(Note: the Newsletter can also be downloaded as a PDF.)
A warm welcome to
The Parish of Christ Church, Lancaster
for Sunday 26th November 2023 Feast of Christ the King
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 – 26th November
8:30am Holy Communion
10:30am Christ the King Festal Eucharist with Confirmations
6pm Evening Prayer
Tuesday
4pm Prayer4 (via Zoom)
Wednesday
5.30pm Meditation followed by
6pm Evening Prayer (Storey Chapel)
Friday
**NO** Friday Holy Communion
Sunday 3rd December – Advent Sunday
8:30am Holy Communion
10:30am Parish Eucharist
4pm Candlelit Advent Service
Children and Youth
Children’s Church
Every Sunday of term time during the 10.30 service for KS1/2 children
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
God the Father, help us to hear the call of Christ the King and to follow in his service, whose kingdom has no end;for he reigns with you and the Holy Spiritone God, one glory. Amen,
Scripture Readings for our Worship
Ezekiel 34.11-16,20-24
For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land.
I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.
Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.
I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Ephesians 1.15-23
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew 25.31-46
Glory to you, O Lord
Jesus said, ’When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”
Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ
Prayer after Communion:
Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by you be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Please remember in your prayers:
Those who are sick: Youngblood McCray, Ernie Wilson, Stephen Gardner, Thomas Platt, Yan Connell, David Foster, Susanna Michaelis, Juliann Dougherty, Lucas Calvert, Ron Holmes.
Those who have died recently: Ivy Crawford, Doreen Naish, Fred Jones.
Parish Cycle of Prayer:
For those who live and work on Mill Street, Borrowdale Road.
For local care homes including Moorside Hall and Dolphinlee House.
For the our Confirmation candidates, and for Mingle on Mondays.
Zoom Prayer:
Tuesday 28th November 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 Sunday, 7th January- 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.
Confirmation Service
This Sunday we welcome St Christopher’s Church, Bare, to share our Confirmation service. There will be refreshments after the service to celebrate with the ten candidates.
Services in Advent
Advent begins on the 3rd December, and throughout this month there will be no 6pm service. Instead, you’re warmly invited to come along at 4pm to the following special services: 3rd December, Advent Service; 10th December, Christingle; 17th December, Carol Service; and 24th December, Crib Service.
Thought for the Week
Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties. C S Lewis (d. 22nd November, 1963)
Advent Course, starting 28th November
All are welcome to join our Advent Study Course, Preparing the Way, each Tuesday from 28th November during Advent (except for 12th December, when we meet on Monday 11th). Do come along to the Storey Chapel at 7:30 pm for about an hour. The sessions are related but also work on their own, so you don’t have to commit to every session.
The Real Advent Calendar
The only Advent calendar to contain delicious Fairtrade chocolate and a beautifully illustrated booklet of the Christmas story! Please order on the form at the back of church. £5 each – please place cash in a yellow envelope and mark it ‘Advent Calendar’.
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.
In Other News…
Mingle on Mondays this autumn/winter
This space for warmth, welcome, food and fellowship started up again last Monday, It’s open from 11:30 am – 2 pm each Monday (apart from Christmas and New Year’s Day). If you’re able to help set up and host, even occasionally, or if you can make soup or cake, or shop for bread and other supplies and bring them along on a Sunday, please sign up on the rota at the back of church. Please claim expenses – no-one should be out of pocket. Please pray for all who will come and all who will host. Most important – please encourage people to come along! Thank you. Mingle on Mondays this autumn/winter
This space for warmth, welcome, food and fellowship started up again last Monday, It’s open from 11:30 am – 2 pm each Monday (apart from Christmas and New Year’s Day). If you’re able to help set up and host, even occasionally, or if you can make soup or cake, or shop for bread and other supplies and bring them along on a Sunday, please sign up on the rota at the back of church. Please claim expenses – no-one should be out of pocket. Please pray for all who will come and all who will host. Most important – please encourage people to come along! Thank you.
The Olive Branch Foodbank
… is making it’s Christmas Appeal for the following items – biscuit boxes, mince pies, yule logs, Christmas puddings and cakes, crisps, chocolates and coffee. 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
This year’s climate conference runs from 30th November to 12th December. Without the Global Stocktake (GST) which is due to conclude then, it is clear that we are not going to meet the Paris agreement’s targets. Pray that the message that is so apparent to those whose lives are already affected by extreme climate events, is heeded by the decision makers.
Emergency Short Term Refugee Accommodation
RAIS Lancaster is asking people in local churches to help find short-term accommodation to preventing new refugees suddenly becoming street homeless. (Help with additional costs is available). Please see the attached leaflet with further information, or ask Pat if you have any questions.
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
The next collection of crisp packets, used toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, plastic bottle tops, and blister packets of tablets, will be on 3rd December, and the first Sunday of each month.
