St Lawrence, Seal Chart Parish Magazine September 2016

Transcription

1 Services at St Margaret s Underriver during September 2016 In the Church, every Thursday at 08:30, Morning Prayer (said) - CW St Lawrence, Seal Chart Parish Magazine September 2016 Sunday 4 Sept 11:15 All Age Family Service Sunday 11 Sept 08:00 Holy Communion BCP 18:00 Evensong BCP Sunday 18 Sept 11:15 Short Family Communion CW Sunday 25 Sept 11:15 Parish Communion CW Sunday 2 Oct 11:15 Harvest Festival ST LAWRENCE CHURCH AND VILLAGE CONTACTS Vicar - Revd Carol Kitchener Reader - St Lawrence Church - Mrs Gretel Wakeham Admin Assistant - Tim Pearce admin@stlawrencesealchart.com Parish Website - Churchwardens Ron Drury Rob Otto PCC Hon Secretary John Morris PCC Hon Treasurer Andy Rowell Electoral Roll Clive McLintock Covenant & Envelopes Rob Otto Organist Alex Trigg Choir Director John Morris Bellringers Hon Secretary Peter Wharton Sevenoaks Deanery Synod Ron Drury Peter Wharton Sunday School Hilary Darque Child Protection Rep Kate Clark Church Flowers Sheila Jackson St Lawrence CE Primary School Headteacher Alison Saunders Chairman of Governors Paul Martin Clerk to the Governors Valerie Maunder St Lawrence Pre-School??? 1 st St Lawrence Brownies Janet Boswell S oaks District Councillors Julia Thornton Roderick Hogarth Seal Parish Council Chairman Edward Oatley Vice-Chairman Mike Harvey Clerk Lorna Talbot Ward Councillors Peter Granville Tony Bulleid St Lawrence Village Hall Management Committee Chairman Peter Wharton Secretary Janice Brooker Treasurer Andy Smaggasgale Bookings Secretary Andy Smaggasgale Cricket Club Secretary Robin Webster Badm ton Club Contact Peter Wharton Archery Club Secretary Mike Davies Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators Stone Street Contact Janice Brooker Seal Chart Contact Nicola Mitchell Copy for the next issue should be sent, preferably by , to the editor, Brian Sutton ( ) at manofkent99@yahoo.com to arrive by 08:00 on Wednesday 14 September 2016 The next issue of the Parish Magazine will be in Church on Sunday 25 September 2016 Edited and Typeset by Brian Sutton, 50 The Crescent, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 3QY ( ) Printed by Highland Printers, Church Farm, Seal, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0AN ( ) Vicar The Revd Carol Kitchener St Lawrence Vicarage Stone Street Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0LQ Ron Drury Garden Cottage, Raspit Hill Ivy Hatch Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0PE Church Wardens Reader Mrs Gretel Wakeham The White House Bitchet Green Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0NA Rob Otto 23 Hillingdon Avenue Sevenoaks Kent TN13 3RB

2 Our Vicar s Page From the 1 st August we have become a joint benefice, with our new status came a new name, we are now the Parish of St Lawrence Seal Chart with St Margaret Underriver. It would have been wonderful to announce this in the August magazines, but the notice came out after the printing dates had passed. Our two churches have worked closely together for more than 20 years sharing the same vicar, or the same priest-in-charge. Over the years there have been many joint services on fifth Sundays and during Holy Week, as well as joint All-Souls Services each autumn. There have been lots of Garden Parties over the years alternating between lovely gardens in the two parishes. There have been shared concerts and social events and the annual Harvest Suppers and Harvest Lunches have had people from both parishes enjoying each others company. The new Joint Benefice makes in Law all that has been made by good will, friendship and hospitality through the years. Our two churches will continue to have their own churchwardens and PCCs and the finances of the two churches will continue to be separate. Each church will still be in a position to make their own decisions about buildings, worship and social events. Through the joint Standing Committee, which will meet several times a year, plans will be made about things to be shared and the strengths of each of the churches will be employed to the advantage of the other church. People talk about the past as being like another country, well that also applies to the future, that too is another country, which is still to be explored an adventure awaits. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of the process of making two churches into a single Joint Benefice. Thank you to all of the people who have prayed and made plans over the last two years. Bishop James was in the parishes in June and he would like to be part of an event to celebrate our new Joint Benefice and once we have been given a date for our celebration I will let you know. For the Children Yours in the love of Christ 2 11

