(Note: the Newsletter can also be downloaded as a PDF.)
A warm welcome to
The Parish of Christ Church, Lancaster
for Sunday 14th May 2023 Easter 6
Vicar: Revd Carol Backhouse 01524 942105
revcarolbackhouse@gmail.com 1 East Road, Lancaster, LA1 3EE
www.christchurchlancaster.org.uk Facebook:@ChristChurchLancaster
Everyone is welcome to join in prayer and worship this week:
Today – Sunday 14th May – Easter 6
8:30am Holy Communion
8:30am Holy Communion
10:30am All Together Eucharist
We welcome Archdeacon David to preach
6pm Evening Prayer (Lady Chapel)
Tuesday
10.15am Funeral (Claire Payne)
4pm Prayer4 (see notice)
7pm Bread of Life Course (Vicarage)
Wednesday
5.30pm Meditation followed by
6pm Evening Prayer (Storey Chapel)
Thursday 18th May – Ascension Day
7am Prayers for the City (Ashton Memorial)
6pm Festal Eucharist
Friday
9.30am Holy Communion (Lady Chapel)
Sunday 21st May – Sunday after Ascension Day
8:30am Holy Communion
10:30am Parish Eucharist
12.30 and 1.30pm Baptisms
4pm Messy Church (in the Hall)
6pm Evening Prayer (Lady Chapel))
Children and Youth
Tiddlers
For under 5s and their parents/carers, every Friday at 10:30 am in the Hall
Children’s Church
Every Sunday of term time during the 10.30 service for KS1/2 children
Messy Church
Crafts, stories, song and a meal together at 4pm on Sunday 21st May in the Hall for KS1/2
Connect Club
Meets in the Hall at 4pm on alternate Fridays (next one 26th May). Youth group for those in Years 5-7, with games, snacks and conversation.
Contact: Mrs Julie Tinnion 07749 489623
Gluten-free wafers available. Please ask the Stewards for directions and assistance.
Please send items for inclusion in this newsletter to Jacqueline Stamper by Thursday lunchtime. Many thanks.
Prayer for the Week
Risen Christ, by the lakeside you renewed your call to your disciples: help your Church to obey your command and draw the nations to the fire of your love, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Scripture Readings for our Worship
Acts 17.22-31
Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, ‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, “To an unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For “In him we live and move and have our being”; as even some of your own poets have said, “For we too are his offspring.” Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.’
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 66.7-18
Refrain: All the earth shall worship you, O Lord.
7 Bless our God, O you peoples;
make the voice of his praise to be heard,
8 Who holds our souls in life
and suffers not our feet to slip.
9 For you, O God, have proved us;
you have tried us as silver is tried.
10 You brought us into the snare;
you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.
11 You let enemies ride over our heads; we went through fire and water; but you brought us out into a place of liberty.
Refrain:
12 I will come into your house with burnt offerings and will pay you my vows, which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
13 I will offer you fat burnt sacrifices
with the smoke of rams; I will sacrifice oxen and goats.
Refrain:
14 Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he has done for my soul.
15 I called out to him with my mouth
and his praise was on my tongue.
16 If I had nursed evil in my heart,
the Lord would not have heard me,
17 But in truth God has heard me;
he has heeded the voice of my prayer.
18 Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, nor withheld his loving mercy from me.
Refrain:
1 Peter 3.13-22
Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight people, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John 14.15-21
Glory to you, O Lord
‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ
Prayer after Communion:
God our Father, whose Son Jesus Christ gives the water of eternal life: may we thirst for you, the spring of life and source of goodness, through him who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen
Please also remember in your prayers:
Those who are sick: Youngblood McCray, Ernie Wilson, Stephen Gardner, Thomas Platt, Sitar Rose, Yan Connell, David Foster, Susannna Michaelis, Mike Dickinson, Valerie Williams, Leon Taylor, Juliann Dougherty
Those who have died recently: Louie Etchells, baby Leo Harrison, Joan Howarth, Albert Stott, Claire Payne, Paul Woodhouse.
Those preparing for Marriage: Kirsten McCaskill and John Marshall, Charlotte Quail and James Woodhouse.
Parish Cycle of Prayer:
For those who live and work on Alfred Street, Shaw Street
For our farmers and agricultural worker
For preparations and volunteers for the Children’s Activity Afternoon
Zoom Prayer:
Tuesday 16th May 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://us06web.zoom.us/j/8069459310?pwd=cVJ1ZDlnNXF2dDVFWThVa0Z0VWE5dz09
Meeting ID: 806 945 9310 Passcode 942105
Taizé Eucharist
On the first Sunday of every month at 6pm, there is a beautiful service of prayer, music and stillness in the style of the Taizé Community. The next will be on Sunday 4th June – everyone welcome! If you’d like to join the music group (singing or instrumental), the rehearsal starts at 4.30pm. Do see Julian if you’d be interested.
Ascension Day
On Thursday 18th May, we mark the Feast of the Ascension – 40 days after Easter, we remember Jesus’ ascension into heaven. At 7am, there will be prayers near the Ashton Memorial for the city – led by Lancaster Churches Together. At 6pm, there will be a Festal Eucharist in church – everyone welcome!
Please will you spare 3 minutes to help the 6pm service?
The 6pm service has been running in it’s current pattern for 18 months. It includes the Taize Eucharist, Celtic Evening Prayer, Ignatian Prayer, and Book of Common Prayer services. We’d like to know what works for you about the current prayer and worship, and your thoughts on what you’d like to see happen in the next 18 months.
The QR code will take you to a short survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/9Z7VZNM
Or please have a chat with Rev’d Carol about what would make the service better,
what you look forward to, and where you find God in 6pm prayer and worship.
