THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST PETER BURNLEY NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2017

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1 THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST PETER BURNLEY NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2017 PATRICK S PITCH When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among people, To make music in the heart. Howard Thurman Writing this on the day after the licensing of John McGrath to the parishes of St Peter's and St Stephen's. It feels like the work of the parishes can go up a gear. To be back at full strength with a Priest colleague, and to know the gifts that John will bring to both churches is a real asset which I know will help us fulfil the above poem and also move us forward in being "Healthy Churches that transform Communities" Just as Lawrence and I shared the duties of leading services in both Churches so John and I will be sharing our time in both Churches. Obviously John needs to get to know the St Peter's Congregation which will happen over the coming months, but we will continue to work on the journey of bringing both churches on a path of unity and convergence. We will not be playing favourites nor playing one off against the other, our hope is that both churches will grow from benefitting from our shared ministries and that individuals will develop in discipleship and servant hearted ministry. Each January, one of the Diocesan Bishops takes a group of Clergy away for a reading week. Where a book is studied and discussed. It just happens that John and I are away this week, Jan 16-20th, with 2.

2 Bp Julian, who has chosen the new book by the former Archbishop of Rowan Williams, titled "Being Disciples". The book is only 6 chapters and 86 pages long, so the reading isn't too time consuming and will lead to twice daily discussion groups. Hopefully from our reading and discussion it will benefit us individually and also inspire future preaching and teaching. In the remaining time John and I plan to look at how we can best use our time each week. Being mindful that John is only doing 18hrs a week and has other interests which require his time. Beyond the weekly routine, one of the first things John and I will be planning is the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is March 1st, this year we plan to re start the Lent Lunches at St Peter's on Wednesdays in Lent. We hope to balance this with an evening group at St Stephen's. Further information will appear in the notices in February. The Lent book is called "The Nail" by Stephen Cottrell and will be available to order at 6.50, whether you participate in the groups or use it at home. For further information please read the notice-sheets, the posters, the website, Facebook pages, for ways you can join in and for signs of growth in our parishes. Patrick NEWS FROM DJ S WHO S WHO AT ST PETERS Rector Rev. Patrick Senior patricksenior24@gmail.com Churchwardens.... Mrs Alice Binns Mr Stewart Hacking Deputy Churchwardens.. Miss Carol Pike Mrs Sandra Davies Ms Heather Slater PCC Secretary/Electoral Roll Officer Mr David Smith Director of Music.... Mr Philip Tomlinson St Peter s C of E Primary School (Head Teacher Mrs Catherine Greenwood) Sunday School.... Mrs Meena Tomlinson Mothers Union.... Mrs Carol Waddington Friends of St Peter s.. Mrs Heather Slater Flower Guild.... Mrs Alice Binns Catering & Kitchen Manager Mrs Cynthia Bramley Lunch Club.... Mrs Cynthia Bramley Belfry Mr Richard Parker Vision Champion.... Mr Alan Roadley Lay Assistants of Holy Communion - Mrs Alice Binns, Mr Darius Kalvenas, Miss Carol Pike, Mr Stewart Hacking, Miss Eleanor Tomlinson, Mrs Meena Tomlinson This month we will be looking at Jesus called his Disciples to follow him and his teachings to them. In the half term we will be having a workshop with an overarching theme of discipleship and will enable us to look at the Vision with the older children. We are thrilled to have the help of Anita on Sunday mornings who is working with the younger children, allowing Charlotte and I time to work with the older group. We continue to start Sunday school together with the Gospel reading and prayer. We are delighted that a number of the children's parents and aunt are being baptised and confirmed. Meena and Charlotte

