St Nicholas Parish Church, Fleetwood. Week beginning 13th March 2022 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 13th March – 2nd of Lent 8.30 am No Service 9.30 am No Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sides persons –: Susan & Christine: Reader – Sandra Tuesday 15th March 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church Thursday 17th March 10.00 am Community Coffee Morning in the Jubilee Room 10.00 am Funeral of Alice Ellis at Carleton 11.30 am Funeral of Madeleine Hobson in Church Friday 18th March 9.00 am St Nic’s Little Gang in the Broadway Rooms 11.45 am 3rd Lent Lunch - Emmanuel at the Mount 1.15 pm Funeral of Irene Hutson in Church Saturday 19th March 10.00 am Alpha Session 10 in the Broadway Rooms 11.00 – 3.00 Spring Market at Fleetwood Methodist Church Sunday 20th March – 3rd of Lent 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship via Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sides persons – Karen & June: Reader - Elizabeth: 12.30 pm Baptism of Isla Rae Jenkinson Welcome and Set up – Margaret Kershaw From the Vicar: For almost three weeks now, Christians across the globe have joined with other faiths in a call to pray for peace in Ukraine. I encouraged you only last week, to pray continually. So, what do you answer when as a Christian leader or otherwise, you are’ asked “Where is God in the Ukraine conflict? What’s the point of praying when it is obvious that God does not intervene?” You may even have asked the same yourself. These are big questions to try to answer here, but it is my belief that God can be found in the midst of the turmoil of the past few weeks, but he is not to be found in the hearts and minds of those who leash untold horror upon innocent people. I think we can glimpse the love of God expressed in the kindness of the individuals and nations who have offered succour to refugees, in the generosity of people of all countries who have contributed gifts great and small. Perhaps it might also help to reflect on Adam and Eve and see that God created a world to have moral freewill rather than a world over which he would dominate. The Ukrainian disaster is not God’s fault: it’s humanity’s! So let us continue to pray to God our Heavenly Father who weeps with us …. Loving God, we pray for the people of Ukraine, for all those suffering or afraid, that you will be close to them and protect them. We pray for world leaders, for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices. We pray for the world that in this moment of crisis, we may reach out in solidarity to our brothers and sisters in need. May we walk in your ways so that peace and justice become a reality for the people of Ukraine and for all the world. Amen. 100+ Club - Winners last week were Judith Crosby, Muriel Freestone and Derek Warrington Please remember in your prayers – Fr Ron, Rev Jane Everitt, Heather, Jillian Muir, Eddie Gillon, Rev Martin Keighley, & Gillian King. And also, the families of, Madeline Hobson, Alice Ellis and Irene Hutson whose funerals are due to take place.
St Nicholas Parish Church, Fleetwood. Week beginning 6th March 2022 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 6th March – 1st of Lent 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship via Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sides persons – Elizabeth & Margaret: Reader – Joy 12.30 pm Baptism of Freddie Adamson Set up and Welcome – Susan Burrell Tuesday 8th March 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church 3.30 pm Hymn Practise in the Jubilee Room – all are welcome Thursday 10th March 10.00 am Community Coffee Morning in the Jubilee Room Friday 11th March 9.00 am St Nic’s Little Gang in the Broadway Rooms 11.45 am 2nd Lent Lunch at Fleetwood URC Saturday 12th March 10.00 am Alpha Session 9 in the Broadway Rooms Sunday 13th March – 2nd of Lent 8.30 am No Service 9.30 am No Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sides persons –: Susan & Christine: Reader – Sandra Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. PHILIPPIANS 4:6 On Tuesday last week, a dozen or so of us gathered in church to join with the world-wide Anglican Communion praying for peace in Ukraine. At times like this, when the unimaginable is happening in our world, when the ground seems to be shifting beneath us, we all want something solid to hold on to. A ‘rule of life’ can be viewed as a supportive scaffolding. In the next few weeks, the Diocese will introduce us to The Vine Community, which is a simple and flexible framework for living out a Christian life. Watch this space! In the meantime, we can follow St Paul’s advice to the Church in Thessalonia, “to pray continually” and even in the darkest times to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Many of us struggle with prayer. It requires an act of faith. Faith is trusting that God is who he says he is: good, loving, wise, powerful, faithful, consistent, and totally for us. When Paul writes ‘pray continually’, he is not viewing prayer as just something we ‘do’, but as a way of living our lives in communion with God. Continuous prayer may seem impossible. It will certainly not happen overnight, or without practice. As writer Richard Foster writes in Prayer: ‘The question is not whether we fail again and again – this is a given; the question is whether, over a period of time, we are developing a practised habit of divine fellowship.’ If ever we needed to pray continually, it is surely now! May the grace of God be sufficient. May you find a deep breath when the air around you is thin. May you grow in compassion in these days. May you love well, not in spite of these anxious times but because of them.100+ Club - Winners last week were Christopher Jones, Sue Dell and Barbara Quirk Please remember in your prayers – Fr Ron, Rev Jane Everitt, Heather, Jillian Muir, Eddie Gillon, Bishop Julian, Rev Martin Keighley, & Gillian King. And also, the families of, Madeline Hobson and Irene Hutson whose funerals are due to take place.
