THE RECORD
CHRISTMAS – NEW YEAR
2016 - 2017
CHURCH ROAD METHODIST CHURCH
The Methodist Church South Fylde Circuit
Making Disciples: Transforming Lives and Communities
Minister: Revd Stephen Heath Tel: (01772) 683884
email: [email protected]
Church Office email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.churchroadmethodist.org.
Church Road Methodist Church Registered Charity No 1134109
“There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over
their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon
them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and
they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heaven’ly host, praising God, and saying:
Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth, goodwill
towards men.”
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WORSHIP in DECEMBER
4th
9.00 a.m. Holy Communion at The Drive Methodist Church
9.15 a.m. Activ8 Café Church led by David Turner
10.30 a.m. Mr.David Elliston
11th
10.30 a.m. Revd Stephen Heath– Holy Communion
7.00 p.m. FRESH Café Style Worship at Fairhaven
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
18th
10.30 a.m. ALL AGE NATIVITY SERVICE
Led by Revd Stephen Heath
6.30 p.m. TRADITIONAL CAROL SERVICE
Led by Revd Stephen Heath
Collection for Action for Children
24th
CHRISTMAS EVE
4.00 p.m. CHRISTINGLE SERVICE led by Revd Stephen Heath
A traditional family celebration for Christmas
25th
CHRISTMAS DAY
10.45a.m. MORNING FAMILY WORSHIP
led by Revd Stephen Heath
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WORSHIP in JANUARY
1st
NEW YEARS DAY
10.30 a.m. Revd Stephen N Heath
8th
10.45 a.m
CIRCUIT SERVICE
.
Revd Dr Adrian Burdon & Rachel Lampard.
7.00 p.m. FRESH Café Style Worship at Fairhaven
15th
10.30 a.m. COVENANT SERVICE
Led by Revd Stephen Heath
7.00 p.m. FRESH Café Style Worship at Fairhaven
22nd
10.30 a.m. Mr.Richard Golding
7.00 p.m. FRESH Café Style Worship at Fairhaven
29th
10.30 a.m. Revd Stephen Heath
ACTIV8
Our monthly informal
service of early morning
worship is on the first Sunday of each month at 9.15 a.m. in the south
transept. A time of warm fellowship with associated activities for
children.
---------------------------------------------------------
Please visit our new website, which has details of all services and activities
at Church Road. If you have a church event that you want to include, please
pass the information to the church office.
www.churchroadmethodist.org.uk
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WORSHIP in FEBRUARY
5th
9.00 a.m. Holy Communion at The Drive Methodist Church
9.15 a.m. Activ8 Café Church led by Revd Stephen Heath
10.30 a.m. Mr.David Turner
7.00 p.m. FRESH Café Style Worship at Fairhaven
12th
10.30 a.m. Revd Alan Clark – Holy Communion
7.00 p.m. FRESH Café Style Worship at Fairhaven
19th
10.30 a.m. WORLD CHURCH SUNDAY
Led by Revd Mark Slaney
7.00 p.m. FRESH Café Style Worship at Fairhaven
26th
10.30 a.m. Revd Stephen Heath
7.00 p.m. FRESH Café Style Worship at Fairhaven
Sunday evenings
at Fairhaven
FRESH CAFÉ STYLE WORSHIP – a time to explore faith through media,
conversation and prayer. Drinks are available from 6.30 p.m. and worship
begins at 7.00 p.m.
See weekly notice sheet for details
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please visit the South Fylde Circuit website, which has more details of the
services and other events across the circuit.
www.methodistsouthfylde.org.uk
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A word from Stephen….
Dear Friends
Christmas is coming and while some are in denial
and the grumps are already moaning about the cost,
commercialisation and concerned they will never be ready, it will
come, ready or not and bring Joy and pleasure in plenty.
The preparation for me, is all part of the day itself. To make
something special it needs careful and thoughtful planning. It
needs the willingness of others to take part. So at the moment we
maybe for ever writing and amending ‘To do‘ lists and wondering if
it will all get done, but come Christmas Day when plans are reality
we can relax knowing it was all worthwhile.
Preparations for this busy period began months ago. I’m not
meaning bargains in the sales bought early for Christmas presents,
but serious planning to help people be ready for the coming Christ.
A small group of people have been busy preparing ………… ! I could
say a lot more and probably will but only when the time is right.
After all in good Christmas tradition I would not want to spoil the
surprise.
Advent precedes Christmas and gives us the opportunity within the
activity of our preparations to watch and pray or as our Advent
theme puts it this year ‘Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I
hear?’ I’m sure you remember the carol. It is a chance to meet
with others and discuss what God is doing in our ever changing
world.
The Prayer Day - ‘Praying with the Angels’ is another opportunity
to reflect. You don’t have to come for the whole time just come
for as long or as short as you wish and enjoy a time of peace in the
run up to Christmas.
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Christmas is special because of all that goes before it. God called
to his people through prophets and messengers, spoke to
individuals and groups to listen to what He said. After warnings and
predictions, the Angels gave the announcement ‘Christ is born’ and
the invitation ‘Go and see’.
I am confident in the preparations we are making that there are
good things for you this advent and Christmas. Look and listen for
the angels and see for yourself!
