CROSSLINCS News from around the Diocese of Lincoln www.lincoln.anglican.org
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March/April 2017
New parish looks to latest phase in local mission
St Peter in Carlton is set to become a new parish in April. Following on from the development of the Carlton Estate in the north-east of Lincoln, in recent years members of St Peter in Eastgate have been leading worship in and around the estate, first in the Lincolnshire Poacher public house and, more recently, in Lincoln Carlton Academy.
The new parish will share the same vision and core values as St Peter in Eastgate, and the two will be legally linked as a plurality, sharing the same vicar and staff team. The associate vicar, the Revd James Radcliffe, will take the lead responsibility for St Peter in Carlton, as he and other people from the church serve the community. (Continued...)
INSIDE...
INSIDE...
Come and see
‘We are becoming stronger disciples’
Past, present and future at St John the Divine, Southrey PAGE 7
Horncastle and the DDP PAGE 15
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Crosslincs is produced by the Diocese of Lincoln
The submission deadline for the next issue is 25th March 2017. Editor E: crosslincs@lincoln.anglican.org Communications Officer The Revd Adrian Smith T: 01522 50 40 37 M: 07885 99 99 07 E: adrian.smith@lincoln.anglican.org Diocesan Offices Edward King House, Minster Yard, Lincoln LN2 1PU T: 01522 50 40 50 E: enquiries@lincoln.anglican.org www.lincoln.anglican.org www.facebook.com/Dioceselincoln www.twitter/CofELincoln www.flickr.com/Dioceseoflincoln The Bishop of Lincoln The Right Reverend Christopher Lowson T: 01522 50 40 90 E: bishop.lincoln@lincoln.anglican.org
Welcome...
Thank you for your contributions to – and continued support of – Crosslincs. Perhaps there is a story in your parish that we could share? Adrian Smith
New parish looks to latest phase in local mission (Continued) The congregation of St Peter in Carlton currently meets at Lincoln Carlton Academy for worship on Sundays (9.45am, with coffee and croissants from 9.30am) and elsewhere throughout the week. For example, the Lincolnshire Poacher provides the setting for Family Hour on Wednesdays (9.45–11.15am), which offers babies, toddlers and their parents and carers a time of free play, crafts and singing, with coffee and chat. Ministry is also offered in local care homes, and there are various groups and activities for all ages. Speaking ahead of the launch, the Revd Edward Bowes-Smith (vicar) said, “We’re really looking forward to the opportunities that becoming a new parish will provide. The parish system still has a role to play in providing pathways for local residents to come into contact with their nearest Christian community. Our thanks go to the diocese and neighbouring parishes for their support in enabling this all to happen. Pioneer curate the Revd Nick Alexander played a key role in establishing this fresh expression and we are delighted to have in post Nick’s successor, the Revd James Radcliffe, to oversee the next phase of our mission to this growing housing estate on the edge of Lincoln.”
The Bishop of Grimsby The Right Reverend Dr David Court T: 01522 50 40 90 E: bishop.grimsby@lincoln.anglican.org
The Revd James Radcliffe (pictured) said: “The church family and myself are really excited to be part of this new initiative. We’re inviting people across the whole Carlton community to join us on the 23rd of April to mark the launch. Please do pray for us as we spread the word, and that the church would be fruitful and grow.”
The Bishop of Grantham The Right Reverend Dr Nicholas Chamberlain T: 01522 50 40 90 E: bishop.grantham@lincoln.anglican.org
The Bishop of Grimsby will be at the service at Lincoln Carlton Academy on Sunday, 23rd April 2017 (9.45am). For more please see www.stpeterineastgate.org.uk
Diocesan Secretary Angela Sibson OBE T: 01522 50 40 32 E: angela.sibson@lincoln.anglican.org PA to the Diocesan Secretary Kay Clayton T: 01522 50 40 32 E: kay.clayton@lincoln.anglican.org The Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey The Venerable Mark Steadman T: 01522 50 40 39 E: archdeacon.stow@lincoln.anglican.org The Archdeacon of Boston The Venerable Dr Justine Allain Chapman T: 01522 50 40 39 E: archdeacon.boston@lincoln.anglican.org The Archdeacon of Lincoln The Venerable Gavin Kirk T: 01522 50 40 39 E: archdeacon.lincoln@lincoln.anglican.org W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
St George’s celebrates 100 years with light As part of the centenary celebrations at St George’s Church, Swallowbeck, Lincoln, the church staged an Advent production titled Light in the Darkness. Following a script written by a church member that sought to demonstrate God’s light in times of darkness, a cast of 30 adults and 11 children took part in scenes from creation to the resurrection. Three narrators and a shepherd told the main parts of the story, with a singing group and a cast of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Samuel, the shepherd boy David, prophets, Gabriel, Mary and Joseph, shepherds, wisemen and Pontius Pilate. The audience joined in with three carols, and it was a wonderful experience of fellowship, teamwork and presenting God’s word at a special time of year.
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Thy Kingdom Come 2017 Thy Kingdom Come 2017: how might you get involved? ‘When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.’ Acts 4.31 In the last issue of Crosslincs we shared three stories of how churches took part in Thy Kingdom Come in 2016. Planning is well underway as to how every church in the diocese might be helped and encouraged to engage with this global wave of prayer (25th May – 4th June). The Archbishop of Canterbury is encouraging every diocese to get involved this year, and he hopes to see each local church praying in its own way, according to local context. So how might we all be encouraged to take part in a way that does not involve the extra pressure of organising lots of extra events? The Thy Kingdom Come website (www. thykingdom.co.uk) offers a range of helpful ideas, and here are some further suggestions for the local church:
Photo: Thy Kingdom Come
• each deanery might wish to consider holding an Ascension Day service that could be used as a launch event, encouraging a time of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost. A service outline, prepared by the mission team, can be provided. • might your church host 12 hours of prayer during the 10 days of prayer? This could start with Morning Prayer and close with Evening Prayer. You could have the church open to give people the opportunity to use the church for prayer. Ideas of available resources to help encourage prayer could be provided.
