Note: the Newsletter can also be downloaded as a PDF.)
A warm welcome to
The Parish of Christ Church, Lancaster
for Sunday 8th December 2024 Second Sunday of Advent
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 December –Advent 2
8.30am Holy Communion
10.30am Parish Eucharist with Children’s Church
4pm Darkness to Light Service
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 December –Advent 3
8.30am Holy Communion
10.30am Parish Eucharist with Children’s Church with Toys Collection
4pm Christingle
Prayer for this week
Almighty God,
purify our hearts and minds,
that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as judge and saviour, we may be ready to receive him, who is our Lord and our God. Amen
Children’s Church
welcomes primary-aged children during the 10.30am service during term time. Parents/guardians are also welcome to join in. Please see back-page notice.
Godly Play – next – 19th January
Every 3rd Sunday of the month at 4 pm in church for KS1/2 children. (Christingle Service in December.)
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
Malachi 3.1-4
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.’’
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Canticle – The Benedictus, the Song of Zechariah.
1 Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who has come to his people and set them free.
2 He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, born of the house of his servant David.
3 Through his holy prophets God promised of old to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all that hate us,
4 To show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant.
5 This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
6 Free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.
7 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
8 To give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of all their sins.
9 In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
10 To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Philippians 1.3-11
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke 3.1-6
Glory to you, O Lord.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” ‘
This is the Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, O Christ.
Prayer after Communion:
Father in heaven, who sent your Son to redeem the world and will send him again to be our judge: give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his first coming that, when he comes again, we may be ready to greet him with joyful love and firm faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Please remember in your prayers:
Those who are sick: Youngblood McCray, Thomas Platt, Yan Connell, David Foster, Lucas Calvert, Ron Holmes, Ann Boss, Geoffrey Heywood, Sheila Parsons, Christine McCrann, Steve Wilkinson, Richard Jones, Revd Kaarina, Ruby Rodrigues, Anne Brockbank. – that God’s healing, wholeness and peace are with them.
Those who have died recently: Keith Bridson, Hannah Green, Miles Hickey, Edith Hoyle-Santom – may they rest in peace and rise in glory.
In our parish, we ask God to bless and provide for:
For those living and working on Keswick Road, Bowness Road.
For our Parish Safeguarding Officers
For the people we invite to our Christmas Tree Festival
– that God’s loving kindness is found and shared.
Tuesday Evening Prayer
On 5pm each Tuesday, 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: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81366929814?pwd=jTDuW7HO8lR7I0nQ9Jrm2BrMxjJqVS.1. (Please note the recently changed link.)
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 19th January at 4pm, as we shall have the Christingle Service on 15th December at 4 pm . 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
We must be the change we want to see in the world. Variously attributed to Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela.
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.
Advent At Christ Church
A season of watching and waiting for Christ, the Light of the World.
Sunday 12noon-4pm Christ Church Christmas Tree Festival
Sunday 8th December 4pm Darkness to Light Service, candlelit among the trees.
Tuesday 10th December 7pm Memorial Service to remember loved ones at Christmas
Sunday 15th December 10:30am Toy Service
Sunday 15th December 4pm Christingle Service for all the family
Sunday 22nd December 4pm Christmas Carol Service.
Join us for the Advent Study Group in the Hall every Sunday after the 10.30am Eucharist each Sunday in Advent, looking at John Bell’s book, The Life in the Comma
Please pick up a leaflet or borrow a book from church for some food for thought and prayer during the Advent season
Why not consider a reverse Advent Calendar? Set aside one tin/packet of food for the Olive Branch Foodbank every week or every day.
In Other News…
The Olive Branch Foodbank – Christmas Appeal
The Olive Branch have made a Christmas Appeal – for mince pies, Christmas cakes, boxes of biscuits, crisps, nuts, coffee, Christmas puddings and other seasonal foods to make up the Christmas parcels. They are also very low on regular staples, like pasta, rice, tinned meat, vegetables, etc. You can also give money for them to buy what is needed: https://www.the-olivebranch.org.uk/donate/
Eco-Group Thought/Action for the Week
Try to find environmentally friendly Christmas decorations and cards this year. Look on the EcoChurch Christmas tree for ideas. .
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 or toothpaste tubes please.
First Aid Training
There are two spaces left on a certified First Aid at Work course on the 11th January, 9.30-3.30pm in the church hall. Please speak to Rev’d Carol if interested.
