CROSSLINCS News from around the Diocese of Lincoln www.lincoln.anglican.org
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November/December 2017 – Free
Pilot stage of the Community of St Hugh is launched A large number of people from all around the diocese gathered with the Bishop of Grimsby in Stow Minster at the end of September for a morning of discussion, prayer and praise at the launch of the pilot stage of the Community of St Hugh. Described as a ‘community called to pray in, with and for the Diocese of Lincoln’, the Community of St Hugh is a community of prayer that extends an open invitation to all and which has been called into being by God. For the time being, the Community of St Hugh will operate within a pilot phase so that it might be further developed and shaped by shared prayer, discernment and discussion ahead of a planned full launch at Pentecost next year.
At the heart of the community is a rule of life that is based around three headings of worship, discipleship and service. Members of the community are asked to develop their own patterns in response to these headings, and to pray through the patterns of their life so as to try to see how they might respond in love and prayer to each heading. For example, this might take the following form: • worship – how do I encounter the living God in my everyday life and make room and time for God? • discipleship – how can I develop my calling as a disciple of Christ in the context of my life? • service – how do I seek to live the gospel in my family, in my community, in my place of work, in my home, seeking to love others, as I am loved by God? (Continued overleaf...)
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Churches festival is a hit with visitors
Celebrating lay ministry
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Crosslincs is produced by the Diocese of Lincoln
The submission deadline for the next
Welcome...
In our latest issue there are moments to inspire reflection, celebration and expectation as we look to participate and share in all that God is doing around us and through us. Thank you for reading and sharing. Adrian Smith
issue is 22nd November 2017.
Pilot stage of the Community of St Hugh is launched
Editor E: crosslincs@lincoln.anglican.org
It has been said that a rule of life is not prescriptive but seeks to help bring some rhythm to the spiritual life and service of people in a way that works for them in the context of their everyday life. Members of the Community of St Hugh will be supported in developing and living out their rule of life, and will: • commit to developing a rule or rhythm of life based around worship, service and discipleship • have a regular pattern of prayer to suit their circumstances • pray for their own personal growth and transformation • pray for the Diocese of Lincoln and its transformation • and regularly pray the diocesan prayer, the Collect of St Hugh and the monthly diocesan prayer diary.
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.com/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 The Bishop of Grimsby The Right Reverend Dr David Court T: 01522 50 40 90 E: bishop.grimsby@lincoln.anglican.org The Bishop of Grantham The Right Reverend Dr Nicholas Chamberlain T: 01522 50 40 90 E: bishop.grantham@lincoln.anglican.org 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
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Ahead of the event at Stow Minster, the Bishop of Lincoln described the launch of the pilot stage as ‘a really exciting and important day in the Diocese of Lincoln’. Making reference to St Hugh, Bishop Christopher went on to stress the importance of undergirding our lives with a life of prayer through worship and time set aside regularly for being with God and listening for his voice in the scriptures, listening for his voice in the needs of the people we meet, and listening for his voice in the needs of the world we live in. This set the tone for the launch of the pilot stage at Stow, and it was a great encouragement to see so many people hand a completed pilot ‘pledge card’ to Bishop David. There is still time to join, either during the current pilot phase or at the full launch at Pentecost in 2018, and further information and resources may be obtained from the diocesan website, by calling the Mission Team on 01522 50 40 50 or via discipleship@lincoln.anglican.org As we continue to live, serve, pray and prepare for Christmas, we were pleased to receive the following poem by Allan Lewis (from Spalding): ‘Come and see’. When angels made their hymnody Above the fields of Bethlehem Then shepherds heard the voice of God, Calling out to them: Come and see Come and see.
When Jesus walked in Galilee Among the nets of fishermen They answered to the call of God Go and follow Him: Come and see Come and see.
When wise men read the prophecy Writ in the stars of ancient times They followed in the word of God With their gifts sublime: Come and see Come and see.
Now we, like saints in history, Should dedicate our lives to be A witness to the love of God, He gave himself for me: Come and see Come and see.
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Learning and growing together Shared learning in our service of God and our local communities The subject of learning communities is providing the focus for a series of ongoing meetings in our deaneries. So what will learning communities bring to the life of our diocese? As has been well documented, the vision of the Diocese of Lincoln is to be a healthy, vibrant and sustainable church transforming lives in greater Lincolnshire. As a diocese, our aim is to grow the Church, in terms of both numbers and depth, through attention to what we see as our core tasks of faithful worship, confident discipleship and joyful service. This means that there is an associated and strong emphasis on supporting, encouraging and enabling local parishes, benefices and projects to fulfil, within this framework, their own unique calling to serve in mission the community or communities in which they are set. The essence of the diocesan strategic plan is to create a diocese that is constantly learning and growing, which starts from where the majority of our congregations and clergy are and opens up opportunities for everyone to contribute to growth plans. It is with this in mind that the learning communities will bring together lay and ordained members of parishes and projects in six character areas: • rural – sparsely populated and generally more traditional in character • coastal – seasonal ministry with a transient and sometimes challenging population
• urban – the industrial towns, mostly to be found in the north of the diocese • market towns – centres of population across the diocese, often with significant church buildings • suburban villages – relatively more prosperous and probably with a commuting population • housing developments – from post-war housing developments to newer ones with the particular challenges of future population growth in some areas of the diocese. By bringing together people from the same character areas, it is anticipated that the learning communities can engage in relevant, tailor-made learning about how they can get better at being church and building the Kingdom in their contexts. Learning communities are not designed to replace or challenge the existing structures of the Church; they are all about developing our skills, knowledge and creativity in serving God in our context as we go forwards together.
