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In this edition
Page two
Directory
Page three
Clergybit
Lent begins
Page four
Joan says ‘Thank you’
Horwich Scouts Christmas Post
Page five
Forthcoming Fundraising
Christian Aid Week
Bishop Chris comments on Scargill
Page six
Noughts & Crosses
& the Basement Club
Bikes for Namibia
Page seven
From the Registers
More dates for your diary
Page eight
Children’s Corner
Entertaining Angels
Please share!
April 2014 Issue
Deadline - March 23rd
Publication Date - April 6th
March 2014 THE MAGAZINE OF THE HORWICH & RIVINGTON TEAM CHURCHES Price 50p
WOMEN’S WORLD DAY of PRAYER International & Interdenominational
Friday 7th March 2014
This year the service from
EGYPT
’STREAMS
in the DESERT’ will be held
in
St. Elizabeth’s
Cedar Avenue
Friday 7th March
at
7.30 pm followed by refreshments
Speaker:
Mrs Pat Greenhill ALL WELCOME
(including men, women and
young people)
Women’s World Day of Prayer
is an international, inter-church
organisation which enables us to
hear the voices of women from
all parts of the world: their hopes,
concerns and prayers. The
preparation for the day is
extensive. An international
committee works from New York
and each participating country
has its own national committee.
Regional conferences meet to
consider the service and then
local groups make their plans.
Finally, at a church near you (see
below) on March 7th, women and
men will gather to celebrate using
a programme of worship offered
this year by women in Egypt.
The theme of our service is
‘Streams in the Desert’ and we
are asked to reflect on our
Christian role of being a ‘stream
in the desert’ for those who
experience spiritual ‘drought’. We
believe that the service from
Egypt has universal appeal.
One of the oldest civilisations
in the world, Egypt has long been
home to Coptic Christians. Since
the uprising in 2011 there has
been conflict between religious
groupings. Political change
affects individual lives and we
pray with the women of Egypt for
peace.
We envisage a great wave of
prayer, rising with the sun over
the island of Samoa and
sweeping across Asia, Africa, the
Middle East, Europe and the
Americas, coming to rest in
American Samoa some 36 hours
later. By then WWDP services will
have been celebrated in over 170
countries.
All are welcome to attend, men
and women and people of all ages.
For further information see the
WWDP website: www.wwdp.org.uk
Churches Together in Horwich
and Rivington celebrate this
service together annually in a
different church each year .
‘STREAMS in the DESERT’
CLERGYBIT
by Terry Litherland
3
For all you film buffs out there, can you remember the first line of the theme song to The Love Story? “Where do I begin to tell a story of how great a love can be?”
The Church in any community is just that, a love story ..the love for God of all generations past, present
and those yet to come. It is a love story that has brought each one of us to where we are at today, but more importantly, it’s about God’s love for us, His people. It isn’t just a story about a Church, it’s a story about people. We know only too well, don’t we? ..that love can sometimes blow hot or cold, so with that in mind, are you a thermometer or are you a thermostat?
What a strange question you might ask, but let me explain - a thermometer reflects its environment, it tells you what the temperature is, whether it’s hot or whether it’s cold. It doesn’t have any influence on what is around it.
Now a thermostat has power, it sets the temperature, it changes things, so which group would you put yourself in?
Let’s be clear about one thing, Christianity is infectious When you get a good dose of it everyone around gets it as well. There is a problem though, so many people try to cure it. They try to cure it by stifling it, by ignoring it, by hiding it. In other words, by living like thermometers instead of like
thermostats. It’s not hard to be a thermometer, just be agreeable, go along with what everyone else wants, think of our own comfort and ease, just keep quiet don’t let anyone know about our faith, don’t make waves ..go with the flow, don’t speak about God’s power and love, don’t live each day full of God’s mercy and grace.
