Prayer for this week
Lord God, we thank You
for calling us
into the company
of those who trust in Christ
and seek to obey His will.
May Your Spirit guide
and strengthen us
in mission and service
to Your world:
For we are strangers no longer
but pilgrims together
on the way to Your Kingdom.
Amen.
'Loving God, Serving Christ,
Growing the Church'
Welcoming Bishop Rose
Why Calehill?
The Benefice of Calehill with Westwell is a group of seven Church of England churches, united in the one benefice. Following pastoral re-organisation, the benefice is made up of two parishes, the Parish of Calehill which consists of six churches, and the Parish of Westwell. Each community is distinct, yet all work together to spread the love of God and build His Kingdom.
Situated between the North Downs and the Weald, the benefice is quintessentially rural and yet maintains close links with the nearby towns of Ashford and Maidstone and the city of Canterbury. The Benefice of Calehill with Westwell is one of three benefices that make up the Ashford Deanery. We are part of the Diocese of Canterbury.
We enjoy a wide diversity of worship styles across the benefice encompassing a whole range from traditional Book of Common Prayer Services to contemporary Café Church Services.
We would love to welcome you to any of our services and to the various events that take place during the week. Please contact Rev. Jack Bateson
01233 756674 revjackbateson@gmail.com if you would like any further information or if you would like to arrange a wedding or a baptism or speak to someone about planning a funeral.
A Message from Rev. Jack
Dear Friends,
Solomon, in Ecclesiastes, said :
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh”
I joined you as a curate in July 2017, fresh(ish) from Theological College. Since then I have shared some of life’s journey with you. It has been a lot of fun, and you have all taught me a lot about life, and about ministry.
I don’t think I have made too many mistakes – I only set one child on fire during Collective Worship, I only fell down the chancel step twice in Pluckley, and thus far I have only once made it all the way through BCP Communion before realising I hadn’t prepared the table!
But a curacy is about training and preparation, and sadly, not about a long term ministry. This Easter I will be finishing my time with you. Tracey and I now feel we are being called to Benenden School, where we will jointly share the ministry of chaplain. This job share will also allow me to carry on pursuing my ministry with the Royal Navy Reserve, and allowing Tracey to carry on with her writing.
I will miss you all very much, and I will remember the many lessons you have taught me. I pray that God will bless you richly in the next stage of the journey, and I thank you all for the journey thus far.
God bless
Rev Jack
Prayer for this week
God of hope, who brought love into this world,
be the love that dwells between us.
God of hope, who brought peace into this world,
be the peace that dwells between us.
God of hope, who brought joy into this world,
be the joy that dwells between us.
God of hope, the rock we stand upon,
be the centre, the focus of our lives always,
and particularly this Advent time.
Amen