A warm welcome to
The Parish of Christ Church, Lancaster
for Sunday 13th September 2026 Harvest Festival
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 – 13th September 2026
8.30am Holy Communion
10.30am Parish Eucharist
6pm Evening Prayer
Tuesday
5pm Evening prayer via zoom
Wednesday
5.30pm Meditation and 6pm Evening Prayer
Friday
9.30am Holy Communion
Sunday – 20th September
8.30am Holy Communion
10.30am Parish Eucharist
6pm Taizé
Gluten-free wafers available. Please ask the Stewards for directions and assistance.
Please send items for inclusion in this newsletter to Kim Robinson by Thursday lunchtime. Many thanks.
Prayer for this week
Eternal God, you crown the year with your goodness and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season: grant that we may use them to your glory, for the relief of those in need and for our own well-being; 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
Little Seedlings
Every Tuesday from 9am in the Church for under 4s and their parents/carers.
Children’s Church
welcomes primary-aged children during the 10.30am service during term time. Parents/guardians are welcome to join.
Messy Church
On Sunday 27th September 2026 at 4pm in the Hall for KS1/2 children
Scripture Readings for our Worship
Deuteronomy 8.7-18
For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper. You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you. Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today. When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid waste- land with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock, and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good. Do not say to yourself, ‘My power and the might of my own hand have gained me this wealth.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Psalm 65. 1, 8-13
Refrain- Be joyful in God, all the earth.
1 Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion;
to you that answer prayer shall vows be paid.
8. You visit the earth and water it;
you make it very plenteous.
9 The river of God is full of water;
you prepare grain for your people,
for so you provide for the earth.
10 You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges;
you soften the ground with showers and bless its increase.
Refrain: Be joyful in God, all the earth.
11 You crown the year with your goodness, and your paths overflow with plenty.
12 May the pastures of the wilderness flow with goodness and the hills be girded with joy.
13 May the meadows be clothed with flocks of sheep and the valleys stand so thick with corn that they shall laugh and sing.
Refrain: Be joyful in God, all the earth.
2 Corinthians 9.6-end
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by alway shaving enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written, ‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.’ He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke 17. 11-19
Glory to you, O Lord.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’
Prayer after Communion
Lord of the harvest, with joy we have offered thanksgiving for your love in creation and have shared in the bread and the wine of the Kingdom. By your grace, plant within us a reverence for all that you give us and make us generous and wise stewards of the good things we enjoy, through 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, Christine McCrann, John Lyth, Freda Jackson, Martin Johnson, Ruby Rodrigues, Maria, Lou Rawlinson, Peter Milburn, Helen Stewart, Tony Walmsley, Marie Baines, Linda Tomkinson, Aaron
– may God’s healing, wholeness and peace be with them.
For those who have died recently, including:
Jenny Bowerman, Chris Treddenick
May they rest in peace and rise in glory
For those to be married:
We pray for Dan and Courtney, Susan and Mary for their upcoming marriage
May God bless them in their life together
In our parish, we ask God to bless and provide:
For those who live and work in Parker Street, Davidson Street. For those working in the food industry, whether on land or sea.
May God’s loving kindness be found and shared.
We pray for people attending and helping with the following events:
Apple Festival, Organ Recital
Bless our community and those who share in worship and service here.
Prayer for youth work
Loving God, fill our hearts and minds with your wisdom, so that we may exemplify your kingdom here on earth, and help our young ones know your infinite grace. Amen
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.
Tuesday Evening Prayer
At 5pm most Tuesdays, the clergy say Evening Prayer over Zoom. If you’d like to join to give thanks for the day past, readings from the Scriptures and prayer, the details are:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81366929814?pwd=jTDuW7HO8lR7I0nQ9Jrm2BrMxjJqVS.1.
Community at Christ Church:
Eco-Group Thought/Action for the Week
September: Organic September is an annual campaign run by the Soil Association which highlights how organic practices protect nature, support animal welfare and soil health, and avoid absorption of pesticides in your food. It is suggested that you make simple shopping swaps particularly for something you eat most often. For more information see https://soilassociation.org
Are you concerned about climate change, and caring for Creation? If so, contact joycelynch1946@gmail.com to find out if our active Eco Group is something you’d like to be part of – it meets every six weeks at a member’s home.
Appeal for clean, empty glass bottles
We are in need of clean empty glass bottles with screw top lids for the Apple Festival on the 12th September. Check your recycling and please bring any you have to church. Thank you!
Harvest Festival – Sunday 13th September
Please bring your donations of tinned and/or dried food for the Harvest Festival next Sunday 13th September. Donations are being made to the Olive Branch Appeal. Thank you!
