The Parish Magazine of

St Mary, West Malling, St Michael, Offham & TRIO St Gabriel, Kings Hill September 2014 Contributions Welcomed

How to Get in Touch The United Benefice of West Malling with Offham

Priest-in-Charge: Revd David Green 01732 842245 [email protected] The Vicarage, 138 High Street, West Malling ME19 6NE Reader: Margaret Moore 01732 841238

St Mary, West Malling Churchwardens: John Musker 01732 849109 Becky Clifford 01732 845634 Sunday School: Kerry Green 01732 842245 Tower Captain: Nick Crutchfield 01732 845187 Mothers’ Union: Gail Crutchfield 01732 845187 www.stmaryswestmalling.org.uk

St Michael, Offham Churchwardens: Robin Stranack 07881 300742 Stephen Betts 01732 843412 www.stmichaelsoffham.org.uk

St Gabriel, Kings Hill Church Council: Jim & Freda Smith 01732 220954 Girls Brigade: Karen Webber 01732 875091 www.stgabrielskingshill.org.uk

Pilsdon at Malling Community Guardian: Revd Pam Rink 01732 870279 [email protected] Pilsdon at Malling, 27 Water Lane, West Malling ME19 6HH

Parish Magazine Editor: Becky Clifford 01732 845634 Email (for all enquiries) [email protected]

This magazine is available for email distribution as a PDF: if you would prefer to receive it in this format, please contact me using one of the methods above and we will arrange for you to be added to our mailing list. We NEVER supply your details to third parties.

We offer free publicity for any community events or charitable concerns. The Editor reserves the right to shorten or modify any material submitted for publication. Please note: the views expressed by contributors are those of the authors; copyright for articles rests with individual contributors. If you would like to use any of the material in any way, please contact the Editor for permission.

1 From the Editor The torrential downpour of the last couple of days has come as a bit of a shock in contrast to such a good summer. As I took my usual route to church, clutching my umbrella along with my keys, I came to the conclusion that my choice of footwear – flip-flops – left a lot to be desired. I had anticipated my feet would get wet (I’m not completely silly) but what I hadn’t bargained for was the water rendering my flip-flops as slippery as a skating rink. I gripped hard with my toes to keep them on and slid and slithered my way back home. I contemplated removing the wretched things but thought better of it: even slimy, sodden flip-flops were preferable to bare feet on gravel. As I tottered slowly and unsteadily through the deluge I reflected that there are times when the sheer effort of doing something seems to outweigh the results. I was making progress, but it was irritatingly slow. Life can throw curve balls and when we’re frustrated and weary, we may wonder if it’s worth carrying on. It’s at times like this that our core values and beliefs are put under scrutiny. What’s going on? Why is it happening? How can I deal with this? (Note to self: don’t pick flip-flops in a storm!) You may have come across the phrase, ‘Job’s comforters’: people who are about as useful as a chocolate teapot in times of crisis. It comes from the Old Testament book of Job. At the core of the book are questions about the problem of suffering. And, oh my, is Job suffering. His ‘friends’ are quick to opine upon the reasons for this – in short – he must have done something to deserve it. But Job knows differently: he hasn’t done anything to deserve this, yet he’s reduced to a shadow of his former self, without home or family or – indeed – friends. Job himself says that life teaches you that some really awful people never seem to suffer, yet lovely people do. Despite his friends’ insistence, he refuses to repent: it would be dishonest of him to do so. And, towards the end of the book, God backs him up. Job hadn’t got everything right, but his friends had got it all terribly wrong. I think part of the problem is that suffering has terribly negative connotations: and it’s easy to see why. It’s never a pleasant experience. But if we see all suffering as simply bad, we’re missing out on something. Bishop Desmond Tutu, who knows a thing or two about this subject from experience, wrote: …We all experience sadness, we all come at times to despair, and we all lose hope that the suffering in our lives and in the world will ever end. I want to share with you my faith and my understanding that this suffering can be transformed and redeemed. There is no such thing as a totally hopeless case. Our God is an expert at dealing with chaos, with brokenness, with all the worst that we can imagine. God created order out of disorder, cosmos out of chaos, and God can do so always, can do so now – in our personal lives and in our lives as nations, globally. ...Indeed, God is transforming the world now – through us – because God loves us. [Extract from God has a Dream by Desmond Tutu] With very best wishes,

2 From David The monthly discipline of writing an article for Trio doesn't always come easy. Sometimes the deadline will be approaching and Becky will be circling (in a nice way) and I won't have a clue what to write about. On the other hand, with our double issue in July leaving August fallow, I found myself at frequent points over the Summer itching to write. The Women Bishop's vote (see p.18),my passion for football and England's abject World Cup, the departure of Mr Webb as Headteacher at West Malling School after a very successful few years and, of course, the global situation with Ebola in Africa and ISIS in Syria and Iraq has given a variety of topics to address. For me, Syria and Iraq looms most of all and with the horror of all that continues to take place, as I sit down now, I don't know that there are any words to say. How do you comment or try to reflect on the atrocities taking place at the hands of such extremists who respond only with violence to anyone of any persuasion (ethnic, cultural, national, ideological or religious) who disagrees with them? I'm not sure I can. I'm reminded of the events recorded in the Gospels as Jesus hung on the cross. The sky went dark, the Christ cried out in abandonment. There was silence. Sometimes, silence is the only sensible response to horrific suffering. But silence does not mean inaction has to follow and I prize highly the efforts of all those who, after the silence, choose to be brave and to do what they can to help. There are countless examples, but let me highlight for you the work of Canon Andrew White, sometimes known as the Vicar of Baghdad who leads St George's Anglican Church in that ancient city. Andrew trained for the ministry in Cambridge at the same college where I studied, and since then he has gone on to be a courageous voice in the Middle East. Currently he is being frequently smuggled in and out of the country because of the dangers to his own safety. He is a 'high value target' as the TV spy shows would say. When he is not in Iraq, he bangs the drum loudly for Christians and other minorities suffering violent persecution, aggravating politicians and making sure the media (and therefore the public) know the full extent of what is happening. When he is in Iraq, he smuggles in aid and supplies and financial help to people in desperate need. While some world leaders go surfing, and some make conciliatory noises but play down involvement out of an understandable but entirely miserable sense of self-preservation, Andrew and many others like him are trying to halt disaster. If you have been moved by what you have seen on television, can I encourage you to visit his website at frrme.org and find out what you can do? Alternatively, visit the website of one of the major relief organisations like the Red Cross or Christian Aid and do what you can to help people in tremendous need. David Green

