The Parish Church of
HOLY TRINITY, TARLETON
Parish "Webzine" February 2006

From the Rectory

Dear Friends,

A month into the New Year and Christmas already seems like a distant memory. But it isn’t quite over yet. February 2nd is the official end of the Christmas season when forty days after his nativity we recall Jesus being presented in the temple in Jerusalem for the first time. This is the last time we hear of the infant Jesus in the Gospels, and apart from the account of him being found in the temple at the age of twelve, the scriptures remain silent until he begins his adult ministry. By then he was probably about thirty. Although there is much about the historical Jesus that we can never know, the few glimpses that we have into his early years show that God was at work preparing Jesus and those around him for what was to happen in the future.

The feast of the Presentation is one such pivotal moment when Simeon and Anna, representing the faithful remnant of God’s chosen people, recognise in Jesus the fulfilment of God’s promise to bring salvation. Their encounter with the infant Jesus in the temple is a moment of hope and joy. Jesus is proclaimed as the Light to reveal God to the nations and the glory of his people, Israel. Yet alongside such joy and relief at a promise fulfilled, there is a bitter warning to Mary and Joseph of the suffering that will follow. Mary is told that ‘a sword will pierce your own heart too’. In that one harsh remark, the reality of the situation dawns. We are dragged from the joy of celebrating the arrival of the baby Jesus and are left standing with Mary in the shadow of the cross.

Many of us over Christmas have been more than happy to kneel alongside Mary at the crib. How many of us will stand alongside her at the foot of the cross on Good Friday?

The Eucharist on February 2nd at 7.00pm is the opportunity for us to take one last lingering look at the joys of Christmas and then, with faith renewed and a fresh sense of commitment, to look to the future with hope. Even if the way ahead is unclear or difficult at times the feast of the Presentation reminds us that God’s promise to save us has been fulfilled in Jesus. The Easter joy we look forward to is so much greater than the Christmas joy we bid farewell.

With my love and prayers,
Fr Nicholas

FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS 2005
Baptisms “Inheritors with us of the Kingdom of God”
20th November Jamie Thomas Keijzr

Funerals “Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord”
17th November William Forshaw
22nd November Bill Howell
29th November Agnes Robinson
13th December Owen Rimmer
15th December Sybil Crabtree

OUT AND ABOUT – FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Parish Visiting Team
If you know of anybody who would welcome a visit, either because they are in hospital, or because they are confined to the 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 Fr Nicholas on 812614 or Pat Heap on 812991.

Bible Study; St Mark continues
The study continues this month, meeting at Joan Wynne’s house (8 Willow Hey) with the sessions led by Beryl. Meet at 7.45 for 8; finish by 9.30
Dates are: February 9th 23rd
New members welcome.

MOTHERS’ UNION: February
The month’s programme begins with a meeting of the Prayer Group on Monday 6th February at 2.00 pm in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
Father Rodney Middleton will speak to us on Wednesday 8th February at 7.30 pm in the Parish Room.
The Wave of Prayer is from 11th to 15th February for our Diocese, and we will observe it on TUESDAY 14th February at 13 Ruskin Close by kind invitation of Lilian.
Our speaker on the 22nd February at 2.00 pm in the Parish Room will be Joyce Rawlinson and the title of her talk is "The MU: The Largest Christian Movement in the World.”

Pat Heap

Walking Day Quiz Night
Friday February 10th at 7.30 pm at Our Lady’s Church Hall
Tickets £6 incl hotpot from Jean Greaves
The support at this event helps towards the costs (bands, in particular) on Walking Day and makes a big difference to Walking Day which will be our usual 'Tarleton' event on Saturday 10th June 2006.

CHILDREN’S SOCIETY
Sunday February 19th at the 10.30 am service, we will be offering our Children’s Society Boxes. Please bring yours either that day or in advance.

Magazine Thanks
Irene would like to thank Jennifer Blythe for her support and help in sending out the annual payment request for magazine advertisements.

