Called into the desert

The 3G’s ‘On the
Road’ with
Diocesan
Stewardship
Advisor Alan
Strachan
The 3G’s p6
JULY/AUGUST 2011
Called into the desert
By the Rev Canon Chris Stone
It could have been another group
of sun-seeking holiday makers
that emerged into the dawn light
at Sharm el Sheikh airport on
Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. But no,
this party was on a mission or,
rather, a pilgrimage. It was a
pilgrimage in the footsteps of the
Desert Fathers and Mothers.
As early as the 3rd century, these were
people who went out into the Egyptian
desert in search of an authentic relationship
with God. The desert offered the solitude
and silence seen as necessary for prayer
and praise and the study of Scripture. That
said, the desert now, as then, is an
inhospitable and unforgiving environment.
Led by the Rev Canon Michael Insley,
Canon Theologian of Rochester Cathedral,
and the Rev Sharon Francis, the first
destination for the group of twenty six was
St Catherine’s Monastery. This Greek
Orthodox Monastery, built in the 6th century
by order of the Emperor Justinian, lies at the
entrance to the gorge at the foot of Mount
Sinai, at the site where Moses is said to
have seen the burning bush. It was on the
top of the mountain, which many of the
group climbed, that Moses received the Ten
Commandments. The church of St Catherine
attracts many visitors each day, and the
library of this, the oldest continuously
inhabited monastery in the world, is home to
an amazing collection of ancient icons and
manuscripts.
It is St Antony (c. 251–356) who is said
to be the ‘father’ of monasticism, and the
visit to the monastery that bears his name
was a spiritual highlight of our time together.
There, in the setting of a Coptic church, we
celebrated the Eucharist before visiting other
parts of the monastery, following countless
‘religious’ who had trodden this way before
us. Before we left, one of today’s monks (who
are growing in number) took a group photo for
us. A visit to St Paul’s Monastery was equally
moving and we experienced great warmth of
hospitality wherever we went.
As we moved around, ‘Thoughts for the
Day’ often included quotations from the
sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers
which had a particularly powerful meaning in
this setting.
Pilgrims
The Church of St Catherine
Travelling to Cairo, we witnessed great
expanses of desert through which modern
roads have been built. Once there, we were,
first of all, in ‘tourist’ mode with visits to the
Pyramids and the Sphinx, but our encounter
with Egypt’s capital also saw us sharing
Sunday morning worship – very different from
chapel, was a fitting end to a wonderful time
what we are used to - with congregations in
two of the ancient Coptic churches in the city. of pilgrimage and fellowship.
Out in the desert again, we were
welcomed to the monastery of St Macarius,
where Michael Insley was to be seen deep in
conversation with our monastic host, and to
the monastery of St Gabriel. Although each of
the monasteries on our pilgrimage had its own
special character, the communities all shared
a devotion to the love of God in praise and
worship, to the reading and study of
Scripture, and to the love of their neighbours
in hospitality and service.
The end of our time together was marked
by a visit to the Deaf School in Cairo, run by
the Anglican Church. The staff and pupils, and
the work they do, were an inspiration to us all Michael and monk
and our Eucharist, celebrated in the school
Tabitha meets Bishop James
Tabitha Reynolds (17) is an
accomplished musician and pupil
at the King’s School Rochester.
Hoping to be a professional opera singer,
Tabitha has qualified at grade 5 in music
theory, grade 8 in singing, grade 8 viola,
grade 7 violin and plays the piano to grade 5
standard. Not surprisingly, this talented young
lady also has GCSE music and is studying for
her A level in music. On Monday 16 May,
Tabitha sang “I know that my redeemer liveth”
in a service attended by Bishop James at
Rochester Cathedral.
Tabitha said, “Singing is my real passion. I
have always enjoyed performing and getting a
reaction from the audience!” To those
interested in music but yet to really pursue it,
she said, “Music doesn’t have to be all theory
based. Have a go at performing and maybe
attend some courses.”
A keen singer and pianist, Bishop James
said, “It’s really encouraging to find a young
person so enthusiastic and sure in her
singing. Her contribution to this morning’s
service was uplifting and enriched the whole
occasion. It’s really important to nurture young
talent and I hope very much that Tabitha finds
the right place to develop her undoubted
talent in the future.”
For more information on music courses visit
www.abrsm.org or www.trinitycollege.co.uk
and click on music.
PLEASE NOTE: Copy deadline for the September issue of The Link is 4pm Monday 8 August
ochester Link
2
The Bishop of Tonbridge’s Diary,
The Rt Rev Dr Brian Castle
3 July
1000
1500
Confirmation – Holy Redeemer, Lamorbey
Farewell Evensong the Very Rev Adrian
Newman, Rochester Cathedral
4 July
1500
1730
Lay Training Meeting - Rochester
Bishop’s Council Meeting
5 July
0930
Bishop’s Staff Meeting
6 July
1930
Licensing - The Rev Neil Bunker - Crockenhill
7 July
1000
1900
Ordinands’ Day – Rochester
Ordinands’ Supper – Bishop’s Lodge
10 July 1830
Confirmation, Southborough
13 July 1400
1930
Overseas LINK Committee – Bishop’s Lodge
Licensing - Rev Linda Shuker – BART
Group
15-16 July
Attend Bishops’ Meeting – Leamington Spa
22 July 1100
Consecration of the Very Rev Adrian Newman
at St Paul’s Cathedral
25 July 0930
Bishop’s Staff Meeting
Bishop Brian has no engagements in August
MARTIN
CHAPMAN
ORGANIST
Electronic Church/Home
Organs & Digital Pianos
Repaired & Serviced
SE London/ Kent
Sundays & Weekdays
Installation of Audio &
Hearing Loop Systems
Traditional &
Modern Music
Contact Ron Smith
Tel: 020 8310 3550
TEL/FAX: 020 8300 1527
available as relief
Fee & Mileage
Jay Ford
Professional Counsellor
MACC (Accredited)
Also available to
under 16’s with consent
Tel: 07788 972623
What’s on
July
August
Saturday 2 July
BROMLEY COMMON – ‘What has Psychotherapy to do
with God?’ exploring the interface between psychotherapy
and faith in God led by Michael Insley, 10am – 12pm at St
Luke’s Church. Book by 29 June by contacting
020 8464 2076 or [email protected]
Wednesday 10 August
SHORNE – Sponsored Bird Watch in North Kent Area in
Aid of Hands of Compassion. Contact Wendy Ely 01474
822683 for details.
GRAVESEND – Gravesham Choral Society presents
Gabriel Faure’s ‘Requiem’ and Benjamin Britten’s ‘Rejoice
in the Lamb’ at St George’s Church at 7:30pm. Tickets
£10 - £5 from 01474 816684 or on the door.
BROMLEY – Bromley Philharmonic Choir present their
Summer Concert at St Mary’s Church at 7:30pm.
Admission £8 (£6) on the door.
ROCHESTER – Evening concert with the Medway
Singers, Kent Schools Recorder Orchestra and the Kent
Youth Recorders at 7:30pm. Tickets £7, concessions £5,
students £4 from 01634 848900 or on the door.
SHORNE – Craft Fair at Shorne Village Hall 10:30am –
3pm in aid of St Peter and St Paul’s Parish Church Roof
Appeal and Hands of Compassion. Contact Wendy Ely
01474 822683.
Wednesday 6 July
ROCHESTER – King’s School Rochester Summer
Concert at Rochester Cathedral at 7pm. Free Admission.
For more information call 01634 888555.
Saturday 9 July
TUNBRIDGE WELLS – Summer’s Evening Organ
Recitals at St James’ Church at 7:30pm. Dr David Flood,
organist and master of choristers at Canterbury Cathedral.
Tickets £7.50 on the door. Details from 01580 892641.
ROCHESTER – Concert by the City of Rochester
Symphony Orchestra. Pieces include Chanson de Nuit by
Elgar, Bellini Oboe Concerto and Toy Symphony by
Haydn. Tickets £8, £6 concessions, £1 children, from
Rebecca Jackson 01634 378299.
Saturday 16 July
TONBRIDGE – Translating the Bible half day workshop
9:30am – 1pm offering insights into the challenges and
opportunities met by Bible Translators. Led by Dr Barrie
Evans at Somerhill House (TN11 0NJ) Free Admission but
places must be booked. Contact Roger Millman
[email protected]
Monday 18 July
CHATHAM - Sporty Church - fun and games centred
around a Christian message for primary school children
accompanied by a parent/carer concluding with a pinic
tea. At St Alban’s Church 3:30pm – 6pm on 18 July.
Admission £2. Contact Rose Robinson 01634 683688.
Various
ROCHESTER – 1-2 July ‘Lord of the Flies’ at The
Paddock, Vines Lane at 8pm. Tickets £7. For more
information call 01634 888555
WEST FARLEIGH - 2-3 July Flower Festival at All Saints
Church 10am – 5pm. Garden Safari around Farleigh’s
gardens on 3 July. Programmes available from the church
or [email protected].
CAPEL – 16-17 July Flower Festival 10am – 4pm on
behalf of The Friends of St Thomas a Becket Church.
