The Parish Church of St James, services and contacts
When I arrived here last year, those who welcomed me to the parish and district all seemed to express the hope that I would stay a long time. I don't know if they still feel the same way, but I was certainly aware from the start that there would be no shortage of things to do.
It would be easy to be depressed at the small Sunday congregation, and easy, too, to worry about the parish church's financial position, but we are at the beginning of a journey together and negativity is not among the items we need to pack for the trip!
There is a temptation to try to do everything at once, but we must resist it precisely because there are too few of us, and too little money, to do all that is to be done, but as always in matters of building the Kingdom, we must start with prayer and the consideration of God's word in scripture. I would ask each of you, therefore, to put aside time each day for prayer if you can, no matter how short, and to use some of that time to pray for the P.C.C. in its deliberations, and for yourself and one another, that together we may do God's will in Deeping St James, for his praise and glory and for the good of his church and people. By the time you read this there should be a display at the back of church of a draft strategy for growth which I asked the P.C.C. to consider: some of the proposals it contains have already been approved and are in hand, such as the children's work. Some are being modified and others are awaiting attention. Your comments on all of it would be welcome.
We have invited Keith Bourne, diocesan Resources Advisor, to speak to the P.C.C. at its February meeting (Monday 2nd) and anyone who wishes to hear him is welcome to join us at 7.45pm at the Church Hall. Following his visit we hope to give some consideration to issues of Christian Stewardship which ought to go some way to deepening our commitment to God and to solving many of our practical difficulties. Meanwhile, as Lent and Easter approach, we should use this time to put behind us the thoughts of falling numbers and dire finances and look forward with confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish in us the work to which he calls us.
Mark Warrick
1st February:
The Presentation of Christ in the
Temple
(Candlemass)
10am Malachi 3: 1-5; Luke 2: 22-40
6pm Exodus 13: 1-16; Romans 12: 1-5
8th February: The 3rd Sunday before Lent
10am 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11; Luke 5: 1-11
(Family Eucharist with Baptism)
15th February: The 2nd Sunday before Lent
10am Revelation 4; Luke 8: 22-25
22nd February: The Sunday next before Lent
10am 2 Corinth'ns 3: 12 - 4: 2; Luke 9: 28-36
25th February: Ash Wednesday
7.30pm Isaiah 58: 1-12; Matt. 6: 1-6, 16-21
1st March: The 1st Sunday of Lent
10am Deuteronomy 26: 1-11; Luke 4: 1-13
6pm Micah 6: 1-8; Luke 5: 27-39
Details of services for Mothering Sunday, Palm Sunday and Holy Week will be published next month.
Please note that the Family Eucharist with Baptism next month will be on Mothering Sunday, 22nd March.
In some ways, no place is better than any other for prayer! But we have set aside the parish church as a place for prayer as well as worship, and it is open and (usually) quiet during working hours each day for the purpose of prayer and contemplation.
Prayers for others are also said during most services, including daily Morning and Evening Prayer, and if you would like a particular matter brought before God both during worship and by our Prayer Group, then please jot it (legibly!) on one of the small pieces of card at the back of church and leave your request on the prayer board. There is no need to put your name to it unless you want to do so. Such matters can then be included in the prayers of anyone who would like to pray about them, as well as in "official" prayers.
Mark
Please remember to let the Vicar, Sonia Marshall or any member of the Group know of your prayer requests.
If you feel inspired by the Holy Spirit to join the Group on a regular or even an occasional basis you will be made most welcome.
Phillipians 4: 4 -7
Bernard Babb
In Brenda Peter's report 'A Day at Synod' published in last month's Priory News, the fourth paragraph (about the report reviewing synodical government) should have read "The motion was almost thrown out as a 'Bridge Too Far'". The vote on the report was very close - it was carried, but we are likely to see several amendments to its recommendations when the measure comes before Synod.
The debate on Human Fertilisation was actually introduced by obstetrician Keith Masters (from Lichfield diocese) whom I had the pleasure of meeting when visiting St. John's Theological College at Nottingham. Canon John Polkinghorne, the noted physicist and chairman of the Church's medical ethics committee, was able, by amendments, to bring up to date Lichfield Diocese's original motion which had taken two years to reach synod because of 'pressure of business'.
