Note: the Newsletter can also be downloaded as a PDF.)
A warm welcome to
The Parish of Christ Church, Lancaster
for Sunday 8th September 2024 Fifteenth Sunday of Trinity
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 – 8th September Trinity 15
8.30am Holy Communion
10.30am Parish Eucharist
6pm Evening Prayer
Tuesday
5pm Evening Prayer via Zoom (see notice)
Wednesday
5:30pm Meditation and 6pm Evening Prayer (Storey Chapel)
Friday
9.30am Holy Communion (Lady Chapel)
Next Sunday: 15th September Trinity 16
8.30am Holy Communion
10.30am Parish Eucharist
4pm Godly Play
6pm Evening Prayer
Prayer for this week
Prayer for this week
God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit upon your Church in the burning fire of your love: grant that your people may be fervent in the fellowship of the gospel that, always abiding in you, they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service; 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
Children’s Church
resumes on Sunday 8th September during the 10.30am service. For primary-aged children. Please see notice.
Contact: Rev’d Carol for more information.
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.
Scripture Readings for our Worship
Isaiah 35.4-7a
Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 146
Refrain: The Lord shall reign for ever.
1 Alleluia.Praise the Lord, O my soul:
while I live will I praise the Lord; as long as I have any being, I will sing praises to my God.
2 Put not your trust in princes, nor in any human power, for there is no help in them.
3 When their breath goes forth, they return to the earth;
on that day all their thoughts perish.
Refrain: The Lord shall reign for ever.
4 Happy are those who have the God of Jacob for their help,
whose hope is in the Lord their God;
5 Who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; who keeps his promise for ever;
6 Who gives justice to those that suffer wrong and bread to those who hunger.
Refrain: The Lord shall reign for ever.
7 The Lord looses those that are bound; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
8 The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous;
9 The Lord watches over the stranger in the land; he upholds the orphan and widow; but the way of the wicked he turns upside down.
10 The Lord shall reign for ever,
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Alleluia.
Refrain: The Lord shall reign for ever.
James 2.1-10 [11-13] 14-17
My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favouritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Have a seat here, please’, while to the one who is poor you say, ‘Stand there’, or, ‘Sit at my feet’, have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
You do well if you really fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.[ For the one who said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’, also said, ‘You shall not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgement will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement.]
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark 7.24-37
Glory to you, O Lord.
From there Jesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, ‘Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ But she answered him, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he said to her, ‘For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.’ So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, O Christ.
Prayer after Communion:
Keep, O Lord, your Church, with your perpetual mercy; and, because without you our human frailty cannot but fall, keep us ever by your help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Please remember in your prayers:
Those who are sick: Youngblood McCray, Thomas Platt, Yan Connell, David Foster, Susanna Michaelis, Lucas Calvert, Ron Holmes, Ann Boss, Geoffrey Heywood, Sheila Parsons, Christine McCrann, Diana Wickens, Steve Wilkinson, Richard Jones – that God’s healing, wholeness and peace are with them.
Those preparing for Baptism:
Macey Moffatt – may they grow in faith and shine as lights in the world.
Those preparing for marriage:
John Lyth and Barbara Perrott; Georgia Walker and Matthew Atkinson – that God will bless them in their new life together.
Those who have died recently: Jeanette Woodhead, Susan Allen, Diana Doren-Dean – may they rest in peace and rise in glory.
In our parish, we ask God to bless and provide for:
Those who live and work on Cassidy Drive, Far Moor Lane.
For the volunteers and staff who care for Scotch Quarry and Williamson Park.
For our September mission weekend and the people we invite to share our church community. .
– that God’s loving kindness is found and shared.
Tuesday Evening Prayer
On 5pm each Tuesday (from the 27th August), Rev’d Carol and Rev’d Kaarina 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: Meeting ID: 806 945 9310 Passcode 942105 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8069459310?pwd=cVJ1ZDlnNXF2dDVFWThVa0Z0VWE5dz09
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 6th October – 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.
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 Rev’d Carol. An Enhanced DBS check will be arranged.
Godly Play! 4pm on the third Sunday of each month
Godly Play shares Scripture stories with children, and helping them wonder about faith, using a Montessori approach, with crafts and a snack to share too. It’s free, and especially suitable for primary age children (accompanied by an adult please). The next gathering is on Sunday 15th September at 4pm.Everyone welcome!
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.
Thought for the Week
Cowardice asks the question, ‘Is it safe?’ Expediency asks the question, ‘Is it politic?’ Vanity asks the question, ‘Is it popular?’ But, conscience asks the question, ‘Is it right?’ And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one’s conscience tells one that it is right. Rev’d DrMartin Luther King Jr.
Confirmations
Would you like to take a next step in faith? Would you like to start receiving communion? On the 24th November, Bishop Jill will be with us for a Confirmation Service at 10.30am. If you’d like to be Confirmed (and/or Baptised) as part of this special occasion, or are curious, please have a chat with Rev’d Carol. There will be 6 preparation classes beforehand. Suitable for adults of any age, and for children in Year 6 and above.
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.
In Other News…
We’re recruiting!
Do you have experience of working with children and families? Are you joyful and confident in your own Christian faith, and would like to share this with others? If so. We’d like to hear from you. Please contact Rev’d Carol for an informal chat, and apply here: https://pathways.churchofengland.org/en/jobs/children-s-ministry-leader/1409
The Olive Branch Foodbank
The foodbank continues to be in great need of tins of curry, chilli con carne, pies, meatballs, hotdogs, stewed steak, tuna, salmon, pork, corned beef, ham, fruit, rice pudding, custard, tomatoes, sweetcorn, carrots, peas, kidney beans, chickpeas; biscuits, crisps, multipacks of cake, cereal, jam, pasta sauce; packs of hot chocolate, coffee, tea, sugar, cordial, longlife juice, and many types of toiletries (shampoo, shower gel, toilet rolls, etc.) 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
Celebrate the Harvest season with local food producers, crafts people, artists and musicians at the Harvest edition of Lancaster’s Seasonal Markets next Saturday.
