Skegness Methodist Church - News & Comment

29th December 2019

A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS.

Goodbye.

As this is my last “Newsletter” there are three things I would like to say :-

Firstly, “Thank You” to all of you who have read my efforts over the last ten years and have commented on them favourably, or with constructive criticism, or even given gifts.

Secondly, “Thank You” to the many people who have given me information for inclusion because, even though I might occasionally give the impression that I know everything, I don’t.

Finally, my apologies to those who have told me things which I have not included, or included incorrectly. My excuses are faulty hearing aids (which can be mended) or faulty brain cells (which can not).

Once again, Thank You, and Good-bye. GMG.

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22nd December 2019

I have been asked to include the following – as I received it! GMG.

JOB ADVERT.

We are looking for someone to take over production of the Church Newsletter from January 2020 as Michael is retiring after more years that he would care to remember.

We consider the newsletter to be an essential tool of the church to keep members and friends aware of all that is going on in the church.

The job is unpaid and the format of the newsletter is open to discussion.

Help, guidance and support. will be given to any interested party. Please apply in the first instance to Neil Baxter, Church Safeguarding Officer.

At this time, we wish to thank Michael immensely for all the work he has put in over the years producing the newsletter, amusing us, informing us and educating us as only he can. Neil

Recycling.

Christmas Cards are often recycled after Christmas. As they are largely made of paper this is right – but not if they have foil or glitter on them, those must be put in the Black Bin . Wrapping paper can be recycled IF you have remover ALL ribbons, bows and sticky tape.

As Greta would tell us – we must recycle.

Christmas Lunch. Thanks to all who helped or supported the lunch. Particularly to Kath & Gaynor for the raffle, to our well-dressed servers and especially to the five ladies in the kitchen who served a record 64 lunches; thus raising almost £500 for church funds.

Neil.

World Vision have sent a Card to the Church which is displayed on the board in the Hall. We have sent cards to Omondi in Kenya and Grace in Malawi.

Heather.

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15th December 2019

Used Stamps.

With Christmas fast approaching it is possible that we will all be receiving cards and letters through the post – Mrs Jayne Hopps reminds us that there is a box in Church where we can deposit used stamps as a donation to the Parkinson’s UK Charity. Please help in this way.

Origin of Christmas Carols.

Christmas carols have two origins. The Christmas holiday is celebrated in December not because this was believed to be the birth month of Christ, but because the early Church needed to turn pagan holidays into new ones. The winter solstice was a powerful pagan holiday celebrated through drinking and the singing of joyful songs. In its first centuries the early Christian Church began co-opting pagan festivals and giving them religious structure. Pagan songs were replaced with Christian ones, sung in Latin by the clergy. The first evidence of songs being performed for this new holiday of Christmas is from a bishop in 129AD. Christmas songs in Latin and sung by the clergy weren't very popular amongst the common people. This changed in the 13th century when Francis of Assisi challenged the customs with musical narratives of Christ's birth. The music was religious in nature but it wasn't sung in Latin.. In 1840, Prince Albert brought several German customs, including the lively celebration of Christmas. This celebration, known as the Yuletide, included popular music known simply as “carolling”.

THANKS.

I have been asked to pass on “Thank You” from three people:

JO says thank you for all the money she received for her climb.

CHRIS says thank you for the support she had for her Tombola.

KATH says thank you for the support she had for her Raffle Stall.

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8th December 2019

Reading of Holy Scripture.

Words from Thomas à Kempis to go with the Collect for today. (First Book. Chapter V.)

“Truth, not eloquence, is to be sought for in Holy Scripture. Each part of the Scripture is to be read with the same spirit wherewith it was written. We should rather search after our spiritual profit in the Scriptures, than subtlety of speech. Our own curiosity often hindereth us in reading of the Scriptures as when we will examine and discuss that which we should rather pass over without more ado. If thou desire to reap profit, read with humility, simplicity, and faithfulness; nor ever desire the estimation of learning. Inquire willingly, and hear with silence the words of holy men; dislike not the parables of the Elders, for they are not recounted without cause.”

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1st December 2019

Last Sunday the radio told me that it was “stir up” Sunday – a fact I did not know.

Apparently it is a tradition from Queen Victoria’s time. When the family would gather to stir the Christmas pudding. The opening words of the collect used on the last Sunday before Advent, which I have shown on p.3, are "Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord” so the tradition is that this is the day to get stirring! The Christmas pudding would contain 13 ingredients to represent Jesus and his disciples. It is traditionally stirred by each member of the family from East to West, to remember the Wise Men that visited Jesus in the Nativity Story. The customary garnish of holly represented the crown of thorns. Adding coins or charms, to the recipe was said to bring luck if you found them in your portion on Christmas Day. (This is no longer recommended by “Health & Safety”). There is speculation about the origins of Christmas pudding. It is said to have been mentioned first in 1858 by Anthony Trollope although its beginnings apparently go back hundreds of years before this. The recipe evolved over the years into plum pudding. In the 19th century Prince Albert declared his love for the Christmas pudding and made it fashionable.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

As in previous years, there will be a board in the Community Hall upon which you may put Christmas Cards to all your church friends and if you wish, in lieu of the cost of cards and postage, make a donation via the Church Treasurer to Action For Children, the church’s charity for Children. Neil.

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24th November 2019

Christmas Fair.

