CROSSLINCS News from around the Diocese of Lincoln www.lincoln.anglican.org
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July/August 2019 – Free
A new festival for the Wolds and the coast The inaugural Lincolnshire Wolds & Coast Churches Festival promises to be a great celebration, with over 140 churches set to take part over the weekends of 31st August and 1st September and 7th and 8th September 2019... Churches and chapels from Louth to Woodhall Spa, and from Wragby to Sutton on Sea, will be celebrating their rich architecture and heritage and offering visitors the chance to become treasure seekers and discover hidden gems. “Our churches are full of wonder,” says the Revd Nick Brown, Rector of Louth St James. “Each offers a different experience, whether it is beautiful tranquillity and spirituality or vibrant exhibitions and music, or simply offering a welcoming oasis of peace and calm.”
“The festival is also about having family fun,” continues Nick. “Time is so precious today as families juggle busy lives against quality leisure days out. So we have created fantastic activities that every member of the family will want to get involved in. Some churches will have backpacks available, encouraging ‘treasure seekers’ to explore the beauty of our stained-glass windows, and even create their own masterpiece window to display at home. And we also invite everyone to take the challenge and try and spot all the treasures in our brand-new Church Treasure Hunt book, not only during the festival weekend but beyond as well.” (Continued overleaf...)
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A little and yet a lovely thing
Giving to the local community
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The submission deadline for the next issue is 2nd August 2019 Editor E: crosslincs@lincoln.anglican.org Communications Officer The Revd Adrian Smith T: 01522 50 40 37 M: 07885 99 99 07 E: adrian.smith@lincoln.anglican.org Communications Assistant Louise Brown T: 01522 50 40 64 E: louise.brown@lincoln.anglican.org Diocesan Offices Edward King House, Minster Yard, Lincoln LN2 1PU T: 01522 50 40 50 E: enquiries@lincoln.anglican.org www.lincoln.anglican.org www.facebook.com/Dioceselincoln www.twitter.com/CofELincoln Instagram: diocese_of_lincoln The Bishop of Grimsby Acting Bishop of Lincoln The Right Reverend Dr David Court T: 01522 50 40 90 E: bishop.grimsby@lincoln.anglican.org The Bishop of Grantham The Right Reverend Dr Nicholas Chamberlain T: 01522 50 40 90 E: bishop.grantham@lincoln.anglican.org Diocesan Secretary The Revd David Dadswell T: 01522 50 40 32 E: david.dadswell@lincoln.anglican.org
A new festival for the Wolds and the coast (continued) ‘Mini museums’ on your doorstep The festival is the perfect way to discover these ‘mini museums’ on your doorstep. The festival covers a wide area of rural Lincolnshire, encompassing the market towns of Louth, Spilsby, Alford, Horncastle, Tattershall, Wragby, Woodhall Spa and Skegness, as well as 100 rural hamlets and seaside villages in between, and each church is unique, with an intriguing story to discover. For example: • St James’ Church in Louth has the tallest steeple of any medieval church in England and played a pivotal role in the Lincolnshire Rising • Theddlethorpe All Saints is known as the ‘Cathedral of the Marsh’ owing to its impressive size and its beautiful carvings.
Fulletby St Andrew. All photos are by Ashley Taylor for ExploreChurches.
Crosslincs is produced by the Diocese of Lincoln
Many activities are also planned, ranging from organ recitals to flower and art exhibitions, bellringing to afternoon teas, and there will also be special exhibitions at many churches. As Nick continues, “The invitation is offered to everybody to come and celebrate our rich church heritage. “Whatever the weather, make sure that during two weekends in September, you take to the outdoors. You will be able to learn about our communities’ heritage, view magnificent carvings, memorials and stained glass, chat with local historians, listen to the sounds of church music and, of course, find all those hidden treasures! You will not be disappointed.” The festival is supported by National Churches Trust and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund through the generous donations of National Lottery players. A directory featuring all the churches is now available. Visit: lincswoldsandcoastchurches.org and explorechurches.org for more details or email lincswoldsandcoastchurches@gmail.com Alternatively, call 01507 52 79 05.
PA to the Diocesan Secretary Kay Clayton T: 01522 50 40 32 E: kay.clayton@lincoln.anglican.org The Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey The Venerable Mark Steadman T: 01522 50 40 39 E: archdeacon.stow@lincoln.anglican.org The Archdeacon of Boston The Venerable Dr Justine Allain Chapman T: 01522 50 40 39 E: archdeacon.boston@lincoln.anglican.org The Archdeacon of Lincoln The Venerable Gavin Kirk T: 01522 50 40 39 E: archdeacon.lincoln@lincoln.anglican.org W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
Refreshments at Langton with Old Woodhall. Front cover image: Hemingby St Margaret.
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Responding to global concerns Image courtesy of Professor Edward Hanna.
