Boughton Aluph was today’s starting point for our pilgrim band.
We heard of a slightly delayed start this morning, due to some pilgrims having locked themselves out of their room! Clearly some of them hadn’t yet had enough excitement…
The plan is for Evensong at Canterbury cathedral followed by a meal, and then home – with surprise additions to the group 🙂
There will be a lot to hear and see in the morning service on Sunday 4 August! Keep an eye on the Facebook page for latest updates.
We know that our pilgrims will start every day of their walk with the Pilgrim Prayer.
They each carry the prayer on the card shown below.
As Erwin mentioned last Sunday, pilgrimage is a metaphor for life and the prayer entirely appropriate for us at home, too.
At the time when we expect the group to be leaving for their day’s walk, we are invited to join them in saying:
Our pilgrim band reached Aylesford Priory a little after midday today and, after receiving the pilgrim blessing, set off on the first stretch of the 35 miles to Canterbury.
Aylesford Priory
They walked 15 miles today, so have well and truly bitten the head off the journey!
They sent pictures and post straight to St Mary’s Facebook page for all to follow their progress.
There were some hours of silence in the late afternoon/early evening when there was no signal, but they now just posted on FB about their arrival.
H
ere are some of our pilgrims putting their best foot forward, just after the end of the morning service on Sunday 28 July, when Revd John Driver had blessed them with these words:
All powerful God, you always show mercy towards those who love you and you’re never far away from those who seek you,
Remain with your servants on this holy pilgrimage,
guide their way in accord with your will;
shelter them with your protection by day, and give them the light of your grace by night;
and as their companion on the journey bring them to their destination in safety.
So Elle, Sandrine, Alison, Erwin, and Mieke, Andrew and Kate,
May God the Father who created you guide your footsteps;
May God the Son who redeemed you share your journey;
May God the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you lead you on this pilgrimage;
and the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you wherever you may go. Amen.
Look out for updates on St Mary’s Facebook page throughout the next three days.
Excitement is building as our revd Erwin prepares for the walk of his life- and all in aid of the Transformation project.
A new page has been added under the Appeal tab of the website, where you will also find a link to further information about the venture, and a link to the Kindlink donation page.
Is Erwin confident at the prospect of walking the 35 miles in 3 days?
Find out by listening to this short interview
.
Fortunately he will have the support of five companions to keep him going: take a bow Elle, Mieke, Kate, Andrew and Sandrine.
We wish all of them well and God’s speed!
And may Erwin reach the target he hopes to achieve- let’s all help him towards it!
Erwin and his pilgrimage companions
Congratulations to Teresa and Mike, who on Sunday 23 June marked their 15th wedding anniversary with a renewal of marriage vows at the end of the morning service.
Many happy faces 🙂
Thursday 20 June the church will be open from 10 am until 6 pm.
Walk in, give thanks, enjoy the peace, rest a while, meditate, pray. All welcome.
As 20 June is the date of Corpus Christi, when we give thanks for the Eucharist, there will first be a short (30 minutes) Communion Service at 10 am.
Everyone is welcome at this awareness and fund raising event, when we’ll have an al fresco coffee morning within the chalked outlines of what is hopefully to come!
There will also be an opportunity to view the scale models of the Annexe design, with removable roof, which give a really good idea of what the finished building would look and feel like.
