By The Way. Communications Team. Joint Pastorate of Radcliffe, Stand & Farnworth United Reformed Churches December 2016 & January 2017.

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1 Joint Pastorate of Radcliffe, Stand & Farnworth United Reformed Churches December 2016 & January 2017 Communications Team Issue 6 Sue Metcalfe: By The Way

2 Elaine Robinson: Anne Kennedy: Deadline date for February /March issue 8 January 2017 Please give any items for the next publication to Elaine Robinson The communications team will then decide whether the items will go online, in print or on the notice board. Read By The Way on line: Pastoral Contacts Rev. Nigel Adkinson Manse: nigeladkinson@gmail.com RADCLIFFE - Blackburn St Radcliffe M26 3WQ Secretary: Margaret Holcroft margholcroft@sky.com Treasurer: Neil Chadwick Tamworth Ave Whitefield M45 6AU Assistant: Joan Crump Booking Secretary: Alison Close STAND - Stand Lane Radcliffe M26 1JE Secretary: Audrey Halstead Treasurers: Brenda Lloyd Mark Ascroft FARNWORTH - Albert Rd Farnworth BL4 9NP Secretary: Andrew Jones jones19841@outlook.com Treasurer: Harry Charleston hcharleston@btinternet.com Pulpit Supply Lesley Saunders Secretary: lesleysaunders@orange.net

3 December Services January Services DATE RADCLIFFE 11:00am STAND 9:30am FARNWORTH 10:45am DATE RADCLIFFE 11:00am STAND 9:30am FARNWORTH 10:45am December 4 December 11 December 11 Janet Gunby Radcliffe Lessons & Carols Communion Aaron Shaw Church of the Nazarene Christingle & Christmas Tree Service Stand 3pm January 1 January 8 Joint Pastorate Communion Service at Farnworth 10.45am Communion and Rededication of Radcliffe & Stand Elders at Radcliffe TBA December 18 Neil Carter Greenmount Toy Service January 15 Canon Noel Proctor Retired C of E Minister December 18 Celebration of Life at Radcliffe 3pm January 22 Café Worship Breakfast Service Susan Holme December 24 Pastorate Christingle Service at Farnworth 3pm Christmas Eve Service at Stand 11:30pm January 29 Janet Gunby Radcliffe David Frost December 25 Christmas Day Joint Pastorate Service at Radcliffe 10:30am February 5 Barry Bradshaw Lay Preacher Until March 2017 Stand & Radcliffe will have Joint Services at 11:00am at Radcliffe unless otherwise stated. Until March 2017 Stand & Radcliffe will have Joint Services at 11:00am at Radcliffe unless otherwise stated.

4 NIGEL S LETTER A free gift LOVE on offer for life not just while stocks last!! It s that time of year again, we approach Christmas, we start to think about presents, celebrations and family gatherings, Christmas trees, the look of joy on children s faces on Christmas morning when there has been a visit from Father Christmas. All these things remind us of the joy of celebrating. But what are we celebrating? In an increasingly secular world we often forget what lies at the heart of the celebrations. It is God s gift of His Son Jesus Christ; God in human form, sharing our earthly life and showing us the true nature of His love; God moving into our street as our neighbour. Could anything be more exciting? A real not a remote God; a God who touches earth with heaven. Over 2000 years ago, Jesus was born in a stable cold, dark, no running water, barely enough clothes to keep him warm to a young girl hardly old enough for the responsibility of motherhood. In that dark stable love was born a love to be shared, a love available to all. This was God at his vulnerable best, offering something so special, so awesome that even today it is hard to believe the generosity of His love for us all. So that is why we must celebrate. Diary Dates: DECEMBER 4 Farnworth Annual Church Meeting (Following Worship) 5 Radcliffe Friendship Club Christmas Lunch 6 Chapelfield School Christmas Nativity Visit at Stand 11 Radcliffe AGM & Church Meeting 12:30pm 14 Chapelfield Community Luncheon Club Christmas Lunch at Stand 16 Farnworth Community Coffee Morning - Friday 16th December at 10.00am in the school building. 22 Chapelfield School Carols Concert at 7pm JANUARY 4 Radcliffe Friendship Club at 2pm 10 Radcliffe Soup and Bread Group restarts 11 Radcliffe Strictly Crafting at 1.30pm By the way if you feel that you could write a Reflection for this magazine, please send your copy to any of the Communications team.