• could you use the diocesan homily resources to enable more churches to provide worship on the Sunday after Ascension and on Pentecost Sunday? • might you encourage use of the diocesan prayer diary? • might you host a prayer meeting in your church or encourage people to prayer walk around the communities in which they live and work? • could you keep the church open during the week and have prayer stations that offer people opportunity to pray in different ways? Lincoln Cathedral From Friday, 26th May until Saturday, 3rd June 2017 the Cathedral will have a labyrinth set up in the South Transept, together with pop-up labyrinths available in the cathedral during the week. Church groups that wish to visit the labyrinth can request tickets to enter the cathedral from Simon Dean (please email simon.dean@lincoln.anglican.org or call 01522 50 40 50). In addition, and beginning at 7.30am on Thursday, 1st June a prayer vigil will be held in the Chapter House for 24 hours. This will be in the style of a 24/7 prayer space, with times of corporate prayer, prayer stations and other creative prayer ideas. Finally, at 7.30pm on Saturday, 3rd June a special diocesan beacon event will provide an opportunity to celebrate all that will have happened throughout the 10 days of prayer, and to consider what happens next. Plans are currently being put in place, but it is hoped that 1000 people will come together to pray and worship in the Nave. Might it be possible for every parish to be represented at this event? More details will be available nearer the time. DIOCESELINCOLN
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Celebrating and sharing Celebrating the gift and joy of ministry Bishop Christopher recently spent time with some of our clergy to thank them for their ministry to date and to look forward together. To mark this occasion, and as they each prepare to receive the Bishop’s permission to officiate (PTO), we invited those gathered to share some reflections with us... In helping to set the scene for this enjoyable and valuable time spent together, the Revd Dr Neil Burgess, ministry team leader, has said, ‘A higher-thanaverage number of voluntary clergy in the diocese were coming to the time in their ministries when they needed to transfer to permission to officiate (PTO). It was agreed that this was an opportunity to invite them to come to meet Bishop Christopher and to be publicly thanked for all the hard work they have given to the diocese in the past and no doubt will continue to give in the future. Our voluntary clergy are a vital part of maintaining the life of the churches in the diocese and we have every reason to be grateful for their dedication’. And so, in their own words, reflections on their vital contribution:
Thanks to them, at the age of 70 I now have the Bishop’s permission to officiate. Without those five years of ordained ministry I could so easily have become 70 without having PTO and, like so many things in life, the joy has been not so much in arriving at PTO but in the five-year journey towards it called ordained ministry!
Alan Wright – Barton on Humber I was an early member of the Lincoln Local Ministry Scheme and was mandated in 1990 as a lay minister; prior to that I had been to a selection conference for Ordained Local Ministry (OLM) but I was not selected at that time. After another conference I was deaconed in 1995, and priested a year later. My ‘day-job’ was as a schoolteacher Pat Cooke – (secondary), from which I took very early retirement a year The Winterton Group later. For nearly 30 years I had taught in Barton, and that With the benefit of 20/20 gave me a very good insight into the people of the town. hindsight I can now see that My incumbent then was the Revd Canon Ernest Hepworth, my five years of ordained who was a considerable source of encouragement. Upon ministry, which have been his retirement, I oversaw the daily life of the parish for the most fulfilling and 15 months prior to the appointment of the Revd David rewarding five years of my life, could so easily have been Rowett. I knew from other parishes that a new incumbent nearer to 50 years. But it had doesn’t always have regard for what is already in the parish, but any concerns I might have had were swiftly previously taken me more dissipated; David was very keen for me to continue my than 40 years to accept that ministry in a place where I was known by many people. God might want me as a That enlightened view has enabled me to conduct many Reader in His Church. At least now I’m fully qualified to advise others that if they occasional offices for the folk of Barton and district. feel an itch that they think might be a call to ordination I have derived, and I still derive, considerable satisfaction then they should not sit scratching it, but instead they from my ministry in the north of the diocese. I have should get it seen to by discussing it with someone who been given a very free hand by David Rowett to pursue is able to help discern what might be God’s call. I finally ministerial interests – being Chaplain to Scunthorpe did this, and I received the great encouragement and United Football Club is one of several. I have helped the invaluable support offered by my vicar, the Revd Alice Nunn, and the diocesan director of ordinands, Jeff Heskins. people of the North Wolds Group (around Barnetby)
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Stories of faith in their vacancy, and I have got to know many families in that group at various times. There is a place for an informal interim ministry in such parishes that don’t need ‘crisis management’ to ensure some sort of continuity. Since reaching the age of 70, I’ve had PTO. I have not found this a stumbling block; in fact, it has made no real difference to what I do. Judy McMann – The Caistor Group I guess I was a slow starter! After the death of my grandfather, I felt badly let down by God, who, seemingly, hadn’t listened to my prayers. Teenage rebellion tempered by divine whispering, I eventually ‘came to my senses’ aged about 32. ‘Exploring ministry’ then meant looking at lay ministry – as a Reader – or the newly piloted OLM avenue. I chose Reader and was licensed in 1989. I found the studying of theology both enthralling and challenging, and after a few years decided to embark upon a degree course. This led to some questions about what I would use such a qualification for from my then Rector, the Revd Tony Douglas. That led to the door of the diocesan director of ordinands. Much struggling ensued, but in 1998 I came before Bishop David Tustin to be ordained deacon. There have been so many people who have nurtured this ministry; the various lecturers at the East Midlands Ministry Training Course (EMMTC), and especially Susan Parsons and Michael Taylor; the Revd Jan Neale, who was my mentor during my training and first curacy; past incumbents from the Revd Brian Newton and his wife, who were nursemaid to my growing faith, to the Revd Canon Ian Robinson and the deanery clergy, who continue to support me as I hope I support them. There are others whose wisdom and holiness inspire through chance or infrequent meetings and who will never know how they have touched my soul. I thank them all, though they would probably be too humble to realise it was them. Alan Hundleby – The Waltham Group In the late 1970s I was in the process of changing jobs and moving home, and so it was a time when I felt it right to follow a new approach to church life and Christian service. I had served Methodist churches and circuits for 25 years, but I joined the Revd David Lambert in his experiment in shared ministry in the Fotherby Group Parish, near Louth,