On Friday we have our “Christmas Fair” while in the following week there is the Lincoln Christmas Market. Our Fair is not as big, or as famous, as their market but they both have the same ‘ancestry’. For centuries, Winter markets brought cheer to villagers and added a touch of light and colour to the long winter nights. Their story begins in the late Middle Ages in parts of the former Holy Roman Empire. The first Winter market is thought to be in Vienna around 1296. The Emperor granted shopkeepers the rights to hold a market in early winter so that townspeople could stock up on supplies. Winter markets began to spring up all over Europe. Over time, local families started setting up stalls to sell baskets, toys, and woodcarvings alongside others selling almonds, roasted chestnuts, and gingerbread. These were often bought as gifts to give away at Christmas. It was the winter markets that eventually became known as Christmas Markets—the earliest of which are claimed to be in Germany around 1310. Several cities in the UK, US and Canada also hold Christmas markets, where visitors can enjoy traditional foods and beverages. And they can buy handmade items such as toys, books, Christmas tree decorations and ornaments. Christmas markets combine the charm of tradition with the excitement of an open-air marketplace.

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17th November 2019

Hugh of Lincoln.

Today is the Saint’s Day of Saint Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln.

Born near Grenoble sometime about 1135 or ’40 he was educated in a Priory, became a monk and in 1175, or thereabout, was invited by King Henry II to become prior of a new monastery in Somerset. In 1186 he was invited by the King to be the Bishop of Lincoln. This he refused at first as he did not believe that the King had the right to appoint a Bishop but when asked to be Bishop by the Prior of the Grande Chartreuse Order he accepted. He re-established the Lincoln Schools and extended the Cathedral which had been damaged by an earthquake. He often worked with his hands helping the masons and the building as we see it now is very much Hugh’s Cathedral. His shrine was a famous pilgrimage site but it was destroyed in the Reformation and his body has never been found. He is often pictured with his pet swan and a statue of him is on the top of the south-west tower pinnacle.

THANK YOU.

Chris now has the gifts she needs for her Tombola Stall so she asks me to include a big Thank You to all of you who contributed.

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10th November 2019

Newsletter Editor.

In February 2009 Rev Ian Kemp asked me to take over his “Newsletter” temporarily for seven or eight weeks as he prepared to leave Algitha Road. In November 2019 I feel that my eight weeks have run their course and it is time I gave up trying to write a weekly newsletter. This being the case the “Newsletter” for Sunday the 29th of December 2019 will be my last one. If anyone would like to take over before then I will be delighted to let them, and be as helpful as they might want me to be.

I am giving you seven weeks’ notice because you might want to think about the possibilities for the future. Do you want a weekly newsletter / magazine ? If you do, what form should it take ? It does not need to follow the form that I have used unchanged for ten years, though there might be some changes in the last few issues as I get “demob happy”. Who would like to take on the job ?

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3rd November 2019

Christmas Fair.

This will be in less than a month’s time and if you want a “Tombola Stall” you must give your gifts to Chris so that she can prepare them. Your generosity in this area is much appreciated.

We pray that Kath will be well enough to run her “Raffle Stall” and she will also need gifts which can be given nearer the date.

November 5th 1605.

I feel sorry for Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, who was arrested while guarding explosives placed beneath the House of Lords. The Gunpowder plot stands pre-eminent in horror and wickedness and Guy gets the blame, but it was Robert Catesby who appears to have been the prime mover of the plot and who first spoke of the Plot in 1603 as a design for delivering England from her King and to replant the Catholic religion.

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27th October 2019

Christmas Fair.

This will be on November 29th in a month’s time and it is now time to start giving your gifts for the “Tombola Stall” to Chris so that she can prepare them. As any of you who have been to the Fair before will know she wraps all her gifts and as this takes time she really would like your donations soon. So far the response to my earlier note has not been overwhelming so please let Chris have your gifts soon.

We pray that Kath will be well enough to run her “Raffle Stall” and she will also need gifts which can be given nearer the date.

I offer you three quotations from my favorite philosopher (Winnie-the-Pooh) :

“Do a good thing without thinking of it”.

“Everybody is all right really. That’s what I think”.

“A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference”.

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20th October 2019

Important Request.

With the retirement of our Caretaker the tasks of opening up and closing the rooms we rent out have to be undertaken by Stewards or members of the church. Normally this is a nuisance, but not a serious problem, however locking up late on a dark evening is not right for a lady on her own. Therefore we urgently need a man, or some men, to offer to do this task when necessary, preferably a man who lives nearer Algitha Road than Burgh le Marsh.

Anniversary of a Great Englishman.

Christopher Wren was born on 20 October 1632. Wren's interest in architecture developed from his study of physics and engineering.. In 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the city, providing an opportunity for Wren. He produced plans for rebuilding the whole area but they were rejected. Wren did design 51 new city churches, as well as the new St Paul's Cathedral. Wren was commissioned to design the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, a hospital in Chelsea for retired soldiers, a hospital for sailors in Greenwich and the facade of Hampton Court Palace. His gravestone in St Paul's Cathedral features the Latin inscription which translates as: 'If you seek his memorial, look about you.'

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13th October 2019

HARVEST FESTIVALS.

We have views of what a Harvest Festival should be; it should be in September/October, it should show off farm produce and it should celebrate the grace of our God, but other countries have other ideas.

In Greece on January 6th they have a “Blessing of the Sea” ceremony when they thank God for a bountiful harvest of fish.

