PLEASE NOTE: Copy deadline for the December/January issue of Rochester Link is 6 November 2013 at 4pm

November 2013

Remembrance Sunday

See page 12

A new initiative in the Diocese of Rochester is inviting women over the age of 18 to join in an adventurous high ropes and abseiling weekend to bring them closer to God.

The event will be held in Carroty Wood near Tonbridge from 20 to 22 June 2014.

Organiser Emma Buchan said, “We have never done this before! This is

the first time we have launched an event that combines adventurous activities with the opportunity to meet like-minded women at a spiritual gathering. This is a weekend for women who want to take time out.

Living life to the full is at the heart of God’s will for us and this weekend will include activities such as high ropes, archery or abseiling, low ropes and swimming to make this a girls’ retreat with a difference.”

The Rev Canon Jean Kerr will be leading all the worship.

Leap of Faith

Emma Buchan

Music@Malling grows as St Mary’s Church play hostThe third annual Music@Malling

International Festival showed steady growth in attendance and reach as several of the churches of Malling Deanery played host.

The brainchild of Thomas Kemp, a talented and well-known conductor who grew up in West Malling and attended West Malling CEP school, the Music@Malling festival aims to bring outstanding artists to historic local venues in and around the West Malling area.

Having spent the week before working with children in local schools, Thomas and his ensemble Chamber Domaine played Stravinsky’s ‘A Soldier’s Tale’ to three packed houses on the Thursday. Over 1,000 school-children passed through St Mary’s Church to listen to Matthew Sharp narrate the story while the musicians played and Erina Takahashi, principal ballerina with the English National Ballet, was on hand to interpret the story in dance.

In the days that followed, St Mary West Malling, St Lawrence Mereworth, All Saints Birling, and the Pilsdon Barn Chapel in West Malling all played host to a range of musical events. Particular highlights included Chamber Domaine performing Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons’ at St Mary’s Church with the Eynsford Concert Band taking over for the second half to play a range of big band pieces

from James Bond themes to the Dambusters. On the Saturday night, James Pearson and friends from Ronnie Scott’s Club in London displayed a fabulous range in ‘The Great American Songbook’ to a packed out church that had everyone jigging in the aisles.

The final evening saw Mark Simpson attend the festival. In 2006, Mark was the first person to win BBC Young Musician of the Year and BBC Proms Young Composer of the Year in the same year. With Mark himself on clarinet, the audience enjoyed an evening of Mark’s music and some of the best of Mozart.

Thomas Kemp, who first learnt to play the violin in St Mary’s Church Centre when it was still the old West Malling Primary School, said: “It is vital that fantastic, high-quality music is heard by a wide audience rather than in some kind of specialist ghetto in major cities. I’m passionate about bringing the music to people and inspiring children in my home town.” In hosting some of the concerts, Rev David Green, Priest-in-Charge at St Mary’s, said:

“We are delighted to help Music@Malling do what they do. It gives us a chance to be right at the centre of a significant community event and to enable people to make use of the church building which, as parishioners, is as much theirs as it is mine. It’s fantastic to see the children inspired to pursue their dreams by such high-quality musicians, artists, dancers and story-tellers.” Erina Takahashi dances A Soldier’s Tale. Photo: Shani Hancock

By the Rev David Green

2 ochester Link

What’s onNovember 2013

Saturday 2BROMLEY. Coffee Morning at 10am-12pm at St Mary’s

Hall, College Road, BR1 3QG. Admission 50p including first cup of coffee. For more information, call 020 8464 1239.

BURRSWOOD Jonathan Veira in Concert – singer and broadcaster presents an evening of music, laughter and fun in aid of Burrswood at All Saints’ Church, Crowborough TN6 1ED at 7.30pm. Hospital.Tickets £12.50. 01892 865985 www.burrswood.org.uk

CROWBOROUGH ‘Larger than Life: Opera’s big man goes solo’ Jonathan Veira Tour 2013 at All Saints’ Church, Chapel Green, Church Road, Crowborough TN6 1ED from 7:30-10:30pm. Tickets @ £12.50 available from Burrswood, Groombridge TN3 9PY. For further information contact: Organiser: Geoff Knight email : geoffbknight@gmail.com

STROOD Book sale at St Nicholas’ Church from 10.00.am to 12.00pm. All books 40p

Friday 8MEOPHAM Quiz Aid 2013 at St John’s Church

Meopham at 7:30 pm. Event to support the Women’s literacy programme in Afghanistan. Visiting speaker will give details of the project. Teams of up to 8 at £6 per head. For information and tickets please contact 01474 879059 or 01474 813632.

Saturday 9BROMLEY Messy Church at St Mary’s Church Hall,

College Road, Bromley BR1 3QG at 4.pm-6p.m. Games, craft, fun, worship and food for all the family. For more information, call 020 8464 1239.

