Messy Church, Bacon Butties, Soup & Sandwich Lunch: The Vicar's Two Penn'orth, October 2014

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t gives me great joy to report that there has been quite a lot happening in the parish over the last couple of months. It has been both exciting and encouraging, and it is wonderful to be able to inform you that our first Healing Service held on September 21 was very well received by all who attended. Because of that wonderful response, it will continue on a regular basis.

Our Soup & Sandwich outreach has reached its first birthday, which has been well covered in the Weekly Beacon and on our website. I am proud to say that it has been a huge success and I am reminded by this passage from James 2:14-17:

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

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hose words are a wonderful reminder to keep reaching out into our community, bringing as many people as possible into closer contact with the love of Christ. I would like to take this opportunity to express a great deal of thanks to Nigel Hall for the fantastic work he does in putting all our events out into cyberspace through the many different social media networks, This, together with the work done by Peter Surridge on the Weekly Beacon, goes a very long way in getting our message out into the community; so a big ‘well done’ to them both.

We are now into the third week of our Bacon Butty Brunch initiative, which takes place on Tuesdays at 10.30am in the Church Centre. Again, this is a direct outreach into the commun­ity which is moving along quite steadily and gaining more popularity. Please do try and come along to support us, and if you are able, perhaps bring a neighbour or friend who may well enjoy the company. Scripture give us a good directive when it says in Ephesians 2:10:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

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ontinuing on a positive theme, our Deanery Songs of Praise Service was very well attended and was given an encouraging response from Archdeacon Mike. It was good to have a larger congregation than on previous occasions and that it was well received by all who supported the event. A big thank-you must go to our ladies for providing wonderful refreshments after the service.

Messy Church has been launched with a wonderful response from the community, with all the thanks going to everyone involved. It takes a lot of time and planning to get such a response as we achieved on Saturday, October 18. We had 175 parents and children involved in playing games, messy crafts and worship, all on the exciting theme “Jesus is the light of the world,” and I would like to thank Peter Ham and Jane Langley for the immense work that they both did.

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rowing a church involves many differ­ent aspects and different talents and it is really wonderful to see those many different talents being used to grow God’s King­dom here within our church.

We are told in 1 Peter 4:10:

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.

To see 105 children really enjoying themselves in church and having such good fun is a great sign for the future and I can’t wait until January to carry on the good work of Messy Church (date to be announced).

Your friend,

Rev’d Paul

Join us for a Bacon Butty Brunch every Tuesday!

Join us every Tuesday at 

St Hildeburgh’s Church Centre 

for a

Bacon Butty 

and a tea or coffee

between 

10.30am and 12 Noon   

All welcome!

It’s a chance for members of the local community to have something to eat and enjoy some company.

There’s no charge 

(although donations are always welcome!)

The Church Centre is behind St Hildeburgh’s Church, on the corner of Stanley Road and The King’s Gap 

(opposite the ‘Green Lodge Hotel’)

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Church is about to get Messy!

Join us at St Hildeburgh's Church for the launch of 

MESSY CHURCH!

Saturday 18 October 2014

4pm to 6pm

In our Church Centre 

(behind St Hildeburgh's Church - on the corner of The King's Gap & Stanley Road)

FUN, CRAFTS, CELEBRATION TIME & FOOD!

Theme: Jesus - Light of the World

EVERYONE WELCOME: 

Young & old alike, adults, children, parents, carers, grandparents! Come as friends, families, partners

Come and experience church in a way you've never seen it before!

We will finish with a story, some children's worship songs before sharing a hot meal together

Entrance: FREE! (Donations welcome)

Messy Team Co-ordinators: Peter Ham & Jane Langley

Healing Services & Bacon Butties! The Vicar's Two Penn'orth for September 2014

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 would like to bring to your attention in this month’s Two Penn’orth some more inform­ation about our new healing service which begins on Sunday, September 21, as part of our 10am Holy Communion service and will contin­ue periodically.

There is a lot of misunderstanding on healing in general throughout the Church of England, so I thought it would be good to take this opportunity to put away any concerns people may have. Christian Healing Ministries affirms the historic Christian beliefs as contained in the creeds (the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed) which have served as the basis of Christian belief since the first century. Because of the nature of our prayer ministry, we stress in particular the need for the power of the Holy Spirit, in order that we might serve as vessels of God’s healing power.

It is important to remember when Jesus announced His ministry in Luke 4:18, He said that He came to proclaim the year of the Lord, a time of restoration.

