St Nicholas Parish Church Fleetwood. Week beginning 19th February 2023 We seek to be a church that lives by faith, is known by love and is a voice of hope to the community we serve. Website https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/11671 Sunday 19th February Next Before Lent 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons: Carole & Sandra. Reader – David 12.00 pm Short meeting of the PCC in Church 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms Tuesday 21st February 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church 6.45 pm PCC (Parochial Church Council), meets in Jubilee Room Wednesday 22nd February 10.00 am Funeral of Les Fletcher at Carleton 12 00 pm Holy Communion with the imposition of ashes Thursday 16th February 10.00 am Community Coffee Morning & Warm Hub in the Jubilee Room Friday 24th February 9.00 am St Nic’s Little Gang in the Broadway Rooms 11.00 am National moment of silence in Church for Ukraine 11.45 am Lent Lunch at Trinity Baptist Church Sunday 26th February 1st of Lent 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons: Karen & June. Reader - Joy 12.30 pm Baptism of Janie Ann Taziker Welcome and set up - Berny 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms ********************************************** Silence for Ukraine: A national minute’s silence will take place at 11am on Friday 24 February to mark the one-year anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. St Nicholas Church will be open for private prayer as usual, but on Friday, the church bell will toll at 11 am and prayers will be said as we pray tribute to the courage of the Ukrainian people. Since the war began, thousands of Ukrainians have been killed defending their freedom from Russia’s appalling onslaught. Millions more have been forced from their homes, with 114,400 Ukrainians finding refuge in the UK. God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen. Lent Daily Reflections: “That You May Know the Truth” is the title of this year’s Lent reflections prepared for us by clergy and lay-members of the diocese. Please take your copy and try to set aside some time each day to journey with us through these 40 days of Lent. Lent Lunches: For many years the Churches Together in Fleetwood have hosted a simple lunch of soup and a roll on each of the Fridays in Lent. It’s an opportunity to meet with other Christians and to invite your neighbours along too for fellowship and a bite of lunch. There is no cost, although we are encouraged to make a donation towards this year’s chosen charity, International Aid. Please do make a determined effort to come to as many of these lunches as you are able. Much preparation is involved for the hosting church! Trinity Baptist Church is hosting this Friday’s lunch. Please also remember in your prayers – Dorothy Angel, Rev Jane Everitt, Rev Martin Keighley, Elizabeth King, Chris Kelsall, Michaela Jones, Emily Lowe, Janice Porter & Mark Price. And the families of, Eleanor Riseborough, Les Fletcher & Clara Pilling whose funerals are due to take place.
St Nicholas Parish Church Fleetwood. Week beginning 12th February 2023 We seek to be a church that lives by faith, is known by love and is a voice of hope to the community we serve. Website https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/11671 Sunday 12th February 2nd Before Lent 8.30 am Communion by Extension in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons: Judith & Dorothy W. Reader - Sandra 12.30 pm Baptisms of Jayden and Barney Welcome and Set Up – Dorothy W 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms Tuesday 14th February 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church Wednesday 15th February 2.00 pm Memorial Service for Betty Hart in Church Thursday 16th February 10.00 am Community Coffee Morning & Warm Hub in the Jubilee Room Sunday 19th February Next Before Lent 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons: Carole & Sandra. Reader - David 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms ********************************************** Turkey & Syria – You will without doubt have been utterly shocked this week as the scenes from Monday’s earthquake have dominated our news bulletins. The earthquake which hit southern Turkey close to the border with northern Syria was initially a magnitude 7.8 followed by a second 7.5 magnitude earthquake 9 hours later, with aftershocks following. Many thousands of men, women and children have died or are injured in the aftermath of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Even before these devastating earthquakes, there were over four million people in need of aid in Northwest Syria. Nearly 3 million people have been displaced by the long conflict in Syria, 80% of whom are women and children. Now extreme weather events and the spiraling costs of food and fuel prices due to ongoing conflicts are making the situation even worse. People are facing a crisis on crisis. Whatever your personal response, please join with us in prayer. God of time and space, we cry to you for your children - our neighbours - in southern Turkey and northern Syria, following the earthquake that has devastated hundreds of lives. Only they and you know what it is like to experience such trauma in the middle of the night. We give thanks for the aid that is already being given and for the promises of help that have been made by many nations. Comfort, we pray, those who are trapped in collapsed buildings; those who have lost loved ones; those who wait for news and those digging through rubble to save others. Grant the gift of hope so that those caught between life and death know that you are with them and that others are ready to support them as they seek a future that overshadows the experiences of today. We ask this in the Name of Jesus, who endured so much for love of them. Amen Please also remember in your prayers – Dorothy Angel, Rev Jane Everitt, Rev Martin Keighley, Elizabeth King, Chris Kelsall, Michaela Jones, Emily Lowe, Janice Porter & Mark Price. And the families of, Betty Hart, Eleanor Riseborough, Les Fletcher & Clara Pilling whose funerals are due to take place.
