Welcome & Congratulations!
To: Charlie who was baptised at St Mary & St Ethelburga, Lyminge on Sunday 8th May;
and Eliza and Wyatt who were married at St Martin, Acrise on Monday 9th May
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 11th June. All welcome, come and join us.
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