Forging international links The Bishop of Lincoln was pleased to be able to welcome the Most Revd Dr Winston Halapua (Bishop of Polynesia and Primate and Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia) and his wife, the Revd Sue Halapua, to the diocese during the summer. Following the Bishop of Lincoln’s participation at the USPG International Consultation in Fiji in 2016, efforts have been made to explore the possibility of a companion link between the Diocese of Lincoln and the Diocese of Polynesia. The archbishop, pictured here at Anderby Creek, arrived in the diocese following the Greenbelt festival, where he had led worship and highlighted the impact of climate change and his great concern at rising sea levels.
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‘Come and see’ Festival in Horncastle Deanery is a hit with church visitors September saw a new places of worship festival in the Holland area and also a new churches festival in Horncastle Deanery. Linda Patrick takes a look back at the Horncastle event and how it came into being... “10½ out of 10!” This was a comment offered by just one of hundreds of visitors who toured Horncastle Deanery over a weekend in September, visiting some of its beautiful, treasured churches. Organisers in every parish, whether in the larger settlements such as Horncastle, Tattershall and Wragby, or in the smaller hamlets of Scrivelsby, Thornton and Mareham on the Hill, were buzzing after the event, and the festival has since been described as a great success. Over the weekend of 9th and 10th September, 36 parishes officially took part in the festival, but also almost all of the 54 churches in the deanery welcomed visitors. Working together, the Bain Valley Group of Tattershall, Coningsby, Roughton and Kirkby on Bain staged a wonderful Wedding Fayre that featured displays of gowns, wedding customs and floral arrangements for wedding celebrations and anniversaries (see above, right), and visitors to Langton by Wragby were encouraged to explore the links of St Giles’ Church with Magna Carta. Smaller parishes hosted exhibitions about their village and the surrounding area. At Ashby Puerorum there was a rare opportunity to climb the bell tower and see two of the oldest bells in the country; afternoon tea was served at Revesby to the sound of the Mareham Silver
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Band; St Helen’s at Burgh on Bain held a most profitable art exhibition and, at one of the smallest churches in the deanery, St Margaret’s, Langton with Old Woodhall, more than 80 visitors were welcomed. At Horncastle St Mary there was the opportunity to marvel at the wonderful embroidery that decorates vestments worn at Lincoln Cathedral (see below, left). On loan for the weekend were a selection of copes, stoles and chasubles, with the main attraction being a Victorian chasuble worn by Bishop Edward King. It was a colourful sight, heping to attract more than 200 visitors. And, at St Peter & St Paul’s, Belchford, warden Mrs Barbara Bateman was overjoyed with the weekend: “People were so complimentary about our church. They were appreciative of the friendliness and welcome they received. We are already planning for next year, and our aim is to do something that will get more of the village involved”. Planning and praying for a new churches festival The planning for the festival started more than a year ago. Having seen the impact that the highly successful West Lindsey Churches Festival has had on its community, Horncastle Deanery Synod agreed to create a festival of its own. A small working party was established and, through careful prayer and complete faith in its success, the festival began to take shape. There were many hurdles to overcome, including when to hold the event. We were aware that some of our churches also feature in the West Lindsey festival, and so we wanted to allow them time to recover, settling on the date in September. This worked perfectly in terms of running alongside the Lincolnshire Churches Trust Bike Ride and Stride and this year’s Heritage Open Days.
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Celebration and invitation logo, created the website and undertook the task of Invites were sent to every parish in the deanery, asking if promoting the festival. Articles subsequently appeared they would like to participate in the festival, and thirtyin national publications and blogs, tweets were sent six forms were returned. Now all we had to do was to make it happen! Funding was an issue. Each participating out across social media, and we were featured on the church was asked to contribute a membership fee of £25, National Churches Trust website, the Visit Lincolnshire website and the diocesan website, to name but a few. but more funds were needed. We therefore applied for a grant from the diocesan Transformation Fund, and we The weekend arrived and, despite the wet weather, were extremely grateful for the £500 that was awarded. Once the website and brochure had been produced, every church received visitors from their own locality, however, a funding gap the wider county and further afield. We continue remained. Thankfully, NB Law, “The weekend was so full of optimism, to collect data from some a firm of solicitors based in Tattershall, stepped in and like a sudden ray of sunshine lighting of our parishes, but we offered to sponsor the event. have been overwhelmed by up a hidden landscape where the numbers of visitors and We held a mini-conference the kind comments that faith and beauty have grown in June, inviting all have been offered. Every together through the centuries...” participants to a morning parish has stated what a at St Michael’s in joyous occasion it was to Coningsby. Here we had be a part of, and each is an opportunity to network with other churchwardens talking about how they would like to develop their and receive helpful advice from members of the West church further, establish it more as the centre of their Lindsey Churches Festival. Our keynote speaker was own community, and attract even more visitors. Bishop Nicholas, and he gave an inspiring talk on the importance of ‘not forgetting to entertain strangers’ The Revd Mark Holden, Rural Dean of Horncastle and the importance of sacred space. We left this event Deanery, has since summed this first festival up feeling even more encouraged in our plans. We now perfectly by saying: “The weekend was so full of needed to let people know what we were planning. optimism, like a sudden ray of sunshine lighting up a A large portion of our funds were directed to Push hidden landscape where faith and beauty have grown Creativity, a marketing agency that designed our together through the centuries.”