3 8 September - The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary In both eastern and western churches, Mary has always been held as pre-eminent among all the saints. The unique, extraordinary privilege of being the mother of the One who was both God and Man, makes her worthy of special honour. Thomas Aquinas believed she was due hyperdulia, or a veneration that exceeds that of other saints, but is at the same time infinitely below the adoration, or latria, due to God alone. The gospels of Matthew and Luke give Mary most mention. Luke even tells the story of Jesus infancy from Mary s point of view. Her Song, or Magnificat appears in Luke 1: The virginal conception of Christ is clearly stated in the gospels. But after Jesus birth, Mary fades quietly into the background. During Jesus public life, she is mentioned only occasionally, as at the wedding at Cana. She reappears at the foot of the Cross (John s Gospel), and is given into John s care. In the early chapters of Acts, Mary is with the Apostles, and received the Holy Spirit along with them on Whitsunday. But her role was not the active one of teaching and preaching. Mary s significance grew with the centuries. By the fifth century she was called Theotokos, The Mother of God, and from the seventh century onwards, she was given four festivals: the Presentation in the Temple (2 February), the Annunciation (25 March), the Assumption (15 August) and her Nativity (8 September). Marian devotion has played an enormous role in the church down the years. Mary has been the object of countless prayers, accredited with performing many miracles, and the subject of thousands of artistic endeavours. She has had hundreds of chapels or parish churches named after her. During the Reformation many images of Mary were destroyed. The Second Vatican Council 1962 made an extended statement on her, stressing her complete dependence on her Son, and regarding her as a model of the Church. Principal Marian shrines of today include Lourdes (France), Fatima (Portugal), Walsingham (England), Loreto (Italy), Czesochowa (Poland) and Guadalupe (Mexico). Help The holiday season is almost over but memories of the summer must still be fresh in minds, both young and old. Did you have a good time? Was there something special in your experience? How about sharing that something with other readers. 10 ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT BEWL WATER DRAGON BOAT RACE 2016 St Lawrence's has entered a team in the 2016 Bewl Water Dragon Boat Festival. The event takes place on Saturday 10 September 2016 and should be a fun day out for rowers and supporters. A team of 20 volunteers from our church and wider community and friends, are raising funds for charities supported by the church. The prime beneficiaries will be : DEMELZA HOUSE provides the best care and support for seriously ill babies, children, young people and their families, across East Sussex, Kent and South East London. THE BRIDGE TRUST supporting single homeless people in West Kent since SEVENOAKS AREA YOUTH TRUST A youth work charity based in Sevenoaks, Kent, with the aim of training, employing and supporting detached Christian youth workers in Sevenoaks and its surrounding areas. The dragon boat races take place throughout the day, starting at 10 am, and finishing at around 4 pm with the 10 boat grand final. Just come down to the water's edge and watch all the colourful action. Teams of 16 paddlers, plus a drummer and a helm will be competing for the annual trophy in a series of time trials over the 250 metre course. There will also be stalls, and there's no shortage of food and drink! Just head to Bewl Water (TN3 8JH) on 10th September Standard Bewl Water entry fee of 2 per car (for up to 5 people) applies. IT s NOT TOO LATE - PLEASE : If you can give any sum to these amazing charities, either visit or contact our Church Treasurer, Andy Rowell on to donate by cheque or bank transfer. On behalf of our charities and people who benefit from their amazing work Thank you for your donation. 3