3 February Sanctuary FLOWER ROTA Towneley 5th Feb Mrs E Jessop VACANT 12th Feb VACANT Mrs E Jessop 19th Feb VACANT VACANT 26th Feb VACANT VACANT March th Mar Lent Lent 12th Mar Lent Lent 19th Mar Lent Lent 26th Mar Mothering Sunday Mothering Sunday If anyone would like to contribute to flowers on any of the vacant dates please see Alice. VISION 2026 Healthy Churches Transforming Communities I recently took a break in a strange city. Being organised, I printed off a street map to assist when exploring. I could see where we wanted to be, but on too many occasions I couldn t work out the route because I didn t know where I was, where I was starting from. So out came the phone; one tap on the screen and I could see exactly where we were standing, and then things became a lot clearer. Which brings me to the next couple of months. Our church needs to work out where WE are now, where WE want to be in the future, and how we are going to get there. You ll hear more detail about this soon. Please participate as fully as you are able. Everybody s views are valid and important. Nobody s opinion is worth more or less than anybody else s. Whatever your thoughts are, we want to hear them. You ve probably heard me say it before, but the future direction of St Peter s is for YOU, the congregation, to decide on. Be honest about what you think we are good at and not so good at now, and be bold in what you think we could do in the future, thinking about our great heritage, but also those who will have the duty of ensuring that St Peter s is relevant to up and coming generations. Alan Roadley Vision Champion LUNCH CLUB FEBRUARY 2017 Thursday 9th Thursday 23rd Both a 12.00pm in Church 5.00 for a 3 course meal and hot drink CHOIR NOTES Choir members from St Peter s will be singing at Blackburn Cathedral on Saturday 25th February as they take part in the Area Festival of the Royal School of Music. Our Junior Choir meets on Friday from 7.00 to 7.30 pm and adults from 7.30 to 9.00pm. New members are always welcome. Philip

4 HOUSEGROUP - Intelligent Faith Based Conversation We held our first meeting of 2017 at a new venue, Graham s house in Worsthorne, where we were treated not only to a nice spread of biscuits but also to chocolates courtesy of Ethel in honour of her birthday. Thank you. I was also able to announce that we have donated 146 to CRUSE in memory of our friend the late Margaret Booth. We will decide this year s good cause at our next meeting please come with your ideas. One subject we discussed was the Eucharist, and it threw up some facts and ideas which I hadn t considered before, which in turn gave me another idea. More on that to come, I think.. The next meeting is on Monday 20th February at my house, details will be in church. If you are wondering if Housegroup might be for you, there should be some handouts at the back of church explaining what we are all about. If it sounds like your sort of thing give us a try. It might not change your life, but it could be a positive addition to it. Alan alan@alanroadley.net MEN S SOCIAL - Because Friendship Makes Us Stronger Our first meeting in 2017 is on Monday 6th February, as always at the Brun Lea, Manchester Road, from 7.30pm. Just drop in any time and stay as long as you like. The meeting after that is pencilled in for Monday 20th March. As always, look out for information in church or contact me. Between the two above dates there is the Emmaus curry night at the USHA restaurant on 20th February which costs All men (AND ladies) are welcome and quite a few St. Peter s members have already said they intend to come. If you would like to go, please give me your name by Sunday 19th February. We should all be able to sit together. We may also have another of our own Curry Nights later in the year, and possibly a social/games night at the home of one of our group, so there is plenty to look forward to. Alan alan@alanroadley.net CHILDREN S HALF-TERM WORKSHOP Thursday 16th February 10.00am to 12.00pm COME AND BE A DISCIPLE OF JESUS Please join us for a fun morning for all children. We are delighted that Tom Kinsman will again work with the older children, making fluorescent slime and magnetic experiments. Sue Tinker, a Diocesan worker, will be bringing her Eggsplorers for all ages to enjoy. Also crafts, prayers, songs and refreshments. Meena NEWSLETTER This will probably be the last St Peter s newsletter as there will be a St Peter s Parish Magazine, the first issue of which will most likely be in March. Thank you to all contributors over the last four and a half years and I hope everyone will support the new Magazine. Pam McGrath from St Stephens will be doing the magazine, but please send contributions for March to me to pass on as I have not got contact details as yet. Please send by Sunday 26th February. Thank you. Carol cwaddy205@gmail.com 4. 9.