Introducing #GodWithUs As Christmas approaches, you will notice a series of special resources that have been prepared by the Church of England’s Digital Communications team... The resources will include video adverts that share stories of the meaning of Christmas; the new-look A Church Near You church-finder website; and Your Christmas Journey, a booklet published by Church House Publishing that contains a welcome offered by the Archbishop of Canterbury and a series of short reflections that will also be available by email/text. In addition, some poster templates for the advertising of Christmas services in parish churches are currently available online at www.churchofengland.org/christmas As last year, our diocese has produced a printed Advent booklet for use by individuals and groups, and any enquiries may be directed to the Mission Team on
01522 50 40 50 or via discipleship@lincoln.anglican.org As the Church of England’s Digital Communications team has stated, ‘We’re hoping to see a record number of people visit a Church of England church this Christmas, and our prayer is that the #GodWithUs campaign will help play its part in achieving this. Please use the digital resources and videos on your website and social media accounts to encourage people into church at Christmas’. DIOCESELINCOLN
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Celebrating lay ministry Serving together in the diocese Sally Buck, Warden of Readers, is seeking stories of lay ministry from across the diocese ahead of a special service of celebration to be held in October 2018... All are called and all minister in God’s name in word and deed as they live out their first calling to baptism as disciples of Christ. Some lay people are also specifically called to ministries that are representative of the Church and also representative of the people of God (the laos). This year the national Church is exploring what lay ministries are about. It has been decided that we too, as a diocese, will consider the nature of this calling to representative, authorised and licensed lay ministries from a number of different angles in issues of Crosslincs.
Ministry Council and the Central Readers’ Council are meeting with representatives from dioceses, hearing stories of ministry as it is being lived out and considering the way in which all lay ministries might develop so as to meet the needs of the Church and the world in our time, considering how we offer pastoral care, and how we might become more intentionally missional in our outlook. We also want to hear local stories: if you are an Authorised Lay Minister or a Reader and would like to share the joys, struggles and hopes involved in lay ministry as you experience it, or if you are a member of a community in which lay ministry is offered, please call 01522 50 40 85 or send an email to ministry@lincoln.anglican.org
Bishop Robert, the recently retired Bishop of Sodor and Mann and also the recently retired Chair of the Central I intend to spend Readers’ Council, contributed to Advent reflecting on a report titled Serving Together “We also want to hear stories of the experiences shared (see www.ministrydevelopment. lay ministry in our diocese...” and listening to stories org.uk/serving-together). He as I meet with people in says that ‘ministry describes ministry. In future issues, our being servants of God – a and with the permission of the story-tellers, we will share calling for all Christians’. He also goes on to say that some experiences of lay ministry and seek to inspire ‘ministers cannot forget the need for foot-washing others as, together, we share in the ‘common search for humility, as leader-seekers on a journey, not knowing the love, courage, wisdom, hope and life’ that Bishop Robert whole route ahead but having a contagious passion for points us towards. The year (October 2017 to October the destination, humanity’s true home in God. They are 2018) will culminate in a Celebration of Lay Ministries in people who call others alongside in a common search for Lincoln Cathedral on Saturday, 27th October 2018. love, courage, wisdom, hope and life’.
Celebrating the gift of Reader ministry in our diocese Readers from around the diocese gathered to celebrate their ministry and to commit themselves to their continued service of God at this year’s Lincoln Readers’ Annual Service and Licensing of new Readers in Lincoln Cathedral. As part of the service, which was led by the Bishop of Grantham, five Readers were licensed for ministry in the diocese: Christine Collins, Helen Copson, Christopher Godwin, Roger Goodrum and Carolynne Hannabuss. In addition, two Readers were warmly welcomed as they transferred from other dioceses: Claire Sauer and David Stark. Please pray for each of them. W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
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Supporting one another Cursillo: ‘a magical, powerful and life-changing experience’ Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln was the setting for ‘another wonderful Cursillo weekend’ during the summer. Susanne Wills takes a look back at the weekend... In speaking about the most recent Cursillo weekend, Angela Sims, a team member, has said: “It was absolutely brilliant, and the seven pilgrims (the people completing their weekend to become Cursillistas) were young and very enthusiastic. They all gelled so quickly and were chatting together as though they had known one another for years.” As always with Cursillo, we were so uplifted and hopefully our faith shone through. The team worked together so well and the pilgrims all had their faith strengthened. This was shown so movingly by a letter written by one of the pilgrims, revealing exactly what Cursillo is all about: “My sincere thanks and gratitude for the most incredible, memorable and moving weekend. I was so insistent upon driving so I could escape at any moment! But you will be glad to know this thought never crossed my mind. Each talk was an inspiration and brought a little more hope to my life, causing me to open up my heart and mind. I was constantly reflecting on my personal life and my relationship with God. I know in the forthcoming days, weeks, months and years I will continue to reflect upon the talks and meditations. “I strongly believe now that Cursillo has been a turning point in my life. The service of light was such a moving and powerful experience and I felt called to kneel at the foot of the cross. I had to leave all the hatred, pain and anger that I’ve caused to myself and others at the cross.
The Cursillistas spent a memorable, prayerful time together in September.