LUDDESDOWNE – On Saturdays during July, August
and September visit Luddesdowne Church and view the
wall paintings 2pm – 4:30pm. Restrictions on access on
9 July and 24 September. For more details visit
www.cobham-luddesdowne.org.
BECKENHAM - Recitals at St George’s Church. Fridays
12:30pm, Saturdays 11am Refreshments available before
the concerts. Admission is free, with a retiring collection.
1
Laurence Caldecote (Organ)
2
Laurence Caldecote (Piano)
8
Lynn Cook (Violin)
9
Ingrid Cusido (Piano)
15
Dr. Harry Bramma (Organ)
16
Jane Bovell (Soprano)
22
Yoshe Fujiwara (Soprano)
29
Pamela Harvey-Fackrell & Asta Buzoriute (Piano)
Saturday 13 August
ROCHESTER - Pianist and composer Charles
Timberlake is giving a piano recital at Rochester Cathedral
at 12:05pm. Admission is free.
Various
WATERINGBURY – ‘Cream teas and Homemade Cakes’
– visit the Church of St John the Baptist on Thursdays 4,
11, 18, 25 August 2pm – 4pm. Contact 01622 817974
for more information.
BECKENHAM - Recitals at St George’s Church. Fridays
12:30pm, Saturdays 11am Refreshments available before
the concerts. Admission is free, with a retiring collection.
5
Chieko Oguma (Soprano)
12
Miki Sakamoto (Piano)
13
John Upperton (Tenor), Zoe South (Soprano),
David Roblou (Piano)
19
Haruka Takikawa (Piano)
20
Patricia Williams
26
Beckenham Youth Voices
O for a thousand tongues
’O for a thousand tongues’ on the 17 July 2:30pm –
4pm on the Castle Lawn, Tonbridge. An opportunity for
people in the street to see that the church is vibrant,
relevant and very much alive. The afternoon will feature
a full worship band, the Absolute Gospel Company
Choir and a guest speaker from Christian Concern. So
the challenge is there for churches in the Tonbridge
area and indeed wider to come together. Visit
www.absolutegospel.org or call 01732 364517
MA in Applied Theology
If you have an honours degree in any subject and
would like to study Applied Theology this MA is taught
on Mondays 11am-4pm from 26 September it takes
two years part-time or eleven months full-time. The
core module is Theology and Social Structure. Contact
Canon Robin Gill, Professor of Applied Theology at
Kent, on [email protected].
For sale item
A baptism tank - blue fibre glass tank on wheels with
a curtain rail round the top. 6’ long 3’ wide and 4’
high. Available from St Peter’s Church, Hextable, for
someone to collect. A donation to the church building
fund would be appreciated. Contact 01322 662320,
ochester Link 3
Huge encouragement
Bishop James reflects....
When you read this, I will recently
have ordained men and women to
the priesthood.
Many give up what the world would regard as
lucrative and promising prospects. Others
make considerable personal sacrifices – often
involving their families as well – in order to
In September a further group will be
train and then be deployed. The stories of
ordained as deacons. For me, ordinations are calling, conviction and commitment are
a huge encouragement because they are clear inspiring.
evidence of God working in people’s lives.
But, whatever the qualities of those being
God continues to call and people continue to ordained, we face some serious challenges.
respond.
In the short-term, we know that those retiring
If you believed some of the headlines about from stipendiary ministry will exceed those
the troubles of the church in this country, you
newly ordained. It takes several years for a
could be forgiven for wondering why anybody person to move from exploring a vocation,
would contemplate giving up other options in
through training, ordination and curacy, to
order to seek ordination. Why would any sane being ready for a post of primary ministerial
person be ordained into a church which is
responsibility – and we know there are not
(apparently) irrelevant and destined to fall
enough in that pipe-line to replace those
apart? And yet people of immense quality
retiring. Self-supporting clergy and lay
and manifest sanity continue to explore
ministers make a hugely valuable contribution,
vocations to ministry. When I hear the stories
and I know that we should value and develop
of these people, I am humbled and moved.
their ministries more. But we face an
inevitable reduction in stipendiary clergy for a
few years and will have to respond to that.
But that does not have to remain the
picture. Nationally we know that dioceses
aspire to deploy more stipendiary clergy than
will be available on present trends – what is
more, they think they have the resources to
pay them. If those aspirations are from God,
then we must grow more vocations to fill that
gap. So pray to the Lord of the harvest that
he will send out labourers into his harvest
(Luke 10.2). Perhaps God is calling you – or
somebody you know? If so, talk to your
minister and ask to be put in touch with one
of our Vocations Advisers.
With my prayers and good wishes,
+James
Bishop James
Farewell Mr Dean!
When I was invited to become
Bishop of Rochester, one of the
attractions was the prospect of
working with Adrian Newman as
Dean of the Cathedral.
Adrian and I worked together in
Birmingham a few years ago when he was
Rector of St Martin-in-the-Bullring
(Birmingham’s parish church) and I was
initially his Rural Dean and vicar of a
neighbouring parish, and then moved to be
Bishop’s Chaplain. To have Adrian and Gill
once again as near neighbours was
something to which I looked forward.
But knowing Adrian’s many gifts and
spiritual wisdom, I think I always knew that
any new working partnership was likely to
be short-lived. And so it has proved, for we
must now say farewell to Adrian and Gill as
they move to London where Adrian takes up
a new role as Bishop of Stepney. Adrian’s
ministry at our Cathedral and more widely in
the Diocese and local community have been
hugely appreciated; his entrepreneurial spirit,
spiritual insight and boundless energy leave
most of us puffing and panting to keep up.
Adrian and Gill have warmed the hearts and
enriched the lives of many – we thank God for
their time with us, and for that which they
leave upon which others will build.
When the Bishop of London began to seek
a new Bishop of Stepney he had a number of
qualities and gifts in mind. So close is the fit,
that what he set down in writing could almost
have been written with Adrian specifically in
mind. Adrian’s passion for the church’s
mission in urban areas, his desire to connect
with wider social and public life, and his
rootedness in a life of prayer will all fit him
well for what is to come. Please pray for
Adrian, Gill and their family as they prepare for
their move - Adrian will be made bishop at
St Paul’s Cathedral on 22 July. And please
begin to pray also for those of us who must
seek his successor at Rochester.
+James
The Very Rev Adrian Newman
Bishop James’ Diary
1 July
PM
St Michael, Wilmington - Golf Day
2 July
0830
Ecumenical Men’s Breakfast –
St Augustine, Bromley Common
French Hospital visit
Summer Fete – Barming
1300
1530
3 July
1500
1830
Confirmation – St Peter & St Paul,
Edenbridge
The Dean’s Farewell Service – Cathedral
Confirmation – St Nicholas, Chislehurst
4 July
1730
Bishop’s Council
5 July
All day
Bishop’s Staff – Bishopscourt
6 July
All day
EIG Inter-Diocesan Golf – Frilford,
Oxfordshire
7 July
1100
1300
1500
Ordinands’ Day Lunch – Bishopscourt
Royal British Legion Industries visit
1930
Institution – Brian McHenry – All Saints,
Orpington
21 July 1500
Friends of Kent Churches Garden Party –
Mereworth
8-12 July
General Synod – York
22 July 1100
12 July 1300
Honorary Assistant Bishops Meeting –
Bishopscourt
Consecration Service of Adrian Newman as
the Bishop of Stepney, St Paul’s Cathedral
23 July 1500
Cathedral
Installation of Honorary Canons –
13 July 1830
Royal British Legion’s Launch of “2016”
Strategy
24 July 1000
War & Peace Show – Paddock Wood
14 July All day
British Open Golf Championship 2011 –
Sandwich
25 July 0930
Bishop’s Extended Staff Meeting Bishopscourt
15-18
Holiday
28 July 1200
Lark in the Park – Sidcup Place, Kent
19 July 1000
Gavin Salmon – Build Africa
31 July 1030
Preside & Preach – Birling Church
20 July 1330
1900
Mayplace School Crayford visit
Licensing – Judy Henning – Rainham
Bishop James has some public engagements in August.
4
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ochester Link 5
Hangings in the Cathedral
Our 89 Church schools were each
invited to submit a hanging of
Christian symbols to celebrate the
200th anniversary of the National
Society, which founded most of our
Anglican schools.
Fifty schools responded in time for their
hangings to be put up in the Cathedral on
1 June for three months.
In total, almost one thousand Christian
images, made by our Church school pupils,
are now adorning the arches of the nave.
Some are brilliant colours, others are black
and white. Some are bold and simple, others
are intricate designs. There are drawings,
paintings, collages and embroidery. There are
woolly sheep and sparkling fishes. Some
schools have made images in mosaics, with
every member of the school taking part. Some
St Mary, Shrewton, Wilts
By Jan Thompson, Assistant Director of Education (Schools)
have all the children’s names from their school
filling the symbols.
The overall effect is stunning, but it is also
worth taking a look at the individual symbols.
There are crosses, including crucifixes and
colourful Salvadorean crosses, which pupils
have used to tell their own stories. There are
the ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus, such as ‘I am the
bread of life’ and ‘I am the light of the world’.