Not that many will have heard of Robert Chesebrough. He’s the one
who invented Vaseline, a petroleum jelly that was refined from the ooze that forms on shafts of oil rigs. He believed so much in this product with its healing properties that he
became his own guinea pig. He burned himself, he also scratched himself ,scars that he bore for the rest of his life, but he proved to his doubters that this product actually worked. People would look at his wounds ,and see the value of his work and of course, the extent of his belief.
Will people look at us and see the extent of our belief? Are we thermometers or are we thermostats?
On Ash Wednesday many
churches hold services when
Christians are marked on the
forehead with a cross of
ashes. This is a sign of saying
sorry to God for any wrong
doing.
The ashes come from burning
the palm crosses from Palm
Sunday of the previous year.
ASH
WEDNESDAY
SERVICE
St. Elizabeth’s, Cedar Avenue
5th March 7.30 pm
ALL WELCOME
LENT SERVICES, all at 7.30 pm, followed by refreshments
Mon 10th Mar St Mary’s Preacher: Eric Kent Temptation
Tue 18th Mar Ind. Methodist Preacher: David Griffiths Betrayal
Wed 26th Mar St. Catherine’s Preacher: Sally Martin Forgiveness
Thu 3rd April St.John’s Preacher: Terry Litherland Ridicule
Fri 11th April Rivington Preacher: Stephen Fletcher Sacrifice
LENT DISCUSSION GROUP
- PARABLES & POSSESSIONS Material taken from Churches Together in Britain & Ireland
used during each of the Lent services in the week.
Tuesday mornings 10am for 10.30am start
at Holy Trinity,
Starting Tuesday 11th March
until 16th April inclusive.
Leader: Kim. All welcome.
THERMOMETER or THERMOSTAT?
LENT - the 40 days before Easter
(not including Sundays!) During the 40 days of Lent, Christians remember the time when Jesus went into the desert to fast and pray
before beginning his work for God. During this time Jesus was tempted several times by Satan, but was able
to resist. Lent is often a time of giving things up. For Christians, it is one way of remembering the time Jesus
fasted in the desert and is a test of self-discipline. There are many foods that some Christians do not eat in
Lent, such as meat and fish, fats, eggs and milky foods. Some Christians just give up something they really
enjoy such as cakes, chocolate or alcohol.
4
Once again you
have done
Horwich Scouts
Christmas Post
proud! The 2013 figures exceeded
our expectations when so many
people say they are reducing the
number of cards they send.
Cards processed: 2,176 (211 up
on 2012). Funds raised: £608.57
(£71.71 up on 2012).
The donations are shared out
equally between the Scouts and
Explorers who help with the sorting
and delivery. It is extremely
generous of you – the majority of
the donations were more than the
23p minimum donation which
helped to boost the total.
We trust that all cards were
delivered in time for Christmas and
that there weren’t any mistakes. If
there were please let us know as
we will endeavour to make sure
they don’t happen again.
Mark Smith, Andrew Threadgold
and I are stepping down from
organising the Scouts Christmas
Post after many years and in 2014
there will be new names and faces
involved with the Christmas Post.
The Group Scout Leaders of the
three Horwich Scout Groups and
the Unit Leaders from Jaguar
Explorers will be taking over the
organisation and we are sure they
will continue to offer you a good
service while allowing the young
people to do their bit for the
community.
On a personal note Mark, Andrew
and I thank you for helping us to
keep Christmas Post going over
the past 13 years and we hope you
will continue to support our
successors in the future!
Thank you again and we wish
you all a happy and healthy 2014.
Margaret Broadfoot 01204 690283
Mark Smith 07947 004057
(on behalf of the Horwich Scouts &
Jaguar Explorers)
HORWICH SCOUTS
CHRISTMAS POST
2013
& NEWS FOR 2014 Well, as you
read this
article, it will
have been
my last
Sunday with
Holy Trinity or
I will have
finished my
placement and returned to my own
parish of Great Lever.
