The Spilsby & Stickney Groups

Bolingbroke Deanery Team Parishes Faithful, Confident, Joyful 23rd May 2021 PENTECOST SUNDAY (Red)

Pentecost Sunday Worship with us this Pentecost Sunday. In this week's service, with the Archbishop of York and Thy Kingdom Come, we pray for more people to find their joy within God's Church.

https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online 10.00am Prayer in our own homes See below

Pentecost Sunday - Thy Kingdom Come Services in the Spilsby Cluster 9.30am Spilsby Eucharist (PC) 11.15am Little Steeping Eucharist (PC) Services in the Marden Hill Cluster 9.30am East Keal Morning Worship (FJ) Services in the Stickney Cluster 11.15am New Leake Morning Worship (FJ) Services in the Partney Cluster 11.15am Sausthorpe Morning Prayer (PMcL) 3.00pm Skendleby Evening Prayer (TMcL) Services in the South Ormsby Cluster 9.30am Tetford Holy Communion (TMcL)

Almighty God, source of our hope and all good things; you call us in love to share in the work of creation in making all things new. Bless our diocese: may we be faithful in our worship; confident in our discipleship; and joyful in our service; that, through us, the world may catch a glimpse of the love you have for each one of us, made known to us in your son, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

We will publish a short video on YouTube and link it to our website. Our Web Site http://lincoln.ourchurchweb.org.uk/spilsby/index.php

Bolingbroke Team Churches YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqTDWzvL2jxeB6ESF- aP9Nw?view_as=subscriber

Monday John and Charles Wesley 24 May Evangelists, Hymn Writers, 1791 and 1788

Tuesday The Venerable Bede 25 May Monk at Jarrow, Scholar, Historian, 735 Aldhelm 25 May Bishop of Sherborne, 709 2.30pm New Leake APCM

Wednesday Augustine 26 May First Archbishop of Canterbury, 605 John Calvin Reformer, 1564 Philip Neri Founder of the Oratorians, Spiritual Guide, 1595 10.30am Spilsby Eucharist 2.30pm West Keal APCM Thursday

Friday Lanfranc 28 May Prior of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, Scholar, 1089 10.00am Hundleby APCM 3.00pm Spilsby APCM

Saturday

Trinity Sunday Services in the Spilsby Cluster 9.30am Spilsby Eucharist (PC) 11.15am Raithby MP & APCM (PC) Services in the Marden Hill Cluster 9.30am East Keal Eucharist (+DR) 6.00pm Hagworthingham EP & APCM Services in the Stickney Cluster 11.15am Stickford Morning Worship (FJ) Services in the Partney Cluster 11.15am Partney Holy Communion (TMcL) Services in the South Ormsby Cluster 9.30am Tetford Holy Communion (TMcL)

Private Prayer in the Following Churches: St James Spilsby Daily 08.00 to 16.00 St Helen East Keal Sun to Thursday 10.00 to 15.00 St Nicholas Partney Thursdays 11.30 to 12.30 St Mary Tetford Wednesdays 11.30 to 12.30 St Luke Stickney Daily 10.00 to 16.00 St Helen Stickford Daily 10.00 to 16.00 St Mary Hundleby Daily 10.00 to 14.00

Spilsby Daily 8am Morning Prayer & at Noon God of love, turn our hearts to Your ways and give us peace. Amen

The sick at home or in hospital, Nigel Worth, Kathleen, Molly, Veronica, Dorothy, Maggie J. Betty Brawn, Tristan, Michael P, Joan T. Mark, Jossie Lee, June, Hilary, Michael, Harriet, Rose L., Abby, Sheila Janes, Fleur, Mary, Jeff Mason, Rosie, Bob, (Baby) Chloe Lear, Lawrence, Ann Howman, John and Audrey Prince, Sylvia Bonsey, Anthea B, Jo & John, Bessie Reddin, Mary Julyan.

The Departed: Beryl White, Frederick Blackbourn.

Anniversary: Rose Matheson, Esme Heane, Colin Meads, Charlie Ward, Michelle Coldwell, Sandra Jury, June Hine, Rupert Fletcher, Edith Calvert, Norman Ward, Wendy Toynton, Pauline Lawie, Raymond Ward, Graham Moles, Kath, Alfred Wild, Kath. Dean, Gladys 3

Nix, Michael Robinson, Geoff Howsam, Brenda Edge, Doris Richmond, Phylis Bauer, Gordon Parker, Terry Hill, Andrew Rigarlsford, David Ely, John Mawer, Peter Adams, Br Martin SSF, Joan Symonds, John Pimperton, Dennis, Jean Handbury. Charles Lawie, Edna Reeson, Marjory Bland, Alix Hoff. Brian Cooley, Peter Howard, Roger Kemplay, Jeffery Coupland, Bessie Eastgate, Jo Doolan, Amy Dodds, Bill Thacker, Mark Bell, Betty Blades, Vic Ranyard, Margaret Shaw. Bill Short, Eddie Sharman. Arnold Boyall, Denise Pailing, June Ingamells, Eileen Beal, (Baby) Julia Baxter, Judith Sawyer, Stephen Dawson, Ruth Machin, Jackie Hall.

Sunday 23rd In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Pentecost Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall Thy Kingdom Come prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Acts 2: 17 Police and Fire Services The Anglican Church of Melanesia Monday 24th The Deanery of Lawres - Rural Dean: Revd. Richard John and Charles Wesley, Crossland, Lay Chair: Mr. Russ Coulter Evangelists, Hymn Writers, Pray for the deanery in its mission, ministry and furtherance of 1791 and 1788 collaborative working, and for the Rural Dean and Lay Chair.