and this led to ordination in 1986 and 1987 as deacon and priest, respectively, in the local ministry scheme. I would now like to pay tribute to all of the colleagues, ordained and lay, with whom I have served, at Fotherby, and now in the Waltham Group, and to the congregations who have put up with me so patiently! What I have learned is the importance of a shared ministry, where members complement each other and strength is in diversity. Bill King – The North Beltisloe Group It is difficult to put into words how I feel about my ministry, and to be invited by Bishop Christopher to attend a gathering of fellow ‘ancients’ was a great privilege. That our collective work was so recognised was inspiring and humbling in equal measure. This was my third retiral, each occasion opening up new opportunities. In truth, I felt a little bit of a fraud because I was ordained in 2015 and I am still in training in the wonderful United Parish of the Trinity in south Grantham. I serve alongside the Revd David Shenton, and the parish faces many challenges and opportunities: not least that in the next few years substantial housing developments will be built within the boundaries. There has been a need to rethink our vision and strategy so as to be effective in spreading the Gospel. We held a parish conference attended by more than 40 parishioners, and here, under the umbrella of a day-long Eucharist, we made inroads into that challenge. Two notable outcomes have been our parish prayer and parish profile. To serve as a priest was my dream, and, against all the odds, this became a reality in my late 60s. The message is simple, if you feel called by God, follow that call, however old; the reward is sublime and, for older ‘newbies’, we have been given the gift of sowing seeds that we might not see come to fruition – what fun! Christine Anderson – The Skegness Group of Churches I often say at funerals that life is a journey, and, at whatever stage of life we reach, we are part-way on that journey. For those of us ordained into the diaconal ministry, our journeys will have been different; although Continued overleaf... DIOCESELINCOLN
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neither lay nor priest, we offer the communities in which we live the reassurance of a familiar face at many events. A Reader for 15 years, the call to the diaconal role came long after it was suggested that it was the path I ought to be on. So it happened at a time when this parish was struggling to cope with staffing events that required an ordained minister. In what is one of the larger parishes in the diocese – and one that welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year – the call upon the church can be considerable, and the busyness is constant. But I could not have carried out my calling and subsequent ministry without the approval and support of so many: my incumbent, Readers, churchwardens, lay ministers, congregations and, of course, the community of which we are all a part. Jan Vasey – Great Grimsby Team I was ordained as a distinctive deacon nearly six years ago, and it is exactly the right place for me. I have never felt a calling to priesthood. It was a joy to be ordained in Grimsby Minster, which is my parish church, surrounded by so many friends and family who had encouraged and supported me. Among them was Judy McMann, who had ‘prodded’ my vocation for so many years. In her book Being a Deacon Today, the Revd Canon Rosalind Brown talks of deacons being ‘a doorkeeper’ and a ‘butler at the Lord’s table’. For me, this epitomises the role of a deacon. The Ordinal tells us to seek out those ‘on the edge’, so where better to greet them than at the door of the church,
Photo: Chris Vaughan
Celebrating and sharing
The Revd Jan Vasey served as deacon at Southwark Cathedral in 2015.
to welcome them in. Butler at the Lord’s table is also a very special place to be, ensuring that everything runs as smoothly as possible during the Eucharist. There have been two very special highlights in my life as a deacon. The first was at Bishop Christopher’s Enthronement in Lincoln Cathedral, when I had the privilege of being beside the bishop before, and throughout the service. The second was when I was chosen to take part in the Ordination and Consecration of Bishop Nicholas, in Southwark Cathedral, where I was deacon for the Archbishop of Canterbury. My service to the Lord goes on, and He will decide when I should retire. Until then I hope to continue God’s work here in Grimsby.
‘Faith and the Environment: Act Local, Think Global’ A Faith and the Environment conference is to be held in Lincoln on Saturday, 13th May 2017 from 9.30am until 4.30pm (10am start). The Bishop of Lincoln will set the scene for the day, speaking of his attendance at a USPG international consultation in Fiji in July 2016 (right). Here, Bishop Christopher met people who are already being directly affected by global warming. More details on this, including video links, are available at goo.gl/ZzjsbN The keynote speaker will be Bishop Graham Cray (previously Archbishops’ Missioner and team leader of Fresh Expressions), and other presenters and workshop leaders are set to include: Dr Vicky Dunn (Grimsby Community Energy); Mark Schofield (Conservation Officer, Living Landscapes; Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust); the Revd Andrew Hall and colleagues from St Catherine’s
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Church, Burbage, winners of the A Rocha Eco Church GOLD award. More information will follow on the diocesan website and on a Facebook page (search for Faith and Environment Lincolnshire). Alternatively, please send enquiries to faithandenvironmentlincs@gmail.com
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Come and see Remembering the past and looking to the future Driving into the parish of Southrey, a part of the United Parish of Bardney, the church of St John the Divine soon comes into view. Described over the years as “the little ‘temporary’ wooden church”, this beautiful, distinctive building stands out at once, and, for a structure described as temporary, it has produced a lasting, living legacy... Joining the congregation one frosty Sunday morning for a Family Service, the welcome is warm and inclusive, and there is an early opportunity to see just why the number of visitors to this special place has increased so dramatically in recent times. Set directly above the main door there is a striking stained-glass window that has been designed to serve as a ‘fitting tribute to the Southrey men who made the ultimate sacrifice’. The window (shown below) is indeed a fitting tribute, and, as the artist, Derek Commander, describes in some notes on display inside the church, the men are represented as ‘brothers in arms’, despite the fact that nearly onehundred years ‘separates those who died in the First World War and Lance Corporal Ben Tate, who so tragically lost his life in 2011’. As Commander continues, the men are shown ‘standing on the far side of the River Witham that runs by Southrey, as symbolic of them both leaving the village and leaving this country to go on active service abroad’. In addition, and behind the men, there is a stylistic representation of some of the significant buildings in the village, including the church.
