Called to Love and Praise
Larkfield and East Malling
Methodist Church
Minister: Naomi Oates

Larkfield and East Malling
Methodist Church
Larkfield and East Malling
Methodist Church
Called to Love and Praise
Welcome
We are a friendly, welcoming Church, of all ages with a membership of around 80, and many more in our wider Church family.
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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.
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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.
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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.​

Candles for Remembrance at Praise before Lunch
News from the hot seat...
Dear friends,
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Many of us have recently been completing the Methodist Church's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training.* It includes this video entitled 'We are the church,' a video I thought I would share more widely because it resonates so clearly with what we were thinking about last week at Tonbridge Road. It's a cliché to say that the church is the people, not the building - but like so many clichés, it contains an important truth that we forget at our peril.
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'You can find a church almost anywhere in the world, not because there's a sign with a cross on it, but because there are people gathering together to worship, to learn, to grow, to encourage each other.'
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Below, you'll find lots of information about our activities this Advent and Christmas. There are plenty of opportunities for you to invite family, friends and neighbours to join you - and we hope, when they do, that they will encounter a church - a family that gathers together to worship, to learn, to grow, to encourage - and that their experience will be filled with such joy, hope and love that they will want to return. And, even more importantly, that it will help them to experience something of the love of the One in whose name we gather.
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Some news and updates...
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Plans for this Sunday
This Sunday, we will be having a 'scratch nativity' at Breakfast Church at 9am. All are welcome - no preparation or rehearsal required. If you've always fancied being a shepherd, a star or even Mary - this is your chance!
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After Breakfast Church, there will be a 45-minute 'Advent lessons and carols' service in the church at the later time of 10.30am, for those who prefer a quieter, more reflective form of worship. If you would be willing to read a Bible passage or a poem at this service, I'd love to hear from you.
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Coffee will be served at 10am in the hall. Please join us for a chance for those who have attended Breakfast Church to mingle with those arriving for the 10.30am service.
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Advent and Christmas
We have an exciting programme of services and events taking place over Advent and Christmas - I've attached a poster, which we'll be using to advertise, and a grid of all the services and events taking place across Burham, Eccles, Larkfield and Tonbridge Road. If you're looking for something that's not taking place at your church (a midnight communion on Christmas Eve, say, or a musical celebration of Christmas) then you would be most welcome to join friends at another church.
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In addition, our Travelling Nativity set will be starting its journey at Breakfast Church on Sunday and making its way around some of the families in our church, before returning to the Messy Christingle on Wednesday 20 December. We hope to have some photos to share with you of its adventures!
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Manse pies! Saturday 9 December 10.30am - 12 noon
In addition, you are all warmly invited to join us at the manse (45 Garner Drive, East Malling, ME19 6NF) for 'manse pies' on Saturday 9 December from 10.30am until noon. We'll have mulled apple juice, mince pies and other festive nibbles. Luke, the girls and I would love to see you - do pop in if you're able.
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EDI training
*Today's introduction hopefully serves as a gentle reminder that all Local Preachers, Stewards and Worship Leaders need to have completed the Methodist Church's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training by the end of this calendar year. You can find it online here - it took me a couple of hours at home last week. If you're struggling to access the course, or would like to join together with someone else to do the training, do let me know.
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Every blessing,
Naomi

A Warm welcome awaits visitors to our Welcome Hub in the Sycamore Tree.
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Welcome Hub
Our Warm Space evolved into a Community Hub and now into the Welcome Hub.
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As a Welcome Hub, we will be open on Mondays and Wednesdays 10am to 2pm. Do call in for a cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate. There’s always cakes or cookies, and soup and other snacks if you come at lunch-time.
If you would like to volunteer on a regular or occasional basis, please speak to Monica.
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Welcome Hub's First Birthday Party Pictures
see the pictures from the party here
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Stop Press:
Updated 1/12/23

Advent
It's that time of year! Choose Advent from the menu at the top of the page for everything Advent

Dial-in service - Thursday 7th December at 10am
Our dial-in service is now taking place monthly, at 10am on the first Thursday of the month. You are warmly invited to join us this morning, as we reflect together on the theme of Epiphany, through poetry, through Scripture, and through prayer. The details for joining from a phone or computer are as follows:
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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 #
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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
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(In case you need it, the Meeting ID is: 999 8764 3710 and Passcode: 345080)
No Cash?
No Problem!
Donate to the church the cashless way
You can now donate to the church with your smart phone!
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Scan the QR code on the Donate page of the website or any of the QR codes displayed in the church.
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For more information or questions contact Martin White




Spreading the Word
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In September people spent an average of 6 min 57 seconds looking at the site!
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In 2022 we had more than twice as many visits as 2021!
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In 2021, 418 people visited the website 605 times for an average of 5 minutes 4 seconds.
In 2022, 721 people visited the website 1299 times for an average of 4minutes 59 seconds.
Visitors were from all parts of the UK, with multiple visits from US (30), Ireland (5), Nigeria (3) and Russia (2).
Popular pages visited were:
Services 13
Contact 9
Home 9
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Welcome everyone.