| Editor: Sonia Marshall | Layout: Dave Merchant | Web version: Mark Warrick |
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Scripture readings for Sunday
For many years now the mass media have been reporting declining church attendance using more or less reliable figures. There is something in what they say, although there is little doubt that some sections of the press are rather too gleeful about the opportunity to say it. No matter how much the messenger may smirk, however, nothing is changed by ignoring him and harm may be done by arguing with him!
Recent reports of rapid decline in Sunday attendance figures throughout the land have to be addressed intelligently, for there are answers and it is not as gloomy as it looks. Mind you, if anyone asks how attendance is at Deeping St James, my reply will always be, 'There is still room for you,' until every place is taken!
First, we cannot force people to love God or to express that love through attendance at a church - much as I urge believers to do this. No amount of tinkering with forms of worship will achieve this. The Gospel challenges people and it is not a comfortable message in today's consumer society. For the poor, hope seems to lie more in Mystic Meg than in the New Testament: for the rich, I don't know where it lies.
What we cannot do is change our message, but what we can and must do is update and improve the way we communicate that message - suggestions, please!
Second, attendance is becoming less regular as a result of our more mobile society and of alternative activities on Sundays. Therefore, the number of people attending church is higher than the usual attendance figures suggest, since there is no register taken of who comes when and so the total number who are active members is not available. I am certain only that it is very much higher than the total present on any given Sunday!
Having said all of that, we are not short of empty spaces and even if they are all filled, there will still be thousands of Deeping St James residents who are not at any church any time. Our task is not to argue over statistics but to meet individual people and families with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Take care of the people, and the figures will take care of themselves.
1st January, 2nd Sunday of Christmas:
10am: Ephesians 1: 3-14; John 1: 1-18
6th February, 5th Sunday before Lent:
10am: 1 Corinthians 9: 16-23; Mark 1: 29-39
6pm: Numbers 13: 1-2, 27-33; Philippians 2: 12-28
13th February, 4th Sunday before Lent:
10am: 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27; Mark 1: 40-45
6pm: Isaiah 35: 3-6; Matthew 8: 14-17
20th February, 3rd Sunday before Lent:
10am: 2 Corinthians 1: 18-22; Mark 2: 1-12
27th February, 2nd Sunday before Lent:
10am: Colossians 1: 15-20 John 1: 1-14
5th March, Sunday next before Lent:
10am: 2 Corinthians 4: 3-6; Mark 9: 2-9
6pm: 1 Kings 19: 1-16; 2 Peter 1: 16-21
Explorers, Climbers and Scramblers would like to wish everyone a very happy New Year and hope that you all enjoyed Christmas and the excitement of a new millennium.
They themselves are still rather high with it all and there is still much excitement in the air. To try and bring them back to earth a bit our chosen theme for the next coming weeks is Matthew 28:18 where Jesus said, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth". It is not as heavy as it sounds, the children played a very interesting game of 'Simon Says' to illustrate this theme in more simple terms.
They also learnt the story of Nathan who was unable to walk and whose friends decided to take him to see Jesus where he could be healed. Their craft this week was building a house with Nathan and his friends included. A rather tricky task for little fingers but the results speak for themselves.
All the children's work is displayed in the Children's Corner at the back of the Church. Please take the time to have a look when you can, it is amazing what we get up to at Climbers, Scramblers and Explorers.
The Climbers and Scramblers meet in The Vicarage and the Explorers in the Church Hall every Sunday (except when there is a Family Service) at 9.50am and finish in the Church with the rest of the congregation at around 11.00am. If there is anyone who would like to come along and join in, then please contact either Alison Warrick on 345890, Jane Thompson on 341089 or myself on 343370.
If you would like to receive the sacrament but are unable through infirmity to get to church, please let either the Vicar or Sonia Marshall know as soon as possible.
Walking through the ward in the depth of the night there is a sense of peace. As you pass each group of beds it is as if our Lord is placing His loving arms around each patient and giving them his healing touch.
Sybil joins me in thanking everyone for their sustaining prayers, cards and enquiries as to my progress during my recent stay in hospital.
Bernard Babb
If you have not yet received your free will offering envelopes for 2000, please have a word with Peter Wilde (344991) who will be happy to supply you!
If you have a Children's Society Box would you please return it to Caroline Herron for emptying so that this year's gifts can be sent to the Society.
Women's World Day of Prayer
at the Methodist Church. Further
Details in next month's Priory News.
Freezes well. Serves 6-8 persons
Also Geoffrey Moore (49) and Walter George (Sam) Spooncer (71) whose funerals were held at Peterborough Crematorium on 22nd and 24th December respectively.
This is only an extract from some of our magazine. Residents of Deeping St James can subscribe to the printed version.