Since last April the diocesan Mission and Community

Engagement work has included a project on dementia delivered by Julia Burton-Jones and supported by Henry Smith Surplus of the Poor Clergy Fund. The aim of the project is to develop chaplaincy to support people with dementia and their families. We are doing this through working with The Gift of Years, the home of Anna Chaplaincy.

After an initial scoping exercise from May to September 2015, which indicated broad support in the Diocese for introducing Anna Chaplaincy, two events were offered for those keen to explore this new model of ministry. Over the two events (on 23 February in Istead Rise and 7 April in Rochester) 80 people from 40 parishes across the Diocese came to meet Debbie Thrower and Alex Burn from The Gift of Years to learn about Anna Chaplaincy.

Comments from those who attended included:

‘An excellent day – informative, enriching, encouraging.’‘Wide range of examples, ideas, experiences shared.’ ‘Inspirational speakers and input.’‘Has given me a greater understanding of dementia and a way forward to engage in our larger community. A very informative day.’‘It was good to meet so many committed and caring people.’

‘I found it inspiring that the importance of support for the

elderly and those with dementia is being recognised and

ministered to in such a brilliant way!’

Those who attended were invited to express an interest in becoming an Anna Chaplain or an Anna Friend in the Diocese. Thirty one people have indicated they wish to explore a sense of calling and there is still time to join the first group. Over the coming months a pathway towards discerning, resourcing and supporting these new ministry roles will be developed with the aim of establishing a group of Anna Friends and Anna Chaplains in post and active in ministry by early 2017.

May 2016

ochesterLink

Copy deadline for the June issue of Rochester Link is 4pm on 13 May 2016. Copy to: linknews@rochester.anglican.org

Canon Missioner retires

see pages 6 and 7

By Julia Burton-Jones

Diocesan Project on Dementia

For more information, email Julia Burton-Jones at Julia.Burton-Jones@rochester.anglican.org

Rochester Cathedral Chorister to join Aled Jones in St Paul’s Cathedral Temi Lasekan (12) from the

Rochester Cathedral Choir will be joining other cathedral choristers from around the UK to boost St Paul’s Cathedral choir in the first concert designed to kick-start a £10m fund to safeguard the 1,400 year-old cherished tradition of music making.

The choristers will travel to London for the concert on 27 April, to be hosted by Aled Jones and Alexander Armstrong. Temi said,

“I am very excited to be going to London for this concert.”

Choristers are rehearsing pieces such as Handel’s Zadok the Priest composed for King George II in 1727, Sir Hubert Parry’s anthem of 1902 I was Glad, and a new

work specially composed by the 39-year-old former cathedral chorister Philip Stopford.

The concert is being organised by the Friends of Cathedral Music (FCM) as part of several nation-wide events to commemorate the 60th year of its founding in St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, London, in 1956. It also marks the launch of FCM’s Diamond Fund for Choristers which will be announcing its first grant at the concert.

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What’s On May 2016 WALDERSLADE1 May Philippa Hanna, one of the UK’s most inspiring songwriters will be performing at the Arts Cafe, St William’s Church, Walderslade Village. Doors open from 6:00pm for a 6:30pm start, finishing at 8:00pm. Entrance is free but a pay what you want scheme is in place.

SEVENOAKSEardley Road, Sevenoaks, Lunchtime Recitals, Lasting 30 minutes. Every Wednesday at 12:30pm. Please join us – admission free. Refreshments available from 12 noonMAY4 Gabrielle Lewis – Organ11 Victoria Edge – Soprano, Greg Gomberg – Classical guitar18 Sue Casson – Singer/Songwriter25 Helena Booer – Soprano, Sandra Booer - PianoFor future organ recitals, see: www.organrecitals.com

ISTEAD RISE7 May Don’t Burst the Bubble event at St Barnabas Church, Istead Rise from 9:30am to 3:30pm. Cost £5 per person which includes lunch. This day is a mini conference exploring the nature and nurture of children’s spirituality. Mary Hawes is the keynote speaker and there will also be a taster session on Godly Play. To book your place please contact Sarah Cabella, 01634 560024.

SEVENOAKS7 May Choral concert, Écoutez!, by Temenos Chamber Choir, with French Chansons including Jannequin’s La Guerre, Poulenc’s Soir de Neige, and a Mass by Guerrero. Instrumental items for Flute and Piano at 7:30pm at St Luke’s Church, Eardley Road. Tickets £10 (£5 students) from Sevenoaks Bookshop, or by phone from 01959 523765

WALDERSLADE8 May World leading scholar, Prof Robin Gill will be speaking on Health and Christian Ethics at the Public Lecture Series, St William’s Church, Walderslade Village. Doors open from 6:00pm for a 6:30pm start, finishing at 8:00pm. Entrance is free but a pay what you want scheme is in place.

