Photo - Graham Speed

The Christmas Eve family carol service was really popular this year with over 300 folks coming along. Children were invited to come dressed as angels and shepherds. 'Thank goodness they left all their sheep outside!' Edwards talk reminded us to put Jesus first, Yourself last and Others in the middle..JOY

Edward and Nick wish everyone a happy and peaceful time this Christmas.

The three at the back don't seem to be doing very much apart from waving at the camera!

A big thank-you to the proprietors of 'Santas Grotto' at the Lincoln Christmas Market this year. When the event had finished they donated their big tree to the church, and as you can see it took a bit of moving.

It's up - phew!

An Afternoon of Creativity and Reflection for Advent
  On Saturday 1st December we had a creative afternoon at St Peter’s.
Leaving the old grey winter afternoon it was good to be entering a warm, light, welcoming environment and fascinating to find we would be focusing our attention on the theme of light. We lit some candles, read some scriptures, songs and poetry, listened to music, browsed through some captivating books and individually contemplated the significance of such light in our own lives.
  Having contemplated such fascinating ideas we were then able to explore the wonderful array of materials for collage and painting, and a gorgeous pile of attractive textiles with even a sewing machine waiting to be used.  Delight!
  Time flew and later we gathered together to show one another our work, explaining our responses and the routes we had taken. It was a most valuable and special afternoon.
  The text “In him was life, and that life was the light of men, the light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not understood it” (John 1) has continued in my thoughts.
  I pray that at this busy time of year there will be many who find the “Christ in Christmas” and begin to understand that “that life was (and is) the light of men and women today in all their joys and uncertainties of their lives.
  Thank you Jane and Iris for all your hard work in setting up such an interesting afternoon and I am looking forward to the next creative time at St Peter’s.  It was a very special time.
 Article Ann Rigby

Bishop David Tustin came along to St Peters to confirm Amy, Tom, Mary, Andy, Ebube, Henry and Will.
Confirmation marks the point in the Christian journey at which the participation in the life of God’s people which started at baptism is confirmed by the bishop by the laying on of hands, and in which those who have been baptised affirm for themselves the Christian faith into which they have been baptised, and their intention to live a life of responsible and committed discipleship to Jesus. We pray that God gives them power through the Holy Spirit to live in this way.

On our way

Westminster in sight

Westminster hall

Harvest Festival this year brought in loads of goodies for the Nomad Trust for homeless people in Lincoln.

Thanks to Graham Speed for sending in the photos and saying how much he enjoyed the service.

Funmilola and Bukola

Buki and Lola with Edward

There was a great celebration day at St. Peter's this month when Ropo and Gloria Ojo held a service to give thanks to God for blessings in their family. These blessings included special birthdays and the graduation of their daughters Funmilola and Bukola.
Gloria and Ropo originate from Nigeria, and family and friends came from all corners of the UK to join in the thanksgiving. Their invitation said 'dress to impress', which, in true Nigerian style, made it a really colourful and joyous occasion.
(With thanks to John Ajayi (JJ digital Photos) for the pictures.)

...and the whole family

St. George's Swallowbeck beat St. Peter's Eastgate by 6 wickets

We always expected a tough encounter in the match and that is what we got. St. George's put us into bat first and we posted a score of 124, with Bob Swainson top scoring with 35 not out. The St. George's reply started badly with an early wicket taken by Edward Bowes-Smith, but they got through this and despite a good performance by St. Peter's, they were able to get the runs required with three balls to go. A fantastic game and we look forward to the rematch in September
(Article by Henry Alexander)
 

(Photo - Julia Welch)

St. Peter's family hour has grown and grown this year. It is also great to hear that, because of the popularity of family hour, a new meeting place is being set up at the The Poachers Inn on Wragby Road (watch this space for more details). Family hour runs between 10 and
11-30am on Tuesdays in term time. It is a fun-filled morning for babies and toddlers and their carers, with free play, crafts, and singing (and of course coffee and a chat). The summer term ended with a party on the church lawn.