I will be eternally grateful for the kindness and generosity of the team for their healing prayers afterwards. The weekend has empowered me with God’s love and given me freedom from the devil. “I cannot thank you all enough for the time you’ve spent planning, preparing and praying for the weekend. As a pilgrim I felt the whole weekend ran so smoothly. Nothing was ever too much for the team to do and your kindness was an expression of God’s love which I will never forget. Each of you have taught me something and I will treasure my memories of this weekend forever. The Cursillo experience was a magical, powerful and a life-changing experience and has now taken my faith to another level and brought me closer to God. I know from this moment on my life will never be the same again. With God’s grace and the forever love of all the Cursillistas, my life has been transformed. I can truly say I am at peace within myself now and know the feeling of joy.” To find out more about Cursillo, contact Marilyn Reeve on 01472 82 45 98 or see www.lincolncursillo.org.uk
Week of guided prayer was ‘a wonderful experience’ ‘A wonderful experience – it has really helped me discover my calling’. This was just one of the comments made by participants following a week of guided prayer that was held in the parishes of Nettleham and Riseholme. The week, which was led by Canon Stephen Hoy (diocesan Spirituality Adviser) and supported by a team of experienced prayer guides, invited people to spend 30 minutes in prayer each day, followed by a daily individual meeting with one of the prayer guides. Fourteen people took part, and these people are now keen to maintain the
momentum of prayer they experienced during the week. If your parish or benefice would be interested in putting on a week of guided prayer, please contact Stephen on 01522 52 56 21 or via stephenhoy39@gmail.com DIOCESELINCOLN
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Noticeboard A pilgrimage to the Holy Land You are warmly invited to join the Bishop of Lincoln on an eight-day pilgrimage based in Jerusalem and Galilee in November 2018. Here, Bishop Christopher looks ahead to this very special opportunity... ‘I invite you to travel on pilgrimage with me to the Holy Land to journey in the footsteps of Our Lord. Staying in Jerusalem and on the shore of the sea of Galilee, we will visit the sites most associated with Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. To make such a journey is a powerful way of deepening our faith and encountering Jesus afresh. It was a point well made by St Jerome, who said, ‘Five gospels record the life of Jesus. Four you will find in books and one you will find in the land they call Holy. Read the fifth gospel and the world of the four will open to you.’ That, then, is the invitation: to come and ‘read’ the fifth gospel. We will travel together into the places in which our faith was revealed, but also meet the ‘living stones’ of the Holy Land – the local Palestinian and Israeli Christians who are the ongoing, living church in the region. Our pilgrimage will be an opportunity not only to journey into the pages of the bible and the story of Jesus Christ, but to also encounter his living presence in the people we will meet and the local Christians alongside whom we will worship. I will be providing daily reflections on the great story of our salvation in the places it happened, assisted by my colleagues the archdeacons of Stow & Lindsey and Lincoln. Whether you are a seasoned participant in
pilgrimages, whether you have been to the Holy Land before or whether this is the first pilgrimage you have undertaken, I invite you to travel with me as together we faithfully, confidently and joyfully seek the Lord.’ Organised with McCabe Pilgrimages, the cost of this tour is £1,645, sharing a twin-bedded room with private facilities. Accommodation in Jerusalem will be at the three-star Golden Walls Hotel beside the Old City Walls and within walking distance of the Holy Sepulchre. In Tiberias, the accommodation will be at the four-star Ron Beach Hotel in a wonderful situation right on the lakeside. The tour is on a full-board basis with buffet breakfast, lunch and a table d’hôte evening meal included daily. Further details and booking forms may be obtained from Mr Patrick Deeming (Pilgrimage Administrator), c/o The Archdeacons’ Office, Edward King House, Minster Yard, Lincoln LN2 1PU (Telephone: 07454 73 35 84; Email: pilgrimage2018@lincoln.anglican.org)
Oberammergau Passion Play
Organist/choir trainer required
The Lincolnshire Methodist District is organising a nineday holiday starting on 22nd August 2020 and which will include seeing the world-famous Passion Play in the Bavarian village of Oberammergau. The coach trip will include time in Germany and Austria and will have pick-ups in Lincolnshire. The cost starts from £1,349 per person. For further information on this holiday, please contact the Revd Eleanor Smith on 01507 52 51 95 or by email at eleanor.smith@methodist.org.uk
Ss Peter & Paul, Burgh-le-Marsh, seeks an organist and choir trainer. An established position, there is a sung eucharist and sung evensong (including Anglican chant) weekly, plus choir practice. Sung services are also held on weekday festivals. There is a small and loyal choir. RSCM rates, plus a good number of occasional offices. Large two-manual organ, which is well maintained. Please contact Canon Terry Steele on 01754 81 02 16 or 07981 87 86 48 or via father.terry@btclick.com
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Announcements The Revd Alison Healy resigned her licence as Rector of Brant Broughton and Beckingham with effect from 9th July 2017. The Revd Lynda Pugh will retire from her post as Priest-in-Charge of The Ringstone in Aveland Group of Parishes with effect from 30th November 2017. Lynda’s last Sunday in the parishes was 29th October 2017. The Revd Gareth Atha has been appointed Vicar of the Benefice of the Elloe Stone Parishes. Gareth has recently served as Assistant Curate of the Parish of Beverley Minster, and he will be licensed by the Bishop of Grantham on Wednesday, 29th November 2017 at All Saint’s, Moulton at 7.30pm. News from Edward King House: we were sorry to say farewell to our Finance Director, Ann Treacy, recently. Ann has taken up a new post with another organisation
and we wish her well in her new role. We have been pleased to welcome John Scarisbrick to Edward King House as our Interim Finance Director. Andrew Drummond-Hunt has recently been appointed Diocesan Surveyor. Andrew previously served as Interim Properties Director. Helen Doyle has been appointed Governance Administrator to cover an internal secondment. A key part of this role is to support the effective operation of diocesan meetings and committees. Jack Seward has been appointed DBS and Systems Administrator, a role that incoporates a DBS checking service for clergy in the diocese and IT support. And we wish Simon Dean, Discipleship Officer, well as he leaves the staff team to begin training for ordination. Diocesan vacancies may be found on the website.