The Eucharist – going deeper
The Bread of Life Course continues on Tuesdays at 7pm at the Vicarage until 23rd May. Everyone welcome as we explore more about the Christian faith through the lens of the Eucharist – don’t worry if you missed the last session. More info from Rev’d Carol
Thought for the Week
Service is love in action. We see active love in our care for the most vulnerable, the way we nurture and encourage the young, in the conservation of the natural world. Most Rev’d Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
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 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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In Other News…
Traffic Announcement!
If you’re driving to church this Sunday, please check your route prior to travel – as the Highest Point Festival will be in full swing. There will be limited parking around church.
The Olive Branch Foodbank
… is in particular need of tinned pudding, rice, tinned curry, tinned pies, tinned ham, sweetcorn and peas, shampoo, shower gel, size 5 and size 6 nappies. . 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/
Eco-Group Thought/Action for the Week
Spring is an important time to feed birds. Help them to raise their chicks more successfully by supplying good seed mixtures, soaked dried fruit and meal worms. Avoid loose peanuts though as baby birds can choke. Don’t forget to leave water out too.
Recycling at Christ Church
The next collection of crisp packets, used toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, plastic bottle tops, and blister packets of tablets, will be Sunday 4th June, and the first Sunday of every month.
Donations for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Donations of washing powder, laundry liquid, men’s toiletries, men’s hats and gloves needed. Please leave donations in the box at the back of church for RAIS.
Giggle (or Groan) of the week – suggestions welcome!
Q. Why are mountains so funny? A. They’re just hill areas!
APCM
Jacqueline Stamper and Peter Bohdan were elected as Churchwardens.
Pat Allen and Cathy Wilson were elected as Deanery Synod Representatives.
Julie Buckley, Louise Tuck, Paul Thompson, Celia Brigg, Joel Taylor, Susan Brooks, Cathy Wilson, Claire Mumford and Helen Simpson were elected to PCC.
PCC
…. meets next on 24th May. If there are ideas, suggestions or things you’d like to raise, please let Rev’d Carol, or Julie Buckley know. Please keep your PCC in your prayers, and share this prayer for our church:
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
Cross Bay Walk!
The walk in aid of Money For Madagascar, our Eco-Group’s nominated charity., takes place today. There’s a sponsor form at the back of church if you’d like to support the walk.
Community at Christ Church:
Christ Church Crafting
… will meet next on Tuesday 13th June at 11:30am in the Hall – all welcome! Bring your own craft project, or help with a community banner. Meeting on the second Tuesday of the month at the same time. Contact Julie Buckley for further details.
Christ Church Choir
….. sings at the 10.30 service about once a month, plus other special occasions, and practises in church on Thursdays at 7.15pm for an hour. New members always welcome; if you’re not sure, come along and give it a try for a few weeks! Have a word with Clive or contact him via cliveshaw54@gmail.com
Gardening
The church gardening group meets on the first Friday of the month from 12-2pm – do come for as much or as little as you are able to. Please bring gloves and secateurs if you can although there are some spares in the shed – everyone welcome!
From Christ Church Birds (as conveyed by Julian)
The newly formed committee of feathered friends has passed a unanimous resolution to thank our congregation for their generous response to the recent appeal for funds. Pigeon is overwhelmed and Magpie has fainted at the sight of all those shiny coins. No matter – they will soon come round again on a tasty snack of suet and sunflower seeds. Well done everyone!
Other Diary Dates…
14th May Cross Bay Walk
27th May Spring Fayre with Children’s Games and Sports
17th June 7pm Steven Moore Concert in Church
23rd July 3pm Pet Blessing Service
30th July 3pm Pimms and Hymns Service celebrating our favourite hymns
13th August Feast of the Assumption followed by Barbecue
Coronation Weekend:
Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate the Coronation last weekend – to all who helped with the Cream Teas, Choral Evensong and Barbecue, and to everyone who helped with the litter pick!
Help Needed – 27th May!
Volunteers are needed to: help set up the children’s activities; be present during the afternoon to help and chat to people; help dismantle and tidy up. If you can help with some or all the above for the Children’s Games and Sports afternoon that day, please contact Julie Tinnion on 07749 489623
Small toys/games for the children’s tombola, please!
Small new, or good condition used games and toys are needed for the ‘win every time’ tombola at the Children’s Games afternoon on 27th May. Please contact Julie Tinnion.
Resolute Level Up Friday 19th May 7-9pm
@ Hope Church, Queen Street. Young people invited to an event with: inflatable bungee run, Target Dunker, creative crafts, Just Dance & Mario Kart, hot dogs, popcorn & more.
Man Alive!
At Blackburn Cathedral on Thursday 22nd June at 7.30pm An opportunity for men from across Lancashire to come together and hear inspiring stories of faith, to celebrate and worship God, and to be encouraged in their own walk of faith. Tickets available from: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/man-alive-tickets-598422256077
Refreshments today!
All are welcome for hot and cold drinks, biscuits, etc. after the 10:30 am services.
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
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.
Key contacts:
Churchwarden: …Ms Jacqueline Stamper churchwarden@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 01524 64083
Priest with PTO and Choir Contact: …Rev’d Clive Shaw. cliveshaw54@gmail.com
Lay Reader: …Dr Pat Allen reader@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 01524 39552
Parish Safeguarding Officer: …TBC safeguarding@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 07547 717060
Children, Youth & Families Coordinator: …Mrs Julie Tinnion children@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 07749 489623
Parish Secretary: …Mrs Julie Buckley buckleys@live.co.uk 01524 37229
Hall Bookings: …hall@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 07980 351855
Christ Church School …Miss Emma Simpson 01524 60955