TRIONovember 2018 Contributions welcomed

Lest we forgetThe unveiling of West Malling’ War Memorial,

22nd May 1921

The United Benefice of West Malling with Offham

Vicar and Rector Rev David Green 01732 842245 The Vicarage, 138 High Street, West Malling ME19 6NEvicar@stmaryswestmalling.org.uk / rector@stmichaelsoffham.org.uk

Associate Priest Rev Mark Montgomery 01732 844194The Vicarage, 19 Worcester Avenue, Kings Hill, ME19 4FLmark.montgomery@stgabrielskingshill.org.uk

Lay Reader Margaret Moore 01732 841238Lay Minister Becky Clifford 01732 845634

St Mary-the-Virgin, West Malling (stmaryswestmalling.org.uk)

Churchwardens John Musker 01732 849109 Clare Innes 01732 843160 Sunday School Kerry Green 01732 842245Tower Captain Nick Crutchfield 01732 845187Mothers’ Union Gail Crutchfield 01732 845187

St Michael and All Angels, Offham (stmichaelsoffham.org.uk)

Churchwardens Stephen Betts 01732 843412

St Gabriel’s, Kings Hill (stgabrielskingshill.org.uk)

Priest Missioner Revd Mark Montgomery 01732 844198 Church mobile 07421 264898Girls Brigade Karen Webber 01732 875091

Pilsdon at Malling Community

Guardian Revd Viv Ashworth 01732 870279Pilsdon at Malling, 27 Water Lane, West Malling ME19 6HHpilsdon@pilsdonatmalling.org.uk

Parish Magazine

Advertising Phil Coupland adverts@stmaryswestmalling.org.ukDistribution: Terry Hill 01732 848100

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We offer free publicity for any community events or charitable concerns. The Editor reserves the right to modify any material submitted for publication. The views expressed by contributors are those of the authors; copyright for articles rests with contributors. If you would like to use any of the material, please contact the Editor for permission. Inclusion of advertisements does not constitute endorsement in any way.

I am privileged to steward a set of Parish Magazines for St Mary's, West Malling that date back to 1889. In June 1921, the following description can be found for the establishing of West Malling's War Memorial:

"Trinity Sunday, May 22nd, will be long remembered as the day when our War Memorial was unveiled and dedicated. A large crowd of people assembled in the High Street and the Churchyard at 3.30 to witness the ceremony, and to take part in the solemn and touching service, in memory of the 47 Malling men who, in the words of the inscription on the bronze shield "died for right and freedom,' and who by their heroic death made the great sacrifice to shield our homes from a ruthless foe, and who died that England might live."

The Anglican Vicar and Baptist Pastor led the service together, Rev Lawson spoke to the vast crowd of people, and he dedicated the memorial. Rev Prideaux read the names of the men and led prayers.

Amongst the many, many people who filled the entire High Street that day (shown in the photo on Trio’s front cover this month) there were the wives and children of men who had died, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers too.

The men who had been fortunate enough to return home were also there. Because of the way they organised regiments in that war with local people often grouped together, many of them had fought side-by-side with their neighbours and friends and seen them die. Young men, friends, with whom they had gone to school in the old

school next to our church, and with whom they had grown up.

In this centenary year for the end of the First World War, I have tried to make sure I focus on both Offham and West Malling as my two parishes. Each one is doing things differently and you’ll be able to read about the events that are planned in the pages of this magazine.

But, when I look back, I think one of the things that will bring me particular satisfaction is the work we have done this year to see West Malling’s war memorial restored to its former glory.

With the help of the Parish Council, various local organisations, our local shops, our friends at the Baptist Church, my own congregation at St Mary’s and many, many people who live and make their home in this town, we have raised £8,500 and delivered a most fitting tribute to all those local people who have, either in the two World Wars or conflicts since, served this nation.

War is a horrible business. If I think on those men, not as soldiers, but as brothers, fathers, and sons, I’m reminded of war’s truly awful cost. But I also think it is so important that we do remember them, as the Children of Israel did in the time of Joshua. We set up stones to remember. So when our children ask their parents in time to come, 'what do these stones mean?' then we can pass on what we know, and the horrors and lessons of war are not forgotten (Joshua 4.21b-22).

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From David

If, like me, you have lost a loved one; a child, a parent, a relative, you will know that, although they may not be with us anymore, you never forget them.

As the pain of grief eases slightly over the years, still your thoughts about that loved one never leave you. Thoughts come unbidden: “Wouldn’t it be great if they were here to experience this?” or “What would they have said to me now?” or even a wistful “What would life be like now with them?” or more simply “Do you remember when…?”

Those loving memories and what ifs of our thoughts are part of the grieving process, but also a sign of love and a way we remember all that person meant to us.

E v e r y N o v e m b e r w e s p e n d t i m e remembering. The obvious one is that we remember those who have given their life in war and conflict, and remembering the terrors of wars past and those raging now.

For some of us, the war and conflict may not seem real. In our current culture, wars and conflicts happen a long way away; items on the news or on our social media streams.

But for some of us, war was a very real experience from your youth. Living under rationing, walking with gas masks, waiting to hear the air-raid sirens, being called up.

Many local people lost their lives in the two world wars, and others have done so while serving their country in conflicts across the globe since.

This year, around Kings Hill, we will mark 100 years since the end of World War I. In Offham and other places nationally, you can see perspex silhouettes, shapes of

people who are ‘there but not there’, marking in memory those who left a gap when they did not come home; a poignant representation of those who gave their lives so we can live the life we have.

Perhaps less well-known, at the beginning of the month of November, we also pause to remember those who have died who are known and special to us with our local All Saints’ service. Annually, an opportunity to remember their names aloud with others, light a candle in their memory, celebrate their life and bring our prayers and grief to God.

When you see a ‘there but not there’ silhouette take a moment to pause, and think of the son, daughter, father or mother they represent. Think about what they would have meant to their family.

If you have a chance look at the war memorials in Kings Hill, West Malling or Mereworth, read a name, look at an age and think about who they were and what they gave. Think about how their relatives missed them and would have still talked about them and asked those questions we all ask when we miss someone we love.

Think and remember with fondness those you have lost, giving thanks for their lives and talk about them to someone. And finally as you think, and as you pray for the lives departed, pray for those who grieve them, remembering that God is in that grief, and also in that happiness of loving memories. Whatever situation you are in, God is with you. We will remember them.

Mark

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Bishop Simon’s first ConfirmationT h i s y e a r ’ s C o n f i r m a t i o n S e r v i c e t o o k p lace fo r our Deanery takes at S t Lawrence ’ s Merewor th on Sunday the 7th of October with Rt Revd Simon Burton-Jones, the new Bishop of T o n b r i d g e l e a d i n g a n d preaching.

The service got off to a wobbly start when one of the candidates fainted just as the Bishop was welcoming everyone at the start of the service! However, thankfully, the young man was able to make a recovery and be confirmed later in the service alongside others, young and old, from around the Deanery who were taking this important step of faith.

From our Cluster, Ben Innes from St Michael’s, Offham and Noah Agble and Tabitha Rathbone from St Mary’s, West Malling were all confirmed, with proud parents, godparents and family members accompanying.

Harvest Festivals yield bumper cropfor local charitiesIn early October, all our local churches celebrated Harvest Festival with a variety of events and services of thanksgiving and worship.

In Offham, the Harvest Festival fell on All-Age Sunday for the month of October. The church had been beautifully prepared by the Festival Team for the big day with an incredible display of f l o w e r s a n d h a r v e s t produce.

After the c h u r c h s e r v i c e , O f f h a m M e t h o d i s t and St Michael’s joined forces for a bring

a n d s h a r e Harvest Lunch in the Village Hall with a big turnout from a r o u n d t h e village.

I n W e s t Malling, the c h u r c h w a s

similarly festooned with wonderful Harvest decorations. The Harvest services at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. were joined together by a lovely Harvest Brunch. The Mothers’ Union served up bacon rolls, tea and coffee for the 8 o’clockers who stayed behind and the 10 o’clockers who came early to mark the occasion and share friendship and community together.

All the donations from both churches have been given to the Pilsdon Community in

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News around the Cluster

Bishop Simon withTabitha Rathbone.

Offham Harvest Lunch

Offham Harvest Flowers

Water Lane, West Malling, and to the Kenward Trust in Yalding.

Ladies’ Meal and Men’s MealThe next Ladies Meal will be at 7.30pm at the Vicarage in West Malling on Thursday 29th November.

We have decided to make this a 'Faith Supper', so if everyone brings a dish to share, we will have faith that there is enough for everyone and it will be a varied meal! There is a sign up sheet in church at St Mary’s so please indicate if you would like to come, or you can contact Jill Rutland 01732 843248 for more details or to book!

Advance date for your diary is Thursday 20th December @7.30pm which will be our special joint ladies and gents Christmas drinks at the Kings Arms in Offham.

Cluster Service, 25th November at St Mary’s with our Youth Group!The final Cluster Service of the year takes place on Sunday 25th November at 6.00 p.m. at St Mary’s, in West Malling.

On this occasion, we are pleased to welcome the Cluster Youth Group who have been working hard to plan and deliver the entire service of worship themselves!

Please do come and support the young people, engage in the worship and encourage them in their efforts to bless us. It’s also a great opportunity to mix with our friends in the other four churches and build our local community and fellowship as churches in mission together.

Advent Carol Service in MereworthAn Advent Carols service takes place at St Lawrence’s, Mereworth at 5.00 p.m. on Sunday the 2nd of December. You are warmly invited to mark the start of Advent by attending with our friends at St Lawrence’s.

