St Nicholas Parish Church, Fleetwood Week beginning 5th September 2021 Sunday 5th September 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship via Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons – Jillian & Dorothy: Reader - Margaret 12.30 pm Baptism of Nova Clark 1.30 pm Baptism of Jayden Reynolds 6.30 pm Induction of Fleetwood Methodist Minister (Pilling Methodist Church) Tuesday 7th September 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church – Fr Alan Leeson Sunday 12th September* 8.30 am Cancelled 9.30 am Cancelled 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church – Rev Canon Dick Cartmell *Please bring with you a cosy blanket or a shawl which you will need during the service* Sidespersons – Elizabeth & Margaret: Reader - Joy Remaining restrictions – Following a meeting of the congregation on 18th July we agreed to review our Covid restrictions at the beginning of September. The PCC met on Wednesday night and after much discussion we have agreed to remove some of the remaining restrictions still in place. From Sunday 12th September we will no longer be required to complete the track and trace paperwork. Hand sanitising on entry will continue, but the wearing of face coverings is now optional. All pews will be open but if you would prefer to keep some distance between you and the next person, please just leave a book or something next to you. At Holy Communion the Priest will intinct (dip) the bread into the wine and place it in your hand. If you would prefer to continue to receive in ‘one kind’ then just motion to the Priest before you receive. Whilst we acknowledge that the virus is still prevalent in our communities, we do want to try to live alongside it safely and are moving, with most other public places, to a position of personal responsibly. Please continue to be cautious and speak to the Vicar if you have any concerns. Church Sitting- Are you able to offer 90 minutes once a week/fortnight to enable us to keep the church open each weekday for private prayer? Please don’t assume that someone else will do it. If we are to play an active part in the community then the church needs to be open and available. Please see Karen Hay if you are willing to commit to this ministry. St Nic’s Little Gang - We are thrilled to announce that with effect from Friday 17th September we will be offering a community toddler group from 9am – 10.30 pm in the Broadway Room. There will be toys and healthy snacks, a bible reading and some songs. Please do pray that this initiative will be well supported going forward and that we will begin to forge new relationships with the youngsters and their families who come along. 100 Club Winners last week were Elizabeth King (No 28), Christine McLellan (No 38) and Paul Meekins (No 23) Summer Quiz Entries for this should be placed in the box at the back of church by next Sunday. Please add to your prayers; - Nigel, Helen, Jane, Margaret, Elliott, Janet, Nick, Heather and Maureen, whose needs at this time are known to God. Finally, please remember to bring your own cosy blanket or shawl to next week’s 10.45 am service!
St Nicholas Parish Church, Fleetwood Week beginning 29th August 2021 Sunday 29th August 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship via Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons – Carole & Sandra: Reader - Karen 12.30 pm Baptism of Arlo Pirie 3.00 pm Memorial Service for Eileen Wright Tuesday 31st August 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church Wednesday 1st September 7.00 pm Meeting of the PCC in the Jubilee Room Sunday 5thSeptember 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship via Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons – 12.30 pm Baptism of Nova Clark 1.30 pm Baptism of Jayden Reynolds 6.30 pm Induction of Fleetwood Methodist Minister (Pilling Methodist Church) Afghanistan. Tragic. Dangerous. Unnecessary. Tony Blair recently used these words to describe the Afghanistan crisis. Despite the ex-PM’s reassurances that the UK’s sacrifices were not in vain, Blair conceded that gains of the past two decades are likely to be lost. Twenty years of intervention in Afghanistan has amounted to nothing. Or so we fear. We might question whether our efforts and prayers to make the world a better place will ever make a difference. The words of a biblical author ring in our ears: ‘all the things that are done under the sun … are meaningless, a chasing after the wind’ (Ecclesiastes 1:14). The situation in Afghanistan stirs questions we often do our best to avoid. What if our work is all for nothing? What if the sacrifice was in vain? What if it’s all meaningless anyway? But look carefully, and you may catch a glimpse of a different story. A pregnant Afghan refugee boarded her evacuation plane and went into labour during the escape from her homeland. Moments after landing at a German air base, a baby girl was delivered in the aircraft’s cargo bay. A birth to a refugee, in an unexpected setting, is a Good News story worth noticing! There’s a force at work in the world more powerful and more beautiful than we’re often shown. The gospel of Jesus tells us as much. And wherever gospel-affected people apply themselves, their efforts tell the same story – be it in Afghanistan or aisles in Aldi, with refugees or mums-to-be, in boardrooms or playrooms. Sin and chaos are pushed back. The power and the beauty of the gospel break in. This is not triumphalism that turns a blind eye to tragedy. We and all Christians rightly mourn and pray for Afghanistan. But underlying these prayers is a conviction that in God’s story, tragedy gives way to joy. Danger will be overcome by peace. Through the cross, we have hope that what seems like unnecessary suffering will one day be revealed as sacrifice not in vain. It is not all for nothing!Pray for AfghanistanO God of mercy and of peace, We hold before you the peoples of Afghanistan. Be living bread to those who are hungry each day Be healing and wholeness to those who have no access to health care amidst the ravages of pandemic Be their true home to all who have been displaced Be open arms of loving acceptance to those who fear because of their gender, ethnicity, religious or political views Be peace to those engaged in armed conflict and those who live within its shadow. Turn our hearts and minds to your ways of just and gentle peace, Open our eyes to see you in all acts of compassionate care Strengthen our hearts to step out in solidarity with your suffering people and Hold us all in your unfailing love. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself of all but love in order to bring life in all its fullness.AmenPlease add to your prayers;- Nigel, Helen, Jane, Margaret, Elliott, Janet, Alison, Nick, Elizabeth, Heather and Maureen, whose needs at this time are known to God.
