Parish Magazine Letter, Apr / May 2020

by | Mar 19, 2020 | Magazine Letter

Dear Friends

As I write, ‘we live in interesting times’ as JF Kennedy put it. The global pandemic concerning coronavirus has brought the world to something of a halt in many places, including our own country. We may be fearful for our own health and that of others, fearful too for jobs and livelihoods, holiday plans, and indeed simply fearful of the future, not knowing how long the virus will cause disruption  for and when life may return to some degree of normality.

In the first letter of John chapter four, verse 18, he says: ‘Perfect love casts out fear’. That is a thought I would want to encourage us to hold onto in these difficult days. Fear can sometimes exert a grip like hold upon us and prevent us from living life in the way that God intends. So may I encourage you to offer any fears you have at present to God in the knowledge that He is alongside you and with you. And whatever may, or may not, happen to remember that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8: 39).

On a different note, it was great to welcome back Professor Ian Tracey, the principal organist at Liverpool Cathedral, to St.Mary’s on 14 March. His recital on our newly refurbished organ was a profoundly moving display of great skill and expertise as he showed off the different parts of the instrument. I am grateful to Jean Lawrence who brought the evening together which helped raise over £430 for the church in the process.

This month, as I write, we are due to be marking Holy Week and Easter once again. Whilst we will not be able to meet for public worship as things stand, as that has been suspended currently, let us remember that nothing can stop the benefits of Jesus’ death and resurrection for us. Events around us may be cancelled, but what Easter signifies cannot be.  So wherever we may be celebrating this Easter, let us remember in the words of the traditional Easter greeting that ‘Christ is risen.He is risen indeed. Alleluia!’

Finally, as we are due to be holding our Annual Parochial Church Meeting on Sunday 26 April at 11.30 a.m., I would like to pay tribute to Sylvia Morris who is standing down as warden this year due to ill health. She has been a tremendous support to me, alongside our other warden Lynn Parish, and our two assistant wardens, Ian Knight and Janet Kerswell. I am also thankful to Ian and Frances Knight and Sue Gibbons who are completing their terms of office on the PCC, and to Gail Pattullo and Carole Rafter who are completing their terms on the Deanery Synod. Please do think and pray whether God might be calling you to stand for these offices this year.

Take care and keep an eye out for further information as events unfold through our website – www.stmarysgreatsankey.org.uk– and through emails sent out via ChurchSuite, our church data management programme. If you are not currently on ChurchSuite, please do contact Helen, our administrator, who will provide you with the necessary form to get you on board.

Wishing you and your family a hope-full Easter.

Jeremy Tear

Pioneer Team Rector

Team Letter, March 2020

by | Mar 5, 2020 | Team Letter

Dear Friends

It was good to see a number of people from across the team at our Ash Wednesday service at St.Mary’s, plus folks from other churches here in West Warrington. The Lent groups are underway, studying the BBC drama ‘Broken’ about the life of an urban Roman Catholic priest played by Sean Bean, and I do hope that if you are attending a group that you find it helpful.

As we move through Lent, I would like to highlight a few forthcoming team events and services. On Saturday 14th March, there is the community well-being day being held at St.Philip’s between 10 am-3 p.m. This will include – amongst other things – free pamper sessions, a family forest school session, tai chi for adults, a mindfulness session and eucharist, a prayer labyrinth, a community litter pick and performances by two choirs! Do pop in at some stage during the day and if you can help to meet and greet people, staff the West Warrington Churches stall or help with kids crafts, do let Heather at St.Philip’s know asap  at hcopperwheat@gmail.com

In Holy Week this year, we shall be meeting for the first time as a team at the new St.Paul’s church building for an agape and informal communion on Maundy Thursday (9 April) at 6.30 p.m. Do bring enough savoury or sweet food to share for two. Then on Good Friday (10 April), there is due to be once again the Churches Together Service at 12 noon at Honiton Square in Penketh, followed by a reflective service at St.Philip’s – The Last Hour At The Cross – at 2.00 p.m. Finally, on Easter Eve (or Holy Saturday as it is sometimes known) on 11 April, there will be an Easter vigil at St.James’ at 8.00 p.m. If you have never been to an agape or easter vigil before, why not give them a try out this year?

Finally, I wanted to update you all on the life of our team. I mentioned at the Team Celebration last month that we have been on something of a journey as a Team since it came into operation in 2014. At one stage, under the former team Rector (Sarah Baker) we were very much adopting a centralised approach as a Team, aiming to do as much as we possibly could together. Since Sarah’s departure in September 2016, we have gradually been moving towards a more decentralised approach where we undertake mission and ministry in our own churches but join together for events (such as the wellbeing day)  and worship (such as for Holy Week) where it makes sense to do so. This is where I and the core team of clergy and LMLs feel it is right for us to be at present. If you have any queries about this, do speak to us.

Yours in His service    

Jeremy Tear, Pioneer Team Rector