Press/media The Diocese of Caledonia – The Anglican Church of Canada (BC & Yukon Province)

Tuesday 25th Church Schools in the Deanery of Lawres - Dunholme St The Venerable Bede, Chad`s, Fiskerton, Hackthorn, Nettleham, Reepham, Monk at Jarrow, Scholar, Scampton, Scothern Ellison Boulters, Welton St Mary`s, Historian, 735 Welton William Farr.

Aldhelm, Bishop of The Diocese of Calgary – The Anglican Church of Canada Sherborne, 709 (Rupert’s Land Province) Prisons Wednesday 26th Nettleham – Revd Richard Crossland Augustine, first Archbishop Please pray for new ways of meeting, fellowship, worship and of Canterbury, 605 ministries that have flourished over the past year especially John Calvin, Reformer, Church-in-the-Porch. 1564 The Diocese of California – The Episcopal Church (VIII (8) Social Services Province) Thursday 27th The Owmby Group – Revd Sally Turnbull Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our ongoing Tourism discussions and in the decisions we make concerning Resourcing Sustainable Church.

The Diocese of Northern California - The Episcopal Church (VIII (8) Province) Friday 28th The South Lawres Group & Barlings – Revd Penny Green Lanfranc, Prior of Le Bec, Please pray for our growing online presence for worship in Archbishop of Canterbury, addition to worship in our buildings. 4

Scholar, 1089 Universities and Colleges The Diocese of Cameroon – The Church of the Province of West Africa (West Africa Province) Saturday 29th The Spring Line Group - Revd Sebastian Mattapally Pray for everyone who joins our livestreamed services. Young Peoples Uniformed Organisations The Diocese of El Camino Real – The Episcopal Church (VIII (8) Province) Sunday 30th God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, Trinity Sunday but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3: 17 Youth and Children’s Work La Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico Monday 31st Welton and Dunholme w Scothern – Revd Adam Watson The Visit of the Blessed Pray for our outdoor and zoom worship opportunities which we Virgin Mary to Elizabeth are using in addition to the small gatherings in Church for those who cannot get online. Local Organsisations The Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn – The Anglican Church of Australia (New South Wales Province)

* These items are sectors of Lincolnshire life. Each sector will receive a notification that they are being prayed for – please pray for the sector in general and any specific organisations close to you

Bolingbroke Team Ministry

Pentecost Morning Worship

For fifty days we have celebrated the resurrection, the victory of our Lord over sin and death. Now we rejoice in the coming of the Spirit upon the disciples. We welcome the Spirit into our lives and we seek to live and work in the power the Spirit gives to us.

Alleluia, Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia! The Lord is here. His Spirit is with us.

Spirit of compassion, we bring you our hearts. Spirit of discernment, we bring you our choices. Spirit of wisdom, we bring you our minds. Spirit of boldness, we bring you our words. Spirit of fulfilment, we bring you our longings. Spirit of abundance, we bring you our resources. Spirit of creation, we bring you our lives. Amen.

Hymn Come down, O Love divine, seek thou this soul of mine, and visit it with thine own ardour glowing; O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear, and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn, till earthly passions turn to dust and ashes in its heat consuming; and let thy glorious light shine ever on my sight, and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

Let holy charity mine outward vesture be And lowliness become mine inner clothing; True lowliness of heart, which takes the humbler part, and o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing

And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long, shall far outpass the power of human telling; for none can guess its grace, till be become the place wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling. Words: Bianco da Siena

Reading from Acts 2:1-21 When the day of Pentecost had come they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’ But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Hymn Spirit of God, unseen as the wind, gentle as is the dove; teach us the truth and help us believe, show us the Saviour's love!

You spoke to us long, long ago, gave us the written word; we read it still, needing its truth. Through it God's voice is heard.

Without your help we fail our Lord, we cannot live His way; 7

we need Your power, we need Your strength, following Christ each day. Words: Margaret V Old

Reading from John 15.26–27; 16.4b–15 Jesus said ‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. ‘I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, “Where are you going?” But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgement, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Breathe in us, Holy Spirit, that we may think what is holy. Move in us, Holy Spirit, that we may do what is holy. Attract us, Holy Spirit, that we may love what is holy. Strengthen us, Holy Spirit, that we may guard what is holy. Guard us, Holy Spirit, that we may keep what is holy. Amen

Homily from the Diocesan Website We have just concluded the season of Easter when we celebrated the death and resurrection of Jesus, an historic event in which all of us who are baptized vividly recall when we renew our baptismal vows. Once again, we die to the world and rise again with Christ. 8

