Dear Church Friends,
Wow – week 100! I can’t believe it’s that long since I commenced these alternative notices! As I write this, storm Eunice is raging around us. It has made me think of the well-known hymn “Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?” with its chorus of “We have an anchor……steadfast and sure…. fastened to the Rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.” God is with us through thick and thin and His love endures for ever. I hope you have not suffered any structural damage to your property and have kept indoors and out of harm’s way. We pray for those in other areas of the country which have not escaped the wrath of Eunice and hope the storm does not cause any loss of life. I would like to share the following words I read recently:
Some countries are famous for their fertile soil, some have oil or coal in the ground or gold in their hills. A land’s natural resources will play a big part in shaping the kind of society that lives on it.
John Muir, a Scotsman who spent his life exploring the American wilderness, wrote, “Storms are never counted among the resources of a country, yet how far they go towards making brave people.” Likewise with the storms we each face from time to time in our lives. We will find ourselves better and stronger for having endured until they passed.
Some uplifting words written many years ago on a country church notice board:
Where there is pain, may you have peace and mercy.
Where there is self-doubting, may you have new confidence.
Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, may you have understanding, patience and renewed strength.
Where there is fear, may you have love and fresh courage.
Even though the wearing of face coverings is no longer mandatory and is a matter of personal choice, we would encourage you to continue to wear a face covering when in the church.
Our Worship on Sunday 20th February at 10.45am will be led by Eileen Garfitt as Richard is unavailable. We thank Eileen for standing in at short notice.
Bible Readings: Genesis 45: 3 – 11 & 15 Page 39 and Luke 6: 27 – 38 Page 862
Our Worship on Sunday 27th February at 10.45am will be led by Linda Lunn
Our Worship on Sunday 6th March at 10.45am will be led by Val Atkinson and will include communion. To make it easier for the stewards to serve you, would you please sit in alternate pews.
Rev Jim has started the Bible Study Sessions at Kirkham at 1pm; Marton at 3pm and Bispham at 7pm. Each Thursday from 17th February to 24th March.
They will reflect on the Global Pandemic in the context of Jesus’ journey to the cross.
(2) Provision – the upper room, Mark 14: 17-25
(3) Isolation – the garden of Gethsemane, Mark 14:32-42
(4) Living with tension – the courtyard, Mark15; 6-15
(5) Anguish – the cross, Mark15: 33-39
(6) Hope – the tomb, Mark 15:42-47. Any questions ask Jim 07484221809
Anybody can attend any of the sessions.
In addition to Jim’s courses, Rev Janet Calderley will be offering a 6 week course entitled ‘Living on the Breadline’ which focuses on poverty, injustice and discrimination. This course will take place at St. Anne’s URC on Monday evenings from 7th March to 11th April at 7.30 pm. Each session will last an hour. Although they are thematically linked, each session can stand on its own and a sheet will be provided for each week, so that you can catch up at home if you have to miss any of them.
If you have any gifts for the Salvation Army’s work with the Refugees/Asylum Seekers please put them in the box on the rear table. The people being helped are from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Ethiopia, many arriving with only the items they are wearing. New items such as underwear, brushes and combs, ladies’ gloves, hats and socks would be very useful. The SA would be most grateful if you are able to buy and donate an item or two from this list. Thank you.
The World Day of Prayer Service will be held at the Drive Methodist Church, St Annes on Friday March 4th at 2pm
Fairtrade News
Fairtrade Fortnight starts on Monday and Janet S hopes to have a raffle, to be drawn at the end of FT Fortnight on the 6th March with proceeds going to Traidcraft Exchange.
All are welcome to a Fairtrade Coffee morning at St John’s Church, Lytham on Saturday 5th March – 10.30 – 12.30pm . A raffle, craft, card and cake stall and a wide range of fairly traded gifts and foods for sale, refreshments . Please support this event. All proceeds to Traidcraft Exchange
Christine D is now at home and would like to thank everyone for their cards and best wishes during her recent time in hospital. They really cheered her up.
Let us pray
Dear Lord,
We pray for those who have suffered loss or damage during the recent storms Dudley and Eunice. We remember those around the world who regularly encounter extremes of weather and have to cope with a limited infrastructure to deal with any problems. We give thanks for our Emergency Services who are always so quick and willing to respond to calls for help. Please be with them in their efforts to help others. We pray for those in our church family who have their own problems and ask You to pour Your strength, compassion, comfort and love on them. Be with them through their dark times and show them the light at the end of the tunnel. In Jesus’ name. 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
