My Leap of Faith I’D Never Been on a Retreat Weekend Before and So I Wasn’T Quite Sure What to Expect

Church as place of Lament ochesterLink

JULY / AUGUST 2015 See page 12 for details My Leap of Faith I’d never been on a retreat weekend before and so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But I did expect to be challenged!

hy? Because and to put myself well telegraph pole and Wthis was ‘Leap of and truly out of my froze? (It wouldn’t be Faith’ and there were comfort zone. the first time – I have high ropes involved. history!) Yet, I still felt Now, what you have So I did – I rang that God wanted me to to understand is that Emma Buchan and do this. My prayer life I’m not good with told her I’d like to go improved dramatically heights … I’m quite and I chose archery during that final week terrified of them, if and high ropes as as I prayed that I I’m honest. Yet ‘Leap my two activities. It wouldn’t make a fool of Faith’ sounded like was a year away in of myself in front of a something I was being my diary and I wasn’t lot of strangers. told to do. Another worried. Suddenly, the thing you have to weekend at Carroty Then Emma called understand is that I’m Wood was almost me and said: ‘The not good at listening upon me. The more I high ropes are really to God. I try, but I thought about it, the popular. If you couldn’t do think it would be less I wanted to go. do them, what else easier if he wrote on I arranged to pick up would you like to my living room wall a friend and take her do?’ God does love in large letters rather with me, so I couldn’t me! I chose abseiling than being subtle back out – but I was because I still wanted about it all. However becoming more and to challenge myself I really felt that God more nervous as the but I’d done it years was telling to me sign days passed. What if ago and survived. up for this weekend I got halfway up my

It felt like a real ‘Abraham and Isaac’ moment; God had asked me to do something and I was going to give it my very best shot. And almost at the last moment, he let me off the hook.

The activities were great fun; was not. We were led in worship I discovered I’m no Robin Hood by Ruth Shopland and the singing with a bow and arrow, that I can was emotional and uplifting – a wriggle through small spaces, room full of women singing from that I can’t balance, and that the heart to their Saviour was just I have no strength in my arms. so moving. But that wasn’t all I learnt about myself. The Rev Canon Jean Kerr led our Bible session and the theme was The spiritual element of the ‘Living the Life’. One more thing weekend was exactly what I you need to understand about me expected but my reaction to it is that I love the bit where Jesus continued on page 6

Copy deadline for the September issue of Rochester Link is 1400 on Friday 24 July. Copy to: [email protected] 2 ochester Link