There are doves and flames for the Holy Spirit
and symbols for God the Holy Trinity. There
are symbols of the particular saints after
which the schools are named. One school has
depicted the Lord’s Prayer, some have listed
the Christian values on which their school is
based. Many different Christian symbols are
depicted in many different ways.
Contact Jan Thompson on
[email protected] or call
01634 560000.
Fine furniture for church and home
Ronald Emett
01308 868025 [email protected]
Visit me at
www.ronaldemettfurniture.com
Angela Dewar
BA MSDC
Photo by Louise Whiffin
Embroidered
Vestments and
Soft Furnishings
for the Church
www.angela-dewar.co.uk
[email protected]
01892 535993
A weekend celebrating the King James Bible
In addition to shaping the way we speak
and providing a handbook for Christian
worship, the King James Bible has also
inspired vast amounts of music, in hymns,
anthems, spirituals and oratorios. On Saturday
evening at 7.30 there will be a special concert
in the church, “The King James Bible – In
Voice And Verse.”
Concert trio “In Voice and Verse” tell the
The church will be open from 11am to
story of Genesis to Revelation using the
5pm on Saturday 9 July and again from
words of the King James Bible interspersed
12pm to 5pm on Sunday 10 July for an
with glorious pieces of music which those
exhibition featuring a display of historic and
words inspired. The music will include
modern Bibles. There will be no charge for
excerpts from Haydn's ‘Creation’, Handel's
those wishing to visit the church exhibition
only and refreshments will be available in the ‘Messiah’, Mendelssohn’s ‘Oh for the Wings of
a Dove’ and several modern compositions.
Castle marquee. The house and World
Actor Lance Pierson is an experienced Bible
Garden will also be open to visitors.
St Botolph’s Church, Lullingstone,
will be hosting a weekend-long
celebration of “the book that
changed the world” with an
exhibition, concert and festal
Choral Matins.
performer and singer Belinda Yates is a
member of the Monteverdi Choir.
Accomplished pianist Heather Chamberlain
completes the trio.
The concert will be preceded at 6.30pm
by canapés and Pimms in the Great Hall,
Lullingstone Castle. Tickets for the reception
and concert will cost £10 and can be
obtained from Mrs Valerie Wells, 01322
860 868.
The 11am Sunday service will be a festal
Choral Matins led by the Rector, Gary
Owen, and sung by the EFL benefice choir
with lessons, as always at St Botolph, read
from the King James Authorised Version of
the Bible.
To advertise in The
Rochester Link please call
01752 225623
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Trinity Day celebrated
Bishop James attended Trinity School, Erith on 20 May 2011 to
celebrate Trinity Day and present year 11 with their progress files.
During the presentations there was music from Robin Saker singing
‘I write the songs’ by Barry Manilow, ‘Someone like you’ by Adele was
sung by Cara Hannon, Rhiana Hill, Ellie Hughes-Martin, Blessing
Kayode, Melissa Kerwin and Eden Tanner accompanied by Darren
Kimuli (Piano). Finally a group choir sang ‘The world’s greatest’ by R
Kelly accompained by Stephen Sinclair (piano) and Olasubomi
Olagunju.
Following the presentations Bishop James joined students on the
school field for the release of 1000 yellow and blue balloons.
Lambeth Library
Palace Exhibition
Lambeth Palace Library is celebrating the 400th anniversary of the
King James Bible with an exhibition called ‘Out of the Original
Sacred Tongues.
The exhibition opened on Wednesday 25 May and will run until
the 29 July. It will be open Wednesday - Friday 11am 4pm and
open Saturdays in July.
Admission is by pre-booking only - call 0871 230 1107 or visit
www.lambethpalacelibrary.org. Tickets are £6 including a printed
exhibition guide with free admission for under 17s. The pieces are
displayed in the magnificent Great Hall at LambethGreat Hall,
Lambeth Palace, London, SE1 7JU
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6
ochester Link
The 3G’s ‘On the Road’
By Alan Strachan, Diocesan Stewardship Advisor
With a little help
from our friends
I am sitting in the study at
St Mary’s vicarage, Stone, having a
chat with the Rev Kenneth Clark
about the Friends of St Mary
scheme for the church. I am here to
find out just how the ‘Friends’ are
helping St Mary’s Church.
Q. Kenneth, when was the scheme first set
up?
Kenneth. The scheme was set up around 10
years ago in 2001. It was launched with a
medieval fair in the local park where the local
community were invited to attend with the
church family. It was a very successful launch
and it did make the local community more
aware of their church and what is involved in
its upkeep. The scheme had been running for
3 years when I arrived here and I like to think
that my arrival helped to give fresh impetus to
the Friends.
as just another committee of the church and
to the more secular members of our
community this can be an obstacle to getting
involved. For our Friends Scheme to really
take off we need to have more involvement
from local business people and those
genuinely concerned about the upkeep of
such a beautiful local church.
Q. In what ways has the Friends of St Mary
contributed to the church since it started?
Kenneth. With the help of Nancy Wightman,
the Chair of the Friends and her partnership,
they have made an enormous contribution
over the years. They had a teddy bear
parachute jump from the church tower with
many people involved and along the way
making a financial contribution. This helped
raise funds for our new church bells, I even
entered a bear myself! They have also raised
funds for a new stained glass window,
window guards, and some new tiles for the
roof. It should always be remembered that the
task of the Friends is not to provide funds for
the general running costs of the church.
These costs should be met by members of
the worshiping community.
St Mary the Virgin, Riverhead with Dunton Green
Coming together
Q. Kenneth finally, would you recommend
other parishes to consider setting up a
Q. Why was it considered to be important to
Friends Scheme?
set up a Friends Scheme?
Kenneth. Most definitely and I would also add I am in the vicarage of the parish of
Kenneth. First of all it is theologically right to
St Mary’s church, Riverhead with
don’t delay, set up the scheme as early as
do so. Jesus calls us his friends and the
possible. In many ways I wish that our own
scheme is a bridge to the local community
Dunton Green, discussing with the
scheme had been set up earlier as it does
who are not churchgoers. It is also an
Rev Canon Paul Francis and PCC
take time for it to get established, that has
important mechanism in helping to raise
member Jean Woods the effects of
been
our
experience
anyway.
Also
make
sure
awareness and funds within that community to
that
you
have
a
clear
resolution
which
gives
a
help with the upkeep of the fabric of the
the 3Gs stewardship programme
simple statement of exactly what the ‘Terms of
church building.
they ran in September last year.
Reference’ are for the scheme. The Friends
Q. How do you engage with the local
are not another task for the PCC to organise. Q. Paul and Jean, how did the parish respond
community in regards to the Friends Scheme? Friends are different people working alongside
to the 3Gs campaign?
Or do you?
the church family to ease the burden of caring Paul. Really well actually, a vast majority
Kenneth. Well, we do engage by advertising
for our wonderful church building.
responded extremely well, especially through
local Friends’ events and through a newsletter
their financial planned giving. The programme
Q
.
So
it
is
very
much
then
that
St.
Mary,
and on our website. However, we should do
exceeded our expectations and highlighted
Stone does get a ‘Little help from her
so much more. There should be a greater
the reasons why we exist as a church within
explanation of what the Friends do and how it Friends’?
our own church family, why we are here and
K
e
n
n
e
t
h
.
No,
in
this
instance
I
think
we
can
works and there should be a definite divide
emphasised all of the work we do in the
say
we
get
a
‘Lot
of
help
from
our
Friends’
between the work of the Friends and the
parish. It brought us together as a community.
church PCC. Too often the Friends are seen
Jean. This was not just about the financial
need - we also ran the campaign for time and
skills as well and, although the response for
this was not as good as the financial one, we
still managed to receive some important offers
of help within the parish. I do think that it
works very well having the time and skills
running alongside that of financial giving,
especially for those who may not be able to
give more financially but can offer more of
their time.
St Mary the Virgin, Stone
Q. How did you find the church community
connected with the ‘Giving for Mission and
Ministry’ message?
Paul. The message connected with a good
majority of the church family. There are always
going to be people who ‘get it’ and those who
‘don’t get it’ but, yes, the connection was
made. What would have made it more
effective was having a ‘Vision’ day before the
campaign. As you know it was our intention to
do so, but certain events overtook us and we
had to postpone it until after the programme
was complete. It was a successful day but its
impact was lost a little bit on the campaign.
Q. How do you think Stewardship is
perceived now in the parish? Is it more
positive since you ran the 3Gs programme?
Jean. Well I think that there is a more positive
approach to peoples’ own stewardship. The
programme highlighted why we are asked to
give and the need to give as Christians, not
just financially but in our time and skills and
what this can mean for our church ministry.
Paul. I agree with Jean, it also did highlight the
importance of good stewardship within the
church and how important our own regular
giving of our resources is in growing our
mission within our community.
Q. So Paul and Jean, overall was the 3Gs
experience a positive one for St Mary’s?
Paul. Most definitely, it was a very positive
experience for the whole parish, highlighting
and making people aware of the financial and
mission needs of St Mary. It also made the
PCC more aware that we should have better
communication within the church family and
that we should make people more aware of
our situation in all sorts of ways and
encourage the use of the regular planned
giving scheme for all givers.
