Hello everyone! Welcome to this week’s bundle of news and dates. A special welcome to anyone who might have only recently signed up for our weekly church news email. This email comes out once a week, usually on either a Friday or a Saturday.
The first thing to mention is….
Our services tomorrow start at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Remember to return that hour you borrowed last October – the clocks want it back!
I’m looking forward to seeing lots and lots of you tomorrow at Church and through the week at the Community Centre activities.
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Sunday Services – Palm Sunday
Do come and hear more at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM. 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: Psalm 118:1-2 and 19-29 & Matthew 21:1-11.
The services and activities on Sunday 29th March 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, 11:00 AM services and before the 5:00 PM service. The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop is open after each service. 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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‘Christ in the Passover Banquet’ – with a Seder
On Saturday 4th April at 6:00 PM (Holy Saturday) special guest Ziggy Rogoff from Jews for Jesus will speak to us about the Passover (פֶּסַח). He’ll take us through a traditional Seder, weaving together the story of the Exodus, with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ), our Messiah (מָשִׁיחַ). This promises to be fascinating, educational and spiritually enriching evening.
During the evening, the symbols of the Passover meal will be explained to show they tell the story of God’s redemptive plan. He will explain the unleavened bread, bitter herbs, cups, and then highlight the significance of the Passover symbols, both in ancient times and in Jewish homes today. The presentation shows how Jesus used the Passover with his disciples in the Upper Room to point to his own death and resurrection, and to insitute the Lord’s Supper/Communion/Eucharist. Your approach to Holy Communion might be significantly changed (in a positive way) having seen this presentation!
During the evening there will also be a meal, consisting of the types of food associated with Passover. On the night, donations are welcome towards the ministry of Jews for Jesus. Booking is essential for catering purposes. The cost for an adult ticket is £12 and for a child ticket £6. Please book your place using this link HERE.
*Bookings close at the end of Sunday 29th March*
Ziggy comes to us in Thornton representing Jews for Jesus – an organisation that exists to support churches in exploring Jewish life with faith in Jesus. Those working for the organisation are Jews who are for Jesus. Many Jewish people have never heard that following Jesus can be a thriving expression of Jewish life. The events will give Christians the opportunity to further understand Jewish life and to help share our faith with Jewish people we meet.
Ziggy grew up in London in a traditional Jewish home and experienced the rigors of traditional Judaism from an early age. His family kept kosher, and Ziggy went to Hebrew classes three times weekly. His bar mitzvah, held at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, was a landmark moment in his life and summed up who he is: quintessentially Jewish. As an adult Ziggy started to investigate the claims of Jesus to discover if Jesus was the Messiah. Ziggy says: “I knew that the probability of the Messianic prophecies being fulfilled in one person was virtually zero. So when I realized that Jesus did fulfill these prophecies, it felt like comparing a fingerprint with a finger and getting an exact match.”
You can read more about Ziggy and the work of Jews for Jesus on this link HERE.
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Finance, Personnel and Grants Manager
Expressions of interest are welcome for a new employed role of Finance, Personnel 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 29th March 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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Funeral of Anne Brown
Anne’s funeral service is taking place on Tuesday 31st March at 1:45 PM at Christ Church Thornton followed by a Reception afterwards in the Community Centre Hall. The family welcome all those who would like to come to the service and Reception. They would find it helpful to know numbers attending to ensure the catering needs are met. Therefore please email damian@christchurchthornton.uk with a simple message to confirm attendance.
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Services for Holy Week and Easter…
Thursday 2nd April (Maundy Thursday)
- 7:00 PM – Book of Common Prayer Communion Service in Church
Friday 3rd April (Good Friday)
- 10:00 AM – Easter Explained! Come to a fun event where families can enjoy time together and explore the true meaning of Easter. With crafts, games and food. Why not come to find out why Good Friday is so good and to discover the wonderful surprise of the first Easter! (Community Centre Hall).
- 11:30 AM – Walk of Witness (from Christ Church to Four Lane Ends) followed by Churches Together in Thornton Service.
- 12:00 PM – Churches Together in Thornton Service (outside the Little Theatre at Four Land Ends), followed by a walk back to Church.
- 1:00 PM – Picnic in the Community Centre Hall/Outside Church if good weather (bring your own lunch and drinks – ice cream provided!)
