Skegness Methodist Church - News Archive 2018

30th December 2018

A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS.

HOGMANAY.

The roots of Hogmanay, in Scotland, perhaps reach back to the celebration of the winter solstice among the Norse, as well as incorporating customs from the Gaelic celebration of the “end of harvest”. The Vikings celebrated Yule, which later contributed to the Twelve Days of Christmas. Christmas was not celebrated as a festival and Hogmanay was the more traditional celebration in Scotland. This may have been a result of the Protestant Reformation after which Christmas was seen as "too Papist". The 1693 Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence contained one of the first mentions of the holiday in church records where it was treated with general disapproval. Still, in Scotland Hogmanay and New Year's Day are as important as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Although Christmas Day held its normal religious nature in Scotland amongst its Catholic and Episcopalian communities, the Presbyterian national church, the Church of Scotland, discouraged the celebration of Christmas for nearly 400 years.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Thanks to all who supported the Christmas Lunch this year.

Great fun and fellowship was enjoyed by all and the event raised £363 for church funds.

23rd December 2018

“Happy Christmas” To All Our Readers.

Please Note that tomorrow evening at 11.30 pm we have our Christmas Eve Communion Service at Algitha Road Methodist Church, and on Christmas Day there will be a Family Service at 10.00 am, when the offering will be for 'Action for Children'.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Thanks to all who supported the Christmas Lunch this year.

Particular thanks to the table setters, the chefs, the servers and those who washed up and cleared up afterwards.

Thanks too to Kath & her assistant Margaret for the raffle.

Great fun and fellowship was enjoyed by all and the event raised £363 for church funds.

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16th December 2018

I am indebted to Jo for the following:

A Child Learns.

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.

If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.

If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.

If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.

If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.

If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,

he learns to find love in the world.

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9th December 2018

Today.

This is the day to book your place at the Christmas Lunch on Friday. I am assured that there will be good food, good company and good ‘fun’ and all for just £10 – a bargain !

Flower Rota.

I am currently preparing next year’s church flower Rota. If anyone who is not on the rota, would like to be on it, or would like to know more about it please contact me ASAP.

Sue Baxter.

Christmas Cards.

As in previous years, we have a board in the Community Hall for your Christmas Cards. If you wish to post one card on the board to all your friends please do so. If you wish to make a donation in lieu of the cost of cards and postage, please pass your gifts to our treasurer and the money will be sent to the Methodist Church's children's charity, Action for Children.

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2nd December 2018

Thanks.

After the Fair last Friday I have been asked to say “Thank You” for all the workers who made the Fair such a success raising almost £350 for church funds, and to all the “customers” who made their work worthwhile. Individually Mrs Kath Riding asked me to say, on her behalf, a big THANK YOU for all the lovely things you gave her for her ‘Raffle Stall’. Some of these things have been kept for the ‘Raffle Stall’ which will be at the Church Christmas Lunch on Friday the 14th and for which you are advised to reserve your place with Neil and Sue for £10. A further “Thank You” to all who donated money to the Syrian Christmas Appeal, enough to fill two bags which will be gratefully received

Church Council.

At the Council Meeting on Monday 26th the discussion was mainly ‘Financial’, but two new appointments were made :

Church Administrator : Mrs Sue Baxter is our Administrator and will be available in the Church Office for two hours on a Wednesday Morning from 10 to 12 noon, and for one hour in the Office / Hall on a Friday morning.

Church Co-ordinator : Mrs Anne May who does so much for the Church now has a title to reflect her efforts – she is our Church Co-ordinator. I doubt that the title will enable her to do much more than she already does but it does show our appreciation.

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25th November 2018

Ladies.

In case you missed the ‘flier’ last Sunday you are invited to the “Third East Lincs Ladies Fellowship Two Day Retreat” from the 13th to 15th of next March at the County Hotel in Skegness. To avoid disappointment you need to book early! If you want more details ask me for a copy of the ‘flier’.

Anniversary.