Navigating climate change through faith and science As our international conference on climate change in conjunction with the University of Lincoln draws near, here we take a look at some of the speakers and their areas of specialism and interest... The conference will bring together three key groups of people: scientists with climate change data; theologians and, importantly, people with an interest in making decisions about the planet for future generations. Moana – Water of Life: Navigating Climate Change For Planetary Health will be held in Lincoln on Friday, 30th and Saturday, 31st August 2019 and will provide two days of keynote addresses and parallel lectures. The conference will then conclude on Sunday, 1st September, with a service to be held in Lincoln Cathedral. There are 15 speakers presenting over the two days. Many of them have worked in a professional capacity with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or represented countries and the Church in climate-change negotiations. Among the speakers is Professor Edward Hanna, Professor of Climate Science and Meteorology at the University of Lincoln. Professor Hanna looks at data from weather stations around the world that show how climate is changing, and he has made several field trips to Greenland. Professor Hanna has described the scale of the ice-sheet melt as ‘scary’, and in his work he also studies the impact of the ice-sheet loss on climate regionally, including its relationship to the jetstream and extreme events in the North Atlantic and in the UK. In looking ahead to the conference, Professor Hanna has said: “I see the conference as a unique opportunity to bring a large number of different groups of people together, and who wouldn’t perhaps normally be in the
Professor Hanna has made several field trips to Greenland.
same forum. I hope that we can collectively look at ways we can take practical action to combat this problem.” Speakers will also consider climate change from a theological perspective. These include Archbishop Winston Halapua, the former Archbishop of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, and the Rt Revd Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California, who is also a frequent speaker on this subject. Speaking with reference to the impact of rising sea levels in Polynesia, Archbishop Winston has said: “These islands are right at our doorstep, they are within our family. We are already affected. The cry and the call from Pacifica is to treasure God’s gift of planet Earth.” Bishop Marc has led Episcopal Church efforts to uphold the Paris Agreement and is an ambassador for American climate action. He has said that “While many of us do not see or feel the edges of climate change and environmental degradation in the World Ocean, the truth is that conditions there are more dire than many of us experience on the land. We must look at the reality together, and support one another, and turn our eyes to God in order to create conditions of hope.” Those who look to drive action at citizen level include Dr Andrew Kythreotis and Dr Theresa Mercer, both of whom are from the University of Lincoln. The particular area of research focus for Dr Kythreotis revolves around current barriers that limit citizen engagement in climate action and how citizens can become more central in the climate science-policy framework, and Dr Mercer is due to speak on how citizens can drive climate action and policy change. For more information, please call 01522 50 40 50 or see the details published online at www.lincoln.anglican.org For ticket details please call or see www.wateroflife2019.eventbrite.co.uk DIOCESELINCOLN
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‘...And you visited me’ A ministry offered behind bars Ahead of this year’s Prisons Week (13–19th October), Crosslincs visits HMP Lincoln and hears something of the ministry offered to inmates by the chaplaincy team... There is a notice stuck to the inside of the door of the chaplaincy office at Lincoln Prison. It says ‘See the person, not the prisoner’. This philosophy is central to the approach that the chaplains take when working with the men. The role of a prison chaplain is varied and is not just confined to offering religious services. A lot of the work is pastoral, providing support and a listening ear to those who need it. At the time of going to press, there was just one full-time chaplain at HMP Lincoln – the Revd Beth Weston represents the Anglican church, and there is a Roman Catholic chaplain who works three days a week. They share the office space with chaplains from other faiths, and collectively they help to look after around 400 men.
“It’s important to be visible, and so I, as well as other chaplains, stand in the dinner queue to make sure that I am available if people want to talk to me” Beth sees every man who comes into prison, even if she only saw him a week previously as he was being released. She said: “For every man that we see it is our hope that we can help them serve their time and change their lives. I am not there to project my faith onto them. Some who are new to prison really want to talk, and part of our role is just to listen. We tell them not to suffer in silence, and if they need to talk or have a cry then they can contact us.” The prison was built in 1872 and has a large purposebuilt chapel that doubles up as a mosque on Fridays. “We have an agreement with the Muslim prisoners that we cover up all of our Christian symbols before they come into the chapel to pray,” Beth said, “and when they have finished they take the covers off again. This mutual respect works very well.” Day-to-day life in prison is very structured and during the day the men are either in education or work. W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
The chaplaincy team at HMP Lincoln has chaplains representing many faiths.
There is also time allotted for being outside and socialising and help for those with addictions. The Christian services run as they would do in the outside world, with a ‘typical’ service on a Sunday. The men are told what services are on each week and they are asked to add their name to a list so that there is always the correct ratio of prisoners to officers. If they so choose, a prisoner can be baptised while in prison. Each man has to complete a short course beforehand and, as Beth explained, “I respond to each sincere request at the time, and I am sure that the majority of them absolutely mean it in that moment. Afterwards, it is up to them and especially God to do the rest.” Another key role as chaplain is acting as a point of contact with a prisoner’s family. This means that sometimes they have to be the bearer of bad news to an inmate if someone has died or is unwell. However, because of the nature of prison life, messages of this kind have to be verified to ensure that they aren’t malicious before they reach the prisoner. Whatever else is on the job description, there are obviously particular personal qualities that a person must have to be a prison chaplain. “Compassion and being firm are key, and being able to say ‘no’ is essential,” said Beth. She continued: “Everything must
