Newsletter- 2nd Week of Lent
Dear Parishioners
‘Rise, have no fear.’ Traditionally on this Second Sunday of Lent, we read and pray with the Transfiguration of Jesus. Matthew, Mark and Luke, all tell us that this event took place on a high mountain. It is an episode that gives us a glimpse of both Jesus’s humanity and his divinity, where Jesus reassures his friends – and us as well – that there is no need to be afraid, even as we witness such extraordinary things. (Gospel). In the First Reading, the Lord speaks to Abram, telling him to leave behind everything he knows. The promise of great blessings will follow. The Psalm reflects on the faithfulness of God’s word. He will be our help and shield if, like Abram, we place our hope in him. Both Abram’s call and the disciples’ witnessing of the Transfiguration do not occur as a reward, but by God’s ‘own purpose and grace’ (Second Reading). Paul encourages Timothy to accept the hardships he encounters, relying on the power of God, and strengthened by the grace of the appearing of Jesus Christ.
As we continue our Lenten journey, we may like to focus our prayer this week on all those whom we know who maybe are feeling worried or afraid, all those who may be struggling in the faith and all who need to experience Gods love more fully for themselves, asking that they place their hope in the Lord so that they can be better able to experience the comfort of God’s love for them and the knowledge of his presence in all they may be experiencing just now.
Update Enabling our Mission Campaign
I am immensely grateful to the sacrificial giving and generosity of our parish community which has enabled us to raise within the parish to date just over £351,561 of pledges over the next five years for the Enabling our Mission Campaign.
I have recently been in touch with the Campaign Director and the Finance Department of the diocese to see what this may equate to for us as a parish community going forward and I can confirm the following:
The first disbursement into our parish will take place in April and then quarterly after that (based on the cash received). It is very important now if you have pledged support but have yet to begin your payments that you consider doing so now and if possible before April. If all pledges continue to be paid as suggested from individual donors the parish should receive over the next five years:
40% of £120,000 (the original total we were asked to raise) = £48,000
50% of £120,001-£240,000 = £59,999
100% of £240,000 and above = £111,561
Total to be disbursed back to St Mary’s over 5 years = £219,560
As I have mentioned previously, we are not a wealthy parish, and this is a fantastic sum to have been raised by our parish community in pledges thus far. We do not have large reserves to draw upon for the future and with ongoing rising costs and increased drains upon the income that we receive from your regular giving to the parish, your great generosity to the campaign will go a long way to help us to maintain a strong financial basis for the future and will help to support maintenance, enhance existing mission initiatives and help us to develop new and imaginative mission initiatives going forward.
Whilst we await the first reimbursement in April, I shall be working with a small group of parishioners drawn from a cross section of our parish community after Easter to explore some concrete missionary endeavours to come into action I hope over the next two years. These will support both the younger members of the congregation and those of more mature years as well, alongside putting in I hope a proper working kitchen to enhance the use of our parish halls, and continuing with the very necessary ongoing maintenance works needed within the church and our large property.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you who have so generously responded to the Enabling our Mission Campaign. Copies of the Enabling our Mission Campaign Stewardship Newsletter for February have now arrived and are available in the church porch for you to take home and read. You will see St Marys Grantham features prominently in this February edition!
Fr Peter Harvey – Parish Priest of Sleaford – I ask for your prayers please for Fr Peter Harvey, the Parish Priest of Sleaford, who was rushed into Lincoln hospital last Wednesday night. It is likely that he will be out of action for some time to come. This means that cover is being put into place for the parish of Sleaford. I shall be covering in Sleaford each week on a Tuesday morning, celebrating the 10.15 am Mass there and on Friday mornings the 11.30 am Mass until Easter. The weekend Masses until Easter and Holy Week are being covered in The main by Mgr. John Hadley and other available clergy of the diocese. The situation going forward will then need to be reviewed. Please keep Fr Peter, Deacon Anthony and the parishioners of Sleaford in your prayers at this time.
Note of thanks: My sincere thanks to all who travelled to Spalding last Tuesday evening for the Deanery Mass. I am very grateful to you for making the time to join with other parishioners in our deanery at the special Deanery Mass celebrated for us by Bishop Patrick. It was on many different levels a joyful experience and a good way to pause and reflect during these 40 days of Lent.
With my prayers for you and for your families as we continue our Lenten journey together,
Your parish priest and friend,
Fr Jonathan
2026 1st March – Newsletter – Download