This week...

​​​​​​(See services and activities pages for a list of regular groups and activities.)

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'A love that will grow': Church weekend away coming soon 

Our long-awaited church weekend away is now just around the corner! From 30 January - 1 February, around 40 of us (including 10 children) from all areas of the church's life will come together at Ashburnham Place, near Battle. Our theme will be 'A love that will grow' (based on Philippians 1) and we're planning a wide range of activities, including nature walks, delicious meals, crafts, worship, and plenty of time to relax and recharge. We'll be exploring our theme with sessions on growing in the Holy Spirit; growing into our purpose; growing in confidence as we talk about our faith; and growing as a church. Please hold the planning team and everyone attending in your prayers, that this will be a special time of fellowship and deepening faith.

 

The weekend away means that there will be no Breakfast Church on Sunday 1 February. There will be a 10am service at church, led by Rev David Kichenside.

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Prayer & Praise - Thursday 5 February 2pm 

You are warmly invited to join us at 2pm on Thursday 5 February at St Mary's Old Church in Burham for Prayer & Praise, consisting of around 45 minutes of acoustic worship music, reflections, and prayer in this beautiful historic church. You may wish to wrap up warm!

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For your diary...

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FEBRUARY

Church Council - Thursday 12 February 7.30pm 

Our next Church Council meeting will take place on Thursday 12 February at 7.30pm in the church. Everyone involved in the life of the church is welcome to attend, as we discuss important matters including plans for Lent and Easter, upcoming mission and outreach, finance, property, and Safeguarding. If you'd like a copy of the papers, please contact Margaret on margaretcox100@hotmail.com

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Celebrating Cafe Church in Burham

Our monthly Cafe Church in Burham has been running for 10 months, as a joint project between the Methodists in Burham and the Parish of Burham & Wouldham. It has become a really special service, shaped by the reflections of those who gather over lashings of tea, coffee and homemade cake. It's growing, too - at last weekend's service, there were 27 people and 3 dogs! It's so exciting to see mission in Burham flourishing after the sad closure of the church building. We'd love to see you at the next services, at 3pm on Sunday 15 February and Sunday 15 March at the Old School Community Centre. 

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Dementia-inclusive church - 16 February 2026

If you have an interest in making the church a more welcoming and friendly place for those journeying with dementia, you are warmly invited to attend the following online session being offered by MHA and the Methodist Church to explore small changes that can make a big difference:

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• Monday 16 February 7pm - 9pm 

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Messy Church 

We are very much looking forward to our next Messy Church, on Wednesday 18 February from 2.30pm - 4.30pm. Many thanks to those who have already volunteered to help; if you'd like to join us, please contact myself or Monica.

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Lent

We are putting the finishing touches to the list of special services and events taking place over Lent (which starts on 18 February) and Easter this year, and will be in touch very soon with the details.

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APRIL

Easter 2026

Please find a poster for the sunrise service taking place on Easter Day, 5th April, (followed by breakfast!). 

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25 April 2026

Churches Together in Malling have been busy organising a fantastic event for next year. On Saturday 25 April 2026 at Brookfield Primary School, Larkfield, there will be a performance of I am Mark: a solo, word-for-word dramatisation of the Gospel of Mark, consciously modelled on the very first tellings of this good news. Since beginning in 2016 in Speakers’ Corners and on high streets, it has been presented in churches, cathedrals, theatres, schools, festivals and prisons. It has consistently proved a powerful way of opening up Scripture for both those exploring faith and Christians encountering it afresh. Do pop the date in your diaries!

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Safeguarding training

If you are an officeholder in the Methodist Church, depending on the nature of your role, you may need a DBS check and/or to undertake Safeguarding training. If you're unsure whether this applies to you (or how to access the relevant training), please chat to your Church Safeguarding Officer. You can also consult the attached lists of roles requires to complete Foundation or Advanced Safeguarding training; the attached 'Safer Recruitment' policy also contains information (from p. 17 onwards) about who is required to have a DBS check. 

 

The circuit will be offering the Foundation Module training both online and face-to-face in the Spring. You can either:

 

• Attend two online sessions via Zoom towards the end of March (both sessions must be attended).

• Attend one in-person session at Third Avenue Methodist Church in Gillingham on 25 April at 9.30am. 

 

Please contact Paul and Trish, the Circuit Safeguarding Officers, on safeguardingtrainingnk@gmail.com to book your place.

 

If you have completed the Foundation Module in the past, but need to renew (after four years) you can do so online at a time of your choosing, here: https://mcb.theologyx.com/course/creating-safer-spaces-foundation-module/

 

If you need to complete the Advanced Module, you can find the dates for the gathered sessions here (you will need to complete work online first).

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MAY

Maidstone Bible Week 11 - 14 May 

Please find a letter about this year's Maidstone Bible Week, in which Nigel Styles from Cross Connections will be speaking about 2 Peter.

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JUNE - SEPTEMBER

Sabbatical

Every seven years, Methodist ministers are generously gifted a sabbatical of three months by the Church. I wanted to let you know that mine is due next year (from mid-June to mid-September 2026) - as we're now starting to get meetings in the diary almost that far ahead! I will be working with a support group from the circuit between now and June to ensure that suitable cover is in place across the churches I serve.

 

​OTHER NOTICES

Cooks needed! 

As many of you know, as a church, we love being able to offer Meal Trains (ie a week of meals delivered to your door) to those who might find this helpful - those who have just come out of hospital, for instance, or have just had a baby. We would love to have a few more volunteers to join the Meal Train team - you don't have to sign up to every Meal Train, and if cooking isn't your speciality, then you can always deliver a ready meal or order a takeaway! We have a couple of Meal Trains on the horizon (as families in the church are expecting babies in the near future, and we would love to bless them in this way). If you might be willing to join the team, please contact Claire (claireboxall@sky.com).

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Job opportunity with Kent Workplace Mission

Kent Workplace Mission is seeking to recruit a part-time Lead Chaplain in the East of Kent. The advert and job specification are below - please do share them with anyone who might be interested.

 

Volunteer role - District Treasurer

The South East Methodist District is seeking a new Treasurer from April 2026 - might you be able to help? You can find all the details here.

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Volunteer vacancies in the South East District

If you are interested in getting involved in Methodism beyond the local level, you might like to check out these vacancies for volunteers in the South East Methodist District. I'm sure the district would be thrilled to hear from you!

Volunteer Vacancies — The Methodist Church — South East District

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Newsletter from Maidstone Street Pastors

Please find attached the latest news and updates from the Maidstone Street Pastors, about their valuable ministry in the town centre.

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Could you be a BB Leader - or do you know someone who could? 

Our fabulous Boys' Brigade team are still looking to recruit new Leaders and Helpers. I've reattached the advert - please have a think and a pray about whether you know someone who might be suited to the role (or whether you might be!). Please do pass the advert to anyone who might be interested. ​​​​