2021 JULY ONLINE Parish Magazine Parishes of Rolvenden and Newenden Associate Team Priest The Revd Chris Hodgkins 01580 389587 [email protected] mob: 07843220684 Please note Chris' day off is Friday Reader Judy Vinson 01580 241504 [email protected] St Mary the Virgin, Rolvenden Churchwardens Elizabeth Marshall 01580 241529 ea.marshall@btinternet .com Hon. Secretary Ann Paddick 01797 252334 Hon. Treasurer William Barham 01580 240852 Sacristan Elizabeth Marshall 01580 241529 Organist Geoffrey Davison 01580 241685 Bellringers’ Assoc. Captain Linda Smith 01580 241783 St Peter, Newenden Churchwardens Frances Jones 01797 252563 [email protected] Hugh Edmonds 01797 252196 [email protected] Hon Secretary Ellen Hannavy-Cousen 07861705638 [email protected] Hon. Treasurer Jonathan Kempton [email protected] Sacristan Rhoda Smith 01580 292041 Magazine Administration Judy Vinson 01580 241504 [email protected] Magazine Subscriptions Sue Bourne 078794 03424 Published by Rolvenden P.C.C. This month's cover: ‘Cottage Garden’ Photographer: Toni Huxley View from the Layne Dear All, Looking out of my window I am reminded of a line of poetry: ‘When weeds in wheels shoot long and lovely and lush’. I can confirm they are shooting in my garden right now, especially bellbine, which is the food plant of the White Plume Moth, a sometime resident. Passers-by may see it as a weed and judge my gardening abilities accordingly. But a weed is a plant growing where it is not wanted. So far as I am concerned, this plant is needed in my front garden and is not a weed. Should I put a notice up, ‘White Plume Moths Welcome’? There are keen gardeners who would still not approve. But we are all uniquely different, thank goodness, and that goes as much for our opinions and preferences as it does for our combination of facial features or favourite food. Difference should be something to celebrate. But there comes a point where the alternative behaviour, thinking or appearance that results from the difference becomes unacceptable. The critical points come with the choices of where to draw the line between what is and is not acceptable and how we then act. Too often we don’t reach those critical points of thinking something through. There is a knee jerk reaction, perhaps an instant remark, a hasty email, and the negative consequences are out of the trap and running. The damage is done. But supposing we started from a different place? The weeds in wheels line comes from a poem by Gerald Manley Hopkins, Spring. Later in the poem he asks: ‘What is all this juice and all this joy?’ He is not judging parts of his surrounding in isolation but instead is seeing them all as a part of God’s Creation, the weeds, a pear tree in blossom, the birdsong, the blue sky and a bird’s nest are all linked in some way that fills him with joy. He is also part of Creation, ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’, as the Psalmist says, and his imperative to write poetry is an outpouring of the unique gift of creativity that he has been given by God. God has made each one of us in his own image. He is the arch creator and as we are ‘in his image’ we each contain some spark of creativity. For Hopkins it was writing poetry. It could equally be the ability to be the manager who can build a team of people that complement each other’s skills and work well together, whether playing a game, putting on a show, running a shop or manufacturing china tea sets. Or it could be the guy in the team who can be relied upon to get everyone through a bad day with words of encouragement, humour and perfect timing for making the coffee. The words that come to mind are sharing, 3 caring, celebrating. Achievement is recognised not solely in economic terms but in joy, satisfaction and the knowledge that a worthwhile contribution has been made. The idea of creating here is close to flourishing. Jesus had something to say about that, a message about being spiritually connected and the power of love. Typically he used a strong image to help people get his point. He says to his disciples: “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.” (John 15. 