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Church is community. It is about people rather than buildings. In being part of the Christian Church we are seeking to be a group of people who live according to the pattern and example of Jesus of Nazareth. In order to do this we meet together regularly for prayer and worship.
Jesus welcomed the stranger and extended his love to everyone who came to him. He included amongst his friends a rich variety of men and women. He was at ease with children. He had a particular place in his heart for those who were easily condemned by others. He was able to bring healing and wholeness to those who came to him.
Christians seek to be like Jesus in the world today. We are part of the community. We extend the warmth of acceptance of others, seen in Jesus, to those amongst whom we live.
The relevance of Christianity to modern life in our villages
The mission of the Parish Churches of Eynsford, Farningham and Lullingstone is to worship God, to proclaim God's love by word and deed, to nurture spiritually a diverse community and to serve that community and all who come among us.
The Parish Churches of the Benefice are communities of welcome. Our aim is to ensure that everyone coming into our churches feels comfortable and valued. The Good News of the Christian Gospel is that each person matters. We want each person who comes to our Churches to enjoy hospitality that allows them to feel blessed.
We are an inclusive Church. We aim to enable all people to feel met, refreshed, fulfilled and hopeful.
There are a number of ways you can find out more ... Come to a Service at Church (see the calendar for Service times) or there are specific activities you may enjoy, like singing in the choir, ringing the bells or being part of a study group and we always need help at various events.
You may like to just ask someone for more information before you commit yourself to anything. If so, there are plenty of people who will be happy to help. If you would prefer it, someone can call on you at your home.
The Rector, Neil, is available on 863050. Please do call and he will be very happy to talk with you. Alternatively send him an email.
What is Christian healing?
What does it mean to be healthy? It may mean that our bodies are in good shape. But there are many people whose bodies function well but who are unhappy, unsatisfied, or unfulfilled, because there are worries, traumas and difficulties to contend with. To be healthy or 'whole' may include coping, finding peace, and even finding good in the negative. In this approach to life there is that third of our humanity, so often neglected or unacknowledged, which is our spiritual nature, without which the real 'me' is incomplete. Without a healthy spiritual life our bodies and minds may remain unhealthy, unwhole. Our bodies and minds are not separate 'bits' of us - worry may lead to illness, guilt to depression, for example. Everyone is far from perfectly healthy, but everyone can take an 'inner journey' to greater 'wholeness'. On this 'inner journey' there is the possibility of change through the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives. In His life on this earth, Jesus was fully human, so He knows what life’s like. The facts of His death and resurrection point the way to release, freedom and wholeness - from darkness to light - for each and everyone, because each and everyone of us is dearly loved by God and uniquely special to God. As we ask in Jesus' name – a form of prayer - God offers what is best for us, which may range from miraculous recovery to the peace of acceptance, or from an urgency of action to a meditative serenity. This is healing; movement towards wholeness. An aspect of healing may be the transforming power of God's love in our lives. This is not a demanding of God, nor is it 'faith healing', in the sense of dependence on uncontrollable psychic forces. It is not exploitative or abusive, through being coercive or manipulative. God's love enables and empowers each person to become fully what they are. The healing ministry of the Church is there to enable anyone who seeks a more whole life - body, mind and spirit - to enjoy more of what God has to offer. You can bring your burdens and troubles for yourself, or another, or others, to Church. In this way you can know you don't have to feel alone, praying to God with your troubles. In this way God is often experienced as compassionately present, not judging you, for example, but giving a feeling of being bathed in a greater goodness than any of us can fully know. In this Benefice, there is opportunity during the Church services, for your prayers to be offered in this way. Also specific requests for prayer can be left in our Churches. Neil Taylor. Rector. |
Healing (including the laying on of hands if required) and prayer support is available at the 10am Parish Communion at St. Martin's, Eynsford on the first and third Sundays, at St. Peter and St. Paul's, Farningham on the second and fourth Sundays, and also at the 11.15am Holy Communion at St. Botolph's, Lullingstone on the first Sunday. The healing and/or prayer support takes place during the service, but in private. Alternatively, the same support is available from members of the Pastoral Team and the time and place can be organised to suit you.
Don't suffer in silence. Please do come and ask for whatever help you need. We have a highly trained team who will be pleased to assist and comfort you.
Thanks to Delia Rowbotham, Co-Leader of the Benefice Pastoral Team for the following information:-
The Pastoral Team has grown, under Hazel Salmon's tutelage, from the team of Christian Listeners who undertook the Acorn 'Learning to Listen' and/or 'Called to Listen' Training in 2004, together with others who were already involved in pastoral or healing work. 15 of us, men and women, were commissioned at Whitsun.
Training is ongoing, specific areas of need being addressed, and further support is available through prayer triplets. Supervision is offered to each member of the team, either from Gillian Hill or myself; and ultimately the Rector is responsible for us.
As Christ did, we aim to listen to where an individual is 'at', which in itself can be enormously healing. This is a disciplined process, and involves total confidentiality.
Each Team Member has a small number of people to visit in and around the benefice, not necessarily regular worshippers. They may or may not have expressed a need, but may simply be sick, elderly, isolated, depressed or recently bereaved. Our role is to make contact in the name of the Church, and to show loving concern. This is seen as different from a purely social call, in which family or other news would be exchanged as a matter of course. Prayer can be offered when appropriate.
If a need for practical help is recognised, a Pastoral Team member will suggest a way of tackling this, rather than automatically carrying it out him/herself; similarly with a need for transport to an appointment or to a church service.
If you would like a visit from a Pastoral Team member or more information, please contact Delia. Tel 01959 524186 or deliavictoria@aol.com