Good Friday is a major event in the Christian calendar, when we recall Jesus' crucifixion. Crucifixion is a particularly nasty form of execution, reserved in Roman times for the lowest in society. Jesus was executed like a common criminal.
There were two events to mark this important day. Firstly, there was a Walk of Witness in Branston, where a small group from our local parishes walked around Branston behind a wooden cross, held aloft in turn by members of the group. We stopped at various points to mark the Stations of the Cross, with each stopping point being marked by a reading and a prayer. The walk started and finished at All Saints, Branston, and we were glad of the (hot) drink and (not hot) hot cross buns which greeted our return. I'm not sure that everyone who saw us understood what we were doing, but it was good to demonstrate that there is a worshipping Christian community in the locality.
The second event was at Dunston Methodist Chapel, when nearly 30 children from five local parishes, including Nocton, came together for a packed programme of activities and worship. All involved thoroughly enjoyed the day. Further children's activities are planned for later in the year - keep checking the blog to find out more!
Monday, 1 April 2013
Maundy Thursday service
24 people attended All Saints Church on Maundy Thursday to commemorate the Last Supper - Jesus' final meal with his friends before his arrest, trial and crucifixion. In keeping with the sombre mood, at the end of the service the sanctuary was stripped, with all hangings removed, leaving the altar stark and bare. This process was accompanied by Nicholas Bennett singing Psalm 22. At the end of the service, the candles in the sanctuary were extinguished and the congregation left in silence to ponder again the enormity of what happened that night in Jerusalem, 2000 years ago.
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Next children's event
Good
Friday Activities
Dunston Methodist Chapel
Friday March 29th 10 -12 am
Details
to follow
Church electoral roll
The
Electoral Roll is the Church's equivalent of the civil Electoral
Register, and lists everyone who is entitled to vote on church
matters. Every six years, every parish is required by law to prepare
a new Electoral Roll, and 2013 is a year in which complete revision
is required. Inclusion in a new Electoral Roll is not automatic.
Everyone must apply to be included, even if they are on the existing
Electoral Roll. Joining
the Church Electoral Roll means that people can vote on Church
matters, attend the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) and stand
for election to the Parochial Church Council (PCC).
You
can apply to be on the parish Electoral Roll if you meet all of the
following criteria:
1.
You are a lay person (ie not an ordained priest)
2.
You have been baptised
3.
You are one of the following:
a)
a member of the Church of England
b)
a member of a Church in communion with the Church of England
c)
a member in good standing of a Church which subscribes to the
doctrine of the Holy Trinity (not being in communion with the Church
of England) and also prepared to declare yourself to be a member of
the Church of England having habitually attended public worship
during the six months prior to enrolment
4.
You are at least 16 years of age
5.
You are resident in the parish, or if not resident in the parish,
have habitually attended public worship in the parish during a six
month period prior to enrolment
6.
You have completed an Application for Enrolment form
Please
consider enrolling yourself on the new Electoral Roll and giving
yourself the opportunity to take part in the running of the church
(although this isn't compulsory!). Application forms are available
in church, at the Post Office or can be downloaded here.
Please return your completed forms to either of the churchwardens,
at a service, or to the Post Office, by the end of March.
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Friday 8 February - ‘Children's Pancake Party’
On Friday 8 February there will be a
children's Pancake Party at Branston Church Hall at 6 pm. All children
from the six parishes, including Nocton, are welcome.
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Sunday, 6 January 2013
Gift Aid
We
remain extremely grateful to all those who so generously support All
Saints. Did you know
that you can increase your gift, at
no cost to yourself, by
applying Gift Aid? The church then gets an extra £2.50 for every
£10 you give, provided the following declaration applies:
I
confirm I have paid or will pay an
amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6
April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that
all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I
donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand
that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I
understand the charity will reclaim 28p
of tax on every £1 that I gave up to 5 April 2008 and will reclaim
25p of tax on every £1 that I give on or after 6 April 2008.
Please
consider making a Gift Aid declaration for any gifts you are able to
make, no matter how small. A form can be downloaded at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/appendix_b1.pdf
and can be applied to a single donation or to past and future
donations, as you prefer.
