Bolingbroke Deanery GGrr aappeeVViinnee SEPTEMBER 2013 ISSUE 447 Our Resource is the Gospel, and our aim is simple; “To secure a growing, worshipping, celebrating, proclaiming and caring Christian presence in each community of our Deanery.” 50p 1 Bishop’s Letter I have always thought of September as a month for new beginnings, and one which therefore resonates very much with our faith. This month brings new beginnings for pupils and students of every age as a new academic year begins. From the smallest toddler to the oldest mature student, the prospect of learning new things makes us both a little excited and a little apprehensive too. A whole academic year is opening up, offering new opportunities for us to grow in knowledge, understanding and skill. In other areas, like the world of work, the autumn is often a time for new projects to begin as everyone returns to work after the summer holidays. With renewed energy and refreshed interest, we feel more able to tackle new projects or harness new ideas. In our churches, the pattern of fellowship that goes on outside our regular worship will be beginning again after a summer break – whatever form that pattern takes for our particular parish – prayer groups, perhaps, or Mothers Union meetings, fellowship, lunch clubs, and so on. The pattern is wonderfully unique in every parish. One of the things we have discovered over the last couple of decades is that learning does not stop when we leave full-time education. It is a life-long process, however formal or informal it might be. This is just as true in our gaining in knowledge and understanding of our faith. It is a life-long process to deepen our knowledge of the one who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus called people to make a new start and to learn about and demonstrate the love of God in their words, thoughts and actions. Jesus’ ministry concluded with the resurrection, the greatest new beginning of all time, which showed that through God’s grace, love and forgiveness we can all make new beginnings from whatever situation we find ourselves in. May God bless your new beginnings at this time of year, whatever shape or form they may take. +Christopher Lincoln: 2 READINGS AT THE EUCHARIST Principal Service Sunday 1st September 14th Sunday after Trinity (Green) Continuous: Related: First Reading Jeremiah 2.4-13 Ecclesiasticus 10.12-18, or Proverbs 25.6-7 Psalm/Canticle Psalm 81.1, 10-end Psalm 112 [or 81.1-11 Second Reading Hebrews 13.1-8, 15-16 Gospel Luke 14.1, 7-14 Sunday 8th September 15th Sunday after Trinity (Green) Continuous: Related: First Reading Jeremiah 18.1-11 Deuteronomy 30.15-end Psalm/Canticle Psalm 139.1-5, 12-18 Psalm 1 [or 139.1-7] Second Reading Philemon vv 1-21 Gospel Luke 14.25-33 Sunday 15th September 16th Sunday after Trinity (Green) Continuous: Related: First Reading Jeremiah 4.11-12, 22-28 Exodus 32.7-14 Psalm/Canticle Psalm 14 Psalm 51.1-11 Second Reading 1 Timothy 1.12-17 Gospel Luke 15.1-10 Sunday 22nd September 17th Sunday after Trinity (Green) Continuous: Related: First Reading Jeremiah 8.18-9.1 Amos 8.4-7 Psalm/Canticle Psalm 79.1-9 Psalm 113 Second Reading 1 Timothy 2.1-7 Gospel Luke 16.1-13 th th Sunday 29 September 18 Sunday after Trinity (White) Michael and All Angels First Reading Genesis 28.10-17 or Revelation 12.7-12 Psalm/Canticle Psalm 103.19-end Second Reading Revelation 12.7-12 or Hebrews 1.5-end Gospel John 1.47-end 3 Clothing/blankets etc for the GRAPEVINE MAGAZINE Salvation Army All copy for next months issue to th Could anyone with un-needed warm be with the Editor by the 14 of clothing (sweaters, coats, socks, shoes etc.) blankets, sleeping bags this month please. etc. please contact me as I am Editor: Jane Howsam collecting on a regular basis for the The Vicarage, Spilsby, PE23 5EF Salvation Army to help with homeless Tel: 01790 752526 people in Skegness, Lincoln and Boston. There are more than you (Mon-Fri 1pm-5pm) might think. email: [email protected] All donations would be much appreciated. I will collect. Advertising – For all advertising Please contact Jane, as above. Please call Richard Walter on 01507 480632 Thank you Come and enjoy a friendly game of Whist in the Parish Rooms, Hundleby. 