BECKENHAM13 May Concert of music by the Elm Singers at 7:30pm at St. Barnabas, Oakhill Road / Perth Road, Beckenham, BR3 6PP – concert of music by the Elm Singers, on the theme of “The merry month of May”. With Laura Corbin (flute). More from John Webber on (020) 8650 9164. Admission free; retiring collection.

MEOPHAM13 May Concert for Christian Aid with Meopham Brass, Meopham Community Choir and Guests at 7:30pm at St John’s Church, Wrotham Road (A227), Meopham. Tickets £10 tel: 01474 813106 or e-mail admin@stjohnsmeopham.co.uk. Supporting a Christian Aid project providing reproductive healthcare for women and girls in Ethiopia.

ERITH13-15 May Art Exhibition of paintings, photographs, craftwork and sculpture. An artistic celebration of Erith at Christ Church, Victoria Road, Erith, DA8 3AN. Friday 12:00pm-5:00pm, Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm. For more info: email focce1874@aol.com or visit www.christchurcherith.org.uk

EDENBRIDGE14 May Three Counties Community Choir Festival at 7:15pm at Edenbridge Parish Church, St Peter & St Paul TN8 5BD. Fund-raising concert. Proceeds to Breast Cancer Now. Entry by donation at the door.

MEOPHAM14 May Sponsored walk for women and girls in Ethiopia. 14 mile walk starts 9:00am, 6 mile walk starts 2:00pm. For further information and entry forms, please contact Peter and Jill Kettle on 01474 813632, e-mail twokettles@hotmail.co.uk, or visit our website: www.cadswalk.co.uk

STROOD14 May Book Sale at St Nicholas Church, High Street, Strood from 10:00am to 12:00pm. All books 50p

BROMLEY15 May at 3:00pm. Free Sunday afternoon concert in St Mary’s Church, College Road, Bromley BR1 3QG. Family-friendly music played by Eleanor Tagart (piano), Helen Twomey (violin), Dan Burrows (cello) and Aidan Twomey (bassoon). Further information on 020 8464 1239.

SEVENOAKS15 May Affirming Catholicism Rochester meeting at 7:30pm. St. Luke’s church, Eardley Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 1XT. The Rev Stephen Sealy talks on “The life and faith of Sir John Betjeman.” All are very welcome.

ROCHESTER16 and 20 May Dementia Friends sessions will be held in St Peter’s Parish Centre on Monday from 1:30pm to 2:30pm and on Friday from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. Learn more about what it is like to live with dementia and turn that understanding into action. To register on one of the session go to www.dementiafriends.org.uk or contact John Portman on johnportman@talktalk.net or 07989 783447

ROCHESTER20 May Dementia Friendly Rochester Café from 2:00pm to 4:00pm in St Peter’s Parish Centre, Delce Road, Rochester ME1 2EH. Cake and Refreshments, dementia friendly activities, information and advice. No need to book, just turn up on the day.

BROMLEY21 May Plant Sale and Coffee Morning at 11:00am at St Mary’s Church Hall, College Road, Bromley BR1 3QG. Organised by St Mary’s Mothers’ Union to raise money for Mothers’ Union projects in UK and abroad. Admission 50p includes first cup of coffee! Further information on 020 8464 1239.

FAWKHAM & HARTLEY 21 May, May Fair at the Parish of Fawkham & Hartley from 12noon to 4:00pm, at St Mary’s Church Meadow, Fawkham Road, Fawkham, DA3 8EQ.The event will feature a variety of stalls and activities, plus a fun dog show, classic car display and live music courtesy of the band, ‘Jazz Force’ and choir, ‘Local Vocals.’ Win a Bluewater voucher worth £200. A contribution of £2 upwards per vehicle will gain entrance to ample car parking.

GILLINGHAM21 May An evening with Marilyn Baker, a gifted Christian song writer and singer and Tracy Williamson at 7:00pm at Gillingham Parish Church. Tickets £5 to include refreshments can be obtained from Hilda 01634 932135 or The Parish Office 01634 853459 gillinghamparishchurch@gmail.com

PEMBURY21 May ‘Music for the Bard’ - Celebrating 400 years of Shakespeare Cantiaci Vocal Ensemble plus Harpist Anna Wynne and Reader Alison Sandford MacKenzie at 7:30pm at St Peter’s Upper Church, Pembury. Tickets: £10 from info@cantiaci.org.uk or by calling 07775 624048 www.cantiaci.org.uk

ASH27 May The Church of St Peter and St Paul, TN15 7HD at 8:00pm. Celebrating Shakespeare with Words and Music. Organised by Friends of Ash Church. Tickets £8 on the door.

