The Rector Writes – July 2010

THE RECTOR WRITES

Exciting times are ahead, as, this month, we welcome Sally Rowland as our new curate… and, for the first time in a long time, our clergy team is complete! Time for a holiday, I think!

Sally will be ordained deacon on the morning of 4^th July (there are all kinds of comments I could make about that date… but I’m far too polite!) in the Cathedral, and then we will have the opportunity to welcome her to the parish at a special united service that evening at Thorpe Arnold Church at 6.00, followed by refreshments. Do come along and support her as we welcome her as part and parcel of our ministry and mission for the next few years.

I think it is perhaps a good idea just to recap what the role of a curate in a parish is. Sally is here to train, and a curacy in Leicester Diocese is between three and four years. As a trainee we will seek to encourage her to gain the widest possible experience of Church and parish life, though, as she gains in experience, she will take on certain aspects of ministry which she feels gifted at, or which are new to her. On the 4^th she will be ordained Deacon and, as a Deacon, for her first year, she will be unable to celebrate the Holy Communion, give the Absolution (the prayer for forgiveness of sins) or the Blessing. However, at the end of her first year (apart from any unforeseen circumstances!) she will be ordained Priest and will then be authorised to do all that Sharon and myself do. Although I am officially her trainer, all of us play our part… and she also has experience which she will bring which will train us, and perhaps encourage us to view aspects of our churches’ ministry new ways. Exciting times ahead! Then, at the end of her curacy Sally will move on to become minister of another church and, even though this can be an emotional time, it is a really important time when all of the training will be put to good use. Please pray for Sally as she prepares to take this next step in the ministry to which God has called her.

But it’s not only curates who need to learn and grow… we all do. Later this year we will be hosting a Confirmation Service at St. Mary’s, an opportunity to confirm for ourselves promises which were probably made on our behalf by parents and godparents if we were baptised as babies. If you are aged 16+ and considering Confirmation there will be an initial interest  meeting in St. Mary’s, Melton, after the morning service on July 11^th (around 11.30), or just let Sharon or myself know as soon as possible… we can then work out the best time for the Confirmation preparation group to meet.

Kevin Ashby

HOW DO YOU FANCY A CRUISE ON THE AEGEAN?

That’s what the Rector is planning for next year, 17^th – 26^th June, calling at such places as Athens, Cenchrea, Corinth, Piraeus, Philippi, Thessalonika, Istanbul, Pergamum, Sardis, Ephesus, Miletus & Patmos… many with a link with St. Paul or St. John. Contact the Rector for more details as soon as possible… as places will be limited.

The Rector Writes – June 2010

THE RECTOR WRITES

There are things they don’t train you for at theological college, nor warn you about before the dog-collar is soldered around your neck!

One such thing for me was the British Pie Awards held in St. Mary’s! Nothing I studied at college could have prepared me for the experience, except perhaps the late night pie and chips we consumed on a regular basis as students!

But, seriously, it was a great honour and privilege to be asked to bless the pies (though I actually blessed the makers!) and be a judge (“experts” we were called by one journalist!?) in the “hot and savoury” category… the largest category, and the most varied selection of pies!

And what a variety they were, ranging from over-seasoned curry pies, which killed the taste-buds, to tasteless steak pies which made you wonder whether the meat inside had ever actually been alive and wandered around a field. There were burnt pies and undercooked pies, plain ordinary pies and exotic pies… but one thing struck me within the variety of qualities… very few pies had both excellent pastry and an excellent filling. Most pies, bar a very few, disappointed.

Three things struck me about the day. Despite the negative comment of one visitor about how disgusting it was to use the church for the consuming of pork pies (!?), the overwhelming feeling was that the Church was just the right place to host such an event. After all, in the past, the Church hosted markets and such-like. The second thought was how good it was to be part of an event which focuses on the town and people of Melton… and for the Church to be playing a key role in that event… serving our community.

But my third thought was the one that left me with something quite profound to take away from the day. All of the pie-makers had done their best, and yet they were aspiring to produce the perfect pie, with a properly glazed and cooked crust, with no boil-out (see, I know the jargon now!), a filling that really filled the interior and had the right texture, amount of gravy etc. The pie I liked best was one which had the worst appearance inside… a most unlikely concoction of green olives, spicy sausage and other things I didn’t ask questions about!

