(Note: the Newsletter can also be downloaded as a PDF.)
The Parish of Christ Church, Lancaster
A vibrant inclusive worshipping community
Sunday 20th February 2022
Second Sunday before Lent
We welcome the Rev’d Dr Gary Bowness to preside and preach at our 8:30 and 10:30 Eucharists today.
Collect
Almighty God,
you have created the heavens and the earth
and made us in your own image:
teach us to discern your hand in all your works
and your likeness in all your children;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things, now and for ever. Amen
Readings
Genesis 2.4b-9,15-25
These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.
In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground; but a stream would rise from the earth, and water the whole face of the ground— then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.’
Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.’ So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, ‘This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.’ Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Psalm 65
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.
2 To you shall all flesh come to confess their sins;
when our misdeeds prevail against us,
you will purge them away.
3 Happy are they whom you choose
and draw to your courts to dwell there.
We shall be satisfied with the blessings of your house,
even of your holy temple.
Be joyful in God, all the earth.
4 With wonders you will answer us in your righteousness, O God of our salvation,
O hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.
5 In your strength you set fast the mountains
and are girded about with might.
6 You still the raging of the seas, the roaring of their waves and the clamour of the peoples.
7 Those who dwell at the ends of the earth
tremble at your marvels;
the gates of the morning and evening sing your praise.
Be joyful in God, all the earth.
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.
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.
Be joyful in God, all the earth.
Revelation 4
After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne! And the one seated there looks like jasper and cornelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald. Around the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones are twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads. Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God; and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like crystal.
Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, ‘Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.’ And whenever the living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (8.22-25). Glory to you, O Lord.
One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side of the lake.’ So they put out, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A gale swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to him and woke him up, shouting, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’ They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?’
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Post Communion:
God our creator, by your gift
the tree of life was set at the heart of the earthly paradise, and the bread of life at the heart of your Church:
may we who have been nourished at your table on earth
be transformed by the glory of the Saviour’s cross
and enjoy the delights of eternity;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers
Please remember in your prayers:
Those who are sick: Olive Niccolls, Youngblood McCray, Ernie Wilson, Ivy Buckley, Stephen Gardner, Ann Gilbride, Thea Harris-Ellis, Thomas Platt, Janet Ball, Dorothy Eidsforth, Sitar Rose, Heather McFadden, Maddison Crompton, Irene Forrester, Bishop Julian Henderson, Jacqueline Stamper
Those who have died recently: Verity Barker, Richard Wicks, Stephen Mallon, Jean Briggs
Parish Cycle of Prayer:
Those who live and work in our parish: in Ennerdale Close and Ridge Lane; and Ryelands Sure Start Centre
Also for Emily Winter and Stephen Middlehurst as their Banns are read.
Prayer and Worship this week:
Sunday 20th February – Second Sunday before Lent
8:30 am Holy Communion (Lady Chapel)
10:30 am Parish Eucharist (in church, then uploaded to YouTube)*
6 pm Evening Prayer (Lady Chapel)
Tuesday
4 pm Prayer4 (on Zoom)
Wednesday
5:30 pm Meditation, followed by
6 pm Evening Prayer (Storey Chapel)
Friday
9:30 am Holy Communion (Lady Chapel)
4 pm Youth Group (in the Hall)
Sunday 27th February – Sunday next before Lent
8:30 am Holy Communion (Lady Chapel)
10:30 am Parish Eucharist (in church, then uploaded to YouTube)*
4 pm Messy Church (in the Hall)
6 pm Evening Prayer (Lady Chapel)
*The Christ Church YouTube channel is at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPoAvGj4K9085RV8zo0ZS9Q
Zoom Prayer
Tuesday, 22nd February 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.)
Messy Church – next Sunday 4 -6 pm
Messy Church will meet again on Sunday 27th at 4 pm in the Hall – it’s good to see so many families joining in this less formal gathering for children and adults alike, for creativity, celebrating God in prayer and song, and eating together.
Preparing for Lent
The season of Lent begins on 2nd March, a time of walking with Christ for 40 days, in prayer, study, charity and preparation for Holy Week and Easter. Whilst it is traditional to give up harmful and bad habits during Lent (smoking, drinking, eating junk food, and/or swearing are all examples) so as to focus better on God – you may also wish to ‘take up’ something for Lent – for example reading a spiritual book, a month-long creative project, giving to charity, or volunteering. There is a short leaflet available at the back of church to inspire you.
