These eight country churches are all lovely for baptisms and each has a beautiful stone font.Baptisms or christenings are usually part of a regular Sunday service, where the congregation can welcome the newly baptised into the church, but in special circumstances a baptism can be arranged as private service (usually later in the day on a Sunday).Scroll down for more photos!<br>For Baptisms please contact Alison Dale, Benefice Administrator:beneficeadmin@elhamvalleygroupofchurches.co.uk
’The Parable of The Lost Sheep is one of my favourites. It is a reminder of the extent that God will go to seek and to save those who are lost, those who are the least and those left out. Why?Because no one is to be lost from God’s love. Nothing can separate us from the love of God - not even death. There is no place that Jesus will not go in order to find us and bring us safely home. Dear Lord, help me to respond to your love and mercy upon my life by choosing to show your love and mercy to others, rejoicing with you whenever lost souls are found by you. Amen
Royal Kentish Camino A message from Revd Stuart Huntley I am an ordained priest in the Exeter Diocese, and was baptised at St Mary and St Eanswythe’s, Folkestone and confirmed at St Mary and St Ethelburga’s, Lyminge, so both these churches hold a special place in my heart, and have been instrumental in my journey of faith. I am expecting to take on a new post in October and thought walking the Camino as a pilgrimage would not only be a good retreat prior to starting, but would also help promote this new route. I am proposing to do this wearing medieval clothing. I will be fund raising along the way raising money for the local churches and Pete’s Dragon a charity that supports families impacted by suicide, in memory of friend whose funeral I took recently. It would be great for people to join me for sections on the walk and the services. The services are as follows: 11th October at 6pm - Compline @St Mary the Virgin Elham in the Jesus Chapel 12th October at 8am - Said Eucharist BCP @St Mary the Virgin Elham 12th October at 10am - Holy Communion @ St Marys & St Ethelburga Lyminge 12th October at 2pm - Prayers during the Day @Paddlesworth
I wonder if you ever find yourself worrying about not having enough resources to do something? Perhaps there's something special you want to do or make or maybe an important task that is required of you, and you wonder if you have enough money, enough ingredients, enough time, enough of what the task requires… Jesus was invited to a wedding along with his mother and disciples and once the reception was in full flow, his mother Mary came to him with the news that the wedding hosts had run out of wine. Imagine that - a wedding reception running out of celebratory drinks. What a disaster! Jesus didn’t seem too bothered about what his mother had told him but she told the servants to, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’What happens next is nothing short of a miracle. Jesus asked the servants to fill some very large stone water jars with water ( each holding about 20-30 gallons) and when this was poured out it became the best tasting wine! Jesus used the resources around him - willing servants, water jars and water to bless a wedding and God transformed the water into great tasting plentiful wine.The Lord wants us to use the resources given to us, however small, to serve and honour Him, to reach out his love and care to others, and God will perform the miracle. Things may not turn out exactly how we thought or planned but when we offer our gifts, God will do the work of transformation and God will provide generously - more than we could ever have imagined - when we do whatever he asks…Dear Lord, help me to see the resources around me as gifts you have provided. Help me to see your amazing generosity as these gifts are given to bless others and serve you. Amen