In Argentina, in the Southern Hemisphere, they have their Harvest Festival in February when an Archbishop sprinkles ‘Holy Water’ on the first grapes harvested in their autumn. Being in South America the festival becomes a fully-fledged ‘Carnival’ with music, dancing and beauty queens from which the ‘Harvest Queen’ is chosen.

In Bali, Indonesia, they have a ‘Rice Harvest Festival’ where Dewi Sri, the rice goddess, is venerated. During the harvest, villages are festooned with flags, and simple bamboo temples dedicated to the goddess are erected.

In Chanthaburi, Thailand, known for its profusion of beautiful native fruits, the harvest is celebrated by the annual Fruit Fair where fruits are show in vibrant arrangements in honour of Buddha.

In Italy the town of Magione has the Olivagando Festival. This two-day festival in November celebrates both the feast day of St. Clement and the local olive harvest, bringing together everyone involved in the production of olive oil. A priest blesses the new oil at a special Mass, and the town hosts a lavish medieval dinner at its 12th-century castle.

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6th October 2019

The afternoon Communion Service on Wednesday, 9th.

The decorating of the Church for the Harvest festival from 10.00am on Saturday 12th.

The Harvest Festival Service at 10.30am on Sunday 13th will be followed by a “Salad Lunch”. Tickets may be purchased from Sue Baxter.

After the service Harvest Gifts will be shared between Witham Lodge and the Storehouse Food Bank.

St Thomas Aquinas. “It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes”.

This week’s “Neilism”. “Since light travels faster than sound, I appear bright until you hear me speak”.

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29th September 2019

St. Michael and All Angels.

Today is the ‘Feast Day’ of St. Michael. My “Dictionary of Saints” has over a page on him so it is difficult for me to shorten the information for this “Newsletter”. His name appears several times in the Old Testament and he is described in the 2nd Century Christian book “Shepherd of Hermas”. His formal ‘cult’ began with a church built by Constantine by the hot springs near Constantinople to honour his miraculous cures. His cult was popular in the British Isles with churches at Malmesbury, Clive and Stanmer and his dedication of a cemetery near Hexham is mentioned by Bede. He is often shown by artists but, in my opinion, his best depiction is as he slays the devil in the sculpture by Epstein near the entrance to the Cathedral Church of St, Michael in Coventry. I have the ‘Order of Service’ for the Dedication of the Chapel of Unity in 1962 in which I see that prayers were said for the peace of the whole world, for church unity and for all kings, rulers and governors. It is good that to God “a thousand ages in thy sight. are like an evening gone” because we still have a way to go for world peace.

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22nd September 2019

Reminders.

1. Tuesday 24th 2.00pm. The Algitha Road Meeting is the AGM as well as a Council meeting. As it is an AGM all church members are invited to attend and, if they wish, to offer themselves for any of the elected posts, or to suggest changes to the way things are done. If you are interested in either of these please tell Sue, or Graham, today or tomorrow so that she can add it to her agenda.

2. On Saturday the 28th of September from 10:00 to 12:00 there will be “Coffee Morning at the Manse”.

3. On Saturday the 5th of October from 9.30am to 4.00pm there is to be an

“Environment Awareness Day” in Epworth.

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15th September 2019

Altitude 44.

Congratulations to Jo Stancliffe for braving this fearsome attraction and earning over £600 for Charity. Well Done ! You can see photos of Jo’s efforts on http://www.skegnessmethodists.net/altitude44.htm

I have been asked to inform you of TWO up-coming events that you might like to attend. Fuller information can be found in posters on the Notice Board in the Church Vestibule.

On Saturday the 28th of September Graham and Gaynor invite you to join them from 10:00 to 12:00 for “Coffee Morning at the Manse”. It is possible that this may become a regular monthly event on the last Saturday of each month – not December, of course.

On Saturday the 5th of October from 9.30am to 4.00pm there is to be an “Environment Awareness Day” at the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church in Epworth. Tea and Coffee will be available but you should take a Packed Lunch.

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8th September 2019

Who is my neighbour?

Germany’s neighbour was, and is, Poland. Thus it was that at 4.45am on September the 1st, 1939 German troops invaded Poland while her Luftwaffe bombed her cities and the Second World War began. After Church last Sunday I got home to hear the news that Germany’s president, speaking in Warsaw, had expressed deep remorse for the suffering his nation inflicted on Poland and the rest of Europe during World War II. “This war was a German crime,” President Frank-Walter Steinmeier told world leaders at a 80th anniversary ceremony marking World War II’s outbreak. During the ceremony the German president expressed gratitude to Poles for the gestures of forgiveness Poland has bestowed to his people. So, at a National level, Germany did wrong to her neighbour, and Germany has sought to make amends. But what do we learn for us at a personal level? Do we accept that we should “do for others what you want them to do for (us) you” (GNB Matt.7:12.) And are these ‘others’ our neighbours? And are these neighbours the homeless we see sleeping in shop door-ways on Lumley Road, or the drug takers and alcoholics in the Tower Gardens and South Parade shelters? (I hope Rev Graham will forgive my simplified précis of his sermon!)

Altitude 44.

Congratulations to Jo Stancliffe for braving this fearsome attraction in aid of her Charity. Well Done !

To see Jo on the highwire click on this link http://www.skegnessmethodists.net/altitude44.html

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1st September 2019

September the First.

The beginning of a new Methodist Year with our new Minister and his Family – things will change.

