Check out this week readings from the series of 'Your Bible is not just for Sunday' for suggested readings during the week beginning 22nd June
On the 9th of June Reverend Al was instituted and inducted as the Rector of the North Lafford Group of Parishes. It was a lovely service full of joy, and the occasional tear!
Bishop Nicholas led the service with the Reverend Philip Johnson, vicar of Sleaford, assisting him. There were the traditional symbolic offerings to Reverend Al, the keys of the churches, the pouring of water into the baptismal font, the receiving of a bible and the giving of the chalice and patten. All of these representing the role of Reverend Al in our Christian lives. He had to ring the bells too, unfortunately he could not climb the stairs to the tower, instead he rang a hand bell to which David Cooper, our Tower Captain, echoed the church bell. There are copies of the order of service available across the benefice if you would like to read it. Reverend Al said afterwards that he was immensely humbled by the love that has been shown to him and thanked everyone for being part of the service and the life of our Benefice.
Focal Ministers might seem like a new thing to many of us. However, it is a really important ministry as we seek to ensure the continued spiritual and ministerial life of our parishes. As we all know, there are fewer priests available to us today and it is only through the release of those who are committed to Christian presence that we can maintain it. Richard Vickers and Corinna Langridge, our Readers, undertook the Focal Ministry course, to prepare to take up the roles at St Andrew’s Leasingham and St Edith’s Anwick. All of this with the blessing of the PCCs. Richard and Corinna were commissioned by Bishop Nicholas at Edward King Chapel on the 2nd of May. They received their certificates from Reverend Al at services in the Benefice. Please pray for Richard and Corinna and your ministry team as we seek to understand how these new ministries might encourage our Christian lives together.
What does it mean to be a Christian? There is no one answer, save following Jesus of course! We all have many ideas of what it means to be Christian, for some of us it is service in the community, for others it is helping at church, then there are those who feel the time, right now, is to come to church and just be. All are valid, but all must be based on the teaching of Jesus.
Jesus taught his disciples through example and story. We have heard so many of them as we have celebrated our major festivals. Yet there is so much more to learn. We now enter the season in the church calendar known as Ordinary Time. You will have heard me say at some point there is nothing ordinary about church. This special time is one where we might take the opportunity to deepen and grow our faith. Jesus was often asked questions Lord what should I do? Lord how should I? He often answers with his own questions; what do you want me to do for you? What do you think? He wants us to think about what it is we are asking, what it is that our faith is calling us to.
Faith is the anchor that holds us when things are difficult, it is also what lifts us in time of joy. Our Bible Studies are one of the ways in which we wish to encourage each other in our faith. Our personal prayer and bible reading is a wonderful way to maintain our faith, but coming together, whether at church or specific group studies will help us to deepen and understand further the love of God through Jesus and what it means to go out and reflect god’s love in our service to the communities we serve. In the coming days Jenny Hunt will join us as our new Curate. Jenny is as keen to learn about us and our expression of faith just as we are in finding out more about her. Jenny will be writing the foreword to next month’s newsletter. Enjoy the summer, your families and all whom you love. With every blessing. Reverend Al.
7th June - Holy communion
14th June- Morning Praise
21st June - Invitation Sunday - Holy Communion- Songs of Praise
21st June - Sunday @ 3
28th June - Morning Praise
31st May - Holy Communion - Trinity
Check out this week readings from the series of 'Your Bible is not just for Sunday' for suggested readings during the week beginning 29th June
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.
Messy Church met at the Winchelsea Centre in June as we continued our exploration of the Parables of Jesus. We learned about the parable of the sower and other parables. Richard led this session as Rev Al and Jayne were away. Harvest Samba was our song and there was a choice of craft activities about various characters in the story - painting, colouring, cutting, and sticking. All followed by our communal meal. Thank you to everyone who came along to learn more about Jesus and a big thank you to our small, but dedicated, Messy Team. Why not join us next time on Saturday 11th July as we join together with the village Funday on the Ruskington playing fields. We hope to see you there.
our craft, but the focus was on the wise and foolish builders. The wise man built his house upon the rock …..etc was our story and song. Reverend Al was very happy as
we were using Lego to build little houses (first picture) to enact the parable. It got messy with sand and water as the storm came tumbling down second picture). As always we said grace and finished with a communal meal. If you think this sounds like your kind of church then please come along to the next one on Saturday the 13th of June at 2pm. You are always welcome.
Lots of stalls to browse around offering refreshments, fresh veg, books and bric-a-brac