But today we meet on the Feast Pentecost or Whitsunday when we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the first apostles and when we refresh our own experience of the living God as Spirit. Easter and Pentecost powerfully focus on something that is true every day of our lives – that these historic events are not just things that happened in past but are present-tense experiences that can bring direction, meaning and strength to our lives today. Today we are inviting God the Holy Spirit into our lives, to come upon us and overwhelm us just as she came upon and overwhelmed the apostles in the upper room at Pentecost. And that Spirit is the Spirit of God who brooded over the waters of creation, who inspired the prophets, who entered the womb of Mary and descended upon Jesus at his baptism. It is present in the womb of every expectant mother. It is alive and well and active in God’s world – even if at times its presence may not be recognized. Lord Coggan, a former archbishop, published a beautiful little book in 1989 The God Who Heals which contains this passage which reminds us that God the Holy Spirit who is poured out on us in the sacrament of Confirmation, is also present within our lives in the world. Coggan said this: I believe the Holy Spirit is the source of all knowledge and wisdom. I see a doctor or a nurse practising their wonderful calling. I am not asking now whether that doctor or that nurse is a Christian; I would like to think that they were. They are, in their own way, bringing healing to broken bodies and minds. Who gave them that lovely gift? It came from God. Here is a musician, and here is someone mentally troubled. The musician plays, perhaps, a quiet piece of Bach or whatever, and sometimes that music is the only thing that gets through to that troubled mind…That musician – I am not asking at the moment whether he is a Christian or no; I would like to think he is. But who gave him that lovely gift? Wasn’t its God’s Holy Spirit? I think here is a man or woman doing research in the lab, working by day and often far into the night, to see, whether he or she can get some way further towards a cure for cancer or whatever. I am not asking at that moment whether that man or woman is a Christian: I would like to think they. But who gave them that wonderful gift of scientific knowledge, and the grace to pursue it, even at a great cost to themselves? God did. What am I saying is that wherever there is beauty, wherever there is truth, wherever there is goodness, this is a gift from God: these are the gracious gifts of the Holy Spirit. Lord Coggan used the examples of a doctor, a musician and research scientist -- but he could also have used examples of a student, teacher, someone who works in the NHS. Each one of us has the opportunity to use the gift of the Holy Spirit in our day to day lives, 9

We also use the gift of the Holy Spirit by exercising our responsibilities in the life of the world. It could be by caring for the beauty of creation; it could be working to bring reconciliation and harmony between races. And for every Christian it should always be by blowing on the embers of the spirit of God in our own life – the embers are there in every human being and are always ready gently to be fanned into a bigger flame. So today we look forward to developing the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives and we look forward to experiencing the life of God in his world today – that life, which brings love, joy and peace into what is sometimes a hateful, sad and divided world, that life which is present in each one of us and which, by God’s grace, can be fanned into a flame of love for the world. May God the Holy Spirit draw out his love in the heart of each one of us so that we may live to his praise and glory.

Questions for Reflection 1. Pentecost – history or present reality to me? 2. Am I prepared for what might change if I allow the wind of the Spirit to blow the embers of life back into flame? 3. What responsibilities for the life of the world do we feel God calling us to this Pentecost? 4. Is there anything else from the passage that speaks to you not already discussed? What is it? 5. What will you do this week in your Monday-to-Saturday ministry in response to what you have heard today? #everydayfaith

Creed Let us declare our faith in God. We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love. We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high. We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Invitation to Confession The Spirit of the Lord fills the world and knows our every word and deed. Let us then open ourselves to the Lord and confess our sins in penitence and faith.

For ignoring the vision breathed by the living Spirit 10

churning deep within our souls; Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy. Have mercy upon us.

For refusing to look at the vision alive within those who look or act or sound different from us; Christ have mercy, Christ have mercy. Have mercy upon us.

For choosing familiarity, ease, and comfort rather than risking the opportunities afforded in the vision Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy. Have mercy upon us.

Assurance of pardon May the God of love and power forgive us and free us from our sins, heal and strengthen us by his Spirit, and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn Holy Spirit, Lord of Light, from the clear celestial height, Thy pure beaming radiance give. Come, Thou father of the poor, come, with treasure to endure, Come, Thou light of all that live.

Light immortal, light divine, visit now, these hearts of Thine, And our inmost being fill: For without your grace, all turns to ill. Veni, Sancte Spiritus (Come Holy Spirit),

Heal our wounds, our strength renew; on our dryness pour Thy dew; Wash the stains of guilt away: Bend our stubborn heart and will; melt the frozen, warm the chill; Guide our steps when we go astray:

Light immortal, light divine, visit now, these hearts of Thine, And our inmost being fill: For without your grace, all turns to ill Veni, Sancte Spiritus, (Words: John Michael Talbot)

Prayers of Intercession: Father of all, we yearn for the Spirit of truth in our lives, confident in the hope that you bring. May the Holy Spirit blow away our doubt and our reticence in matters of faith. Help us to deepen our awareness of you, we ask, Lord, by drawing on the experience and example of the disciples who spread your word in the power of the Spirit and in union with your Son. 11

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for the leaders of the Church in their work of mission, ministry and management. Give them wisdom in displaying their gifts and resources so that people may see Jesus. Let ecumenical work flourish so that there can be unity in the diversity of churches proclaiming your word. May it be your will and our task to encourage joint working, as we all worship one Lord. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

As we survey your creation and count our blessings, we celebrate your many gifts to us, including that of your Son. His intervention was for all people, just as the world is for the benefit of all. We ask, Lord, that there can be a fairer share of the world’s resources, just as you have shared your love equally. We pray especially for the areas suffering oppression and hardship just now, remembering in particular the people of the Middle East. Grant people there the peace they deserve and the freedom they crave. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

In our own community we pray for…. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Give hope to the sick and relief to those in pain as we remember especially… Let those who care show patience, fortitude and empathy. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who have died and are now in your closer presence. Grant them the peace that you promised. Let those who mourn know the love that hope in you can bring. Merciful Father Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Let us pray with confidence as Jesus taught us: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. 12

Hymn (Sung to the tune: Eventide – Abide with me) We seek your kingdom throughout every sphere We long for heaven’s demonstration here Jesus your light shine bright for all to see Transform, revive, and heal society

Before all things, in him all things were made Inspiring culture, media, and trade May all our work serve your economy Transform, revive, and heal society

Peace, truth, and justice reigning everywhere With us be present in our public square Fill all who lead with your integrity Transform, revive, and heal society

Forgive us Lord, when we have not engaged Failing to scribe your heart on history’s page Make us again what we were made to be Transform, revive, and heal society

Faithful to govern ever may we be Selfless in service, loving constantly In everything may your authority Transform, revive, and heal society (Words: Noel Robinson, Andy Flannagan & Graham Hunter)

Closing Prayer In our moments of chaos, God is with us. In our moments of calm, God is with us. In our moments of life, God is with us. Alleluia!

