(Note: the Newsletter can also be downloaded as a PDF.)

The Parish of Christ Church, Lancaster

A vibrant inclusive worshipping community

Sunday 6^th June 2021

Climate Sunday/Trinity 1

Our morning services will have an Eco-theme, and the Eco-Church Group will be sharing some of their own stories of faith and stewardship as part of the 10:30 service.

Collect

God our Father,

you never cease the work you have begun

and prosper with your blessing all human labour:

make us wise and faithful stewards of your gifts

that we may serve the common good,

maintain the fabric of our world

and seek that justice where all may share

   the good things you pour upon us;

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. 

Readings – Chosen by the Eco Group

Philippians 4.4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

This is the word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 104:21-32

Refrain:    I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.

²¹  You appointed the moon to mark the seasons,  

and the sun knows the time for its setting.

²²  You make darkness that it may be night,  

in which all the beasts of the forest creep forth.

²³  The lions roar for their prey  

and seek their food from God.

²⁴  The sun rises and they are gone  

to lay themselves down in their dens.

²⁵  People go forth to their work  

and to their labour until the evening. 

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.

²⁶  O Lord, how manifold are your works!  

In wisdom you have made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.

²⁷  There is the sea, spread far and wide,  

and there move creatures beyond number, both small and great.

²⁸  There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan  

which you have made to play in the deep.

²⁹  All of these look to you  

to give them their food in due season.

³⁰  When you give it them, they gather it;  

you open your hand and they are filled with good.

³¹  When you hide your face they are troubled;  

when you take away their breath,

they die and return again to the dust.

³²  When you send forth your spirit, they are created, 

and you renew the face of the earth.

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.

Luke 12.16-20

Then Jesus told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Matthew (6.25-30).   Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said: ’Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 

This is the Gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ

Post Communion: 

Eternal Father,

we thank you for nourishing us

with these heavenly gifts:

may our communion strengthen us in faith,

build us up in hope,

and make us grow in love;

for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Prayers                         

Please remember in your prayers:

Those who are sick:  Olive Niccolls, Youngblood McCray, Ernie Wilson, Pat Brooks, Ivy Buckley, Stephen Gardner, Ann Gilbride, Thea Harris-Ellis, Thomas Platt, Janet Ball, Stephen Taylor, Dorothy Eidsforth, Jenny Lawrence, and Mike Stocks.

RIP:  Leslie Fisher, baby George Hinds, Kallum Watkinson, Jane Howson

Parish Cycle of Prayer:  

Those who live and work in Tarbet Street and Ayr Street; and for the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

Also: Jack Richards and Jasmin Owen, Thomas Robinson and Janine Hicks, Dominic Lane and Bryanni-May Cartledge as their Banns are read and they prepare for their wedding days.

Some suggested hymns you may like to follow at home:

• God in sure love for us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zpa-HJXrZI
• Praise the Lord, you heavens adore him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNvoTbO8JFg

Prayer and Worship this week: 

Sunday 6^th June Climate Sunday 

8.30am Holy Communion (Lady Chapel)

10.30am Parish Eucharist (in church, then uploaded to YouTube*)

6pm Evening Prayer (Lady Chapel)

Wednesday  5:30 pm Meditation, followed by

6 pm Evening Prayer (Storey Chapel)

Friday 9:30 am Holy Communion  – St Barnabas (Lady Chapel)

Saturday  9pm: Compline (YouTube*)

Sunday 13^th June Second Sunday after Trinity

8.30am Holy Communion (Lady Chapel)

10.30am Parish Eucharist (in church, then uploaded to YouTube*)

6pm Evening Prayer (Lady Chapel)

*The Christ Church YouTube channel is at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPoAvGj4K9085RV8zo0ZS9Q

If you would like to book in for the Sunday Eucharists, please use these Eventbrite links:

Sundays: 8:30 am https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/144628127623

Sundays: 10:30 am

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/112092136598

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Rev’d Carol away 7^th – 13^th June inclusive

Rev’d Carol is on leave this coming week – if there are any urgent matters, please contact the Churchwarden on 64083 or churchwarden@christchurchlancaster.org.uk.

We shall welcome Rev’d Keith Brockbank to take the Friday 9:30 service, and Rev’d Alex Logan the 8:30 and Fr. Gary Bowness the 10:30 services on Sunday 13^th.

Save the date – Pet Blessing Service 11^th July!

