Welcome to the December edition of Rochester Diocese's monthly e-newsletter. Due to the Christmas holidays, please note that our next e-newsletter will be out on Thursday 9 January, 2020.
Bishop James uses his Christmas message this year to encourage us, amidst the uncertainty in our society, to look for where we see the signs of God's kingdom and to take those with us as we enter the season of Christmas.
To read and download the Bishop's message in full, click here
Diocesan Update All you need to know this month from the Diocese and National Church
DR RUTH VALERIO: NEW CANON The environmentalist, theologian and author of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book in 2020, Dr Ruth Valerio, is to join Rochester Cathedral in February as an honorary canon. More here
HEARING THE VOICES OF VICTIMS/SURVIVORS OF ABUSE As part of the independent Past Cases review currently underway within the Diocese, we are very keen to engage with victims and survivors to ensure their voice is heard and offer support. Read more here
TOGETHER MAGAZINE OUT NOW The Winter edition of our diocesan-wide magazine is now available! A great read from start to finish. Look out for it in parishes, or read it online. Find it here
THANK YOU: DROUGHT APPEAL Thank you to everyone who contributed so generously to the appeal made earlier this year, to support our companion diocese of Zimbabwe, who are facing a dire environmental, economic and political situation. More here
GRANTFINDER
Due to limited use, we are no longer offering the Grantfinder portal on the Diocesan website. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Information from Grantfinder can still be accessed through local libraries.
News in brief Stories from around the parishes
Lego helps build connections Lego Saturdays in Tunbridge Wells are helping one church connect with new families. Read more
New artwork revealed St Justus installs 'stunning' artwork by local Christian artist. Read more
Award for interfaith in Bexley
Delight as Interfaith Forum wins London faith award. Read more
Church tree's eco fightback Every tree counts in Bromley church's eco response. Read more
Events and Training
For more local and Diocesan events, visit our What's On Calendar. Add your own event too. You can also explore the full range of courses and events available at:
The Diocese of Rochester's Spiriitualty Network here
For listings of forthcoming Safeguarding training, click here
Tim Boniface - The Infant Saturday 7 December, 7pm (for 7.30pm) St Stephen's Church, Tonbridge
A performance by jazz multi-instrumentalist, composer and theologian, the Rev Dr Tim Boniface, of his latest jazz work, ‘The Infant: A Jazz Suite for Christmas’.
Tickets cost £12.50 per person, which will include wine during the intermission.
BAME VOCATIONS CONFERENCE 22 February, 1pm to 5.30pm St. George's, Beckenham
An event aiming to bring together people of BAME heritage from the local church to talk about vocation in the Church of England.
Be inspired in your vocational journey, be equipped with knowledge about the various ministries in the Church and be informed about the current state of BAME vocations nationally.
Top resources to support you in your work, life and faith - or just to share with others.
FAITH PODCASTS We're a nation of podcast-lovers - around 7.1 million of us in the UK listen to podcasts each week. There’s a dizzying array to choose from too. In the latest edition of Together magazine, Brad Cook, Licensed Lay Minister at Christ Church, Luton gives us his pick of his top faith podcasts. View it here
FAITH THROUGHOUT THE SEASONS There are lots of great resources available from Church House Publishing, to support you and your congregation's spiritual journeys over the next few months. From Advent and Christmas, through to Ordinary Time and on into Lent. Find out more here
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ROUND-UP The latest newsletter from the Children and Young People Team is now available. Full of updates, key dates and resources - great for anyone interested in youth and children's work. Receive it direct to your inbox by emailling: sarah.cabella@rochester.anglican.org
Vision and Aims
GROWING DISCIPLES - To build confident disciples, who have deeper relationships with God and are more confident for evangelism and mission
Life Together - is a new initiative to help deepen our relationship with God across the Diocese of Rochester
Conversations around, Called Together, the vision for the Diocese, identified a desire among many of us to be better equipped as ‘devoted disciples’ of Jesus.
Inspired by this desire, ‘Life Together’, encourages small groups to form in a flexible and accessible way, to allow people to abide and obey with others in Christ.
The ways in which this could work are endless, exciting and could be very imaginative.
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