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St Elphin’s Chronicle
February 2015
Vol 127
Price 30p
Church Services for February 2015
Sunday 1st February—The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
8:30 am Holy Communion
10:30 am Sung Eucharist
12:30 pm Holy Baptism
6:30 pm Evensong
Wednesday 4th February
10:00 am Holy Communion
Sunday 8th February—The Second Sunday before Lent
8:30 am Holy Communion
10:30 am Sung Eucharist
6:30 pm Evensong
Wednesday 11th February
10:00 am Holy Communion
Sunday 15th February—Next Sunday before Lent
8:30 am Holy Communion
10:30 am Sung Eucharist
12:30 pm Holy Baptism
6:30 pm Evensong
Wednesday 18th February—Ash Wednesday
10:00 am Holy Communion & Imposition of Ashes
7:30 pm Holy Communion & Imposition of Ashes & Address ‘God is Love’
Sunday 22nd February—First Sunday of Lent
8:30 am Holy Communion
10:30 am Sung Eucharist
6:30 pm Evensong
Wednesday 25th February
10:00 am Holy Communion
7:30 pm Holy Communion & Address ‘Love God
Worship in the Parish
Sundays:
8.30am
10.30am
12.30pm
6.30pm
Holy Communion
Parish Eucharist
Holy Baptism (1st & 3rd only)
Evensong
Wednesdays:
10.00am Holy Communion
Saints’ Days and other Holy Days
7.30pm Holy Communion (unless stated otherwise)
A Loop System is in operation in the Church to assist hearing aid
users. Please switch your hearing aid to the ‘T’ position for it to be
effective.
There are large print copies of the Hymn Book and the
Communion Service.
Please ask the Church Wardens or
Sidespeople if you would like a copy.
Special Services are announced through Church Notices, the Parish
Magazine and the Website as necessary.
Holy Communion is taken regularly to the Sick and Housebound by our Clergy and
Team of Licensed Eucharistic Ministers. Please inform the Clergy when
parishioners are ill, either at home or in hospital.
The Parish Staff
Rector
Reverend P D Wilson
The Rectory
129 Church Street WA1 2TL
01925-635020
email: [email protected]
Assistant Priest (NSM)
Readers
Church Wardens
Organist &
Choirmaster
Reverend C Waddleton
Mr R Whitticombe
3 Franklin Close
Old Hall
WA5 8QL
Mr A G Dunn
56 Orford Green
WA2 8PL
Mr A Wright
5 Kinsale Drive
Locking Stumps
WA3 6LX
Miss K J Hayes
8 Charlton Street
Latchford
WA4 1LX
Mr A Thornecroft
0161-962-0062
01925-564408
01925-630417
01925-821048
01925-656790
01925-413744
Websites:
St Elphin’s:
http://www.warringtonparishchurch.org
Diocesan Website:
http://www.liverpool.anglican.org
Cathedral Website:
http://www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk
www.facebook.com/warringtonparishchurch
Please do visit and ‘Like’ our Facebook page so you can keep up to
date with events and services in our church and ‘share’ this with
others whom you connect with on social media.
‘Lent – God’s perfect timing…’
A line from a song I heard recently went; “I’d have patience if only I
had the time”. Patience can be one of the hardest virtues for us to
understand. In a world of instant makeovers, instant food, instant
internet, instant credit (and instant ulcers!) patience seems to have
been relegated to the ‘bad old days’ of yesteryear. Why wait when
we can have everything instantly…?
We pray to a God who knows everything, including our needs. We
know that he’s able to help us at any moment he chooses. We
know that he who defines himself as ‘love’ and gave his Son for us
isn’t reluctant to help us. So why, when we ask God to intervene in
our situation, is there often a delay?
Nowhere in the Bible does God promise instant answers to our
prayers. His promises for answered prayer are both amazing and
reassuring, but none of them include a timetable. He only assures us
that he’s never too late.
Yet, in our impatience, we don’t want an answer that’s merely ‘not
too late’. We want an answer now. We have needs, and we don’t
understand why those needs must be prolonged.
But God has his reasons. Perhaps our needs are being prolonged
because they’re accomplishing something in us that nothing else will.
Perhaps they’re being prolonged because God is doing a necessary
work in the life of someone else who is involved in our situation.
Perhaps he’s teaching us about the nature of prayer or perfecting
our faith. Maybe he’s even letting us identify with Jesus and his
sufferings. He’s always trying to conform us to the likeness of
Christ and perhaps this is another way of doing that.