The idea for the window came as part of a project to observe the centenary of the First World War. Funding for the project came courtesy of the Heritage Lottery Fund, and, with the window in place, an entry was later submitted to the bi-annual awards ceremony hosted by the Lincolnshire Heritage Forum (lincsheritageforum.org.uk). Up against 27 entries received from heritage sites, groups and individuals spanning Lincolnshire, St John the Divine was awarded the title of ‘Best Project with Significant Volunteer Involvement’, with the judging panel commenting: ‘A really powerful project that got to the heart of commemoration, bringing the past into the present and involving the families. Happenstances were built upon. St John the Divine church members have created a permanent piece of heritage and engaged people around it through a wide range of associated events... They are clearly working to the future, they’ve recognised the heritage value of the church in linking the community and have identified needs’. The work on the ground continues apace, however. With daily opening during daylight hours prompting record visitor numbers, plus regular Sunday services, occasional offices and children’s workshops held throughout the year, a major fundraising effort was launched to help enhance the offer of welcome at Southrey. And as of last October the necessary funds were secured for the addition of a toilet and storage facility, which is set to be added this year. So, whether stopping by for some prayerful reflection, or joining the congregation in worship, the church of St John the Divine, Southrey, looks forward to welcoming you and sharing something of its beauty, its history, its fitting tribute to those who served their country, and its ministry and witness in this part of the Diocese of Lincoln. For more details see http://www.southrey.info/church.htm
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Viewpoint Visiting Azraq Refugee Camp
The road from Amman to Azraq is a typical desert highway – wide and well-surfaced, but carrying relatively little traffic. It cuts straight through the rocky desert for over 60 miles, passing little except scattered flocks of sheep and camels tended by shepherds. Geographically and emotionally, Azraq Refugee Camp is a long way from anywhere. The camp is also vast. It was built, and is run, by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), various international charities and the Government of Jordan. The refugees come from Homs, Aleppo, Dara’a and other places in Syria that you will have seen in our media. Families are not housed in tents, because of the fire hazard, but they are in lockable, insulated chalets, known as ‘caravans’, offering them ownership and privacy. They are organised into groups called ‘villages’, and there are wide, compacted gravel roads, giving emergency vehicles access in any weather, and these are lined with solar-powered street lights. World Vision sank a borehole to provide safe, clean water to taps throughout the camp. Everything possible is done to give the residents control over their lives. Besides the key to their own caravan they have enough electricity per day for lighting, a fridge, television, a fan and a phone-charger. There is no food handout; residents buy their food from the camp branch of a well-known Jordanian supermarket chain. Payment is possible from a weekly allowance and a secure iris-scanning system is used. There are two market areas where people can buy food, toys, homemade items and bikes, one of the most popular purchases judging by the boys tearing around at speed, creating clouds of dust. UNHCR runs an Incentive Programme to encourage the residents to earn money by doing various jobs around the camp. The purpose of my trip was to visit the kindergarten, which is run by an amazing headmistress, Dr Mayadah Qashou. Dr Qashou is determined that the 250 children in her care should receive the best possible education. There are five classrooms, each holding a class of 25 children, with separate morning and afternoon sessions. The staff is a mix of trained teachers and volunteers, and the classrooms are bright and airy, with the sort of pictures that you would find in any nursery classroom anywhere. W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
Photo: copyright World Vision International
Jane Weeks, a Reader in the Fen and Hill Group, had the opportunity to visit the kindergarten in the Azraq Refugee Camp, located near Azraq, Jordan. Here, Jane shares some of her reflections on life inside the camp...
Azraq Refugee Camp, Azraq, Jordan.
UNICEF has given each of these five-year-olds a backpack, and most of them would not be separated from these precious possessions. When we visited, they were reciting counting rhymes, chanting a version of ‘Heads, shoulders, knees and toes’, and smiling at us. I am appalled that we live in a world where people have become experts in planning and running refugee camps. I am heartbroken that these children and their families have to live in this safe but desolate place. But I am so impressed by the care and commitment shown by the Jordanian Government and all of the staff and helpers serving here.
Learning from other Christians during Lent 2017 As mentioned previously, the chosen diocesan study course for Lent explores what it means to be a disciple of Christ by looking at the Bible and reading about the experiences of other Christians around the world. This resource has been produced by United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG), and further information may be obtained from http://www.uspg. org.uk/resources/discipleship (This resource is free, with donations invited for printed copies.)
Announcements The Revd Dr Hugh Jones has succeeded the Revd David Osbourne as Rural Dean of Christianity Deanery. The Revd Stuart Hadley has been licensed as Rector (designate) of the South Cliff Villages. The Revd Mike Chesher has resigned his licence as Priest-in-Charge of St Paul’s, Spalding and St Mary’s, Weston. The Revd Christine Hawkins (Louth Group of Parishes) has taken up a new post in the Diocese of Chelmsford, and the Revd Eric Lomax (Colsterworth Group of Parishes) has taken up a new post in the Diocese of St Albans. The Revd Ruben Angelici is now Assistant Curate of St John the Baptist, Lincoln, and the Revd Sarah Bird is now Assistant Curate at Stamford St George with St Paul. The Revd Canon Andrew Vaughan is now Priest-in-Charge of Swinderby, the Revd Chris Turner, Rector of the MidMarsh Group with Saltfleetby and Theddlethorpe, is to take up a new post in the Diocese of Rochester, and the Revd Lorraine Turner has resigned her licence as Rector of Legbourne Wold Marsh and Rural Dean of Louthesk 1
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Deanery. The Revd Charles Sowden (Frampton, St Mary & St Michael and Wyberton, St Leodegar) retired on 19th February, and the Revd David Clune (Digby Group) has resigned his licence. The Revd Trevor Walker (The Binbrook Group of Parishes) will retire on 31st March, the Revd Richard Morrison (The Benefice of Elloe Fen) and the Revd Canon John Carr (Walesby Group of Parishes) will retire on 31st May, and the Revd Richard Billinghurst (Benefice of Skellingthorpe with Doddington) will retire on 1st August. The Revd Mary Vickers has been licensed as Chaplain to Humberside Police, the Revd Peter Vickers continues as a licensed general preacher, and the Revd Paul Hardingham has the Bishop’s permission to officiate. The Revd Steve Johnson is to serve as Rural Dean of West Wold, and the Revd Carolyn Bailey is to be Rector of the Benefice of the Ness Group. We were sorry to hear of the death of the Revd Francis Chalk (Frank). A tribute to Frank is on the news section of the website, and we hold Frank’s family and friends in our prayers.
PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 18
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Across 1 On the pull (6) 4* Conquest (6) 9* Vegetable emblem of 2D bottom up (4) 10 Modern four sadly missed (7,3) 11 Return teamless and find screwy lightbulb man (6) 12 Stay with her and dally (8) 13 Clothing in which priest may profit (9) 15 “Public guardians bold but ----” (Gendarmes song) (4)
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16* Gospel (4) 17 Smith rose at equal temperatures (9) 21 Showing indifferent use of peroxide (2,2,4) 22 Paid no arrangement to location of peas (2,1,3) 24 Cheap wallpaints from paddy in Norfolk town (10) 25* Sing round this bird is theft (4) 26 Concealed but still gets good punishment (6) 27 Conveyance of one 10A (6)
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Solution to No. 17
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Winner of Prize Crossword No. 17: Mrs M Booth, Scunthorpe. To enter: please send completed entries to Crossword No. 18, Crosslincs, Communications Office, Edward King House, Minster Yard, Lincoln LN2 1PU. Closing date for entries: 25th March 2017. The Editor’s decision is final. The prize will be a faith-related book.
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1 Pace the French foot drive (7) 16 Like Othello, Sounds irresistible (7) 2* Principality (5) 18 Street I contrived for Italian 3 One mine resolved for city (7) candidate (7) 5 Old penny possessing frontage 19 Years of Othello give space for boat (7) of PM’s residence (6) 20* Fish in Scottish rivers (6) 6 11–15C or 40–60 years (6,3) 23* Showy radiated flower (5) 7 Sun not shunned by mad dogs and Englishmen (7) *Clues 4, 9, 16, 25 Across, and 8 U thoroughfare for the 2, 20, 23 Down are all bywords goodies (7,6) in Lincolnshire. 14 Men rotted in anguish (9) DIOCESELINCOLN @COFELINCOLN
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Encountering God ‘Spiritual Exercise’ leads to unexpected connections The Revd Rachel Heskins, Assistant Curate in the Benefice of Welton and Dunholme with Scothern, spends time on the move with others in prayer... Two of the things that we can all find difficult to prioritise in our hectic lives are exercise and prayer. In the months that have followed since my ordination as a deacon last June, finding a regular time to go for a run has been a bit of a challenge. And marking out time in my diary for Bible study and prayer can be just as much of a trial if the phone rings or if it’s my turn to do an assembly in any of the four schools in our benefice. Let’s face it, we would all like to be a bit healthier and a bit more prayerful, wouldn’t we? I have often felt closest to God when I’ve been outside in the fresh air under the wide Lincolnshire skies, usually with the dog alongside me. It seems I’m not alone. A group of us have decided to get together to encourage each other to spend time with scripture in prayer. There is an ancient Benedictine tradition of reading scripture prayerfully called Lectio Divina. It is not about scholarship or how much knowledge we bring to the text, but how we find Christ in it and through it. It’s very simple. I take responsibility for choosing a passage of scripture, usually one set for the morning office but nothing too long. We gather together at St Mary’s Church in Welton and read the passage out loud a couple of times. We then spend a few minutes making sure that we have understood what has been read – whose voice it is we are hearing, for example, or what the context of the reading might be. And then we set off on our walk. Just being outside can free up our imagination and it helps us mull over the things that we have just heard. Real ‘keenies’ can jog or run, but so far we’ve all walked the route. Bertie the vicarage dog has joined us once. (He had plenty to say about 1 Corinthians, I can tell you.) We walk about a mile to a mile-and-a-half, following a circular route. Whoever gets back to the church first puts the kettle on, and we then read the passage through again over a cuppa and share our thoughts and reflections. On our first outing we heard St Paul talking about how he planted, Apollos watered but God gave the growth. Unexpected connections get made. For example, Wel-ton means the place of wells. We walked past the old village pump and W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
Taking time to draw closer to God together in the open air.
the beck in the village and it prompted one of our number to reflect on how we nurture each other in our faith. People have come along for all sorts of reasons. Carol loves being out in the fresh air and sees this as a kind of walk of witness: God is witnessing to us in his creation and we are witnessing to our community as a group of Christians, outside the walls of our church, praying and sharing time together. Don has been awestruck by how relatively short passages of scripture can keep us talking for so long, while Ann is aiming to walk everyday, ‘so why not combine walking with doing stuff with God’. We have also focused on the small glimmer of hope that Amos provides at the end of chapter 9. Images of ploughing and reaping and being on the land came alive as we walked around the fields between Welton and Dunholme. As one member has said, ‘We get to exercise our spiritual muscles as well as our physical ones.’ For some of us it has been really liberating to read scripture without thinking that there might be a right way or a wrong way to interpret it. What we are investigating with our reflections is how what we read in the Bible resonates with, and connects to, our own experiences, and we are all expert at that. What comes to mind? What did you find yourself focusing on? What does it tell us about God’s love? How is the Holy Spirit inspiring us through these words? Lectio Divina has historically been done in community, and here there’s almost no preparation required beyond ensuring we have tea bags, milk and enough copies of the selected passage for everyone. The rest we entrust to the Holy Spirit. When we walked through the churchyard recently, we noticed snowdrops peeping up through the rotted leaves. Isn’t that just a perfect metaphor for restoration and God’s promise to replant and rebuild after devastation? Almost as good as Amos chapter 9.