The Tarleton and District Service for Women's World Day of Prayer will take place at Tarleton Roman Catholic Church Hesketh Lane, Tarleton on Friday March 3rd at 7.30 pm.
The Theme for the Service is “Signs of the Times” Prepared by Christian Woman of South Africa Speaker Heather Draper of Tarleton. The Service will be followed by Refreshments. All are invited to join us

Social Committee News ……
Thank you to everyone who supported the Christmas Hamper raffle which raised over £300.00 for Church funds – good practice as the annual after Christmas ‘Beat the Bills Raffle’ tickets are now available at the back of Church!

The ‘Beat the Bills Grand Draw’ for cash prizes of £200, £50 and £25 plus many additional prizes, will take place at the Pre Lenten Lunch on Sunday 26th February 2006 in the School Hall after the Parish Eucharist. Tickets for the lunch are available priced at £6.00 for adults (£3 for Year 6 children and under – pre-school children free) inclusive of lunch and a glass of wine.

For the future, we are hoping to arrange a trip to the 20th Anniversary Open-Air walkabout theatre event in Williamson Park, Lancaster on Saturday 8th July 2006. The play this year is the Adventures of Tom Sawyer and is thoroughly recommended for the young, and those who are not so young, but not for children under 5 years of age. Seasoned veteran attenders at this event usually take a picnic for the interval. Prices will be available later inclusive of coach travel. Please let Jean know as soon as possible if you would like to be included.

Also for the future we hope to hold the Annual Bowling Competition at the Bowling Club on Wednesday 19th July 2006.

Please keep looking for special Easter celebrations – all to be announced later!!!

Your interest and support has, we feel, enhanced the social life at Holy Trinity and we are sure we can count on you all in the future. If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know – and in the mean time – please sell and/or buy some raffle tickets!!!!!!!!!!!
Brian and Keith

January Bank Holiday Walk
After taking six phone calls or text messages in the previous couple of days I knew this could be a large group – and so it proved. Having just recounted for the third time and made it 38, I was ready to set off when the call came “We’re waiting for one more.” So I rang the Original Farmers Arms to warn them of around forty (including two coming by car) and we set off over the Yarrow heading south down Carr Lane onto the moss.
With a group of this size, I wasn’t expecting to see much wild life, but at least the first few of us saw three roe deer heading away from Croston Moss towards Mawdesley Moss. After we’d turned left at the track crossroads on the Croston/Mawdesley boundary, the stubble fields were alive with skylarks, rising and singing already, and jinking away from us as we passed. We made good time along Tincklers Lane and actually got to the Original Farmers Arms early! They had reserved a nice space for us, service was efficient and friendly, the food was excellent, and the beers as well selected and well kept as ever.
Having reacquired the few who’d decided to eat elsewhere in Eccleston, and added one to our number, we set off back forty strong via the footpath to the church and then along the Yarrow river bank path. This was – as expected – increasingly muddy and the last but one stile led into a mini-mudbath with a precarious log as a stepping point – the welly-wearers fared better here!
Re-entering Croston close to the Mill, we took the footpath to Croston church through the Bishop Chesters Wildlife Area (the old church field with a few new trees and wheelchair access.)
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves in spite of the grey (but dry) day and the mud.
Next walk Easter Monday – 17 April – start and lunch points to be confirmed.
Ian

TLM Events for your diary in 2006

Splash Out for TLM
Saturday June 3rd, starting at 11.00 am, there is the sponsored Morecambe Bay Walk. This is 8 miles, from Hest Bank to Flookborough, led by Alan Sledmore. £6 per walker and sponsor forms available!

Venture out for TLM
Saturday July 1st A one day (long day!) Pilgrimage to Holy Island, with worship led by Eddy Askew.
If we get ten people, we’ll have our own bus pick-up (6.30 am-ish). Cost will be £29 each or £60 for a family ticket (two adults, two children.) You can walk the pilgrim route over the sands or stay on the bus, then explore the island and eat a picnic lunch before worship in the abbey ruins. £5 deposit/ pilgrim as soon as possible.

We’ve registered interest in both trips - please let me know if you would like to go on either or both of these events.

