FORWARD MOVE

June 2021

Parish magazine for the Church of St Mary, Kippington

(Part of the benefice of the Team Ministry including St Mary the

Virgin, Riverhead with Dunton Green; and St Luke's Sevenoaks)

Our mission …
To be a bridge between God and our community sharing the love of Jesus and growing in worship, welcome and witness

From the Team Rector …

Dear friends,

Can ever any Sunday be called ordinary from now on?

In the Church’s liturgical calendar, this time of the year, from Trinity Sunday (May 30^th) all the way to the 24^th of October (the last Sunday of Trinity) is often referred to as ‘ordinary time’. The Sundays that are each referred to from Trinity 1 all the way through to Trinity 21. The ordinary Sundays of the long ordinary Trinity season.

In this long and ordinary Trinity season you get the impression that as we have celebrated the glorious seasons of the year thus far – Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost – now we must wait until All Souls and All Saints, Advent and Christmas, when we can celebrate some more. In the meantime we now journey on a Sunday to worship and mark the ordinary Sundays of the Trinity Season – from 1 through to 21. Nothing spectacular happens in the liturgy, the colour green becomes a fixed for nearly five months and the Minister welcomes everyone to worship to yet another week of the long Trinity season.

Green is such an ordinary colour. Our gardens and churchyards are filled to overflowing with green all over the place. Oh, how we long for a splattering of red, yellow, purple, blue – anything but green!

Yet the abundance of the green of our gardens and churchyards remind us that at some point the grass needs cutting; weeds need pulling up and the hedges need trimming. Green is the colour of life and living; of growth and growing. Green reminds us that life goes on.

Life goes on. There are many areas now returning to what they once were; there is a sense of normality and plans for an increasing sense of normality. Life journeys on. And the word ordinary? From this pandemic what a beautiful word is ordinary. Indeed, from this pandemic what a beautiful word is normal.

So in the ordinary Sundays of the long Trinity season let us celebrate afresh the dark tunnel we are coming out from. Let us renew our searching and finding of the God of the ordinary; of the trivial, of the routine. What beautiful words they are – ordinary, trivial, routine.

In this long Trinity season, these ordinary Sundays, let us truly thank God as we appreciate again what a miracle the ordinary actually is.

In fellowship and blessing, Mark [email protected] (Tel) 073 75 299 944 or (01732) 452112.

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The church centre was badly in need of a coat of paint. The chairman of the fabric committee decided he'd do the job himself. But all he had was one pot of paint. So, he assembled several buckets and some water, and he thinned the paint enough to cover the entire hall. Then he spent all day painting. That night it rained—very hard—and washed all the paint off. He was quite discouraged and asked God, 'Why...why God, did you let it rain and wash off all my hard work?'

To which God thundered his reply, 'Repaint! Repaint! And thin no more!'

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Summarising what was presented at the Annual Church Meeting, our regular finances just about broke even in 2020 - and we are very grateful to all those who helped us achieve this through their donations. Thanks, too, to those who have felt able to return to Church services over the last few weeks and who have made up the 'backlog' in their weekly envelope contributions.

For 2021 we have been blessed with a number of Government grants which have covered the loss of income from the Parish Centre, but our regular giving - by standing order and by weekly envelopes - remains lower than previous years. At the Annual Church meeting I mentioned that, if half our planned givers were able to increase their donations by 9%, our regular income from giving would return to the levels of 2019 - before the pandemic took hold. Thank you so much to those who have already responded to this - each one of whom has already increased their giving by more than 9%!

However we do still need something like an extra £3,000 this year if we are to restore our regular, planned giving to pre-pandemic levels. If you are in a position to help us with this, please contact either the Treasurer ([email protected]) or our Planned Giving Administrator - or simply ask your bank to increase your Standing Order!

Chris Saunders
Treasurer

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Parish Jottings
Life at St Mary Church, Kippington

Sunday Refreshments - it has been good to restart the rhythm of refreshments in Kippington Centre following worship and the joy of being together, sharing one another’s company over coffee and tea. We do appreciate that it will take a certain amount of time for people to get used to being together, but we would be grateful for more offers of more assistance, simply to help us to put on coffee following worship each Sunday.

