The G7 Group of Parishes

G7 Group of Parishes

In November 2003, the churches of Charing, Charing Heath, Egerton, Hothfield, Little Chart, Pluckley and Westwell, joined together to form the G7 Group of Parishes. Since then, we have been discovering that working together as a group opens up all kinds of opportunities and possibilities. Therefore we are fully committed to the life of the group.

Our task, as a group of Christian churches, is to live the life of Christ, share his love with others, and give light to the world.

We try to fulfil this mission in conjunction with other denominations in the locality. We believe that we can do this only if we become:

a Holy People (growing in prayer);
a Learning People (growing in faith);
a Missionary and Evangelistic People (looking outward);
and a People who Travel Light (holding to our priorities).

These are the themes of our Mission Plan. Task groups, made up of representatives of all the G7 churches, meet regularly to implement the Mission Plan and continue the exciting work of turning vision into reality.

Latest…

Charing Annual Rota

If you are a serving church cleaner or parish magazine collator, or interested in becoming one, then come along to the Annual Rota meeting in Charing Barn on Thursday 15th January at 2pm. If you cannot attend the meeting, please ring Janet McIntyre (712143) about church cleaning and Ray Selves (714686) about magazine collation. If the weather is very bad, the meeting will be postponed until Thursday 29th January. If you're not sure if the weather is bad enough, then contact Janet or Ray. Our grateful thanks goes to all the people who give up their time to help. The more helpers there are, the more the load will be spread, so please get in touch.

For Your Prayers

We now have a new cycle of prayer ‘For Your Prayers’. Those of you who lead Sunday intercessions may also wish to read them and bring into your prayers the subjects listed under the relevant Sunday.

Re:fresh Services

Did you know that there are now two Re:fresh services in Charing Barn each month: on the second and fourth Sundays at 11am? And that there is a Re:fresh service in Hothfield Village Hall on the third Sunday of the month, also at 11am? These are very informal times of worship, which always begin with something tasty to eat, and include coffee and tea. Contact Richard King (712598) or Lindsay (712576) for more information.

2009 Church Roadshow

Early in 2009, Richard and Lindsay will travel round the G7 churches presenting the 2009 Church Roadshow. Come along and discover the What, Why, Where and When of 2009:

Sunday 11th January
- 9.30am Westwell Church
- 11am Pluckley Church
Sunday 18th January
- 9.30am Charing Church
- 11am Hothfield Village Hall
Sunday 25th January
- 9.30am Egerton Church
- 4pm Charing Heath Church

Can't make one? Then simply come along to another.

Authorised Lay Ministry

We have no fewer than seven people who are being trained for authorised lay ministry: Russell Anderson, Caroline Asteraki Speer, Ylva Blid-Mackenzie, Joyce Gallagher, Janet McIntyre, Marianne Oliver and Dawn Stamper. In addition, Sue Starkings has begun training for Ordained Local Ministry. Please support them and remember them in your prayers.

G7 DVD

Have you got your copy of the G7 DVD yet? The DVD features our seven villages and churches and would make a lovely present. If you’ve recently moved in to one of our villages, then this would be a good way of getting to know the area. Or you might simply want to buy one as a keepsake. The DVD retails at £8, and you can get hold of your copy by ringing David Hooper on 712986, or Lindsay (712576).

If You Would Like To Be Confirmed

…or if you are thinking about confirmation and would like to find out more, please speak to one of the ministers. A confirmation service is planned for Thursday 21st May 2009.

Lent Groups

Faith, Hope and Love is the theme of the 2009 Lent course. You will, if you wish, be able to join one of three groups: on Tuesday evening at 7.30pm (contact Richard King on 712598); on Wednesday evening at 7.45pm (contact Philip Cox on 840274); and on Thursday morning at 10.30am (contact Lindsay Hammond on 712576). The groups are interchangeable, so if you can’t make your first-choice group that week, simply pop along (first notifying the leader) to another one. The course lasts for five weeks and all three groups kick off in the week beginning the 1st March. Contact the relevant minister for more details. ‘These three… Faith, Hope and Love’ is based on the three great qualities celebrated in 1 Corinthians 13. This famous passage begins and ends in majestic prose. But the middle paragraph is practical and demanding. St Paul’s thirteen verses take us to the heart of what it means to be a Christian.

Exploring Sacred Space

…is the theme of a G7 three-day trip to the First World War Somme battlefield next April. We shall travel to France by minibus, leaving at 8am on Friday 17th April, stay at the Ibis Hotel in Albert on Friday and Saturday evening, and return to the United Kingdom on the midnight sailing on Sunday 19th April. The cost will be about £150, but this does not include meals. Some walking will be involved so you will need good, stout shoes or boots. We shall use the trip to reflect on the Christian ideas, images and languages of First World War cemeteries and memorials and explore a Christian view of war. There will be a briefing evening at Hothfield Children’s Centre on Friday 3rd April at 7.30pm. If you would like to go (only ten places available) then contact Lindsay.

G7 Unite!

The seven PCCs have given the green light to the proposal to bring the seven parishes into a united benefice, a public statement of our commitment to one another. The proposal now goes to the Diocesan Pastoral Committee and consultation, after which, and depending on the outcome, it ends up with the Church Commissioners to be formally passed by Order in Council.

Front Page Photograph

We should like to change the photo on the front page of this website fairly often so, if you'd like to see one of your photographs there, please contact Tim.