August 2011

Proclaiming the word & work of God

OCHESTER

HaloBaroness Scotland visits GreenhitheGuest speaker at St Mary,Greenhithe on PentecostSunday was Baroness Scotlandof Asthall, Deputy AttorneyGeneral.She answered questions about her

family life, paying tribute to theencouragement she received fromher father.She was born in Dominica & came

to the UK at the age of 2. She waseducated in state schools in EastLondon. She said, “I grew up with avery strong understanding that Godhad given us each a gift and it wasour job to find it and use it to helpother people.”“I’m not afraid of failing and I’m just

not ready not to try. I was brought upto believe that there is no such wordas can’t unless you have tried andtried again. So I just didn’t want tohear it when people said you couldn’tchange things.”This determination led to Baroness

Scotland campaigning to reducedomestic violence, which affects 1:4women at some point in their lives.She was told she was being “brave”and “bold” and discovered what

people really meant was she was“nuts.” But through her effortsdomestic violence has been reducedby approximately 33% since 2004.Baroness Scotland is a very

unassuming but remarkable lady. In1991 she became the first blackwoman to be made Queen’s Counseland the youngest since William Pitt theYounger. She became the first blackfemale government minister in 1999and the first black person to beappointed Attorney General since the

post was created in 1315. Sheattributes these achievements to God,for she did not seek them, they cameto her.The congregation were inspired and

encouraged by her attitude and faith.She based her talk on Psalm 91, “Hewho dwells in the shelter of the MostHigh, will rest in the shadow of theAlmighty. I will say of the Lord, He ismy refuge and my fortress, my God inwhom I trust.”

MMaarrggaarreett BBoobbbbyy,, RReevv BBaarrrroonn,, BBaarroonneessss SSccoottllaanndd aanndd RRoodd LLoonngg

Here I am Lord“Here I am Lord” is the DiocesanVocations Day, being held in RochesterCathedral on Saturday, 17 September,which is designed for anyone exploringwhere God might be calling, orwanting to find out more about thepossibilities of authorised ministries, orthinking about ministry at work or inchurchThe day starts at 12.30, ending at

4.30, but with an opportunity to stayfor Evensong at 5pm. We have two

guest speakers, Bishop Brian, who willbe opening the day, and our keynotespeaker will be Sister FrancesDominica, from Oxford. There will be a marketplace in the

Cathedral crypt, with stallsrepresenting a wide range ofministries, with the opportunity for aninformal chat. During the afternoon, there will be

workshops throughout the Cathedrallooking at different aspects of lay and

ordained ministry, discussing ministryin its broadest sense. The subjectscovered will range from mission toyouth ministries to communityinvolvement, and offer the chance toask questions, and find out moreinformation about possibilities forministry.For more details and booking formscontact Theresa Harrison 01634560000 by 5 September 2011

Rochester Halo 2

Life of a Diocesan Surveyor

The job of a diocesan surveyor is tolook after the diocese’s property bycarrying out inspections every fiveyears and to respond to any currentproblems that may arise in thebuildings. The present surveyor for the

Diocese of Rochester is Mark Trevettwho has been in this post for fouryears. He looks after all the buildings inthe 250 mile radius between SouthLondon and Tunbridge Wells. Thesebuildings range from newlyconstructed houses, 1000 year oldchurches, Georgian vicarages andmodern church halls. Prior to this rolehe worked for a number of years as theassistant to the diocesan surveyor inRochester and before that as abuilding surveyor for a private practice

By James Knapp

in London. He came across the rolewhilst looking at architecture but wasdrawn to this position by the job varietythat it provided. Mark spendsapproximately half of his working life inthe office and the rest of his time outvisiting buildings and properties forinspections or other purposes.At one time he often has 200 jobs

or more on the go with an annualbudget of £1million for the entirediocese. The standard equipment asurveyor will take with them on a jobare a surveyor’s ladder for getting toflat roofs or examining an area, a tapemeasure, surveying rods, torch, chisel,hammer, a plum-bob which is used tosee if a wall is out of line, binoculars, amirror, a camera, an electrical test kitand most curiously of all a marble. The

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marble is used to check the levels ofhard surfaces mainly floors.For more information visit

www.rochester.anglican.org or for workrelated issues email Mark Trevett atmark.trevett@rochester.anglican.org

New Principal for King’s SchoolKing's Rochester is delighted toannounce the appointment of MrJeremy Walker MA as Principal witheffect from 1st September 2012. Hewill succeed Dr Ian Walker whoretires at the end of August next yearafter 26 years of distinguishedservice as Head Master.Jeremy is currently Headmaster of

Berkhamsted Sixth in Hertfordshireand has been on the SeniorManagement Team at BerkhamstedSchool for five years. Prior to that hewas a Housemaster, Head ofReligious Studies and Head ofTheory of Knowledge at ArdinglyCollege, West Sussex. His firstteaching post was at BishopStopford School in Northamptonshirewhich, like Ardingly and King’sRochester, is a Woodard School.Jeremy is currently a Governor ofYork House Prep School inRickmansworth, Hertfordshire.Jeremy was educated at

Sherborne School and OxfordUniversity where he read Theology atWorcester College. He is married toHarriet and they have two childrenRupert (8), Poppy (5) and a cockerspaniel called Bramble.

