Good evening everyone!
Were you there today? At the Big Day Out? If not, then I’ll tell you more about it. Today the Diocese of Blackburn had its Big Day Out in the centre of Blackpool. Around 1,000 people had booked places for the day. Despite the damp weather everything went ahead as planned with an outdoor service of worship which followed the free hog roast and activities for all ages. It was great to see a few people from Christ Church Thornton amidst Christians from all over Lancashire. It was a unique afternoon, praising God in the heart of Blackpool, with a rousing invitation from Bishop Philip for people to trust in Jesus as the Shepherd who is seeking them out. Here’s some photos…
The Big Day Out was all part of the 100 year birthday celebration of the Diocese of Blackburn. The next event for your diaries is…
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Celebration of the Centenary of the Diocese of Blackburn
2026 is the Centenary Year of the Cathedral and Diocese of Blackburn. A year of celebration will culminate on Thursday November 12th, the exact date when the Diocese was formed out of the Diocese of Manchester one hundred years ago.
On that day representatives of the Diocese together with friends and partners will gather in Blackburn Cathedral for a celebration of the Eucharist commencing at 7:00 PM.
Bishop Philip asks you to save the date in your diaries. A formal invitation will come from the Cathedral in the early part of the Summer.
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Annual Meetings
Thank you to all who came to the annual meetings on Thursday. A special thank you to those who have served as Churchwardens, PCC members and Deanery Synod members in the last year and more. If you’d like to keep up to speed with who serves on the PCC, you can see the relevant page on the church website HERE.
As was mentioned at the meetings, we’re looking forward to recruiting four assistant Churchwardens and two deputy Churchwardens in the coming weeks. This will create a Churchwarden team overseen by Judith Murphy and John Hearnshaw. Each of the regular services of 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM will have two members of the Churchwarden team assigned to them.
Thank you to all who serve in so many ways at Christ Church. We have over 70 volunteers serving across all the activities. Participating in the life of the church family is hugely important. It serves God, his people, his mission and is so often a pivotal part of growing in faith. If you’re interested in a conversation to explore where and when God might be calling you to serve, do please get in touch.
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Coming soon!
During the year we’ll be holding two special events (both on a Saturday) where we’ll be joined by a presenter from Walk Through the Bible. One of the events will be an interactive and engaging teaching event that uncovers the Big Picture of the Old Testament – Genesis to Malachi – and the second event will cover the Big Picture of the New Testament – Matthew to Revelation.
Each event will be really fun as well as an encouraging way to consolidate prior Bible knowledge and help fill in gaps. An experienced presenter will lead each event with five one-hour sessions on each of the two dates. The presenter will set up the room to explain the Biblical geography and how it impacts the story. There will be a specifically designed Workbook, accompanied by a PowerPoint, containing maps, charts and book summaries.
The dates are: Saturday 11th July 2026 and Saturday 3rd October 2026. The first event is ‘Walk Through the Old Testament.’ To watch a promotional video introducing what happens in the event click HERE.
The cost is £16 per person per event. Details of how to book for Saturday 11th July are below…
You can scan the QR code or use this link HERE. The QR code and link takes you to the Walk Through the Bible website. Scroll down the list of events at different churches to find the Christ Church Thornton event and buy tickets from there. For any questions, further info or booking issues please speak to Chris Fallone.
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This Sunday’s Services
Looking forward to seeing many of you tomorrow at Church as we come together to worship, look at the word, and witness the wonder of God’s love as we remember all that took place on the cross and in the tomb 2,000 years ago!
The services and activities on Sunday 17th May 2026 are:
- 9:00 AM – Traditional Service
- 11:00 AM – Contemporary Service
- 5:00 PM – Treehouse Family Worship
There are refreshments in the Community Centre Hall after the 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM services and before the 5:00 PM service. The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop is open after each service.
