CHRIST CHURCH - PORT SUNLIGHT Founded 1904 Telephone: 0151 645 3870 Issue No. 80: February & March 2017 New Year Issue Our Mission is to offer our best to God through Worship, Fellowship and Care for the Community Free – please take a copy! Sunday Services Family Worship 10.30am Afternoon Worship 3pm ccpsurc.info
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New Year Issue - WordPress.com...2016/02/05 · New Year issue of The Magazine, from Christ Church Port Sunlight. The Magazine is produced six times a year by volunteers and is available
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My ministerial training was also firmly set in an ecumenical environment. The
Cambridge Theological Federation, at that time, consisted of four colleges – two
Anglican, one Methodist and one URC. Most of the teaching was ecumenical,
bringing together staff and students from across the Federation. At the heart of
Federation life was a weekly communion service, the responsibility for which fell
in rotation to the different colleges. This gave a very broad experience of
worship styles, from the ‘high’ church incense and bells to the charismatic
chorus, from Altar to Communion Table, from fireworks on Ascension Day to the
Methodist Covenant Service at the start of each year.
However, as a Minister in a local church I soon discovered ecumenical ‘life on
the streets’ to be less than a bed of roses. Some churches were committed,
others were not. Some clergy were committed, others were not. The committed
clergy did not necessarily come from the committed churches! While some saw
Christian unity as an important part of the witness of the churches to the
community, others thought it to be a wasteful diversion of their time and effort.
One of the challenges of eight years as the Ecumenical Development Officer for
Merseyside was to encourage churches, and Church Leaders, to embrace the
possibilities of a deeper working relationship between those of different
traditions.
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At the heart of ecumenism is the belief that Christians from across the
denominations and traditions are not strangers but pilgrims together on a
journey. We affirm the fact that there are different ways of being the Church and
different ways of worshipping God. We should rejoice in what we share in
common, and celebrate those things that set us apart as different. Ecumenism
does not mean uniformity, but it does mean unity in diversity.
On the night of his arrest Jesus prayed for his Disciples “Holy Father, protect
them by the power of your name – the name you gave me - so that they may be
one as we are one.” (John 17:11) Christian unity is not just a whim, not just a
nice idea, but a heartfelt wish of Jesus Christ himself. Who are we to say that it
doesn’t matter?
Almighty Father,
Whose blessed Son before his passion
Prayed for his disciples
That they may be one, as you and he are one:
Grant that your church,
Being bound together in love and obedience to you,
May be united in one body by the one Spirit;
That the world may believe in him whom you have sent,
Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and for ever. Amen
May God bless us as we journey together.
Rev Ian Smith
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BIBLE READINGS FOR WORSHIP DURING FEBRUARY, MARCH AND EARLY APRIL
I normally use the Revised Common Lectionary readings for weekly worship, usually choosing two or three passages from the four available. As part of your own worship preparation you might find it helpful to read all four passages. Some visiting worship leaders may, on occasion, choose not to use the lectionary. We are now in Year A, and while the Gospel readings mainly focus on Matthew, some are taken from John. Ian Smith 5 February Isaiah 58:1-9a Psalm 32 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 Matthew 5.13-20 12 February Genesis 12.1-4a Psalm 121 Romans 4.1-5, 13-17 John 3.1-17 19 February Exodus 17.1-7 Psalm 95 Romans 5.1-11 John 4.5-42 26 February Exodus 24.12-18 Psalm 2 2 Peter 1.16-21 Matthew 17.1-9 5 March – Lent 1 Genesis 2.15-17; 3.1-7 Psalm 32
Romans 5.12-19 Matthew 4.1-11 12 March – Lent 2 Genesis 12.1-4a Psalm 121 Romans 4.1-5, 13-17 John 3.1-17 19 March – Lent 3 Exodus 17.1-7 Psalm 95 Romans 5.1-11 John 4.5-42 26 March – Lent 4 1 Samuel 16.1-13 Psalm 23 Ephesians 5.8-14 John 9.1-41 2 April – Lent 5 Ezekiel 37.1-14 Psalm 130 Romans 8.6-11 John 11.1-45
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CONSERVING THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR
Port Sunlight Village Trust is working in partnership with Christ Church on a
project to conserve the Colour of the 13th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment
which has hung in the
church since 27th August
1922. The regimental
colour had been
consecrated in 1919 and
had first hung in the garrison
church of St Mary-on-the-
Hill in Chester. The removal
to Port Sunlight was a
recognition of the many men
from Port Sunlight and
workers at Lever Brothers
who had fought in the 13th
Cheshires during the Great
War. The display of the
regimental colour in the
church had been a way to
remember their sacrifice.
