November 2011

Proclaiming the word & work of God

OCHESTER

HaloChristmas poster campaign 2011Churchads.net is asking UKchurches to support its 2011Christmas poster which re-caststhe nativity scene with trendytwenty somethings, designerfashions and luxury gifts.

In the poster the shepherds arerepresented by a cycle courier andplasterer. The wise men are shown asthree successful entrepreneurs andtheir gifts are iconic ‘treasures’ ofmodern culture: a Swarovski crystalperfume bottle, a Faberge egg and areplica Damian Hirst skull. All are‘sharply dressed’. But the traditionalnativity arrangement is unchanged,with Jesus as its clear focus. And themessage is ‘However you dress itup.... Christmas Starts with Christ’.

The image, which features clothingfrom shops including Topman, Zaraand Donna Karan, was photographedby Max Oppenheim, a prominentLondon based photographer whohas shot campaigns for clients suchas Paul Smith, Max Mara and Virgin.The poster already has the support ofkey Church leaders, including theArchbishop of York, and partnerssuch as Premier Christian Media andthe Jerusalem Trust.

Mike Elms, from ChurchAds.net,said: “This year we have a verysimple but dramatic idea by showingthe meeting of Christianity and highstreet consumerism, with Christ inthe middle. With recent events in theUK and with millions of peopleheading for shopping centres in thefinal few days before Christmas,there will be no better time to remindpeople that, behind all theconsumerism; Christmas Starts withChrist.”

To maximise the impact of themessage, ChurchAds.net is askingindividuals and churches to make a

donation to a national Christmasadvertising fund. The aim is to raiseenough money to cover the placing ofposters at bus stops, buy airtime forspecially commissioned radio ads and,for the first time, ever buy colour ads innational and regional newspapers.

Mike Elms said: “Last year we tookthe Christmas Starts with Christmessage to 30 million people. Wewant to build on that and for the firsttime ever we are hoping to place ads

in regional and national newspapers.Imagine the effect of the image as acolour advertisement in, say, theDaily Mail and Sunday Mirror,exposing an additional 8 millionpeople to the message. It would belike sending 40 million Christian‘Christmas cards’ to the nation.”

Any individual or church candonate to the National Christmas AdFund by visitingwww.christmasstarts.com

Rochester Halo 2

A new photocopiable collectioncalled Songs, Psalms & Spiritualshas just been published by theRoyal School of Church Music(RSCM).

This is the fourth collaboration tobe edited by church musicians DavidIliff and John Barnard. It includesworks from a wide range ofcomposers, including JohnDankworth, Graham Kendrick andMalcolm Archer, as well asarrangements of well-known Afro-American spirituals.

The collection of over 50accessible pieces has beenassembled with ordinary choirs inmind, including those with limitationson the numbers of available voices. Itdraws on music spanning thousandsof years from the Psalms of David tospirituals moulded out of the slavetrade era and contemporary songs.Some psalm compositions are forcongregation and choir, includingPsalm 23 and a lively setting of Psalm

150 by John Barnard, himself a highly-regarded hymn-tune composer.

This collection also contains anumber of songs from composers suchas Stuart Townend and GrahamKendrick; most such as Kendrick’s‘Here is bread’ have been arranged forthree or four part choir. Speaking in apodcast on the RSCM website(www.rscm.com/media), John Barnardsays that he hopes choirs who tend toreject this style of music will like thefact that they can sing it in harmony.John Barnard thinks harmony of adeeper kind could occur in churcheswhere tastes differ. “I hope it will bebridge-building within those churchcommunities that tend to pull one wayor the other.”

David Iliff, currently organist at GreatMalvern Priory, hopes the pieces willadd to church services. “Hymns areexcellent but they tend to be ‘of a kind’and we feel the variety offered by thesesongs, psalms and spirituals adds arichness to worship that’s often missedout.”

