What a seven days it’s been! We had the Treehouse Weekend Away in Grange-over-Sands. The highlight was Saturday, where 34 gathered for worship, teaching, games, a walk, feeding the ducks, craft, lovely meals, and more. We focused on the prayer of Jesus in John 17. We even sang a new song which was written especially for the weekend. The children were inspiring in sharing they had been learning. For example, that knowing Jesus = eternal life. Also that Jesus is our ticket and our passport and security guard, ensuring the salvation we enjoy now will remains so permanently until he calls us to heaven. We have the date now for next year. There will be 40 places, so do save the date if you’d like to go.
As I write this email, I’m delighted to announce the new signage (years and years of planning) are now installed. You can’t help but see them as you drive or walk past Church or come into the car park. Please do pray these will have a positive impact in helping people know where Christ Church is and what it does.
Here’s a question to leave you with…
What does God breathe out?
Have a read of the Bible passage for this Sunday and you’ll find the answer (hint: it is NOT carbon dioxide!).
See you Sunday!
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Sunday Services The services and activities on Sunday 3rd November are:
- 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 with refreshments afterwards)
- 12:15 PM Meadows Books’ open (until 12:45 PM)
- 3:00 PM Traditional Service of Evening Prayer (with refreshments afterwards)
- 5:00 PM Treehouse Family Communion (with refreshments)
- 6:00 PM Meadows Books open (until 6:15 PM)
- 6:00 PM Sanctuary Youth Group (with pizza
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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 reading: 2 Timothy 3:1-17 (page 996 of the Church Bibles). Our theme is ‘wise for salvation’ as we continue with part 3 of our Bible Festival. The 11:00 AM order of service is available here.
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Treehouse Weekend Away
To the Treehouse congregation: save the date now for next year! It will be from Friday 31st October to Sunday 2nd November 2025. A booking link with payment options will be available soon.
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Illuminations Party!
We had a great time last night at the Illuminations Party, with the fresh air of the Irish Sea, a lovely walk, fresh chips, and warm doughnuts! Next year the 31st October falls on the weekend of the Treehouse Weekend Away, therefore we’ll most likely do something special whilst in Grange-over-Sands.
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Polling Station – Hall being used on Thursday
Please note that all the usual activities which take place in the Community Centre Hall on Thursday 7th November will not be running due to the Hall being used as a polling station. The bookshop, Pilgrim’s Rest and the Food Pantry and unaffected by this.
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‘Cookhouse’ Family Teatime Cookery Class
To book for Cookhouse on Friday 8th November at 5:00 PM please book using this link here.
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Remembrance Sunday
Next Sunday, the 11:00 AM service at Church will start at the earlier time of 10:45 AM, in order that as close to 11:00 AM as possible we can hold an Act of Remembrance. Peter and Chris will be looking after the the service, whilst Damian is leading the public service at the War Memorial at Four Lane Ends. If you’d like to go to that, the parade will start at 10:45 AM, with people gathering together quite early, usually from around 10:30 AM.
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PCC Awayday
Please pray for the members of the PCC and other guests as they meet tomorrow at Whalley Abbey to pray and plan for the coming years.
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Can you host some actors?
We are looking for volunteers to act as hosts for the four team members from the 4 Front Theatre Company for the evenings of Tuesday 3rd December and Wednesday the 4th December. If you have a spare bed at your inn and would like to host one of the team could you please email martin@christchurchthornton.uk by the 6th November.
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Advent Concert
We’re looking forward to hosting an Advent Concert on Friday 29th November at 7:30 PM. We’ll be hosting once again Christian singer-songwriters Yvonne Lyon, Gareth Davies-Jones and David Lyon as they bring you an evening of live acoustic seasonal music.
Expect wonderful melodies, soaring harmonies, and an acoustic warmth and intimacy generated by three creative artists at the top of their craft.
This event is perfect to invite a friend or family member to – expecially someone who wouldn’t usually come to Church.
Please book tickets in advance, costing £10.00 adult, £5.00 child. Click on this link here to book.
