-
December 2016/January 2017
ochesterLinkChristmas Tree Decoration Competition
see pages 6-7
Real Advent Calendars for sick childrenThe Bishop of Rochester
was pleased to donate Real Advent Calendars to the sick children of
Hedgehog Ward in Pembury Hospital.
The Bishop of Rochester said,
“It can be a bit miserable being in hospital at any time, but
especially in the lead up to Christmas. We hope the children
enjoy
their chocolate Advent Calendars and the enclosed booklet
telling the story of
Christmas. We wish them all a very happy Christmas and pray for
their speedy and full
recovery.”
Picture shows Director of Communications, Lindy Mackenzie,
giving the chocolate treats to Sue Edwards, Health Play Specialist
at Pembury Hospital, accompanied by student nurse Rebecca Louise
Pope and Ward Sister Millie Welch.
Remembrance Day at St Margaret’s Church, RainhamBy Tony
FaircloughSt Margaret’s Church, Rainham was full for the annual
Remembrance Service on Sunday 13 November. 573 people attended
church for the service led by the vicar of Rainham, the Rev Judy
Henning. Afterwards, they went outside to the war memorial for a
short service and laying of wreaths.
Representatives from many local organisations, the Scouts and
Guides, as well as many veterans and families attended the service.
The usual church congregation was joined at the memorial by
hundreds of local people and those from other churches and
societies.
Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Mayor of Medway and Mr Rehman
Chishti MP. Others were laid by service associations and charities,
along with the police, schools, clubs, Scouts and Guides as well as
many veterans and families who laid their own wreaths and
tributes.
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2 ochester Link
CONTACT USNews and letters to the Editor:
[email protected] Telephone: 01634 560000
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What’s On December 2016SEVENOAKSEardley Road, Sevenoaks,
Lunchtime Recitals, Lasting 30 minutes. Every Wednesday at 12:30pm.
Please join us – admission free. Refreshments available from 12
noon7 Pupils from Knole Academy14 New Benedict Singers21 Chris
Lawton – OrganThere are no Recitals on 28 December or during
January 2017.
BURRSWOOD3rd December Christmas Concert at Burrswood in Church
of Christ the Healer at 7:30pm. We are delighted to welcome the
Tunbridge Wells Orpheus Mail Voice Choir to start our Christmas
celebrations with a heart-warming concert of Christmas music old
and new. Tickets £12.50 (seniors and children £7.50). To book
please call 01892 865987
GILLINGHAM3 December Medway Youth Services are performing a
Christmas Concert at St Mary Magdalene Church, the Church on the
Green, at 7:00pm; in aid of the Church’s Re-ordering Appeal.
Tickets are £5.00 to include refreshments and can be obtained from
the Parish Office 01634 853459 or [email protected]
or Hilda 01634 932135. FREE car parking at Saxon Way School.
GRAVESEND3 December St George’s Church Christmas Fayre 10:00am
to 2:00pm at St George’s Church Hall, Church Street, Gravesend DA11
0DJ. Free entry plus free face painting and children’s activities.
Hot refreshments, cakes, jewellery, cosmetics, bottle stall,
raffle, chocolate tombola, games, and much more.
