St Nicholas Parish Church Fleetwood. Week beginning 28th January 2024 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 28th January – Presentation of Christ 8.30 am cancelled 9.30 am cancelled 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms Tuesday 30th January 10.30 am Funeral of Jason Moran in Church 11.00 am Singing for pleasure – Jubilee Room 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church Wednesday 31st January 6.30 pm Fleetwood Churches Together – Methodist Church Thursday 1st February 10.00 am Coffee Morning in the Jubilee Room Friday 2nd February 9.00 am St Nic’s Little Gang – Broadway Rooms 11.00 am Funeral of Ron Scantlebury in Church Sunday 4th February 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms ******************************* Today: We welcome Rev Canon Dick Cartmel to preach and preside on this feast day of 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 Lk 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 had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. Save the date: Sunday 25th February! After the 10.45 service, we are all invited to join Olga and Lawrence in the Broadway Rooms to celebrate their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Our Events Team will be organising an afternoon tea for us all to enjoy. Please sign up at the back of church from today for catering purposes. Everyone is welcome. Lent Course: Rev’d Carolyn will be facilitating Bishop Philip’s Diocesan Lent Course, Journey to Freedom, over 5 consecutive Wednesdays commencing 21st February. The sessions will be held in the Broadway Rooms at 4 pm with a view to finishing by 5.15 pm each week with Compline. The format will be relaxed and will include listening to Scriptures, a Video talk and short discussion. Hope you can come! Please remember in your prayers: Dorothy Cox, Louise Clark, Rev Martin Keighley, Mark Price, Rebekah, Jan Risely, Craig Abson, Rev Jane Everett, Jeanette Norman, Joe Robinson, and Barbara Sharrocks. Please also remember the families of Jason Moran, Ronald Scantlebury, Maria Mellor, Beryl Earnshaw and Julie Gill whose funerals are due to take place.
St Nicholas Parish Church Fleetwood. Week beginning 21st January 2024 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 21st January 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms Tuesday 23rd January 11.00 am Singing for pleasure – Jubilee Room 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church Thursday 25th January 10.00 am Coffee Morning in the Jubilee Room Friday 26th January 9.00 am St Nic’s Little Gang – Broadway Rooms Sunday 28th January 8.30 am cancelled 9.30 am cancelled 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms ******************************* Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Takes place annually from the 18th – 25th January. It has a history of over a hundred years, in which Christians from around the world have taken part in an octave of prayer for visible Christian unity. By annually observing it we move toward the fulfilment of Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper "that they all may be one." (John 17:21). Each year a Christian community is asked to pick a theme. This year the theme is ‘You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself’ (Lk 10:27), and the parable of the Good Samaritan. The theme has been chosen by Christians in Burkina Faso in West Africa. The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the best-known passages of Scripture, yet one that never seems to lose its power to challenge indifference to suffering and to inspire solidarity. If anyone knows about suffering, then it surely is the Christian minority in West Africa. Christian churches have been expressly targeted by armed attacks. Priests and pastors have been killed during worship and the fate of others who were kidnapped remains unknown. Christians can no longer openly practice their faith in these areas. Because of terrorism, the majority of Christian churches in the north, east and north-west of the country have been closed. There is no longer any public Christian worship in many of these areas. Where worship is still possible, with police protection, usually in large cities, it has been necessary to shorten services owing to security concerns. We may not be gathering formally as Churches Together this week, but might we take some time to pray for peace and healing in Burkina Faso? The people there are confident that God’s love will overcome the violence that currently afflicts their country. Let us be confident too! Lord Jesus Christ, may our eyes not look away, but be wide open to the world around us. As we travel through life, may we stop and reach out, bind up the wounded and in so doing experience your presence in them. Give us a renewed commitment to journey with you towards unity. Amen Please remember in your prayers: Dorothy Cox, Louise Clark, Rev Martin Keighley, Mark Price, Rebekah, Jan Risely, Craig Abson, Rev Jane Everett, Jeanette Norman, Joe Robinson, and Barbara Sharrocks. Please also remember the families of Jason Moran, Ronald Scantlebury, Maria Mellor and Julie Gill whose funerals are due to take place.