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Christmas Tree Lighting
Come along to the Christmas Tree Lighting at 5:00 PM on Sunday 1st December in the Car Park. With carols around the outdoor tree, lovely mince pies and hot chocolate, this annual event is a fun occasion for all ages, and the tree lighting is a moment of excitement for children (and adults!) Wrap up warm!
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Not Getting Inn!
It’s Pan-tivity time! It’s a nativity, and a pantomime (“oh yes it is!”).
A Roman census, tired guests, a broken stable, and a surprise inn-spection. There’s no room at the inn, so when a pregnant woman knocks at the door, how on earth will Bucky the Bell-Boy squeeze them inn?
The Nativity story meets Fawlty Towers in this farcical panto, with songs, slapstick, and plenty of laughs! 4Front Theatre Company are joining us once again, bringing a show full to the rafters with fun, all the while delivering a message of hope, found in the birth of Jesus. It’s on Thursday 5th December, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. To enable as many children, their families, and adults to come and enjoy the evening, it will be free of charge. So please spread the word, put the date in your diary, and let’s fill every seat.
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Christmas Coach Trip to Chester
Damian will be leading a coach trip to Chester on Friday 6th December.
The coach will be setting off from Christ Church Thornton at 8:30 AM, arriving in Chester just before 10:30 AM. The coach will leave Chester at 4:30 PM, arriving back at Christ Church around 6:30 PM, traffic dependent.
This will be a lovely opportunity to visit the Christmas Market outside the Town Hall near to Chester Cathedral (there’s around 70 stalls). You can explore Chester at your own leisure, and if interested, to visit Chester Cathedral. The Refectory Cafe is lovely place for lunch or coffee and cake. If you wish you could pay to go on a tour of the Cathedral with a guide. NB: due to a concert taking place at the Cathedral that evening, some parts of the Cathedral might not be as accessible as usual.
The cost for the travel only is £20 per person. Bookings can be made online using this link here.
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Christmas Cracker – Concert with Thornton Cleveleys Brass Band
We’re delighted to be partnering with the local and brilliant Thornton-Cleveleys Brass Band to host a ‘Christmas Cracker.’ It will be on Saturday 7th December at 7:30 PM. The cost is £7.50 per person, payable on the door on the night.
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Carols at Blackpool Tower
An organisation in Blackpool called Refreshment UK are running a special celebration of carols at the Tower. It’s on Tuesday 10th December from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Favourite carols will be accompanied by the band from the Salvation Army at Blackpool Citadel. For more information and tickets please click on this link here.
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Playhouse Nativity
Each morning at Playhouse (for babies, toddlers and their parents/carers) from Monday 16th to Thursday 19th December there will be a pop-up nativity (for those who attend Playhouse). It’s from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in the Community Centre Hall.
Going on a special tour of the building, Banjo Bob, Lyrical Lauren, and Deputy Damian will be leading the cast of mini actors. The first stop will be the Pilgrim’s Rest. Will there be any water or snacks for the donkey? The next stop will be the bookshop. Will there be any room at the Inn? The next stop will be the Choir Vestry. Where are the shepherds? The final stop will be the Church, in preparation for the birth of a very special baby. Where are the angels?
Parents and carers are encouraged to bring costumes for themselves and their children!
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Festive Musical Lunches
You’re invited to the very popular (book early!) Festive Musical Lunches – with carrot & coriander soup, turkey sandwiches, yule log, and cheese and crackers. There’ll be Christmas crackers, carols, and the opportunity to join Banjo Bob to spin the wheel with his famous catchphrases: “round and round the wheel goes, where it stops nobody knows…once completed it must be deleted!”
Please please please BOOK here using this link rather than just tell someone you are coming.
They are on:
- Monday 16th December, 12:00 Noon.
- Tuesday 17th December, 12:00 Noon.
- Wednesday 18th December, 12:00 Noon.
- Thursday 19th December, 12:00 Noon.
The cost is £10 per person per lunch. If affordability is a problem, please don’t let that put you off. Have a chat with Damian or one of the team.