Monthly Fellowship Event - we are now hosting monthly fellowship events mid-week in Kippington Centre, not simply as a way to enable people to feel comfortable once again in social events, but this may more likely be a continuous event as people have expressed not only appreciation for it, but as an opportunity for people across service times and on the electoral roll to come together. There is no need to book - simply turn up. The dates up until August are Wednesday 16^th June, Friday 30^th July and Monday 16^th August, in the Centre between 10-30am-11.30am.

Sidespeople Appeal - We are still looking for some able-bodied volunteers, especially to help us with the first Sunday family service and, more generally, across the service times. If you can lend a hand, duties would probably only be once every two or three months. Please do contact Dave White, our Church Warden, whose details are on the back of the magazine.

Bidding Farewell to those who are leaving - as people are aware, Bishop James is retiring

in July and leaving the Diocese of Rochester. We have all been very grateful to receive Bishop James’ ministry and leadership in the Diocese over a number of years. The PCC will be making a financial contribution to Bishop James’ leaving present, in the meantime, people are encouraged to go on to the Diocese of Rochester website in order to take part in an online survey whereby you can offer your own valued contributions to help those looking to appoint the next Bishop as to what characteristics of Bishop we are looking for and as well what should be the aspirations and aims of the Diocese over the next few years.

We are also bidding farewell to our Archdeacon of Tonbridge Julie Conalty, who will be ordained as the Archdeacon of Birkenhead in the Diocese of Chester. Our Archdeacon has been very well served by Julie's ministry and although the Diocese is very sad to see her go, the Diocese of Chester will be able to appreciate and use her many valued gifts of ministry.

Not only our Bishop, our Arch Deacon but also our Area Dean, Michael Gently has been appointed to a new post in another Deanery and again, we are very grateful for his help in the role of Area Dean in terms of the life of the three churches in the team as a whole and also with his help in the appointment process.

Our best wishes and prayers are for Bishop James, Archdeacon Julie and Area Dean Michael at this time.

Play and Praise - With the inevitable consequences of a number of things happening at this time, although Pray and Praise for Under 5’s will be restarting before August, it may be delayed by a few weeks. For any information about Play and Praise, or if you could help in any way, please contact Rev Mark.

Family Service - Sunday 4^th July - Church’s Birthday - at our outdoor worship; for family

service at our 10.30am service on Sunday 4^th July along with wonderful worship together, we will not only be providing tea and coffee and Janet selling outdoor plants as well, there will also be, a special birthday cake made and sharing that as well with ice cream. It will be lovely to

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see everyone not only for our time of worship but to celebrate our birthday at St Mary Kippington as we continue to return.

Angus MacLeod - following Angus’ funeral service on Friday 28^th May, we print below words of appreciation from Julia, his wife, and family: “I wanted to write and thank you all for your support over the last few months and the kindness of everyone concerning Angus’ service at St Mary’s. Particular thanks to be expressed to the Choir and to Len Ross and as Angus had asked for a particular hymn, so it meant a great deal to us that the Choir were able to sing it on the day. The flowers were lovely and we were so pleased that Caireen was able to use some of the greenery from our garden. All of the contributions from family and friends on the day gave Angus a good send off and we’re all as a family, taking great comfort from this.”

Forward Move - this will again be produced as a physical entity from the September issue, available at the end of August. If you were previously part of a team delivering the magazine to our readers, you will receive an email giving more information.

Safeguarding - As a church, we take our safeguarding responsibilities very seriously. Should you have any concerns, please contact our Safeguarding Officer Wendy Pritchard, or our Team Rector or the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer. All of their contact details can be found on the Safer Church Poster in the Children’s Corner at the back of Church.

Rev Mark

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Sidespeople Appeal

As we cautiously return to the New Normality and the numbers comfortable to attend Family Services increase, the need for more folk to lend a hand as Sides-persons increases sharply. One more Volunteer would be great – two more would be 'HatsInTheAir' time – three would enable a Roster!

In terms on specifics Family Services take place on the first Sunday each month and we ask people to arrive 35 minutes before 10:30am and stay ten minutes following, for light but important duties as part of a small team who know the drill.

The June Family Service, and others during the Summer, is planned to be on the front lawn with even easier duties and sunshine (hopefully!)

IF YOU COULD LEND A HAND contact Dave White The need is real – so why not you? (PLEASE!) Cheers, Dave Also as a further request: David Green also needs more volunteers for the other Sundays each month and would be delighted (and relieved) to hear from you!