St Nicholas Parish Church, Fleetwood. Week beginning 27th February 2022 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/11671Diocesan Vision PrayerHeavenly Father, we embrace Your call for us to make disciples, to be witnesses, to grow leaders and inspire children and young people. Give us eyes to see Your vision, ears to hear the prompting of Your Spirit and courage to follow in the footsteps of your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Sunday 27th February – Next before Lent 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship via Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sides persons – Jillian & Dorothy: Reader – Margaret 12.30 pm Baptism of Betsy O’Connor Monday 28th February 10.30 am Funeral of Ann Howarth RIP in Church Tuesday 1st March2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church 3.30 pm Hymn Practise in the Jubilee Room – all are welcome Wednesday 2nd March – Ash Wednesday 11.00 am Holy Communion with the Imposition of Ashes 1.00 pm Funeral of Harry Fisher RIP in Church Thursday 3rd March 10.00 am Community Coffee Morning in the Jubilee Room Friday 4th March 9.00 am St Nic’s Little Gang in the Broadway Rooms 11.45 am 1st Lent Lunch in the Broadway Rooms 2.00 pm World Day of Prayer – St Wulstan’s Saturday 5th March 10.00 am Alpha Away Day – Christ Church Thornton Sunday 6th March - 1st of Lent 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship via Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sides persons – Elizabeth & Margaret: Reader – Joy 12.30 pm Baptism of Freddie Adamson As this newsletter goes to print Russia has begun a large-scale military attack on Ukraine, its southern neighbour, on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin. There are reports of attacks on Ukrainian military infrastructure across the country and Russian convoys entering from all directions. And so, begins the nightmare we have all been dreading! The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell have condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine as “an act of great evil”. They are urging Christians to make this Sunday a special day of prayer for Ukraine, Russia and for peace. In the meantime, let us pray fervently for peace to reign. 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: A book containing a daily reflection for each day of Lent is available at the back of church. Please take a copy and be sure to set aside some time every day to spend time in God’s presence. Each Friday during Lent there will be a simple lunch served in one of local churches. St Nicholas is hosting the first one this Friday, (see above). 100+ Club - Winners last week were Cath & Jeff Chambers, Barbara Quirk & Ruth Aspinall. Please remember in your prayers – Fr Ron, Rev Jane Everitt, Heather, Eddie Gillon, Bishop Julian, Rev Martin Keighley, Hilary, & Gillian King. And also, the families of, Ann Howarth, Harry Fisher and Maddy Hobson whose funerals are due to take place.
St Nicholas Parish Church, Fleetwood. Week beginning 20th February 2022 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/11671Diocesan Vision PrayerHeavenly Father, we embrace Your call for us to make disciples, to be witnesses, to grow leaders and inspire children and young people. Give us eyes to see Your vision, ears to hear the prompting of Your Spirit and courage to follow in the footsteps of your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Sunday 20th February – 2nd before Lent 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship via Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sides persons – Carol & Sandra: Reader – Karen Tuesday 22nd February 11.00 am Funeral of Susan Barry at Carleton 12.30 pm Memorial Service for Sheila Hayden2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church3.30 pm Hymn Practise in the Jubilee Room – all are welcome Wednesday 23rd February 1.30 pm Funeral of Daniel Reid in Church Thursday 24th February 10.00 am Community Coffee Morning in the Jubilee Room 7.30 pm Churches Together in Fleetwood at the Methodist Church Friday 25th February 9.00 am St Nic’s Little Gang in the Broadway Rooms Saturday 26th February 10.00 am Alpha - Session 7 in the Broadway Rooms Sunday 27th February – Next before Lent 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship via Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sides persons – Jillian & Dorothy: Reader – Margaret 12.30 pm Baptism of Betsy O’Connor Monday 28th February 10.30 am Funeral of Ann Howarth in Church Ann Howarth RIP – Ann’s family have kindly invited their Mum’s friends from St Nicholas to join them at the North Euston after Ann’s funeral a week on Monday. If you are able to join them, please add you name to the list at the back of church today. Lent Daily Reflections: Desmond Tutu once said, “Each one of us is meant to have that space inside where we can hear God’s voice because God is available to all of us.” As Lent is approaching the Diocese have once again provided an excellent booklet of daily reflections to guide us through this holy season of preparation. The books are available from today at the back of church. Please take a copy for yourself and an extra one for anyone to whom you would like to gift it. Then be sure to set aside some time each day during Lent to spend time in God’s presence and to hear his voice. Keeping Church Open: Are you free for 90 minutes once a week or once a fortnight to help us keep the Church open Monday to Friday from 11 am? This is an important ministry that we offer to the community and though we are not inundated with visitors, the people who do come in, really appreciate the holiness and peace of being in church. Please see Karen if you can help. Snagging List: If you notice something in church or in the church grounds which requires ‘fixing’ our maintenance team will be happy to attend to it. Please write the issue on the list at the back of church. 100+ Club - Winners last week were Margery Bond, Dorothy Cox and Barbara Quirk Please remember in your prayers – Fr Ron, Rev Jane Everitt, Heather, Eddie Gillon, Bishop Julian, Rev Martin Keighley, Hilary, Margaret Taziker & Gillian King. And also, the families of Susan Barry, Daniel Reid, Ann Howarth, Holly Egan and Harry Fisher whose funerals are due to take place.
