Crosslincs March/April 2020 issue

CROSSLINCS News from around the Diocese of Lincoln www.lincoln.anglican.org

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March/April 2020 – Free

Offering a smart, local welcome to visitors St Swithun’s Church in Long Bennington has created an ultra-modern visitor experience that is accessible via smartphone. David Andrews, who jointly led the project, and Neil Rathbone, who supplied the system, describe what happened...

St Swithun’s, which is part of the Saxonwell Group of Churches near Grantham, dates from 1175 and is a

treasured asset of its village, but serious subsidence in the chancel and north aisle meant that the church was considered to be ‘at risk’. While preparing applications for a major conservation project, they were advised

by Matthew Godfrey, the diocesan Historic Churches Support Officer, to consider adding a smartphone-based heritage visitor experience.

(Continued overleaf...)

INSIDE...

INSIDE...

Sharing in history and welcome

Finding beauty in wild flowers

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Crosslincs is produced by the Diocese of Lincoln

The submission deadline for the next issue is 1st April 2020 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 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

Offering a smart, local welcome to visitors (continued) Info-Point units create their own Wi-Fi and off-grid internet, onto which you can put websites that are only accessible locally. Although completely separate from the public web, it works using exactly the same technology, so is universally compatible with present and future web-browsing devices. As the visitor uses their own smartphone, the church does not need to provide hardware, or have staff in attendance.

Neil visited the church and demonstrated what the system could do. “We were able to use it on our own phones and were struck by how well the system meets our needs,” David says. “The fact that it works reliably, and that we can update the content ourselves was important to us. We also realised that we would save money on printing paper-based visitor information.

We had to get our head around what we could do with the technology, and I was often calling Neil with questions as we progressed, but he was able to answer them all and our confidence just grew and grew.”

“This project left me with nothing but good feelings...”

The system grows The Vicar, the Revd Harriet Orridge, and her team realised that the system could host wider information to make a church visit a more welcoming experience that was better integrated into local communities. As well as a church tour, God’s Acre information, a First World War factsheet, and local ‘rambles’, some new village trails were commissioned from a local graphic designer, including a special children’s version. An advocate of the ‘Messy Church’ philosophy, Harriet also requested some interactive children’s games.

A second Info-Point has been installed in the village hall on the main road, plus an information board to attract passing visitors. A QR code was added so that the technosavvy can download the trail directly. The Info-Point units can also host websites for other organisations, and it is planned to invite local groups to have a presence.

Any regrets?

“This project left me with nothing but good feelings,” Neil says. “David and the team were great to work with. They helped us to improve our product and support to suit the church environment.” David sums up the project by saying that it has been “An unqualified success, and we still have further to go.”

Info-Point can be seen at www.info-point.eu and David Andrews is happy to be contacted for references through Neil Rathbone at neil.rathbone@webnebulus.co.uk or on 01664 89 79 57. Neil can also provide an Info-Point loan unit for evaluation.

Front cover: members of the project team. (Project graphics were provided by Rareblue.)

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Sharing in history and welcome Thomas Becket - the man, martyr and legend for all time David Justham writes on a special weekend in May at Stow Minster and a connection with Thomas Becket...

The Anglo-Saxon Minster Church of St Mary’s, Stowin-Lindsey has an important 12th-century wall painting depicting the life and death in 1170AD of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury (1162–1170). The long-hidden wall painting was rediscovered in 1865 during the removal of plaster from an alcove below the east window in the north transept of the Minster. The wall painting dates to the late 12th century or early 13th century. On 7th July 1220 the body of Thomas Becket was ‘translated’ or moved from the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral to a shrine in the cathedral, which became a focal point for pilgrims.

The presence of the wall painting suggests that Stow Minster was a local site of pilgrimage to honour the life of the archbishop, who defended the Church against the king. The year 2020 recognises that it is 900 years since the birth of Thomas Becket (b.1120), 850 years since his death by assassination, and 800 years since his translation.

Robert de Chesney, a former Bishop of Lincoln, was a supporter of Thomas and he was involved in his election to the archbishopric. Although it is not known if Thomas ever visited Robert in Lincoln, the presence of the wall painting points to a reasoned link for its location.