Sometimes God will make clear that our answer is delayed because
the delay will further his work in our own hearts or in another
area. Sometimes he gives us no reason at all. The Christian
disciple’s wise response, in either case, is to know that if we are
waiting on God, there must be a very good reason. And if we wait
in faith and expectancy, the wait will be amply rewarded.
During the season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, 18th
February this year, we enter a time set aside by the church for
hundreds of years as a time to be patient, a time to wait upon God
and seek his direction and leading. God’s timing is always perfect.
Faithfully wait upon him and be patient.
With every blessing this Lent.
Paul
Rector of Warrington, St Elphin’s
Ash Wednesday, 18th February
10:00 am Holy Communion & Imposition of Ashes
7:30 pm Holy Communion & Imposition of Ashes
(Address 1 ‘God is Love’. The Rector)
St John’s Court
The next service of Holy Communion at St John’s Court
will be on Tuesday 3rd February 2015 at 11.30am.
All are welcome.
Hot-Pot Supper
Saturday 21st February at 7.00pm
St Elphins Community Centre
Tickets £6.00
Available from Margaret Dolan & Sandra Kirk
Proceeds in aid of Church Funds
All welcome
Pause for Thought…with Norma Fox
Shine as a light in the world to the Glory of God the Father
We are in the midst of winter, dark days and cold, but the light of Christ
shines brilliantly for all people as we celebrate His presentation in the
temple – Candlemas, in this month of February.
We bring our children to be baptised into the family of God, we nurture
them in the faith, and with faith to follow the teachings of Christ.
My own life and faith, though I wasn’t aware of it as such, began when I was
a child of nine years of age. I would sit and listen avidly to the stories from
the bible told by my Sunday school teacher at Hope Hall. Some were
dangerous and exciting, others of ordinary people whose lives had been
changed by Jesus. I was captivated, I wanted to know more and read for
myself the wondrous things these teachers were telling me. I wanted my
own bible!
After recovering from scarlet fever I arrived home from hospital, my mother
and father presented me with my very own bible inscribed ‘a gift of love’.
What joy, what treasure.
We lived in an area where every family knew hardship. Life after the war
wasn’t easy and children used their imagination, for lack of toys, when
playing. After school the ‘kids in our street’ would play together in a field
nearby, the boys played cowboys and Indians, while the girls were nurses, or
mothers with babies. It was there where I told the stories of Jesus and they
listened, even the boys gathered and listened!! An elderly church member
gave me a flannel graph so I could tell the stories with pictures. I loved
those times, and as I grew, so by grace, did my faith in God. Throughout my
adult life God has guided me, protected me and shown His love in so many
blessings, and mercies when I got things wrong. He has always been there
to talk to in prayer, to trust and rely on.
Faith is emotive requiring much contemplation, courage and commitment, it
can and does take you out of your comfort zone and it doesn’t remove
hardships but with it comes strength and a promise that God will never
leave us. The words ‘Do not be afraid’ appear many times in the bible, for
He has redeemed us and called us by our name, words that must surely fill
us with the feeling of being loved and protected.
I love the tale of the little Indian boy’s rite of passage. He was blindfolded
and sat on a tree stump in the middle of the woods. His big test was to sit
there all night until the sun rose in the morning. He was understandably
scared, his imagination ran wild. Every noise he thought was a wild animal
about to eat him alive, but his courage held. When morning came – now a
man – the blindfold was removed. The first thing he saw was his father who
had sat silently by his side the whole night through. If danger had
threatened his father would have protected him, just like our Father will ‘we
live by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Daily bring me nearer
To the heavenly shore
May my faith grow clearer
May I love you more
Christingle 2014
There was a wonderful congregation of Adults and Children for our Annual
Christingle Service. It is always a good way to start the Christmas Festival.
We raised a total of £787.78 for the Children’s Society on the day plus the
retiring collection from the School Carol Service of £189.75, making a total
of £977.53.
Thanks to all who contributed and to those who helped at the Service on
the day. A special thank you to those who prepared the Christingles.
The House Boxes raised £320.50 in 2014 so thank you to the people who
contribute in this way. All this money is sent direct to the Society.
Sylvia Wright
Water Aid Lent Appeal
Following on from our successful Harvest Appeal this year’s Lent
Appeal will also be supporting Water Aid’s Jars of Change Appeal
to give families across the world safe water and sanitation.