Enjoy the Preparations and May the Peace of Christmas be with
you.
Stephen
CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR SERVICES
This festive season, there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate
Christmas in worship together. Please come along, bring your family &
friends and share in the Christian messages of the season.
Seasonal thanks
Thank you to everyone who has helped to maintain our fellowship and
witness at Church Road throughout 2016. We look forward to an exciting
and fulfilling year ahead, continuing to work together and supporting each
other in 2017.
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A very happy Christmas and peaceful New Year to
you all!
FLOWER DEDICATIONS
SEPTEMBER
11th
Loving memories of Doreen and Scottie from Betty
18th
Fond memories of Hilary Cardwell
Birthday memories of Mr Arthur Rimmer
Birthday memories of James Maddocks
Birthday memories of Muriel Maddocks
Loving birthday memories of our brother, Philip, from
Audrey and Sylvia
25th
Treasured memories of Harold Orrell, from Charles and Iris Orrell
Loving birthday memories of Fred Holland
OCTOBER
2nd
In loving memory of Bill Orton, from Hazel, Josephine,
Sally and Gordon
Birthday memories of Sydney Knight
Fond family birthday memories from Rosemary Wells,
Katherine and Sarah
Loving memories of Jennifer Porter
9th
In memory of Polly and Leonard Gray
16th
In memory of Mr Arthur Rimmer
23rd
In loving memory of Peter Clarke
from Pauline, Beverley, Gary and grandchildren Grace and Jacob
Treasured memories of a devoted husband and father
from Louise Eadon, Helen & Rachel.
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30th
Loving memories of Sydney Knight
Cherished birthday memories of Marjorie,
from Peter, Gary, Mandy and Yvonne
In memory of James Maddocks
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NOVEMBER
6th
Loving birthday memories of a very dear brother
from Evelyn Grace
Remembrance Day poppies
13th
Fond family memories from Sybil Bleach
20th
Kay Makepeace in memory of her parents
In memory of Michael Pinches
27th
Treasured birthday memories of Paul,
from Evelyn Grace & Suzanne
Any contributions to Church Flowers should be sent to
The Flower Secretary, Miss Elaine Watts, Flat 10
Fellborough Lodge, 195 St Annes Road East, Lytham St
Annes. FY8 3HF. Tel: 01253 722302
Please make cheques payable to Church Road
Methodist Church Flower Fund and include the wording
for any dedication which can be inserted in the Church Record.
CHURCH FLOWERS
As Church Flowers Secretary I would like to thank everybody
who has arranged the flowers in Church so beautifully each
week during the last year: Val Ball, Irene Bennett, Pauline
Berwick, Sadie Bridge, Hazel Hawkins, Linda Heath, Barbara
Knowles, Elaine Watts and Margaret Wrigley.
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Bill Dalton
Dorothy Grace
Spencer
Dorothy Wake
“O cross that lifteth up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee:
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
and from the ground there blossoms red
life that shall endless be.”
George Matheson
--------------------------------------------------------“I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you
to be with me that you also may be where I am”
John Ch14 v2-3
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______
BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE
Names of departed loved ones may be entered in the Book of
Remembrance, on the day when loved ones are especially
remembered. Please complete the details on one of the slips
in the Church Foyer and hand to one of the Stewards if you
would like a name to be included.
!
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Handel’s Messiah
at Freckleton Methodist Church
SUNDAY 11th DECEMBER
at 2.30 p.m. (Part1) and 6.30 p.m. (Part2)
Soloists
Nicola Howard, Joyce Tindsley,
Huw Rhys Evans and John Anthony Cunningham
with the Keighley Vocal Union Chorus conducted by Frank Smith
Organist: Christopher Enston
Tea will be available in the Village Hall during the interval.
Please contact Michael or Jean Lancaster (01772 632312) to book your tea.
Other Christmas events……….
LANCASHIRE SINGS CHRISTMAS
Radio Lancashire’s Carol Singing Event across the county
Come along and join with other local churches and our neighbours
for an hour’s carol singing in The Vic
Thursday 15th December from 7.00 p.m to 8.00 p.m.
ST.ANNES PARISH CHURCH CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL
Saturday 10th - Saturday 17th December 2016.
Lots of Christmas Trees on show, sponsored by many local
organisations and charities. (including Church Road Methodist Church)
Opening Times : 1:00pm - 5:00pm every day
Free Entry - Refreshments available
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DO YOU SEE WHAT I
SEE?
A chance to meet and explore with
others what Advent means today
where we live and work.
24th November
Do you see what I see?
1st December
Do you hear what I hear?
8th December
Do you know what I know?
15th December
Listen to what I say!
Meeting at 11.00 a.m. in the Restaurant
!
PRAYING WITH THE
ANGELS CHURCH ROAD is hosting the Circuit Prayer
Day
Saturday 17th December 10am - 2pm Refreshments will be served.
A warm invitation is given to everyone to come and
share ......
• a time of peace and reflection,
• a time apart from all the busyness of Christmas,
• a time to enjoy it's true meaning,
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• and focus on our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
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God of the Waiting
A Prayer from Christian Aid
God of the waiting,
give us courage to wait with those in the most
broken
places of the world,
and with all those who struggle to be bearers of
hope
there.