Songs Psalms & Spirituals comeswith a CD-ROM containing two andthree part arrangements of someitems including many for sopranos,altos and men. Like the previouscollections from the same team, TheRSCM Carol Book, The RSCM CarolBook Supplement, and Season bySeason, churches and schools with aChristian Copyright Licence (CCLI)may photocopy these pieces -something which schools will findinvaluable. “We know the financialpressure on schools these days,”says John Barnard. “We believewe’re supplying the kind of materialthey can use, and that the latestcollection will certainly appeal.”

Songs, Psalms & Spirituals may bepurchased from RSCM Music DirectPrice: £50.00 (£37.50 affiliate price;£43.75 individual member price)RSCM Catalogue number: BO346Tel: 0845 021 7726Email: musicdirect@rscm.comOnline: www.rscm.com/shop

RSCM publishes new music collection

The Ven Dr Paul Wright, the Rev Canon Jean Kerr and the Rev Canon Paul Kerrwalked 12 miles through London in exceptionally hot weather on Saturday 1October 2011, in support of land rights for India’s poorest communities. TheMarch for Justice route took them from St James’ Piccadilly, through Hyde Parkand along Regent’s canal to Hackney Wick.

They were walking in support of Christian Aid’s partner, Ekta Parishad, anIndian social movement which believes that land redistribution could raise 400million people out of poverty.

March for Justice 2011 Directoryavailable to buyThe Rochester Diocesan Directory2011/12 is available for purchaseonline (£12.50 + p&p). Simply visitwww.lulu.com and type “rochesterdiocesan” into the ‘find’ box.

Rochester Halo 3

Friends hold Annual General MeetingThe Friends of St PaulinusChurch, Crayford, held theirAnnual General Meeting in thechurch on Sunday evening(9/10/11) after a choralevensong.

Prior to the formal proceedingsmembers were able to mingle and chatover drinks and snacks.

Marilyn Evennett presented herChairs’ Report to the meeting andhighlighted the increase in

membership and fundraising effortsand spoke about the events held bythe Friends during the past year. Thenthe Treasurer John Holbrook, gave adetailed explanation of the accounts.

Elections were held and MarilynEvennett was re-elected Chair, JennyDunlop as Vice-Chair, John Holbrookas Treasurer, Wendy Hopwood asSecretary and Margaret Drew asMembership Secretary.

At the conclusion of the meeting theChair presented retiring and long

serving committee member and formerChair Jean Stewart with a bouquet offlowers in recognition of hertremendous service to the Friends.

The Rector, the Rev Canon AntonyLane, thanked Marilyn and the Friendson behalf of the PCC for all their workand support.

Further details about the Friendsactivities and joining the Friends canbe obtained from the St PaulinusChurch Parish Office (telephonenumber 01322 557532).

Bishop ofRochester’s2011Appeal

Coats for Christmas

Tomake a donation pleasemake your cheque out to:Rochester DBF and mark iton the back, “Coats forChristmas.” Please send itto: Rochester DBF,St Nicholas Church, BoleyHill, Rochester, Kent, ME11SL. You may Gift Aid yourdonation by using thecoupon from the website atwww.rochester.anglican.org

The Bishop of Rochester’s 2011winter campaign aims to raisefunds to purchase warm, winterclothing for young people in theDiocese of Rochester. Moniesraised will be distributed viaChurch of England schools inthe Diocese. Please help us makea difference to young people inthis Diocese and end thesuffering of a bleak winter.

For more information contact:Lindy Mackenzie 01634 560000,lindy.mackenzie@rochester.anglican. orgor visit www.rochester.anglican.org

Diocese of

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What’s OnNNoovveemmbbeerrSaturday 5 NovemberISTEAD RISE - Craft Market at theCommunity Centre 10.30am-3pm.Refreshments and free parking.Adults £1 and under 14s free.

Saturday 19 NovemberEDENBRIDGE - Barn Dance atCrockham Hill Village Hall 7:30pm-11pm in aid of Edenbridge ParishChurch. Live music by RoundHouse Folk. Tickets £12 adults, £6for under 12s including aPloughman’s supper from 01732862180.