ROCHESTER 6 December Messiah Concert with Carols taking place in
the Cathedral at 7:30pm. Tickets available from the Rochester
Cathedral website, or from the Cathedral Shop (10:00am – 4:00pm
daily except Sundays 12noon-4:00pm). Telephone enquiries to Theresa
Buckland on 01634 843366 or email
[email protected]
ROCHESTER9-11 December Christmas Tree Festival @ St Justus at St
Justus Church, The Fairway, Rochester, ME1 2LT. Friday 9 December
2:00pm - 5:00pm, 2:00pm Performance by NChant Choir from Rochester
Grammar School. Saturday 10 December 10:00am-5:00pm, 4:00pm
Performance by Rochester Rock Choir. Sunday 11 December 12
noon-4:00pm, Carol Service at 6:30pm. Live music throughout the
weekend, light lunches and refreshments, Creative Family Fun
sessions, Photo Booth, and Saturday Craft Boutique. There is no
entrance charge, and all monies
donated will go to support the work of the Wisdom Hospice. For
more information, email [email protected], visit
the website www.christmastreefestivalatstjustus.co.uk or ring the
Rev Helen Burn on 01634 841183
ASH10-11 December Christmas Tree Festival at the Church of St
Peter and St Paul, Ash TN17 7HD Saturday from 10:00am – 4:00pm;
Sunday 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Entry free. Come and enjoy the beauty and
peace of this occasion and vote for your favourite tree. To enter a
tree, contact Jean Bentley 01474872333; [email protected]
PEMBURY10 December ‘Christmas by Candlelight’ at 7:30pm at St
Peter’s Upper Church, Pembury. Cantiaci Vocal Ensemble plus Harpist
Anna Wynne and Flautist Lianna Jeffery. Tickets: £10 from
[email protected] or by calling 07775 624048
www.cantiaci.org.uk
SEVENOAKS 10-11 December Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s
Church, Riverhead, Sevenoaks, TN13 2RA Saturday December 9:30am –
4:30pm and Sunday 11:00am – 4:00pm. There will be a Carol Service
among the trees at 3:00pm on the Sunday. Donationas for Age UK.
Church car park is off Shoreham Lane behind the church. For more
information [email protected]
ORPINGTON11 December Mendelssohn: Sonata no 2 at Parish Church
of All Saints, Bark Hart Road, Orpington BR6 0QD at 7:45pm. Alex
Barnes (cello), Raymond Lewis (piano), Sterndale Bennett: Sonata
Duo, Max Bruch: Kol Nidrei. Admission free, retiring collection.
Enquiries 01689 832031
ST MARY CRAY11 December Music and poetry for a lazy Sunday
afternoon from 3:00pm-5:00pm at St Mary’s Church, High Street, St
Mary Cray. Sylvia Seaton - violin, Becky Diggens – violin, Philippa
Kent – viola, David Lee - ‘cello, and members of the Croft Poetry
Club. Tickets: £7 (accompanied under 16’s free) including
refreshments. Tickets from: 01689 810451
What’s On January 2017LAMBERHURST21 January Lamberhurst Music
Festival at 7:30pm in St. Mary’s Church Lamberhurst. Concert
featuring the famous violinist Tamsin Little who will be playing
and also talking about her music. This will be a hugely popular
concert so you are advised to book early. Tickets cost £20
(children under 15 free) at www.lamberhurstmusic.co.uk or 07497
488412
What’s on
Hymn Books for Sierra LeoneDoes your church have copies of
“Ancient & Modern Revised” (Maroon covers) hymn books which you
use no longer?
At Christ Church Bexleyheath we have in our congregation people
who come from Sierra Leone. This hymn book is still used by the
Anglican churches there and they would appreciate receiving hymn
books in good condition. We at Christ Church would be pleased to
collect these from you and send them to Sierra Leone. They need
words and music editions of this book which is no longer in
print.
Please contact George Johnson 01322 405348, Lloyd Bickersteth
07533 388905 or Tony Holcroft 01322 557458 if you are able to
help.
LIVING AN AUTHENTIC LIFELENT STUDY COURSE 2017Explore what it
means to be a disciple of Christ, with stories and insights from
our Anglican partners in India, Iran, Malawi, Pakistan and South
Africa.
Download or order free copies at www.uspg.org.uk/lent
-
By the Rt Rev James Langstaff
Commentators all over the world have been saying how momentous
2016 has been in all kinds of ways. The horrors in Aleppo and
Mosul, and Syria and the Middle East more generally, have hardly
left the news. The related crisis of migrancy from the Middle East
and other parts of the world has become an issue with both global
and local implications, with many questions raised about the
response in our own and other nations. Some are saying that this
will be the defining global issue of the next generation.
