C of E Daily Prayer

Link to C of E Daily Prayer

WEST SEVENOAKS TEAM MINISTRY

Lay Minister: Daphne Harrison

Team Rector:  Position Vacant

Contact details here

In this Team Ministry, we work alongside:
St Mary's, Kippington

and St Luke's, Sevenoaks

Here at  St. Mary's Church, in the Parish of Riverhead with Dunton Green, we are committed to Safeguarding Children, Young People, and Vulnerable Adults.

Our PCC has adopted the Church of England's policies and best practice on Safeguarding which may be found on the Church of England's website.

Christmas Message

Well, what a year 2020 has turned out to be! It's been a huge muddle of unexpected events - many of them unpleasant - which have developed totally unpredictably.

We don't know how you're feeling, or how you're coping, but everything's changing all the time it seems, and just about everything's unpredictable too – not least the weather and our feelings... we have no idea how Christmas will be either – who does? It will be different – that's for sure.

And yet some things don't change: Christmas is still the celebration of the birth of the most extraordinary person ever. Jesus Christ broke into human history about 2,000 years ago and claimed to change everything. He claims to be God in human form. He claims to be God with us. He claims to be the Light of the world. Incredible mind-boggling claims, which Christians know to be true - and if they're true, then they're true for all time regardless of how you or we may be feeling at this extraordinary time.

At St Mary's it's been a pretty turbulent year too, and for many it continues to be a painful and worrying time. We do remain very concerned about anyone who may be isolated though, or feel forgotten.

In spite of all the ongoing challenges, difficulties and uncertainties, we are moving forward one day and challenge at a time, trusting in Jesus, our God of love who travels with us and leads us forward.

As you can see, we are currently planning a mixture of real and virtual Christmas services, but that may have to change again, so do watch our website, because we would love you to join us when the time comes. We continue to pray for everyone in Dunton Green and Riverhead and we are planning a peaceful and positive Christmas full of hope, which we want to be accessible and welcoming to everyone. We don't have all the answers, but we worship a God who does, and we continue to trust and follow Him, because He is our unchanging God, who knows and loves every single person entirely, which is why He came at Christmas in the first place. He journeys with us and guides us. He is Jesus - still the light of the world. Our prayer is that you may know Him too.

Best wishes from us all at St Mary's.
Daphne Harrison, Rachel Wigley and Alison Bull
Lay Minister and Churchwardens

 

As of the 18th April 2024, The PCC Members are:

 

Team Vicar: The Reverend Anne Bourne

Team Curate: The Reverend Stephen Osei-Mensah

Church Wardens: Warwick Perry and Karen Forster Pearce

Licensed Lay Minister: Daphne Harrison

Representatives on the Deanery Synod:

Daphne Harrison

Veronica Todd

Elected Members

Barry Sharp                                        

Trevor Harrison (Treasurer)

Susan Perry

Sarah Stott

Susan Allender

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 2020

Details to follow shortly.

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View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://stmaryriverhead.co.uk/index.php/2-uncategorised?start=11#sigProId084b733ecd

Sunday Club (Lockdown)

Sunday Club is an all age group with members from 0 through to teenagers.

We come together on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month via a 9:30am 'Zoom' service to explore the Sunday bible readings and return to the full Congregation 'Zoom' service to share all that we have learned.

We are hopeful that we will be able to return to our regular 'in-person' gatherings in the Church Hall in Riverhead during the 9:30am Sunday Service soon.

There is a team of parent leaders and teenage helpers.

Teaching is based on the Sunday Bible readings as used at the main morning service using material from a variety of sources. Activities vary week to week and in the different classes, but can include reading, painting, singing, watching videos, drawing, acting, game creation, praying, listening to stories...; the list is almost endless.

For more information contact:

 

 

Examples of Sunday Club's work:- (click image to enlarge)

 

Bible Study and Prayer Group

A regular group meets for prayer and bible study each Monday evening in one of the group's homes or on Zoom. The Meeting starts at 8pm and lasts approximately 1 hour.

To date we have studied: Women of Faith, Life Changing encounters from the Gospel of John, Exodus 1-18, Romans 1-5, Guide to Psalms, Job and Philippians, Judges and Peter 2. We have just finished studying The Sermon on the Mount.

If you would like to join the group, you would be made very welcome. The first Monday of the month is devoted to prayer. There is a prayer board for people to pin up their prayer requests and a prayer box for private prayer requests, both located at the back of the church. 

The group is currently studying Paul's letter to the Philippians in 8 chapters. You can see videos of the book we are studying here, chapter by chapter. 

Please contact Daphne or Ronnie for details

Choir and Music Group

St. Mary's has a strong commitment to music in its worship. Music inspires and enhances worship. The Choir sings at the principal services at St. Mary's Church; the 9:30am Sunday Service and Festivals. We will happily sing at weddings if requested. Choir practice is every Thursday evening at 8pm in the Church. There is an instrumental Music Group which plays once a month at the Family Service, under the direction of Janet Sharp. New members to both the Choir and Music Group are always welcome.

For more information contact:

Music Co-ordinator:  Janet Sharp      Tel. 01732 452715

Resources / Links

This area contains links to other websites of churches and organisations that we have a close relationship with as a church or that we find as useful resources for 21st century Christian living. We have also provided you with information you may need if you wish to plan a baptism, wedding or funeral at St.Mary's.

Useful Websites

Action by Christians Against Torture

Alpha Course or Christianity Explored
Find out where there's either of these two courses running in your area.

Bible Society
An advocate for the Bible in contemporary cultures, resourcing and influencing those who shape society and making the Bible heard by all.

Christian Aid
Working through local organisations to challenge the causes of poverty and making change happen.

The Children's Society 

This worth while charity is supported by the parish and the highlight of its year is at the annual Christingle services held held on Christmas Eve annually at St.Mary's.

Christian Enquiry Agency 
The Christian Enquiry Agency provides information for people who want to find out about the Christian faith and its founder Jesus Christ. It does not just give a version of Christianity adhered to by one particular group of Christians ('denomination' or 'tradition'). Instead it attempts to explain and explore what Christians of all kinds believe.

Church of England

Diocese of Rochester

Diocese of Rochester - Monthly E-Newsletter

Sevenoaks Deanery

Churches together in Sevenoaks and District (CTSD) 
Click on their 'Ministries' tab to see all the social action that is undertaken by Churches together.

A Church Near You
Enter a location and find the nearest church. Details of each church include a map of the ecclesiastical parish boundary.

Fairtrade

Fellowship Finders
Helps young people moving in to new area within UK or Ireland to get involved in a church or fellowship.

Jesus and Me (JAM)
An on-line Advent calendar, and other Christian resources, suitable for children.

Operation Noah
An ecumenical Christian charity providing leadership, focus and inspiration in response to the growing threat of catastrophic climate change.

Parish Councils
Dunton Green
Riverhead

Planning a Wedding
A practical resource for planning your church wedding.

Prayer
Thy Kingdom
Just Pray

Sevenoaks Area Youth Trust (SAYT)

Sevenoaks Christian School (Trinity School Sevenoaks)

Spring Harvest
An inter-denominational Christian organization which provides a range of events, conferences, courses and resources.

Tearfund
A Christian relief and development agency working with a global network of local churches to help eradicate poverty.

Traidcraft

War Memorial, Riverhead
Website with researched details of those people whose names are listed.

West Kent Debt Advice
WKDA is a free, confidential, money advice charity supported by churches from across West Kent, as well as Charitable Trusts and Housing Associations. Telephone: 01732 300425

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St Luke's

More Articles...

  1. History
  2. About the Parish
  3. Vicar's Welcome
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Additional information