Dear Church Friends,
How are you this week? I hope you have been able to enjoy the improved weather – it’s been good to see sunshine once again and it looks settled for the Bank Holiday weekend.
I am sorry to have to start off with some very sad news. Our beloved long-standing church member Iris passed away on Friday morning. Iris and her family have been part of the White Church family for a very long time. Iris was a keen choir member until shortly before the pandemic when she decided to retire from the choir. She will be greatly missed. Please remember Bev and family in your prayers as they come to terms with their loss.
Alan Dove’s funeral is at Lytham Crematorium on September 1st at 9.45am. Please pray for his widow, Davina and all his family at this time.
Last Sunday saw the largest attendance at a service since the beginning of the pandemic, with approximately 53 attending. It was good to see so many people in the church. Some weeks ago, Arthur visited the church to collect some items belonging to him and whilst there he checked to see if the organ was working correctly. He identified some problems and these were fixed on Monday this week. Although we have not been able to find an organist to play on a regular basis, I am delighted to tell you that Kevin Morgan is available on Sunday 10th October and will play at our service that day. Kevin is a local organist, pianist and music teacher. On that Sunday, Andrew Barratt will be the Worship Leader and the Elders have decided that it will also be our Harvest Service. Planning for the Christmas Services is also underway. Some years there has been a very poor attendance on Christmas Eve, so the Elders would like to know how many people are likely to attend a Christmas Eve Service with communion at 11pm. There will definitely be a service on Christmas Day, but a decision has not yet been made about holding a Christmas Eve Service. Please let me know if you hope to attend a Christmas Eve Service, as your responses will be used to decide whether to hold that service.
I have recently read the following thoughts:
May you find time in each day to see beauty and love in the world around you;
May you realise that what you feel you lack in one regard, you may be compensated for in another;
May you learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience;
May you find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by yourself;
May what you feel you lack in the present become one of your strengths in the future.
Our Worship on Sunday 29th August at 10.45am will be led by Margaret Russell. Climate Sunday. Churches have been asked to hold a climate-focused service on a Sunday before 5th September. Please don’t be put off by this title, as it will be Bible based and, knowing Margaret, will be very interesting.
The Nation’s Climate Sunday Service will be held on Sunday 5th September live from Glasgow Cathedral. This is a chance to celebrate everything churches have done and all they are committed to doing for the climate. You can watch the Nation’s Climate Sunday Service live online from 3.30pm. If you are interested, please book through Eventbrite to get the link sent straight to you. Book your free online ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nations-climate-sunday-service-churches-prepare-for-cop-26-tickets-165258230817
Our Worship on Sunday 5th September at 10.45am will be led by Jennifer Liddell and will include Communion.
If possible, please bring your own individual portion of bread and wine (squash or water) for the Communion service. There will be some individual prepacked cups with wafers available for anyone who forgets. The Elders hope that in October communion will be served to you in the pews once again.
Special Birthdays. If you know of any special birthdays coming up this year (those ending with a “0” or “5”) please let me know, so that we don’t miss them.
I AM Bible Study Sessions
I AM – A Bible study in 8 sessions at 4 locations: Hambleton URC Monday 7pm starting on 4/10/21; Poulton URC Wednesday 7pm starting on 6/10.21; Fleetwood URC Thursday 2pm starting on 7/10/21; Fairhaven URC Friday 2pm starting on 8/10/21. Contact Rev Jim on 07484221809 for further details. Jim encourages people to move around the various locations and meet new people.
Let us pray
Dear Lord Jesus,
We pray for those families known to us who have recently been bereaved. Please comfort them and help them through their grief. May they know the consolation of Your mercy, grace and powerful love. We pray for the people throughout the world who fear for their lives and have to live with conflict and danger. Be with them in their hours of need. For Your name’s sake. Amen
Please join me in saying the Grace together.
May the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and evermore. Amen
God Bless you all
Ruth