The Bishop of Tonbridge, The Rt Rev Dr Brian Castle What’s on in July Monday 1 10.00 Challenging Poverty Conference debrief meeting Sevenoaks JULY AUGUST Tuesday 2 19.00 Confirmation – St Justus, Rochester Saturday 4 Saturday 8 Wednesday 3 11.00 SEITE Council meeting – London GRAVESEND. Gravesham Choral Society presents: Kodály: Rochester Cathedral 19.30 Hands of Compassion School, Zambia Missa Brevis and Elgar Anthems, St George’s Church, ROCHESTER. Informal lunchtime piano recital 1205 Pianist Service celebrating 15 years – St Paul, Gravesend. Written 1945, the Missa Brevis was first and composer Charles Timberlake returns to Rochester Beckenham performed in the cloakroom! It will now be sung alongside Cathedral to present his unique blend of the original, the Thursday 4 11.00 Chair Mission Theology Advisory Group - London Monday 8 10.00 Partnership LINKS Group and lunch Sevenoaks three anthems by Elgar, including the intensely moving sacred and the secular – an inspirational mix of original Tuesday 9 19.30 Institution of the Rev Tim Hatwell – opening chorus from his 1903 oratorio, The Apostles. compositions together with hymns and ballads. St Peter, Ightham Conducted by Alan Vincent and featuring organist Malcolm Free admission. Wednesday 10 10.30 Hospital Chaplains’ Meeting and Lunch Sevenoaks Riley 7.30pm Tickets £12 (£5 fulltime students) 19.30 Confirmation – St Mary, Hever www.graveshamcs.co.uk Thursday 27 Thursday 11 10.00 Lead Quiet Morning for Ministry & Formation SEVENOAKS. ‘The Jihad of Jesus’. An evening of inspiration Team at Worth Abbey Monday 6 and challenge! Greenbelt Christian Festival speaker Dave Friday 12 14.00 Silver Anniversary and Tea Party of Scotts ST PETER & ST PAUL AYLESFORD Pray for our climate. Andrews will speak of his experience of partnership with Project Trust, Tonbridge Sunday 14 10.00 Preside and preach – St George, Wrotham This December a summit meeting will take place in Paris Muslims in Australia, as described in his book ‘The Jihad of 18.30 Confirmation – St Luke, Tunbridge Wells to consider steps to be taken to keep global temperatures’ Jesus’. St Mary’s Church, Kippington, Sevenoaks 7.30 pm. Monday 15 18.00 License the Rev Richard Finch as Chaplain increase below 2 degrees C. We are holding an hour of - Bishop Justus School, Bromley prayer in the church from 10 to 11 am (with coffee break) SEPTEMBER Wednesday 17 Speak at Training Incumbents’ Residential Further Climate Prayers at the same time on following Friday 4 Thursday 18 Bishop Woodford House, Ely 1st Monday of the month. Call 01474 812726 HORTON KIRBY. St Mary the Virgin, Dartford. Friday 19 Attend Burrswoods’ Trustees Away Weekend Flower festival. Friday 1000 to 1800, Saturday 5 from – Saturday 20 Sunday 12 1000 to 1800 but closed between 1230 to 1430 and Wednesday 24 11.30 Attend Eucharist and Lunch for Retired Clergy – Rochester NETTLESTEAD. Victorian Concert with Harpist Margaret Sunday 1200 to 1800. Contact April Glaze: 01474 703027. Thursday 25 9.30 Bishop’s Staff Meeting – Rochester Watson and her Golden Harp in the wonderful setting of Saturday 27 9.30 Diocesan Synod – King’s School, Rochester The Undercroft at Nettlestead Place at 3.30pm Sunday 13 Sunday 28 June Deanery Visit - Orpington with Victorian Afternoon Tea.Tickets: £12.00 available from BEXLEYHEATH. Overseas Diocesan partnerships celebration – Sunday 5 July Yvonne Cronk 01622 812016, Marguerite Allen service at Christ Church, Bexleyheath at 6.30pm. Monday 29 June 10.00 Ordinands’ Day – Diocesan Office 01622 871272, Jackie Bennett 01622 813322. Tanzanian choir and the preacher, the Archbishop of 13.00 Ordinands’ Day Lunch - Rochester Proceeds in aid of Nettlestead Church. Tanzania. All welcome as we celebrate our growing links 19.00 Ordinands’ Supper – Sevenoaks in Estonia, Tanzania and Harare. Hosted by the Bishop of Wednesday 18 Rochester and the Bishop of Tonbridge. SEVENOAKS St Luke’s Church, Eardley Road, Sevenoaks. CONTACT US Ian Beadle – Baritone, Jenny Miles – Piano. 8 July David News and letters to the Editor: Oldfield – Organ. 15 July Sara Bartilozzi – Mezzo Soprano, [email protected] Debbie Gjeloshaj – Piano 22 July Elsa & Ingrid Cusido – Telephone: 01634 560000 Violin and Piano 29 July Victoria Edge – Mezzo Soprano, ADVERTISEMENTS Siobhain O’Higgins – Piano. 30 minutes each. Email: [email protected] Every Wednesday at 12.30pm. Admission Free. Copy for The Link needs to be typed and submitted by email please. Images Refreshments 1200. 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. A ROCHESTER DIOCESAN COMMUNITY CHOIR

Is being formed to help lead the music at the CELEBRATION SERVICE The To mark the climax of the BIG DIOCESAN DAY OUT AT LEYBOURNE On Sunday 19 July

Will you join us? We are looking for singers – in all voice parts – young and not so young EXPLORING YOUR from age 7-117!

FAITH OR TRAINING Rehearsals will take place on Tuesday 30 June at 7:15 to start singing FOR MINISTRY? at 7:30 and Wednesday 15 July SEITE provides certificate, diploma, and degree courses BIG 7:15 to start singing at 7:30 in Theology and Ministry, taught by highly qualified and experienced staff. You will study locally at our easily Diocesan Day Out At St John’s Church, Meopham. accessible teaching centres in London or Canterbury.

Interested? Have questions? Please contact us: Please spread the news of this choir E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01227 471120 across the Diocese.

Website: www.seite.co.uk For further details please contact The Rev Dylan Turner Sunday 19th July, 1-7pm, [email protected] SEITE_Advert_FINAL.indd 1 04/06/2015 14:03 To advertise Leybourne Castle Or in this newspaper, The Rev Alison Letschka contact Glenda or Michelle on [email protected] BE Grounds & Church 01752 225623 For all the church Family This is the first time a community choir or email has been formed from across Rochester Diocese – please do join us! SEEN [email protected] Entry by donation & Free Car parking ochester Link 3 The Cult Of Me

British citizens are overdue a The lack of political vision can be traced back to this inadequate view of human fresh narrative of who they nature. People need to be inspired to think about more than themselves, but are and why they matter to political debate does little more than one another. hold up a mirror to the individual, when it should give them a pair of binoculars to take in the wider community. As the decades pass, it feels like there is less of The customs and shared morality a coherent set of ethics with which which once bound British to shape our common life. Politicians and public leaders use the language of people together are losing their community, but it feels evanescent, like the echo of a voice in a cave, rather than stickiness. A decline in the the voice itself. power of the institutions which Our common life is formed by a network glued us and mediated values of local and national institutions but as these bodies lose influence, there is less has exacted a toll. The Church to hold us together and more excuse to is one of these bodies, though enshrine the individual in public life. In fact, to suggest a different narrative by no means the only one to lose today is to invite ridicule that one is freedom-denying, as if liberty were purely its former influence in society. individual rather than one dimension of a collective experience.