On Sunday 11^th July at 3pm, there will be a Pet Blessing Service: a time to give thanks, remember and bless our pets. All welcome – please bring your pet on a lead/in a suitable container (or a photo instead) – and please let Rev Carol know if you’re bringing anything larger than a Great Dane! 

Zoom Prayer

Tuesday 15^th June is the next meeting of Prayer4 – 30 minutes of prayer, at 4pm every fortnight. There’ll be a short Bible reading, some music, some stillness, and space to pray for the people and places on your heart – all from the comfort of your own sofa. Zoom details: https://zoom.us/j/8069459310?pwd=TlV6QUQ5UVdiK0p1M0Q0cE0vRXIvUT09

Meeting ID: 806 945 9310 Password: ChristChch

Dial in: 0208 080 6591  Meeting ID: 806 945 9310 Password: 310771 (any queries see Rev Carol)

Living in Love and Faith – a process of discernment

On Monday 14th June, we begin Living in Love and Faith. This encourages us to listen to a rich breadth of stories and experiences of relationships and faith, and to reflect on what Scripture and the Holy Spirit are saying to us about what that means for the future. Across the Church of England, groups are sharing in these five sessions, as part of a national discernment of how the church will teach about relationships in future, and what prayer and blessing for couples will look like in years to come. All are welcome to join these sessions – we want your voice to feed into this exploration of these issues, which we pray will affect how the Church moves forward together in love and faith. 

Online: starting Monday 14th June at 7pm  

https://zoom.us/j/98449131608?pwd=Y0RNQ3VUckh1aGJYQmt1dEpLbW13dz09

Meeting ID: 984 4913 1608, Passcode: 342669

In person: (restrictions permitting) after the 10:30 Eucharist Service from 27^th June in the Hall.

Next PCC …

… meets on Wednesday 16th June.  If there are issues/ideas/questions on any aspect of church life which you’d like council to discuss, please let Rev Carol/Julie Buckley know. 

Churchwardens’ Licensing.

On Tuesday at 7.30pm in Morecambe Parish Church, new Churchwardens in the Deanery will be Licensed by our Archdeacon David Picken. Wardens hold a formal role within the life of the church, working with clergy and the PCC in ministry, and also responsible for the fixtures and fittings of the building. Please pray for Jacqueline Stamper as she continues as our Churchwarden, and give thanks for Paul Thompson’s care and hard work as he steps down.  NB The service is restricted to Churchwardens and Incumbents only, owing to Covid restrictions.

Meeting up

Now that lockdown rules are slowly lifting, I’m able to meet more people in the parish again, and get to know folks. If you’d like to go for a walk, or arrange a garden visit – it would be lovely to meet and chat, please let me know when’s convenient! Rev’d Carol.

Changes to Marriage Registration

You may be aware that there are national changes to the way marriages are registered. Firstly, that mothers’ names (and also the names of step- or adoptive parents) can be listed on the marriage certificate – and also more witnesses can sign. 

Secondly, that we no longer hold the green register books or issue replacement certificates if these are lost. This is because there’s now a national, electronic register. If you need a replacement marriage certificate, this will be issued by Lancaster County Council Registry Services.  Please speak to Rev Carol for advice.

Children’s Corner:

Read Mark 3:20-35’s story about Jesus

Make paper chain people and ask the children to decorate them to look like people in God’s family. With older children you could use this activity to open up discussion about how people of all shapes, sizes and colours are welcome to be part of the family of God, not just those that look like them. 

Talk about your extended family. Is it big or small? Do you spend a lot of time together, or do you only see each other occasionally? 

What does being a part of God’s family mean to you? 

Prayer

Dear Jesus, help us to learn how to put our faith in you instead of trying to work things out on our own. Thank you that through doing this we can be part of your special family. Amen 

Giggle (or Groan) of the week – suggestions welcome!

Q.         Why is a flower like the letter “a”?

A.         Because a bee goes after it.

Tiddlers – babies, toddlers and parents/carers

We would really like to reopen our group for babies and toddlers with their parents and carers.                                                                                                                                                     The group will meet at 10am in the Church Hall on Fridays. The session will finish at 11.30 for now, although in the future we would like to provide a simple lunch at 12noon.  If you could help us with: setting up at 9:30 am; or welcoming people at 10 am; or making teas and coffees; or chatting to parents/doing song time with the children; or tidying up at the end of the session; please contact Jane Lippitt on lippittjane@gmail.com or on 07930 979503. 

Restarting Children’s Church!!