3 What’s on at St Mary’s World War I Vigil One hundred years to the day after the outbreak of World War I was announced, we gathered at St Mary’s to remember. Taken from the liturgy used at Westminster Abbey, the readings alternated between scriptural passages and war poetry. At the centre of the nave was a table with one central, tall candle, flanked by three at each side. At key points in the service, the candles were gradually extinguished until only the central candle was left. After the final reading, that, too was put out and the church was plunged into darkness. Thus it remained until David lit the Paschal candle close to the church door. We left the church in silence. It was a profoundly moving experience. Some service sheets are still available if you would like a copy, from the back table at St Mary’s. Sunday 28th September, 8:00 pm Jeremy Begbie The Music of God and the God of Music A must for Christian leaders, leaders of worship, church musicians and all who find music a deeply spiritual experience. What has music to do with God? Why do so many people turn to music for ‘spiritual’ refreshment, whether it’s hip-hop, rock, jazz, classical or mediaeval? An epilogue to the 4th International Music@Malling Festival, Jeremy Begbie will explore some of the ways in which music works in our lives and how it can stir our souls. Jeremy is an ordained minister of the , a professionally trained pianist and Professor of Theology at Duke Divinity School, North Carolina. He teaches systematic theology and has a particular interest in the interplay between music and theology. He has a real talent for making deep theological truth accessible and helping people to think about how music can speak of God and how God can speak to us in music. Tickets: £5 on the door| Pensioners & Students free

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On Sunday, 13th September, churches throughout Kent will be open from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm to welcome riders and striders. The more churches you visit, the more money you raise. Some churches provide delicious refreshments. You can cycle or walk – you could even travel somewhere by train and begin your adventures from there. You don’t have to belong to a church – If you enjoy walking or cycling, please feel free to join in! You can nominate the church or chapel of your choice to receive half the sponsorship. A full list of churches and further information is available from: friendsofkentchurches.co.uk/ride-and-stride/ Mary Gibbins:  01732 870643  [email protected]

Children’s Society Collection Thank you to everyone for filling your boxes; the grand total of the collection was £647.49 which was a very good effort. If you would like a box for your loose change to support this charity, which promotes the welfare of children and families, please contact Jill Rutland  01732 843248

Last month we joined in the Diocesan Prayer Pilgrimage starting from our Church and finishing in for Evensong. We also held a cake sale for “Away From It All” as they have arranged several holidays for families in Rochester Diocese this summer. The sale raised nearly £70. Thank you to all who bought and supplied cakes. Our next meeting will be held in the evening and we are pleased to have Susan Brooker, the Diocesan President, coming to speak to us. She will be happy to answer any questions you may have about M.U. Do come along and hear what she has to say. We will start at 7:30 pm in the Church Centre and finish with tea/coffee and cake by 9pm. All are welcome. Gail Crutchfield Thank You for Your Thoughtfulness I would like to thank everyone who sent me such lovely letters and cards about John. I was very touched by your appreciation and love for him. If there is anyone who couldn’t come to the memorial service and would like a copy of it, please let me know – I still have some to spare. Jane Best-Shaw 01732 84323 5 A Big Thank You As you may have seen on the news the Prudential Ride London on 10 August was not without its challenges - and was almost cancelled. We experienced storms, floods and pestilence (I made up the last one!) which balanced out the route being shortened from 100 to 86 miles - I was both relieved and disappointed (but mainly relieved). It was amazing being able to cycle through London and Surrey on traffic free roads. Thank you for all your support – through your generosity Prostate Cancer will be receiving more than £1,200. I know that some of you were waiting until the ride had taken place before sponsoring me - the JustGiving site remains open for some weeks yet - the link is http://www.justgiving.com/Nick-Crutchfield As you can see from the photo I have the tee shirt and the medal - so I don't need to do this again! Thanks once again. Nick Crutchfield

Heritage Open Days Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th September St Mary’s Abbey Guided Tours 2:00 pm, 2:20 pm, 2:40 pm Admission free | must be pre-booked  01732 770929 Tonbridge Castle The Pilsdon Community, Water Lane St Mary the Virgin, High Street (Tower Tours from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm on Sunday weather permitting) The Malling Society, Clout Institute, High Street West Malling & World War I 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Twitch Heritage Centre, Douces Manor, St Leonards Street Parking in marked bays on road | Admission free 11:00 am – 4:00 pm Come and see where WW II Officers spent their ‘down time’ 6 All Saints’ In Loving Memory Annual A service to remember Memorial Service babies lost in pregnancy Thursday 6th November and beyond 7:30 pm

St Mary’s, West Malling

A service of prayer and remembrance

for all those who have lost a loved one

Tuesday, 4th November, 8:00 pm St Mary’s, West Malling www.stmaryswestmalling.org.uk  Please ring Becky 01732 845634 for further details