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Growing in faith Cursillo: empowering, enabling Cursillo is ‘a movement of the Church providing a method by which Christians are empowered to grow through prayer, study and action and enabled to share God’s love with everyone’. And an invitation is extended to all... A Cursillo weekend is three days long, normally running from Thursday evening through to Sunday afternoon. All weekends are led by a team of lay people and clergy, who have all experienced a Cursillo weekend themselves. During the weekend the participants (Cursillistas) will live, worship and learn together. Talks will be given by the leaders on some of the main areas of Christian life and faith, such as grace, faith and action. These areas will also be discussed in group workshops, and reinforced with prayer and quiet reflection. Cursillo weekends are a great way to meet people who have a common desire to deepen their relationship with God. They break away from the routine of service-based worship and bring a strengthening of Christian commitment within a community. It is an opportunity to discover personal gifts and use them for Christian service and leadership, so that we can build up the witness of the Church in the world.
Celebrating Mini Messy Church The Revd Steve Johnson shares the story of an increasingly popular gathering for young families... At St Thomas’ Church, Market Rasen, Mini Messy Church has celebrated its second birthday. The church has been very committed to Messy Church, and, building on the underpinning ideas of this, has developed the idea still further, aiming to serve the 0–3 years age-group. In two years, the Mini Messy Church has grown from just a handful of members into a large group of young families that meets together each week during term time. The concept of Mini Messy Church for very young families received the encouragement of Lucy Moore (Messy Church Founder and Team Leader, Bible Reading Fellowship), with this group being the first to form in the country, with other churches now following.
Following the weekend, group reunions are held to maintain encouragement and support to the Cursillistas. National and diocese-wide Ultreyas are held annually, and these provide an opportunity for people to meet and share their experiences of a Cursillo weekend. Cursillistas are also encouraged to find a ‘Spiritual Director’, who will help guide and pray for the Cursillista during their spiritual journey. The next Lincoln Cursillo weekend will be from 4–7th August 2017. For details please contact Marilyn Reeve on 01472 82 45 98 or by email at pre-weekendrep@lincolncursillo.org.uk
Each Mini Messy Church begins with breakfast for those under school age and their families. During the morning together they share craft-based activities on the Bible theme, which is also later used in a short worship session. Parents, grandparents and children are encouraged to play, create and worship together, and they are supported by the team of helpers who either support craft activities, assist as part of the kitchen team or help with the worship. Each child is welcomed to worship with a song led by their own puppet ‘Mini’. The worship involves parents and children with interactive stories and Christian words to well-known nursery rhymes. Some of the families are now also joining the church for our Family Easter Service on Holy Saturday, our newly introduced Crib Service and of course, Messy Church. Speaking about the development of the Mini Messy Church, Liz Johnson, the leader of the group, has said, “It is lovely to see the relationships grow between families who previously had no association with the church here in Market Rasen and members of our congregation.” For more on Mini Messy Church in Market Rasen please call 01673 84 47 70 or see www.stthomasmarketrasen.org.uk DIOCESELINCOLN
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Nature & nurture Cherishing our churchyards
Churchyards, graveyards and cemeteries are sometimes referred to as God’s Acre. The term probably dates from 1841, when Henry Wadsworth Longfellow published a poem entitled God’s Acre, which includes the following lines, ‘I like that ancient Saxon phrase, which calls the burial ground God’s Acre’. The market towns, villages and small hamlets are the thriving heart of rural Lincolnshire communities, with most of them having either a church or chapel as a place of worship but also as a community space. These sites can be a place to visit departed loved ones, a space to gather to celebrate weddings and baptisms, an opportunity to search out heritage, or just a comfy seat for quiet reflection and a chance to smell the flowers! Churchyards can provide a variety of habitats, supporting a wide range of species. Many older churchyards contain grassland that is the remnant of ancient meadows, with mature trees often found within the site or forming part of the boundary, and the stone of the church, headstones and memorials often support a rich diversity of lichen, liverwort, moss and fern flora. Should there be a wish to encourage wildlife in your churchyard, here are a few simple steps and suggestions: • research records or management of the churchyard • map the site and list what type of plants, animals and built features you have in it and their condition • check what existing management takes place – often this will be done by volunteers or via a contractor • plan what you’d like to do and how you think you might achieve it – don’t forget to engage with the
Might you be able to help the Church Repair Society? Founded as a charity in North East Lincolnshire in 1982, we now cover the whole of the diocese, with 200 churches as members. We help to encourage the completion of quinquennial inspections by offering a cash incentive towards the inspection cost in return for a modest annual subscription (currently £30 per annum). The subscription is invested over the five-year period and used to fund the W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
Photo: ©LWT
Helen Gamble (Project Officer, Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service), offers some suggestions for encouraging and helping wildlife in our churchyards...
St John the Baptist, High Toynton.
wider community, using available knowledge and skills • draw up a new management plan that will benefit the wildlife within the churchyard – check if permissions are required before undertaking any work and putting the plan into action • always display the plan for people to see what is happening, include a notice in the local parish magazine or church pewsheet, and/or put notices in the churchyard where something may have changed • monitor and review what is – and isn’t – working. Further advice and information is available from the national Caring for God’s Acre Project, based in the Diocese of Hereford, and which inspired the Lincolnshire God’s Acre Project: www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk
incentive payments (currently a maximum of £250). The society also offers the opportunity to share knowledge and provide a chance to save regularly for continuing and future restoration works, especially those identified by a quinquennial inspection. The society, which meets four times a year, is looking for committee members and particularly in the south central, eastern and south eastern parts of the diocese. Why not consider joining us? For more information, please contact TJ Bowker, Interim Secretary, Croft House, 12 School Lane, West Butterwick DN17 3LB (T: 01724 78 35 53), or see goo.gl/HR2CZ5
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Seeking to serve Mothers’ Union: 140 years of service and faith in action Following the achievement of a significant milestone in the life of Mothers’ Union, Elizabeth Page, its diocesan president, celebrates the past, present and future... I meet so many people who don’t quite know what Mothers’ Union is, what it seeks to offer, and who is involved. We are baptised members of Anglican or associated churches, men and women, married and single, with a concern for families and family life worldwide. We are volunteers, called to serve in our own churches and communities and to reach out to Mothers’ Union’s four-million members around the world. Members in our diocese serve as part of the outreach offered through St Benedict’s Church on the High Street in Lincoln, a safe, friendly place where welcome is extended to everybody. On a global level, we have celebrated our 140th anniversary, remembering the work of Mary Sumner as she sought to help mothers in the village where she lived. Our members have lobbied Government from the early days through to the present day as part of efforts to protect families and children, as demonstrated last November in the support of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, and we continue to lobby governments at the highest level. In our diocese we support our women’s refuges; we provide Away From It All breaks and holidays for needy families and individuals; we knit for premature baby units; we support the
St Benedict’s, Lincoln: a place of hospitality and welcome.