In 2020, West Lindsey’s Churches Festival will celebrate ‘Adventurers and Pilgrims’. As part of this, Saint Mary’s, Stow will be focusing on Thomas Becket, telling his story

Stow Minster will be the setting for a drama on the life of Thomas Becket.

through drama over the weekend of Saturday, 16th and Sunday, 17th May. Visitors will be given an opportunity to experience interactive historical drama that explores the life of Thomas throughout the weekend, and Mr Murderie’s Players will take people on a pilgrimage to Canterbury and beyond – a medieval ‘whydunnit’. Come and meet characters from his life during the Saturday, and then attend a 45-minute drama starting at 4pm on the Sunday. ‘Becket’ is an original script penned by members of the group, and more details will be posted on the church website (www.stowminster.co.uk), including information on how to reserve a seat at the final drama.

West Lindsey Churches Festival is on 9–10th and 16–17th May. Information is available online at www.churchesfestival.info

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Facing the future Parish share meetings 2019: facing a financial challenge and finding a faithful response The Revd David Dadswell, Diocesan Secretary, looks at some of the points and questions raised at the series of parish share meetings held at the end of last year...

We’re facing a serious financial challenge in the diocese – a gap each year of several million pounds between our income and our spend – that has been developing over decades. This threatens our ability to provide anything like the number of front-line clergy we have been used to. To try to encourage a level of giving that would meet the challenge, parish share meetings were held towards the end of last year in every deanery in the diocese – 22 evenings at which a mixture of myself, our Director of Finance, the relevant archdeacon and other officers presented the overall financial position and then met individually with benefice wardens, treasurers and clergy to discuss their parish share request. Would they be able to match the request, give more, or not reach the figure?

“For most people, paying the parish share is a struggle.

Many are working really hard to pay it or as much as they can...”

The overall conclusion was not encouraging. The number of parishes and benefices who said they would not be able to come up with what was asked means that we are likely to have to change our assumptions. Indeed, Bishop David is putting in place a process that is designed to address the situation in quick time. However, reflecting on what came out in the discussions, some important themes arose fairly consistently that merit attention.

For most people, paying the parish share is a struggle.

Many are working really hard to pay it or as much as they can, but there are significant numbers who resist paying it because of the legendary wealth of the Church, because the increases are unrealistic or because increasing the demands on people who already struggle will demoralise people. Although, on average, parishes in this diocese have a higher level of reserves than other dioceses, parishes are W W W.LINCOLN. ANGLIC AN.ORG

digging into their reserves to cover costs including parish share. However, there are people who commit to pay more than they are asked, who are surprised it isn’t more (especially if they have come from other dioceses) and who use the language of it being their duty to pay it.

A common reason quoted for struggling was demographics. Our congregation is elderly. We are on fixed incomes. Our big givers keep dying off. There are no families in our village. There is only a tiny number of us.

We only have x people/houses in our village. Lincolnshire is very poor. Added to this was the burden of our church buildings. What’s the priority? Do you want us to pay our share or our insurance? We have just had our lead stolen or we’ve got a massive building bill/project happening next year, or our job is to keep the building up, not to keep the diocese solvent. Many voices raised the issue of how many churches we have in Lincolnshire and whether there was a way of rationalising this.

Mission and ministry Often questions of mission and ministry came up.

Although the parish share formula is based on the idea of a common pot which is shared out on the basis of ability to pay, there was a strong connection between our paying the parish share and our having a priest. Why should we pay if we aren’t going to get a vicar or haven’t had one for years, or if we’re in vacancy?

An acute dilemma was raised a number of times: we get that the most effective thing to cut is the clergy, but, if you cut our priest, that will mean we will be able to do less mission and the numbers will go down, as will the income. However, many people were clear and often insistent that we need a different model of ministry; for example, in the use of lay and voluntary ministers and in the distribution of our clergy.

