Welcome
Welcome to our website. Updated 2nd April 2020 at 11am (updates in bold)
News from Rev 'Captain' Chris Harrington - Rector
Due to the Corona Virus Pandemic the Archbishops of Canterbury & York have asked us to suspend all public worship so there will be no more public acts of worship in any of our churches until further notice. All groups and events are also suspended. Following an announcement by the Prime Minister (23.3.20) ALL churches are also now closed until further notice. However although how we do church is changing, it is not stopping. Prayer and pastoral work will continue but in a different way.
The weekly pastoral phone round of everyone in our Prayer & Care Directory has now begun. If you haven't received a call either from me, or one of the team I have asked to be part of this rota, then please give me a ring (01529 460904) as your name might not be in our Prayer & Care Directory, but can soon be added for future weeks. We are also praying for everyone in it by name too.
Each Sunday we are now putting a Sunday Morning Service on the 'Worship from the Rectory' page. It has the readings set for that week along with prayers, hymns and a sermon, so you can join in at home if you want to. Rev Chris will also be recording the service at the Rectory each week to be broadcast live on 'Heckington Living Community Radio' at 11am that Sunday. Later there will be a podcast available on this website though sadly the sound quality is not as good. In order to add variety and include the ministries of others Rev Stephen, Canon Beverley and David Stark will be contributing sermons from time to time and some of our church wardens and ALM's who usually lead the intercessions in our churches will be contributing the prayers which Rev Chris will read out on their behalf. In addition there will also be services for Maundy Thursday (9th April) and Good Friday (10th April) which will also be broadcast live at 11am on those days on Heckington Living Community Radio and service sheets available on the 'Worship from the Rectory' page.
I am also saying Morning Prayer at home at 8.30am & Evening Prayer at home at 5pm Monday to Friday and either celebrate Holy Communion with Julia at home on behalf of our Group of Churches each day at 12noon or use midday prayers and a time of silent contemplation. If you want to join in with these times of worship at home there are service sheets you can download in the link below.
THE CALL TO PRAYER IN OUR GROUP OF CHURCHES
I have now added a new page to our website called 'Reflections, Readings, Prayers and Blogs' in order to share some of the things others have sent in to me. If you want to send me yours please email them to me. I have already posted a couple of Blogs on there and will do more when feel inspired to do so. Canon Beverley has organised a daily 'round robin blog' by email. If you want to join in then the details are on the 'Reflections, Readings, Prayers & Blogs' page.
Please do look at the Church of England Website - (churchofengland.org) where there are daily updates and lots of resources for prayer and worship at home + links to live-streaming of services around the country. There is also the website of Lincoln Diocese (lincoln.anglican.org) with local news and letters from our Bishops.
There is a daily service on BBC Radio 4 LW at 9.45am each morning with plenty of thoughts for each day. Songs of Praise on Sundays at 1.15pm on BBC 1. Choral Evensong on Radio 3 at 3pm on Sundays and 3.30pm on Wednesdays. BBC Sounds App has lots of resources too. It's a chance to catch up with some great radio programmes you may have missed in the past. In this digital age we are certainly not short of resources!
Below are two attachments, one a letter from me about the phone service we are offering and the other a prayer booklet to help you in your prayers during this time of uncertainty. Please do feel free to phone Rev Chris for personal prayer and spiritual help if needed (01529 460904).
MORE PRAYERS FOR USE DURING THE PANDEMIC
All practical help is being co-ordinated by local parish councils, health centres and local businesses as below.
If you are able and want to volunteer to help then please contact the parish councils. Many thanks to all who are. Please keep safe.
NKDC - 01529 414155 (n-kesteven.gov.uk) can point you to your own local parish council.
Heckington Parish council - 01529 460174
Heckington Millview Medical Centre for delivery of medicines - 01529 460213
Heckington Volunteer Emergency Team co-ordinators helping organise local shopping deliveries etc for those who can't or aren't allowed out - Christine (01529 469560), Julie (07341 341359), Roger (01529 462088), Sue (07769342995)
Helpringham - our Church Warden Fiona Lightfoot is co-ordinating local deliveries in Helpringham in conjunction with the local post office (01529 421827 or 07393 553091)
Deliveries of Food supplies: Now is the time to help save local businesses by shopping locally
Sylv's Cafe - Meals on Wheels service (01529 469111
Pop in Cafe Deliveries (07704 183856)
Windmill Shop general food supplies & fruit and veg deliveries (01529 461295)
Simpson's Butchers local deliveries (01529 460403)
Heckington Pet Supplies - deliveries (01529 460675)
If out shopping please remember - Noah only took two - and he helped to save the entire planet!
Keep safe & enjoy life.
Rev Chris
The Heckington & Helpringham Group of Parishes are a group of eight Anglican Parish Churches who are part of the Lafford Deanery within the southern part of the Diocese of Lincoln. The churches in our group are:
St Andrew's Asgarby
St Andrew with St Nicholas & The Blessed Virgin Mary, Burton Pedwardine
St John the Baptist Great Hale
St Andrew's Heckington
St Andrew's Helpringham,
St Andrew's Scredington
St Michael's Swaton.
Do browse the site and if there is anything you are looking for but can't find do contact me.
Rev 'Captain' Chris Harrington
Rector