St Nicholas Parish Church Fleetwood. Week beginning 14TH January 2024 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 14th January 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom10.45 am Holy Communion in Church 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms Monday 15th January 9.00 am Assembly at Shakespeare School Tuesday 16th January 9.45 am Funeral of Jim Scott in Church 11.00 am Singing for pleasure – Jubilee Room 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church 6.45 pm PCC meets in the Jubilee Room Wednesday 17th January 12.00 pm Funeral of Tony Sparks at St Peter’s Church Thursday 18th January 10.00 am Coffee Morning in the Jubilee Room Friday 19th January 9.00 am St Nic’s Little Gang – Broadway Rooms Sunday 21st January 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms ******************************* Bible Overview Workshop: On Saturday 20th January from 9.00 am – 12.45 pm we have been invited to join with folks from around the diocese in Poulton-le-Fylde for this teaching. Many of us want to read and understand the Bible, but don't really know how it fits together, and so can easily get lost and discouraged. Looking at a 'Bible Overview' is a way of tracing the main story of the Bible, so we can see the one glorious plan of salvation in Christ, but also so we have a framework to help us understand all the other parts of the Bible. This free workshop will be suitable for those who are new to reading the Bible, as well as those of us who may have read it for years, but want to grow in our understanding. Do you fancy a morning of study? If so sign up at the back of church indicating whether or not you need a lift. Heavenly Father, You are the fountain of all wisdom and the author of truth. In the quiet moments of study and reflection upon Your Word, I humbly approach You, seeking the understanding that only Your Spirit can provide. My heart longs to comprehend the depths of Your teachings, to grasp the breadth of Your commandments, and to embody the wisdom that is more precious than rubies. Without Your wisdom, the Scriptures are like a sealed book; with Your guidance, they are a wellspring of life. Let my study be not just an intellectual exercise, but a spiritual communion with You. Community Games and Crafts for all: This is a new group which will meet on the first Monday of every month in the Jubilee Room from 2 pm – 3.30 pm, starting on 5th February. There will be board games available to play and a simple craft each week to join in with. Come along, bring a friend and enjoy a cuppa and some company. For more information contact Moira on 07845 737154.Faith in the Community: Who run the Food Bank in Fleetwood are looking for a new Trustee. If you would like to know more about this please see the Vicar. Please remember in your prayers: Louise Clark, Rev Martin Keighley, Mark Price, Rebekah, Jan Risely, Craig Abson, Rev Jane Everett, and Jeanette Norman, Joe Robinson, and Barbara Sharrocks. Please also remember the families of Tony Sparks, Jason Moran, Ronald Scantlebury, Maria Mellor and Jim Scott whose funerals are due to take place.
St Nicholas Parish Church Fleetwood. Week beginning 7TH January 2024 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 7th January - Epiphany 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms Tuesday 9th January 11.00 am Singing for pleasure – Jubilee Room 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church Thursday 11th January 10.00 am Coffee Morning in the Jubilee Room Friday 12th January 9.00 am St Nic’s Little Gang – Broadway Rooms 11.45 am Funeral of Anne Hood at Carleton Sunday 14th January 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms ******************************* Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. The traditional date for the feast is January 6th, the church celebrates it on the nearest Sunday. It marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas. An epiphany is a sudden realisation or a great revelation. In religious terms, Epiphany refers to a feast day that celebrates the revelation of Jesus Christ to the three wise men. Whilst it’s part of the traditional telling of the Christmas Story, the three wise men didn’t actually meet the newborn Jesus on Christmas Day itself. But when they did, they brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold in the Bible is symbolic of God. It represents the most precious of metals and is extremely rare in its purest form. Frankincense is an aromatic, clear resin obtained from trees in northern India and Arabia. It is symbolic of priests work in offering the prayers of the people to the Lord. It pointed then to the work of Jesus as a Priest of God. Myrrh is used in the anointing of prophets and was also used in the anointing of the dead. It was presented to Jesus at His birth pointing to His life as a Prophet and it was used at His death to anoint His body for the grave. O God, who by the guidance of a star did on this day manifest Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we who know You by faith may also attain the vision of Your glorious majesty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen Singing for pleasure: Starts this Tuesday in the Jubilee Room from 11am until 12 noon. Come along and sing your favourite hymns and learn some new ones too. Community Games and Crafts for all: This is a new group which will meet on the first Monday of every month in the Jubilee Room from 2 pm – 3.30 pm, starting on 5th February. There will be board games available to play and a simple craft each week to join in with. Come along, bring a friend and enjoy a cuppa and some company. For more information contact Moira on 07845 373154. Please remember in your prayers: Louise Clark, Rev Martin Keighley, Mark Price, Rebekah, Jan Risely, Craig Abson, Rev Jane Everett, and Jeanette Norman, Joe Robinson, and Barbara Sharrocks. Please also remember the families of Anne Hood, Tony Sparks, and Jim Scott whose funerals are due to take place.