And how like our Churches those pies were!  People trying their best, and yet wanting what they do to be their very best for God… but sometimes falling short (and that wasn’t intended to be a “short pastry” joke!). None of us are perfect, and yet we are trying to get the outer and inner “man” in sync., so we can be more like Jesus. And all of us are very different, as are some aspects of our churches’ life which might not be to our liking, but, nonetheless, are of God and might just surprise us if we approach them with an open mind.

Well done to the organisers! The event is in the Church diary for the next couple of years, and I hope I’m invited back… after all, I am an “expert”!

Kevin Ashby

HOW DO YOU FANCY A CRUISE ON THE AEGEAN?

That’s what the Rector is planning for next year, 17^th – 26^th June, calling at such places as Athens, Cenchrea, Corinth, Piraeus, Philippi, Thessalonika, Istanbul, Pergamum, Sardis, Ephesus, Miletus & Patmos… many with a link with St. Paul or St. John. Contact the Rector for more details asap… as places will be limited.

Rector’s Report for the Annual Parish Meeting 2010

TEAM RECTOR’S REPORT – for APCM 14^th April 2010

It seems incredible to think that I have still not been here for a full year yet… two weeks to go!… but my first year here has been both challenging and rewarding, and it has been good see God at work, building on the work which has been done here in the past.

Despite the extra pressure put on the Ministry Team with us being one full-timer down for the whole year and two full-timers down for the past four months, it has been a great opportunity and privilege to be involved at DCC and committee level and in the day-to-day running of all the Churches in our team. It’s meant I’ve got to know lots of people across the parish. However, this has meant that I have been spread very thinly, and have had to be more reactive than proactive… not my favourite position to be in!

However, I would like to say at the outset how grateful Alyson and I are for the welcome we have been given since moving in, and we really do feel that we’ve been here a life-time already…. in the good sense!

THIS PAST YEAR…

… has been as steep a learning curve as I knew it would be. The sheer plethora of services and events in both the churches (ours and other denominations) and in the town has been challenging, and it has been rewarding to see new doors opening and new opportunities being grasped.

And that gives me an opportunity to say a very big thank you to those who help in any way with the social / fund-raising events across the parish. I have eaten well, been well entertained & met some people who would not normally attend church. Long may such events continue!

One of the things that has taken up more time than expected was the administration side of things. Health and Safety, Fire Regulations, Risk Assessment, Disabilty accessibility documents are still not in place in all of our churches, and nor are all the log books, terriers and registers up to date. These have been legal requirements for some years now, and we need them in place as soon as possible, so we can focus on our mission to our communities, knowing we are “covered” in all the ways we need to be. Thank you to those who have been (and are!) working hard behind the scenes to rectify this. We have also had a number of our employees who have been working without contracts, and thanks to Derek Larder who has now taken over as the Samworth Centre Liaison Manager (posh title!), this has now been rectified.

MINISTRY TEAM & PAs

This past year I have been very dependent on our Ministry Team for guidance and support. Revd Sue Paterson, Team Vicar, who had done good work especially in the villages, had moved on by the time I arrived, Revd Dr Peter Hooper has now moved on to pastures new, as his curacy came to an end. We are grateful to him for his enthusiasm and energy. We are still trying to cover some of the things Peter was involved in, and St. Mary’s look forward to the results of their “Pass It On” stewardship campaign, which may identify some possible “giftings”, as, we hope and pray, will Thorpe Church’s in a few week’s time. Canon Michael Covington continues to be an invaluable support, and his wisdom and commitment very much helped to keep the team “afloat”, especially during the interregnum. Revd Graham Spencer, Revd John Hickling and Revd Michael Ward have also been a great help and support.

Our Readers, Jean Bowes, Enid Young (who’s return after illness we still await!) and Ted Hutchin have also been hard at work this year, not only in services, but also in other aspects of our church’s life. As a Deanery Evangelist, Ted (together with wife Audrey) has also been promoting Alpha this past year. Alpha is a very powerful tool for evangelism and outreach, and attracts a variety of people because it is a “brand name”, though you can adapt the programme as appropriate. In September we are planning to begin a “bigger” Alpha and if you have never attended a course, why not consider it?… or, if you have been on a course before, why not bring someone along? Malcolm Britton, our “Linked Reader” has also been a great help with covering our many and varied services! And we welcome a new team member, Joy Stribblehill, who has been a Reader in a previous existence!