An act of Spiritual Communion You may wish to find a space for prayer in front of a cross, a candle, or a special place. You might choose to make your Spiritual Communion at a particular time of day, or after viewing a live streamed service.

Reflect on the day and on your relationships. - What good things have come from God today? - Where have I fallen short? - What might I do tomorrow?

You may wish to say or pray Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Read the following words from Scripture. If you have access to today’s readings for Holy Communion, you may wish to read and reflect on them. Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ John 6.35

Pray for the needs of the world, for your local community, and for those close to you. End with the Lord’s Prayer. Our Father...

Give thanks for the saving death and resurrection of Jesus and ask him to be with you now.Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits you have given me, for all the pains and insults you have borne for me. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.

O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen. after the Prayer of St Richard of Chichester

Conclude with the following: The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil, and keep us in eternal life. Amen.

A prayer for all those affected by coronavirus

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Clergy Team The Rev’d. Canon Peter Coates The Vicarage, Church Street, Spilsby, PE23 5EF email: [email protected] Tel: 01790 752526

The Rev’d. Ms. Fran Jeffries The Rectory, Horbling Lane, Stickney PE22 8DQ email: [email protected]

The Rev’d. Mrs Joan Thornett email: [email protected] Tel: 01790 754151

The Rev’d Mrs Jean Coates Contact via Spilsby Vicarage – As above email: [email protected]

Rev’d. Mrs Teresa McLaughlin & Mr Paul McLaughlin – Community Chaplain

The Rectory, Scremby Road Partney PE23 4PG [email protected] 01790 752344

Saints on Earth

¶ May

John and Charles Wesley 24 May Evangelists, Hymn Writers, 1791 and 1788

John Wesley (1703–91)

Born at Epworth Rectory in Lincolnshire in 1703, John Wesley was educated at Charterhouse School and Christ Church, Oxford. Ordained into the Anglican ministry, he acted for a time as his father's curate. In 1729 he went into residence at Oxford as Fellow of Lincoln College. There he joined his brother Charles and George Whitefield in the Holy Club, a group of students who met together for private worship and good works, including visiting prisons and comforting the sick. Their strict and methodical religious practices earned them the nickname 'methodists' from their fellow students.

In 1735 Wesley went to Georgia with the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, but his personal faith was far from sure at this time. On board ship he met some German Moravians, whose simple faith and fearlessness in the face of Atlantic storms greatly impressed him. On his return to England in 1738, he sought them out and, while attending one of their meetings in Aldersgate Street, London, on 24 May 1738, he had a profound spiritual experience, often referred to as his 'conversion'. He famously recorded in his Journal:

About a quarter before nine while [the speaker] was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for my salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

In March 1739 he was persuaded by George Whitefield to begin outdoor preaching and the following month founded the first Methodist society in London. Methodism was initially intended to be an add-on for Anglicans who had experienced conversion and Wesley expected them to attend worship and the sacraments at their parish church. But as time went on Methodism began to develop its own structures with classes for pastoral care, authorized lay preachers to address the societies and, from 1744, an annual Conference.

An indefatigable preacher and organizer, Wesley travelled around 5,000 miles a year on horseback, sometimes delivering up to five sermons a day. Huge numbers came to hear him and the response varied from tearful repentance to violent attack. Rejecting Whitefield's moderate Calvinism, he rejoiced to be known as an 'Arminian', emphasizing that salvation was available for all through Christ. He also stressed the doctrine of assurance: 'every man can be saved and every man can 16

know that he is saved'. He died on 2 March 1791, and was buried at City Road Chapel, London.

Charles Wesley (1707–88)

John's younger brother by four years, Charles Wesley was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. While at Oxford he was a founder member of the Holy Club. Ordained in 1735, later that year he went to Georgia with his brother John as secretary to the colonial governor James Oglethorpe. But ill health forced him to relinquish the post and he returned to England the following year. Caught up in the growing evangelical revival, Charles had a conversion experience on Whit Sunday, 21 May 1738, three days before his brother.

Charles subsequently was closely associated with the Wesleyan movement and travelled extensively as a preacher. In 1749 he married Sally Gwynne, the daughter of a Welsh magistrate and, unlike his brother, for whom marriage was much more of a trial than a joy, he enjoyed a happy family life in Bristol, where he ministered to the Methodist Society at the New Room. From 1771 he lived in London.

The two Wesleys differed on certain doctrinal matters, Charles always being the more conservative of the two. In addition, Charles strongly opposed steps that might lead to separation from the Church of England and thus disapproved of John's unilateral ordinations of Methodist ministers for North America and Scotland from 1784 and from 1788, the year of Charles' death, for England also. Charles greatly regretted this innovation that could only cause greater discord between Methodism and the Church of England, but suggested that his brother's judgement might have been sounder if he had been younger: ''Twas age that made the breach, not he'.

But Charles Wesley's greatest work was his poetry and hymn writing. It was he who ensured that Methodism would be noted for its congregational singing and he left a incomparable legacy of nearly 7,000 hymns, far more than any other hymn writer, before or since, and many of them are still regularly sung. Among the most widely known are And can it be?, Hark! the herald angels sing, and Love divine, all loves excelling. Yet Charles has not been without his critics who have claimed that early Methodist worship encouraged emotionalism, dwelt unhealthily upon sin and that some of his lyrics had unnecessarily erotic imagery. Nevertheless Charles Wesley remains probably one of the greatest Christian poets and certainly the greatest hymn writer of all time. A day or two after his conversion Charles wrote the hymn Christ the friend of sinners, with the first verse:

Where shall my wandering soul begin? How shall I all to heaven aspire?

