As a growing and changing Church, we're going through a process of developing new activities. Some of our existing activities are long established and others have only recently started. Our hope is there will be something at Christ Church for you - somewhere you can feel welcome and part of the church family.
we have children’s groups galore (see below for information of our new activities)
activities for women include the Ladies Evening Group, Mothers’ Union and EMUs
Our new integrated programme of activities for children, young people and families will be called Father’s House. Under this banner, will be seven meeting points during the week:
- Play.House - for babies and toddlers and their parents and carers (9.00am Monday to Thursday)
- Club.House - for children aged 5-11 (6.00pm Wednesday)
- Store.House - for children aged 0-14 (10.30am Sunday)
- Tree.House - for the whole family (4.30pm Sunday)
- Power.House - for young people aged 11-14 (6.00pm Thursday)
- Ware.House - for young people aged 14-18 (6.00pm Friday)
- Light.House - for young people aged 14+ (8.30pm Sunday)
For Everyone
The Meadows Coffee Shop
Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning, from 10.30am until 1.00pm, the bright, warm and comfortable Hall is open for complimentary filter coffee and tea.
Other speciality drinks, toast and crumpets are available for a small charge. The Coffee Shop is the perfect place to catch up with a friend or make new friends or just to come and read a book or newspaper.
The Hall is a pleasant and peaceful place to be, with sofas and coffee tables. Come on your own or with a group of friends. Ask a member of the team, and we’ll group the sofas together for you to use.
On a Tuesday morning, the Chat and Craft group meet during the Coffee Shop, from 10.30am.
The Meadows Luncheon Club
Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunchtime, lunch is served in the Hall, between 12.00pm and 1.00pm. There are two flavours of freshly made soup to choose from along with fresh bread rolls,delivered to us by Taylors of Cleveleys. Freshly made sandwiches, Seabrook crisps, Grandma Wild’s biscuits and Wallings ice cream are all served, along with fresh filter coffee and tea.
There is no set price and those coming along give what they feel is an appropriate donation to cover the cost. There is a lovely atmosphere and a regular and friendly team who provide the hospitality. Even if you don’t fancy a bite to eat, you’re welcome to pop in for a complimentary tea or coffee.
The Meadows Food Pantry
Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunchtime, the Pantry is open, between 9.00am and 1.00pm. Providing tinned, frozen and fresh food to those in need of support.
We are in the process of building up the stock of food, recruiting volunteers and arranging the room.
If you are in need of food, or would like to volunteer, or would like to donate food, please contact us.
Table Tennis Club
Lyrics and Lunch
Lyrics and Lunch is a group for those living with dementia and their carers. It meets every Monday from 12.00pm-2.00pm in the Hall. This is a singing and music group where we sing old, familiar songs and learn a few new ones. We have a go at singing simple rounds and at playing percussion instruments along with some of the songs. The cost is £3 per person which is to cover the cost of food. We serve soup, sandwiches, ice cream, tea and coffee and biscuits. All are welcome – please feel free to turn up or contact us for more information.
Stepping Stones
If you feel it may be easier to talk to someone outside your own circle of family and friends, then why not come to the Bereavement Support Group. It meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month, from 2.00pm to 3.00pm in the Church Hall.The impact of losing someone close can be overwhelming. Sometimes offloading feelings in a safe environment is easier than coping alone and can reduce the feeling that you are “going mad” or “not coping.”
Please feel free to turn up or contact us for more information.
Jigsaw Club
Jim, Alan and Marian meet on a Thursday afternoon (straight after Souper Thursday), from 1.00pm. They meet for just over an hour, and enjoy tackling a jigsaw together.
They meet in the Church Lounge. There is plenty of room for more people – and lots of jigsaws waiting to be completed.
Feel free to turn up and join in or contact us for more information.
Chat and Craft
Chat and Craft meet on a Tuesday morning at the Coffee Shop in the Hall at 10.30am and on a Friday afternoon in the Hall at 1.30pm.