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Across 9 Traditionally stored in bottom drawer (9) 10 Monarch of the 12A (5) 11 Credit vile construction in 12A worker (7) 12 Home of workers collective (7) 13 Time returns to let out (4) 14 Says goodbye and goes on holiday (5,5) 16 Fits all it is said (3,4) 17 Fixed attitude (4,3)
19 Press business (10) 22 Only a small lake (4) 24 One who may lose his rights (3,4) 25 Less robust (7) 26 Zero confused denizens of 12A are tubby (5) 27 Wife of J.C. (9)
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Solution to No. 21
PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 22 Set by Kettlebird
Winner of Prize Crossword No. 21: Paula Sargeant, Boston. To enter: please send completed entries to Crossword No. 22, Crosslincs, Communications Office, Edward King House, Minster Yard, Lincoln LN2 1PU. Closing date: 1st December 2017. A photocopy of the completed crossword is acceptable, if you prefer. Editor’s decision is final. The prize is a faith-related book.
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1 Steady friend among the horses (6,9) 2 Source of black fossils (4,4) 3 ‘e keeps the peace at weddings (5) 4 By which one may gain mechanical advantage (8) 5 Beadle in Oliver Twist and a large buzzer (6) 6 Shrill sound of informer (9) 7 Another name for 10A (6)
8 Took the test (7,3,5) 15 Important concerns sold in street (3,6) 17 Sins confessed at Mattins and Evensong (8) 18 Literate member of 12A (8) 20 Hat for obsessive member of 12A (6) 21 Poet Laureate to Augustus (6) 23 Latin goddess of love games (5)
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Praying for one another Reaching out to God in prayer Prisons Week offers an annual opportunity to focus on prayer for all those who are affected by prisons. Here, the Revd Beth Weston shares her thoughts as Anglican Chaplain and some prayers offered from HMP Lincoln... As the Prisons Week website states, ‘For over forty years Prisons Week has prepared prayer literature for the Christian community to use as they pray for the needs of all those affected by prisons: prisoners and victims, their families, their communities, those working and volunteering in prisons and the criminal justice system’. The week extends an invitation for people to pray and also to consider ‘whether there is one thing that you as an individual, or as a church, can do to help any of the people that you are praying for’. To paraphrase a familiar quote: ‘Prison’s another country, they do things differently there’. And yes, as one Lithuanian gentleman once said to me some years ago, “Here, the wing, is like a little village, most know one another, some like, some hate, but, no choice, you must get on or you fight and get nicked. End of.” In the villages of ‘our’ HMP, just as in other villages, days vary, with the arrival of good news and bad news. Here there are very few soft sofas and nice neighbours with cups of tea to help celebrate or offer words of comfort, and officers, chaplains and pad-mates are aware that they are a poor second to loved ones. As a result, and reproduced here in their own words, some of the men share their thoughts in prayer:
I feel a bit of a donut but Miss says I can ask and you will listen, so please make everyone who is bad better. Get them off drugs. I am at the moment. Help all of us.
God please keep my little girl well and safe, please help those docs give her a good chance. Please keep her mum safe and make her forgive me for not being there when she was born. Please, please. Miss says I have chance to do good. Help. Miss says to just say ‘help’ is a prayer and that you know who I am. I hope so. Thanks. Three weeks later: Thanks, thank you sooo much, I’ll do well, I will. It was good to see her. So small and so beautiful. Oh thanks.
Not good at this, ha, never mind, want to pray for my mum but also (his) mum cos she’s not good. Please sort it. Amen.
Please if you’ll be there for mum and aunty, please be there, thank you for being great. Please help me to be someone Pops would be proud of. I will try. I will really. Amen.
God, you know me, I’m rubbish, but help me to be who you want me to be, not who I have been, take away my aggression please. Thanks.
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The ‘communities’ that develop are amazing. In general, people do care for one another: they take on board the joys and the sorrows of their pad-mates and other people on the wing. This is sadly not always the case, however, although everyone knows what’s what and how things work. Like all neighbourhoods, occasionally a move is the only peaceful answer. Boundaries are established and, hopefully, situations are defused and peace returns.
I pray that I can forgive and forget and be set free because of this. That I can be the bigger person and move forward. Two weeks later: I give thanks that my prayer was answered. Amen.
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Sharing in Prayer For those who have families and loved ones ‘outside’ there are tremendous feelings of guilt and the wish to make reparation. Most families are enormously supportive, to the extent of sometimes going without themselves so as to be able to visit or send a bit of ‘spends’. The joy of a phone-call, letter and, especially, a visit literally keep some men going. I pray for those who I love and who love me. I pray for their safety and that they may cope daily without me doing stuff I used to do. Even tasks like mowing the lawn may be difficult, please help them, and please keep them safe, protected and happy.
wrongdoings and that you will find it in your heart for me to enter heaven. Please bless the families that I upset by entering their houses and making their lives unhappy. Help them to forget bad memories and help me to be forgiven. Amen. You know me, in and out, I can’t hide from you, I’ll be here or another jail for a good long time. I want, if possible, to be free one day and just be normal. I’m sorry. Help me, thanks. So be it. In other words, Amen.
Miss says we can pray for family, please look after (mine), please make them eat well and get to school ok. Please help [partner] not to stress, but when she thinks of me please tell her that I love her and one day it will be ok. I am sorry. God can see in my heart, so he knows. Oh God, God tell her I’m sorry... Phew, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.
