To be a pilgrim
Epiphany to Easter 2017
The Benefice of
Branston with Nocton and Potterhanworth
A Pilgrim Prayer
Pilgrim God,
you are our origin and our destination.
Travel with us, we pray,
in every pilgrimage of faith
and every journey of the heart.
Give us the courage to set off,
the nourishment and companions
we need to travel well,
and the welcome we long for
at journey’s end.
Amen.
This spring we’re going to be working with the idea of pilgrimage
Why this time of year?
Because it’s as relatively quiet time - it’s not summertime, when
many are away on holiday, and it’s not autumn, when we’re often
caught up in the themes of remembering.
Why pilgrimage?
A pilgrim has a sense of purpose, a destination in mind.
A pilgrim has made a decision to undertake a journey.
A pilgrim will have left some things behind when they set off but
will also have chosen to take other things with them.
A pilgrim may well have to deal with difficulties and dangers,
distractions and dead-end diversions.
But they might also enjoy the company and encouragement
of other travellers making the same journey.
And like Chaucer’s Canterbury pilgrims they might
tell each other stories or sing songs
along the way.
Over these coming weeks
we might think about the pilgrimage of our lives,
or a particular journey to a holy place.
We might think about our private inner journeys,
or the journey we make together as a Christian community.
We might think about the travels of God’s pilgrim people
recorded in the Old Testament, or the expeditions of Jesus
and his disciples in the New.
Either way – let’s put our best foot forward,
and enjoy the journey.
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Sign-up sheets and more information in church or contact
Rev’d Lorna at [email protected]
Launch – Sunday January 22nd 2017
With guest preacher: The Rev’d Canon David White
Bible study - ‘Three Journeys with Jesus’
7.30-9.00pm on Tuesday February 14th and 28th and March 14th
at Church View Cottage, The Green, Potterhanworth, LN4 2DW
OR
2.30-4pm on Wednesday February 15th and 22nd and March 1st
at The Rectory, 19 Abel Smith Gardens, Branston LN4 1NN
Book group – ‘The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry’
2.30-4.00pm Tuesday February 21st (other dates to suit the group)
at 7 Woodlands Close, Potterhanworth LN4 2ED
(we already have copies of the book borrowed from the library)
‘Just looking’
An opportunity to ask questions and talk about faith, no strings attached
three lunchtimes: Friday February 24th, March 3rd and 10th 12.30-2pm
at Grangefield, Kingsley Court, off Barff Road,
Potterhanworth LN4 2DQ
‘The whole of the Old Testament
in an hour and three-quarters’
No, not a lecture – a ‘walk’ with God’s pilgrim people
through the Old Testament
7.30-9.15pm Wednesday March 22nd
at Branston Church Hall
The Pilgrim’s Progress - three Saturday morning walks
Walk two or three miles – a brief reflection – and then a pub lunch!
come to just one walk, or to all three
Meet 10.30am on Saturday February 18th and 25th and March 4th
(venues to be announced)
Quiet Day: Preparing for Lent
Friday February 17th, 10.00am to 3.00pm
at The Community of St Francis, San Damiano,
38 Drury Street, Metheringham, LN4 3EZ
led by The Rev’d Canon David White
(£10 a head – please bring your own packed lunch)
AND THEN, IN LENT
Pilgrim Course: The Church and the Kingdom
(dates and venue to be arranged depending on participants)
‘The things he carried’
Eight reflections on Jesus’ road to Calvary:
2.30-4.00pm Thursday afternoons (starting before Lent)
from February 16th through to April 6th
(venue in Branston to be arranged)
‘Living an authentic life’
This year’s Lent study recommended by the diocese,
five evenings from USPG focussing on discipleship:
7.30-9.00pm on Thursday evenings,
from March 9th through to April 6th
(venue in Nocton or Potterhanworth to be arranged)
Lent Communion and Lunch
Wednesdays in Lent 12.00noon at Branston Church Hall
starting on Wednesday March 8th
(people from all three villages welcome)
Holy Saturday Pilgrimage Walk
Saturday April 15th
(the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Day)
Pilgrimage Walk to Lincoln Cathedral
walk about 10 miles along the Witham into Lincoln
we’ll start from Bardney at 10am,
but you’ll be able to join the walk nearer the city if you prefer
(more details nearer the date)
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If you’d prefer to work on your own instead of with a group,
here are a couple of books you might like to dip into:
‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ (Part 1) by John Bunyan
‘This Sunrise of Wonder: Letters for the journey’ by Michael Mayne
‘The things he carried’ by Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading
‘Pocket Prayers for Pilgrims’ prayers and reflections
compiled by John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford