News and Notices
The following news and notices apply to all of the parishes within theBythams area.
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From the Glenside News (June 2015) in the absence of a Parish Priest Newsletter …
We have now been in vacancy for eight months. Services in our four churches have continued as normal – helped along by our very friendly visiting clergy.
The ‘Deepings Church Mice’ – a U3A group visited Castle Bytham to listen to a talk about St James Church followed by afternoon tea in the church. They all thought St James was a beautiful church and thoroughly enjoyed their visit – all four of our churches are very welcoming and inclusive.
If you can’t manage Sunday morning – try Creeton Church at 6pm on the first Sunday of the month – a short service of about 20 minutes in a lovely peaceful setting.
Then there is Morning Prayer every Wednesday morning at 10am – 20/25 minutes in Castle Bytham Church. Not forgetting ‘Something Like a Sunday School’ at 11am in Little Bytham Village Hall on the 3rd Sunday of every month.
At all our services prayers are said for anyone requesting them. Join us on any Sunday morning – all the churches serve coffee and biscuits after the service – Little Bytham serve home-made deliciousness made by Judy – a real treat. You can meet people for a chat and start the day off in a very pleasant way.
By the time you read this the advert will have been posted for our new incumbent and also for Corby Glen. For those of you who are not aware our parishes in this Deanery have all been re-jigged. Castle Bytham, Little Bytham, Careby with Aunby, Creeton and Counthorpe will join with South and North Witham to form a benefice. Corby Glen, Irnham and Swayfield will join with Bitchfield, Burton-le-Coggles and Bassingbourne to form thier new benefice.
It is intended that both of these new benefice will have a priest appointed to them – we hope and pray that we are able to attract some good interesting candidates for interviewing in July.
We may even have our own new Priest by Christmas …. perhaps if we all pray hard enough.
Sheila Robinson
Managing without a Parish Priest (from Glenside June 2015 : 08/06/15 : MG)
Now that we are in a vacancy, Parochial Church Council members will be the first people to contact if you need help in contacting a Priest.
The Rural Dean, Fr. Chris Atkinson, is in charge overall and has arranged Priests to take the Communion services. He will also advise on weddings, baptisms and funerals … but speak to one of the Church Wardens first.
We have already welcomed two old friends to our services – Ian Williams and Peter Lister, and are looking forward to meeting other new faces … Revd Sue is sadly missed, but please help to make our visiting clergy welcome.
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Careby Family Service (from Glenside October 1995 : 15/01/12 : MG)
From Peter Cox …
Careby Family Service, Sunday 5 November 1995 at 11.00am
It is not often that we write about our services but we hope that this service will be different and maybe set a pattern that can be repeated at some future time. Although the Reverend Ian Williams will be ‘in attendance’ and happy to do anything required or necessary, he wants us the congregation, not the Churchwardens or PCC to arrange and run the service.
To make it a success we need two things; firstly we need a congregation of people of all ages, hopefully including young families, and, secondly, we need ideas and thoughts on what such a service should contain. There is no limit to these ideas. Perhaps we won’t have a sermon but something to which we can all contribute. Our only object is to bring us closer to God and to make this enjoyable for the young and not so young.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please either ‘phone me on 410457 or Charles Smith on 411420. But do come. You can just be part of the congregation and join in the service – no one will ask you to do more – but if you would like to help in some way, that’s even better.
p.s. despite the date, the fireworks will be only spiritual.
Ministry Team for the Seven Parishes (from Glenside October 1995 : 28/12/11 : MG)
Rector : Rev. Bryan Bennett
Assistant Priest : Rev. Ian Williams
Lay Reader : Mrs Margaret Barton
Lay Reader : Mrs Dorothee Whisell
Lay Minister : Mr Vincent Hedley-Lewis
The Group consists of Castle Bytham, Little Bytham, Careby, Creeton, Irnham, Corby Glen, Swayfield, plus small hamlets like Holywell which are part of the above parishes. Ministers work across the Group have areas of special responsibility. All ministers may be approached on personal or church matters. Margaret Barton is just beginning a three year course which will lead to her ordination as a priest, while Maureen Hale of Swayfield is just starting the three year training course to be a Lay Reader. When these are completed it will greatly strengthen the team’s ability to provide the cover needed in such a large area. With the reduction in the number of full time clergy the future may depend upon teams like ours. With this in mind the Rector would like to hear from anyone who might be interested in training for part-time ministry.
Rev. Bryan J Bennett
Added : 28/12/11 : MG
Last Updated : 08/06/15 : MG