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Tom Tugendhat MP writes for Trio

On 1 October, the most important local consultation in years o p e n e d f o r comments. Tonbridge and Malling Local Plan will decide where our future houses will go. It will shape our c o m m u n i t i e s f o r g e n e r a t i o n s a n d i d e n t i f y t h e infrastructure that needs upgrading and improving so that we can get to work, school and the doctor when we want.

Whether you agree or not with the proposals, now is your chance to comment on them. All the responses are sent to a Planning Inspector, who will assess the quality of the arguments. So, it’s crucial that as many people as possible have their say before 4pm on Monday 19 November.

At the end, I’ll present to the Planning Inspector my thoughts based on what you want. The Planning Inspector is an arm o f G o v e r n m e n t , a n d a s y o u r representative in Westminster it’s crucial I represent your views properly. Please send me your thoughts. I can only do my job for you if I know what you think.

The best way to get hold of me is by s e n d i n g m e a n e m a i l : tom.tugendhat.mp@parliament.uk or write to me at 130 Vale Road, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1SP.

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News from St Mary’sWest Malling

Plans for Remembrance Weekand Remembrance SundayWith this year marking one hundred years since the end of the First World War, this year’s season of Remembrance has taken on e x t r a l a y e r s o f i m p o r t a n c e a n d remembering.

We are pleased to report that the War Memorial is now fully restored. The stonework repairs are completed, the gate and gateposts have been rehung, painted and restored and, most important, the bronze plaque has been renovated and the names of each falling West Malling man re-enamelled.

Special opportunities to remember this year include two installations from the There but not there project. A silhouette of a Tommy stands alongside the war memorial next to the church noticeboard. Furthermore, inside the church during Remembrance week, you will find a handful of transparent silhouettes sitting in the pews. Each one is intended to symbolise the gap that the many fallen men of West Malling left in their families, their community and, of c o u r s e , o u r church.

I n s i d e t h e church, there is a l s o a h a n d -crafted tribute of knitted poppies surrounding the pulpit. Do make time to come and sit in church t h i s w e e k t o

enjoy the efforts of many people and to reflect, with thanksgiving, on our freedom so hard won.

The Remembrance Sunday services on the 11th of November are as follows:

8.00 a.m. BCP Holy Communion

10.00 a.m. Holy Communion including two minute silence at 11.00 a.m.

2.30 p.m. Service of Remembrance with uniformed organisations, laying of wreaths and a re-dedication of the restored War Memorial.

Poppy thank You!A very big thank you to everyone who has helped to decorate the Pulpit this year with knitted poppies for Remembrance Sunday.

Thank you to everyone who made poppies and to the team who set them up. Special thanks to Issy Macdonald for organising everyone, and to Cherry Plummer who had the initial idea and vision for the decorations. We hope you will agree it looks amazing.

Aumbry candle holder updateThe plot thickens at St Mary’s. The aumbry sanctuary lamp and candle holder has been found! It had been tucked in a corner of the vestry for safe keeping and had not been stolen as we thought. However, that makes the disappearance of the sanctuary lamp’s iron strut even more mysterious!

That strut was ripped from the wall and removed from the church, presumably to be sold for scrap.

9The pulpit at St Mary’s

St Mary’s PCC will be discussing the incident and what to do next when they meet in November.

Mothers’ Unionfor Mothers and Others.

A big thank you to all who helped and all who came to the Harvest Brunch in October. A total of £193 was given in donations which has gone to the church.

Next month we will be meeting in church at 2.00 pm on November 12th when we have a speaker from the Women’s Refuge in Maidstone. This is the refuge we have supported for some years with dry goods and toiletries. If possible could you bring a contribution as it would be good to send them back with a top-up of items. Everyone is welcome to attend to hear about the work of the refuge.

Gail Crutchfield

Accident in the Churchyardand reminder about car parkingJust before half-term, there was an unfortunate accident in which a car hit two headstones whilst trying to park beneath a tree when our limited parking spaces at St Mary’s were already occupied.

The incident was witnessed, the witnesses came to find our Vicar and he rushed out and was able to speak with the driver and take his details with a view to an insurance claim. Rev David is liaising with the families, who are (understandably) upset, with the driver, and with suitable stonemasons to rectify the damage. Until

the headstones can be properly set, they need to be left flat for safety's sake.

It may be worth reminding all churchyard users that our available parking is very limited and once those spaces are occupied, it isn't acceptable to park on the grass or ' i mp rov i s e ' i n a ny w ay . I n s u ch circumstances, drivers should return to the High Street to park there or use one of West Malling's car parks.

Our church has a 900 year history and in all probability there isn't a scrap of land that hasn't been someone's grave at some point or another. Just because it looks empty, it doesn't mean it is. We ask that everyone respect the dead and respect their families’ grief.