- 2:00 PM – ‘The Road to Calvary’ a reflective service of readings from Mark’s gospel and songs (taking place in Church)
Saturday 4th April (Holy Saturday)
- 6:00 PM – Christ in the Passover Banquet (Traditional Seder Meal) with Ziggy Rogoff (booking required)
Sunday 5th April (Easter Day)
- 6:00 AM – Sunrise Service & Breakfast (The Book of Common Prayer Communion Service) with guest preacher Ziggy Rogoff
- 9:00 AM – Family Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt
- 10:00 AM – Easter Day Celebration Service (Church & Community Centre Hall) see the info below
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Easter Day Celebration
The Easter Day Celebration is an opportunity to bring all the congregations together as one big church family. It will be carefully planned so as to incorporate aspects familiar to each congregation. There will be a mix of traditional and contemporary hymns. There will be liturgy from The Book of Common Prayer and modern sources. There will be some lovely refreshments on arrival in the Community Centre Hall, so as to give opportunity for coming together as a church family for conversation and deepening relationships with one another. Part-way during the service children of primary school age will be invited to attend their own age-appropriate teaching and activities. The service will culminate in remembering the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus as we receive holy communion together. After the service, there will be another opportunity for refreshments in the Community Centre Hall, if you have time to stay – however we appreciate some will need to be making tracks at this point.
The Easter Day Celebration starts at 10:00 AM in the Community Centre Hall.
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Starting soon… BRICKHOUSE!
Launching on Tuesday 21st April from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Book places HERE.
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 will get to build some cool creations from LEGO bricks based on a special Bible theme for that week. There will be snacks too. It is going to be AWESOME!
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Gold Award Congratulations to a further 15 children and young people over the last few years who have received their Gold Award at Treehouse (taking the total to 24 children). This means they have attended Church at least 44 times in the run-up to their Gold Award! As a special thank you to them and to say well done, myself along with members of the children and youth leaders team plan to take them for a day out to Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The date provisionally pencilled in for this is Saturday 2nd May 2026, leaving Church at 9:30 AM and returning at 6:30 PM. Help from parents at this day will be appreciated.Please can the parents of the children and young people who would like to go email damian@christchurchthornton.uk to let me know whether this date will work. This Gold Award trip is for those who have received their Gold Award since the last trip in November 2023.
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A Big Day Out in Blackpool
In 2026 The Diocese of Blackburn celebrates its 100th anniversary! As part of a year of celebrations and special events, there will be a big day out on Saturday 16th May 2026 beginning at 11:00 AM. The day will take place in the centre of Blackpool; a place that has played such an important role in the history of the Diocese. There will be activities for children of all ages with games, crafts and stories. There will be sessions for teenagers and grown-ups from sport workshops to live music and more. In the afternoon, there will be a giant hog roast lunch at 1:00 PM before all coming together for an open air celebration service on St. John’s Square outside the Winter Gardens at 2:00 PM.
The Diocese of Blackburn would love as many people as possible to join in for this special day together. All the information you might need can be found on this link HERE.
Booking is required! Why not start thinking about who you can invite, how you can share transport and what things you might book for.
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Easter Witness at Thornton House Care Home
Christ Church have been invited to hold an Easter Witness at Thornton House Care Home on Monday 30th March. We will be having singing, readings, prayers and sharing time with the residents. If you would like to help, we will be meeting at 1:50 PM outside the gates of Thornton House and will be staying for about an hour. For more information please speak to Angela Roberts or Dawn Bradbury.
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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 in the coming months to look at some interesting and sometimes controversial subjects.
- 003 | Tuesday 31st March | Coming to Church on a Sunday – how often is ‘enough’? Book HERE.
- 004 | Tuesday 14th April | Do Jews, Muslims, and Christians all worship the same God?
- 005 | Tuesday 21st April | Should we pray to Mary?
- 006 | Tuesday 28th April | Are our loves ones looking down on us?
- 007 | Tuesday 5th May | Is it okay for Christians to gamble?
- 008 | Tuesday 12th May | Do Mormons and JW’s believe in the same God we do?
- 009 | Tuesday 19th May | Is purgatory real?
- 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?
Future topics will include:
- What happens when we die?
- How can we have free will if God plans and knows everything?
- Should we pray to the saints?
- Will there be animals in heaven?
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 31st March.
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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 cost will be £16 per person per event. Details of how to book will be available in future weeks.