A service of prayer and remembrance for all those who have lost a loved one. On Thursday 6th November at 7.30 pm, we will be holding a special Memorial Service at St Mary’s Church, West Malling to remember all those who have died in the last year. All families who wish to remember someone who died longer ago are also welcome. At the service, we will give thanks for the lives of those who have passed away. We will honour their memory during the service and seek God’s comfort in prayer. As part of the service, we read out the names of those we have gathered to remember, and families will be given an opportunity to light a candle in their memory. If you would like to include someone in that act of remembrance, please email us to let us know that you intend to be present and the name of the person you wish to remember, or simply let us know when you arrive on the night itself. After the service, there will be some refreshments available if you would like to stay behind and chat. If you would like to come, please phone the Vicarage on 01732 842245 or email us at [email protected] to let us know. It would be very useful if you could tell us how many family members you expect to bring with you, so that we can ensure we can be sure to accommodate and provide for everyone. 7 St Michael’s Offham News & Muse The Annual Sponsored Ride & Stride for the Friends of Kent Churches will be held on Saturday, 13th September; sponsorship forms are available from Nicola Mackrill (01732 842432). We particularly welcome more cyclists from the village - this is a fun event – so please come along and join in. Both St Michael’s Church and Offham Methodist Church will be open from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm for cyclists and walkers to “sign in” so that our Churches can be part of the fundraising. The proceeds of the event will be divided equally between The Friends of Kent Churches and the Church or Chapel of the rider’s choice, so both Churches will benefit from your participation. Harvest Festival will be on Sunday, 28th September. Services of Harvest Thanksgiving will be held at 9.15 am at St Michael’s. Offham Methodist Church will hold its service at 11.00 am: the congregation of St Michael’s is warmly invited to attend. The services will be followed by Harvest Lunch at 12.30 for 12.45 pm and will be held jointly at the Methodist Hall. This is an opportunity for the whole community of the village to gather together to give thanks for God's gifts to us. St Michael’s congregation will supply the main course; Offham Methodist Church will provide the puddings. Everyone is most welcome. Please let Stephen Betts or Robin Stranack know if you intend to join us for planning purposes. The Children’s Society summer box opening amounted to £200.35. Many thanks to all our box holders for this great effort. Linda Graham

Offham Methodist Church Our Harvest Service will be held on Sunday, 28th September at 11.00 am and will be led by Revd John Butt; the service is followed by a joint lunch with St Michael’s as above. Our “Tea & Chat” continues on the first Tuesday of the month – 2nd September and 7th October, meeting in our hall from 2.00 until 4.00 p.m.; you are invited to come and join us to meet old friends and maybe some new ones over a cup of tea. Feel free just to look in with any time that you may have available on the day. AUTUMN SALE - This is our annual fund raising event and will be held on Saturday afternoon 11th October at 2.00 pm. This year we plan to give it a new image, with more focus on refreshments to make it even more enjoyable, so make a note in your diary right now and look out for the leaflet with a list of stalls. 8 Offham Open House The September Meeting on Thursday, 4th September will be a talk by Mrs Woodward on “Life in the Nursery and School Room through the Centuries in the Great Houses”. This meeting will be held in the committee room in the Village Hall at 10.00 am. The October Meeting will be a Coffee Morning and Bring and Buy on Thursday, 2nd October at 10.00 am at the home of Wendy Williams, 19, Pepingstraw Close – we would be grateful if any items for sale could be priced beforehand. On Sunday, 14th September Offham Society is organising a local Footpath Walk, gathering on The Green at 2.15 pm – the walk will leave at 2.30 pm on a circular route for about an hour. It will be followed by tea and cakes in the garden of David and Kathryn Frankling (New Quintain in North Meadow), by kind permission. Next month on Thursday, 16th October at 8:00 pm in the Village Hall there will be a talk by Jill Speed on "Thirty Years of Spadework". The aim of Spadework is to enable their Trainees, who have learning disabilities, to develop their independence and personal skills through being involved in everything they do. Spadework has been in Offham for 20 years; the Trainees produce the plants that are sold in the garden centre and the fruit and vegetables served in the café and sold in the farm shop. They help to make cakes, jams and chutneys and serve customers in the café and they also work in the farm shop. There are also woodwork, craft and IT facilities. Megan’s Wish List Quiz Thank you to all who came to the Quiz, all who helped, by providing field space, electricity, acting as Quiz master, providing quiz questions, strawberries, use of marquees, tables, chairs, sound systems, raffle prizes, Portaloos, not forgetting those who provided transport (and muscle power) to move everything to and from Aldon Lane! It was a memorable event, which raised more than £1000. Mike Rowe Offham Toddlers – Volunteer needed! Offham Toddlers are looking for a volunteer to help out at playgroup on a Wednesday mornings from 9.30 -11.30 am at Offham Village Hall (term time only). They need help with putting out toys, making cups of tea, washing up after snack time and clearing away afterwards. It's a lovely group, with a friendly team of volunteers! If you think you can offer any time to help out, then please contact Jo Rayward  07720 892050 or Jayne Harrison  07782 342980.

9 Offham Village Hall Vintage Fair Sunday 19th October: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Alongside the steam and vintage car and bike rally, don’t forget to pop in to the village hall to see the vintage goods on offer – entry is free. If you would like a table to sell your vintage goods, contact Fiona Lloyd-Williams

 01732 847843 Cost: £10 per table

Murder Mystery 22nd November 2014 Performed by our talented local group Hedgehogs, with a three course supper, this murder mystery set in the First World War will be an evening not to be missed. Watch out for further details on the village hall notice board. To join our mailing list, please contact Caroline Dyer  [email protected].