Today is the 270th anniversary of the death of Isaac Watts. Isaac Watts was an English Christian minister, hymn writer, theologian, and logician. He was a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with some 750 hymns. He is recognised as the "Godfather of English Hymnody"; many of his hymns remain in use today and have been translated into numerous languages and we have 39 of his hymns in “Hymns and Psalms”.

A Quotation from “Prayers and Graces”.

The guest was late for family prayers, and sat down as he entered, near the door, while his host prayed : “O Lord, before whom all are equal …” This prayer finished, and before passing to a reading from the Scriptures, the host signed to his guest to come up and, when he approached, whispered to him, “You are sitting among the servants”

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11th November 2018

Remembrance.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Administrator.

The Church can now welcome a new Administrator.

Thanks.

Mrs Chris South asks me to thank everyone for all the things she has been given for her Tombola Stall at the Christmas Fair. She now has enough to keep her busy for the next two weeks preparing them all.

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4th November 2018

SYRIAN REFUGEES.

A collection is being organized by the Louth M. C. for the Refugees. Last year we filled two boxes, this year we hope to fill two ‘bags’ with essential things for children as well as adult refugees. Anne and Sue have a list of essentials to be bought, though donations are preferred so items are centrally purchased with no unnecessary duplication.

This Week’s ‘Neilism’.

Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian, any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

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28th October 2018

Administrator.

The Church really does need an Administrator to replace Mo – If you are interested in working a couple of hours once a week to help the Church please talk to a Steward or Mrs Anne May.

Anniversaries.

My research has come up with the following facts :-

This week-end in Oakville, Ontario, they are celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the famous Carnegie Hall Concert by Benny Goodman.

Tonight Cliff Richard will be performing in Birmingham as part of his 60th Anniversary Tour.

While in Berlin the 40th Anniversary Tour of Mungo Jerry will be “raising the roof” of an arena.

And eleven days ago our Wednesday Fellowship were enjoying singing Sankey and Moody hymns.

So my conclusion is let us “Thank God” for all those musicians who so richly enhance our lives by their gifts, whether our taste is for Hymns, Gospel Music, Rock, Swing or Classical.

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21st October 2018

Weather & Climate.

Last week-end was interesting – the temperature on Saturday was 23ºC while on Monday it was 12ºC so weather is changeable, but climate should not change as much as it is doing. Last week the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published a report stating that “climate change is an inescapable present and future reality”, but the point of the report is that there is still a chance to work for the best future rather than surrender to the worst. Climate action is human rights, because climate change affects the most vulnerable first and hardest – it already has, with droughts, fires, floods, crop failures. It affects the myriad species and habitats that make this earth such an intricately beautiful place. What we’re deciding now is what life will be like for the kids born this year who will be 82 in 2100, and for their progeny. They will curse the era that devastated the planet, and perhaps they’ll bless the memory of those who tried to limit this destruction. The report says we need to drop fossil fuel consumption by 45% by 2030, when these kids will be 12. That’s a difficult but not impossible proposition.

As Christians we should care about the survival of other people and of the beautiful world created by our God. When He created it he saw that “it was good” (AV), what right have we to make it bad?

We thank all the ladies who decorated our Church for the Harvest Festival last Sunday, and who provided the excellent lunch after the Service, and those who later distributed the produce to our chosen charities.

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14th October 2018

Harvest.

To celebrate our Harvest Festival here is some information about Saint Isidore The Farmer.

He was born sometime around 1080. His parents were devout Christians who lived near Madrid. Isidore worked as a farm labourer for the same landowner for all his life. He would call into church to pray early in the morning on his way to work, and say prayers while guiding the plough. He would spend his holidays on pilgrimage to some local shrine. Once while carrying a sack of grain to the mill he saw some hungry birds so he gave them half his grain, yet when milled the half measure produced a miraculous full measure of flour. After his death his spirit is said to have given a Spanish king victory and cured one of his fever. He is an example of very few “lay” saints from humble backgrounds. He was canonized in 1622.

Christmas Fair.

Chris and Kath are looking forward to all the things you are about to give them for their Tombola and Raffle Stalls – please don’t leave it too late.

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7th October 2018

Information from Circuit.