A slave redeemed from death and sin, A brand plucked from eternal fire, How shall I equal triumphs raise, Or sing my great Deliverer's praise?

The Venerable Bede 25 May Monk at Jarrow, Scholar, Historian, 735

Born around 673, Bede was sent as a seven-year-old to Wearmouth monastery and later transferred to the new foundation at Jarrow, where he spent the remainder of his life, probably never travelling further than Lindisfarne to the north and York to the south. In about 692 he was ordained deacon at a relatively early age and priested when he was about 30.

His own words are often quoted: 'I have devoted my energies to a study of the Scriptures, observing monastic discipline, and singing the daily services in church; study, teaching, and writing have always been my delight.' In many ways his was a quiet and uneventful life but he spent it fruitfully as a scholar. He was the first person to write scholarly works in the English language, although unfortunately only fragments of his English writings have survived. He translated the Gospel of John into Old English, completing the work on the very day of his death. He also wrote extensively in Latin. He wrote commentaries on the Pentateuch and other portions of Holy Scripture.

But it is not as a theologian but as a historian that Bede is best remembered. His magisterial Ecclesiastical History of the English People was completed in 731 and remains in print today. It is one of the most importance sources for early English history. Fortunately for later historians, Bede was scrupulous in use of sources, which are clearly identified, as well as showing an attitude well in advance of his time in distinguishing clearly between fact, hearsay and legend. In a credulous age Bede showed a healthy caution in not believing all that he was told was true. The book is a history of Britain up to 729. Beginning with the Celtic peoples who were converted to Christianity during the first three centuries of the Christian era, Bede moves on to the invasion by the Anglo-Saxon pagans in the fifth and sixth centuries, and their subsequent conversion by Celtic missionaries from the north and west, and Roman missionaries from the south and east. He is believed to have been the first historian to date events from the birth of Christ and the earliest known writer to cast doubt on the accuracy of the Julian calendar.

Bede was a shrewd observer of the life of the Anglo-Saxon Church and suggested (to the Bishop of York) that episcopal visitation, confirmation and more frequent communion were appropriate remedies for the Church's ills.

Aldhelm 25 May Bishop of Sherborne, 709

Aldhelm was born in 640, and educated at Malmesbury, an Irish monastic community in Wiltshire, and then in Canterbury. He later became Abbot of the Malmesbury community. A man of high standing who was a close relation to Ine the King of Wessex, Aldhelm took a prominent part in the reforms of Archbishop Theodore (see 20 September) particularly in the area of administration, which prior to Theodore was a weakness of the Church.

Aldhelm was a man of intense learning and scholarship who rivaled Bede in ability. He was also eccentric and unconventional. His letters are almost impenetrable due to the overuse of simile, metaphor and alliteration. He also created a collection of one hundred riddles on biblical themes.

Although his letters were difficult to understand, Adhelm had a desire to communicate the message of the gospel effectively. In an attempt to teach the gospel to the illiterate of his diocese, he wrote hymns which were accompanied by the playing of the harp. Adhelm would also intersperse his preaching with clowning and songs, and realized the value of entertainment in communicating a message. His aim was to 'win men's ears, and then their souls'.

In 705 Aldhelm became the first Bishop of Sherborne, and continued to rule the monastery at Malmesbury introducing the Benedictine Rule into the community. He founded churches at Sherborne, Wareham and Corfe and several monasteries, including those at Frome and Bradford-on-Avon.

The last riddle in Aldhelm's 100 Riddles (answer: Creation) illustrates his linguistic skill:

I am greater than this world, smaller than a tick, brighter than the moon, swifter than the sun. The seas, the ocean floods, are all in my embrace, and this expanse of earth, the green plains: I reach to their foundations. I stoop below hell, I mount above the heavens, the glorious homeland, and extend abroad over the angel's abode. I fill the earth, the aged world, and the ocean streams, amply with my own self. Say what I am called.

Augustine 26 May First Archbishop of Canterbury, 605

Augustine's date of birth and origins are unknown. What is known is that he was prior of the monastery of St Andrew at Rome in 596 when he was instructed by Pope Gregory the Great to lead a group of 40 monks to England to preach to the heathen English. (Bede recounted the story of Gregory being intrigued by the sight of fairhaired boys in the slave market at Rome and conceiving the idea of a mission to their homeland.) Though Augustine famously turned back to Rome while the mission party was passing through Gaul, this was not so much cold feet on his part as a desire by the highly conscientious Augustine to inform the Pope of the mission party's corporate reticence and to ask his advice. Returning with a papal letter of 19

encouragement, Augustine led the monks on to England, landing at Thanet in Kent in 597.

After some initial wariness, Augustine was well received by King Ethelbert of Kent, whose wife, Bertha, had been brought up in the Christian faith and, indeed, had a Frankish bishop, Luidhard, as her chaplain (though neither, it seems, had used their influence in any form of mission). Augustine was allowed the use of the old Roman church of St Martin in Canterbury as his base and here he and his companions established the daily rhythm of the Benedictine Rule. Whether it was the personal influence of the new arrivals or because their presence had emboldened the queen and her chaplain is not known, but very soon afterwards King Ethelbert asked to be instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism.

The king's conversion naturally gave a great impetus to the spread of Christianity and though Bede was careful to state that compulsion was not used there can have been few in Kent who could not see that Christianity was the faith of the future. An indication of this was that on Christmas Day, 597, Augustine is said to have baptized more than ten thousand people near the mouth of the Medway. Shortly afterwards he crossed over to Gaul and was consecrated bishop by Virgilius, the Metropolitan of Arles.

