The Rochester Diocesan Big Day Out ochesterLink Sunday 19 July 2015 1pm-7pm MAY 2015 See page 12 for details Tanzania Drought Appeal Bishops James and Brian have launched an appeal for £10,000 to help those worst affected by the drought in our partner Dioceses of Mpwapwa and Kondoa in Tanzania. Already the crops have been ruined in the area and the poorest will be the worst affected, especially in the coming weeks and months when present food supplies run out. A letter has been sent to all The aim is to send appeal money churches with details of the appeal to the Bishops of Mpwapwa and suggesting that on a Sunday Kondoa who will buy grain and in late May or during June, the have it distributed, through people of Mpwapwa and Kondoa their church networks, to the are prayed for and a retiring most needy. collection is taken. If you would like to donate individually, please This year we will be celebrating send your cheques (payable to the tenth anniversary of our Rochester DBF with ‘Tanzania partnerships with Kondoa and Drought Appeal’ written on the Mpwapwa Dioceses in Tanzania. back) to Gill Miller, Diocesan Office, Praying for our sisters and brothers Boley Hill, Rochester, ME1 1SL. and providing practical help will Gill can also send Gift Aid demonstrate our love and solidarity Envelopes on request. in their hour of need. Famine and Drought During Holy Week and Easter, During our time in Kondoa, we has already died but water for the members of Christ Church were privileged to visit seven of animals. Currently in villages even Orpington were privileged to the parishes, in the north, east and water is difficulty to get. We trust worship and serve God with south of the Diocese - the Diocese you will hold our people into brothers and sisters in the Diocese being the size of Wales! On our your prayers.” of Kondoa. Like many parishes in travels, we met joy-filled, Spirit- the Diocese, we have a partnership filled Christians who opened their We witnessed the effect of this with a link diocese. Ours is with homes and their lives to us. Yet we drought, as the pictures portray. Kondoa and we particularly focus also experienced the drought that Thankfully, while we were there, on the supporting the work of the has affected Tanzania so badly. rain did fall, and we pray it will Bible School. Bishop Given has a Bishop Given writes: “The weather continue, not least to save the great need to raise up and train condition is still very bad, the livestock. The crops have mainly clergy, so that he can send them drought is very severe; especially been ruined, and maize prices out to serve in the 95 churches of in Kondoa. Yesterday I visited some are rising rapidly as people his Diocese (currently divided in to farms and the situation was terribly prepare for food shortages in 36 parishes). However, some of the bad. The Prime Minister when September, October and November parishes are as much as 50 miles opening the Parliament, warned in particular. The experience of across and pastors regularly walk that there will be a strong famine Kondoa is not very different in or cycle this distance! this year. He asked people to be our other link Diocese of Mpwapwa careful in using their food. Please I suspect. kindly pray for us. I am saying we need rain not for our crops which The Rev Jay Colwill Copy deadline for the June issue of Rochester Link is 1400 on Friday 15 May. Copy to: [email protected] 2 ochester Link The Bishop of Tonbridge, The Right Reverend Dr Brian Castle What’s on in May Some of the Bishop’s Engagements in May 2015 Saturday 2 – Monday 4 SATURDAY 16 Sunday 3 10.30 Preside and Preach BIRLING Flower Festival at All Saints’ Church, Birling SHOREHAM - St Stephen, Tonbridge from 11am- 4pm. Family Service at 11 am Sunday. Concert by Temenos Chamber Choir in St Peter and Tuesday 5 - Wednesday 6 Refreshments at Village Hall during the festival. St Paul’s Church, at 7.30pm. Madrigals by Monteverdi, 10.30 Attend ‘Thinking Faith: Ethics, Public Weelkes and Wilbye, Part songs by Finzi. Instrumental Theology and the C of E’ - Cumberland Tuesday 5 items by Mozart, Ibert and Koechlin from the Goldhawk Lodge, Windsor What is the world coming to? Rochester Diocese World Wind Trio. Tickets £10 (£5 students) from Sevenoaks Wednesday 6 11.00 Attend Faith and Order Commission Mission Forum. Bookshop, Shoreham Village Stores, by phone at Church House, Westminster Thursday 7 12.30 Speak at Gillingham Deanery Prayer could make the difference. Tuesday 5 May - 8.00 01959 522302, or at the door. Chapter meeting pm. All welcome. Be inspired by what God is doing www.temenos-chamberchoir.org.uk Friday 8 10.00 Celebrate Eucharist and present Records around the world and join us to pray for mission partners of Achievement to Year 11 students worldwide. Refreshments, St John’s Church, Amherst ROCHESTER Open Garden at