BELVEDERE27 May St Augustine Belvedere Patronal Festival in the Centenary Year. Sung Concelebrated Mass at 7:30pm. Principal Celebrant & Preacher: The Right Rev Norman Banks, Bishop of Richborough. All welcome

WATERINGBURY28 May Annual Plant Sale at The Church of St John the Baptist, Wateringbury from 10:00am to 4:00pm. It is an ideal occasion to purchase plants for your flower beds, pots and vegetable gardens, whilst at the same time raising much needed money for our beautiful church.

WROTHAM28-30 May Flower Festival from 10:30am to 4:30pm at St George’s Church, Wrotham TN15 7AH

What’s onClaire Boxall joins the Diocese

Claire Boxall joined the diocesan staff in March as

Strategic Framework Man-ager. This part-time role will help shape the first diocesan strategic framework, working alongside parishes, dean-eries, archdeaconries, the Bishop’s Council, Diocesan Synod and outside partners.

As project manager, Claire will enable those at the cen-tre to listen to what it is that people think are the most important things for the Diocese to focus on in the future. From this resources could be utilised in a much more productive way. Claire said, “I am here to manage

the strategic framework process, which is going to be a conversation across the Diocese. This will involve potential stakeholders, inter-ested parties and all those who make up the Anglican Church in this part of North Kent and the London Bor-oughs of Bromley and Bexley and should help determine the diocesan focus going forward.”

Claire has many years of experience working with local churches as an active member of the Methodist circuit, and voluntary work with many groups including a year with VSO in India. Most recently she has been PR and Communications Manag-er at Golding Homes housing association. Claire is pas-sionate about social justice, baking, Shakespeare’s plays and Bollywood films.

She said “I am incredibly excited to have joined the Diocese in this role, and look forward to conversations about what God is doing with and through us”.

Us. The new name for USPGRegistered charity number 234518

This Harvest, help Us to feed the bodies and minds of children from tea plantation communities in Sri Lanka.

Worship resources and more info at www.weareUs.org.uk/harvest or call 020 7921 2200.

“The church is called to be with the people. We help young people to study and try to improve nutrition. God is on the side of the vulnerable.” Fr Lakshman Daniel, Church of Ceylon

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Godparents’ Sunday

This May is rich in festival occasions. The first one is a new festival — on

Sunday, 1 May, which has been designated “Godparents’ Sunday”.

Are you a godchild? Are you a godparent? If you have brought a child for baptism, have you pondered long and hard over whom to ask to be a godparent — and how did you make your choice of that person? How did they respond? What has happened since? Recent research undertaken in connection with the Church of England’s Christenings Project suggested that 91% of parents

gave” having godparents as a reason for wanting to have their child baptised at a christening”. Whatever else is important within the occasion of a baptism, the creation of a bond between a child and their godparents is seen as very important.

I hope that many churches will take the opportunity to celebrate this new festival of Godparents’ Sunday.

To be a godparent is a huge privilege and one which we will seek to fulfil in whatever way is possible, sometimes with more success and sometimes with less. I have 6 godchildren — Dominique, Daniel, Alastair, Edward,

Matthew and Christopher — and I pray for each of them across each week of the year. They and I each live far from where we first met, but I can still pray for them.

Likewise, I have prayed for my godparents, Tom, Ken and Jean, and I have been very grateful for the bonds which I have had with them, which, in Tom’s case, extended up to his death at the age of 95.

Do take the occasion of this festival to celebrate the stories which you have of being a godchild or a godparent and continue to enrich that relationship with your prayers.

This month also hosts 3 other major festivals from the Christian calendar: — Ascension Day (Thursday, 5 May) — the ascension of Jesus into heaven and eternal glory, Pentecost/Whitsun (Sunday, 15 May) — the coming of the Holy Spirit in power on the first Christians of the Early Church, and Trinity Sunday (Sunday, 22 May) — a celebration of the reality and revelation of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In their own different ways, they all speak to us of the supernatural character of Christian faith and of existence. Life is more than material, fuller than the physical and far greater that what is familiar and focussed on what lies within our grasp.

To enter on the journey of Christian faith is to look out through different eyes and to see what lies before and beyond our horizons.

In a culture which has tended to look at “religion” as what “others” do (and, for some, those “others” can be viewed as even “weird” or “extreme” just for having religious faith), it can be a challenge and privilege to help people to enter the world of faith and see things afresh through new eyes.