We pray with those who wait for wars to stop, for
violence to cease.
God of the waiting, turn conflict into peace.
And we pray for those who have given up on the
coming of hope,
because they feel they wait in vain
at checkpoints, at borders, for jobs, for food,
and for all those whose lives are crushed under
the
structures and systems of injustice.
God of the waiting, wait with your world.
Turn anger into reconciliation,
and our lack of hope into courage,
so that our waiting may be over
and all the things of darkness shall be no more.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pause to Ponder
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate
cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Martin Luther King Jnr - Preacher and Civil Rights activist,
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born on 15th January 1929 and assassinated on 4th April 1968.
His birthday is marked as a public holiday in the United States of America.
ELSA
The Emily Laws School of Acting
proudly presents its Christmas production
THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
SATURDAY 17th DECEMBER AT 7.30 P.M.
in the Church Road Centre Hall
Admission is £6 for adults and £4 for under 16’s.
Pay on the door.
Come along and enjoy our family Christmas show!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Members of ELSA will also be singing in our
Nativity Service on Sunday 18th December.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Church Road Methodist
Celebrates Christmas
Sunday 18th December 2016 is going to be a day of Christmas Celebration
at Church Road. At 10.30 am we will join together in worship for the all
age Nativity Service and in the evening at 6.30pm we will share in the
traditional Carol Service led by Rev Stephen Heath.
In the interim there is even enough time for us to share in fellowship and
food!
We are hosting a Jacobs Join lunch in the church hall at 12pm following on
from the Nativity Service.
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Everybody is welcome, however at a time of year when many people travel
away, and others come to visit, we would appreciate an idea of numbers in
order to prepare. Please let Caroline Livesey or Barbara Symon know if
you will be coming and what you can bring by Sunday 4th December 2016
if possible, or as soon as you can.
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TO ALL OUR FRIENDS AT CHURCH ROADWarmest
Wishes
forGod’s Blessing at Christmasfrom
Caroline & Don Plenderleith Glynnis & Barry
Joan & Jim Edwell
Audrey Frodsham
Penny & John Turner (Budleigh Salterton)
Sue Allanson
Louise Eadon, Helen & Rachel
Frank & June Mellor Anne & John Mayes
Donald & Jean Foulkes
Myrtle Peplow
Betty Kershaw
Irene Barker
Peter & Rita Coulby (Lincolnshire)
Sybil Bleach
Elaine Watts
Catherine Peak
Terry & Dawn
Joan Hollows
Milly Dalton
Marion & Mike Brett Margaret & Stuart Wrigley
Betty Sharples
Valerie Ball Joy & Ron Woodhead (Grange-over-Sands)
Irene & David Harrison
Jean & Arthur Taylor
Nigel & Sandra Standbridge
Ann Thompson
Glenys Barnett (Taunton)
Philip and Betty Harrison
Kay Makepeace
John Christmas (Sidmouth)
Alison & Stewart Dow
Joan Wild
Celia & Barry Fothergill
Eve Grace
Len Macklin
Peter Hall
Sadie Bridge
Andrew & Sheila Whitley
Marion & Michael Allanson
Betty Kirkpatrick
Bill, Klaske, Kieran & Caitlin Ellison
Margaret Smethurst
Audrey & David Shaw
Instead of sending Christmas Cards, the above have made
donations to the church funds
May we this Christmas experience the deep truth of
Emmanuel, God with us
STEPHEN & LINDA HEATH
ADRIAN, JANET, RACHEL & KACEY BURDON & DEACON DENISE CREED
We also send our greetings and good wishes to
all our former ministers and distant friends
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In the Bleak Mid-winter
In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter,
Long ago.
Our God, heav'n cannot hold him,
Nor earth sustain;
Heav'n and earth shall flee away
When he comes to reign.
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.
Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and Seraphim
Thronged the air But his mother only,
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.
What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give him Give my heart.
Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)
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Christina Rossetti was one of the most important female writers of the 19th
century, This carol is probably one of her best known works. It is based on
a poem she wrote in 1872 entitled “A Christmas Carol” in response to a
request from a magazine for a Christmas poem. It was published
posthumously in Rossetti's Poetic Works in 1904. The poem became a
Christmas carol after it appeared in The English Hymnal in 1906 with a
setting by Gustav Holst. In the last verse, Christina reflects on the fact that
giving is about personal intention not cost, a worthy thought today amidst
the commercialisation of Christmas.
Christina was born in London in 1830 into a remarkable family of artists,
scholars and writers. Her father was an exiled Italian revolutionary and poet
and her brothers William and Dante Gabriel Rossetti were founding
members of the art movement, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. She was a
very committed High Church Anglican and as a teenager, Christina suffered
a nervous breakdown that was diagnosed at the time as 'religious mania'.
She fell in love with several suitors, but rejected them all because they
failed to share her precise religious convictions. She died in 1894.
!
ACTION FOR CHILDREN CONCERT
Thursday 8th December at 7.30 p.m.
Children of Ansdell & St.Thomas Primary Schools
with the Guardian Concert Band
Tickets £6 (£4 for concessions) including refreshments.
Come along and enjoy an evening of festive entertainment.
THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS.
Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these
were not Christmas Carols. They were pagan songs, sung at the
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Winter Solstice celebrations as
people danced round stone circles
(The word carol originally meant to
dance to something). The Winter
Solstice is the shortest day of the
year, usually taking place around
the 22nd December. The word Carol
actually means dance or a song of
praise and joy! Carols used to be
written and sung during all four seasons, but only the tradition of
singing them at Christmas has really survived. Early Christians took
over the pagan solstice celebrations for Christmas and gave people
Christian songs to sing instead of pagan ones. In 129, a Roman
Bishop said that a song called "Angel's Hymn" should be sung at a
Christmas service in Rome. Another famous early Christmas Hymn
was written in 760, by Comas of Jerusalem, for the Greek Orthodox
Church. Soon after this many composers all over Europe started to
write 'Christmas carols'. However, not many people liked them as
they were all written and sung in Latin, a language that the normal
people couldn't understand. By the time of the Middles Ages (the
1200s), most people had lost interest in celebrating Christmas
altogether. This was changed by St. Francis of Assisi when, in 1223,
he started his Nativity Plays in Italy. The people in the plays sang
songs or 'canticles' that told the story during the plays. Sometimes,
the choruses of these new carols were in Latin; but normally they
were all in a language that the people watching the play could
understand and join in! The new carols spread to France, Spain,
Germany and other European countries. The earliest carol, like
this, was written in 1410. Sadly only a very small fragment of it
still exists. The carol was about Mary and Jesus meeting different
people in Bethlehem. Most Carols from this time and the
Elizabethan period are untrue stories, very loosely based on the
Christmas story, about the holy family and were seen as
entertaining rather than religious songs. They were usually sung in
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homes rather than in churches! Travelling singers or Minstrels
started singing these carols and the words were changed for the
local people wherever they were went.
Carol Singing in “Cider with Rosie”
The week before Christmas, when
snow seemed to lie thickest, was the
moment for carol singing; and when I
think back to those nights it is to the
crunch of snow and to the lights of
lanterns on it.
Laurie Lee’s novel Cider with Rosie is an account of his
growing up in the period soon after the First World War in the
Cotswold village of Slad in Gloucestershire. In this extract, he
writes about his experiences of carol singing in his youth:
“We approached our last house high up on the hill, the place of
Joseph the farmer. For him, we had chosen a special carol, which
was about the other Joseph, so that we always felt that singing it
added a spicy cheek to the night. The last stretch of country to
reach his farm was perhaps the most difficult of all. In these rough
bare lanes, open to all winds, sheep were buried and wagons lost.
Huddled together, we trampled in one another’s footsteps,
powdered snow blew into our screwed-up eyes, the candle burned
low, some blew out altogether and we talked loudly above the
gale.
Crossing at last the frozen mill stream – whose wheel in summer
still turned a barren mechanism – we climbed up to Joseph’s farm.
Sheltered by trees, warm on its bed of snow, it seemed always to
be like this. As always it was late; as always, this was our final call.
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The snow had a fine crust upon it and the old trees sparkled like
tinsel.
We grouped ourselves round the farmhouse porch. The sky cleared
and broad streams of stars ran down over the valley and away to
Wales. In Slad’s white slopes, seen through black sticks of its
woods, some red lamps still burned in the windows.
Everything was quiet; everywhere there was the faint crackling of
silence of the winter night. We started singing and we were all
moved by the words and the sudden trueness of our voices. Pure,
very clear and breathless we sang:
As Joseph was a walking
He heard an angel sing;
‘This night shall be the birth time
Of Christ the Heavenly King,
He neither shall be born
In housen nor in hall,
Nor in a place of paradis
But in an ox’s stall….’
And two thousand Christmases became real to us then; the houses
the halls, the places of paradise had all been visited; the stars
were bright to guide the Kings through the snow; and across the
farmyard we could hear the beasts in their stalls. We were given
roast apples and hot mince pies, in our nostrils were spices like
myrrh and in our wooden box, as we headed back to the village,
there were golden gifts for all.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Laurie Lee was born in 1914 and grew up in the village of Slad in the
Cotswolds. Cider with Rosie is the first part of his autobiographical trilogy,
which describes the hardships, pleasures and simplicity of rural life in the years
after the First World War. The other parts of his autobiography are As I Walked
Out One Midsummer Morning, which describes his leaving home for London
and his first visit to Spain in 1935 on the eve of the Civil War and A Moment of
War, which describes his return to Spain in December 1937 to join
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the Republican International Brigades against Franco’s Nationalist forces. He
died in 1997.
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Start the New Year with a renewed commitment
Covenant Sunday
10.30 a.m. 15th January 2017
led by Revd Stephen Heath
“I am no longer my own but yours”
John Wesley fervently encouraged the “Methodists” in the
movement he founded to renew their covenant (a binding promise)
with God. At our annual Covenant Service, we celebrate all that
God has done for us and affirm that we give our lives and choices
to God. The service is at the heart of our devotion and
discipleship, and our dedication in working for social justice.
The service includes this very challenging prayer - a sign of our
commitment to loving trust and obedience:
I am no longer my own but yours
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will
Put me to doing, put me to suffering;
Let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,
Exalted for you, or brought low for you;
Let me be full, let me be empty,
Let me have all things, let me have nothing:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure
And disposal,
And now, glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours.