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A Time to Remember Our Remembrance Sunday service will take place on Sunday 11th November. Together, we will lay wreaths, remembering those who have fought in defence of our country and given their lives in service, and particularly this year we will mark the centenary of the end of the First World War

The service will start slightly later at 10.00 a.m. in order to enable us to link-up with the rest of the nation at 11.00 a.m. for the the two minute silence.

To represent the 16 brave men from Offham who gave their lives for their country in the 1914–18 war, there will be 16 silhouettes (pictured above) in the pews in the week leading up the service and on the Sunday. ‘There But Not There’ encourages those who visit the church in their own time or on the Sunday to consider the ‘gap’ that these men left in Offham families, our village and also our church.

There will also be a circle of 16 commemorative poppies surrounding the millennium oak tree on the village green, complete with information plaques for each of the brave men who died.

Following the Service of Remembrance there will be an exhibition in the Village Hall, giving details of the 41 brave men from Offham Parish who went off to fight in the Great War, and there will be refreshments available. Also new this year - the details of the men have been gathered together in a splendid commemorative booklet, which will be available for purchase (price £5) at the exhibition, researched and produced by Suzanne Young.

Offham Methodist ChurchOur “Tea & Chat” continues on the first Tuesday of the month; 6th November this month and 4th December next month. We meet in our hall from 2.00 til 4.00 p.m. You are invited to come and join us to meet old friends and maybe some new ones over a cup of tea.

Date for your Diary: Christmas Service at Offham Methodist Church on Friday, 21st December with Carols round the Tree in the Hall at 7.30 p.m.

Offham Lunch ClubOffham Lunch Club meets every Thursday 12.30 – 2.00 at the Village Hall in Offham. The Lunch Club provides an opportunity for pensioners to meet and share a lunch with other local people at very modest cost.

We are a small friendly group, who, with the help of volunteers, can arrange a pick-up from your home if mobility is a problem. Occasionally where funds allow, we might visit a local pub.

St Michael’s Offham News and Muse

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We always encourage new members and you do not even have to live

in Offham. But if you are interested, or you may know of somebody who might wish to join us one Thursday for lunch and a friendly chat, please give Phyllis Jones a call on 01732 843946.

Offham SocietyThe Annual Trivial Pursuits evening will be held in the Village Hall on Saturday, 17th November at 8.00 p.m. in the Village Hall (doors open 7.45 p.m.). This perennial favourite returns, playing for the Mike Rowe Challenge Cup. It was all sold-out again last year and there is only one spare table left at the time of writing.

Please apply to Mike Rowe on 01732 849616 to reserve your table for six (£48), or eight – the maximum permitted (£64); the ticket price includes a ploughman’s supper and a glass of wine; glasses provided. Please bring along your own drink and nibbles. It is regretted that payment for tables cannot be accepted on the evening.

The Committee is currently drawing up the programme for next year and any suggestions will be very welcome.

Women’s RefugeMarion Evenden has been in charge of the c o l l e c t i n g b o x i n Offham Church for the Women’s Refuge. We collect dry goods and toiletries for them. Next month we have a speaker coming to tell us about their work.

Please see the M.U. notice under St Mary’s West Malling on page 10 for details.

Christmas dates for the diary(at St Michael’s unless otherwise stated)Sun 2 Dec, Lighting the Tree, 6.30 for 7 p.m.on the Village Green

Sun 16 Dec. Christingle at 4.00 p.m.

Tue 18 Dec. Candle-lit Carols at 8.00 p.m.

Thu 20 Dec. Carols in the Pub, 7.00 p.m.at the Kings Arms, Offhammulled wine and mince pies will be served!

Sun 23 Dec, Holy Communion, 9.15 a.m.

Tue 25 Dec. Christmas Day, 9.15 a.m.

Travelling Nativity in DecemberDuring Advent this year we will again have figures of Mary, Joseph and their trusty donkey making their way around the local area, representing the journey that Mary and Joseph took from Nazareth to Bethlehem, all those years ago.

If you would like to offer shelter to our Traveling Nativity this advent please contact Jane Jordan Tel 01732 848709 or email jnm.jordan@btinternet.com

Offham Open House Open House meets at 10.00 a.m. on 1st November 2018 when there will be a Pop-up Shop by Diane Varco of Flamingo Paperie; Greeting cards for every occasion produced in the UK using UK-sourced environmental ly accredited materials. The meeting will take place in the hall at the back of the Methodist Church on Teston Road.

Open House plans to lay a wreath at the War Memorial during the Remembrance Sunday Service at St Michael’s on 11th November.

The meeting the following month will be a Christmas Lunch on Sunday, 9th December at the George and Dragon at Ightham.