Our Pastoral Assistants have also had a busy year. Carol Ellis continues to focus on Thorpe Church in her ministry, and Lorraine Simmonds’ main input parish-wise has been the Baptism preparation. Jill Milner is heading up a new 80+ Club, as a way of encouraging those in their “four-score” era to feel a part and parcel of our Church family, and Jacqui Wilson will be particularly instrumental in setting up a Pastoral Visiting Scheme at St. Mary’s, which we will then consider parish-wide, with training offered for those who are involved.

In fact, it seems to me that, if our Team is going to mean anything at all, then we should be focussing on what we do best (or of necessity!) as individual churches, and what we can best do together, sharing resources.

CHURCH OFFICERS

Much of what I have already mentioned would be impossible without those prepared to stand as Church Officers. Wardens, Treasurers and Secretaries are essential not only for the legal standing of a Church, but also to help the smooth running of the “show”. Officers have been thanked in the individual DCC Annual Meetings, but could I add my thanks to those and express a concern about Church Wardens. As we come into our Parish Annual Meeting, St. Mary’s and Thorpe have only one Warden each, and Burton has none! From a diocesan perspective this raises key questions about viability, commitment etc, and we need to address the reasons for this as soon as possible. One element we need to build in is “succession-planning”, and that should affect our choice of deputies and how we encourage those with gifting to be prepared for office. The choice of Church Wardens is OUR responsibility, and whereas the clergy may cajole, encourage (or draft!), ultimately it is the role of the congregation to be spotting and encouraging those with gifts and abilities.

THE SAMWORTH CENTRE…

… is an amazing resource for the parish (as the hall at Thorpe will be when it is completed later this year. I’d like to express my gratitude to Centre Manager, Hayley, Cafe Manager, Christine, and Administrator, Linda, for all they do. The fact that the Centre made such a large profit last year is down to the hard work they, other paid staff and volunteers do to make the Centre not only a going concern, but also a place much used by groups and organisations in our community.

The use of the Samworth profits has highlighted the need to explore, during this coming year, the relationship between the District Church Councils (DCCs) and the Parochial Church Council (PCC). The PCC is the ultimate decision-making body and its members are trustees with attendant responsibilities and limited liabilities. At present the PCC is relatively impotent, though that’s where “the buck stops”. We need to look at improving communication between the two and clarifying what business and responsibilities best lie where. 

WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND COMMUNICATIONS

It is good that these are organised centrally and thank you to Margaret Rupp who manages the wedding bookings. Occasionally clashes with other events have occurred and after months of asking for a copy of the (mythical?) parish diary, that magical tool which would prevent any such clashes, I finally received my requested copy at the end of last year… to find it completely blank! Putting the diary on-line and having it managed by someone is essential. We are now looking again at the whole area of communication. The new web-site is attractive, but is not able to do many of the things we need and want it to… so we are exploring possibilities.  As we say thank you to the retiring magazine editorial team, who stepped down with Peter, we also say thank you our new team who have taken up the reins and taken on-board comments made by congregation-members. Aren’t the pictures nice?! The Pew Slip (a terrible name!) has now been replaced by the Weekly News, a generic parish news-sheet, which has received positive comments. Please keep those comments coming in… negative as well as positive! We will also need to review our Baptism and Wedding (and Children and Communion!) policies in the next few months… more work for the PCC!

WORSHIP AND WITNESS

Over these last few months we have all taken part in the exercise of reviewing our services, and the new pattern will be introduced in May. As well as preserving and building on the traditional, we also need to realise that we live in a very-much post-Christian society, and are probably two generations away from people who attended church regularly at some point in their lives. We need to make sure we include in our programme worship to which we can welcome those who find Shakespearian language difficult… as well as those who don’t. And, I would like to thank at this point all those who “make music” in our Churches, and lift our worship… organists and other musicians, choir members and singers, bell-ringers and hand-bell ringers. During the autumn months we will be exploring God’s vision for his Church here in the Melton Team Parish, including a day-away perhaps in November. Do please support this when it is advertised. We want all views, opinions and contributions included.

