St. Stephens News
The (soon-to-be) Vicar writes:
September is what might be called a ‘renewal month’, by which I mean that many groups and organisations begin their new season, and their new year, as often as not, in September. But September 2008 is going to be a very special month of renewal for the people of St. Peter’s Church and St. Stephen’s.
St. Peter’s are going to find themselves suddenly with half-a-Rector, while St. Stephen’s are suddenly going to have a clergyman and a half! For both churches, that’s certainly something new.
It comes about, of course, on St. Matthew’s Day, the 21st, when I will be licensed by Bishop John as Priest-in-Charge of St. Stephen’s, and the Revd Lawrence Laycock will be licensed as what is called ‘house-for-duty priest’. That means, technically that I will be the new Vicar of St. Stephen’s and Fr Lawrence will be living in the vicarage and taking most of the Sunday and midweek services on a regular basis and doing the normal pastoral things such as weddings and baptisms. It is he, not I, who has described his new appointment as being ‘Tom’s Curate’.
While it means I will chair the PCC and committees, and be a Governor of St. Stephen’s School, I will still be very involved with St. Peter’s. as before. However, we will be interchangeable from time to time, and often when I take a Sunday service at St. Stephen’s, Fr Lawrence will cover for me at St. Peter’s.
Time alone will tell how this system will work, but we will all be dong our best to make it work successfully and happily for both the parishes, and their people, and it promises to be very exciting all round.
The purpose of all this is, as you probably know, to implement the Area Plan, which every Deanery in the diocese has to have. All the Deaneries are in the situation of having to lose one stipendiary post (sometimes more) as Blackburn Diocese is notionally overstaffed, according to national standards.
Since the Revd Philip Chew was the first member of the clergy to move since the adoption of the Area Plan, and since I have numerically the smallest parish at St. Peter’s, it seemed only right and good that I should take on responsibility for St. Stephen’s. This is something I am very glad to do and I am looking forward to getting to know the people of St. Stephen’s and being involved in that parish.
But – and it’s perhaps even more important – we hope that the people of the two churches will get to know each other and become…friends. Wouldn’t that be good? We will look at what we can do together as time goes on. To begin with, St. Peter’s main morning service at 10.30 am on 21st September will be cancelled, and we will all gather at St. Stephen’s for the Licensing (along with parishioners from Worsthorne and Cliviger).
Then on 5th October, St. Stephen’s will close for the 10.30 am service and we will all come together at St. Peter’s for the Harvest Festival Eucharist, followed by a Jacob’s Join lunch. As time goes on, we hope that there will be a much closer working partnership between the two parishes, moving towards some eventual kind of visible unity in a few year’s time, in whatever form that may take.
But above all, it must be remembered that what we do, we do in the name of God and for the strengthening of the Church in this town. We are Christ’s people, part of the one Body. Parishes are man-made institutions designed to make the operation of the Church more convenient. And the more they can work together, the stronger the Church will be.
If we can resolve in all sincerity to go forward together in hope and faith and prayer, we will be able to keep the church alive and well in Burnley for a long time to come.
And that’s a legacy our descendants deserve to inherit.
With
every blessing.
Special Notice's & Thank you's
PLEASE SUPPORT THE PARISH QUEEN’S BEETLE AND BINGO DRIVE ON FRIDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER AT 7.00 PM.
ADMISSION IS £4 INCLUDING PIE AND PEAS.
SPONSORED WALK
Many thanks to walkers, sponsors and everyone who helped towards making this event so enjoyable and successful.
A cheque for £700 will be presented to Pendleside Hospice and this, together with a fine day, good company and beautiful countryside resulted in a really uplifting experience.
Jim.
DOROTHY
BOOTH
The sale of Dorothy Booth’s goods on July 19th resulted in £90 being presented to the Church. Some items were stored for sale at the Christmas Fair so more funds will be raised. We would like to thank Muriel and Brian and their family and also Margaret Brown for all their hard work. I am sure that Dorothy would have approved of their kind donation.
Warderns.
COMMUNITY
ROOMS
The Community Rooms are available for hire at modest rates for most functions including leisure pursuits, educational courses, group meetings and other various activities.
For further details contact Mr. A. Walton 438477 or Mrs. L. Barkess 459722.
Susan Witts or Craig Abbott will be coming to Church from the Cathedral in the near future to present us with an award for a child friendly Church.
‘Churches Together’ are having a Community Festival event situated by the tennis courts in Queen’s Park on Sunday 31st August from 12 noon. This takes the form of a Faith Tent. Kath Bill has secured a marquee and we have been allocated a space. We need to show our faith by displays and to tell people all about our Church and the activities here.