Jeremy says, 'I am really lookingforward to leading King's over thecoming years. It is a great schoolwith a superb atmosphere in abeautiful setting. The whole family isexcited about moving to the area.We have friends and family locallyand have been visiting for severalyears.’

Licensing of Rev JudyHenningOn their Patronal day, St Margaret’sChurch, Rainham, welcomed Rev JudyHenning as their new Priest in Charge.At a service in Church on 20 July, RevJudy Henning was licensed by theBishop of Rochester Rt Rev JamesLangstaff, and installed by theArchdeacon of Rochester TheVenerable Simon Burton-Jones.Judy becomes the 47th Vicar of

Rainham and the first woman to holdthe post. She is married to Geoff andthey have a daughter (and son-in-law)and two grandchildren. Judy says sheis looking forward to being a part ofthe community in Rainham and servingGod in this place.

JJeerreemmyy WWaallkkeerr

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On Wednesday 8th June 2011 fortypupils from four Sidcup primaryschools took part in the Peace Cup -a five a side football tournament inmemory of Rob Knox and JimmyMizen, both of whom were killed in2008.Birkbeck, Burnt Oak, Dulverton

and Longlands Primary schools tookpart in the event at Burnt Oak JuniorSchool to promote peace throughsport; and to encourage fair play,sportsmanship and teamwork boysand girls were organised into mixedteams. One pupil from each schoolformed each team - together with alocal PCSO in goal!The Standing for Peace Group

(S4P) Christ Church Sidcup initiatedthe idea to hold the event. S4P wasformed in June 2008 following the

deaths of Rob Knox and Jimmy Mizenand seeks to bring together others inthe local community who want to makepeace happen. The Peace Cup is anew event to highlight S4P’s aims tosay 'no' to aggressive behaviour and to'plant seeds of peace' in the localcommunity.Longlands Safer Neighbourhoods

Policing Team helped to organise theevent with the support of all theSidcup based policing teams, theBexley Community Safety Partnership,Charlton Athletic Community Trust andThe Rob Knox and Jimmy MizenFoundations.The Fair Play trophies were provided

by both Foundations and Margaret andBarry Mizen were there to present theawards. They encouraged the childrento take the attitude of respect, honesty

and co-operation on to theirsecondary schools and to makepositive things happen. Margaretspoke to the children, saying, 'Takethe message of peace to all yourfriends. We're very proud of you andwe know our sons would be veryproud of you.' Barry Mizen added, 'It'sa pleasure and privilege to be heretoday.'The winners of the Rob Knox

Peace Cup were Williams Lawler, AvaWhybrow, Louie Chapman and AdamVincent.Nathan Green, Lily Harrison, Will

Whitaker and Murray Farmer-Hartleywon the Jimmy Mizen Peace Cup.The trophies were presented to the

winning teams by Margaret and BarryMizen.

Peace Cup goes to fair players

East Africa Food Crisis

At the present time in East Africa asevere food crisis is gripping theregion to which Christian Aid iscurrently responding. 10 million peoplethroughout the area in particular Kenyaand Ethiopia are facing grave foodshortages caused by the combinationof drought, irregular food harvests andhigh food prices. These factors havecaused widespread hunger forcingfamilies to migrate in search of food.The United Nations Office for theCoordination of Humanitarian Affairsreports that the situation is the worstfood crisis in the world today, andsome parts of the region areexperiencing the driest conditions in60 years. Concurrently large numbersof people have been displaced in theregion, within Sudan and Somalia, theyto have a desperate need for food andother forms of aid. Christian Aid isresponding to these people’s needs inKenya, Ethiopia and Sudan. Fundsraised by the appeal will enablepartners to provide urgent life-savingassistance including; providing tanksof water to villages experiencing theworst of the drought, food for familiesin remote locations, and animal feed toprotect the livestock that play a crucial

role in the survival of the pastoralists.Christian Aid will also support recoveryof communities and help them tobecome more resilient in future crises.“We need as much support aspossible towards Christian Aid’s EastAfrica Food Crisis Appeal, we wouldbe very grateful if in your churches youcould organise a special collection oran alternative money raising idea ofyour own. Thank you in advance forwhatever you and your church can doto support the people of East Africathrough this appeal.”AA PPrraayyeerr ffoorr EEaasstt AAffrriiccaaWe cry to you, O God, out of ourdistress at the suffering of the peopleof East Africa who are currentlyexperiencing severe food shortages. Please help the hungry people ofKenya, Sudan and Ethiopia get theassistance they need.Pleas energise those who haveresources to share and give, and givegenerously. Please protect those working indifficult circumstances to deliver aidswiftly and fairly.Please help us to continue to holdthese people before you in our prayers.Amen.

