Revd. Toby’s April message
I am writing this letter on the same day as the Prime Minister has sent her letter requesting a short delay to Brexit. There is still no clarity on what will happen next, when the country will leave the EU and what our future relationship will be. The continued prayers of all people of good will are needed, that wise counsel will prevail, and that whatever happens the most vulnerable are protected and the country enabled to draw together and not further apart.
In the midst of uncertainty, personal and political, Easter gives us confidence on the basis of what God has already done for us. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus took place in one particular point in history, in one small, crowded country. But they didn’t just affect his own times. Jesus died for all of us, wherever and whenever we live, paying the price of sin. And he rose again for all of us, defeating death and opening the way to eternal life for all who trust in him. Because of Easter we have confidence that nothing can ultimately thwart God’s good purposes and that all in the end will be well.
From the cross God’s love, healing and forgiveness is poured out on a dark and divided world. Come this Holy Week and discover (again or for the first time) that love, healing and forgiveness for yourself.
From the empty tomb God’s light radiates hope into a world of cynicism and despair. Come this Easter and find (again or for the first time) that certain hope, peace and joy that we may live as people of hope.
Holy Week – Step by step to the cross
Holy Week is not only the most significant week in our Christian year, it also has the most powerful acts of worship as we seek to enter into the truth of what Jesus has done to save us.
On Palm Sunday we sing Hosanna as Jesus enters Jerusalem and then prepare for what is ahead as we hear the gospel of Jesus’ passion (suffering).
On each weeknight from Monday to Thursday there is a special service at 7:30pm, alternating between the two churches. On Good Friday morning there is a family friendly service which takes us outdoors as we follow the cross to Calvary. There is a quiet and solemn service at Altham Church on Good Friday at 2pm.
Come and join in worship as you can, especially on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday – I promise that Easter Day will mean all the more to you if you do.
Easter Eve Coffee and crafts
Clayton Community Centre (aka Arthur Wilson Centre) on Saturday 19th– drop in any time between 10am and 12 noon for refreshments and Easter Crafts. This is for the whole community, so please spread the word!
Easter Monday Parish Walk
A great opportunity to stretch those legs and spend some time together. Meet outside All Saints’ Church at 10am for an approx. 2 hour walk, ending at the Hyndburn Bridge where we will enjoy lunch – please sign up at the back of church if you’ll be eating.
Annual Parochial Church Meetings
This is your chance to hear what your PCC has been doing over the last year, learn how the finances are going and participate in the election of churchwardens, PCC members and sidespeople. All are welcome to attend our meetings, which take place within worship, including hymns, prayers and readings. However, to speak or vote you must be on the (new) church electoral roll of the parish concerned.
St James’, Altham’s meeting will be on 7thApril at 9:30am.
All Saints’, Clayton’s meeting will be on 28thApril at 11am.
Could you contribute by standing for election to the PCC?
Each of our churches has a decision-making body called the Parochial Church Council or PCC. It has responsibility for the finances, for maintenance of the church building, and for co-operating with the vicar in furthering the mission of the church within the parish. Each PCC is a charity and the members are its trustees.
Serving on the PCC is a great way to serve the local church, and to help to shape its future direction under God. The demands aren’t too onerous – normally a meeting every two months, a planning morning once a year, and at All Saints’ service on a committee or working group. We do expect, though, that PCC members will see themselves as sharing in the leadership of the church and thus be regular in worship and active in supporting what we do.
PCC members serve for 3 years, and each year 1/3 of the seats are up for election. That is five at All Saints’ and two at St James’. To be eligible you need to be at least 16, a baptised, regular communicant member of the church, not be disqualified from serving as a trustee, and have been on the church electoral roll for at least 6 months. To stand please complete one of the forms available at the back of church. The election then takes place at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting.
With every blessing
Toby
Easter Garden Competition
Well done to all those who entered.
Easter Monday Walk
Join us for a walk followed by lunch!
We aim to meet at 10:00am at All Saints’ for a leisurely 2 hour walk, finishing at the Hyndburn Bridge. If you would like to eat, ( and you are welcome whether or not you walk), please sign up and choose your meal from the list at the back of church.
