Thinking about sharing our faith with others can sometimes be a little daunting. What if they don’t like what we’ve got to say? But we needn’t worry. God will give us the words to say, and actually research suggests that a lot of people are very open to having a conversation about Jesus.

At Christ Church, we’re spoiled for choice with activities that you can invite friends to in order to get them through the doors of Church for the first time, whether that’s cookery classes, table tennis, Pilgrim’s Rest or one of many special events. Starting this September we’re also running Alpha, which is a great introductory course especially designed for those exploring questions of faith.

A good place to start exploring faith is the Gospel of John in the New Testament. That’s why this week I’m recommending ‘John for Everyone’ by Tom Wright. The For Everyone series is a really accessible commentary series that doesn’t require theological training to understand (it’s for everyone!) We’ve got a couple of copies of parts 1 and 2 in the bookshop for you to pick up.

-Andrew-

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SUNDAY SERVICES

The services and activities on Sunday 25th June are:

• 9:00 AM Traditional (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 Service of Holy Communion LIVE streamed (with refreshments afterwards)
• 12:15 PM Meadows Books’ open (until 12:45 PM)
• 5:00 PM Treehouse Informal Family Worship (with refreshments)
• 6:00 PM Meadows Books open (until 6:15 PM)
• 6:00 PM Sanctuary (For Young People)

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WATCHING ONLINE

If you’re unable to attend due to health and mobility, our livestream can be viewed on our YouTube channel HERE and our Facebook channel HERE.

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BIBLE READINGS ON SUNDAY & BEYOND

Our focus in the Sunday morning services is on the Bible reading in Genesis 21:8-21 (Church Bible page 15). You can read it online HERE.

At Treehouse we’re looking at story 32 ‘God Parts the Red Sea’ from the Gospel Story Bible which covers Exodus chapter 14 – You can read it online HERE.  Then on Tuesday 7:00 PM and Wednesday 11:00 AM we’ll be taking a look at Luke 15:1-10. You can read that online HERE. 

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ORDER OF SERVICE

To download or print the order of service for the 11:00 AM service, please click on this link HERE and select Sunday 25th June.

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ROSSALL LUNCHTIME CONCERT

We had a lovely lunchtime concert on Tuesday with the students of Rossall School. Eric played saxophone, Eve was singing, Angie played the cello, Anna-Sophia on piano, Rosie on the Bassoon and Mia on the clarinet. There will be more concerts scheduled from September onwards, so watch this space!

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INSTALLATION OF BISHOP PHILIP

At 2pm tomorrow (June 24), people from across the County will gather at Blackburn Cathedral for the Installation Service for our new Bishop of Blackburn. Bishop Philip wants the day to be a joyful celebration of all that happens here in Blackburn Diocese in Christ’s name.

Writing recently to parishes, Bishop Philip said: “It will not surprise you that my Installation as Bishop of Blackburn will be in the context of a Eucharist of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel will be the song ‘Magnificat’ that Mary sings in the Spirit’s power; describing a world transformed by God’s saving power. “Whilst our Cathedral is the loveliest in the country, it is not the largest and sadly all the tickets for the Installation have now been allocated. However, the Installation will be livestreamed by the Cathedral. And, of course, we can be joined as one in prayer that day. Please pray for me as I will be praying for you.”

The livestream will be available here. And you can follow @cofelancs and Facebook/BlackburnDiocese for live updates on social media on the day.

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PAINTING!

Before the new clerestory windows are installed (because the timber on the existing windows is rotting), the cast iron gutters need stripping and painting, as well as the soffits. The work will start over the summer months to make best use of the weather. Volunteers are needed for this important task. The work involves climbing a ladder to get onto the side aisle flat (very slightly sloping) roof. Once on the roof the guttering can be reached without needing a ladder. If you feel you are capable of helping for a few hours, or a few days (or a few weeks!) please speak to John Hearnshaw. A risk assessment will be carried out before the work starts, to ensure risk reducing measures are put in place for the protection of those doing the work.

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SANCTUARY YOUTH GROUP

Sanctuary is taking place on Sunday 25th June from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. As usual there will be pizza, pool, table tennis, Exploding Kittens, Nintendo, and other games.

p.s. This is for young people only!

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CHRIST CHURCH FOOTBALL CLUB

The next get together is on Monday 26th June 2023 from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM. We have booked the 7’s dome pitch at Poolfoot Farm for our second CCFC vs CCFC match.

