Welcome to the United Benefice, the Parishes of St Katharine's Knockholt  & St Margaret's Halstead in Sevenoaks 

JULY 2021

Sunday services: 

9am: St Katharine's Knockholt  [ TN14 7LS ]

11am: St Margaret's Halstead   [ TN14 7HQ ]

Please note the following as protocols have changed: 

From Sunday, 25 July, we shall be back to singing hymns and songs as a regular part of our service.
We have been advised to keep a note of who attends services, in case that should be needed for track and trace, so you will be asked to sign in when you arrive.

There is no need to wear a mask, but recognise whether or not to wear a mask will be for each person to determine for themselves.

If you are clinically vunerable and concerned about risk and and keen to attend; church and feel confident that you are safe to do so. That area will be:To help with this, we will have a designated area in each church where people will be required to wear masks and where strict distancing between households will be expected. So, even if you are vulnerable, you can come to church and feel confident that you are safe to do so. That area will be :                                      

- In St Katharine's, Knockholt: the north aisle (the section in front of the Glass Room)                                    

- In St Margaret's, Halstead: the south aisle (the section to the right nearest the main door                              

Note - In each church, those are the areas that are most free from the regular passage of traffic.

For Communion, we will continue to bring the bread and wine to you in your seats. Recognising people's concerns about the health risks, we will continue to use individual cups as we have done.

Church Bibles will be made available, or if you prefer to bring your own Bible, you are welcome to do that.

We love having children as part of church. Church is a family and so it includes people of all ages. (We not only love having children as part of church; we also love seeing and hearing them too!) Normally, we like to say that we love "free range children". However, out of love for one another, because of other people's anxieties and vulnerabilities, we do ask that you continue to keep your children with you in the pew during the service.

For further parish news,  click on our FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE pages ( top right hand side)

Every blessing,

Your Rector, Tim
The Rev'd Tim Edwards
Rector of the United Benefice of Knockholt with Halstead

01959 532 133
07980 826 365

Website: knockholtandhalsteadchurches.org/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/knockholtandhalsteadchurches
YouTube: www.youtube.com/HalsteadRectoryUK
Giving: knockholtandhalstead.churchsuite.co.uk/donate

OTHER USEFUL TOPICS TO NOTE:

GIVING: As we move out of the current restrictions towards whatever the "new normal" will be, there are many things that we hope to do together as a church family. The last twelve months, while strange, have also been some of the busiest we have known. The need have never been greater for us to put into action of vision of "Knowing God, Loving God, Sharing God."  Humanly speaking, we can only do that if we work together. 

Can I, therefore, ask you to consider whether you are able to make a regular gift to the work of your local church?

Not everyone will be able to do that, we know – the last year has been financially difficult for many (that is why, for example, we have been supporting local families through our Food Bank).

But could I ask you to think whether you could either start giving regularly or increase your regular gift to help make our vision a reality?

The easiest way to give is simply to go to our website and click on "donations/giving", which will allow you to give securely.

Thank you, so much,

Your Rector, Tim

ACCESSING CHURCH SUITE:

- If you have the myChurchsuite app – you can sign up directly there; or
- Use the links for each service below; or
- Email the Rectory – Tim (tim.edwards@gmail.com) or Debbie (rev.tim.office@gmail.com) and we will add you on.

OTHER PARISH NEWS: 
Are you online and would like to connect?  Connect with us here:  http://knockholtandhalsteadchurches.org/ or at https://www.facebook.com/knockholtandhalsteadchurches/ or click on the FACEBOOK icon on top right hand side of this page.

Have you filled out your contact form?
Make sure that you have filled out the contact form, you can do that at: http://knockholtandhalsteadchurches.org/resources/contact-details-form/  so that we can keep you in touch.

Would you like to join our weekly Bible Study Groups? It's an opportunity to grow in your faith and to get to know Jesus. To join one of the groups online: See the benefice calendar for details here: http://knockholtandhalsteadchurches.org/whats-on/benefice-calendar/

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COMMUNITY INITIATIVES :     

Food donations:

Useful to note: 

a) If you would like to give a physical donation of food.

b) Please take your physical donation to: Coolings Green & Pleasant, Main Road, Knockholt. 

c) This will go to support our partners at Trinity School Food Bank, who are working actively, and doing great work, to support local families within Sevenoaks.

d) Thank-you! for supporting this local initiative.

Knockholt HELP !  - Phone calls between 9 am to 1pm Monday to Saturday only, or you can email us and we’ll get back  to you as soon as possible. Contact Ray - telephone 01959533024    or by email – knockholthelp@gmail.com

When contacting us please tell us your name and phone number, particularly if the line is busy and you have to leave a message.   [ Knockholt Help is supported by Knockholt Parish Council ]

These are the key areas where we can be of help:

• Shopping for groceries;
• Collecting vital medication;
• Posting letters and packages;
• A friendly ‘phone call or a chat

Do you or a member of your household have one of the Coronavirus symptoms and have been told 
to self-isolate for 7 or 14 days? If so, then help is at hand.

Knockholt Help was set up by a group of local volunteers during the first Lockdown period  in the Spring, and will be reactivated to help and support our fellow villagers who need to self-isolate. This service is free and utilises Knockholt Grapevine, so please check your emails regularly for updates.