Hello everyone! I trust you’ve had a good week so far. It was tremendous and moving to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE day yesterday. We reflected in our services in Church on the great sacrifice of so many during the Second World War to secure our freedom, safety, and security. We also reflected on the victory day of Jesus, at his resurrection, and His great sacrifice in securing our eternal freedom from sin, evil, and death, and the eternal safety and security of heaven we will enjoy.
“‘And is seated at the right hand of the Father” is the next line of the Nicene Creed we are exploring on Sunday.
What do you do at the end of a busy day? You put your feet up! Job done. Sit down, relax.
Is that what Jesus is doing now? Is he sat with a cuppa with his feet up in heaven’s lounge watching Netflix? Not quite! The Bible teaches is that Jesus is “seated at the right hand of the Father.” There is a sense in which him being seated is symbolic of his finished work of rescuing sinners on earth like you and me. Being seated, especially at “the right hand of the Father” shows us that Jesus has the highest place of honour with his Father. Jesus is reigning, ruling, as the enthroned, coronated, crowned King of all kings and Lord of all lords. He is sovereign, supreme, in charge. He is also actively preparing a place for us in heaven and he is actively praying for us. He is also waiting for his Father to send him to us to take us to himself. At the same time, the Bible teaches us that we are in Jesus and He is in us. Wow! That’s so much to unpack and take in!
Come on Sunday as Paul Clemence teaches us, exploring this next line of the Nicene Creed and exploring the scriptures from the letter to the Hebrews and Matthew’s Gospel.
See you Sunday? There’s three options: 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 5:00 PM.
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Sunday Services
The services and activities on Sunday 11th 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: Hebrews 1:1-4 (Church Bible page 1001) and Matthew 26:57-68 (Church Bible page 833). The 11:00 AM order of service is available here.
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Parking on a Sunday
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 be working 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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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 12th 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 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 13th 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
- 7:45 PM to 8:30 PM – Prayer for Growth in the Community Centre
Wednesday 14th 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 11:00 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
- 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 15th 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 & Lunch in the Community Centre
- 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 16th 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
- 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM – Move & Chat in the Community Centre
Saturday 17th May
- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
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With blessings,
Damian