When I arrived in October, having
already spoken to Stephen, I thought
I would be a kind of ‘Secret
Worshipper’, a bit like a ‘Secret
Shopper’, where the company itself
send in a designated person to shop,
unbeknown to staff. This person
then observes how staff treats them,
were they helpful, polite and so on.
Some say ‘you don’t get a second
chance to make a first impression’,
but you had nothing to worry about.
As soon as I walked in, I was greeted
by a number of people and I might
add, not just by the people whose
‘job’ it is to greet people. There was
a lovely warm atmosphere in the
place and I quickly came to the
conclusion that this was a place
where God was honoured and
worshipped and where people
valued and loved one another.
I was so thankful to Stephen,
Caroline and the Team of Churches,
for accepting me as a trainee. I
appreciate the time, organisation and
restructuring of service duties that
are required just to enable me to
obtain the required 50 hours
External Placement training.
My regular church of St. Simon &
St. Jude’s Great Lever, part of the
Seven Saints Team, is quite modern
and less formal than the 8am &
10.45am Holy Trinity services, but I
have thoroughly enjoyed all aspects
of both services. The Choir has
blessed my socks off and their
worship has reduced me to tears on
more than one occasion, in a positive
way, of course.
I have also been humbled and
blessed by the dedication and faithful
commitment of your Church
Wardens, Lay Assistants and all the
other helpers I’ve seen. Church
doesn’t just happen, and
sometimes we can take for
granted those who faithfully serve
week after week. Your children’s
workers, behind the scenes but
such a delight to God, who sees
every sacrifice made in the care
of these little ones……thank you.
I appreciated how beautiful the
church always looked, so
whoever cleans, whoever
prepared the church for
Christmas and whoever does the
flowers…. thank you. Those who
make tea and coffee and asked,
after the service, if I had a drink,
even making me a cup of Earl
Grey tea, which I asked for in
jest…….thank you.
As someone from the outside,
looking in, I would say you are
truly blessed to have Stephen as
Rector of the Horwich &
Rivington Team. I’m sure you
appreciate the loving
commitment to God and the love
care and concern that Stephen
has for you all, something which
has come across very strongly in
the time I’ve spent with him.
Your OLM Caroline has taken
me under her wing, teaching,
mentoring and generally caring
for me in so many ways.
I also had the honour and
privilege of meeting the
worshippers at Rivington who,
again made me so welcome and
greatly encouraged me in my
ministry.
In such a short time, you made
Horwich feel like ‘home’ for me,
and that didn’t happen by
chance, it was due to the love of
Jesus at work in and through you
lovely people of Horwich. I have
made many friends and leave
with some sadness, but with
many happy memories to
treasure. I will come back to visit
when time and commitments
allow. I will keep you all in my
prayers and would welcome
yours as my training continues.
So for now….a very sincere and
heartfelt Thank You.
May God Bless you all.
A BIG THANK YOU by Joan Nicholls: Trainee OLM
5
FAMILY QUIZ NIGHT
for Namibia
Saturday 15th March 6.30pm
at Holy Trinity Church
Entry by Ticket only (for catering purposes)
£2 adults : £1 children includes a pasty supper.
Tickets available from:
Holy Trinity Church, the Namibia Committee
or ring Pat 01204 693552.
A fun night with categories including cartoon characters,
anagrams and spot the difference
Do come along and test your knowledge.
It may still seem a
long way off, but this
is an early notice that
this year,
Christian Aid week will be
from 11-17th May. Last year, our churches in Horwich
& Rivington were among the 20,000
churches across the country who
helped to raise £12m during Christian
Aid Week. This year, the focus will be
on the lives of a growing number of
people across the world for whom the
horror of war is part of daily life.
By working together during
Christian Aid week and at other times
the churches across Horwich &
Rivington have helped to put the lives
of many of the poorest and most
distressed in the world back together
so that they can face the future
without fear. This year we would like
to continue with that success. There
will of course be more information
about all the events planned across
Horwich for CA week at a later date,
but a number of events are planned
to both inform and motivate all of us.
