(Note: the Newsletter can also be downloaded as a PDF.)
A warm welcome to
The Parish of Christ Church, Lancaster
for Sunday 5th April 2026 Easter Sunday
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
6.30am Dawn LCT (Dalton Square)
8.30am Holy Communion
10.30am Festal Eucharist
No 6pm Service
Tuesday
NO Evening Prayer
Wednesday
NO Evening Prayer
Friday
NO 9.30am Holy Communion
Sunday 12th April – Easter 2
8.30am Holy Communion
10.30am Parish Eucharist
6pm Evening Prayer
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
Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity. Amen
Please send items for inclusion in this newsletter to Kim Robinson. Many thanks.
Little Seedlings
Every Tuesday from 9am in the Church Hall for under 4s and their parents/carers.
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
On the 4th Sunday of the month at 4pm in the Hall for KS1/2 children.
Scripture Readings for our Worship
Acts 10. 34-43
Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 118. 1-2, 14-24
Refrain: I will give thanks to you, for you have become my salvation.
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim,
‘His mercy endures for ever.’
14 The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.
15 Joyful shouts of salvation sound from the tents of the righteous:
16 ‘The right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds;
the right hand of the Lord raises up;
the right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds.’
17 I shall not die, but live and declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has punished me sorely,
but he has not given me over to death.
Refrain: I will give thanks to you, for you have become my salvation.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Refrain: I will give thanks to you, for you have become my salvation.
Colossians 3. 1-4
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew 28. 1-10
Glory to you, O Lord.
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Prayer after Communion
God of Life, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection have delivered us from the power of our enemy: grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his risen life; 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, Geoffrey Heywood, Christine McCrann, Richard Jones, Marlene Phillips, Jenny Lowe, John Lyth, Freda Jackson, Julie Withers, Martin Johnson, Ruby Rodrigues. – may God’s healing, wholeness and peace be with them.
In our parish, we ask God to bless and provide:
For those who live and work in Factory Hill, Troutbeck Road and Wolseley Street.
For the work of the police and the justice system.
may God’s loving kindness be 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.
Choir Church – Friday 15th May
Please join us again on Friday 15th May for our next Eucharist at 3.15pm in Christ Church School Hall.
Big Day Out!
On Saturday 16th May, our Diocesan family will be celebrating our centenary with a Big Day Out at Blackpool! There will be family fun from 11am, followed by lunch and a festival service in St John’s Square – everyone is welcome! Remember to book your place! A coach will be leaving from our deanery at a cost of £12 per person. Use the link below or scan the QR code to book your seat on the coach! Please invite friends and family too!
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. We’re getting closer to the target – can you help us get over the line? Thank you in advance.
Save the Date!
On Friday 8th May, we’ll be holding an Auction of Promises to raise money for the Church Repair Fund. It’ll be a fund evening, with lots of food – held at Christ Church Primary School. Please consider what you might offer for auction: perhaps an hour’s gardening, a car wash, a month’s supply of baking? Please invite friends & family too!
In Other News…
The 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/
Eco-Group Thought/Action for the Week
When we learn that our rivers, seas and occasionally our drinking water are polluted we are horrified. But around the world millions of people never have clean water. Can you support charities such as Water Aid who work to provide communities with clean drinking water, decent toilets and good hygiene? https://www.wateraid.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.
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.
PCC
Our PCC meets next on 13th April. We will be looking at our website, the annual accounts, and many other aspects of life at Christ Church. .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
Annual Meeting
Please save the date for Sunday 26th April, for our Annual Meeting, when we review the last year, discuss our finances, and elect our Church Council members. Please prayerfully consider offering your skills and time to share in this work.
Repairs and Improvements -Your chance to share your views!
We’re gathering feedback on some changes we’ve made over the last 2 years and would love to hear from you. Your feedback will help us to understand how these changes have affected the
experience of you and others, who use or visit the church. It will also help us to demonstrate to the national church and wider funders the benefits of investing in church buildings.
Please compete the e-survey at the link below, which will be open to responses until 20th April. Your answers will be anonymous, we will not ask you for any personal details. Thank you in advance for taking the time help us to understand how repairs and improvements have benefited our church community.
Community at Christ Church:
Little Seedlings – Group for 0-4 year olds and their carers.
Our baby and toddler group, Little Seedlings, meets 9-10.30 every Tuesday in the Church Hall. If you know someone with a child 0-4 who would like to come along, please invite them. It’s free!
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, so please contact grahamtoft1@aol.com if you’d like to know more.
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 Lorna at hall@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 07808 765364 for more info.
Gardening Group
Our friendly gardening group meets on the first Friday of each month (10th April) 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 normally meets on the first Friday of each month at 4 pm in the church hall (10th April). 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.
Volunteers needed
We are in need of volunteers to deliver Holy Week/Easter invitations to neighbouring streets, envelopes can be collected from the back of church. Thank you!
Save the date!
On Saturday 9th May, there will be a walk around our parish boundary – leaving church at 10am, we’ll walk up to Denny Beck, before returning along the river and through Scotch Quarry. 7.5 miles overall – please bring solid shoes, a packed lunch, and clothing suitable for the weather! Children and dogs very welcome – you may wish to join for all or part of the walk!
Would you welcome a ift to church? Why not join the FunBus?
Do you or does someone you know need a lift to church? If you’re finding it difficult to get to church services (perhaps especially in the winter months), we’re organising a “bus” to bring people to church. Please contact Rev’d Kaarina if you’re interested.
Moonrakers Concert – 26th April 3pm In Church
Celtic traditional and contemporary songs and tunes, Music from the UK & Ireland.Tickets on the door, £15 including a free drink. If you are able to help with drinks and stewarding please let Rev Carol know.
Invitation to join the Electoral Roll
If Christ Church is your church, and you would like to join the list of people who are able to vote in the parish elections onthe 26th April, please fill in a form and return it to Jane Lippitt, our Electoral Roll officer. If you’ve filled a form in last year -your name will still be on the list!
Promoting a Safer Church
If you believe that someone is at risk of immediate harm, please call emergency services on 999. Any safeguardingconcerns 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
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.
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
Churchwarden: Greg Skelland churchwarden@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 07944 683847
Director of Music: 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