Parish Life. The Magazine of Holy Trinity Parish Church Kendal May p

Transcription

1 Parish Life The Magazine of Holy Trinity Parish Church Kendal May p

2 Church Office Open 9am-12 noon Monday-Friday For Clergy, Janet Henderson, Diane Letheren Website Address Kirkland, Kendal LA9 5AF 2

3 From the Vicarage. Dear Friends, (The following is a re-working of my Vicar s Remarks at the recent Annual Parochial Church Meeting.) As I think of our church today, I have two pictures of reflection. One is of a mirror, the other is of the moon. Let me start with the mirror. When we look in the mirror, we tend to notice the blemishes first. We may notice blotchy skin, lines under our eyes and, particularly if it is morning, blood shot eyes. Perhaps this is just me! Most of us do not look in the mirror and notice all our good features. Nor do we wonder at the fact that we have a face at all, that we are alive and that God has given us this new day. We are conditioned, I would say, to notice the blemishes and, often, never, ever to notice the miracle of what we see before us. Of course, there are blemishes. The trend to see everyone as spotless and faultless is simply unrealistic and unhelpful. However, to never notice the wonder of our existence nor the qualities and beauty of our own face is a sin. We are denigrating that which God has made and declared good. We have allowed ourselves to accept an imposed idea of what good is and judged our reflection accordingly. This is also true in church life. We can look in the mirror and only see the blemishes in the church. We see that the church does not organise itself just as we would wish. We see that it is not simply concentrated on what we like, what we used to think proper or what we think it should be becoming. We notice the other people whom we find difficult, or the slight irritations of their behaviour, or that something has moved or changed in a way which we do not like. This is as true for those who want to preserve things as those who wish to see great change. We look in the mirror and we see blemishes, rather than the miracle that is the church. We see what we find difficult and ignore the many wonderful things. Yet we can only notice 3

4 the blemishes because of the miracle that we exist at all, that we are alive. We can create a world for ourselves in which nothing is right, and where we feel downtrodden, because we will not notice what is good. Of course, there are numerous reasons for this, not least other pressures and sadnesses in our lives. Whether it is Virgin Trains, the roads or the Conservative government, sometimes our condemnation of things is the result of a deeper unsettlement or disappointment within us. However, it is vital to notice what is good, to give thanks and to cherish what we see. Whilst I do not think that this church is more prone than any other to noticing what is good, this is something which needs our attention. For there is much to be grateful for here. As we look in the mirror, we should see a church which has both beauty and blemish. If we do not see both, then our church is not real. However, if we see only blemishes then we are not looking. There is the miracle that we exist - that God has called disparate people to be part of this fellowship. Difference causes friction, but (as with the threads of a rope), friction is what gives us strength. In families, we are forced together and this is part of growing up. In church, we are brought together so that we might grow up as followers of Jesus Christ. There is beauty in the challenge. There is also the wonder that we care for one another, that people get visited, prayed for, helped and supported. This may not always be done by ordained ministers, but it is always done by the ministers of the church - that is, all of us. In numbers of people who are a regular part of the church (ca. 340 people) we are very much alive. In outreach and service, we are increasingly active. In people exploring and going forward for new ministry, we are active and growing. There is much to notice and be grateful. We cannot be complacent, but we must also notice the beauty. And the beauty also comes because the church is the bride of Christ. The church is being made ready for her bridegroom, and she is precious and 4

5 beautiful. This is the church that is created for the world that God loves and for which his son died. Though we will always have, and see, blemishes, we forget at our peril that we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Some of our blemishes need work, some (like the lines on our face) are simply the result of being alive, but as we stare at our reflection we must also always notice that the fellowship of followers of Jesus Christ, known as Kendal Parish Church, whilst no better than any other, is precious and beautiful and alive. Which brings me on to my second reflection on reflection. This is the idea of the mysterium lunae. Here Christ is the sun, and the church is the moon. The church does not have its own light, only Christ does. We are there simply to reflect the light of Christ. It is Jesus Christ who brings light and love and hope to the world, we are merely there to reflect these things. It is Jesus who brings warmth to people, we simply reflect this warmth. We do not have grace of our own, we bring Christ s. However, like the moon, if we do not reflect the light of the sun, we are simply a large rock spinning in the dark. Like the moon, we might still effect some influence on the earth, but we do not bring light and hope. We cannot be beautiful and alive if we do not reflect the wonder and love of God to the world around us. So whilst, when we look in the mirror, we should notice the beauty as well as the blemishes, we must never forget that our purpose and calling is to reflect the warmth and grace of Jesus to the world which he loves. I am grateful for this precious church and for our partnership in the gospel. Let us continue on the way. Every blessing, Rob Vicar, Kendal Parish Church