3rd Tuesday of every month 7.00pm Admission £2.25 (includes raffle, coffee and biscuits) MAP GROUP MEETING th Tuesday 17 September The Vicarage, Spilsby 7.30pm DEANERY SERVICE Sunday 29th September St James’ Spilsby 10 .00am 4 SPILSBY GROUP OF PARISHES St James Spilsby, St Mary Hundleby, Holy Trinity Raithby, All Saints Great Steeping, and the three St Andrew’s: Halton Holegate, Little Steeping & Firsby http://lincoln.ourchurchweb.org.uk/spilsby/ FAMILY SERVICE Sunday 1st September SEPTEMBER 2013 PATTERNS of WORSHIP 1st September Spilsby 8.00am Eucharist Hundleby 9.30am Eucharist 14th Sunday Spilsby 10.00am Family Service after Trinity Halton Holegate 6.00pm Evening Prayer Raithby 6.00pm Eucharist Tues 3rd Sept Firsby 10.30am Eucharist 8th September Little Steeping 8.00am Eucharist Spilsby 9.30am Eucharist 15th Sunday Hundleby 9.30am Morning Prayer after Trinity Halton Holegate 11.15am Morning Prayer Great Steeping 3.00pm Eucharist 15th September Spilsby 9.30am Eucharist Raithby 11.15am HARVEST 16th Sunday Hundleby 3.00pm HARVEST after Trinity Firsby 3.00pm Evening Prayer Halton Holegate 6.00pm Evening Prayer 22nd September Spilsby 9.30am Eucharist Hundleby 9.30am Morning Prayer 17th Sunday Little Steeping 9.30am Morning Prayer after Trinity Halton Holegate 11.15am Eucharist Great Steeping 3.00pm Evening Prayer 29th September Spilsby 10.00am DEANERY Michael & SERVICE All Angels Daily Prayer: 8.00am Daily at St James Spilsby Wednesday 10.30am St James Eucharist 5 Group Registers Funerals: Doreen May Riddles 80years Little Steeping died 20.08.13 Baptisms: Sofia Rose Pickering Spilsby 11.08.13 Luke Peter Denis Mitchell Spilsby 11.08.13 Marriages: Martin Prendergast & Claire Belinda Braddock Raithby 27.07.13 Binny Joseph Tony Ellis & Josie Teresa Hall Spilsby 03.08.13 Sean Thomas Bissett & Joanna May Mason East Kirkby 10.08.13 Robert Anthony Bell & Holly Brand-Cotti East Keal 17.08.13 Alan Michael Gayler & Catherine Alice Mary Coates Firsby 17.08.13 GROUP NOTICES September 1st Eresby Hall Fete, 2pm 3rd East Keal PCC, Southwold, 2pm 3rd Old Bolingbroke PCC 4th Team Worship Meeting, 3pm 4th Toynton All Saints PCC, 7pm 8th East Keal Valuation Afternoon in church, 2-5pm 8th Civic Service, St James 8th Toynton St Peter Harvest Festival, 6pm 9th Spilsby PCC, The Vicarage, 7pm 13th East Kirkby Harvest Festival, 7.30pm 14th Lincolnshire Churches Trust sponsored ‘ride & stride’, 10am-6pm 15th Hundleby Harvest Service, 3pm 15th Holy Trinity, Raithby Harvest Festival, 11.15am 16th Raithby Harvest Supper, 6.30pm 17th MAPG, The Vicarage Spilsby, 7.30pm 29th Toynton All Saints Harvest Festival, 3pm St James’ Church Summer Coffee Mornings Every Saturday 10.00am ~ 12 noon Coffee/tea and cake £1.50 6 The Incumbent’s opening comments but this time from the Assistant Curate As I come to write these opening comments I find myself reading the coming Sunday's gospel text. (Luke 13:10 – 17) It is a story of a woman who had been crippled for 18 years and unable to stand straight. Jesus cured from her ailment and she immediately stood up straight and praised God loudly. The synagogue leader was indignant because Jesus healed on the sabbath and suggested that he should have done his healing later on, on some other day. I would like to leave you with two separate thoughts from this text. The synagogue leader wanted Jesus to put off making a difference to the crippled woman, to not speak his words of comfort and healing to her. How often do we put off making a difference to others? When was the last time we said words of comfort to those around us? Come to think of it when was the last time we said words of love to those within our own families? So many times we have opportunities to tell those people around us that we love them, that we care for them, and that we truly value their company and them being around. So many times we let these opportunities filter through our fingers like sand. We seem so nervous of how people may react if we reveal our feelings about them, to them. We seem to think of the worst case scenario in terms of how they may react. And so we let the moment pass, and then the next moment pass, and the next. Then suddenly those opportunities to speak words of love pass completely, never to return as the people we love and value move away, or grow up, or die. And then we are left with feelings of regret that are hard to assuage. My second thought comes from the effect that the words of Jesus had upon the crippled woman. She immediately stood up straight and was healed. This was not a healing over time but something that was instant. The difference that the words of Jesus made to her had an effect immediately after being spoken. Perhaps we can learn from this. If we speak words of love to those we care about, words of healing to those who are broken, words of understanding to the lost, however hard this is, perhaps the difference that we can make will be almost as immediate.