Forward Move

February 2016

The Parish magazine of St Mary, Kippington

A big birthday to be held on June 12, 2pm

for the Queen’s 90th and our church’s 136

th.

Save the date to celebrate!

Free teas, bouncy castle, historic exhibition of the last 90 years, photo competition, plant stall, and

games. Come in vintage costume.

This magazine is free of charge. Do take a copy.

Our mission …

To be a bridge between God and our community, sharing the love of Jesus and

growing in worship, welcome and witness

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Home groups and prayer opportunities for you to join us Home Groups: If you are interested in joining any of the groups listed below, do please phone the designated leader. You are always assured a warm welcome. Please remember that all our groups meet on a fortnightly basis, unless otherwise indicated.

Tuesdays at 10.00am David Kitley February 9th Other dates to be advised. We are very much enjoying studying “Living Faithfully”, a course by John Pritchard, recently retired Bishop of Oxford. Any new members are very welcome.

Tuesdays at 8.00pm Lisa Cornell February 9th and 23rd.

Any new members are very welcome.

Wednesdays at 10.00am Joan Taylor

February 10th Ash Wednesday service in church 10.00 a.m.

February 24th

We would be very pleased to welcome new members, without commitment.

Hour of Prayer at 7.30pm David Kitley (01732) 452112 Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 1st March.

We invite you to join us to pray for our church family, that we may grow in faith and love and be an increasing blessing to our neighbourhood and our town.

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A toast to the Oasts! Our speaker David Cook had spent his earliest years in a prison camp in Japan. Somehow in 1942, when he was 8 months old, his family were captured by German forces in the Far East and handed over to the Japanese. By the time the war ended he was 4 years old and could only ever remember living in a prison camp. His mother had managed to forage for the most basic food, and they survived – just.

Life continued relatively normally after that, with schooling in this country. The traumas of his early years forgotten, he threw himself as an adult into work, first in this country and then in South Africa. Work was very successful, but lonely. He was driven along, he did not ask by what, until one day he could take no more. Stopping in the house of a friend, he wept every day for a month, and felt like putting an end to his life. A therapist proved to be a ‘God-send’.

Through this therapist he reached a point of self-understanding. Why had he been so driven? It was a mindset he had carried from the prison camp, where his whole purpose had been to keep ‘mother and father happy’. But he saw he did not to have to carry on like that, indeed he could not. He was helped to move to a place of inner integration, of wholeness – helped by his Christian faith.

So David spoke about wholeness on our church weekend away last November; wholeness in the individual, wholeness in our community. We felt encouraged to continue on life’s journey towards this wholeness, and so that this could ‘spill out’ into our neighbourhood, as David put it.

This all took place at The Oasts, a small conference centre, carefully constructed from several oast houses in the depths of countryside near Northiam, E. Sussex. We shared a most special weekend together, some 40 adults and children. There was great support for holding another such weekend as soon as possible!

With reference to this, I am writing to put two matters before you. 1. We invite you to a meeting on March 5, 10am to 12pm in the Centenary

Room. This is for those who came to the weekend and those who would be

interested in coming. We want to review something of what we heard from

David, and his wife Lesley, who shares in this work.

2. We want to take a ‘straw poll’ from our church family to find out who would like

to come next time. Should we go back to the Oasts? Or do we need a larger

venue?

As a temporary measure we are booking the Oasts for a weekend early in 2017; they are fully booked till then! It is a most comfortable venue, great food, in a beautiful setting. Do book it, when we know the dates! With love in Christ,

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LENT STUDY GROUPS Why not try something different this Lent and join an ecumenical group where you will have the opportunity of meeting other Christians from local churches to discuss an interesting package of studies from the Psalms based on the York Course for 2016: ‘THE PSALMS – prayers for today’s church’, written by Bishop Stephen Cottrell? There is an accompanying CD with speakers including the Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin (chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons), Fr Timothy Radcliffe and the Revd John Bell (from the Iona Community, frequently on Thought for the Day) with closing reflections by the Revd Dr Jane Leech. The course will run weekly from Monday 15th February for five weeks, and it will be possible to opt for day time or evening sessions to suit your convenience. For more information please speak to Jean or Stephen Day.