There
will be quiz sheets, pictures to colour, etc. and we hope to attract new
people into our Church and organisations. If anyone wants to come along
and chat to people who are interested you are more than welcome.
Betty Galloway
No birthdays this month
No news this month.
Ian Wilson, Head Teacher
It seems a long time since I wrote the last notes when we were still hoping for some sunshine! A few members were able to go to the Strawberry Tea at Worsthorne on Saturday 5th July and it was very enjoyable.
Our meeting in August was our Country Run and Lunch. This year we went to the Moorcock at Waddington and had a nice meal in a private room. There were 18 members and friends. We were very lucky with our Country Run as the rain stopped and we had good views of Yorkshire on the drive between Barley and Downham.
The next meeting in September is the Deanery Quiet Hour when St. Stephen’s are the hosts. This service is at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 16th September, and on the following Sunday, the 21st, there is the licensing of the Revd Tom Bill as Priest in Charge and the Revd Lawrence Laycock as our Vicar.
I am sorry that Hilda (B) was unable to celebrate her 90th birthday at home – due to a fall she had to celebrate in hospital. She is making good progress and hopes to be home before long. Our long serving member Mary Osborne died at the beginning of August and we send our sincere condolences to Stephen, Morag and their family. Mary was a very loyal member (having transferred from the ‘Young Wives’ with several more) until ill-health prevented her from coming to the meetings. We send our best wishes to all who are not well and hope to see them soon.
When I came to Church this morning I have just heard that Hilda Spencer died in her sleep last night. I send our condolences to Joe and family. Hilda was another long serving member and Committee Member while she was well and she will be sadly missed.
Barbara
Howarth
No news this month.
Phil Riley
No news this month.
No news this month.
Lilac Rabbit
Brownies
No news this month.
The Leaders
As you have probably heard, due to various unforeseen circumstances the pantomime ‘Aladdin’ has had to be cancelled. As each problem was solved another seemed to occur and so the committee decided to cancel. They would like to thank everyone who has put in an enormous amount of time and effort, especially the children and Edith and Anne. Details of any further productions will be announced later.
Pam Swaine.
Dates for your diary
Mondays at 1.00 pm Craft Group
Thursdays at 2.00 pm Over 50’s
Both in Community Room
September
Tuesday 2nd 7.30 pm Joint PCC meeting at St. Peter’s
Wednesday 3rd Day School re-opens for Autumn Term
Thursday 4th No Over 50’s
Sunday
7th Meeting after Service to arrange Christmas
Fair
Thursday 11th No Over 50’s
Tuesday
16th 2.00 pm Mothers’ Union Quiet Hour at
St. Stephen’s
Sunday
21st 10.30 am Licensing of Canon Tom Bill and
Revd Lawrence Laycock at St. Stephen’s
Followed by Buffet Lunch
Monday 22nd 7.00 pm Parish Meal at Ashoka Restaurant
Friday
26th 7.00 pm Parish Queen’s Bingo and Beetle
Evening with pie and pea supper in Church
Tuesday 30th 7.45 pm PCC Meeting
OVER 50’S PROGRAMME
Thursday 4th September Holiday
Thursday 11th September Holiday
Thursday 18th September Dominoes
Thursday 25th September Edith Meek – Songs from the Shows
A. Walton
St Stephens Craft Group
There is a craft group every Monday from 1.0 – 3.0 pm where we make all kinds of cards including Iris folding, stamping and embossing. If you would like to try your hand at making personal handmade cards for friends and relatives for all occasions why not come and join us.
There is no charge for the group but if you would like to give a donation for the use of materials and refreshments you can – it is up to you. So why not come and join Lynne and Carol every Monday in the Parish Room.
Hope to see you there.
Parish Magazine
Our magazine is published on the last weekend of every month. We try to make it as informative as possible with news of all the Church groups activities, other events taking place within the parish and any snippets of interest contributed by the readers.
A copy of the Blackburn Diocesan newsletter, "The See" is included in every edition. The 'Dates for your Diary' section keeps readers informed of Church services and forthcoming events for the month ahead.
The
cost of the magazine is 50p per copy or £8 for an annual subscription,
a price we are able to maintain due to the sponsorship of our advertisers
and the 'In house' production by a band of volunteers.
Additional sponsorship and help is always welcomed by the magazine secretary,
and submission of items of local interest or suitable anecdotes for possible
publication is greatly appreciated by the editor.
Any parishioner who would like to receive the magazine on a yearly basis, or who would like to go on the mailing list (£8) please contact me and I will arrange this.
Sheila Hawkes.
