The Parish Church of
HOLY TRINITY, TARLETON
Parish "Webzine" January 2005

A letter from The Church Wardens, January 2005

Dear Friends,
On the 28th November the Bishop and the Archdeacon met the Parochial Church Council to discuss the appointment of a new Rector. This was a very open and informative meeting and every member of the PCC had the opportunity to give their opinion and the Bishop was able to allay any fears or concerns they may have had in connection with the new appointment.
The Bishop is now seeking to find a suitable candidate for the vacancy within the Diocese and as soon as one is found he will be presented to the Parish Representatives, i.e. the Wardens, for their consideration. As you will appreciate, this is a difficult and responsible task and we ask for your prayers at this time. Using this procedure it is hoped a new Rector will be appointed in the not too distant future. However if the Bishop is unable to find a suitable person from within the Diocese, then it will be necessary to advertise the vacancy nationally - which will, of course, extend the interregnum.
We have been pleased to receive positive feedback from members of the congregation in response to the quality of worship we are experiencing from the visiting Clergy, and we are also appreciative of the immense amount of effort and commitment Father Tom Taylor is continuing to give to the Parish in order to allow the overall worship and life of the Parish to continue in such a positive and caring way. We are particularly aware of the help and grateful for the support we have received from many sources and individuals too many to mention individually, and hope you will continue to ‘help us out’ as time marches on.
The Year 2005 is now upon us and we would like to take this opportunity to extend our good wishes to everyone for their peace, health and prosperity in this New Year. Brian and Keith

ROUND AND ABOUT – FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS 2004
Funerals
“Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord”
8 November Constance Mary Coggins
15 November Wilfred Stazicker
26 November Robert Latham
7 December Keith David Brownbill
8 December Violet Joyce Cook

Baptisms next month

Parish Visiting Group
If you know of anybody who would welcome a visit, either because they are in hospital, or because they are confined to their home for whatever reason, or because they are new to the parish, would you please fill in one of the slips at the back of the church and place it in the box or contact Pat Heap on 812991

Taking care of the Sunday services
Visiting celebrants and preachers at 10.30 am
January 2nd - Rev Peter Taylor
January 9th - Rev Robert Moore
January 16th - Church Family Service, Fr Tom
January 23rd - Rt Rev John Goddard, Bishop of Burnley
January 30th World Leprosy Day - Celebrant: Rev David Woodhouse; Speaker, Marilyn Gregory from TLM
February 6th - Rev Peter Taylor

Thank you to the wardens for arranging for these clergy to visit, both the active retired and the diocesan post holders.
And thank you to Rev Tom Taylor for all the 8 am Sunday services, the Church Family Services, and over Christmas.

CONFIRMATION
If enough candidates come forward, next year’s confirmation will be on Wednesday 4th May and candidates will make their first communion on the following Sunday, 8th.
Notices went out at the December Church Family Service but if you missed these, please tell the Wardens if you are interested. That is either if you are an adult interested for yourself, or if you have a young person in the family (final primary year or older) who would like to be confirmed. Training will start in the New Year – the young people’s sessions probably from Monday 10th January.

Daily study notes
If you have found the Scripture Union daily Bible study notes helpful, or if you would like to try them, Rod will order some for you. See him after the 10.30 service.

WHAT’S ON ….
Rolling Bible study …
Mark, the gospel from the market place.
Instead of starting and stopping shorter study courses, we are trying out a rolling Bible Study. This will roll on through the year, with breaks at festival and holiday times.
First evening date is Thursday 27 January (7.45 for 8)
Meetings at 14 The Chimes (host and leader Beryl Baldwin) and 8 Willow Hey (host Joan Wynne and leader Rod Bretherton.)
Our study will be taken from the Lifebuilder series of study notes, which come with questions for each week, so if you miss a session you can catch up at home, or you can read up in advance. They cost just £3.50 each and will be available in advance, on the first night, and later for those who start later.
We are starting with the shortest and simplest gospel, Mark. Mark wrote in simple, everyday language – the language of the market place, of ordinary people.
The Feast of the Epiphany Thursday 6th January
Eucharist 7.30 pm

Octave of Christian Unity
Thursday 20th January 7.30 pm Joint Service at Tarleton Methodist Church: preacher, Rev Tom Taylor. The service is led by the Rev Pat Aitchison with representatives of all the churches.

