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pastoral letter
A Pastoral Letter from the Parish Priest

The COVID-19 Second National Lockdown

15th November 2020

My dearest Friends in the Lord,

I am happy to write to you again and to wish you every blessing even as we are entering the fourth week of the second lockdown. We all want this pandemic to be behind us so that we can live our normal lives again. Let us now continue to follow the covid-19 guidelines to save lives and safeguard each other.

Please see below information about the on-line service during this lockdown:

LIVE Parish Service on-line Sunday 22nd November at 10.30 am

Fr Sebastian will lead, and Reverend Sue Deacon will preach at the service. You are receiving an invitation to join this short online service as you are in the Parish database. Those not on the database and wish to join in the service are to contact their local Churchwarden or email the Parish Secretary springlinepcc@btinternet.com before Sunday morning.

You can download an Order of Service here. 

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.

Next Sunday is Advent Sunday. We begin a new Church Year. We also begin to gaze lovingly at the fondest celebration of the year – Christmas! What is going to happen we wonder. How will Christmas be this year under the covid-19 regulations? We will have to wait and see …. Well, Christmas, unfortunately, will not be the same this year. We may have to limit the celebrations within our family bubbles so as to reduce the spread of the virus.

There is a feeling of covid-19 fatigue. Not just in our country but in the world at large! The second lockdown has hit hard places where the first surge of coronavirus had spared. In Lincolnshire itself, there are 42 persons hospitalised and eight deaths due to covid-19 today (Thursday) even as I write. That is a huge increase considering that we were almost unscathed in the first surge! And we hear that East Lindsey has the highest number of cases in our county.

What’s going to happen on 2nd December? We are all eager and waiting with bated breath. Will there be a release from the lockdown? Will we be able to celebrate Christmas?

The vaccine news is really good from several fronts and that is really hopeful! Let us thank God that we are beginning to turn the corner.

Let’s take care of each other as much as we can. Having an eye on our neighbours is the main thing. Do they cope well? Do they need a hand for something? Or just a smile, a hallo, a raising of hands? Our village communities have been marvellous in looking after the needy and vulnerable in their midst. Loving God and loving our neighbour has become concrete acts during this pandemic. And there are so many humble, quiet, unassuming good Samaritans in our midst. We owe them our sincere thanks and appreciation.

We need strength. We need hope. And that is where our faith could come in – our deepest faith in life, in love, in family and friends and above all our faith in God. We shall be steadfast in clinging on to our humanity but also to our spiritual roots in God. We are “made in God’s image.” (Genesis 1.27) We look to the future with hope. And Jesus comforts us by his words: “Come to me all you who are weary and overburdened and I will give you rest.”

Our village churches during the lockdown Our churches will remain open for private prayer and reflection during this time. Do see the information given below:

  • Fillingham church open every Sunday during the daylight hours.
  • Ingham church open every day from 11.00 am to 4 pm unless notified.
  • Cammeringham church by appointment (with the churchwardens)
  • Brattleby church is closed for restoration.
  • Scampton church is open every day.
  • North Carlton and South Carlton churches open every day.
  • Burton church by appointment (with the churchwardens)

Daily Prayer for the nation throughout lockdown The Archbishops of Canterbury and York and a number of senior church leaders are inviting Christians across the nation to participate in the month of prayer as a second lockdown in England comes into force. Prayers and other resources will be shared on social media with the hashtag #PrayerForTheNation. Find out more here >>

A word on Giving to God during the lockdown We have designed a new webpage to help people give ‘online’ during the lockdown and suspension of church services. Please visit giving.springlineparish.co.uk  to help you donate to promote God’s work through the Church in our village communities.

The diocesan synod is going to take place on Saturday, 21st and we are all eagerly waiting to hear if there will be any definite news about plans for resourcing a sustainable Church.

We are still Church: SL Parish – Nine Churches One Parish Following Jesus!

Worship is suspended but 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 want to reach out and help and to care for each other in our village communities.

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 now and always. May God bless us as we care for each other!

With my love and prayer to each and every one of you,

Father Sebastian

Revd Dr Sebastian Thomas Mattapally
Rector, Springline Parish, Diocese of Lincoln
Tel: 01522 731793   Email: rector.springline@gmail.com