Baby Basket charity; and we make fiddle blankets/muffs for dementia patients, to name but a few. Members also help in Church schools, run toddler groups, support and visit the elderly in their own parish, and, when requested, help with baptisms and marriage preparation. We also have a link with the Chaplaincy at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln, attending moving-in day and Fresher’s Day, and continuing to visit during the year on a monthly basis. As diocesan president I am passionate about the work of Mothers’ Union, its Christian faith in action, and its work in many parts of the world in supporting families and nurturing faith. We work with people of all faiths and none, and our voluntary ethos is centred on mutual respect and collaboration. For more details, including ideas for special family services for Mothering Sunday, Easter, Harvest and Christmas, please see www.mothersunion.org
Promoting church weddings A small team recently took part in a wedding fayre to offer information about church weddings. Assisted by a grant from the diocesan Transformation Fund, the team, which was led by Lorna Brabin-Smith, secured a 10-foot stand at Branston Hall, near Lincoln, and offered an audio-visual display and an information pack for couples to take away. Other clergy from the Graffoe and Christianity deaneries – Annabel Barber, and Michelle Godbold and Andrew Jackson-Parr (pictured) – were joined by a couple recently married in church, Sophie and Chris Jenkinson, and Simon Dean, the diocesan Discipleship Officer, to greet visitors, and all couples were given a wedding prayer candle in a specially designed box. The team spent time with over 120 couples, and although initially proposed as a deanery project, it was realised that there was a wider missional
aspect to the Church’s presence at this event, with many other conversations held on subjects such as baptism, confirmation and life in general. As one of the team commented, ‘This project showed that the Church is interested in the world outside of its church buildings and that it cares for those whom it serves’. For more details, and advice on how this resource might be shared elsewhere, please contact Simon on 01522 50 40 50. DIOCESELINCOLN
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The Developing Discipleship Programme (DDP) Planning and going for growth! A Growth Plan presents parishes with an opportunity to do some joined-up thinking and set some short- and longterm goals. The Revd John Leach explains what’s involved... A Growth Plan, towards which the DDP is aimed, is a vitally important document that serves three purposes. It acts as a map and compass for you for the years ahead, giving direction to your church life. It provides the diocesan office with information about your plans, allowing us to target support and resources accordingly. And it provides a framework for your regular annual reflection, when you will consider how things have gone, and what you have learnt. The results of your DDP On the front of the form is space to record your Vocation, Values and Vision Statements from your DDP events. We have found it helpful to use the standard formats for these: Vocation: ‘As a Mission Community, our calling from God is to...’ Values: ‘We’re a... church (with five bullet-points)’ Vision: ‘In five years’ time, we aim to...’ Five-year goals These express where we believe God is calling us to be, or what we aim to have become in five years’ time. Try to keep these specific, rather than vague. Joined-up thinking In our prayerful listening to God we’re seeking to ensure that our goals flow both from the work we have already done within our mission community, and also from the priorities of the diocese as a whole (faithful worship, confident discipleship and joyful service). The ‘in order that’ part links the goal to your Vision Statement (‘in order that no person ever feels neglected when they visit our church’). There is space to identify which of our diocesan priorities each goal feeds into. The list should identify no more than four goals.
have grown upward in prayer (confident discipleship), inward in making our buildings more conducive for faithful worship, and outward in evangelism to our village (joyful service). Five-year goals 1) Become a prayerful church, in order that everything we do might be pervaded with a sense of the presence of God, with individual Christians growing in their discipleship. 2) Build a kitchen in church, in order that we can become more hospitable both after services and also during the mid-week activities we hope to begin. 3) Run a weekly evangelistic ‘Parents and Toddlers’ group, in order that we can provide a service to the community through which we will see families finding a living faith. One-year priorities Prayer: research some off-the-peg resources for prayer (Simon Dean in the diocesan office may advise here). 1) Ask for three guinea-pig groups to test run three courses during Lent, and report back to the May PCC. So that: we can decide on a prayer emphasis for this year. Who? Sandra and Jim. When? Resources and groups identified in time for Lent, review at May PCC. Success? To have agreed on the most helpful materials for us as a church.
One-year priorities This list expresses your immediate aims, or where you will set off going this year towards your five-year goals. Your priorities form your agenda for the year ahead. Like any good agenda you will need specific details of why, how, when and by whom these are to be worked on.
2) Plan a preaching series on prayer to follow on post-Easter So that: We can learn together some biblical principles. Who? The ministry team When? By mid-Lent, for publicity over Easter Success? To have a well-supported course that people found both stimulating and enjoyable, so that they’re hungry to learn more.
An example of a good Growth Plan Imagine this Vision Statement: ‘In five years’ time we aim to
The kitchen might need to wait – there’s no need to do everything at once!