It can be very helpful to read and reflect on the Bible passage(s) before coming to Church, to ensure some familiarity. You can read them HERE and HERE or find them in your own Bible at home: Acts 18:1-11 and Matthew 28:16-20
Our live stream on Sunday at 11:00 AM can be viewed on our YouTube channel HERE. The 11:00 AM order of service is available HERE.
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Our current teaching series
This Sunday is the next in our series on the theme of Modelling Jesus in Everyday Life:
- Modelling Godly Character
- Making Good Work
- Ministering Grace and Love
- Moulding Culture
- Making Disciples
- Being a Messenger of the Gospel
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Brickhouse!
Brickhouse has got off to a great start, with 8-10 children attending on a Tuesday. Their creativity and nimbleness is inspiring. We’d still like some further donations of LEGO if you have some – preferably washed and sorted through. We’re looking forward to next Tuesday, 19th May from from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM. No need to book, just turn up!
What is Brickhouse?
A LEGO based midweek after-school family activity club on a Tuesday from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM. For families with primary-age kids (children must be accompanied by their parents and guardians at all times). Taking place in the Community Centre Hall, children and their grown-ups get to build some cool creations from LEGO bricks based on a special Bible theme for that week. There’s toast, biscuits and drinks too!
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Food Hygiene Training
We want to offer the best we can, in the best way we can, with the best training we can get. We do our best to honour the best – our Lord God. It’s time for all our volunteers and staff who handle food in the kitchen to renew their Food Hygiene Level 2 Training. This is compulsory to ensure we adhere to the statutory requirements for us to handle food safely. There is no charge for anyone to complete the training as this has been paid for already in advance. All it requires is to set aside some time and be in front of a computer to watch the videos and answer the questions.
Those who operate in a supervisory role or are significantly involved in food preparation and handling will need to complete Food Hygiene Level 3 (rather than Level 2). You’ll be informed about this.
In the coming weeks, I will be sending links by email to all those who are needed to undertake the Level 2 and Level 3 training. The links will provide the login details to access the training through a provider called High Speed Training. Once you have completed the training a certificate will be sent by post to provide evidence you have done the training. For any further information please do speak to Lauren Platt or Janette Grey.
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Finance, Personnel (HR) and Grants Manager
Expressions of interest are welcome for a new employed role of Finance, Personnel (HR) and Grants Manager on-site here at Christ Church Thornton. The part-time post of 25 hours per week will be a significantly important staff member role, pivotal to the support of the leadership of Christ Church and the delivery of its vision. The role will include things such as inputting data into financial systems, preparing and paying invoices, preparing budgets, financial reporting, preparing staff contracts, appraisals, tracking annual leave, sickness pay and preparing grant applications.
A committed Christian with a heart for the mission and values of the church will thrive in this role. In due course the role will be formally advertised along with a job description and person specification. In the meantime expressions of interest are welcome by email to damian@christchurchthornton.uk
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Worship song playlist
This week’s worship songs for our 11:00 AM service on the 17th May can be listended to advance using this link HERE. It’s a Spotify playlist. Listening to and singing along to worship songs can be so uplifting and spiritually refreshing. It’s yet another way to worship all through the week. The songs are great to play in the car and at home and will help you be familiar with what we sing each Sunday. When you click on the link it will open up for you the Spotify website or app on your mobile or laptop. If you already have Spotify you can listen straightaway. If you don’t, then the Spotify app is free to download following the instructions that come up.
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Water
Have you enjoyed a glass of water or two today? Was it easy to source? What if you didn’t have a tap with running water?
The latest news from the Life Association is about a water well being provided in a village in Tamil, Nadu (India). This will directly help 150 families. For more info look at this link HERE. Praise God for the work of the Life Association in bringing the love of God and practical help to those in need.
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All for Jesus Seminars
Embracing the diocesan 2026 theme of All for Jesus, I am running a series of 45-minute seminars to look at some interesting and sometimes controversial subjects. The purpose of these is to stretch our theological muscles and ponder some little discussed but important subjects. Each seminar is rooted in teaching from the holy scriptures with some history, theology – all within a prayerful and pastoral approach.