BROMLEY - Raise the Roof - anight of comedy featuring HenningWehn, Tony Vino, Rob Thomas andMaking Faces at St Augustine’sChurch at 8pm. Tickets £7.50 from020 8295 1550.

GRAVESEND - Christmas Fayre atSt George’s Church Hall 10am-2pm. Free entry. Free face painting,hot refreshments, cakes, tombola,raffle and books.

Saturday 26 NovemberCRAY - Christmas Fair at St Mary’sChurch, 12pm-3pm. Contact01689 810451.

Monday 28 NovemberBOUGHTON MONCHELSEA -Next meeting of the Guild ofChurch Flower Arrangers at StPeter’s Church at 7:45pm.Christmas demostration entitled ‘ATime of Celebrate’ given by JacquieArnold.

Rochester Halo 4

Financing the Future of Historic BuildingsHosted by the ChurchesConservation Trust, TheRegeneration Conference is aimed atheritage professionals, churchprofessionals, volunteers, communitygroups and tradespeople with aninterest in the maintenance anddevelopment of historic churchesand other community buildings.

This is a unique conference thatbrings together public, private,heritage, finance, government andfunding sectors to discuss methodsfor financing projects in the future

There will be 6 speakersspecialising in different subjects.

The conference will be introduced bythe Churches Conservation Trust'sChair, Loyd Grossman OBE FSA, andthe other speakers include: The RoyalBank of Scotland: Phil Harris, Directorof Charities, Social Enterprises andEducation, who will be speaking aboutCommunity Financing; Land Securities:Jonathan Levy, Development Manager;The Churches Conservation Trust:Peter Aiers, Head of Regeneration;The Heritage Lottery Fund: IanMorrison, Head of HistoricEnvironment Conservation; TheLankelly Chase Foundation: BrianWhittaker; A Government minister

(TBC) speaking on Big Society andthe ways communities can worktogether to help secure the future ofhistoric buildings.

The conference will be at the RoyalBank of Scotland’s Corporate Headquarters, 280 Bishopsgate, LondonEC2M 4RB on 17 November 2011,9.30am – 4.30pm. Registration costs£65 and including buffet lunch, tea &coffee breaks and finishing with awine reception. To book a place visitwww.visitchurches.org.uk/regenerationconference or phone020 7213 0660

Commissioning of Rural Deans

The Ven Clive Mansell has recently commissed the Rev Mark Griffin as RuralDean of Sevenoaks and, pictured above, the Rev Stephen Jones as RuralDean of Shoreham.

New chaplain at Kenward Trust

Bishop James licensed the Rev Paul Filmer as Chaplain to Kenward Trust on11 October.

TThhoouugghhtt ffoorr tthhee DDaayy ffoorr llooccaall rraaddiioo9 November 2pm-5pm, £50Join Andrew Graystone, a regularcontributor to Radio 2's Pause forThought to find out how to write anddeliver relevant and thought-provoking scripts that will stick inyour listeners minds.

DDeeaalliinngg wwiitthh CChhaalllleennggiinngg IInntteerrvviieewwss10 November 10am-5pm, £140This interactive small-groupworkshop will help you improve yourinterview skills and deal with trickyquestions with confidence. The dayincludes at least one practice TVand radio interview for everyparticipant.

GGeettttiinngg tthhee mmoosstt ffrroomm PPoowweerrPPooiinntt24 November 10am-5pm, £100 This small group practical workshopwill show you how to design aprofessional, consistentpresentation, use features such asanimation and video, and createslides that enhance the messageyou are trying to convey.

MMiissssiioonn iinn tthhee WWeeddddiinngg SShhoowwMMaarrkkeettppllaaccee29 November 1pm-4:30pm, £40 This half day course will give you allthe help you need to run an effectiveand attractive stand, as well as timeto share ideas with others involvedin this work.

All held at Church HouseWestminster, London. For moreinformation and online booking visitwww.churchcommstraining.org/

Comms Training