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Sharing in prayer be underpinned by prayer. A silent prayer is always on the agenda when the chaplain leaves the office and goes to see a prisoner. I also think it’s important to be visible, and so I, as well as other chaplains, stand in the dinner queue to make sure that I am available if people want to talk to me. I have an ‘ABC’ for working in a prison – assume nothing; believe no one and check everything. That may sound harsh but it is very important to establish facts before you act, as there could be consequences.” The men may be prisoners, but what are they actually like? The Roman Catholic chaplain said: “Beth and I are around the men each day and they do seem to get on, which gives me great hope. When you talk to some of them you can see that they have great personalities and wit and are really likeable. So I tell them that and ask them how they ended up in here. You can see that they are touched that you have said something nice and then they bat the emotion aside. It’s the familiar sad story as to how some of them ended here – they got in with the wrong crowd, drugs, etc. Some of them do the readings in chapel on a Sunday and they applaud each other when they return to their seat, as this a real achievement for them, going outside of their normal boundaries. It’s wonderful to see. It does take a real push for them not to go back to crime and often we are A prayer written earlier this year by some of the men at HMP Lincoln, as they prepared for Easter... Heavenly father, thank you father for our lives, for the wonder of life and the beauty of this world. For all the things that bring us joy and things we find wonderful in your world. For all these, father, we thank you and praise your holy name. We thank you that we are able to be in this holy place at this time to make our prayers to you, and the fact that you hear us and are pleased we are here and that you are pleased to be here with us. We know that there are places in your world where people cannot meet and praise and thank you. Where people must meet secretly and read your words in darkness for fear of persecution. Heavenly father, please move with your Holy spirit in these places and bring knowledge and love of you. Please be also in all places of conflict, of hunger and thirst, and places where men are horrible to one another
asked to pray for them, which we do. But unfortunately, some of them do keep coming back.” When their sentence is nearing completion, a prisoner is given a list of useful contacts and they are asked if they would like support from their faith group when they get outside. If they choose to receive mentoring they can be met at the gate and escorted to their accommodation or taken for a coffee so that they can begin to adjust to life outside again. To an outsider the role might sound stressful – so how do they manage? Both Beth and the Roman Catholic chaplain speak highly of their profession. They talk of fun, camaraderie and solidarity. Their long service also speaks volumes. “There will always be someone who understands and we take time to listen to each other if we need to offload a bit, and we say prayers for each other,” they said. “I have a ‘prison head’ and a ‘normal head’,” Beth added, “and I take the prison one off as soon as I walk out the door. In this job you need to always be able to have a laugh when a chance arises and feel that you’ve made a difference, otherwise you might as well give in. Saying that, it is a privilege to be able to work in this place and to be among God’s kingdom here.” Further information on Prisons Week 2019 is available online at http://prisonsweek.org/ for reasons of greed and dark things. And please help all those who work in such places, bringing relief and help to all suffering in so many ways in such places. Please bless us and forgive us our sins and help us to be better representatives of you. We know why we are weak, we know we should be stronger and kick ourselves into shape, but for many of us it has been all too long being addicted, being bad members of the community. Heavenly father, you are the one who can perform miracles and make us right and healed. Please help us. And please bless and protect all those we love, all those who have lost faith in us through being disappointed in how we are. Thank you for sending your Son to die for us on Good Friday and to rise again at Easter. Thank you for inspiring us. Sadly, we may not live up to our hopes that you have given us. We can’t do that without you. Thank you that you won’t leave us. Amen.
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Local stories A little and yet a lovely thing The Revd Kate Plant has recently completed her curacy in Holbeach. Here, Kate shares a story of ‘how little but lovely things can happen’ in a local community... I arrived in Holbeach as a curate in 2016. Walking through the town I was pleased by the shape of the buildings and the High Street and I thought to myself that ‘this town would lend itself to a little bookshop’. If I am honest I also thought, ‘What I need here, is a bookshop’. I learned over time that there had been a bookshop in Holbeach and that it had been much loved. Holbeach has some really super shops – the best wholefood shop I have ever been in, excellent hardware shops, some really good charity shops, plus Boots, etc. In speaking with people, however, I found that there was a feeling that the High Street was not what it used to be.
“New friendships have sprung up and, for some, the bookshop has been important at a difficult time in their lives” Part of All Saints Church’s vision statement is to be a church that contributes to the flourishing of the town. A key characteristic of the town is that it is a place that people come to in retirement, which is lovely. But when, as sometimes happens, one half of a couple dies early, people who have moved away from previous networks can become lonely. Much of church life seeks to work with others to address this. I also became aware that local schools were interested in ways to boost entrylevel literacy and I knew that reading with, and to, small children is one of the most important factors in developing language skills. Curates are often expected to undertake a project of some sort, but after previous experience of working in communities, I was reluctant to start a project for a project’s sake. The Revd Rosamund Seal, my very patient incumbent, suggested that I could just explore the idea of a second-hand bookshop in the town. I prayed about it, talked with people about it and slightly dragged my heels – I was worried that because I would be moving on at the end of my curacy, I wouldn’t be able to see the thing through. The whole thing was prayed about at a little prayer group in Sutton Bridge. W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
The Holbeach Bookshop – serving the local community.
One day someone in the church said, ‘You need to speak to Brian – he knows about books’. Happy to have coffee with anyone, I met with Brian, who is just the most brilliant person, and discovered that he had been a bookseller for a large part of his life and had recently retired to our town. He also had a supportive and friendly wife, who was keen that her husband should be able to pursue his life-long passion. Shortly afterwards, a Charles Baker, recently returning to Holbeach and keen to engage in community life, came to Rosamund’s attention. In addition, Nick Worth, our local councillor, was also encouraging and willing to help, and so there was the first gathering of what were to become the bookshop trustees. It took a while to find the right property but we settled in 3 Park Road, and an application has since been made to the Charity Commission to set ourselves up as a charitable incorporated organisation. We were helped by the local press, who ran the story and helped us to recruit a wonderful group of volunteers to run the shop. New friendships have sprung up and, for some, the bookshop has been important at a difficult time in their lives. We opened in September 2018 and we then had an official opening the following month, when, gloriously, the poet Benjamin Zephaniah came to cut the ribbon (pictured on the facing page). We needed funds for our start-up costs and we were so grateful to the Bishop of Lincoln’s Social Justice Fund, All Saints’ Church and the Mary Bass Trust, all of which have offered support, together with several very generous private donations.