Sue Wells 813267

How to Criticise …
In life, the ratio of people criticising to people actually doing something is generally around 10 to one. Many people see themselves as life management consultants; they are always available to tell you how to do virtually anything better than you’re currently doing it. Often, they’re so busy with this valuable consultancy work that they don’t have any time to do anything constructive themselves.
Guy Browning. The Guardian 8/12/05
While typing this in, I noticed I’d mistyped valuable as voluble: actually the sense is just as good!

Atheism?
While Richard Dawkins is doing his closed mind routine on TV, you might like to think about this from John Gray’s book Heresies: Against Progress and Other Illusions 2004
“In intellectual terms atheism is a Victorian fossil.”
In a review of this book in the Guardian, John Banville comments:-
“One of the heresies promulgated by Gray is that many of those who today continue to hold to religious faith are far more profound in their thinking, and certainly better educated, than most of their liberal-humanist opponents.”

The Mission Action Plan Prayer
God of new beginnings, we pray that you will transform your church as you renew us by your love.
Give us vision for the journey that we may travel light, and live increasingly by faith.
Inspire, enliven and empower us, so that along the Way we may be sustained by the life of Christ in ourselves, in one another, and in the world. Amen

For sale Southampton Evening Echo, Nov05
African grey Parrot
Plus cage.
Genuine
reason for sale.
Parrot talks.
£500

For sale South and West Adtrader
LOP EARED RABBI
Comes with two tier hutch, to a loving home only. £20

PARISH DIARY for February

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)

Sunday 29th January Fourth Sunday of Epiphany
8.00 am Eucharist
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST

Monday 30th 7.30 pm TLM Cluster service see local events on village website
Tuesday 31st 6.30 pm Choir practice (adults 6.50 pm)
February
Wednesday 1st 10.00 am Holy Communion (BCP), coffee & chat
Thursday 2nd The Presentation (Candlemas)
7.00 pm Eucharist
Friday 3rd 12.15 pm Eucharist

Sunday 5th Fourth Sunday before Lent
8.00 am Eucharist
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST

Monday 6th 2.00 pm MU Prayer Group:
Blessed Sacrament Chapel
7.00 pm Eucharist
7.30 pm PCC Parish Room
Tuesday 7th 10.00 am Eucharist Oakgate Close
6.30 pm Choir practice (adults 6.50 pm)
Wednesday 8th 10.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
7.30 pm MU: Parish Room:
Speaker: Father Rodney Middleton
Thursday 9th 7.45 for 8 Bible Study: Mark: 8 Willow Hey
Friday 10th 12.15 pm Eucharist
7.30 pm Walking Day Quiz Night & Hotpot Supper: Our Lady’s Hall

Sunday 12th Third Sunday before Lent
8.00 am Eucharist
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST

Tuesday 14th 10.30 am MU Wave of Prayer: 13 Ruskin Close see above
6.30 pm Choir practice (adults 6.50 pm)
Wednesday 15th 10.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
Friday 17th 12.15 pm Eucharist

Sunday 19th Second Sunday before Lent
8.00 am Eucharist
10.30 am CHURCH FAMILY EUCHARIST
with the offering of Children’s Society Boxes

Tuesday 21st 6.30 pm Choir practice (adults 6.50 pm)
Wednesday 22nd 10.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
2.00 pm MU: Parish Room: Joyce Rawlinson
“The MU: The largest Christian Movement in the World”
Thursday 23rd 7.45 for 8 Bible Study: Mark: 8 Willow Hey
Friday 24th 12.15 pm Eucharist

Sunday 26th Sunday next before Lent
8.00 am Eucharist
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST
Pre-Lenten Lunch with Beat the Bills Grand Draw see above

Tuesday 28th 6.30 pm Choir practice (adults 6.50 pm)
March
Wednesday 1st ASH WEDNESDAY
10.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
7.30 pm Sung Eucharist with Ashing
Friday 3rd 12.15 pm Eucharist
7.30 pm Women’s World Day of Prayer Service: Our Lady’s Church

Sunday 5th First Sunday of Lent
8.00 am Eucharist
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST

Tuesday 7th 6.30 pm Choir practice (adults 6.50 pm)
Wednesday 8th 10.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
Friday 10th 12.15 pm Eucharist