The idea is that you collect a Wateraid sleeve
from the back of church and slip it inside an
empty jar and bring it back to church by Sunday
18th April.
February 2015
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus. We give thanks that Christ’s reconciling work on the cross
made peace between God and ourselves. We pray for the work of
reconciliation that Mothers Union members carry out in various parts of the
world. May they carry God’s peace into situations of strife.
Our next meeting of the will be held on Wednesday11 th February at 7.30pm
in St Elphin’s school, when Julie Holt an Elder at Elmwood United Reform
Church and who works for Warrington Borough Council will be coming to
tell us something of her work and some of the services available through
the council. All are welcome to join us for this evening.
Lent begins on 18th Feb and as in previous years members are encouraged to
support the weekly Wednesday evening Lenten services.
2015 is a special year for Mothers’ Union in Liverpool Diocese as we will
celebrate 125 years of Mothers’ Union in the Diocese. There are several
special events planned the first is a Lady Day service at the Cathedral on 25th
March. Two members from our previous linked Diocese in Myanmar will be
coming to visit Liverpool in March and will be at the service on 25 th. If
anyone would like to attend this service and requires transport can you
please speak to Wendy.
Baptisms in February
1st
Barbara Barrett and Nancy Jones
15th
Margaret Sefton & Doreen Ross
Tea & Coffee Rota for February
1st
Julie & Linda
8th
Margaret & Doreen
15th
Wendy & Barbara
22nd
Julie & Linda
Our Friend Jesus
We have a friend called Jesus
He's the best friend there can be
He will never hurt us
Or fail us constantly
He wants the very best for us
As He walks with us each day
He will never turn His back
Give up or go astray
He loves us unconditionally
Even when we get things wrong
He's our strength in times of weakness
When all our own has gone
He builds us up with confidence
Forgives us day by day
He never tires of listening
Whatever we may say
He doesn't judge our hang ups
Shares our dreams, our hopes and fears
He celebrates our greatest joys
And wipes away our tears
He guards us and protects us
When wolves come knocking at our door
When we've nothing left to offer
He always gives us more
He gives without expectation
There's no ransom to be paid
He doesn't constantly remind us
Of the sacrifice He made
He doesn't talk behind our back
Or conquer and divide
He shares our joys and triumphs
With a heart bursting with pride
He encourages and affirms us
He never betrays us or attacks
He picks us up when we fall down
And constantly watches our back
We can trust Him with our deepest thoughts
For He never is two faced
Our words are held in confidence
As He ministers His grace
He looks pasts all our failings
And meets our greatest needs
He gives us food for our soul
On which we can freely feed
He knows the gift of friendship
Is a blessing to be shared
He's never jealous or envious
Of other friends within our care
He leads us by example
On paths of true humility
He's a faithful, trusted, loving friend
The best friend there can be
If you feel lonely and dejected
Remember Jesus knows your name
Reach out for Him in friendship
And your life will never be the same
Karen Wilson
Line Dance Charity Night
Saturday 7th March 2015 at
Culcheth Sports Club (Daten) WA3 5SH
In aid of Prostate Cancer
and St Elphin’s Church
Bring nibbles for your table
Raffle / Stand up Bingo
Tickets £6.00
Contacts Kath 01925 837176 or Wendy 07963 021172
Christian Aid
Pancakes & Quiz
with Bring & Buy and Raffle
Tuesday 18th February at 7.00pm
St Elphin’s Community Centre
Admission £4.00
(Please bring your own drinks)
Tickets available from Margaret & Lesley
Readers and Prayer Rota for February
8.30am
Reader
10.30am
Prayers
10.30am
Reader
6.30pm
Reader
1st
Kathryn H
Rector
Beryl Dell
Teresa T
8th
Eddie B
Janet Cliffe
Albert Froggatt
GW & DR
15th
Kathryn H
Lee Marsh
Joanne Marsh
AW & SW
Ann Dunn
Sue W
GW & DR
22nd Pauline B
Communicants and Collections
Week ending
Communicants
Collections
Christmas Day
102
674.42
December 28th
67
488.25
January 4th
78
865.18
January 11th
82
515.50
January 18th
76
753.08
Donations:
Fabric Fund
With grateful thanks for prayers for Mum and Trisha, from Alan
100.00
With grateful thanks for prayers answered from Mrs Henshaw
100.00
In memory of Elsie Farrell from Janet
Donation from Eileen Smith after visit to Regimental Chapel
Treasured memories of George Peacock, February 16th, 2009.
