Sunday 24 January 2021: Epiphany 3

To include articles on this sheet contact Valda Pearson on 07751 663339 or email valdaapearson@gmail.com by Tuesday evening. 

10:15    Parish Eucharist in church and live streamed

Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Sunday 10 January Readings:

Genesis 14: 17-20

Revelation 19: 6-10

John 2: 1-11

Intercessions   

We pray for an end to coronavirus:

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose years never fail and whose mercies are new each returning day: let the radiance of your Spirit renew our lives, warming our hearts and giving light to our minds; that we may pass the coming year in joyful obedience and firm faith; through him who is the beginning and the end, your Son, Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.

Those in need this week:

Maureen Dalby; Pauline Readett; Enid Tootell; Gregory McMahon; Pat Lee; Carla Brindle; Mary Brown; Alun Jones

Those who have been in need for some time:

Tommy Trayling; Colin Buckley; Pat Wilson; Helen Christopher; Graham Pownall; Olivia Wilson; Tony Dolan; Margaret Dolan; Audrey Batten; June Davenport; Pat Lee, Michael Walker, Gemma Kavanagh, Maureen Brindle

The departed

Brenda Carter; Mary Crawshaw; Rhoda Makinson; Lily Halton; Tracey Collins 

Those whose anniversary occurs this week

Stanley Banks; Joyce Exley; Mary Annie Stokoe; Ellis Banks; Harry True; Frank Hanson; Christine Dartmouth

What's on

Daily readings in the week

Monday 25 January             The Conversion of Paul    Mark 19 : 27 - 30

Tuesday 26 January            Ss Timothy and Titus Mark 3 : 31 - end

Wednesday 27 January        Mark 4 : 1 - 20

Thursday 28 January           S Thomas Aquinas    Mark 4 : 21 - 25

Friday 29 January               Mark  4 : 26 -34

Saturday 30 January           King Charles I    Mark 4 : 35 - 41

Morning Prayer will be said in church Monday to Thursday 09:00 and Evening Prayer at The Rectory

Monday             19:30 Standing Committee via Zoom

Wednesday        11:30 Eucharist in church and online

Next Week:

31 January  The Presentation of Christ in the Temlpe (Candlemas)     White

Readings:     

Malachi 3: 1-5; Hebrews 2: 14-18; Luke 2: 22-40

Weekly church running costs - £1901

THE COST OF KEEPING OPEN OUR CHURCH is £14 PER PERSON PER WEEK – current levels of giving work out at £5 per person per week increasing the gap between incomings and outgoings even further.  The financial situation is becoming increasingly worrying.  Please help as much as you can. Forms are available to make a Standing Order if you would prefer to contribute in this way. Forms are available for tax payers from the treasurer or Gift Aid Secretary, Eric Smith. Please make sure you have completed yours. Gift Aiding raised £11,707 in year 2019.

 Eccleston St Marys PCC Sort Code 09-01-55 A/c 23903081

CONTACT DETAILS

Rector                  Fr Andrew Brown        01257 452777

Church Warden     Gill Jamieson             01257 451863

Church Warden     Garry Fishwick           07885 839067

Weddings              Andrea Cheetham      01257 451932

Baptisms              Claire Walsh               01257 433167

Funerals               Linda Thornton          01257 451075

PCC Secretary       valdaapearson@gmail.com  

The following daily intentions are suggested:

Monday        New Christians including the recently baptized

Tuesday        Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury

Wednesday   Churches in England Dedicated to Our Lady

Thursday       HM The Queen

Friday           Remembrance of February’s Departed

Saturday        An end to coronavirus

Church attendance

Congregational Worship is specially permitted even during the current national lockdown.  You may be aware that some churches have decided to remain closed, this is particularly true of other denominations but also include some Anglican parishes; in the Church of England not opening at least once per week for a service is subject to Canon Law and the Bishop’s discretion.  After discussion with neighbouring parishes, the Church Wardens believe  that we can offer the sacraments to those who wish to receive them with minimum risk of spreading infection.  We will keep the situation under review to maintain a clean and safe environment, offering the sacraments to those you wish to receive them.  However, please remember to register your attendance and use hand sanitiser when entering; wear a mask and remain two metres apart from others at all times.

The reopening of Whalley Abbey

On Friday evening last week North West Tonight featured a story about the reopening of Whalley Abbey and the return of a community of monks after Easter.  This was a well presented and favourable news story about Christianity by the BBC.  The report includes interviews with senior clergy from the Diocese including Bishop Julian, Archdeacon Mark and the newly appointed Director of Whalley Abbey.  If you missed the report you can view it below, or watch again.