Ethelbert sponsored a meeting with the existing Celtic bishops in the West of Britain. The conference took place in Malmesbury in 603, but Augustine badly mishandled it, appearing imperious and arrogant. It took another sixty years before an accommodation was reached at the Synod of Whitby. Nevertheless Augustine is revered by Anglicans as the first of a line of over one hundred archbishops, whose enthronement takes place in 'St Augustine's chair' in Canterbury Cathedral. From his day to the present, there has been an unbroken succession of archbishops of Canterbury.

John Calvin 26 May Reformer, 1564

Born at Noyon in Picardy, north-east France in 1509, Calvin studied law at Orléans, Bourges and Paris. He grew to appreciate the humanistic and reforming movements, and he undertook studies in the Greek Bible. He underwent a conversion experience in his mid twenties: 'God subdued and brought my heart to docility. It was more hardened against such matters than was to be expected in such a young man.' He renounced Roman Catholicism and left Paris with the intention of travelling to Strasbourg to study with the reformer Martin Bucer. But war made a lengthy journey via Geneva necessary and there the reformer Guillaume Farel prevailed upon Calvin to stay and work with him.

Thus began a love–hate relationship between Calvin and the people of Geneva. Indeed for three years (1538–41) Calvin sought refuge in Strasbourg after the

Genevan citizens refused to swear loyalty to a Protestant statement of belief. While in Strasbourg, Calvin married Idelette de Bure, a widow. John Knox, who was hardly unbiased, described Geneva as 'the most perfect school of Christ that ever was on the earth since the days of the Apostles'. Knox, like many others, experienced Geneva as a welcoming centre for Protestant refugees. Though Calvin was never entirely successful in his attempts to enforce the Church's moral discipline on the people, he sought to improve the life of the city's citizens in many ways. He supported good hospitals, a proper sewage system, special care for the poor and infirm, and the introduction of new industries.

Calvin's writings, however, have proven to be his most lasting contribution to the Church, in particular his massive yet easily readable work of Protestant systematic theology, The Institutes of the Christian Religion. The first edition was produced in 1536 and constantly enlarged until the final edition of 1559. Calvin stressed the sovereignty of God, the nature of election and predestination, the sins of pride and disobedience, the authority of Scripture, and the nature of the Christian life. His theology was greatly influenced by Augustine. Calvin tried to steer a middle course between an exclusive emphasis on divine providence and an exclusive emphasis on human responsibility. His influence was felt widely elsewhere in Europe, including England and Scotland.

Calvin's health was never robust (he was a chronic asthmatic) and he became very frail after an attack of fever in 1558. He died on 26 May 1564 and, at his request, was buried in an unmarked grave in Geneva.

Philip Neri 26 May Founder of the Oratorians, Spiritual Guide, 1595

Philip Neri was born in Florence in 1515, the son of a notary. After school he served as an apprentice in a family business. In 1533 he left his work and went to Rome, initially to study and later to teach theology and philosophy. When he considered that he had learned enough he sold his books and gave the money to the poor. He devoted himself to prayer, often in the catacomb of St Sebastian, where in 1544 he experienced an ecstasy of divine love so great that his heart was said to have been miraculously enlarged.

From 1538 he began to work amongst the men of the city and in 1548 founded the Confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity, a lay brotherhood devoted to aiding pilgrims, convalescents and the poor. He was ordained in 1551 and soon moved to the community at San Girolamo in Rome. He became a much sought after confessor and spiritual guide with evident gifts of discernment. His informal meetings and services with vernacular hymns and prayers became so popular that a special room – an 'oratory' – was built over the church in order to accommodate the growing number of people who wished to attend this unusual and popular form of worship. The oratory became the centre of Philip's activities, which included

programmes of sacred music. Other young clergy were attracted to this work and in 1575 the Congregation of the Oratory was formed – a congregation of secular priests living in community without vows, and those with private means being required to support themselves.

His ministry was to the people and primarily to the men of Rome – to the extent that he became known as the 'Apostle of Rome' and was regarded by many as virtually a living saint. His private life was ascetic in the extreme, though he did not make a display of this and tried to prevent it from becoming widely known. So great a devotee of Philip Neri and his work was Pope Gregory XIII, that Neri had the greatest difficulty in refusing a cardinal's hat in 1559.

Noted for his gentleness and cheerfulness, Philip Neri taught that the Christian faith was a joy as well as a duty. It was one where lay people as well as the clergy had a vital role to play and where experimental forms of worship had an important place. It is perhaps hardly surprising that a modern Reformation historian describes Neri as 'the most attractive of the Counter-Reformation saints'. He died in Rome on 26 May 1595.

Lanfranc 28 May Prior of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, Scholar, 1089

Lanfranc was born in Pavia in Northern Italy in about 1005. He studied and then practised law in Pavia before moving to France in 1035, where he became a pupil of Berengar of Tours. He taught in Avranches before, in 1042, he entered the newly founded Benedictine abbey of Le Bec, near Rouen. Only three years later he became its prior and was then able to open a school there, which rapidly became famous, and attracted scholars from many parts of Europe, several of whom later rose to high rank, especially the future Pope, Alexander II, and Anselm (see 21 April), who was to succeed Lanfranc both as Prior of Le Bec and as Archbishop of Canterbury.