Jean. I think that it also raised the profile of
Gift Aid and what that can do for the parish
finances at no additional cost to the donor. In
fact we should have had more emphasis on
this during the campaign and in future
programmes I think we will do just that.
Q. So overall do you think that the parish has
‘Come Together’?
Paul. Oh indeed I think you could say that,
yes!
If you would like to know more about how to
set up a ‘Friends Scheme’ for your church or
the 3Gs Stewardship programme and how it
can help you, please contact Alan Strachan
on [email protected] or
01634 560000.
The interviews were conducted by Alan
Strachan Diocesan Stewardship Adviser with
thanks to the parish of St Mary’s Church,
Riverhead with Dunton Green, and St Mary’s
Church, Stone.
ochester Link 7
All in a week’s work
The Rev Mike Hayes, Chaplain at Heart of Kent Hospice
By Louise Whiffin
Rev Mike Hayes has been working
with patients of the Heart of Kent
Hospice for six years.
view of what happens at death. We don’t talk
about death very much as a society, so people
often feel glad that it is safe to do so with a
chaplain. Then they can speculate about what
While working at the hospice Mike has
may happen after death.”
noticed the different needs of people. He
There is a chapel and some quiet rooms
said, “In palliative care work there is a
available in the hospice and every week
concern for meaning and looking back over
patients can celebrate the Eucharist. There is
life. Sometimes, when people are quite
an ecumenical service on Sunday afternoons
isolated and a bit confused, there is also a
led by a number of local churches on a rota
need for connection. When someone is with basis. Mike added, “We do have marriages
them they can remember who they are.
here and have had two this year. We get a
There can also be a need for reconciliation.
fantastic service from the registry office who
In a religious sense that might be
come in quickly to conduct a legal marriage
confession, or in a general sense when
and, if people ask me to, I will conduct a
something has gone wrong is there anything blessing afterwards”
to reconcile it or a way of coming to terms
Mike tries to visit all patients at the hospice
with it.”
and has a team of volunteer chaplains who
Mike wears his clerical collar and said
can be available daily on the ward and in the
that some people who are angry with God
day centre. Mike said, “We visit each room
express this by being angry with Mike. He
and introduce ourselves to new patients.
said, “I do not think we are always very good Usually it is very obvious at the time if
at expressing anger in Christian culture, but I someone doesn’t want visitors but very often
think to express anger appropriately is really they do want to speak to chaplains. For
good and I always try to encourage people
example once I walked into one room and the
to let some of it out rather than turn it in on
guy said, ‘I am atheist’. So I asked him ‘does
themselves.”
that mean you do want to speak to me or you
To ease anxiety, Mike offers meditation
don’t want to speak to me?’ And he said, ‘sit
and contemplative prayer. He said, “People
down’. I was with him for quite a long time and
are sometimes very anxious about the
it was a conversation that affirmed his values
manner of their dying or what it may be like
and we were able to find some common
when they are dead, depending on their
ground.”
A number of support services are available
at the hospice for both patients and families
including individual, group and couple
counselling, a bereavement group, pre and
post bereavement work with children and
alternative therapies like aromatherapy or
reflexology. Mike and his team also offer
remembrance services three times a year for
relatives whose loved ones have either died at
the hospice or have been supported by the
Community Team.
Mike said, “I think one of the things I most
enjoy is listening to stories about people’s
lives. I hear about people working on farms,
growing crops and life for people who have
been in the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Although I do encounter a great deal of pain,
struggle, anger and exhaustion, also I hear
about all of these wonderful things that
people have done, their achievements, their
relationships and their families over the years.
It is lovely to hear and is a real privilege.”
The Heart of Kent Hospice is a registered
charity caring for up to 350 patients with
advanced cancer and other life threatening
illnesses. It covers Maidstone and parts of
Tonbridge and Malling and offers 12 beds in
the in patient unit, day therapy, family services
and specialist community team. All hospice
services are offered free of charge. However,
it costs £3.6m a year for the hospice to
continue to provide its services, and with only
Rev Mike Hayes
29% of that coming from statutory
sources, the hospice relies on the
generosity of its local community in
raising over £2.5m. If you could help in
raising funds or would like to volunteer
for the hospice please contact 01622
790195 or visit www.hokh.org for more
information.
Petertide Ordination
Erratic weather favoured this years’
ordinands and Saturday 25 June
stayed dry for their special day.
There were eight ordinands being
priested, and this is what they had
to say about their retreat the week
before and of their special
afternoon:
David Commander said, “This is the
culmination of a six year journey for me. It’s
big, exciting and scary all at the same time!
The retreat was fantastic and the silence
added an extra special dimension.” David was
accompanied on Saturday by his wife, Helen
and daughters Amy and Louise.
Jill Wright said, “The retreat was lovely and
gave us the space to reflect on last year and
to prepare for what is ahead. Today is the
culmination of what God has called me to do
in his extraordinary way. I feel a great sense of
completion. Jill was accompanied by Husband
Jasper and daughter Heather.
Sue Brooks said, “The retreat was lovely
and brought everything together. I took a book
called, “being clergy and staying human”
which I would recommend! Today is very
special because it’s eight years since I was
deaconed. Sue was accompanied by her
cousin Mary and her friend Veronica.
Stephen Snelling said, “The retreat was
wonderful – really good! It let us find our own
way and opened so many doors. Today is a
milestone on a long journey that started 40
years ago for me. “ Stephen was
accompanied by his wife Deborah and close
friend from Toronto.
Mark Harris said, “The retreat was really
good and I needed it! The retreat was totally
silent which was lovely. I was able to refocus
on God. Today represents what I have been
training for and working towards since I was a
teenager. I’m really excited! This is about
fulfilment on one hand and an opening out of
new things ahead of me at the same time.”
Mark was joined by his wife Katy and children
Bethany, Sam and Annabel.
Ann Richardson said, “The retreat was really
good – very nurturing. The silence and space
were wonderful. Today is in a way the
culmination of the training and the door into
everything that follows. I feel surprisingly
calm!” Ann was joined by her Mum Genifer
and best friends Sarah and Teresa.
Gwyneth Williams said, “The retreat was
good – I was looking forward to it. It was
good to have the structure. Today is an
amazing privilege and I just want to get on
with it all! This is really going to happen!” Sue
was accompanied by Rev Mandy Carr and her
husband Patrick with their children, and
Gwyneth’s brother Hywel.
Bishop James and Bishop Brian with the ordinands
Clifford Stocking said, “The retreat was
calming and I needed it! I hadn’t been looking
forward to it because I didn’t like the idea of
the silence, but it was like an oasis and it was
nice! Today is not the end of the road but
there has been a long process leading up to
this point. I feel happy, jubilant even and a
little nervous!” Clifford was joined by wife
Cathy, son Daniel, daughter Rebecca and his
Mum and dad, Brian and Linda.
8
ochester Link
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Great days
out this
summer
The Festival celebrates its
42nd year in 2011
Cathedrals everywhere have entertained pilgrims and
travellers for centuries, their history and beauty continue to
attract thousands through their doors year after year.
Not so far away, Rochester Cathedral has a wealth of history dating back
1,400 years! Whilst individuals are welcome to visit free of charge the
cathedral has all sorts of packages available for larger groups including a
Pilgrimage package, which offers personal welcome to your group by the
Canon in residence, the reflective audio tour, cream tea and you can join in
the Eucharist or Evensong depending on your choice of time and day. Also
on offer are bespoke tours tailored to your needs, from Benedictine
monasticism to Norman architecture, graffiti to memorials and textiles.
July sees the return of the Fishguard International Music Festival, now in it’s
42nd year. Running for just over a week, the festival can be a destination
itself or as a place to visit as a part of a holiday in Wales including a visit to
the 12th century St David’s Cathedral. Running from 22nd to 30th July artist
appearing include, Welsh National Opera, St Petersburg String Quartet, Sir
Richard Rodney Bennett and Claire Martin. Julian Lloyd Webber appears
with the Orchestra of the Swan and Jiaxin Cheng. A host of venues
throughout Fishguard and beyond have helped to establish this important
and long lived event.
Music and events in Fishguard, Goodwick, St. Davids
Cathedral, Rhos-y-Gilwen Mansion and Newport
This prestigious West Wales International Music
Festival provides Choral, Orchestral and Chamber
Music in beautiful venues in and around Fishguard.
Artists include:
Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, conductor
- Owain Arwel Hughes, Peter Donohoe, St.
Petersburg String Quartet, Sir Richard Rodney
Bennett and Claire Martin,Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra
with Tony Jacobs and Catherine Sykes,
John S. Davies Singers,
Orchestra of the Swan with Julian Lloyd Webber
and Jiaxin Cheng (‘cellos) and David Curtis, Frith
Piano Quartet, Richard Jenkinson (CBSO), Richard
Parry, National Youth Choir of Wales, Young
Musicians’ Platforms, Rodolpho Bonucci and
Dorothy Singh and more....