Want to Grow Your Own “Five-a-Day”? The Offham Allotment Association has been created this summer to formalise the management of the existing area in the village. From October 1, some of the allotments may be coming available for new members. There will be two options – either full or half-sized plots. To arrange a site visit or to be added to the application list, please contact Mandy Stephens:  [email protected] |  01732 870553

10 The Travelling Nativity in Offham This year we hope to start a new tradition in Offham - A Travelling Nativity. This recreates the Advent journey of Mary and Joseph as they made their way to Bethlehem for that first Christmas. Nativity figures will travel between our homes taken by members and friends of St Michael’s and by schools and local businesses too. The idea is based on a South American tradition called the Posada. What will happen? On Advent Sunday - the Nativity figures leave St Michael’s and the first household offers them a home for the night. The next day they take the figures to the next people on the list and so on until the Travelling Nativity makes its way back to church on Christmas Eve. There is a box to accompany the figures containing all that is needed to host the event and after a short introduction you can share a cup of tea and perhaps a biscuit or mince pie with those bringing the Nativity to your home - you in turn will receive this welcome as you take the Travelling Nativity to the next household. What will it mean? The Travelling Nativity will literally travel around the homes, schools and businesses in Offham. The symbolic journey will travel through dark and cold to be greeted with anticipation into the comfort of warm, welcoming homes. In the pre-Christmas schedule of work, school runs, shopping, cooking and carol concerts the last thing that we may want is the intrusion of Mary, Joseph and more people in our homes! But we may be surprised that making a little extra effort brings new friendships and fellowship and an opportunity to just take some 'time out' to consider the real meaning and values of Advent. What next? In October a calendar will be available to enable households, schools and local businesses to pick a night to ‘host’ the Travelling Nativity, so building up our symbolic journey around Offham. More details from Jane Jordan (01732 848709) and in October’s Trio

11 Glimpses from St Gabriel’s We are delighted to be advertising for a third member of our clergy team. The advert is running in the Church press on the 5th, 12th and 19th of September. The successful candidate will live on Kings Hill and join with our existing clergy to lead the five churches of our local cluster. We’ve provided a page on our website to enable interested clergy to find out more, and for local residents and church communities to check out what we’re looking to find in our new team member! This role was first advertised at the end of last year in a slightly different format and only at a half-time stipend and, at the time, we were unable to make an appointment. However, because of the growth of St Gabriel’s as a church and a change of strategy in the as a whole, we’re now able to advertise for a full-time minister to join us and help lead the next stage of our development as a Christian community. Important Diary Date! On Sunday, 7th September 2014, our regular Sunday worship will include an important strategy session. We will all, as a congregation, have an amazing opportunity to help shape the future of the church on Kings Hill. The session will start with a shortened service at the usual time of 9:30 am followed by a couple of breakout sessions looking at where we feel God might be leading us as a church and what our part to play in that might be. The sessions will be interspersed with coffee and cakes. It will conclude with a delicious lunch and expect to finish around 1:30 pm. Children's activities will be provided. This will also be a wonderful opportunity to get to know each other more and build relationships in the church family. Jules Radford Congratulations Richard & Lisa It was a great day of celebration on Saturday at our ‘mother church’ of St Mary’s in West Malling as Richard Bell and Lisa Austin were married. Lisa is one of the Girls’ Brigade leaders attached to St Gabriel’s and it’s been a privilege to get to know them both through Lisa’s involvement in the Girls Brigade and the church. Lisa and Richard are photographed here with some of the other Girls Brigade officers. With St Gabriel’s lacking a church building in its own right, St Mary’s played host to the ceremony in August as the happy couple tied the knot in front of family and friends. Any couple living on Kings Hill or worshipping with us at St Gabriel’s has a right to be married in one of their local parish churches. Since Kings Hill doesn’t have a church building of its own, St Lawrence Mereworth and St Mary’s West Malling both regularly play host to weddings involving Kings Hill couples. If you’re interested in getting married, there’s more information available on both churches’ websites. 12

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13 For the Parish Registers St Mary, West Malling Baptism 6th July Jack Charlie Norris 27th July Delilah Mary Evans 3rd August Hudson Tate Steward Indianna Harper Steward 10th August Henry Alexander James 31st August Amelia Mitten Wedding 26th July Kris Everett & Ann-Marie Stacey 2nd August Richard Bell & Lisa Austin St Michael, Offham Wedding 9th August Daniel James & Kate Parrin

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St Mary’s, West Malling Wednesday, 24th September & Thursday 25th September 11 am & 2 pm Frankenstein!! Based on nursery rhymes, enter the wacky world of HK Gruber’s Frankenstein!! Friday 26th September at the Barn Chapel, Pilsdon, West Malling 1 pm 1914 | 1918 Chamber Domaine Elgar – Violin Sonata in E Ravel – Piano Trio in A 6 pm Theatrickles at St Mary’s, West Malling Graham Clarke’s exhibition as seen at The Globe 8 pm Bach meets Jazz at St Mary’s, West Malling James Pearson, artistic director at Ronnie Scott’s, returns with his ensemble. Saturday 27th September at St Mary’s, West Malling 8 pm Close to You – a Tribute to Frank Sinatra Ravel – Introduction & Allegro | Blues James Pearson, Ronnie Scott’s Allstars, Tippet Quartet and vocalist Matt Ford collaborate. Hear the link between ravishing Ravel and Riddle’s intimate orchestration. Sunday 28th September at St Mary’s, West Malling 5 pm Grand Finale – Peter and the Wolf Bach – Brandenburg Concerto Nº 3 | Suite Nº 2 | Double Violin Concerto A family concert concluding with a performance of Prokofiev’s iconic work for children. 15