You have one month in which to submit your article for the next edition of the East Lincs Link. The theme is open so any articles will be considered. If you wish to dictate an entry then Jacquie Simpson (01790 753839) would be only too pleased to visit you. Julia.

Christmas Fair.

Chris and Kath are looking forward to all the things you are about to give them for their Tombola and Raffle Stalls – please don’t leave it too late.

Times Change.

I’ve been reading “An Historical Atlas of Lincolnshire” and particularly a map of “Attendance At Religious Worship” in 1851. The map shows that in the Louth area equal numbers of Anglicans and Methodists went to morning service, in the afternoon there were rather more Methodists but they vastly outnumbered the Anglicans for evening worship. In the Spilsby area, including much of our Southern Cluster, Anglicans outnumbered Methodists both morning and afternoon but, once again, Methodists ‘won’ in the evening.

How times change !

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30th Sepember 2018

Information from Circuit.

Just to let you know that the next edition of the East Lincs Link is due out on 6/12/18. The theme for this edition is open so any articles will be considered and, should I receive too many (!), may be kept for a later edition. If you would like to dictate an entry then Jacquie Simpson (01790 753839) would be only too pleased to visit you and take down the information for the price of a cuppa! Please send your entries to me by 5/11/18 at the latest. Kind regards. Julia.

Christmas Fair.

Chris and Kath are looking forward to all the things you are about to give them for their Tombola and Raffle Stalls – please don’t leave it too late.

In A Lighter Note.

We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colours, but they all have to live in the same box.

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23rd September 2018

Circuit Plan:

A helpful lady has offered to help me interpret the new style ‘Plan’ so future Newsletters could well be more informative.

Church Council & AGM.

These are not “Minutes” of the meetings, just some things that I personally found interesting.

The Car Park “Puddle” by the Hall Door is being dealt with, or so we hope, as it needs doing before the first frost causes us to ice skate into Church.

Mr Mick Padfield is appointed ‘Steward’ which will lessen the strain on Anne, Jo and Albert.

Neil Baxter is no longer the Property Steward. No one was keen to take over the job but Kath is willing to try to keep it running with HELP from Church Members and Stewards.

Our support for World Vision – Omandi and Grace – is in financial difficulty but the Church Treasurer has said that the Church will cover any short-fall. This will not be necessary if more is put in the Offertory Bowl near the church door;’ and ‘Thank You’ to those who do contribute. Do please look at the Notice Board in the Corridor for information on our two ‘children’.

We are asked to give more support to “Cluster” services.

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16th September 2018

Circuit Plan.

As the Circuit Plan gives only the surnames of preachers with no mention of status or initial, and there is no ‘Key’ to the abbreviations used I will, in future, put only what I am given. I will not try to be clever and work out what they mean.

Donations.

It’s that time of year again. Chris has asked me to let you know that she is now ready to receive your donations for her ‘Tombola’ stall at the Christmas Fair on Friday the 23rd of November. Kath will also like donations, sometime in the next two months, of ‘objects’ or ‘things’ for her ‘Raffle’ stall.

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9th September 2018

Saturday 15th.

You are spoilt for choice –

The Grand Opening of the 500 seat Auditorium at the Storehouse is at 6pm; or

The Withern Singers Concert is at 7.30pm at the Withern Methodist Chapel

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2nd September 2018

Please Note:

The Church AGM on the18th of September 2018 is at 2pm. It will be followed by the Church Council meeting.

As it is an AGM all Church Members are welcome.

We are still URGENTLY looking for a Property Steward and a Job Description is available from Neil Baxter.

Donations.

It’s that time of year again. Chris has asked me to let you know that she will be glad to receive your donations for her ‘Tombola’ stall at the Christmas Fair on Friday the 23rd of November. She hasn’t said so but, no doubt, Kath will also like ‘things’ for her ‘Raffle’ stall.

The Storehouse.

Your attention is drawn to the poster advertising the

Grand Opening and Worship Celebration of the

500 seat Auditorium at the Storehouse at 6pm on September 15

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29th July 2018

Thought for the Month of August – from Thomas à Kempis.