he customs and shared morality Where people express concern today the economic creed which governs Nations ultimately reap what they sow. Twhich once bound British people around our shared life, it is often in us. It has its roots in the strangely One risk of the cult of self is that we together are losing their stickiness. terms of the rise in immigration and impractical school of economic thought become less merciful towards those A decline in the power of the multiculturalism. Immigration can be which suggests that all people act who are not like us or do not share our institutions which glued us and managed well in any particular country always in their rational self-interest, circumstances. The tone of debate mediated values has exacted a toll. when there is a dynamic process of having a perfect understanding of the around a series of issues of which tax, The Church is one of these bodies, assimilation into the host nation’s market when making decisions. As an welfare and immigration are only the most though by no means the only one to culture. Yet while most attention has economic theory alone, it is deficient advertised suggests a harshening of pitch. lose its former influence in society. been on rates of immigration in the and has been critiqued by the growth Despite claims of tolerance, there are UK and the alleged failure of some in behavioural economics, which factors coarsening impulses of judgment between As Britain fragments and difference is immigrant communities to assimilate in the frailties and quirks of human us that make Britain a more spiteful celebrated, we are left with a question well, few people have posed the logical beings; however, it remains a pervasive place; an uncomfortable trend highlighted which few are making any effort to question: do we know what such influence in our thinking, influencing in our social media. answer: What is our vision of the communities should be assimilating both public and private spheres of life. common good? What are the values to? If the host nation cannot answer At the end of the Book of Judges, in which make up a good community that question coherently, why should it If we hold to a view of society an era of violent lawlessness in ancient and which policies help to create it expect new immigrants effortlessly to comprised of isolated individuals doing Israel, the author makes the laconic rather than undermine it? There was grasp what is required? their own thing without the duty of observation: ‘In those days there was very little debate in the 2015 General thinking about others, we cannot no king in Israel; all the people did what Election around this; instead the Britain is losing a sense of the form community. While many people was right in their own eyes’. It would political parties fine-tuned specific common good partly because it is would be appalled at the thought of be a polemicist’s exaggeration to say policies which would make the most in thrall to the cult of the individual; such a world and try to live a very this summed up modern Britain, but a difference to self-interested voters the idea that every person should be different kind of life where the duty to fool’s denial to say it does not speak in the few marginal seats that would unfettered by tradition, custom and others is practiced, our political and perceptively to our culture today. decide the outcome. other wearisome bonds and entitled to economic debate is predicated largely make their own way in life without un- on the individual (but glossed over by chosen obligations. This is essentially reference to hard working families).

Bishop James’ Diary - July & August 2015

JULY Monday 13 All Day General Synod Thursday 23 All Day Bishop’s Staff Meeting Wednesday 1 All Day Turning Up the Volume Wednesday 15 6pm Lecture, Equal Justice Initiative, 7.30pm Gillingham Deanery Meeting Thursday 2 All Day Suffragan Interviews Lambeth Palace Saturday 25 2.30pm Christ Church, Gravesend PCC Friday 3 All Day Prison Fellowship Conference Thursday 16 12noon Learning Community Launch Away Day Saturday 4 All Day Prison Fellowship Conference Event, Lambeth Palace Sunday 26 10.30am Preaching, Rochester Cathedral Tuesday 7 All Day Chapter Residential Sunday 19 All Day The Big Diocesan Day Out, Monday 27 All Day Senior Leadership Wednesday 8 2:30pm Welcome and Commissioning Leybourne Castle Development Group Angela Painter, Burrswood Tuesday 21 2.30pm Finance Committee AUGUST Thursday 9 6.30pm Castle Farm Lavender Fields 1-9 Tanzania Friday 10 All Day General Synod Wednesday 22 2pm Consecration, Canterbury 16-28 Annual Leave Saturday 11 All Day General Synod Cathedral Sunday 30 6pm Madeleine Dahl - Licensing at Sunday 12 All Day General Synod All Saints, Chatham 4 ochester Link Advertising Feature

