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ochester Link
Fostering & Adoption / December 2017 & January 2018
Christmas Tree Festival at Christ Church, Erith / Photo by Katerina Gerhardt
2 ochester Link
CONTENTS: Bishop’s Christmas message
By the Rt Rev James Langstaff
Bishop’s Christmas message 2 I write this at a time when the future for our
brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe is still uncertain –
Editor’s Letter 2
and of course with no way of knowing how things
An open door policy? 3 will be there when you actually read this. What
I do know is that, both within Zimbabwe, within
Our fostering joy 5 our Diocese, and across the world, much prayer is
being offered for that nation, its peoples, and the
Christmas on the edge 6-7
churches within it. With our diocesan partnership
Baby Jesus ... in August? 9 with the Diocese of Harare, we have a particular
sense of connection.
A chilling reminder of what love is 9
Our brothers and sisters in Harare have been
Roles around fostering and adoption 11 through much over recent years, including times
when they were deprived of their buildings and
Cathedral celebration invitation 11 when some clergy were subjected to physical
Church shelter saved my life 12 beatings and other sufferings. But through those
times, the Christians there held on to a very clear
Hundreds celebrate new vision together 12 conviction that God was with them; as a result,
they remained faithful through the years of their
CONTACT US ‘exile’ – and indeed the church grew.
Events, news and letters to editor at through the work of winter shelters, through events
‘God is with us’ – the translation of the name
editorial@rochester.anglican.org or 01634 560000 for the elderly and the young, through invitation to
‘Emmanuel’ ascribed to a child in the prophecy
ADVERTISEMENTS of Isaiah, and then clearly applied to Jesus in share in our celebrations. And we pray for many
Email: glenda@cornerstonevision.com Matthew’s Gospel. In this season we celebrate to respond to those initiatives. We pray, to; for
Copy for The Link needs to be typed and
submitted by email please. Images must be again the coming of God in Jesus to be ‘God with our nation at this time in its history, and for other
submitted as either a TIFF or a JPEG file of us’. This is the message which will be proclaimed nations, that in our common life we may find and
300dpi. through our carols, readings, and preaching through share something of God being ‘with us’. And, as
(Set your digital camera to the highest this time. This is the message that I will seek to many accept our invitation come to carol services,
quality setting and we will try to do the rest
for you.) take with me as I minister in two of our prisons over Christingles, crib services, and other occasions, we
Christmas. This is the message which we know to pray that they will hear and receive this message
be life-changing for individuals and communities – – that God in Jesus is ‘with them’ for now and for
if God is indeed with us, then life is transformed. all eternity as they respond in faith to his gracious
gift of himself.
Over these coming weeks, many of us will be giving
practical expression to this through acts of care and And may each of you be renewed this Christmas
welcome – seeking to embody the divine ‘with us’ in your fresh receiving of Emmanuel, God with us.
Editor’s letter
By the Rev Nathan Ward
This year the Diocese has been raising the profile
of fostering and adoption through a joint project
with charities Home for Good and Diagrama
Foundation.
The aim is to celebrate the work that people do in
many churches already and to encourage others to The Rev Nathan Ward, Curate at Holy Trinity South, Chatham
both pray and support them, as well as to consider of Christmas but also the fear it brings to some.
whether fostering and adoption is something they
may do themselves. As a Church we are called to bear witness to the
birth, to always keep our eyes focused upwards on
It is fitting that this edition of the Link has this the Kingdom of God, whilst keeping our feet firmly
C
ome and experience the wide focus as we remember the first Christmas when in the reality of the world knowing that the Christ
range of exible healthcare Mary and Joseph gave a home to Jesus.
services, guest stays and child is always with us.
wellbeing events One carol that we will no doubt sing this month has Nathan is a Curate at Holy Trinity, South Chatham
Acres of beauƟful gardens and woodland the words: ‘The hopes and fears of all the years are and Head of Professional Standards at Diagrama
RehabilitaƟon and reablement met in thee tonight’, which I have tried to capture Foundation, a Medway-based charity which
Respite care and assisted stays in this edition; not just focusing on the celebration provides fostering and adoption services.
