Dear Church Friends,
How are you this week? We are now into September and officially into meteorological Autumn, although the weather forecast for next week suggests that it will be warmer than in August. Apparently in the North West, this summer has been sunnier and drier than average, so we should be grateful for this. There have been so many incidences of extreme weather around the world and in the UK we are fortunate that we usually escape any extreme weather.
Iris’s funeral will be held on Monday 13th September at 11am at Park Street Methodist Church. Please remember Beverley, family and friends when they join together to say goodbye to Iris.
Last Sunday we were pleased to have several visitors in our midst. Local events have started to take place once again and it is encouraging to see that the Fylde coast has been holding myriad events which attract visitors – from ‘WonderHall’ – 6 days of different musical genres held in the grounds of Lytham Hall; the annual Kite Festival near St Annes’ Pier, to Blackpool illuminations which were switched on during Friday evening and will shine until the New Year.
We are gradually reverting to a more normal format for the service, so the tapes which closed off some of the pews have now been removed and from this Sunday you are welcome to sit wherever you like. Please continue to spread out around the church and respect that some people would still like to keep their distance and prefer to have some space around them. Please continue to wear a face covering during worship. The elders will be discussing the next steps at their meeting on Tuesday, but in preparation for moving forward, we will need to compile new lists of volunteer stewards to ‘meet and greet‘ people on a Sunday morning, and also a list of people who would be prepared to read the words from the Bible. If you feel able to help with either of these, please contact me.
Please let me know if you intend to attend the proposed Christmas Eve Service, as your responses will be used to decide whether to hold that service. So far no one has indicated that they wish to come to a service with communion on Christmas Eve at 11pm.
Do you have time? I have come across the following words.
Take time to think, it is the source of power;
Take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth;
Take time to read, it is the fountain of wisdom,
Take time to be friendly, it is the fountain of wisdom;
Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul;
Take time to give, it is too short a day to be selfish.
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.
Our Worship on Sunday 12th September at 10.45am will be led by Linda Lunn on behalf of the Worship Group
Our Worship on Sunday 19th September at 10.45am will be led Andrew Barratt
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,
As we return to a more normal way of life in the church, we pray for unity and fellowship and for renewed vision and faith. Help us to move forward with creative thinking and to welcome new opportunities for sharing our faith. We pray for your guidance and strength over the coming months. Thank You for Your grace and love and help us face the future with confidence and put our trust in You. 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