Feel free to turn up and join in or contact us for more information.
For Children
The Church is a family, and we know that in a family, different ages have different preferences in terms of style, timing and needs. Here at Christ Church Thornton we’re in the process of developing existing activities and setting up new activities to help children, young people and their parents and families to find their place within the family at Christ Church.
Our new integrated programme of activities for children, young people and families will be called Father’s House.
Playhouse
Ages 0-5 - meets from 9.00am - 10.30am in the Hall, every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Playhouse is for babies and toddlers, and their mums, dads, grandparents, and other grown ups with parental responsibilities. It is place of play and fun. With baby gyms, train table, play kitchen, and lots of other toys, Playhouse is an hour of chat for the adults, and exhausting play for the little ones. Healthy fruit snacks for the children and tea and filter coffee for the adults. Come along and meet ‘Banjo Bob’ and friends to receive a warm welcome, fun songs and lots of people to meet.
Clubhouse
Ages 5-11 - meets from 6.30pm - 7.30pm in the Hall on a Thursday evening
Clubhouse is our weekly club for children: Clubhouse One is for children of infant age and Clubhouse Two is for children of junior age. Both clubs run simultaneously. It is a fast-moving, fun packed hour, starting with crumpets and toast, action songs, games and drama – all based around a Christian theme for each week.
Storehouse
Ages 0-14 - meets from 10.30am - 11.30am in the Hall on a Sunday morning *starting mid-September 2019*
Storehouse is our new Sunday morning age-related activity groups for children aged 0-14, with a cafe area for the grown ups and a creche for babies and toddlers. On the second Sunday of the month, the congregation at the 10.30am service will come and join Lighthouse, for an all-age service (previously called ‘Open Doors’). Come and try it out and see what’s in store.
Treehouse
Ages 0-99 - meets from 4.30pm - 5.30pm in the Hall on a Sunday afternoon
Treehouse is ‘church’ but not as you might expect. It is totally family friendly, informal, relaxed and purposefully noisy. It is designed to be completely comfortable for anyone to attend – especially families with babies, toddlers, children, who need the freedom to be a little noisy and on the move.
For Young People
Powerhouse
Ages 11-14 - meets from 6.00pm - 7.15pm in the Hall on a Thursday evening *starting mid-September 2019*
Powerhouse is a weekly get-together for young people of High School age (school academic years seven to nine). It is a fun environment with a Christian theme along with a combination of games, interactive activities, discussions, short talks, media and lots of food!
Warehouse
Ages 11-14 - meets from 6.00pm - 7.15pm in the Hall on a Thursday evening *starting mid-September 2019*
Warehouse is a weekly, chilled out time for young people, towards the upper end of High School (school academic years ten to thirteen). It will help equip young people in their journey through what can be a confusing world to live in, with a place for friendship, a space to explore some of life’s big questions and opportunity to look at what the Creator has to say about them. There will of course be loads of pizza and whatever ‘uccino’ takes your fancy.
Lighthouse
Ages 14 and above - meets from 8.30pm - 9.15pm in the Hall on a Sunday evening *starting mid-September 2019*
Lighthouse will be a place of sanctuary for young people from churches across the area to worship, share and grow together in their understanding of who God is. Using modern worship songs, multimedia, bags and bags of popcorn and pizza, and a couple of crazy games, Lighthouse will definitely be the place to be on a Sunday evening.
For Families
Playhouse
Ages 0-5 - meets from 9.00am - 10.30am in the Hall, every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Playhouse is for babies and toddlers, and their mums, dads, grandparents, and other grown ups with parental responsibilities. It is place of play and fun. With baby gyms, train table, play kitchen, and lots of other toys, Playhouse is an hour of chat for the adults, and exhausting play for the little ones. Healthy fruit snacks for the children and tea and filter coffee for the adults. Come along and meet ‘Banjo Bob’ and friends to receive a warm welcome, fun songs and lots of people to meet.