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Sharing books and learning Each Wednesday the shop hosts a story time for the local pre-school children, and, with this in mind, care is taken to ensure that the children’s section is kept wellstocked. Books have poured in and it has been pleasing to see what can be found on our shelves. The main aim is the availability of books for people in Holbeach and the East Elloe Deanery. News has spread, however, and other people like me, who love books, have come from further afield, and it is hoped that this will help to promote the town. Efforts are ongoing to raise more money, and a large proportion of this will be given in grants to things that promote the area and encourage aspiration and community cohesion. Some will be held back to give to emergency appeals elsewhere, and this will be decided upon by the volunteers.
“It is the sort of thing that gives those of us with faith in God a deep sense of thankfulness” Overall, it is a little thing and yet it is also a lovely thing. I think it will endure and I also think that it might well branch out into different directions, becoming a point of information about what is on in the area, running writing competitions and perhaps, should the premises ever be extended, it might become a space in which to display work by local artists.
It is a little thing and yet a lovely thing – the sort of thing that gives those of us with faith in God a deep sense of thankfulness, and for others it offers a place in which to meet, encounter welcome, and find something very good to read. It is a place where the very young learn the joy of stories and, courtesy of the story time children being given 10 pence to choose something, they effectively go away with a ‘free’ book. I suppose that, overall, the story is about praying and setting out to meet those wonderful people sent to help, and so when you might next think, ‘What my town needs is...’, be encouraged to follow it up. Further offers of voluntary help at the shop are welcome. For more details please call Carolyn on 01406 42 27 00. Further information on All Saints’ Church in Holbeach is available at https://allsaintsholbeach.org.uk/
St Paul – The Man and His Message St Paul – The Man and His Message is a presentation in words and music with Bible-based songs by Richard Rice-Oxley and readings by Sylvia Rice-Oxley. Suitable for quiet days or shorter events, Richard and Sylvia will explore both Paul’s burning faith and his wide-ranging teaching on God, the Church and our Christian calling. For more details or to book Richard and Sylvia, please email sylviariceoxley@gmail.com or call 01476 55 09 71. Richard and Sylvia offer this to churches, groups, deanery events, etc, and will not charge a fee. Any donations can be made to a local church or charity. The Holbeach Bookshop offers some eye-catching window displays.
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Learn, pray, worship God’s call? Learn, pray worship The Diocese of Lincoln’s new Xperience initiative will offer three young people (aged between 18 and 30) a year in the heart of England to listen to God and to explore his call through experience of ministry and by living as part of the Edenham Regional House Community... The Xperience placement will provide opportunities to learn about ministry and to serve in parishes and also with other organisations, such as schools and our local universities. Participants will learn, pray, worship and live together in a beautiful place that is deeply linked to the wider world but distinctive and different. Xperience will offer: • parish ministry experience • practical experience of ministry in schools and our local universities • time for reflection • study of the Bible • allowance for expenses.
Remembering ‘Kettlebird’ For many years, a regular feature in Crosslincs were the contributions from the mysterious and elusive ‘Kettlebird’, known for its habits of compiling complex crosswords, while hiding in full view by using an anagram of his real name. Sadly, as Tim Lidbetter says in these words of tribute to his father, ‘the Kettlebird is now extinct’... The Kettlebird migrated to the diocesan magazine after the closure of its original habitat, the house magazine of Lincoln Power Station. Aspiring to emulate ‘Araucaria’, his favourite compiler (the Revd John Graham, 1921–2013), the Kettlebird delighted in using complex clues, often on religious, local or topical themes, or quoting well-known lines from hymns to fill several lights in the grid. He would rope in several of his hatchlings as proofreaders, checkers and advisers on the modern vernacular. Never owning a computer or an internet connection, he always compiled his crosswords in manuscript, and mailed them to the editor of Crosslincs, who had the job of deciphering the small but neat handwriting and typesetting his puzzles. They were always a labour of love, and although the number of prize entries was never very high, he was W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
The closing date for applications for the first year of Xperience is close to the publication date of this issue of Crosslincs (12th July 2019), and so we will look forward to hearing more about this initiative in the coming months. Further information will be published on the Vocations section of the diocesan website (www.lincoln.anglican.org), and more details may also be obtained by contacting the Revd Sonia Barron, our new Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO), at LincolnXperience2019@gmail.com or alternatively Fr Edward Martin, the Warden of Edenham Regional House, at edward.martin@lincoln.anglican.org (The telephone number for Edenham Regional House is 01778 59 13 58.)
aware that many more people turned to the crossword in the publication just for fun, which pleased him anonymously and enormously. He compiled 25 crosswords for Crosslincs, the solution to the last being published just a year ago in the July/August 2018 issue. However, he was still avidly solving the Guardian Crossword until the week of his death just after Easter this year. His identity was revealed in the eulogy at his funeral held in Lincoln Cathedral, and he is now buried (6 Down) with his beloved wife Rosamond, who died in 1995. Ken Lidbetter (Kettlebird), a great friend of Crosslincs, born 16th November 1929; died 27th April 2019.
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Announcements The Revd David McCormick has been appointed Team Rector of the benefice of Great and Little Coates with Bradley. The Revd Marian Toyne has been appointed Rector of the benefice of The Woldmoor Group of Parishes. The Revd Mark Williams has been appointed Vicar of the benefice of Deeping St James. The Revd Paul Wilson has been appointed Rector of the benefice of The Epworth Group. The Revd Samantha Parsons has been appointed Vicar of the benefice of Grantham Harrowby with Londonthorpe.
