(Note: the Newsletter can also be downloaded as a PDF.)
A warm welcome to
The Parish of Christ Church, Lancaster
for Sundays 28th December 2025 First Sunday of Christmas and 4th January 2026 Epiphany
Vicar: Revd Carol Backhouse 07857 449724
revcarolbackhouse@gmail.com 24 Wentworth Drive, Lancaster, LA1 3RJ
www.christchurchlancaster.org.uk Facebook:@ChristChurchLancaster
Everyone is welcome to join in prayer and worship this week:
Today
10.30am Parish Eucharist
(NO 8.30 or 6pm services)
Tuesday 30th – No Evening Prayer
Wednesday 31st – No Evening Prayer
Friday 2nd – No 9.30am Eucharist
Sunday 4th January – Epiphany
8.30am Holy Communion
10.30am Parish Eucharist with Children’s Church
6pm Deanery Eucharist and Commissioning Service, led by Bishop Philip
Tuesday 6th: 5pm Evening Prayer via Zoom
Wednesday 7th: 5.30pm Meditation followed by 6pm Evening Prayer
Friday 9th: 9.30am Eucharist
Sunday 11th January – Second Sunday of Epiphany
8.30am Holy Communion
10.30am All Together Eucharist
6pm Evening Prayer
Gluten-free wafers available. Please ask the Stewards for directions and assistance.
Prayer for this week
God in Trinity, eternal unity of perfect love: gather the nations to be one family, and draw us into your holy life through the birth of Emmanuel, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Little Seedlings
Every Tuesday from 9am in the Church Hall for under 4s and their parents/carers. (Resumes on 13th January owing to the work on the Hall.)
Children’s Church
… is an important part of our church life, and one of the ways children learn more about Christian faith. If you can offer one Sunday morning each a month (or more if possible) please have a wor with Innes. An Enhanced DBS check will be arranged. All children need to be accompanied to church by a parent/guardian, please.
Messy Church – 25th January
On the 4th Sunday of the month at 4pm in the Hall for KS1/2 children.
Please send items for inclusion in this newsletter to Jacqueline Stamper by Thursday lunchtime. Many thanks.
Scripture Readings for our Worship – Sunday 28th January:
Collect:
Heavenly Father, whose children suffered at the hands of Herod, though they had done no wrong: by the suffering of your Son and by the innocence of our lives frustrate all evil designs and establish your reign of justice and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Jeremiah 31.15–17
Thus says the Lord: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more. Thus says the Lord: Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears;
for there is a reward for your work, says the Lord: they shall come back from the land of the enemy; there is hope for your future, says the Lord: your children shall come back to their own country.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
I Corinthians 1.26–29
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew 2.13–18. Glory to you, O Lord.
Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’ When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Prayer after Communion
Lord Jesus Christ, in your humility you have stooped to share our human life with the most defenceless of your children: may we who have received these gifts of your passion rejoice in celebrating the witness of the Holy Innocents to the purity of your sacrifice made once for all upon the cross; for you are alive and reign, now and for ever. Amen.
Scripture Readings for Sunday 4th January:
Collect:
O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith, may at last behold your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Isaiah 60.1-6
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 72.10-17
Refrain: The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice.
11 All kings shall fall down before him;
all nations shall do him service.
12 For he shall deliver the poor that cry out,
the needy and those who have no helper.
13 He shall have pity on the weak and poor;
he shall preserve the lives of the needy.
14 He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence,
and dear shall their blood be in his sight.
Refrain: The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice.
15 Long may he live;
unto him may be given gold from Sheba;
may prayer be made for him continually
and may they bless him all the day long.
16 May there be abundance of grain on the earth,
standing thick upon the hilltops;
may its fruit flourish like Lebanon and its grain grow like the grass of the field.
17 May his name remain for ever and be established as long as the sun endures;
may all nations be blest in him and call him blessed.
Refrain: The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice.
Ephesians 3.1-12
This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given to me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew 2.1–12. Glory to you, O Lord.
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Prayer after Communion:
Lord God, the bright splendour whom the nations seek: may we who with the wise men have been drawn by your light discern the glory of your presence in your Son, the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please remember in your prayers:
Those who are sick: Youngblood McCray, Thomas Platt, Yan Connell, David Foster, Ron Holmes, Ann Boss, Geoffrey Heywood, Christine McCrann, Richard Jones, Marlene Phillips, Mary Peel – that God’s healing, wholeness and peace are with them.