RIVERHEAD St Mary’s Church at 7.30pm. Riches of Iberia - concert by Temenos Chamber Choir, with choral music by Morales, Guerrero and Victoria’s Missa Gaudeamus, and instrumental items for classical Spanish Guitar. Tickets £10 (£5 students) from Sevenoaks Bookshop, or by phone on 01959 523765, or at the door. www.stmaryriverhead.co.uk www.temenos-chamberchoir.org.uk

Sunday 10BROMLEY. Concert at St Mary’s Church, College Road,

BR1 3QG at 6.30 p.m. by St Mary’s Festival Choir directed by Michael Sherwin, with organist Anne Clements, in a performance of Faure’s “Requiem”. Free admission

SEVENOAKS Come and Sing Music for Remembrance Sunday at The Drive Methodist Church, Sevenoaks at 6.30pm. Admission free. Details from valruddle7@hotmail.co.uk or 01732 450355

Friday 15BROMLEY Launch of Messy Nativity Sheep Trail in

Bromley Town Centre, with a stall in the High Street Market. 12 shops have sheep, which they have named. Customers following the trail fill in the names on a leaflet, and can enter a prize draw to be held at St Mary’s Church Bromley on 22 December. 10,000 leaflets will be distributed through shops, schools, churches and market stalls. For more information, call 020 8464 1239.

Saturday 16GRAVESEND Gravesham Choral Society presents an

Evening with Haydn at St George’s Church, Gravesend at 7.30pm. Choral opening with the Te Deum, the orchestra will play Symphony no 104 (London). The choir will perform Creation Mass, conducted by Alan Vincent. Tickets £12 (£5 fulltime students) and are available by calling 01474 816684, or at the door. www.graveshamcs.co.uk

MEOPHAM Christmas Fayre at St John The Baptist Church, at 11am-3pm. Creative demonstrations, home-made sweets and preserves, Christmas accessories and Grand Draw.

WATERINGBURY Christmas Craft Bazaar at the Church of St John the Baptist, Tonbridge Road, Wateringbury from 11am to 3pm. Free entry. Further details: Jan Pursey on 01622 814324

Tuesday 19LULLINGSTONE The Friends of St Botolph’s Church

invite you to a demonstration of Christmas flower arrangements at St Botolph’s Church, Lullingstone, near Eynsford, at 11 am. Tickets cost £10 and can be ordered from Valerie Wells (01322 860868) or Jo Wadman-Smith (01959 522676)

Saturday 23BEXLEYHEATH “Love Changes Everything” concert at

St Peter’s Church, Pickford Lane, Bexleyheath, DA7 4RW at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £7.50 (under 16’s £4) from Tess Parker on 0208 304 5446

BROMLEY “Songs from the Shows” concert at St Mary’s Church, College Road, Bromley BR1 3QG at 7.30pm. Admission £10 (£8) on the door, in aid of Careplus, the

North Bromley charity putting volunteers in touch with the needy. For more information, call 020 8464 1239.

NURSTEAD St Mildred’s Church is holding its traditional Christmas Bazaar at Nurstead Court between 10am and noon. Admission £1-00 to include coffee & biscuits, children free.

RIVERHEAD Meeting of Rochester WATCH (Women and The Church) at St Mary’s Church, Riverhead, TN13 2BP at 9.30a.m. Eucharist, followed by tea and coffee; 10.30am. talk by the Very Rev Dianna Gwilliams, Dean of Guildford. More information from John Webber, 020-8650 9164 and maggieandjohn1@gmail.com

TESTON Christmas Fayre in Teston Village Hall and Pop-Ups in the grounds. From 2.30pm. Stalls, crafts, Christmas goodies, homemade Cakes, raffle, tombola, refreshments and Father Christmas.

Wednesday 27-Friday 29BROMLEY Christmas Journey at St Mary’s Church,

College Road, Bromley BR1 3QG for local primary school pupils in Year 2 (aged 6-7). For more information call

020 8464 1239Friday 29-Sunday 1SIDCUP - St John’s Christmas Tree Festival (Church Rd,

DA14 6BX). Come and see decorated trees sponsored by local businesses, churches, organisations and individuals. Refreshments, raffle and musical entertainment – free entrance. Donations to the Mayor’s Charity, Carers for All and St John’s Church. www.stjohnsidcup.co.uk

Saturday 30BROMLEY Christmas Journey at St Mary’s Church,

College Road, Bromley BR1 3QG. Journeys at 9.30 and 11.00 a.m., charge of £1 per person. For more information, call 020 8464 1239.

GRAVESEND Christmas Fayre at St George’s Church from 10am-2pm in the church hall. Free entry. Hot refreshments, cakes, gifts, games, books and free face painting. For more details contact Neil Fisher via email at pocahontas1733@aol.com or telephone 01474 560525

MEOPHAM ‘Reel into Christmas’ at St John the Baptist Parish Church, Wrotham Road DA13 0AA at 7pm. Help celebrate St Andrew’s Day with a fun evening of dance with the SOAS Ceilidh Band. Enjoy traditional music and music from around the world. Tickets are £15 (children £5) which includes a light supper. Tickets are available from St John’s Church Office on 01474 813106 or email stjohnsmeopham@hotmail.co.uk

STROOD Book sale at St Nicholas’ Church from 10am-1pm. Gift stalls, Father Christmas, raffles. Entertainment and refreshments. Admission 30p.

LEIGH Baroque Singer are presenting an advent concert “The Road to the Manger” at 7:30 pm in St Mary’s Church, Leigh. Tickets are available at the door. Tickets at £10, £8 for concessions and £3 for under 16’s. For further information contact Anthony Purnell on 07802 752995. Email:baroquesingers@btinternet.com

TUNBRIDGE WELLS Christmas Fair at St James’ Church Hall from 10am-1pm. Admission free. Proceeds shared between Work in Nepal though the Verandah schools & Green Pastures Hospital/Tunbridge Wells Youth for Christ/Hand in Hand, Zimbabwe.

