setting the scene for christmas!
Advent at St Mary’s, Elham
A Music Night on Sunday 5th December when you will have the opportunity to sing your favourite Christmas songs and carols. Mince pies and drinks. Free! but donations would be most welcome to help us keep this beautiful church open at the heart of our village.
Benefice Advent Events- THE CHOSEN
1st, 8th, 15th & 22nd December at 6pm by Zoom.
This year, instead of considering specifically Advent themes we will be discussing and studying bible passages linked to episodes from the film series, The Chosen. These depict the life of Jesus through the eyes of those around him. Each evening event will last about an hour. There are eight episodes in the first series, and we will look at two of them each week, starting with episodes 1 and 2 on 1st December. These can be accessed free on desktop, tablet or phone at
(https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen),
Alternatively they are available on YouTube. We suggest that you watch the two episodes as close to the Wednesday evening Zoom meeting for the material to be fresh in your mind.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85960960745?pwd=WUYrZnNwd05GSUN3LzlIaUo2bEtVUT09
christmas fayre
Acrise Church Christmas Fayre will be held in Elham Village Hall
Saturday 4th December 10am – 2pm
There will be Father Christmas, festive refreshments, cards, crafts, cakes, books, gifts, tombola, raffle and much more!
If you have any donations for raffle or tombola, have good quality bric-a-bric, or are willing to help on the day, please ring 01303 844640
We would also be grateful for the following:
Cakes, scones and sausage rolls for the refreshments:
welcome!
To Ava who was baptised at
St Mary & St Ethelburga, Lyminge
& Tilda Joan at St Martin, Acrise on
21st November
Bi-monthly prayer breakfasts are back in elham!
Churches Together in Elham
is once again hosting a prayer meeting in the Methodist Hall, open to all persons of any denomination or none. Bi-monthly, on a Saturday morning, at 8 am, half an hour of prayer followed by breakfast at 8.30 (please let David Whitethread know if you are coming – 840650 or 07961053335).
The next Prayer Breakfast is 4th December. All welcome, come and join us.
canterbury welcomes refugees
Making a House a Home
Could you help to prepare a home for a refugee family?
Below is a list of things we need to furnish a house ready for a family. If you are able to help with any of these things, please email canterburywelcomesrefugees@gmail.com
Duvet (double or larger) x 5
Pillows x 10
Duvet covers x 5
Pillow covers x 10
Under sheets (4-foot mattresses) x 5
Sheets (4-foot mattress) x 5
Double bedspreads x 5
Blankets x 5
Bedside light
A taller bedside table or cupboard (approx 36" tall)
Lampshades x 2
Extension leads
Small bins x 6
Shoe rack x 2
Coat hanger/hooks/ coat stand
Small/low chest of drawers to go under a window x 1
Towel rail/stand for the bathroom x 2
Bath mats x 4
Towels large x 6
Handtowels x 6
Face cloths x 6
Kitchen teatowels x 6
Tablecloths x 2
Oven gloves
Rugs x 2-3
Coffee tables x 2
Comfy chairs x 3
Cushions
Laundry basket x 2
Clothes pegs & peg bag
Net curtains Various sizes
Spring tension curtain rail for net curtains
Long net curtains (70" width x 80" drop) and rail (70") for French doors in kitchen x 1
Kitchen Pots large and small
Saucepans (incl. very large)
Oven ware
Serving dishes
Eating bowls
Plates
Mugs, cups
Cutlery
Coffee pot
Tea pot
Serving spoons
Tin opener
Chopping knife
Chopping boards
Wooden spoons
Bowls, containers
peeler
Kettle
Washing up bowl
Cleaning things
Dustpan and brush set x 2
Door mat x 2
Garden furniture (foldable and/or light as needs to be carried up steps)
Gardening tools
Rotary clothes line
Indoor clothes drying rack
Replacement light bulbs
Pictures for the bedroom walls
Over-door hooks for bathroom and possibly other doors
Bowl and jug set x 5
Ironing board
Pathways to the Past - Celebrating new contemporary art
We were blessed with beautiful sunny weather on Saturday 26th June. This created perfect conditions for the visit by The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, who came to Lyminge to dedicate the new artworks commissioned from local artists for the church and churchyard as part of the Pathways to the Past project.
Bishop Rose's visit began at the village primary school. Originally our plan had been for this part of the visit to be at the school, where the School Fayre was due to be in progress and the children were to show Bishop Rose what they had learned about Anglo-Saxon Lyminge. Although this part of the day was cancelled due to Covid restrictions, Bishop Rose was still able to admire the display that had been put up by the children by the school fence.
Bishop Rose was impressed by the new archaeological display in the north aisle providing stunning reconstructions of Queen Ethelburga’s church. The flower displays made our current church equally a joy to behold as sunshine streamed through the windows.
Before the service of dedication began, Bishop Rose was able to meet the artists: Helen Lindon who has created a modern icon depicting Ethelburga and Eadburg, the two saints of Lyminge, Kate Beaugie who has created a panel recycling pew oak from the church to depict the course of the life-giving Nail Bourne from source to sea, Elaine Tribley who has worked with local groups to create a monument to Ethelburga from Kentish ragstone, and Liz Coleman who masterminded the textile made by members of local group Ethelburga Quilters, which depicts images of metalwork excavated around Lyminge.
It was a truly wonderful afternoon. We were so pleased to be able to share the new art and our beautiful church with Bishop Rose. As a small thank you, we were able to share also a couple of bottles of Queen Ethelburga's Ale, our special festival ale only available at the Coach and Horses in Lyminge. We were delighted too to share the event with district councillors Jenny Hollingsbee and Susan Carey, who have been unstinting with their support for our project since it began, and who have helped at times steer it successfully through some tricky local bureaucracy.