In contrast, though, on a couple of occasions we were told very forcibly that it was the job of head office, either

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Provision and service the bishops and archdeacons and officers in the diocese or the national church, to change the way we do mission and to direct the local church to do so. There seemed to be significant ignorance both of new resources and changes in church rules that enabled a wide menu of options and permissions for doing mission differently.

that was much higher than the giving in their parish. Only once did I hear anybody say that was lower than anyone gave in theirs. In many places fundraising events are seen as more the thing to do than trying to drive regular, planned giving. It seems typical that locals will give for the building but they don’t want their money going to Lincoln.

I suspect that the most difficult Although the financial “...what did cheer us was the and yet most important nut to outcome of these meetings openness and faithfulness of so crack is our culture of giving. did not leave us optimistic, It was said that we don’t like what did cheer us was the many people in addressing what preaching or teaching about openness and faithfulness of is a really difficult conundrum” money, giving and stewardship; so many people in addressing so, we don’t. From comments what is a really difficult we heard, the result of this is that regular worshippers conundrum. People are lovingly and prayerfully working often give just a pound or what they’ve given for years. On to balance mission, buildings and financial sustainability. seeing that the average giving per committed giver in the It was a pleasure to meet everyone who came and I am diocese was £7.20, many faces betrayed that they thought very grateful for the warm hospitality we received.

Addressing the deficit to achieve a balanced budget To address the financial challenges outlined by the Revd David Dadswell in the previous article, Bishop David has set up five working groups that will each look at a different area of income and expenditure and propose ways to improve the missional and financial health of the diocese...

Given the size of the gap between income and expenditure, the proposals will have to be bold and transformational across all areas. Lincoln is not the only diocese experiencing financial difficulties, with other dioceses around the country also struggling to balance their books for a variety of reasons. As a brief snapshot of our financial position, of the £9 million expected income for 2020, 50% is expected to come from parish share. To recap, this is the money given by individual churches to contribute towards the stipend, pension, housing and training of their vicar, as it is not wholly covered by the endowment fund managed by The Lincoln Diocesan Trust & Board of Finance Ltd. However, the current amount being received in parish share falls substantially short of those costs (£7.9 million), by £4 million per annum. Clergy costs represent the largest cost to the diocese and account for 50% of the expenditure budget.

For several years, bridging the gap between the parish share income and the clergy stipend costs has been met by disposing of our assets. Although this does result in an immediate injection of funds, we lose a proportion of the interest (income) on the greater amount of the asset, thus putting further pressure on our finances. Although the diocese has some historic assets, by 2021 we will have reached the safe limit of what we can sell off to service the deficit without causing damage to those assets.

The five groups working on proposals to balance the budget are listed below and each has a number of terms of reference (TOR) and suggested outcomes. Examples of the TOR are given alongside the name of the working party: • Growth – this will look at increasing the number of worshippers; investigating ways in which growth is being achieved here and elsewhere around the country • Assets – maximising the diocesan asset portfolio, including looking at different proportions and elements within it • Central diocesan costs – looking at costs and service delivery levels; reviewing other models of central service delivery • Deployment – to look at models of deployment, including lay ministers and readers, as well as clergy • Parish share – looking at the giving culture of parishes in the diocese, as Lincolnshire has the lowest amount of giving in the country; other parish share schemes from around the country will also be looked at.

Please contact us with suggestions or queries (see page 2).

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Faith and wellbeing Valuing one another and finding life in all its fullness The Revd Andrew Jackson-Parr, Vicar of All Saints Church in Bracebridge, Lincoln, reflects on how his spiritual and prayer life has improved through regular exercise...

Five years ago somebody made a remark about my appearance. It sometimes shocks me what we think we can say to one another in the name of Christian love. But the reality was that I was overweight and, with a family history of ill health, I was a walking, if out of breath, image of a health disaster in the making. In the five years since I have gained a real appreciation for my own physical health and also the connection that this has with my mental and spiritual wellbeing.

Of course, I understand that, for some, physical activity is either not possible or desirable for many reasons. For me, however, it has been a Godsend. My exercise of choice is running. Preferably outdoors, although if there is too much snow and ice I have been known to run on a treadmill.

I feel a wonderful connection to God when running outdoors, along trails, cliffs and coastlines, enjoying the magnificence of creation and my place within it.

“In the busyness of our lives the things we enjoy the most are usually the first things to be pushed aside or forgotten” ‘Thin places’ are those places where the distance between heaven and earth collapses, reflecting the feeling of closeness to God and the heavenly kingdom.