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.
Recycling at Christ Church – from the Eco-Group
On the first Sunday of the month, we collect plastic toothbrushes and electric brush heads, covers and flosser nozzles,also flossing sticks, interdental brushes and dental tape containers. We can still take medical blister packs, but owing to the large quantities, please take your own to Superdrug if you can. No bottle tops please.
Fairtrade Church
We are now a Fairtrade Church. as a sign of our care for creation, and our support for better working practices for farmers. If you buy items for church events, please check for the Fairtrade logo first.
PCC
… meets next on 9th September. If there are aspects of church life, worship, and work in our parish which you’d like discussed, please speak to Rev’d Carol or Julie Buckley, or one of your PCC reps. If there are items of business which you’d like discussed, please speak to Rev’d Carol or Julie Buckley.
We ask you to pray this prayer ‘this time tomorrow’ after a Sunday service – wherever you are. (Why not put a reminder in your phone?)
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
Community at Christ Church:
Confirmations
Would you like to take a next step in faith? Would you like to start receiving communion? On the 24th November, Bishop Jill will be with us for a Confirmation Service at 10.30am. If you’d like to be Confirmed (and/or Baptised) as part of this special occasion, or are curious, please have a chat with Rev’d Carol. There will be 6 preparation classes beforehand. Suitable for adults of any age, and for children in Year 6 and above.
Heritage Open Weekends
If you can spare an hour to welcome visitors to church on the 14th September at 11am and 2pm, as part of the Heritage Open Weekends, please sign up on the sheet at the back of church – more details from Rev’d Carol.
Ripley Supplementary Forms
If your child is applying for Ripley St Thomas School this year, please ask Rev’d Carol to complete the Supplementary Form with you during Office Hour (9.15am-10am on Sunday mornings). The deadline for forms is the 31st October.
Chimney Appeal.
In May, a large chunk of plaster fell into the Sanctuary, from a height of at least 40ft. We’re awaiting a steeplejack to inspect the roof and chimney, and remove vegetation. If you are able to make a donation towards the £3000 cost of this work, please mark the envelope ‘Church Repair Fund’. Thank you very much.
Giggle (or Groan) of the week – suggestions welcome!
A certain bishop had a fondness for using biblical quotations whenever he attended a function. When he was asked to open a new maternity unit, the organisers thought they had him stumped. After a few well-chosen words, the bishop looked around and added, “I know you are waiting for a quotation, and here it is: ‘We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed’.”
Harvest Home 26th-29th September 2024
A weekend of special events at Christ Church to welcome people to our church family, and to share the love of God as we give thanks for the Harvest. Please take a card to help you pray for the church and our guests in the coming weeks:
Dear God, give me courage to invite my friends, family, neighbours, and colleagues to our Harvest events. Give them an open heart to this invitation, and may they grow closer to your love. May our church be a welcoming community where we see Christ at work in each person. Help me to share what church means to me, and speak of the hope I find in Christ. Amen.
Thursday 26th September 6.30pm Harvest Supper and Quiz Night at the Gregson Centre, Moor Lane. (£3 per person for supper)
Friday 27th September Look out for the Christ Church team’s special events at the livestock market, LRGS, HMP Lancaster Farms, and Christ Church Primary School
Saturday 28th September 2-4pm Apple Festival at Christ Church
Apple juicing, Music, Storytelling, Games, Stalls, Refreshments, Competitions for home-baking. Free entry.
Sunday 29th September Harvest Festival
8.30am Holy Communion
10.30am All Together to Share the Harvest
With a collection of tins and long-life food for Lancaster Homeless Action
6pm Harvest Thanksgiving Service
I’m going – it’s going to be great! Would you like to come with me? Shall I pick you up?
Harvest Home 26th – 29th September – help needed
We would be very grateful for volunteers to help at the various events over the weekend (details below) – please sign up at the back of church if you’re able to spare some time to help welcome people.
Help Needed!
If you can help for an hour (or more) on the 28th September to set up, run, and/or clear away with the Apple Festival, please sign up at the back of church. Donations of food, and tombola prizes also needed.
Apples
Our orchard is full of ripe apples – if you can help collect these, wrap them in newspaper and store them ready for the Apple Festival, all help is gratefully appreciated!
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 Pat hall@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 07980 351855 for more info.
Book Group
The church book group meets on the first Friday of each month at 4 pm in the church hall. Books are provided by Lancashire Libraries, in addition to those shared by members. The date of the next meeting is 4th October. Anyone who enjoys reading and discussion books 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 on the second (and sometimes other) Tuesday(s) of each month at 11.30am in the Hall. Everyone welcome – bring your own project, or share in one of the others on the go! No prior experience needed. The group next meets on 10th September.
Gardening
If you can spare some time to help weed and tidy the church garden, our gardening group meets next on Friday 4thOctober between 12 and 2pm (and the first Friday of every month). Please bring gloves and secateurs if you have them – and contact Liz Mills if you’d like more 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 7-8:15 pm. 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
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
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:
Vicar: … Rev’d Carol Backhouse revcarolbackhouse@gmail.com 01524 942105
Curate: … Rev’d Kaarina Leong curate@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 07749 489623
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: … Mrs Emma Muckalt & Ms Debbie Steele safeguarding@christchurchlancaster.org 07547 717060
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
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