The Coronavirus Pandemic & Its Effects On Our Lives
A Pastoral Letter from the Parish Priest
Letter 17 – 5 July 2020
Fourth Sunday after Trinity
My dearest Friends in the Lord,
Here I am again with my weekly Pastoral Letter since the lockdown as we continue to Stay Alert, Control the Virus and Save Lives!
The weather continues to baffle us but can’t complain as we do enjoy streaks of bright sunshine between the showers and the clouds. Quite like life, I think! Good things and bad things follow one after the other. But that is not really the end of it all. Many of us have also discovered a spiritual fulcrum inside us, an inner sanctuary, a quiet place we can always retire to in the midst of life’s travails and contradictions. And that inner temple we all have within our souls. That is where we may encounter the living God, our Father, Creator and Saviour.
I am reminded of God’s revelation to Elijah. Let me use the New King James Version. ‘Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”’ (1 Kings 19:11-13 NKJV)
It is difficult to encounter God in the frenetic, stressed, busy lives we lead. But, let us not forget, we can meet him in our hearts and listen to the ‘still, small voice’ of the Spirit of God. The lockdown days are still with us although we have greater freedom of movement. The Church of England has sent a series of instructions with regards to opening of churches for to the public for private prayer and for public worship, conduct of public worship, administration of Holy Communion etc.
People do say: ‘We go to the supermarkets, garden centres, pharmacies etc. Why not open the churches in the same way?” Unfortunately, it is not so simple as that. Some overlook the fact that congregating in churches for a period of up to 45 or 60 or more minutes within a closed space, especially in small ancient churches, singing or moving about that space, is not the same as moving about briskly in the wide aisles of a supermarket. You know what I mean. That is why we in the Springline Parish are very careful as to when and how we will open the churches for worship.
At the moment we have a weekly online service and some churches in the Parish are open for private prayer and meditation. We are beginning to hold quiet mid-week services at Scampton on Mondays at 10.00 am and at Ingham on Wednesdays at 10.30 am following strictly the hygiene and safety standards. You are welcome to them if you would feel the need of spiritual and divine comfort and grace from God.
“LIVE” PARISH SERVICE this Sunday.
It will be A SHORT LIVE EUCHARIST ON ‘ZOOM’ AT 10.30 am led by Father Sebastian from the vicarage study in Ingham. The service will include a story of personal faith by John Beverley and the usual features.
You will have received an invitation to join the service if you are in the Parish database. If you are not in the Parish database and wish to join in the service, please contact your local Churchwarden before Sunday morning.
Please use the following link to view The ORDER OF SERVICE.
Springline Parish on-line Home Worship resources for all
Please note that there are resources for children and families as well as general resources for prayer and worship that you can use during this lockdown period. Please visit our online Church page.
A word on Giving to God during the lockdown
During the lockdown due to Covid-19, our churches in the Springline Parish had been closed and, among other things, regular or retiring collections in churches also ceased. We have therefore designed a new webpage to help people give online. Please visit our giving page giving.springlineparish.co.uk if you would like to make a donation to promote God’s work through the Church’s mission and ministry in our village communities.
We are still Church – Springline Parish – 9 Churches, 1 Parish, Following Jesus!
As we are doing our best to reopen our village churches and some of our church buildings might still be closed due to safety and hygiene norms, we are still Church. We want to love God with all our hearts, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves. We will continue to do this. As Jesus exhorts us, we want to be people of Faith, not Fear. We will do all we can to reach out and help!
Please take care and do stay safe!
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all now and always.
With my love, prayer and blessing to each one of you,
Father Sebastian
Revd Dr Sebastian Thomas Mattapally,
Rector, Springline Parish, Diocese of Lincoln
Tel: 01522 731793 Email: rector.springline@btinternet.com