If you have ever wondered which Bible Passages you could be reading throughout the week check out our 'Your Bible Is Not Just For Sunday' weekly recommendation . To find out what readings are recommended check out the attachment and be inspired by God's word.

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Hello, I’m Jenny, and for those of you who haven’t met me yet, I’m the new curate who has come to train and learn here in the North Lafford benefice, alongside Revd. Al. It has been an absolute joy coming here and beginning to get to know you all.
The last few months have been busy ones for me and my family. Preparing for Ordination, and everything that entails, moving house, a daughters graduation, and, by the time this newsletter goes to press, completing all my studies for a degree in theology (spoiler alert, the more you learn about our all-knowing, all-encompassing God, the more you realise there is to know…).
In my first sermon here in the benefice, I spoke about Jesus’ words where he says ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ Since then, I have been thinking on that last word, Rest. What does it mean to find rest in the busyness, in the mundaneness, in the demands of our lives? How often do we feel truly rested? With all that this world throws at us, how often do we stop, take stock, and just be?
In the Gospels, we frequently see Jesus taking time to rest, time to be, despite the myriad demands of his ministry, which, let us not forget, took place over just a few short years. He does this in many different ways. Sometimes he retreats to quiet places, either by himself, or just with a few trusted friends, disciples, to pray. To find quiet, to find rest. Other times we see him spending time with his family and friends, at weddings, festivals, celebrations. Jesus reminds us in so many ways that our lives are meant for more than just work and busyness.
Over the summer months, we often find ourselves making time and space to spend with family, to go on holiday, to find rest. That can mean being in joyful settings with the ones we love, but it can also mean finding time, space to be with God. For me, my summer holiday this year will be joining the Lincoln Diocese pilgrimage to Taizé. Retreating from our busy world filled with demands, emails, and, dare I say it, assignments. Here, with my phone and the busyness of my life left behind, I hope and pray to rest. Rest in the knowledge that I am held by our all loving Father.
My prayer for you all this summer, is that it brings moments of true rest, whether in a garden with friends, by a pool or beach on holiday, or, like me, in quiet or on retreat. September, with all it brings, will come soon enough. For now, may this be a time to enjoy, to breathe, to take stock, and to rest.
With my hopes and prayers for a restful and restorative summer for you all. Jenny

Both churches were delighted to receive the U3A (University of the Third Age (for those of more mature years!) Church Group on Wednesday the 22nd of July. The day started with a visit to St Mary’s Evedon wonderfully hosted by Tony and Carole Wright to view the building and its surrounds and hear about its history. The group then moved off for lunch and then visited St Edith’s at Anwick. They were welcomed by Reverend Al and Yvonne Allenby. Reverend Al gave a talk on the history of the church and then invited the group to look for some interesting items within and without the building including the 3 men in a boat and the laughing pig (perhaps you can have a look the next time your visit St Edith’s (Hint: you do not need to enter the building to find them!. A member of the group commented “The visits were excellent. Full of details that demonstrate the wide variety of architecture and our rich Christian heritage and history over 1,000 years and more.” Thank you to all who took part. The photo is of the group during their visit to St Edith’s

Ride and Stride 2026 will take place on September 12th.

There are two options for sponsorship this year:
The usual sponsorship form
Online via Just Giving
If riders or striders want to fundraise via Just Giving, they will need to click the link or QR code on the poster and select the large orange button marked, ‘Start fundraising’. They should then follow the steps to set up their own fundraising page. Once set up riders are encouraged to share the link to their fundraising page on social media.

Aside from a new fundraising option, we’re also not providing the Visitable Churches Guide as it was proving difficult to keep it accurate. To help you plan a route, please see the Diocese of Lincoln’s Find a Church map. While this covers the C of E churches in the county, you are welcome to visit churches of other denominations too.

Otherwise, the paperwork is otherwise the same and I’ll attach the 2026 versions of the Sponsorship Form, Invitation Letter, Parish and Local Organisers’ Information, and poster. In addition, there’s a new ‘Ideas for your Just Giving Page’.

Please encourage members of your congregation to participate in Ride and Stride this year.

Join us for refreshments and good conversation at our monthly coffee morning
Photographs from St Edith’s May Coffee morning, with the warm weather people have flooded to our coffee morning, enjoying good conversation and excellent home made cakes. This has been the best Coffee Morning so far this year, everyone’s hard work has paid off and the atmosphere was certainly blessed. Come along to our next Coffee Morning and join us for a chat and cake. But get there early or you may miss out on the wonderful homemade cakes. Our Coffee Morning is the first Saturday of each month in the Village Hall from 10am. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Would you like to meet up with friends or make new ones. All Saints is a Benefice initiative to help us do that. It is held at the Winchelsea Centre Ruskington on Mondays between 2pm and 4pm. We hope that as many people from across our communities will come along to enjoy fellowship, craft, activities and more. Please come along or if you want to volunteer please drop Reverend Al a line.

On Thursday the 6th of August from 1pm-3pm we are going to try a Lego Club. Lego will be supplied! The aim is to get the community together and to have a break from tablets etc. and enjoy each other’s company and have fun. It will be in the Winchelsea Centre Ruskington. Our photo is of Annabelle’s house, which she built on our trial day at Pop-Up. Please come along and take part.

Lots of stalls, home made jams, veg and refreshments.

Sunday@3 – Knowing Our Story – The Boy Jesus in the Temple
Sadly there was no Sunday@3 in July. However it will be back on the 16th of August when we will be exploring the story of Jesus remaining behind at the temple and all that follow that. If you would like to come along it would be lovely to see you this gentle All Age Service with song, praise and activities begins at 3pm.

Sunday 16th August at 9.30am there will be a service of Holy Communion in St Edith's Church. A time to celebrate together at the Lords table. Everyone is welcome

Forthcoming Bible Study
Reverend Al and the ministry team will be leading the Bible Course at 7pm on Tuesday’s beginning on the 18th of August. We have offered course previously, but it has been updated and we are excited to offer it to you once more. We are hoping that those who are seeking confirmation as well as those who wish to deepen their growing faith will attend. However if you have undertaken the course before, you may wish to revisit it and continue to deepen your knowledge of scripture. Please email [email protected] to register your interest. Here is what one church group said about the new course. We have people in our group who have been studying the Bible for decades and others who are new to it … it's accessible to everyone within the group. Come one come all! Further details to follow.

We warmly invite you to join us for our Benefice Service. This is the only service that takes place this week around our Benefice and it offers the opportunity for our sister churches to all come together for worship and fellowship.