4 Bells Ringing News from the Tower. It is a tradition for bell ringers from across the country to ask permission to ring another tower s bells. This applies to most parish churches across the land but not, I hasten to add, for those of St Pauls Cathedral, or Westminster Abbey etc. We have several such requests from other bands usually in the Kent and Home Counties. Before our bells were re-hung in 2013, the number of those who came to ring our bells dwindled as they we were beginning to have a reputation for being rather difficult to ring. Since they were rehung and the initial teething problems were resolved we have had in the last three years, a steady stream of ringers. To be exact 17 bands have rung our bells signalling the fact that they have become much more pleasant to ring. The most recent visitor to the tower was Sheila Phyall with a band from Smarden who wished to ring a quarter peal in commemoration of Private Stephen Edward Phyall M.M who died 100 years ago to the day on 3 rd July 1916 in the Battle of the Somme. Stephen was born in October 1896, one of eight children born to Henry and Olive Phyall. He had two older brothers, two younger brothers and three younger sisters, one of them being Hannah, Sheila s dad's mother, and therefore, her grandmother. Private Phyall enlisted in the 6th Bn. Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment on 27th August 1914 at Tonbridge. He died on 3rd July 1916 the third day of the Battle of the Somme. His name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, which means he has no known grave. As we know, he is also commemorated at St. Lawrence Church and the Seal Chart War Memorial. He was awarded the Military Medal (hence the initials M.M. after his name). The Military Medal is 'an award for gallantry and devotion to duty when under fire in battle on land'. Interestingly the address given for Henry and Olive Phyall, from at least 1937 onwards, is New Cottages, Seal Chart. New Cottages is also the address Sheila has for Hannah (her grandmother) at the time she was married to Joseph Bryer until her death in Joseph continued to live at New Cottages, probably up to about One of Joseph s sons still lives at Fernshaw Cottage in Seal Chart. On Sunday 3 rd of July Sheila and the band rang 1296 changes lasting about 45 minutes of Cambridge Surprise Minor. The band comprised of: - Bell Treble Peter Sims Bell 4 David Manger Bell 2 Sheila Phyall Bell 5 Richard Bourne Bell 3 Pam Manger Tenor Tim Munt (Conductor) HARVEST SUPPER IN ST LAWRENCE VILLAGE HALL ON SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER AT TICKETS ADULTS 12 CHILDREN 6 FROM CAROL LAMBERT COURSE MEAL - QUIZ - ENTERTAINMENT Holy Land without Christians could become just a museum tour Without a Palestinian Christian community, the Holy Land will become a tour of museums. That was Fr Jamal Khader's stark prediction at the recent annual lecture of UK Christian charity Embrace the Middle East. Fr Jamal, a Roman Catholic priest and dean of the faculty of arts, professor of theology and chair of the department of religious studies at Bethlehem University, said: We have survived 2,000 years and want to continue to bear witness to our faith in the land chosen by God for our salvation. Our presence is important, not only for historical reasons but for what we stand for: justice, peace and reconciliation in a land torn by war, hatred and violence. Speaking at St James's Piccadilly in London, Fr Jamal outlined the historic UK- Palestine relationship over the past century, focusing in particular on Britain s historic and moral responsibilities towards Palestine, and the need for a just peace in the region. He praised the 'sincere solidarity' of churches in the UK who have expressed support for Palestinian Christians. Golf I play Second World War golf, one clergyman confessed to another. You know out in 39 and back in

5 Children in Distress Romania Sue and Harry Ward, retired GP Robin Dunn and his wife Anna are walking the 96 miles of the West Highland Way this September to raise money for Children in Distress, Romania. Robin and Harry are Trustees of this charity which started as a hospice movement for children with HIV left in orphanages after the fall of the communist regime. We are all involved in their work in Romania. The Charity has developed into an organisation which works with the local charities Copii in Difficultate and Positive Plus (for young adult survivors with HIV) to provide a range of residential and community services on several sites for children with special needs including terminal illness, severe physical and learning difficulties, autism and school refusal. The charities work with government services in these fields. We hope you can support this worthy cause. More information about the Charity, the walk and donating can be found on the sites below. Alternatively, please contact us directly on The Charity web site can be found at The donation site can be found at A First for Mark I hope that most will have seen our local paper in which is recorded the marvellous achievement of Mark Sheridan when he became the first British, and only the fourth ever, person to swim the 68 km cold waters of Lake Geneva. Mark, who has swum the English Channel twice, completed this marathon swim in 33 hours, 6 minutes and 51 seconds. From the Registers On Sunday 14 August we celebrated the baptism of Max Theodore Thompson, infant son of Erin and Howard Thompson, who were married at St Lawrence s in 2013 and who now live in London. We extend a very warm welcome to Max and trust that he will grow in the fellowship and spirit of our Lord. Further Significant Bell Ringing Occasions. Stan Jenner s 60 th Anniversary Peal. The Smarden Band Sheila Phyall is second from the left. Stan Jenner s band rang at St Lawrence s to celebrate the 60 th anniversary of his first peal also at St Lawrence s. Stan is revered in the Tonbridge ringing circles as a peal composer, conductor and miracle memory man. If anybody has rung a peal with Stan he can probably tell you when, what, where, and which bell you rang. He might also remind you of what you had for lunch. As a previous Tower Captain at Tonbridge and Master of The Cumberland Youths he clearly has very high standards. Even so, he was a willing helper on District Training Days. It is hard to imagine, therefore, that aged around 12 he reluctantly agreed to give ringing a go to appease his father! Although living in Edenbridge, Stan learned bell handling at Tunbridge Wells under the guidance of Ernie Ladd. Stan obviously took to ringing because on 16 July 1955, aged 14, he rang his 1st peal at St Lawrence s Seal Chart. His 2nd peal followed swiftly on 14 August that same year at East Peckham. Those bells might dissuade most ringers but not Stan. (At that time these two towers had a reputation of being two of the most difficult). He would regularly cycle from Judd to arrange ringing at East Peckham. By 1958 Stan was already composing peals, but his peal ringing really took off when Phil and Lucille Corby moved into the Tonbridge District around 1958/59 and established the 3rd Saturday peal band. A variation of the 3rd Saturday peal band still exists, one of the variations being that they meet on any day of the month that suits them! And so it was that Stan assembled a band at Seal Chart on the sunny 3rd Saturday morning of July to attempt his peal number 1548 to mark the 60th anniversary of his first peal. He had commented some years before this attempt I hope the bells at Seal Chart are rehung in time for the 60 th anniversary of my first peal! a very prophetic remark. Peter to be continued 8 5

