How
many of us wish to identify with this sentiment? I remember
clearly a member of my home parish church saying to me
as a teenager “I could never be a Catholic or, for
that matter, a member of one of these new House Churches.
For them Christianity is a way of life. For me being C
of E fits into my way of life.” I knew at the time
there was something not right with this attitude.
Ask
yourself the question, “Christianity, an easy life?”
Certainly
being a Christian brings us comfort and hope: the reassurance
of God’s love for us and the promise of heaven.
But we need look no further than the Gospel accounts of
our Lord’s life to know that discipleship is not
an easy escape. “Take up your cross and follow me.”
To
be a Christian, no matter what branch of the Church we
belong to, is most definitely a way of life, To turn to
Christ, to come to him as the Way, the truth and the Life,
to submit to him as Lord, is to open the whole of our
life up to God. This is not easy. No part of our life
is “off limits” to God.
Christianity,
an easy life? No. Christianity, a fulfilling life? Most
certainly.
With
my love and prayers,
Fr Nicholas
Birth
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Friday 8th September
7.30 pm
Cluster Eucharist
at St Mary’s, Rufford
Preacher: Fr Carl Schaeffer (St Jude, Blackburn)
followed by fellowship and light refreshments
A/b
John Sentamu’s fasting week of prayer for peace
The Guardian sent a reporter to interview him in his tent
in York Minster. Below are some of the responses by Guardian
reader ‘bloggers’ to the two page article
that was written.
MOTHERS’ UNION SEPTEMBER
Our
Autumn session begins on Monday 4th September with a meeting
of the Prayer Group in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at
2.00 pm
On 13th September at 7.30 pm in the parish room, Norma
Roberts will tell us about life in Australia.
For our afternoon meeting on 27th September we invite
members to a lunch at 1.00 pm, followed by a presentation
by Irene Thomas, our Deanery Literature Representative
at 2.00 pm.
On Monday morning September 25th we will be packing the
Harvest Gifts and would be grateful for offers of help
from 10.00 am in delivering these round the parish.
We extend a warm welcome to all our Members and Friends
who would like to join us at our meetings.
Pat Heap
Heritage
Weekend
St Mary’s Church, Tarleton
Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th September
St Mary’s will be open to visitors 10 am to 4 pm
There will also be a display of photographs
of the last 40 years of the Rose Queens of Tarleton
plus old photographs of Tarleton and Mere Brow Walking
Days
and a display of photocopies of Holy Trinity magazines
from 1889.
Help
wanted at St Mary’s Churchyard
The
churchyard needs more helpers to keep it as tidy as it
is now. Volunteers to mow and - especially - to strim
round the graves and the edges of the paths are required
urgently. If you have the time and energy, please talk
to Fr Nicholas, Gail, or George.
Social
Committee news ……
Thank
you to everyone who supported the Bowling evening –
a good time was had by all with a worthy winner in John
Heap – congratulations to John!! We also made a
profit of £262 – thank you.
Please
stay for Bucks Fizz, nibbles and a chat after the 10.30
a.m. Eucharist on Old Church Sunday.
We
will be holding another Walking Treasure Hunt on Sunday
17th September 2006 – tickets will be available
soon with arrangements as in previous years. Please note
that should the weather be bad, we make alternative arrangements
for the afternoon and tea so still come along!
Our
Harvest Quiz and supper will take place on Friday 20th
October 2006 at the Bowling Club – tickets available
soon.
Theatre
trip …….
Are
you interested in seeing Swan Lake on Ice at the Liverpool
Empire at the end of November? Tickets will probably be
about £25 each for the seats we normally have. Please
let Jean know as soon as possible. An alternative is Walt
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Grand, Blackpool
in early November – similar cost.
Sunday
School restarts on Sunday 10th September
As
we start again in September, if you know of any children
who would like to come along to Sunday School, please
give them a push and bring them along! We start at 10.l5
a.m. and finish in time to go into Church for the ‘peace’
at about 11.10 a.m.
We
are sending our Harvest gifts again this year to The Fox
Street Centre for the homeless in Preston. They welcome
anything that will not perish – including toiletries
– but not baked beans! We do take all the fruit
and vegetables which have been donated and not distributed
in the village. These they freeze and share with the other
shelters in the area. Gifts may be brought to Church either
on Friday afternoon or to any of the services on Harvest
Sunday.
Child
Protection
We
have arranged for Susan Witts, the Diocesan Children’s
Work Adviser, to come to Tarleton on Monday 13th November
at 7.30 p.m. to speak on this emotive issue. The invitation
to come along is extended to everyone who is interested.
It is a requirement that anyone working with children
within the Parish is aware of issues relating to children’s
safety and a certificate of attendance will be given to
everyone who attends. The subject is not an easy one,
but Susan makes the evening very interesting and informative.