In the world of politics we have seen unexpected outcomes to
votes both here and in the United States, seen variously as good or
bad news depending on one’s perspective, whether of fear or hope.
There are increasing questions about the potential outcomes of
forthcoming presidential and other elections in continental
Europe.
Across the globe, gaps between rich and poor continue to widen
in many countries. And then we have also seen traumas of various
kinds, including earthquakes in Italy and New Zealand, serious
train crashes in various places, and alarmingly frequent shootings
of individuals and groups, including of course that of a British
Member of Parliament. With this litany of change, uncertainty and
challenge (and there’s plenty that I haven’t mentioned), it is
understandable that many are confused and even downhearted.
In these weeks of Advent as we approach Christmas, we hear bible
readings which fall within the ‘apocalyptic’ strand of Scripture.
In these passages we have the language of wars, rumours of wars,
earthquakes and other calamitous events. These are passages which
have given rise to dramatic presentations in art and music, as the
end of this present age (even of the world as we know it) is
depicted. Very understandably, successive ages, especially in times
of war, calamity and turmoil, have seen their own age reflected in
these passages and their imagery.
But, while the language of these passages inevitably evokes
fear, this biblical language of the apocalypse carries an
underlying message of hope. This is hope which arises out of who we
believe God to be, and the message that ultimately God is God, and
God’s purposes of justice and truth will be fulfilled. There is
judgement – judgement on all that is not of God, all that is
contrary to God’s eternal purposes. And there is salvation – the
healing and restoration of all things in Jesus Christ.
So, yes, we and the world face all kinds of uncertainties,
worries and even fears. But, yes, we also re-affirm our faith in
the God who comes to us in Jesus Christ, sharing the life of our
humanity in all its fullness, and leading us in hope towards the
fulfilment of God’s eternal purposes of truth, justice and love.
May we indeed be renewed in hope as we celebrate the coming of
Christ.
3ochester Link
Christmas Message
December 2016 1 Thursday All Day Southern Province Bishops’
Retreat - Canterbury 5:00pm Bishop’s Council - Rochester2 Friday
10:00am Housing Justice Board Meeting - London4 Sunday 10:00am
Confirmation - South Gillingham 3:00pm Centenary Service - St
Augustine, Gillingham 7:00pm Patronal Service - St Nicholas,
Strood6 Tuesday 8:30am London Church Leaders’ Meeting - London
10:30am Housing Justice Symposium - London 1:30pm BAME Meeting -
London8 Thursday All Day Senior Leadership Development Group -
London9 Friday All Day Suffragan Exploration meeting - London10
Saturday - All Day Cell Group meeting - London11 Sunday12 Monday-
All Day House of Bishops - London 13 Tuesday13 Tuesday 7:30pm Kent
Workplace Mission Trustees Meeting - Larkfield14 Wednesday All Day
Bishop Staff Meeting - Rochester
7:30pm Licensing of the Rev Graham Lunn - Beckenham St James
with St Michael and St Augustine15 Thursday 3:00pm Strategic
Framework Meeting - Rochester16 Friday Evening Medway Night Shelter
Visit - Strood17 Saturday 3:00pm Kenward Carol Service - Yalding18
Sunday 10:30am Advent Service - St Laurence Church, Catford19
Monday - All Day House of Lords Duty - London21 Wednesday21
Wednesday - All Day Church Leaders’ Residential 22 Thursday -
Northiam22 Thursday 12:30pm Staff Lunch - Rochester 7:00pm Carol
Service - Rochester Cathedral 24 Saturday 4:30pm Carols on the
Green - Ditton 11:30pm Midnight Service - Langton Green25 Sunday
10:30am Christmas Day Service - Rochester Cathedral
January 20175 Thursday 7:30pm Institution and Induction of the
Rev Ted Hurst - St Peter and St Paul, Shorne
8 Sunday 10:00am Family Communion Service - St Alban, Dartford9
