“He will come again in glory”

Glorious sun! I trust you’ve had the opportunity to stock up on some vitamin D in these recent glorious days. But let us change one letter in the word sun and turn our attention to that which is even more glorious. As we look ahead to Sunday, we look forward to worshipping the glorious Son of God, the one whom the scriptures and creeds remind us “will come again in glory.” This is all about Jesus returning to earth in the future, what we call the Second Coming or the Second Advent. I know its hard to envisage and understand such a coming – it takes faith! And when we see Him, our faith will be turned to sight.

On Sunday Revd Peter Nunn will be taking us through this next line of the Nicene Creed (our 17th week going through it). He’ll point us to Jesus and encourage us to be ready for the Day when Jesus returns.

Our services on Sunday are at their usual times…

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Sunday Services

The services and activities on Sunday 18th May 2025 are:

• 9:00 AM Traditional (The Book of Common Prayer) Service of Holy Communion (with refreshments afterwards)
• 10:15 AM Meadows Books open (until 10:45 AM)
• 11:00 AM Contemporary Communion Service (livestreamed with refreshments afterwards)
• 12:30 PM Meadows Books’ open (until 12:45 PM)
• 5:00 PM Treehouse Family Worship (with refreshments)
• 6:00 PM Meadows Books open (until 6:15 PM)

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Watching Online, Bible Reading and Order of Service

Our livestream can be viewed on our YouTube channel here and our Facebook channel here. In our services we will be looking at the following Bible readings: Acts 1.6-11 (Church Bible page 909) and Mark 13.24-37 (Church Bible page 885). The 11:00 AM order of service is available here.

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Replacement of the West Window

The huge West Window, made up of 15 sections of glass, is in need of total replacement. The wood is rotting in places, some of the glass panels have slipped out of their holdings, and the voids between the double glazed panels have failed with water ingress, condensation, and cracks. The window is 62 years old! It has served the Church and its people well in that time. 

This summer will see its replacement with an aluminium framed double-glazed installation as well as replacement of the external stone cills and some making good of the surrounding mortar. It’s another big project to ensure our Church building is watertight, warm, and fit for purpose in glorifying God. I’ll share more in future weeks about when the work will take place (to be confirmed), what disruption it will cause, and how the work is being funded. For now I just wanted you to know the headline that the window is scheduled for replacement. We’ve recently secured the legal permission (“faculty”) for the work to go ahead and so things will now start to pick up speed.

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Parking on a Sunday

Thank you to those who changed their parking routine last week in response to this notice. We have an increasing need for church members with disabilities and other needs to park near to the Church building in the accessible parking spaces. Our Churchwardens will continue to work closely with those who need to park there or normally park there to work out the best way forward. Some of those who can only arrive near to the start time of the service are struggling to find a parking space which is then a struggle to walk into Church if they are reliant on walking aids. Let us continue to look out for one another and help as needed.

Everyone is welcome to park on the Church car park. However, if you are in a position where walking is not a difficulty, please do consider parking on Meadows Avenue on the Churchyard side (where there are lots of free parking spaces without disturbing nearby residents).

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Exploring ministry to ladies

For those interesting in contributing ideas to the future direction of our ministry and mission to ladies, there is a meeting on Tuesday 20th May in the Chapel from 6:30 PM to 7:45 PM. Ladies are welcome to come along to prayerfully discern the way forward.

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Electoral Roll

Thank you to all those who completed the electoral roll form. In total 120 people are now on the Electoral Roll. If you missed doing it, don’t worry, you can apply to be on it once the APCM has taken place. The national Church Representation Rules which govern these procedures mean that between this point now and the APCM people cannot join the Electoral Roll. If you’re curious to see the Roll, you have the right to request to do so (to see the list of names but not any personal data).

Based on the numbers that receive this email each week, the Electoral Roll could easily be double or triple the number that have currently applied. So after the APCM please do apply if you haven’t done yet.

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Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Our 2025 APCM will be on the evening of Thursday 29th May beginning at 5:30 PM. Please do attend if you can, as this is an important annual meeting giving an overview of the previous year and looking forward to the year to come. This APCM will be suitable for all ages, so do come along as a family. We will start with food, then worship, after which a representative from each congregation will share some highlights of the ministry and mission during 2024. 

The evening consists of two official meetings, firstly the Meeting of Parishioners (known as the ‘Vestry Meeting’ where Churchwardens are elected) and the APCM where the annual accounts and report are presented and members of the laity are elected to serve on the PCC and Deanery Synod.

At the APCM we have four places for a three-year term on the PCC. Nomination forms are available to download and print here: 

• A nomination Form for Election to the PCC can be downloaded using this link HERE.

Nomination Forms must be submitted before or at the meeting. For more information about eligibility to serve on the PCC and Deanery Synod and the nominations and election process, please do get in touch with me. Please pray that God will equip and call people to these important roles to serve and lead His Church.