To begin with you should find with this Newsletter a “Message from the Manse”, (click on button above to read the latest message) something we have not had for some time and how nice to see it back.

I draw your attention to the Church Council Meeting on the 24th of this month. This is the Annual General Meeting at which Church Stewards, Secretaries, Treasurers and other valuable workers are elected / appointed for the coming year. If you are guided to consider accepting any post please give it prayerful consideration and talk to the Minister, Neil, Sue or any Steward for help / advice.

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4th August 2019

Thoughts for this Holiday Month.

From Matthew and Mark. Christ said “Come to me, all you who are tired…, and I will give you rest.” So he said to them, “Let us go off by ourselves to some place where we will be alone and you can rest awhile.”

VOLUNTEERS.

Volunteers are always needed for work in the Church, we could use more Stewards, more ‘trained’ users of the Hymnal Machine and the Power Point Programs, as well as the more formal posts of ‘Church Council Secretary' and ‘Property Steward' at Skegness Methodist Church, these posts are now being undertaken by busy Stewards or Local Preachers. Please talk to Neil Baxter and take some of the load off his back.

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28th July 2019

This is my last weekly “Newsletter”, for now, because you should receive a Monthly “Digest” for the month of August. Weekly newsletters may, or may not, return in September depending on the wishes of our new Circuit Leadership team, the help of the congregation and the enthusiasm of the editor.

I’ve space for some “Neilisms”.

“I used to be indecisive, but now I’m not so sure.”

“I’m supposed to respect my elders, but it’s getting harder and harder for me to find one now.”

“If ‘Con’ is the opposite of ‘Pro’, is Congress the opposite of progress?”

I have been asked to put this in the “Newsletter”.

NO Details, NO date, your guess is as good as mine.

The Methodist Walking Centre at Scamblesby

is open for the Churches Festival. Importantly, there is a guided walk at 3pm Sunday, followed by tea at the Centre. Please book your place. Details from Marion Manson.

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21st July 2019

Please Note the “Farewell Service” for Keith and Pam at 3.00pm at Wainfleet Methodist Church.

Your presence will be much appreciated.

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14th July 2019

Sunday 14th.

This morning service is the Algitha Road Anniversary Service and is Keith’s final Communion Service with us. The service will be followed by a salad “Lunch”. And next Sunday there will

be a “Farewell Service” for Keith and Pam at 3.00pm at

Wainfleet Methodist Church.

URGENT APPEAL - JOB ADVERT

Due to illness, Nigel our Caretaker/Cleaner has given notice to leave. We therefore urgently need a replacement.

This is currently a paid position and the duties of caretaker/cleaner can be separated in order that they can be filled.

If you are interested in either position or know of a family member or friend who may wish to fill either role please speak with Neil Baxter who has a job profile and details of the hours and rate of pay.

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7th July 2019

Sunday 14th.

Please note that the morning service on the 14th will be the Algitha Road Anniversary Service and will also be Keith’s final Communion Service with us. The service will be followed by a salad “Lunch” for which Sue needs numbers – Now! And on

Sunday 21st.

There will be a “Farewell Service” for Keith Locke and Pam at 3.00pm at Wainfleet Methodist Church.

URGENT APPEAL - JOB ADVERT

Due to illness, Nigel our Caretaker/Cleaner has given notice to leave. We therefore urgently need a replacement.

This is currently a paid position and the duties of caretaker/cleaner can be separated in order that they can be filled.

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30th June 2019

A reminder of last weeks notices below

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE TALK TO NEIL TODAY.

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23rd June 2019

“Thank You” for the “Gift Day” monies – details later.

Cluster Event.

Don’t forget the “Cluster Service” at Burgh le Marsh at 6.00pm next Sunday.

Circuit Events.

Neil has passed the following on to me for inclusion in the Newsletter :-

There are two Circuit events that should be to brought your attention.

First a Circuit Garden Party at the home of Mr & Mrs Mossop, New Farm, Coalshore Lane Conisholme. Saturday 27th July.

Second is the Circuit Welcome Service for Rev Graham Miles & Deacon Pam Luxton on Saturday 31st August 2.30 at Wainfleet Methodist Church.

It has been suggested that a coach is provided to take people to one or other of these events. Would you like to attend these events, and if so would you use a coach if one was organized ?

IF YOU ARE INTERESTE PLEASE TALK TO NEIL BEFORE JULY 1st.

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16th June 2019

Thank You.

A big “Thank You” to the Ladies and Gentleman who prepared such a beautiful Strawberry Tea on Thursday the 6th, and to all those who supported it and by having a tasty, fun afternoon raised nearly £90 for the Church.

Whitsuntide,

Last Sunday Mrs Taylor reminded us that it was Pentecost, known among Anglicans and Methodists as Whitsunday. In England this day took on some characteristics of Beltane, which originated from the pagan celebration of the beginning of the summer half-year in Europe. Whitsuntide, the week following Whitsunday, was one of three vacation weeks for the medieval villein, on most manors he was free from service on the lord’s land this week. Whit Monday, the day after Whitsun, remained a holiday in Britain until 1971 when it was replaced by the Spring Bank Holiday. Whit was the occasion for varied forms of celebration. In the North West of England, church and chapel parades called whit walks still take place at this time. Typically, the parades include brass bands and choirs; girls attending are dressed in white. Traditionally, Whit fairs often took place. Other customs, such as Morris Dancing, were associated with Whitsun, although in most cases they have been transferred to the Spring bank holiday.