In their very title, “godparents” hold before their godchild a reminder of the “God” dimension of life as normal. In their praying, they constantly keep their godchild open to the love and presence of God. In becoming trusted and enduring friends, they may come to play a special part in assisting and accompanying their godchild on that amazing journey of faith and vision through life to eternity.

by The Ven Clive Mansell, Archdeacon of Tonbridge

Bishop James’ DiaryMay 2016 Sunday 1 All Day Speldhurst Parish Weekend – Elvenden Monday 2 All Day Annual Leaveto Wednesday 4 Thursday 5 All Day Deanery Visit – Rochester to Sunday 15 Deanery

Thursday 5 8:00pm Confirmation – Lamberhurst

Sunday 8 6:30pm Confirmation – St Philip and St James, ChathamTuesday 10 All Day Bishops Staff Meeting – RochesterWednesday 11 All Day Learning Community Discernment Interviews – ManchesterThursday 12 3:00pm College of Canons – Rochester

Sunday 15 6:30pm Confirmation – Dartford Deanery

Monday 16 9:30am Confirmation – Holy Trinity School, Dartford 3:30pm Prison Year Meeting – LondonTuesday 17 7:30pm Kent Workplace Mission AGM – LarkfieldWednesday 18 6:00pm Mid Ministry Programme – St Cuthman’s

Thursday 19 7:00pm CHAS Anniversary – Southwark

Friday 20 9:30am Housing Justice Board Meeting – London 3:00pm Licensing of Elizabeth Chapman – ellenor Hospice

Saturday 21 10:00am Kondoa Partnership Group training event – Chatham 2:30pm Licensing of Lay Ministers – RochesterSunday 22 10:30am St Nicolas – Strood

Monday 23 All Day House of Bishops - Yorkand Tuesday 24

Wednesday 25 11:30am Training Incumbents Meeting - Rochester 4:00pm Senior Leadership Development Group - LondonThursday 26 All Day Senior Leadership Development Group - LondonSunday 29 10:00am Christ the King – Chatham

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Celebrations at Tonbridge Parish Church After 4 months of extensive restoration and refurbishment, St Peter & St Paul’s Church dedicates its fresh, improved building to God and the community on Sunday 8 May at 10am.

St George’s Church, Wrotham has received

initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a major restoration project.

The funding should help to ensure that the fine 13th Century, Grade l listed building is preserved for future generations to enjoy. The plans involve carrying out essential conservation work, including the replacement of failing roof tiling and valley gutters, and repairs to stonework. It is hoped that the work will begin early in 2017.

HLF have given £19,600 which will enable plans to be advanced for expenditure of over £160,000 through a second round application later this year. New guides, display boards and website access points are to be provided, giving considerably improved information concerning the history of the church and points of interest. St George’s School and the local History Society will be involved in preparing the new materials, which will greatly add to the experience of those visiting this magnificent medieval church.

The Rector, the Rev Edward Wright, said “We’re very pleased to have received this support for the conservation work which will help secure the future of this

wonderful building. The church houses a living, worshipping community, and hosts many activities that form an important part of our village community life, such as weekly Charity Coffee Mornings, Arts, Music and Flower Festivals, and Concerts. ”

The church is the second built on the site, the first dating back to the middle of the 10th Century, and being included in the Doomsday Book. It is one of

a small group of large archiepiscopal churches placed near a major ‘palace’ on the main road across Kent. It was also a significant stop on the Pilgrims Way. The church is open to all every day.

The generous pledges of The Friends of Kent Churches (£20,0000 and the Garfield Weston Foundation (£10,000) is also most gratefully acknowledged

by the Rev Edward Wright

Church members raised over £140,000, which, together with grants and donations, covered the full cost of the works.

Since January 2016, the church has remained in use alongside work on: • Restoration of monuments, some 17–18th century and of national importance• Repair and redecoration of inside walls• Removing some pews and creating wider staging• Improvements to lightingIn the course of the work, several interesting older features came to light, including 17th century tombs which had been boarded over when the Victorian choir stalls were installed.The aims of the project were to safeguard the ancient building and make it more accessible and flexible for the many community events we hold – Holiday Club, Experience weeks, Extravaganzas, concerts…Everyone is welcome to the dedication service at 10am; a crèche will be available and refreshments served. The service will be attended by all involved – the backers, the planners, the local experts, crafts-men, builders and engineers … and those who have swept up each week to keep the church open.

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Diocese says goodbye to Canon

Following an initial career in teaching, Rev Canon Jean Kerr will retire this

year at the end of 30 years of ordained ministry. Heading with husband, Paul for their new home in Deal, Jean said,

“I hope to be involved with the community in Deal.”

“Organisations like ‘Seeking Sanctu-ary’ are in Deal and ‘Porch Light’ - the homeless charity - is based in Dover, so there may be some opportunities for me there. I also hope to learn to paint and to do some writing. Paul and I need to get used to living in our own home, but we don’t have a master plan.”