The Revd Nick Nawrockyi has been appointed Vicar of the benefice of Clee (known as Old Clee) and the benefice of Cleethorpes St Aidan held in plurality and Minister of the Conventional District of Cleethorpes St Francis. The Revd Sonia Barron, Rector of the benefice of Claypole and Rural Dean of Loveden, has been appointed Diocesan Director of Ordinands. Please join us in praying for all of these people. Details of current vacancies in the diocese are available at www.lincoln.anglican.org/vacancies
PRIZE CROSSWORD
Set by Ariq
Solution to the crossword in the last issue. Winner: J. Plenty, Lincoln.
To enter the Prize Crossword: Please send completed entries to Prize Crossword, Crosslincs, Communications Office, Edward King House, Minster Yard, Lincoln LN2 1PU. Closing date: 2nd August 2019. A photocopy of the completed crossword is acceptable. The editor’s decision is final, and the prize will be a faith-related book.
Across 1 Sounds like fame is just about a word (6) 4 A beetle puts mark on sailor (6) 9 Mordant wit lost on sleeper (7) 10 About now this is an optical illusion (7) 12 I am sane but maybe suffer forgetfulness (7) 13 Partly ran, chiefly, a cattle farm (5) 14/16 Reach Land’s End, as 19/20 may do eventually (4,2,3,5)
19/20 What a religious postman might do on Sundays (7,1,6) 23 Is green-leaf vegetable burnt? (5) 25 Edward, shortly following the mist, was worried (7) 27 Correct place for 19/20? (7) 28 Marked? Dyed instead (7) 29 A vessel to contain a crowd (6) 30 Why bride is cross when we leave (6)
Down 2 Roman confused girl’s name (5) 3 An object or where one might stand (7) 5 A prank that might be found in dance (5) 6 Sir Toby’s rudeness (5) 7 Hidden ‘treasure’ that Columba has scattered at start of Lent (5) 8 Embassy official’s case (7) 9 Worked out French aristocrat is in action (7)
11 15 17 18 21 22 23 24 26
Make certain you fool company (7) Tallington duck (7) Not angled correctly. Remove start for a mess (7) University lecturer employment is abundant? (7) True, say, that salt and fresh mix here (7) A riser as yet unmixed (5) The opposite of cheese? (5) Only partially settled well where you live (5) As a benefactor initially don’t offer nothing, offer riches (5)
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This Time on Monday A ‘Damascus Road experience’ Our series continues as Sarah Spencer, our Discipleship in the World Officer, speaks to Simon Connolly and hears how his faith inspires and shapes his daily life… Sarah: Hi Simon, please tell us a little about yourself... Simon: I’m a father of two, a husband, an embroiderer, a theology student, an evangelism coordinator and I am currently a general builder. I’ve worked as a Food Buyer, an IT Director and as a Software Engineer. In terms of faith, I was Church of England in my youth, before moving to atheism until the elastic band that binds us to God had stretched far enough to snap me back to him. Sarah: Which church do you go to? Simon: I worship at St Botolph’s Church in the Parish of Boston, alongside St Thomas’ Church, St Christopher’s Church and Holy Trinity Boston.
“Many people have room for faith and God, but struggle, as I did, with crossing the threshold” Sarah: What is the link between Sunday and what you do during the week? Simon: Sunday opens the brackets that encompass the week. At the end of Sunday, we are called to go in peace, and to love and serve the Lord – for me, this opens the brackets for the week ahead. Sunday is the summary; the details are in my Monday to Friday discipleship. Sarah: What will you be doing on Monday at 11am? Simon: It is likely that I will be renovating my house. If the deliveries don’t arrive, then I will be embroidering. Both are gifts from God and part of my discipleship. Sarah: How did you come to faith? Simon: As an atheist, God opened my ears to a conversation about embroidery and the idea stuck. My wife and I bought an embroidery machine and the business took off. God drew us towards a house in Boston so that we could live and work from home. Unfortunately, the house was almost derelict! It was so bad that we couldn’t get tradesmen – but God blessed me with new skills to put our family home together. While pointing the brickwork, I listened to music and noticed deeper meanings in everyday songs. Then one W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
day, Christian worship songs unexpectedly appeared in my playlist… I found I couldn’t stop listening! It was a Damascus Road experience. I felt compelled to buy the King James Study Bible, like a child wishing for a Christmas present. Remember, I was an atheist – so when the Bible turned up, I opened it and had to explain to my wife what I was doing with a Bible! I read it from cover to cover… and it all developed from there. Sarah: What opportunities do you find to put your faith into practice? Simon: Having a home business and a renovation project brings daily deliveries and visitors. Conversations develop. Often there are Christian books lying around, which prompt a chance to ask others why they married in church, have children baptised or want a priest to conduct a burial. I try to offer a bridge as someone who has been out of church and is now on the other side. Sarah: What challenges are there? Simon: I’m very aware of God’s people being kept away from God by the Church. I have a phrase that recurs: ‘to help the Church be ready’. It is no good to have great conversations outside the church with those looking in, if they then arrive and find that it is just as they feared. Many people have room for faith and God, but struggle, as I did, with crossing the threshold. Sarah: Is there anything we can offer in prayer for you? Simon: God appears to be calling our whole family. As parts of the body we cannot operate without each other. I would ask for prayers that all our families are strengthened, protected and enabled together as a whole, as we each step forward on the path God is calling us to. Our monthly diocesan prayer diary is available from our website (www.lincoln.anglican.org) or by contacting John Leach on 01522 50 40 50 x4108.