So be it. And the covenant made on earth, let it be ratified in
heaven.
Amen
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VISIT OF VICE PRESIDENT
CIRCUIT SERVICE ON SUNDAY 8th JANUARY 2017
AT 10.30 A.M.
Conducted by the Circuit Superintendent, Revd Dr
Adrian Burdon, with the Vice President of the
Methodist Conference, Rachel Lampard,
We are looking forward to welcoming Rachel
Lampard to Church Road as she visits the South
Fylde Circuit during her year of office as Vice
President of the Methodist Conference.
Rachel will of course be remembered by many at Church Road as
the daughter of one of our former ministers, the Reverend John
Lampard. John was our minister from 1976 to 1981. Both Rachel
and her younger brother Daniel were very lively members of the
Sunday School during their time at Church Road!
Rachel is now the leader of the Joint Public Issues Team, which has
for many years been at the forefront of campaigns about UK
poverty, nuclear weapons and climate change. She has been a
Commissioner with the Gambling Commission since 2006 and is an
active member of Winchester Road Methodist church in
Walthamstow.
Please come along on 8th January and show your support for Rachel.
----------------------------------------------------WORSHIP ON THURSDAYS IN 2017
A Time of Bible Study, Worship and Reflection
First and third Thursdays in the month
11.00am – 12.15pm
ALL WELCOME
See weekly notices for details of the programme
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CHURCH DEVELOPMENT
PROPOSALS
In September, following a period of consultation with
the congregation, the Church Council unanimously
agreed to support outline proposals for the redevelopment of our site and
agreed that more detailed proposals should be progressed for formal
approval.
The project is being proposed in order to make our premises more viable
for the future and to enable a continuing outreach to the local community.
The plans include ten social housing units on part of our site, with a redesign of the remaining site to accommodate current church activities. The
original mission hall will be retained, with new construction in place of the
present link to the church. Local authority funding has been agreed to
contribute to the social housing and the sale of the land will contribute
towards the building work and general refurbishment.
The proposed layout will be capable of accommodating all of our current
activities and offer scope for additional uses. All areas will be developed for
multiple uses and some changes will be required to build on the work
previously done in the church to enable more flexible use of this space.
Although not part of the building work itself, it would be necessary to
include some changes to furniture to ensure ease of movement and rearrangement for different activities.
Work is now underway with the Architects and Developer to finalise the
plans, which will need the formal approval of the Church Council and be
subject to the Methodist Church consent processes. Local authority
planning approval will also be required. Subject to satisfactory completion
of these processes, it is hoped that work will be able to start on site in the
coming year.
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COOKING ON A BUDGET
A new project for the community, working
in partnership with Chef Paul Caddy, to
help people enjoy the food they eat, to
have an opportunity to try something
different, and give help and training to
learn how to cook low cost healthy meals.
During December and January, Paul will
be preparing different menus to see if there is interest from
people in having a community cafe at the centre. We will be
offering demonstrations and training in cooking, from how
best to use the food given by the Foodbank to preparing a
’special meal’, so there will be different things for different
budgets and stages of life.
Food is a social thing and so we are offering an opportunity
for people to come together to eat low cost good tasting
food and we’re starting in the week commencing the 28th
November. Times and days will vary so watch out for the
notices or get in touch to find out.
Please contact Stephen if you would like to be involved in
eating the food that’s been cooked, learning how to prepare
something new, helping develop a community café or
indeed any other information.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We are now holding sessions on a monthly
basis, and the next dates are:
21st January 2017
18th February 2017
4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m, including a meal
More details in the weekly notices and
posted in the Church Centre.
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Fairtrade Fortnight 2017 Monday 27 February - Sunday 12 March
The food on our tables, the tea and coffee in our mugs,
all from farmers who toil, sweat and slog.
However hard they work to provide the
things we depend on, millions of
farmers in developing countries aren’t
paid what they deserve. They are
trapped in a system that is unfair, one
that rips them off. Many are paid
prices too low to provide for their
families properly.
OUR Fairtrade challenge is to…
Create as many breaks as possible for people in the
community. Whether it’s over a tea or coffee, give them a
moment in their busy day to stop and reflect on whether
they are feeding exploitation or not – and take action.
It’s time to get as many people in our community
to take a Fairtrade break. DON’T FEED EXPLOITATION. CHOOSE FAIRTRADE.
Sunday 11th
December will
be the last stall until 29th January 2017,
followed by 26th February. Please come along
to the stall each month and help to support
fair trade products.
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All We Can responds
to Hurricane Matthew in Haiti
On 4 October Hurricane Matthew struck
Haiti. In response, All We Can opened an
emergency appeal and made an initial
£10,000 available to their local partners on the ground to help them respond to
those in greatest need.
An estimated 1.4 million people continue to require urgent humanitarian
assistance as a result of Hurricane Matthew. More than 60,000 people have
been evacuated or displaced and at least 1,000 people have died.