Not always an evangelist, Jean was raised in a very middle-of-the-road Christian family. It was not until she was working in a hospice offering pas-

toral care that she entered into evange-lism. Jean said, “Anything that enables people to hear, see and engage with the Good News is an act of evangelism. Stories from the Bible are a way of sharing the Good News.”

A pioneer, Jean was amongst the first women to be ordained in the Church of England. She said, “I don’t really know where those thirty years have gone. I don’t want people to think it has all been easy, because in those early years, people would drag their friends out of shops to see the weird sight of a woman wearing a dog collar. Some people spat at me in the street! That all seems impossible now, although there are still times when people in extremes of the Church find the female presence difficult.”

Jean’s ministry has exposed her to all

kinds of experiences and she likens it to the Japanese word for vocation – ‘iki-gai’ – the thing that gets you out of bed in the morning. Jean said, “I suppose that sums up ministry in all of its forms for me. It is what gets me out of bed in the morning! It is that feeling that if I only did this one thing today, be that preach a sermon, lead a funeral, baptise a child, teach a seminar, sit with the bereaved, trek through the mud in the Jungle in Calais, then for this I was born. “

“It’s an incredibly humbling feeling to be a part of God’s

life here on earth.”

Jean was Diocesan Warden of Evanglists for some 14 years, a role that brought her a great deal of enjoyment and one which allowed her to make many good

friends. She said, “The evangelists are a brilliant, energised group of people! I remember one residential weekend in particular, which was led by Gordon Lamont. I have never heard so much laughter or known so much energy in one place as at that weekend.”

Some people may remember Jean playing the role of Doris, a cleaner, during the diocesan conferences held at Butlins. Jean said, “It was such good fun sweeping up after the good and the great at the conference, and to have the freedom to go on stage and have an amazing conversation with God about life and his call to us, in front of everyone. It was also probably my most scary ministry, because I had to listen to people and God all of the time, and try to make connections with them.” Real tears were shed by delegates when Doris ‘died’ at the end of the

Reverend Canon Jean Kerr will be retiring from her life in ordained ministry and moving to Deal with her husband, Paul, after 30 years of service. Here, she reflects on her life in the service of the Lord.

7ochester Link

second conference and Jean also shed a few tears of her own.

Jean’s work has taken her around the world to places like the Falk-land Islands, New Zealand and Chennai in India (as well as the

‘Two Brewers’ pub in Rochester!).

She said, “I will always remember presiding in the Cathedral in Chennai, watching the congregation gazing towards heaven. I hadn’t realised that they were all watching a monkey running around the ceiling! During the same trip, Jean worked with children with special needs and found herself, with her husband Paul, in front of a class of deaf teenage boys without a translator. Jean said,

“We discovered that ‘Jesus is Lord’ works in sign

language just the same way, the world over!”

Jean said, “I have also enjoyed rep-resenting the Bishop of Rochester in Auckland Cathedral, New Zealand and walking behind Rowan Williams in procession in Canterbury Cathedral for Archbishop Justin Welby’s service and asking God how he had been able to do this.” Working with migrants in ‘the Jungle’ in Calais demanded both phys-ical energy and mental strength. Jean said, “I can honestly say that this was something I felt compelled to do, re-gardless of the cost or inconvenience.”

Jean’s ministry has also seen her preaching in tiny parish churches, cel-ebrating communion in Fresh Expres-sions courses in café settings, leading parish weekends, and running some 40 holiday clubs, as well as attending events like the Blue Water Wedding Fair and running special weekends like the Leap of Faith. She said, “It’s important to create space where people can hear God for themselves. Holiday clubs for example, offer some continuity be-tween Sundays and the rest of the year,

and offer us stepping-stones to engage with the wider family. I have worked with so many wonderful people, sharing quality time and finding both the space for creativity and finding endless scrip-ture to explore.

“I have had the privilege and joy of travelling with peo-

ple inside and outside of the Church and seeing God at

work in their lives.”

Some people can be doing acts of evangelism without even realising it. Jean said, “I think that more people are gifted in evangelism than they know. I think it’s just the word that puts them off.”

Jean’s journey has been both rewarding and challenging at times. She said, “I guess the struggles are the same for every parish priest. So often we seem to be stuck in ‘doing church’ rather than ‘being church’. I am sure people pray,

but corporate prayer can be very thin. The lack of biblical knowledge is still a shock to me in so many places. I don’t mean academic study, but instead I am talking about that regular encounter with the word of God that sometimes seems to speak to you, in the right way at the right time. I would liken it to people feeding on cheap white bread instead of the good, wholemeal bread which is ready for the taking.”