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CHURCH PEWS UNCOMFORTABLE? Cake, Coffee and Chat in Crayford WHY NOT TRY SAFEFOAM’S TOP QUALITY UPHOLSTERED FOAM PEW CUSHIONS? Safefoam, Green Lane, Riley Green, The Friends of St Paulinus Church held a fundraising and social Coffee Morning at the Crayford Hoghton, Preston PR5 0SN www.safefoam.co.uk Freephone 0800 015 44 33 home of their Treasurer John Holbrook and his wife Lesley. Free Sample Pack of foam & fabrics sent by first class mail When phoning please quote RL0715 Members and guests enjoyed tea and coffee, delicious cakes made by Lesley, a walk around the lovely garden and a friendly chat. “Friends” Chair Marilyn Evennett drew the raffle Birchwood House and at the end of the event gave a vote of thanks to the Holbrooks for Rest Home their hospitality. Residential Home for the Elderly Among the guests were the Rt.Hon. Respite care & short David Evennett MP, Cllr. Howard stay available Mariner and his wife Diane and Rector A beautifully refurbished Georgian manor house, set the Rev Canon Antony Lane. in 6 acres of glorious Kent countryside, within easy reach of Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells. Marilyn Evennett (Chair), the Rev • All rooms have en-suite facilities & nurse call Canon Antony Lane, Dorothy system. Lift to all floors. Pennington-Jones, Brian Bunce, • Excellent home cooking, with special diets catered John Holbrook, Lesley Holbrook, and for. David Evennett MP •Hairdressing, chiropody, library and mobile shop. • Monthly in-house Holy Communion and links to the local church. Stockland Green Road, Speldhurst, Kent TN3 0TU Snodland Telephone: Langton (01892 86) 3559

Young Christians in Snodland have been taking full advantage of their local church being at a strategic point on the Pilgrim’s Way, to learn as Metalsmith much as they can about pilgrimage. www.steelyourself.co.uk Conscientious and reliable, Ian Marshall The Pathfinders, aged between ten and provides new work and maintenance for a fourteen, and with adults in support, walked number of churches. from St Benedict’s Church, Paddlesworth, to To join his list of satisfi ed customers call: 020 8850 7851 or 077 6666 2747 All Saints, Snodland, an ancient church which is mentioned in the Doomsday Book, and which sits at the point on the Medway where Pilgrims would have crossed the river on their way to Canterbury.

The modern-day ‘pilgrimage’ began with a “Changed people make picnic, chat and prayers. The pilgrims then followed the original path as much as possible, a better society. And stopping along the route at homes of adult the transforming agent members of the congregation, for fellowship, discussion about aspects of the Christian faith, is Christ’s love.” and plenty of squash and cakes. Fr Andrew Devadason The walk, which took all afternoon, finished The Prayer Walk consists of stones set The Pathfinders led prayers at the river Church of Ceylon with an outdoor service at All Saints, where, in into the ground about two feet in height for pilgrims past, present and future, the spirit of the whole journey, ‘the young and and arranged at different points around and at the end of the worship they old, the weary and enthusiastic, the new in faith the churchyard wall. Each is decorated distributed to every member of the and the experienced pilgrim’ came to continue with a symbol of the Christian faith congregation a scallop shell – symbol Be inspired by the world church. their journey of faith together. The service was and each stone focused our minds on of pilgrimage - in which to write a word Order a FREE Us introduction pack an opportunity to use the Snodland Stones aspects of the journey we had all or two of encouragement for a fellow ‘Prayer Walk’ which was created by the church just shared. pilgrim. The shells were then blessed for your church. Call 020 7921 2200 community last year. and redistributed. or email [email protected]

Us. The new name for USPG Registered charity Confirmation at St Margaret, Rainham number 234518

Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? Picture shows four confirmation candidates with Bishop James and the Vicar Ex 15:11 of Rainham the Rev Judy Henning. By Tony Fairclough. 6 ochester Link Leap of Faith

... Continued from page one

says: “I have come in order that a weepy woman but thinking you might have life – life in all about what I felt was being its fullness.” (John 10:10) So suppressed in me and, more this theme sang to my heart importantly, by me was a lot and I was looking forward to to deal with. My partner was finding out more about living brilliant; not phased at all and the life that God has planned very helpful. for me. The next session was ‘Living The first session was ‘Living beyond what you are now’ – without the masks’ and we about moving on, being willing thought about the different to let God lead us, and being aspects of ourselves that we able to deal with an unexpected present to different people hand. The story of Naomi and and in different situations. We Ruth was the perfect illustration considered the woman at the for this. I didn’t cry this time well and how she tried to ‘hide’ – I don’t think there were any herself and her story from the tears left. rest of the town. Were our ‘masks’ stopping us being the The ‘Living without conformity’ women that God wanted us to session explored how stepping be? We were given a mask to outside of normal, acceptable write on. On the outside we conventions can have surprising put all the ‘masks’ we wear, for results. Luke 7:36-50 (Jesus example mother, colleague, and anointed by a sinful woman) confident. We thought about contains so many points where the inside and what we hide social conventions were broken from people – perhaps a feeling and yet it finishes with the of inadequacy, a resentment woman being forgiven her sins. of our situation, a fear that we Sometimes we have to be brave couldn’t name to others? And and step outside of what we then we paired up to talk about think is expected of us. what we had written. That’s when it got personal – the ‘Living the life you are meant emotion that the exercise had to be’ looked at the story of stirred in me exploded into a Martha and Mary. Oh, how I torrent of tears. I’m not usually wish I could be Mary! I want