Giggle (or Groan) of the week – suggestions welcome!
I once made a lot of money cleaning up leaves. I was raking it in.
PCC
…. met on the 13th November. We discussed repairs to the North Porch, and the church finances. Please let Rev’d Carol or Julie Buckley have your ideas and suggestions for discussion. 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
Community at Christ Church:
Our annual Christingle Service will be on Sunday 10th December at 4pm – everyone welcome! As part of the service, a collection is taken for the work of the Children’s Society. Please pick up a collection candle-box from the back of church, or make a online donation here: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/how-you-can-help/donate
Advent Preparation
As part of the season of watching and waiting for Christ’s coming, it’s traditional to set aside time for prayer and study. You may wish to join the Study Group (see notice) and/or help yourself to some of the booklets available at the back of church. These are also available online at https://www.blackburn.anglican.org/seasonal-resources
If you borrow a book, please sign it out, so Rev’d Carol knows where they are!
Save the date!
Our Christmas Tree Festival will be on the 1st-3rd December. If you can spare an hour to help set up the Festival, to welcome guests or to help with refreshments, please sign up on the list at the back of church. We also need donations of homemade cakes! Please take an invite from the table near the church door – and share with friends & neighbours.
Serving Team
We’re looking for new members for our serving team for the 10.30am Eucharist, who help carry the cross, lights and Bible, as well as helping the service go smoothly. This can be on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis. Suitable for ages 9+, training will be given.
Craft Group
Members of the craft group are currently repairing the gold-work embroidery on the red altar frontal. This has proved to be a mammoth task as some of the original work is Victorian – so thank you for all your hard work so far! We’ve been assisted by Sara Dennis from the Repair Shop – but in the mean time, the high altar will look a little plainer than usual!
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
Toy Service
A Christ Church tradition – every year, we collect new and good-condition second-hand toys (no gift-wrapping, and no soft toys please) to share with local families. This year these will be distributed by the Salvation Army. Please bring the toys along for the 10.30am All Together Service on Sunday 17th December.
Moorside Carols
Our local nursing home, Moorside Hall (on Wyresdale Road opposite the car park) have invited us to share some Christmas carols with their residents on Friday 15th December at 3.30pm. Please let Rev’d Carol know if you can come. Don’t worry if you’re not a soloist – enthusiasm is key! We’ll be singing indoors in a warm room so please bring layers.
Podcasts for Children – Follow the Son
From the Diocese of Blackburn: Starting new habits can be hard sometimes, especially when you’re an adult. Spending time with God can feel like a chore, even though we know it isn’t. Children pick up things very easily, that’s why we’ve created this podcast – to help children get into the practice of starting and ending their day with God. Available here: https://www.bdeducation.org.uk/podcasts/follow-the-son/
New door!
We have a new cellar door – as the old one was badly rotted and dangerous. Thank you to the donor who made this possible, and to Susan Brooks for painting it!
Special Appeal – Doorways and Windows
You may be aware that the stonework around the porch is deteriorating, and has been shedding pieces of masonry. We urgently need to re-mortar the porch to make it safe and weathertight for decades to come. There are also several of our unique and historic windows which currently do not have protection from stones, pellets, weather, etc – and need a polycarbonate shield fixing. This combined work will cost around £8000. Whilst we can apply for a grant towards some of the work – please will you help by making a donation to the Church Repair Fund? Thank you!
Other Diary Dates…
1st-3rd December Christmas Tree Festival
3rd December 4pm Advent Service
10th December 4pm Christingle Service
18th December 4pm Christmas Carol Service
24th December 4pm Crib Service
24th December 11:30pm Midnight Mass
Refreshments today!
All are welcome for refreshments after the service as we celebrate with our confirmation candidates.
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.
Please note that there will be no 6pm service between the 26th November and the 7th January.
Sunday 3rd December
8.30 and 10.30am Eucharists
4pm Candlelit Advent Service
Sunday 10th December
8.30 and 10.30 Eucharists
4pm Christingle Service* with collection for the Children’s Society
Sunday 17th December
8.30am Eucharist
10.30am All Together Service* with toy collection for local families.
4pm Carol Festival with the choir
Christmas Eve
No 8.30am Eucharist
10.30am Advent Eucharist
4pm Crib Service*
11.30pm Midnight Mass
Christmas Day
8.30am Holy Communion
10.30am Parish Eucharist with carols
Sunday 31st December
No 8.30 Eucharist
10.30am Parish Eucharist with carols
Sunday 7th January
8.30 and 10.30 Eucharists
6pm Taizé Eucharist
*Services for all ages and designed with children, young people and families in mind.
Key contacts:
Churchwardens: … Mr Peter Bohdan 07974924968; 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