All We Can has been working with partners in Haiti since January 2010, when
the country was hit by a powerful and devastating earthquake that killed an
estimated 220,000 people and left a further 300,000 people injured. People
responded generously then to enable All We Can to reach out to communities
in need at that time in the rebuilding of their homes and more recently in the
strengthening of health systems. In the wake of Hurricane Matthew further
support is needed now more than ever.
Stephanie Dalton, All We Can’s Capacity Development Manager, is currently
in Haiti working with their partners. She writes from the capital Port-au-Prince:
“Arriving in Haiti last Saturday, my plan was to visit some of the church’s
health clinics that All We Can supports. On Sunday, however, it became clear
that Hurricane Matthew, the strongest Atlantic hurricane in over a decade, was
on path to make landfall in Haiti on Monday night. Schools all over the country
were closed on Monday and the streets became quiet as people retreated to
their homes or evacuation centres. Throughout the next two days there was
heavy rainfall in Port-au-Prince with winds and flooding, especially in the south
of the country. Support agencies are considering how they should respond and
church leaders have been trying to make contact with their people in the
affected areas, but communication has been difficult. A bridge connecting the
south to Port-au-Prince collapsed during the hurricane, which makes road
access impossible. It may take days for there to be a clearer indication of the
extent of the damage and people’s current needs. What we do know is, people
will desperately need help.”
All We Can has been working with communities in Haiti for six years thanks to
the generosity of its supporters. We are here again to provide the vital
assistance to those who need it most.
Donations can be made via www.allwecan.org.uk/haiti
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LADIES’ FELLOWSHIP
PROGRAMME
7 Dec
14 Dec
Helen Jayne – Singer (in Church)
Christmas Service (in Church)
11 Jan
18 Jan
25 Jan
New Year Lunch at the Chadwick Hotel
Rev Joan Edwell
Dr G Evans – 30 years as a seaside GP
1 Feb
8 Feb
15 Feb
22 Feb
Malcolm Hancock
Deacon Denise Creed
Quiz
“He didn’t look well” – Mr Roy Pickup Meeting at The Drive
Note start time at the Drive Church 2 30 pm
Most meetings at Church Road take place in the Church Parlour starting at
2 15 pm. All ladies welcome.
NEW YEAR LUNCH
At the Chadwick Hotel on Wednesday 11 January 2017,
12 15pm for 12 30pm
Price £14.50 to include gratuities.
For more information contact Elaine Watts (Tel: 722302).
METHODIST WOMEN IN BRITAIN
LANCASHIRE DISTRICT PROJECT
2017 marks the start of a 2-year term by Deacon Denise Creed as
District President for Methodist Women in Britain. Her chosen
project for her term of office is Women’s Aid and supporting local
refuges and hostels in prayer and practical ways. More information
on this project and ways in which you can support Denise will be
available later.
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WORLD CHURCH SUNDAY
SUNDAY 19th FEBRUARY 2017
Morning Worship at 10.30 a.m.
led by Rev Mark Slaney, Superintendent of the Preston Ribble Circuit
In the Lancashire District we currently celebrate two active Methodist
Church partnerships overseas. In Oceania we partner with the Methodist
Church of Papua New Guinea focusing support on the Ministerial
Training College where former Burnley Circuit Minister Rev Garo Kilagi is
Principal. In West Africa we have been partnering with the Methodist
Church Sierra Leone for over ten years. In the east of the country we
have built, developed and help manage the Red Rose Training Centre in
the town of Kailahun. This provides practical skills training in carpentry
and tailoring for young adults many of whom missed their schooling due
to the civil war experienced throughout the 1990s and into the new
millennium. We also offer support to Nixon Memorial Hospital in the
village of Segbwema where, for example, in 2013 a mission team from
Lancashire renovated the room and installed new equipment bringing the
operating theatre back into use. The hospital site was occupied by the
rebel army as their base camp during the conflict.
Rev Mark Slaney co-led the 2013 mission trip
to Sierra Leone. In February 2016, as a
representative of the District along with John
Spencer, he visited the country again following
the ebola virus outbreak. If all goes to plan
another District Mission Team will head out to
the hospital and training centre at the end of
January / beginning of February 2017. So,
Mark should come to Church Road, St Annes
fresh from the most recent encounter in West
Africa with plenty of stories to tell and photos
to share!
On the Sunday there will be envelopes available to donate to the
Methodist Fund for World Mission.
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OUTSIDE IN by Will Bissett
A must-read for anyone seeking to truly understand the relationship
between the Christian faith and UK society.
Outside In explores the perceptions of the Christian
faith by those who do not regularly attend church.
Based on postgraduate research conducted during
2013 (extracts of which were published on the
Willow Creek UK website), the book is split into two
parts. One part provides the methodology and
detailed analysis for those who wish to fully
understand the actual research and findings, whilst the other part
explores the key findings and implications in an easily digestible
format, and offers some suggestions for consideration.
In the UK, a majority (albeit declining) of the population identify as
Christian, but a relatively small proportion are engaged in regular
church-going. Why is this? Rather than rely on assumptions, the
research asked the participants many questions, such as, what do
they really think of the church? Why might they not find it helpful for
their spiritual journey and daily life? What are the predominant
perceptions, of church, Christianity, Christians, God, Jesus? Is the
Christian message of grace being perceived in any significant way?