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Churchyard wall, end-of year-updateStewart and Sally have been working steadily to re-point and rebuild the churchyard boundary wall (see photo to right) making excellent progress over the summer, reaching the Jabez Barn. They are very grateful for everyone who has helped during the last six months. They were due to finish at the end of October but have used up all the sand that had been delivered and consider that ordering more at this late stage would not be wise. Some preparation for next year's work has already been undertaken. Rebuilding will begin again in May 2019 (weather permitting).

We are very grateful for their dedication and commitment to this vital task, which adds to the beauty of our church building, particularly for the passer-by and is an act of worship in itself.

Malling Art ClubMalling Art Club was formed in 1978 to promote an interest in art, particularly painting and drawing by means of tuition, art demonstrations, workshops and exhibitions. The Club has 65 members and monthly meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month at Offham Village Hall from 7.45 pm until 10.00 pm - demonstrations start at 8.00 pm sharp and cover a wide range of subjects.

If you wish to come along and sample a meeting, there is a charge of £4 per visitor or if you wish to join the Club please collect one of the subscription notices. The Club very much look forward to welcoming new members.

The Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, 29th November.

The first meeting for 2019 will be on Thursday, 31st January.

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THE OFFHAM PICTURE HOUSE

Saturday, 1 December

DOORS OPEN AT 6.00 PM FOR THE 7.00 PM SCREENING

OF

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

FREE ENTRY.Donations very much appreciated.

All monies raised go to support our Village Hall

THERE WILL BE AN INTERVALduring which movie meals and

refreshments will be served Tea, coffee, soft drinks, choc. ices for

sale. Also a Raffle.

If you would like any further details, order your movie meal or wish to join

our mailing list then please contactoffhamvillagehall@outlook.com

Seats are provided but patrons are welcome to bring their own cushions

for extra comfort!

The Hub!On Thursday 4th October, a new community café launched on Kings Hill. The Hub is a simple Community Cafe aimed at bringing the Kings Hill Community together. Hosted twice a month at the Cricket Club Pavilion, from 9.00 a.m. till noon, it’s run by volunteers.

There is a Kings Hill Community book swap, toys for little ones to play with, the opportunity to get out of the house for a few hours, spend time catching up with friends, or make some new ones. The Hub is a community space and café to be used to meet, gather and coordinate.

The first two Hubs have gathered together around 30-50 people each time over the morning, from babes in arms to retired people and everyone in between. You can drop in at any time and you will be made to feel very welcome.

Bring a book, bring a game, bring your knitting or stones to paint, or just turn up by yourself and say hello.

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News from St Gabriel’s, Kings Hill

Guests at the Hub!

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1stKingsHillGirlsBrigadeMondays6:30–7:30pm AcCviCes,funandgamesforgirlsfrom4–18DiscoverySchool,KingsHill

Comeandjoinus!

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A Christmas Tree festivalfor West Malling

To coincide with the turning on of the Christmas Lights, St Mary’s Church will be opening its doors to an amazing Christmas Tree Festival for the start of Advent.

Charities, businesses, or community groups are invited to join us in this exciting event by contributing and decorating a tree for the weekend.

It is not a competition! You don’t have to pay (beyond the cost of your decorations and tree) and it is simply a t i m e t o s h ow yo u r s k i l l s a n d imagination, be an integral part of our local community, and celebrate Christmas.

All ideas are welcome! Those who take on a tree are welcome to use this festival as an opportunity to advertise a particular charity, organization or business, their activities or a forthcoming event with literature and/or related decorations on your tree.

The organisers will decide on the most appropriate position for your tree. Several options are available including making use of the windows, on table-tops or on the floor of the church. If you wish to use lightsthen your own battery-powered lights will be required. There will be no electric cables or sockets available.

The Church will be open during these two days for the community to see all the tree creations and find out more about the work being promoted. Refreshments will be available and any donations received will be used for church funds.

Why not take part and share this invitation with colleagues and friends who may also like to display a tree? If you know of a particular group of people who would welcome the chance to enjoy the whole experience of the Festival, why not invite them to take part or come along and enjoy walking amongst the trees? We look forward to receiving your registration and your contribution to the Festival.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us:

Gail Crutchfieldgcrutchfield@btinternet.com, 01732 845187

Sue Chapple roger.suec@live.co.uk, 01732 845634

Denise Cookdenisecook@btinternet.com, 01732 848986

What our Christmas Tree Festivalmight look like! Photo from Beverley Minster.

Civic news from around the local area

The West Malling SurgeryFlu Clinics were held at the Kings Hill surgery on 20th and 27th October. On the 20th, 1,200 patients attended during the day; a new record number! On the 27th, which was a morning-only clinic, 300 patients came.

Due to a national shortage of vaccine, there were some who will have to come back for the appropriate vaccine, and suitable appointments were booked. Many thanks to all from PPMG and from KINARA (Kings Hill Active Retirement Association) who helped – and of course the nurses and staff who worked so hard actually giving the jabs. Thanks also to patients that gave us such good feedback.