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
… met on the 11th November. We discussed Safeguarding at Christ Church – both what is practically in place to keep people safe, and also the culture of our community.
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
Giggle (or Groan) of the week – suggestions welcome!
The population of Ireland’s capital city is really growing fast. It’s Dublin.
Community at Christ Church:
Christ Church Primary School at 150!
On the 25th January 2025, our school will celebrate its 150th anniversary! Originally founded by Rev’d Philip Bartlett on Moor Lane, it moved to its Derwent Road site in the early 1990s. If you have photos or other memorabilia which you’d like to share for their history project, please drop this into the school office (labelled, so they can return it to you!)
There’ll be a special service for the school on the 19th January, and then our 10.30am service on the 26th January will have an open invitation to past pupils and staff to celebrate this fantastic milestone!
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.
Christ Church Choir
….. sings at the 10.30 service about once a month, plus other special occasions, and practises in church on Thursdays, 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
Craft Group
…. meets on the second Tuesday of each month (and sometimes others) 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.
Craft Sale!
On Saturday 14th December between 9.30am and 1pm in the Hall – drop in for festive crafts and other beautiful home made items, as well as craft making equipment. If you’re a crafter who’d like a stall at the event, please contact Julie Buckley.
Book Group
The church book group next meets on the 3rd January, and then on the first Friday of each month at 4 pm in the church hall. Books are provided. Anyone who enjoys reading and discussion 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
Christmas Tree Festival
A huge thank you to everyone who has helped make our Christmas Tree Festival possible this weekend – from sponsors and decorators, musicians, organisers and co-ordinators, welcomers and washers-up! Half the funds raised will support the work of Lancaster & District Homeless Action Service.
Toy Service Appeal
During the 10.30am service on the 15th December, there will be a collection of new and good-condition used toys for the Salvation Army in Morecambe to support local families this Christmas. No soft toys please.
Christingle
As part of our Christingle service this year, we will be raising funds for the Children’s Society, a national charity working with children and young people to help them have a better future. Please collect a donation candle to fill with loose change and notes, or make a donation online.
Save the Date: Christmas Carols with Lancaster Churches Together
Please join the singers near Primark in Marketgate on Saturday 14 December from 10.30 – 12noon.. Non-singers also needed to help with the collecting buckets to raise funds for Lancaster Homeless Action (LDHAS). Also to help with carols at Lancaster Royal Infirmary (RLI) Monday 16 Dec from 7.00 – 9.00pm, Wednesday 18 Dec from 10.30 – 12 noon, and Friday 29 Dec from 10.30 = 12 noon For the RLI please email arton.medd@btinternet.com
Helen and Susan’s Sponsored Silence!
Well done to Helen and Susan for successfully completing their sponsored silence last Sunday. Nearly £500 has been raised for church funds! There is still some sponsorship. Money outstanding – please ensure you pay no later than 8th December, and mark ‘paid’ on the sponsorship list. Please mark Gift Aid envelopes as ‘sponsored silence’.
Christ Church Preserves!
There’s a wide range of delicious jams and chutneys available for sale at the back of church, some recipes including churchyard apples! Please do support the church by buying a jar or two!
Allergies at Christ Church
If you help with refreshments and serving food at Christ Church, please consider doing the Food Safety and Allergy training available here: https://allergytraining.food.gov.uk/ . It’s free, and simply requires you to register through the website. Thank you!
INEQE Audit of Safeguarding in the Diocese of Blackburn
As some of you may be aware, the Church of England are working with a safeguarding organisation called INEQE to roll out a series of audits of safeguarding in each diocese. These have been scheduled to give an independent assessment of the progress of dioceses on implementing much needed changes after the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and Past Case Reviews (PCR2).
The audit is due to take place in February 2025 and will entail a full scrutiny of work including Bishop’s House, the Diocesan Board of Finance and Education and parish work. We are all asked to complete a survey produced by INEQE to help gather a picture of what we are doing well and where we might need to develop practice. (Deadline 10thDecember) https://ineqe.com/churchofengland/blackburn/
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.
EasyFundraising
Did you know you can support Christ Church when you shop online? Register using https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/, and the brand’s commission will be donated to the church.
Key contacts:
Vicar: … Rev’d Carol Backhouse revcarolbackhouse@gmail.com 01524 942105
Curate: … Rev’d Kaarina Leong curate@christchurchlancaster.org.uk 07749 489623
Children’s Ministry Leader… Innes Heron-Stamp 07853791776 children@christchurchlancaster.org.uk
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