New Prayer Resource for the Benefice
Have you ever walked a prayer labyrinth? It’s a relatively new spiritual discipline for me, but impacted me so deeply that I know it’s one I shall continue to explore.
I have a portable lap-sized labyrinth, which I use regularly,
but nothing beats the experience of connecting with God
through nature by walking a full size labyrinth on soft
dewy grass early in the morning.
So… There is now a prayer labyrinth in Lyminge Rectory garden!
I can provide information and guidance if it’s a new experience for
you (or download the information above!), lead a workshop for a group etc, or you can simply use it yourself. All I ask is that you please ring me, Deb, on 01303 862747 to check that it’s available – not only does this mean I can keep an eye on numbers in these post-lockdown days, but it also gives me a chance to make sure it’s tidy! As a rule, the labyrinth won’t be available on a Friday.
prayer circle
At present we cannot enjoy the company of many of those we would wish to be with. Nor can we all meet together in order to offer and share prayers for those people and situations we know are in need of them.
Each Wednesday morning a few of us join together (by Zoom) to pray for our communities and those in particular need. However, not everyone is comfortable with this form of communication, nor necessarily available at that time.
Yet we can still collectively offer prayers together as a church family albeit from our own homes at any time. If you would be interested in joining a prayer circle, undertaking to offer prayers regularly for those who need them, please do let me know. ( sharonpaine10@aol.com, or 0787 3316492 ).
If you would like prayers offered by this circle for a particular person or situation please also use these contact details. Confidentiality of information will be maintained, and only sufficient information in order to frame a relevant prayer would be needed. Sharon Paine
Notices
There are plenty of ways you can still enjoy worship and fellowship from your own home
On the Internet:
Click on The WORD on Sunday tab above for weekly reflections and prayers from members of our Ministry Team.
Zoom services - see above. Contact Alison Dale (alison-dale@outlook.com) a couple of days before for the link.
Here are some links for videos of services and further resources from Canterbury Diocese and the Church of England
Canterbury Diocese Parish Support For some excellent resources and Apps for prayer
Church of England Daily Prayers
The cathedral will live stream a midday Eucharist and Evensong at 5.30 p.m. weekdays, and at 3.15 p.m. weekends. Please follow this link to access the live stream on YouTube
Follow the Church of England on Twitter
Daily Hope Free phone line: 0800 804 8044
Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full
worship services from the Church of England at the end of a
telephone line. Options available include materials such
as Prayer During the Day and Night Prayer updated daily,
from Common Worship, and a recording of the Church of
England weekly national online service. A section called
Hymn Line offers callers a small selection of hymns, updated daily. An option entitled ‘Hymns We Love’, provides a hymn and reflection and is based on an initiative by the Connections group. The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind.
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Assistance during Isolation
Alison Dale and some of the churchwardens (see below, marked with *) have a list of contacts who can help or provide a service to everyone in the Group, from walking a dog to supplying take-away meals. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more, or wish to make an offer of assistance to others.
ELHAM VALLEY GROUP OF CHURCHES CONTACTS:
Priest-in-Charge Rev’d Jane Weeks: 01303 840219 (Monday to Thursday. Jane is not available on Thursday evenings and all-day Friday) revweeks@hotmail.com
Associate Priest Rev’d Stephen Dougal: 07764775507 stephendougal@btinternet.com
Pastoral Team Leader Paul Jarvis: teeboon19@btinternet.com
*Benefice Administrator: Alison Dale: 07985025381 (Thu-Fri 9-11am)
Churchwardens:
Elham *Peter Swain 01303 840408 - *Graham Ernest-Jones 01303 840645
Acrise*Simon Smith 01303 892162 - Martin Bradley 01303 864289
Denton & Wootton Sue Clough 01303 844324.
Lyminge *Phil Hawken 01303 862151
Stanford *Sara Myers 01303 814183 - *Paul Smallwood 01303 813198
Postling Peter Le Feuvre plefandsem@doctors.org.uk - Chris Reynolds chris.r@thepent.co.uk
Paddlesworth Celia Mosley 01303 893609 - *Lindsey Smith lsmith665@googlemail.com
ways we can continue to worship together in spirit
At 8am every morning, the Ministry Team will be saying morning prayer - do join us in spirit!
Here are some links for further resources from Canterbury Diocese and the Church of England:
https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org
https://canterburydiocese.org/parishsupport/coronavirus/prayer-worship-during-coronavirus/- some excellent resources and Apps for prayer
CHANGING LIVES PRAYER NETWORK
https://www.canterburydiocese.org/strategy/prayer/
A Service of Daily Prayer
https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayer
The Lord's Prayer...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgN0s2xmCuM
Virtual Church of England service
The cathedral will live stream a midday Eucharist and Evensong at 5.30 p.m. weekdays, and at 3.15 p.m. weekends. Please follow this link to access the live stream on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x1i7znmokE
“Where do we go from here?”.
"Almighty God, please guide us into selfless humility that may encourage us all, to be mindful of the plight of others, in the nature and example of Jesus Christ.
To consume and take in accordance with needs, not wants, mindful of the plight and longevity of the planet which you have created, and our impermanent status as tenants.
Aware of the truth that God creates and provides, while we evolve through the discovery and development of that fact.
Loving Lord, you have made it clear to us, in many ways, that we must change and rebuild the way we lead our lives, please be with us, our strength and guide, as we attempt the difficulties of that change.
Lord... In your mercy, hear our prayer.”
Roger Davenport