The Bishop of Tonbridge’s DiaryThe Rt Rev Dr Brian Castle

November

DecemberERITH Christmas Tree Festival Weekend 2013 at Christ Church, Victoria Road, Erith, Kent, DA8 3AN. Dates:Friday December 13th 12 pm-7pmSaturday December 14t 10am -7pmSunday December 15th 12pm–5pmAdmission Free. Carols by Treelight on Sunday December 15 6.30pmCharity Fair on Saturday December 14 10am till 2-pm at Christ Church hall, Glebe Way, Erith, Kent. Festival website www.erithctf.co.uk

Lunchtime Recitals at St Luke’s Church, Eardley Road. Sevenoaks. Every Wednesday at 12.30pm Admission free. Lasting 30 minutes. Refreshments from 12 noonNovember6 Tau Wey with Pupils from Sevenoaks School13 Peter Young - Organ20 Lily Blackmore - Flute27 Miyuki Kato – Piano

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Regular exhibitions showcasing new jewellers.

3 Nov 1000 Confirmation – All Saints, Belvedere

4-7 Nov Bishop’s Staff Residential – Worth Abbey

11 Nov 1230 School Chaplains’ Lunch Meeting –

Bishop’s Lodge

13 Nov 1800 Present prizes at Branch Heat of the Cranmer

awards – The Judd School, Tonbridge

17 Nov 1015 Confirmation – St Luke, Sevenoaks

1830 Confirmation – St Paul w All Saints,

Chatham

19 Nov 1000 Attend Theology and Ethics seminar - London

20 Nov 1000 Estonia Group Meeting – Bishop’s Lodge

24 Nov-1 Dec Gillingham Deanery Visit

24 Nov 1100 Confirmation – St Paul, Parkwood, Gillingham

26 Nov 1730 Bishop’s Council - Rochester

29 Nov 1100 Attend Mission Theology Advisory Group

– London

CONTACT USNews and letters to the Editor: linknews@rochester.anglican.org Telephone: 01634 560000

ADVERTISEMENTS Email: glenda@cornerstonevision.com Copy for The Link needs to be typed and submitted by email please. Images must be submitted as either a TIFF or a JPEG file of 300dpi. (Set your digital camera to the highest quality setting and we will try to do the rest for you.)

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Remembering: Liberation or Slavery?

Bishop James’ diary - November

November is a month for remembering. On 1st November, All Saints’ Day, the Church thanks God for and remembers the past heroes of the faith. 2nd November, All Souls’ Day, is an opportunity to give thanks for and remember departed loved ones. 11th November, Remembrance Day, is time to pause and give thanks for those who have died in the service of their country. Remembering is important: the way we remember can liberate us into the future or enslave us in the past.

In the heart of England is the National Memorial Arboretum. Set in 150 acres of woodland, the Arboretum is UK’s Centre of Remembrance and it exemplifies a different way of remembering. The Arboretum, which was only opened in 2001, hosts memorials to a range of organisations including military, civil services (police, ambulance, fire and rescue), charities and other organisations, both at home and overseas. At the heart of the site is the Armed Forces Memorial which lists the names of all those who have died in service since the end of the Second World War, around 16,000 women and men. There are two sculptures which, in a very moving way, bear silent witness to the cost of armed sacrifice. One depicts a mother and child holding each other and an elderly couple clutching each other in grief, weeping over their husband, father and son whose body is being carried by his comrades. The other depicts a woman and some Gurkha soldiers preparing a fallen warrior for burial - a figure before double doors points to a world beyond where the warrior will rest as another figure chisels the name on the memorial.

There is nothing triumphalist about the way the National Memorial Arboretum remembers those who have lost their lives in the service of their country. One group is not regarded as inferior or superior to the other. War is not glorified, but, regardless of whether it can be justified, war’s cruelty, injustices and sheer inhumanity are themes playing not far below the surface. The Arboretum ‘remembers’ war as a place where heroes are to be found but not as a place of glory, for, if it were a place of glory, that would be a justification of all the killing. Above all, the National Arboretum is a place where the nation thanks families for giving their loved ones in the service of their country.

What is distinctive about the National Memorial Arboretum is the way of remembering. It remembers in a spirit of humility and thanksgiving: while remembering the departed, it is expressing the nation’s gratitude to their families. It is not scape-goating, recalling the bitterness and demonising an enemy, placing on them all the blame for the death and destruction.

Such a way of remembering effectively keeps the war raging in the present and will lead to further conflict and fuel the urge for vengeance. The Arboretum’s way of remembering recognises that all parties need to share some of the responsibility for the failures that led to war and so the focus is not on the enemy or even the victory over the enemy but on a thanksgiving for the sacrifices of those who died. Such ways of remembering enable people to move forward towards reconciliation.

Whether we are remembering the saints, our loved ones or those who died in the service of the country, the way we remember is crucial. Our remembering can enslave us in the past – or liberate us into the future.

