OUR CHURCH, OUR CHALLENGE, OUR CHOICEOur Church is something that sits close to each of our hearts, and none of us would like to see our church disappear. And yet, it can only exist with the generosity of those who worship and work for the glory of God here in Accrington. Your generosity contributes to maintaining our two beautiful church buildings at St Andrew’s and St Mary Magdalen’s; it also resources our ministry and mission, enabling us to reach out through Fresh Expressions like Friday Praise, Choir Church and Youth Church, not to mention our community engagement through supporting families through our Food Bank and other social outreach. In addition, it sustains clergy presence in our parish, and enables us to fulfil our shared vision.Our Challenge, however is presented through the increased running costs we find ourselves with, together with the difficulties that living through the global cost of living crisis presents to each and every one of us. A simple analysis of the figures calculates that if we were to be able to do all that we hope to do to fulfil our Vision, then we would need to raise a combined total of £1220 per week.This consists of £533 for St Andrew’s and £687 for St Mary Magdalen’s and includes our commitment to Parish Share, Insurance and Utility Costs, none of which are able to be reduced significantly. In order to get ourselves to this figure, we are facing the challenge to increase our income by around £500 per week.Our Choice then is one of how we seek to respond to this, and our Stewardship Campaign invites us to spend time prayerfully reviewing our giving, and as we are able, considering increasing our regular gifts, so that together we might begin to address our shared financial challenge. We might also consider joining the Parish Giving Scheme, or setting up a Standing Order if we have not already done so. This enables the Church to plan budgets more confidently, as it provides a regular income.We might also consider the choice of leaving a gift to the Parish in our will, providing a legacy for future generations to enjoy the generous gifts of the loving God that we serve. In all of this, we might choose to give a percentage of income rather than a fixed amount, and, if we are tax-payers, it makes sense to use Gift Aid, which enables us to reclaim tax that has already been paid, at no further cost to ourselves.
This Sunday: Ss Peter and Paul 10.00 am: Joint Parish Mass at St Andrew’s Worship this week: Mon: 1.15 pm Class Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s Tue: 10.45am Somme Service, Accrington Pals’ Memorial, Church Street 6.00 pm Mass at St Andrew’s Wed: 10.00 am Mass at St Andrew’s 3.30 pm Youth Church at St Christopher’s School Fri: 3.15 pm Friday Praise at St Nicholas’s School Next Sunday: 6 July – 14th in Ordinary Time 8.00 am: Said Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s 9.30 am: Family Eucharist at St Andrew’s 11.00 am: Solemn Mass and Procession at St Mary Magdalen’s Morning and Evening Prayer are usually said at 8.00 am at St Mary Magdalen’s and 5.00 pm at St Andrew’s Monday to Friday Thursday and Friday Mass: There will be no mass this coming Thursday or Friday, 3 & 4 July, as Fr David is unavailable. Apologies for any inconvenience.
This Sunday: Corpus Christi 8.00 am: Said Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s 9.30 am: Family Eucharist at St Andrew’s 11.00 am: Solemn Mass and Procession at St Mary Magdalen’s Worship this week: Tue: 6.00 pm Mass at St Andrew’s Wed: 10.00 am Mass at St Andrew’s Thur: 9.00 am St Peter’s Day Mass at St Peter’s School 6.00 pm Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s Next Sunday: 29 June: Ss Peter and Paul 10.00 am: Joint Parish Mass at St Andrew’s Morning and Evening Prayer are usually said at 8.00 am at St Mary Magdalen’s and 5.00 pm at St Andrew’s Monday to Friday Choir Church: We welcome members of our Choir Church to help lead our worship at St Mary Magdalen’s this morning. Friday Mass: There will be no mass this coming Friday, 27 June, as Fr David is unavailable. Apologies for any inconvenience.
This Sunday: The Most Holy Trinity 8.00 am: Said Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s 9.30 am: Family Eucharist at St Andrew’s 11.00 am: Solemn Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s Worship this week: Mon: 1.15 pm Class Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s Tue: 6.00 pm Mass at St Andrew’s Wed: 10.00 am Mass at St Andrew’s 3.30 pm Youth Church at St Christopher’s School Fri: 10.00 am Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s 3.15 pm Friday Praise at St Nicholas’s School Next Sunday: 22 June: Corpus Christi 8.00 am: Said Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s 9.30 am: Family Eucharist at St Andrew’s 11.00 am: Solemn Mass and Procession at St Mary Magdalen’s Morning and Evening Prayer are usually said at 8.00 am at St Mary Magdalen’s and 5.00 pm at St Andrew’s Monday to Friday