Loving Husband, Dad and Granddad, from Hilda and Family
20.00
5.00
50.00
General Fund
Anonymous donation
30.00
May the blessing of friendship bring us all closer together Albert and
Ada Austin
10.00
Marjorie Cameron Endowment Fund
Donation from Nancy Jones
10.00
Parish Registers for January
Holy Baptism
4th January
Tcoa Andrew Rhys Jenkins
Ted Michael Barnes
18th January
Jude Michael Gibson
Phoebe Sophia Singleton
Poppy Gwladys Kavaney
Joshua James Kay
Christian Burial & Cremation in January
6th
7th
13th
19th
19th
22nd
22nd
30th
Barry John Branwood
Samuel Morris
Derek Ball
Pauline Jane Cogley
Joan Francis Pendlebury
Isabella Vose
Peter Buckley
Patricia Williams
Aged
Aged
Aged
Aged
Aged
Aged
Aged
Aged
38
84
72
49
88
99
75
73
Lest we Forget
28th February 1915 Private Thomas Watson
Age unknown
Social and Group Activities
Monday
7.30pm
Wednesday
6.45pm
7.30pm
7.30pm
Thursday
6.30pm
7.30pm
St Elphin’s Church Choir Practice – Choir Vestry
St John’s Brownies – Scout HQ, Vale Owen Road
Mothers’ Union – St Elphin’s School (2nd only)
St Elphin’s Ladies Group (1st & 3rd only) meet in
the Community House next door to St Elphin’s
Community Centre
St Elphin’s Brownies – St Elphin’s School
St Elphin’s Guides – St Elphin’s School
Men’s Group (1st only)
Friday
6.30-7.30pm
Beavers - (Boys/Girls aged 6 – 8)
6.30 – 8.00pm Cubs - (Boys/Girls aged 8 - 10)
6.45 – 9.00pm Scouts - (Boys/Girls aged 10 - 14)
At Howley Fairfield Neighbourhood Project,
Fairfield Street. For more details contact Debbie
(Group Scout Leader) on 07804 267310
All members of the Church and local community are welcome to
come and join with us in these and any occasional activities which
are announced in Church or advertised on the Church Notice
Board.
School
St Elphin’s (Fairfield) CE Primary School
Head Teacher:
Bookings:
Mrs Mary Cummings
635143
made with the Head Teacher
St Elphin’s Junior Church
Sundays at 10.30am in the Choir Vestry
Occasional Services
Holy Baptism
1st and 3rd Sundays in the month at 12.30pm
Arrangements to be made with the Rector or Church Wardens
Holy Matrimony and Banns
Arrangements to be made with the Rector or Church Wardens
Funerals
Arrangements are usually made with the Rector by the Funeral
Director who has been engaged.
The Church Wardens hold a surgery in Church on Saturdays from
10.00am to 11.00am for Applications for Baptism, Holy Matrimony
and Banns.
The Clergy are available at any time in cases of emergency.
Readers are encouraged to support our Sponsors
who have given generously towards our costs.
For that Special Occasion
The Winmarleigh Rooms
Large and small licensed Function Rooms available for:
Wedding Receptions, Christenings, Birthdays etc
For further information and bookings please contact:
The Winmarleigh Rooms, Winmarleigh Street, Warrington
01925 651468 Email: [email protected]
Bewsey Road, Warrington, WA2 7LW
01925 445555
Michelle & Co
Ladies and Gents Hairdressing
4a Bold Street, Warrington
01925 630714
Knox & Son Ltd
Independent Family Funeral Directors
• 24 Hour Personal Care • Private Chapels of Rest
• Pre-Paid Funeral Plans • Horse Drawn Hearse Available
• Religious and Non Religious Ceremonies
43-45 Orford Road, Warrington
01925 633388
Proprietor Betty Mercer
Manager Harry Taylor
Shelley’s
Restaurant & Coffee Shop
8 Bold Street, Warrington
01925 654000
Cheshire Funeral Services
Park View Funeral Home
57 Gorsey Lane, Warrington
01925 571048
‘Caring for our Community’
Hospice Shops
Birchwood
Bridge Foot (Furniture)
Golden Square
Hood Manor
Latchford Village
Longford Street, Warrington
Lymm
Stockton Heath
01925 825561
01925 650800
01925 575780
01925 629494
01925 415414
01925 411626
01925 758057
01925 602932
Readers are encouraged to support our Sponsors
who have given generously towards our costs.