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church : rectors letter : february 2003 Reproduced from Glenside News : February 2003 "Dear Friends Christmas is now but a distant memory, indeed I have spent the day working out services up to Easter, time never stands still! However I sincerely hope you all had a very enjoyable festival, that you have a healthy and happy 2003 and may 'The Force' go with you, as they say. From a Church perspective it was a most satisfying time, Church attendance being similar to previous years. Midnight Communion was held at Creeton, despite flooding, and the Candle Service at little Bytham filled the Church as always. I would like to thank Judith Smith and her helpers for organising the service, it takes a great deal of work and preparation. Thanks also to those who decorated our Churches and those who provided the decorations, not least the Christmas trees. It is a couple of years since anyone was Confirmed from our four churches and at this time I have nothing planned. This however doesn't mean we cannot have a Confirmation this year or, if there are a couple of candidates, join in with another parish. So, if anyone wishes to be Confirmed, minimumage according to the Bishop is 10 although I prefer 12, would they please contact me. There is of course no upper limit. It is sometimes the case that adults hold back because they havn't been Baptised. This though is no problem, so if this is a worry speak to me please. I mentioned a while back that the Lincolnshire Diocese intended to reorganise the Diocese by doing away with ancient Deanaries and having ten 'super-Deanaries' in their place. I am glad to say that the latest information I have is that our new Bishop has vetoed the plan. He prefers local areas to submit suggestions to him regarding which groups of parishes feel they can work well together, based on mutual interests or similar communities. Can it be that common sense is actrually breaking out in the good old Church of England? The worry we had in this Deanery was that rural parishes like ours would simply be tacked onto towns like Grantham. We felt that in such a scenario we would not only lose our identity but also control of our own affairs and probably a fair share of resources. That may sound very untrusting of out urban colleagues but when money rears its ugly head! Looking to the future there will again be Deanery Evensongs this year on the six Sundays of Lent. I know there are those of you who like to attend these services so, for your diaries, here are the details. The subjects for the sermons this year will be the 'I am' sayings of Jesus in St John's Gospel. All the services are at 6pm. Sunday 9th March Ropsley The Light of the World Sunday 16th March Little Bytham The Bread of Life Sunday 23rd March Colsterworth The True Vine Sunday 3oth March South Witham The Good Shepherd Sunday 6th April Corby Glen The Way, Truth and Life Sunday 13th April Edenham The Resurrection and Life Please double check which church in the March magazine, just in case it has been necessary to change a location. This though will probably only be within a group of parishes, not to another group. At the opening service on 9th March the preacher will be our new Bishop of Lincoln and we hope, although not yet confirmed, that the Bishop of Grantham will preach at the closing one." The Rev Bryan Bennett Castle Bytham Rectory |
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