The ceremony to install the regimental colour in Port Sunlight began at the
Auditorium which once stood in The Dell, then processed up to the War
Memorial and then to Christ Church. Lord Leverhulme carried the colour
solemnly through the village and into the church where he processed with it up
the aisle and passed it to the minister, Rev. Middleton, who took the colour into
the keeping of the church and placed it into a mount above the font. In his
sermon Rev. Middleton said “In the sight of God and His Church, this flag is
precious beyond price, for there is something intangible and spiritual about it. I
hope it will serve as a key to open up the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ
and reveal clearly what Christian discipleship meant of incessant, unsparing
warfare, if the Kingdom of God is to come on earth and mankind dwell where
righteousness, joy and peace abound”.
In the period immediately after the Great War, a common attitude was that these
colours should hang in a church until they decayed; indeed many have crumbled
away over time, and with this the feeling was that the need to remember would
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fade with them. As time has passed attitudes have changed and remembrance
is as important as ever, especially during the centenary years of the Great War.
Port Sunlight Village Trust is working in partnership with Christ Church and the
Textile Restoration Studio to conserve the regimental colour. At the start of
January 2017 a scaffold tower was set up in the church to allow the safe removal
of the flag from its mount. It was padded and packed in order to be taken to the
workshop of Textile Restoration Studio where conservator Jacqui Hyman will
work on it. The delicate fabric will be painstakingly cleaned and carefully
mounted in a deep frame ready to be displayed back in the church for Easter
2017. The regimental colour will be hung in the south aisle of the church at eye
level, allowing people to appreciate it more easily than was previously possible.
It will be accompanied by an interpretation panel to tell visitors about the
importance of the regimental colour.
The photo below shows Jacqui carefully packing the colour in a padded box,
using a ‘space bar’ to prevent damage.
Tom Hughes, Heritage Officer, Port Sunlight Village Trust
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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN BEBINGTON
During Lent, Churches Together in Bebington are offering opportunities to
worship, study and witness with fellow Christians from local churches.
Lent Lunches
There will be study meetings each Wednesday during Lent. These will start with
coffee at 10.30am followed by 11am study and 12pm soup lunch. The study
material for 2017 is on the theme of 'Returning Home: Christian Faith in
Encounter with Other Faiths'
Wed 8th March Christ Church, Higher Bebington
Wed 15th March Christ Church, Port Sunlight URC
Wed 22nd March St. John's (joint with St. Luke's)
Wed 29th March Life Church
Wed 5th April Higher Bebington URC
Good Friday
There will be a Walk of Witness in Port Sunlight on Good Friday starting at 12pm
in front of the Lady Lever Art Gallery. This is an opportunity to join with other
churches as a witness of our faith in the local community.
Lisa Scott
REFLECTIVE SERVICES FOR LENT
Thursdays at 7.30pm
During the six weeks of Lent we will once again be holding a weekly 30 minute
reflective service, exploring different Lenten themes.
Starting Thursday 2nd March, 7.30pm in the Leverhulme Chapel.
A time to stop, a time to think, a time to pray.
Rev Ian Smith
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SPRING CHARITY CONCERT
IN AID OF ST JOHN’S HOSPICE AND
CHURCH APPEAL FUND
CHRIST CHURCH, PORT SUNLIGHT
FRIDAY, 7TH APRIL, 2017
Featuring
SING ME WIRRAL
A 90 STRONG CHOIR
WENDY DICKINSON
PIANIST
SILVER TONES
SINGING GROUP
Commencing at 7.30 pm
Tickets £7.50 Including Refreshments
Available from Port Sunlight Museum or
Enquiries: 0151 334 4588
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT On Harvest Sunday the Reverend Ian Smith told us of his boyhood, living amongst the fields that grew and produced our harvest of food. We gave thanks and thought of the many in the world who are not able to have enough food to eat. I have an unusual cookery book, amongst the many on the shelves in my kitchen. It has a collection of tried and tested recipes sent in by friends of a hospice, and sold to raise funds. Each chapter of recipes for starters, mains and desserts has a grace to accompany them. 'Nibbles' before the meal included Crispy Pizza Croutes, Nutty Bites and very more-ish Stilton Almond Crisps with the grace:
For the food that we eat and for those who prepare it, For the health to enjoy it and good friends to share it, Dear Lord, we thank Thee.