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Seminar for Parents – preparing yourself for the arrival of a teenager
Being a parent is precious and yet demanding. How can we best prioritise the spiritual needs of our children? How do we model worshipping God on a Sunday when our children’s sporting events are on a Sunday? How do we say “yes” to a birthday party and “yes” to Church at the same time? How do we encourage our children to follow Jesus in a world where following Jesus doesn’t seem to be a thing? How do we help our children foster important friendships and yet at the same time foster a friendship with Jesus? And what about mobile phones, snap chat, social media, sleepovers?!
On Saturday 25th April, Damian and Lauren will be sharing some of their parenting experience for parents and guardians. Not because they’re the experts but because they’ve trodden the path twice already and know how important it is to think these issues through and support one another. The seminar is from 10:00 AM until 12noon in the Community Centre Hall. The event is free. Just turn up.
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Lighthouse
Our midweek children’s club ‘Lighthouse’ is on Wednesdays at 5:30 PM. As it’s now the Easter school holidays, Lighthouse is taking a break for two weeks. The next Lighthouse is on Wednesday 15th April. 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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Good Grief Support Group – finding hope whilst journeying through loss.
Please note it is taking a two-week break over Easter and is returning on Tuesday 14th April.
An informal get together over coffee and cake centred on supporting those who are bereaved. Comfy sofas, fresh tea and coffee, scrumptious cakes, scripture readings, prayer, honest conversation. Tuesdays at 2:30 PM. Please note the support group isn’t providing professional bereavement counselling, rather it is an informal space to provide support and find hope whilst journeying through loss. For more information please speak to Dawn Bradbury.
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Annual Parochial Church Meeting
Our 2026 APCM will be on the evening of Thursday 14th May (Ascension Day) 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 2025.
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 and three places for a three-year term on the Deanery Synod. Nomination forms are available to download here (the forms are fillable forms which can be typed into):
- A nomination Form for Election to the PCC can be downloaded using this link HERE.
- A nomination form Election to the Deanery Synod 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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Opportunities to Service
On Saturday 9th May 2026 at a wedding at 2:00 PM at Christ Church, some help is needed to make hot drinks in the Hall after the service and to oversee the distribution of some scones and muffins. If you can help, please do get in touch.
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, preparation classes are taking place from 7:15 PM to 8:45 PM on:
- Wednesday 22nd April
- Wednesday 29th April
- Wednesday 6th May
- Wednesday 13th May
- Wednesday 20th May (confirmation rehearsal)
The venues will vary from week to week, however for the first class it will be in the Community Centre Hall. Please email Damian to indicate if you would like to be confirmed. The preparation classes are a necessary step to being confirmed. However if you cannot attend them all because of illness or prior commitments, do let Damian know to see what alternatives are possible.
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2026 Treehouse Weekend Away
The Treehouse Weekend Away dates for 2026 are: Friday 23rd October to Sunday 25th October. Places can be secured by paying a deposit – details of how to do this to be released soon.
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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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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 30th March
- 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 1:15 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 31st March
- 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
- 1:45 PM – Funeral of Anne Brown
- 7:45 PM to 8:30 PM – Prayer for Growth in the Community Centre
Wednesday 1st April
- 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
- 2:00 PM – Mothers’ Union in Church and the Community Centre
- 7:30 PM to 8:45 PM – Worship Team Rehearsal in Church
Thursday 2nd April (Maundy Thursday)
- 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 – 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
- 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM – Maundy Thursday Communion Service in Church
Friday 3rd April (Good Friday)
Please note the usual activities taking place today are not happening due to the special Good Friday events taking place instead
- 10:00 AM – Easter Explained Family Event in the Community Centre Hall
- 11:30 AM – Walk of Witness from Christ Church to Four Lane Ends
- 12:00 PM – Churches Together in Thornton Services at Four Lane Ends
- 1:00 PM – Picnic in the Community Centre Hall (outside of good weather)
- 2:00 PM – ‘The Road to Calvary’ Service in Church
Saturday 4th April (Holy Saturday)
- 6:00 PM – Christ in the Passover Banquet (Traditional Seder Meal)
Sunday 5th April (Easter Day)
- 6:00 AM – Sunrise Service & Breakfast (The Book of Common Prayer Communion Service) with guest preacher Ziggy Rogoff
- 9:00 AM – Family Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt
- 10:00 AM – Easter Day Celebration Service (Church & Community Centre Hall)
Monday 6th April (Easter Monday)
- Church and Community Centre activities are not taking place on Easter Monday
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