St Nicholas Parish Church Fleetwood. Week beginning 7TH January 2024 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 Sunday 7th January - Epiphany 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 Tuesday 9th January 11.00 am Singing for pleasure – Jubilee Room 2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church Thursday 11th January 10.00 am Coffee Morning in the Jubilee Room Friday 12th January 9.00 am St Nic’s Little Gang – Broadway Rooms 11.45 am Funeral of Anne Hood at Carleton Sunday 14th 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 ******************************* Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. The traditional date for the feast is January 6th, the church celebrates it on the nearest Sunday. It marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas. An epiphany is a sudden realisation or a great revelation. In religious terms, Epiphany refers to a feast day that celebrates the revelation of Jesus Christ to the three wise men. Whilst it’s part of the traditional telling of the Christmas Story, the three wise men didn’t actually meet the newborn Jesus on Christmas Day itself. But when they did, they brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold in the Bible is symbolic of God. It represents the most precious of metals and is extremely rare in its purest form. Frankincense is an aromatic, clear resin obtained from trees in northern India and Arabia. It is symbolic of priests work in offering the prayers of the people to the Lord. It pointed then to the work of Jesus as a Priest of God. Myrrh is used in the anointing of prophets and was also used in the anointing of the dead. It was presented to Jesus at His birth pointing to His life as a Prophet and it was used at His death to anoint His body for the grave. O God, who by the guidance of a star did on this day manifest Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we who know You by faith may also attain the vision of Your glorious majesty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen Singing for pleasure: Starts this Tuesday in the Jubilee Room from 11am until 12 noon. Come along and sing your favourite hymns and learn some new ones too. Community Games and Crafts for all: This is a new group which will meet on the first Monday of every month in the Jubilee Room from 2 pm – 3.30 pm, starting on 5th February. There will be board games available to play and a simple craft each week to join in with. Come along, bring a friend and enjoy a cuppa and some company. For more information contact Moira on 07845 373154. Please remember in your prayers: Louise Clark, Rev Martin Keighley, Mark Price, Rebekah, Jan Risely, Craig Abson, Rev Jane Everett, and Jeanette Norman, Joe Robinson, and Barbara Sharrocks. Please also remember the families of Anne Hood, Tony Sparks, and Jim Scott whose funerals are due to take place.
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 Sunday 31st December 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 FleetwoodFriday 5th January10.00 am Funeral of Beryl Lister in ChurchSunday 7th January8.30 am Holy Communion in Church9.30 am Worship on Zoom10.45 am Holy Communion in Church4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms ******************************* 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.
St Nicholas Parish Church Fleetwood. Week beginning 24th 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 Sunday 24th December Christmas Eve 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church 5.00 pm Crib Service in Church 11.30 pm First Communion of Christmas Monday 25th December 10.45 am Family Communion 12.00 pm Christmas drinks and mince pies at the Vicarage Tuesday 26th December No Service today Thursday 28th December No Coffee Morning Sunday 31st December 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church ******************************* As we approach the end of year it’s natural to look back on 2023 recalling the joys and sadness’s of which there have been many, not just for us as individuals but for our nation and world too. Over the past 12 months, Russia’s war in Ukraine has continued, fighting has persisted in Myanmar and countless African nations, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has dramatically escalated. Concerns about China have grown, natural disasters have occurred, and global temperatures have broken all records. Here in the UK, the consequences of Brexit continue to reverberate, and we’ve witnessed soaring energy prices, a cost-of-living crisis, strikes, and public services at breaking point. The 1st-Century world into which Jesus was born was unbelievably tense, too. He grew up in an atmosphere of political conflict, upheaval, and social discontent. It was into this world that the angels told a group of shepherds, ‘Do not be afraid’ (Luke 2:10). In Bethlehem, a Saviour had been born, and he was Christ the Lord. He would save his people from their sins. In the birth of Jesus, God cut through the tension and established a true and everlasting kingdom built on justice and righteousness. It’s difficult to predict how 2024 will unfold. It’s unlikely that tensions will disappear anytime soon. But the message of the angels to the shepherds in the 1st Century remains their message to us in the 21st Century: ‘Do not be afraid.’ In the birth of Jesus, a down-to-earth God comes to save us from ourselves. Jesus brings true peace and true freedom which, if we let him, will not only transform us but the world around us. This is good news of great joy for all people. Have a very Happy Christmas and a truly peaceful New Year! Christmas Wishes: Gerald and Elsie Mathias and family send their love and best wishes to all at St Nic’s this Christmas and wish you and yours a happy and healthy new year. Regular Giving: Stewardship envelopes for 2024 are now available at the back of Church. Regular weekly or monthly giving to St Nic’s really helps us to budget and plan for the future. If you would like to formalise your giving in 2024 either by setting up a standing order (which is preferable) or by a weekly envelope, please see Ruth who will be happy to assist you. Please remember in your prayers: Christine and John McLellan, Louise Clark, Rev Martin Keighley, Mark Price, Rebekah, Jan Risely, Craig Abson, Jeanette Norman and Maurice Roberts. Please also remember the families of Beryl Lister, Geoffrey Stevens, and Anne Hood whose funerals are due to take place.
St Nicholas Parish Church Fleetwood. Week beginning 17th 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 Sunday 17th December 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church with baptism of Corey Connelly Sidespersons: Judith & Dorothy W 4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms 7.00 pm Nine Lessons and Carols with Thornton Cleveleys Brass Band in Church Tuesday 19th December2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church Wednesday 20th December 10.00 am Funeral of Johnny Sumner in Church Thursday 21st December 9.30 am Shakespeare School Carol Service in Church 10.00 am Christmas Coffee Morning in Jubilee Room Friday 22nd December 9.00 am Little Gang in the Broadway Rooms Sunday 24th December Christmas Eve 8.30 am Holy Communion in Church 9.30 am Worship on Zoom 10.45 am Holy Communion in Church 5.00 pm Crib Service in Church 11.30 pm First Communion of Christmas Monday 25th December Christmas Day 10.45 am Family Communion in Church Tuesday 26th December 2 pm Service cancelled. Returning on 2nd Jan 2024 ******************************* It might be hard to believe now that Christmas is so big, but for centuries the Church paid little attention to the stories of Jesus’ birth. There was more focus on his death and his rising from the dead, or on how he was one person of the Holy Trinity. It was Saint Francis who turned our attention to the Christmas story again - particularity to St Luke’s account. He wanted to show ordinary people that God had come to be with us. One Christmas he just set up a scene in a cave with animals, people and a manger and led the congregation out from church after the service to see it. He did not need words to say, “This is how God comes to you.” Our hope is that through the readings and carols this coming week, through our being together breaking bread and drinking wine, we and those who we care for and those who join us, will know afresh that this is how God comes to us. When the days are short and the nights long, when our spirits are low and it’s cold, there is a deep need to find hope for a new year and for life itself. May Emmanuel, God with us, be that hope. Thank you from the Vicar: Once again I have been blown away by the generosity and willingness of so many folk who have worked their socks of preparing for and delivering a host of events in these last weeks. It’s been a joy to see so many gifts being used in the ministry of hospitality and welcome. Alongside the joy of the season, we have also held several important funerals for families who we know and love. Our thoughts and prayers remain with them as they face Christmas without their loved ones.Please remember in your prayers: Christine and John McLellan, Louise Clark, Rev Martin Keighley, Mark Price, Rebekah, Jan Risely, Craig Abson, Dorothy Cox, Jeanette Norman and Maurice Roberts. Please also remember the families of David Newton, Beryl Lister, Anne Hood and John Sumner whose funerals are due to take place.Regular weekly or monthly giving to St Nic’s really helps us budget and plan for the future.If you would like to formalise your giving in 2024 either by setting up a standing order (which is preferable) or by a weekly envelope, please see Ruth who will be happy to assist you