One of our focuses this coming year needs to be our work with families, children and young people. I believe we have so much to offer, which we fail to advertise or promote. Certainly some of our work in schools has encouraged families to come along and “see what we’re about”. But we need to be continually reviewing what we’re offering (to all ages!) and what opportunities we’re giving for people to use their gifts in God’s service and the service of others.

One possible way forward is to host a Holiday Club in the Samworth Centre in August. We are exploring this at the moment, and please do offer to help in whatever capacity if you’re able.

And, if we want to witness, we need to know what (or who!) we are witnessing about, and that’s why I am very keen to promote more opportunities for learning and deepening our faith. We have already held a short course on Healing Ministry and another on prayer. We will be expanding these in the future with themed Sermon Series, and looking at increasing our house group work.

SERVICE

At the end of the day, we need to remember that we are called to serve our town and villages in God’s name, and, together with the other churches and denominations, that should be what we are seeking to do. I have therefore grasped whatever opportunities there have been to work within the town and civic life of Melton, including opening Council meetings with prayer and taking on the role of Royal Naval Association Chaplain. It is also important that we serve the Diocese of which we are a part, and it was a huge surprise to be elected onto the Bishop’s Council, and, as I’m not very well known yet, I think that represents a mark of the esteem in which Melton Parish is held.

FINANCE…

… will be dealt with elsewhere in the Annual Meeting reports, but I’d just like to stress that I believe it is a biblical principal that our God gives generously to us, and we need to give generously and realistically back to God in return. Unless our vision and our giving develop side-by-side, both will flounder. That’s another challenge for us in the next twelve months. Thank you to Roger Kirby for his hard work this year as treasurer, and to Peter Stribblehill and team for consolidating the accounts.

LIZ AND SHARON!… AND SALLY…. AND LINDA… ET AL.

And nearly last, but not least, thank you to Liz Grigg, our faithful secretary, and I’d like to join my words of welcome to Sharon Constable our new Team Vicar. She’s only been here a couple of weeks, but has already made a huge impression, and it is real joy to work alongside an experienced full-time colleague. As she takes on more responsibility for the villages, I feel I’m being freed up to be more proactive, than reactive… Alleluia! Then in July we welcome our new Curate, Sally Rowland. Sally also brings with her a wealth of experience and enthusiasm. Hmmmmm… I might have trouble keeping up with them both! And, under this heading, I’d like to thank Linda Holdsworth, my Personal Assistant (an essential addition to the team in a post like this!) for keeping me pretty much on the straight and narrow parish-wise, and thank you to the PCC who agreed early on to fund five hours per week of such support.

And finally (really!) a thank you to all of you who do anything to maintain and promote the life of our Church family… it really is much appreciated, and none of what we do could be done without you. God bless you in your work for him.

       Kevin Ashby

SPECIAL HOLY WEEK / EASTER SERVICES FOR ALL AGES

Melton Team Parish

 

HOLY WEEK & EASTER

SPECIAL SERVICES

FOR ALL AGES

 

Monday 29^th March

10.00 a.m. Pram Club Service (St. Mary’s)

 

Easter Sunday

St. Mary’s, Melton

10.00 a.m. Family Communion

(followed by an Easter Egg Hunt and a distribution of “chocky eggs”!)

 

St. Mary the Virgin, Thorpe Arnold

9.45 a.m. Family Communion

(followed by an Easter Egg Hunt)

 

——————————————————————————–

Other Easter Services:

6.00 a.m. Dawn Service, St. Mary’s, Melton

+ Holy Communion Services at

8.00 a.m. St. Mary’s, Melton

11.15 a.m. Burton Lazars / 3.00 p.m. Welby

6.00 Sysonby / 6.30 p.m. Freeby

 

You would be very welcome at any of these services!

Churches Together in Melton Holy Week Services

CHURCHES TOGETHER

IN MELTON

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

 

EMOTIONS AROUND

THE PASSION OF OUR LORD:

Preacher: Revd Kevin Ashby,

Rector of Melton Team Parish

 

1. ANGER

Monday 28^th March, 7.30 p.m. 

