A Pastoral Letter from the Parish Priest
20th December 2020
My dearest Friends in the Lord,
I hope you all continue to take care and keep safe during this difficult time leading up to Christmas. We are to stay in Tier-3 restrictions as per the guidelines given by the government. I hope you all have as good Christmas in spite of the difficulties of this time.
Christmas is about the true meaning of Life and Love! Life has sense only in love and love means giving. And God shows us the way of love – giving us himself born as a tiny, vulnerable babe in Bethlehem! Although we have been busy with cards, gifts and preparations for the Christmas celebration, let us not forget this truth about Christmas – God loves you and has given you the biggest and best gift of all – Himself in Jesus his own Son!
I wish you all a Happy Christmas! May you permit Jesus into your hearts this Christmas and learn the meaning of life as love and love as giving. This is my prayer for you. And I know and believe with all my heart that Jesus is the answer to all our questions and our problems!
LIVE 10.30 AM – “CAROLS WITH COMMUNION”
On-line zoom Service on Sunday 20th December 10.30 am.
We will lead the service and we will sing our favourite carols followed by a short Eucharist in this on line service.
Please download the Order of service here. Do note it is a new Order of Service.
Worship in our churches for Christmas
| Date | Time | Place | Service | Officiant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24TH DEC., CHRISTMAS EVE | 4-6.30pm 4-4.30pm 8.30pm 11.30 pm | Scampton Fillingham Ingham Burton | Virtual Nativity outside church (also seen on website) ‘Carols on Harp’ by Thea Midnight in Bethlehem (CW) Midnight Mass (CW) | Team SM SM |
| 25th DECEMBER CHRISTMAS DAY | 9.00 am 10.15 am 10.30 am 10.30 am | Cammeringham Scampton Ingham South Carlton (THE CARLTONS) | Christmas Communion (CW) Christmas Family Service Christmas Family Service Christmas Communion | SM Team Team SM |
| 27TH DEC. Christmas 1 (W/Gd) | 10.30 AM | ST ANDREW’S CHURCH FILLINGHAM | SPRINGLINE (& OWMBY tbc) UNITED PARISH COMMUNION | SM/MT |
NB: Please email or phone your local village churchwardens to book your place in church for the above services.
It is all a bit wearying to say the least during this pandemic but worshipping together is a powerful experience. Let us open ourselves to God’s Holy Spirit to suffuse us and empower us to win this war over the pandemic and begin to live our normal lives again!
JOINT SPRINGLINE-OWMBY SERVICE – FILLINGHAM 27TH DEC., 10.30 AM
The Revd Sally Turnbull, Rector of Owmby Group of Parishes, will preach and father Sebastian will lead the service. Please call or email the Churchwardens to book a place for this special service. Mr Roy Butterworth: 07850685507 email:roy.scoth@hotmail.com
Mrs Sarah Overton: 07411152241 email: soipod@yahoo.com
Springline Parish on-line Home Worship resources.
Please use these prayer and worship resources during this lockdown period. You will find a copy of this letter, the sermon for this week and prayers etc.
Message from the Bishops
We mentioned last week that we are preparing a recorded service for Sunday 27th December. This is in the form of a Holy Communion for the First Sunday after Christmas. The service as a whole will go ‘live’ during Saturday 26th December. Visit https://www.lincoln.anglican.org
A thank you to all parishes for their contributions to Parish Share
Bishop David and Ann Treacy, Director of Finance, would like to extend their very grateful thanks to parishes around the diocese for their contributions towards their parish share in what has been a very difficult year. “Despite the struggles our churches have continued to be generous with 128 continuing to give their parish share in full each month with a further 352 giving whatever they can and in some cases taking money from reserves to do so. Overall, 73% have managed to contribute.
Parishes that have managed to pay in full have seen a clear benefit from using the Parish Giving Scheme and I would encourage others to look at how they could benefit from using that system.” For information on Stewardship and the Parish Giving Scheme link: Advice on Giving and Grants from our Stewardship Advisors page.
Springline Parish – Nine Churches One Parish Following Jesus!
We are Church. As Christians we are commanded to God with all our hearts and to love our neighbour as ourselves. We know that we will meet God when we care for the least among us as Jesus said: “Whatever you do to the least of your brother or your sister, you do it to me.”
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and always.
On behalf of the Parochial Church Council and the Ministry Team, let me wish you all a very memorable, happy and unforgettable Christmas!
Have a lovely and holy Season of Advent, time to welcome The Redeemer into our lives!
With my love and prayer to each one of you,
Father Sebastian
Revd Dr Sebastian Thomas Mattapally
Rector, Springline Parish, Diocese of Lincoln
Tel: 01522 731793 Email: rector.springline@gmail.com