Jean said, “Between us, Paul and I have almost 90 years of full time ministry. The sheer faithfulness of God and the constant amazement that God could use even us has kept us going.” True to her evangelistic ministry, Jean wanted to retire with one last thought for the people of the Diocese of Rochester. She said,

“At the end of the day, why would you settle for a glass of cheap Lambrini when you can have the full-bodied wine of

the Kingdom?”

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Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1 (ESV)

Photo: www.sxc.hu

9ochester Link

Christian military meeting at Sevenoaks

Tuesday 8 March saw Bishop Justus Church of England School host a

celebration of religious education, attended by children and staff from ten other schools across Bromley. 100 Year 4 and 5 visitors and ten Year 7 hosts, enjoyed a day of learning activities, based on the theme ‘Fruits of the Spirit’.

The day began with children splitting into four groups to explore ‘Fruits of the Spirit,’ led by Bishop Justus RE teachers. This was a wonderful opportunity for primary school children hosted by their Year 7 colleagues, to have a taster of learning in a secondary school. A lunch and then playtime on the Bishop Justus astro-turf, was followed by an interactive market place; each school providing a beautifully presented display and market stall, with children and adults participating in various learning activities based on the event’s main theme. The final session of the day was a philosophical discussion led by Bishop Justus’ RE subject leader, Patrick Boughton-Reynolds.

The event ended with the children being presented with certificates of attendance. The success of the day was summed up by Geraldine Shackleton, Head Teacher of

St George’s School, Bickley: “I really feel all the schools were pulling together and the activities really made the children think about how the Christian teachings about Fruits of the Spirit relate to our modern day lives.’ Lee Kings, Assistant Head

Teacher at Bishop Justus, was “delighted to see children and staff from different schools, working together and celebrating a shared experience of RE; RE is definitely being celebrated here in Bromley”.

Bromley Schools Celebrate Religious Education

The Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Scripture Readers Association (SASRA) has held an annual

meeting in Sevenoaks since before the Second World War. This event is characterised by an atmosphere of godliness and manliness in both the contributions of the speakers and the singing. Attendances in recent years have been most encouraging.

The lead speaker at this year’s meeting on Monday 6 June at St Nicholas Church will be Colonel Christopher Rider, who was commissioned into the Staffordshire Regiment with whom he served in Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, USA, Canada and Germany. His later and more senior appointments included tours in Bosnia, Kosovo, Sri Lanka, Jordan (where he was the Defence Attache) and Iraq, after which he was awarded the CBE for his exceptional services. On leaving the Army he has been employed by a Non-Government Organisation working for reconciliation between Muslim and Christian communities in Nigeria. He is a member of the SASRA Council.

The other speaker will be Army Scripture Reader William Wade whose early life was spent in Ulster and who served for seven years in the Royal Irish Rangers, with whom he completed operational tours in Saudi Arabia and Northern Ireland. He left the Army in 2001 in order to become an Army Scripture Reader. His ministry involves his going into military establishments with the permission of Commanding Officers and Chaplains to “gossip the Gospel” with today’s servicemen and servicewomen. After ten years’ ministry with British Forces Germany, he is now attached to 16 Air Assault Brigade in Colchester. In 2013 he spoke with remarkable effect at the SASRA 175th Anniversary Service in the Guards Chapel in London to a large congregation which included the Duke of Edinburgh.

This meeting, which is open to all members of the public, will begin at 8 pm, but light refreshments will be available from 7.30 pm in the Undercroft of St Nicholas Church.

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11ochester Link

IntercessionRochester Diocese - May 2016

Thank you to Margaret WithersMargaret Withers has stepped

down from her work as the Bishop’s Adviser on matters relating to the admission of children to Holy Communion. Bishop James has thanked Margaret for the hard work she has put into this, and the Advisory Group is well aware of her sterling efforts in this field.

Margaret said, “I first worked as the diocesan Children’s Adviser in 1989. Since then I have worked for the Diocese for sixteen years and also been part of a team leading Taize music at the Cathedral for a further four and played the organ for some schools’ festivals. It’s hardly surprising that I am regarded by some as more-or-less part of the furniture!

I officially stood down at Easter but my last ‘working’ day was Friday 18 March. I was the Bishop’s Adviser from March 2008 and was on diocesan staff for a total of sixteen years, the other eight being as diocesan Children’s Adviser.

I have started a major revision of ‘Welcome to the Lord’s Table’ to be published in July 2017. The first edition was in 1999, with a revision in 2006 to respond to the General Synod debate and Regulations. I have felt that it was dated but it refused to lie down! Apart from updating I plan for it to be geared towards a more ecumenical readership as well as including chapters on worship and especially Eucharistic worship in schools. I feel that, apart from anything else, it is a fitting work to form a closure to my years of work on this very special subject. I may do some work for the Diocese of London – retirement is a myth!”