Counselling, physiotherapy and
hydrotherapy
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ochester Link 3
No room at the inn? Thankfully Mary and Joseph found an open door at the nativity of Lady Boswell’s CofE (Aided) Primary School, Sevenoaks
An open door policy?
By Dr Krish Kandiah he was thirsty, when he was homeless.
But perhaps my past performance
M
suggests that I’m better at building
y mum opened her door and barricades than welcoming wanderers.
I barricaded mine. I was Because Jesus said: “Whoever welcomes
fourteen years old and nobody a child in my name, welcomes me.” And:
was getting into my bedroom. “Whatever you did for one of the least of
these brothers and sisters of mine, you
My desk, wardrobe, shelves were
did for me.” That’s the test. What am I
relocated and positioned so even doing to make sure there’s room for the
Arnold Schwarzenegger could not vulnerable today?
have got past. Why? My wife and I became foster carers
because we knew that at the core of the
Because late in the evening my mum had Christian is a calling to hospitality.
let a stranger into the house. She, unlike
all the other residents of Wellington For the 2,700+ children in care in the
Road, Brighton, seemed to have fallen for authorities covered by the Diocese of
the unlikely story of this suspiciously tall Rochester this means a loving and caring
German guy who had flown into Gatwick Dr Krish Kandiah, Founder of Home for Good
home,maybe just for a few nights in
airport a few hours earlier. emergency foster care while their futures
morning, when, after a hearty breakfast are resolved.
It turns out it was only after he had
passed through customs that he prepared by my mother, the love-struck How we respond to these children is
realised he did have something to loner had resumed his crazy search. crucial. At Christmas, when we think
declare: his undying love for the stranger I think of this incident in my childhood of Jesus and often focus on our own
who had sat next to him on the flight. every time I go to a nativity play. families, these children’s plight comes
The only thing he knew about her was It always begins with that hopeless into even sharper focus and demands
that she was heading for Brighton – door-to-door search late at night. a response to the question ‘what can I
so here he was going house to house, There’s heavily pregnant Mary and bring’?
determined to try every one of Brighton’s anxiously sweating Joseph, and We never heard from the tall German
120,000 homes until he found her. sometimes a beleaguered - looking stranger again, but I like to think
My mother took pity on him. Not only pantomime donkey, desperately looking that, thanks to my mum’s kindness,
with a mug of hot chocolate, but also for a place to stay in Bethlehem during there is an Anglo-German couple out
with a bed for the night. census season. Time after time, we hear, there living happily ever after, telling
there’s no room at the inn. their children about an Indian woman
Perhaps I had watched too many who made room and gave much-
movies about conmen or home I like to think that if I had been there
that night and they had knocked on my needed kindness and hospitality to an
invasions, or heard too many dark unexpected guest.
fairy tales, or too vividly remembered door that I would have let them in – not
my teacher’s warnings about ‘stranger into the shed, or the outhouse, but into Dr Krish Kandiah is Founder and
danger’. my home. I want to believe I would have director of Home for Good and
made room for them, and welcomed is married with seven children.
But that was how I came to spend a them as the saviour of the world was An award-winning author, he is an
disturbed night clutching my Swiss Army born, or when he became a refugee as a adopter, foster carer, and a
penknife and only emerged the next toddler, or later when he was tired, when theologian.
4 ochester Link
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heard Krish and Miriam Kandiah speak
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speak the word ‘fostering’ to me, over for.
few nights. Two-and-a-half years later that challenged us. Home for Good has • Hairdressing, chiropody, library and mobile shop.
and over again. We went along to the • Monthly in-house Holy Communion and links to
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he can be sure he doesn’t have to move other Christians who are fostering and
came home and within a few weeks got Stockland Green Road,
again until he is an adult. He has settled adopting. To know people are praying
in touch with our local fostering agency. Speldhurst, Kent TN3 0TU
really well – it’s been a new experience for us and for other children in the care
Telephone: Langton (01892 86) 3559
You have one birth daughter – for us as we were not used to having a system is amazing.
how did she take your decision? boy in the house. We never spoke about If you look forward 10 years, what
She was fully behind us and it was a football before or had muddy games kit are your hopes for your family?
decision the three of us made together. around the house. But it’s been a joy.