July 22nd - July 30th Brochure - May 2011
Box Office 01348 875538 (mid June)
Enquiries: 01348 891345
(Alan Caunce Artistic Director)
01348 891226 (Chairman)
www.fishguardmusicfestival.co.uk
Churches Open for
2011
Saturday 10th September 10am to 6pm
ADDINGTON
ASH (Sevenoaks)
St Margaret
Revelation Church at
Ash Green Chapel
ASH (Sevenoaks)
St Peter and St Paul
ASHURST
St Martin of Tours
AYLESFORD
St Peter and St Paul
BARMING
St Margaret
BESSELS GREEN
Bapt Church, Bessels
Green Rd
BEXLEY
St Mary
BEXLEYHEATH
Christ Church
BIDBOROUGH
St Lawrence, High St
BIRLING
All Saints
BOROUGH GREEN
St Joseph's Western Road
BOROUGH GREEN
The Good Shepherd
BORSTAL
St Matthew,Church St
BRASTED
St Martin, Church Road
BREDHURST (Gill'ham S)
St Peter
BRENCHLEY
All Saints
BROMLEY COMMON
Holy Trinity
BROMLEY COMMON
St Augustine
BURHAM
St Mary (redundant),
Church St
BURHAM
The Church in Burham,
Church St
CAPEL
St Thomas a Becket
(redundant)
CHALK
St Mary
CHATHAM
Emmaus Centre, Clover St
CHATHAM
St Alban, Bluebell Hill
CHATHAM
St Pauls /All Saints,Magpie
Hall Rd
CHATHAM
St Stephen,Huntsman
Corner
CHATHAM
Unitarian,Hammond Hill
CHATHAM (Brompton)
St Barbara's Garrison
Church, Maxwell Road
CHELSFIELD
St Martins
CHEVENING
St Botolph, Chevening Rd
CHIDDINGSTONE
St Mary
CHIDDINGSTONE CAUSEWAY
St Luke
CHISLEHURST
St Nicholas, Manor Park
Rd
CLIFFE
St Helens
COBHAM
St Mary Magdalene
COLLIER STREET
St Margaret
COOLING
St James (redundant)
COWDEN
St Mary Magdalene
COXHEATH
Holy Trinity, Heath Road
CROCKENHILL
All Souls, Church Rd
CROCKHAM HILL
Holy Trinity
CUDHAM
St Peter and St Paul
CUXTON
St Michael and All Angels
DARENTH
St Margaret, Darenth Hill
DARTFORD
Christ Church,
Christchurch Rd
DARTFORD
Holy Trinity, High St
DARTFORD
Spital St Methodist Church
DARTFORD
St Alban
DARTFORD
St Anselm,West Hill Drive
DARTFORD
St Vincent,Temple Hill
Square
DITTON
St Peter
DOWNE
St Mary Magdalene
EAST FARLEIGH
Parish Church,Lower Road
EAST MALLING
St James
EAST PECKHAM
Holy Trinity
EAST PECKHAM
EAST PECKHAM
EAST PECKHAM
EDENBRIDGE
EDENBRIDGE
EDENBRIDGE
EDENBRIDGE
EYNSFORD
EYNSFORD
FAIRSEAT
FARNBOROUGH
FARNINGHAM
FAWKHAM
FIVE OAK GREEN
FIVE OAK GREEN
FOOTSCRAY
FORDCOMBE
FOUR ELMS
GILLINGHAM
GILLINGHAM
GILLINGHAM
GILLINGHAM
GILLINGHAM
GILLINGHAM
GILLINGHAM
GILLINGHAM
GILLINGHAM
GILLINGHAM
GRAVESEND
GRAVESEND
GRAVESEND
GRAVESEND
GRAVESEND
GRAVESEND
GRAVESEND
GREEN STREET GREEN
GREENHITHE
GROOMBRIDGE
HADLOW
HADLOW
HALLING
HALSTEAD
HARTLEY
HARTLEY
HEMPSTEAD(Gill'ham S)
HEVER
HEXTABLE
HIGHAM
HIGHAM
HIGHAM
HILDENBOROUGH
HORSMONDEN
HORSMONDEN
HORTON KIRBY
HUNTON
IDE HILL
IFIELD
IGHTHAM
Methodist, Pound Rd
Salvation Army Hall,The
Freehold
St Michael (redundant)
Baptist,High St
St John, Marsh Green
St Lawrence,High St
St Peter and St Paul
Eynsford Baptist, Dartford
Rd
St Martin (on main A225
rd)
Holy Innocents
St Giles
St Peter and St Paul
St Mary
Badsell Rd United
The Hoppers
All Saints
St Peter
St Paul
Bapt Ch,Green St
Beulah Christian
Fellowship, Napier Road
Gillingham Methodist,Third
Ave
Salem Ch of the Nazarene,
Nelson Rd
St Augustine, Rock Ave
St Barnabas, Nelson Rd
St Luke, Sidney Rd
St Mark, Canterbury St
St Mary Magdalen,
Gillingham Green
URC, Balmoral Road
Church of Holy Family,
Palmer Ave
Emanuel,Windmill St
Salvation Army,The Grove
St Aidan, St Aidan's Way
St George, Church St
St Mary,Wrotham Rd
St Paul URC
St Mary
St Mary, Station Rd
St John
St Mary
St Peter's mass centre
St John the Baptist
St Margaret, Church Road
All Saints
St Francis de Sales
All Saints, Hempstaed
Road
St Peter
St Peter
Congregational Church
St John
St Mary (Redundant)
St John, London Road
Methodist
St Margaret
St Mary, Horton Rd
St Mary the Virgin
St Mary,The Green
St Margaret, Church Rd
St Peter
KEMSING
KNOCKHOLT
St Mary the Virgin
St Katharine, Knockholt
Main Road
LADDINGFORD
St Mary
LAMBERHURST
St Mary
LANGTON GREEN
All Saints, Langton Rd
LARKFIELD
Holy Trinity
LARKFIELD
Methodist Centre
LEIGH
St Mary
LEYBOURNE
St Peter and St Paul
LINTON
St Nicholas
LONGFIELD
Longfield Hill Chapel
LONGFIELD
St Mary Magdalene
LUDDESDOWN
St Peter and St Paul
LULLINGSTONE
St Botolph
MARK BEECH
Holy Trinity
MATFIELD
St Luke
MEOPHAM
South St Baptists,
Wrotham Rd
MEOPHAM
St John the Baptist
MEOPHAM
St Paul,Wrotham Rd
MEOPHAM
Zion Baptist,The Green
MEREWORTH
St Lawrence
MILTON-next-Gravesend
Christ Church
MILTON-next-Gravesend
St Peter and St Paul
NETTLESTEAD
St Mary the Virgin
NORTH CRAY
St James
NORTHFLEET
Our Lady of the
Assumption
NURSTEAD
St Mildred
OFFHAM
Methodist Church,Teston
Road
OFFHAM
St Michael
ORPINGTON
All Saints
ORPINGTON
St Andrew
OTFORD
Holy Trinity,High St
OTFORD
Methodist, High Street
OTFORD
St Bartholomew
OTFORD
St Michael's Prep School
PADDLESWORTH
St Benedict
PADDOCK WOOD
St Andrew
PADDOCK WOOD
St Justus, Mount Pleasant
PARKWOOD(Gill'ham South) St Paul, Parkwood Green
PEMBURY
Baptist Church, Lower
Green Rd
PEMBURY
St Anselm's Chapel
PEMBURY
St Peter's Old
PEMBURY
St Peter's Upper
PENSHURST
St John the Baptist
PLATT (St Mary's Platt)
St Mary's
PLAXTOL
Evang Free Ch, Dunks
Green
PLAXTOL
Parish Church
POUNDSBRIDGE
Chapel
RAINHAM
Christian Fellowship,
Walton Rd,Twydall
RAINHAM
Methodist, Station Rd
RAINHAM
St Margaret
RIDLEY
St Peter
RIVERHEAD
St Mary,The Square
ROCHESTER
Friends Meeting House,
Northgate
ROCHESTER
Rochester Cathedral
(Refectory)
ROCHESTER
St Justus
ROCHESTER
St Luke, City Way
ROCHESTER
St Margaret, St Margaret St
ROCHESTER
RUSTHALL
St Peter, Delce Rd
Rusthall Evang,Westwood
Rd
RUSTHALL
St Paul Mission Church,
High St
RUSTHALL
St Paul, Langton Rd
RUSTHALL
URC, Rusthall High St
RYARSH
Baptist Church
RYARSH
St Martin
SEAL
St Peter and St Paul,
Churcxh Street
SEAL CHART
St Lawrence, Church Road
SEVENOAKS
First Church of Christ
Scientist, South Park
SEVENOAKS
Methodist Church,The
Drive
SEVENOAKS
Religious Soc of Friends,
Hollybush La
SEVENOAKS
St John the Baptist, St
John's Hill
SEVENOAKS
St Luke, Eardley Rd
SEVENOAKS
St Mary, Kippington Road
SEVENOAKS
St Nicholas, Upper High St
SEVENOAKS
St Thomas of Canterbury,
12 Granville Rd
SEVENOAKS
URC,St John's Hill
SEVENOAKS
URC, Littlecourt Road
SEVENOAKS
Vine Bapt Church, Park
Lane
SHIPBOURNE
St Giles
SHORNE
St Peter and St Paul
SNODLAND
All Saints, High St
SNODLAND
Christ Ch, Malling Rd
SNODLAND
United Reformed, High St
SOLE STREET
St Mary's Church Room
SOUTH CHATHAM (Lordswood)
St Davids
SOUTHBOROUGH
Christchurch, Prospect Rd
SOUTHBOROUGH
St Dunstan, London Rd
SOUTHBOROUGH
St John's Methodist Ch,
London Rd
SOUTHBOROUGH
St Matthew, High Brooms
Rd
SOUTHBOROUGH
St Peter Parish Ch,The
Common
SOUTHBOROUGH
St Thomas, Pennington
Road
SOUTHFLEET
St Nicholas, Church St
SPELDHURST
Baptist Chapel
SPELDHURST
St Mary
STANSTED
St Mary
STONE
St Mary, London Rd
STROOD
St Francis of Assisi
STROOD
St Nicholas, High St
SUNDRIDGE
St Mary, Church Road
SUTTON-AT-HONE
St John the Baptist, Church
Rd
SWANLEY
St Mary, London Rd
SWANSCOMBE
Methodist Chapel, Milton
Road
SWANSCOMBE
St Peter and St Paul
TESTON
St Peter and St Paul
TONBRIDGE
Christ Ch, High St
TONBRIDGE
Corpus Christi, Lyons
Cresc
TONBRIDGE
Higham Lane Methodist
TONBRIDGE
St Andrew, Hadlow Rd
TONBRIDGE
St Eanswythe's Mission,
Priory Rd
St Peter and St Paul,
Church Lane
TONBRIDGE
St Philip, Salisbury Rd
TONBRIDGE
St Saviour, Dry Hill Park Rd
TONBRIDGE
St Stephen,Waterloo Rd
TONBRIDGE
Baptist Ch, Derwent Rd
TONBRIDGE
Tonbridge School Chapel
TOYS HILL
Toys Hill Hall, Puddledock
Lane
TROTTISCLIFFE
St Peter and St Paul
TUDELEY
All Saints
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Christ Church High Street
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Hawkenbury URC, Forest
Road
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
King Charles the Martyr,
London Rd
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Salvation Army Citadel,
Bayhall Rd
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
St Augustine, Crescent Rd
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