to take time out to sit Our final session with lunch before at the Lord’s feet too. was ‘Living the life in setting off for home. I want to hear him whose image?’ We I returned physically, talk to me. I want to are called to be in the spiritually, and mentally relax with him. But world but not of it. Do exhausted but also I fear I’m more like I live my life so that refreshed, renewed Martha; I fill life with others see something and recharged, having things that ‘need to different in me? Do I met some wonderful, be done’ and, if I’m try to blend in? Or do funny, welcoming really honest, with I try to maintain the women. We laughed, things that I want to standards that God we cried, we struggled do. I waste time on would like? Again, I and we did it together. Facebook, I watch was challenged. rubbish on TV, I go to Would I do it again? meetings – I could be We concluded with Heck, yes! I’ve already sitting at the Lord’s an incredible service told Emma that I’m feet if I really wanted and Communion, and going so she’d better to. I have been Bishop James found get it organised. challenged to sort that himself the only man in out over the coming a room full of sobbing Suzanne Rogers weeks and months. women. We concluded ochester Link 7 Wedding Festival

“Five sugar almonds for each guest to eat Remind us that life can be bitter or sweet. Five wishes are sent to new husband and wife, Health, wealth and happiness – children, long life”.

We decided that we would like to invite every family living in the parish to share in the Festival, and professional wedding invitations have been printed. Each invitation has been personalised and delivered to each of the 249 houses in the parish by a team of willing (?!) volunteers.

An information sheet will be displayed beside each dress, noting the names of the bride and groom, the date of the wedding and anything of special interest about the day. One bride - who was married on 30 July 30, 1966, the day on which England last won the Jules Rimet Football World Cup – commented that she must be the only bride in history who had an all female wedding reception, as all the male guests – including the groom – were in the vicarage drawing room watching the match on television. Even the speeches were delayed until after the final whistle had blown. Apparently, her husband’s standard Wedding Festival at St Martin’s Church, Ryarsh response to the event is that “England only win the World Cup once in a life-time”. It seemed such a very good idea church over the weekend. We were display some of the dresses on Surprisingly, this couple will be celebrating when the small outreach committee pleasantly surprised by the number two dimensional body shapes (each their Golden Wedding Anniversary next year. of St Martin’s Church, Ryarsh of dresses which were offered (30) rejoicing in the name of ‘Lucy’) - assembled for the first time last – from the family of a bride married suspended at head height - from the Over the Wedding Festival weekend, coffees Autumn, to discuss a possible in the early 1920’s to a bride rafters of our little Norman church. and Danish pastries, ploughman’s lunches Wedding Festival at the church, married as recently as three months and cream teas will be served in the nearby over the first weekend of 4, 5 and ago. (The bride whose dress dates St Martin’s Church will be decorated church hall. 6 July, 2015. back to 1922 must have been a real with flowers as it might be for any ‘it girl’ as her lovely champagne beautiful summer wedding – but in A local businessman has kindly agreed Ten months – and an enormous coloured velvet dress is extremely the pastel colours associated with to park a vintage Bentley wedding car – amount of planning and preparation short and would surely have been sugar almonds. On the Sunday appropriately trimmed with wedding ribbons time later - and the seven ladies considered somewhat risqué at morning, the 9.30am morning - outside the church during the Festival. of the outreach committee are the time.) Family Service will be a celebration beginning to question their own of marriage, and everyone who If you’d like to see how we get on – do come sanity! But.....only time will tell! How to display the dresses to best attends the service will be offered and see for yourself. We decided that we would advertise effect was the next challenge. a silver bag filled with five almonds, in our parish magazine to find brides We have assembled a (somewhat symbolising health, wealth, Remember it’s the 4, 5 and 6 July, from from decades past who would like to motley) collection of tailors’ dummies happiness, children and long life. 10.30am to 4.30pm each day. display their wedding dresses in the and mannequins, and hope to

Over 1000 Years of Ministry

There are ancient treasures that are so common The Rev. Mandy Carr, the vicar, Looking after ancient buildings is The Rev Mandy Carr states: ‘It in our landscape that it is easy to overlook them. states: ‘This isn’t just about an always a challenge. is a responsibility to be stewards One example is a local parish church, like historical building; it’s about the of a place like this, but it is also St Mary in Lamberhurst. The building is grade meaning it has had, and continues Recently the congregation of a privilege. Past generations one listed, and mostly mediaeval, but there has to have, for generations of people St Mary has been fundraising for have looked after it for us, and been a church on the site from the year 998. It’s across the centuries. St Mary’s essential stonework repairs. A we want to do the same for the extraordinary to think that this church, which is Church is still an important sacred fund has also been established generations to come, perhaps for still open and used every day, is still fulfilling the place where people gather to in order to pay for professional another a thousand years.’ original purpose it was built for. There are few worship God, to celebrate life help with the maintenance of the ancient buildings that can boast that. Each time events together or to find comfort churchyard. Up until recently a By the Rev Mandy Carr a child is baptised, a couple are married, or a in their grief. The sense of group of hard-working volunteers loved one is laid to rest in the churchyard, they history, tradition and continuity has been keeping it under control are following a tradition that has lasted over a is awesome.’ but the task has proved too thousand years. much. 8 ochester Link