That they are happy and continue to
Although she was at university, she
thrive. That they reach their potential
supported us every step of the way. ‘To know people are and know we’re there for them.
Family life changed a lot for her –
before this she had us all to herself, praying for us and for You have received support from
This portable music box stores and plays over 2880
and then suddenly had to share us other children in the your church – what have been some
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traditional hymns and popular worship songs - all at the
with a 13-month-old who needed lots touch of a button!
of attention. She would agree though care system is amazing.’ involved in your journey? Easily create play lists, control the tempo, change the key
that she has gained so much from new They have welcomed and accepted both
and even choose your instrumentation.
children coming into our family! How have you managed to keep our adopted daughter and foster son. With over 7300 hymn book
entries indexed to 10
You went on to adopt your younger going through challenging times? Our foster son has loved coming and I favourite hymn books
daughter – how did you come to It has been hard work, but knowing that think this is because he feels welcomed (upgradeable), the great
that decision? we are doing what God has planned for and accepted, that he has a place. sound of Hymnal Plus has
us really helps, especially when we’re There may come a time when he feels made it the choice of
We’d always said we would not adopt having a bad day. The support we’ve he doesn’t want to come, but the love churches across the UK.
but just foster. The baby girl placed with had from friends and family has been he has received so far has been great.
us had quite an anxious attachment extraordinary. They have welcomed the We have loved having the prayers of our
and was very clingy. She was happy, children in as if they were birth children. church.
providing she was with me and we all fell They have been on hand to babysit and
very much in love with her, and felt we earlier this year, when I had a time in If there was one thing you could tell
did not want to move her on again. We hospital, our friends and family were yourselves back then what would it
thought long and hard about whether we there to make sure we could manage. I be?
were right to adopt her and eventually know not every adopter or foster carer Never say never. We said we only
approached the local authority to express
has this, but our church has also been wanted children under 10 and would COMMUNION LINEN
our interest in becoming her parents. never adopt. Now we’ve a teenager and
incredible.
adopted our daughter. The finest purificators, palls, lavabo
That’s amazing! And now you are
We’ve also been rewarded by seeing the towels, corporals – at affordable prices
also fostering a young man?
children thriving. When you look back Made by Zimbabwe Mothers’ Union
Names have been changed to protect
We took a bit of a break when we and see how much they have grown and In support of its outreach work in
anonymity. James Copeland is Business
adopted our daughter so we had time to developed that is so special. the Anglican church there.
Development Manager for Home for
bond properly. But we always knew we
What difference would you say Good, working in partnership with MATABELELAND CHURCH LINENS
wanted to carry on fostering. After about
Home for Good has made? the Diocese of Rochester to find new 11 Margetts Close,Kenilworth,CV8 1EN
a year we got a call about a 12-year-
adopters and foster carers. Email: matabelelinens@gmail.com
old boy who needed somewhere for a It was Krish and Miriam Kandiah’s vision
6 ochester Link
Exploring the work of God beyond the pew
Christmas
on the
edge
Chance to make a fresh Our ‘everyday’ miracle
start with a new direction W e adopted Eleanor in the August and
when Christmas came, she had only
just celebrated her first birthday, writes
And yet, that wasn’t the only miracle
occupying our hearts and minds this
Christmas. To put your hand into an
adoptive father Christopher. At the infant’s cot and have those tiny little
C haplaincy is often seen as
a ministry at the fringes
of the Church; a place of
time I was a trainee curate and my wife,
Dawn, had recently given up her teaching
career to look after our bubbly, new baby
fingers wrap tightly around your own;
while a big-eyed and almost ecstatic
joy spreads across that trusting face,
experimentation and exciting girl. Both Dawn and I love Christmas. is also a miracle hard to take in. But
opportunities for mission and We’ve always been able to see beyond it’s a miracle experienced everyday by
ministry, writes the Rev Nick Ash, the superficial celebration to the magic of countless millions.
Anglican Chaplain at Medway God becoming a little baby.