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eople today still seek restoration and in my experience they still hunger and thirst to know God in a direct, practical way. The sick very much still need healing, just as much as they did in Christ’s day, in body, mind, and spirit. Our new service offers an opportunity after receiving communion to kneel or stand at the altar of the Lady chapel. There you will receive the laying on of hands and the prayer of healing. You are not required to say anything, rather simply to receive God’s healing touch. Healing is about wholeness and takes on many forms, combining with the expertise of the medical professions. Medical practitioners, too, are call­ed to provide care and healing for the sick. The Church works together with the NHS as they heal the mind and body the Church heals the spirit.

Healing and wholeness is a fundamental part of the ministry of the Church as we are reminded in scripture. James 5:14 says, “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the Church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

The laying on of hands is always administered by two people so there is no misunderstanding that one person has the power to heal it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that any healing takes place, and that healing can take many forms, sometimes it is in the healing of relationships or forgiveness, or acceptance to bear illness. Church people act simply as channels of that healing grace.

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 will also take this opportunity to tell you about our new initiative, which will begin in October on a date not yet fixed. The idea is a drop-in at the Church Centre where we will provide a bacon sandwich (butty) and tea or coffee on a weekday once a week from 10.30am until 12noon. This is great chance to use our new kitchen which will be tiled by then and in all its glory. I will be looking for mainly male volunteers to help me in the kitchen to give the ladies a well-earned rest.

This new outreach will be open to all of Hoylake and this is our opportunity to welcome the stranger and reach out as part of our vision. So please make a note in your diaries for the beginning of October. Let us be reminded, as scripture tells us in Matthew 25:35, ”For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited me in.”

 

Your friend,

Rev’d Paul

7 September 2014

Rev Paul, Vicar of Hoylake's 'Two Penn'orth for 27 July 2014

My Two Penn’orth this week is an extract from 

last Sunday’s sermon conducted from 

the centre of our Prayer Labyrinth.

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his week has been quite special for us as a church family, the reason being that we held our Prayer Labyrinth. The labyrinth was really well received and many of you played your part, helping in so many different ways, and I thank you all wholeheartedly.

I would like to use a sentence out of the Labyrinth booklet. It says, “You are a disciple, you are a learner and you are learning from the master himself. Walk with him on your journey of discovery of Faith.”

We are learning from the master himself, It doesn’t get better than that.

For those of you who have walked our Prayer Labyrinth it can be a walk of real self-discovery, of letting go of those things that hinder us, and can help us draw closer to our Saviour.

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n Thursday night I decided to walk it myself, I found it very powerful. When I arrived at the centre I instinctively was drawn to the candle, the light of Christ shining out powerfully in the darkness.

I decided to put my hand behind the flame and felt its heat gently warming my hand, and thought of how like Jesus that flame was, drawing us closer to him, so that we can be gently warmed by his love.

I was able to let go of some of things that have been playing on my mind and hand them over to Jesus and move forward.

We should never be afraid of opening ourselves up to new things, to revaluate our lives, and our relationship with God. As I have said in the booklet, quoting from John Lennon, “There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid we pull back from life, when we are in love we open up to all life has to offer.” Our desire should be to move closer to the love of Jesus Christ.

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f there was one feature in the lives of his disciples that Jesus could not resist, and did not resist, it was their overflowing love. Psalm 117: “Great is his love towards us”

We all carry baggage and it is all too easy to get used to carrying it around with us to the extent that we become so used to it we fail to actually see or feel it anymore. So what do we do?

May I suggest to everyone to be open with themselves, unload your burdens, find comfort in knowing who you are, and who you really are in God’s eyes. That way you can know that he loves you, and allow yourself to see God, as he sees you.

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et me remind you that the bread which we break at Communion symbolises not just the broken body of Christ but also that we are sometimes broken as Christians.

The challenge I offer you is this: Can we truly open our hearts to the love that flows from Jesus and allow ourselves to move closer to our God and Father? And in so doing become more loving and compassionate people?

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you that you love one another as I have loved you by this all will know that you are my disciples”

 

Your friend,

Rev’d Paul

27 July 2014

Service for Those in Care Homes and Their Family & Friends: 29 July 2014

A SPECIAL SERVICE FOR CARE HOME RESIDENTS, FAMILIES & FRIENDS        

A service of thanksgiving for care home residents and their families and friends will be conducted by Rev’d Paul at St Hildeburgh's on Tuesday, July 29, at 2pm. 

The service will consist of contemplative prayers, hymns and readings and will be followed by refreshments. 

 So, whether you have a family member or friend in a care home, or if you care for someone at home, please bring them along to our beautiful church to share worship and good fellowship.