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9th June 2019

Today is the Anniversary of the move of the Mormons in 1856 when their pioneers began leaving Iowa and headed west for Salt Lake City, Utah, carrying all their possessions in handcarts. They were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who migrated across the United States from the Midwest to the Salt Lake Valley. At the time of the planning of the exodus in 1846, the territory was owned by the Republic of Mexico. Salt Lake Valley became American territory as a result of war. The journey was taken by about 70,000 people after the assassination of the Mormon leader Joseph Smith made it clear the group could not remain in Illinois because of the Illinois Mormon War. Since its beginning the Latter Day Saint movement has proclaimed itself to be Christianity restored to its original authority, structure and power; teaching that the existing denominations "were believing in incorrect doctrines, not acknowledged of God as his church and kingdom". Since that time, Mormonism and mainstream Christianity have both found much to admire in one another's history and manner of life; but their conflicting doctrines and claims of authority have been the cause of deadly conflicts in the past and still generate dismissive criticism from both sides today.

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2nd June 2019

Sunday the 2nd June, 2019.

Yesterday Lorna and Geoff celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary. Today they have brought a Cake which they invite you all to share, after the Service, as you join in their celebration.

Food and Fun.

At 3.30pm on Thursday the 6th there is to be a “Strawberry Tea” at Algitha Road Methodist Church.

Tickets, purchased in advance from Sue Baxter, are excellent value at only £6.00 as you will also be able to participate in a post-tea Beetle Drive.

(Which, if I know Neil, will be FUN.)

June the 6th is the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings. The Soldiers and Airmen involved are often remembered but we should not forget the Sailors who manned the ships that transported the soldiers, and who used their ship’s guns to shell the German artillery. It so happens that today is the Feast Day of St Erasmus, the patron saint of sailors.

( For some reason I was also interested to read that he is the patron saint for those with “tummy troubles”.)

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26th May 2019

Sue & Neil would like to thank you all for your cards, presents, donations to MacMillan Nurses and your good wishes.

You all helped us make it a most memorable weekend.

Bank Holidays.

The first official bank holidays were the four days named in the Bank Holidays Act 1871. This specified four days, which were Easter Monday, Whit Monday, the first Monday in August and Boxing Day. Under the Act, no person was compelled to make any payment upon a bank holiday which he would not be compelled to do or make on Christmas Day or Good Friday. New Year's Day did not become a bank holiday in England until 1 January 1974. Commencing in 1965 the August bank holiday weekend was observed at the end of August "to give a lead in extending British holidays over a longer summer period". The rule seems to have been to select the weekend of the last Saturday in August, so that in 1969 Bank Holiday Monday fell in September. The Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 currently sets bank holidays in the UK. The majority of our bank holidays were specified in that Act: however New Year's Day and May Day were not introduced throughout the whole of the UK until 1974 and 1978 respectively. The date of the August bank holiday was changed to the last Monday in August, and Whit Monday was replaced by the Late Spring Bank Holiday.

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19th May 2019

Sue and Neil Baxter.

HAPPY 50th ANNIVERSARY

Please join them for Cake and a Cuppa after the service.

Parkinson’s UK.

Jayne would like to thank you all for supporting Parkinson’s UK by saving all of your used stamps. The latest package sent weighed 0.632kg (approximately 1 lb 6 ozs) which is a lot of stamps. Please keep collecting them for this worthy cause.

Thank you.

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12th May 2019

Today is the start of Christian Aid Week.

The Church will send, on our behalf, a donation to Christian Aid. If you would like to make your own donation there are ‘envelopes’ at the back of the Church. These you may send or give to Sue Baxter.

Friday 24th May. “Safari Supper” at 6.30pm at the Manse.

You are promised “good food, fun and fellowship”, but only if you reserve your place by purchasing a ticket for £10 from Sue Baxter.

On Friday the 17th there will be Family Celebrations for the Golden Wedding of Sue and Neil Baxter, but they hope you will join them for Cake and a Cuppa after the service next Sunday, the 19th.

HAPPY 50th ANNIVERSARY

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5th May 2019

Forthcoming Events.

Two of the “Forthcoming” Events deserve some detail :

Sunday 12th to Saturday 18th Christian Aid Week.

The Church Treasurer will send, on our behalf, a donation to Christian Aid, but if any individual would like to make their own donation there are ‘envelopes’ at the back of the Church. These may be sent individually, or given to Mrs Sue Baxter.

Friday 24th May. “Safari Supper” 6.30pm at the Manse.

You are promised “good food, fun and fellowship”, but only if you have reserved your place / rations by purchasing a ticket for £10 from Mrs Sue Baxter.

There is – I believe – a third forthcoming event of some importance :

During next week, possibly on Friday the 17th, there will be “Fun” and Celebration for the Golden Wedding of Sue and Neil Baxter.

And if I’ve got it wrong, what do you expect, what do I know about “Fun” ?GMG.

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28th April 2019

Gift Aid.

Important information regarding ‘cash donations’.

Mrs Judith Bradshaw asked me to let you have the following –

“As from April 6th 2019 HMRC (Inland Revenue) has increased the limit of individual cash donations from £20 to £30. This new ruling applies to non-tax payers making a single donation either by the weekly envelope scheme or cash in the offertory bag. Also I still have spare envelopes for this new tax year if anyone would like to participate.”