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North West Fellowship Lenten Services

The dates and venues for this year’s Lenten services are as follows: Monday 15 February 2016 St John's United Reformed Church, St John's Road, Sevenoaks, Tuesday 23 February 2016 St Luke's Church, 30 Eardley Road, Sevenoaks, Wednesday 2 March 2016 St Thomas Church, 12 Granville Road, Sevenoaks, Thursday 10 March 2016 The Drive, Methodist Church, The Drive, Sevenoaks, Friday 18 March 2016 St John The Baptist, St John’s Hill/Quaker Hall Lane, Sevenoaks The Lent Lunch starts with a short Church Service at 12.30pm, followed by the lunch at 1.00 pm which will be soup and a roll, cheese, cake and fruit, finishing with tea or coffee.

After the meal, we hope a speaker will be available to give a talk about Demelza House, Hospice for the care of children.

Alan Chart

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The Proposed Glass Door South Entrance

The plans for our proposed glass door at the south entrance of the Church are now taking shape. We have preliminary sketches from our architect which, subject to approval, will enable the work to be tendered out and the door installed in the Autumn.

It is envisaged that there will be a single glass door set inside our wooden doors which will remain in situ and be open during the day allowing access through the glass door.

The overall effect of the glass door should be dramatic in its simplicity, highlighting and complementing the beautiful original Thompson stonework which is at present obscured by curtains.

The power assisted door will be of shatter-proof glass with a thin metal frame and will be easy to open.

It has been suggested that the manifestation in the centre of the door should be the diagonal cross and circle motif from the west windows. This identifies with the Church, being part of the original building and unique to St Mary Kippington whilst maintaining the clean lines of the door.

The door will be welcoming from the outside giving ready access to the Church. It will increase the amount of light in the Church and help heat conservation. In addition it will give enhanced opportunities for wedding photography.

It will in no way adversely affect the character of our beautiful listed Victorian Church and porch but should serve to enhance it.

We shall shortly be considering options as to how to finance the project.

The working party and I are happy to answer any questions about this exciting new feature.

Brenda Ross

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This year Mothering Sunday falls on 6 March and as usual all our collections on that day will be given away to an appropriate charity. For 2016 we have chosen 'Save the Children' who have launched a special 'Child Refugee Crisis Appeal'. Child refugees are frightened and homeless. Some have been separated from their parents and in desperate need of protection. Many have witnessed unspeakable horrors. 'Save the Children' have teams working across Europe and in the countries from which they are fleeing to provide vital aid and support. We are sure you will wish to give generously.

Stephen Day

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Women’s World Day of prayer

A global ecumenical movement of informed prayer and prayerful action.

More than 170 countries participate in an annual day of celebration.

Through this day Christians around the world

Affirm their faith in Jesus

Share their hopes, fears, joys, sorrows, opportunities and needs.

We are encouraged to

Be enriched by the faith of Christians of other cultures

Take up the burdens of other people and pray for them

Become aware of the whole world and no longer live in isolation.

The theme of the service this year is

Receive Children. Receive Me

Prepared by the Christian women of Cuba

The joint ecumenical service in Sevenoaks will be held on

4th March

2.00 pm

At

Vine Evangelical Church

Hitchen Hatch Lane

All are Welcome

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Coffee Rota

Coffee and tea are served after the 10.30am services each Sunday in our church centre, along with drinks and biscuits for the children – and grown-ups! This is a great way for us to get to know one another and to welcome newcomers. It is staffed by volunteers! Please consider helping, telephoning Caireen with your offers.

With grateful thanks from everybody!

NEW BEGINNINGS IN DECEMBER 2015 AND JANUARY 2016

Funeral: December 11 Memorial Service to Joan Gamble Weddings December 19th Luke Reilly and Katie Hughes David Bill and Lucy Rudd Baptisms January 24th Autumn Belle, daughter of Tamlyn and

Christopher Elrin January 31st Ivy Sally, daughter of Sarah and

Jonathan Beddell

Alone with none but thee, my God,

I journey on my way.

What need I fear,

when thou art near O king of night and day?

More safe am I within thy hand

Than if a host did round me stand.

Columba

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EVENTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY 2016

Wednesday 3rd February 10.00am St Mary’s Monkeys in the Parish Centre 12.30pm Lunch Club in the Parish Centre with talk by Michael Bunn on ‘London to Paris by Train.’ Thursday 4th February 10.00am Holy Communion 10.45am Coffee in the Parish Centre Friday 5th February 7.30pm Watoto Choir at the Ship Theatre, Walthamstow Hall (‘Watoto’ is Swahili for ‘children’)

