St Nicholas Parish Church Fleetwood. Week beginning 31st December 2023

We seek to be a church that lives by faith, is known by love and

is a voice of hope to the community we serve.

Website https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/11671

8.30 am Holy Communion in Church

9.30 am Worship on Zoom

10.45 am Holy Communion in Church

Tuesday 2nd January

2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church

Thursday 4th January

10.00 am Coffee Morning in the Jubilee Room

11.00 am Funeral of Geoff Stevens at St Peter’s Fleetwood

Friday 5th January

10.00 am Funeral of Beryl Lister in Church

Sunday 7th January

8.30 am Holy Communion in Church

9.30 am Worship on Zoom

10.45 am Holy Communion in Church

4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms

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In last week’s news sheet, we recalled some of the sadness’s of 2023 on the world stage, comparing it to the                  1st-Century world into which Jesus was born. On this final day of 2023 we move much closer to home to celebrate some of this year’s highlights in the life of St Nic’s. The new year started with news that funding had been secured to run the Boathouse Project for five years and that building could  commence. We know that the new centre will be opening in the Spring of 2024, providing endless activities and well-being for 5-16 yr. olds in Fleetwood. 

Family & Co our 4.00 pm service on a Sunday has been operating for just over 12 months and is going from strength to strength, with one of the congregation, Corey being baptised just recently. 

In September, after a day of filming, St Nic’s starred in the new TV advert for McVitie’s biscuits. Fleetwood folk were thrilled to see us on the telly and it caused lots of conversation in the town and on social media.

And more recently, the other big news was that St Nicholas Parish Church was listed with Historic England as a place of architectural interest. Again, we featured on local and national television, radio and in the press.

These highpoints are only a snapshot of what we’ve achieved together in 2023. They don’t include the hundreds of people and families of who have been ministered to through baptisms and funerals and through our weekly run of services and community activities. They don’t include the countless ‘get togethers’ where we’ve enjoyed quality food and fellowship together.  We have so much to be grateful for, not least for the commitment of so many at St Nic’s who give of their gifts, time and energy so freely to ensure the future of our Christian presence here in Fleetwood.

As we say goodbye to this year and welcome the new one, let's do it with thankful hearts.

Lord, we look toward you, our hope, our peace, and our comfort in this New Year. As we enter into the unknown of the coming year, we ask for your guidance and wisdom. Illuminate our path with your light so that we may walk in your ways and make choices that align with your will. Help us to seek first your kingdom and trust that all other things will be added unto us. Amen

100 Club: Thank you to everyone who supports the church through the 100 Club. In 2023 you raised £2681 for church funds with the same amount being paid out in prizes. If you would like to sign up for 2024 we do have some numbers available. Please see Ruth. December winners included Sue Dell, Nancy Burr, Raymond Hollebone, Lawrence Dunn, Derek Warrington, Muriel Freestone, Laura Martin, Dorothy Jones, Berny McCarthy, Penny Meekins, Bernice Meekins, Alma Wright, Dorothy Warren, John Richardson, Margery Bond and Julie Lyon. The special Christmas winners were Alison Horobin, Dorothy Cox, Cath Shuttleworth and Dorothy Calderbanks.

Please remember in your prayers: Louise Clark, Rev Martin Keighley, Mark Price, Rebekah, Jan Risely, Craig Abson, Rev Jane Everett, and Jeanette Norman. Please also remember the families of Beryl Lister, Geoffrey Stevens, Anne Hood, Tony Sparks, Michael Greaves and Jim Scott whose funerals are due to take place.