By James Knapp

Goodbye Uncle JohnExtract from tribute

On the 26 of July, after some yearsof failing health, John Stott finallyslipped quietly away to glory. I wasone of many people blessed by hisministry and to me he was - andalways will be - 'Uncle John.'In days, months and years ahead

there will be many careful andinsight-filled evaluations of JohnStott's importance. They will nodoubt focus on such big aspects oflife such as his role as a wide-ranging theologian, how he madeevangelicalism intellectuallyrespectable and how he restored avision for social involvement toevangelicals. John was loved and lovable and

that title 'Uncle John' reflects that.He was warm, friendly andconcerned, not just for a small circleof contacts but for a great range ofpeople from across the world. Heprayed for vast numbers of people.A single man, he acquired anenormous 'family' of those whowere loved by him and loved himback. Few great men are nice men;John was an exception.

CCaannoonn JJ..JJoohhnn wwwwww..pphhiilloottrruusstt..ccoomm

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Visiting Mpwapwa Diocese, Tanzania A team from Saint Mary ’s Church,Hadlow has recently returned from avisit to Kibakwe which has acommunity link to Hadlow. The teambroke their journey at Saint Phillip’sBible College, Kongwa, where CathyBrill presented a cope, eleven stolesand a Home Communion set, whichbelonged to her late father, Father KenDaniels, who assisted at Saint Mary’safter his retirement. In Kibakwe the team visited the two

primary schools and the SecondarySchool taking stationery, pens, pencilsand mathematical instruments for thestudents. The pupils at HadlowPrimary School were delighted toreceive letters from the pupils atKibakwe Primary School and are busyreplying to their new pen friends.Students from the Hadlow area arewriting to the students at KibakweSecondary School, who use English as

the medium for all their subjects. Thiswill enable all students to betterunderstand the way of life of anotherculture. At the Church in Kibakwe we were

able to attend the blessing of themotor-cycle, purchased with moneydonated by the people of Hadlow toenable the pastor to visit his flock indistant villages. Another success was the recruiting

of three hundred scouts by CarrieLancaster form the Hadlow troop,aided by Eddy and Selestine fromDodoma. The scouts will wear thescarf of the Tonbridge Patrol, which willfurther cement the link between ourtwo parishes. We also visited the Agricultural

Research Institute at Mpwapwa, whereRod Derrick discussed the possibilityof forming a link with Hadlow College.Our last call was to Saint Luke ’s Clinicwith a suit-case full of baby clothesand quilts for the Maternity Unit, madeby the Hadlow Mothers’ Union. We are very grateful to Bishop

Jacob Chimeledya, Rev Charles Zaidi,Sylvester Chamwelha, PastorAlexander and Violet Mwaga for theirhelp in planning the visit and their carefor us. We have the gift of beautifulTanzanian clothes and friendshipswhich we shall develop and treasure.

By Liz Derrick

Licensing of Rev Brian McHenry Bexley PhoenixChoir Concert at St John’s Church,MeophamOn Saturday 3 September the BexleyPhoenix Choir will perform at St John’sChurch, Meopham.Starting at 7:30pm there will be a

varied programme of sacred andsecular music including Faure,Gorecki, Harris, Graham and Lovlandand Bernstein.Tickets £6 for adults, £3 for

children/students available from TheParish Office 01474 813106 or on thedoor.Come and hear this vibrant young

choir singing a variety of musical stylesfrom Early Church Music, through theclassical and romantic era to folk,gospel and popular contemporarysongs, there is something for everyone.Directed by John Mackenzie andaccompanied by Christine Diggens.Visit www.bexleyphoenixchoir.org.uk formore information

On Thursday 7 July Rev Brian McHenry CBE was instituted as Vicar of AllSaints Orpington by the Bishop of Rochester, Rt Rev James Langstaff.Brian said, “God has sprung a splendid surprise on me . The surprise is All

Saints! I look forward eagerly to taking part in Mission of God in thewonderful community in Orpington.”