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Readers for June

• Sunday 6^th June
• First Sunday of Trinity

8.00am

Holy Communion (BCP) 2 Corinthians 4: 13 – 5: 1
Mark 3: 20 – end

• 10.30am
• Family Service

Acts 1: 4 - 11

• Sunday 13^th June
• Second Sunday of Trinity

• 8.00am
• Holy Communion (BCP) 2 Corinthians 5: 6-10

and 14-17 Mark 4: 26-34

• 10.30am
• Holy Communion (CSW) 2 Corinthians 5: 6-10
• Andrea Green

David Green and 14-17 Mark 4: 26-34

• Sunday 20^th June
• Third Sunday of Trinity

• 8.00am
• Holy Communion (BCP) 2 Corinthians 6: 1-13

Mark 4: 35-41

• 10.30am
• Morning Prayer (BCP)
• 2 Corinthians 6: 1-13

Mark 4: 35-41
Graham Roper Wendy Pritchard

• Sunday 27^th June
• Fourth Sunday of Trinity

• 8.00am
• Holy Communion (BCP) 2 Corinthians 8: 7-15

Mark 5: 21-43

• 10.30am
• Holy Communion (CW)
• 2 Corinthians 8: 7-15

Mark 5: 21-43
Brenda Ross Ed Daniels

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The Parable of the Great Banquet

One thing that we’ve probably missed over the past year is parties. Well, this month should enable us to party again! Lots of Jesus’ parables focus on parties, as they are a picture of the joy, hope and life of the kingdom of God. The parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14: 15-24) challenges us not to miss out on this.

In Jesus’ day, when people accepted an invitation to a banquet, they were only told the actual time on the day: ‘Come, for everything is now ready’ (17). Jesus’ invites each one of us to share in the life of His kingdom.

However, the guests made excuses for not coming. At the time, this would have been

extremely insulting to the host. They said: ‘I have just bought a field; I must try out my new

team of oxen; I have just got married’ (18-20). These are all good things in themselves, however they reveal their priorities were elsewhere.

We too can be pre-occupied with our own routines of work, family, retirement, holidays, friends, home, social media, that we forget God’s priorities for our lives. Jesus calls for total

commitment from His disciples. What priority in my life is holding me back from accepting His invitation?

How did the host respond? He ordered His servants to ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ (21). He invited

the unexpected and unacceptable people to His banquet. Jesus makes the point that God’s kingdom is open to all! Thinking about our family, friends, colleagues and neighbours, even if

they’re not like us or show little interest in God: Are we willing to offer them God’s invitation to share His love and life?

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“Why should we have all the fun?”

Kemsing Singers will shortly be having fun and singing again in rehearsals. Then we are at

the Otford Fete on August 30th. Do come along.

Then our new season starts in September. Our Musical Director Sara is brilliant and keeps us all smiling.

We would be very happy if you could come and sing with us for a few weeks to discover how much fun we have before deciding to join. Find out more from Sara’s short video "Who are the Kemsing Singers?" which you’ll find at www.kemsingsingers.com. Do tell others about it and have a wander round our website to learn more about us. You can also follow us and share our posts on Facebook and Twitter.

Please do call one of us for a chat if you have any questions.

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The story behind the HYMN: ‘Lord, for the years’

Please look on the internet for all the lyrics to this hymn. This is only a selection of verses:

Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided, urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way, sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided: Lord for the years, we bring our thanks today.

Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us, speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze, teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us: Lord of the word, receive your people's praise.

*Lord, for our hopes, the dreams of all our living, Christ and his kingdom one united aim; Rulers and peoples bound in high thanksgiving, Lord of our hopes, our trust is in your Name.   …

By Timothy Dudley Smith

This well-loved hymn was written in 1967 by the Revd Timothy Dudley Smith, who later became Bishop of Thetford. He later confessed: “I wrote it on a train when I was very pressed for time. I’m thankful if something I write gets picked up, but I suspect anyone who does something in a rush later regrets that they didn’t find time to apply the sandpaper a bit more!”

Dudley Smith had been asked to write a hymn for the centenary service of the Children’s Special Service Mission, now Scripture Union, in St Paul’s Cathedral. His commission was to write words that could be fitted to Jean Sibelius’s Finlandia, as it was to be accompanied by an orchestra with this tune in their repertoire. And so – ‘Lord for the years’ was written.