Frankenstein!! Featuring a mixture of narration and song by the irrepressible Matthew Sharpe, original choreography by English National Ballet’s Fabian Reimar, local school children will be dancing alongside ballerina Daniele Silingardi. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face, the performance is amazing fun to watch and draws you into a world of heroes, villains and demons. Based on nursery rhymes – literally more Grimm than Disney, Gruber employs all sorts of unusual instruments such as kazoos and rubber tubes (whirled around like helicopter rotors to produce a sound). Chamber Domaine will relish playing the eclectic collection: listen out for the melodica, the bird warbler and the slide whistle. Who says classical music has to be serious? Born in Austria in 1943, as a youngster, HK Gruber sang with the Vienna Boys’ Choir. Steeped in music, he went on to play double bass with an ensemble and from 1969 with the ORF-Symphony Orchestra. Since 1997 he has devoted himself to composing, conducting and performing as a chansonnier (a dramatic mixture of singing and speaking). In 1978 Simon Rattle and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra premiered Frankenstein!! It was a triumph that placed Gruber firmly on the international stage as a composer. It has since been performed all over the world. Saturday 27th September – Bach Pilgrimage 11 am at All Saints, Birling Bach: Cello Suite in G | Goldberg Variations Richard Harwood – Cello Steven Devine - Harpsichord 12:30 pm at St Margaret, Addington Ravel: String Quartet in A Bach: Contrapunctus Nº 1 [Art of the Fugue] Elgar: String Quartet in E The Sacconi Quartet 3 pm at Ss Peter & Paul, Trottiscliffe Bach: Ciaccona Ravel: Duo Thomas Kemp – Violin Richard Harwood – Cello

16 We are Made in the Heart of God A young boy once went into a big hall to watch a sculptor at work. He was chipping away at a huge block of stone. Many weeks later he returned and amazingly, instead of finding a block of stone, he was staring at a crouching lion. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘how did you know the lion was in the rock?’ ‘Because,’ replied the sculptor, ‘I saw him in my heart first.’ It reminds me of those words of St Paul in the Letter to the Ephesians that ‘God had chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.’ In other words we were made in the heart of God. I have been to Florence twice over the years and the most amazing piece of art for me is Michael Angelo’s David; probably the most famous sculpture in the world. The statue is of David the shepherd, catching that moment when he is preparing to launch himself into battle against Goliath; his eye is alert, his feet ready to leap forward, his sling in his hand, his muscles tense. There is a story behind the creating of David which I’ve always found interesting. Sometime in the late 1400’s a large slab of marble was cut out of the ground. It was unpromising: it stood 20 feet high, tall and narrow, riddled with veins. Two sculptors attempted something but gave up. The great Leonardo de Vinci was approached but he turned it down and the roughly hewn marble was left in a courtyard until, in 1501, a 26 year old young man, Michelangelo, was offered the marble. He looked at the mutilations and the damage of the first two attempts, and the natural flaws, but he started his work in September 1501. It took just two years and when people, who remembered the original marble saw it, they said, ‘It seemed like one raised from the dead.’ The statue was vibrant with a life of its own. I have often thought of myself, on my journey in life, as being like the unpromising slab of marble: flawed, sometimes buffeted by events, chipped, the wrong shape. But it’s also true that we are made in the heart of God, chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, destined to be vibrant and alive with his life, as one raised from the dead. The unpromising lump of marble transformed Yes, we were made in the very heart of God. Graham Green

17 Women Bishops and how I learnt to value Synod Regular readers of Trio may remember that I was, to put it mildly, 'hopping mad' in November 2012 when General Synod rejected legislation that would have paved the way for women to become bishops. The following Sunday I read an open letter in church as my sermon and got my first (and probably last) round of applause from the good people of St Michael's, Offham! To the casual observer, it may not look like much has changed in the last two years and the UK generally greeted the news that General Synod did pass legislation successfully this Summer without much of a ripple. Of course women can be bishops, they thought. Well done church forgetting into the 20th century a decade after we started the 21st! But in between November 2012 and July 2014 much has changed that leaves me more hopeful for aspects of the church's future. In addition, I am convinced now that Synod was not wrong in 2012 to say no, even if it raised my ire significantly at the time. I honestly think some sections of the church had no idea they would receive as much strength of feeling as they did in 2012. I think many Synod members were caught off- guard by the reaction. The threat of Parliament's intervention in church matters focused many minds too. It would have set a very significant precedent for our national politics given our carefully nuanced relationship between church and state if Parliament had intervened. What all that reaction did was to force all parties to talk to each other and genuinely listen to each other in a way not seen before. No-one wanted this to cause schism in what is a very broad denomination with many different theological perspectives. I think Synod also knew that our nation was very definitely watching. And what has resulted has been genuinely positive. The church has been widely lauded recently for its ability to show a model of discussion and 'arbitration' (for want of a better word) which showed genuine concern for other points of view. It is a model that could be used much more widely in future than just with this particular debate. Furthermore, they found a solution that, eventually, managed to offer the church nationally a much better set of rules, guidance and laws than would have been the case if we had said yes in 2012. Sometimes mischievously, people asked in 2012 'if you have been praying and God is with you and the answer you get back is no, doesn't that settle the matter?' Indeed, I do believe in the guidance of God's Spirit and those who disagree with women in the episcopate do so from a very reasonable reading of Scripture, but I guess I had rationalised the 'no' vote in 2012 as Synod not listening to God and being a body of people who are not properly representative of the wider church (which is a criticism one can still level). However, I look back now with a better solution in place and having seen significant growth in our respective understanding of each other and see that God was involved in 2012 when the vote was a no. It wasn't the right solution and eventually, with us and sometimes despite us, the Spirit of God has led us on.