5 Farnworth Annual Church Meeting will be held following worship on Sunday 4th December in the school building next door. Drinks will be provided, but please feel free to bring a sandwich lunch. Election of officers and Elders will take place. The majority of these positions has remained unchanged for many years. If anyone wishes to become an Elder or take an officer role within Church, please contact Nigel or Andrew. Please prepare reports as usual During December we invite you to donate via a Christmas Card scheme whereby all monies raised will be on behalf of the Kildare Community Centre Action Group which raises funds for both Church and users of the school building next door. A gift board and donation box will be placed in church for names and Christmas wishes. Our Christmas Charity Appeal will be in aid of Zac's youth bar in Farnworth commencing with the Communion offertory on December 4th. Each Sunday afterwards, there will be a plate at the front for anyone wishing to donate. The other churches in the Pastorate will be supporting our collection this year. Please remember in your prayers: Radcliffe: Bet Murray, Celia Beresford, Jean Holbrook, Jenny Williamson & family, Sue Metcalfe & family, Family of Margaret Atkinson, Alice Welsby, Pam Dunlop Stand: Arthur Selby, Barbara Ogden, Sylvia Berry Farnworth: Val Jones, Dorothy & Stanley Nelson, Dorothy Harper, Mavis Chapman, David Townley, Lilian Boydell, Emily Graham Margaret & Harold Harrison Farnworth are looking for an organist with availability on Sundays. Please contact Andrew Jones, Church Secretary for more information. Details on pastoral contacts page. Please notify me of any pastoral need that you are aware of so that I may respond. Thanks Nigel.

6 Advent Communions The Advent Communion Services this year will be held at Stand at 10:30am on Thursdays Thursday 1 December Thursday 8 December Thursday 15 December Thursday 22 December Tea and Coffee will be served after the services. All welcome. Weekday Service Stand Weekday Services will commence in January 2017 at Stand at 10.30am on Thursdays Thursday 5 January Thursday 12 January Thursday 19 January Thursday 26 January All welcome Radcliffe OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD A very big thank you to all who helped in any way with the shoeboxes. As a joint pastorate we filled 85 boxes. We are not sure where they are destined for but we ask God to bless all the people involved in the distribution of these boxes. Stand CHERUBS Before the school holidays Cherubs will be holding a Christmas Party in December. Father Christmas will make a visit and give each child a gift. Cherubs will close for Christmas Holidays and they will return in the New Year. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all! Doreen, Audrey, Barbara & Brenda PASTORATE CHH WEEKEND WINDERMERE CENTRE 19th-20th-21st MAY 2017 This is a great opportunity for the Pastorate to come together in fellowship, discussions, prayer and fun. Don t miss out! To secure your place please give your name and a 10 deposit to any of the church secretaries. There s a saving scheme for holiday payments. Transport can be arranged Any queries: telephone

7 Christmas Wishes I have a list of folks I know just written in a book, And every year when Christmas comes I go and take a look. That is when I realise these names are just a part Not of the book they re written in, but also of my heart. Each name recalls a person whose path has crossed with mine And in that meeting they ve become the rhythm and the rhyme And while you may not be aware of any special link, Just meeting you has changed my life, far greater than you think. For once I ve met somebody, the years cannot erase The memory of a pleasant word or a friendly face. So never think my Christmas cards are just a mere routine Of names upon a Christmas list, forgotten in between. For when I send a Christmas card that is addressed to you It s because you re on a list of folks I am indebted to. For you are but the total of many folks I ve met And you are one of those I would prefer not to forget. So whether I have known you for many years or few In many ways you ve shared a part in shaping things I do. Every year when Christmas comes I realise anew The best gift life can offer is meeting folk like you. And may the spirit of Christmas that forever endures Leave its richest blessing in the heart of you and yours. This love is on offer to us as a free gift, for life. It never ends. It is not a while stocks last kind of love. To all who accept Jesus as their friend and Saviour, this love is for them and it transforms lives. There was no room at the inn for Christ s birth. Do we have room to welcome Him anew into our hearts this Christmas time and work for His return? May our mission as churches be reignited by the love of Jesus Christ this Christmas time. Let us prepare our hearts to receive that love during the coming Advent season. With this gift of love we can move forward with confidence into 2017 resolved to work to bring God s Kingdom of love and justice a; little nearer. May God bless us all as we travel together into the approaching New Year, resolved to make God s love real in our relationships with each other, our families, friends and neighbours. Liz joins me in wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a peaceful and blessed Blessings to all Nigel