By Bishop Brian

1Nov 0800 Preside: West Malling Abbey3 Nov 1000 Preside & preach: Langton Green, All Saints – 150th Anniversary 1630 Preach: Borstal Heath, St Andrew – Memorial Service4-7 Nov Bishop’s Staff residential meeting – Worth Abbey7 Nov 1930 Confirmation: Wrotham, St George9 Nov 0900 Tunbridge Wells Deanery Synod10-17 Nov All week Pastoral Visit to Orpington Deanery16 Nov 0930 Preach: Night Shelters’ Service – St Martin-in-the-Fields18-20 Nov General Synod - London21-22 Nov CofE and RC Bishops’ joint meeting - London23 Nov 1900 Preach: Tunbridge Wells’ Winter Shelter service24 Nov 1030 Confirmation: Kingsdown, St Edmund – Patronal Festival 1600 Commission: The Rev Colin Terry as Area Dean of Sidcup 1830 Confirmation: Tunbridge Wells, St Philip25 Nov Chair working party on minority ethnic clergy & senior church appointments - Birmingham26 Nov 1730 Bishop’s Council – Diocesan Office29 Nov 1730 Cathedral Foundation Callover Service - Cathedral30 Nov 1900 Preside & preach: Orpington, St Andrew – Patronal Festival

4 ochester LinkAdvertising Feature

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Inter-Faith Week(17th to 23rd November 2013)

I don’t know whether you have made any plans for this (or even considered it) but Inter-Faith Week is an annual national initiative.

Now I realise that in some of your communities there will be very few people from other Faith traditions, but for others there might be quite a significant group, possibly of Sikhs, Muslims, and in some areas those from the Jewish Faith.

I think there are two possibilities for us here:

One is for those who clearly have a mixed ‘economy’ in terms of ethnic make-up and interfaith diversity. These parishes might want to look at what could be done in working together with a common theme or project.

For others it is to make their own church communities aware of what those of other Faith traditions value and what we have in common, just so there is a greater awareness, particularly for those members of your congregations who commute to work in Central London and may work alongside those of other Faiths.

Inter-Faith Week is about increasing our awareness of the different Faith communities in our own locality. We do this so we can build on the contribution we all make to our neighbourhoods, wherever we might be. I have five suggestions as to how we might do this:

• Look at local art or cultural events – there is a huge diversity and richness here that could be explored.

• Exchange visits between places of worship or schools.

• A photographic competition, perhaps displaying the material in the local library or some other prominent place with maybe one or two sponsors.

• A community action project – a foodbank, or perhaps an environmental project as the care of God’s earth is a common theme across the Faith communities.

• Or where it may be more appropriate, to form a panel and ask leading members of the various Faiths to share in a dialogue and talk about topics of common interest, whether it be the economy or the pressures facing young people in a complex society.

For more information please see the Inter-Faith section of the diocesan website.

Let’s see if we can make Inter-Faith Week 2013 a week to remember!

By the Ven Dr Paul Wright

Statue of Christ In Glory At the Patronal Festival of St

Francis of Assisi, Strood on 6th October, the Ven Simon Burton-Jones, Archdeacon of Rochester, dedicated the statue of Christ in Glory. The sculpture came from the church of St Augustine, Whitchurch in Bristol. It is an original work by the sculptor Ernest Pascoe commissioned for the church when it was completed in 1971.

The church building suffered from the outset with problems associated with the design details and construction and in the end the Diocese agreed that it would need to be demolished and replaced. Finding a new home for the statue was necessary when the chosen design for the new church could not accommodate the figure.

The Rev Howard Daubney, vicar of St Francis, saw an article about the need to rehouse the statue on the BBC news website. He followed this up and contacted the Rev Nick Hay at St Augustine to offer a new home in Strood. This was agreed, a van was hired and Mr Daubney drove down to Bristol to collect the statue. After the usual permissions had been obtained, the statue was installed at St Francis in time for the service on 6th October. A group of 15 parishioners from St Augustine travelled up to be part of the

celebrations. Churchwarden Phil Smith said that the day was tinged with sadness at having to say goodbye to an old friend but also with joy at seeing it given a new home and repolished to its former glory again.

Ernest Pascoe wrote of the statue in its original home:

“The design must be seen as a whole and is capable of a number of interpretations. The primary intention is to express a feeling of fulfilment or triumph, and a duality of Jesus as Man and God. The figure of Christ leans against the surrounding space. The feet are weightless; the arms and head reach upwards

and the outstretched fingers move towards the invisible world. The barbarism of the crucifixion and its attendant cruel events is suggested by the corded loincloth. This is bound in places by ropes which cut into the flesh. It is a symbol of the official regard for propriety acting as a vehicle for revenge. The figure rises in front and above the cross which is a shallow recess and takes the form of a shadow. This contrasts with the bold three dimensionality of the figure indicates our Lord’s triumph over death and suffering.”

The figure is not mounted on a cross at St Francis but on a plain white background to show not only its simplicity but also its power.

The Ven Dr Paul Wright

St Mary the Virgin, Hayes, Kent

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6 ochester Link

All Saints’ Church, Belvedere Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday 13 OctoberJesus said, “I am the bread of

life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

The Rev Jane Edwards opened the All Saints’ Church Harvest Thanksgiving service by saying,

“We have come together to worship God and to thank him for journeying with us through the year. We have come to give thanks for the harvest of our land, to ask for his continued blessing, and to give to those in need.”

Members of the congregation donated gift items of food for the Bexley Food Bank and Gill Bates, Food Bank Manager, addressed the congregation giving them examples of how the donations were used and distributed.