St Nicholas Parish Church Fleetwood. Week beginning 5th February 2023 We seek to be a church that lives by faith, is known by love and is a voice of hope to the community we serve. Website https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/11671 Sunday 5th February 3rd Before Lent 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons Susan & Christine. Reader - Margaret 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms Tuesday 7th February 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church Thursday 9th February 10.00 am Community Coffee Morning & Warm Hub in the Jubilee Room Friday 10th February 9.00 am Little Gang in the Broadway Rooms Sunday 12th February 2nd Before Lent 8.30 am Communion by Extension in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons. Reader – Judith & Dorothy W. Reader Sandra 12.30 pm Baptisms of Jayden and Barney Welcome and Set Up – Dorothy W 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms ********************************************** Today we start the countdown to Lent. The books of daily Lenten reflections prepared by representatives from within the Diocese will be with us shortly and will help us to refocus. Lent is a significant season in the year for us. It is a time of solemnity and self-reflection where we confess our failings and resolve to live a more godly life based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. You may be in the habit of surrendering a particular vice such as a favourite food or alcohol. But whatever your sacrifice, it is a reflection of Jesus' deprivation in the wilderness and a test of your own self-discipline. Rather than just go through the motions of ‘another Lent’ it would be wonderful if we would all resolve to strive to be a little more godly at the end of it. We have three more Sundays before we mark the start of Lent with Ash Wednesday. Let’s use this time to decide how we are going to use these forty days in our own lives. In the famous words of University Challenge, “Here is a starter for ten…!” Let us this Lent fast from complaining and feast on appreciation. Let us fast from hostility and feast on tenderness. Let us fast from bitterness and feast on forgiveness. Let us fast from self-concern and feast on compassion for others. Let us fast from words that pollute and feast on phrases that purify. Let us fast from discontent and feast on gratitude. Let us fast from personal anxiety and feast on eternal truth. Let us fast from discouragement and feast on hope. Let us fast from thoughts that weaken and feast on promises that inspire. Let us fast from problems that overwhelm and feast on prayer that undergirds. 100 Club: winners recently include Muriel Freestone, Shirley Kershaw, Penny Meekins, Barbara Quirk and Tracey Meekins. Please remember in your prayers – Dorothy Angel, Rev Jane Everitt, Rev Martin Keighley, Elizabeth King, Chris Kelsall, Michaela Jones, Emily Lowe, Janice Porter & Mark Price. Please also remember the families of, Betty Hart, Eleanor Riseborough & Clara Pilling whose funerals are due to take place.
St Nicholas Parish Church Fleetwood. Week beginning 29th January 2023 We seek to be a church that lives by faith, is known by love and is a voice of hope to the community we serve. Website https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/11671 Sunday 29th January 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons Elizabeth & Margaret. Reader - Karen 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms 8.00 pm Lancaster Priory – Book Launch Rt Rev Dr Jill Duff Monday 30th January 10.00 am Funeral of Janet Smith at Carleton Tuesday 31st January 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church Wednesday 1st February 7.30 pm Church Together in Fleetwood at the Methodist Church Thursday 2nd February 10.00 am Community Coffee Morning & Warm Hub in the Jubilee Room Friday 3rd February 9.00 am Little Gang in the Broadway Rooms 1.00 pm Funeral of Davina Kennedy in Church Saturday 4th February 10.00 am Church Cleaning Sunday 5th February 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons Susan & Christine. Reader - Margaret 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms ********************************************** Today we celebrate the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. The actual feast day is Feb 2nd and it is also known as the Feast of the Purification. It commemorates the presentation of Jesus and the purification of Mary in the Jerusalem Temple forty days after Jesus' birth, in accordance with the requirements of Jewish law (Leviticus 12:2-8). The feast is celebrated about forty days after Christmas. According to the account of Luke 2:22-39, the presentation of Jesus was also the occasion of the meeting of Jesus with Simeon and Anna, the gospel passage set for today. Simeon's prayer of blessing is the basis for the canticle Nunc dimittis. Celebration of the feast dates from the fourth century in Jerusalem. It was introduced in Rome in the seventh century, where it included a procession with candles and the singing of the Nunc dimittis. The celebration came to include the lighting and blessing of candles which were carried in procession. For this reason, the feast is also known as “Candlemas.” Simeon was a devout Jew who was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. The Nunc dimittis, the song of Simeon: Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation; Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel 100 Club: winners recently include Ruth Aspinall, Dorothy Calderbanks, Chris Jones, Dorothy Angel, Alison Horabin, Karen Hay, David Meekins, Paul Meekins, Nancy Burr, Chris Ashworth and Mavis Evans. Please remember in your prayers – Rev Jane Everitt, Rev Martin Keighley, Elizabeth King, Ruth, Chris Kelsall, Michaela Jones, Emily Lowe, Janice Porter & Mark Price. Please also remember the families of, Betty Hart, Janet Smith, Davina Kennedy and Eleanor Riseborough whose funerals are due to take place.