Those who have died recently: Lizzy Hilton, Donald Silverwood, Pauline Shepherd, Roger Myles Mason, Joyce Hodgson – may they rest in peace and rise in glory.
In our parish, we ask God to bless and provide:
For those who live and work in Thirlmere Road, Buttermere Road, Crag Road, Guidern Park.
For our Choir, and musicians.
For the work of Churches Together in Lancaster
For Rev’d Carol as she prepares to be Area Dean.
For Rev’d Kaarina, as she prepares for her priesting on the 17th January.
– that God’s loving kindness is found and shared.
Tuesday Evening Prayer
At 5pm most Tuesdays, the clergy say Evening Prayer over Zoom. If you’d like to join them to give thanks for the day past, read the Scriptures and pray, the details are: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81366929814?pwd=jTDuW7HO8lR7I0nQ9Jrm2BrMxjJqVS.1.
Children’s Church
… is an important part of our church life, and one of the ways children learn more about Christian faith. We’re looking for helpers for Children’s Church for the new term. If you can offer one Sunday morning each a month (or more if possible) please have a word with Innes. An Enhanced DBS check will be arranged. Please note that all children need to be accompanied to church by a parent/guardian.
Meeting up
The clergy are available for pastoral support and spiritual direction, please don’t hesitate to be in in contact. If you or someone you know is going through a difficult time or is seriously ill, please let us know as soon as possible, to arrange prayers, home communion, a hospital visit, or anointing of the sick. If you would like us to pray for you, or for someone you know, for any reason, please email your request to revcarolbackhouse@gmail.com. Please ask the person’s permission if you’d like them included in the weekly notices.
Sponsor a Hymn
If you’d like to suggest and sponsor a hymn, to be sung within the 10.30am Eucharist, please fill in one of the blue forms from the noticeboard.
Advent and Christmas at Christ Church
Thank you to everyone who has supported our prayer and worship over the festive season, especially those who have helped with events and services. We hope you have been blessed, as we are blessed to have you! Wishing you a joyful Christmas and peaceful New Year.
Christmas Tree Festival – thank you!
Our Tree festival raised around £1300 each for Christ Church and Lancaster Homeless Action – well done everyone!
Christ Church Toy Service – thank you!
Thank you to everyone who supported the appeal for toys to share with Morecambe Salvation Army – your gifts were gratefully received and will be shared with local families this Christmas.
Christingle – thank you!
Thank you to everyone who supported our Christingle service last week. If you haven’t yet had chance to make a donation to the work of the Children’s Society, please take a collection candle to fill with change, or make a donation online. www.childrenssociety.org.uk/
Chimney Tops and Spire Appeal
Urgent repairs are needed to our church chimney and spires to make the building watertight and safe – 170 year old mortar has washed out, causing damage inside the building. We need to raise £10,000 ourselves before we are eligible for grant funding. Please would you help? Pick up a flyer with details of how to donate, and if you have ideas for fundraising events please have a word with Rev’d Carol or the fundraising team.
Thought for the Week
Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards. Søren Kierkegaard.
In Other News…
The Olive Branch Foodbank
The Olive Branch badly needs all kinds of long-life food and drink as the cupboards are bare after Christmas! Please leave tins, packets and cartons in the crates at the back of church. You can also give money for them to buy what people need: https://www.the-olivebranch.org.uk/donate/
Eco-Group Thought/Action for the Week
Remember to recycle your unwanted Christmas gifts, wrapping paper and cards or reuse cards as bookmarks and pass on any spare non – perishable items. to the food bank. Celebrate Challenge According to YouGov survey results, 25.8 million people worldwide chose to take part in Veganuary in 2025. These figures show that people are willing to embrace plant-based diets to mitigate climate change, spare animal lives and improve human health.
Recycling at Christ Church – from the Eco-Group
On the first Sunday of the month, we collect medical blister packs and personal care items such as soft plastic tubes (e.g. for hand cream), wet wipe packaging and used make-up such as lipsticks, eyeshadow and mascara. Please look carefully at the information provided on and close to the collection boxes to ensure that you only bring in what can now be recycled volunteers. No bottle tops or dental products, please.
