Sunday 2 May 2021: Easter 5

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

Please pass on the link https://www.facebook.com/Eccle...so we can bring hope to all those in need of comfort at this time.

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:  grant that, as by your grace going before us you put into our minds good desires, so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect; through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity if the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Sunday 2 May Readings:

Acts 8: 26-40

John 4: 7-21

John 15: 1-8

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; Pat Lee; Mary Brown; Declan Reece; Anne Evans

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

Those who have lost their lives during the coronavirus pandemic

Those whose anniversary occurs this week

Mary Mayor

Dudley Cheetham 

 Baby Kaya

What's on

Daily readings in the week

Monday 3 May       John 14 : 21 - 26

Tuesday 4 May      English Saints and Martyrs    John 14 : 27 - end

Wednesday 5 May   John 15 : 1 - 8

Thursday 6 May     John  15 : 9 - 11

Friday 7 May         John 15 : 12 - 17

Saturday 8 May     Julian of Norwich    John 15 : 18 - 21

The Daily Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer will be said in church this week at 09: 00 and 17:00.

Services this week

Tuesday             15:00 Interment of remains of Eva Baldwin RIP

Wednesday        11:30 Holy Eucharist in church and online

                        14:00 Interment of remains of Keith Worsley RIP

Next Week:

Sunday 9 May  Easter 6, White

Readings:     

Acts 10: 44-48; 1 John 5: 1-6; John 15: 9-17

Thursday 13 May Ascension Day

19:30 Sung Eucharist

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         Those planning a deferred wedding this year

Tuesday        Deacons of the church

Wednesday   Homeless and destitute persons

Thursday       Area Deans of this Diocese

Friday           Spiritual Writers

Saturday        An end to coronavirus

Ascension Day 

There will be a full eucharist on Thursday 13 May at 19:30.  Please do come along as this is a chance to worship together on this wonderful and joyful festival day which is one of the most holy days in the church year.

The Midweek Eucharist As restrictions are eased further some people may still be unsure about returning to church on a Sunday.  If you are missing the 08:00 on Sunday, the eucharist on Wednesday at 11:30 has a smaller congregation and may provide a more reassuring way to worship and receive communion.

We particularly want to hear your suggestions about the timings of worship on midweek, particularly if you have been a regular 08:00 pre Covid-19.  Please share your views in writing with Father Andrew or a churchwarden as verbal comment are difficult to collate into a clear and accurate view of opinions.

Coming to church

We continue to be vigilant and would ask you to register your attendance, use hand sanitiser; wear a mask and remain two metres apart from others at all times. 

Singing The rigid restriction on singing is now relaxed.  The new rules are as follows:

Spirituality and Drama  On Sunday evening we will see the last episode of the latest series of Line of Duty.  This is a moral tale about right and wrong, good and bad which touches on our Christian understanding of the world.  The chief character is a man of faith who often calls on the divine in his mission to root out corruption and thwart serious criminals.  You can view the series on the BBC iplayer by clicking on the picture above.  Don't just watch as as drama but as something to inform your faith

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.

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.

Annual Parochial Church Meeting – this will be held on Monday 24 May at 19:00, hopefully in church or the Parish Centre.  If you would like to be part of the PCC or a Churchwarden please add your name to either of the lists in church and in the porch, or contact valdaapearson@gmail.com with nominations

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.

Legacies.  Have you thought about leaving a donation to your parish church in your will.  Please speak to a Church Warden or our Treasurer about how this could be done.

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.

Summer Stall – Liz Green and Rosina Monks are planning to hold a plant and cake stall on Saturday 22 May from 10:00 until 13:00.   Please let Rosina or Liz know if you can make donations or help on the day.

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'.

The Outside Church Lights have been repaired and reset but the programme still requires fine tuning.  Certain outside lights are coming on when the 'off ' button is pressed in church at any time of day and staying on.  Whilst we are talking to the programmer to sort this out, the only way for the lights to be turned off is by using the app on a smartphone.  Therefore, if you notice any outside light turned on when you think it should be off please contact Fr Andrew immediately so he can turn them off remotely from wherever he is.  You can contact Fr Andrew in this regard through Facebook, email or phone (please leave a message even if he isn't in).

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