One of these is a
Christian Aid service
St Catherine’s Church,
Richmond Street
Sunday 16th March 10.30am
Preacher: Dave Hardman from Christian Aid.
Please support if you can.
Horwich CA Committee
I was delighted to learn a few
months ago, that Churches
Together in Horwich had booked
in to Scargill House for a holiday
at the end of September
2014. (29th September-Friday 3rd
October)
As some, but not all of you may
be aware, I chair the Council for
Scargill House, so from that
perspective as well as being
Bishop of Bolton, it is a double
joy to know of your plans! I look
forward to also contributing to
and speaking to your time there
towards the end of the week.
For those who haven’t been to
Scargill House before, it is
located in 80 acres of land, in the
stunning Yorkshire Dales
countryside, and therefore is a
wonderful area, not least for
shorter or longer walks.
Since its re-opening in 2009,
the vision statement we have
adopted has been ‘Lives Shared
– Lives Transformed’, and the
experience of many individuals
and groups, who have been to
Scargill has been just that. Lives
and relationships shared and
deepened with one another,
along with the members of the
community who run Scargill, and
who come from different parts of
the world as well as different
Christian denominations and
traditions; lives transformed taking
time out to be with God and others, in
a place of welcome and hospitality,
where you will be well fed and at the
heart of which is a daily rhythm of
worship.
I look forward to hearing that many
people from different churches in
Horwich and Rivington have booked
in, and assure you that
your experience at
Scargill will be a
refreshing and
renewing one!
With every blessing.
+ Chris
There are still places left for the
holiday week. If all the brochures and
booking forms have gone from your
church you can get a set from Gloria
Long our administrator on
01204 692035
or from your church representative:
Chris Hodgkinson (St John’s),
David Tracey (St Mary’s)
Sandra Almond (St Elizabeth’s)
Lyn Mitchell (St Catherine’s)
Brenda Griffiths (Rivington)
CHURCHES TOGETHER SCARGILL HOLIDAY CELEBRATING COMMUNITY
Lives shared - Lives Transformed
6
CELEBRATIONS & CONGRATULATIONS Anything to celebrate? Someone to congratulate? Let the editor know and see it printed here!
Email [email protected] or ring 01204 694611 before the deadline on the front page.
St Catherine’s have faced a
challenge recently because of the
success of their Sunday Club and
the numbers of youngsters now
attending. A lot of work has therefore
gone into renovating the basement of
St Catherine’s – it has been
repainted, re-carpeted, and various
pieces of equipment have been
made available, or given - electronic
games, snooker, pool, table tennis,
table games.
Noughts and Crosses has recently
been started on Sunday mornings for
the older members of Sunday Club,
under the leadership of Kathryn and
Glen Wynne-Jones, Rosene Patel
and Victoria Allan. They have
appreciated the support to get off the
ground of Stephen Watson, Graham
Smith, Toby Harley and Rebecca
Green from St Elizabeth’s. That’s a
good example of our Team working
together.
With the withdrawal of the Eden
Bus from Horwich last
September, the Basement Project
has now also been launched as a
replacement under the leadership
of Club Leader Graham Smith.
This is a youth club which meets
every Friday in term time from
7.30-9.00 pm in the basement.
This is under the umbrella of and
financed by, Churches Together
in Horwich and Rivington.
Chairman of the Project Steering
group Eric Kent spoke warmly of
the work that Graham and others
from St Catherine’s have put into
renovating the basement to provide a
very useful facility. Some more work is
needed but thirty eight youngsters
were there recently when a Bolton
News reporter & photographer visited
the club. Together with other helpers,
Team Rector Stephen Fletcher was
there teaching the youngsters how to
play snooker. Without the Basement,
many of the kids would just be
wandering the streets. The Club
needs other volunteers and the
Steering Group are in the process of
producing a rota of helpers. If you are
interested you could call in on a
Friday evening to see what happens
and whether you might be able to
help. David Griffiths
It’s all happening at St Catherine’s!
