Calendar of Festivals 2010

The Epiphany of Our Lord	Wednesday 6th January
We remember the visit of the wise men to the infant Jesus and rejoice that this child was born for people of all nations.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity	Monday 18th — Monday 25th January
We pray for greater cooperation between the different Christian denominations.
Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)	Tuesday 2nd February
We recall that Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to thank God for his birth, where he was acclaimed as the Light of the World.
Ash Wednesday	Wednesday 17th February
The first day of Lent, a six-week period of penitence and preparation for Easter.
Mothering Sunday	Sunday 14th March
We give thanks for the Church, which is our spiritual mother, for Mary, the mother of Jesus, and for our own mothers.
Palm Sunday	Sunday 28th March
The first day of Holy Week, when we commemorate the events of the last week of Jesus' life, beginning with his entry into Jerusalem.
Maundy Thursday	Thursday 1st April
The anniversary of the Last Supper, when Jesus took bread and wine and shared them with his disciples. We continue to share bread and wine as part of our worship in church.
Good Friday	Friday 2nd April
The most solemn day of Holy Week and the Christian year, when we commemorate the death of Jesus.
Easter Day	Sunday 4th April
The most important Christian festival, when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
Ascension Day	Thursday 13st May
We give thanks for the ascension of Jesus into heaven forty days after his resurrection from the dead.
Pentecost	Sunday 23rd May
God gives the Holy Spirit to the followers of Jesus and the Christian Church is born.
Trinity Sunday	Sunday 30th May
When we remember that God is beyond our ability to know or describe. God is the word we use to name a mystery.
The Transfiguration of Our Lord	Friday 6th August
The disciples are on a mountain with Jesus and see him radiant with the glory of God.
The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary	Wednesday 8th September
We celebrate the birth of Mary, mother of Jesus.
St Michael and All Angels	Wednesday 29th September
A festival in honour of the archangel Michael, who is one of only two angels mentioned by name in the Bible (the other being Gabriel).
All Saint’s Day	Monday 1st November
We honour the lives of all Christian people, known and unknown, who have followed Jesus down through the centuries.
All Soul’s Day	Tuesday 2nd November
We commemorate those who have died on this day. Special services of commemoration are held on, or near, All Souls’ Day.
Remembrance Sunday	Sunday 14th November
We remember those whose lives, in world wars and conflicts past and present, have been given and taken away.
Advent Sunday	Sunday 28th November
The start of the Christian year and the four-week period before Christmas when we focus upon the coming of Jesus, both at Christmas and at the end of time.
Christmas Day	Saturday 25th December
We celebrate the birth of Jesus.

G7 Patronal Festivals

St Peter and St Paul, Charing	Tuesday 29th June
Jesus gave Peter his name, which means ‘rock’, and said that on this rock he would build his Church. Peter witnessed to the lordship of Jesus and Paul developed an understanding of its meaning for Jesus’ followers, writing many of the letters in the New Testament.
Holy Trinity, Charing Heath	Monday 7th June
The doctrine of the Trinity is the Christian belief that there is One God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Other ways of referring to the Trinity are the Triune God and the Three-in-One.
St James, Egerton	Sunday 25th July
James was a Galilean fisherman who was one of the first apostles called by Jesus to follow him. James was with Jesus at his Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was put to death because of his faith in the year 44AD.
St Margaret, Hothfield	Tuesday 20th July
Margaret of Antioch gave her life during the Diocletian persecutions at the beginning of the fourth century. Her preaching before her death is said to have converted many to the Christian faith.
St Mary the Virgin, Little Chart	Wednesday 8th September
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is sometimes described as the first Christian disciple. Mary was faithful, obedient and open to God.
St Nicholas, Pluckley	Monday 6th December
Nicholas was a fourth century bishop of Myra in southern Turkey. Many of the stories about him concern his love and care for children, the hungry, the sick and the oppressed.
St Mary the Virgin, Westwell	Wednesday 8th September
Mary said yes to God’s astonishing proposition that God the Son should be born into this world and, from that moment on, both heaven and earth were changed.