Larkfield and East Malling
Methodist Church

Called to Love and Praise

A Warm welcome awaits visitors to our Warm Space in the Sycamore Tree.

Welcome

We are a friendly, welcoming Church, of all ages with a membership of around 80, and many more in our wider Church family.

Our Church family comes mainly from the villages of Larkfield, East and West Malling, Kings Hill, Addington, Leybourne, Ditton and Aylesford, all of which are just west of the County town of Maidstone in Kent.

We enjoy worship in a variety of styles from traditional to modern, and our congregations usually include a wide variety of ages, from toddlers to octogenarians.

See our Services page for full details of in-person and on-line services and opportunities for worship.

There are a large number of regular groups and activities (see activities and Children and Family pages).

Girls Brigade, Boys Brigade and Messy Church are term-time only.

Naomi's News...

24/11/22

Dear friends,

This Sunday, we begin our journey through Advent (four whole days before those who are eagerly awaiting opening the first door on their chocolate Advent calendar on 1 December!) This year, several of our churches will be making use of the Methodist Church's 'There is room' Advent and Christmas resources. Why not watch the short introductory video, here?

Some news and updates for the coming week...

Dial-in service - TODAY at 10am

You are warmly invited to join us for today's dial-in service, which will be led by Irene. The details for joining are the same as usual:

Step 1: At 10am dial 020 3481 5237 from a mobile or landline

Step 2: When requested, enter the Meeting ID 999 8764 3710 followed by #

Step 3: When requested, enter the Passcode 345080 followed by #

You do not need a 'Participant ID' - just press #

If you have a laptop, iPad or phone, you can also get into the service on these devices with just one click using the following link:

https://zoom.us/j/99987643710?pwd=bmhvSlh2Nk45QUZXS2JubXgxbElYdz09

(In case you need it, the Meeting ID is: 999 8764 3710 and Passcode: 345080)

Advent and Christmas services and events

See our poster on the new Advent page, showing some of our upcoming services and events for Advent and Christmas. Please do take the opportunity to invite your family and friends to celebrate this special season with us.

Warm Space

A huge 'thank you' to everyone taking part in our 'Warm Space' project, offered in partnership with Larkfield Community Church and Holy Trinity, Larkfield, which launched on Monday. We've had a handful of guests join us already, and we hope the numbers will grow as word spreads and as the weather gets colder. The atmosphere at the sessions this week has been brilliant, thanks to our large team of volunteers from the three churches and the wider community. Do pop in for a cuppa and a chat - it's already becoming apparent that people are craving a warm welcome every bit as much as a warm space this winter.

Comedy night - Saturday 26 November 8pm

On Saturday, our friends at St Luke's in Maidstone will be hosting a comedy night with Christian comedian Andy Kind, showcasing his 'A Pilgrim's Tale' tour. The show is suitable for anyone aged fourteen or over; doors open at 7.30pm, and the show begins at 8pm. You can order tickets at stlukesmaidstone.church/comedynight

New Christian bookshop in Maidstone

Local Christian charity 'Making a Difference to Maidstone' have launched the Living Word Christian bookshop at 49 Church Street, Maidstone, with a wide range of pre-loved Christian books available for a donation, a lounge area with hot drinks and cake available, and a quiet room. The shop is currently open on Saturdays from 10am -1pm and MADM is hoping to increase their regular opening hours as more volunteers come forward. You can find more details in the attached flyer.

Every blessing,

Naomi

Stop Press:

Updated 24/11/22

Advent is a-coming

See our new Advent page for all the latest news

NEW

NEW Men's prayer group and Women's prayer group

Thursdays between 6.30 - 8.00pm: In person at MADM Bookshop, 49 Church Street, Maidstone ME14 1DS or join on Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/260631405

Sundays between 2 - 3.30pm NEW Crossover Project Service.

What was on Zoom on a Thursday, can now be done in person, at MADM Bookshop, (See above,) or you

can still join us by Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/260631405 (Same number as Thursday's meeting.)

Introducing the Revd Rosemary Pritchard

I'm delighted to introduce you to the Revd Rosemary Pritchard, who has generously agreed to offer cover when I am on maternity leave. If all goes to plan (!), my maternity leave will begin on Sunday 15 January, and I will be back with you on Monday 30 October 2023. Rosemary has recently arrived in our circuit - but, as you'll find out, she's no stranger to the area! I've asked Rosemary to introduce herself, so you can read all about her below. I'm sure you'll have the pleasure of meeting Rosemary in person soon, and that you'll make her very welcome in January.

Hello everyone – I’m Rosemary Pritchard, I was a German teacher before training for ministry and I’ve been a Methodist presbyter since 1997 – in fact my welcome service at Gerrards Cross (near Windsor, and at that time in the Hillingdon Circuit) was held the day of Princess Diana’s funeral. After 5 years in that appointment I went to the South Essex Circuit, which is actually the next-door Circuit North of here. I always value working with other churches too, so that together we can be a blessing to our communities. In Thurrock we had an evangelistic Youth mission, supported the Seafarers’ ministry on the Thames, hosted the Foodbank and the Thurrock Art Trail, to give four varied examples. I was there for 12 years during which time we saw the population of the Circuit become much more diverse and multicultural, and one of the churches I had the joy of serving latterly had lots of West African families – including a certain Ghanaian Local Preacher you might have met too.

This led to a trip to Ghana with a small group of Methodist ministers, led by the Rev William Davis, a minister from Ghana seconded to our Conference (who’d been Fred Yamoah’s Sunday School teacher back in Kumasi). William had told Grays Methodist that their minister would never be the same again. I don’t think he could have foreseen that on that trip God would stir up afresh a long-dormant sense of call to serve in Bible Translation. The Connexion was receptive to my sense of call into this work, and I did some specialist training with Wycliffe Bible Translators, spent 6 months in France resurrecting my A Level French and finally went to Burkina Faso in West Africa. I’ve written more about this for the Grapevine.

In the end I sadly gave up the idea of returning there after the pandemic, mainly because my parents are now very elderly. My mum (who enjoys the Keep Fit group at Spital Street) does a wonderful job of caring for dad at home, and it seemed only right to be around to help as needed. They live near Dartford, you see, which is where I grew up. I’m so thankful for my time at Dartford Grammar School for Girls which ignited my passion for languages. When I was a child, my granddad used to take me to Crayford or The Brent, and when it was Harvest he took me to Hartlip where he had grown up (though I went to a Sunday School run by Christchurch Dartford, which is why my Methodist connections in Kent are limited.)

I’d thought I might be becoming Supernumerary this year, but God seemed to have something else in store – and it meant I was available to stand in for Naomi when she takes her maternity leave.