The book explores what the participants thought of church, and
outlines the range of opinions found from those who see it as a faith
community through to others who simply view it as a foreboding
building or institution. It also explores how perceptions vary across
the generations.
Part sociological and part theological; Outside In offers significant
insight into how the church and the Christian faith are really viewed
by those who do not regularly attend. This book provides a fantastic
opportunity for churches to better understand how they are truly
perceived, and therefore has significant implications for how they
could better relate to, and communicate with, their local
communities, as well as wider UK society.
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About Will Will Bissett is the son of Church Road members
Bill and Monica Bissett. He grew up in the
fellowship of Church Road, attending Sunday
School and playing an active part in The Boys’
Brigade and Youth Fellowship. He later studied
Theology at Westminster College Oxford and
served for a time in the RAF. He currently holds a
senior position with the Chartered Institute of
Marketing, but also expresses his faith through
his work as a part time non-stipendiary curate at Christ Church in
Virginia Water in Surrey. His book Outside In builds on his
experience in the workplace to explore perceptions of the
Christian faith by those who do not regularly attend church.
Outside in can be obtained by ordering through Plackett &
Booth in Lytham, or from Waterstones or online from
Amazon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fancy Meeting You!
I dreamt death came the other night
and Heaven’s gate swung wide aside
With kindly grace an angel came and ushered me inside.
And there to my astonishment stood folks I’d known on
earth.
Some I had judged as quite unfit or of little worth
Indignant words rose to my lips, but never were set free.
For every face showed stunned surprise
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No one expected me!
Contributed by Reta Hall
Words seen by Marion and Mike Allanson in the
Norman Church of St.Martin’s in Burton Agnes, East
Yorkshire.
“God, our heavenly father, make, we pray, the door of this church
be wide enough to welcome all who need human love and
fellowship and a Father’s care; but narrow enough to shut out
all envy, pride, and lack of love.
Here may the tempted find help, the sorrowing receive comfort, the
careless be awakened to repentance, and the penitent be assured of
your mercy; and here may all your children renew their strength
and go on their way in hope and joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord”.
The quotation is from Bishop Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath and
Wells. Bishop Ken is remembered as one of the fathers of modern
English hymnology and is probably most well known as the author of
the doxology “Praise God from whom all blessings flow”.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MORNING PRAYERS
36
Every Monday at 10.30 a.m. Come along and join with a
small group to share concerns for the world, our
community and our church. This is a great opportunity to
take time out from the hustle and bustle to reflect and to
start the week in God’s presence. All welcome.
THE DAY A CHURCH ROAD MEMBER AND
FUTURE PRESIDENT OF CARLISLE UNITED FOOTBALL
CLUB MET THE FUTURE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA
Below from left:
Ian St.John, Donald Trump,
David Dent and Jimmy Greaves
Long before becoming the newly elected
President of the United States, Donald Trump
dipped his toe into English football. It was
November 1991, and the future President had
agreed to appear in the fifth-round draw for
what was known as the Rumbelows Cup at his
Trump Tower headquarters in New York.
It was part of the 'Saint and Greavsie' show,
which ran on ITV between 1985 and 1992, and Donald Trump was tasked
with drawing the away teams out of the bag after Jimmy Greaves had picked
the home teams. Television coverage opened with an introduction from the
then Secretary of the Football League and future president of Carlisle United
FC, Church Road member David Dent, who continues the story:
“When Jimmy Greaves, Ian St John and I were walking down 5th
Avenue in New York on that November day in 1991 and came to the
imposing Trump Tower, little did we realise that we were about to be
welcomed by someone who, twenty five years later, was to become
the most powerful man on the planet as the 45th President of the
United States. As we approached the building St John questioned
whether Trump would assist us. ‘Never know if we don’t ask’ said
Greaves and the next thing we knew we were sitting at his
Boardroom table somewhere up in the heavens.
Sponsorship in football arrived in the 1980’s. Companies saw the
promotional opportunities football offered and mutual relationships
were developed. With the co-operation of the television companies,
37
the Football League was able to offer sponsors live television
coverage of competition draws. In 1991 the draws took place on the
Saturday lunchtime Saint & Greavsie programme which, on the
weekend in question, was taking place in New York where ITV were
covering the draw for the 1994 World Cup in the USA. The only way
our draw could fit into their schedule was if we were happy to travel
to New York. Not much persuasion needed there then – especially as
ITV were footing the bill!! A flight on Virgin Atlantic and two nights at
the Waldorf Astoria! To give the occasion a bit more gravitas, they
had also arranged for Donald Trump to be involved.
