Letter from Fr Richard March 2019
So much is happening…
There is that phrase ‘A Perfect Storm’ which is when everything seems to come to together to happen at the same time. This month feels a bit like that. At the time of writing, the 29th of March is the day that the UK leaves the EU but there seems to be so much turmoil in parliament that we cannot be sure of anything and it leaves us all feeling unsettled and anxious.
For the church, March this year will be dominated by Lent – the season of preparation leading up to Easter. We shall be running our Lent Course at Campsall on Sundays at 4.00pm when we will use the TV mini series Jesus of Nazareth to guide our thoughts – please come. Lent will also be a time of preparation for those being confirmed in the deanery on the 1st of May.
Traditionally we celebrate Shrove Tuesday (5th March) by eating pancakes and having a last celebration before the rigours of Lent begin on Ash Wednesday (6th March). We should try to use Lent well. It is a time of fasting when we learn to discipline our lives through learning to live more simply; a time to reflect on our lives and aim to do better; a time of study when we should aim to engage more closely with the scriptures.
It is a funny thing that the modern world seems to have forgotten its Christian heritage and has had to re-invent the disciplines which have been practised in the church for 2000 years:
- we read about mindfulness and forget the church’s commitment to prayer and contemplation;
- we read about de-toxing and forget the church’s commitment to fasting;
- we read about random acts of kindness and forget the church’s commitment to charity.
Whatever you call it, use this Lent to re-engage with your spiritual life and prepare for Easter in your heart.
The best way of course is to come to church. I get a little frustrated when people say that they would like to but can’t find the time. The truth is that we can always find the time if we really want to. As I said, we live in difficult and unsettling days. This is just as true for the church as for any institution which faces increasing pressures. The church is its people, without its people it ceases to exist. It would be more than a pity if you were to wake up one morning and find that it had gone.
Use this Lent well and examine your hearts as you prepare for Easter.
With every Blessing
Fr Richard
Ash Wednesday
6th March
A Service of Holy Communion with Ashing
7.00 St Helen’s Burghwallis
Lent Course
Looking at the life of Jesus using
Jesus of Nazareth
Sundays at 4.00pm, St Mary Magdalene, Campsall
An opportunity to revisit the Gospels using Franco Zefferelli’s TV series starring Robert Powell.
10th March The Birth of Jesus
17th March Calling the Disciples
24th March Miracles and Teaching
31st March Betrayal and Trial
7th April Crucifixion and Resurrection
Mothering Sunday
We shall be celebrating Mothering Sunday in both our churches on:
Sunday 31st of March.
9.00am Burghwallis
11.00am Campsall
A note from John Gilliver…
The Wayside Calvary outside Burghwallis Hall seems to have disappeared…
I feel I should confirm, for information, that the crucifix that stood outside Burghwallis Hall has been removed for restoration and is with me at my lock up.
It was removed for safety reasons due to the base of the crucifix being rotten causing it to lean towards the road.
I hope this information will reassure people.
Kindest Regards
John Gilliver
Usual Pattern of Sunday Services
in the Benefice
|
St Mary Magdalene, Campsall
11.00 Holy Communion
First Sunday in the Month 11.00 Family Service |
St Helen,
Burghwallis
9.00 Holy Communion
First Sunday in the Month 8.00 Holy Communion |
The Revd Dr Richard Walton will be in church every Thursday evening between 6pm and 7pm to discuss arrangements for baptisms and weddings.
To contact the Clergy:
Revd Dr Richard Walton
Priest in Charge, Burghwallis and Campsall
The Rectory, Village Street, Adwick le Street, DN6 7AD
Tel: 01302 723224
email: richard.walton@sheffield.anglican.org
Revd Chris Herbert
Curate, Burghwallis and Campsall
4 Highfield Villas, High Street, Norton, Doncaster DN6 9HP
01302 702615