This is a children’s choir from Uganda; please see separate sheet. Well worth attending! Sunday 7th February Sunday next before Lent 8.00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) 10.30am Family Service in the Parish Centre Crèche available. Coffee and tea afterwards 6.30pm Evening Prayer Wednesday 10th February 10.00am Holy Communion (today instead of tomorrow) 10.00am St Mary’s Monkeys in the Parish Centre 10.45am Coffee and tea in the Centenary Room 12.00pm Funeral in Church of Margaret Wilkinson followed by refreshments in

the Centenary Room Thursday 11th February 11.15am Holy Communion at Kippington Nursing Home Sunday 14th February First Sunday of Lent 8.00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) 10.30am Holy Communion (Common Worship) Youth Group, Sunday Club and Crèche Coffee and tea afterwards in the Parish Centre Wednesday 17th February 10.00am St Mary’s Monkeys in the Parish Centre Thursday 18th February 10.00am Holy Communion 10.45am Coffee and tea in the Parish Centre

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Friday 19th February Deadline for articles for the March Issue of ‘Forward Move’ Sunday 21st February Second Sunday of Lent 8.00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) 10.30am Morning Prayer (Book of Common Prayer) Youth Group, Sunday Club and Crèche Coffee and tea afterwards in the Parish Centre 6.00 – 8.00pm Youth Group – ‘Pancakes’ at the Swift’s house Wednesday 24th February 12.30pm Lent Lunch at St Luke’s Church 10.00am St Mary’s Monkeys in the Parish Centre Thursday 25th February 10.00am Holy Communion 10.45am Coffee and tea in the Parish Centre Sunday 28th February Third Sunday of Lent 8.00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) 10.30am Holy Communion (Common Worship) with the baptism of Abigail Rose Leithead Youth Group, Sunday Club and Crèche Coffee and tea afterwards in the Parish Centre 3.30-5.00pm Craft afternoon in the Centre for the children to make gifts and cards for Mothering Sunday (5th March). Fathers/carers welcome, especially with the under 5’s, but strictly NO MUMS! See ad in Forward Move.

CALENDAR FOR MARCH 2016 Tuesday 1st March 7.30pm Monthly Hour of Prayer at the Vicarage Wednesday 2nd March 10.00am St Mary’s Monkeys in the Parish Centre 12.15pm/12.50pm Lunch Club in the Parish Centre with talk by Melanie Gibson-

Barton BsC (Hon) on ‘The Life and Times of Edith Cavell’ Please remember that there will be a Cake Stall this month

12.30pm Lent Lunch at St Thomas’s Thursday 3rd March 10.00am Holy Communion 10.45am Coffee and tea in the Parish Centre Friday 4th March Women’s World Day of Prayer 2.00pm Vine Evangelical Church, Hitchen Hatch Lane

‘Receive Children. Receive Me’ is the theme of the service prepared by Christian women of Cuba. All are welcome

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Sunday 6th March Fourth Sunday of Lent MOTHERING SUNDAY 8.00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) 10.30am Family Service in Church Crèche available. Coffee and tea afterwards 6.30pm Evening Prayer Wednesday 9th March 10.00am St Mary’s Monkeys in the Parish Centre Thursday 10th March 10.00am Holy Communion 10.45am Coffee and tea in the Parish Centre 11,15am Holy Communion at Kippington Nursing Home 12.30pm Lent Lunch at The Drive Methodist Church Sunday 13th March Fifth Sunday in Lent 8.00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) 10.30am Holy Communion (Common Worship) and baptism of Mathilda Lea Youth Group, Sunday Club and Crèche Coffee and tea afterwards in the Parish Centre 12.30pm Christian Aid lunch in the Parish Centre

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LUNCH CLUB

A big thank you from Loaves and Fishes for their Christmas Clementines. At Christmas they had 5 extra boxes to fill besides the normal 40. With the Cake Stall and Donations we had £126.20p to spend. We were able to purchase a net of Clementines and a bottle of squash for all the boxes. The £12.45p we had left we bought tins of soup to be used as necessary. On February 3rd we begin our New Year with lunch and a talk by Michael Bunn ‘London to Paris by Train’ March 2nd Lunch with talk by Melanie-Gibson Barton Bsc [Hon] ‘Life and Times of Edith Cavell’ We welcome new members and visitors. If you would like to join us, please phone me.

Joan Taylor

Chairman

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PLANT SALES

I am not expecting to do a full plant sale this year as we have now moved into a smaller garden in Kippington Road, which will curtail the scale of my plant growing activity. However I have not stopped completely and hope that all my loyal customers will continue to support church funds at occasional smaller buying opportunities after church and perhaps at other times. I have not been able to stop myself putting in some orders for spring and summer and I brought some stock with me. If you have a garden with mature perennials and would like to invite me to do some dividing for you, or with you, or take some of your excess, that would also provide some new stock. Finally, as spring gets underway, my stock will increase and if you have a space or a pot to fill please ask what is available. I will try to keep a list current and available for email or on Sundays from Easter onwards. Happy gardening in 2016!

