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GOOD NEWS FOR ASHFORD

27 FEBRUARY 2022

TEAM RECTOR’S MESSAGE
 
If you were with us in May and June last year, you may remember that all church members were invited to respond to the question: what are the three things we should be most passionate about in Ashford Town Parish?

Over a third of people gave as one of their answers: ‘Sharing our faith and growing our church’.  That’s one of the reasons why we’ve made ‘Sharing our Story’ the theme of this year’s Lent course and of the Archbishop’s visit. We want to feed that passion!

Being ready to share our story of faith is part of what it means to be a healthy church and to be a faithful disciple. We hope the Lent course this year will be a great opportunity to come together to understand more fully the gospel story and become more confident in telling our own story of faith in God.

If you’re in a home group, I hope you’ve had a chance to discuss this already, and if you’re not, then contact the parish office
or talk to any member of the clergy.

We are running sessions on Wednesdays from 9 March at 1pm–2.30 p.m. at Willesborough church and will have other options available as well, including evenings.

 
2 MARCH 2022

Christ Church South Ashford: 
          9:30am - Eucharist with Distribution of Ashes 
          6:00pm - BCP Communion with Distribution of Ashes 

St Mary's, Kennington:
        11:15am - Mid-Week Communion with Distribution of Ashes
                          (and refreshments in the hall from 10:30am)

St Michael & All Angels, Kingsnorth:
         3:30pm - Ash Wednesday Family Labyrinth
         7:30pm - Ash Wednesday Service 

St Peter & St Paul, Shadoxhurst:
        9:30am - Ash Wednesday Service

St Mary the Virgin, Ashford town centre:
       7:30pm - Communion with Distribution of Ashes


 
Around thirty of us from across the deanery gathered at St Mary’s Ashford for the five-week Living in Love and Faith course in January and February.

It was really good to share together in discussion, reflection and prayer. There was a great deal to take in – about identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage – and many of us were left at the end feeling that we needed some kind of follow up, both to take the conversation further and to include more people in it.

Look out for further news about that.

 


DEANERY SYNOD MEETS ON MONDAY 28 FEBRUARY

There’ll be a special focus on finance as we welcome Archdeacon Stephen Taylor, our interim Diocesan Secretary.

We’ll also be looking at how we can engage with the national ‘Growing Faith’ initiative for connecting support for our children in school, in church and in the home.

 

LINK LUNCH WEATHERS THE STORM!
 
In spite of the terrible noise Eunice made blowing the ridge tiles off the roof, we had a wonderful Link Lunch on Friday 18 March at St Mary’s Willesborough.

The power went off as lunch came out of the oven and on again in time for tea!

An amazing effort by the team and so good for those who felt able to come out to gather together.

Our prayers go out to all those affected by the storm.


 
St MARY'S SEVINGTON
 
Holy Communion, 11:00am, Sunday 6 March 2022
WHAT'S ON

 
MARCH

6 March 2022 - Reclaim These Streets - a walk led by Bishop Rose - see poster above.

18 March 2022 – St Mary’s Willesborough – Film Night – For more details please contact the parish office - info@ashfordchurches.co.uk or 01233 620433

19 March 2022 - Quiz Night,  WI Hall Faversham Road, Kennington, 7pm (Bring your own drinks and nibbles). Tables of up to 6 people: £3 per head. Contact for booking: Pam Paddy (
mrp.pfp@talktalk.net) 01233 879716

20 March 2022 – St Mary’s Ashford – “Putting the Puff Back in the Pipes” – Third Sunday Concerts – 3.30 pm – Invicta Singers, Ashford – Admission £5.00 minimum – Doors Open at 3.00 pm for a cup of tea. For more details and a flyer for this concert series, please contact the parish office at info@ashfordchurches.co.uk

26 March 2022 - Coffee Morning - 10am - St Mary's Community Centre, Rylands Road, Kennington. For more information, contact Maureen Drury - maurinedrury@btinternet.com

26 March 2022 - Refresh - a women's day - see poster above.

Every Saturday – 10 am – 12 noon – Community Cafe, St Mary’s Ashford.

Every Monday to Friday 9.00 am – 1.00 pm – in inSpire Café, St Mary’s Willesborough.


APRIL

17 April 2022 – St Mary’s Ashford – “Putting the Puff Back in the Pipes” – Third Sunday Concerts – 3.30 pm – Easter Day Festival Choral Evensong with St Mary’s Singers – Free Admission – Doors Open at 3.00 pm for a cup of tea. For more details and a flyer for this concert series, please contact the parish office at info@ashfordchurches.co.uk

23 April 2022 – St Mary’s Willesborough – St George’s Day Celebration – 7.00 pm – Dancing to Contraband – 
For more details please contact the parish office - 01233 320433 or  info@ashfordchurches.co.uk  

Every Saturday – 10 am – 12 noon – Community Cafe, St Mary’s Ashford.

Every Monday to Friday 9.00 am – 1.00 pm – in inSpire Café, St Mary’s Willesborough.

For details of events later in the year, click on the button below:

Click Here
Our friends at Ashford Theatre Society - who organised our parish trip to see 'Joseph' in London's West End last year - are offering us the chance to join their coach trip to Frozen the musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 12 May 2022. For more details, and to book, visit https://ashfordtheatre.com and click on What's On 

PRAYING WITH AND FOR ONE ANOTHER
 

IN OUR PARISH:
  • For a good beginning to Lent, with time to be quiet with God and consider what we might lay down or take on this year to make space for growing closer to Christ
  • For the church here and everywhere, especially in places of conflict, that we may be signs and agents of true peace
  • For Shirley Leslie, our PCC Treasurer, and for the local finance officers for each of our churches, as they look after our finances and seek to give us the information we need to understand our financial situation and know how to respond
  • For preparations for the Archbishop’s visit, as we try to finalise the main timetable and continue to liaise with non-church partners about suitable opportunities.

IN OUR DIOCESE:

God of all that is, you created the heavens and the earth from nothing, and brought beauty and order from chaos. Inspire and encourage us to use the gifts you lavish upon us as wise stewards of your blessings. Help us not to take more than we need, and share with those in want. May we recognise and treasure what you have given us and use our time and money to be disciples of Christ in the world as we grow in holiness and love for our neighbours. Amen.
(Prayer request written by Revd Canon Andrew Dodd -
Canon Treasurer Canterbury Cathedral)

 
IN THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION:
                                           
The Anglican Church of Kenya


 
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