Breast Cancer Awareness

The PPG is working with one of the partners of the Practice to set up an evening talk by a breast cancer specialist to inform us all (men and women), and to show us how to self-examine. We will be announcing the date, time and place soon – so check the website, Facebook page or with the surgery.

Barry EvansCommittee Member

West Malling Patient Participation Group

Out of Hours Surgery AppointmentsThe Government has set GPs a target of increasing the hours during which you can get a doctor's appointment. They are insisting that such appointments must cover 19 hours a week, or they must be offered to a private company instead. They also insist the appointments must be organised across

a group of local surgeries. So Thornhill’s and West Malling practices are working together to deliver this target. Between the practices, you should be able to access appointments every night of the week till 8 . 0 0 p . m . a n d e v e r y S a t u r d a y . Appointments will be bookable from both surgeries. There will also be facilities for you to access appointments on a Sunday in Central Maidstone.

Public meetings on Local Building PlansTwo public meetings have been arranged for you to find out the current position on local building plans.

1st November at The Malling School, Beech Road East Malling, at 7.30pm A joint Par i sh Counc i l and Eas t Ma l l ing Conservation Group Public Meeting. David Thornewell, Chairman of East Malling & Larkfield Parish Council, will explain the current position and how residents can make their views count.

Monday 5th November between 4pm and 8pm at Church Farm, New Hythe Lane, a drop in session for Larkfield residents. There will be an exhibition of Local Plans and local Councillors will be available to help advise on how to respond to the Plan to help inform the Inspector.

Good news for rail travellers, though not without a wait! The Government has at last has confirmed that Thameslink rail services will be extended to Maidstone by December 2019. From December 2019, new Thameslink

services between Maidstone East and

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St Mary’s, West MallingConfirmations7th Oct Noah Agble7th Oct Tabitha Rathbone

Funerals3rd Oct Phillip Granger16th Oct Sylvia Botton

St Michael’s, OffhamConfirmations7th Oct Benjamin Innes

St Gabriel’s, Kings HillBaptisms21 Oct Carlos Knapp

From theParish Registers

19

continued from page 18

Cambridge will also provide an extra two trains per hour in each direction all day.

This means that there will be daily extra regular services from Maidstone and West Malling to Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras, and on to Cambridge, cutting out the need to use the higher cost High Speed trains from Snodland, Strood or Ebbsfleet.

Take care...keep safe!We've received reports of criminals phoning residents claiming there is an issue with the drains outside their property and they say the drainage company will fix it for free.

When the criminal arrives, they claim the road behind them had the blockage which was connected to their property. They say they can fix it for £1,500 to be paid in cash and they claim Kent County Council (KCC) wants the work completed. This is a scam. KCC will never approach you in this way or promote a private company. If you are called, put down the phone and ring 999 if you feel threatened or 101 to report

the scam. Very often, the criminals will target lone pensioners so please warn any elderly friends or relatives.

Spend a penny or save it?The Borough Council is considering the future of public toilets as a way of saving money. They are proposing toilets such as those at West Malling and Martin Square should be offered to parish councils to take over the running costs.

In Tonbridge, where there is no Town Council, some are proposed to be kept. If parish councils have to take the local ones over in the Malling area to keep them open, then we feel the cost of those kept in Tonbridge should be paid for by Tonbridge tax payers only. Let us know how important public toilets are for you.

Trudy Dean

These two articles are largely based on Trudy’s regular emails - the West Malling, East Malling & Larkfield bulletin. Email dean.j6@sky.com if you would like to subscribe for this and other local news.

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If you contact one of these businesses, please tell them you saw their advert in Trio!

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The eagle-eyed amongst us will be aware that we have been slowly making our way through Mark’s Gospel in recent weeks. Today we hear the second of three predictions in Mark where Jesus continues to try to teach and explainto his disciplesthat he will shortly be arrested and killed.

“The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.”

This is not something for the crowds. The time for his public ministry in Galilee seems to be over now. Jesus is focussed on heading to Jerusalem and to the showdown that he knows awaits him. His task, as he sets his face towards Jerusalem is to teach and prepare his disciples privately but, as they have done before, and as they will do aga in , the d i sc ip le s s imply don’ t understand.

Jesus calls himself “The Son of Man”, a title from the Old Testament, used in various places but perhaps most notably in the Book of Daniel, chapter 7 where ironically it is the Son of Man who has authority and power as the Messiah, and is not the one who lays down such power and is betrayed.

It’s a deliberate title and one with big meaning for his hearers but Jesus inverts and subverts all their expectations of what it will mean for him.

Our reading from Jeremiah, (like Isaiah last week), adds colour and theme music to the scene in Mark’s Gospel. Jesus is talking betrayal, arrest, death… he’s talking sacrifice and redemption and healing. As Jeremiah prophesies of the Messiah many years

before: “I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter.”