When Christmas arrived we gave thanks
Secure Training Centre.
There are two amazing things the for our little girl. Our biggest joy was
In my work as chaplain of Christian faith asks us to believe: God in seeing Eleanor tear open her presents
Medway Secure Training Centre the manger and God on the cross. Both and stare with excitement. Our favourite
in Rochester I find myself part are so outrageously topsy-turvy that only present that first Christmas? Well, we
of an organisation offering God could think up such a plan. And, of were looking at it. Eleanor will always
the young people in our care course, only he could put it into effect. remain our favourite gift.
opportunities to experiment with
new ideas and develop new skills
and relationships which challenge The Rev Nick Ash, Chaplain at Medway STC
their accepted norms and help
have been with us, from playing
them to develop into more
guitar to singing. On Christmas
responsible people.
Day itself a carol service is held
Christmas is just one of those and the young people and staff
opportunities. Although this who come together are reminded
season can be quite daunting and of the one who came to love those
lonely for some, we always aim to on the fringes of society in order to
celebrate the occasion in style. draw them into the centre of God’s
Each year we put on a show in love.
the main sports hall. It is decorated New Year’s Day also marks for us a
out of all recognition by the season of new beginnings. The day
young people and staff, creating underlines how important places
a wonderful opportunity for the like ours are in the way they seek
young people to show off their to guide young people who’ve lost
natural talents as well as those they their way to find fresh purpose and
have developed in the time they direction for their lives once more. Street pastors at work during the festive season
ochester Link 7
ws, reaching out to the periphery of society
I n many ways churches can become a
central focus for the Christmas story
for many people; it is a time when those
who may not normally come to church
attend one of the many services held.
And yet the first Christmas story
unravelled on the edges of society - on
the hills with the shepherds and in a
stable.
Here we share how God’s work takes
many different forms across the Diocese,
working on the fringes of society to
ensure no-one is forgotten.
A table full of love and hope A privilege to be with
L ast Christmas summed up for me
the past 14 years of my husband
and I fostering mainly adolescent boys,
were delighted that a 19-year-old young
man who’d left our care two years ago
was also staying with us. those in deepest need
writes Margaret Gardiner, foster
Looking round that table and seeing
R
carer and Diagrama social worker. ather than regarding hospital But let me just say that the
people I loved and cared for along with
Picture this …… 18 people sat around our ‘additional family’ all celebrating the chaplaincy as being on the fringe chaplaincy team find it an immense
two large tables pushed together. It took love and joy of Christmas epitomised of the Church I see it as being at privilege to listen and to be with
some organising but it was important what it was all about. Tears, tempers, the coalface of Christ’s ministry, people in their deepest need.
that we sat together to symbolise our frustrations and stress of preparing for writes the Rev Martin Kelly,
We cannot claim to heal in the
equality. My husband and I, our three Christmas with young people, whose Senior Chaplain Counsellor at
miraculous way that Jesus did but
children and their partners (one a memories of this time of year are Dartford and Gravesham NHS
we try to offer our love and, we
former foster child), five grandchildren, always not good, soon diminished as Trust.
hope, through our love, His love for
a three-year-old foster child and a we ate and drank together. We made He told us to visit the sick and that, them.
teenage foster child with his mum and new memories for us all to take away inasmuch as we do it for the least of
We make 10,000 pastoral visits per
brother (the first Christmas they had and showed that Christmas can be a these, we do it for Him. Point taken.
year, support the staff in their often
shared together in eight years since he joyous time where dreams really can No more explanation required.
harrowing work, bless deceased
was removed from her care). We also come true.
babies, comfort their parents and
the like.
Like Jesus we also become
Joy to be found in the darkest of places exhausted and need to go apart to
pray so sitting in silence with the
Gospel and receiving Jesus in the
sacrament is the foundation of our
F or many years, I disliked all things
Christmas with a passion and would
be making plans to avoid it, usually
at any other time during the year as the
picture postcard image of Christmas
was beamed out from every shop
walking the streets at Christmas as
a Street Pastor, often fellowshipping
with those at the margins of society,
ministry.