5 MOTHERS UNION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING St Peter s Mothers Union held its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 25th January The Branch Leader thanked all members and the Rev. Patrick Senior for their support over the year. She said that we continue to try and encourage non-members to attend our meetings, but with limited success. We had a varied programme during the year, beginning with Holy Communion and our AGM in January. For our Lent meeting in February Rev. John McGrath spoke about The Cross from Mary s View, followed in March by Spring Flower Arrangements by Christine Hacking. In April Tom Bill came to talk about his Reminiscences as a Parish Priest and Ken Hare came once again in May, this time to give us a History of Burnley Cinemas. In June we had a change of programme when Margaret Taylor came to tell us about her son s Wedding in India. The August meeting took the form of tea and chat and in September Sue Hughes spoke about the Honour s System. Guide Dogs for the Blind with Brenda Midgley and her Guide Dog was the subject of our October meeting. We had no meeting in November but enjoyed lunch at Towneley Garden Centre at the beginning of December, something we are looking forward to repeating this year. Four members received long-service awards at the annual Deanery Mothers Union Festival at All Saints, in April. Edna Dawson 50 years, Cynthia Bramley and Diana Holden 40 years, and Carol Waddington 30 years. Several members attended the annual Senior Members service and tea and 2 members braved thunderstorms to attend the Quiet Hour at Worsthorne in September, a very noisy Quiet hour indeed. A Deanery Celebration for the Queen s 90th birthday was held at St Peters in April, taking the form of a short service of thanksgiving, afternoon tea and entertainment by the 50 Something Theatre Company. Everyone who attended enjoyed it, though it was a long and tiring day for those providing the tea. In conclusion, members continue to take an active part in the life and work of St Peters and in the wider community. Carol Waddington Branch Leader MOTHERS UNION At our meeting on Wednesday 22nd February we welcome Cecilia Burton, who will be telling us about Mary s Meals. This is a charity set up to provide meals for starving children in Africa. I m looking forward to learning more. As yet our programme for 2017 has not been finalised, but it is the 115th Birthday of the St Peter s Branch in June and we do intend to celebrate this at our June meeting. See future articles in the Parish Magazine for further details. We continue to collect toiletries for the hospital bags, old jewellery and bras and the box will be emptied on Sunday 8th February if anyone should wish to make a contribution. As always anyone who wishes to attend any of our meetings is more than welcome. We will not pressure anyone to become a members, just come along and enjoy the meeting, tea (or coffee) and biscuits and a chat. All meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month at 2.00pm in Church. Carol THANK YOU Many thanks for all the lovely Get Well Cards, telephone calls, good wishes and prayers following my recent stay in hospital. Meena 8. 5.

6 2017 LENT, EASTER, PENTECOST Palm Sunday is April 9th, 10.30am Parish Communion [followed by the APCM] Maundy Thursday 13th, 7pm Service at St Peter's ASH WEDNESDAY March 1st, Morning Service at St Peter's, 10am Evening Service at St Stephen's 7.30pm The Nail, Being part of the Passion, by Stephen Cottrell. This is the Lent book we are using this year, a sign-up sheet will be available and copies can be ordered at 6.50, during February. the book takes the form of dramatic reflections by the key participants of the Passion Story and prompt us to think about our part in the story. It can be read with or without attending the group discussions. LENT GROUP DISCUSSIONS: Wednesday Lunchtimes - St Peter's Church, lunch and Discussion Wednesday Evening - St Stephen's Church, pm Discussion Group March 8th, 15th, 22nd. April 5th and 12th. A sign-up sheet will be used to show support for the groups Good Friday 14th - Possibly a street drama, like last year. Afternoon service at St Stephens and evening at St Peter's. Times to be arranged Easter Day April 16th am Parish Communion EASTER ENCOUNTER GROUPS Discussion on those who witnessed the Resurrection Evening group - April 19th, 26th, May 3rd, 10th, 17th Ascension Day May 25th. Evening Service. venue TBA THY KINGDOM COME May 25th-June 4th National prayer event, more details to follow. Pentecost Unity Service at St Andrews Church at 3pm CONFIRMATION PREPARATION Bishop Philip will preside at the Confirmation Service on March 26th at 6pm. Preparation groups in the Vestry are planned for 6. 7.