JOURNAL ARCHIVE - 2005

April

Following our service on Sunday 24th April, the Church Annual General Meeting was held. The meeting marked the retirement of Pat Cowie and Nick Kirk, two long serving church wardens at St. Peter's.

Edward Bowes-Smith (Vicar) and Alistair Ward (Church Warden) recognised their untiring work and praised their dedication and commitment to serving our church.

Pat came to St. Peter's in 1961, and she has been a church warden here for the past 20 years. Alistair explained that she was always the one who opened the building at unearthly hours and  sorted all the workmen out!

One of the many things that St Peters' is known for is the friendly welcome that everyone receives as they enter the church. This was not always the case, but Pat has done so much to foster that warm welcome. Our heart-felt thanks go out to her for all her hard work as Church Warden.

Nick has been a Church Warden at St Peter's for the past 17 years. He has always been available and given tremendous support to preceding Vicars.

During a recent lengthy spell when St Peter's was ‘vicarless' (in interregnum), Nick bore much of the burden of organising the services, so that when you walked in on Sunday everything went like clockwork. This entailed a massive effort in forward planning. Nick's dedication and commitment ensured that St Peter's was handed over to Edward (our present Vicar) in first class order. Our heart-felt thanks go out to him for all his hard work.

 

Pat Cowie and Nick Kirk
Pat and Nick with their gifts of appreciation

 At the same church meeting new church wardens were elected. The 'motley crew' are... Julia Welch, Peter Jefferies (re-elected) , Iris Hyde, and Alistair Ward (re-elected)

 

 

churchwardens 2005
Julia Peter  Iris and Alistair

May

Edward's sermons are now available in CD format. So....if you've missed one of his 'sermon series' then pick up a copy from the 'Good News' table at the back of the church (There is no charge - just return it when you've finished with it)
On the fifth Sunday in May we held a children's (under 11's) music workshop. As well as singing some golden oldies the children learned a new song called 'May the God of hope' and led the congregation at the end of the service. (See our 'children and young persons page' for more that goes on for the youth at St Peter's)
June

Sunday 12th June saw the baptism of Summer and Louis Goldstone. Thanks to their mum and dad, John and Nikki for the cakes and drinks and... and... and... and....which they brought into church after the service for us all to get stuck into!

On Sunday, l9th June the congregation of St. Peter in Eastgate extended the hand of friendship to the Rev. Vethanbu from the Diocese of Tirunelveli, South India, the county of Lincolnshire's Link Diocese.
The Rev. Vethanbu would value your prayers as he takes up his new position as Secretary of the Indian Missionary Society.  He will be responsible for visiting and caring for over 800 Indian missionaries presently working in communities all over India.  The Indian Missionary Society was started in l903 by Bishop V. S. Azariah as a way of saying thank you to the English missionaries who had brought the Good News of the Gospel to South India.
Vethanbu is married with two children, Twinking and Libertine.  His wife Judith will be assisting him in this work.
............Source - Margaret Ford
 

Edward and Rev. Vethanbu
July
 The 3rd of July saw the celebration of our Patronal Festival with a family BBQ in the grounds of  St Mary's Prep. School. Thanks go out to all those who helped in so many different ways to make it a success.
 

patronal_festival_2005

patronal_festival_2005

patronal_festival_2005


patronal_festival_2005

 


patronal_festival_2005

Photos - by courtesy of Jane Lund


patronal_festival_2005

 
August
Holiday time - but still a busy church - seeing the introduction of children's music workshops. Great to hear the children singing the blessing at the end of some services....well done kids!
 
September
A new term starts at St Peters. New growth groups also start at Alistair and Erica Wards house and at Jon and Maria Wrights house. Small groups are an important part of our church and help us fulfil our vision in ways which are not always possible when we meet as a big church on Sundays. See our term card for more details.

Planning and preparation is going on like the clappers to set up the half term children's holiday club. Well done everyone it looks like its going to be a fantastic three days....

This summer, three youths from St. Peters went on a CYFA (Christian Youth Fellowship Association) venture holiday to Bruton in Somerset. We did many exciting activities such as paint-balling, high ropes, Ringos (sliding down a dry ski slope on rubber rings) and many more, along with sports games twice a day to keep the energetic happy. There were also challenges each day such as a photo challenge around Bath, kite making and the one everyone wanted to win: 'Gladiators'. But you may be thinking what makes this a Christian youth camp? Apart from there being Christian youths there, there was a Bible study each morning, an optional meeting called Buzz group most of the days that would answer important questions such as 'Is Jesus the only way to God?', 'Why go to church?' and 'Death and what comes after'. In the evening there was also a deep thought session that consisted of worship, a reading, a short talk and prayer. After deep thought there would be a chance to get to know the other members and chill out in the café with an all important tuck shop and a book shop which sold Christian books at discounted prices. To round the day off, before going to bed there would be a dorm time where your age group and your group's leaders would discuss things that we enjoyed, didn't enjoy (if there was anything) and if we didn't understand anything from the day. By the end of the nine days everyone was tired but no one wanted to leave. To round it all off, if you're looking for fun, friends and want to get to know God better, Bruton 2 is the place to go!