Evil plotting against him:

“Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will no longer be remembered!”

But as they did before, when Simon-Peter made his declaration of faith in Jesus, the disciples completely get it wrong.

They arrive in Capernaum. We know from elsewhere in Mark chapter 1 (in a story also repeated in Matthew 8 and Luke 4) that Simon-Peter’s wife’s mother - his mother-in-law lived in Capernaum, Jesus and his followers had stayed there before. In that previous story, Jesus heals this woman of a fever. So perhaps it was in that ‘house’ that Mark talks of, when they are in private and alone once again… and Jesus asks them what they had been discussing after he had been teaching them about his forthcoming arrest, death, resurrection and the most monumental events of human history that lay just around the corner.

“Given all we’ve talked about, lads… what was on your mind?”

“Err… we were talking about the who is the greatest out of us twelve”. *cough*

“Great… thanks for listening carefully, chaps. You’ve really understood my message there, haven’t you? Who is the greatest indeed?”

When they ask ‘who is the greatest’ and compete and flex muscles and jostle for position, in an attempt to reorient their hearts and minds, Jesus takes one of the

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Sermon of the monthRev David Green, Seventeenth Sunday after TrinitySt Mary’s, 23rd September 2018Readings: Jeremiah 11.18-20 and Mark 9.30-37

children in his arms, perhaps one of the babies in Simon-Peter and his wife’s brood living in that house in Capernaum and this is where I’d like to focus my sermon today, he says:

“Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. Whoever welcomes one such child [as this] in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

If you want to be great, learn to serve and start to think like children… be like children…. if you welcome one such child as this, even a baby, you will be welcoming me… and in welcoming me, you welcome the Father who sent me.

I know that, historically, churches were seen as places where kids were to keep still and be quiet, perhaps some of you grew up in that kind of world, and you sort of expect it to be the case today.

If I disappoint you, I’m sorry, but I do not share that perspective on children in church.

The world we live in is one where children don’t sit still or be quiet anywhere. It’s not how our school system works in the 21st century, it’s not the world they see on TV or the Internet and it’s not realistic to expect that church is the one place where it applies. I’m not even sure we should expect it.

As our Baptism Order of Service puts it in its advice to parents “God put the wiggle in your children and he gave them the ability to communicate and the curiosity to explore. Don’t feel you have to suppress any of those things in God’s house.”

I think, if you watch and listen closely, on any given Sunday, you can sometimes hear at least three sermons in church!

The first is the obvious one - one like the one you are listening to now; a minister standing to speak and expound God’s word.

But there’s another sermon going on regularly here. On a Sunday when there are toddlers and pre-schoolers with us, take a moment to see the worship through their eyes… the way they explore, the way they wander, when they listen to the organ or stand in front of the music group.

Theirs is a journey of awe and wonder and learning in worship, and that’s a sermon that we would all do well to heed.

And sometimes we get a third sermon from babies. In 1924 a priest called Father Conroy wrote a book called “The Mill Town Pastor”. In it, he recounts an experience when he preached one day and a baby was crying.

He interrupted what he planned to say and told the congregation “there are two of us preaching in church at once today and I don’t know which of us is giving the better sermon.”

He went on. “When a baby cries in church, he is telling us two things. First, that there are babies in our church family and that is a beautiful thing.

Second, that his mother has come to the Mass with her baby with all that says about her desire for God, about her desire to raise her child in the community of our faith, and the sense of safety the rest of us give to them both.”

“on the whole” he said “I think the baby is preaching the better sermon and so if he needs to cry and preach his address to us all, I would rather we let him get on with it.”

The latest statistics from the Church of England released in October 2017 last year showed that there are no children at all in the smallest 25% of the Church of England’s congregations. It’s probably one of the very biggest reasons why those churches are the smallest 25%.

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Of the 1.1 million in a Church of England church each week only one fifth are under 18. one third are over 70.

There are many reasons for that, of course. Our population is aging for one and so sometimes natural demographics make things look worse than they are. But as I’ve said before and it is a famous quote, the church is always one generation away from extinction. It always has been and it always will be.

It is so, so important that we provide space for children to learn and grow in faith and be encouraged and inspired to explore God for themselves.

It’s why our link with our local Primary Schools, is so vital and important and so worth the time of our Governors and parents and those who help out there to support and encourage the school.

And, of course, it’s why it’s so important that we do what we can to provide for them here in this building.

I know we have some way to go. But, I do find it a real sadness and frustration that we can’t muster enough helpers and leaders between us to ensure Sunday School happens every week.

I’m very conscious of several children with additional needs but I can’t offer very much for them in particular, because at present, I can’t even manage to resource fully the Sunday School for those without needs.

I don’t know how to sugar coat that for you… I’m not even sure that I should.