St Nicholas Parish Church, Fleetwood Week beginning 22nd August 2021 Please continue to take great care in church. Face coverings are still required. Sunday 22nd August 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship via Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons – Karen & June: Reader - Elizabeth 12.30 pm Baptism of Evelyn Sperrin Tuesday 24th August 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church Thursday 26th August 1.30 pm Funeral of Brian Beavers in Church Friday 27th August 2.45 pm Funeral of Rita Rodkill at Carleton Sunday 29th August 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship via Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons – Carole & Sandra: Reader - Karen 12.30 pm Baptism of Arlo Pirie John Chapter 6 – This week brings us to the end of a five week focus on chapter 6 in John’s gospel. Last week I summarised the first three weeks. Here now is a short summary of this and last week. Week 4 – “I am the bread of life that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” We said that eternal life, rather than a place where we go to when we die, is as much about experiencing the presence of God in this life now; an experience which continues into eternity. When we experience perfect love or perfect peace or joy in this life, these are tiny experiences of the presence of God, glimpses of what is still to come, for all eternity. Jesus says this gift of eternal life is given to those who “eat this bread and drink this cup.” Week 5 – In the final part of chapter 6 we have the disciples’ response to this teaching and we’re told that many found it too hard and turned back and no longer followed Jesus. In response to the question, “Will you go too?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” We experience something of eternal life when we meet with Jesus in word and sacrament. We are nourished and strengthen and empowered to go on, receiving glimpses of life lived in the eternal presence of God. I do hope and pray that you have taken something new and helpful from this chapter of John’s gospel. It is always a privilege for me to share Holy Communion with you at home. Please do not hesitate to be in touch with me to arrange a visit. God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in my eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my heart, and in my thinking; God be at my end, and at my departing.... 100 Club Winners last week were: Dorothy Warren (No 15 - £15), Christopher Ashworth (No 77 - £10) and Jillian Muir (No 94 - £5) Please add to your prayers;- Elsie and Gerald, Nigel, Jane, Margaret, Elliott, Janet, Alison, Nick, Elizabeth, June and Maureen, whose needs at this time are known to God. And also, for the families of Brian Beavers and Rita Todkill who funerals are due to take place this coming week.
St Nicholas Parish Church, Fleetwood Week beginning 15th August 2021 Please continue to take great care in church. Face coverings are still required. Sunday 15th August 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship via Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons – Susan & Christine: Reader - Sandra 12.30 pm Baptism of Ralphi Danson Tuesday 17th August 10.30 am Funeral of Mavis Squires at Carleton 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church Sunday 22nd August 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship via Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church Sidespersons – 12.30 pm Baptism of Evelyn Sperrin John Chapter 6 – This is Year B of the Sunday Lectionary, the year that emphasizes the Gospel of Mark; but for a series of five weeks, of which this is week 4 the Sunday Gospels have been taken from the Gospel of John — all excerpts from chapter six, the “Bread of Life discourse.” The author of the fourth Gospel approaches the Eucharist from a unique vantage point. There is no “institution narrative” at the Last Supper in which Jesus blesses bread and wine as in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Instead, there is foot washing. From John’s perspective the real presence of Christ is also found in service, and the Eucharist leads to service. The Eucharist is such a pillar of the Christian faith that John’s Gospel dedicates an entire chapter to it. Over the years I have read and preached from this chapter numerous times, but more than ever this time round I feel God is saying “The time is now!” It may be connected to the restrictions we have endured over the last eighteen months or it may be more to do with our future here as the Parish of St Nicholas. Week 1 – The feeding of the 5k – God provides something out of nothing. Whatever we have, whatever God has already given us is enough if we look at it in the right way. Week 2 - “I am the bread of life” – We who have found the bread of life are commissioned to share what we have found. Week 3 – “I am the living bread that came down from Heaven.” “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” - . As we celebrate what Jesus did for us on the cross, we are physically taking him into our very being. We are nourished and strengthened by the bread of life, to make it through this life and to serve as the people Jesus died to save. Father God, as we hear again these timeless words from John’s gospel, would you speak into our hearts and open our eyes that we may see clearly your will for our lives and for this parish of St Nicholas? And would you place on our hearts how it is that we are each to respond, if the time is now? For we ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. 100 Club Winners last week were: Please add to your prayers; - Elsie and Gerald, Nigel, Jane, Margaret, Elliott, Janet, Alison, Nick and Elizabeth, whose needs are known to God. And also, for the families of Mavis Squires, Brian Beavers and Rita Todkill who funerals are due to take place in the coming days.