The next competitive match is a friendly against Kay Street Baptist Church on Saturday 5th August 11:00 AM kick off at Poolfoot Farm, Gamble Road, Thornton-Cleveleys. Supporters welcome!

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NO MOVE & CHAT THIS WEEK

Our chair-based gentle exercise activity is not running next week (Friday 30th June). It will resume again on Friday 7th July. 

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SERVICES ON SUNDAY 2nd JULY

On Sunday 2nd July the morning services will be combined and will be at 10:00 AM. This is to ensure adequate setting up time afterwards for the Ordination Service at 2:00 PM. The 10:00 AM service will follow a traditional liturgy of holy communion (Book of Common Prayer) with modern hymns which the music group will lead.

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ANDREW’S ORDINATION

Andrew will be ordained priest on Sunday 2nd July at 2:00 PM. We won’t need to hire a coach because the ordination service is going to be here at Christ Church! There will be four people being ordained in total by Bishop Tony Porter. The Church will be very busy. Please do come and support Andrew at this important juncture in his life and ministry.

Andrew will be leading his first service of Holy Communion at the Treehouse Service on Sunday 2nd July at 5:00 PM. All are welcome even if you don’t normally attend Treehouse. It will be lovely to support Andrew and be present as he leads his first service of Holy Communion.

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MEN UNITED

The next Men United will be on Friday 7th July at 7:30 PM in the Vicarage Garden. Please bring your own drinks along with £5 to cover the cost of the food which will be Dominos Pizza. There will be games taking place in the garden including bowls and boules.

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GARDEN PARTY

Damian, Lauren, Harry and Ruby invite you to their home as they host a garden party at the Vicarage on the afternoon of Saturday 8th July from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. 

Come and sit and enjoy the sunshine (we hope!). There will be something for all ages. There will be a bouncy castle and slide for the children to enjoy, plenty of food, and wonderful live musical entertainment throughout the afternoon.

There will be no charge to attend.

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SUMMER BREAK Our Community Centre Programme will be pausing for three weeks at the end of July and the beginning of August. This allows our staff and volunteers to have a much needed break before starting up again. All usual Community Centre Activities will not run from Monday 17th July until Sunday 6th August. They will resume on Monday 7th August. 

Exceptions to these dates are:

• Family teatime cookery classes, which will resume in September.
• Playhouse at Burn Naze and our Tuesday Evening Worship Service which will both finish a week sooner (last session on 4th July) and resume in September. 

It is likely the Growth Group and the Wednesday midweek service will be affected during this period due to clergy holidays. More information will be given nearer the time.

Keep coming to everything you normally come to and keep reading the weekly email for updates about things stopping and starting. Thank you for your patience.

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A TASTE OF THE KESWICK CONVENTION

And another date for your diary! A ‘taste of the Keswick Convention’ hosted by Damian on Friday 4th August 2023. It will be a great day out(!), leaving Church at 8:30 AM and returning late in the evening after the evening Celebration (arriving back in Thornton at 11:30 PM). It will be a long day out but with plenty of free time in the afternoon to rest, explore Keswick, the Lake, and the shops. The cost for the coach travel, a packed lunch, and fish and chips for tea is £35 per person.

The Keswick Convention has been taking place since 1875. It offers something for everyone – life-changing Bible teaching, worship and fellowship, all combined with the chance to relax and enjoy the wonder of the Lake District.

To book your place on the trip please book HERE using this link.

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ALPHA

ALPHA is a short course that introduces the basics of christian faith in a welcoming and engaging way. It includes a tasty meal, a short video on topics like ‘Who is Jesus?’, followed by a friendly discussion where guests are encouraged to express any opinion or ask any question they like. It’s a great course to come on if you’re exploring faith, and a great course to invite a friend to. 

We’re running Alpha from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM on a Wednesday evening, starting on 13th September and running until just before Christmas. This will run alongside with Lighthouse, so the children will join us for the meal, and parents can stay for Alpha while the children are at Lighthouse. 

Booking for Alpha will open in July. For now, please do be praying for Alpha and thinking about who you might invite. Email andrew@christchurchthornton.uk to find out more or to join the Alpha team. 