At Christmas, members of the
with a holiday, writes Mary-Bridget window and every TV advert. along with others in full celebration. Gravesend Salvation Army Band
Flynn-Samuels, from Street Pastors come in to play for the Carol Service,
My attitude softened somewhat when I In my own way showing the love
UK. which is attended mainly by staff.
had three small children under five who of Jesus, I’ve seen the hand of
Destination, somewhere hot, sun thoroughly embraced all that we gave God touch the darkest of places, On Christmas morning there may
lounger by the pool with a good book. and we had several delightful family and miracles of peace, recovery be as many as six people in the
My distaste was largely linked to the Christmases. However, it was not long and salvation. The joy of Christmas Chapel for the Eucharist, before we
sheer overindulgence, materialisation before as a family, I returned us to the shining in the darkest of places - distribute Holy Communion (and
and unreality of it all. Where those holiday abroad alternative. The pressure places I embrace, with priceless gifts chocolate coins) to patients on the
who 'have not' - be it money or family of sustaining the unreality becomes too and the gentle touch of the master’s wards.
- felt such absence more acutely than much. Since 2010, I have been blessed hand.
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gardens, before fully comprehending its of Jesus’ incarnation, ministry, death, immediately apparent how the archangel
theological potential. resurrection and ascension. and virgin are represented by the two
triangular shapes. The left hand arrow
When we sketched out the week’s The Eastern Church has often managed with its trail of solidified wax suggests
stories, we realised what a rich seam we to hold these together in a much more the downward movement of Jesus’
had struck. integrated way than the Western Church, incarnation, and perhaps the stooping
where the emphasis on sin and the cross of heaven to earth, while the right hand
Day One had as its focus the God who
has tended to skew our Christology. inverted triangle has a rush of upward
became our size so that we could know
Death and resurrection are two stages energy, like a rocket taking off. The
him. The story was the coming of Jesus
in the total kenotic journey described in longer one contemplates the images, the
as a baby (melding the birth narratives
together in a way that horrifies the purist Philippians 2.6-11, which is about Jesus more resonant they become. Receptivity
in me who wants to honour the integrity taking on human flesh and thus facing and ascent are balanced as two parts of
of each particular Gospel’s literary and everything we face, even death itself. a whole movement, with Christmas as
theological structure). one freeze-frame in this bigger narrative
Having been a fervent opponent of
arc.
Taking the story as being about God explanations of death and resurrection
shrinking down to be our size, both as an which draw on caterpillar-butterfly Death and resurrection in December?
adventure and to sort out some problems analogies, I found myself helping the Surely not! Heaven and earth hold their Shropshire Holiday Cottages
in the garden, removed incarnation from under 11’s connect the power of God in breath as this daring pattern unfolds. 3«««Gold Award
its ‘If it’s Jesus as a child it must be creation with his power in raising Jesus Happy Christmas. Well-appointed cottages near picturesque market town
Christmas’ associations. We were having from the dead: creation and redemption Reflection by the of Church Stretton, within easy reach of Shrewsbury,
Ludlow, Ironbridge.
‘the Christmas story’ in August and it are inseparable processes. Rev Dr Helen For full details and tariff please ring Gill on
made perfect sense. At St Justus we are blessed with a Burn, Vicar of 01694 722869 or visit www.botvylefarm.co.uk
When it came to my turn later in the week striking modern artwork which uses more St Justus and
to talk about Jesus’ death, I realised that conceptual means to evoke the descent Area Dean of
it would only make sense in the whole and ascent of Philippians 2. Its name
Rochester
A chilling reminder of what love is
Christmas is a time of joy, of peace, of those who have a voice to speak for them.
family. What is there not to love about
Finally, and perhaps most importantly,
it? And for Christians, most especially,
we must continue to do what many
and most extraordinarily, it is the time
when we give thanks for the fact that
churches do so well: engage in outreach Blessed is the man who walks
in schools, toddler groups, community not in the counsel of the wicked,
divine Love made itself known that first
groups and in so many other ways, so nor stands in the way of sinners,
Christmas in the person of Jesus.