While at Le Bec, Lanfranc met Duke William of Normandy, and though he initially opposed William's marriage to his cousin Matilda of Flanders, he later withdrew his objections and was reconciled with William. William was clearly aware of Lanfranc's abilities and when, in 1063, he founded St Stephen's Abbey at Caen he appointed Lanfranc as its first abbot. Three years later William invaded England (it is generally supposed that it was Lanfranc who arranged for a papal blessing for the expedition) and, after his victory at Hastings, was crowned king. In 1070 Archbishop Stigand was deposed and Lanfranc (who had been elected Archbishop of Rouen in 1067, but had declined the post) was summoned to England to replace him at Canterbury. William had seen Lanfranc's outstanding administrative skills at Le Bec and wanted to make use of them in England.

Lanfranc repaid him as an energetic and vigorous archbishop who oversaw the reform (some would say the Normanization) of the English Church. The changes he instituted included: enforcing clerical celibacy, reforming cathedral chapters, rationalizing a number of dioceses, insisting on the subordination of York to Canterbury, drawing a clear legal and jurisdictional distinction between matters civil and ecclesiastical, rebuilding Canterbury Cathedral and re-establishing a library there after its destruction by fire in 1067. He also supported William's policy of replacing Anglo-Saxon bishops with Normans.

During the Conqueror's frequent absences in Normandy, Lanfranc generally acted as regent and demonstrated his military ability in suppressing a rising against William in 1074.Theologically he wrote on Paul's Epistles and was involved in the debates concerning the nature of the divine presence in the Eucharist.

After William's death Lanfranc crowned William Rufus. Rufus increasingly disregarded the boundaries between Church and State when it was to his political and financial advantage, but before matters could come to a head Lanfranc died in 1089.

Josephine Butler 30 May Social Reformer, 1906

Josephine Grey was born in 1828 to an old Northumberland family (her father was cousin to Earl Grey, Prime Minister 1830–34). In 1852 she married the Revd George Butler, a writer on education and later a Canon of Winchester. After the birth of four children in five years the couple moved from Oxford to Cheltenham, then again to Liverpool in 1866 when George became head of Liverpool College. It was in the busy seaport city that Josephine first encountered the problem of prostitution. Instead of adopting the normal Victorian attitude of ignoring the problem, with her husband's support Josephine opened her home as a refuge for prostitutes, quickly becoming aware that they were the victims rather than the enemies of society, and began to campaign on their behalf.

In Victorian England it was deemed unseemly for a lady to be aware of such matters let alone to hold opinions and air them in public. Josephine thus encountered much opposition to her work. But her strong dislike of injustice perpetrated by the strong on the weak was underpinned by her faith – she was a devout Anglican and even found time to write a biography of Catherine of Siena.

A particular injustice was the Contagious Diseases Acts, passed by Parliament in the 1860s in order to protect military and naval personnel from sexually transmitted diseases. The Acts criminalized the prostitutes rather than their clients and imposed police surveillance, arrest on suspicion, and compulsory medical examination of women suspected of being prostitutes. Inevitably, there were cases of 'respectable' women who were in the wrong place at the wrong time being

forcibly subjected to a painful and degrading medical examination with no right of appeal. Josephine objected strongly on the grounds that women were being denied their constitutional rights. She won the support of other influential women such as Florence Nightingale and Harriet Martineau, and after a prolonged campaign succeeded in influencing Parliament to repeal the Acts in 1886.

Josephine also campaigned against the white slave traffic and, despite the flamboyant involvement of the press, stuck to the real issues and succeeded in getting legislation on the statute book which, among other things, raised the legal age of consent in Britain from 13 to 16. She wrote a number of books promoting education and equality for women and was involved in putting pressure on Cambridge University to improve educational opportunities for women. This eventually led to the foundation of Newnham College. She died in 1906.

Joan of Arc 30 May Visionary, 1431

Joan was born in a peasant family at Domrémy in the Champagne region of France, probably in 1412, towards the end of the Hundred Years' War between France and England. Uneducated but highly intelligent, she was a pious and virtuous child and in 1425 experienced the first of her supernatural visions, which she described as a blaze of light with an accompanying voice. In due course she was able to identify Michael the Archangel, along with Catherine of Alexandria and Margaret of Antioch (who were, perhaps significantly, two early virgin martyrs).To Joan, they revealed a mission to save France.

King Charles VII of France (the Dauphin in Shakespeare's Henry V) had been obliged to delay his coronation in order to fight the English. In 1429 Joan managed to meet Charles who became convinced of her bona fides. He allowed her to lead the French army to Orléans where, clad in a suit of white armour, she raised the siege by the English army. After a further campaign in the Loire Valley, she persuaded Charles to proceed to Reims for his coronation, which took place with Joan at his side.

Once he had been crowned the king lost interest in the war but Joan carried on nevertheless. So it was that, without adequate military support, she failed to recapture Paris from the English, and in 1430 she was taken prisoner and eventually put on trial. In the 15 sessions of her trial for sorcery and heresy the 19-year-old Joan made a robust defence against her accusers. But, inevitably, she was convicted and burned at the stake in Rouen on 30 May 1431.

Charles had made no effort to ransom or rescue her, but now cynically sought to rehabilitate Joan's reputation (no doubt for personal advantage) pressuring the church courts for a review of the verdict against her. Joan's condemnation was

finally annulled by a papal commission in 1456. In 1920 she was canonized and is now regarded as the second patron saint of France.

But why should the Church of England commemorate Joan? Neither for her military prowess, nor even because her visions were necessarily authentic, but because, being persuaded of the will of God for her life, she responded in faith and obedience. Joan's experience also provides a salutary reminder of the fate of the idealists and the innocent who get in the way of power politics and the 'national interest'.

Apolo Kivebulaya 30 May Priest, Evangelist in Central Africa, 1933

The CMS Nyanza mission first brought Christianity to Uganda in 1877 and in 1894 Uganda became a British Protectorate. As a result of a request for Christian missionaries by the chief of Boga, in the far west of Uganda, two Ugandan teachers were sent in 1896 and made some converts. But their firm stand against sorcery, polygamy and drunkenness offended the chief, and he deprived them of food forcing them to leave.

