Concert

Another opportunity to explore the labyrinth at San Damiano

Spring clean pictures

To all Spring Cleaners - 

Thank you all for working so hard to spruce up our beautiful church.  It was wonderful that so many people came & made it a lot of fun too.  It was a record turn out! - a real community effort.

Thank you for all your enthusiasm.

Here are some of the highlights:

 The west window hadn't been cleaned properly for years... until David got to it.

Graham looks rather threatening with that extending mop...

 Ann, Sheila and Janet hard at work in the sanctuary.

A welcome break (thanks to Ruth for the bikkies and sausage rolls!)

 "What do you mean, I've missed a bit?"


 

Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

From our bell ringers - 

On Thursday 21 April the church bells will be rung in the evening as part of a change of celebratory ringing between Branston & Blankney to mark the Queen’s actual 90th birthday.   Ringing will take place at Nocton from 6.30 – 6.50 pm (approx) and will consist of call changes be rung based on the pattern named ‘Queens’ which is the bells rung in the order135246 (odds & evens).   Also the Church spire will be floodlit that evening to mark the Queen’s birthday.  On Thursday evening beacons are being lit all over the UK to mark the Queen’s Birthday so we thought it would be nice to floodlight our spire as a sort of beacon.  The main bulk of ringing for the Queen’s birthday will take place over her official birthday weekend Fri 10th – Sun 12th June when nationally bells will ring out all over the UK.

Primroses

Visitors to the church may have noticed that the churchyard is looking a little 'shaggy' at the moment.  It seems a shame to mow over the lovely primroses and we generally don't start mowing after the winter until the primroses have died back.  Please be assured that the churchyard will be mown, but in the meantime, enjoy the wild flowers!

Gravestones

After a recent check of the safety of the gravestones in the churchyard, it has become apparent that many are potentially unsafe and one or two are so loose as to be dangerous.  We are seeking to address this as a matter of urgency.  Please could we ask everyone entering the churchyard for whatever reason not to lean on any gravestones.  The most insecure stones will be cordoned off.  If anyone can help locate the family of John Pullen, who died in 1903 and whose headstone is particularly loose, please contact Liz Murray on 01526 323357 or elisabeth.c.murray@gmail.com.

Ascension Day service - Thursday 5 May

Open church

Just a reminder that the church is open on Friday afternoons between 2 and 4 pm (until the clocks go back at the end of October).  You are assured of a friendly welcome!

Easter Day

Today we will open our church service with the great Easter message of hope:

Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

Church annual meeting - 19 April

The Annual Parish Meeting (APM) and the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) - the church's AGM - will be held on Tuesday 19 April at 7.30 pm in church.

Why two meetings, you may ask?  The APM is to elect the two churchwardens who will serve for the following year.   Anyone on the civil electoral register – anyone entitled to vote in government elections – or on the church electoral roll may attend the meeting.   The APCM immediately follows and is to receive the accounts, the fabric report and the report of the Parochial Church Council (PCC), and to elect the PCC and sidespersons for the following year.  Anyone on the church electoral roll is entitled to attend.  We have six elected members of the PCC.

Please join us on 19 April! We promise not to elect you as PCC member or sidesperson unless you actually volunteer!

Valentine's night quiz

Thanks to all who supported this and helped in any way to make it such a success.  The magnificent sum of £323 was raised for church funds.

Spring Sunday lunch

It's back!  All you can eat and great company too!

 

Spring clean reminder

Please help if you can and keep our lovely church looking beautiful!

Morning Prayer

From this week, Lorna will hold a service of Morning Prayer at 8.45 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Branston, Wednesdays at Nocton and Fridays at Potterhanworth.  This is a formal service similar to Matins, not an informal and spontaneous prayer service.  Please feel free to join Lorna at any of the churches in the benefice for this quiet and prayerful start to the day.

Our new Rector

Just a reminder that Lorna Brabin-Smith joins us this week as Rector of Branston with Nocton and Potterhanworth.  Lorna's Institution and Induction will be on Thursday 17 March at 7.30 pm at All Saints Branston.  Everyone is welcome!  Lorna's first service at Nocton will be Easter Day at 9.30 am.