Bishopscourt from – Trinity School, Belvedere Road, Tunbridge Wells TN4 9LG 11.00am – 3.00 pm. Christian Aid stand, refreshments Saturday 9 10.00 Chair conference: Challenging Poverty, and a plant sale. Entry £2.00. Bishopscourt, Celebrating Humanity, Partnership for Friday 8 24 St Margaret’s Street, Rochester, ME1 1TS. Change - Trinity School, Belvedere, TUNBRIDGE WELLS Changed: New Life in Christ, 1WON Enquiries: Bridget Langstaff: 07816 828439 or Sunday 10 10.30 Confirmation – Tonbridge School, Tonbridge Monday 11 09.30 Speak to Training Incumbents’ Meeting Youth Event at St Matthew’s Church, High Brooms, email: [email protected] – Diocesan Office, Rochester Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9BN from 7.00pm – 9.00pm. Thursday 14 11.00 Attend Consecration of Bishop of Games, Music, Tuck Shop. Cost: £1.50 booked. £2.00 on WATERINGBURY Annual Plant Sale from 10am and 4pm Edmundsbury & Ipswich and Bishop of the door. Contact Sarah Cabella 01634 560024, sarah. at the church of St John the Baptist, Wateringbury. Hertford – Westminster Abbey [email protected] Saturday 16 14.30 Attend Lay Minister Licensing Service SATURDAY 30 - Rochester Friday 8 – Sunday 10 DARTFORD Charity Concert by Afterparty A-Cappella on Sunday 17 10.30 Preside and Preach – St Augustine, WROTHAM Wrotham Arts Festival. FREE. Come and behalf of Kent Workplace Mission and The Teenage Cancer Slade Green 18.30 Confirmation – St Augustine, Gillingham join us from Friday and Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday Trust at the Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford at 7.30pm. Thursday 28 10.00 Attend Trustees’ Meeting – Burrswood 11am to 5pm at St George’s Church. See work from 40 Tickets £15 from Mick Jagger Centre: 01322 291100. 19.30 Hands of Compassion Board meeting local artists. Great food in the village hall. Activities for – Bishop’s Lodge, Sevenoaks children. Details at www.wrothamartsfestival.co.uk 13 JUNE Sunday 31 18.00 Preach at Kings Hill Cluster Service PRAYING FOR OTHERS… does it work? A day on SATURDAY 9 Intercessory Prayer with the Ven Simon Burton-Jones, FAWKHAM & HARTLEY May Fair from noon until 4.00pm, Archdeacon of Rochester. Tonbridge Parish Church TN9 at St Mary’s Church Meadow, Fawkham Road, Fawkham, 1HD. 9.45 am to 3 pm. Bring your own lunch - tea/coffee CONTACT US DA3 8EQ. Fun dog show, classic car display and live provided. For more details contact: Lorna Kahan lorna. News and letters to the Editor: music. Pastries, ice-cream and burgers. Win a Bluewater [email protected] or Judith Howard judithhoward@ [email protected] Telephone: 01634 560000 voucher worth £200 in the Grand Draw. £1.00 upwards weald.plus.com or Jenny Smith [email protected] per vehicle. from Diocesan Fellowship of Pray-ers ADVERTISEMENTS Email: [email protected] WATERINGBURY The Marsh Warblers present a short SATURDAY 20TH AND SUNDAY 21ST JUNE Copy for The Link needs to be typed and submitted by email please. informal concert of West Galley music while performing MEDWAY - Wigmore Open Gardens Weekend with many Images must be submitted as either a TIFF or a JPEG file of 300dpi. (Set in Georgian period costume at noon at the church of different gardens open at various times. For details see your digital camera to the highest quality setting and we will try to do the St John the Baptist, Tonbridge Road, Wateringbury. www.stmattswigmore.org.uk rest for you.) Followed by a light lunch. Tickets at £5 from Post Office Typeset by JPS Designs - [email protected] or by telephoning 01622 813032. SATURDAY 6TH JUNE: ST MARTINS CHELSFIELD, SKIBBBS Lane, Chelsfield, BR6 7RH. Annual Summer SATURDAY 16 Fete. Many sideshows, bouncy castle and food. MEOPHAM The 48th annual sponsored Christian Aid walk 12.00 - 4.30pm. www.stmartinchelsfield.org.uk from Meopham. Two walks start from St John’s Centre in Paul Bellerby on 01634 387328. Meopham. For keen walkers, a 14 mile circuit departs at 9.00 am, visiting churches in Longfield, Fawkham, Ash An exciting new venture led by members of the Church and Ridley. Refreshments and loos are available. The of St Peter and St Paul, Ash,New Ash Green VA Meeting shorter, 6 mile walk through Cobham and Luddesdown Room. Discovering Jesus in a welcoming, café style begins at 2.00 pm. Seriously fit people can join the atmosphere with prayers, songs and refreshments. On two together and cover 20 miles in the day! For more the last Tuesday of EVERY MONTH at 2000. Everyone information visit the website: www.cadswalk.co.uk welcome. Contact Jan [email protected] or Rev Canon Ruth Oates : 01474 872209 5-7 June - LEAP OF FAITH 2015 Winners of the WOMEN’S RETREAT WEEKEND Mission Praise and Carroty Wood near Tonbridge Song book After the success of LEAP other adventures to make this a Winners of the Mission OF FAITH 2014 we are again girls’ retreat with a difference.