16th Sunday after Trinity – 27 September 2020
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him,
and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Dear friends,
We have been delighted to welcome back our own Reverend Carol Hayden. It is so good to have you with us again. Reverend Carol has written a letter to us all.
We thank our Team Rector, Canon Peter Reiss, for the support that he has shown to us here in Walmsley Parish, especially over these last six months. Canon Peter has shared that he was thrilled to see and hear Carol back as a minister, though he says that he will miss his regular connection with us, which he has enjoyed. But he reminds us that part of the joy of being a Team is that we don’t lose contact, adding that it has been great to get to know people and the Parish better.
Appreciation also to Canon David Dunn, who has been leading the worship at St. Andrew’s.
Thank you for the lovely conversations shared with church friends this week – either by telephone or (briefly) in church. And thank you especially for contributions received for this week’s ‘Walmsley Parish News’, including updates from Katie Turner about the amazing Sunday School Meetings via WhatsApp at St. Andrew’s, wonderful prayers from Angie Foster and Pamela Marden and memories of the Parish Community Hall when it was ‘the OLD SCHOOL’ from David Spencer.
Please keep Hannah Lane in your prayers as she trains and prepares to join us as curate in the Turton Moorland Team next July. We are looking forward to all that she will bring, and we hope that we can offer her a really positive curacy, where she will feel welcome, involved, able to contribute, and able to learn.
Please know that you continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.
Stay safe and keep well.
Love and blessings,
Reverend Carol Hayden,
Jane Dent – Church Warden &
Dawn Hitchen – Church Warden + Authorised Lay Minister for Pastoral Care
IMPORTANT REMINDER – Annual Parochial Church Meeting
Sunday 18th October 10.30-11.30am (after the 9.30am service at Christ Church Walmsley.)
The APCM is going to be different this year: with masks and socially distanced but it is happening and it is important that the people of Walmsley Parish attend wherever possible. Everyone living in our Parish and on our Church Electoral Roll can attend, vote and have their say.
We are also trying to find a way to live stream this meeting to connect with those who do not yet feel ready to be present in person. (Are there any techno whizz-kids out there who can help with this??)
We welcome new people; there are always tasks to be done for which we would love more volunteers to help. Please support us if you can.
WE WANT TO BE ‘CHURCH FOR A DIFFERENT WORLD’. CAN YOU HELP?
APCM Agenda and supporting documents
Please pray for those who have been doing so much for our parish:
Thank God for them and please thank them;
Please pray what you might offer: Ask God and then please ask how you can help;
Please pray for those who will be appointed to take on key roles in our churches – and continue to pray for them in the coming year, which is not going to be easy or comfortable.
The Electoral Roll
A note from our Electoral Roll Officer, Steve Brannon:
The Church requires us to submit the number of adult parishioners who attend church – our Electoral Roll. If you are already on that Roll, you need do nothing! If you are not sure if you are on the roll, e-mail or telephone 01204 307274 me and I will check and get back to you.
If you wish to be on that roll, download and complete the form below. Please note: the form is for each person not per household; if you have any questions, please just ask. You can return the completed form by e-mail or by post c/o: Walmsley Vicarage, 2, Higher Dunscar, Egerton, Bolton BL7 9TE.
Offering hope as we face second wave
The Church has a vital role to play in offering hope and comfort to the nation as we face an expected second wave of the Coronavirus, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have said. In a joint letter, Archbishops Justin Welby and Stephen Cottrell set out a stark assessment of the challenges facing the country amid the pandemic including hunger, homelessness, mental health pressures and domestic violence.
But, they say, the Church of England, through its presence in every community, can play a vital role in serving the nation – especially those most in need – and in bringing hope to all through the gospel. The Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, commends the letter saying,
“I hope it will encourage us to
rise to the challenge of being Christ’s Church
at this critical moment in the life of our nation.”
RECORDING OF CHURCH ATTENDANCE FOR SCHOOLS ADMISSION
Please see the detailed letter issued by Walmsley CE Chair of Governors, Mr. Anthony Slack. Attendance will not be recorded until churches are fully open to all.
SIGNING OF ADMISSION FORMS FOR YEAR 7 2021
Canon Slade signing of forms – Christ Church Walmsley
Due to Covid 19, the signing of Church forms will need to be done differently this year. FIND OUT MORE
CAN YOU HELP YOUR COMMUNITY?
An URGENT request for volunteers to help run a Beaver pack. FIND OUT MORE
LINKS
Virtual Service
You can enjoy each Sunday’s ‘virtual service’ led by our Team Rector, Canon Peter Reiss, HERE. As in past weeks, accessing this link will enable you to watch a wonderful, recorded service. You can watch the live service via our Facebook page from 9am.
Viritual Evening Prayer
Recorded in church and led this week by Adrian Golland. Dawn Hitchen (Church Warden & Authorised Lay Minister for Pastoral Care) reads from the Book of Ezekiel and the New Testament reading is given by John Evans (ALM for Worship). Those of you who usually attend Evensong at Christ Church Walmsley may wish to wait until 6.30pm for an element of ‘normality’, but this link is available to watch now: Watch Virtual Evening Prayer.
Mothers’ Union
Here is the link to Episode 4 of the Mothers’ Union Lockdown Poetry series, which Jenny Murphy has forwarded (thank you). This group of poems includes a couple from MU members at Christ’s Church Harwood: some very personal reflections from members and friends. Thank you to all who contributed.
Resources
- Newsletter
- Pew Sheet readings for the whole of September 2020
- Pew Sheet News
- Letter from Walmsley CE Head of Governors – Register of Attendance at Church for Admission to Schools
- Electoral Roll Application for Enrolment Form
- Standing Order Mandates for Christ Church & St Andrew’s and Gift Aid Declaration
- Parish Prayers