My dearest Friends in the Lord,

I can’t believe I am writing this letter which is also a farewell letter from me and my wife Alida. These types of pastoral letters had become frequent since the onset of covid-19 and they had replaced our Parish Monthly Newsletter. I am sure the Parochial Church Council will resume the Springline Parish Monthly Newsletter soon in the place of these pastoral letters.

As I said, this is a farewell Pastoral Letter. This Sunday, 9^th January 2022, is a special Sunday for my wife and me as we will have the Farewell Thanksgiving Parish Communion at South Carlton Church on that day. Fortunately, further covid-19 restrictions as were feared have not come to pass and so we will be holding a normal service in church that day although we all will need to have face coverings as per the covid 19 Plan B Guidelines. Please join us if you can so that we can worship God together and wish each other farewell.

Bidding farewell or wishing goodbye is one of the most difficult things in life. But we all know it is a part of the reality of life and there is no choice but to face up to such life events. It is often difficult, to say the least, to leave behind familiar territories and familiar faces that we got used to and move on to new places and new people. During this short period of time we have spent with you all, over four years and a half to be exact, we have grown to love you all and share the tranquillity and peace of rural Lincolnshire!

We are not yet absolutely sure where the Lord will lead us. In fact, we have yet to make up our minds about where we’ll live in the future. Although the farewell service is due on 9^th January, we will still be around for a while during a sabbatical till retiring fully on 9^th April this year.

We take this occasion to thank you all for your love, friendship and support during our stay in the Parish. You all have been so friendly and good to us. Thank you very much! And may God bless you!

Please find below relevant information about the Church for this time of the year.

1. Church Of England – Join us for our weekly Online Services
   Use link: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online
2. Parish Family Service Resources At Scampton Church
   For information about the service: www.scamptonchurch.org
3. LIVE 30 AM PARISH THANKSGIVING EUCHARIST – BAPTISM OF CHRIST – FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
   Fr Sebastian will preside farewell service and the Springline Choir will sing at the service. We will wear face coverings but will participate fully in the service. If you are not on the Parish database and wish to join the service please contact  the Springline Parish Secretary on springline springlinepcc@btinternet.com
4. January Church Services
   Please find all information here: Service Rota – Springline Parish
5. The new Parish and Deanery Administrator Mrs Sophie Fleckney.
   Please contact her if you need to received information on pastoral matters. Her details will shortly be updated on to our website: Contact – Springline Parish
6. 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 visit https://springlineparish.co.uk/online-church/

Following Jesus!

Christianity is following Jesus as the motto of our Parish says. It is not the same for everyone. Each of us blaze his or her own path. And Jesus knows that. Just like he called different types of people to follow him, he does the same today. No matter who you are, you are special to Jesus, to God! And the Church is like a family. Each member is different and special and has a story of following Jesus. In the service on Sunday, Alan Garner who is a nurse in the mental health department of NHS Lincoln, will share his story of faith and how he follows Jesus on a day-to-day basis.

A prayer for our Parish and Church

Abba Father, purify my Parish Community in the precious blood of Jesus
and fill my Church and Parish with your Holy Spirit. Amen.

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!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and always.

Farewell and God be with you and bless you, your children, your families, your siblings, your friends and dear ones! Have a wonderful New Year filled with new joys, happiness and hopes fulfilled!