Janet Eilbeck

We hope that Janet will arrange a Plant Stall at the special Queen’s Birthday event

on 12th June.

David KItley

Inviting all children, dads/carers and others

(NO MUMS)

Sunday

28th February 3.30-5.00pm

in St Mary’s Parish Centre Kippington

Come and get ready for Mothering Sunday (6th March)

Make cards and gifts for that special day.

Then come to the Mothering Sunday Family Service

Sunday 6th March at 10.30am

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TOURISM IN AUSTRALIA

At this time of year many of us are planning our holidays, and some may be considering going ‘Down Under’ for the first time. Here are some Questions (with country of origin in brackets) with officials‘ Answers culled from the Australian Tourism Website: Q: On TV I have never seen it rain in Australia. How do the plants grow ? (UK) A: All plants are imported fully grown and then we just sit around watching them die. Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA) A: Depends how much you’ve been drinking. Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA) A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the Pacific which does not . . . Oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in the Kings Cross area of Sydney. Come naked. Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? (Germany) A: No, we are a peaceful society of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal. Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA) A: Face South then turn round. Contact us when you get here and we’ll give you the rest of the directions. Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK) A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do. Q: I have developed a new product which is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia? (USA) A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather. Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? (UK) A: You are a British politician, right? Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It’s a kind of bear and lives in trees (USA) A: It’s called a Drop Bear because they drop out of Gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking beneath. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before going out walking. Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? (France) A: Only at Christmas. Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys’ Choir schedule? (USA) A: Aus-tr-ia is that quaint little country bordering Ger-ma-ny, which is . . . Oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Dave White

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Readers and Intercessions Table for February 2016

Sunday 7th February Quinquagesima or Sunday before Lent

8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) 2 Corinthians 3:12-end Luke 9:28-30

10.30am Family Service tba and Intercessions The Surgeoner Family Sunday 14th February First Sunday of Lent

8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) Deuteronomy 26:1-3

Luke 4:1-13

10.30am Holy Communion (CW) Deuteronomy 26:1-3 Pam Gillham

Luke 4:1-13 Avril Hunter Intercessions Stephen Day Sunday 21st February Second Sunday of Lent

8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) Psalm 27:1-13 Luke 13:31-end

10.30am Morning Prayer (BCP) Psalm 27:1-13 Caoline Howe

Luke 13:31-end Patrick Howe

Intercessions Ed Daniels Sunday 28th February Third Sunday of Lent

8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) Isaiah 55:1-9 Luke 13:10-17

10.30am Holy Communion Isaiah 55:1-9 Helen Lawson

With Baptism Intercessions Rich Morrow

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St Leonard’s Chapel of the Beauchamp Community,

Newland We were lucky to be part of a private visit to the Beauchamp (pronounced Beecham) Community whilst on holiday. Built in 1864 at the bequest of the wife of the 3rd Earl Beauchamp of Madresfield, it is a community of almshouses and chapel originally for the old and infirm estate workers. Nowadays it houses 75 pensioners around a beautiful quadrangle looking over the wonderful surrounding countryside. The gates of the paddock originally came from Cologne Cathedral and were designed by the same person who made the gates for Buckingham Palace. The interior of the chapel has been painted to within an inch of its life! It is decorated in a style known as ‘spirit fresco’ by the company Clayton and Bell. There are murals of biblical themes – beatitudes and parables. There is also a wonderful oriole window. Originally you could view the services from the infirmary but this is now the Chaplain’s house. Motifs run along all the rafters and all the stained glass windows were made by Clayton and Bell. A marvellous font predates the chapel and the cover is supported by a counterbalance which must weigh a ton. I would not recommend lifting this and peering in! A silver dove with hints of blue paint adhering to it (painted to foil the enemy during WW2) completes the font. We were shown round by the organist and choir master who is an absolute delight with a good sense of humour. The community also has a theological library with over 2,500 books. That’s a lot of bedtime reading for someone. I should mention that there is a waiting list should you wish to relocate to Worcestershire!