God says, ‘For if in anything thou seekest thyself, immediately thou faintest and driest up. I would, therefore, thou shouldest refer all things principally unto Me, for I am He who has given all’.

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22nd July 2018

Please Note : VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED.

We are seeking volunteers to fill the posts of 'Church Council Secretary' and Property Steward' at Skegness Methodist Church.

Please apply to (or contact for further discussions)

Neil Baxter - Church Safeguarding Officer.

Job Description available upon request.

Please Note:-

Church Diaries for 2019 may be ordered via Neil - £7 + p & p.

Methodist Prayer Handbook 2018/19 may be ordered via Neil - £3 each.

Please Note:-

Next Sunday’s “Newsletter” will not be the normal ‘weekly’ one. It will be a Précis / Digest of information for five weeks while the ‘editor’ has a summer rest.

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15th July 2018

“Thanks.”

I have been asked to include the following :

“Many thanks to those who attended the Strawberry Tea last Thursday. We hope you all found it enjoyable. Sue & Neil.”

I am told that there was good food, good company and good fun – what a pity that I missed it !!

Please Note:-

Church Diaries for 2019 may be ordered via Neil - £7 + p & p.

Methodist Prayer Handbook 2018/19 may be ordered via Neil - £3 each.

Rural Mission Sunday.

I have not found any information about “Rural Mission Sunday” for this year, but last year Churches were asked to consider the following:

Have you ever encountered a stranger seeking hospitality? How did you respond? (Genesis 18:1-17)

Have you befriended someone from a very different group from you in the last year? Was it easy or difficult? (Luke 10:25-37)

Should we set rules or limits to our hospitality? (Luke 6:27-30)

Do you find that your view of someone changes as you get to know them? (Luke 24:13-31)

Is our group or church good at welcoming strangers or people who are different to us and helping them feel at ease? Or do we only welcome certain types of people? (Luke 14:12-14)

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8th July 2018

Church Diaries for 2019 may be ordered via Neil - £7 + p & p.

Methodist Prayer Handbook 2018/19 may be ordered via Neil - £3 each.

Ramblings.

Next Sunday is our Chapel Anniversary and we look forward to welcoming Rev. Cecil Mundy to take the service. Although Heather and I intend to be here for that service we will be having a short break in Lincoln toward the end of this week. While there we will, of course, visit the Cathedral which, at 943 years, is a little older than Algitha Road Methodist Church. Visiting the Cathedral always makes me think, why is the evil Lincoln Imp so well-known and the good Lincoln Pilgrim hardly ever mentioned? Do we really prefer to know about evil rather than good? Nearly everyone, not just Church folk, knows what Judas implies but can we name the eleven who did not betray Christ? I could easily name five or six but not all eleven. We all know about Thomas who doubted, but who are the ones who did not doubt but had faith? We all know the evil Dr. Crippen but I, for one, do not know the name of the good, hard working policeman who arrested him.

And now to celebrate “Action for Children” a question from an exam for 15-year old Methodists in 1927; “What did Jesus say about our duty to (a) the needy , and (b) children ?”.

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1st July 2018

Storehouse Foodbank.

I have received the following report from Mo:

“Thanks to everyone for the continued donations to the “Foodbank”. Looking at the figures for the first five months of the year we had 811 referral forms, which means that approximately 1,461 people received food, and during that time we gave out 4,383 days’ worth of food in the five month period. The “Foodbank” runs on donations otherwise that would have cost around £1,500 per month – so “Thank You” to everyone, you have helped to make a difference in people’s lives. Mo.”

Thank you all for donating and thank you Mo for all the work you do for the “Food bank”. GMG.

Safeguarding Officer.

It has been requested by the District Chairman that all Church and Circuit Newsletters should contain the Name and Contact Details of the Safeguarding Officer relevant to that Church.

The details for Algitha Road Church, Skegness are :-

Mr Neil Baxter, telephone number 01754 810783

And for the East Lincs Circuit (17/6):-

Rev David Newlove, telephone number 01507 60340

In future these will be in the “How to Contact Us” section.