In each wing the days stretch out. Some men find it easier to count off each day. Some prefer to take one day at a time and think only from minute to minute. Some have no other option but to take the latter route. As a chaplaincy, we seek to demonstrate, whether in the Chapel, out on the wings or by being around, atonement, redemption, incarnation and the unconditional love of a transcendent and imminent God. Here at HMP Lincoln, some of the men have prepared this prayer together:
In terms of thinking about victims of crime, there is often an abiding sense of guilt and an urge for forgiveness and of ‘making things right’. Time to think leads to recalling the parts of lives withheld from God and the good of the community, the evil that has been done and the time lost. This thinking time is painful and can lead to seeking false and temporary panaceas. Such times can go one way or another.
We are here and tired of who and what we are. However long or short our sentences, we would rather not have become the people we are that brought us here. We ask your forgiveness. We have sinned against you and society. We ask your love to surround us, your light to shine upon us and your grace never to leave us. We ask your Holy Spirit to come upon us every single day, now and forever. Amen.
I realise what I have done. I know it is not appropriate to your world to do such things, I hope you will forgive me my
Prisons Week in 2017 was from the 8th until the 14th of October. More information is at prisonsweek.org
Sharing in Prayer in our diocese As mentioned at the turn of the year, the diocesan prayer diary has been published in a new format during 2017. As a result of the new format, each benefice is prayed for during the calendar year, and incumbents are contacted in advance to request their help in compiling a small amount of information for their parish(es). The diary is now published on a monthly basis and may be downloaded from www.lincoln.anglican.org/faith-discipleship/prayer-diary The prayers are also shared on our social media on a daily basis, and printed copies are available upon request either by calling the Mission Team on 01522 50 40 50 or by sending an email to discipleship@lincoln.anglican.org
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Nature and nurture Cherishing our churchyards The Revd Les Batty, an Assistant Priest in Grantham and eco-theology lecturer at Lincoln School of Theology, highlights the contribution made by birds to the beauty of our churchyards and some ways to encourage them... Last year my wife and I spent our summer holiday in a churchyard! We were not expecting to, but when we arrived at our holiday cottage we discovered that it backed on to a large and beautiful churchyard, with gravestones only a few metres away from the kitchen window. After the initial surprise, our view of the churchyard soon became a highlight of the holiday as we were treated to close-up views of a variety of wildlife, including the delightful spotted flycatchers that made aerial sorties from their gravestone perches to catch passing insects. The British Trust for Ornithology undertook a long-term spring and summer bird survey of 15 churchyards between 1971 and 1998 and recorded a total of 73 species. Of these, 43 held breeding territories, with an average number of 17 species per churchyard. The commonest birds were blackbird, robin and blue tit, but they noted that more unusual species, such as greenfinch, coal tit and goldcrest, were probably attracted by the yew trees and other conifers, which are often typical of churchyards. In the spring of this year, I visited two village churchyards in south-west Lincolnshire and I saw or heard five or six species in each within ten minutes of my arrival, including some of the above along with chaffinch (pictured), great tit, long-tailed tit, sparrowhawk and others. Churchyards can be remarkably valuable habitats for birds, which is thanks to the mixture of habitat features often present,
Photographs are Š Les Batty. W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
including trees, shrubs, both short and long grass, the occasional rough patch, ivy-covered walls and the church building. The latter, of course, often provides nesting sites for swallows and swifts, as well as other species that nest in the nooks and crannies that old buildings provide. The swallows and swifts have long since departed for Africa, and the days of spring and summer are a distant memory. Nevertheless, our resident birds are still here, with churchyards hosting fieldfares and redwings which join blackbirds and song thrushes in feeding on the berries provided by our yew trees, hollies, rowans and the like. Moreover, the numbers of robins, tits and finches may be augmented by northern visitors of the same species. Although the primary function of our churchyards is as burial grounds that also provide quiet places for reflection, this function can be enriched by the presence and activity of birds. It is therefore worth thinking about how we can enhance them and make them more attractive to birds, maintaining or creating the sort of habitat mix described above. At this time of year, we could consider whether new bushes or trees might be planted (with permission) to provide nest sites and/or berries; delay cutting off the seedheads of flowers, and weeds such as teasels and thistles, to provide food for goldfinches and other small birds; and perhaps erect one or two nestboxes if there are a few natural nest sites. Even with a great range of habitats within a churchyard, there might be an opportunity to help the birds through the winter months by providing a range of food. Information is available on feeding stations and types of food – always check on the most appropriate food for the time of year via the British Trust for Ornithology (www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/ gbw/gardens-wildlife/garden-birds) and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife-gardening). Further details on the national Caring for God’s Acre Project are available at www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk
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Discussion and discovery Exploring The Fruitfulness of Science and Faith This year has seen some initial events that have set out to try to encourage engagement between science and faith. Crosslincs was pleased to receive this report of the most recent event... In September, Christians from around the diocese and with a range of scientific interests took the opportunity to join panel members from this year’s Science and Religion Forum conference to explore The Fruitfulness of Science and Faith. Following the main conference, which was held in Lincoln, St Nicholas Church, Newport provided the setting for a fruitful afternoon of discussion and exploration. The Revd Dr Michael Fuller (Teaching Fellow at the School of Divinity, Edinburgh University) presented the history of the dialogue between science and faith, and how divergence into two seemingly independent world views arose not always as a result of the Church opposing scientific advancement but rather through
“The diocese is looking to hold a series of science and faith discussions based on the Test of Faith materials produced by The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion” political manoeuvring or simply misinformation bringing about the present views on science and faith. When considering this dialogue and how easily the two subjects might be reconciled, the conclusion was that ‘It’s not as simple as that’. Dr Mark Harris (Senior Lecturer in Science and Religion at the School of Divinity, Edinburgh University) suggested that differences offer opportunity, and that potential conflict between scientific discovery and faith offer opportunities to share faith and for dialogue to blossom and become fruitful. He also observed that science itself is not unified; that is, astrophysics and quantum mechanics (both branches of physics) operate under different physical laws.