18 It remains one of the most basic lessons of prayer that sometimes even bishops and clergy, especially bishops and clergy, need to relearn. If God is our loving creator, then like a good and loving parent, our prayers and petitions will sometimes get a no in response. It's not that God doesn't love us or care to answer our prayers, it's just sometimes there is a bigger picture, a longer view that we can't see and which only becomes clear in retrospect. I'm very glad that, subject to the processes of parliamentary and Royal Assent now underway, women will soon be able to be considered for roles as bishops. I'm very glad also that a good solution is in place for those who cannot in good conscience agree with this development in our church life. I'm very glad that Synod voted yes this year, but I'm also very glad to recognise that I was wrong in 2012. Sometimes our impatience needs to give way to a sense of waiting and trusting; that deep breath of faith that enables us to see God may have a bigger picture in play, or a better solution just around the corner. David Green

Sermon preached at Kings Hill, Sunday August 24th [Exodus 1.8-2.10 and Matthew 16.1-20 ] I wonder what would happen if we could see others in the way God sees them? I wonder what would happen if we could see ourselves as God sees us? I wonder if it would make a difference to the way we act - and react? I think we can see, by the gift of the Holy Spirit, something of what God sees in us and some of what he sees in others. But because we are living in this space and in this time, we will only ever be able to see a part of God's big picture. But a part gives us a glimpse - a foretaste of heaven. The readings today have something to do with perceptions and whether - or not - people grasp God's big picture. Take Pharaoh in the reading about the birth of Moses. Clearly he doesn't grasp God's big picture. It's a very different situation from when Joseph helped Egypt and the Pharaoh of times gone by cope with an extended famine. Why the change from that Pharaoh's attitude to this Pharaoh? Well, partly it's because time has passed. This Pharaoh has forgotten the significance of the Israelite's contribution to the fortunes of Egypt. He hasn't learned from history. And that's key: we need to remember the lessons of history and learn from them, to move forwards, in a positive direction. And partly it's through fear: Pharaoh sees the Israelites 19 as a threat, not an ally. He sees their success, their culture, their population explosion as potentially harmful. Pharaoh tries to subjugate God's chosen people: but they prosper and thrive in spite of stresses and strains he places upon them. And, ironically as far as the Egyptians are concerned, the future leader of the Israelite people, Moses, is taken into the heart of the Egyptian court. He will become a man versed in both his Hebrew culture and in that of the Egyptian royal household. But that part of the story is for future weeks. In the Gospel reading today we encounter Peter as he clearly grasps God's big picture. Just a couple of weeks ago, we encountered a very different Peter. One who was up to his neck in trouble - and water! One who feared for his life. What's happened to change things? Jesus points out that Peter's recognition of him as the Son of God, the Messiah, comes from the revelation of the Holy Spirit: it is divinely inspired. And, actually, this is what makes Christ's ministry unique: leaders like Moses, prophets like Isaiah and Elijah, teachers, kings have been recorded over the centuries. But to have God incarnate amongst us, ready to lay down his life for ours, that changes everything. But I wonder if, in some way, our understanding of how Peter has changed needs to be seen in the context of what being a disciple of a great Rabbi meant back then? Back then, to be chosen as a Rabbi's disciple was the most tremendous honour. People abandoned their professions to become disciples and literally followed their Rabbi wherever he went. Rabbis chose their disciples from the crème de la crème of Hebrew scholars. Rabbis chose people they thought could develop to be like them. Jesus chose people he thought could be like him - not from the elite of academia, but from a wide range of rather surprising occupations - amongst them, fishermen like Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. Rob Bell suggests that when Jesus rescued him from the raging waters and said, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ (Matthew 14.31) it was not Peter's faith in Jesus that was in question - it was Peter's faith in himself - that he could be like Jesus. What if this is about Peter’s inability to see himself as Jesus saw him? Jesus invited Peter to come out to him – he must have known he had the potential to do it. How often do we fail to act because we lack faith in ourselves? How often do we abandon trying something new because we worry about what might happen if we fail? What do you think would happen if we could see ourselves as God sees us? Loving heavenly Father, You see us as we are and you see our potential. Help us to grasp some of your vision for our futures and give us the courage to go with it. Help us, too, to see others as you see them, to understand them as you understand them and to encourage them as you encourage them. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Becky Clifford

20 Bishop James on Iraq – extracts from his open letter Recently, considerable attention has been given to the growing humanitarian and security challenges in Iraq… The Bishop of Leeds has written to the Prime Minister drawing particular attention to the dreadful plight of the Christian communities in Iraq at the hands of IS/ISIS. Bishop Nick’s letter may be read in full at : http://nickbaines.wordpress.com/2014/08/16/letter-to-government. Along with many other bishops and church leaders, I am fully supportive of all that Bishop Nick says in that letter. He raises the question of possible asylum for Iraqi Christians… yet to be responded to by HM Government. While our concern should rightly be for all who suffer persecution, injustice and displacement, we have a particular responsibility towards our fellow Christians – in this case from some of the most ancient Christian communities in the world. The Bishop of Derby, in his capacity as Lead Bishop for International Development, writes about how we might respond in prayer, action and giving. Further information and resources may be found on the website www.churchofengland.org/Iraq. These events in Iraq sit alongside those concerning Syria and also Gaza/Israel. Donations to the relief and development efforts may be made through Christian Aid and Tearfund websites, as well as through other agencies. Above all, please continue to hold all of these situations in your prayers both personally and in public prayer on Sundays. With my prayers and good wishes,  James