6 Christian Aid Week May 2018 For more than 60 years through the support of people like you and me, Christian Aid has been helping change the lives of people, of all faiths and none, living in poverty around the world. The theme for Christian Aid Week 2018 is Together we re stronger than the storms, raising funds to build disaster-proof homes to help vulnerable people in Haiti. Many families lost everything when Hurricane Matthew tore through the country in early October 2016, and are now living in makeshift homes offering no protection against future storms. The next hurricane season is set to arrive in June. After the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, Christian Aid, working through their local partner in Haiti, built 700 new houses. Remarkably only 1 of these needed to be repaired after Hurricane Matthew. So the knowledge is there to build more disaster-proof homes all that is needed is our generous donations! After the recent publicity regarding aid workers in Haiti, it is all the more important to ensure that the most poor and vulnerable receive the support they so desperately need. Please pray for the people of Haiti, for the work of Christian Aid and their partners, for enough volunteers, and for generous giving during Christian Aid week. Volunteers from churches have collected house to house during Christian Aid Week since it began more than 60 years ago. Last year over 6 million envelopes were delivered. Each envelope delivered sends a message about Jesus love and justice. Every envelope delivered is an act of witness, proclaiming Jesus good news to the poor. 6

7 Each envelope collected could help someone living in extreme poverty to protect themselves if a disaster strikes. If you are able to help in this year s house to house collection for Christian Aid, please sign the sheet at the back of church, or speak to Liz Lockwood if you would like more information. As well as house to house collections, there will be a CHRISTIAN AID LUNCH (home-made soup, cakes, tea/coffee) on Friday 18 th May, from pm, in the Parish Hall. If you have ever come to one of our popular Lent lunches, you will know that THIS IS AN OCCASION NOT TO BE MISSED! MEN S FELLOWSHIP At our April meeting sixteen Fellowship members of the congregation heard Mark Houston tell us about his God led Journey from There to Here Teacher, Musician, Reader and soon to be a curate and later a priest in the Church of England. It was an inspiring, amusing and moving talk interspersed with Mark playing his guitar. Did you know he was/is a member of a band? Prison Giggs was part of their programme. If you heard the BIG SING on Radio Cumbria recorded in our church, that was his band leading some of the songs. The evening encouraged us to look at our own God led life journey. Thank you Mark for sharing so much with us during your time at KPC. We all agree that you will be greatly missed. Our guest at the next meeting on May 15th will be Mohammed Sharif who will talk about his Faith. Not to be missed. Some guests booked for our future meetings include Trevor Hughes, Kendal Civic Society, June 5th; Rev. Rob Saner-Haigh, September 11th; Archdeacon Vernon Ross, October 9th; a male Reception class school teacher, November 6th. Look out for the New Men s Fellowship Programme! 7

8 News from the KPC Children s Team Messy March We had a very Messy March this year with 4 Messy Churches happening in a space of 3 weeks. We met for our own Messy Church the day before Mothering Sunday and were joined by visitors from the Moving Mountains team as we celebrated families. The following day members of our Messy Church went to Rheged to join with Messy Churches from across the county in a massive Messy Church as part of the moving mountains weekend. A week later we were at the leisure centre in Kendal with a Messy Church table as part of an event focussing on families accessing activities and services to encourage health and wellbeing. This was a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and to share our faith through crafts and stories. We met again with our own KPC Messy congregation the following week to celebrate Easter together sharing the Good News of Jesus resurrection and how he wants to be in a personal relationship with us, with a number of children and adults hearing this message for the first time. Messy Church is a different way of being Church. It is international, interdenominational and there are now over 3000 Messy Churches registered in over 20 different countries. It is estimated that over 500,000 people attend a Messy Church each month. Messy Church focusses on being Christ centred, for all ages sharing in creativity, hospitality and celebration. Here in the Kendal area we have a number of different Messy Churches meeting, some week days after school, others weekends. Our Messy Church meets at least once every 6 weeks usually on a Saturday afternoon in Church, in the Parish Hall or sometimes outside and we have a fantastic team of volunteers who help to make this happen. We cater for 8

