The Coronavirus Pandemic & Its Effects On Our Lives
A Pastoral Letter from the Parish Priest
Letter 8 – 3 May 2020
Fourth Sunday Of Easter 2020
My dearest Friends in the Lord,
Here I am again with my weekly Pastoral Letter since the lockdown! We continue to Stay at home, Protect the NHS and Save lives!
Live Service Every Sunday:
Please take special note of the second LIVE PARISH SERVICE this Sunday. It will be a short live Eucharist on ‘zoom’ at 10.30 am from my study. Those of you who are in the Parish database are being invited to join the service. You will appreciate that we are trying to learn the ropes of being an on-line community in a virtual world! The Order of Service for this service is available from this link.
Daily Hope – Free Phone Line 0800 804 8044.
This is a new service to provide prayers, music and reflections to those without internet access. Daily Hope is a free telephone line with hymns, reflections and prayers aimed particularly at those who do not have internet access. In the past week since being launched the phone line has had 12,000 calls. There is a poster that can be distributed with the information about the phone line – 0800 804 8044.
Faith at Home
This is another resource from the national Church. The aim is to encourage families to talk about faith and prayer in our challenging context. For resources use the link https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/church-england-launches-campaign-help-families-pray-together?
Vocations Sunday 3rd May
3rd May is set apart as Vocations Day by the national Church and promoted as such by all the dioceses in the country. Vocations Sunday recognises that all Christians have a call from God. Vocation includes callings to ordained ministry and the formal lay ministries as well as callings to many other jobs and tasks, to social roles and to development of character. We pray for and promote gifts in each other. Link for resources: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/diocesan-resources/ministry/growing-vocations-everywhere
From the Archdeacon
The other day the Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey, Ven. Mark Steadman, called just to check how things are going in the Parish. He also asked me to extend his warm regards to all as we all try to do what we can to adapt to the life in lockdown.
Standing Committee
The Standing Committee of the Springline Parish met twice via zoom to consider issues regarding the Church during the lockdown. It was agreed that a single insurance deal for the nine churches of the Parish would cut costs. The on-line zoom Eucharist was appreciated and to continue for now. Scampton Church offers a you-tube presentation of the Family Service for those wishing to use it.
Parochial Church Council
The Springline Parish PCC will meet next Thursday at 7pm via zoom. As we adapt to the changing times we remember that we are Nine Churches One Parish Following Jesus!
Let us pray for and continue to support the volunteers
There are so many generous and kind-hearted volunteers and good neighbours helping and caring for those who live on their own or self-isolating. God bless them all!
Daily private Eucharist in the Vicarage Oratory
I daily celebrate a private Eucharist with my wife Alida as an offering of prayer for the world, the nation and our Parish and, above all, praying for you, your families and dear ones.
Please find On-Line Church Resources on the website for prayer and worship using the link https://springlineparish.co.uk/online-church/ You will also find ‘Daily Devotions’ by John Beverley and a simple Sermon with Intercessions for this Sunday.
Please spread the news/information
I kindly request the Churchwardens to pass the word about the online Church resources to members of their village Church communities and anyone else who might appreciate it.
We are still Church
As I said before, although public worship is suspended, we are still Church. We try to do what we can, through prayer, through phoning those isolated at home for a chat, and being good neighbours and running errands where possible. Jesus taught us 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 the Risen Jesus exhorts us, we will be people of Faith and not Fear. We may not be able to gather in body but we can gather in Spirit in Love. Please stay safe!
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and always.
With my love, prayer and blessings to you all,
Father Sebastian