The Parish Church of St James, services and contacts
The season of Lent will have begun by the time you are reading this, and some of us will have given up something we enjoy as an act of self-discipline in preparation for our celebration of eternal life at Easter. I have often said that the idea is to give up something which is morally neutral but which we enjoy: if it is bad in itself we should not be doing it anyway and it should be given up permanently, not just for Lent!
Lent is about more than giving up: it is about self-examination and moving closer to God in Christ. This does require an openness to the possibility of permanent change as we seek a way of life which conforms more to what God requires of us. We should spend Lent praying for guidance and considering what we might do to live the life which sacrifices self in order to find self, and then at Easter we commit ourselves to that life. For some, confession of past wrongdoing may be part of the preparation for new life, and I should be happy to give advice and/or to hear confessions if requested.
Again for some, the Lent study course, "Hope in a Time of Change" may help: do join if you feel it might.
Just before Holy Week, on Tuesday 31st March, more members of our congregation are to be confirmed. The service is at 7.30pm at Sleaford parish church, and it would be good if some more of us were there to support and pray for them. Perhaps being with them as they make their vows would also help us to renew our own commitment to Christ.
Finally, following our recent meeting with Keith Bourne, diocesan Resources Advisor, the PCC has decided to mount a stewardship andfund-raising campaign, so we shall soon be hearing of some practical ways in which our commitment may be used. Keith's discussion paper is still available at the back of church for those who wish to take a copy.
Mark Warrick
1st March: 1st of Lent
10am Deuteronomy 26: 1-11; Luke 4: 1-13
8th March: 2nd of Lent (Edward King)
10am Genesis 15: 1-12; 17-18; Luke 13: 31-35
6pm Proverbs 2: 1-10; James 3: 13-18
15th March: 3rd of Lent
10am Isaiah 55: 1-9; Luke 13: 1-9
22nd March: Mothering Sunday (4th of Lent)
10am Exodus 2: 1-10; Luke 2: 33-35
(Family Eucharist with Baptism)
29th March: 5th of Lent
10am Isaiah 43: 16-21; John 12: 1-8
5th April: Palm Sunday
10am Isaiah 50: 4-9a; Passion Gospel
There will be a Parish Jumble Sale on Saturday March 28th in the Church Hall starting at 11.00am.
If you have any Jumble that you would like collected, please contact Liz Spratley (342401) or it may be left in the Church Hall on a Sunday Morning.
The Venerable Alec Knight, Archdeacon of Basingstoke and Canon Residentiary of Winchester Cathedral to be appointed as Dean of Lincoln in succession to the Very Reverend Dr. Brandon Jackson who resigned on 31st October 1997.
The Revd. Nigel Gibson, Rector of St. Mary and St. Martin, Stamford will resign on 12th April 1998.
The Revd. Ken Almond, Vicar of St. John Baptist, Spalding and Deeping St. Nicholas retired on 28th February 1998.
THE REVISED INITIATION services received their final approval at the November meeting of General Synod. The official published version is expected from Church House Publishing on 26th March. The services are authorised for use from April 11th 1998 (Easter Eve). The report from the Liturgical Publishing Group suggested a generic name for the new liturgical material: 'Common Worship'.
The Synod also began consideration of which version of the Psalms to include with authorised services when they are published. The commission proposed a revision of the american (ECUSA) psalter, and produced a selection of fifty psalms to show what they intended. The decision was postponed until a complete psalter is available.
The February sessions of Synod have also now given general approval for a modern version of the Lord's Prayer to be printed in 'Common Worship' and for rites for 'extended communion. These items are subject to any changes made at revision committee stage.
ABOUT EIGHT HUNDRED parishes have been authorised by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York as 'guinea-pigs' for he new generation of liturgical material. Each diocesan bishop was asked to nominate twenty parishes in his diocese covering as wide a spectrum of church traditions as possible, as well as different geographical and social settings
In the early autumn they received copies of the draft funeral and marriage rites, and now they have been asked to try out six new eucharistic prayers.
Parishes authorised for this experimental use are asked to give initial feedback to the Liturgical Commission, so that their suggestions can be incorporated into the revision process.
Sonia Marshall
Climbers and Scramblers have had a busy time learning about two of God's friends - David and Jonah - and hearing that God who looked after them a long time ago cares for us today.
In celebration of Candlemas, and also to tie in with the Baptisms we have a Family Services, we made a study of Candles. Our activity that day was icing cup cakes and decorating them with candles to remind us that we must 'shine as a light in the world'.
Climbers and Scramblers meet every Sunday at the Vicarage at 9.50am, except when it is Family Service. We are always pleased to welome new members so if you know of a child who is under 7 who would like to join us please ring Alison on 345890 for details.
In the Explorers Group we have been finding out about King David when he was a boy. We discovered how he was anointed by Jesse and later fought the giant Goliath.
When it was Candlemas, we learnt how this name was given and made our own candles to show that Jesus is the Light of the World.
We enjoy meeting together each week and usually make something we can take home and so share our experiences. Any 7 to 11 year old children are most welcome to join us on any Sunday. Please contact Jane Thompson on 341089.
One day every year draws people of the world together. In more than 170 countries they say the same prayers, join in the same responses and direct their attention to a major theme. The World Day of Prayer is a movement begun by women. On the first Friday in March prayers are offered in more than 1,000 languages starting as the day begins in Tonga and finishing forty hours later in Alaska. Every year women of a different country prepare the service for use by everyone. In 1998 it is the turn of Madagascar and their theme, "Who is my neighbour?" They speak from the heart for in 1991-2 a lasting drought brought misery and hardship to many. Neighbours from all parts of the island helped in every way they could. Their 1998 service is described as a "medley of songs and prayers, in praise of God's holiness and love". Friday March 6th 1998 offers another opportunity to identify with one's neighbours, wherever they are in the world.
The following services for the Women's World Day of Prayer will be held locally on Friday 6th March.
Morning Service at the Roman Catholic Church, Hereward Way
10.30am; Speaker: Rene Cutts
Evening Service at the Roman Catholic Church, (Meeting Room), 7.30pm, led by the Open Door Church
This is only an extract from some of our magazine. Residents of Deeping St James can subscribe to the printed version.
Back issues are available on line as follows:
November 1997;
December 1997;
January 1998;
February 1998.
The Parish Church of St James, services and contacts