I hope you’ve all had a good week and enjoying the sunshine. It might not exactly be ‘flaming June’ but there was enough sun on Thursday to see the partial eclipse, if only briefly. It’s at this time of year that the churchyard looks its best. I am very aware that some of you may not have walked around it but do try to find some time to do so over the next few weeks, especially to the Breathing Spaces area at the very bottom nearest the field. Some years ago, this was a very rough piece of ground with brambles and nettles (although they are important for the environment in their own way) and chunks of sandstone all of which made it very inaccessible. What’s more, we couldn’t easily find the cover for the septic tank which could have been disastrous if it needed emptying! However, thanks to Christine Wilcox-Baker, who helped us with the Lewis Carroll project, some years ago we were able to get a grant from the BBC/National Lottery Breathing Spaces scheme to clear the area and make it a more manageable environmentally friendly space. The area is now lovingly looked after by Alison (Upton) and Carol (Whitely). Thank you. They tell me that they are open to all offers of help, so please do get in contact with Alison (alison@daresburycofe.org.uk) or myself and perhaps we can get a regular working party together. The lower part of the churchyard is mown by Mel (Warburton) and Steve (Richardson). Thank you! As you will see from the attached photo they have mown a path and left the grasses and other wild plants to grow either side. The photo was taken on Wednesday this week. The remaining part of the churchyard is looked after by John Jackson of Appleton Garden Services (07984 702122 janjac08@live.co.uk). It takes him a good part of half a day, come rain or shine. Thanks also to John. Don’t forget the open PCC meeting which Gill wrote to you about this on 3<span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span>June. The Zoom meeting details were included, but if you’ve misplaced them, do contact her curate@daresburycofe.org.uk, or Steve warden1@daresburycofe.org.uk or Mark warden2@daresburycofe.org.uk. Tomorrow’s service sheet is attached. The Eventbrite booking site is open until 9.30am tomorrow morning With God’s blessing, David Felix
I hope you have all had a good week and are enjoying some of the better weather. One of the good things that has so far come out of the pandemic has been the daily services of Morning Prayer on Facebook. For those of us who lead them, it has given us the chance to talk about some of the other aspects of Christian history and tradition which often we cannot cover on Sundays. Thursday of last week was one of those opportunities. It was the Feast of Corpus Christi and Simon gave an excellent reflection on the importance of Holy Communion and its place in our spiritual life – individually and as a community. I have uploaded it to our YouTube channel and you will find it here:-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc8dcGjbEuY. His reflection starts at 14:30mins in, but give yourself time if you can to watch the whole service. As with our Facebook page, you do not need a YouTube account to watch it. You might like to know that all of our Sunday services, as well as a few weekday ones, are available on YouTube. You can either go directly to our channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfda6IN8rV3qSHiTKvTTvug or search for Daresbury Church. There are also a number of playlists with videos of general interest, all related to our faith. They are added to from time to time so click on the ‘subscribe ‘ button and you’ll be informed when we add new videos to the channel. If you have any problems in navigating your way around it, please let me know. After a week’s break, the Zoom Wednesday Bible Study starts up on Wednesday at 7.30 and Coffee morning on Thursday at 11.00am. Here are the login details:- Bible Study Meeting ID: 873 0988 5456 Password: 011017 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87309885456?pwd=UFJwVkhSc0NkR0lYSFY0b3NaMHplQT09 Coffee morning Thursday at 11.00am Meeting ID: 830 5926 6740 Password: 791441. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83059266740?pwd=ajZRRVFFSXRpMjJhTEU5bHp5NzhGZz09 Tomorrow’s service sheet is attached. I shall be presiding and preaching, and Linda will assisting as Deacon. With God’s blessing, David
I hope you’ve all had a good week and are keeping well. Perhaps the most important event of the last 7 days, has been the announcement of the new Suffragan, or Assistant, Bishops for our Diocese. Put simply, the Diocese in divided in two, (called Archdeaconries), basically west and east of the M6 and reflects the old (pre1974) county of Cheshire. It stretches as far west as New Brighton and as far east as Wildboarclough on the edge of the Peak District; to the north it goes from Tintwistle and south as far as Audlem. Looking after the eastern part will be Sam Corley, and the west, which includes us, will be Julie Conalty. You can find more information about them on the Diocesan website https://www.chester.anglican.org/ and follow all the links. Please hold them and their families in your prayers, especially over the next few months. My understanding is that they will be consecrated in York Minster sometime in July and will start work in September. Please also hold Bishop Mark in your prayers as he begins to build his new team of senior colleagues as they plan a strategy for the future of Diocese. With the coming week being half-term, I have decided that it would be better to cancel the Bible Study on Wednesday night, and the Coffee morning on Thursday. The Bible Study will restart on Wednesday 9<sup>th</sup> at 7.30pm (Zoom login https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87309885456?pwd=UFJwVkhSc0NkR0lYSFY0b3NaMHplQT09 Meeting ID: 873 0988 5456 Passcode: 011017). At present we are looking at the life of the early Church as recorded in Acts of the Apostle and asking ourselves what it teaches us about our church life today. The Coffee Morning with restart the next day on 10<sup>th</sup> June at 11.00am ( Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83059266740?pwd=ajZRRVFFSXRpMjJhTEU5bHp5NzhGZz09 Meeting ID: 830 5926 67 Passcode: 791441). You are welcome to come along to either or both at any time. Tomorrow is Trinity Sunday, when we shall be thinking about the three characteristics of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The service sheet is attached. With God’s blessing, David
I hope you’ve all had a good week. Thanks to all of you who came to the Annual meetings on Zoom on Thursday. Steve Lander and Mark Longstaff were reappointed as Churchwardens. Along with Gill our Associate Priest, they were able to give a full report on the latest developments on discussions with the Archdeacon and Norton parish about the future of this parish. They were very well received, and the general mood of the meeting was very positive. But as Steve pointed out there is still some way to go. Steve outlined some of the arrangements for the parish during the vacancy after I retire on 31<sup>st</sup> July and before the new Vicar takes up their role. Steve will be looking after discussions with the Diocese on all aspects of the Church’s life, as well as the discussions with Norton. Mark will be looking after the Church building, churchyard and car park. Gill will be dealing with all matters pastoral and worship and will be ably supported by our Readers, James, Gavin and Linda, and by Simon who will be ensuring the Church is fully prepared not only for our Sunday services but also for baptisms, weddings and funerals. Steve stressed that Gill, Mark and himself are already talking to each other on a regular basis and that good communication is the key to their working together as an effective team for the benefit of all. If you have any questions about any aspect of how things are progressing, and Church life during the vacancy, then do not hesitate to contact them. I am sure that I do not have to remind you not to listen rumour, speculation and gossip which always arise at these times. They can be contacted as follows:- Gill - curate@daresburycofe.org.uk; mobile - 07517 623680 Steve – warden1@daresburycofe.org.uk; mobile - 07979 852436 Mark – warden2@daresburycofe.org.uk; mobile – 07940732876 Don’t forget to reserve your place for tomorrow’s service through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sunday-morning-holy-communion-tickets-144873234745 Also please don’t forget that the gardens at Hall Lane Farm, Daresbury will be open tomorrow from 12.00noon to 5.00pm as part of the National Garden Scheme. Admission £5.00 for adults and children are free and all proceeds go to charity. You can find out more information at https://ngs.org.uk/view-garden/36612 although refreshments may not available this year. Tomorrow’s service is attached. With God’s blessing, David