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Helping and serving others Serving and shaping a new future Crosslincs hears something of the local impact made by the service provided by Christians Against Poverty through St George’s Church in Stamford... The Christians Against Poverty (CAP) office at St George’s Church in Stamford is a hub of transformation. Between Simon Jary (Debt Centre Manager) and Chur Yue Brian (Life Skills Coach) they try and help people to come through debt and to move to a positive future. Tragically, the debt service is oversubscribed and has a waiting list. Around 50% of referrals are by word of mouth. The typical size of a client’s debt is £18,000, split between £4000 of mortgage or rent arrears or utility debt and £14,000 of loans or credit card debt. The reasons vary as to why people are in financial difficulty – unemployment, a reduction in income, a relationship failing, unforeseen emergencies, overspending or a combination of these. After an initial assessment by head office, Simon is sent a referral. He visits the person in their own home for their convenience and to gather paperwork. He is accompanied by a befriender, who will accompany the client on their journey. Simon said: “Some people don’t know how much debt they are in as they ignore the post, and so sometimes I can land up taking away a bin liner full of letters and work it out for them. Embarrassment often stops people getting help, particularly men, and our research shows it takes around three months for people to pluck up the courage to phone. But we don’t judge and there is no shame and I tell them to hope and to believe that there is a way out. “Although people are generally terrified by the debt, facing up to it is empowering. At the first visit I explain how CAP works and make it clear that although we don’t pay the debt off, we will give support and journey with them. We do all this while seeking to be the face of Jesus to them. If they still want to go ahead, a budget is set and the client must commit to paying an amount to CAP each month so it is steadily paid off. If it is going to take longer than five years to repay, we look at insolvency options. At that point, CAP’s wider team start to work with creditors to alleviate the pressure from the client.” Working alongside Simon is Chur Yue, who focuses on Life Skills. She runs an eight-week course that features ongoing support. This includes how to manage on a low budget, setting goals, healthy relationships, the power
Simon and Chur Yue with the recipient of a Life Skills course certificate.
of forgiveness and how to deal with life’s pressures. “Setting goals is very important, as is doing things together, like cooking,” Chur Yue said. “Chopping onions to make a chilli is a step forward for some people. It’s a revelation when they realise that they can make something tasty with not much money. “I get everyone to encourage one another and you can see how they blossom, gaining confidence over the course. We pray at every session and I tell them that Jesus loves and accepts them, as many feel, for example, that they are bad wives or mothers, and so we try and get them to believe in themselves. One woman we helped had had her child taken from her, but over a period of time she was able to turn her life around and get her baby back and look to the future. She has never ceased coming to church since, and has now been baptised. That is the ultimate example of God’s love and his power for transformation.” This is emotionally demanding work, and so how do they cope? “I spend time with God,” Chur Yue said, whose husband is also a coach at the church. Simon is sanguine about the highs and lows, and said: “We try not to over celebrate successes as we have had plenty of knock backs when people don’t pay, and so we have adopted a ‘calm medium’. We recognise that everyone who comes to us has had to find courage to ask for help, and our church community is completely behind them and us, and that gives us strength.” Further information on St George’s Church may be found online at www.stgeorgeschurch.net DIOCESELINCOLN
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Serving communities Offering a local, faith-based response in times of emergency Following a recent call for more Emergency Faith Responders in the diocese, the Revd Canon Andrew Vaughan offered us an insight into what’s involved... Emergency Faith Responders sit alongside colleagues in the blue light services and the council as part of the Emergency Planning Team. There is also help and collaboration with other organisations and charities, such as social services and the Red Cross and Salvation Army. The role is part of a legal framework, and all faith responders need to be accredited and recognisable, meaning that they must wear an ID badge and a high-vis vest at all times. “We’re not asking people to be heroes,” Andrew told us, “and faith responders are not expected to have medical knowledge or take the place of social services. In essence it’s about ministry in abnormal situations, and it’s the generosity of their faith that makes people do it.” Andrew has had direct involvement with several major incidents, including the Boston Floods in 2013. Here he was deployed
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to a youth centre to check people in and to help with the completion of paperwork, of which there can be a lot, as people might be separated from other family members. In addition, and more recently, Andrew was involved in coordinating the deployment of Emergency Faith Responders following the flooding in Wainfleet. “The emergency response is very structured,” Andrew continued, “but dealing with people in terrible situations can be very emotional and tiring. You have to remember that some of them will have lost their homes, possessions and businesses, so having a humanitarian approach is essential. There is a debrief after the emergency has ended and we also have a spiritual debrief as well so that we can return the situation back to God.” Bishop David was able to visit Wainfleet (pictured below), and he said that “It was good to see both the Emergency Faith Responders and the local church playing their part, along with all the other voluntary and statutory agencies, in responding to the flood and seeking to put their faith into action in practical ways for the people of Wainfleet.” For more details see www.ctal.org.uk or call 01522 27 11 41.
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Flixborough remembered The 1974 Faith Responder Forty-five years on from the Flixborough disaster, local people recall the impact of the explosion and how the church served as an important local hub for people... On Saturday, 1st June 1974 the chemical plant at Flixborough exploded, resulting in the death of 28 people and seriously injuring 36. It was the largest explosion in peacetime history and it destroyed the village. The waves of the blast could be felt in Scunthorpe some three miles away and heard 30 miles away in Grimsby. All Saints’ Church provided a sanctuary to the villagers in the days after the blast, and the church recently updated the pond in the memorial garden (pictured right) to honour those who died, with generous funding from the Grange Windfarm Community Benefit Fund. The existing bench was kindly refurbished by Chris Theaker. In looking back to 1974, churchwarden Jeremy Jolley has said: “That explosion was the darkest day in Scunthorpe’s history. It still affects people today and we have people who come to church to remember their lost loved ones.” The original plaque, listing all those who died, is also sited outside the church and it is hoped that this too can also be renovated.
