This week Irene writes:

ACTS OF KINDNESS

This is Gill Alden receiving one of Becky’s beautiful handmade journals. The reason? It’s a thank you because Gill is always smiling and helping everyone around her. What a lovely gesture!

How often in the Bible do we see Jesus showing kindness to others, even at the end of his life. When he was hanging on the cross, he made sure that his beloved disciple, John, would take care of Mary, his mother.

Jesus also promised the thief hanging next to him on the cross that he would be with him in Paradise because he acknowledged his sin.

It’s extremely easy to become negative, especially if we are going through a difficult time so we need to remind ourselves how Jesus, experiencing the cruellest form of punishment, a crucifixion, was able to show that gift of kindness to a man who felt he didn’t deserve it.

It doesn’t have to be something huge, but a smile or a helping hand, can make such a difference to someone’s life. Don’t turn away from a person who needs help when you have the ability or wherewithal to meet their need.

Remember the young lad who brought his five loaves and two fishes to Jesus. With the blessing spoken over it, that food fed over five thousand people!

HARVEST FESTIVAL ON SUNDAY 22ND

Rev. Irene wrote about this last week, and we wanted to remind everyone to bring whatever you can of non-perishable foods in the time leading up to Harvest Sunday. All these goods will be used in the exhibition that will be in the church and then distributed to local food banks.

However, we don’t just want your donations, we also need a team of helpers to assist with catering. Sandwiches will be bought in, but we do need help with setting the tables and with teas and coffees. If you can be part of this team, please give your name to Jon Major or Irene.

It will be good to have fun and fellowship at this picnic whilst having the opportunity to help people in our city who are struggling. Remember, God loves a cheerful giver! It’s an opportunity to show kindness!

GREAT DAY FOR THE CHOIR SINGING AT LINCOLN CATHEDRAL

We started our new Choir Year by singing in a different church, outside of our own Province!

We have been developing links with the music department of Lincoln Cathedral over the last 12 months, and they invited us to come and lead Evensong.

Cathedrals require a 'certain standard' of excellence, and it was an honour to be invited to lead worship. Choral Evensong is always a huge undertaking. The music is very demanding in terms of learning time and skill, and there's a lot of it!

The children of the choir used four hours of the Summer Singing School to become familiar with the music. Then, after a few weeks of holiday time, they rehearsed on Thursday and Friday evening to master the 'nuts and bolts' of the music. The choir adults did the same on Friday evening.

By 9.15 on Saturday, the 63-seater coach had arrived, and we had everything in place, including all our robes. Huge thanks to Ginnie and other choir parents for their help with this (Ginnie took all the ruffs home and washed/starched them to make sure that we would 'look the part').

By 11:30 we had toured the cathedral, gasped at its magnificence, found the loos, and started our rehearsal process. During the day, we spent 3.5 hours rehearsing and refining our music. It was exhausting, but that's the nature of the job!

The clergy and vergers of Lincoln were wonderful, welcoming, and generous with their time. Processions and procedures rehearsed; we were lined up ready for the service by 17:25.

The choir of 48 people (including 23 children) sang beautifully throughout the service, with excellent focus and concentration from everyone. They were professional, calm, and fully at-ease in this environment, and (according to one of the cathedral's professional singers) were more than a match for the choristers of Lincoln Cathedral.

Further: Ionatan and Annabel were allowed to play the cathedral organ. Wonderfully, Annabel played a piece of music on the organ before the service started (an impressive achievement).

It's difficult to exaggerate the range of positive impacts that trips like this have, for choristers, their families, choir adults, and other members of the community: lasting memories and life-influencing experiences were forged by hard work and inspiring outcomes.

The Precentor of the cathedral enthusiastically invited us to make this an annual tradition. That's quite a compliment!

My sincere thanks to everyone who helped to make this possible. Mark Keith

‘Minster Men’s Group’ meeting. 7.00pm: an open meeting for both Ladies and Gentlemen.
subject: “The gates of hell opened and gave me new life”

The journey of recovery from addiction.

This will be in the Minster Café on Monday 16th September. Please come along and listen to this powerful testimony.