When Judith asked me to let you have this information she had not yet finished “reading, marking, learning and inwardly digesting”* the more than one hundred pages of Government jargon so there might be more to come – Oh, Good!!

* From Cranmer’s collect in the Book of Common Prayer.

If you are in doubt about your Tax position talk, very gently, to Judith. GMG.

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21st April 2019

Christ the Lord is Risen Today.

Alleluia !

Easter Traditions:

In Hungary “Sprinkling” is a popular Hungarian Easter Monday tradition, in which boys playfully sprinkle perfume, cologne or water over a young woman’s head, and ask for a kiss. People used to believe that water had a cleaning, healing and fertility-inducing effect.

In the Czech Republic On Easter Monday there’s a tradition in which men spank women with handmade whips made of willow and decorated with ribbons. According to legend, the willow is the first tree to bloom in the spring, so the branches are supposed to transfer the tree’s vitality and fertility to the women. This is meant to be playful spanking all in good fun and not to cause pain.

Are you not glad to be in England

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14th April 2019

Passion Week in Art.

The first recorded visual depiction of the “Entry into Jerusalem” is on a Fourth Century sarcophagus which shows Christ on a Donkey but nothing else. Two centuries later a painting in Ravenna shows him riding toward the city gate from which men and children (no women?) come waving palm branches and casting their cloaks before the hooves of the donkey. This picture was the original from which nearly all later artists worked. One of the best known versions is Ghiberti’s relief on the Florence Cathedral Baptistery doors. However most artists are not inspired by the triumphal entry but prefer to paint the Last Supper, of which there are many versions including the best known mural by Leonardo da Vinci on the refectory wall in Milan. Artists are also inspired by the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane with Christ praying while the three disciples are unable to stay awake. From this moment on there are countless paintings that picture Christ’s arrest, his trials before the High Priest and Pilate, his flagellation and humiliation and his carrying of the cross to Calvary before his Crucifixion, and finally the “Pietà” as his body is brought down from the Cross. It is impossible to have one favourite among so many but high on my list would be Salvador Dali’s painting “Christ of Saint John of the Cross” which can now be seen in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow.

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7th April 2019

Coffee Coffee Coffee.

“Thank You” for volunteering. Coffee can now be served.

Today is the Saint’s Day of John-Baptist De La Salle.

De La Salle was born to a wealthy family in Rheims on April 30, in 1651. He was the oldest child of seven. He was named canon of Rheims Cathedral when he was sixteen. He took the degree of Master of Arts and was sent to Paris to enter the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice. The death of his parents obliged him to leave the Seminary. He was now twenty-one, the head of the family, and responsible for educating his brothers and sisters. He completed his theological studies and was ordained to the priesthood at the age of 26. Two years later he received a Doctorate in Theology. The young priest helped a new religious group whose work was the care of the sick and education of poor girls and he served as their chaplain. It was through this work that he met Adrian Nyel. Helping Nyel establish a school for the poor in De La Salle's home town gradually became his life's work. La Salle knew that Reims teachers were struggling, lacking leadership and training. He found himself taking steps to help this group of men with their work. La Salle decided to resign his canonry to devote his full attention to the establishment of schools and the training of teachers. De La Salle began a new religious institute, the first one with no priests, at all, among its members: the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. The De La Salle Brothers were the first Roman Catholic teaching religious institute that did not include any priests. His enterprise met opposition from the ecclesiastical authorities and the educational establishment resented his innovative methods. Nevertheless, De La Salle set up the Institute which is still entirely dedicated to the Christian education of the "children of artisans and the poor".

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31st March 2019

Mothers in the Bible. Here are five famous Bible mothers and one mother-in-law. There are certainly many other women in the Bible that could be mentioned.

Eve. Genesis 1-4. Called the mother of all people, Eve is an important Bible mother. We know she had a great responsibility as a mother, and as someone who personally knew God.

Sarah. Genesis 12-23. God’s promise of a redeemer was said to come through Sarah. Though she doubted when God said she would be a mother in her old age, she did indeed bare a son when she was 90 years old - she had Isaac.

Jochebed. Exodus 1-2. One of the bravest mothers in the Bible was the mother of Moses. Her name was Jochebed and she disobeyed Pharaoh’s rule to kill Jewish baby boys. Pharaoh’s daughter took up baby Moses as her own child, but hired Jochebed to nurse the baby.

Naomi. Ruth 1-4. Naomi is best known as the mother-in-law to Ruth.

Hannah. 1 Samuel 1-2. The mother of Samuel the prophet. While much of his piety can be traced to his life in the Temple with Eli the priest, his mother had a great influence on him.

Mary. Luke 1-2. Mary was given the great privilege of being the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. Imagine raising the son of God as your child!

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24th March 2019

Coffee Coffee Coffee.

The Stewards, Administrator and Treasurer have asked me to tell you that they are thinking of having coffee after the service every Sunday and, for this, they need volunteers – you can’t expect one person to do it every week. Please talk to a Steward.

Food Bank.

The local Food Bank is desperate for the following :-

Tinned Potatoes.

Instant mashed potato.

Tinned Meat.

Tinned Meat balls.

Pasta Sauce.

Pasta Sachets.

Weetabix.

Teabags.

Soups.

Rice Puddings.

They need, and would welcome, our support.

Today’s “Anne Fosterisms”.

Why do owls never go courting in the rain?

Because it's too wet to woo.