6 Services and Events at The Church of St Lawrence Seal Chart during September 2016 Every Tuesday at 08:30, in the Church Morning Prayer (said) (CW) Sunday 4 Sept 15th Sunday after Trinity 08:00 Holy Communion BCP Philemon 1-21 Luke 14: :45 All Age Family Service Luke 14: Thursday 8 Sept Prayer Time (Lasts about an hour, all are welcome) 14:00 at The White House, Bitchet Green Sunday 11 Sept 16th Sunday after Trinity 09:45 Family Communion CW 1 Timothy 1: Luke 15: 1-10 Sunday 18 Sept 17th Sunday after Trinity 09:45 Family Communion CW 1 Timothy 2: 1-7 Luke 16: 1-13 Thursday 22 Sept Prayer Time (Lasts about an hour, all are welcome) 10:00 at 50 The Crescent, Sevenoaks Sunday 25 Sept 18th Sunday after Trinity 09:45 Matins BCP 1 Timothy 6: 6-19 Luke 16: 19-end Sunday 2 Oct 19th Sunday after Trinity - Harvest Festival 08:00 Holy Communion BCP Psalm 100 John 6: :45 Harvest Festival Psalm 100 Sunday 20 Nov Christ the King This will be Carol s last Sunday with us before she retires. More details to follow! Church Flowers Sunday 4 Sept Chrisne Hughes Sunday 11 Sept Hilary Denby-Jones Sunday 18 Sept Hilary Denby-Jones Sunday 25 Sept Annette Mackellar Sunday 2 Oct Annette Mackellar Audrey Ellis-Gibbons & Hilary Denby-Jones Children meet promptly at 09:45 in the School Hall on the dates below They will rejoin their parents in the church towards the end of the service. All children aged 3 and upwards are welcome For further information re Messy Church contact Carol on and re Sunday School contact Hilary on Sept MESSY CHURCH [In the Church at 15:15] 18 Sept SUNDAY SCHOOL To be arranged Hilary and Lesley 16 Oct SUNDAY SCHOOL To be arranged Lesley & Penny 6 Nov SUNDAY SCHOOL Remembrance Sunday Hilary, Sam & Sally 18 Nov MESSY CHURCH [In the Church at 15:15] 11 Dec SUNDAY SCHOOL Advent Lyn & Sally 18 Dec Carol Service [In the Church at 18:00] 24 Dec Christingle [In the Church at 17:30] 25 Dec Christmas Day Service [In the Church at 09:45] 15 Jan SUNDAY SCHOOL Relying on Jesus Sam & Lesley Prayer Time Your Prayers are asked for: those young people awaiting uni acceptance; those who did not get the grades they expected; children who are going on to secondary schools; teachers preparing for the new school year. 6 7