Running provides that space for me. I can pray for the creation I am running through, and I can also carry with me those for whom I am praying and hold myself before God. My spiritual and prayer life has been improved and sustained by my love of running.

Running can also have a communal aspect: being a part of a running club provides space for connection with other people around a shared interest, and one that is outside of my day-to-day ministry. I have found some very important friends through running with other people. This communal aspect brings a level of accountability; you have to be where you said you would be because you said you would.

And Rita is counting on you to run with her.

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The Revd Andrew Jackson-Parr, Vicar of All Saints, Bracebridge, Lincoln.

In the busyness of our lives the things we enjoy the most are usually the first things to be pushed aside or forgotten.

We quickly forget that we are called to have life in all its fullness, and also that those things that we enjoy doing and which bring us such joy can be a gift from God. There is an intuitiveness or a level of empathy to shared physical exercise that is not always present within our Christian communities. If you are a dancer and keep missing steps, people ask why: is all ok? Is there anything we can do? Or if you are a runner: you’re not running at your usual pace, what’s that about? Have you eaten today, have you taken time out to rest and recover? Are you stressed or sad? How can we help? Questions and level of concern that, if we are honest, we very rarely ask of each other within our churches because we don’t know how to ask or we are afraid to. If someone breaks a leg or has a fall we can cope with that, but matters of mental and spiritual wellbeing can be harder to approach.

For me, there are parallels between the Christian journey and running. There is a shared journey that can be more difficult at different times for different reasons, but we all come together to share part of our journey – that might be on a 20-mile training run, a sociable parkrun or as we pass each other on a running track. Likewise we draw alongside others as we share our faith journey to pray together, to worship together and to encourage one another in our faith. Sometimes that is a short encounter and at other times it is for a longer time. The effect should be the same – to share the love of God within that encounter, to value the other as being created in the image of God and to have life in all its fullness. We each need to find these spaces and for our own wellbeing begin to establish them as a positive habit. I love running and fitness and I’m happy to help others on their fitness journey.

A qualified personal trainer and run leader, Andrew’s contact details are available at www.allsaintsbracebridge.co.uk

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Announcements The Revd Clive Todd has been appointed Vicar of the benefice of Brothertoft in Plurality with Sibsey with Frithville.

The Revd Gavin Cooper has resigned his licence as Rector of the benefice of St Mary and St Martin, Stamford with effect from 29th February 2020.

The Revd Neil Shaw has been appointed Rector of the benefice of Stamford All Saints with St John.

The Revd Julie Wearing has resigned her licence as Incumbent of the benefice of St Faith and St Martin with St Peter-at-Arches Lincoln, with effect from Tuesday, 19th May 2020. Her last day in parish will be on Sunday, 19th April 2020. Julie has been appointed Vicar of the benefice of Crosby and she is due to be licensed on 20th May 2020.

Please join us in praying for all of these people.

PRIZE CROSSWORD

Set by Ariq

Solution to the crossword in the last issue.

Winner: Mr Peter Gray, Legbourne.

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: 1st April 2020. A photocopy of the completed crossword is acceptable. The editor’s decision is final, and the prize will be a faith-related book.

Across 1/6 I did it! No one else.

(3,2,3,4) 10 Bring together unity, needed in four years to begin with. (5) 11 Informal opening. (5) 12 Wanderer; bound about, that is, to roam. (7) 13 Push for the return of a colour, for example dun. (5) 15 Unearthly writer. (5) 17 When I leave I’m bounced, becoming dishevelled. (8) 18 US grip holds a light case. (6) 20 Aussie with mottled patina. (6)

21 He waits till the cows come home. (8) 23 Otherworldly shadow. (5) 26 Alter angle when looking for theatrical supporter. (5) 29 Doctor in storm took risk, but in the past. (7) 30 Zap Spanish female around in square. (5) 31 A fire in the vicar’s house? (5) 32/33 Cast adrift – no panic, float till you know what to do.