MOTHERS’ UNION: January
The theme for the Mothers’ Union in 2005 is ‘Peace and Reconciliation’ and we begin the new year with a prayer Meeting on Monday 3rd January (New Year Bank Holiday) at 2.00 pm in the Parish Room.
On Wednesday January 12th at 7.30 pm in the Parish Room we will hold a DIY session.
Our afternoon meeting on Wednesday 26th January will start at 1.00 pm with lunch in the Parish Room, followed by our AGM at 2.00 pm. The present Committee Members extend a warm invitation to any Member who would like to join them.
With very best wishes for the New Year.
Pat Heap.

Sunday 30th January is World Leprosy day
Marilyn Gregory from TLM will be our visiting speaker at the 10.30 service. Will holders of the L-boxes please let Sue have them back by that day – the earlier, the better.

News from the Social Committee:
The Quiz Night recently proved a very successful occasion with lots of good comments – not only from the winners! We raised in excess of £600 and would like to thank everyone for their support. The food was superb again – we even managed a gateaux raffle prize!

As last year, we are running a ‘Beat the Bills Grand Draw’ to be drawn at a Pre-Lenten Get Together on Sunday 6th February 2005. Please buy some tickets and help sell some tickets – we hope to be able to give you a little more time this year - you should have seen them already!!

AN ANGLICAN - METHODIST COVENANT
We now have copies of this displayed on notice boards at the back of the church and in the Parish Room.
It was signed during 2004 by representatives of both church communities, including the Queen as head of the Church of England.

AFFIRMATIONS
1. We affirm one another’s churches as true churches belonging to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ and as truly participating in the apostolic mission of the whole people of God.
2. We affirm that in both our churches the word of God is authentically preached, and the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist are duly administered and celebrated.
3. We affirm that both our churches confess in word and life the apostolic faith revealed in the Holy Scriptures and set forth in the ecumenical creeds.
4. We affirm that one another’s ordained and lay ministries are given by God as instruments of God’s grace, to build up the people of God in faith, hope and love, for the ministry of word, sacrament and pastoral care and to share in God’s mission in the world.
5. We affirm that one another’s ordained ministries contain both the inward call of the Holy Spirit and Christ’s commission given through the church.
6. We affirm that both our churches embody the conciliar, connexional nature of the Church and that communal, collegial and personal oversight (episkope) is exercised within them in various forms.
7. We affirm that there already exists a basis for agreement on the principles of episcopal oversight as a visible sign and instrument of the communion of the Church in time and space.

COMMITMENTS
1. We commit ourselves, as a priority, to work to overcome the remaining obstacles to the organic unity of our two churches, on the way to the full visible unity of Christ’s Church. In particular, we look forward to the time when the fuller, visible unity of our churches makes possible a united, interchangeable ministry.
2. We commit ourselves to realise more deeply our common life and mission and to share the distinctive contributions of our traditions, taking steps to bring about closer collaboration in all areas of witness and service in our needy world.
3. We commit ourselves to continue to welcome each other’s baptised members to participate in the fellowship, worship and mission of our churches.
4. We commit ourselves to encourage forms of eucharistic sharing, including eucharistic hospitality, in accordance with the rules of our respective churches.
5. We commit ourselves to listen to each other and to take account of each other’s concerns, especially in areas that affect our relationship as churches.
6. We commit ourselves to continue to develop structures of joint or shared communal, collegial and personal oversight, including shared consultation and decision-making, on the way to a fully united ministry of oversight.

As you see, it commits us to working together as much as possible while exploring ways of sharing things we currently don’t share.
In this parish, we have already shared study courses, pulpit exchanges, meals, and most visibly, the joint Remembrance service; plus the wider joint Christmas service flyer to the whole parish, and the first and longest running joint effort, the Ecumenical Walk of Witness.

World Leprosy Day 2005 30 January 2005
Break the power of leprosy through prayer

Our Lord Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’ Undoubtedly, the success of TLM’s ministry lies in the prayers of its faithful supporters.

As TLM works in approximately 26 countries around the world, its hospitals and referral centres are well placed to contribute to the relief effort in times of crises. Our resources at Kumi hospital in eastern Uganda were severely stretched last year. Over 600 refugees fleeing from the violence of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) overwhelmed the hospital’s limited resources and placed an unbearable strain on water sanitation. With much prayer, the necessary money was raised and literally saved the day, allowing Kumi to help the refugees and still function fully as a hospital. TLM also brought relief to leprosy affected and disabled people during the conflicts in DR Congo and Sudan, and during the aftermath of the floods in Bangladesh.

This World Leprosy Day, 30 January 2005, when Marilyn Gregory will be our speaker at the 10.30 am service. Please tell your friends about TLM’s work and join us in prayer to break the power of leprosy and transform the lives of leprosy victims.