Jesus called his followers to be as children and to welcome them as if they were preparing a welcome for Jesus himself. There are always challenges when it comes to kids. Of course, they can be noisy. Of course, they can be disruptive. We live in difficult times where kids and parents are trying to navigate a pressured world, where threat online and

offline is never too far away. They are dealing with stuff that I never had to deal with as a kid.

There’s a great sermon quote that you may have heard:

“The world is passing through troublous times. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for the girls, they are forward, immodest and unladylike in speech, behaviour and dress."

It’s from a sermon preached by Peter the Hermit in 1274 A.D!

Despite our assurances to the contrary that children and young people used to be better behaved, and less troublesome, the world keeps turning and it’s always been the same.

Children are children, teenagers are teenagers. So has it ever been.

The context changes, the pressures change, but the call on the church actually is always the same.

The question, as always, is how we choose to respond.

Jesus said “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus,May we value and appreciate and serve our children,welcoming them as if we were welcoming you in person.

Help us to be like children,for the sake of your Kingdom.In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

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Cartoon Church

Real church signs

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This CartoonChurch.com cartoon originally appeared in the Church Times and can be found in the book How to avoid the Peace available from good retailers.

November may not be the sunniest month in the calendar but it makes up for it in fireworks, and i don't mean the ones you buy at the local newsagent! Trees and shrubs that you 've bare ly not iced throughout the past sux months are suddenly blasting out vibrant colour. There is much beauty in the last rites of the humble tree or shrub.

The Acer is probably the most prevalent with its serrated leaves but there are many stars of this show. It may not be a tree for most gardens as it get to 12 metres in height but Liquidambar styraciflua has even more dramatic leaf, looking like a raptor’s footprint with its veins sticking out!

Then there's the Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonica) which, along with the fact the leaf goes a buttery yellow, it radiates a smell that reminds me of toffee apples! I kid you not!

My favourite though has to be Euonymus alatus 'compactus', it can be pruned into a tree (one stem) or left to grow into a large shrub (three metres high). At this time of the year it's cerise pink leaves really stand out but that's not all. It has the most amazing orange berry that wildlife with snack on during the winter months.

There are many other trees and shrubs that display eye-catching berries in our gardens. The most popular being Pyracantha and Mountain Ash or Rowan (Sorbus ) . Pyracantha is a cracking plant for birds as the vicious spikes protect them. I'm sure you might have snagged a jumper on one in the past?

I always wonder why people plant them

near a entrance but it's a great burglar deterrent if left to grow!

I know that many of you work in London and at this time of year you will be going to work and coming home in the dark. So I urge you with what precious daylight you do have make to sure you look up in your lunch hour, rather than looking at your smart phone or magazine. London has all this colour and looks stunning against the modern and old architecture that our capital city can boast.

Enjoy this time as sometime soon a frost will come, the winds will blow and the whole lot will sadly take their final bow and fall to the ground. Monty (my dog) will have great fun rolling through the piles that collect in the corners of the garden.

Pretty soon we will scraping the frost from our car windscreens but as soon as I do that for the first time, my mind jumps forward to April and May when the vast array of colour and varieties of Tulips will appear after the fresh warm yellow daffodils.

Why? Well because tulips respond and keep better in the ground after a good hard frost. Tulip fire is reduced significantly (this is when they come up blind; without flower). There is a lot of science behind this fact but, I reckon it's mainly because the frost kills off harmful bacteria in the soil.

So November means less light and less warmth but it can give the most dramatic colours in and around our gardens. Enjoy it while it lasts!

Adam McKay

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In the Garden with Adam’s Gardens

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St Gabriel’s Church, Discovery School, Kings Hill

1st Sunday 10.00 am Worship and the Word2nd 10.00 am Holy Communion (Common Worship)3rd 10.00 am Parade and All-Age worship4th 10.00 am Holy Communion (Common Worship)

St Michael’s Church, Offham

1st Sunday 9.15 am All-Age Service2nd 9.15 am Holy Communion (Common Worship)3rd 9.15 am Morning Prayer (Common Worship)4th 9.15 am Holy Communion (Common Worship)

St Mary’s Church, West Malling

Sundays 8:00 am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)

1st Sunday 10.00 am Holy Communion (Common Worship)2nd 10.00 am All-Age Service3rd 10.00 am Holy Communion (Common Worship)4th 10.00 am Morning Prayer (Common Worship)

Mondays 7.45 pm Bell Ringing practiceTuesdays 10.00 am Morning Prayer

Barn Chapel, Pilsdon at Malling Community, Water Lane, West Malling

Sundays 4.00 pm Open House Tea 6.00 pm Holy Communion

Wednesdays 12 noon Holy Communion

Offham Methodist Church, Teston Road, Offham

Sundays 11.00 am Worship

Calendar for Sundays in November