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Quentin Blake: Beyond the ‘Community engagement is Page saw the former Children’s essential to the life of the local LYNTON DEVON Laureate, give an illustrated church so we were delighted to A warm traditional welcome talk, to an audience of over host the first Sidcup Words and awaits you at 300 people, about his early Music event with Quentin Blake, Kingford House memories of Sidcup, his supported by Rose Bruford Enjoy excellent home cuisine ideally situated for coastal & Exmoor walks. relationship with the College. We very much hope Tel Tricia Morgan on 01598 752361 stage and his work both in that this will develop our artistic for brochure and tariff books and more recently in life in Sidcup’ [email protected] hospitals, museums and other www.kingfordhouse.co.uk public spaces. Professor Michael Earley, Principal of Rose Bruford College of Theatre The event was the first in a and Performance, was delighted series of cultural events run in that the event set the stage for its TravelArranged for RochesterInsurance Link readers partnership by the church and increasing presence in the Sidcup Real and friendly people... not machines! the world renowned drama and Lamorbey community; Our insurance has a customer 24-hour helpline, full medical cover with most pre-existing medical conditions accepted and, school, entitled Sidcup Words Our aim is to invite work with a range of local partners on most importantly, an air ambulance get you home service. and Music. “Sidcup Words and Music forms producing inclusive events that will have appeal to all ages SUMMER SPECIAL PRICES New low prices for Portugal, Italy, part of our ongoing outreach and groups. Starting with a celebration of Quentin Blake in Greek Islands, Cyprus, Spain and more Fr Philip Wells, Vicar of Holy initiatives. In September we our local church is a terrific place to begin our initiative.” Annual (max. age 85) and single (no max. age) Trinity, Lamorbey saw the event open a new halls of residence cover for UK, Europe and worldwide holidays as the perfect opportunity to in Sidcup. By Fr Philip Wells Conditions apply FT TRAVEL UK Please call for details ~ connect with the local community; Holy Trinity, Lamorbey BASED INSURANCE 0116 272 0500 Authorised & regulated by the FCA Wondering Together… with Godly Play

Godly Play is a creative and imaginative approach to Christian nurture, based on tried and tested approaches using symbols and objects as well as words.

It values process, openness and the elderly. Rebecca Nye comments A Kent Godly Play Network for those Take discovery, encouraging people to on the Godly Play UK website that ‘The involved in this specific form of make meaning for themselves. The heart of Godly Play is that it does not reflective storytelling has been set Godly Play approach invites listeners depend on knowledge, but on personal up in the county, through a Facebook into stories and encourages them response and spiritual engagement with Group of the same name. It is to connect the stories with personal God’s word within a supportive, safe intended as a forum for sharing ideas a experience. In practice, it involves: community of friends. Consequently it and encouragement regarding good • welcoming individuals and getting ‘works’ with all ages, including adults, practice, Godly Play events, training ready and it works well in groups with a wide and development. The Diocese of • telling a story using objects and age or ability range’. Rochester also has a range of Godly artefacts Play resources, including books and Break • exploring the story more with open The concept and methods of Godly story boxes, which can be borrowed ‘wondering’ questions Play are variations of the Montessori by parishes and church schools (visit • responding to the story freely tradition of religious education and www.rdbe.org.uk/children-and-youth- through art, play, writing or silent have been developed in the United work for details) reflection. States by Dr Jerome Berryman. • enjoying a simple feast and sharing. Interest in and practice of Godly Play For more information, please contact has grown steadily in the UK over the Nick White, one of the Diocesan Although it was originally developed as past twenty years. Godly Play UK offers Children’s and Youth Work Advisers, a resource for use with young children, training for people who want to start on 01634 560000 or Godly Play is now being used with a practicing this approach (visit www. [email protected] wide range of age groups and in a godlyplay.uk for more information). diversity of settings including churches, Nick White schools, hospitals, and care homes for 10 ochester Link Advertising Feature ochester Link 11