21 22 In the Garden with Adam’s Gardens September is a time when most households return to normal, the children are back at school, that 2 week holiday in Spain is a distant memory and there will probably be rain! But, let's face it, by the middle of the month, most people's gardens are looking tired and a just a little bit brown. The trouble is that many people are away when their garden is at its peak. We return from summer holidays to find everything has gone over and there is nothing much to look forward to, just the prospect of having to tidy it up ready for winter. How depressing. Wouldn't it be so much better if you returned to a garden determined to squeeze the last bit of enjoyment from the September sunshine? It would prolong that holiday feeling just a bit longer! So why not try creating a late summer border, or adding a few late flowering plants to your existing borders to keep things going? A wide range of perennials are in flower now, all lapping up the last of the summer's rays. Glorious reds, oranges and yellows hint of the bonfires to come. Whilst Dahlias and Cannas are obvious choices for their fantastic late summer show, they have to be lifted at the end of the season and overwintered which can be off-putting for gardeners looking for lower maintenance. Easier options are those perennials that just get on and do their thing without any fuss or bother. A perfect example of this is the Sedum, particularly Herbstfreude and Montrona, which manage to look great all year round. Tight rosettes of fleshy leaves appear in the spring which, by midsummer, are round domes of waxy, jade green buds. Eventually in early autumn the flattened flower heads open, turning a deep pink, bronze and copper- red as they age. Add in winter frost effects on the flower heads, its tolerance of drought conditions, and the wildlife value to butterflies, bees and birds, the Sedum must be the most perfect all-year round plant. Partner it with the billowing grass Stipa tenuissima and you won't go far wrong. Other fiery late flowering perennials include Asters, Echinacea, Rudbeckia and Helenium. These can also be combined with grasses to great effect. If blue is your colour then try Russian Sage, Perovskia `Blue Spire` with its delicate silver foliage and flowers that create a lavender blue haze when planted en masse. As you will have gathered, grasses should definitely not be overlooked in the late summer border. They are invaluable for their texture and movement, their bleached gold colours, and their seed heads which sparkle in the low autumn sunlight. The big design trend is to inter-plant Verbena Bonarensis as they really compliment each other. Other good grasses include Calamagrotis acutiflora `Karl Foerster` which has a very upright habit or Pennisetum villosum with fluffy white caterpillars for flowers which children (and I) love to stroke. Autumn is the perfect time for planting, so why not plan a boost of late summer colour for your garden now? Then, next year, when you return from holiday you'll have fireworks in your garden rather than a damp squib of a border. Adam McKay 07957 461958 | 01732 846796 | [email protected] 23 The Accidental Churchwarden I was incredibly fortunate to be invited by Gavin Williams, one of our regular organists at West Malling, to join a choir singing Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral. Over the summer, the regular choristers are, of course, on holiday and a variety of choirs ‘fill in’. Evensong at Canterbury is well attended, even during the week. Although most of the music had been given out beforehand (so I had a chance to Google YouTube versions and practise them), the sung responses were presented on the day, so I had to have my wits about me and sight sing (at which I’m pretty rusty). We practised in a little chapel invisible from the main cathedral – I think it’s where the choristers rehearse. It’s accessed via a very narrow, long flight of stairs with a rope handrail – a little disconcerting for a vertigo sufferer like me. When I say narrow, I mean narrow – step ladder width. There’s no way two adults could pass each other on them, although a couple of small children might at a squeeze, perhaps. Singing at a service like that is simultaneously nerve-wracking and uplifting – it’s an intoxicating combination – singing amongst a talented group of musicians is the most incredible experience. And in retrospect, I realised I have St Mary’s to thank for that. In more ways than one, you have given me back my voice. I returned to church during 2005, after a few years’ absence: a good friend recommended St Mary’s. Having recently resigned from teaching, I was at a crossroads and wasn’t sure in which direction I should be going. One thing was for sure: I wasn’t going to go back to a job which made me ill. I had had acute laryngitis and been on the brink of a nervous breakdown: it simply wasn’t worth it. For weeks I had been without a voice. I was made to feel very welcome at St Mary’s and enjoyed the services immensely. I hadn’t realised how much I had missed the liturgy and liked (tentatively) singing hymns. After a few weeks, Isobel approached me and asked me how I felt about reading lessons. I went for a run through during the week. She gave me some useful hints and tips and that’s how I began to be involved. I was scheduled to read on Remembrance Sunday. ‘If the clock strikes eleven during the reading, we’ll stop for two minutes,’ announced Brian as I stepped up to the lectern. My heart dropped. And, predictably, the clock struck just after I had started. I finished the sentence and waited. How was I going to know when the two minutes were up? I needn’t have worried: a gentle nod was my signal. At Christmas I participated in the ‘Scratch Choir’ for the Christingle service. It was huge fun. In the New Year, gently cajoled by Celia, I joined the choir. The PCC called the following April, then I volunteered to be Churchwarden. I’m now beginning my third year of the Foundation in Christian Ministry course which will hopefully lead to licensing as a lay minister in May: that will depend on the interview process in March. It’s fair to say I’ve learned and developed a lot. I’m still very much a work in progress, but that’s going to be a life-long situation! But, paradoxically, through all this, the one thing I am now sure about is that I’m passionate about education. So, what next? 24 Septe mber 2014 Crossword Nº 46 ACROSS 1. International festival held locally in late September (5,2,7) 9. Better looking (7) 10. Comic radio show (4) 11. Otherwise (2) 12. Over there (3) 15. Scamp (6) 16. Practice (8) 17. Hit (3)