- 009 | Tuesday 19th May | Is purgatory real? Book HERE.
- 010 | Tuesday 26th May | Is it okay to go shopping on a Sunday?
- 011 | Tuesday 2nd June | Is the Church building a temple, a sacred space, or ordinary?
- 012 | Tuesday 9th June| What happens when we die?
- 013 | Tuesday 16th June | What will heaven be like?
- 014 | Tuesday 1st September | How can we have free will if God plans and knows everything?
- 015 | Tuesday 8th September | Does God allow or cause suffering?
- 016 | Tuesday 15th September | Did God create the devil to be evil?
- 017 | Tuesday 22nd September | What will hell be like?
- 018 | Tuesday 29th September | Did Jesus go to hell before his resurrection?
Future topics will include:
- Should we pray to the saints?
- Do babies go to heaven?
- Will we meet our loved ones in heaven?
- In heaven, will we eat, drink, work, play, shop?
All the seminars will take place on a Tuesday lunchtime from 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM in the Community Centre Hall over a simple lunch of soup and a roll followed by cheese and biscuits. The cost is £5 to cover the cost of food. Booking in advance is required via the link published in the weekly news email the week before each event happens. Book HERE for Tuesday 19th May.
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Move & Chat
Move & Chat is the gentle exercise opportunity on a Friday afternoon in the Community Centre at 2:30 PM. For those who often attend, please be aware Move & Chat will not be taking place on the following Fridays: 22nd May, 29th May, 5th, 12th June.
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Open the Book
Open the Book (OtB) is an exciting storytelling project where Bible stories are shared with children in a way that is fun, interactive and memorable. As invited guests in school, storytelling teams use the Open the Book programme to prepare and present a 10–15-minute scripted Bible story to a school assembly, involving the children as much as possible.
We need people to pray – members of the whole family of Christ Church (you!) – to help with this outreach. Whenever, and wherever you say your prayers, we ask that you would please include Open the Book in your prayers, that the children of Thornton Primary School (when we go in May and July), will find something extraordinary in each story which will delight them, and stay in their memories as they grow up. Amen!
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Side Aisle Support (SAS!)
On a Friday morning from 10:00 AM to 12 Noon, Sally Johnson is stationed in the side aisle of Church with a table, some chairs and a smile. This is to provide support for benefits (eligibility and applications) and similar things. Sally can help with signposting people as well as form-filling. Do drop-in to speak to Sally if this might be useful.
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Lighthouse
Our midweek children’s club ‘Lighthouse’ is on Wednesdays at 5:30 PM. The next Lighthouse is on Wednesday 20th May. This is for children of primary school age. Lighthouse is a weekly term-time Bible-based club for children, with snacks, songs, teaching, and craft. Parents are welcome to stay for coffee in the Chapel.
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Playhouse
Playhouse is our brilliant hour each morning (Monday to Thursday) for babies, toddlers and pre-school children with their adults/parents/carers. Each time there is a Christian story and songtime led by Lauren and ‘Banjo Bob.’ There’s toast and drinks for everyone. It takes place from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Monday to Thursday in the Community Centre Hall.
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Opportunities to Service
On Tuesday 2nd June 2026, at 7:30 PM, Christ Church is the venue for the Primary Visitation – which is when Bishop Philip will install Churchwardens from the deaneries of Blackpool, Poulton, Kirkham, Lancaster and Morecambe. If you can help with the catering and other practical elements, please do get in touch. We will need musicians and welcomers in addition to help with catering.
On Saturday 13th June 2026, Christ Church is the venue for the Christ Church Blackburn whole-church awayday. If you can help with the catering and other practical elements, please do get in touch.
On Saturday 27th June 2026, Christ Church is the venue for the St. John’s Whittle-le-Woods and Clayton Brook Community Church PCC Vision awayday. If you can help with the catering and other practical elements, please do get in touch.