Please Note:-

Church Diaries for 2019 may be ordered via Neil - £7 + p & p.

Methodist Prayer Handbook 2018/19 may be ordered via Neil - £3 each.

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24th June 2018

Volunteer Needed.

In August there will be a Sunday when the ‘Hymnal’ machine will be playing for the hymns. I am no musician so this means that I will not be using the ‘Hymnal’. So a volunteer is needed who knows a tune when he/she hears it. All volunteers please talk to a Steward.

Storehouse Foodbank.

“Thank You” for your continuing donations. Mo will be giving me a report soon on how the “bank” is doing this Summer Season.

St Bartholomew of Farne.

Having no “News” to report I’ve looked up my ‘Saints’ book and found that today is the Saint’s Day for Bartholomew. He was born in Whitby of Scandinavian parents, went to Norway to become a Priest and in 1140 became a monk at Durham. He soon decided to go to the Inner Farne Island to be a Hermit, as Cuthbert had been. He spent most of the rest of his life there praying, singing psalms, reading and writing, as well as milking his cow and tending his crops. Other hermits came to share his island but they did not stay long as they could not get on with his continual cheerfulness, his love of fishing and his fondness for his pet bird, though he was known for his generosity to his many visitors. He was no respecter of persons and often rebuked the rich and powerful, some of whom forsook oppression and became charitable.

Seems to me to be a “Good Man”!

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17th June 2018

Volunteer Needed.

Some Quotations on “Music in Worship”.

John Wesley, "I have no objection to instruments of music in our chapels, provided they are neither heard nor seen."

Charles Spurgeon, "We might as well pray by machinery as sing by it" and "one can make melody without strings and pipes. They would hinder rather than help our praise. Sing unto Him. This is the sweetest and best music. No instrument like the human voice."

FINAL QUOTE ( the MOST important one): "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (From Colossians 3:16,17).

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10th June 2018

Horncastle.

Last Monday I had to spend time in Horncastle and chose to fill some of it by visiting St Mary’s Church. It is an interesting building from the 12th century with some good renovation and modernisation works. In the Lady Chapel there is a “Madonna and Child” picture made up of materials and cloths of different textures and colours. As a purely personal opinion I found it to be one of the most beautiful depictions of the “Madonna and Child” that I have ever seen. I would like some of you to go and see it and tell me I’m wrong – or, possibly, right. I would certainly recommend it to anyone interested in Patchwork or Quilting. Of course. You might have already seen it and I’m just slow on the up-take.

My final personal comment is – aren’t we lucky to live in a County with so many beautiful places, buildings and works of art, and which isn’t “flat and boring”.

This week’s ‘Neilisms’ –

A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

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3rd June 2018

World Vision.

We continue to contribute to our two World Vision young people.

Omondi in Kenya is now20 and is doing well at Secondary School. His ambition is to do well enough to eventually become a doctor. We can be thankful that our money has made it possible for him to continue in education and not to have to earn the money needed by his parents and his seven siblings. Our contributions have not only helped Omondi and his family but have also allowed the school and the whole village to afford improvements.

Grace in Malawi is 15 and is also doing well at school where her favourite subject is Mathematics. Her ambition is to become a Maths Teacher in the future. The other important thing our money has done for Grace and all in her village is to pay for a well, allowing them to have unpolluted, fresh water in the village and not some foul stream three miles away.

We always send them Birthday and Christmas Cards, and money for the charity staff to buy them presents. Apart from this money our monthly contribution to World Vision is £45.60 and we offer our grateful thanks to all who support this worthwhile charity.

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27th May 2018

News from Lancashire.

My four day’s holiday in Lancashire gave me many things to learn and think about – here are two of them:

I passed a sign for “Salesian College”, an independent Catholic grammar school for boys aged from 11 to 18 years. Seeing this made me use the Internet to compare what the Methodists did in education, and my, no doubt biased, conclusion was that we do better for Primary and Secondary, Boys and Girls, UK and Foreign education than the Salesians do.