9 around 70 people each time and focus on building relationships and sharing the Good News of Jesus through creativity, science, play, stories and sharing a meal together with families around a table. It is a fantastic opportunity to link up both with newcomers and with those connected to the church through the various groups and schools work and a chance for those less familiar with the pattern of Church services to come along and find out more. We will have some Messy activities at the Church Spring Fair on May 12 th and will shortly be advertising our summer Messy programme in our local area through the Primary schools and also in Church. Do pray for us as we plan and prepare, pray for those who come, those who are thinking about joining us and for our volunteer team. Experience Easter This Holy Week we were able to share the Good News of Easter with around 300 children from Vicarage Park and Heron Hill schools, their staff and parent volunteers. Throughout the week we explored Holy Week both in Church and at Vicarage Park school travelling from Palm Sunday through to Easter Sunday, visiting different stations along the way. We began by thinking about our Hopes and Dreams and invited the children to think both locally and globally and to write them down and place them on the altar. We then moved on to think about Jesus washing the disciples feet and the last supper before making playdough prayers at the garden of Gethsemane. At the cross we thought about the colours that came to mind whilst listening to the account of Good Friday and made our own crosses with sticks and tied colours to them, we thought about how Christians believe that Jesus died in our place and invited everyone to put their finger print and name or initials on our cardboard cross and if they liked, as they did it, 9

10 to thank Jesus for what he did for us. We finished by visiting the empty tomb, giving the children voting slips and the chance to vote on whether they thought Jesus did or did not rise from the dead not sure was also an option. As they left the children were given a sunflower seed to plant to remind them of their visit and that Christians believe that Jesus, God s Son, died to give us life. We were able to follow on from this with an assembly at Vicarage Park on the Emmaus Road and had members of the Quest Club joining in. We were also able to share the Easter message with a couple of pre-school groups, their staff and parents by visiting some of the stations in Church and doing a variety of activities including an Easter egg hunt. Libby Tulley The empty tomb WHITSUNDAY This was the first hymn I wrote around As with my Easter hymn, I wanted to write a hymn which contained the Biblical teaching about the Holy Spirit. After a general verse of praise, it begins with the work of the Spirit in creation. Verse three tells of the work through the inspiration of the prophets. Verse four tells of the dramatic appearance at Pentecost which led to the preaching of the Gospel. 10

11 Verse five tells of the work of the Spirit today. How often we are guided by the Spirit when we are led to some action which had in no way been planned. Often I would break with my arranged plan of visiting to call on someone else and that person needed a visit. We have all had similar experiences. When we are struggling in prayer or wondering what the next stage of our life may be, then the Spirit is at work within us. Holy Spirit, source of living, You we praise this glorious day. Of your graces ever giving, For ourselves these gifts we pray. Yours the presence ever brooding O er creation s formless deep, Order out of chaos spreading, O er our lives your presence keep. Source of prophet s inspiration, Filling lives with untold power, Hope for each new generation, Strengthen us each waking hour. Like a mighty whirlwind coming on your Church at Pentecost, Fill us with a zeal consuming, That no soul on earth be lost. Guidance for the church in planning, Strength for those who try to pray, Over all our conduct spanning, Be with us for every day. With the Father reign in glory, Reign in glory with the Son. This is the eternal story, Ever Three and ever One. Michael Thistlewood 11

12 The Spring Fair... What a day!! Saturday May 12th from 10am If you normally rush to get your magazine hot from the press then there s so much still to help with and enjoy at the Parish Spring Fair most of all tell your friends. If you haven t had a chance to pick up your copy until May is nearly out then you ll probably be reflecting on what a great day it was but you can still add to the total that was raised for vital church funds. At the time of writing a large team from nearly every church group and organisation is working hard to bring all the strands together. They have assembled a special day of dance and music displays and a variety of traditional stalls plants, books, bottles, bouncy castle. The team is especially looking forward to refreshments, the like of which have not been seen or tasted before in our church grounds. Mouths are watering just at the thought, sight and smell of the Pig Roast, to be followed by homemade scones, jam and cream with more cake to take home and as the sun scorches down, ice-cream!! Please tell your friends and neighbours to come... if the day has already passed then just check that they had a good day and invite them to come again next time. If you re reading this before 12th May, please pray for good weather and if you re reading it later in the month, join us in thanksgiving for all the blessings of the day. The Spring Fair Organising Group 12