building enduring relationships of
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
And yet, for some people in our parishes, love and trust. Such relationships will
in our communities, and our churches, reflect and honour the Love of God
but his delight is in the law of the
there is no peace on earth, and certainly for every human being revealed in the Lord, and on his law he meditates
no good will, especially not in their own Incarnation, and so remind those who day and night. He is like a tree
home. The place most of us associate have been made to forget, what Love planted by streams of water that
with safety and with love will be instead really is. yields its fruit in its season, and
a place of tension, and fear, and often
on the margins, for that is where Christ The Rev Dr Mandy Young, Curate, its leaf does not wither. In all that
outright violence.
is. But how can we hope to minister to Snodland with Lower Birling he does, he prospers. The wicked
Violence in the home spikes during people who remain invisible? are not so, but are like chaff that
the Christmas season – domestic
violence seems a misnomer now it
Firstly, we can all make ourselves Need help? the wind drives away. Therefore
the wicked will not stand in the
aware of both diocesan and national
has become a crime. And while the
guidelines, and what is a safe and Call the freephone judgment, nor sinners in the
causes of such violence are many and
appropriate response to disclosure if it 24-hour National Domestic congregation of the righteous;
complex, the immediate triggers can for the Lord knows the way of
comes. Violence Helpline, run
be intensified during the holidays, and the righteous, but the way of the
may include extra financial pressure, Secondly, don’t be afraid to tackle the in partnership between
wicked will perish.
enforced time together, a loss of routine subject in sermons and discussions; Refuge and Women’s Aid.
outlets such as work, and unnaturally people in violent relationships are almost
Psalm 1 (ESV)
high expectations. If churches are always unable to speak for themselves
called to be anywhere it is with those and that makes it more beholden upon
0808 2000 247 Photo: www.sxc.hu
10 ochester Link Advertising Feature
ochester Link 11
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Olave’s Grammar School and The Duchy of
T he Diocese of Rochester’s network. I am not just a care leaver, I Lancaster, boys commence at The Queen’s
current partnership project am a care giver. Why? Because this is Chapel of the Savoy in September 2018 and
the model I am now taught and have in Year 7 at St Olave’s Grammar School in
with Home for Good aims to find adopted just as God, through Jesus, has September 2019.
a home for every child in care adopted me and in turn my own little
Further details are available to download
who needs one. The work of the family. I am no longer harder to place. I
via www.saintolaves.net or from
Church and Home for Good is have found my place.”
Admissions, St Olave’s, Goddington Lane,
however, not just about finding Juliette is a champion for Home for Good, Orpington, Kent BR6 9SH
supporting others considering fostering Tel: 01689 820101
adopters and foster carers but
or adoption. She set up a group to offer The closing date for applications is
about building a wider network peer support to foster carers, adoptive Friday, 26 January 2018
of support within the church for parents, supporters and children. “Our
those families. We take a look at group includes adopters, foster carers,
some of the different ways people social workers, lawyers, therapists and
those just wanting to support others, so Building Conservation UK Ltd
can support the Home for Good there are always good conversations,
project. and plenty of activities for the children.
Diagrama social worker Heidi Freeman at one of the
Heidi Freeman is a Christian social charity’s picnics for fostered and adopted children The support our group provides - both
worker in Diagrama’s fostering and prayerfully and practically - is great, so
adoption services. “I love the Psalm that for Good’s Kent Project Co-ordinator I would like to widen it and get more Restoration and Conservation of
describes how God, “sets the lonely in and a Licensed Lay Minister within the ‘Grandparents’ involved in supporting Churches and Listed Buildings
families”. I feel privileged to play my part Diocese of Rochester. Her role involves young foster and adoptive families, and • Decoration • Lime Wash •
in placing children into loving families. connecting with churches to encourage also young adults, who can be great • Painting • Rendering •
What an honour to wait with a child in support for people considering fostering mentors for the young people.” • Lead Work • Stone Masonry •
their anxious excitement for their new and adoption. • Stone & Brick Cleaning •
Stu and Livy are Christian foster carers • Building Restoration & Repairs •
adoptive parents to knock on the door, who have been supported in a variety of
and to witness that first meeting with ‘The oldest of three, ways by their church. Stu says: “There
• Roofing & Guttering •
their often anxious and over-excited
I can remember the are many ways that our church has 0800 052 1030
new parents! And what a relief that www.buildingconservationukltd.com
shown they are with us and for us as
there are kind foster families who when
receiving a call on a dark evening near
devastation of being we have started fostering. We received
buildingconservationltd@hotmail.com
We work on Public Churches and Listed
to Christmas, readily open their door to separated from my so much encouragement and prayer as
we started the process, and one church
Buildings, through extensive Conservation Works,
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Exmouth, Wales, London,
these precious little strangers, and then
rush off to Asda for Christmas presents! siblings’ member looked after our birth children Norfolk, Blyth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Bexhill-
on-Sea and numerous other Cities and Villages
every week so we could attend the eight throughout the United Kingdom.
“My journey into this profession started She explains what drives her in her work: weeks of preparation workshops.
Estimates and Advice FREE without obligation.
with a visit from a social worker who was “I was in and out of foster care as a child.
checking out if my sister and brother-in- The oldest of three, I can remember the “We’ve had meals provided and the
devastation of being separated from loan of clothes and toys as children Holy Trinity, Eltham SE9
law would make good adoptive parents.
my siblings when we were placed with have come into our home – as well as Organist & Director of Music
“I was amazed such as job existed and different carers. Siblings in care are often emotional support for us.”
that this lady had the awesome task We would like to appoint a skilled
‘hard to place’. There aren’t many people “We have been so touched by the way so
of finding what would become my first musician to work with our SATB choir
able to make space for groups. But when many in our church have been sensitive of enthusiastic amateurs and enrich our
nephew. I knew this was the job for
you’re little you don’t understand that - to our change in lifestyle. It really does Affirming Catholic worship.
me and 18 years on I have a strapping
all you know is what hurts. Each of us make a big difference to know people
young nephew and a job that I love!” RSCM rates plus fees
bear the scars of what happened to us are standing with us.”
Billy-Jo O’Leary is a care leaver, Home and the pain of separation. Enquiries and details from
If you’d like to get involved with the
“I am blessed though. I now have a Home for Good campaign call 0300 001 Fr Brett Ward - 020 8850 1246
career, a family and a wide support 0995 or visit homeforgood.org.uk/kent or fr.brett@ht-e.org.uk
FRENCH
Join us for a celebration of SPANISH
fostering and adoption GERMAN
Rochester Cathedral, on March 3, 2018, at 11.30am MEET-UP
~ Conversation Intermediate to
Advanced Level
~ GCSE, I.B & A Levels revision group
Join the Right Reverend James Langstaff, Bishop of Rochester, to celebrate the work in libraries
undertaken by the Diocese of Rochester with two charities Diagrama Foundation ~ Nursery & Primary Schools
and Home for Good, in highlighting fostering and adoption in our society and
• Individual or Group Tuition
recognising the life-changing work by volunteers and professionals in this field. • In Language Hubs or libraries
This is a partnership project with: To find out more visit: homeforgood.org.uk/rochestercathedral • Community Rate
#Bexley #Erith #Dartford #Gravesend
For details of all events: homeforgoodkent or homeforgood.org.uk/kent E-mail: sophiechaise@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: 07916 13634912 ochester Link
L
Winter shelter helped
ast winter, Medway churches
and the Strood Community
Project came together to offer
beds to people in Medway during
me get back on track
the coldest months of the year.
The Medway Night Shelter project
opened for its second year of
operation just days after the
deaths of two rough sleepers in
Chatham town centre between on the streets without the Night Shelter.”
Christmas and New Year made It also directly led to Barry getting back
national headlines. Here, Richard on his feet. He added: “A council officer
Firth speaks to someone who visited me at one of the churches and
benefited from the service and offered me a home bond to get my own
describes how valuable it turned flat. If I had not been at the church, that
would never have happened.”
out to be.
