Dear Church Friends,
Another week has passed and we are over half-way through August. Where do the weeks go to?
I am sorry to have to inform you that we have lost another of our well-loved members. Alan Dove passed away on Monday this week. Please pray for Alan’s family as they prepare for his funeral and come to terms with their loss.
This week I came across the story of a girl called Mary Jones and her bible. About 200 years ago Mary Jones lived in a Welsh village. She was from a very religious family and had learned to read at school, so her ambition was to buy a bible of her own. Otherwise in order to read God’s word, she had to walk two miles to a farmhouse where they had a bible. The young girl worked hard and had saved enough pennies by the age of 16 to be able to fulfil this ambition. Unfortunately, the only person that had copies of the bible for sale was Thomas Charles in Bala 25 miles away across the Welsh Hills. Undaunted, it is said that she walked there without shoes on this long and exhausting journey and when she arrived found that all the bibles were ordered and none available for purchase. There are several versions of what happened next, but it is possible that Thomas Charles gave her his own copy or that he arranged lodgings for her until a new supply of bibles arrived a few days later, when he sold her 3 for the price of one. Following this, Thomas Charles persuaded a religious organisation to form the British & Foreign Bible Society to distribute bibles to people all over the world. The society is still in existence and distributes bibles to places like India and Africa and is an ecumenical and non-sectarian organisation. It is amazing to think that all this came about because of one young girl and her devotion to God. Another example of how ‘mighty oaks from little acorns grow’.
A Poem by Iris Hesselden
Let us join in celebration for the beauty of each day,
Nature fading, yet renewing, life which never goes away,
Seasons turning, seasons passing, shining summer, golden fall,
New life waking in the springtime, winter simply cradles all.
Glory on the moors and hilltops, fragrance on the dew-kissed grass,
Stars and oceans live for ever, only time itself will pass.
Let us join in celebration of the earth that round us lies,
Nature’s promise of tomorrow and the life that never dies.
Praise in the Park, Sunday 22nd August, 4.00 pm Service at Fairhaven Lake
You will be welcome to attend the Praise in the Park Service this Sunday at 4pm. If you also want to join the walks, the walk from Lytham will leave from the Promenade near Lytham Lifeboat station at 2.45 pm and the walk from St Annes will leave from near St Annes Pier at 3.00 pm. The two groups will meet up and the service will take place at Fairhaven Lake at 4.00 pm at the usual place near the Spitfire (former tennis court grassed area with a hedge) and will last about 30 minutes. Please note that in the event of wet weather the service will be held at St Paul’s Church, Fairhaven.
Our Worship on Sunday 22nd August at 10.45am will be led by Rev Terry Hudson
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.
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,
Let us pray for people affected by conflict around the world. Lord, give them courage and hope for the future. We give thanks for those who are working to help re-settle people in our country and thank all those who provide food, shelter and clothing to people who have nothing. We remember all our Blessings and thank You for Your love, compassion and strength during troubling times. In the Lord’s 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