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‘The DDP has been vital’ St Mary’s Church in Horncastle is a church on the move! Months after the Christmas celebrations at St Mary’s Church, people are still talking about their impact on the town. Linda Patrick takes up the story... Last December saw the annual Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church. For 2016, however, as well as over 70 Christmas trees and wreaths, a Host of Angels were suspended around the church. Standing at approximately 1.5 metres high, these angels left people spellbound as they entered the church. The angels were a wonderful example of a town creating something beautiful and spectacular together. Over 1300 feathers were created by school children and residents; they were collected by our local businesses and then carefully placed onto the angels’ wings before being mounted onto frames. We challenged the town to help us to create this spectacle, and their response was fantastic. One couple due to be married the following weekend asked for the angels to stay in church for their wedding! Throughout the festival, the overhead screens showed pictures of church events and activities, and advertised forthcoming Christmas events. People became curious about what was happening next. One of the angels went into the Market Place to help promote the Shoppers’ Carol Service. This new service was a huge success, and one that we will develop in the future. Overall, the festival’s warmth and joy was reflected in all the Christmas services, and helped in attracting nearly 300 families with young children to the Nativity Service, which had an almost party-like atmosphere. We made many new connections with residents of the town. The main aim of the festival was to encourage more people to witness the love, joy and fellowship that church can offer, so that in future they would feel more confident to enter the building. Simply attracting the community was not enough, though. We wanted to share the Gospel with all, in a gentle non-threatening way. With this in mind we: • set aside the Lady Chapel for reflection, where many people filled in angel prayer cards to hang on the Prayer Tree and could talk to a member of the ministry team • invited all families who had had a baptism within the past year to the festival. As a result, 50 small glass angels were added to the Baptism Christmas Tree. • gave out invitations, with a Christmas message, to our Christmas services.
We felt the Holy Spirit was working in beautiful ways, not just in guiding people into the building but also within the festival’s team as we gained confidence to overcome obstacles, such as how to make the angels fly! The DDP has been vital. Our five-year Church Development Plan emphasises mission and outreach. The DDP process has given us the confidence to be ambitious in our aims. It is early days in this journey but we are already seeing growth in numbers. Our vision is bigger than increasing congregation size; we are also looking at ways in which we can really make a difference in our community and beyond. For example, our curate, the Revd Sam Parsons, has teamed up with the town’s PCSO and together the ‘Copper and the Curate’ are visiting people in Horncastle who, in some ways, have become forgotten in our community. One initiative in response to these visits is a big Christmas Dinner, planned for 2017, for those in need. The Revd Charles Patrick has said, “We believe that we are becoming stronger disciples as a result of undertaking the DDP. Through prayer we have been able to respond to the community and their needs.” In turn, the community is responding to what the church is doing, as shown in an overwhelming response to a New Year appeal for Syrian and Iraqi refugees. We truly believe that the town and St Mary’s Church are becoming increasingly connected. We also believe that the Holy Spirit is with us and that Horncastle is on the move. St Mary’s Church has a Facebook page containing news and updates: search for ‘St Mary’s Church, Horncastle’ For more details on the DDP email: ddp@lincoln.anglican.org DIOCESELINCOLN
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CALENDAR MARCH
Saturday, 11th March (11am). Lecture by the Revd Prof. Daniel Jeyaraj: Christian Presence and Witness in Contemporary India – Challenges and Opportunities (St Peter’s Church, Eastgate, Lincoln). To be followed by an Indian meal; to share in this meal please call the Revd Jacqui Morton in advance on 01507 62 26 39.
Friday, 24th March. Stuart Townend at St Peter in Eastgate, Lincoln (7.30pm). Details of tickets may be found at www.stpeterineastgate.org.uk or please call 01522 54 62 26. Saturday, 25th March. Lincoln Cathedral (7.30pm). Lincoln Choral Society will perform Haydn’s ‘Creation’. To be conducted by Professor Mark Wilde and accompanied by the Lincolnshire Chamber Orchestra, tickets (from £12–£20) will be available on the door or may be obtained via the Minster Shop on 01522 56 16 44. APRIL
Monday, 10th – Friday, 14th April. Spring Harvest at Butlin’s, Skegness. Saturday, 22nd April – Monday, 1st May. Annual Flower Festival at St Mary’s Church Sutterton (PE20 2JH; 10.30am–5.30pm daily). Theme: ‘Scarecrows go travelling’. Refreshments, lunches, plants, brica-brac, flowers, etc. There is disabled access, parking and toilets. Please call 01205 46 05 90 for more details.
All set for West Lindsey Churches Festival 2017 The West Lindsey Churches Festival will celebrate its 21st year in 2017, with around 90 churches and chapels opening their doors to visitors over the two weekends of 13th–14th and 20th–21st May. Each church event will be free entry, with many churches offering homemade cakes and lunches, and there will also be an organ trail of 12 live music recitals, bell ringing, crafts, book sales, art displays and themed exhibitions. One of the big themes for 2017 is to be the festival’s ongoing ‘Stories Unlocked’ project, where the most interesting (and often least-known) stories associated with each church are to be told. Full details of what each church will be offering is available at www.churchesfestival.info, which includes a helpful search facility and a PDF of the festival’s 48-page brochure. Regular updates will also be offered via the festival’s social media pages at: @ChurchesFest (Twitter), @Churches.Festival (Instagram) and Facebook.com/WestLindseyChurches (Facebook). The festival is sponsored by West Lindsey District Council and Systematic Print Management. W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
MAY
Saturday, 27th – Monday, 29th May. St Denis’ Church, Silk Willoughby (NG34 8PD) presents a Quilt and Flower Exhibition (open 10am–4pm). Display of vintage sewing equipment and some quilted items for sale. Refreshments. Parking available. JUNE
Friday, 9th June (7.30pm). Vintage Brass Concert in St Denis’ Church, Silk Willoughby. Cost (inc. first glass of wine and excellent refreshments): £6. Easy access. Parking available. For more details on this or the above event, please call 01529 30 24 27. Saturday, 17th & Sunday, 18th June. Navenby in Bloom: open gardens for St Peter’s Church. More details soon. Also coming soon: the churches of Horncastle Deanery will open their doors over Saturday, 9th and Sunday, 10th September. More details to follow. Details of more events are listed at: www. lincoln.anglican.org/news-events/events
Glassumimass goes to Washingborough
Glassumimass, the collective name given to three large-scale glass lanterns created by a local community group, will be on display at St John’s Church, Washingborough (LN4 1AZ) until Sunday, 23rd April 2017. Opening times will be from 10am to 2pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 12.30pm to 4.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Refreshments will be available. See www.facebook.com/Glassumimass DIOCESELINCOLN
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