St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church

2. HATE

Tuesday 30^th March,7.30 p.m.

St. Mary’s, Church of England

3. JOY

Wednesday 31^st March,7.30 p.m.

Sage Cross Methodist

4. LOVE

Maundy Thursday 1^st April, 7.30 p.m.

United Reform Church

 

Good Friday 2^nd April

10.00 a.m. Churches in Melton Walk of Witness

10.30 a.m. Churches in Melton Service (Market Sq)

- with distribution of Hot Cross Buns -

The Rector Writes – April 2010

THE RECTOR WRITES

With the arrival of Easter, I have been in Melton for nearly a year, and I’m really looking forward to completing a year in the Team… maybe then I might have some idea what’s really going on!?

Lent has, once again, been a journey of faith for each one of us, and the Lent Course led by Canon Michael has been much-appreciated by all those who have attended. Now, during April, we come to the end of the Lenten season, and prepare to celebrate, once again, the Easter festival.

Easter is, of course, at the very heart of the Christian faith. As St. Paul says (1 Corinthians 15:17) “…if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile”. We are an “Easter People” with the belief that because God raised Christ from the dead, we too are promised eternal life with him. So why do Christians sometimes look and act so miserably? We have an amazing promise from God and amazing good news to share.

On Maundy Thursday (1^st) the Churches Together Service will be at 7.30 p.m. in the United Reformed Church, and St. Mary’s will host the “Watch of the Passion” from 9.00 p.m. through until midnight. This is an opportunity to come into Church and just be quiet for a while, as we prepare ourselves for remembering again the events of the last three days of Jesus’ earthly life. Do come along and use that opportunity for half an hour or so, if you are able.

 

On Good Friday morning there will be the usual 10.00 Churches Together March of Witness from St. Mary’s, culminating in a service in the market place at 10.30… when we’ll be giving out hot-cross buns to everyone!  This is a great opportunity to share some of that good news I mentioned earlier with people in our parish. Then, in the afternoon, at St. Mary’s, we have a three hour “Devotions at the Cross” service from 12.00 – 3.00. Do come and join us for some (or all!) of that time.

On Easter Eve we have a new service for the Melton Team, Holy Communion and Service of Light, at 8.00 p.m. in St. Mary’s, when we will light the Paschal Candle and herald the beginning of the Easter celebration. Easter Day begins with a dawn service at 6.00 near St. Mary’s main door. Then, over the rest of the day, all our Churches have services, and both Thorpe (9.45 a.m.) and St. Mary’s (10.00 a.m.) have an Easter Egg Hunt for the children.

As “Easter People”,  all that we are, as individuals and as a Church, should reflect that we are God’s people, and so the other important event during April is the Annual Parish Meeting in the Samworth Centre on Wednesday 14^th, beginning at 7.30 p.m. I understand that this meeting has not been as well supported as the individual Church annual meetings, but I personally consider this the most important get-together, because it’s our opportunity to thank God collectively  for all he’s done for us over this past year and all he will do for us in the year to come. One important piece of business will be reviewing our policy and practice of admitting children to receive Communion before Confirmation… and, to help the evening go “with a swing”, we’ll also be serving cheese & wine! Do join us, if you are able, and have your say about the future of your church here in this parish.

If you are able to come and celebrate Easter with us, you would be very welcome… and Alyson and I do wish you and yours a very happy and blessed Easter season.

Kevin Ashby 

OBERAMMERGAU

PASSION PLAY

There are still a few places on the 31^st July – 7^th August trip (which includes a Rhine Cruise) & the 18^th – 27^th August trip (which includes a week in the Swiss Alps). For more information contact the Rector as soon as possible.

Radio Eye Palm Sunday “Thought for the Day”

Isn’t it funny how times change and attitudes change with them. Today is Palm Sunday, the day when we remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people cutting down palm branches from the trees and then waving them in the air and laying them down on the road in front of the donkey, shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”  If that happened today as Jesus rode into Melton or any of our villages… there would be a crowd of placard-wielding activists protesting about the damage done to the trees, the psychological harm done to the donkey and the effect of the crowd’s shouting on residents living nearby!