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2025 Treehouse Weekend Away – “Hallowed”

Once again we’re driving up the M6 to Grange-over-Sands for the fourth Treehouse Weekend Away. It’s only an hour from door-to-door. We’ll be staying at the Thornleigh Christian Hotel. The weekend will take place from Friday 31st October to Sunday 2nd November. The weekend will be full board, including all meals in the hotel from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch, with plenty of coffee breaks and biscuits inbetween. On the Saturday afternoon there might be a special trip to Holker Hall & Gardens in the nearby Holker Estate in Cartmel. 

The Treehouse Weekend Away is always a great opportunity to spend time together whilst growing deeper in our Christian faith. The theme will be “hallowed.”

How much? As a church we always try to subsidise the cost of the weekend for all who go, to ensure cost isn’t a barrier and to make things a little easier for families to budget, especially so close to Christmas. The price for the weekend is £155 per adult (17+). £35 for ages
3–5, £55 for ages 6–11, and £75 for ages 12–16. Children aged 0–2 are free of charge.

BOOK NOW! Places are available on a first come first served basis.

You can book and pay for places for the weekend here. If you’d prefer to pay in instalments by bank transfer, you can find the bank details here.

If the affordability of the weekend is a struggle, please get in touch. We don’t want cost to be a barrier to anyone attending.

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Giving to God

There are numerous ways to give to God and contribute to the mission and ministry of Christ Church:

• Bank transfer – details available here
• By dated giving envelopes (on request)
• By contactless machine at the back of Church (or sometimes positioned in the Pilgrim’s Rest or the Community Centre)
• Online giving – you can give online here
• You can give by text with a smartphone.  Send a text to 07380 307 800 containing our keyword “CCTFY5”, followed by the word “give”, followed by the amount you wish to give.  For example “CCTFY5 give £10” to give £10. Step by step instuctions here
• Cash in the collection plate (positioned on the font)

Bank transfer or standing order is the preferred method of giving as they do not have any processing fees attached. Tax payers can add Gift Aid to their gift. More information about this can be found on the website here.

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Diary of Activities and Services

Monday 19th May

• 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
• 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Food Pantry available (emergency food support)
• 12:00 Noon to 1:45 PM – Lyrics & Lunch unch in the Community Centre
• 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
• 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM – Bowl & Chat in the Community Centre
• 7:45 PM to 9:15 PM – Growth Group in the Community Centre

Tuesday 20th May

• 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
• 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Food Pantry available (emergency food support)
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Craft & Chat in Church
• 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Lunch in the Community Centre
• 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
• 6:30 PM to 7:45 PM – Ladies Ministry Exploration Meeting
• 7:45 PM to 8:30 PM – Prayer for Growth in the Community Centre

Wednesday 21st May

• 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM – ‘Walking Wednesday’ Breakfast Club in the Community Centre
• 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM – Fridaymen volunteers in the Churchyard and Church
• 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
• 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Food Pantry available (emergency food support)
• 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM – Wednesday Morning Growth Group in Church
• 11:15 AM to 12:00 Noon – Traditional (BCP) service of Holy Communion in Church
• 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Lunches for Seniors in the Community Centre
• 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
• 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM – Mothers’ Union in Church (followed by refreshments in the Community Centre)
• 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM – Lighthouse in the Community Centre
• 7:30 PM to 8:45 PM – Worship Team Rehearsal in Church

Thursday 22nd May

• 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in the Bookshop
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
• 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Food Pantry available (emergency food support)
• 12:00 Noon to 1:45 PM – Lyrics and Lunch in the Community Centre
• 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
• 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM – Bat & Chat in the Community Centre
• 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM – ‘Read, Mark, Learn’ Course at the Vicarage

Friday 23rd May

• 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM – Fridaymen volunteers in the Churchyard and Church
• 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Food Pantry available (emergency food support)
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Craft & Chat in Church
• 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
• 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM – Move & Chat in the Community Centre

Saturday 24th May

• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop

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Sunday 25th May

• 9:00 AM – Traditional (The Book of Common Prayer) Service of Holy Communion (with refreshments afterwards)
• 10:00 AM – Meadows Books open (until 10:45 AM)
• 11:00 AM – Contemporary Communion Service (livestreamed and with refreshments afterwards)
• 12:15 PM – Meadows Books’ open (until 12:45 PM) 
• 5:00 PM – Treehouse Family Worship (with refreshments)
• 6:00 PM – Meadows Books open (until 6:15 PM)

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Somewhere in this email I would normally say I’m looking to seeing you all on Sunday, however on this occasion I can’t. We’re not going to see each other this weekend, as later this morning I’m driving 300 miles south to attend a training weekend. I’m grateful to Peter and Paul for looking after the Sunday services for everyone.

I missed seeing some of you last week also because of popping up to Fleetwood to cover the service at St. Peter’s Fleetwood because of Andrew being unwell. I’m pleased to report Andrew is out of hospital, is feeling fine, and is back in action. Thank you for your prayers for him. 

God bless,

Damian