The Leprosy Mission
Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough PE2 5GZ
Tel: 01733 370505
www.leprosymission.org.uk
registered charity no. 1050327
Ask Sue for an L-box and keep on handing in used stamps and postcards. Deep thanks to all who are already doing this.

Christmas Coffee morning
The smaller version in the over 60’s club worked wonderfully well and raised £530 in total (with around £119 in donations.). Really well done Dorothy: thanks to your team of willing stall-holders, those who donated in cash or kind, and especially to the non-stop stream of friends who supported the event.

From a letter to The Guardian: My local pub had a sign up reading “Book now for Christmas.” Someone had added the words at the top “Read the …”

News from the School
It seems strange to write this in November for the January magazine!
My term of office as Acting Headteacher will have ended, the Christmas decorations will have been put away and a whole New Year lies in front of us, offering new opportunities, exciting events and unexplored experiences. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of the role and was very humbled by the positive comments and praise from so many people. I was proud to represent the school at church services and events and I thank you all for making me feel so welcome within the community.
During the interregnum we have had visitors who have led our collective worship and the children have learned a great deal from them. It was good to be able to strengthen our links with church and I know the children enjoy the privilege of being so close to the building and to its members. We look forward to increasing this partnership.
We have much to look forward to in 2005 – the return of Mrs Gray, the arrival of a new rector and continuing the journey of life with Christ as our guide.
Sue Hodgkins

PARISH DIARY for JANUARY
NORMAL SUNDAY SERVICES
8.00 am Holy Communion, 10.15 am Sunday School and Crèche 10.30 am SUNG EUCHARIST
(3rd Sunday, FAMILY PARISH COMMUNION)
DAILY OFFICE Monday to Friday, Daily Offices in Church.
Morning Prayer 8.30 am (Wednesday 9.30 am)
Evening Prayer - see notice on board at rear of church
Please feel free to join the Rector at any of these services
Sunday 26th December St Stephen
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST
Monday 27th St John the Evangelist
10.30 am Eucharist
Tuesday 28th Holy Innocents
10.30 am Eucharist
11 am (ish) Joint Informal Walking Group
leaves Holy Trinity Church: lunch at the Rufford Arms c12.30.
Wednesday 29th 10.00 am Holy Communion: (BCP)

January 2005
Saturday 1st The Naming of Jesus
11.00 am Eucharist
Sunday 2nd Second Sunday of Christmas
8.00 am Holy Communion
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST
Celebrant and Preacher: Rev Peter Taylor
Monday 3rd 2.00 pm MU Prayer Group, Parish Room
Tuesday 4th 10.00 am Eucharist, Oakgate Close
6.30 pm Choir Practice (adults 6.50)
Wednesday 5th 10.00 am Holy Communion: (BCP)
Thursday 6th Epiphany
7.30 pm EUCHARIST
Sunday 9th Baptism of Christ
8.00 am Holy Communion
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST
Celebrant & Preacher, Rev Robert Moore
Tuesday 11th 6.30 pm Choir Practice (adults 6.50)
Wednesday 12th 10.00 am Holy Communion: (BCP)
7.30 pm MU: Parish Room “DIY session”
Sunday 16th Second Sunday of Epiphany
8.00 am Holy Communion
10.30 am CHURCH FAMILY EUCHARIST
Start of Octave of Christian Unity
Tuesday 18th 6.30 pm Choir Practice (adults 6.50)
Wednesday 19th 10.00 am Holy Communion: (BCP)
Thursday 20th 7.30 pm Joint Service for Christian Unity
Tarleton Methodist Church: Preacher: Rev Tom Taylor
Sunday 23rd Third Sunday of Epiphany
8.00 am Holy Communion
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST
Celebrant & Preacher, Rt Rev John Goddard, Bishop of Burnley
Tuesday 25th 6.30 pm Choir Practice (6.50)
Wednesday 26th 10.00 am Holy Communion: (BCP)
1.00 pm MU: Lunch: Parish Room
2.00 pm MU AGM
Thursday 27th 7.45 for 8.00 pm Rolling Bible Study – see above
Sunday 30th Fourth Sunday of Epiphany
World Leprosy Day
8.00 am Holy Communion
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST
Celebrant: Rev Dave Woodhouse:
Speaker: Marilyn Gregory from TLM
Tuesday 1st 10.00 am Eucharist, Oakgate Close
6.30 pm Choir Practice (adults 6.50)
Wednesday 2nd CANDLEMAS
10.00 am Holy Communion: (BCP)
Thursday 3rd 7.45 for 8.00 pm Rolling Bible Study – see above
Sunday 6th Sunday next before Lent
8.00 am Holy Communion
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST (Rev Peter Taylor)
Pre-Lenten Get-Together see above