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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:

• Online giving – you can give online HERE
• Text message – simply text SUNDAY to 70460 to donate £10. Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message which will be added to your mobile phone bill
• 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)
• 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

Here’s a comprehensive list of all that’s taking place in the week ahead…

Monday 26th June

• 9:00 AM to 9:25 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
• 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
• 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)
• 12:00 PM to 1:45 PM – Lyrics and Lunch in the Community Centre and Church
• 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM – Bowl & Chat in the Community Centre
• 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM – Burn Naze Prayer Walk
• 7:30 PM to 9:30 Pm – Ordination Service Rehearsal in Church
• 7:45 PM to 9:15 PM – Monday night Growth Group in Community Centre

Tuesday 27th June

• 9:00 AM to 9:25 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
• 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Craft & Chat in Church
• 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 PM to 1:00 PM – Lunch in the Community Centre
• 1:45 PM to 2:15 PM – Lunchtime Concert in Church with students from Rossall School
• 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM – Burnaze Playhouse (parent, baby and toddlers) at the Thornton Cleveleys Football Club (Gamble Road)
• 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM – Tuesday Evening Worship Service (TEWS) in Church
• 7:45 PM to 9:15 PM Tuesday night Growth Group in Church

Wednesday 28th June

• 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM – Fridaymen volunteers in the Churchyard and Church
• 9:00 AM to 9:25 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
• 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM – Wednesday morning Growth Group in Church
• 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
• 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)
• 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM – Traditional (BCP) service of holy communion in Church
• 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM – Lunches for Seniors in the Community Centre
• 5:45 PM to 6:45 PM – Lighthouse children’s group in the Community Centre
• 7:45 PM to 9:00 PM – Musical Worship Team Rehearsal in Church

Thursday 29th June

• 9:00 AM to 9:25 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
• 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
• 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)
• 12:00 PM to 1:45 PM – Lyrics and Lunch in the Community Centre and Church
• 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM – Bat & Chat in the Community Centre

Friday 30th June

• 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM – Fridaymen volunteers in the Churchyard and Church
• 9:00 AM to 9:25 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Craft & Chat in Church
• 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)
• 10:30 AM to 11:00 PM – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
• 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM – Family Teatime Cookery Class in the Community Centre
• 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM – Meeting of the PCC in the Church and Community Centre

Saturday 1st July

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

Not sure what to come to? Not sure if a service or activity is suited to you or not? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch and ask.

Below is a reminder of some of our daytime activities in the Community Centre Hall…

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BOWL & CHAT!

Mondays at 2:30 PM in the Community Centre Hall, short-mat bowls with two 45ft long mats and an ample selection of bowls provided. A relaxed non-competitive atmosphere with opportunity for conversation and refreshments. Beginners welcome, as are experts! A suggested donation of £3 per person per session. No need to book – just turn up!

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BAT & CHAT!

Thursdays at 2:30 PM in the Community Centre Hall, table tennis tables (x3) with bats and balls provided. There is also a slate-bed pool table, chess, scrabble and refreshments. A relaxed non-competitive atmosphere with lots of doubles matches taking place. Sofas available too for conversation and refreshments. A suggested donation of £3 per person per session. No need to book – just turn up!

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FAMILY TEATIME COOKERY CLASSES

Fridays at 5:00 PM in the Community Centre Hall, for families to gather after-school for a hot meal and at the same time be hands-on in preparing food and trying out recipe ideas which are made during the activity and taken home to enjoy. The weekly cookery classes enable families to learn new skills, revitalise old skills and enjoy preparing, cooking and eating fresh food together.

There is no charge for the sit-down hot meal or the ingredients. All are welcome – single-parent families, families with one child and families with many children. Booking is required – please get in touch to book your place.

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LUNCHES FOR SENIORS!

Don’t forget, every Wednesday at 12:00 PM in the Community Centre Hall we are stlll running Lunches for Seniors. There is no set charge for the food (but donations are welcome). It is a two-course lunch followed by tea and coffee. ‘Banjo Bob’ provides brilliant entertainment throughout.

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LYRICS AND LUNCH

Mondays at 12:00 PM in the Community Centre Hall.  For people living with dementia and their carers. Soup, sandwiches, crisps, ice cream, tea and coffee – all served in a pleasant comfortable atmosphere and a real sense of friendship and community. At 1:00 PM Banjo Bob provides 40 minutes of music for the brain to sing along to and enjoy.

Thursdays at 12:00 PM in the Community Centre Hall.  For adults with special needs and their carers. Soup, sandwiches, crisps, ice cream, tea and coffee – all served in a pleasant comfortable atmosphere. Lots and lots of people attend from local domiciliary homes. At 1:00 PM Banjo Bob provides 40 minutes of music to sing along to, dance along to and enjoy.

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With blessings,

Damian & Andrew