The Rev Jane Edwards said, “Bexley Food Bank is a project seeded by the Trussell Trust with its base at Avery Hill Christian Fellowship. It is an initiative which many of the

churches in Bexley Borough are supporting. We first heard about it at the Danson

Festival at the beginning of July when I was asked to lead the prayers at the combined Churches Celebration on the Sunday morning. the Rev Rob Stevens from the Christian Fellowship spoke and shared some prayer requests.

As a PCC, we subsequently agreed to support the Food Bank at our Harvest Festival this year, having supported primarily overseas work for the past 2 years. We have not forgotten our overseas responsibility (for the 2 weeks prior to Harvest, we had a retiring collection for our brothers and sisters at All Saints, Peshawar) but we also had a very generous response – both in goods and in money from the church family at All Saints, including the uniformed organisations attached to the church – to take to the Food Bank.

In the current economic climate, many families in this country and indeed in our own local area are struggling, and churches need to be willing to work together to offer practical help, as well as preaching the good news that Jesus is the Bread of Life.”

Mothers’ Union is set to extend its reach to more families and couples through its new website, which incorporates a practical support section, written by external experts, especially for parents and couples.

The fresh site was commissioned by Mothers’ Union in order to respond to feedback which showed the charity needed an easier to

navigate site and one which could be more responsive to its audience’s needs.

“We felt it important not only to tell people of the support we offer to families and couples,

but actually to offer that support – the “Christian care for families” that is our main activity - on our website as well as in local communities,” said Fiona Thomas, Communications Manager. “Getting feedback from the users of the site

will help us make constant improvements to our content so that we can really begin to build up a library of useful, supportive articles for families.”

The site also has an extensive members’ section, including a bespoke area for community development staff and coordinators, which will facilitate a sharing of ideas and resources across the worldwide organisation. Mothers’ Union chaplains also have a unique section with advice and resources on building the ministry of Mothers’ Union.

www.mothersunion.org

Mothers’ Union Launches New Website

Rev Jane Edwards with donations to the Bexley Food Bank

On Saturday 5th October around 100 readers from Rochester Diocese gathered at the Math School for the Autumn Reader’s conference. Our speaker this year was the Rt Rev Robert Paterson, Bishop of Sodor and Man, and also President of the Central Readers’ Council.

Bishop Robert challenged us to consider the difference between ministry and discipleship, and he spoke about Reader ministry in particular. He asked us – “What is special about being lay?” and “What special gifts and experience do I bring to making connections between the word and the world?” and there was a distinct buzz around the room as people talked about this in smaller groups.

In the afternoon Bishop Robert preached in the Cathedral when we admitted and licensed 13 new Readers to the Diocese.

Autumn Readers’ Conference 2013By Karen Senior

Left to right: Clare Masters, Bishop James, Karen Harcombe, Mags Southgate, Lucille Luton, Jan Thompson, Iain Amber, Dewi Williams, Carolin Facey, Penny Culliford, Paul Oakley, Jenny Warrington,Russell Jones, Brian Jones.

7ochester Link

As a Diocese we are delighted to announce the launch of Hope Together - the Diocese of Rochester working in partnership with the national mission initiative of HOPE 2014.

It is hoped that mission will be more on the agenda as parishes across the Diocese make plans to reach out together in word and action as part of HOPE 2014.

Assistant Missioners Caroline Clarke and Emma Buchan will be available to work alongside parishes to help and support them as they make plans for mission initiatives that enable community engagement. Via the Bishop’s Fund for Mission there is secured £100 for each church to kick start this work; simply fill out an application form telling us what your HOPE 2014 event or project will be.

If we want the Church to grow, we will need to give priority to making disciples through the life of every local church. The aim of HOPE 2014 is to leave a legacy of lasting spiritual change in our nation, with churches at the heart of their communities working together to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

HOPE 2014’s year of mission starts with prayer, so HOPE invites you to join more than a million Christians around the country using their daily prayer guide. Why not sign up for daily prayer emails from www.ucb.co.uk/prayer and

available to download from the HOPE website, and include these in your Parish Prayers.

HOPE through the Christian yearly cycle might look like this:

This will mean giving priority to three core habits to grow new Christians within the life of every church and congregation.

The first is Sowing the Seed: reaching out to those who are outside the life of the church. There are a thousand ways to do this in our workplaces, schools, toddler groups, through friendships, in pubs and on the streets. The most fruitful places to sow the seed are often the communities where the church is already engaged in loving service.

The second is Nurture: offering ways for people to explore the Christian Gospel for the first time. This is critical. There are many different courses and resources we can use, but what matters is offering something regularly and prayerfully which suits those in your community who are ready to explore faith.

The third is Growth: regular input to encourage new Christians growing to maturity as disciples within the life of the church. This can be done in many different ways through small groups, Bible study, training and teaching

courses, to help the whole body to grow.

The task of making disciples should be the normal rhythm of the life of the local church, so let’s reset that rhythm; let’s be the whole church reaching the whole nation for the whole year as we do more mission together in words and actions. Find out more at www.hopetogether.org.uk

For local help please contact Caroline Clarke tappercat@btinternet.comEmma Buchan emma.buchan@hotmail.com

2014

Emma Buchan and Caroline Clarke

Clear the Decks‘Clear the decks!’ was the call

as the chairs were pushed back at St George’s Church, Gravesend, and a huge 8m by 8m canvas labyrinth laid out in the centre of church.

