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Friday 22 May, 2020


During the coronavirus pandemic, parishes across the Diocese have shown again and again how determined they are to witness and demonstrate Christ’s love.

Within this, we have also seen and felt significant dislocation, and part of that has been financial.

It is through prayerful consideration, and by listening to the experiences of parishes, that with the agreement of Bishop’s Council, we are pleased to be able to launch the Diocese of Rochester COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.

This fund offers an initial £750,000 package of support to help parishes in immediate financial need.

The support consists of:

  • Loans of between £2,000 and £25,000 for any parish who would like one, interest and repayment free for the first year.
  • Small support grants of £5,000 for those parishes in most acute financial need.  
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Pentecost - Doves of Peace
Following on from the success of 'Take up the Cross' over Easter, we want to encourage you to let the Flame of the Holy Spirit be displayed across our communities as we celebrate Pentecost.

The Children and Young People Team have created a template that can be used to show either the Flame of the Holy Spirit, or the Dove of Peace within our homes.

As you create a Flame or a Dove, share with each other how God has enabled you through the gift of the Holy Spirit and who also brings Peace.

Please do take photos and send them to:
communications@rochester.anglican.org or tag us on social media (Facebook: @CofERochester  / Twitter: @SeeOfRochester)
 
Read more

New resources for Church schools - Re-establish. Re-build
Dioceses in the South and South East, including Rochester, are working together to produce materials designed to help schools to re-establish and re-build themselves as strong and confident communities for when the lockdown eases. 

They consider what Nehemiah and Ezra might teach us about how to get our re-building right.  Although written with Church schools in mind, the resources could also help those of you who support your community schools, as appropriate to your specific context.
 
The resources will be added to the Rochester Diocesan Board of Education website as they are completed.
 
They will include:
  • Acts of worship for your consideration as schools return
  • Practical suggestions for dealing with the often sensitive issues and fragmentation that Covid-19 may have presented
  • Ideas for prayer and reflection areas
  • Resources for addressing points of transition in these unusual circumstances
 
In addition, there is a resource already available produced by Canterbury Diocese, in collaboration with Rochester, about dealing with grief and loss in schools.
 
Thy Kingdom Come
With Ascension Day yesterday, came the start of Thy Kingdom Come. Although it looks different this year because of the lockdown, there are still plenty of resources available and ways to get involved.

Throughout the nine days, we'll be sharing how some of the parishes around the Diocese are joining in, with a collection of mini-films.

In St Botolph's, Chevening, they're planning something called '999 Prayers' on Zoom, which will see people join together online for prayer at 9am, 9pm and 9am the following morning.

Watch below. 

We're taking a break
The Digest is taking a break over the Bank Holiday Week and so will be back on Wednesday 27 May.
 

The Diocesan Office is now closed until further notice.  A Reception service is still available remotely. If you need assistance, in the first instance please email the Diocesan Reception on: reception@rochester.anglican.org

During office hours you can also ring 07384 826866 or 07468 709671. If you do ring the main reception number (01634 560 000), you will hear a recorded message detailing all this information for you.

All other teams are working from home and should be contacted in the first instance via email. All contact details can be found here: www.rochester.anglican.org/contact/

Copyright © 2020 DIocese of Rochester, All rights reserved.


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