Parish Magazine

STAPLEHURST PARISH MAGAZINE is far more than just a Church Magazine; it contains a lot of information about a wide range of organisations, activities and events of general interest in the village. It also carries advertisements for many of the local tradesmen and businesses.

All this for just £1.00 per month (or £10.00 per year).

In a village appraisal the Magazine was voted the best source of information available in the village, which is probably why around half the households in the village already subscribe.

For a complimentary copy of Staplehurst Parish Magazine, totally without obligation, contact Sue de St Jorre on (01580) 893922 or Email: Sue de St Jorre

We are confident that you will be impressed!

Sue de St Jorre (Distribution)

Clergy Magazine Letter - April 2013

Music

During the season of Lent the church is stripped of most of its decorations like, for example, flowers and in part its music in Worship. This is because Lent is the time when Christians imitate Jesus' experience in the desert, where he is stripped of any luxuries and has nothing left but to come face to face with God. To go through a period of abstinence from things that comfort us, makes us appreciate them more when we take them up again. It is a humbling experience to realise, and not to take for granted how very fortunate we are, and yet we seem to have never ending reason to grumble about this, that or the other.

If you have partaken in the imitation on Jesus' 40 days and nights in the wilderness, which is a long and dreary time, Easter Sunday cannot be experienced as anything other than a God given, glorious, uplifting experience, because we are catapulted back into the fullness of life with all its beauty.

One expression and understanding by the church about God's amazing, mysterious but beautiful creation was through music. The proportion of the spheres of planets and stars were perceived as a form of music and later developed in thinking that all things are connected and of beneficiary effect. So you will find that there is a strong connection between music and religion. Music communicates the divine infinitely in a way human words can never be capable off.

All Saints Church, with its appreciation of all that makes for a full life, shouts from the roof top its excitement about sharing opportunities of embracing such various expressions of it. We are delighted to be able to invite you to evenings of extraordinary enjoyment.

In May we expect guests from Russia and Africa, who will perform two very different programmes with music and dance from their homeland. The Hermitage Ensemble from St. Petersburg will entice us with their great tradition of Russian sacred music and folksongs. Members of the Ensemble are chosen from amongst the finest soloists performing in St. Petersburg's opera, musical theatre and churches. I was fortunate to have had their manager, Natalia Aksuticheva, who is a professional pianist, visiting me over Christmas and rekindling our friendship from 10 years ago. When I asked her if she would consider coming back with her Ensemble and give a concert in aid of All Saints Church, she said: 'or Staplehurst I do anything'.

And here we are, I am so thrilled to be able to invite you to our first May concert given on Wednesday, 8th May, 8,00pm at All Saints Church. Tickets (£7.00 incl. a glass of Wine) will be available from April onwards from various shops and places, watch out for posters or simply contact me.

The other concert is on Saturday 25th May, 7.30pm in Church. We are extremely fortunate to be able to welcome Zulu Warriors. For more information please speak to Doreen Braganza.

I look forward to welcoming you to All Saints Church.

Yours,

Silke

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