(4,2,6)

Down 2 Master railed vigorously, losing energy. (5) 3 Award gets an affirmative, perhaps. (5) 4 Sort attitude, do! No, it is old-fashioned. (8) 5 Found in the blue, an area of cloud and gas. (6) 6 I quit cabling to put on squeeze. (5) 7 Deliver short ration in proportion. (5) 8/17 Come good by increasing the volume on President’s family?

(4,2,6) 9/28 Is Arctic Circle on the London Underground? (8,4)

14 Not a solitary fish. (7) 16 Shattered chalcedony, barring brief month, produces calm. (7) 17 See 8.

19 Dromedary with poorly back finds bloom. (8) 22 Pruned puzzle is a plant. (6) 24 Fight gives right to cry. (5) 25 Once more, on the other hand, an advantage. (5) 26 Change, and do amend, preparing the beginnings to suit. (5) 27 Enthusiasm Angus took on board. (5) 28 See 9.

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Celebrating nature Finding beauty in wild flowers Paul Day from Spilsby finds inspiration for flower arranging in the diversity and the wonder of the hedgerows and verges that line our roads...

Imagine decorating our churches with the blossoms that are just as God has created them, offering back with joy that which he so lovingly creates and asks us to tend. Imagine the sense of wellbeing and integrity that comes from picking and using flowers that have grown without chemicals and have not travelled hundreds, even thousands of miles by air, road or rail, in refrigerated transporters to reach you and your church.

The simplicity, friendliness and air of understated innocence of wild flowers goes so well with our church interiors. In contemporary, urban settings, they can provide a visual contrast with the bold, uncluttered lines, bright light and open spaces. In historic settings they reveal their fragile transience and gentle shades in contrast to the rich stained glass and the dark wood, and they are offset by the gentle tones of the stonework.

There is always the question, however, of where we might get the flowers from. Of course, I am not advocating picking from the wild! (Please also see the details of The Wild Flower Society’s Code of Conduct that are mentioned at the end of this article.) I have friends who have planted wild-flower meadows on their farms and they have been happy to allow me to pick a few for my arrangements.

You don’t need lots and lots, and it is always worth asking around. For example, you might already have a ‘God’s Acre’ patch in the churchyard. Perhaps, as we plan our gardens for this year, we should think about a wild-flower area. You could plant a patch of native flowers in your own garden, which would be lovely for church and wonderful for wildlife. As we might benefit from their beauty, so all God’s creation benefits on many levels.

So, what could we do this year, and how do we start?

Some wild flowers have a short vase life, but in the cool interior of churches, some last for a good two weeks.

Some will not take up water from floral foam, but some will. Instead use a deep vase with scrunched-up chicken wire to hold stems in place. Indeed, wild flowers look better when they are used simply!

My garden is planted up with a variety of wild flowers and cottage garden flowers, which look great together.

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These, along with grasses, seedheads, berries and evergreens provide colour and structure for church all the year round. Experiment and see what you like, but here are a few of my favourites: • Wild grasses – fresh or dried, always lovely.

• Cow parsley – best on their own; frothy and light, but can be used as a filler or mixer. Lovely near windows. Beautiful woven through the chancel screen for a wedding. It will survive a couple of days out of water.

• Alkanet – fresh greens and blue. In water it can last for ages. The more you cut, the more it grows.

• Buttercups – good in foam, lasts well and the fallen petals are pleasing too.

• Oxeye daisy – a classic that lasts well in water, but less well in foam.

• Dog rose – breathtaking! It only lasts a few days, but for a romantic wedding it is worth every effort.

They should be in deep water only and the petals are lovely as they fall.

• Field scabious, cornflowers and knapweed are all useful and easy to grow.

So, this year as we all act to reduce our carbon footprints and spend time tending to the beauty of creation, try going ‘off-road’ with your church flowers, and above all have fun!

The Wild Flower Society’s website has a link to a code of conduct from The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland.

Please see https://www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_ new_pages/1f _code_of _coduct.htm It is important to note that any growing for cutting should result in no net loss while seeking to raise the profile of wild flowers.

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‘Wild Church’ Sharing in worship outdoors Crosslincs hears of a new title that explores versions of outdoor worship and how such gatherings offer an opportunity to ‘fall in love with God and God’s creation’...

