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church : revd jo's letter : february 2007 added 23/01/07 Life in the Church never seems to stand still, and as soon as all the Christmas services are behind me, I have to start planning for Lent and Easter. But it’s always good to look back on what has gone and to reflect on the events of 2006 and what we can learn from them. For so many people, it was a year of relentless suffering; for the people of Iraq, the fear and deprivation they have known since the allied invasion put an end to the rule of Saddam Hussein has continued unabated. Without clean water, power and medicines, their lives must be a continual struggle for survival, quite apart from the daily fear of violence. In Afghanistan, the Taliban maintain their struggle for power and oppression. In many parts of Africa, famine and drought are only a part of the people’s suffering; civil war and violence no longer make the headlines here, but still cause untold misery. In our churches we pray regularly for peace. While we can’t put an end to violence by ourselves, we can support those who have to endure it by this regular and ceaseless cycle of prayer. Many people, and most of our cathedrals, set mid-day aside as a time of prayer for world peace. It’s a good discipline to pause for a moment at this time each day, and offer the victims of violence and the cause of peace to God in our hearts. But there were many joys in 2006. Our Candle Service and Midnight Mass were just two of them., where it was standing room only for many. Because Little Bytham church is small, we will give some thought to rearranging and extending the seating for next year, so that you are not forced to stand four deep at the back again. But what a delight it was to see those beautiful little angels, shepherds, wise men and the major characters. Thank you, Judith and your helpers, Jonathan, Hillary and the musicians, for organising this once again and for bringing such pleasure to those who watched it. And how lovely to see so many of my former SHS pupils at the various Christmas services! Thanks, too, to Angela and her Party Girls, and to Maureen and her helpers, who arranged the over-sixties lunch and the two children’s parties at Castle and Little Bytham. All of them take a huge amount of organisation, and do so much to build up our community. They were lovely events, and we owe these community-minded people so much. So what will 2007 bring? A Temple Safari, to start with! On Saturday March 24th. we are going to Leicester to visit a Mosque, a Synagogue, a Sikh Gurdwara and a Hindu Mandir, with lunch at an Indian restaurant. Members of each place of worship will be there to explain their faith and to show us around. I have been several times, and have always been overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome and the genuine openness and friendship shown - a small but significant contribution to mutual understanding and the quest for peace. The coach will leave Castle Bytham at 9.00, returning at about 5.00, and the total cost is £15 (it may be less if we fill a few more seats.) It’s by no means confined to ‘church people’ – anyone and everyone is welcome. If you would like to come, please phone or email me to book a seat. You may remember that last year I asked if there was anyone interested in forming a choir to sing at major festivals. I had only two offers at the time, but since then one or two more have mentioned it. I wonder whether there may be a few more still, who would be willing to come along with a view to singing at Easter – or even to sing at the monthly Communion at Castle Bytham? No auditions, no need to sight-read music, no forcible attendance at other services … so how about it? Young and old will be very welcome indeed. We have a number of toys to amuse smaller children at our family services in Careby and Castle Bytham, but could do with lots more. If your children or grand-children have grown out of toys or books, and you could spare them, we should be delighted to receive any offerings (though preferably not very noisy ones, or those needing batteries.) If you would like me to fetch them, please let me know. It has been our practice during Lent to have a Communion service on Wednesday evenings at 7.00, These will begin on Ash Wednesday – details on the list of services. Our Evensongs at Little Bytham have a discussion in the ‘sermon-slot’ and we shall be following the Radio Lincoln Lent Course which focuses on the environment. All are welcome, either to take part or just to listen. I wish you all a peaceful and happy 2007, and leave you with some words which I was asked to read recently at a service. I said to the man Who stood at the gate of the year, “Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown.” And he replied, “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God That shall be to you Better than the light And safer than a known way!” So I went forth And finding the hand of God Trod gladly into the light. With every good wish Jo |
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