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Christmas Carol Services & Treehouse Nativity
Join us to sing your favourite carols at one of our Carol Services and the Treehouse Nativity on Sunday 22nd December:
- 10:00 AM Traditional Carols and Communion
- 5:00 PM Treehouse Nativity
- 6:00 PM Mince Pies and Mulled Wine
- 7:00 PM Contemporary Service of Lessons and Carols
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Orange & Chat!
Christingle Elves needed! This annual event to prepare the Christingles will be on Monday 23rd December from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM in the Community Centre Hall. We’ll be getting all the components together. Various roles required, from bagging up sweets, to wrapping the oranges, to dropping a doughnut in each bag. Come along and have some fun.
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Christingle
An orange, some red ribbon, sweets on sticks and a glow stick. Somehow it all points to the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World. Come and join us for our Christingle service at 3:00 PM on Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24th December.
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Christmas Day Community Dinner 2024“Delicious Food, Friendship, Faith, and Joy”
We are looking forward to hosting a joy filled afternoon on Wednesday 25th December from 1:00 PM onwards in the Community Centre Hall. The meal is for anyone who might benefit from having company on Christmas Day. Enjoy a proper Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings, followed of course by pudding, cake, and cheese and biscuits! There will be a quiz and live music.
There is no charge for any of the food or the activities. God gave the generous gift of Jesus at the first Christmas. We believe in sharing the generous love of God with anyone who would like to receive it.
Booking is essential. Please sign up using this link here.
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Sermon Series
Here is an insight into what’s coming up in our services….
- Sunday 10th November
- Remembrance Sunday
- Passage: John 15:12-17
- Sunday 17th November
- Theme: ‘Crown of righteousness’ (Bible Festival part 4)
- Passage: 2 Timothy 4
- Sunday 24th November
- Theme: ‘God will wipe away every tear’
- Passage: Revelation 7
- Sunday 1st December (Advent 1)
- Theme: ‘The marriage supper of the Lamb’
- Passage: Revelation 19
- Sunday 8th December (Advent 2)
- Theme: ‘The dwelling place of God is with man’
- Passage: Revelation 21
- Sunday 15th December (Advent 3)
- Theme: “I am coming soon”
- Passage: Revelation 22
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Church WhatsApp Announcement Group
We are also trialing a Church WhatsApp Announcement Group (often called a WhatsApp Community). Short and quick-to-read useful messages of information about church life and activities will be posted on it. If you subscribe to it, no one can see your number except the administrator (currently Damian, with one or two more people to be added going forward).
To try it out and get involved click on this link here to be added to it. If you like it, you can keep on it and if you don’t like it you can easily ‘exit’ the group at any time. You can also ‘mute’ notifications at any time.
If it works, we’ll launch sub-groups by WhatsApp for various church activities going forward as an efficient way to broadcast useful and activity-specific important information (in addition to the weekly news).
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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 4th November
- 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 and Lunch in the Community Centre
- NB: Due an activity being filmed in Church the singing will take place in the Community Centre Hall and not 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 5th November
- 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
- 3:45 PM to 4:45 PM – KICK Academy at Thornton Cleveleys Football Club on Gamble Road
- 7:45 PM to 8:30 PM – Prayer for Growth in the Community Centre
Wednesday 6th November
- 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM – Breakfast Club and Walking Bus to Royles Brook School 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
- 2:00 PM to 3:45 PM – Mothers’ Union in the Church and Community Centre
- 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM – Lighthouse in the Community Centre
- 7:30 PM to 8:45 PM – Worship Team Rehearsal
Thursday 7th November
NB: Due to the Community Centre Hall being used as a Polling Station, all the usual activities which take place in the Hall are not running on Thursday 7th November.
- 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM – 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)
Friday 8th November
- 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)
- 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM – Move and Chat in the Community Centre
- 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM – ‘Cookhouse’ Family Teatime Cookery Class in the Community Centre
Saturday 9th November
- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
Sunday 10th November
- 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)
- (NB: the 11:00 AM starts at the earlier time of 10:45 AM for Remembrance Sunday)
- 10:45 AM Remembrance 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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With blessings,
Damian