Dr Mark Harris suggested that ‘differences offer opportunity’.
So, with disunity in science, what could a fruitful dialogue between science and religion look like? Of course, similar disunities also currently exist within the religious arena. The Revd Prof. Nick Goulding is Director of Academic Development and Professor of Pharmacology and Medical Education at The William Harvey Research Institute and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, as well as being a Diocesan Adviser on Faith and Science (St Albans). Nick focused on embryo research, considering questions such as when does life begin? No definitive answers were given here, but the impact of different religious views on scientific study were highlighted, as too were some of the questions that scientific advancement brings to the religious forum. A wide range of interpretations from different teachings within many religions were considered and applied to the question of when life began. Following on from this latest event, the diocese is looking to hold some science and faith discussions based on the Test of Faith materials produced by The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge (see www.testoffaith.com). These events will take place in local groups around the diocese, and so if you are interested in leading one of the groups or would like to find a group, please contact the Revd Julie Wearing via revjulie.stfaiths@gmail.com or on 01522 41 58 58. We have recently confirmed that St Faith’s Church in Lincoln, in conjunction with Burton Road Methodist Church, will run a group at the Methodist Church (175 Burton Road, Lincoln LN1 3LT) on Tuesday evenings (7.30–9pm) for five weeks, beginning on 9th January 2018. All are welcome. DIOCESELINCOLN
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Out and about A news and events round-up As we look back at recent happenings around the diocese, the Revd Andrew Roberts (Rector of the Fen & Hill Group & Diocesan Funerals Officer) begins with news of a special service held in Scrivelsby... One Sunday in August saw something a little different at St Benedict’s Church in Scrivelsby. A national Citroen 2CV rally was due to be held on the Scrivelsby Estate over the bank holiday weekend, and so ahead of the event it was decided to hold a service of Morning Prayer in French. The liturgy was that used in the Anglican Church of Canada, in the French-speaking Province of Quebec. I have a degree in French, and this service seemed to be a good way of making the 2CV enthusiasts feel part of our church community. A good number of those who came to the rally attended the service, which included Taizé chants and modern music, plus an act of homage
to Sir Philip Marmion, the Anglo-Norman landowner of Scrivelsby and King’s Champion, who died in 1290 and whose tomb is to be found in St Benedict’s Church.
‘Thank you’ for the past 12 years
Bible study leads to more Bibles
The Revd Canon Terry Steele (Rector of the Burgh Group of Parishes) has retired as Rural Dean of Calcewaithe and Candleshoe after 12 years of service. The new Rural Dean is the Revd Ros Latham, Priest in Charge of the Alford Group of Parishes, who will take up her new responsibilities in December. At an informal gathering of clergy and associates from the deanery, the Revd Canon Terry Steele was presented with gifts from his colleagues – an almostlifesize model beagle and a small beagle puppy. The reallife beagle, Archie, who accompanies him everywhere, appeared to be unimpressed by the new additions!
A Vintage Afternoon Tea organised by Rhianna, Hannah, Sam and Bethany, teenagers from St Thomas’s Church in Market Rasen, raised the sum of £526.04 for the Bible Society. The group organised the event following a Bible study meeting that looked at being called to respond to God’s love, and the money raised will now be directed to supporting people with little or no access to the Bible.
Keeping in touch... Is there something happening in your parish that you would like to share with the readership of Crosslincs? Please contact the Communications Officer (see page 2 for contact details), who will be pleased to consider items for this magazine, the diocesean website and e-bulletin.
W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
Ahead of the event the group had said, ‘We decided that we had access to a Bible whenever we wished; others are not as fortunate and therefore we would like to do a small part in making a difference to someone’s life’. After a lot of planning and a meeting with a representative of the Bible Society, the group prepared a beautiful afternoon tea for their guests, together with musical entertainment courtesy of a ‘clergy jazz band’ comprising the Revd Steve Johnson, the Revd Richard King and the Revd John Leach. The group later made speeches (pictured above), and they offered their guests a ‘party bag’ that contained sweets, some gifts from the Bible Society and literature about their work.
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Developing disciples Living in the light of Christ John Leach reports on how one church has considered its past so as to heal wounds and preprare to go forwards to love and serve in a spirit of light and hope... The team of advisers running the diocesan Developing Discipleship Programme (DDP) have always sought to pursue a policy of continual improvement. We have recently become aware of a need, in some areas, to address some of the historical constraints that might restrict growth and discipleship and make the process of mission action planning more difficult to embed. So, and drawing on the work of Russ Parker on the healing of wounded history, we have put together a preparation event that serves as a stand-alone session or as a useful prelude to the existing process. This event has so far been tested in one parish in the diocese, and to great acclaim. The session involved looking at a timeline, drawing on the earliest memories of church members (which might be things told to them by parents or grandparents), and moving through to the present day. Together, we shared memories and stories of events, both in the church and in the community in which it was set, and which have affected church life both positively and negatively. All of these memories were written up and placed on the timeline, which proved to be very helpful in obtaining a bird’s eye view of the church’s recent history.