5 – 8) May we all celebrate our differences, find joy in sharing and may the White Plume Moth flourish. Judy V St Peter and St Mary Flower Rotas for July 2021 Sunday St Mary St Peter July 04 Hazel B/Sue C Janet Kempton July 11 Sylvia K Janet Kempton July 18 Jane H Hazel Chapman July 25 Elizabeth M Hazel Chapman Contact: Sylvia Kellett Rosie Edmonds 01580 240463 01797 252196 [email protected] [email protected] Brass Cleaning at St Mary: Janette Wilson St. Peter’s Church: normally open between 10.00 and 5.00pm. If you need access outside of these times, please contact Frances Jones or Rosie Edmonds. Should arrangers be unable to do any slots please swap with someone else and let Rosie know. Rosie E From the Registers E Interment of Ashes 4th June Dennis Monk at St Mary’s Weddings 22nd May Joseph Nelson Goldsmith and Alison Hamilton Shepherd at St Mary’s 10th June Cameron Ruckley and Olivia Page at St Mary’s 4 August Bank Holiday Sat 28/Sun 29/Mon 30 St Mary’s Flower Festival and Art Exhibition 2021 The flower arrangers’ bandwagon is rolling, and the artists are being creative... Meanwhile we welcome contributions for the Bookstall to be left in St. Mary’s Church. Hardback and paperbacks in good condition please (no magazines) in various categories: Gardening, art, fiction, reference, biographies, history, transport, crime, children’s books etc. etc. Preserves and home baking would be welcome for the produce stall. Please deliver to the Village Hall on Saturday 28th August. Sign up sheets for stewarding in church and for the Raffle and Bookstall will be ready in church in August. Any queries to Sylvia 240463 And Jan is Calling all artists If you haven't sent your in entry for the Art Exhibition yet please do so ASAP. If you are not on our list of Artists and would like to be so that you can exhibit in August, please contact Jan Gambier on 07952 414269 5 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Church Service Calendar for July Sunday 4th July, Fifth Sunday after Trinity 9:15am St Peter Newenden 11:00am St Mary Rolvenden Eucharist (CW) Eucharist (CW) 3:00pm St Mary’s Churchyard Campfire Tuesday 6th July 8:30am St Mary Rolvenden Eucharist (CW) Sunday 11th July, Sixth Sunday after Trinity 9:15am St Peter Newenden 11:00am St Mary Rolvenden Eucharist (CW) Eucharist (CW) Tuesday 13th July, 8:30am St Mary Rolvenden Eucharist (CW) Sunday 18th July, Seventh Sunday after Trinity, 8:00am St Mary Rolvenden Holy Communion (BCP) 9:15am St Peter Newenden 11:00am St Mary Rolvenden Morning Praise (CW) Matins (BCP) Tuesday 20th July, 8:30am St Mary Rolvenden Eucharist (CW) Sunday 25th July, St Peter Newenden 11:00am St Mary Rolvenden Patronal Festival Eucharist (CW) Eucharist (CW) Tuesday 27th July, 9:00am St Mary Rolvenden Eucharist (CW) Covid Secure – As we prepare this calendar the delay in ‘Freedom Day’ means we are still not sure when we can return to a more normal form of worship. But in addition to Geoffrey singing from the exalted and safe position of the organ loft in St Mary’s the choir is singing a hymn and the Gloria in St Peter’s. Campfire – Last month we invited people to ‘Bring their own Beverage’ and a time of safely distanced open-air general chat did happen after the very informal service. The same will apply for July. And for those who just cannot wait, singing is allowed in the churchyard around the Campfire. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 6 Newenden Family Fun Day & Dog Show Saturday 21 August is the date when the ever-popular Dog Show, hosted by NCC Captain Phil Morris, returns to the cricket ground as part of the annual Family Fun Day. Organised by the Newenden Trust to raise funds for the new village hall, the day will include a Pimms bar, the cake competition judged by Rev Chris Hodgkins and Raymond Chitty, a tombola in aid of Saint Peter's Church, an exciting raffle managed by Jane and Brian Livesey and last but not least, the Sponsored Duck Race held by the Friends of Saint Peter's Church. Stalls can be booked by local residents and we can always do with a few extra people to help on the day, so please just get in touch. Ingrid Nilson, Events Coordinator 01797 252030 Anticipation Rising The rumour is going the rounds of the community, our Annual Freedom Day has been moved forward by one week this year. Oh yes, we know all about Freedom Day and, it has to be said, we are very good at lockdowns. We have been doing lockdowns for years, long ones. And we just know how important our annual time is when we come out of our enclosed space. We know the preparation for safe release will include the highest level of testing, none of that quick-fix sight check that carries a risk of false positives and missed negatives.