St Barnabas, Stanley Rd
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
St James, St James Rd
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
St John, St John's Rd
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
St Luke, St Luke's Rd
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
St Mark, Broadwater
Down
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
St Peter, Bayhall Rd
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
St Philip, Birken Rd
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Baptist Church, Upper
Grosvenor Rd
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
The Church of Christ,
Commercial Rd
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
United Reformed Ch,
Mount Ephraim
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Vale Royal Methodist,Vale
Rd
UNDERRIVER
St Margaret, Carters Hill
WALDERSLADE
St William
WATERINGBURY
St John the Baptist
WEALD
St Edward Longbarn Rd
WEALD
St George, Church Rd
WEST FARLEIGH
All Saints
WEST KINGSDOWN
St Bernadette
WEST KINGSDOWN
St Edmund King and
Martyr
WEST KINGSDOWN
West Kingsdown Baptist
Church
WEST MALLING
Ewell Monastery - Pilsdon
at Malling
WEST MALLING
Free Church
WEST MALLING
St Mary
WEST MALLING
St Mary's Abbey, Swan St
WEST MALLING
St Thomas More
WEST PECKHAM
St Dunstan,The Green
WESTERHAM
St Mary the Virgin,The
Green
WIGMORE(Gillingham South) St Matthew, Drewery
Drive
WILMINGTON
St Michael, Church Hill
WOODLANDS
St Mary
WOULDHAM
All Saints, High St
WROTHAM
St George
YALDING
Bapt Church,Vicarage Rd
YALDING
St Peter and St Paul, High
St
TONBRIDGE
ochester Link 9
Claire Tillotson made Honorary Lay Canon
By the Rev Canon Paul Miller
Claire Tillotson was installed as an
Honorary Lay Canon of Rochester
Cathedral by the Bishop of
Rochester within Choral Evensong
at a Service attended by the College
of Canons as well as Claire's family
and members of St Mary’s Church,
Shortlands, where Claire is
Assistant Organist.
Claire is a music therapist at Riverside
School, St Mary, Cray, and has overseen a
major project on behalf of the Diocese to
work with the SOS Children’s Village in
Bethlehem. Claire has trained social workers
and psychologists in the West Bank to work
with music as therapy with traumatised
children. She has worked with Music as
Therapy International to provide ongoing
support in Bethlehem and identified a
Palestinian musician to come to London to
train at the Guildhall School of Music to
become Palestine's first music therapist.
The Diocese launched an appeal in
Award winning
church furniture makers
Makers of the revolutionary
Canterbury and York Lecterns
www.fullersfinerfurniture.co.uk
FOR BIBLE READING NOTES,
SUNDAY SCHOOL MATERIALS
AND ALL YOUR CHURCH
REQUIREMENTS
Christmas 2007 to fund this opportunity and
working in partnership with the McCabe
Educational Trust, who were represented at
the Installation, have raised sufficient funds to
pay for the training of Basel Zayed. Basel has
almost completed his first year of training and
he too, was present at the Installation.
Church and School agencies welcome,
please ask for details
Sevenoaks Road, Pratt’s Bottom,
Orpinton, Kent. BR6 7SQ
Telephone 01689 854117
Prayer request from Bishop Chad, Diocese of Harare
Dear Friends,
Alarming developments are unfolding in our
beloved Diocese. Last Sunday a Kunonga
priest forced himself into the house of our
priest Rev Muzanenhamo at Mubayira in
Mhondoro while he was on trek taking
services. He was informed and came back
immediately and pushed Kunonga's priest
out of the house. The police came and
instead of arresting the intruder they
arrested our priest and charged him with
assault. He spent the night in cells and we
had to bail him out.
That same evening our newly ordained
Deacon was evicted from the church house
by Kunonga's people. Police were called
and they sided with those evicting our
Deacon. In both cases there was no eviction
orders as is required by the laws of the land.
Then last night when we were holding a
Harare Churchwardens meeting we were
informed that Kunonga's people were
breaking into the house of Rev Julius
Zimbudzana and some of our people went
there to try and stop both the break in and
forced eviction.
When they got there they managed to
apprehend one of the thugs and the others
ran away. They took the thug to the police
station and this time the police arrested him.
They went back to the rectory to be with the
priest and to comfort him and his family. They
were surprised that riot police (the black
boots) came and rounded everyone and took
them to Highlands police station where they
are detained as I write this. In all, they have
arrested 16 people as of last night, including
priests and 3 ladies - one of who is Fr Julius
Zimbudzana's mother. I am still to get the
names of all who were arrested.
Consecration of the new
Bishop of Lynn
Photo: Jonathan Meyrick after his consecration as Bishop of Lynn
(Norfolk) at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 2011 He is
photographed here with some of the Rochester Cathedral
congregation who supported him. Mrs Rebecca Meyrick is pictured
on the far left.
When Fr Julius tried to give a report to the
police station on Monday concerning the
eviction of our Deacon I am told the police
refused to open a docket which in turn
means the incident never happened. I am
really concerned about this.
We shall be running around to try and bail
the whole group out today if the police will
listen. Please pray for our registrars as they
try to sort out their bail. Pray for those
arrested. Pray especially for the families of
all who were arrested last night. They are
greatly traumatised by all this. I am told by
some of my priests about their children who
are affected and are worried about their
fathers. Please continue to pray for us as a
Diocese.
In Christ,
+Chad.
A centenarian in the choir
Jack Wreford celebrated his 100th birthday in May at St Mary,
Kippington, Sevenoaks, where he has sung in the choir since 1982.
His century has been an active one! He served in the Royal Navy in
World War II and took part in the D-Day landings. He later worked in
insurance, practiced as a barrister, and lectured in civil law well into
his 80s. He moved to Sevenoaks with his family in 1960 and
continues to live in that same home with the support of one of his
daughters. His wife died tragically in 1982 in a road accident. They
were always active members of the church in Kippington, Jack having
a hand in the building of the beautifully appointed church centre there
– our conference room is named the ‘Wreford Room’ in gratitude to
him. At his party in that centre with 100 guests he gave, without
notes, a speech! To God be the glory!
Tel:01373 462069
10
ochester Link
Advertising Feature
THRILLING
SUCCESS
FOR CROSS
RHYTHMS IN
BETHLEHEM!
I have incredible news to share with you! For
more than two years Cross Rhythms has been
running a one hour radio show on an FM radio
station in Bethlehem, and through this our
contact has built with many leaders in the city.
Then, 3 months ago a possibility arose to go to
Bethlehem and meet with Arab Christian leaders
to explore serving the people of Bethlehem with
a radio station.
Well, in May we made that trip, and I am thrilled to report
that every single one of the 11 leaders we met were fully
supportive of the vision: they endorsed it, they want to be
actively involved, and they want to see it happen! I am
thrilled at the sense of the favour of the Lord over this
venture, and the doors he has flung wide. Let me share
with you some examples:
WHO DID WE MEET?
• Four key city church leaders would all be willing to offer
advice and consultation to help position the station in the
incredibly complicated cultural, political and spiritual mix
How you can help...
Yes, I stand with Cross Rhythms at this pivotal time
of opportunity and challenge!