Noughts
and Crosses
The Basement
Club
The Namibia committee have
agreed to make a bike collection to
help the BEN bikes projects in
Namibia. We would take your old
bike off your hands and take it to the
“re-cycle collection point” in
Rochdale. It will be sent off to Africa
to provide bikes and spares for
workshops which give income for
mechanics and independence and
dignity for people with no other
means of transport.
What kind of bikes?
Mountain bikes and hybrids - these
strong bikes are particularly suitable
for unmade African roads.
City and commuter bikes - (often
with 3-speed hubs, mudguards and
parcel carriers) - these are practical
cycles and 3-speed hubs are low
maintenance.
Shopper bikes - these are easy
to ride even for inexperienced
cyclists and easily adjust for
riders of different heights.
Road bikes - these can be used
by a few projects that are city
based.
3-wheeled adult bikes - great
for riders with poor balance.
24”-wheel cycles are suitable
for shorter riders and teenagers
20”-wheel cycles can be used
for children going to school
Small bikes are only of limited
use so must be in good condition
and not require too much work.
The ‘not wanted’ bikes!
Small children’s bikes made
from a lot of plastic. They are not
in demand and plastic costs a lot
to dispose of.
Rusted up old bikes that have
been out in the rain - even the
spare parts are not usually re-
useable.
Also useful please
All bike spare parts
Tools - especially bike-specific
tools but also general workshop
tools such as spanners, hammers,
screwdrivers, hacksaws, allen-
keys, files etc.
We have set ourselves a target of
100 bikes, please search your
sheds and garages and help us
achieve this aim. You can either
drop off your bike(s) at 4, Medway
Close; contact Margaret on 01204
469091 to arrange collection or
speak to any member of the
Namibia committee any time in
MARCH.
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE
BIKES TO CHURCH!! Thank you.
CAN YOU HELP COLLECT
100 BIKES FOR NAMIBIA?
2nd Feb Esme Mae Rogers-Sokun
9th Feb Tommy Robin Heaton
BAPTISMS & THANKSGIVINGS We welcome to the family of the Church: 15th Dec George Firth Guyton )
15th Dec Charlie Logan Griffiths ) with apologies for the omission from the last magazine
29th Dec Ava Robbins )
2nd Feb Ava Elizabeth Nodwell-Small
2nd Feb James Fearnley
WEDDINGS We wish joy and happiness to: 15th Feb John Lee Georgeson & Sarah Leanne Craine
FUNERALS We offer love and sympathy to the relatives and friends of: 31st Jan Christopher Riley, Back Lane, Heath Charnock
7th Feb Irene Nicholas, Catherine Street East, Horwich
10th Feb Ramon Fido, Abraham Street, Horwich
12th Feb Alice Lomax, Jubilee House, Bolton
14th Feb Neville Crompton, Arcon Village, Horwich
18th Feb John (Jack) Greenhalgh, Melbourne Grove, Horwich
19th Feb Allan Ralphs, Mill Lane, Horwich
From the Registers
BOLTON PRAYER BREAKFAST The next one, hosted by the Mayor of Bolton, is in the Festival Hall at the
Town Hall on Friday 28th March. It starts at 7.30 am and finishes by
9.15 am. This will be led by Bishop Chris, who will reflect on his 6 years
in the post as the Bishop of Bolton, and also interview a number of the
people who have initiated or lead some of the exciting events and
activities which we can all celebrate and pray for. It gives an opportunity
to celebrate all that God is doing in Bolton.