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Confirmation Classes
For those looking to be confirmed by Bishop Philip on Sunday 31st May, the remaining preparation classes are taking place from 7:15 PM to 8:45 PM on:
- Wednesday 20th May (confirmation rehearsal)
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Accommodation needed
As a church we all sorts of links with Norcross Cricket Club through the involvement of church members. As such, we’ve been asked if anyone might be willing to help. They are seeking accommodation for an an overseas amateur cricketer. Mr Adi Datkhile will join them from Australia at the end of April or early May and stay until mid-September.
Back home in Australia, Adi works as a Mechanical Project Engineer at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and he will be returning to that job when he goes back to Oz. With both an engineering degree and a Masters, Adi he is a bright young man, very polite, but also a talented cricketer, and will assist with coaching the junior players throughout his stay.
Norcross Cricket Club carefully selected Adi from several candidates interested in playing for their club, as finding someone who genuinely reflects their team’s values and standards within the community was a top priority.
If you have a spare room in your household that might be suitable until mid-September, please do get in touch with the Norcross Cricket Club Chair, Mr Ian Davies. He can be emailed at: slowerball@outlook.com
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Keswick at Home
The Keswick Convention is an inspiring thing to attend and be part of. Not everyone can manage to get there or stay over. Therefore, on Friday 7th August we’re creating a ‘Keswick at Home’ experience at Christ Church in the Community Centre Hall.
We’ll be watching the Evening Celebration live on the big screen, hoping to create that big tent experience. We will be eating fish and chips (a popular delicacy at Keswick) and then tuning in to the teaching, the music and the atmosphere of the last day of the Convention on our big screen. Come along and experience the fun, fellowship, celebration and brilliant Bibe teaching.
More details to follow in the future but for now please save this date in your diary: Friday 7th August, 6:00 PM.
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2026 Treehouse Weekend Away
Once again we’re driving up the M6 to Grange-over-Sands for the fifth 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 23rd October to Sunday 25th October 2026. 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. We’ll enjoy a lovely walk out on the Saturday afternoon – to spot birds, spot trains, spot Blackpool Tower, play in the park, feed the ducks and visit the chocolate shop!
The food at Thornleigh is always amazing!
The Treehouse Weekend Away is always a great opportunity to spend time together whilst growing deeper in our Christian faith.
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 below is a subsidised price made possible by the generosity of church members and through raising funds or securing diocesan grants.
The price for the weekend is £170 per adult (17+). £40 for ages 3–5, £60 for ages 6–11, and £80 for ages 12–16. Children aged 0–2 are free of charge.
The booking link is now live HERE.
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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 instructions 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 18th 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 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
- 12:00 Noon to 1:45 PM – Lyrics & Lunch in the Community Centre
- 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM – Bowl & Chat in the Community Centre
- 7:45 PM to 9:30 PM – Growth Group in the Community Centre
Tuesday 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)
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Craft & Chat in Church
- 12:00 Noon to 12:45 PM – All for Jesus Seminar & Lunch in the Community Centre
- 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
- 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM – Brickhouse (children’s group) in the Community Centre
- 7:45 PM to 8:30 PM – Prayer for Growth in the Community Centre
Wednesday 20th May
- 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM – ‘Walking Wednesday’ Breakfast 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 – 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 Communion in Church & Community Centre
- 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM – Lighthouse (children’s group) in the Community Centre
- 7:15 PM to 8:45 PM – Confirmation Preparation Class in the Community Centre
- 7:30 PM to 8:45 PM – Worship Team Rehearsal in Church
Thursday 21st 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 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
- 12:00 Noon to 1:45 PM – Lyrics and Lunch in the Community Centre
- 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM – Bat & Chat in the Community Centre
- 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM – Alpha in the Community Centre
Friday 22nd May
- 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM – ‘Family Friday’ Breakfast 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 – ‘Side Aisle Support’ in Church
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – 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)
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