Pat Campbell

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PRAYERS TO SHARE

Lighten our Darkness –

As we approached Christmas, looking forward to celebrating the birth of Christ, but surrounded by news of violence, terror and misery, I heard an interview with our Archbishop, Justin Welby. He was asked why he thought God allowed all this trouble in his world. He said he had been walking one morning, praying as he walked, “Where are you in all this? Where are you?” and the answer he received was “in the midst of it.” So we have a picture of our heavenly Father suffering with his people now, and we think of Jesus who knew sorrow and grief and pain and understood suffering. But St John tells us that Jesus said “In the world you will have tribulation, but I have overcome the world. In me you may have peace.” Here is this old Collect from BCP Evening Prayer, said as I remember so many, many times in WW II, but perhaps today also for the darkness of the world-wide persecution of Christians:-

“Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night, for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Writing this in the season of Epiphany I look back once more to Christmas Day, to the Queen, addressing us all, and remembering her father, our King, speaking these words on the same day in 1939. I think they are appropriate for us today:-

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be better than light and safer than a known way.’

The hand of God. Another picture – a heavenly Father reaching out his hand towards his children. “Thy hand, O God, has guided thy flock from age to age.....” This nineteenth century hymn speaks of God’s presence with his people through all the ups and downs of our history, queries for a moment our own commitment but goes on “Not so.....with thy right hand to help us.......”ending with a song of thanksgiving and praise. So we pray in another hymn:-

“Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us o’er the world’s tempestuous sea. Guard us, guide us, keep us feed us, for we have no help but Thee. Yet possessing ever blessing if our God our Father be.” And ending:- Thus provided, pardoned, guided, nothing can our peace destroy.”

I wish you a happy and peaceful year and, as we set out, let us share together this last line of a familiar Celtic blessing:-

“May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”

D.M.A.

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Church Trail

For Christmas Pat gave me a delightful little volume, Welbourne’s Dictionary of Prelates, Parsons, Vergers, Wardens, Sidesmen & Preachers, Sunday-School Teachers, Hermits, Ecclesiastical Flower-arrangers, Fifth Monarchy Men and False Prophets. It is dedicated to King John who interrupted matins in Lincoln Cathedral conducted by Bishop Hugh remarking sardonically that sermons on bad kings bored him. Here are some examples of the delightfully quirky entries:

Lot Wilkins, a Sedgeberrow sidesman forbidden by canon law to marry his deceased wife’s sister, arranged with a solicitor to take her on lease.

The vicar of Tockhole Lancashire customarily aroused sermon-dozers by bawling ‘Wakken oop! Ye’ll ha’ time enuff t’doaze i’ Hell’.

Joseph Dowgill, verger at Eccleshare employing a secret cupboard let into the pulpit pedestal as a fermenting chamber, was only unmasked when a demijohn of elderberry wine exploded whilst the congregation was at prayer.

Aldhem, a Dorset saint preached so long a sermon in Wimborne churchyard that the staff on which he leant took root and established itself as a minor Dark Ages attraction.

Parson Pike of Kirkby Malory was so fat that he was winched in and out of his pulpit from an ingenious pulley devised by a local corn-merchant.

Richard Corbet, Bishop of Norwich, his benedictional hands slipping off a bald-head, called irritably to his chaplain for a sprinkling of dust and, still ruffled, addressed an unusually hairy ordinand as ‘you-behind-the-beard!’

James Mulgrave, rector of Scarborough so displeased the mayor of that town by an exposition of the justification of sinners, that he joined him in the pulpit and caned him.

Aaron Blore, a Tysull verger tickled awake female sermon-dozers with a fox’s tail hung from a fishing rod but rattled the heads of men and youths with an small mallet attached to a window pole. So much for equality!

Ian Campbell

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ST. MARY KIPPINGTON

VICAR

Rev’d Canon David Kitley ORDINAND

Ms Lisa Cornell

CHURCHWARDENS Mrs Avril Hunter Mrs Brenda Ross

TREASURER Mr Chris White

ORGANIST Mr Len Ross

PASTORAL ASSISTANTS Mrs Joan Taylor

Mrs Sharon Fishwick

SUNDAY CLUB (3-11 years) Mrs Jean Day

YOUTH GROUP (11 years plus) Mrs Cathie Kitley

CENTRE MANAGER Mr Graham Roper

OFFICE AT ST. MARY Sue Shepherd

(01732) 451117 office@stmaryssevenoaks.org

FORWARD MOVE forwardmove@hotmail.com

CHURCH WEBSITE

www.stmaryssevenoaks.org

If you no longer wish to receive a paper copy of this magazine, please advise Alan Chart by confirming your postal address. Thank you.