As many readers will realise, the 1980 Alternative Service Book was originally approved for use for just ten years, and this was extended by another ten to take us to the end of the century. New services are being compiled to replace the ASB then, and pilot forms of these are being tried in selected parishes. They are not a wholesale change but a general improvement, with more substantial changes here and there.
Along with the new services comes a new pattern of readings. The Church of England's General Synod has agreed to use a set of readings known as the Revised Common Lectionary, closely related to the system already in use by lots of other Anglican churches as well as some free churches and the Roman Catholic Church. This is therefore both an ecumenical move and the following, with due consideration, of the experience and advice of other Christians.
The new lectionary (RCL for short) is authorised for use from this Advent and the Parochial Church Council has resolved to begin using it straight away in Deeping St James. It is clearly easier for me to cope with this change now, while everything is new to me anyway, and it will make it easier for us all in 2000 when we have to make our adjustments to the revised services if we are already used to the readings.
From Sunday 30th November inclusive, therefore, we shall be using the new readings at the 10am and 6pm services, and I shall be speaking personally to those who are on the readings rota to make sure that we are all comfortable with what we are doing. Because the readings are not printed in our books, the parish magazine each month will carry the references for the readings to be used that month, so that those who wish to follow them can do so in their own Bibles, and those who are due to read will know what it is that they are to read. It could be that in due course we shall have a large copy of the Lectionary Readings for the lectern, and possibly even pew-sized copies either of the readings or the Bible in a matching translation, but we shall have to wait and see what the publishers produce and what we can afford to buy. Meanwhile we can read from any duly authorised translation, which means almost any of the modern English versions, plus the King James, of course.
I should be interested to hear from those who attend the 8am service if you would like to use the RCL at that service, too. Readings are provided for three different services per Sunday, so it would fit in easily.
Unlike the Prayer Book, with its one-year cycle of readings and the ASB with two years, the RCL has a three-year cycle, and each year features one of the three synoptic gospels as its theme, with St John's version used thoughout at Passiontide. Thus we take our leave of the ASB's thematic approach, a whole new way of thinking for preachers like me, trained to use the ASB lectionary! We also take our leave of the "Sundays after Pentecost" and revert to "Sundays after Trinity".
If you have any concerns at all about this new scheme of readings, please feel free to come and speak to me, and if you are one of those who read in church and need advice on which version is best for you to read, then again, I should be pleased to help, or even to print out the reading for you if necessary.
30th November, The First Sunday of Advent
10am: Jeremiah 33: 14-16; Luke 21: 25-36
6pm: Advent Carol Service, special readings
Please see the Vicar's letter this month for an explanation of the new scheme of scripture readings
The Vicar and the Choir are working together on plans for an exciting evening service at 6pm on Sunday 30th November to mark the start of Advent. Using traditional music and a procession the service will mark focus our attention on the words of the prophets which indicate the expected coming of God's chosen One, the Messiah, the Christ, at the beginning of the End Time in which we now live. There will be plenty of opportunity for congregational participation in the singing of Advent hymns, and the Vicar will be looking for volunteers to read the words of the prophets.
Posters to advertise the event will be available nearer the time.
The same evening at 6.30pm at St George's in Stamford the Deanery will be sponsoring a service for young people. Please watch out for details of this exciting event.
This year the SKDC Civic Service takes place once more at Deeping St James this year, at 6pm on Sunday 2nd November.
Our own Vicar, choir and organist will lead the worship, which will follow closely our normal pattern of Choral Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer. Lessons will be read by Councillor Ken Joynson, the Chairman and Mr Russell Cann, the Chief Executive of the Council. Sonia Marshall will lead the prayers.
Members and guests of the District Council will attend, and the service is open to anyone who would like to come.
Anyone who has ever visited the war cemeteries of Flanders will know how important it is that we keep alive the memory of the sacrifice which has won the freedom of Europe, and of the evil to which we can so easily sink when our priorities are ordered other than by the love for one another which our Lord commands.
This year we shall hold a service of Remembrance on the afternoon of Sunday 9th November, at 3pm, following the order of service commended by the leaders of all our main denominations in England. All are welcome to attend, whether to remember a loved one whose life was given or taken in conflict, or simply to give thanks and pray for peace and freedom.