Margaret’s remit is now held by the Diocesan Worship Development Adviser, Rev Lindsay Llewellyn-Macduff, alongside the existing members of the Advisory Group. If you have any queries on this matter please don’t hesitate to be in touch with her at Bishopscourt.

Tuesday 17 MayRochester Diocese: Bishop’s Chaplains gathering today

Wednesday 18 MayRochester Diocese: Milton, Christ ChurchVicar: The Rev Sue Brewer

Thursday 19 May Dunstan,Archbishop, monastic reformer, 988

Rochester Diocese: Milton, St Peter and St PaulRector: The Rev Graham Herbert

Friday 20 MayAlcuin, Deacon, Abbott, 804

Rochester Diocese: Northfleet, St Botolph, and Rosherville, St MarkTeam Rector: The Rev Lawrence Smith

Saturday 21 MayHelena,protector of the Holy Places, 330

Rochester Diocese: Perry Street, All SaintsPriest-in-Charge: The Rev Lawrence Smith

Sunday 22 MayRochester Diocese: Tunbridge Wells Deanery: Rural Dean, the Rev Canon Jim Stewart; Lay Chair, Mr Graham Syms

Monday 23 MayWillian of Perth c. 1201

Rochester Diocese: For those whose journey is perilous, or unclear.

Tuesday 24 MayJohn and Charles Wesley, evangelists, hymn writers, 1791 and 1788

Rochester Diocese: Shorne, St Peter and St PaulVicar: Vacant

Wednesday 25 MayThe Venerable Bede, monk, scholar, historian, 735Aldhelm, bishop, 709

Rochester Diocese: Swanscombe, St Peter and St PaulPriest-in-Charge: The Rev Mark Hurley

Thursday 26 MayCorpus Christi; Augustine, archbishop, 605; John Calvin, reformer, 1564;Philip Neri, founder of the Oratorians, spiritual guide, 1595

Rochester Diocese: Borstal, St MatthewVicar: The Rev Anne Bennett

Friday 27 MayRochester Diocese: Chatham, St Mary and St Paul, with Emmaus Church CentrePriest-in-Charge: The Rev Penny Foreman

Saturday 28 MayLanfranc, monk, archbish-op, scholar, 1089

Rochester Diocese: Chatham, St Paul with All SaintsVicar: The Rev Keith Johnson

Sunday 29 MayRochester Diocese:Augustine’s College of Theology, Principal: Rev Dr Alan P R Gregory

Monday 30 MayJosephine Butler, Social Reformer, 1906; Joan of Arc, visionary, 1431; Apolo Kivebu-laya, priest, evangelist, 1933

Rochester Diocese: For all who care for needs of the outcast or marginalised.

Tuesday 31 MayVisit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth

Rochester Diocese: Chatham, St Philip and St James Vicar: The Rev Martyn Saunders

Sunday 1 MayRochester Diocese: Our Link Diocese, Mpwapwa: Bishop, The Most Rev Jacob Chimeledya, Archbishop of Tanzania

Monday 2 MayPhilip and James, Apos-tles (transferred from 1 May) Rogation Day

Rochester Diocese: Gillingham, St Mark, and St Mary’s IslandPriest-in-Charge: The Rev Saju Muthalaly

Tuesday 3 MayRogation Day

Rochester Diocese: Farmers and those whose livelihood depends on the land

Wednesday 4 MayRogation DayEnglish Saints and Martyrs of the Reformation Era

Rochester Diocese: Gillingham, St Mary MagdalenePriest-in-Charge: The Rev Ade Lawal

Thursday 5 MayAscension Day

Rochester Diocese: Readers as they celebrate 150 years of Reader Ministry

Friday 6 MayRochester Diocese: Rainham, St MargaretVicar: The Rev Judy Henning

Saturday 7 May

Rochester Diocese: South Gillingham: Hempstead, All Saints; Wigmore, St Matthew; Bredhurst, St Peter; and Parkwood, St PaulTeam Rector: The Rev Brian Senior

Sunday 8 MaySunday after Ascension Day

Rochester Diocese: Strood DeaneryArea Dean: The Rev David Green; Lay Chair: Mr Geoff Foord

Monday 9 MayRochester Diocese: Chalk, St Mary the VirginVicar: The Rev Nigel Bourne

Tuesday 10 MayRochester Diocese: Diocesan Resourcing & Support TeamDirector: Mr Geoff Marsh

Wednesday 11 MayRochester Diocese: Gravesend, Holy Family, with Ifield, St MargaretPriest-in-Charge: The Rev Richard Martin