Monday All Day Episcopal Exploration Meeting - London10 Tuesday All
Day Bishop’s Staff Meeting - Rochester11 Wednesday 9:30am Strategic
Framework Meeting - Rochester14 Saturday 3:15pm Collation of the
Rev Rachel Philips - Rochester Cathedral15 Sunday 10:00am Sunday
Service - St Augustine, Gillingham16 Monday All Day Turning Up The
Volume meeting - Northern Province17 Tuesday 7:30pm Kondoa
Partnership Group Meeting - Kippington19 Thursday 8:00am
Confirmation - St Michael’s School, Otford20 Friday All Day
Bishop’s Council Residential 21 Saturday - London22 Sunday 11:00am
Homeless Sunday Service - Methodist Central Hall, London23 Monday
All Day College of Bishops - London26 Thursday 6:00pm Holocaust
Memorial Day Service - Rochester Cathedral27 Friday - All Day
Annual Leave31 Tuesday
Bishop James’ Diary
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4 ochester LinkAdvertising Feature
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5ochester Link
Assistant Bishops for RochesterThree Assistant Bishops were
licensed at a special service of choral evensong held at Rochester
Cathedral on Saturday 5 November. They were the Rt Rev Rod Thomas
(Bishop of Maidstone), the Rt Rev Norman Banks (Bishop of
Richborough) and the Rt Rev Ken Okeke.
Bishop James said: “Licensing Bishop Rod and Bishop Norman as
Assistant Bishops is an expression of confidence in the
arrangements put in place in recent years whereby we hold an
honoured place within our church for those of differing convictions
over ordination to priestly and episcopal ministry. Bishop Ken is a
retired bishop living in our Diocese, having served in various
roles in both England and Nigeria over 35 or more years, including
as Bishop on the Niger. All three are now licensed to officiate in
the Diocese, and I am delighted to welcome and commend them.”
Honorary Canons for RochesterOn Sunday 25 September, Rochester
Cathedral hosted Choral evensong with the collation and
installation of three new Honorary Canons for the Diocese of
Rochester. The Rev Julie Conalty, Vicar of Christ Church, Erith and
the Rev Mark Brown, Vicar of St Peter and St Paul, Tonbridge,
joined the Very Rev Hosam Naoum, Dean of Jerusalem Cathedral, at
this special service.
Bishop James welcomed the congregation and led the acclamation,
before each Honorary Canon was presented to the Bishop in turn.
During the service, each Honorary Canon was handed a Deed of
Collation, a copy of the Cathedral Constitution and Statutes, and a
Mandate of Installation before being officially welcomed in their
new role by the Very Rev Philip Hesketh, Dean of Rochester
Cathedral. They were welcomed
by the congregation with an enthusiastic round of applause.
On 20 November, the Rev Alan Mustoe rector of St Nicholas church
Chislehurst and the Rev Brian Senior, Team Rector of the Parish of
South Gillingham, were also collated at Rochester Cathedral and
installed as Honorary Canons for the Diocese of Rochester.
The Rt Rev Norman Banks, the Rt Rev James Langstaff, the Rt Rev
Ken Okeke and the Rt Rev Rod Thomas
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6 ochester Link
Design a Christmas Tree DecorationThe Diocese of Rochester
“Design a Christmas Tree Decoration” competition was launched in
October. Pupils at Church of England primary schools were invited
to create new Christmas Tree decorations to be in with a chance of
winning a Real Advent Calendar with a booklet containing the
Christmas story. Winners and their families collected their prizes
and certificates from Bishop James at a special afternoon tea at
Bishopscourt in Rochester on 16 November.
Entries were invited from all of the Church of England primary
schools from across the Diocese. It was clear from the entries that
a lot of thought, time and glitter had gone into the artwork!
Competition judge Katerina Gerhardt said,
I was impressed by the three dimensional entries that had
obviously had a lot of thought, like the overall
winner Jessica Thomas and six year-old Pixie Davies who created
a 3D Christmas tree.