Some twenty people from St George, as well as other churches in the deanery and town, came together for an evening with labyrinth ‘facilitator’, Barbara Wallace, from Broadstairs.

Opening with a time for prayer, Barbara went on to explain how the labyrinth worked. The idea goes back millennia and, in Christian times, gained in popularity when it became an indoor (or outdoor) substitute for pilgrimages to the Holy Land that had become too dangerous to make. Barbara’s own labyrinth, specially made, was based on the one to be found at Chartres Cathedral in France. She reminded participants that, unlike a maze, there are no puzzling or frustrating dead ends with a labyrinth.

Introductions over, Barbara invited all present to make their own labyrinthine pilgrimage, a time for walking at our own pace, and a time for reflection and prayer, remembering that Christ is not only there at our destination but also with us as we travel. On the way, we would meet other pilgrims, perhaps crossing the path of some or being overtaken by others. Shoes had to be removed and there was a basket of spare socks for those who needed them. For those not able to walk the labyrinth, a wooden finger labyrinth was available.

Some of those in church had come out of

a sense of curiosity while others had come to explore this different way of prayer. Afterwards, many spoke of a sense of release and all appreciated the way in which Barbara had introduced and led the evening. St George’s church warden, Neil Fisher, commented, “I felt privileged to have experienced this unique and ancient form of reflection and I found it a wonderful way to immerse myself in the love God bestows upon all of us”.

Earlier in the day, at Holy Trinity CE Primary School in Gravesend, sixty Year 6 pupils, in groups of fifteen, also had an opportunity to experience the labyrinth laid out in the school hall. After treading the path, the children also spoke of a feeling of calm and peace, and one said that she had felt a real sense of freedom.

Barbara is happy to take her labyrinth out and

about, not just in Kent, to share the experience of the labyrinth. She can be contacted through her website: www.pilgrimpaths.co.uk.

By the Rev Canon Chris Stone Strood Drop-in Centre

On 10th October we launched the Strood Drop-in Centre in St Nicholas Church, open every Thursday from 11am -3pm.

This was a church incentive brought about by volunteers from the church congregation and the wider community. Working alongside the Strood Community Project, already established in the High Street, we offer a

place to bring your problems, find friendship and enjoy a cup of tea. Funds have been given by the local Ward Councillors and these, together with substantial gifts of resources from two Medway businessmen, have set us up for our task. We welcome anyone to just drop-in any Thursday. Old and young, out of work, carers, new to the area, coping with addictions and rehabilitation, new mums, homeless and anyone looking for someone to listen, someone to care.

By Rita HuntLaunch cake showing ‘people just dropping in’

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The Rev Judy Henning installation

2013 Research Conference, Research beyond borders

The second annual research conference for the Diocese of Rochester took place at Aylesford Priory on 8 October. The opening speaker this year was the Rector Rev Prof Dr Randar Tasmuth from Estonia.

Randar, an Estonian theologian and New Testament professor, discussed the similarities between the Lutheran Church in Estonia and the Diocese of Rochester. This discussion included how the training and further academic engagement of clergy in both respects could be further developed in the Link Diocese relationship. Bishop Brian was the closing speaker and his full address can be found on the diocesan website. Bishop Brian discussed how walls create positive boundaries and that they do not necessarily indicate a negative aspect. In comparison however, gates that are left closed can create a negative boundary. The implication of this metaphor was explored in relation to actual church doors. In relation to research, there are always boundaries whether it is an academic framework or ethics but what is vital in research is that the research remains open to seek new knowledge.

Others who presented either their Masters or Doctorate research on the day included the Revs Gemma Burnett, Jeremy Ive, Ruth Bierbaum, Antony Hammill, Helen Burn, Stephen Mitchell, June Mackenzie and Gerald Hovenden. These papers varied greatly in their subject material as well as the awarding institutions. As an example, papers covered subjects such as ‘An Anglican Feminist Theology of Resurrection’ to ‘Paul’s use of the metaphor of slavery in the resolution of conflict’. Attendees expressed thanks for the value and diversity of these presentations. Bishop Brian tweeted in response the presentation by Helen Burn, ‘@RochesterCMD conference inspired me to see film #Dodgeball. It focuses on success/failure axis uncritically assimilated into church culture’.

The aim of the conference is two-fold. Firstly it seeks to provide an opportunity for clergy, readers, pastoral assistants and evangelists who are engaged in Masters or Doctoral research in the field of ministry and theology to be able to share their work with other practitioners in this field. Secondly, it allows those practitioners, lay and ordained, to learn from this the most current work in theology and ministry, particularly as it relates to their involvement in a specific aspect of ministry.

The 2014 Research Conference will take place on 7 October 2014 with the theme ‘Research as a partner in the gospel’. We hope to have more of our ecumenical partners as part of this conference as part of this theme. Please place the date in your diary.

By the Rev Trevor Gerhardt

The Rector Rev Prof Dr Randar Tasmuth

When the Rev Canon Alan Vousden left St Margaret’s Rainham there was some question as to whether the parish boundaries within the Deanery might be changed, Rainham is currently the largest, but the possibility of merger of some congregations had to be discussed.