While walking along the Southport Pier my main feeling was of shame that Skegness had not preserved its Pier as they had. Next was my surprise as three youngish, attractive, charismatic people accosted Heather and me and offered us a chocolate. They explained that they were there to try to put a smile on every face. Chatting to them it emerged that they were from a Devon Christian Community, they had conducted a service at the R.C. Church the evening before which had been attended by Christians of all denominations and a good time had been had by them all. They refused my invitation for them to come to Skegness as they were on a tour which was heading for Scotland.

Have we any similar volunteers to do the same job here?

GMG

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13th May 2018

Christian Aid.

As the Poster shows Christian Aid week starts this Sunday, and as usual the Church will be sending a donation on behalf of us all. However, if you would like to make an individual contribution, Neil has envelopes which you can put in the collection plate, or give to Sue at a later date.

“When Hurricane ‘Matthew’ tore through Haiti in 2016 Marcelin lost everything so he and his three daughters now “live” in a two metre square concrete ‘box’ with no windows and one single bed. As things are they will not survive another hurricane (which will come sometime) so Christian Aid needs our money to start re-building homes for Marcelin, his daughters and the hundreds of other families affected by the Haiti weather.”

(And their weather will get worse if we in the rich world do not do something major, and soon, to stop the ‘climate change’ we have helped to create.GMG.)

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6th May 2018

Last Tuesday was May Day.

Traditional English May Day rites include crowning a May Queen and celebrations involving a maypole around which traditional dancers circle with ribbons. Historically Morris Dancing has been linked to May Day celebrations. Much of this tradition derives from the pagan Anglo-Saxon customs held during the month of May. This day has been a day of festivities throughout the centuries with towns and villages celebrating springtime fertility (of the soil, livestock, and people) and enjoying village fetes and community gatherings. Seeding had been completed by this date and it was convenient to give farm labourers a day off. The spring bank holiday on the first Monday in May was created in 1978; May Day itself – May 1 – is not a public holiday in England. In February 2011, the UK Parliament was reported to be considering scrapping the bank holiday associated with May Day, replacing it with a bank holiday in October, possibly coinciding with Trafalgar Day (celebrated on October 21), to create a "United Kingdom Day". May Day was abolished and its celebration banned by Puritan parliaments but reinstated with the restoration of Charles II in 1660.

(How many of us danced round a Maypole this year? GMG.)

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29th April 2018

St George’s Day

Last Monday was St George’s Day, the Patron Saint of England, but who was he?

According to legend, St George was a Roman soldier born in what is now modern-day Turkey in around 280AD. Very little is known about his early life but it is believed he was born to a wealthy Christian noble family. When he grew up he became a soldier and joined the retinue of Emperor Diocletian. In 303 Diocletian, as part of a crackdown on the growing influence of the Christian community, ordered that all Christian soldiers in the army should be expelled and all Roman soldiers be forced to make the traditional pagan sacrifice. St George refused and denounced the edict in front of his fellow soldiers, declaring he was a Christian. Diocletian initially tried to convert him with offers of wealth and land but when he refused he was beheaded on 23 April 303. The myth of St George slaying a dragon originally appeared in stories told by the medieval Eastern Orthodox Church, stories which were brought back to Europe by the Crusaders in the 10th and 11th centuries.

A personal comment. In England we celebrate St Andrew’s Day with the Scots, we celebrate St David’s Day with the Welsh and we celebrate St Patrick’s Day with the Irish – but we seem to do little to celebrate St George’s Day, though the Country (led by Mablethorpe!) seems to be starting to take notice. GMG.

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22nd April 2018

According to our “Plan” today is the “4th Sunday of Easter” but to many people all over the World it is :-

Earth Day

Earth Day seeks to highlight and promote efforts dedicated to the protection of the environment. In this century, we face many environmental crises, including global warming, deforestation, endangered wildlife, shortage of potable water and widespread pollution, all of which negatively affect our planet’s resources and can have adverse effects on human lives and the lives of many animal and vegetable species.

This day in 1970 marked the creation of the United States of America Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the ‘Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts’.

Today Earth Day is celebrated by billions of people around the world and is observed in 190 countries. Throughout the world Earth Day celebrations use educational programmes to inform people of ways that can help protect the environment and its natural resources. It is observed annually on this day and is celebrated as International Earth Day.