Barry has since found full-time work
Barry, 51, spent seven weeks sleeping in
and is looking to rent a new, bigger flat.
churches across Medway earlier this year
He said: “I genuinely cannot describe
with the Medway Night Shelter project.
how grateful I was for the roof over my
He describes the Churches Together in
head. Without the help they gave me,
Medway project as “a lifesaver”.
I don’t know where I would be now.”
Trinity Church, Gillingham - the church hall has been used as one of the venues for the project. Volunteers
Barry, who found himself homeless are needed to help run the shelter when it opens in January 2018. Picture posed by model
The Medway Winter Night Shelter
after a period of mental illness, learned project needs 150 volunteers to help out
about the initiative when he attended a “There was a real mixture of people, some with the 2018 shelter. Roles vary from
community hub in Chatham. He said: “I had been thrown out of accommodation, administrators to drivers and kitchen
was told to go to the King’s Church in some had been homeless for a while. help. The next shelter will cost around
Chatham where I was interviewed so they But all were like me, really grateful to be £20,000 to run and donations are invited.
could learn about what sort of person I thrown this lifeline. I saw a few people
The Rev Ann Richardson, Area Dean
was. They do not accept drug users or rejected because they had been drinking
for Gillingham and Vicar of Holy Trinity,
people with long criminal records. and a couple who couldn’t get in because
Gillingham, chairs the project working
we were full up. But there was never any
“They gave me a card which proved my The night shelter set up in a church hall group. She said: “One of the great
trouble, it felt safe.”
entitlement to use the service. I slept in beauties of projects like the Winter
Barry said he enjoyed the sense of
a different church across Medway every Two rough sleepers were found dead in Shelters, is that they allow every church
camaraderie in the churches, where
night for seven weeks. It’s an amazing the space of a few days in Chatham late and every individual to get involved
people who had found themselves with
service. You have to be there before 7pm last year – the body of Michael McCluskey according to their gifts, their calling,
nowhere to sleep were looked after by
and volunteers provide you with a sit- was discovered on Chatham High Street their resources and their availability. This
volunteers.He said: “There were six
down meal and a camp bed. You then get on Christmas Eve, while a homeless man year 17 of our guests left the streets for
people cooking, lots of people to talk to,
a cooked breakfast and have to be out by died just yards from the Central Theatre good and that, for us, is a real sign of the
it was a real lifesaver. They could only
7.30am. You feel really well looked after, just five days later. Kingdom of God at work.”
sleep 15 people a night so I felt lucky to
which, for many of the people there, had
be able to use it. Barry said: “I would have been sleeping More information on the project can be
not happened in a while.”
found at www.medwayshelter.org
Hundreds celebrate new vision together
T here was a real sense of
excitement as people gathered
in Rochester Cathedral on Saturday
4 November, to launch Called
Together – the new five-year vision
for the Diocese of Rochester.
Opening worship led by the band of St
Mark’s Gillingham set a joyful tone, as
people enjoyed a variety of activities
including Messy Church and prayer
stations. The ‘marketplace’ area offered
a chance for organisations within the
Diocese to share more about their work.
Live-streaming on Facebook allowed
those online to join the celebration,
which closed with an Evensong led by
the choir of St. George’s in Beckenham.
The result of a year-long process of
conversation, listening and prayer, Hundreds joined Bishop James at Rochester Cathedral to mark the launch of Called Together.
Called Together will shape the activity calling to be together, supporting and sense of calling that together we enrich include an A5 booklet, ‘vision on
of every person in Diocese. encouraging one another in the work of the communities where we are, the sheet’, films and logos. For printed
communities we serve.” booklets or bookmarks with the
Presenting the vision, Bishop James set evangelism, in the nurturing of fruitful
Called Together prayer please email
out the three priorities: Growing disciples; discipleship, in the life of prayer and in Resources are available for download
CalledTogether@rochester.anglican.org.
enriching our communities; resourcing our desire to draw the young into the life in the Called Together section of
mission and ministry. He said: “We have of faith and walk with them in it. the Diocese of Rochester website - Local events in each Archdeaconry are
listened and heard people’s sense of “Intertwined with all of this is the www.rochester.anglican.org and set to take place early in the new year.You can also read