Overall competition winner Jessica Thomas aged 6 from St Mary’s
Island Primary School submitted three ceramic Christmas Tree
decorations. Shaped like a Christmas stocking, a star and a
Christmas tree. They were carefully decorated on the front and
back, and would make a festive addition to any Christmas tree. Very
many congratulations and well done to Jessica!
Competition judge Suzanne Rogers said,
The creativity of the entries made it quite difficult
to pick winners for each category.
All the children should be congratulated for the
imagination and originality of their designs.
Other category winners were: Age 51st Benjamin Wildgoose Lady
Boswell’s Primary School, Sevenoaks2nd Finnley White St Mary’s
Island Primary School3rd Nate Debono from Sundridge, Sevenoaks.
Age 61st Pixie Davies St Mary’s Island Primary School2nd Miro
Shade St Margaret’s at Troy Town3rd Gvidas Mikalauskas St
Margaret’s at Troy Town
Age 7 1st Anna Fry St Margaret’s at Troy Town2nd Nasif Uddin St
Margaret’s at Troy Town3rd Fergus Garrood St Margaret’s at Troy
Town
Age 9Thomas Gates from Cuxton
Thank you to everyone who entered and congratulation to our
winners.
Bishop James with Overall Winner Jessica Thomas
Age 5 Category Winners
1st
2nd
3rd
-
7ochester Link
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Age 7 Category Winners
Age 9 Category Winner
Age 6 Category Winners
1st
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Diocesan Finance Presentations hit the roadOn Monday 7 November,
Diocesan Secretary, Geoff Marsh, accompanied by the Archdeacon of
Tonbridge, the Ven Clive Mansell, the Chair of the House of Laity,
Mr Phillip French, and the Rev Dylan Turner gave a Diocesan
Finances presentation to invited delegates from the Tonbridge
Archdeaconry. The presentation opened with a short animated film
which you encouraged to view on-line here:
www.rochester.anglican.org/video/parish-offer-explained.php
The presentation is part of the wider plan to help parishes to
understand diocesan finances and the important role that parish
offers have to play. The content included details of the short-term
steps that have already been taken to improve the financial
position, as well as longer-term planning intentions. It concluded
with a wide-ranging question and answer session. Other similar
archdeaconry presentations are also planned.
An installation, created by Martin Barraud for Remembrance. 50
silhouetted men sat in the pews of Penshurst Church.
In the First World War 50 men from the small village of
Penshurst in Kent lost their lives. To mark their sacrifice 50 life
size clear silhouettes were placed in the pews of St John the
Baptist Church, Penshurst, in the run up to Remembrance Sunday.
Some, like 3 members of the Hardinge family, were sat next to each
other. Others were placed on their own. All provided a stunning and
most moving tribute to these men.
One of the visitors of the church said: “I’ve been trying to
find the right words to describe it. It is impossible because it
does that thing that art sometimes does and just stirs the soul a
little. But as usual it did not stop me having a go; The spectral
echoes of a community’s sacrifice. The remembered returned. Fifty
diaphanous figures providing a window on just why we must remember;
in them you also see your reflection. They are us and we are
them.”
And another said: “What a marvellously simple but effective idea
the Perspex figures, their name blocks and poppies are! With the
light catching the edge of the silhouettes it is not difficult to
imagine the commemorated soldiers in the church and in doing so
their ‘presence’ can become almost tangible. The decision to make
the figures identical and devoid of individuality was inspired,
echoing as it did (for me
anyway) the Imperial/Commonwealth War Graves Commission decision
to have all the grave markers identical and without any distinction
regarding military rank or social standing. Although we saw the
notices to sit amongst them, we couldn’t contemplate doing so as to
move past and between them seemed ‘wrong’ - like pushing past
actual living people sitting there.”
There, but not there
Photo by Martin Barraud
Photo by Martin Barraud
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Signed __________________________________________________ Date
_________________________Please return your completed form to:
Church Housing Trust, PO Box 50296, London EC1P 1WF
Please reclaim the tax on this and/or future donations (delete
as applicable) until further notice. I confirm I have paid or will
pay an amount of UK Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each
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Roch Link Xmas 2016
We’ve been helping homeless people for 125 years
Sadly, our help is still needed
We need your postcode to process card donationsIssue no.