What do you get if you cross a cow with a ghost?

Vanishing cream.

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17th March 2019

Saint Patrick.

A great deal of what we think we know about St Patrick is apocryphal or just plain wrong. But we do know that his writings, in uneducated Latin, are the very first works from the early British Church. In them he shows that he had a simple, pastoral faith, and that he wished to abolish paganism, idolatry and sun-worship. He made no distinction of classes in his preaching and made it clear that he was willing to be enslaved, imprisoned, or killed, for his faith. He is not only popular in Ireland but also in Australia and the USA.

Thanks.

I have been asked by Mrs Chris South to express, on her behalf, sincere thanks to all the people who helped her to celebrate her 80th birthday so pleasurably throughout the past week.

Food Bank.

The local Food Bank is desperate for the following :-

Tinned Potatoes.

Instant mashed potato.

Tinned Meat.

Tinned Meat balls.

Pasta Sauce.

Pasta Sachets.

Weetabix.

Teabags.

Soups.

Rice Puddings.

They need, and would welcome, our support.

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10th March

Thank You.

Mrs Kath Riding asks me, on her behalf, to say a big “Thank You” to everybody for the ‘Good Wishes’, the Birthday Cards and the uniquely delivered telephone rendition of “Happy Birthday”.

Food Bank.

The local Food Bank is desperate for the following :-

Tinned Potatoes.

Instant mashed potato.

Tinned Meat.

Tinned Meat balls.

Pasta Sauce.

Pasta Sachets.

Weetabix.

Teabags.

Soups.

Rice Puddings.

They need, and would welcome, our support.

Some more Lynn Tongisms.

“With her marriage she got a new name and a dress”.

“Police were called to a daycare centre where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.”

“He had a photographic memory but it was never fully developed.”

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3rd March 2019

Food Bank.

The local Food Bank is desperate for the following :-

Long Life Milk.

Tinned Potatoes.

Tinned Meat.

Pasta Sauce.

Pasta Sachets.

Weetabix.

Rice Puddings.

They need, and would welcome, our support.

St Botolph.

I had, unavoidably, to spend a day in Boston on Tuesday so I was able to do some shopping, have something to eat, a book, or two, in Waterstone’s and to get thoroughly bored. So, to cheer myself up, I went to look round the “Stump”, the church dedicated to St Botolph. An Abbot of the monastery of Icanho, which was in East Anglia / Suffolk, in the 600’s AD. This monastery was near to where he was born. Very little is known about his life though it is fairly certain that he was never connected with Boston in Lincolnshire. The object of my visit – to cheer me up – was not achieved. Restoration work in the Church with both Aisles fenced off and scaffolding all the way up the East face of the Tower made the place look more like a building site than a place of worship.

I’m sure it will be beautiful when it is finished.

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24th February 2019

Lincolnshire Tourists. (Continued).

Had I had more room last week I would have liked to stress two other excellent places in our fascinating County; they are Hubbard’s Hills (“Lincolnshire is so flat!”) and the Louth Museum, the best ‘Little’ museum I’ve ever seen.

The “Bible Society”.

While writing this Newsletter I received my regular magazine from the Bible Society and, with Keith’s involvement with the Wainfleet School, I was interested to see that their “Prayer in Action” for March is ‘the Bible in Primary Schools’. They ask us to give thanks for their work in schools over the past 20 years, to praise God for the ‘storytellers’ who go into the schools to tell Bible stories in appropriate, and fun, ways, and to pray for the launch of their new project telling Bible stories acceptably in modern schools which are often ‘multi-faith’.

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17th February 2019

Lincolnshire Tourists.

Heather and I have just had a couple of days as ‘tourists’ in Lincoln, as we have done, off and on, for about 50 years. At other times we also go to the ‘Hub’ (The National Centre for Craft and Design) and Cogglesford Mill in Sleaford, Tattershall and Old Bolingbroke Castles, and, of course, the ‘Stump’ and Guildhall in Boston and think “aren’t we lucky to live is such a fascinating County” In Lincoln we visit / have visited – the Brayford, which was a dump but is now very lively, – the Castle, which was ‘unloved’ but is now beautiful, – the Cathedral which has always been fantastic, but is about to be improved, – the Sam Scorer and Usher Art Galleries and Collection Museum, the ‘cultural’ centre, and the ‘Lawn’. At the ‘Lawn’ much has changed, the hospital / asylum building in Greek revival style is beautiful and it used to house an exhibition about Edward Parker Charlesworth who pioneered a much improved method of treating mental patients without mechanical restraints and coercion. It also had the National Cycle Museum while the grounds had the Joseph Banks Conservatory and the Archeological Centre. All of these important tourist attractions have now gone. The latest news / rumour is that the City Council is thinking of closing the Usher – the biggest piece of Philistine vandalism that they could do – with luck it isn’t true and they won’t. Boston, which could do so much to encourage USA Tourists has the Pilgrim Fathers’ cells and the Tourist information Centre closed for half the week. We are lucky to live is such a fascinating County, it’s a pity not everyone in authority realizes how they should preserve and develop it.

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10th February 2019

February 10th.

As usual I looked up anniversaries and saint’s day for today and found this is a day to celebrate women and their achievements.

543 – Death of St Scholastica, sister of St Benedict and the first Benedictine Nun whose ‘Feast Day’ is today. I was surprised that, although I had heard of Benedict I had never heard of his sister who, with his help, did for Nunneries what he had done for Abbeys. What a pity that her name, in England is associated with a riot.

