Sevenoaks Deanery: October 2017

The Hiding Place

Two churches in West Kingsdown are jointly hosting Oddments Theatre Company on Thursday November 23rd. Oddments Theatre Company is a professional Christian theatre company based in Yeovil.

They will be bringing their production of “The Hiding Place” which is the riveting tale of the Ten Boom family and how they saved many Jews from the devastation of the Second World War. It is a true story of a Dutch lady called Corrie Ten Boom who was imprisoned for hiding Jews in the Second World War It has been touring all over the UK since June of this year and uses period costumes and soundtracks to create a professional aesthetic. It is suitable for ages 15+.

The event is organised by the Baptist Church in conjunction with King’s Church and will be taking place at King’s Church, Old School Lane, West Kingsdown on Thursday 23^rd November 2017 at 7.30pm – 9.40pm. Tickets cost £8.50.

To book tickets phone Barbara on 01474 332932 or visit www.oddments-theatre.co.uk

Churches Together in Kent is to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
There will be a service of worship at Canterbury Cathedral this coming Sunday 15th October, 3.15pm, with both Catholic and Protestant participation. It would be great to see a good number of folk attending from the Local Churches Together Groups.

The sermon will be preached by Prälatin Dagmar Zobel.

After the Abitur in Karlsruhe, Dagmar Zobel first started studying chemistry and physics before she enrolled in Protestant theology at the University of Heidelberg. She completed her teaching vicariate as well as her vicariate in Pforzheim . Subsequently, she was in division with her husband pastor in Markdorf at Lake Constance . From 1999 to 2011, she was responsible for pastoral education at the preacher's seminar in Heidelberg.

Dagmar Zobel was involved in pastoral care, emergency counselling and the network of priestly training centres. For several years, she has served on the board of the International Conference of Preacher Ministers. In May 2011, she was elected successor to Hans Pfisterer as prelate for southern Baden, and she took office in late October 2011.

Dagmar Zobel is married and is the mother of two daughters”.

Urgent Christian Aid Rohingya Crisis Appeal. Would you hold a collection this Sunday to help vulnerable displaced people who desperately need food, water and shelter?

Escalating violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State in late August 2017 has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes, including many Rohingya Muslims who have fled to Bangladesh, fearing for their lives.

Find out more including how to give and pray.

The Dartford Churches Winter Shelter Project
Making a difference in the lives of rough sleepers in Dartford

Wish to appoint 2 part-time Project Workerson a Fixed Term Contract: December 2017 – April 2018. Variable seasonal hours, including evenings and weekends

We are seeking enthusiastic, hard-working and well organised people to casework with the clients at this ecumenical project which aims to provide a quality service to the homeless. Remuneration: £12.00 per hour (including holidays)
(Eligible for Employers NI and Pension Contribution). Applicants for these positions must have excellent organisation, communication and people skills.

For further details and an application pack please contact:

The Project Administrator, Dartford Churches Winter Shelter
by email: office.dartfordwintershelter@gmail.com
or Telephone 07340 982925

Closing date for applications is Thursday 12 October 2017

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2018. Resources now available online.
Get them here!

As One Voice worship conference will be gathering worshippers on 4^th November. Seeking to reach out across Kent to connect, grow and engage with heaven's heart for worship in our region and beyond. Information available here.

Christian Think Tank "Theos" has done some research into the state of ecumenism in England. Download the research here. The Presidents of CTE have said, “We are grateful to Theos for its work in compiling this Report. We hope that, with widespread study and discussion, it will help us grow closer to each other in our shared pathways of discipleship and in the mission we hold in common.”

We at Petra Institute for Children’s Ministry UK, a Body in Association of Churches Together in England, are presenting our inaugural children’s ministry course in the UK in November. We have presented children’s ministry courses in 73 countries around the world, and are now offering a course which is suitable in the UK for all groups, organisations or individuals who work with children.

The 5 day course, called “Walking to Wholeness – Helping Hurting Children to Heal” is for adults who know or work with children who have experienced hurt in a way that caused an impact on their life— perhaps a child suffering loss or humiliation or rejection or threat.

PDF download leaflet for more information

Link to course information and contact email.

It has been a pleasure to serve as County Ecumenical Officer for more than four years now. It has been my privilege to see some great ecumenical work, from Local Churches Together Groups engaging and serving their communities, to county wide mission initiatives through KWM, the MSM course and the Media Council. Not to forget KEYCOG and the Stadium Event being planned for GIllingham next year. So many other things: Ride and Stride, Women's World Day of Prayer. the Night Shelter Network, Critical Incidents Chaplaincy... the activity is endless. God's people are active in further his Kingdom and purposes in the county and it's a been a real honour to be a tiny speck looking in on all of these initiatives. But now it is time for me to move on.

I will be in post until 10th December. Unless you hear otherwise between now and then, if you have any ecumenical enquiries please contact one of the co-chairs of Churches Together in Kent. They are Bishop Trevor Wilmott (01227 459382) or Chair of District John Hellyer (01293 813970). DO pray for the Church Leaders group as they consider the future directions of Churches Together in Kent.

It would be lovely to see you and say farewell at the service on SUnday at Canterbury Cathedral...

Your servant in Christ,

Chris.