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11ochester Link
IntercessionsRochester Diocese - December 2016 - January
2017
Thursday 1 December Charles de Foucauld, hermit 1916For all who
find the approach of Christmas problematic.Friday 2 December
Bostall Heath, St Andrew, Vicar: The Rev Sulaiman ShahzadSaturday 3
December Francis Xavier, missionary, Apostle of the Indies
1552Crayford, St Paulinus, Rector: The Rev Canon Antony LaneSunday
4 December John of Damascus; Nicholas FerrerSidcup Deanery, The Rev
Philip Wells, Area Dean; Mrs Madeleine Waggett, Lay ChairMonday 5
DecemberErith, Christ Church, Vicar: The Rev Canon Julie
ConaltyTuesday 6 December Nicholas, Bishop of MyraErith, St John
the Baptist, Vicar: The Rev Rob RadcliffeWednesday 7 December
Ambrose, bishop, teacher of the faith 397, Ember DayPray for young
vocations.Thursday 8 December Conception of the Blessed Virgin
MaryFalconwood, Bishop Ridley Church, Vicar: The Rev Mark
TariqFriday 9 December Ember DayFor vocations among ethnic
minorities.Saturday 10 December Ember DayFor vocations among those
with disabilities.Sunday 11 DecemberStrood Deanery, The Rev David
Green, Area Dean; Mr Geoff Foord, Lay ChairMonday 12
DecemberNorthumberland Heath, St Paul, Vicar: The Rev Clive
Beazley-LongTuesday 13 December Lucy, martyr, 304; Samuel Johnson,
moralist, 1784For the witness of young Christians.Wednesday 14
December John of the Cross, poet, teacher of the faith 1591Slade
Green, St Augustine, Priest-in-Charge: The Ven Dr Paul
WrightThursday 15 DecemberFor all involved planning the new
strategic framework for the Diocese.Friday 16 DecemberWelling, St
John the Evangelist, Vicar: The Rev Adam FootSaturday 17 December O
Sapientia (O Wisdom!); Eglantine Jebb, social reformer, 1928“O
Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from
one end to the other mightily, and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.” Isaiah 11:2-3Sunday 18
December O AdonaiDiocesan Strategy Team, Director: Mr Matthew
GirtMonday 19 December O Root of Jesse!Chelsfield, St Martin of
Tours, Rector: The Rev John TranterTuesday 20 December O Key of
David!Cray, St Barnabas, Vicar: The Rev Neil ColemanWednesday 21
December O Dayspring!Cray Valley, Vicar: The Rev Paul
PrenticeThursday 22 December O King of the Nations!Crofton, St
Paul, Vicar: The Rev Canon Bimbi Abayomi-ColeFriday 23 December O
Emmanuel!Cudham, St Peter and St Paul, and Downe, St Mary Magdalen,
Vicar: The Rev John MussonSaturday 24 DecemberFarnborough, St Giles
the Abbot and St Nicholas, Rector: The Rev Matthew HughesSunday 25
DecemberFor all maternity wards and midwives.Monday 26 December
Stephen, deacon, first martyrFor Christians witnessing even to the
point of death.Tuesday 27 December John, Apostle and EvangelistFor
exiles and those who cannot go home.Wednesday 28 December The Holy
InnocentsFor all caught in the cross-fire of conflict.Thursday 29
December Thomas Becket, archbishop, martyr, 1170For all who ‘speak
truth to power’ at the risk of life or livelihood.Friday 30
DecemberGreen Street Green, St Marys and Pratts Bottom, All Souls,
Vicar: The Rev Karl CarpaniSaturday 31 December John Wyclif,
reformer, 1384Orpington, All Saints, Vicar: The Rev Brian
McHenrySunday 1 January Naming and Circumcision of JesusFor all
those in need of a new start, or who are facing new beginnings with
joy or trepidation.
