A Pastoral Letter from the Parish Priest – 21st February 2021
My dearest Friends in the Lord,
On Ash Wednesday a few of us, representative of the Parish, gathered at Scampton church for the Ash Wednesday Service inaugurating the Holy Season Lent. Ashes from the burnt palm crosses of last year were sprinkled on the head very lightly rather than marked by a cross on the forehead as is normally done. While doing so I said the words with reference to the Bible: ‘Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.’ Such a simple, powerful rite reminding us of our mortality and of our innate divine character!
Lent is a 40-day journey of return to God!
Among the seasons of the Church’s Year, Lent is ironically the one most widely recognised, if not understood, by the person in the street. ‘Though I have drifted a long way from the fervent attachment that bound me to the C of E throughout my childhood,’ wrote The Times columnist Jane Shilling, ‘the old thread still twitches a bit, especially during the Church Year’s two great periods of self-examination and repentance, Lent and Advent.’ No matter how residual Christianity becomes in Western society, everyone knows that in Lent one gives up things and generally tries to avoid excess, even if the reason for such attempts at self-discipline have long been forgotten. [1]
The season of Lent recalls the forty days spent by Jesus in the desert, fasting and praying. For us too it is a time of preparation, prayer and fasting: a wilderness time. For this reason, in some churches, the font is drained during Lent, as a sign of our thirsting and our emptiness. ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’ (Matthew 5.6)
LIVE 10.30 am on-line Parish Eucharist Service on zoom – Sunday 21st February.
Please note that this service is streamed from the Ingham church and anyone wishing to attend this service physically in church and receive Communion is welcome to do so. Father Sebastian will lead the service and Mr John Beverley will preach at the service and we will listen to some favourite hymns or songs.
You will receive an invitation to join this short on line service if you are in the Parish database. If not please contact the Springline Parish Secretary on springline springlinepcc@btinternet.com
Please download the Order of service here.
Family Service (recorded) from Scampton Church.
Please visit: Scampton church www.scamptonchurch.org
Springline Parish on-line Home Worship Resources.
You will find a copy of this letter, the sermon for this week, prayers and worship songs etc. Do visithttps://springlineparish.co.uk/online-church/
“Hot Potatoes for Lent!” – Lent Course 2021 – Starting this Wednesday at 7pm
The popular Lent Course abruptly suspended due to the coronavirus will re-start on Wednesday 24th February on line at 7pm. The Revd John Leach will complete the remaining three sessions which are the following:
24th February Do all roads lead to God?
3rd March What happens when we die?
10th March Why does God allow suffering?
For any queries, please contact Mr John Walsh 01522 520350. You will receive also joining instructions for zoom if you are on the Parish data base.
Audio versions of last year’s two Lent Course sessions (“Hard questions and how not to answer them!” and “Why should we believe in God?”) are available for your to listen. Please contact Parish Secretary for all queries by email: springlinepcc@btinternet.com
“God’s Story Our Story” – The Parish Lent Booklet
All the members of the Springline Parish Electoral Roll have received the Lent booklet “God’s Story Our Story”, a 40 day, daily spiritual exercise with a short Bible reading, a short meditation and a prayer. Each of us has a life story. But our lives will make more sense if we live ‘our story’ with ‘His Story’ (History) by following Jesus daily as Christians.
The Springline Parish – Nine Churches, One Parish, Following Jesus.
The Church exists to assist you in your spiritual search, to comfort you in your cares and worries, to support you and walk with you. We believe that Jesus is The True Answer to all our questions and problems, the one who can fill the emptiness and restlessness in our hearts, the One who can help us heal our world! Do help us to help you where we can!
I wish you a fruitful and holy Season of Lent, a 40-day journey of return to God!
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and always.
Take care! Keep safe! Stay home! Help the NHS! Save lives! And God bless you!
Father Sebastian
Revd Dr Sebastian Thomas Mattapally
Rector, Springline Parish, Diocese of Lincoln
Tel: 01522 731793 Email: rector.springline@gmail.com
[1] Richard Giles, ‘Times and Seasons’ (Canterbury Press Norwich 2008),p 73