are. For many of us this leads to ask the question, how can I use these gifts? That is where the vocations team can help.
Why celebrate 140th, rather than wait for 150th? In the Old Testament of the Bible, in the first book of Samuel, there is the story of Samuel marking an unlooked for victory against the mighty Philistines by erecting a stone between Mizpah and Shen, naming it “Ebenezer” meaning “stone of help” as a permanent reminder of the leading and guidance of God “Thus far has the Lord helped us”.
Over the past 140 years, Mothers’ Union has faced, and will continue to face, many challenges. Family life is under increasing pressure and the call on
our resources is higher than ever. But we can look at how we are meeting these challenges and say, like Samuel, “Thus far has the Lord helped us.”
This year over 500,000 people will benefit from Mothers’ Union’s support for family life. Many more will know the support of our membership without any tally being taken – because not only our programme work but in their daily lives our members support families in prayer, in voicing their support for policy changes and in their practical support.
There has never been a more challenging, or more exciting time to be part of Mothers’ Union. Our hope is to train more members to help more families; to encourage greater outreach across those countries and communities where family life is under greatest threat. To do this we need your help. Please support Mothers’ Union in bringing positive change to family life through its work worldwide To find out how you can help Mothers’ Union mark 140 years of faith in action contact our Supporter Care line on 020 7227 0620 or email [email protected]
Happy Birthday to Mothers’ UnionThis year will see Mothers’ Union mark 140 years of faithful Christian outreach to families of all faiths and none. Since 1876, when Mary Sumner first brought together parents in her own parish to build their confidence in bringing up their children, we have grown to an organisation of over four million women – and men – in over 80 countries of the world.