Storehouse
Ages 0-14 - meets from 10.30am - 11.30am in the Hall on a Sunday morning *starting 2019*
Storehouse is our new Sunday morning age-related activity groups for children aged 0-14, with a cafe area for the grown ups and a creche for babies and toddlers. On the second Sunday of the month, the congregation at the 10.30am service will come and join Lighthouse, for an all-age service (previously called ‘Open Doors’). Come and try it out and see what’s in store.
Treehouse
Ages 0-99 - meets from 4.30pm - 5.30pm in the Hall on a Sunday afternoon
Treehouse is ‘church’ but not as you might expect. It is totally family friendly, informal, relaxed and purposefully noisy. It is designed to be completely comfortable for anyone to attend – especially families with babies, toddlers, children, who need the freedom to be a little noisy and on the move.
Messy Church
Ages 0-99 - meets from 3.00pm - 5.00pm in the Hall on a Saturday various afternoons through the year
Messy Church take place every 6-8 weeks. It’s messy! We usually start with an energetic game – for all ages! We then have some lively songs with actions, followed by a short talk to explain the biblical theme of the afternoon. Then the craft and activity tables are open to get messy and have great fun learning more about the theme of the day. We come together at around 4.30pm to show what everyone has made. After that we tuck into a fantastic buffet of sandwiches and cake. Keep an eye on the Messy Church page or the special events page for details of when the next one is.
For Men
Men United
Meeting monthly, Men United is a gathering of men of all ages. We tend to meet on a Friday night, with a different venue each month. This is usually a restaurant, house, or the Church Hall.
Recent gatherings of Men United have included visits to Charlie James Pie & Mash, Rustic to Regal, Michael’s Indian Restaurant, Oriential Kitchen, North Euston, La Dolce Vita, and a BBQ at the Vicarage.
Men United is coordinated by John Hearnshaw, Churchwarden. Please contact him for more information. Latest dates can be found in the diary.
All are welcome!
Fridaymen
Meeting on a Wednesday and Friday morning, the Fridaymen meet to tackle a range of tasks, from pruning, planting and weeding to painting and minor repair – you name it, the Fridaymen will give it a go! They focus most of their work in the Churchyard, helping the Sexton to keep it looking as good as it can be.
The Fridaymen really enjoy meeting together. They enjoy an annual Christmas meal and fish and chips in the Vicarage garden.
For Women
LEGS
Meeting throughout the year, the LEGS (Ladies Evening Group) have a variety of events. They meet in the Hall on the last Wednesday of the month, from 7.45pm. There is usually a guest speaker. Meals out to the Briardene Hotel and Singleton Lodge are regular occurrences!
The next dates are:
- 27th March 2019 (Church Hall)
- 24th April 2019 (Church Hall)
- 22nd May 2019 (Church Hall)
- 26th June 2019 (Singleton Lodge)
Ladies Evening Group is coordinated by our Churchwarden Judith Murphy and a small team. Please contact her for more information.
Mothers' Union
Mothers’ Union (MU) is an international Christian membership charity that aims to demonstrate the Christian faith in action through the transformation of communities worldwide. The Mothers’ Union work with people of all faiths and none in 83 countries to promote stable marriage, family life and the protection of children through praying, enabling and campaigning.
The Christ Church Thornton branch of the Mothers’ Union meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 2.00pm (September to April) for a short service, meeting and guest speaker, and on the third Wednesday of the month for Holy Communion at 10.30am. All are welcome – men and women.
EMUs
Evening Mothers’ Union is designed for those who cnanot make the daytime meetings of the MU, due to work and family commitments. They meet monthly at the Vicarage on the second Friday of the month at 8.00pm. Accompanied by a glass of bubbly and nibbles, there is good discussion and friendship.
The Mothers’ Union branch leader is Elizabeth Young, who is assisted by deputy leader Libby Holt and Lauren Platt. Please come along to any of their activities that take your fancy or contact them for more information.