Thursday 12 MayRochester Diocese: Gravesend, St AidanVicar: The Rev Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy

Friday 13 MayRochester Diocese: Gravesend, St GeorgeRector: The Rev Canon Chris Stone

Saturday 14 MayMatthias the Apostle

Rochester Diocese:Gravesend, St MaryVicar: The Rev Trudi Oliver

Sunday 15 MayWhitsun;Christian Aid Week begins

Rochester Diocese: Christian Aid co-ordinators in the Diocese

Monday 16 MayOrdinary Time resumes today.Caroline Chisholm, Social Reformer, 1877

Rochester Diocese: Greenhithe, St MaryPriest-in-Charge: The Rev Andrew Avery

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12 ochester Link

Sixteen years and counting…

Our own Diocese is actively trying to contribute to this national priority. Last

year, three candidates from minority ethnic heritage were recommended for training toward ordination; that is one more than the previous seven years combined.

There are also a number of minority ethnic Anglicans who were recently authorised or are currently training for lay ministry.

When talking to those with long experience in vocations work in our Diocese, one thing you can pick up is the increased diversity of people exploring what God might be calling them to. One perceptible shift has been the slow, but steady increase of minority ethnic Anglicans attending our various vocations events. Inevitably, that is also being reflected in the make up of ministry teams in parishes across the Diocese.

The Rev Ade Lawal of St Mary Magdalene, Gillingham is joining our diocesan vocations team. Her specific brief will be to act as Minority Ethnic Vocations Champion.

Ade, the daughter of a Nigerian Muslim father and Ghanaian Christian mother, was born and educated in London. She was made Deacon in 2005 and ordained Priest in 2006. She supports Spurs and enjoys tennis, rugby as well as formula 1 racing! Ade also likes music, watching films and cooking for friends.

She says of herself and her new role: “I began attending church as an adult and was baptised in my early 20’s. My

experience in the church as a minority ethnic woman has seen its fair share of highs and lows. Whilst the lows have been memorable, it has given me much insight and I walk on the side of positivity strengthened by the grace of God. As a result, I am in a vocation I love (I really can’t see myself doing anything else) and look forward contributing to the life and work of the Diocese I joined in 2015.

What do I hope to bring to the team? My own story and therefore a different insight into some of the difficulties and the joys of being a minority ethnic woman who said ‘yes’ to God and persisted in saying ‘yes’ in spite of the actions of others. As a vocation advisor with a brief to have concern for the vocation of minority ethnic men and women,

“I want to focus on the fact that all God’s people have

significance, that they are called, and are welcome at the Lord’s

table.”

Our work to increase representation and inclusion of minority ethnic Anglicans at all levels in the Church is not merely about redressing an imbalance, it is essential to the mission of the Church. We look forward to Ade’s contribution in enabling others to say YES and witnessing God’s unfolding plan for the diocese and the wider church.

By the Rev Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy

Following the meeting of General Synod in November 2000, the Church of England called for a significant increase in numbers of minority ethnic clergy and Bishops. Sixteen years on, work is still very much in progress despite a noticeable increase of worshiping minority ethnic Anglicans.

Prayer Room in May At a Cobham Deanery prayer

meeting during Lent a copy of the letter from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, which was sent to every serving parish priest in England, was read out and discussed.

The letter was asking for a week of prayer during the week leading up to Pentecost for the evangelisation of our country and using the Lord’s Prayer as its focus - Thy Kingdom come. It was thought this would be a great opportunity to come together as a Deanery and pray with our brothers and sisters.

Following a visit to St Mary’s Church Room, Sole Street, a 24/7 Prayer Room was born. For those who live within the Cobham Deanery (Fawkham & Hartley/ Ash with Ridley/ Cobham with Luddesdowne and Dode/ Istead Rise/ Meopham with

Nurstead/ Longfield and Southfleet) this Prayer Room will be open from Monday 9 May to Saturday 14 May for prayer, and each church has an allocated ‘Champion’ to organise the rota within that church.

There will be prayer stations within the prayer room to inspire you and there will be every opportunity for you to request prayers and for you to record any answers to prayer you may receive.

If anyone outside the Cobham Deanery would like to join with us in this initiative, we would be delighted. There will, no doubt, be space available during the night shifts, and maybe there are some youth groups who may like to participate as this will obviously be a difficult time for the elderly to fill.

We are looking forward to a wonderful week of prayer and seeking the Lord for our country.

Link to a video from the Archbishop of Can-terbury on You Tube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJt4DrKhwv4

For more information or booking a time slot please call: the Rev Angela Walker 01474 814332 or Jenny Kelly 01474 569494.