So often Christians link ‘church’ with imposing stone buildings with inefficient heating systems. However, a new booklet by Cate Williams, titled Forest Church: Earthed Perspectives on the Gospel, discusses five distinct versions of outdoor worship. It is a concise starting point for anyone curious about the concept of engaging with the transcendence of God while being in creation.

Outdoor worship has the potential to reach out to those who have realised a sense of the spiritual and transcendent, without perhaps considering the role of a creator within it. You might have heard of Forest Church, Wild Church, Outdoor Church and even Mossy Church – each have their own particular characteristics. Some are ecumenical, immersing worship within nature; others are more uniquely Anglican.

Expressions of outdoor worship take place in public parks, postage-stamp plots of land, and specially designed outdoor spaces. There are many resources that encourage would-be facilitators to have a go, either on an ad-hoc basis or to set up something that might develop into regular worship. Martin Thompson, who runs ‘Wild Church’ with Christine Newitt at Great Hale, writes: “Wild Church at Great Hale evolved last year, after a two-day wildlife event, outside, amongst the wildlife, supported by organisations such as Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. It was such a success we were asked to do it again. We had just finished a Messy Church, and were praying about what to do next. This is where ‘Wild Church’ was born.

“I’ve always been involved with the outdoors, walking, climbing, canoeing and leading scout groups. ‘Wild Church’ comes very naturally to me. We launched in October in the churchyard, looking at trees and investigating different types of leaves. We had service sheets with prayer, some simple liturgy and we read a psalm together. It was a joyful event, and 26 people came, with a real mixture of young and old, families and singles. People keep coming back and we have been able to welcome a new family who have moved into the village.

“We all need to fall in love with God and God’s creation.

Not everybody feels comfortable stepping across a threshold. We are very committed to reaching out to people and to share God’s love, and ‘Wild Church’ is just another way of doing it. The best bit about it for me is about being outdoors, whilst giving people an opportunity to explore faith.”

Out and about in the diocese • Liquorice Park Church – Liquorice Park Millennium Green, Lincoln LN1 1LQ (first Sunday of the month; 3pm by the Carline Road viewpoint) • Church by Nature – The National Centre for Craft & Design, Sleaford (second Sunday of the month; 2pm by the mosaic bench at the rear of the centre) • Great Hale Wild Church – Great Hale churchyard [second Saturday of the month; times vary (please see the Facebook page by searching for @GHwildchurch)] • The Haven Mossy Church – The Haven (Faith and Nature Centre), Dorchester Road, Scunthorpe (second Saturday of the month; 12–2pm) • Lincoln Forest Church – Whisby Nature Reserve (fourth Sunday of the month; 2pm outside the cafe).

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Noticeboard Thy Kingdom Come – Lincoln leads the way!

As the Revd John Leach writes, it was recently our privilege to be the first diocese in the country to host a Thy Kingdom Come ‘Inspire and Enable’ training day...

Led by Canon Jean Kerr, who works with the team from Lambeth Palace, the day was part of Jean’s grand tour to help churches make the most of this year’s ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ (TKC), which runs from 21st–31st May. More than 50 ‘champions’ gathered in Horncastle to hear Jean introduce this year’s TKC materials, offer some encouraging stories from previous years, and then to share in a time of creative prayer, which opened up for us all sorts of stimulating prayer possibilities, which might be used during the novena between Ascension Day and Pentecost.

those present could take some ideas back to their churches and see what might work well in their own settings.

The main thrust this year is simple: to encourage people to identify five friends or family members for whom they would like to pray, that they might encounter the life-transforming love of Jesus and become his disciples. We were encouraged to pray for those people in a variety of different ways; silently, with words and with actions. The idea was that

If you would like me to come and present some ideas on TKC in your parish, synod or any other grouping, please get in touch. I will be using (with Jean’s permission!) some of the materials from the training day, and also listening for ideas that have worked for you in the past and which might be more widely shared in other churches. You can get in touch with me on 01522 50 40 49 or by email at john.leach@lincoln.anglican.org

Mothers’ Union on the march

Lincolnshire Toddler Network

Patsy Moore reports on Lincoln Mothers’ Union’s second march through Lincoln to mark ‘16 Days Of Activism Against Gender Violence and Abuse’...