Now that lockdown restrictions are lifting, we’re aiming to restart Children’s Church after half term. Thanks to Julie Tinnion for helping with this! To make this possible, we need a minimum of two adults in the Hall. If you can help (whether every week, every month – every little helps!), please have a chat with Rev Carol or Julie Tinnion. 

New Paschal Candlestick

With grateful thanks to a generous donor, we now have a new Paschal candlestick beside the font. The old one was becoming dangerous, so a faculty (church planning permission) has been obtained for a new one. It holds the light of Christ throughout our Easter services, and when we welcome new members of the church family at baptisms – we hope you like the new design!

Sidespeople/welcomers

Welcoming people to the services at Christ Church is a really valuable role.  If you would like to join the rota of sidespeople, either at the 8.30 or 10.30 services, or if you would like to know more about this role, please contact Jane Lippitt on lippittjane@gmail.com or on 07930 979503. 

New Noticeboard

The new church noticeboard is now installed beside the main gate, with many thanks to a generous donor and funds from the Gregson Trust. The new board, with 2 display cabinets, shows details of what’s on at Christ Church, and hopefully will help to welcome people here. 

New Music for the Eucharist

We look forward to receiving news that the restrictions on singing can lift. Once this happens, we’ll begin singing Peter Nardone’s Mass of St Cedd  (music for the Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei) within our Eucharist. You can listen to a recording here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4Ose65Z9CA

Thanks to our Choir and musicians for leading us! 

Choir

Singers of all ages and abilities/experience are very welcome to come to choir practices every Thursday 7:15 -8:15 pm in church. Please contact Jacqueline for more details.

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PLEAS OF THE WEEK   

Church Repair Fund

Last week, we launched our Church Repair Fund to help 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. If you’re able to give of your time and talents to plan or help with some fundraising events – please keep an eye on the notices for more details!

Fundraising Group

If you’d like to help plan some fun social events and fundraisers for the church in coming months (or would like to help on the day) – please contact Julie Buckley.

Summer Garden Party – 3^rd July

Thanks to Harris Tinnion for the stunning poster he’s designed for our Summer Garden Party on 3^rd July, 2:30-4:30 pm. If you’d like a copy to display, there are some spares at the back of church.  Please think about who you’d like to invite!  There’s also a list for people to sign up for items they’re able to contribute as prizes or for the refreshments or to volunteer to help.

Looking ahead – Christmas Tree Festival!

On 3^rd December, we’ll be holding the first ever three-day Christ Church Christmas Tree Festival! The church will be filled with trees, which will be decorated by local groups to represent and celebrate our community. There’ll be music, refreshments – and we look forward to welcoming lots of people over the weekend.  If you can help – with planning, publicity, community links, or nearer the time – please let Julie Buckley know. 

Squares for Syria

Thank you to everyone who has been contributing knitted squares to be sent to Syria – we have made up several blankets – and also to those who have supplied the crocheted squares which have been made into lovely baby blankets.  Margaret Lyth has been given a large quantity of wool to be used for knitting/crocheting more squares, so if you’re able to make more squares – or would like to start helping – please contact her on 60387. 

The Olive Branch Foodbank

Donations of tinned pies, curry, meatballs and hotpot especially needed. Thank you for all the donations in recent weeks  –  they gave out 300 parcels last month alone!   Or you can give money for them to buy what is needed: https://www.the-olivebranch.org.uk/donate/

Vaccinaid – Give the world a shot!

Our church leaders are encouraging us to play our part in helping UNICEF deliver 2 billion vaccines around the world by the end of this year, to bring this world-wide epidemic to an end.  Keeping one another safe from COVID is part of living out Christ’s call to love our neighbour.  By contributing to crowdfunding this project on  https://www.vaccinaid.org  we can help the whole world get the protection many of us already have through our easy access to healthcare. 

The Christ Church Cookbook: contributions invited

The Eco Church Group has been promoting reducing our carbon footprint by eating less meat.  Reducing meat consumption, especially meat from intensive farming, has benefits for both the climate and animal welfare.  We’re producing a cookbook of our favourite vegetarian and vegan dishes that could tempt even carnivores. Contributions of your favourite tried and tested veggie and vegan recipes are invited (metric measurements). Sales l raise money for Christ Church funds.  The size of the booklet means finding a balance of starters, mains and puddings, vegan/non-vegan recipes, but all contributions are welcome, even if they can’t all be included. Please send to: reader@christchurchlancaster.org.uk.

