Dear Friends

Time seems to be flying by since I last wrote in August! If you have been away on holiday, I hope you had a refreshing break. We are definitely now into autumn with the leaves turning on the trees and some colder days and nights, though the last vestiges of our Indian summer seem to have returned today!

The coming month will be a significant one for the churches in our team as our PCC’s come to vote on Fit for Mission, the diocesan change programme. Change is never an easy thing for us to deal with as human beings but the reality is that change always goes on around us, and that includes in the church. So, for example, St.Mary’s and St.Philip’s have both had new chairs in the last couple of years, St.Paul’s’ has had a new building, and St.James has sold off some of its church land for development. We have all engaged in new mission activities, whether that be starting new congregations (such as Lifetime at St.Paul’s or Messy Church at St.Mary’s), new enquirers courses (such as Alpha at St.James and St.Mary’s) or new groups, such as Little Fishes and Fun with Friends at St.Philip’s. And of course some members of our churches will have moved or died, and others will have joined. So please pray for wisdom for our PCC members as they come to take important decisions on whether their churches wish to be part of the ongoing exploration of what Fit for Mission could look like in our deanery. I believe this could be an exciting time for us as churches as we work closer together to see God’s Kingdom come in our town. That is not to say it will be easy but there is definitely something to be said for working together for the common good.

There are three diary dates to note for the coming months:

1. Team Memorial Service, St.Mary’s, Sunday 5 November at 3.00 p.m.

This is our annual opportunity to remember loved ones who have died. Invitations have been sent to the next of kin for those whose funerals we have taken over the past year and those attending will hear the names of their loved ones read out and have the opportunity light candle to remember them. If you would like to come to remember a loved one who has died, no matter when that was, please sign the sheet in your church by Sunday 29 October.

2. Church Warrington Carol Service, HJ Stadium, Thursday 14 December, 7 pm

50,000 invitations are being distributed across our town for what promises to be a great night. Do invite a friend or a neighbour to come with you to hear the good news of Christmas. Please register at Christmas Carols at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. There will be a choir with rehearsals on Tuesday 28th November and Monday 4th December, both in Bold Street Methodist Church Building, 7:30pm-9:30pm. We are also looking for people who will respond to those who express an interest in the Christian faith at the end of the service and give out information to them. There are training evenings, both at 7.30-8.30 p.m., on Tuesday 14 November at Bethany Church, Liverpool Road, Sankey Bridges and Thursday 23 November at Life Church, Cotwsold Road, Orford. If you would like to help with either of those things, please contact hello@churchwarrington.co.uk There will also be a prayer meeting for the event on Sunday 3 December, 7 – 8 pm at Wycliffe URC, Bewsey Street in the town centre.

3. Team Post Christmas Service, StMary’s, Sunday 31 December, 10am

Our Team post-Christmas communion service will be held this year at St.Mary’s. That will be the only service across our four team churches that particular Sunday. Sarah Peppiatt will be leading this and all are welcome.

With my best wishes and prayers.

Jeremy Tear, Pioneer Team Rector