(Photos Rachael Spencer)

It is hard to believe that a year has already gone since Nick, Julia, Henry, Milly and Barnaby arrived from Oak Hill Theological College last July. We welcomed them into the life of the Church, which was shortly followed by Nick's Licensing as a Deacon at Grantham Church last July.
On Sunday July 1st 2007 Nick was fully ordained into the Priesthood having served one year as a Deacon at St Peter's. The service was held at Lincoln Cathedral and was led by the Bishop of Lincoln, John Saxbee.  The service was very well attended as there were a twenty-eight other Deacons being ordained into the Priesthood; men and women called into the Ministry by God's Call and serving Him throughout the Diocese of Lincoln.
The highlight of the service was Holy Communion which was given to the congregation by those newly Priested.
On Sunday July 15th, Nick led his first Communion service at St Peter's. This was celebrated afterwards by cakes and sparkling wine with the rest of the congregation.
Nick and Julia and the children are a wonderful blessing to our Church and to those who they come into contact with. Please continue to pray for them and their work within the Carlton Boulevard estate. (Article by Alistair ward)

Happy 70th birthday to Margaret Ford. We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide and protect her on her trip to Uganda this month. There was a birthday celebration provided by Margaret's growth group and guess who ate all the cake....Click the cake to find out!

Thanks to Nick Alexander for arranging the visit of our 'magnificent seven' trainee vicars, who came up to St Peter's for a week from Oakhill Bible College in London. One of their main tasks whilst here was to conduct a door to door survey on the Carlton Estate in Lincoln to collect residents views on the community, and spiritual needs of the estate. We'll let you know the results of the survey as soon as the analysis is completed.

What are the Easter eggs for you might ask....Well it was nearly Easter Day when they had their farewell and thanks evening, so what could be a more fitting gift. Thanks lads.....enjoy the rest of your course.

The magnificent 7!

....and here's some of the people who went to the 'thank-you' evening
 

SPRING HARVEST, 11TH APRIL 2007

Twelve of us attended Spring Harvest at Butlin's Skegness. We had such a fabulous uplifting and very busy day. The day consisted of selecting seminars such as Ian Coffey bible study from Philippians, a single-minded trail especially for single people in the church. We enjoyed a celebration of worship in the Big Top which was wow factor with live music, and fantastic words from Martin Goldsmith, a Jewish Christian missionary.

The weather was good to us and in the afternoon some of us went swimming. we spotted Edward just coming off the huge water slide with Hannah!!!, whilst others took some time out to shop and look around the displays in the Skyline.

In the evening the worship was from Jonathan Veira.

Jonathan Veira is an internationally acclaimed bass baritone opera singer, performing with various companies including Glyndebourne, The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and The Royal Danish Opera Company. His performances in operatic comedy roles have thrilled audiences at home and abroad but JV sings much more than opera alone. This singer with a range as big as his heart and character has performed across the globe to great reviews both in opera and in his own one-man show.

In An Audience with Jonathan Veira, he gives an insight into this 'ordinary guy' whose talent is underpinned by an integrity and faith that he is happy to share with all. With no small measure of skill added that endears him to audiences of young and old alike, An Audience with JV is not a performance, it's an evening with a friend! 

After all this we eventually headed for home after a long, but exuberating day!!! And look forward to Spring Harvest 2008!!    article by Amy Jackson.

(Other members of the group described the day as: 'awesome' 'brilliant' 'refreshing' and 'an appointment with God' )

Some of the group enjoy a picnic

Folks enjoying themselves at Alexander's

The band practicing before people arrive

Wow - how do you pack this lot into a service....Mothering Sunday, a baptism, communion for over 100 people, children's groups, a powerful 20 minute sermon, prayer, song and activities including the presentation of loads and loads of primroses.....Not easy, but Edward did it with grace and ease in just over an hour and a quarter.

Two of our seniors with their primroses

Work started this month on re-ordering the church building. A small team 'set to' and removed the choir stalls, replacing them with a raised platform measuring 8 x 8 metres. This is a temporary measure but makes a useful area for smaller, more intimate services and serves as an adaptable stage for the band, and school activities. Thanks to all who helped out to make this possible in such a short time.