Good News Parish Magazine July 2020 High Downs Parish Serving the villages of Eastling, Otterden, Stalisfield and Throwley for current and past editions go to: ccgi.northdowns.plus.com/goodnews Village church buildings are preparing for reopening for private prayer St Michael and All Angels, Throwley Our beautiful church building is open again, from each Wednesday and Sunday between 10am - 6pm. To keep everyone safe please: Use the hand sanitiser * only use the open pews * do not enter cordoned off areas. If there are others in the Church, please follow social distancing rules * observe the one way arrows on the floor. Visitors Book We are unable to have our visitors book out at present but would love to hear from you. We will put your messages into the book for you. Please email any messages, thoughts, photos to [email protected] Donations We understand that many people are not handling cash at the moment, if you would like to make a 'cashfree' donation these can be made to: Account Name: Throwley PCC Sort Code: 56-00-51 Account 00540919 _______________________________ Christ has no body now but yours, St Mary, Eastling no hands, no feet on earth We are moving in small steps towards a full re-opening of the church, but yours, however we can make a start on this by opening for private prayer on three days a week from Friday 3rd July and then Sundays, Tuesdays Yours are the eyes with which and Fridays thereafter from 12 - 3pm, to be reviewed as we move he looks forward. compassion on this world. Those wishing to come for a period of prayer will find that only the back part of the church will be accessible and Pews which can be used Your are the feet with which will be clearly identified. There will be appropriate signage regarding he walks to do good, yours social distancing and rope to cordon off those areas which should not are the hands, with which he be accessed. The government instructions mean that each pew can only have one person in it, or more if from the same household. blesses the world. Soft furnishings such as kneelers and pew runners will be removed Yours are the hands, yours and the toilet will remain locked, also the visitors’ comment book will are the feet, be removed. Please follow us on www.achurchnearyou.com/church/11982/ or on the Yours are the eyes, you are High Downs facebook page www.facebook.com/highdownsbenefice his body. for up to date information or the church noticeboard for information. (Teresa of Avila 1515-1582) Canon Paul Hardingham considers some comforting words from Isaiah. The Frailty of Life According to one survey, during the lockdown, a quarter of adults in the UK have watched or listened to a religious service and one in 20 have started praying. While the majority of people who contract Covid-19 survive, it reminds us that we are Online Book of Remembrance much more frail and weak than we like to opened at St Paul’s think. As the prophet Isaiah says: St Paul’s Cathedral has launched Remember Me ‘All people are like grass, and all their an online book of remembrance for all those faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. who have been living in the UK who have died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on People of all faiths, beliefs or none are invited them. Surely the people are grass. The to contribute to Remember Me. grass withers and the flowers fall, but the HRH The Prince of Wales , who recorded a word of our God endures for ever.’ video message, said: “This virtual book of remembrance is here not just to recall our loss (Isaiah 40:6-8). and sorrow, but also to be thankful for everything good that those we have loved Isaiah’s words really resonate at this time. brought into our lives.” In more normal times we can avoid facing Family, friends and carers of those who have up to our vulnerability, but this pandemic died can submit, free of charge, the name, has forced us to recognise our weakness photograph and a short message in honour of a and fragility. deceased person via the Remember Me website. The deceased person must have However, this shouldn’t lead us to despair or been living in the UK. Remember Me will be fear; rather it is an opportunity to worship open for entries for as long as needed. It is and praise for His constancy and care. In intended that the Remember Me site will Peter’s first letter he quotes this passage become a physical memorial at the Cathedral. from Isaiah and says, ‘For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and Prayer Pointers enduring word of God’ (1 Peter 1:23). Peter July 2020 contrasts our mortality with the eternal Word of God, which bring us new birth and Mondays - As our churches prepare to open, we pray for a blessing on all entering and those life through the power of the Spirit. Jesus cleaning. died for our sins and rose again to make us Tuesdays - Pray for people to have respect for right with God, so that through faith in Him others. we can know eternal life. We don’t need to Wednesdays - Pray for all who are living with be afraid of our frailty, for God is a mental health problems. dependable foundation on which to build Thursdays - Pray for our NHS staff and those our lives and face eternity. working in care homes. Fridays - Pray for all working on public ‘We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree. transport and in public services. And wither and perish, Saturdays - Pray for school staff and pupils as but nought changeth Thee.’ education takes on a new way of working. (Immortal, invisible, Walter C Smith). Sundays - May the blessing of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit be with us always. BelmontHseGdns m m u Belmont House and Gardens Co n i t y n n Ta b l e BELMONT HOUSE & GARDENS THE GARDENS ARE OPEN We are delighted that Belmont can once again welcome visitors to come Eastling Community Table and enjoy our stunning gardens and open spaces. The gardens are open The Community Table is now placed daily from 10am with the gates closing at 6pm.Tickets can be purchased online. Alternatively, you can pay with cash at the pay point on arrival to outside The Carpenters Arms barn so that the gardens, please note change cannot be provided. For information on it is easily accessible and we can continue the measures we have put into place please visit our website. to share produce over the summer months. NGS Open Garden Weekend Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th July, 12pm - 5pm Community Prayer Belmont is pleased to support the work of the National Garden Scheme. Lord, bind us together in our The funds raised from the weekend will go to the Help Support Our community, Nurses campaign. Tickets can be purchased on arrival to Belmont and Bind us together in unity. by visiting www.ngs.org.uk or www.belmont-house.org Lord, bind us together to love one another, MEET THE HEAD GARDENER Bind us together to be there for each other. Tuesday 21st July, 1pm - 3pm Lord, bind us together to live Join our Head Gardener, Graeme, for a walking tour around our and to share, beautiful gardens to see some of the many species of plants and trees we have at Belmont. £7.00 pp. Booking is required. To reserve your Bind us together to love and to place, visit our website or please contact us. care. Lord, bind us together in good times and bad, Belmont House & Gardens, Throwley, Bind us together whether happy Nr Faversham, Kent ME13 0HH or sad. www.belmont-house.org Lord, bind us together to help 01795 890 202 those in need, [email protected] Bind us together to help those in need. EASTLING VILLAGE HALL Lord, bind us together in love To book ring Hayley on and in peace, Beechfields on 01795 890968 Bind us together so problems www.eastlingvillagehall.co.uk will cease. Residential Home A beautiful hall in a lovely village location for your Lord, bind us together through Conyer Road, Teynham, wedding, club, sports or meetings. the gospel we share, The large hall has pretty grounds, car parking, meeting Bind us together to unite in Sittingbourne. rooms and fully equipped facilities for professional or self-catering occasions. prayer. Individual, ground floor, en-suite rooms with views over the Lord, bind us together in all that Barnie’s Sweeps we do, surrounding countryside. Professional Brush & Vacuum Chimney Run by the resident owners, Sweeping Service for Open Fires and Bind us together with faith in Wood Burners you. Cliff and Dorothy Saffrey, Clean Efficient Service both registered nurses. Institute of Chimney Sweeps Trained Lord, bind us together in our and Fully Insured Day Care available. Certificate Issued after Sweeping community, For Further Details please call Berni on Bind us together in unity. Amen 01795 581755 or 07751 109300 Tel: 01795 520580 Visit me at www.barniessweeps.co.uk By Royston Davies Otterden and Stalisfield WI Otterden and Stalisfield WI are looking forward to getting back together soon, but we will have to wait until Stalisfield Village Hall can re-open sometime after July 4th.