I would like to give a one off gift of £________________
I enclose a cheque/postal order (made payable to ‘Cross
Rhythms’)
Please debit this sum from my VISA/MASTERCARD/MAESTRO as a
one off gift
Card number
Issue number_______ Expiry date
Please send me information on becoming a regular
supporter of Cross Rhythms
Please add me to the Cross Rhythms mailing list
• Another brave Arab Christian leader runs a Palestinian
news service and he wants to work with us, supplying
hourly news, news features and other programmes.
• The leaders of a significant Palestinian ministry were so
supportive, and they want to supply programmes aimed at
young people. Plus they may have a location for the
station near Manger Square at the heart of Bethlehem!
What better place to 'birth' such a vision!!
• The leaders at a Christian training college in Bethlehem
want to partner with us, building their students into working
as presenters, interviewers and producers!
• The Manager of two of the main local commercial
stations wants to run some of our shows on his stations
and said these could point people to our own station!
What an amazing marketing opportunity!
• One young Christian man who works as a media
technician shared how the Lord has been directing his life
in training in these areas. He believes the Lord showed
him there would one day be a Christian station in the city
and he has a real heart to see this come to pass.
WE'RE UP FOR IT! ARE YOU?
Cross Rhythms stands at a crossroads of opportunity. We
have the faith, courage and desire to go forward into the
opportunities the Lord is leading us towards, but we are
clearly seeing that we cannot do so without more partners
sharing the vision with us. We are caught up in a great
adventure and we need to run it with you. We need many
faithful Friends and donors to go with us. At the original
'birth' in Bethlehem, both shepherds with little and kings
with much shared what they had. Whether you have little
to give or much to invest, please would you help us to
bring this incredible God-given opportunity to birth?
HOW DO YOU SUPPORT?
If you are inspired by what God is setting before us,
please do not ignore that stirring.
WHY CROSS RHYTHMS?
Whether you are a shepherd or a king simply offer what
you feel stirred to give. Every gift given is an answer
to our prayers, and another step towards delivering
a unique gift for the people of Bethlehem.
Cross Rhythms has been prepared for this day. Our
unique model of community radio undergirded by Christian
values is the perfect vehicle to serve people across a
diverse community. We are not 'church on air' for
Christians; like being 'salt & light' we contribute to
Kingdom transformation within communities. Also, our
contemporary Christian music format is perfect. From
Boston to Bristol, Bombay to Bethlehem, young people
across the world relate to the Christian rock, rap, r&b and
pop that we play. In Bethlehem a staggering 48% of the
population is under 18 years old! What an incredible
opportunity to contribute to the values and mindset of the
emerging generation in that region!
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
www.crossrhythms.co.uk
into a new season of effectiveness, yet paradoxically at
the same time as this opportunity is being offered we face
the giant of one of our greatest challenges to sustaining
this ministry, and with it the unique 'wineskin' of our model
of community radio. This year alone we need to find up to
£100,000 extra to our normal projected income.
Specifically now, Cross Rhythms needs to find an
additional £24,690 to meet our requirements.
Phew! So we went out to meet some leaders, check the lie
of the land, get their thoughts; and we've come back with
a possible location, technician, presenters, producers,
local news, strategic programmes, high profile marketing,
local church endorsement and a board of reference!
Cross Rhythms will need to grow in size to manage and
deliver this responsibility. We need to develop a whole
new station, in a foreign country, with new production, new
playlists, new programmes, new internet links, a new
dedicated website, a fundraising dept, training of young
Arab Christians in media, travel costs when required, and
the administration and management of all the above. We
will also need to rent a property, purchase equipment, set
up a studio and then employ a local station manager.
✁
Name:_________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________
______________________________________________
Postcode:_________________Tel:___________________
E-mail:_________________________________________
Please cut out this form and post it to:
Cross Rhythms, PO Box 1110, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 1XR.
Alternatively you can call 01782
251000 to make a donation or go to
www.crossrhythms.co.uk/donations
that is the Bethlehem Palestinian Authority.
A GIANT STANDS IN OUR WAY
This is truly a time for Cross Rhythms to 'crossover'
Specifically, will you give today towards our immediate
need of £24,690?
Thank you for your prayerful
consideration.
Jonathan Bellamy
Cross Rhythms CEO
Charity Reg No 1069357
ochester Link 11
Praying the way
World
Rochester
For peace in the Middle East and North
Africa
Cobham Deanery
Fawkham and Hartley: For Year 6 as they
make the transition to secondary school
Nurstead: That our new ministry patterns will
bear fruit
Meopham: For the final stage of our church
refurbishment
Luddesdowne: That visitors to our church may
find a sanctuary of peace
Snodland: For our open air service during
Snodland Carnival Week. For our parish
retreat on 30 August
Diocese
For holiday clubs and ‘holidays at home’.
BTCS - that church members will pray about
whom to invite. Quiet Morning for Diocesan
Pray-ers 6 July, West Malling Abbey, the Rev
Canon Jean Kerr leading
Bromley and Bexley
Bromley Deanery
The Annunciation, Chislehurst: For God’s
blessing on our parish retreat
Erith Deanery
Christ Church, Bexleyheath: For inspired
use of the coming of the Olympic Torch to
Danson Park
St Augustine, Belvedere: For young people
attending the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage
Sidcup Deanery
Holy Redeemer, Lamorbey: For the Rev
Canon Nicholas Kerr on his retirement, and
for the interregnum
Holy Trinity, Lamorbey: For our Readers,
that God’s arms will surround them with love
Joydens Wood: For our new vicar, Ren, and
her husband Steve
Footscray w North Cray For our Rector,
recovering from illness. For 2 house groups
St John, Sidcup: For “Lark in the Park” and
family outreach
St Mary, Bexley: For future mission plans
Dartford Deanery
St Edmund, Dartford: For the right person to
be appointed vicar
Wilmington, Hextable and Swanley Village:
For success for the “Holiday/Seaside@home”
for the elderly
Strood Deanery
St Francis, Strood: For young people going to
organised Christian holidays
Cliffe: For our evangelistic work on the Hoo
Peninsula. For our Summer Fayre on 2 July
Cuxton and Halling: For Ray Maisey who has
accepted the office of deputy mayor of
Medway. For Halling’s Fun Weekend
Tonbridge
Malling Deanery
BART Parishes: For the Rev Dr Linda Shuker
as she begins her ministry on 13 July
Sevenoaks Deanery
Weald: For our Service on the Green on 10
July
Kippington: For permission to be given for
rewiring of our church. For our Open Day on
9 July
Tonbridge Deanery
Penshurst: For project to renovate church
building
Tunbridge Wells Deanery
St Barnabas, Tunbridge Wells: For those
selecting new incumbents
St Lawrence, Bidborough: For our outreach
programme “Faith in the Local” and for our
link with Kibaigwa, Tanzania
St Luke, Tunbridge Wells: For our vicar,
Caroline Glass, marrying Alan Gower 9 July
St Mark, Tunbridge Wells: For Fun Day on
16 July
St Thomas, Southborough: Thanks for the
work of Age UK in Southborough; for all
who live alone
Prayers Requests
For SEPTEMBER LINK to Judith
Howard, 10 Mount Pleasant Road,
Weald, Sevenoaks, TN14 6QE,
01732 458285,
[email protected] by
29 July
Intercession during July/August
1 July: Oru – (Nigeria); St Mary, Gravesend
2 July: Osaka – (Japan); Advisory Council for
Communications, Rochester Link
3 July: Osun – (Nigeria); Osun North East
(Nigeria); Istead Rise
4 July: Ottawa – (Canada); Christ Church,
Milton
5 July: Oturkpo – (Nigeria); St Peter and
St Paul, Milton
6 July: Owerri – (Owerri); Mothers’ Union
7 July: Owo – (Nigeria); The Thames Gateway
Management Group
8 July: Oxford – (Canterbury); Oxford Buckingham; Oxford - Dorchester; Oxford –
Reading; General Synod 8-12 July
9 July: Oyo – (Nigeria); Christians working in
the media
10 July: Panama – (Central America); Sea
Sunday
11 July: Pankshin – (Nigeria); Northfleet &
Rosherville
12 July: Paraguay – (South America);
Members of Parliament & EC Representatives
13 July: Patna – (North India); Perry Street
14 July: Pelotas – (Brazil); Shorne
15 July: Northwestern Pennsylvania – (USA);
Pennsylvania (USA); Southfleet
16 July: Perth – (Australia); Perth - Goldfields
Country Region (Australia); Perth - Northern
Region (Australia); Perth - Southern Region
(Australia); Kent County Councils and Town
Borough and District Councils
17 July: Peru – (South America); Chaplains,
Air Training and Sea Cadet Corp
18 July: Peshawar – (Pakistan); Swanscombe
19 July: Peterborough – (Canterbury);
Peterborough – Brixworth; Rochester Deanery
20 July: Phulbani – (North India); Friends of
the Clergy Corporation
21 July: Pittsburgh – (USA); Borstal
22 July: Polynesia – (New Zealand); Polynesia
- Vanua Levu and Taveuni; Polynesia - Vit
Leu West; Ecumenical Parish of St John,
Chatham
