The view from the Vicarage

3rd May 2020

Welcome everyone. As you will realise, I am having a strange start to my ministry here in Ketton and Tinwell.

While the churches are closed for public worship I am leading Sunday services by video. This is the blog address - https://kettonandtinwell.uk - You can click onto it at any time and it will bring up the latest posts. The only direct services I am taking are funerals – which are being held at the crematorium or the graveside.

In order to get to know who is in the congregation I am collecting contact details for parishioners, email addresses and phone numbers and home addresses. If you think that I don’t have your details then please get in touch. I am making phone calls and connecting by email. My contacts details are: Email: vicar@kettonandtinwell.uk or phone 01780 729052.

I find I am also getting to know people when I walk the dog – sometimes they recognise me from the video and introduce themselves. Sometimes I have had conversations over fences or hedges! The dog walking is also helping me to get to know the village.

We have begun a new facebook page for St Mary’s which is just getting going which I hope will be a place of contact for the church community and the village. A search for St Mary’s Ketton will link you to it. Please feel able to post on it – anything of interest. That will help it work and connect.

My concerns at the moment are for those who are living alone and for those who are shielding from all contact due to health conditions. There are wonderful community support systems in Ketton and there is good pastoral care offered through Julia Freeman and the church community but sometimes we all need support. If that is the case please feel able to get in touch.

We pray for a better day when we will be able to unite together again in worship and get to know one another face to face. Meanwhile please know I am praying for the parish and for the well being of us all.

With God’s blessing on you at this time.

Olwen