“He ascended into heaven”

That’s right! We believe in a risen AND ascended Saviour. Jesus is alive and he is seated at the right hand of his Father in heaven. Come tomorrow and hear more about this wonderful truth…

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Sunday Services

The services and activities on Sunday 4th 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)
• 3:00 PM Traditional Service of Evening Prayer
• 5:00 PM Treehouse Family Communion (with refreshments)
• 6:00 PM Sanctuary Youth Gathering
• 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: Acts 1:1-11 (Church Bible page 909) and Luke 24:50-53 (Church Bible page 885). The 11:00 AM order of service is available here.

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Early May Bank Holiday

Please note that the Community Centre and Church activities are OPEN on Monday 5th May.

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VE Day: 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War

This is a statement from Bishop Philip: 

“The 80th anniversary of VE Day is a moment of profound significance for our nation. It is a time to remember with deep gratitude the courage and sacrifice of those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. I encourage all our churches across the County to participate in these commemorations, to ring their bells, to offer prayers for peace and to provide spaces for their communities to come together in remembrance. Jesus promises us a peace that ‘The world cannot give’. As we honour the past, so we renew our commitment to building a more peaceful and just world for all.”

Churches and church schools across Lancashire will join many others across the UK participating in a series of commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day on Thursday 8th May.

Across the nation Church bells will ring at 6:30 PM – just like they did in 1945 when Church bells rang across the nation as a collective act of thanksgiving to make the end of the long war.

Here at Christ Church, there will be several things taking place on Thursday 8th May:

• 12:00 Noon – Short Service (30 minutes) of prayers, readings and hymns to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day
• 6:30 PM – The bells recording will sound through the loudspeakers at the top of the bell tower for 30 minutes
• 7:00 PM – Short Service of prayers, readings and hymns (this is a repeat of the service at 12 noon for any who would prefer to come at night rather than in the daytime)

Also, at 2:15 PM the Wyre U3A group which use the Church on the second Thursday of the month are delighted to welcome church members to join with their VE day celebrations in Church – with lots of live music!

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Men United

The next Men United gathering for men is on Friday 9th May at the Gardener’s Arms at 7:30 PM. Each meal needs pre-ordering through John Hearnshaw. John has hard copies of the menu to look at or you can look online at the menu using this link here. Once you’ve chosen, please let John know (no later than Wednesday 7th May).

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Thank you

Did you notice the beautiful and bright flowers on Easter Day in Church? They were put together by a new flower team. Thanks to Susan, Amanda, Marilyn, Margaret and to Judith Moore for coordinating it. 

Thank you too to all those who helped over the Easter weekend at the various events and services – too many of you to name! You served the Lord through dishwashing, carrying, shopping, carving, chopping, cooking, cutting, wiping, counting, speaking, praying, singing, playing, and even sweeping up sugar! You all served the Lord in many ways. Well done and thank you.

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Meeting the King

You can read all about Tom Pilkington’s trip to Durham Cathedral on this link here. You can also read about others from Lancashire who shared in the special day.

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New Electoral Roll

The Electoral Roll form is available online on this link: Electoral Roll 2025 (click on the blue words). Please fill it out NOW. Don’t wait! The deadline to apply to be on the Electoral Roll is the 5th May 2025. 

The Church Electoral Roll is the register of electors for Christ Church Thornton. It is the list of those qualified to attend and to vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in the elections for the Parochial Church Council and the parish representatives on the Deanery Synod. In 2025 and every six years thereafter, the Electoral Roll is renewed. In a year of renewal (this year), no names are carried over from the old Roll, and everyone must apply for inclusion in the new Roll.

Being on the Electoral Roll has other benefits too, especially for those who live outside of the parish – such as burial, marriage and baptism eligibility. However, if you live outside the parish boundary and want to come onto the Electoral Roll, you have to have been worshipping habitually at Christ Church for a minimum period of six months, unless you can provide reasons as to why you weren’t able to.

Be warned – the Electoral Roll form isn’t the simplest form in the world! There are a number of options to choose from which require some careful reading.

If you are struggling to complete the form and you are at Church tomorrow, please have a chat with Sally Johnson who will be happy to guide you through the process. 

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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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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 5th 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 – 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 6th 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 7th May

• 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
• 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
• 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM – Mothers’ Union in Church (followed by refreshments in the Community Centre)
• 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 8th 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 and Lunch in the Community Centre
• 12:00 Noon to 12:30 PM – Short Service of Commemoration (VE Day) in Church
• 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM – Bat & Chat in the Community Centre
• 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM – Church bells being tolled for VE Day
• 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM – Short Service of Commemoration (VE Day)

Friday 9th 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
• 7:30 PM – Men United meal out at the Gardener’s Arms in Thornton

Saturday 10th May

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

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With blessings,

Damian