Of course, all those issues are important… we must care for the environment and the creatures we share it with, and live peaceably with our neighbours… but being judgemental misses the point of the story… and it’s a point you might fail to see if you’re British born and bred! The people were just having a great time! Whether they were cheering for Jesus himself or were just caught up in the religious fervour of the great Passover Festival they were celebrating is neither here nor there… the point was – they were having a great time and wanted to show it… something that more reserved Brits are not comfortable doing.

When John Wesley, the greater founder of Methodism, was being criticised by the Church leaders of his day, their charge against him was… enthusiasm!  I think we could really do with more enthusiasm in our society… no-one seems to be enthusiastic about anything anymore! We have an election coming up, and some experts are predicting the lowest turn-out of voters in history… we lack enthusiasm. We are being warned about the effects of global warming on our planet, but how many of us are really prepared to do anything about it? We lack enthusiasm. We hear about the poor and needy in the world, both in our own country and overseas, and have an opportunity to give, but we often do nothing. We lack enthusiasm.

The people cheering and shouting and waving their palms as Jesus entered Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday were enthusiastic right enough!… and so was Jesus.

Again, let’s not miss the point of the story… Jesus wasn’t stupid… although some of his disciples thought he was… riding into a city where his enemies’ headquarters was, where they were at their most powerful, and where they would ultimately manage to turn the crowd against him, so that, instead of shouting “Hosanna”, which in Aramaic means something like “Save us, we pray”, they would be shouting “Crucify him”… “Put him to death by nailing him to a cross to suffer and die… in the way you Romans do best!”

I said that Jesus was “enthusiastic” and I meant it! Jesus didn’t have to go to Jerusalem and die… he could have turned around and “done a runner”, and become just another has-been false so-called Son of God, who turned out to be just an ordinary human being  who couldn’t deliver what he promised, failed miserably and ultimately drifted back into the obscurity he originally came from. But Jesus didn’t do that. He went to Jerusalem because he was enthusiastic in his love for his followers, even though he knew that the adoration of that Palm Sunday crowd, in a very short time, would turn to the hatred and hostility of the Good Friday mob.

Why can’t we be more enthusiastic in our care and concern for other people? Why can’t we be more enthusiastic in our care for our environment? Why can’t we be more enthusiastic about issues which affect us and those less well off than we are?

We know the happy ending to the story… the resurrection of Jesus from the dead on that first Easter Day. But Jesus didn’t know that as he rode into Jerusalem on that donkey… and nor did the crowd.

The Rector Writes – March 2010

THE RECTOR WRITES

March this year is the interim period between last month’s beginning of Lent and next month’s Easter celebrations… but that doesn’t mean that it’s a quiet month by any means.

At St. Mary’s, Melton, “Pass It On” continues. Thank you to all those who have received the folders and read the information inside. One of the main criticisms in the Church is break-downs in communication… well, if you have read or will read the leaflet, you should be much more “clued up” about our Church family’s life.”PIO” culminates on 21^st March with a special Thanksgiving Service at 10.30 a.m. when the folders are returned to Church and offered to God.  We look forward to repeating the exercise with Thorpe congregation after Easter.

We also continue focussing on Prayer,  with Sunday  7^th having “PRAYER, WHAT TO DO WHEN IT DOESN’T SEEM TO WORK” as its theme.  Do come along to St. Mary’s Melton at 8.00. 9.50 or 10.30 a.m., Thorpe Arnold at 9.45 a.m., Burton at 11.15 a.m. or Welby at 3.00 p.m. to hear more!

The Lent Course on Wednesday evenings at 7.30 in Church also continues.

Mothering Sunday falls on 14^th March and we have an opportunity to thank God for our human mothers, and also for “mother-Church”. Flowers will be distributed as usual. Do have a look at the service rota (apologies for the technical problems with the rota in some copies of last month’s magazine), but do note that the All-Age Worship Service in Melton is at 10.00 a.m.

Another highlight of the month is the Licensing Service for Revd Sharon Constable, our new Team Vicar. This is on March 23^rd at 7.30 p.m. in St. Mary’s, Melton, followed by refreshments. The Bishop will be taking the service and it is an important occasion for the village churches, but also for our whole parish. Do please try to come along and give Sharon your support as she begins her new ministry amongst us.