Next Sunday (27th) we will learn new music for the 10:30 Eucharist – James Macmillan’s ‘St Anne’s Mass’ – first sung by the choir at the All Souls’ Eucharist.
Ash Wednesday, 2nd March, is a day of penitence and acknowledging that we are ‘only human’ – and in need of God’s forgiveness and grace. There will be Eucharists at 11 am and 7.30 pm, with opportunities to receive a cross of ashes as a sign of our own mortality. If you wish to make a personal confession and receive absolution outside of these services, please arrange this with Rev’d Carol.
On Sunday 6th March, after the 10:30 Eucharist, we will begin a Lent Course, ‘Glimpses of God’ to which everyone is welcome. The course started in 2020, then lockdown intervened! It promises to be a thought-provoking series in 5 sessions. If you were in the group prior to lockdown, please bring your booklet, and spares will be available.
Copies of the “Live Lent: Embracing Justice” booklet will also be available (in adult and children’s versions) for you to follow at home.
Festival of Faith in Daily Life
There will be a Festival of Faith in Daily Life at Blackburn Cathedral on Saturday, March 19. Rev’d Carol is going – so if you’d like a lift, please let her know!
It will be a time to reflect on how we can all be confident disciples, witnesses and leaders for Jesus Christ in our homes, workplaces and communities. Bishop Philip will preside at a Eucharist sung by the Cathedral Youth Choir; there will be a keynote address from Lord David Alton of Liverpool about how faith has affected his working life of public service, and a variety of workshops with some practical ideas for faith at home, faith at work and living alongside people of other faiths. There will also be an introduction to The Vine Community, which is a simple and flexible framework for living out a Christian life, sometimes called a ‘rule of life’.
The Festival is free, but places need to be booked in advance so that the Cathedral can manage workshop numbers.For more information and to book a place, please email Jean Duerden on conference@blackburn.anglican.org
Sponsored Sundays
If you would like to Sponsor a Sunday hymn (perhaps in memory of a loved one), please fill in one of the blue forms from the noticeboard at the back of church, and give it to Rev’d Carol with at least a month’s notice before the Sunday you’d to sponsor. You can nominate a hymn if you wish. Please place your donation in an envelope labelled ‘Sponsored Sundays’, and place it in the offertory box. It is up to you how much you wish to give!
PCC
The next PCC meeting will be this Wednesday, 23rd February – if there are aspects of church life which you’d like discussed, please speak to Rev’d Carol or Julie Buckley.
70 trees for the Treebilee – Platinum Jubilee update!
On 6th February it was 70 years since Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne. Christ Church has been sponsoring or planting trees to contribute to the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and Her Majesty’s Green Canopy initiative.
If anyone still wants to plant a tree, sponsor a charity, or put £5 in the box for the church to do so on your behalf please do it this month if possible. Don’t forget to add a leaf to the tree so your gift can be counted. A big thank you to everyone who has already contributed to our Jubilee Tree. Our 70-tree target is in sight.
Christ Church Crafting:
… will meet next on Tuesday 8th March at 11:30am in the Hall – all welcome! Bring your own craft project, or make a pennant for the community bunting. Future meetings will be on the second Tuesday of the month at the same time. Contact Marion Cowan for further details.
Church Giving
Thank you to everyone who nominated local and national causes for Christ Church to support in the coming year – 14 in all! How we respond will be discussed at the Fundraising meeting (see below) – but if you have ideas (e.g. cake sale, sponsored walk, inviting a speaker) please let Rev’d Carol know.
Haffner Orchestra Concert 5th March
Saturday 5th March at 7.30pm in Lancaster University Great Hall. Music by Vaughan Williams, Ravel and Beethoven. Tickets available from www.haffnerorchestra.org
Fairtrade Fortnight
As part of Fairtrade Fortnight (which raises awareness about the importance of fairly-traded products, and their effect on small farms and businesses that would otherwise struggle in the face of large free-trade corporations), there will be a stall of Fairtrade goods after the 10:30 Eucharist next Sunday (27th).
