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.
St Nicholas Parish Church Fleetwood. Week beginning 22nd 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 22nd January 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 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms Tuesday 24th January 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church 7.30 pm PCC Meets in the Jubilee Room Wednesday 25th January 2.45 pm Funeral of Mary Gregson at Carleton Thursday 26th January 10.00 am Community Coffee Morning & Warm Hub in the Jubilee Room 11.00 am Funeral of Charles Whiteside at Carleton Friday 27th January 9.00 am Little Gang in the Broadway Rooms 10.00 am Visit to Church from St Kentigern’s School 12.00 pm Funeral of Trevor Ainley in Church 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 ***************************************************************************** The last ten days have heralded the announcement of two seismic changes which affect the Church of England going forward. The first announcement was the appointment of Bishop Philip North of Burnley to become the Diocesan Bishop of Blackburn. Whilst this news was mostly received with joy and congratulations in Lancashire, it has attracted some criticism nationally. Bishop Philip is the first senior Bishop to be appointed who opposes the ordination of female priests. That said, those of us who have had the privilege of working with him over the last eight years in this Diocese, know that he supports and sponsors women fully in ministry and is hugely appreciative of the ministry of his female colleagues. Bishop Philip is quoted this week as saying, “Female clergy are fully and equally part of the diocese. As in every C of E diocese, there are provisions in place for an exercise of conscience for those who hold different views on the ordination of women. I delight in the theological breadth that this allows and the diversity of gifts that it releases.” The second major announcement which hit the headlines this week was that under new proposals made by the House Of Bishops, Clergy will be able to offer services of prayer and thanksgiving for same-sex couples and bless same-sex civil marriages in church for the first time under proposals due to be presented to the General Synod next month. These proposals, are the result of years of discernment over the issue of sexuality and the Church through what was called the Living in Love and Faith process. The Bishops’ proposals do not include a vote to change canon law on marriage to allow clergy to marry same-sex couples in church. Archbishop Welby said on Wednesday: “This response reflects the diversity of views in the Church of England on questions of sexuality, relationships, and marriage — I rejoice in that diversity and I welcome this way of reflecting it in the life of our Church.” The Vicar is happy to converse fully with anyone who wishes to explore either of these two issues further. Please remember in your prayers – Rev Jane Everitt, Rev Martin Keighley, Elizabeth King, Ruth, Chris Kelsall, Michaela Jones, Emily Lowe, & Mark Price. Please also remember the families of, Mary Gregson, Charles Whiteside, Trevor Ainley, Betty Hart, Janet Smith and Davina Kennedy whose funerals are due to take place.