Two relevant quotations:

“In the past 50 years humans have consumed more resources than in all previous history”.

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children”.

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15th April 2018

Martin Luther King.

The ‘Media’ commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King made me re-read some of his work. In 1967 he wrote :

“The futility of violence in the struggle for justice has been tragically etched in all recent riots. There is something painfully sad about a riot. One sees screaming youngsters and angry adults fighting hopelessly and aimlessly against impossible odds.

Deep down within them you perceive a desire for self-destruction, a suicidal longing. Occasionally the rioters contend that their riots represented effective civil rights action. Nowhere have riots won concrete improvements as have organized protest demonstrations. Humanity is waiting for something other than blind imitation of the past.”

King was writing about Negro (his word) riots in the USA. Fifty years later I cannot help thinking about the Gaza / Israel border.

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8th April 2018

Parkinson’s Stamps.

Mrs J. Hopps has asked me to include this “Thank You”.

“I would like to thank you all for your continued support in collecting used stamps for Parkinson’s UK. I have just sent a parcel weighing 2.5lbs. Please continue to save your stamps, the container is at the back of the church. Again many thanks”.

Jayne

And ; ‘Thank You’ for the contributions to enable us to fill two boxes for family refugees in Syria - see notice board in Church porch.

Also : ‘Thank You’ from Wainfleet School for the donation we made to purchase bibles for the school - again see notice board in Church porch.

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1st April 2018

Christ the Lord is Risen Today.

Alleluia !

Easter Celebrations.

In England we have ‘Eggs’, in the USA they have ‘Bunnies’, but not in Australia where the rabbit is serious pest. The celebration I would like to see is the one in Italy.

In Florence, locals celebrate a 350-year-old Easter tradition known as "explosion of the cart." An ornate cart packed with fireworks is led through the streets of the city by people in colourful 15th century costumes before stopping outside the Duomo (Cathedral); the Archbishop of Florence, at the High Altar, then lights a fuse during Easter mass which slides down a stretched wire leading outside to the cart where it sparks a lively fireworks display. The meaning behind the custom dates back to the First Crusade, and is meant to ensure a good harvest.

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25th March 2018

The Food Bank.

I have received a further update from Mo :

“I just want to give you an update on the food bank, at the moment we are very busy. In February we supplied 156 food parcels. So far in March the total is 94, which covers 121 people. We are in need of just about everything. Tinned potatoes, veg, rice pudding, fruit, biscuits, dried pasta, pasta sachets, long life milk, pasta sauce, instant mash, tea bags and tinned meat.

Everyone is really generous with donations and we are constantly talking to people who are so grateful for their food parcel, so on their behalf thank you.”

Mo.

Words.

Thoughts on re-reading Sir Kenneth Clark’s “Civilisation”.

There can be no thought without ‘words’. Luther translated the Bible into German and gave people the chance to read Holy Writ and to think about its message. The invention of printing made it possible for books to be accessible to many. The Bible was translated into French by Calvin and English by Tyndale and Coverdale, essential steps in the development of the Western Mind. They might not have developed ‘Civilisation’ because they also led to the growth of ‘Nationalism’, and all great steps in the development of civilisation have come about during periods of ‘Internationalism’.

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18th March 2018

Thank You.

I have been asked by Chris to say, on her behalf, a sincere “Thank You” to all of you who helped her to celebrate her birthday last Sunday.

This week’s “Neilism” takes the form of an imaginary

Obituary.

Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else. Someone’s passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person’s share of work. Whenever there was a job to do or meeting to attend, one name was on everyone’s list, “Let Someone Else do it.” Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results, “Someone Else can work with that group.” It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference. Someone Else was a wonderful person, sometimes appearing superhuman. If the truth were known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did? When you are asked to help this year, remember—we can’t depend on Someone Else anymore.

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11th March 2018

By St Anselm, Bishop of Canterbury (1033-1109).

For Mothering Sunday.

Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you; you are gentle with us like a mother with her children.