THIS MONTH'S NEWS
There has been a worshipping community in our parish churches for many centuries. Countless people have walked and prayed here… each one welcoming the presence and the blessing of God. As part of the Day of Prayer and Pilgrimage and in the Canterbury Diocese, you are invited to make a prayer journey around any one of the six churches in the Stour Downs on 7th and 8th June (have a look at the "Our Churches" for locations). There will be spaces to pause and pray, following the pilgrim footprints around any one of our six churches. Feel free to use the spaces in our churches between 9am and 5pm on 7th and 8th June.
Novena 2019
The nine days between Ascension and Pentecost is known as The Novena, when the disciples prayed waiting for the Holy Spirit. In our churches (or at www.canterburydiocese.org/novena) you will find a little Novena booklet to reflect and explore through art and prayer. There will be a daily evening gathering at 7pm in one of our churches in the Stour Downs on each of the nine days of the Novena, to pray together a time of “Daily Waiting”. All are welcome for a short service of led prayer and reflection. We will join with others across the Diocese on Saturday 8th June for an hour of prayer, starting at 4:30pm in Smeeth (you don’t have to stay for the whole hour!).
"Daily Waiting" Novena prayer:
7pm Friday 31st May Brabourne
7pm Saturday 1st June Mersham
7pm Sunday 2nd June Monks Horton
7pm Monday 3rd June Sellindge
7pm Tuesday 4th June Smeeth
7pm Wednesday 5th June Stowting
7pm Thursday 6th June Brabourne
7pm Friday 7th June Mersham
4:30pm Saturday 8th June Diocesan Day of prayer- Hour of prayer at Smeeth
Pentecost
We celebrate Pentecost on 9th June at 11am in Smeeth, with a Parish Communion followed by a bring and share Picnic. Join us for Parish Pentecost Praise & Picnic! We will eat in and around the Oak Room after the service at 11am.
Breakfast Church
Breakfast Church continues on its tour around the six communities in the parish, stopping this month at Monks Horton Church on Saturday 29th June from 9:15-10:45am. Family fun- craft, story, interactive prayer- and a picnic breakfast! We will be exploring the theme of Creation...
Breakfast Church at Monks Horton will be followed by a plant sale and cakes at Monks Horton Church.
We return to Monks Horton on Sunday 30th June for our fifth Sunday Parish Communion, with a Parish Communion & Picnic at 11am. Bring your own picnic, drinks and something to sit on. Enjoy fellowship, food and a fine view across the Downs.
Picnics really are the theme of the month!!
More Family Fun...!
"WHO LET THE DADS OUT?"!
On Fathers' Day weekend, we are having a family building challenge at Sellindge School, 10am-11:30 on 15th June.
So, bring along a Dad, Grandad, Uncle or other male carer! Free hot drinks and chocolate bars for al our builders.
Coffee, Cakes, Crafts and Concerts...
There are plenty of chances to have a sweet treat around our churches this month!
On 1st June at 10am is Mersham's Coffee Morning in the Church Room.
At Smeeth Church on 15th, 22nd and 29th June at 11am are Coffee Concerts, followed by coffee and cakes in the Oak Room, Smeeth.
On the 25th June at Cirrus, Canterbury Road, Brabourne Lees, there is a coffee morning in aid of Smeeth Church from 10:30am-12pm.
On 29th June Brabourne Church hosts, Arts, Crafts and Produce. There is also a fantastic Farm Walk at Penstock Farm at 2:30pm on 2nd June, followed by tea.
As mentioned, Monks Horton has a plant sale and cakes after Breakfast Church on 29th June.
On the 29th June at 7pm in Mersham Church The Otono Quintet and Otono Guitar Quartet are performing a fantastic evening of music.
As usual, there’s the First Friday Social Hour at Brabourne from 6pm on 7th June, Knit and Knatter on 14th June in the Oak Room at 2:30pm, and Fridays@3 on the 28th June at 3pm in The Oak Room (this month a talk from John Hall on how does the organ work?).
Please do get in touch if you need a lift to any event- and you're welcome to bring a friend or two.
See the Sunday Services tab above for details of our services this month.
Email office@stourdowns.org.uk for further details of any events.
Blessings
Chris