Andrew Lund

(Article courtesy of Andrew Lund)

Cinnamon and Spice - Focus on South India

 On Saturday, 24th September, 2005, members of St. Peter in Eastgate welcomed the New Covenant Singers, a Gospel Singing Group from Chennai, South India, led by Christopher Arul Anand. Their lively singing was greatly enjoyed and was a pleasant backdrop to Margaret Ford’s illustrated talk showing the work of the Church of South India Rhenius Community Health and Development Project led by Dr. Joseph Premkumar and his team based in the villages around Tirunelveli. Tirunelveli is the people of Lincoln’s link Diocese, the link being with the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church and the Anglican Church. There were activities for the children and the evening concluded with a delicious supper.

On the Sunday, 25th September, the New Covenant Singers took part in the morning service. Christopher Arul Anand preached, using as his text St Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 11, vv 25 – 30.

The New Covenant Singers would value your prayers as they travel to other churches before some members of the group return to Chennai in October.
(Article courtesy of Margaret Ford)

 

 

new covenant singers 2005

new covenant singers 2005

The New Covenant Singers were founded in 1987; the members are Christopher Arulanand (tenor), Sheridan Vedha Vinodh (tenor) Simon Prakash (tenor and guitar) Jeyakumar Selwyn (bass) and Solomon Abraham (bass) The group specialises in singing gospel numbers to four-part harmony, and has constantly performed in various churches, crusades, schools, colleges and other Christian institutions during the last 17 years. Members of the group live in Southern India, England and Scotland, and get together as often as possible to dedicate their songs to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. They sing in both Tamil and English

October

In the October school holiday about 35 primary age children joined the first ever holiday club at St Peter's led by a team of 16 leaders and about 10 teenage helpers. In our three days together, we aimed to help the children learn more about who Jesus is and what he came to do, as well as having huge amounts of fun of course!
 
We moved the pews in order to create a big space for the club and decorated the church with balloons and some fabulous scenery painted by Sally. Each day we visited a home in Luke Street - homes that Jesus visited in Luke's Gospel- to find out what Jesus was up to and why. We used drama, DVDs, music and small group activities together with games and crafts.
 
The club finished with a special holiday club service in church on the following Sunday.
 
The club was very well received by children and parents, particularly from our infants school, and looks sure to become a regular fixture. Many thanks to all who helped and made it possible- you were a great team!"

(Article courtesy of Liz Bowes-Smith)

Here are some holiday club pictures......Thanks to Rick Lund for sending them in....

holiday club 2005
'Stretcher case'


holiday club 2005
'Hello and welcome'

 

holiday club 2005
'Aerobics'

holiday club 2005
'Singing'

holiday club 2005
'Prayer balloons'

holiday club 2005
'High as the heavens'

holiday club 2005
'Time for a break'


holiday club 2005
'Weaving'

 

 

holiday club 2005
'Making things to eat'
 

November

Saw the conclusion of Edward's series of sermons interpreting what Jesus meant when He said 'I AM'. Throughout Johns gospel Jesus refers to himself as  I AM The Bread of Life, The Teacher, The Light, The Gate, The Good Shepherd, The Resurrection, The Way the Truth and the Life, and I AM The Vine. Most of the series are available on disc if you missed them, or if you wish to hear them again.

The church vestry is now being used to a fuller extent by doubling up as a church office. Emma Kennedy has taken up a post as administrative assistant to Edward.

 

December
holiday club 2005

During the Lincoln Christmas market our church opened up between 10am and 9pm for tea coffee and toilets....
Over the years this facility has been appreciated by folk who want a quiet place away from the markets hustle and bustle, to rest, refresh themselves, pray and join in with a carol.
A great big thank-you to all our volunteers who helped out with refreshments welcoming and toilet cleaning!  - Edward
 

PS (After counting up the cash given by visitors- £500 in donations have been taken along to the Nomad Trust)

A few of our 30 or so volunteers who helped out

 

holiday club 2005
Picture via Jasons camera

One day a certain vicar was walking through the Lincoln Christmas market, when he came across a small grotto. The centre-piece of this grotto was an enormous Christmas tree with gold baubles the size of footballs. Intrigued by the destiny of the tree when the market was complete, the vicar sought the whereabouts of the head elf. "What is your intention with the tree when the market is over?" the vicar asked. "Well it looks like it must be destined for your church" the head elf replied. And so it was that the giant Christmas tree, together with all its gold footballs, was transported by the vicars little helpers to stand proudly at the back of  St Peter in Eastgate church. "Wow its bigger than the one in the cathedral" a member of the congregation was heard to say!