Fairtrade Church
We are a Fairtrade Church. as a sign of our care for creation, and our support for better working practices for farmers. If you buy items for church events, please check for the Fairtrade logo first.
PCC
Please do talk to your PCC reps about any aspect of life at Christ Church, and pray for the PCC in its work this year. You might want to use the following prayer:
Lord God, Together with you by our side, we can bring growth to our Church. Send your Holy Spirit to give us good planning, wise actions, joy in worship and our welcome, the right words when we speak to others. Help our Church grow in numbers, in Spiritual commitment to you, and in service to our local community, through Christ our Lord. Amen
Community at Christ Church:
Little Seedlings – New Group for 0-4 year olds and their carers.
We have launched a baby and toddler group called Little Seedlings, which meets 9-10.30 every Tuesday in the Church Hall. New children always welcome. f you know anyone with a child 0-4 who would like to come along with their carers, please pass it on. Free! Owing to the work being done to our church hall, the group will not meet on 23rd December, and only resume in the New Year on Tuesday 13th January.
Choir
Our Choir rehearses on Thursdays 7-8:15 pm in Church. We’re a friendly and supportive bunch who welcome new singers. There’s lots of exciting music as we prepare for the Advent season, so please contact grahamtoft1@aol.com if you’d like to know more.
Well done to Christ Church School!
Following a recent SIAMS (the statutory body which inspects faith schools) inspection, we’re delighted with their report. The inspector praised the quality of RE and worship within school, and the school’s culture of trust and compassion, rooted in faith. Our own Choir Church project got a special mention! Well done to all the staff for their hard work and preparation, we’re so proud of you!
Hall Defibrillator
Thanks to a generous donor and local charity 3R, we’ve been able to install a public defibrillator on the outside of the Hall. We hope that it’s never needed – but pray that if someone is taken ill they will benefit from faster, life-saving treatment. Ring 999 first – and they’ll tell you the access code. Training video at https://vimeo.com/557677120/e7524918c5
Hall Kitchen
After a recent Environmental Health inspection, we found out that our 18-year old kitchen would not pass again and needs replacing. Thanks to grants from the Walney Trust, Community Fund and the Harold and Alice Bridges Trust, we will be replacing and upgrading the hall kitchen in early January. If you’re able to help with the demolition and clearance of the old kitchen, please have a word with Greg.
Hall for Hire – Don’t forget that the Hall is available for hire, especially at weekends and during the day. £24/first hour and £12 for each subsequent hour/part-hour. Please contact Jacqueline at hall@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 07808 765364 for more info.
Gardening Group
Our friendly gardening group meets on the first Friday of each month (2nd January) between 12noon and 2pm to keep our church garden looking lovely. New members welcome – whether for all or part of the time. If you can, please bring gloves & secateurs.
Book Group
The church book group normally meets on the first Friday of each month at 4 pm in the church hall. (On 9th January, the venue may change owing to the work in the hall.) Anyone who enjoys reading and discussion is very welcome to join us. You can just turn up on the day, speak to Joyce, or send an email to joycelynch1946@gmail.com
Craft Group
…. meets in the Hall most Tuesdays at 11.30am. Everyone welcome – bring your own project, or share in one of the others on the go! No prior experience needed. Please talk to Julie Buckley if you’d like more info.
Save the Date!
Deanery Service – 4th January
At 6pm on Sunday 4th January, Bishop Philip will lead a special Eucharist at Christ Church to pray for the churches of our Deanery, and begin the 100th anniversary celebrations for our Diocese of Blackburn. During this service, Rev’d Carol will be commissioned as Area Dean. Everyone is warmly welcome – there will be refreshments afterwards.
Rev’d Kaarina’s Ordination and First Eucharist – 17/18th January
Rev’d Kaarina will be ordained Priest on Saturday 17th January 2026, at Colne St Bartholomew. We’re planning to hire a coach so that as many as possible can attend from church. On Sunday 18th, she will celebrate the Eucharist for the first time at the 10:30 am service – and we’ll have a celebration to follow!
Sunday Lunch – 18th January
Join us for lunch after the 10:30am service (normally)on the second Sunday of each month. In January, it will be on the 18th to mark Rev’d Kaarina’s ordination as priest. Please sign up on the sheet to indicate what food you’re bringing. If you can help, with serving or washing up, thank you. Most important, do come, and do bring a friend!