Another piece of good news team-wise is the appointment of Sally Rowland as our new curate. Sally is still studying and will be ordained as deacon on 4^th July. Do please pray for Sally as she prepares to come and work amongst us.

 Palm Sunday (28^th) is the beginning of Holy Week, during which there are daily services in our own Churches and across the other denominations in Melton right the way through to Easter Day. The Weekly News should keep you alerted to dates and times… and there will be more details in next month’s magazine.

There are still some annual church meetings to take place (every Church has to have one each year to appoint Church officers and Church Council members and to approve their accounts). On the 11^th St. Mary’s is at 7.30 p.m. in the Samworth Centre, and on the 21^st Thorpe’s will take place after Choral Evensong and Welby’s after Communion.

So let’s use these weeks of Lent as an opportunity to focus our minds on Jesus and what he achieved by journeying with his disciples to Jerusalem to suffer and to die for you and me… and then on the third day to be raised again in glory. That really is something worthwhile to share in and celebrate… and “pass on” the good news about!

Kevin Ashby

The Rector Writes – February 2010

I really hope that by the time you read this, the snow and ice have gone! As I write, the snow is still coming down, the roads are un-gritted and the pavements are just sheets of ice.  I think the only people rubbing their (chilled!) hands with glee must be car repairers, and makers of plaster-of-paris (to set broken limbs)!

Many people have really suffered this winter, as the cold winter spell just seems to have gone on forever, and, this month, in our Church’s year,  we enter the Church’s winter season, Lent.

Some years ago a friend of mine said, “I hate Lent… it’s all dreary hymns, mournful readings and depressing sermons”. I have to say, he didn’t attend a Church that I was a minister at!

However, there is an element of truth in what he said. Lent is a period when we think about Jesus “setting his face” to go to Jerusalem, knowing he would suffer and die, and preparing his disciples for that fact. It reminds us that being a Christian doesn’t take us out of the world so that our lives are always bright cheerful and sunny, but rather we go through pain and suffering just like any other person… the difference is that we know that God is with us to comfort, support and guide us. Perhaps, like me, you are rightly suspicious of the “Christian grin”… that forced smile that makes you wonder what the bearer has been up to! How can we get alongside people unless we have been through difficult times in our lives, and how could our Lord truly identify with us unless he had experienced real life (and death) in all its gory reality.

But, of course, with hindsight, we know the end of the story… that Jesus didn’t stay dead, but was raised to life and promises us a place with him in his kingdom. And what a promise!

The Rector Writes – December

Over the years I’ve developed a love / hate relationship with hotels. As nice as it is to be away from home, sometimes in really plush surroundings, there are always the thoughtless people who talk loudly on the way back to their rooms at two o’clock in the morning, or slam their doors at ungodly hours, or the air conditioning breaks down or rattles away all night.

Still, if I’ve often felt I couldn’t wait to get home, imagine how Mary and Joseph felt on that first Christmas. The distance they had travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem may only have been eighty miles, but it may have taken a week to accomplish and Mary was heavily pregnant, most likely riding on the bony, uncomfortable back of a donkey. And what awaited the couple when they arrived at the place where they were to be taxed? Not a beautiful Christmas-card pitch-roofed stable with fat little cherubs flying around but, rather, a cave reserved for the animals, at the back of a way-side inn, most likely warm from the animals’ breath, but smelly, dirty and unhygienic… worse than any hotel you or I have ever stayed in!    

But Mary and Joseph were only passing through. Shortly after the birth of Jesus they were on their way back home to Nazareth, with a sense of relief, I’m sure.

And Christmas reminds us that we’re only passing through this world. We’re citizens of another kingdom, God’s kingdom of heaven. For one day in the year we focus on those less fortunate than ourselves; we try to get on with relatives we try to avoid the rest of the year; we give generously to charities we would ignore at any other time. Christmas gives us a glimpse of what this world could be… don’t leave it until the next world to bring some of God’s peace and joy into your own life and the lives of those around you!

Have a really happy and blessed Christmas and New Year.

Kevin Ashby