Recipes for the fish course suggested Smoked Trout with Mango or Salmon en Ciabatta with Red Onion Marmalade, giving thanks with:
Lord, bless this food upon these dishes, As Thou didst bless the loaves and fishes. And like the sugar in the tea, May all of us be stirred by Thee.
There are many tempting recipes for the main course with exotic ones such as Chicken Tropicana or Roast Goose with Apples Soaked in Rum Stuffing and Gooseberry Sauce and a suitable prayer:
Thank God for dirty dishes They have a tale to tell, Whilst other folk go hungry, We've eaten very well. (For home and health and happiness We shouldn't make a fuss, For by this pile of evidence, God's been very good to us)
In a wonderful list of dessert dishes which included Wicked Chocolate Orange Mousse and Lemon Bonito there is an amusing prayer to say:
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Thanks for the breakfast, lunch and dinner. If it weren't for you, I'd be much thinner!
In the chapter for ‘veggie’ recipes there is Baked Cabbage with a Difference and Sprouts with Onions and Chestnuts and the grace for this is:
God of Goodness, bless our food. Keep us in a pleasant mood. Bless the cook and all who serve us From indigestion, Lord preserve us.
Finally, after all this feasting, then perhaps a little plainer fayre might be enjoyed for supper:
Praise for tea and buttered toast. Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Reproduced by kind permission of Katharine House Hospice, Stafford. Submitted by Joyce Smitten
THANK YOU TO OUR HANDBELL RINGERS
On a wintry December evening the residents in the Sandie Care Home
assembled in the lounge to welcome the Christ Church Team of Handbell
Ringers led by their captain John Lindsey.
They arrived with their handbells and proceeded to give us a lovely selection of
festive music. John told us all about the music they were going to play. He
assured us that the carols would be ones that we would remember from our
childhood.
And then we had a lovely time and the evening ended with John, on behalf of
his church, presenting us with a gift. And so ended a lovely evening appreciated
by all of us. Huge thanks to John and his team.
Jean Pinder
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QUARTERLY CHURCH MEETINGS 2017
Tuesday 21st February 7.30pm AGM Tuesday 23rd May 7.30pm
Tuesday 19th September 7.30pm Tuesday 21st November 7.30pm
CORNISH CREAM TEAS 2017
Bank Holiday Mondays 17th April, 1st May, 29th May, 28th August
We will be looking for plenty of help, so look out for the date of our planning
meeting in February and join us to ensure this very important fundraising and
outreach continues to achieve the results we have attained over a very long time.
Ken Howell
Joint Convenor Social and Fundraising Committee
CHURCH OPEN
Christ Church Port Sunlight will be open to visitors
Monday to Friday, 11am – 4pm
From Monday 3rd April to September (end date to be confirmed)
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BURNS NIGHT SUPPER SATURDAY 21st JANUARY
A successful evening which raised £100 for church funds as well as giving a
great deal of enjoyment to those attending the evening which was albeit tinged
with sadness at the loss of our ‘Haggis Toastmaster’ George Peaston, husband
of our good friend Janet (Netta).
George managed to celebrate Hogmanay with a wee dram in the ward at Arrowe
Park hospital, before succumbing to the illness which had greatly troubled him
for most of his final year. He was very much missed on the evening and will
continue to be so by the many who attended his funeral service in our church
on Monday 30th January, ‘Lang may he rest in the bliss’ envisaged by his
beloved Robbie Burns.
[An obituary for George will be in the next edition of ‘The Magazine’]
Ken Howell
Joint Convenor Social Fundraising Committee
INSPIRATION IN YOUR INBOX
Every day of the year, early each morning, the URC sends out, by email, a Daily
Devotion consisting of a reading, reflection and short prayer. You can read them
on your computer, phone, or tablet and they provide inspiration in your
inbox! The Devotions are written by a team of over 90 people from a range of
perspectives and places within the URC. If you would like to receive them you
can sign up by going to http://tinyurl.com/URCDailyDevotions and filling in the
form.
