February 2021 CCNO Parish Magazine – from the Editors
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February 2021 CCNO Parish Magazine – from the editors... Beck & Trent churches update Thanks for long service to the Parish Magazine February This is the time to thank Irene Crossley for her long and faithful service to our magazine: For some February is likely to be a quiet and at times lonely month. In contrast, for others, next month’s magazine will be her last in charge of contributions from Caunton. particularly those in the Health Services it is likely still to be a demanding and frenetic time. The church year continues regardless of the state of the world. This continuity is a No one is quite sure when Irene took up her role as editor of the Caunton section but it reassurance as we follow in the footsteps of the Christians who have gone before us for was a long time ago! Each month she encouraged individuals to get their copy in on time, nearly two thousand years. followed up the late contributors, checked the content, and then passed it on to the general editor. All this was done with great good humour and enthusiasm. As a result everyone For the church February is a month of contrasts. It starts with Candlemas on 2 February was able to keep informed about what had happened in Caunton and what was going to (do read what Clare Tyack has to say about it in From the Church) and the Christmas take place in the future. season finally comes to an end. Two weeks later it is Shrove Tuesday with its excuse to eat pancakes as a reminder that the next day is Ash Wednesday which is the start of Lent, We really appreciate all that Irene has done and are very sad to see her step down but a time of reflection and penitence. We are suggesting that we can use Lent as a time to quite appreciate that it is time for her to do so. deepen our own understanding of the Christian faith. To help us with this Chris Perrett will be leading a study group each Thursday morning in Lent starting of Thursday 18 February. And it wasn’t just Irene. For many years her husband, Jim, did the desktop publishing of For details of these please see the separate notice. the magazine. So we thank them both most sincerely. It is people like Irene and Jim who are the glue that keeps communities together. If you need information or help of any kind at the do contact the parish administrator email: [email protected] or telephone: 01636 555 082; or contact your own Elizabeth Jones Chris Senior churchwardens. Executive Editor General Editor It is now possible to give to your church online. Go to Somewhere there will be a successor for Irene. To make sure there isn’t www.becktrent.org.uk/giving or use the QR Code: a big gap for Caunton please get in touch with Irene or Chris Senior on It’s very easy and we really would appreciate anything that [email protected] you might feel able to give. CCNO Parish Magazine ~ February 2021 Lent Bible Study In this issue... We need your help! 3-4 Beck & Trent churches update I think it would be good to hold a Lent Bible Study, each week concentrating on a We continue to need a community-minded 5 From the church Gospel reading of key incidents in Jesus’ life and ministry, appropriate to the season. volunteer to look after advertising for the 6 Special message from Bishop Paul This would be preceded by a short time of worship, all facilitated online on Zoom. parish magazine in succession to Susan 7 From the registers Twells. This will be on seven Thursdays, beginning at 10.30 am on 18th February until 1st April 8-9 Potting Shed church (Maundy Thursday), available to all who are interested. If you value this publication and appreciate 10 Nature Watch receiving it for free this is something you 11 Bird Watch Please let Heather Sirrel, the Benefice Administrator, know if you would like to join in, should consider – an opportunity to give 12-17 Caunton news by the Monday before each date. She will then send you a link for the bible study*. back yourself or to recommend to someone 18-19 Cromwell news looking to make a contribution. Come on 20-25 Norwell news I do hope that you will be able to join us. people, let’s be hearing from you! 26-27 Ossington news Chris Perrett – Reader, Beck and Trent Benefice 28 Gardening, Book Club Please contact Executive Editor Elizabeth 29 Rain Watch Jones on 01636 636365. 30 Article: Homeschooling the *Email [email protected] (please note, the Beck & Trent administrator works Monday and Thursday mornings so she will reply with the Zoom link then). grandchildren 2 3 Beck & Trent churches update (continued...) From the church ‘A light to my path’ CHURCH SERVICES By the time you read this we’ll be well into Lockdown Three. Over the past months we’ve All services in our church buildings are suspended until further notice. learned a whole new vocabulary as we navigated a way through the uncertainties of living in a pandemic. ‘What Tier are you in? ‘Have you got a support bubble?’ – these became At the time of writing the Government has chosen not to suspend public worship in familiar questions for many. Uncertainty can be difficult to live with day after day, as we’re England. However the Church of England and our Diocese have decided that the choice discovering. And so it’s profoundly reassuring to know that even when things might feel of whether or not to continue with “in-person” public worship should be made at local level. chaotic in the world around, God’s story brings hope for now, and for all eternity. At the beginning of February the Church keeps a special Feast – the ‘Presentation of As we are currently in vacancy and rely heavily on the help of retired clergy and other Christ in the Temple’ – or Candlemas, as it’s often called. Candlemas marks the time when volunteers to facilitate services, our churchwardens and PCCs have made the decision not the infant Jesus was taken by Mary and Joseph to the Temple in Jerusalem, in obedience to continue with “in-person” public worship for the time being, out of concern for the health to Jewish Law. It’s a wonderful story and can be found in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2 and well-being of all involved. verses 22-40. In the Temple Jesus was recognised as the bringer of salvation and ‘a light for revelation to the Gentiles’ – that is a light for all people, even people outside his own This decision will be under constant review and updates posted on the Beck and Trent nation, Israel. website www.becktrent.org.uk when the situation changes. As a curate I took part in a special service for Candlemas called ‘The Rockings’ at St In the meantime we continue to explore ways of enabling us to worship together. There are Mary’s Church, Blidworth. It reflects the story of Jesus going to the Temple, and every year various online alternatives that you might like to join in with while our buildings are closed: in the parish the search was on to find a baby boy born as near to Christmas as possible, to be the Rockings’ Baby. My memory is of a service filled with light and joy as the baby • On Sunday 7 February at 10.30am there will be a Benefice service on Zoom. is welcomed and rocked in a little wooden crib which is decorated with white and yellow There will be more details about the service on the Beck and Trent website flowers. It’s a service that acknowledges Christ the Light of the world – the guide for all which will include information on the contact for an invitation to join. It would people on our journey through life. be lovely to see as many as possible from across the Benefice. The seasons of the Church’s Year remind us of the overarching purposes of God – that he is with us – even in all the strains and sadnesses of the pandemic. The psalmist says • The Potting Shed Church offers family-friendly services via Zoom at 4pm on Sundays, ‘Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light to my path’. At Candlemas we turn from the see https://www.thepottingshedchurch.org/whats-on for more information. celebrations of Christmas and Epiphany towards the journey through Lent, leading up to Good Friday and Easter. • Revd Georgie Hadley of the Riverside Parishes leads Sunday services via Zoom, often using familiar Common Worship liturgy and prayers. May the light of Christ shine upon your path this and every day, bringing strength and See https://www.riversideparishes.co.uk/services.htm for more information. peace for the journey. Clare Tyack, Retired Priest • Southwell Minster and other churches across the Diocese are providing regular online services, see https://southwell.anglican.org/churches-livestreaming-services-2/ for a Videos to enjoy! full list. To brighten up our locked-down winter days you can find the best sort of Christmas leftovers at www.becktrent.org.uk/videos . Not only the enchanting virtual Crib service from Norwell but also: Beck & Trent benefice office: 01636 555082 / email: [email protected] • Michael Morpurgo’s wondrous story On Angel Wings rendered with authentic agricultural panache by Nigel Spraggins Churchwardens: Caunton Caroline Harvey 636298 Irene Crossley 639123 • Delightful performances of Christmas carols and songs by the pupils of Norwell Cromwell Sarah Clark 821943 Nicola Creasey 07737 545257 School Norwell Elizabeth Jones 636365 • The magnificent early 19th century barrel organ at Ossington church knocking out Ossington Jane & Robin Drury 07951 439840 ‘While shepherds watched’ in great style.