Underriver Newssheet
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Underriver Newssheet JUNE 2016 Birthday Tea Party for Her Majesty 12 June See Page 8 The Church of St Margaret, Underriver Vicar: The Reverend Carol Kitchener St Lawrence Vicarage, Stone Street, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0LQ Telephone: 01732 761766 Email: [email protected] Church Calendar JUNE 5 2nd Sunday after Trinity Green 11:15 Pet Service Reading: Psalm 148:1-10 9 Thursday 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) 12 3rd Sunday after Trinity Green 10:30 Confirmation Service Readings: tba 16 Thursday 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) 19 4th Sunday after Trinity Green St Lawrence Dedication Service 9:45 Family Communion (CW) at St Lawrence Readings: 1 Peter 4:12-19 & Matthew 10:28-39 23 Thursday 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) 26 5th Sunday after Trinity Green 11:15 Parish Communion (CW) Readings: Galatians 5:1,13-25 & Luke 9:51-end 30 Thursday 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) 3 July St Thomas the Apostle Red 11:15 All age Family Service Readings: John 20:24-29 7 July Thursday 8:30 Morning Prayer (CW) Key: BCP = Book of Common Prayer - a service using traditional (17th C) language and form; CW = Common Worship - a service using contemporary (21st C) language and form St Margaret’s Church Website St Margaret’s now has its own website. To keep up to date about services and events please see www.stmargaretsunderriver.org.uk 2 FROM THE VICAR We all have things that we feel very different from confident about, things we think we can the church we know. do well, or that people say we do well – Perhaps that church where do these gifts/abilities come from? would not need The bible tells us that they come from structures, or reams God. Over time we might be given new of paperwork – would gifts or we might lose gifts that we do not that mean the end of use anymore. That gives us a clue that our the rota? gifts have been given to us for a purpose - We decided that they need to be used. our gifts had been Last month twenty people from our given to us for a purpose. Together we two churches got together in the church form the body of Christ at St Lawrence’s rooms next to Otford parish church to and at St Margaret’s and between us we think about gifts and the way they can be should have all of the gifts necessary for used to serve God and each other. our churches to flourish. On a human figure we placed our names according to We read two pieces of scripture (1 the kind of gifts we had, some were Corinthians 12:12-end and Romans 12:4- spiritual gifts (heart), practical gifts (hands 8) and considered if the knowledge that and feet), administrative gifts (head), gifts have been given by God makes a teaching and leadership gifts (head), difference to the way we view them? We hospitality gifts (hands). It was decided that it did make a difference and encouraging to see that both churches people spoke about the importance of had a good spread of gifts and that no encouraging and recognizing people’s areas were underrepresented. gifts. We also decided that it was just as important to use our gifts outside the Think about the gifts you have, if you church as it was to use them within and are not sure what they are ask a friend, that might mean using them in a national they might be able to see where your gifts or global context. lie. If there are things that you have always wanted to be a part of let our People wanted to encourage others to wardens know and we can include you. use the gifts they had, maybe helping We should thank God for the people he them to discover that they have a gift they has called to our churches and for the gifts did not know about. We discussed how to he has given to them. involve other people and felt that a personal invitation would be a good way, Yours in the love of Christ being sensitive to the level of involvement Carol someone might feel comfortable with. We used our imagination to think what a church where everyone used their gifts might look like and decided it would be 3 CHURCH NEWS Looking back: Ascension Day (joint) Service of Holy Communion 10 am on Thursday 5th May Rogation-tide Walk and Picnic: 8th May. We had glorious weather that afternoon and we really enjoyed walking through the countryside, along the way we saw lambs and calves and a fabulous display of bluebells. We were joined by other people, who hadn’t been able to walk with us, for the picnic tea and for Evensong. Looking forward: Pet Service: 5th June at 11.15 am outside the Village Hall. Do come and bring your pets as we thank God for them and ask him to bless them. Confirmation Service: Sunday 12th June at 10.30 am. This will be a joint service with St Lawrence’s and will be led by Bishop James. Come and join us for this lovely celebra- tion. Prayers: Giving thanks to God for al that he has done for us in our lives and for our fami- lies Praying for young people taking exams this month Praying for new curates and their families leaving college and moving into their first parishes this summer who have been unable to attend any of Joint Benefice the meetings we have held about this, The PCCs of the parishes of St Law- what difference will it make. The answer rence, Seal Chart and St Margaret, Under- is, surprisingly little. We have been work- river have decided that it would be appro- ing together for some time. That will not priate for their parishes to form “a joint change although we may wish to do more. benefice”. This is currently going through We will continue to have our own separate the formal Church of England procedures, churchwardens, PCCs and finances. But and as part of the process a notice has going forward, it will strengthen our posi- been posted on the door of St Margaret’s. tion as two very small parishes, which to- May I encourage you to take the time to gether merit only a part-time priest. In any read this notice, which is an important one future plans, our two parishes will be con- for the life of our local church. There is a sidered together as a single unit. time limit for comments, 27 June 2016. Andrea Pierce I have been frequently asked by those 4 prove appearance and reduce further Churchyard maintenance costs. The suggestion is that There has been a typically generous they should be dug out to the depth of the response to our request for help. Many kerbs and then apply a weed deterrent thanks to all those who have donated, and and a membrane to inhibit future growth. also to a number of you who have offered The space will be filled with stone of an to look after a particular grave which no approved colour. There are about 40 longer has a local family able to tend it. I graves which need clearing. I am very apologise for not having contacted you pleased to be able to tell you that we now direct sooner, but as many of you will have sufficient funds to make this possible know I have had a bout of serious illness and the PCC has approved that the work and have got rather behind hand with vari- should be done. A big thankyou to John ous things. But please know that I am very Clemence who has come forward with a grateful for your offers and aim to contact number of helpful suggestions and who you shortly. has also dealt with donations for us. One of our proposals was to carry out Andrea Pierce work on the older kerbed graves to im- Please come to our Prayer Group: 9 June (Thurs) 2 pm 50 The Crescent 20 June (Mon) 10 am Old Forge, Stone Street 7 July (Thurs) 2 pm Grenadier, Hildenborough ARCHDEACON ADDRESS Many have said that they have found particular encouragement this last year The following is an extract from the through Church attendances at Christmas Archdeacon’s address given at the annual time. It is a “Winter’s Tale”. People come service and registration of Churchward- in very great numbers at that stage. We ens. The full text can been read on our rejoice in that, but how are we best able to Website. move forward from those occasions into April 23rd this year saw the 400th Anni- the spring and summer seasons which fol- versary of the death of William Shake- low? speare. You will be aware that a number of Is your church an “As You Like It” special events and activities are taking church? place to mark this commemoration. From my days in Yorkshire, I remember However, I would like to pick up the somebody once saying: names of some of Shakespeare’s plays to “We know what we like and we like reflect on some aspects of our Church life what we know.” at the moment and give you some thoughts to take away You don’t have to be a Yorkshireman to feel like that. In some ways, it was a saying For example, is yours a “Winter’s Tale” church? (Continued on page 6) 5 (Continued from page 5) not to be, that is the question”.