If appointed “Vicar” a priest’s title cannot be changed, so the parish was ‘suspended’ until decisions had been made, and when the Rev Judy Henning came she was appointed ‘Priest in Charge’. This was also the case with other parishes in the Deanery.

Decisions have now been finalised, and Rainham’s boundaries stay the same, and so Judy was formally instituted as “Vicar of Rainham” by the Bishop of Rochester at a special evensong service in St Margaret’s Church on 6th October. The Rev Judy Henning being installed by Bishop James

Pinterest is where you go to discover new things and collect stuff you love. You will see that the Diocese of Rochester now has an active Pinterest account (look for the red and white logo at the bottom of the homepage at: www.rochester.anglican.org)

We have 2 pin boards at the moment. One featuring some of our churches and one we hope to populate with wedding images. These can be of brides and grooms, bridesmaids and best men, or cakes, champagne and flowers. We don’t mind, but we would love you to encourage couples who marry at your church to share a couple of their favourite photos with us, so that we can add them to our Pinterest board.

All they need to do is email their images to: katerina.gerhardt@rochester.anglican.org

We would like your help

Please spread the word. When you have a couple marrying at your church, please ask them to share their images with us.

Our Pinterest Account

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Praying the wayWorldTroubled areas of the world

DioceseFor all Remembrance Services.

Bromley & Bexley Bromley DeaneryChislehurst, The Annunciation 30 - Sponsored walk to Southwark Cathedral. Bromley, St Andrew Making Jesus known to people in our parish. Our new hall used in our community.Bromley Common, St Augustine Our new curate Andy HobbsHayes New organist and choirmaster

Orpington DeaneryOrpington, Christ Church Andrena Palmer our new Youth Minister. Future of Community Lunch Club.

Sidcup DeanerySidcup, St John’s Christmas Tree Festival.

Rochester Cobham DeaneryCobham and Luddesdowne Outreach in village. 9 Church Bazaar. Jesse Tree Advent course. Gravesham Food Bank initiative. Meopham with Nurstead New incumbent. Fawkham and Hartley PCC Away Day.Southfleet 3 - Memorial Service. 9 - Craft Fair.Ash and Ridley Cluster Readers for evening worship.

Dartford DeanerySwanley, St Paul & Hextable, St Peter Meeting with Steve Chalke re Hextable Oasis Academy School. Swanley, St Mary For the Swanley Food Bank and those who live in poverty..Gillingham DeaneryRainham. Remembrance Services, Advent, Christmas Tree Festival.Gillingham Holy Trinity Our interregnum.Gillingham, St Luke New monthly Eucharist at Prospect Place.South Gillingham Bredhurst Prison’s Week.South Gillingham, Parkwood Thanks for 35 years as a congregation.

Gravesend DeaneryGravesend, St Aidan Thanks for 50th anniversary. JAM Group, Messy Church. Perry Street Festival of Light and All Saints’.Milton, St Peter & St Paul Finance for repairs.Gravesend, St George Emma Weaver, our Children and Family Work Student.Chalk 2 - Family Bonfire and Fireworks 30 - Christmas Fair.Greenhithe Guidance for ‘heart of the community’Gravesend, Holy Family Church Toddler Group ‘Little Stars’, for the families and helpers.Northfleet Big Northfleet Community Project.Ifield Messy Church.Rosherville Parent and Toddler Group. St George’s School, Gravesend. For our community.

TonbridgeMalling DeanerySnodland with Lower Birling Our Dementia Café. Prayer Walk and Service of Light.

Sevenoaks DeaneryKippington Safety for all involved in stonework repairs. 10 - Dedication of altar frontal. 17 -

Christmas crafts afternoon.Knockholt with Halstead 26 - Prayer Workshop on Speaking to God.Sevenoaks, St Luke 17 - Hosting Confirmation Service.Sevenoaks, St Nicholas 3 - Bereavement Service and tea. 15 - Women’s Evangelistic Event. 19 - Hosting Christian Institute’s ‘Responding to the Marriage Act’.Weald 3 - All Saints’ service for bereaved. 8 - CSW Food for Freedom. 23 - Charity Christmas Card sale and Bazaar.

Shoreham DeaneryEnysford, Farningham and Lullingstone Our building project.Platt Messy Church and Healing GroupWrotham Community Choir and Sisterhood.

Tunbridge Wells DeaneryRusthall 23 - Autumn Fair in aid of USTunbridge Wells, St Luke Homegroups.Southborough, St Thomas Work amongst teenagers and Bliss Café in Southborough.Tunbridge Wells, St Mark Advent and Christmas services.Tunbridge Wells, St James Emmaus Course. Adults, Babies and Children’s club.

Intercession during October

Prayer topics for December/January should be sent to Jenny Smith, Flat 1, 52 High Street, Chislehurst. BR7 5AQ. 0208 467 6499 jenny_mary@btinternet.com by 3 November.