Funeral Services are still permitted to a maximum of 30 inside church and social distanced outside gatherings are allowed.

Baptisms are also permitted with the numbers allowed the same as those in church for regular worship (i.e. the risk assessed capacity of the church.)  For us this is 38 if everyone was a single attendee outside all other bubbles.  On Saturday 23 January we welcomed Arlo Jasper Grainger with his parents, Ashley and Harry, other family and friends including grandparent, and great grandparents.  It was a wonderful occasion which gave hope and joy and the church is still open for the sacraments.  After a quiet 12 months we are receiving a number of requests for baptism: if you know anyone who wants a baptism, select this link to complete the registration form.  We look forward to seeing you soon.

Support during Coronavirus Isolation

Please continue to keep in touch with church:

The Parish Website - www.ecclestonstmaryschurch.org

Worship - online Eucharists are available through social media

Personal Contact – please request help if you require it

Prayers - Please contact Liz Green to be included.

During Lent this year the Diocese are providing some resources free of charge for your reflection and devotion.  After the success of the Advent Devotional where 5000 copies were distributed across the diocese, we are launching a similar resource to take us through Lent entitled ‘Read, Mark, & Learn’. Our focus this time will be on Mark’s Gospel and will take in every verse, with contributions from both clergy and lay-people. The resource is designed for all church members but we hope it will be especially valuable to those unable to gather in person for worship at this time. We will have a number of copies available so please ask Fr Andrew or a churchwarden for a copy.

Worship at School is still taking place as we make sure the Christian message of hope is alive and heard in our Church of England Primary School.  Fr Andrew produces as worship video for school each week which is used for class worship and discussion.  You can view this week's topic, colours,  by selecting the school logo on the right.

Foundation Governors we have two further vacancies at our CE Primary School.  Contact Fr Andrew if you are interested and more information is available at the Blackburn Board of Education website (click here to direct you to their website) or specifically at the Governors' landing page on the Board of Education website.  More information about our Church of England Primary School can be found on their website by clicking on the school logo to the right.

Giving - your donations through our contactless terminal in church can now benefit from GiftAid if you are a UK taxpayer. That means for every £5 you donate, Eccleston St Mary’s PCC receives £6.25. To help us receive this extra benefit please register your Visa and MasterCard on the Swiftaid website (by clicking on the link or the image above) before you use the terminal in church. Please contact Eric Smith if you will to join the envelope scheme.  He has a number spare.  

Also please sign up to Easyfundraising (details below) as this is such a good way to earn money for church without any effort, especially now that online purchases are increasing popular since the beginning of the pandemic.

Ecclesiastical Insurance runs a scheme called Trust 130.  As an insurance company they havegiven more than £430,000 to churches in the UK as part of the Trust130 campaign and now we’re extending for another year.  There is no limit on the number of donations which can be made. We could benefit from Trust130 donations of £130, if you take out anew policy with Ecclesiastical and mention St Marys, Eccleston and Trust 130:  please contact Ecclesiastical Insurance on 0800 7830 130
You can read more about the scheme by clicking the picture on the right.

It's a quiet time at the moment but you can plan ahead by lighting up the church to mark a special day, or may be some retail therapy is just want you need - don't forget to buy online during lockdown using the Easy Fundraising link to benefit our parish funds.

Book Floodlighting – it is now possible to book the floodlighting again.  Please use this form to make your request and online payment.  It only costs £10 to light up the church for one evening.  We also feature your memorial on the parish website and on our Facebook page.  Join those who have raised over £1,300 for church funds as they remember an important event or person when they have 'Lit up the Church'.

Keep up with the latest news and events on Twitter!

https://twitter.com/ecclestons... select - Follow  

Keep up to date with www.ecclestonstmaryschurch.org

If you shop online, please register for Easyfundraising Cause

When you click on this link you will be able to make a small donation to our parish work each time you shop at selected retailers at no additional cost to you.  Our 62 supporters have raised £1,869.94 so for so why not join them at this time that all non essential shops are closed.  

Disability Provision

There is a hearing Loop system

Space is provided in church for wheelchair users. A wheelchair is available.                     

Disability toilet in the Parish Centre

Fire Notice   

There are two emergency exits:

Through the main door Through the Jesus Chapel (To the right of the altar) Muster by the War Memorial, await instructions