“Amongst the anger and despair there was hope...” The Revd Canon Peter Hearn was the Vicar of Flixborough at the time of the disaster, and only six months into that post. On the day of the explosion he was at home with two of his children when all of the windows in the vicarage blew in and he realised immediately that it was something to do with the chemical plant. His wife, Ann, who had been out in Burton-Upon-Stather with another of their children, came home and while she and the children left for the safety of Gainsborough, Peter put on his dog collar and went out to see how he could help. “Wearing a dog collar gets you into places,” he said, “and it means that people are more likely to talk to you, so you can get information.” This was key as the residents were understandably shocked, distressed and angry. Where were they going to live and who would pay for the loss of their home? Their fury was obviously directed at Nypro UK, the chemical company, and Peter was concerned about the future relationship between the villagers and the plant.
Peter said: “This was a huge disaster, many died and the village was completely flattened, so there were a lot of media in the area looking for stories. On the Monday the local authority called a meeting for the residents that was to take place outside the pub. All the journalists were there with the villagers, and people were very angry and it quickly descended into chaos. I saw a solution and so I took the villagers to All Saints’ Church and closed the doors to everyone else. It gave us a space in which to think about what people really needed to know, which was generally about legal matters and insurance; so I established a link with a solicitor and another one with the council, and took on the role of being the liaison point between the villagers and other organisations and started to get answers. “Right after the explosion the village was evacuated and people were taken to a college in Scunthorpe, so I worked with the emergency services and the local authority to help to account for everyone. It’s said that it takes two years to get to know people in your parish and for them to get to know you. I got to know everyone in six weeks. Everyone rallied around and the help was amazing. “Amongst the anger and despair there was hope as we received so many donations from people as cash, furniture and even holidays to help those who were made homeless; it was very touching. Some donations even got to us even though they were addressed with just ‘Flixborough’ or ‘Rector of Flixborough’ written on them. It is a blessing from God that the church survived, as following the explosion it was inspected by surveyors, who said the roof had been lifted off and had then settled down again. It was a hub for everyone – for information, and as a space to both mourn and pray. But people are resilient, the village was rebuilt and they bounced back. Through a terrible tragedy came a strong community and it was my privilege to serve there for 25 years.” DIOCESELINCOLN
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Outreach and support Giving to the local community and supporting each other Crosslincs hears of two groups for ladies that offer bereavement support and make a valuable contribution to the local community within The Walesby Group... The Walesby Group is lucky to have two groups of wonderful ladies – one that offers mutual support to those going through bereavement and another that gives to their community through their knitting. Some belong to both. Leading them is the Revd Elaine Turner, Associate Priest for the benefice. Elaine was ordained in 2005 and has ministered in The Walesby Group for 25 years, initially as a Reader. She retired from secular employment in 2013 after a long, very successful career in engineering and immediately undertook an MA in pastoral theology. Pastoral work has always been central to her ministry, and so with more time after her retirement she has continued to develop this area of work in the group’s 10 parishes.
“What I realised is that these bereaved ladies would really benefit from a social network, where they could all come together and offer support to each other and have some fun too” Elaine set up ‘Companions of the Wolds’ five years ago after a particularly busy time doing 1:1 visits during which she saw many ‘young widows’. She said: “When people are first bereaved they really just need to be listened to and I give them that support in our 1:1 sessions, but as time goes on I have to take a step back as there are other newly bereaved people to care for, and the pastoral visitors that I have trained are then able to take over. “What I realised is that these bereaved ladies would really benefit from a social network, where they could all come together and offer support to each other and also have some fun. So I sent out invitations to tea to about 20 people, asked them what they thought and it all went from there. It’s open to everyone, whether you have a Christian faith or not. We meet once a month and do lots of different things. We have painted pots, visited the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln and local gardens, and we’ve had meals out together.” W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
The Revd Elaine Turner and members of the ‘Companions of the Wolds’.
The knitting group started in 2018 when several ladies came together to knit poppies for Remembrance Sunday. Elaine explained that “We aimed to knit a poppy for every one of the 1,075 airmen from one of our parishes, Brookenby (formerly RAF Binbrook), and the 60 others from our other nine parishes who had died in the two world wars. I never expected that we would achieve this but we ended up knitting about 1,500 for a glorious cascade, which we put up in Tealby church.” Having enjoyed it so much they decided to carry on and they now meet weekly and knit Fiddle Muffs for dementia patients in a local nursing home and also for the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby. They also make hats, gloves and scarves for a homeless shelter, and sew a label into each item saying ‘Made with love for you’ on it. In addition, they create items for the traditional Christian festivals and the focus is now on the preparation of fun items for the festive season and the Christmas tree display, when their knitted goodies will be hanging on the trees. Everyone is made welcome, even if they can’t knit – there are always drinks to be made and conversation to be had. Feedback from the ladies who attend is all positive. The oldest member of the Companions group is 92, and she said she ‘always enjoys it’, while another added that it was ‘something to look forward to’. If you live in the area and would like to join either of the groups, please contact the Revd Elaine Turner via email at elaine.tuner958@gmail.com Further information on the Walesby Group is at https://www.walesbychurches.org