Churches Together
Christ Church is part of a network of churches across Lancaster who pray for and support each other. On Thursday 17th September, there will be a shared meeting at 7.15pm at Trinity URC on Bowerham Road. Everyone is welcome – the guest speaker will be Rev’d Clare McEnery, sharing her powerful story about her life as a police inspector, and how she came to be a priest!
Heritage Open Weekends, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September
Christ Church is taking part in the Heritage Open Days! Talks on the Church including a talk on it’s history will take place on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September at 2pm each day, and open for visiting on Sunday 13th and 20th September. All are welcome!
Organ Recital Tuesday 15th September at Noon
Our organist Graham Toft will be hosting an organ recital on Tuesday 15th September at 12 noon in Church. Come and enjoy organ music by Vaughan Williams, Bach, Dvorak, Rossini and others. Free admission and refreshments in the Church Hall afterwards. All are welcome!
Chris Tredennick’s funeral
Chris’ funeral will be held at Christ Church on Wednesday 30th September at 1pm. Chris’ family has requested that people don’t wear black, and to come in whatever they feel comfortable in. Donations can be made in Chris’ memory to Christian Aid and Christ Church funds.
In Other News…
Olive Branch Foodbank
The Olive Branch badly needs all kinds of long-life food and drink – please bring a tin or packet to church with you to leave in the collection crates. You can also give money for them to buy what people need: https://www.the-olivebranch.org.uk/donate/
Gardening Group
Our friendly gardening group meets on the first Friday of each month (2nd October ) between 12noon and 2pm to keep our church garden looking lovely. New members welcome, for all or part of the time – contact lippittjane@gmail.com. Please bring gloves & secateurs if you have them.
Book Group
The church book group meets on the first Friday of each month (2nd October) at 4 pm in the church 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
Church Choir
Our Choir rehearses on Thursdays from 7 to 8pm in church. Although small in number, we are enthusiastic and newcomers are made very welcome. We sing at services about once a month. Please contact jean.mccafferty@gmail.com if you’d like to know more.
Coffee with the Curate
Coffee with the Curate is held weekly on Mondays 10-12 at The Gregson Cafe. Meet new folk and have a chat over a brew. All are Welcome!
Confirmations 2026
On the 29th November, we will be welcoming Bishop Joe for a Confirmation Service at Christ Church. Confirmation is the next step on the journey of Christian faith, where the Bishop gives the gift of God’s Holy Spirit to help us follow Christ. For some, Confirmation is also the opportunity to receive Holy Communion for the first time. If you’d like to know more, please talk with Rev’d Carol, Rev’d Kaarina or Innes. Confirmation Group (to prepare for the service) will begin in late September, please pick up a letter with more details. Please note that children wishing to be Confirmed need to be in Year 6 or above, and there will be classes running in Christ Church school too.
Choir taster
Following the 10.30pm service on Sunday 13th, members of the congregation are invited to stay for a short introduction to the choir. Designed for those who may like to join the choir but have some doubts about fitting in to a musical setting, this is the ideal opportunity to ask questions and become more open to the possibility of being a chorister. We will also sing a song!
Supporting Christ 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.
Fundraising – ideas, opportunities, and support needed!
We’re blessed to have received some generous grant funding for the work we need to do on the building, but we still need all the help we can get to raise the match funding we still need from our own resources. You’re welcome to send more ideas to buckleys@live.co.uk. if you’re able to send a financial contribution by using the QR code below, thank you. We’re getting closer to the target, so anything you can give would be much appreciated.
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.
PCC
Our next PCC meeting will be held on the 17th August. Please do talk to our 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
Hall for Hire
Don’t forget that the Hall is available for hire, especially during the day and at weekends. £24/first hour and £12 for each subsequent hour/part-hour. Please contact Lorna on hall@christchurchlancaster.org.uk or 07808 76536 for more information.
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
Organist: Graham Toft grahamtoft1@aol.com
Parish Administrator: Ms Kim Robinson 07483936011 kimberly.robinson@blackburn.anglican.org
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
Support our Family Ministry:
Volunteering to help Innes with family Ministry is a great way to go deeper in your own faith, while having a lot of fun. It is a privilege to pass on our Christian faith to the next generation, and contribute to our wider church family. Come help at Children’s Church or support an event! Speak to Innes to find out more, or sign up for the opportunity to make important memories for our families.
Little Seedlings
Our baby and toddler group, Little Seedlings, meets 9-10.30am every Tuesday in church. If you know someone with a child 0-4 who would like to come along, please invite them. It’s free!
Ripley Supplementary Forms
Please speak to Rev’d Carol after any of the services to complete a Ripley Supplementary form for attendance. Following a recent change, Ripley School request that Rev’d Carol collects and delivers the forms to school before the October half term
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 Kim Robinson on the above address.