FRIENDS OF KENT CHURCHES Praying The Way

Diocesan Big Day out 19 July Ash with Ridley Chalk Kippington Holiday Clubs/Homes New Ash Green Village day For Village Fete and Picnic Prom Bookings to flow for Church weekend THE SPONSORED RIDE AND STRIDE 2014 Holiday Club. Gravesend Holy Family away BROMLEY AND BEXLEY Fawkham and Hartley Opening of Community Garden 2 August Knockholt with Halstead RAISED THE MAGNIFICENT SUM OF ARCHDEACONRY School leavers’ assembly Greenhithe Summer Musical Holiday Club. BROMLEY DEANERY Holiday Club For funding for our church roof. Sevenoaks, St Luke £138,616 Bickley Longfield Mission outreach project MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO TOOK PART Pilgrims to Walsingham Deanery Chapter Residential ROCHESTER DEANERY Sevenoaks, St Nicholas Christ Church Holiday Club Chatham, St Paul with All Saints Youth Group to Kenya, all summer Dave Johnston, our new vicar designate Meopham with Nurstead Holiday Club events Bromley, St John the Evangelist Faith Gordon, mission to Brazil Chatham, St Stephen Weald Holiday Club reunion Holiday Club Thanks for appointment of the PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE 2015 RIDE AND STRIDE Bromley, St Mark DARTFORD DEANERY Rochester, St Justus Rev Mandy Carr TO BE HELD ON That Christ’s presence will be seen in us New premises for Swanley Food Bank. Holiday Club SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER 2015 Bromley Common, St Augustine Finances and new house for Dartford Princes Park TONBRIDGE DEANERY Replacement for our youth worker Churches homeless project New Outreach to community at Princes Park Hildenborough By cycling, walking or running around Kent churches Chislehurst, The Annunciation Avenues. Farmers’ Market you can raise Money to be divided equally between the Summer Fayre 18 July Darent Valley TONBRIDGE ARCHDEACONRY Hever, Four Elms and Mark Beech Friends of Kent Churches and the church or chapel of Hayes ‘Talking Good News course’. MALLING DEANERY Vicar Jane Weeks, curate, Wendy Izod your choice. Parish visitation Stone Aylesford Leigh Sponshorship forms available from your local organiser Teddy Bear’s Picnic. Holiday Club. Work with children and young people Children’s party 25 July or see www.friendsofkentchurches.co.uk ERITH DEANERY Wilmington Barming Guidance for encouraging those on Summer events. Holiday Club Wedding couples fringe Bexleyheath, Christ Church Event Co-ordinator: Carolyn Millen 01622 843383 Appointment of part-time youth worker. 25 -28 August Coxheath, East Farleigh, Hunton, Penhurst and Fordcombe Bostall Heath Linton and West Farleigh Summer events and wedding couples. [email protected] GILLINGHAM DEANERY Connecting with families and young Tonbridge, St Peter and St Paul Parish retreat 3-5 July In aid of friends of Kent Churches, and your local Church or Chapel Gillingham, Holy Trinity people Holiday Club Erith, Christ Church FKC Registered Charity No 207021 Tower open 5, 19 July, 16 August Summer Fayre 4 July West Malling with Offham Welling Gillingham, St Augustine Continued growth at Kings Hill TUNBRIDGE WELLS DEANERY Spark in the Park 27 -31 July Centenary celebrations Tunbridge Wells, St James Gillingham, St Luke PADDOCK WOOD DEANERY Holiday Club SIDCUP DEANERY Opportunities for community outreach Hadlow Tunbridge Wells, St John Footscray with North Cray Gillingham, St Mary Magdalene ‘Summer Fun’ and funding for repair to All camps/house parties, holidays and Weddings in August Funds for re-ordering project tower. wedding couples Sidcup, St John the Evangelist Horsmonden Tunbridge Wells, St Luke Lark in the Park. GRAVESEND DEANERY Children in our village. Holiday Clubs For our Street Pastors and for more Paddock Wood Tunbridge Wells, St Peter ROCHESTER ARCHDEACONRY volunteer Prayer Pastors. Christianity Explored and Carnival Noah’s Ark and Daddy & Me For our Food Banks and for help and COBHAM DEANERY advice for our clients. Rest and refreshment in summer SEVENOAKS DEANERY For events planned in the summer holidays Brasted months for outreach in our communities Flower Festival

Prayer topics for September Link should be sent to Lorna Kahan, 26 Wallis Close, Wilmington, Dartford, DA2 7BE. 01322 271657 [email protected] by 10 July 2015.

Celebrating 15 years of Hands of Compassion School in Zambia

A special celebration service, held at St Paul’s Church, Beckenham, on Wednesday 3 June 2015, was attended by the Rt Rev Dr Brian Castle, Bishop of Tonbridge, who is also Patron of Hands of Compassion. Over a hundred people gathered to celebrate God’s blessings over the past fifteen years since Hands of Compassion School first began.