23 July: Popondota – (Papua New Guinea);
Ministry to tourists and visitors
24 July: Port Elizabeth – (South Africa);
St Paul w All Saints, Chatham
25 July: Port Moresby – (Papua New Guinea);
Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust
26 July: Port Sudan – (Sudan); St Philip &
St James, Chatham
27 July: Portsmouth – (Canterbury);
St Stephen, Chatham
28 July: Pretoria – (South Africa); Kent Air
Ambulance
29 July: Puerto Rico – (USA); Oxleas NHS
Trust
30 July: Pune – (North India); Luton
31 July: Qu’Appelle – (Canada); Princes Park
1 August: Quebec – (Canada); Queen Mary
Sidcup and Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS
Trust
2 August: Quincy – (USA); Dartford &
Gravesham and Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells
NHS Trust
3 August: Rajasthan – (North India); South
West Kent and Dartford, Gravesham &
Swanley PCT
4 August: Rayalaseema – (South India);
Medway NHS Trust
5 August: Bishop of Recife – (Brazil);
St Justus, Rochester
6 August: Rejaf – (Sudan); St Peter w
St Margaret, Rochester
7 August: Remo – (Nigeria); Kent & Medway
NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust
8 August: Renk – (Sudan); South Chatham
9 August: PRAY for the Anglican Indigenous
Network; Rhode Island – (USA); Medway
PCT
10 August: Rift Valley – (Tanzania); Strood
Deanery
11 August: Rio de Janeiro – (Brazil);
Coadjutor – (Brazil); Cliffe w Cooling
12 August: PRAY for the International
Anglican Youth Network; Rio Grande –
(USA); Cuxton & Halling
13 August: Ripon and Leeds – (York); Ripon
and Leeds – Knaresborough; South East
Coast Ambulance NHS Trust
14 August: Riverina – (Australia); Frindsbury
w Upnor and Chattenden
15 August: Rochester – (Canterbury);
Rochester – Tonbridge; Grain w Stoke
16 August: Rochester (USA); High Halstow w
All Hallows & Hoo, St Mary
17 August: Rockhampton – (Australia);
Burrswood Christian Centre
18 August: Rokon – (Sudan); Rumbek –
(Sudan); Ruaha – (Tanzania); Higham w
Merston
19 August: Rupert’s Land – (Canada);
St Werburgh, Hoo
20 August: Ruvuma – (Tanzania); St Francis,
Strood
21 August: Ruwenzori – (Uganda); Hospices
serving the diocese
22 August: Bishop of Sabah – (South East
Asia); Diocesan Committee amongst the Deaf
& Deaf/Blind people
23 August: Sabongidda-Ora – (Nigeria);
St Nicholas w St Mary, Strood
24 August: Saldanha Bay – (South Africa);
H M Prison Service
25 August: Salisbury – (Canterbury);
Salisbury - Ramsbury; Salisbury – Sherborne;
Kent Ecumenical Police Chaplaincy
26 August: Sambalpur – (India); Tonbridge
Archdeaconry
27 August: San Diego – (Province USA);
Malling Deanery
28 August: Pray for all those involved in
Theological Education, Colleges and
Universities of the Anglican Communion.
Santiago – (Philippines); Aylesford
29 August: San Joaquin – (Province USA)
Barming
30 August: Sao Paulo – (Brazil); BART Group
31 August: Sapele – (Nigeria); Patrons
responsible for appointments to Livings
Metalsmith
To advertise
in The
Rochester
Link
please call
and woodworker
Conscientious and reliable,
Ian Marshall provides new
work and maintenance for a
number of churches.
To join his list of satisfied
01752
225623
customers
call: 020 8850 7851
or 077 6666 2747
Birchwood House
Rest Home
Residential Home for
the Elderly
Respite care & short
stay available
A beautifully refurbished Georgian manor house, set
in 6 acres of glorious Kent countryside, within easy
reach of Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.
• All rooms have en-suite facilities & nurse call
system. Lift to all floors.
• Excellent home cooking, with special diets catered
for.
• Hairdressing, chiropody, library and mobile shop.
• Monthly in-house Holy Communion and links to
the local church.
Stockland Green Road,
Speldhurst, Kent TN3 0TU
Telephone: Langton (01892 86) 3559
Fancy a day out?
Take part in the Friends of Kent
Churches Annual Sponsored
Saturday 10th September 2011
10am to 6pm
Details from your local church or from
Carolyn Millen on 01622 843383
e-mail: [email protected]
www.friendsofkentchurches.co.uk
FKC Registered Charity No: 20721
12
ochester Link
Abbey Road Studio
Anthem competition 2011
To celebrate its 80th anniversary,
the world famous Abbey Road
studio in London is running a
worldwide anthem competition to
find original, unsigned and
undiscovered composers.
all ages, abilities and backgrounds and then
recorded by engineers using world-class
microphones and equipment.
Jonathan Smith, manager of the studios,
said, “This competition will give composers an
opportunity to have their work performed and
recorded to the very highest standard. Sir
Edward Elgar opened Abbey Road Studios
Composers of all ages and abilities are in
80 years ago with a great anthem, Land of
with a chance to record their anthem at Abbey Hope and Glory, performed then by the
Road Studios with the internationally regarded London Symphony Orchestra. All composers
London Symphony Orchestra and some of the will have the chance to record their anthems
UK’s finest singers, conducted by renowned
in the same studio with the same world-class
composer Eric Whitacre.
orchestra. It’s a thrilling prospect and a
Any anthem may be submitted as long as it wonderful way to celebrate Abbey Road
hasn’t been published or recorded for
Studios' 80th anniversary.”
commercial release.
Eric Whitacre said, “I can’t think of a better
The winning anthems will be recorded in
way to celebrate 80 years of excellence at the
Studio One, home to the recording of many of world’s most famous recording studios than
the greatest anthems of all time, from Land of creating new music, giving everyone the
Hope and Glory to the Star Wars title
chance to participate. From Elgar to
sequence and The Beatles’ live satellite
Radiohead, Abbey Road has hosted the very
performance of All You Need Is Love.
best. We want to find the great anthems of
An esteemed jury of professional
our time. It is an honour to be involved in the
composers including industry legends Eric
selection process and to record the winning
Whitacre, Harry Christophers, George Fenton entries. I encourage all writers/composers to
and Rob Mathes will choose the winning
submit their music; inspire us.”
anthems. If required, winners will receive
The closing date for entries is 15 July 2011.
assistance from leading arrangers to ensure
Find out how to enter:
the competition is accessible to composers of www.abbeyroad.com/anthem
Rededication of the grave of Ivo Bligh Bishop James visits Bracton Centre
The rededication of the grave of the
Honourable Ivo Bligh and Florence Morphy
(8th Earl and Countess of Darnley) took
place at St Mary Magdalene
Church, Cobham on Wednesday 18 May.
The occasion followed a very successful
fund-raising campaign by The Cricket
Society to restore the grave of the couple,
who were major participants in the events
which led to the creation of the “Ashes”
back in 1882.
A congregation of around 140 gathered
at the church, led by the present Earl of
Darnley, the couple’s grandson, His
Excellency the Australian High Commissioner,
the Honourable John Dauth, representatives
from the Kent County Cricket Club,
including the President John Shepherd and
the Chief Executive Jamie Clifford, and the
Kent County Cricket Supporters’ Club.
The service was conducted by the
Archdeacon of Rochester, the Ven Simon
Burton-Jones and Priest-in-Charge,
Cobham and Luddesdowne, the Rev Angela
Walker.
The gathering was addressed by Derek
Barnard, Chairman of The Cricket Society
and Canon Christopher Byers, Past
President of the Kent County Cricket
Supporters Club. Howard Milton, Librarian of
The Cricket Society spoke of the grave’s
significance as the “end of the beginning of
the Ashes”. Michael Baker, grandson of the
famous architect Sir Herbert Baker who
designed the grave, spoke of its architectural
importance.
A brief ceremony at the grave followed,
during which flowers in memory of the
couple were laid by members of the
youngest generation of the Darnley family. A
replica of the famous Ashes urn was much in
evidence and in the manner of 1882 was
presented to Lord Darnley at the tea and
reception provided by Cobham Cricket Club.
The Cricket Society hopes that, with this
restoration, this memorial will be given its
place among the historical attractions of
Cobham village, offering cricket followers an
opportunity to pay their respects to a couple
whose place in cricket history is assured.
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust offers a wide
range of health and social care services in
south east London, specialising in
community health, mental health and learning
disability services.
They have been the main provider of
specialist mental health care in Bexley,
Bromley and Greenwich for more than ten
years and have developed a comprehensive
portfolio of services in community and
hospital settings. They also provide adult
learning disability services across Bexley,
Bromley and Greenwich as well as forensic
mental health care across south east London
and in Kent Prisons.
The Bracton Centre provides a range of
specialist forensic mental health services for
people aged 18 - 65 living in the boroughs
of Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich and
Lewisham and other boroughs when
requested. The centre offers assessment,
treatment and rehabilitation.
Bishop James visited the centre on 14
May to lead a short service and meet some
Bishop James with Pauline and Gill
of the patients as part of his Deanery visit.
CONTACT US
News and letters to the Editor:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01634 560000
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