It was noted that there was a particular period in which very little seemed to stand out in people’s memories. In this case there was ‘an elephant in the room’, a somewhat difficult historical period. There had been a desire to forget it and move on, but, as Russ Parker suggests, difficult times can continue to affect us adversely if they are not brought into the light and given to God in prayer. This meant that the ‘elephant’ had to be talked about and let out of the room. The session ended with a brief liturgy in which symbols were used to identify wounds that had come to the church from the outside, sins of which the community had been guilty, and blessings that, in spite of those wounds and sins, God had continued to offer. Some wounds were identified and there were prayers for God’s healing, and prayers were offered in seeking forgiveness for sins. It was important to think corporately about the church’s sins: individual members might not have been alive at the time that some sins were committed, but as members of that community it is possible to confess vicariously as representatives of the community. Finally, prayers of thanksgiving were offered for the many blessings that had been identified. The church members found the discussion helpful and the service very moving, and it is our hope and prayer that as this church begins mission action planning through the DDP, it will do so with a sense of lightness and freedom, with the past not forgotten but healed, and the future there to be lived in the light of Christ. For further information, please contact the team by email at ddp@lincoln.anglican.org or call 01522 50 40 50. DIOCESELINCOLN
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CALENDAR NOVEMBER
Saturday, 4th November (1.30– 4.30pm). Crafts by Candlelight at St Denis’ Church, Silk Willoughby. A range of gifts and crafts to browse. Saturday, 4th November (7.30pm). Lincoln Choral Society – Haydn’s ‘Mass in Time of War’ and Elgar’s ‘The Spirit of England’ in Lincoln Cathedral. Tickets (£8–£20) available from the Cathedral Shop (01522 56 16 44) or on the door. Tuesday, 7th November (7.30pm). Lost Voices at All Saint’s Church in Wellingore. An evening of remembrance, comprising tunes from the trenches, poems and reflections, performed by the Bassingham Choir. Tickets (£7 and to include light refreshments) are available from either Glo Reed (01522 81 04 50) or Toni Butroid (01522 81 12 42).
The proceeds will be shared between The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and the All Saints’ Church ‘Access for All’ re-ordering project. Friday, 24th November (7.30pm). ‘Elvis Christmas Show’ to be held at Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Humber (DN19 7AA). Tickets (£5) are available by calling 01469 53 16 13. Friday, 24th November (7.30pm). ‘Harmony Lincs’ – 40 male voices in harmony at St Peter’s Church, Navenby. ‘Not church choral but eclectic: songs from musicals, songs of love, ballads, McCartney, and with a touch of Christmas’. Tickets (£12, including wine and refreshments) are available from Tony Sharp, 17 Headland Way, Navenby LN5 0TR (T: 01522 81 15 49 or via ruth849@ btinternet.com). Please make cheques out to ‘St Peter’s Church’ and include a stamped self-addressed envelope.
Key dates for incumbents, treasurers and PCC members for March 2018 Incumbents, treasurers and PCC members are invited to join the archdeacons at a seminar and information day to be held in their respective archdeaconry in March 2018. The seminars will be run in the morning by leading investment and insurance houses, and will look at how to make the most of funds, what should be insured and how, and the types of bank and savings accounts available to charities. Attendees will also have an opportunity to network and share ideas and experiences over lunch, and the invited speakers plus representatives from the diocesan Assets & Trusts department will be on hand in the afternoon for discussion on an individual or small-group basis. The venues will be confirmed nearer the time, but initial details of the events in each archdeaconry are as follows: Lincoln – in or around Horncastle on 1st March 2018 Boston – in or around Spalding on 13th March 2018 Stow & Lindsey – in or around Barnetby on 14th March 2018. Those unable to attend the event in their respective archdeaconry are invited to attend one of the other dates in the diocese. Further details will follow as they are finalised, and invitations will be sent out by email in December 2017. Please ensure that all incumbent, treasurer and PCC member information is updated and correct so as to avoid any delay in the receipt of the email invitation. Please direct any enquiries to either Ms Mickey Tucker-Lowe (Assets & Trusts) on 01522 50 40 61 or Mrs Sue Wilson (PA to the Archdeacons) on 01522 50 40 39. W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
Friday, 1st December (7.30pm). Boston Youth Jazz Orchestra concert at St Guthlac’s, Fishtoft. Tickets (£10 for adults, £5 for children under 16) are available by calling 01205 61 26 56 or from the church. On the Saturday (10am–3pm) there will be a Christmas Fair in the church. Handicrafts, cards, cakes, chocolate tombola – all proceeds to be put towards the upkeep of the church. Saturday, 2nd December (noon – 4pm). A Christmas Craft Fair at Stickford Community Centre. Homemade refreshments will also be available. This event will help raise funds to improve the facilities at St Helen’s Church, Stickford. Saturday, 9th & Sunday, 10th December (10am until 4pm). A Christmas Tree Festival at St James’ Church, Freiston. Featuring over 30 real Christmas Trees decorated to the theme of ‘Once Upon A Time’. Each tree will be decorated by local schools, community groups and individuals, with each tree depicting a well-known story. Over the weekend there will be a Yuletide Craft & Gift Fayre in the church, with each stall offering different handmade crafts and gifts. There will also be entertainment and homemade refreshments.
Advice on funding for church buildings The diocesan Church Buildings Team is to host a conference for parishes on funding for church buildings on Saturday, 21st April 2018. To be held in the Robert Hardy Building at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln, this event will include talks in the morning and workshops in the afternoon, with the aim of offering parishes a clearer idea of funding options for building projects, how to build a project team and the importance of maintenance in preventing large repair bills. Further information will follow in due course. DIOCESELINCOLN
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