Diocesan
Service of Welcome Sunday the 2nd March, a bright sunny day just right for travelling to Canterbury for the Service of welcome for the Archbishop Dr Rowan Williams. The intrepid travellers met at St. Stephens Church/school for a light lunch. Something to suit everyone, meat pie, cheese pie, pizza, hot dogs, with crisps, washed down with apple or orange juice or flavoured water. A birthday cake for afters, there were two birthdays celebrated. To sustain the travellers on their journey a snack of apples and milky ways was provided. Lunch over and being joined by those people from St. Philips, a convoy of cars left for Canterbury. At Canterbury Elizabeth and Eddie met everyone at the entrance of the Cathedral. The first group to arrive went in and reserved seats for the other people in the convoy. Everyone took off their jackets and spread them over three rows of seats near the front where the service was to be held. The Cathedral was crowded and even though they had printed 2,000 copies of the service booklet, these soon ran out The service was a spoken response, with modern hymns and the volume of the responses and singing was wonderful to listen too. The Archbishop has a wonderful speaking voice and his sermon words of wisdom. Young people did the intercessions and they provided the musical interlude during the communion. All to soon the service was over and the journey back home to Maidstone. Thank to Elizabeth and her helps for providing the food, the organisation and the fellowship of this memorable day. Joyce Parkinson |