A network has been launched for all who are involved in church-run Toddler groups. The Revd Richard Steel reports on an initial gathering for those serving in this area...

Twenty members took part on 25th November 2019, and they received a warm welcome at Lincoln Cathedral and were blessed on their way by the Duty Chaplain.

Information leaflets were handed out to all who would receive them. The leaflets contained details of organisations that could be contacted by anyone who was in an abusive situation or who had suspicions that abuse may be happening to someone else.

At a meeting at Edward King House in January, 30 people came together from across the county. Led by Bishop David’s wife, Ann, this was facilitated by the Mission Team.

People gathered into groups to share some of the joys and challenges of running groups for young ones and their carers, and Ann said, “It was a privilege to meet so many people who are committed to supporting families in their communities, and there was a lot of wisdom and many good ideas shared. It was a really good start. The plan is to meet together regularly, both centrally and locally around the diocese, and set up a Facebook group to support each other and swap ideas.”

The public response was mostly very positive, and the walk concluded with an open-air service outside St Peter at Gowts. If this exercise gives just one person the courage to seek help then it will have been worthwhile. The Mothers’ Union will continue to pray for the vulnerable and the marginalised and will probably do another march at some point in the future. We welcome anyone who would like to join us (https://www.mothersunion.org/diocese/lincoln).

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If you would like to be part of this network, or to find out more information, please contact Marie Isaac, Mission and Ministry Team Administrator, on 01522 50 40 22 or by email at marie.isaac@lincoln.anglican.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.

Basic Awareness 2020 Please contact safeguarding.training@lincoln.anglican.org for more details regarding access. The module is for Parochial Church Council members, servers, sidespeople, bellringers, administrators, shop staff, refreshment providers, flower arrangers, musicians and anyone attending a Foundation or Leadership face-to-face course.

Who should attend the Foundation Module?

Authorised lay ministers; pastoral assistants (e.g. those who take Holy Communion to the housebound and do this

Past Cases Review 2 In line with all other dioceses in the country and at the instruction of the Church of England’s House of Bishops, we are currently undertaking a further review of past safeguarding cases.

This enquiry is referred to as Past Cases Review 2 (PCR2) and follows on from the first PCR that took place between 2007 and 2009. Whereas the first PCR concentrated wholly on child protection cases, this new review will focus not only on children but also on vulnerable adults. This review will help to find out whether all known cases of concern about the behaviour of clergy and church officers towards children and vulnerable adults have been considered, risk assessed and

unsupervised); children’s and young people’s workers; group leaders/supervisors, bell tower captains; other volunteers (anyone else not qualifying for the Leadership Module).

Leadership Module Training 2020 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). Churchwardens and safeguarding parish officers may also find it beneficial.

Foundation Module Training 2020 Saturday, 21st March 2020 – Long Sutton (9.30am–12.30pm) Saturday, 4th April 2020 – West Pinchbeck (9.30am–12.30pm) Thursday, 16th April 2020 – Stoke Rochford (9.30am–12.30pm).

Refresher Module Training Wednesday, 25th March 2020 – Gainsborough (6pm–9pm) Saturday, 18th April 2020 – Heckington (9.30am–12.30pm) Saturday, 18th July 2020 – Cleethorpes (9.30am–12.30pm) Saturday, 19th September 2020 – Spalding (9.30am–12.30pm) For more information and bookings, please contact Lucy Russell (Safeguarding Training Coordinator) on 01522 50 40 57 or via lucy.russell@lincoln.anglican.org Please also see https://www.lincoln.anglican.org/training for up-to-date details relating to safeguarding training. dealt with appropriately by an independent safeguarding professional. If there are any concerns they will be referred to the statutory agencies or the police.

The review has also been extended to look not only at any living member of the clergy (whether still in position or not) but also at church officers and volunteers whose role brings them into contact with children and vulnerable adults, or has done so in the past.