Costs £10 for a full English breakfast. Send your details (name, address,
telephone & e-mail) with a cheque (payable to: Bolton Prayer Breakfast)
to: Bolton Prayer Breakfast, Bishops Lodge, Walkden Road,
Worsley. Manchester M28 2WH. Tel: 0161 7908289 or a
BACS Payment: Sort Code 05-02-77 Account No 20871474
and e-mail to [email protected]
The March speaker is Dave Bullock, author of 'The worlds most
successful failure' (autobiography). Dave's been a businessman,
alcoholic, suicidal, pastor...The group meets at The Beehive pub on the
first Thursday of each month and can be contacted on 07804530951,
email [email protected], even via facebook (FGBBolton)!
Peter (FGB - Bolton Chapter)
The purpose and focus of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International (UK & Ireland) is to reach men and women for Christ and to empower them for life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Regular meetings are held throughout the world to share 'real life stories' about what a difference it makes having Jesus in our lives.
Clocks go
FORWARD
at 2 am on Sunday
30th March
MOTHERING SUNDAY
30th March
Services in all our
churches.
All welcome, as we
celebrate those who have cared for us and
instructed us along
life’s journey
Apologies for the typos in the last issue and well done to those who spotted them! Even
with 3 proof readers, mistakes are still made! Human after all?!
With many thanks to Easiprint, Crown Lane, Horwich for printing this magazine.
For the Youth!
about the Youth!
and BY the Youth?!
Some contributions are trickling in! Thank you!
PLEASE send us your photos and articles of individuals
or groups and what you have been doing.
AND, how about if you are a young person who
would like to edit the page?
please get in touch with the current editor!
CHILDREN’S BIT! - Spring has Sprung!
Spring is on its way. The first lambs will soon be out in the fields with their mothers. Can you colour in this picture? Plus six words to find in a word search this month.
8
This play, which sees
disturbing revelations
come out at a family
reunion, was on at
Bolton Little Theatre
during February. It was
an outstanding and very
well acted warm
comedy with probing wit and many
deep Christian themes – redemption,
compassion, love and essentially
forgiveness. The play was directed by
Sandra Leatherbarrow (Simpson) a
member of the congregation at
Rivington Church.
Set in a vicarage garden, as the new
women vicar Sarah (Julie Penson)
comes to take over the parish
following the death of the vicar
Bardolf,(Chris Moxon), the play tells
the story of Grace, (June Grice) a
clergy wife who has spent a lifetime
on her best behaviour. After her
husband’s death, she feels she can
enjoy a new-found freedom until the
return of her somewhat eccentric
missionary sister, Ruth, (Margaret
Marks) together with the devastating
disclosure that Ruth had had a child
by Grace’s vicar husband 30 years
before. This forces Grace to
confront the reality of her
marriage and eventually come to
a place of
reconciliation with
her dead husband,
her sister and her
daughter Jo’s (Alison
Whittaker) step
brother Jeremiah.
‘Entertaining Angels’ was
written by Richard Everett and
premiered in 2006 at the
Chichester Festival Theatre. The
title is taken from Hebrews 13
verse 2: ‘Do not neglect to show
hospitality to strangers, for by
doing that some have entertained
angels without knowing it.’ As
Everett writes about the practice
of hospitality, ‘all who enter our
homes, are not just human traffic
(Grace has had a lifetime of that)
but seeing each individual as a
possible divine visitor or
messenger’, who may bring
generosity, kindness,
forgiveness, reconciliation and a
new freedom.
It was an excellent play –
congratulations to director, cast
and all the crew at Bolton Little
Theatre. David Griffiths
ENTERTAINING
ANGELS PLEA to
SPREAD the WORD!
Currently there are quite a few magazine copies left in each of our churches at the end of the month. We have considered reducing our print run but it wouldn’t actually save us any money! So PLEASE take an extra copy, share it with a neighbour, take some to your dentist and/or doctor and leave in the waiting room - share the word, don’t waste it. Let others know what is happening in our team of churches in Horwich & Rivington.
And to finish...