13 Thy Kingdom Come PENTECOST th 20 th May For the last two years we have organised special events in the week running up to Pentecost as part of Archbishop Justin Welby s Thy Kingdom Come initiative. You may also remember our big joint service and lunch last year on Pentecost itself. This year the worldwide theme is on building up regular prayer, asking people to commit to it over the time it even has a hashtag: #pledge2pray! (Tap in a search on ThyKingdomCome.global to find out a lot more). Within KPC it is going to be lower key than before in the sense of the normal pattern of services on Sunday 20 th and no workshops during the preceding week; however it will be another time to build up lives of prayer and praise. During the week 14 th -19 th May we will be having short services of Morning and Evening prayer each day in church, following a particular form that will be being used all over the world. We also hope to have copies available for anyone to use at home if getting to church is a problem. There are also two possible booklets for you to use: a prayer journal and prayer guide. They are in different styles. The journal is to encourage users to draw closer to Jesus while praying for 5 friends. The guide or novena is a more reflective approach with a short structure for prayer each day. Both have space for keeping notes. By the time you re reading this there should have been details on the weekly hand-out. Will you take part this year and let Our Lord delight to work in us? Dick Forsyth 13

14 Learning Opportunities: Summer 2018 This version circulated 29th March 2018 Vocations Roadshows: Exploring your Christian calling To follow the Moving Mountains Mission a series of events has been organised for anyone interested in exploring what God might be calling them to do: Wednesday 2nd May: Moresby Church Hall, 7.30pm pm Saturday 5th May: Newbiggin Village Hall (near Penrith), 10.00am noon Saturday 2nd June: Christchurch, Cockermouth, 10.00am noon Thursday 21st June: St Thomas Kendal, 7.30pm pm Thursday 12th July: St James Parish Centre, Carlisle, 7.30pm pm Tuesday 11th Sept: Dalton Parish Centre, 7.30pm pm Please come along to find out what different sorts of ministry might mean, so that you can encourage others. Please bring others with you - all welcome. Grief, Loss and Care of the Bereaved Enabling reflection on how we can offer support and care to those affected by grief. Saturday 5th May: Cornerstone Community Church, New Street, Sedburgh Bookings and information: Christenings Resources Workshops Wednesday 16th May, 12.00noon pm, Ulverston Parish Centre Wednesday 11th July, 1.30pm pm, St Mary s Church Hall, Harrington For anyone who works with christenings in preparation or follow-up, and those who work with young families in your Mission Community. This workshop will have an ecumenical, Mission Community focus. Bookings and information: admin@cumbriachristianlearning.org.uk See also: Lay Ministry Training Day Saturday 7th July, 9.30am pm, Penrith Methodist Church Suitable for all licensed Readers and local lay ministers working in your Mission Community. Bookings and information: admin@cumbriachristianlearning.org.uk 14

15 Taking Funerals Seriously led by Sandra Miller (Archbishops Council) Tuesday 10th July, 10.00am pm, Penrith URC Open to everyone involved in any aspect of funeral ministry, not just those who take services, and anyone interested in developing creative and engaging funeral ministry. Even if you have previously attended one of these trainings there will be new things to take away. For more information contact: allison.fenton@cumbriachristianlearning.org.uk See also: Cumbria Theological Society: A Christian in Parliament Thursday 17th May, 7.30pm pm, Kendal URC. Rt. Hon. Tim Farron MP will be speaking on Being a Christian in the World of Politics. For booking details please see: How to Lead Worship in the United Reform Church Open to anyone, lay or ordained, who leads worship in their church who would like to know more about leading worship in the United Reformed and Methodist Churches. Thursday 26th April, 9.30am pm, West Cumberland (venue tbc.) Tuesday 8th May, 9.30am pm, Carlisle (venue tbc.) Saturday 9th June, 9.30am pm, Westmorland & Furness (venue tbc.) For booking and more information contact: revsarahmoore@me.com Campfire Pioneer Brunch Saturday 9th June. Carlisle, venue tbc. A chance for pioneers to meet, with artist and poets, to share learning and stories for the road. With Annie Grey, Caroline Kennedy and Richard Passmore. For more information richard.passmore@carlislediocese.org.uk Youth Vocations Saturday 16th June, 10.00am pm, Bishop s House, Keswick Hosted by Bishop James. A day for those working with young people from around the county, to think about how we can encourage young people to consider what God may be calling them to do. Please book via: admin@cumbriachristianlearning.org.uk. 15