The first thing to hit us as we entered Trump Tower was the opulence
of the surroundings. Dripping with gold everywhere, even on the
front of the lifts. I don’t know at what speeds the lifts travelled but
it seemed like the attendant had only just pressed the button when
we were alighting at the Boardroom on floor 50 something. When he
came in after we had set up the cameras, Donald Trump was most
welcoming and polite. Whether he knew why we were there I’m not
so sure but he put us at ease and made us feel comfortable
nevertheless. After the practicalities of the draw had been explained
it was down to business with the cameras rolling. I presided, with
Jimmy Greaves drawing the home teams and our host drawing the
away teams. Greaves was one of life’s jokers and you never knew
until the job was done that there wouldn’t be some prank being
played. On a different occasion I remember him putting his hand in
the bag to pull out a numbered ball but pulling out instead a never
ending banner – live on air at that! The nearest we got to a bit of
light-heartedness on this occasion was when Jimmy pulled out Leeds
United and Donald Trump followed with Manchester United. ‘Oooh
Donald, you don’t know what you’ve done there’ said Jimmy,
referring to the history between the two clubs. The draw completed,
we had some small talk for a few minutes and Donald Trump was
presented with a Saint & Greavsie mug (like you could get for 50
pence at B & M Bargains!) before he retired to his penthouse suite
and we looked forward to our return trip on the lift. Once out on the
pavement it was back to the real world.
Had it not been for Donald Trump’s emergence as a Presidential
candidate some months ago it is unlikely that any of the archive
footage from our visit would have seen the light of day again. But
circumstances do change and it’s recently been aired on BBC2’s
“Have I got News for You”. The man we met in 1991 was as far
38
removed from the controversial character we have seen in the recent
campaign as you can imagine. Indeed, it has sometimes been difficult
to understand why people could have voted for him, so controversial
have been his views and attacks. Having said that, since his
unexpected win, we have seen much more decorum and conciliation.
Will it last? We will have to wait and see…..and hope and pray that
he will make a success of his Presidency.”
David Dent
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LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR BIBLE STUDY….
A brand new app from the Methodist Church in Britain
is now available on all mobile devices. The app offers
users a daily Bible study, as well as all the latest news,
audio and video from the Church.
Download from the App store
Features include:
• Daily Bible studies, featuring a different author each week
• Prayer of the Day from the Methodist Prayer Handbook
• Lectionary readings and suggested hymns to help with
planning worship
• The latest news stories from the Methodist Church in
Britain • Topical podcasts from Methodist Web Radio • Resources for Christian discipleship • Blogs from the President and Vice President of the
Methodist Conference, Methodist Youth President and
World Church Relationships team • View videos through the Church's YouTube channel • Interact on Facebook and Twitter • Information about the latest campaigns
• Find your nearest church
"With the rise of the smartphone, we're more connected than ever
before, and that's something to celebrate," said David Webster, the
Church's Internet Communications Coordinator. "We want people to
be able to make use of our resources across a wide range of
platforms. Our goal is to support Methodists and other Christians as
we make our way as disciples of Jesus in the modern world." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Jesus there are no countries to be conquered, no ideologies
to be imposed, no people to be dominated.
There are only children, women and men to be loved.
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HENRI NOUWEN (1932-1996) Dutch priest, writer and theologian.
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DIARY NOTES
MORNING PRAYERS: Every MONDAY at 10.30 a.m.
Start the week with a time of quiet reflection and prayer.
MOVEMENT TO MUSIC: Every MONDAY 7.30 to 8.30 p.m
and Wednesday from 9.45 to 10.45 a.m.
BUMBLEBEES: Every TUESDAY in term-time from 9.30 a.m.
to 11.30 a.m. for 0-4’s with parents and carers.
LADIES’ FELLOWSHIP: Every WEDNESDAY at 2.15 p.m.
WORSHIP ON THURSDAY: 1st & 3rd THURSDAY of each
month from 11.00 a.m. – 12.15 p.m. A time of worship, bible
study and reflection.
FRIDAY FUN CLUB:
from 6.00 to 7.15 p.m
Every FRIDAY, for children, ages 6-11
THE HUB: Every FRIDAY, for young people aged 11-16 years,
from 7.30 – 9.30 p.m.
ACTIV8 CAFÉ STYLE WORSHIP at 9.15 a.m. on the first
SUNDAY of each month
TRAIDCRAFT STALL: After morning worship, generally on
the last SUNDAY of each month. Come along and support fair
trade products.
FRESH CAFÉ STYLE WORSHIP at 6.30 for 7.00 p.m every
SUNDAY at Fairhaven Methodist Church. An opportunity to
explore faith through media, conversation and prayer. Drinks are
available from 6.30 p.m. and worship begins at 7.00 p.m.
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Keep up to date!
All our church activities are included in our weekly news sheet. Any
items that you wish to be included should be sent to the Church
Office, preferably by email, by lunchtime on Thursdays.
[email protected]
If you would like to receive a copy of the weekly
notices by email, please email a request to the church
office or contact Stuart Wrigley (01253 727950)
Church Road is on Facebook. If you are too, “Like” our page
and receive updates each week of activities taking place here.
Don’t forget to share our news with your friends as well.
We are also developing a new website to publicise our church and
activities. Please visit www.churchroadmethodist.org and tell us
what you think. Please email any comments, or indeed any
contributions to the Church Office.
_____________________________________________________
The next edition of the THE RECORD will be the Spring edition,
which will be published at the beginning of March 2017. All
contributions welcome. Please let us know if you have any special
family news or celebrations that you would like to share with our
readers.
You don’t need to wait for the deadline to send something to the
Editor, Audrey Frodsham, c/o the Church Office, but in case you are
a last minute person, the absolute deadline will be
1p.m. on Sunday 19 February 2017
Please send articles by email if possible to
[email protected]
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