18. Vomited (6) 22. Colloquialism for road drains (6) 25. High card (3) 26. Conjure up (5) 27. Glide over snow (3) 28. Changes (6) 30. Windscreen clearing blades (6) 33. Carry On actor ___ James (3) 34. Proclaim (8) 35. Unit of instruction (6) 36. Indigenous tree (3) 38. Contracted form of Maureen (2) 39. Passage (4) 40. Most acute (7) 41. Resident orchestra in 1 Across (7,7) DOWN 2. Oblivious (12) 3. Copy (7) 4. Open (4) 5. Metal attractor (6) 6. Least tight (7) 7. Outdoor spaces (7) 8. Worships (6) 13. Schools for speaking? (9) 14. Children’s concerts in 1 Across (12) 19. Friend (3) 22. Small (3) 21. ___ O’Connor, singer and entertainer (3) 22. Stitch (3) 23. Snake (3) 24. __ Royale, cocktail (3) 28. Lacks iron in blood (7) 29. Edible stalk (7) 31. Resistance to movement (7) 32. Perceives (6) 33. Counter (6) 37. Courageous man (4) Answers on p. 26

Calendar – Regular Events (*unless otherwise stated)

St Mary’s, West Malling St Michael’s, Offham Sunday 8:00 am Holy Communion (BCP) Sunday 9:15 am Holy Communion* 11:00 am Holy Communion* (Common Worship) Offham Methodist Church Monday 7:45 pm Bell Ringing Sunday 11:00 am Worship Tuesday 10:00 am Morning Prayer Barn Chapel, Pilsdon at Malling Wednesday 12 noon Holy Communion St Gabriel’s, Discovery School, Kings Hill Sunday 4:00 pm Open House Tea Sunday 9:30 am Holy Communion* 6:00 pm Holy Communion

25 September 2014 1st 10:00 am Church cleaning St Mary’s, West Malling 8:00 pm Cluster Prayers 27, Ames Way, Kings Hill 3rd 8:00 pm Betts/Cooke Homegroup Church Farm, Offham 5th 11:00 am Funeral of Tony McCambridge St Mary’s, West Malling 6th 10:00 am (tbc) Churchyard Working Party St Mary’s, West Malling 7th Trinity 12 9:15 am All-Age Service St Michael’s, Offham 9:30 am Service & Strategy Meeting St Gabriel’s, Kings Hill 11:00 am All-Age Service St Mary’s, West Malling 8th 7:45 pm Kings Hill Congregation Meeting 9th 8:00 pm Ransom/Fortnum Homegroup 27 Ames Way, Kings Hill 10th 7:30 pm Youth Group Vicarage, West Malling 12th 1:00 pm Wedding of Paul & Lyn St Michael’s, Offham 13th 1:30 pm Wedding of Greg & Jo St Mary’s, West Malling 14th Trinity 13 – Services as above 2:00 – 4:00 pm Tower Tours (weather permitting) St Mary’s, West Malling 6:00 pm Holy Cross Cluster Service St Michael’s, Offham 16th 8:00 pm West Malling PCC Church Centre, W M 17th 8:00 pm Betts/Cooke Homegroup Church Farm, Offham 21st Trinity 14 9:30 am Parade Service St Gabriel’s, Kings Hill 23rd 8:00 pm Ransom/Fortnum Homegroup 27 Ames Way, Kings Hill 24th 7:30 pm Youth Group Vicarage, West Malling 24th – 28th Music @ Malling International Festival (see pp 15 -16) 28th Trinity 15 Harvest Festival 1:00 pm Harvest Lunch (see p. 8) Methodist Hall, Offham 5:00 pm Family Concert (see p. 15) St Mary’s West Malling 8:00 pm Jeremy Begbie (see p. 4) St Mary’s, West Malling

Advertising Rates for 2014 1 6.5 cm x 4.5 cm ( /8 page) £6.00 / edition 6.5 cm x 9.25 cm (¼ page) £11.00 / edition 13.25 cm x 9.5 cm (½ page) £21.00 / edition Full page: £40.00 / edition There’s a maximum of 3 pages in a 24 page edition and 4 in a 28 page edition. First come first served. Deadline 25th of month.

26 For Your Prayers from Rochester’s Cathedral’s Calendar of Intercessions September 2014 1st Schools: staff, children and families preparing for a new school year 2nd Bishop James’s Deanery Consultations – 10 meetings during September 3rd Bishop’s Staff meeting today 4th Cliffe, St Helen with Cooling 5th Cuxton, St Michael and all Angels and Halling, St John the Baptist 6th Licensing of Trudi Oliver at Gravesend, St Mary – also Chaplain of St George’s School 7th Strood Deanery: David Green (Area Dean); Geoff Foord (Lay Chair) 8th Frindsbury with Upnor & Chattenden – for the appointment of a new Vicar 9th Bishop’s Council meeting this evening 10th Ordination Retreat beginning today: Alan Vousden as Retreat Conductor 11th Grain w. Stoke – now sharing ministry within the Hoo Peninsular Group 12th High Halstow with Allhallows & Hoo, St Mary 13th Those being ordained as deacons and priests today 14th Cray, St Barnabas – celebrating 50 years today 15th College of Bishops meeting this week over 3 days 16th Christians and others facing persecution in Iraq, Syria and other countries 17th Rochester Leadership Programme residential week 18th The people of Scotland voting in their referendum today 19th Higham, St John the Baptist with Merston 20th Hoo, St Werburgh 21st Our Archdeacons: Paul Wright; Simon Burton-Jones; Clive Mansell 22nd Lady Boswell School, Sevenoaks – opening of new classrooms 23rd Strood, St Francis – for the appointment of a new Vicar 24th The Cathedral Trust – event today to raise support for the music endowment 25th Kent Police Chaplains – training meeting today 26th New Headteachers in our church schools – induction day today 27th Strood, St Nicholas with St Mary 28th Malling Deanery: Matthew Buchan (Area Dean); Barry Fisher (Lay Chair) Tunbridge Wells, St Philip – celebrating 10 years as a parish 29th Barming, St Margaret 30th Birling, Addington, Ryarsh & Trottiscliffe

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