1 Nov Allsaintstide: parishes holding special services in this season2 Nov Ightham, St Peter3 Nov The bereaved and our ministry with them4 Nov Bishop’s Staff residential meeting today until Thursday5 Nov Kemsing, St Mary with Woodlands, St Mary6 Nov Kingsdown, St Edmund7 Nov Otford, St Bartholomew8 Nov Platt, St Mary9 Nov Shipbourne, St Giles with Plaxtol10 Nov Remembrance: victims of war, those who gave their lives that others might live, the bereaved, wounded and displaced11 Nov The Royal British Legion and the Earl Haig Appeal12 Nov Shoreham, St Peter & St Paul

13 Nov Stansted, St Mary with Fairseat, Holy Innocents and Vigo14 Nov Wrotham, St George15 Nov Chiddingstone, St Mary with Chiddingstone Causeway, St Luke16 Nov Crockham Hill, Holy Trinity17 Nov Tonbridge Deanery: the Rev Mark Brown (Rural Dean); Canon Stephen Males (Lay Chair): Our relationships with those of other faiths: Interfaith Week begins today18 Nov General Synod meeting this week in London; Bishop James as he leads the next stage of the women bishops debate19 Nov Edenbridge, St Peter & St Paul20 Nov Hever, St Peter; Four Elms, St Paul and Mark Beech, Holy Trinity21 Nov The Roman Catholic Church: CofE

& RC bishops meet today22 Nov Hildenborough, St John the Evangelist23 Nov Initiatives for the homeless: in our Diocese and elsewhere, winter shelters and other projects are being prepared24 Nov Parish administration: all who give their time and skills as staff and volunteers25 Nov Leigh, St Mary26 Nov Bishop’s Council meeting this evening27 Nov Penshurst, St John the Baptist and Fordcombe, St Peter28 Nov Tonbridge Parish: St Peter & St Paul, St Andrew, St Philip & St Saviour29 Nov Tonbridge, St Stephen30 Nov Tudeley, All Saints cum Capel with Five Oak Green

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175 Year Celebration

Remembrance Sunday reminds us all of the sacrifices made by men and women in the UK Armed Forces.

The Royal British Legion has been supporting veterans since WWI and continues to do so today. Help for Heroes is another charity established to help them.

If you would like to make a donation to either charity, please visit the websites below or send a cheque to one of the addresses listed. Thank you for thinking of others. Please pray for the safe return of those still serving. Visit www.helpforheroes.org.uk to donate online. Cheques can be sent to the following address: Donations, Help for Heroes, Unit 6, Aspire Business Centre, Ordnance Road, Tidworth, Hants, SP9 7QD. Or The Royal British Legion, Freepost SN1437, Melksham, SN12 7BR. Visit www.britishlegion.org.uk to make an online donation, or donate by phone by calling 0845 845 1945.

Remembrance Sunday

The Rt Rev Dr Brian Castle, Bishop of Tonbridge, celebrated 175 years of Walthamstow Hall with staff and students at St Nicholas Church, Sevenoaks on Monday 14 October. Bishop Brian, who lives in Sevenoaks, gave a sermon which reflected the character and values of the school.

He said, “It must have been very hard

for those young girls all those years ago to wave goodbye to their parents as they sailed away in large ships. Their parents were missionaries travelling to faraway lands to serve God by working in the service of others. As missionaries they were going on an adventure, but, as in all real adventures, there were risks involved. It may be that they would not return home, but would die overseas. But unless they took a risk, going into unknown and unfamiliar places, they would not be able to achieve their goal of serving others in the way in which they were being called. Many people back home thought they were mad. What would make somebody undertake such a difficult journey, leaving the security and family of their familiar, home country? But these brave people were willing to go against popular opinion for something in which they believed so strongly.

Yet these difficult occasions helped shape the values and form the character of this school, clearly fixing three priorities to which the school has been faithful over its 175 years

1. Serving God by working in the service of others.

2. A willingness to be adventurous and take risks in order to achieve this.

3. A willingness to go against popular opinion for something in which they believed so strongly.

These are fantastic principles, especially at a time when so much of our society encourages us to work hard and earn buckets of money for our own personal use. Those three principles challenge today’s focus on self and being self-centred.”

During the service, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick

(Senior School Head Girl) and Carys Newsome (Junior School head Girl) led some of the prayers, with Mr Ian Philip (Chair of Governors) and Mrs Diane Wood (Head of Junior School) reading from the books of Luke

and Matthew respectively. A prayer for the old girls was read by Caroline Ayers (President of the Old Girls’ Association.)

Head teacher Mrs Jill Milner said, “We

were thrilled when Bishop Brian accepted our invitation to lead our service of thanksgiving. It is a special way to draw to a close what has been a wonderful year commemorating Walthamstow Hall’s 175th Anniversary. The breath-taking Anniversary Concert, splendid Friends’ and Parents’ Anniversary Ball and record-breaking examination and sporting results have been just some of the highlights of our 175th year so far and we are delighted that Bishop Brian Castle was able to lead us in this final event of reflection, thanks and celebration.”

Walthamstow Hall girls raise money for several charities including “Because I am a girl”.

Bishop Brian with Walthamstow Hall Chamber Choir

Wendy Hopwood, Secretary of the Friends of St Paulinus Church, Crayford has retired after 26 years of service to the Friends as she has moved home to Sussex.

A stalwart of the Committee, Wendy has served the charity in a variety of roles including Secretary and Minutes Secretary and has been an important part of the

Friends, which raises funds to help with the preservation of Crayford’s beautiful and historic church.

At the 47th AGM of the Friends, held on Saturday afternoon on 12th October in the Church Hall, the Chair Marilyn Evennett in her Report of the past year paid a tribute to Wendy and her husband Tim, presented her with flowers and gifts and wished them both a happy retirement.

Friends’ Secretary Retires