Later that same year a second attempt was made to take the gospel to Boga by a recently converted soldier, Apolo Kivebulaya. After his baptism he had declared a willingness to serve as a catechist in western Uganda, so he was sent out to Boga later in the same year. There he grew his own food, and so could not be forced out by having the market closed against him. Not surprisingly his opposition to sorcery, polygamy, and other practices aroused strenuous opposition and when the chief's sister died in an accident Apolo was blamed. A mob seized him, beat him and then turned him over to the British colonial authorities for trial. He spent several months in jail awaiting trial, and became greatly discouraged until he had an experience of the presence of Christ, and his faith was strengthened. The charges were eventually dropped, and he returned to Boga, where his preaching and the example of his life resulted in many conversions, including the chief who had opposed him so bitterly. He was ordained deacon in 1900 and priest in 1903.

An international boundary commission in 1907/8 realigned the border, with Boga being transferred to the Belgian Congo. But Apolo remained in Boga for what proved to be a life-long ministry. His 'big flat feet with spread-out toes enabled him to walk everywhere. He never wore shoes.' But in his later years he was persuaded to acquire a bicycle and it is said that he chose a women's model which was easier to ride in a flowing robe. He trained up those with leadership gifts, so that when he died in 1933, the Boga Church continued to flourish. However, it remained a small and isolated Christian community. Not until 1972 did Boga become a separate diocese with its own bishop. Today it is one of the six dioceses of the Anglican Church in the Congo.

INTRODUCTION– NOVENA PRAYING FOR THE KINGDOM– Praying the Psalms from Ascension to Pentecost https://www.thykingdomcome.global/sites/default/files/2021- 03/RC1053_TKC_Novena2021_V5-WEB.pdf

Thy Kingdom Come Prayer

Almighty God, your ascended son has sent us into the world to preach the good news of your kingdom: inspire us with your Spirit and fill our hearts with the fire of your love, that all who hear your word may be drawn to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.

IN LOVE AND POWER – Psalm 104:1-4 (NIV) 1 Praise the Lord, my soul! Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendour and majesty, 2 The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment, He stretches out the heavens like a tent 3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot; and rides on the wings of the wind; 4 He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.

As we have come to the end of Thy Kingdom Come, it is fitting to return to the beginning of all things: the creation of the universe by God out of nothing. The psalm invites us to join together in worship of God our creator and provider, a hymn accompanying the story told in Genesis 1. On the day when we celebrate God’s outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church, it is fitting to remember that the Spirit has been hovering over the waters since before the beginning of time, making and 26

empowering the people of God. Both Pentecost and the creation story remind us that it is the power of God which changes things and people, and it is the Spirit of God who turns those for whom we pray from darkness to light. We pray and God acts. How and when God acts is often mysterious to us, but it is not surprising that we cannot quite fathom the ways of an unimaginably great God who is clothed with splendour and majesty. If we have learnt anything whilst journeying through the novena, it is that • we recognise importance of prayer in our lives; • God’s will is to act in response, and to act gladly; • so we trust God, even though we often don’t understand. Our hope is that this season of prayer will not only bring into the Kingdom of God those for whom you have prayed, but that it will have brought you yourself closer to God. For this you were created: in this may you live all the days of your life on earth. Glory be to God! Father, thank you for your love: draw my family and friends into that love. Jesus, thank you for your gift of yourself: help them to accept and appreciate that gift. Holy Spirit, give them new life, and bring them home.

Nor just for Whitsun Author: Dominic Keech Very occasionally, you may still hear people talking about the Spring Bank Holiday as the ‘Whitsun’ break. Until 1965, this national holiday took place on the Monday after Pentecost; but the inconvenience of its date, always 50 days after the moveable feast of Easter, finally argued for its replacement with a fixed ‘day off’. Our inherited cultural calendar understood the intimate connection between these two great feasts, which share an almost equal weight in the cycle of the Christian year. Easter proclaims the resurrection of Christ from the grave, the transformation of humanity into something glorious after its passage through pain and death. It celebrates something fundamentally mysterious, defying explanation. The disciples are confounded by the risen Christ when they encounter him: as the gardener, the companion on the journey to Emmaus, or the stranger on the shoreline, Jesus is almost unrecognisable - until their eyes are opened, and they begin, fragmentarily, to understand. The risen Lord is no revived corpse. He is the flickering image of the human future, cast into the shadowy present of his friends for them to behold. Fifty days after the resurrection, the disciples wait in the Upper Room. In the calendar of the Old Covenant it is the Feast of Weeks, Shavuot, commemorating the gift of the Law on Sinai. The disciples hear the wind and behold the flames, and then find they are able to speak and be understood by many as they are filled by the Holy Spirit. They receive something far greater than the Law this Pentecost, because God himself comes to inhabit them. He comes as the advocate, source of consolation and giver of gifts, who will speak the truth through them to all who will hear. He comes as love to dwell in their hearts, making sense of the mystery of the Christ they have encountered, and enabling them to share that mystery with others. Pentecost gives the disciples all they need to pass on what they have received from the Lord, so that others too may believe, and be transformed. The gift of Pentecost is not just for Whitsun. It flickers in every natural gift and skill we possess. It rises to a flame in Baptism, in the sharing of the Eucharist and the life of Christian discipleship. To us it gives the ability, and the boldness, to pass on what we have received, and to live faithfully and lovingly in hope of the glory which is to come.

Fr. Dominic Keech PP St Nicholas Brighton