Epiphany Gifts Appeal
Each year, we appeal for funds towards the cost of candles, bread, wine, and other items used in worship. Please take a list at the back of church, and sign up to purchase one (or more) items. If you are paying cash, please mark the envelope ‘Epiphany Gifts’. Thank you very much!
We’re recruiting!
Do you have admin skills? Are you looking for a 14 hr/week paid post? We’re recruiting a parish administrator to support Rev’d Carol in her forthcoming role as Area Dean. Do have a chat with her if you’d like to know more, or take a look at https://www.blackburn.anglican.org/general-vacancies for the job description and application (deadline 15th January 2026).
New Youth Group – starting 30th January
Innes is starting a new group for Year 6 upwards meeting fortnightly on Fridays, 3:30-5 pm, in the hall. All are welcome. Please share this with youngsters you know.
Giggle (or Groan) of the week – suggestions welcome!
Q. What’s a spider’s New Year’s resolution? A. To spend less time on the web.
Promoting a Safer Church
If you believe that someone is at risk of immediate harm please call emergency services on 999. Any safeguarding concerns in a parish should be brought to the attention of your Parish Safeguarding Officers, Debbie Steele and Emma Muckalt, who can be contacted as above.
Concerns can also be raised directly with our Diocesan Team,Tel: 01254 503088 or email safeguarding@blackburn.anglican.org
Refreshments today!
All are welcome for refreshments after the service.
Receiving the notices by email
If you would like to receive these notices by email, please contact Jacqueline Stamper on the above address.
Supporting Christ Church
Church Repair Fund
Our Church Repair Fund helps keep our buildings in good condition so that they can continue to be used for ministry and outreach in the years to come. There are several big projects on the Porch, East Wall, and Hall, which are in need of urgent work.
If you’d like more details about what is going on, please pick up a leaflet – and if you are able to make a donation, there are envelopes available. You can also contribute online via the Give a Little website: https://givealittle.co/campaigns/1c7889a9-7ef8-4730-a84a-2d434726c909
Supporting Christ Church – One-off Gifts
If you would like to make a one-off donation to the church as an offering, to pay a fee, or as a gift to regular funds, you can give through our ‘Give a little’ page: https://givealittle.co/campaigns/f63a0655-b270-4d05-bf35-3994747785d0 This will also give you the option to Gift Aid your donation (if you pay tax in the UK), enabling the church to get an extra 25p back from the taxman for every £1 you give.
Supporting Christ Church – Regularly
Christ Church is now taking part in the Parish Giving Scheme, which enables you to give regularly by Direct Debit, and to to easily review how much you give depending on circumstances. Online at www.parishgiving.org.uk Or by telephone 0333 002 1271 Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. For any of these methods our PGS code 030603240 ensures that your gift goes to our church.
EasyFundraising
Did you know you can support Christ Church when you shop online? Register using https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/, and the brand’s commission will be donated to the church.
Key contacts:
Vicar: … Rev’d Carol Backhouse revcarolbackhouse@gmail.com 07857 449724
Curate: … Rev’d Kaarina Leong curate@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 07749 489623
Children’s Ministry Leader… Innes Heron-Stamp children@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 07853791776
Church Warden: Greg Skelland churchwarden@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 07944 683847
Director of Music: Graham Toft grahamtoft1@aol.com
Notices: Ms Jacqueline Stamper j.stamper@btinternet.com 01524 64083
Parish Safeguarding Officer: … Mrs Emma Muckalt & Ms Debbie Steele safeguarding@christchurchlancaster.org 07547 717060
Parish Secretary: …Mrs Julie Buckley buckleys@live.co.uk 07717 824574
Hall Bookings: …hall@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 07808 765364
Christ Church School …Miss Emma Simpson 01524 60955
Promoting a Safer Church
Christ Church, Lancaster have adopted the House of Bishops’ ‘Promoting a Safer Church’ policy and the Parish Safeguarding Handbook. All those working with children and adults at risk have undergone safer recruitment and received safeguarding training. If you believe that someone is at risk of immediate harm please call emergency services on 999. Any safeguarding concerns in a parish should be brought to the attention of your Parish Safeguarding Officers, Debbie Steele and Emma Muckalt, who can be contacted as above. Concerns can also be raised directly with our Diocesan Team, Tel: 01254 503088 or email safeguarding@blackburn.anglican.org