Dudley Smith need not have worried about lack of time – his lyrics were a ‘hit’ in the cathedral on the day, and went on to become so well-loved that George Carey chose the hymn to be sung at his consecration as Bishop of Bath and Wells, and then again later, in 1991, or his consecration as Archbishop in Canterbury Cathedral.

The hymn continued to be widely sung and loved, until in 2002 Timothy Dudley Smith was asked to write an extra verse for it so that it could even be sung around the time of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

Many of the words in the hymn are true for the Queen herself, as she celebrates her 95^th birthday this month. She does indeed thank God ‘for the years your love has kept and guided, urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way’…

And so indeed the ‘extra’ verse added for the Queen has also held true:

Lord for our hopes, the dreams of all our living, Christ and his kingdom one united aim, Rulers and peoples bound in high thanksgiving, Lord of our hopes, our trust is in your Name.

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The Rectory St. James the Least of All

June 2021
My dear Nephew Darren

On why the clergy should avoid computers

Thank you for the kind offer of your old computer, but I do not want it. I know you find it a fundamental basic of daily life, but I do not, and I intend to keep things that way.

This is despite the fact that our diocesan office now takes it for granted that all of us clergy have a computer. Indeed, the diocesan secretary and I have had several awkward phone calls upon this very subject. He can’t believe that I really don’t have one, and suspects that I am simply hiding my email address from him so that he cannot send me the daily diocesan briefings, weekly questionnaires, and constant notification of all sorts of meetings and training days. But I remain firm: I have survived in ministry for nearly 50 years without a computer, and I don’t intend to change now. When he gets tetchy with me, I take the high moral ground and remind him that St Paul did not have a computer.

Besides, it would not end with just a computer. Next, I would be obliged to get a printer and then ink cartridges and then maybe some sort of virus would attack me. As I have no idea about any of this, I might have to allow someone into the vicarage to sort it out, and even worse, I might even have to pay them. My money can be far more usefully spent on good claret.

Being without a computer also saves me much aggravation. From what I can gather, most computer owners spend significant parts of their lives either trying to get their machine to do something that it refuses to do, or else getting help from someone in a remote part of the world who speaks a jargon only distantly related to English, who assures you that whatever you did, it would have been better if you hadn’t.

So I have decided that should I ever REALLY need to use a computer for something, I will visit our local primary school and get a six year-old to do the job for me, which they do with effortless efficiency, speed and accuracy.

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

Rev Dr Gary Bowness
Parish Pump

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The Campbells went out and about

All Saints Church, Tudeley

All Saints Tudeley, with its Marc Chagall windows, is on my must-see list of churches. I have, of course, been before but it is well-worth another visit.

All Saints is an ancient church with its origins back in the 7^th Century. On entering you are immediately aware of the vibrant hue of the beautiful windows. There is also a feeling of simplicity in the layout of the interior along with quietness and peace. Marc Chagall was commissioned by Sir Henry d’Avigdor-Goldsmid to design the windows in memory of his eldest daughter Sarah, who died along with a companion, in a boating accident in 1963. There is also an interesting tomb of George Fane and his wife to see which is all that remains of a chapel which existed in the 16^th Century.

As we left we noticed a post card of Tudeley’s sister church, St Thomas a Becket, Capel which is just a mile and a half away. So………….

Church of St Thomas a Becket, Capel

This is a most interesting church situated on a knoll amongst farmland. It is in the hands of The Churches Conservation Trust which has done much to preserve this wonderful small building. There is an enormous yew tree bordering the path up to the church which has been measured and has a girth of 25 feet 11 inches! The heart of the tree has been eaten away but you can imagine how massive it must have been its hey day. It is also said that Thomas a Becket himself may have preached beneath the tree.

The church building is small and simple in plan. However the stand-out feature is the wall paintings. These have been hidden by plaster for hundreds of years. First discovered in 1868 and uncovered in 1927, they were conserved for posterity in 1970. There are two tiers of paintings (c1250) and with the help of the guide book you can make out the scenes. As we were visiting on Easter Sunday the top tier of paintings were very apt. The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, The Last Supper, the Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus and the Risen Christ appearing to Mary Magdalene in the Garden.