Submitted by Chris Maple
SOCIAL MEDIA
Keep up-to-date with events on Facebook: Christ Church Port Sunlight URC
much needed money for Water Aid who, in 37 countries across the world, work
with partners and transform millions of lives every year by improving access to
safe water, toilets and hygiene.
There will be donation slips and jam jars at the back of church from 19th February
onwards.
Please contribute if you are able by collecting your donation in a jam jar and return to church on Easter Sunday or later if you are away. Alternatively, if you wish to make a donation direct to Water Aid follow the instructions on the donation slip. Remember gift aid if you are a tax payer.
Thank you for all your support this year and
previous years. Samantha Hawkes.
www.wateraid.org/uk
CHRISTMAS CHARITY CONCERT REPORT
SATURDAY, 17th DECEMBER 2016 The concert began with everyone singing the carol O Come All Ye Faithful led
by Accord and accompanied by Tim Walker on the organ. Accord then sang
four items accompanied by Tim on piano Coventry Carol, Winter’s Tale, Mary’s
Boy Child and Christmas Song for which they received a wonderful ovation after
Community Voice Wirral Community Voice Wirral are able to provide an excellent level of support 365 days a year, 24 hours a day using a range of services that are tailored to meet the needs of the individual. They have a trained team of mobile responders available 24/7 to provide emergency response to those in receipt of the Telecare service. This includes a mangar cushion (portable lifting aid) to assist those who have fallen, are not injured and only require help to be picked up following a fall. As part of the WIS initiative Community Voice have been asked to widen this service and make it available to anyone who has fallen and only requires a pick-up service. If anyone who has fallen and ONLY requires help to be picked up then please call: 0844 561 7505 and quote “Wirral Falls Pick-up Service”. The caller will be asked: Their name Telephone number / Mobile Number Fallers Name Fallers Address Fallers Date of Birth Fallers Doctor / GP The emergency response centre will ask if there is any bleeding or if they are hurt. They will be advised that someone can be sent to help the faller back to their feet. The response is expected to be within 30 minutes (if there are no other emergency situations). The caller will be asked if they are remaining on site to provide access. An automatic referral into the Falls Prevention Service will be made from this response. For enquiries about this service please call 0151 541 7709 THIS SERVICE IS FREE OF CHARGE AND PREVENTS UNNECESSARY CALLS TO THE AMBULANCE SERVICE Submitted by Mike Shaw
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WEDDINGS
Please uphold in prayer the following couples, as they begin their married lives
together:
December
No weddings
January
Kim McDonald and Thomas Ashwin
Kayleigh Pinch and Ian Young
Patricia Owens and John Walker
BAPTISMS
The following children were baptized recently at Christ Church. We remember
the parents, god-parents and the children themselves in our prayers.
December
No baptisms
January
Jacob Thomas Dalton
George Christopher Davies
Maisie Elizabeth Williams
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FUNERALS AND INTERMENT OF ASHES
In our prayers we give thanks for these folk and remember their loved ones in
their grief that they may know the peace of God.
December
Alan James Carter aged 75
Barbara Karen Horrocks aged 71
Russell Neville Jones aged 85
Ryan David Clark aged 17
Doris Atkin-Pakey aged 96
January
Elaine Jean Vincent-Tyrer aged 70
Richard William Godwin aged 93
Ethel Catherine Davies aged 99
George Knox Peaston aged 85
Elizabeth Victoria Evans aged 86
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MEETING TIMES OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS
The Bellringers’ practice is held every Wednesday at 7.30pm in the Bell
Tower.
The Handbell Ringers’ practice is held every Tuesday at 7.15pm in Church.
Boys’ Brigade meets in the BB Headquarters (BB HQ) in Bath Street.
Company Section meets every Friday at 6.15pm
Anchor Boys meet every Thursday at 6pm
Junior Section meets every Wednesday at 6.15pm
The Choir practises every Thursday at 6.30pm in Church.
The Elders meet every 1st Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm in the BB HQ
Men’s Fellowship meets every Wednesday at 2pm in the Church Hall
Open House [closed until Easter] meets every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the
Church Hall
THE MAGAZINE BY POST
If you would like to receive a copy of The Magazine regularly by post, please send:
your name, address, postcode and a contact phone number or email address
plus a cheque for £5.00 for 5 remaining issues in 2017 made payable to Christ Church Port Sunlight to: