Binbrook Group of Parishes

Service Times February 2010

Binbrook

Ludford

Wold Newton

Swinhope

 Kelstern

CONFESSIONS

After any Weekday Service or by appointment.

BAPTISMS, CHURCHINGS, WEDDINGS, & FUNERALS

By arrangement with the Rector

The Rector's Letter for the current month:

The Rectory, Binbrook  

Dear Friends,

2010 is one of those years when Easter is rather early and so also this year Lent is early. It will not be this early again until 2016. In fact Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is on 17th.  February. Our happy thoughts of Christmas and Epiphany now quickly have to turn to one of the most solemn days of the year when we should attend Church if at all possible and receive the Imposition of Ashes.

For our group of Churches the services on Ash Wednesday will be Mass with the Imposition of Ashes at Wold Newton at 8.30.a.m. and at Binbrook at 7.30.p.m.

The main service of the day is of course the Mass with the ceremony of the Imposition of Ashes from which the day gets its name. Lent is a time of reflection and thought as was the time spent in the wilderness for Jesus before He began His earthly ministry. While in the wilderness Jesus contemplated just what was required by the Father of Him; that He should suffer and die on the cross! He thought about His nature; that He was God Incarnate who could work miracles! He thought about the choices before Him; to obey the Father or follow Satan and the ways of the world!

In the same way for us Lent is a time of meditation and decision. We should think about what is required of us by God. Do we do our share of Christian work? Do we go to Church as often as we should? Do we give as much as we can for the work of Christ's Church? Do we follow the Gospel - or try to change it to our own ends? The way of God is not always the way of the world and most often the world does not reflect God’s will!

Lent is a time of reflection on our nature. The ashes on Ash Wednesday are made from burnt palm crosses from the Palm Sunday of last year. The ashes are placed on our foreheads to remind us that we are but dust and to dust we shall return! It is God who has made us what we are, it is God who has given us our lives; and in our turn we should respond by worshipping, praising and loving Him.  It is only through the redeeming power of God and our faith in Christ that we can ever rise to be more than just dust and ashes. Lent is a time of choice for us to think on these things and turn to follow God – or perish as dust in the world.

                                                             Yours sincerely,

                Father Walker.

     Churches             Home