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PLEAS OF THE WEEK
9th March 2 pm – Can you help?
Year 11 students from Jamea al Kauthar Islamic College are visiting Christ Church to learn more about Christian worship, and what the Eucharist means to us. Please can you spare an hour to help welcome them, and serve refreshments? See Rev’d Carol.
Spring Raffle
£3 per ticket, or 4 tickets for £10 – choose your number from the list in church. A hamper and a L’Occitane gift set are among the prizes! The draw will be made on 27th March. Please contact Julie Buckley if you’d like a ticket.
The Olive Branch needs volunteers!
In particular, if you are over 18, available between 11am and 4pm on a weekday, and would be interested in volunteering as a packer on a Thursday, or in the office on a Friday, please get in touch by going to their website: https://the-olivebranch.org.uk
then ‘Support us’ and ‘Register interest with us’.
The Olive Branch Foodbank
… is in particular need of tins – including meat, fish, vegetables and pies., as well as donations of rice (not pasta or baked beans). All other items, including toiletries, are also gratefully received!
Or you can give money for them to buy what is needed: https://www.the-olivebranch.org.uk/donate/
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
If you would like to support Christ Church’s work and worship regularly, or you already do – please consider giving by Direct Debit. Christ Church is now taking part in the Parish Giving Scheme, which allows us to offer direct debit as an option. This national Scheme takes a lot of hassle out of claiming gift aid, and ensures that any donation is covered by guarantees. It also allows you to easily review how much you give depending on circumstances. There are no costs or overheads to the parish. For more information, the QR code takes you to our page on the scheme:
Online at www.parishgiving.org.uk Or by telephone 0333 002 1271 Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. Postal forms available on request. For any of these methods our PGS code 030603240 ensures that your gift goes to our 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. 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!
You can also contribute online via the Give a Little website: https://givealittle.co/campaigns/1c7889a9-7ef8-4730-a84a-2d434726c909
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Giggle (or Groan) of the week – suggestions welcome!
Q. What did the flower say after he told a joke?
A. “I was just pollen your leg!”
Thought for the week
The Revelation of God is not a book or a doctrine, but a living Person. Emil Brunner
Eco-Group Thought/Action for the Week
Buying Fairtrade means ensuring people and the planet are not exploited to create the products we enjoy. Support our Fairtrade stall next week.
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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.
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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Key contacts:
Vicar: Revd Carol Backhouse 942105 revcarolbackhouse@gmail.com
1 East Road, Lancaster, LA1 3EE
Lay Reader: Dr Pat Allen 39552 reader@christchurchlancaster.org.uk.
Churchwarden: Ms Jacqueline Stamper 64083 churchwarden@christchurchlancaster.org.uk
Parish Safeguarding Officer: Ms Jane Lippitt 07930 979503 safeguarding@christchurchlancaster.org.uk
Children, Youth & Families Coordinator: Mrs Julie Tinnion 07749 489623 children@christchurchlancaster.org.uk
Parish Secretary: Mrs Julie Buckley buckleys@live.co.uk 01524 37229
Hall Bookings: hall@christchurchlancaster.org.uk
07890 351855
Nightshelter Co-ordinator: Ms Jan Norbury 07547 717 060 coordinator.nightshelter@gmail.com
Christ Church School Ms Emma Simpson 60955
COVID-19 – latest update from Rev’d Carol, 27 Jan.
Now that national covid rules have changed, the guidance for churches has been amended. It is the discretion of each Vicar how each church responds, so if you have any queries or concerns please contact Rev’d Carol. Given that case rates are still high locally, I ask that people still consider wearing a face covering (especially for sung services) and remain at a sociable distance apart. I also ask that people don’t return to the practice of intincting their wafer – if you prefer not to receive the common cup that is fine. I continue to encourage people to use hand gel on arrival and before receiving communion, and to sign in – just in case we need to trace an outbreak. As a church, we seek to be a safe place for all, especially those who feel vulnerable for any reason. We’re called to be one body united by diverse opinions and experiences, and so we respect that some will feel comfortable with more and others with fewer personal precautions in place. There are a range of quieter and busier services for those who wish. We continue to pray for healing for the effects of covid on individuals, communities and our world, and lift up those who are grieving, exhausted or lonely at this time.