Thank you
Easter Saturday – Crafts and Coffee
On Easter Eve we are holding another drop – in event in Clayton Community Centre (Arthur Wilson) between 10am – 12:00am. All welcome – please spread the word.
Holy Land Pilgrimage talk by Jane Lee
Jane will give an illustrated talk of her recent visit in All Saints’ on Tuesday 9th April at 7:30. It should make for a very interesting, informative evening. Please come along to support the event.
What’s on during Holy Week
HOLY WEEK
14th Palm Sunday
Easter
All Saints’:
8.00 am Holy Communion
11.00am Family Communion beginning with procession from school
2.00pm Holy Baptism
St James’ Altham:
9.20am Refreshments and Easter crafts
9.40am Family Communion
15th April
7.30pm Reflective Service “Jesus is anointed” Altham
16th April
7.30pm Holy Communion with anointing and laying on of hands with prayer for healing’ All Saints
17th April
10.00am Holy Communion with address All Saints’
7.30pm Tenebrae Service “into the darkness” with readings and psalms Altham
18th Maundy Thursday
11am Blackburn Cathedral – Chrism Eucharist
7.30pm Sung Communion of the Lord’s Supper with footwashing, followed by stripping of the altar. All Saints’
10.30am Family Worship starting at All Saints’ church and finishing at Barnes Square, with refreshments from 10.00am
2.00pm The Last Hour at the Cross – Altham
20th Easter Eve
9am Morning Prayer – All Saints’
10.00am – 12 noon Coffee Morning and Children’s Easter Crafts Arthur Wilson Centre
Easter
21st Easter Day
All Saints’:
6.00am Short Dawn service in Mercer Park
8.00 am Holy Communion
11.00am Holy Communion with Holy Baptism
St James’ Altham:
9.30am Holy Communion
22nd Easter Monday
9:30am Morning Prayer in All Saints’
10.00am Easter Monday walk followed by lunch at the Hyndburn Bridge
For See the calendar for other events on during April.
Revd Toby’s April message
Revd. Toby’s April message
I am writing this letter on the same day as the Prime Minister has sent her letter requesting a short delay to Brexit. There is still no clarity on what will happen next, when the country will leave the EU and what our future relationship will be. The continued prayers of all people of good will are needed, that wise counsel will prevail, and that whatever happens the most vulnerable are protected and the country enabled to draw together and not further apart.
In the midst of uncertainty, personal and political, Easter gives us confidence on the basis of what God has already done for us. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus took place in one particular point in history, in one small, crowded country. But they didn’t just affect his own times. Jesus died for all of us, wherever and whenever we live, paying the price of sin. And he rose again for all of us, defeating death and opening the way to eternal life for all who trust in him. Because of Easter we have confidence that nothing can ultimately thwart God’s good purposes and that all in the end will be well.
From the cross God’s love, healing and forgiveness is poured out on a dark and divided world. Come this Holy Week and discover (again or for the first time) that love, healing and forgiveness for yourself.
From the empty tomb God’s light radiates hope into a world of cynicism and despair. Come this Easter and find (again or for the first time) that certain hope, peace and joy that we may live as people of hope.
Holy Week – Step by step to the cross
Holy Week is not only the most significant week in our Christian year, it also has the most powerful acts of worship as we seek to enter into the truth of what Jesus has done to save us.
On Palm Sunday we sing Hosanna as Jesus enters Jerusalem and then prepare for what is ahead as we hear the gospel of Jesus’ passion (suffering).
On each weeknight from Monday to Thursday there is a special service at 7:30pm, alternating between the two churches. On Good Friday morning there is a family friendly service which takes us outdoors as we follow the cross to Calvary. There is a quiet and solemn service at Altham Church on Good Friday at 2pm.
Come and join in worship as you can, especially on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday – I promise that Easter Day will mean all the more to you if you do.
Easter Eve Coffee and crafts
Clayton Community Centre (aka Arthur Wilson Centre) on Saturday 19th– drop in any time between 10am and 12 noon for refreshments and Easter Crafts. This is for the whole community, so please spread the word!
Easter Monday Parish Walk
A great opportunity to stretch those legs and spend some time together. Meet outside All Saints’ Church at 10am for an approx. 2 hour walk, ending at the Hyndburn Bridge where we will enjoy lunch – please sign up at the back of church if you’ll be eating.