16 Messy Cumbria: Networking and Training Day Saturday 14th July, 10.00am pm, Penrith Methodist Church A day for all existing & prospective Messy Church teams to gather for networking, encouragement & training. Keynote speaker Jane Leadbetter, National Messy Church. Bookings and information: LOOKING AHEAD: DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES Saturday 15th September: Whole Life Worship Conference with Sam & Sara Hargreaves (Engage Worship / London Institute of Contemporary Christianity) Making connections between our gathered church worship and the worship of our everyday lives. Practical, resource filled, accessible for churches of every size and shape. Saturday 20th October: Public Worship with Communion by Extension Essential training for deacons, Readers or other lay celebrants administering the Eucharist with a Bishop s licence. September - December: Introduction to the Old Testament Fortnightly seminar series, Tuesdays 7.00pm, Rydal Hall. Open to independent students as a stand-alone module or as part of a validated certificate programme. For more information please see: Saturday 10th November: #FXCumbria 9.30am pm Fresh Expressions Day 5.00pm pm Shindig Sunday 11th November: Mountain Pilgrims Join Mountain Pilgrims to experience Church in the hills am pm And a reminder: To offer Your SHAPE for God s Service in your Mission Community during 2018, you can download materials from For more information contact: admin@cumbriachristianlearning.org.uk 16

17 Welcome to our Church The heavy door slowly opens and our visitors, wind-blown or dripping wet, step into the Church s warmth and shelter. They stop and look in quietness and then, How peaceful, How beautiful, they say. We welcome them in people of many lands, some with a steady faith in God, some seeking, some with no faith at all it matters not. They walk quietly round the Church, taking in the glory of stained glass, the ancient pillars and battle flags and tributes to those long gone, the corner for little children to play and the gently welcoming space for those with troubled minds. Some kneel to pray, some sit in quietness, some share with us their grief and pain. For nine hundred years this Church has heard the prayers and worship of its people, has seen their tears of sorrow and of joy and echoed with voices raised in song. God s presence is here His love and peace and comfort are here for all as they have always been. Our visitors leave and go back to this uncertain world. May they take with them God s loving blessing and His peace. Written by a Welcomer, April 7,

18 Sunday Services - May 2018 Sunday May 6th 6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER 8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) 9.30am Choral Communion (BCP) 11.00am The Gathering (Café Church) 6.00pm Evensong (BCP) Sunday May 13th 7TH SUNDAY OF EASTER 8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) 9.30am Parish Communion (Common Worship) 11.00am The Gathering, with Communion 6.00pm Evensong (BCP) Sunday May 20th Pentecost 8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) 9.30am Parish Communion (Common Worship) 11.00am The Gathering 6.00pm Evensong (BCP) Sunday May 27th trinity sunday 8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) 9.30am Parish Communion (Common Worship) 11.00am The Gathering, with Communion 6.00pm Choral Evensong (BCP) Note: everyone is invited to come and practise at 4.30pm prior to singing this special Evensong We would love to receive your articles, notices, accounts of church group activities, recommendations of books to encourage one another in faith etc, for inclusion in future magazines. Please items to magazine@kendalparishchurch.co.uk or leave them at the Church office. We need to receive them by 15th of the month before publication. Thank you. 18

19 From the Registers Baptisms 15th April Amelia-Rose Satterthwaite Esme Elizabeth Graham Funerals 22nd March 26th March 29th March 3rd April 4th April 5th April 11th April Audrey Carradice Geraldine Armstrong Jeffrey Biggins David Richard Russell Constance Fisher Marjorie Lodge Geoffrey Bond Holy Trinity Kendal Parish Church 2018 Any views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editors or the Anglican Parish Church 19

20 Worship Sundays Holy Communion (BCP) 8.00am Parish Communion (Common Worship) 9.30am (most 1st Sundays Choral Communion) The Gathering 11.00am (Café Church 1st Sundays; with Communion most 2nd & 4th Sundays) Evensong 6.00pm Mid Week Morning Prayer Tuesday, Thursday 9.00am Morning Prayer Wednesday 10.00am Meditation Tuesday 10.00am Holy Communion (BCP) Thursday 10.30am Kendal Tea Service (Dementia Friendly) 2.30pm 3rd Thursday (Saints Days and Holy Days as announced) 20