Epiphany
Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, when we celebrate the coming of the wise men, representing the Gentile (non-Jewish) nations, to worship Jesus.
You may have wondered about the 'three kings' and who they actually were. Just to start with, they almost certainly weren't kings and we don't know how many of them there were... Please take a look at the 'message' page for the background to how a group of Persian astrologers became 'the three kings'.
You may have wondered about the 'three kings' and who they actually were. Just to start with, they almost certainly weren't kings and we don't know how many of them there were... Please take a look at the 'message' page for the background to how a group of Persian astrologers became 'the three kings'.
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Carol singing
A small but determined group set out from the Village Hall on 23 December to inflict, er, entertain the residents of Nocton with carols, ably accompanied by David Glew on his guitar. The atmosphere was enhanced by having two traditional lanterns on poles and those involved thoroughly enjoyed themselves, although whether the same can be said for our audience is another matter...
We are most grateful to those who came to their doors to listen to us (especially Fiona and Steve Dickinson who provided hot sausage rolls and mulled wine), and to the Village Hall Management Committee for providing mince pies and (more!) mulled wine when we returned. Most of all we thank those who donated so generously - we raised the magnificent sum of £120.49, which will be divided between All Saints and the BeAttitude project at St Mary-le-Wigford, which works with homeless and other vulnerable people.
We'll be back next year...!
We are most grateful to those who came to their doors to listen to us (especially Fiona and Steve Dickinson who provided hot sausage rolls and mulled wine), and to the Village Hall Management Committee for providing mince pies and (more!) mulled wine when we returned. Most of all we thank those who donated so generously - we raised the magnificent sum of £120.49, which will be divided between All Saints and the BeAttitude project at St Mary-le-Wigford, which works with homeless and other vulnerable people.
We'll be back next year...!
Saturday, 22 December 2012
Carol Singing Sunday 23 December
We will be singing carols around the
village on 23 December. All are welcome to join in – the more the
merrier! Please meet at 5 pm outside the village hall. A torch
might come in handy, and please wrap up warmly as 'in the bleak
midwinter' doesn't just apply to Bethlehem! There will be mulled
wine and mince pies afterwards in the village hall.
150th anniversary celebration
What a wonderful occasion it was last Sunday, when around 60 people, led by Bishop Christopher, gathered in All Saints to give thanks to God for 150 years of Christian service since the church was dedicated on 16 December 1862. Bishop Christopher was assisted by his Chaplain, Sal MacDougall, Les Whitfield and Tim Thompson. Jill Whitfield played the organ. Ann Kennedy acted as verger, Elsie Horton and Gill Stokes read the Lessons, Liz Murray served, and Nicholas Bennett sang beautifully during Communion. The atmosphere was full of joy and the morning was crowned by a splendid lunch in the Village Hall - many thanks to Sue, Carol, Ann, Doreen, Ruth, Elsie and everyone else who played such an important part in preparing this! Bishop Christopher and Mrs Lowson were able to join us for the lunch and it was good to meet them in a more relaxed setting.
It was fantastic to welcome our friends and supporters including Miles Hobart-Hampden, the 10th Earl of Buckinghamshire, whose family has so many connections with Nocton. He and Chris Howard are distantly related, both being descended from the 3rd Earl, although as Chris explained, his descent was apparently via a chambermaid rather than the 3rd Earl's wife. Miles has been researching the family's history and shared some of his findings.
Marianne Overton, our County Councillor, made a presentation to All Saints on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council, offering the Council's congratulations on our 150th anniversary.
We look forward to the 200th anniversary!
It was fantastic to welcome our friends and supporters including Miles Hobart-Hampden, the 10th Earl of Buckinghamshire, whose family has so many connections with Nocton. He and Chris Howard are distantly related, both being descended from the 3rd Earl, although as Chris explained, his descent was apparently via a chambermaid rather than the 3rd Earl's wife. Miles has been researching the family's history and shared some of his findings.
(L to R) Bishop Christopher, Marianne Overton, Chris Howard, Miles Hobart-Hampden
Marianne Overton, our County Councillor, made a presentation to All Saints on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council, offering the Council's congratulations on our 150th anniversary.
We look forward to the 200th anniversary!
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