The Parish of Christ Church, Lancaster
A vibrant inclusive worshipping community
Sunday 19th January 2020
All are warmly welcomed to Christ Church today, whether you’re with us for the first time or regular worshippers. We hope that within our worship everyone – regardless of age – will have a moment of highlight. This might be the music or a line from a hymn, something from the Bible readings or prayers or sermon. It might simply be worshipping in fellowship with other people. Please join us for refreshments after the 10:30 service.
Useful things to know about us:
- This building is fitted with an induction loop system – please put your hearing aid to the ‘T’ position.
- Magnifying sheets are available – please ask a steward.
- If you prefer not to receive the communion wine, please just return to your seat after receiving the bread.
- Mums are very welcome to breast feed babies anywhere in the church where they feel comfortable. Likewise babies can be bottle-fed anywhere. There is a baby-change area at the back of the church
- Please keep a time of quiet before the service starts to draw us closer to God before our worship.
Please remember in your prayers:
Those who are ill: Olive Niccolls, Youngblood McCray, Len Fletcher, Ernie Wilson, Pat Brooks, Freya de Lysle, Bill and Ivy Buckley, Mark Tower, Michael Greenhalgh
RIP Tony Angus, Sheila Kelly, Reg Boss, John Millburn, Tony Guénault, Kristine Boss, Eileen Finnigan, Zita Fitness, John Illingworth
Thought for the week
Pray for God’s light, for His gifts of unity and peace. Don’t let arrogance, fear, or a focus on our own position stop us being open and respectful to others.
Action for the week
If Vegan January is a step too far, try adding vegetarian or vegan meals to your weekly menu.
Sunday 19th January Second Sunday of Epiphany
8.30 am – Said Eucharist:
10.30 am Parish Eucharist
Monday 20th January
9:30 am – Said Eucharist, for the intention of the discernment of the new Vicar of Christ Church
Wednesday
5.30 pm Evening Prayer
7:30 PCC (Vestry)
Friday
9.30 am Said Eucharist
Sunday 26th January Third Sunday of Epiphany
8.30 am – Said Eucharist:
10.30 am Parish Eucharist
SUNDAY 19TH JANUARY – WELCOME BACK
We are delighted to welcome Fr Gary Bowness to preside and preach at our 8:30 and 10:30 Eucharists today. Thank you very much indeed for coming once again – your presence is much appreciated.
VERY IMPORTANT DATE FOR YOUR DIARIES!
The interviews for our new Vicar take place tomorrow (Monday 20th January). We ask you all to pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance for those directly involved in that process – candidates and appointing panel – for the parish as a whole, and for our school. All are invited to attend the special 9:30 Eucharist that morning (especially PCC members). Please also sign up to be a praying presence (either in church or elsewhere) for one or more of the half-hour slots listed at the back to church during which we ask you to commit to holding all involved before God, and to praying for the right outcome. Thank you for your prayers.
CHILDREN’S SOCIETY CHRISTINGLE APPEAL 2019
Many thanks for another successful Christingle appeal; the total raised between Church and school is £494.92, which has already been sent to the Children’s Society, to be used to help finance their work supporting vulnerable and neglected children. With sincere thanks for your continued support, David and Julie Buckley.
EPIPHANY GIFTS
Thank you to all who signed up to contribute towards essential church supplies. Please give your donation to Audrey or the Churchwardens (Gift-Aided if you are a UK taxpayer). (It’s not too late to make a donation, even if you didn’t sign up earlier!)
TIDDLERS’ GROUP
Our Tiddlers’ Group is open again each Friday, 10:30 – 11:45 am. Please tell any families who might be interested – just £1 contribution per family per session. If you could spare an occasional couple of hours to be on a rota to help with the group, please contact Jane Lippitt. Thank you.
OLIVE BRANCH FOOD BANK
There is real poverty here in Lancaster, increasingly ruining people’s lives. The food banks desperately need extra supplies to help feed the all too many families who now depend on their provision. Please bring tinned meats, fish, snacks, puddings, pulses, spaghetti, beans, rice, cereals, tea bags, 4 oz jars of coffee, hot chocolate, long-life milk, etc. Please also bring bags to help Julian transport donations down to the Olive Branch each week. Thank you – and Julian.
FEATHERED FRIENDS “FOOD BANK”
The birds in our churchyard this winter also need food. Please give contributions toward the costs to Julian, as the bird food fund is now down to £1.26! Thank you.
Readings Sunday 19th January 2020
Isaiah 49. 1-7
Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.” And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honoured in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, “Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
I Corinthians 1.1-19
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 1.29-42
The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’ The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).
EUCHARISTS: Sundays: 8:30, 10:30, 6 pm (1st Sunday); Fridays: 9:30 am
Key contacts:
Vicar: Vacant
Please contact one of the Churchwardens or Canon Brenda Harding – details below.
Associate Priest: Canon Brenda Harding 66071
Lay Reader: Dr Pat Allen 39552.
Churchwarden: Dr Paul Thompson 34949
Churchwarden: Mrs Jacqueline Stamper64083 churchwarden@christchurchlancaster.org.uk
Parish Safeguarding Officer: Ms Jane Lippitt 07930 979503 safeguarding@christchurchlancaster.org.uk
Children’s Church: Mrs Liz Mills 67005
Nightshelter Co-ordinator: Ms Jan Norbury 07547 717 060 coordinator.nightshelter@gmail.com
Hall Bookings hallchristchurch@btinternet.com
07980 351855
Christ Church School Ms Emma Simpson 60955