'Pressure of business' also means that a February session of General Synod is necessary. Items to come before Synod are the final approval of the Cathedrals and National Institutions Measures, a continuation of the revision stage of the revised Eucharistic Rites A and B and the general approval stage of the rite for Extended Communion, A Sense of the Word, and the text of the Lord's Prayer for inclusion in "Common Worship".
Sonia Marshall
Please return Palm Crosses to Church by Sunday 22nd February in order to be reduced to ashes in time for the Sung Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday, 25th February.
The total raised at the Christingle Service held on 14th December 1997 was £237.25.
Sybil and Bernard Babb wish to thanks all who have donated to the Leprosy Mission in 1997. The total amount raised was £285.62.
St. Anskar was the first missionary to North west Europe. He was born near Amiens and became a monk living first in Picardy and then in Germany. In 826 he went as a missionary first to Denmark and afterwards to Sweden. In 831 he was consecrated archbishop of Hamburg with oversight of the people of Scandinavia.
When Hamburg was destroyed by the Danes he continued his work in Scandinavia paving the way for a more widespread conversion in the eleventh century.
These two brothers became known as apostles to the southern Slavs. Their early life was spent in Constantinople and after becoming priests in 863 had success in preaching in Moravia. Cyril died in 869 AD in Rome where Methodius was subsequently consecrated bishop. Despite opposition from German clergy he went on to become archbishop in Pannonia and Moravia having gained special permission to celebrate the liturgy in Slavonic.
Prior to his death St. Cyril worked out an alphabet for slavonic speech enabling him to translate the liturgy and much of the Bible, laying the foundation for Slavonic literature.
Janani Luwum was born in East Acholi, Uganda. He became a teacher, was converted in 1948 and was ordained in the Anglican Church. He became principal of a theological college and Bishop of Northern Uganda before becoming Archbishop in 1974. He spoke out frequently on behalf of victims and those oppressed under the regime of Idi Amin and was shot dead at Amin's instigation, Anglicans in Kampala being forbidden to hold a memorial service for him.
Voluntary Donations Will be Greatly Appreciated
This year for our Lent studies we shall be following the ecumenical course 'HOPE IN A TIME OF CHANGE'.
Hope may sometimes be in short supply but it remains one of the key ('theological') Christian virtues and one of the most important gifts we can bring into all life in the world. As we approach the end of the Millennium, many people will be thinking about the future; some even believe that there is no future. As Christians we are challenged to be people of hope and to do all we can to see hopes fulfilled. Because of the hope that we have through belief in Christ, hope is one of the things that the Church should be able to offer to those who have least hope. And because the hope that Christ offered was hope for the present life as well as the future, the hope that we can offer might be shown in our lives and in the way that we treat those who share the world with us.
The course is comprised of five sessions:
We hope to be joined by other Churches in the Deepings for this study and a leaflet will be available later in the month giving details of dates, times and venues for the meetings. A work book will be available, price £1.50.
How, in the midst of an overwhelming world, can our lives be shaped?
David F Ford identifies the nature of the 'overwhelmings' we face in the whirl of modern life: the images and information which constantly inundate us and pervade our lives. In examining the people and forces which influence us, the rhythm of work and leisure, and the intense experiences, both good and bad, which make up our reality, he offers practical wisdom on coping creatively with challenge and change.
Above all he opens up ways of discovering for ourselves a dynamic pattern that can respond to the overwhelrnings, and shape our desires, relationships, responsibilities and celebrations. A vision emerges of genuine Christian life which can squarely face both the living God and the modern world in its best and worst aspects.
David F Ford is Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge University, and a well-known author and theologian.
Fount paperback
Price - £6.99
Available from SPCK
The gift to your church which sustains its work and ministry throughout the year. Envelopes for those already in the scheme will be available in church at the end of December.
Not yet in the scheme but would like to know more?
The Vicar, Simon Marshall or Peter Wilde would be happy to fill you in on details in confidence and without obligation.
NEW!......Covenant forms for 1998. The tax-efficient way to give.
Specially redesigned forms are available now. Ask Mark, Simon or Peter.
This is only an extract from some of our magazine. Residents of Deeping St James can subscribe to the printed version.
An annual subscription will only cost £3, a price which has been held for the 6th year running!!
For further details or to subscribe please contact Sonia, Dave or the Vicar, who will be pleased to put your name on a delivery round.
Back issues are available on line as follows:
November 1997;
December 1997;
January 1998.
The Parish Church of St James, services and contacts