Wendy Ray, Trustee and been tough. The vision experience of being a Parish of Christ Church Bexleyheath, Founder explained how I had 15 years ago, is Priest in Zambia, referred A special plaque, which Rochester Diocese Hands of Compassion now a reality!” A video to his visit in 2010 to will be taken and Children’s Leader School first began, with was shown of the school Hands of Compassion presented to Hands £17.5K to £22.5K per year 25 very poor orphaned today, concluding with School, which has a strong of Compassion School (pro rata) depending on experience children. Their classroom pupils singing in their Christian foundation, at at their celebration was in a derelict building own language, Bemba, the time when a borehole ceremony, was blessed We are creating a new position of Children’s which had no doors, expressing their thanks to was being sunk. He told Leader who will be responsible for leading by Bishop Brian. Gifts the delivery & development of the church’s windows or roof, yet God for the school. of the dramatic fountain were also presented to ministry among children (up to age 11) and despite this, they were of water as they hit the families in the Parish. Th is is an exciting eager to learn. Today Some children read water level. Staff and Bishop Brian and Jane opportunity to shape and develop the there are 400 orphaned prayers that had been pupils came running out Castle in appreciation of ministry of the church among children & or vulnerable children written by pupils and staff of their classrooms with their kind support over families and develop appropriate programmes & initiatives. Th e job will be mainly carried attending, assisted with at the school. A song “We great excitement and the years. out during school term times and will be part sponsorship at are the children of the dancing! Water is life, just 16 hours per week. Government school. world, Our Father loves as Jesus came to bring By Wendy Ray For further information and/or to download us all as one…” specially life to us all. Bishop Brian an Application Form, please go to Wendy concluded, “It has composed for the service then led the congregation www.christchurchbexleyheath.org.uk or been an amazing journey, was sung by Beryl Powell. in singing Lesa wa wama contact Rev Trevor Wyatt at [email protected] or 07860 306746 we have experienced – God is so good! God’s blessings and His Bishop Brian who has Applications are invited by 9th July 2015 guidance and strength been Patron for eleven Interviews will take place on 15th and 16th July 2015 when the going has years, with previous 12 ochester Link

Church as Place of Lament

Spirituality Network meeting Lament has an important I met someone who told place in our lives in which we me that they had bought a encounter loss of relationship, number of these cards to give social and financial status, to grieving people; the image good health and especially resonated with people in loss of life. The good news their bereavement. is of course that we move from a place of lament to a Shortly afterwards the place of rejoicing but that Rev Penny Stephens takes time and cannot be brought colleagues from forced. So as well as our the chaplaincy department churches being places of of St Joseph’s Hospice good news we perhaps need Hackney to the church. We to recognise the need to discussed the importance mourn and allow them to be of allowing people to find places where we can lament places of lament. Although with God sitting alongside us. our gospel message is one We want to welcome people of hope there is still a need into our churches and offer for us to recognise loss and hospitality. In Tudeley that bereavement and churches often means offering them a need to communicate that it welcome to a space in which is natural to express sadness they are able to express grief and anger and confusion as and bereavement. well as helping people to find joy.

I am weary with my Weeping may linger moaning; for the night, By the rivers of every night I flood my but joy comes bed with tears; with the morning. Babylon I drench my couch with Psalm 30 my weeping. there we sat My eyes waste away down and because of grief; they grow weak because there we wept of all my foes. Psalm 5 when we www.tudeley.org. remembered By the Rev Pamela Ive Zion. Psalm 137 Elevate Dance Company

Apprenticeship Scheme on Maclean has recently sold Lament is a really important part lamented there before us can help Dthe original manuscript with the of our human experience; an to hold our grief and bring comfort The elevate dance a lot and grown so much notes to the lyrics of his bestselling entire book of the Bible given at times of bereavement. company apprenticeship in my faith and in my but enigmatic song American Pie over to lamentations and other scheme offers the unique dancing!” - Apprentice from his 1971 album of the same places in scripture like the Psalms The church at All Saints, Tudeley opportunity of intensive from elevate 2013 name for £806,000. My favourite recognises lament as a healthy is often visited by those mourning, dance training within a track from the album is the more part of our human condition. So especially but not exclusively those Christian context in which Springs Dance Company obscure Babylon. Originally written often after a tragic death churches mourning the loss of a young participants learn from is now accepting by an Oxford college organist become the focal point of a person. The church houses a the extensive experience applications for its Philip Hayes, in the 18th century, community where people gather complete set of windows by Marc of a professional touring apprenticeship scheme, it is based on Psalm 137, a psalm and lament, bringing flowers and Chagall and their installation was Christian dance company. elevate dance company lamenting the exile of the Jews in lighting candles, signing books of initiated by the tragic loss of Sarah and will be holding Babylon. Boney M’s 1978 hit By condolence and holding services. D’Avigdor Goldsmid aged 21. Many “Being part of elevate auditions over the the Rivers of Babylon is perhaps a Churches are unique places in a visit to reflect and pray. has been challenging and coming months. better known version. community where lamenting has rewarding. I have learnt taken place for centuries. They are Last year I was re-ordering By the rivers of Babylon both places where people gather postcards of our church windows. there we sat down and to grieve or where memorials, I almost decided not to re-order For further information please contact there we wept physical expressions of lament can a picture of a mother weeping at [email protected] when we remembered Zion. be found. Visiting such a place the loss of a daughter and to find a or find more details on Springs’ website. Psalm 137 and recognising that others have happier image - but at a Diocesan