Annual Parochial Church Meetings
This is your chance to hear what your PCC has been doing over the last year, learn how the finances are going and participate in the election of churchwardens, PCC members and sidespeople. All are welcome to attend our meetings, which take place within worship, including hymns, prayers and readings. However, to speak or vote you must be on the (new) church electoral roll of the parish concerned.
St James’, Altham’s meeting will be on 7thApril at 9:30am.
All Saints’, Clayton’s meeting will be on 28thApril at 11am.
Could you contribute by standing for election to the PCC?
Each of our churches has a decision-making body called the Parochial Church Council or PCC. It has responsibility for the finances, for maintenance of the church building, and for co-operating with the vicar in furthering the mission of the church within the parish. Each PCC is a charity and the members are its trustees.
Serving on the PCC is a great way to serve the local church, and to help to shape its future direction under God. The demands aren’t too onerous – normally a meeting every two months, a planning morning once a year, and at All Saints’ service on a committee or working group. We do expect, though, that PCC members will see themselves as sharing in the leadership of the church and thus be regular in worship and active in supporting what we do.
PCC members serve for 3 years, and each year 1/3 of the seats are up for election. That is five at All Saints’ and two at St James’. To be eligible you need to be at least 16, a baptised, regular communicant member of the church, not be disqualified from serving as a trustee, and have been on the church electoral roll for at least 6 months. To stand please complete one of the forms available at the back of church. The election then takes place at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting.
With every blessing
Toby
SINGING FOR FUN WITH CLAYTON COMMUNITY SINGERS
We are an independent local singing group known as Clayton Community Singers.
We meet every Wednesday at All Saints Church at 12:55 until 13:45 apart from the first Wednesday of the month and that is when we go out into the community….mainly residential homes…and do a performance. This month….March….we were at Woodhaven Day Centre on Thorneyholme road
Our repertoire is quite varied and is light hearted and besides the singing our main aim is to have fun.
Many of us before we joined said ” Oh, I can’t sing” but please ….rest assured…you don’t have to be able to sing….we are not a choir but a group of people who like to get together and ” sing for fun” and you know what they say….Singing is good for your health !
Please feel free to join us on a Wednesday for a practice singing session followed by a drink and biscuits and a chat but a word of warning….be prepared to have plenty of laughs!
Find us on Facebook…..Clayton Community Singers
MU open nights on 19th & 26th March
There will be an Easter Flowers workshop at MU this Tuesday 19th March
You will get an opportunity to experiment with flowers under the guidance of the Flower team. If you wish to attend and you are not a member of MU please have a word with Jacqui Houlker or Christine Cains beforehand. Flowers and materials will be provided at a small cost of £2. At the end of the session you will have a small arrangement to take home. Why not stop for coffee and a chat afterwards and find out more about the Mothers’ Union?
On the 26th March Joanne Halliwell will be presenting ‘Betsy 3’.
Joanne has delivered other episodes of Betsy’s story, which she does in a very amusing and enjoyable way. Betsey is the story of a servant who works in a large country house; we are looking forward to hearing about her latest adventures ‘ below stairs’. It should be a good evening.
Again there will be refreshments afterwards.
Looking forward to seeing you !
Children’s shoes
Mrs Collins, teacher at All Saints, is appealing for children’s shoes – used and in good condition. They are going to be taken to a school in Uganda. If you can help please place in a box at the back of church.
Thank you
MU – Thanks Pauline
Thank you so much Pauline for a very enjoyable evening of song.
It takes considerable time to prepare for such an event, and then to sing when not feeling your best must have been a bit of an ordeal. But although suffering from a cold, Pauline entertained us with a variety of songs – all sang beautifully. They included several of Celine Deon songs; ‘ I dreamed a dream’ from Les Miserables and ‘I don’t know how to love him’ from Jesus Christ Superstar.
Her daughter Emily, bravely stood before us too and sweetly sang a couple of numbers, and the Community choir led MU members in a couple of cheerful songs, such as ‘Bring me sunshine!’ this helped to add even more variety to the evening.
The evening ended with refreshments and a raffle.