1355 – The St Scholastica Day riot breaks out in Oxford, The seed of the riot was an altercation in a tavern in Oxford between two students of the University and the taverner. They complained about the quality of drinks, which led to an exchange of rude words that ended with the students throwing their drinks in the taverner's face and assaulting him. Retaliation for the incident led to armed clashes between locals and students. A riot broke out and lasted two days, which left 63 students and perhaps 30 locals dead. The students were eventually routed.

1840 – Queen Victoria marries Prince Albert.

1919 – Inter-Allied Women's Conference sees women involved in International events post WWI.

So today we celebrate a good woman whose name is misused, a great queen whose name describes an era, and finally, women being allowed to be involved in international events – perhaps because so many men had killed each other.

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3rd February 2019

As you will have noticed, I like anniversaries, but I have to own-up to having missed this one by 23 days – senility approaches !

On Wednesday 11 January 1978, a northerly severe gale and storm surge brought disaster to Skegness Pier, causing irretrievable damage. The pier decking from the main entrance was reduced in length to 127 yards (116 m), with the eastern shelters and the pier head with its theatre isolated from the shoreline. Late in 1978, a plan to link the isolated pier head by monorail and build a new 1200 seater theatre collapsed when an application for financial assistance was turned down. Debris from the wrecked pier was scattered for several miles around with souvenir hunters coming into the area to see what they could find. Proposals to reconnect the pier ultimately failed due to high costs and in 1983, the eastern shelters were dismantled and demolished. By 1985, the isolated pier head was now derelict and was earmarked to be demolished. It was considered a risk to small shipping and also to the public. Due to its Grade II listed classification, special permission was granted to dismantle the pier head in stages starting from October 1985, until a fire gutted the building. After the fire burned itself out, only the cast-iron stanchions were left and these were removed in January 1986.

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27th January 2019

World Vision – Omondi & Grace.

The Church’s World Vision account could be healthier. It has come to my notice that there are members who think we will only accept £50 notes – this is not so, we are glad to receive small change – pennies, tuppences, even those annoying little five pence pieces, all are welcome along with silver, pound coins and notes. Please continue to support our African young students.

Lexophilia.

A Lexophile is a person who has a love for words. I have, in the past, often used “Neilisms” to fill a space in the ‘Newsletter’ and, twice recently, I have been lucky enough to have contributions from Jo but I have now received two pages of ‘LynnTongisms’ which should keep me going for some time. Lynn is obviously a lexophile.

Here are some examples to start us off :

“You can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish.”

“To write with a broken pencil is pointless.”

“A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.”

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20th January 2019

Martin Luther King Junior.

Although Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 the USA holiday of “Martin Luther King Day” is celebrated tomorrow, on the third Monday of the month. He was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1954 until his death in 1968. He is best known for advancing civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience, tactics inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi. King led the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott, the 1962 struggle against segregation in Albany, and the nonviolent 1963 protests in Birmingham, Alabama, He is probably best known in England for organizing the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. On October 14, 1964, King won the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. In his final years, he expanded his focus to include opposition towards poverty and the Vietnam War. In 1968 King was assassinated on April 4 in Memphis, Tennessee. King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. In 1986 “Martin Luther King Jr. Day” was established as a holiday at the federal level by legislation signed by President Ronald Reagan.

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13th January 2019

January 13th.

As often happens when I don’t have any ‘News’ for this page I look up the day’s Saint to write about – there are four Saints whose ‘Feast Day’ this is, which is too much information, even for me !

They are Hilary, Kentigern, Antony Pucci and Berno of Cluny.

Berno (d. 927) was the Co-founder and first Abbot of the Abbey of Cluny which soon became the largest and most influential abbey in all of Western Europe. Berno was a strict ‘Benedictine’ monk who insisted on making his monks return to the Rule of St Benedict, a rule which demanded individual chastity and poverty within an organisation that was complete, orderly and workable while concentrating on liturgical prayer and sacred reading. Aiming for self-sufficiency the monks became agricultural experts. Many Benedictine monasteries and Nunneries were founded in Lincolnshire, the nearest being at Skendleby. So St Berno encouraged Christianity in Lincolnshire, from which Anglican Parishes developed, out of which the Wesley brothers came and who we thank for our present faith. Thank God for St Berno.

Jo’s contribution this week is - “ People are funny : they want the front of the bus, the ‘middle of the road’ and the back of the church.

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6th January 2019

January 6th.

We celebrate this day as Epiphany, also known as Three Kings’ Day or Twelfth Night. The word Epiphany means “manifestation” or “showing forth”. It is the date which commemorates the first two occasions on which Jesus’ divinity was manifested: when the three wise men or Magi visited infant Jesus in Bethlehem, and when John the Baptist baptized him in the River Jordan. The Roman Catholic and Protestant churches emphasize the visit of the Magi when they celebrate the Epiphany. The Eastern Orthodox churches focus on Jesus’ baptism. Epiphany is one of the oldest Christian feasts. It has been celebrated since the end of the second century, before the Christmas holiday was established. Some authorities also give this as the date of the Miracle at Cana when Christ’s power was manifest. A questionable Roman author called Ammianus Marcellinus wrote in 361AD that the 6th was Christ’s birthday. In some churches and countries it is still celebrated as Christmas Day or, sometimes, as Christmas Eve,

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