Monday 2 January Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus,
Bishops, Teachers of the Faith, 379 and 389, Seraphim, monk,
spiritual guide, 1833, Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah, bishop,
evangelist, 1945Orpington, Christ Church, Vicar: The Rev Jay
ColwillTuesday 3 JanuaryPetts Wood, St Francis, Vicar: The Rev
Robert LaneWednesday 4 JanuaryBexley, St John the Evangelist and St
Mary the Virgin, Team Rector: The Rev Scott LambThursday 5
JanuaryBlendon, St James the Great, Vicar: The Rev Andrea
WardFriday 6 January EpiphanyFor pilgrims and pilgrim
shrines.Saturday 7 JanuaryFootscray, All Saints, with North Cray,
St James, Priest-in-Charge: The Rev Stephen SealySunday 8 January
Baptism of ChristSevenoaks Deanery, The Rev Martin Booth, Rural
Dean; Brigadier Ian Dobbie, Lay Chair.Monday 9 JanuaryJoydens Wood,
St Barnabas, Vicar: The Rev Ren HardingTuesday 10 January William
Laud, archbishop, 1645For the Bishop’s Staff, meeting
today.Wednesday 11 January Mary Slessor, missionary, 1915 Lamorbey,
Holy Redeemer, Priest-in-Charge: The Rev Colin TerryThursday 12
January Aelred, abbot,1167, Benedict Biscop, scholar, 689Lamorbey,
Holy Trinity, Vicar: The Rev Philip WellsFriday 13 January Hilary,
bishop, teacher of the faith, 367, Kentigern (ungo), missionary
bishop, 603, George Fox, Founder of the Society of Friends
(Quakers), 1691Sidcup, Christ Church, Vicar: The Rev Tom
ParsonsSaturday 14 JanuaryFor the Cathedral and for their new
residentary Canon, collated today.Sunday 15 JanuaryEstonian
Evangelical Lutheran Church: Archbishop Urmas ViilmaMonday 16
JanuarySidcup, St Andrew, Vicar: The Rev Rupert HankeyTuesday 17
January Antony of Egypt, hermit, abbot, 356, Charles Gore, bishop,
founder of the Community of the Resurrection, 1932For all who work
with young people and children, especially the youth workers,
meeting today.Wednesday 18 January Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity:18-25 Jan., Amy Carmichael, founder of the Dohnavur
Fellowship, spiritual writer, 1951Sidcup, St John the Evangelist,
Vicar: The Rev Stephen SealyThursday 19 January Wulfstan, bishop,
1095Ash, St Peter and St Paul, with Ridley, St Peter,
Priest-in-Charge: The Rev Canon Ruth OatesFriday 20 January Richard
Rolle, spiritual writer, 1349Cobham, St Mary Magdalene, with
Luddesdowne St Peter and St Paul, and Dode, Priest-in-Charge: The
Rev Angela WalkerSaturday 21 January Agnes, child martyr, 304For
the Diocesan Board of Education.Sunday 22 January Vincent of
Saragossa, Deacon, 304For all charities and churches working to
support and house the homeless.Monday 23 JanuaryFor the national
College of Bishops, meeting today.Tuesday 24 January Francis de
Sales, bishop, teacher of the faith, 1622For the archdeacons across
the country, meeting today.Wednesday 25 January Conversion of
PaulFawkham, St Mary, and Hartley, All Saints, Rector: The Rev Jim
FletcherThursday 26 January Timothy and Titus, companions of
PaulIstead Rise, St Barnabas, Vicar: The Rev Andrew VaughanFriday
27 JanuaryLongfield, St Mary Magdalene, Priest-in-Charge: The Rev
Dylan TurnerSaturday 28 January Thomas Aquinas, priest,
philosopher, teacher of the faith, 1274Meopham, St John the
Baptist, with Nurstead, St Mildred, Priest-in-Charge: The Rev
Alyson DavieSunday 29 JanuaryTonbridge Deanery, The Rev Canon Mark
Brown, Rural Dean; Mrs Carol Wake, Lay ChairMonday 30 January
Charles, king and martyr, 1649Southfleet, St Nicholas, Rector: The
Rev David HoustonTuesday 31 January John Bosco, priest, founder of
the Salesian Teaching Order, 1888For our brothers and sisters in
the Roman Catholic Church.