The review is expected to be completed by the end of this year. For further details, please also see www. churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/survivorvoices-vital-past-cases-review-2 or www.churchofengland. org/safeguarding/promoting-safer-church/safeguardingnews-statements/past-cases-review-2 DIOCESELINCOLN

@COFELINCOLN

CALENDAR MARCH 2020

Saturday, 28th March (7pm). Newstead Abbey Singers will offer ‘Easter and Springtime’ at St Swithun’s Church, Long Bennington. An evening of choral music celebrating the joy of the season.

Tickets (£12) are available from Jill Froggatt on 01400 28 12 04.

APRIL 2020

Friday, 3rd April (7.30pm). Haverstoe Deanery is to host The Riding Lights Theatre Company and their passion play, ‘The Narrow Road’. To be held at Tetney Church (DN36 5JX), complimentary tickets are available from Paddy Phillips on 01469 56 13 95 or via f.phillips95@btinternet.com (A ticket is essential to guarantee entry).

There will be a retiring collection in aid of St Andrew’s Hospice, Grimsby.

Saturday, 4th April (7.30–9.30pm).

The Elizabethan Singers – A Celebration of Sacred Music at St James’ Church, Spilsby. Also to include the premiere performance of ‘Mass: The Open Door’

by Brian Quinn. There will be a retiring collection for church and choir funds.

Sunday, 5th April (7.30pm). Louth Choral Society presents ‘Crowning Glory’ – Music for Coronations at St James’ Church, Louth. To include music

by Mozart, Handel and Britten, please see www.louthchoral.co.uk/concerts MAY 2020

Saturday, 9th May (7pm). A concert by the RAF Coningsby Military Wives Choir at St Hilary’s Church, Spridlington (LN8 2DX). Tickets (£10) include light refreshments and are available from Claire Marris on 01673 86 11 27 or via cemarris@gmail.com Saturday, 23rd May (6.30pm). Langton Concerts presents Ensemble DeNOTE, performing works by Beethoven and Mozart, at the Church of St Peter & St Paul, Langton by Spilsby (PE23 4PU). The evening will also include drinks and canapes in the candlelit

church. Suggested donation of £18 in advance or £20 on the door. For ticket details, please call 01790 75 36 49 or visit www.langton-by-spilsby.org.uk/ langton-concerts/ Saturday, 30th May (10am–5pm) and Sunday, 31st May (12–5pm). ‘All Things Bright & Beautiful, All Creatures Great and Small’ – a flower festival at St Swithun’s Church, Long Bennington.

Light refreshments available. There will be a 10.30am service on the Sunday.

JUNE 2020

Saturday, 6th June (10am–4pm).

Celebrating 800 years of Bilsby Church – share in the celebrations with food, history, a treasure hunt with prizes, books, flowers and more. (The church is located on the A111 from Alford; the Sutton on Sea road). All are welcome.

Thursday, 18th–Saturday, 20th June.

The diocesan Clergy Gathering (at Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln).

JULY 2020

Thursday, 9th July (12–2pm).

Mothers’ Union trustees warmly invite clergy and/or ministry representatives to a free working buffet lunch for a presentation on the mission of the Mothers’ Union in the 21st century in Lincoln, the UK and worldwide. To be held at Washingborough Community Centre, Fen Road, Washingborough (LN4 1AB). A free pack and helpful information will be offered. Please RSVP by 31st May to the Revd Sylvia Rice-Oxley (Mothers’ Union Chaplain) at sylviariceoxley@gmail.com Details of more events are on the ‘News and events’ section of the diocesan website at www.lincoln.anglican.org

North Lincs Art Society – Annual Exhibition Members of North Lincs Art Society are delighted to be presenting their annual exhibition of work in the inspiring surroundings of Grimsby Minster. On view will be a wide range of artwork, including original paintings, prints, greeting cards and hand-painted ceramics, much of which will be for sale.

A preview evening will be held on Friday, 12th June (7–9pm), when many of the contributing artists will be present, and awards will be presented to those artists who have been judged by a panel of selectors to be the best in the various categories.

The exhibition will then be open to the public from Saturday, 13th until Friday, 26th June 2020, except for Sundays. Opening hours are 10am until 4pm each day, apart from the final day, when it will close at 2pm. Entry is free and on some days the Minster’s tea room will be open, serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, snacks and homemade cakes. For more information about the society, please visit the website at www.nlasart.co.uk