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Safeguarding training Safeguarding training in your area Lucy Russell, diocesan Safeguarding Training Coordinator, offers details of further safeguarding-related training... The safety and wellbeing of the most vulnerable in our society lies at the heart of the Gospel we are privileged to share. Our churches should be places of security and safety for all. As those who share in the public ministry of the Church, we bear a responsibility for ensuring that our own care for the vulnerable is well informed, and meets the standards required by the diocesan policies for the safeguarding of children and adults at risk. Safeguarding training is mandatory; it is delivered in the church context and requires delegates to take part in a safeguarding training session at least once every three years. Renewal of authorisation, permission to officiate (PTO), and the take-up of a new position in the diocese also require the appropriate level of safeguarding training to be met. Who should attend the Foundation Module (C1&2)? Authorised lay ministers; pastoral assistants (for example, those who take Holy Communion to the housebound and do this unsupervised); children’s and young people’s workers; Parochial Church Council members; other volunteers (anyone else not qualifying for the Leadership Module). Who should attend the Leadership Module (C3)? The Leadership Module training is mandatory for clergy who hold the Bishop’s licence and are in employment; Readers who hold the Bishop’s licence; clergy and Readers with PTO (whether they are retired or not). This training module may also be beneficial for safeguarding coordinators and churchwardens. To book a place, please contact me on 01522 50 40 57, one of my colleagues on 01522 50 40 68, or email safeguarding.training@lincoln.anglican.org
C1&2 Foundation Training 2019 Saturday, 20th July 2019 – St James’ Church, Spilsby (2–5pm) Thursday, 5th September – All Saints’ Church, Ruskington (9.30am–12.30pm) Tuesday, 10th September 2019 – St Germain’s Church, Scothern (9.30am–12.30pm) Tuesday, 17th September 2019 – St Mary’s Parish Hall, Mablethorpe (6–9pm) Monday, 23rd September 2019 – St Peter’s Church Hall, Humberston (6–9pm) Wednesday, 2nd October 2019 – St Barnabas Church Hall, Barnetby (6–9pm) Saturday, 5th October 2019 – Trinity Centre, Louth (2.30–5.30pm). C3 Leadership Training 2019 Thursday, 18th July 2019 – St Botolph’s Church Hall, Boston Friday, 26th July 2019 – Cathedral Centre, Lincoln Friday, 18th October 2019 – St Hugh’s Church, Old Brumby Thursday, 14th November 2019 – St Botolph’s Church Hall, Boston. C5 Refresher Training 2019 This is for anyone who has previously attended a C1&2 or C3 course. It will be held on Saturday, 2nd November 2019 at All Saints’ Parish Centre in Nettleham (9.30am–12.30pm). Please call me or email us to book a place. The Leadership days are all 9am–4.30pm. This training is for all members of the clergy, but churchwardens and safeguarding parish officers may also find it beneficial. It is, however, first and foremost leadership-level safeguarding training for clergy.
Keeping in touch via the diocesan e-bulletin...
Readers of Crosslincs might be interested to learn that the diocesan Communications Office produces a regular electronic newsletter, or e-bulletin, that contains a digest of news and events in the diocese and further afield. A sign-up facility is available on the homepage of the diocesan website (www.lincoln.anglican.org) or please email communications@lincoln.anglican.org or call 01522 50 40 64/01522 50 40 37 for assistance and more details.
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NOTICEBOARD JULY
Thursday, 25th – Sunday, 28th July. Gedney Flower Festival (‘What’s My Line?’) at Gedney Church (PE12 0BU). Flowers prepared by over 70 arrangers, plus many stalls, such as bric-a-brac, produce, plants, cakes and books. Doors will open at 10am on each day. There will be free entry and car parking, refreshments and disabled access and toilets. AUGUST
Friday, 16th August (from 7pm). St Guthlac’s Church in Fishtoft will host Boston Ukulele Band. Entry will be £8 (to include puddings and wine/soft drink), with proceeds to go to church funds. All are welcome. Saturday, 24th & Sunday, 25th August (10am–4pm each day). An arts and craft weekend at St James’ Church in Freiston, to include displays of artwork by local artists and artisans, plus craft and gift stalls to help visitors find those unusual gifts. Homemade refreshments will be available, and all proceeds will go to the church. OCTOBER
Saturday, 5th October (10am–4pm). A Church For Our Planet – a free practical introduction to ‘EcoChurch’ with workshops. To be held at St Giles’ Church (Lamb Gardens, Lincoln LN2 4EJ), this event will include an introductory speaker, further details on ‘EcoChurch’, a presentation from Green Journey, a bookstall and marketplace. More information will follow ahead of the event, and a Facebook page is available by searching for ‘Faith and Environment Lincolnshire’. For details of more forthcoming events to be held around the diocese, please see www.lincoln.anglican.org and look for the ‘News and events’ section. We welcome details of forthcoming events for possible publication here and online. W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG
Creating a space in which to share peace The Revd Julie Wearing, Vicar of St Faith & St Martin with St Peter at Arches, Lincoln, looks back at the opening of a new Peace Garden... Bishop Nicholas received a special invitation to bless a new Peace Garden at St Faith’s Church of England Infant & Nursery School in Lincoln. The Peace Garden has been based on lots of different ideas from the children, which have produced a final design that offers a beautiful space featuring flowers and plants planted by the children and also some of their own symbols of peace.
The Peace Garden is a very special place in the school, offering the children somewhere to reflect, think and be still and quiet. It is used at playtime, in Collective Worship, in lessons and even before and after school. Reflecting in the Peace Garden helps the children to think about their actions and about others, about the things that they have done well and anything that they might need to do differently. On the day of the bishop’s visit, the Peace Garden was opened with a time of Collective Worship. Held in the garden, the ideas and preparation for this came from the school’s Collective Worship Council and considered what a Peace Garden means and its purpose. Before blessing the garden, Bishop Nicholas spoke to the children, and we sang ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’, shared in The Lord’s Prayer and heard a poem about peace. The Peace Garden is a wonderful addition to the school. DIOCESELINCOLN
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