Cross Bay Walk

Thank you to everyone who sponsored Rev Carol and Lizzy for their sponsored walk across Morecambe Bay Sands yesterday (5^th June)!  Over £300 raised for the Church Repair Fund so far!  If you’d like to give online, there is a crowdfunding page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/christ-church-repair-fund

Recycling 

Starting this Sunday, 6^th June, and on every first Sunday of the month, clean blister packs, plastic bottle tops, dental products (toothpaste tubes, plastic toothbrushes, used heads from electric toothbrushes and dental floss containers) can be placed (loose) in boxes at the back of church. They’ll then be taken for recycling. The box will be there on the first Sunday only – if you miss that Sunday, please hold onto them until the next month. Blister packs can also be taken for recycling to the Superdrug Pharmacy in town.  

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Prayers & our Newsletter

If you, or someone you know would like to receive this newsletter, either electronically or a paper version – do let Jacqueline/Rev Carol know and we will endeavour to keep in contact with people.

We will be praying daily for all who are suffering in the current crisis. If you would like us to pray for you, or for someone you know, for any reason, please email your request to prayer@christchurchlancaster.org.uk or text the Prayer Chain on 07980 351855. Please ask the person’s permission if you’d like them included in the weekly notices.

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Thought for the week

We need a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet.      Pope Francis, Laudato Si

Eco-Group Action for the Week:  

TerraCycle helps to recycle a vast range of plastic waste. The eco group are liaising with volunteers that coordinate this scheme locally and are identifying items suitable for collection in church. If you need help or advice on any items, let the group know.

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Key contacts:

Vicar: Revd Carol Backhouse 942105 revcarolbackhouse@gmail.com

1 East Road, Lancaster, LA1 3EE

Lay Reader:  Dr Pat Allen 39552.

Churchwarden: Mrs Jacqueline Stamper 64083 churchwarden@christchurchlancaster.org.uk

Parish Safeguarding Officer:  Ms Jane Lippitt 07930 979503 safeguarding@christchurchlancaster.org.uk

Nightshelter Co-ordinator: Ms Jan Norbury 07547 717 060   coordinator.nightshelter@gmail.com

Hall Bookings: hallchristchurch@btinternet.com 07890 351855

Christ Church School  Ms Emma Simpson 60955

The national prayer for this outbreak:

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy.  Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen.

Hymn and anthem words for 10:30 Eucharist today

The choir is leading the music for our worship at the 10:30 service today.   Below, you will find the words of an anthem composed by our own Marlene Phillips and of one of the hymns which have been chosen specially for this Climate Sunday.  Whether or not you are able to listen to the choir singing and the organ playing, we hope that you will reflect on the important messages about God’s Creation and our stewardship of it contained in these lyrics.

Music for Climate Sunday 6^th June 2021

In the lapping of the waters

In the lapping of the waters, in the rustling of the trees, 
In the mighty crash of thunder, in the sighing of the breeze
We can hear the voice of nature in the earth and sea and air, 
And in faith, if we will listen, we will hear that God is there.

In the dancing of the planets, in the atmospheric sounds, 
In the bleeps from outer spaces, in whatever song resounds,

In the laws that govern all things, in the music of each sphere,

If we hear with understanding, we shall know our God is there.

In the laughter of young children, in the chatter of the crowd, 

In the pleading for assistance, in the humbling of the proud,

In the worship of God’s people as the heart and tongue rejoice,

We can hear our God is speaking, we can trace His loving voice.

In the realm of all creation, near at hand or far at length,

When some melody is playing very softly or with strength,

Then within each note of music find our God has loving part,

For in listening, we are hearing love is beating in God’s heart.

Words: © Ambrose D Wright. Reprinted by kind permission

Music: Marlene Philips © Marlene Philips

God in his love for us lent us this planet

God in his love for us lent us this planet,

gave it a purpose in time and in space:

small as a spark from the fire of creation,

cradle of life and the home of our race.

Thanks be to God for its bounty and beauty, 

life that sustains us in body and mind:

plenty for all, if we learn how to share it,

riches undreamed of to fathom and find.

Long have our human wars ruined its harvest;

long has earth bowed to the terror of force;

long have we wasted what others have need of,

poisoned the fountain of life at its source.

Earth is the Lord’s: it is ours to enjoy it,

ours, as his stewards, to farm and defend.

From its pollution, misuse, and destruction,

good Lord, deliver us, world without end.

Words by Fred Pratt Green © 1973 The Hymn Society 

(admin. Hope Publishing Company)

Music: J F Thrupp (1827-67) Epiphany