THE FUTURE OF THE UFFINGTON GROUP OF PARISHES

Over the past few months, representatives from across our 7 parishes have met the Archdeacon and Rural Dean to discuss plans for the future of the Uffington Group. These meetings were triggered by the Stamford Deanery's Mission Area Plan, which makes it clear that Carolyn will be the last Rector of the Uffington Group. When she decides to move on, it is very likely that the Uffington Rectory will be sold.

A long term decline in both church income and the number of ordained ministers means that the Church has to reduce the number of paid clergy across the board. The Stamford Deanery can now only afford three paid clergy and the Deanery has decided that all of these will be based in Stamford.

It is not yet clear what this will mean for our group of parishes. One option would be to stay together as a group with some sort of collective supervision and support from the Stamford clergy. Another option might be for the group to break up, with the different parishes being linked to adjacent parishes, either in Stamford or in other nearby towns and villages.

Whatever happens, it is clear that our village church congregations will need to do more for ourselves in future, including leading our own services. At our meetings we heard some of the ways we can do this. It isn't as intimidating as it might seem. The simplest form of lay ministry requires a foundation course consisting of 17 evening sessions plus a 6-session 'worship' module. Additional 6- session modules are also available, including one for people interested in helping with pastoral visiting. If anyone is interested in undertaking this training, please let Carolyn or your Churchwardens know.

Further discussions about the impact of the Deanery Plan will take in the coming months, and there will no doubt be opportunities to consider the issues at the Annual Parochial Church Meetings.

It must be emphasised that for the present Carolyn remains our Rector. The Mission Area Plan will only come into effect when she decides to move on.
 

DEANERY SYNOD ELECTIONS 2011
The current 3 year term of Deanery Synods will end in Spring, 2011. New Deanery Synods begin 1 June, 2011. Each Parish (at its Annual Parochial Church Meeting - required to be held by 30 April) is to elect one, or more, lay representative(s) to serve on their Deanery Synod in accordance to a table linked to the numbers on the Church Electoral Roll. (One representative up to 50 on electoral roll)

LENT begins on Ash Wednesday, March 9th
If you are looking for a study course for Lent there are several good suggestions in the newsletter "Notepad" - of Churches Together in All Lincolnshire:
www.ctal.org.uk Should we have a Group Lent Study Group??

WELLAND MOTHERS' UNION
The next meeting of the Welland Mothers' Union will be at 2pm on Monday 21st February at Cromwell House, The Lane, West Deeping. The meeting will be on the subject of Rwanda.

Baby and Toddler Group
Tallington Village Hall - Tuesdays 10.30am-12pm
If you are a parent with little ones to amuse please come and join us.
This is a very informal group with loads of toys for the little ones and a chance for them to find some local friends at a young age.....In the meantime parents get a chance to have a coffee and a bit of ‘sanity’! All welcome. Cost £2.00.
For information contact Jill Hewitt on 07889 511245.
(Parents must supervise their own children)

ST BARNABAS TEA & COFFEE TOUR February - April 2011
'Come along and find out what services St Barnabas will be providing in your local community.' St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice will be providing specialised care and support in Stamford and Bourne and with specialist nursing staff, therapists and trained volunteers we are able to support patients and their families when it is needed most. The charity is county wide providing a third of the palliative care across Lincolnshire, and now these services are being inputted into your local community. For people wanting to find out more, including how to get involved in the work itself, fundraising, and other services St Barnabas provide, a 'Tea and Coffee Tour' is taking place across the South West of Lincolnshire visiting Village Halls. This will enable local residents from all the villages to come along and discuss anything they would like to know. Community Fundraiser Hannah Thompson, leading the awareness campaign says, 'It's a great opportunity for people to find out what St Barnabas' services involve. People will not necessarily need these services at present, but may well do in the future. The specialist care that St Barnabas are able to provide for people with life limiting illnesses such as cancer, motor-neurone, heart disease and so on, is invaluable and people need to be aware that this service is available to them.' So come along and visit us at your local village hall on the dates below, and find out how you can get involved!
February Dates Wednesday 23rd 10am-12noon Uffington Village Hall
April Dates Fri 8th 10am - 12noon Tallington Village Hall
Thurs 21st 10am - 12noon Braceborough Village Hall
Thurs 28th 10am - 2pm Stamford St John the Baptist Church
 

Concessionary Travel - Bus Passes are Changing!

From 1st April 2011 the responsibility for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme will be transferred from the District Councils to Lincolnshire County Council who will be responsible for issuing new passes, renewals and replacing lost passes. Full details of the new arrangements will be available soon. So what does this mean? . Current bus passes issued by your District Council will still remain valid until their expiry date. .

Financial constraints will mean non-continuation of some discretionary elements such as taxi tokens and rail card contributions - please check with SKDC for further information.

The way you apply for a new bus pass will be different. From 1st April 2011 you must apply by post or alternatively you can present yourself at City Hall in Lincoln. .

The option for pass applications and renewals on-line is currently being developed. These options will give you a choice of how to obtain your pass but please do not apply any earlier than 21 days in advance of the due date. Application forms and an information leaflet about the scheme will be available from libraries, local SKDC offices, other key access centres and online during the next few months.

The LCC website address with more information on is http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/residents/transport-travel-androads/public- transport/bus-travel/concessionary-travel-buspasses/32818.article

For further information and application forms until 31st March visit SKDC's website using the link http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/residents/transport-travelandroads/public-transport/bus-travel/concessionary-travel-buspasses/x_links/19660