The Fellowship of Pray-ers exists to provide prayer support to
the work and worship of the Diocese of Rochester, as well as to
pray for those in urgent need. Routine prayers are submitted by
deanery coordinators but to ask the Pray-ers, urgently or
confidentially, to hold an event or person in their prayers please
contact the Bishop’s Chaplain: Lindsay Llewellyn-MacDuff, Tel:
01634 814439, [email protected].
Similarly, contact the Bishop’s Chaplain if you are interested
in joining the Fellowship.
More information can be found under ‘Pray-ers’ within ‘Prayers
& Intercessions’ in the Ministry menu on the diocesan website:
www.rochester.anglican.org/ Their calendar of prayer is in the same
place under ‘Praying the Way’.
Rose 07496 703314Lorraine 07986523041
[email protected]
Brighter Thoughts
Counselling Agency
Walking with Jesus in
The Holy LandLed by
Bishop John Pritchard8th - 17th May 2017
For a brochure please call01992 576065
[email protected]
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he
meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of
water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not
wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked
will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of
the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the
way of the wicked will perish.
Psalm 1 (ESV)
Photo: www.sxc.hu
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12 ochester Link
Bwana AsifiweBy Mike Fawcett
A group of sixteen from three parishes in our Diocese returned
home on 13 October after visiting partner parishes in Kondoa
Diocese in Tanzania for the first time. The aim of the trip was to
begin building long-term personal relationships to offer each other
mutual support in spreading the Gospel message.
The majority of the party came from St Augustine Bromley Common
and they visited the parish of Mwakisabe. Smaller groups from
Christ Church Bexleyheath and St John and St Mildred (Meopham with
Nurstead) visited Kidoka and Itolwa respectively, and all the
visitors also spent some time at the diocesan office in Kondoa
town. We were extremely well looked after by Sabrina Derham, from
Bidborough, Kent, who has been working in the Diocese for over two
years.
The Christian churches in Kondoa face huge challenges: it is the
poorest diocese in a poor country; the predominantly farming
communities have been hard-hit by droughts and famine in recent
years; and Christians are heavily outnumbered by Muslims in this
part of Tanzania. Despite this, the strong faith of the African
church members is very evident and their acts of worship are full
of colour, joy and love.
The visitors from Kent were generally hit by a culture shock on
arrival in their partner villages, but have returned with many
happy memories of the warm welcomes they received, the generous
hospitality of their hosts and the joy and vitality in the services
in which they took part. The depth of their faith and the way that
communities support each other was apparent at a funeral service
held in Mwakisabe, after the tragic passing of Joshua, the
prematurely born son of Pastor John and Mama Sinda. We have a lot
to learn from our African brothers and sisters.
Good things are also happening around the diocesan office. The
Bible School run by Peter and Christine Akester offers 2- and
3-year residential courses for current and potential pastors. Peter
and Chris have spent most of their lives in New Zealand and
Tanzania, but Peter was brought up in Longfield and Gravesend. The
centre also runs a dressmaking course to equip women to augment
their incomes and a new, bigger kindergarten is being built.
Parish links between Rochester and Kondoa have existed for more
than 10 years. Many of those returning from the trip are now fired
up by hopes that they can contribute to, and gain from, the
expansion of this loving long-distance partnership.
* Bwana Asifiwe means “Praise the Lord” in Kiswahili and is
heard frequently in church services.
The group enjoy a day out at the Ngorongoro Crater after their
10 day visit to the Diocese of Kondoa
Mothers’ Union choir sing as we leave the partially built new
church in Mlongia
The pastor’s wife enters St James’ Church, Itolwa as the youth
choir joyfully sing