The date seems a long time away, but it will creep up
on us, so please make a note in your diary and let me
know as soon as possible if you would like to come along.
Jean Greaves
From
Canon and Mrs. Finney
We
are most grateful to everyone who was able to share in
the celebration of our Diamond Wedding Anniversary, and
to all who sent cards. We would like to thank so many
people for their kindness at what has been a lovely and
very special time for us.
Former
Lancashire Vicar to be Bishop of Lancaster
The
new Bishop of Lancaster is to be Canon Geoff Pearson,
currently Vicar of Roby, Liverpool. He is expected to
become a Bishop in November.
The Bishop of Blackburn said: “I am delighted to
welcome Canon Geoff Pearson and his wife Jean to join
us in Lancashire. Geoff obviously knows our county and
our culture from his years in Blackburn and it is good
to welcome the Pearsons back. Geoff will also bring some
valued added perspectives to our work of encouraging Christian
mission in our county. He knows the church from its gritty
local involvement to its international perspectives, and
his appointment is a great encouragement to us all.”
Canon Pearson was Curate-in-Charge, then Vicar of The
Redeemer parish in the Shadsworth area of Blackburn between
1977 and 1985. “Life was never dull in Shadsworth,
where I was also part-time hospital chaplain. In that
disadvantaged area the Christian faith was good news for
people. It gave them greater self-worth and deeper expectations.”
Canon Pearson also has fond memories of St Martin’s
College, Lancaster “and my wife and I are grateful
for the Christian influence upon several of our young
people. My hopes for renewed life in the Church of England
stem mainly from working with children and young people.
If we are going to change the culture, that is where we
need to start.”
Canon Pearson, who is married to Jean, a trained teacher
and lay chaplain in palliative care, thought first about
becoming a priest when he worked as a welfare assistant
in the inner-city Toxteth area of Liverpool, and was ordained
into the Church of England in 1974. The Pearsons moved
to Blackburn after Geoff Pearson had worked as a curate
in Huddersfield.
He has also held national posts in the Church of England,
working with diocesan mission experts, and with the former
British Council of Churches which linked all the major
Christian denominations. He has written five booklets
on evangelism.
The Pearsons have three adult children, including an elder
daughter who has just begun work as a Church of England
curate in Leeds. Canon Pearson’s interests also
include sport, walking in the Lake District and cinema.
FESTIVALS
in SEPTEMBER
Friday
8th September
Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Cluster Sung Eucharist at St Mary’s, Rufford
at 7.30 pm
Thursday
14th Holy Cross Day Eucharist 7.30 pm
Thursday
24th St Matthew Eucharist 7.30 pm
Friday
29th St Michael and All Angels Eucharist 12.15 pm
Did
you see?
Via David Winter in the Church Times:
A friend was perturbed to see this sign on the gates of
a hospital, as he entered it for minor surgery: “Guard
dogs operate in this hospital."
Flyer
seen round the village
LADIES
PSYCHIC EVENING
Cock and Bottle
TARELTON
Obviously
didn’t foresee lack of spell checking or proof reading!
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
From
a School Newsletter
As from 1st September 2006 the price of Free School Meals
will increase to £1.55
From
the Thanet Extra, For Sale section:-
BABY 4 weeks, male/female, £5 buy one get one free
From
a French wayside cafe menu:
GOATS CHEESE SALAD
Ingredients: Tomatoes, onions, goats, cheese
That’s raw goats, then?
From previous magazines: Parish Register
September 1889
MARRIAGES
None
BURIALS
3 September 1889. --- Alice Ann Taylor, of Tarleton, aged
1 month.
4 September 1889. --- William Iddon, of Tarleton, aged
58 years.
4 September 1889. --- John Harrison, of Tarleton, aged
4 years.
18 September 1889. --- Isabella Parkinson, of Tarleton,
aged 4 years.
26 September 1889. --- John Hamilton, of Mere Brow, Tarleton.
aged 2 days.
27 September 1889. --- Thomas Duckworth, of Tarleton.
aged 8 years.
Child mortality was high indeed back then.
PARISH
DIARY for September
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)
September
Friday 1st 12.15 pm Eucharist
Sunday 3rd Twelfth Sunday after Trinity
8.00 am Eucharist
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST
Monday 4th 2.00 pm MU Prayer Group:
Blessed Sacrament Chapel
Tuesday 5th 10.00 am Eucharist: Oakgate Close
6.50 pm Choir practice
Wednesday 6th 10.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
+ coffee & chat
Thursday 7th 10.00 am Old Church Tidy
Friday 8th Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
7.30 pm Sung Festival Eucharist for the Cluster parishes:
Preacher, Fr Carl Schaeffer, St Jude, Blackburn
at St Mary’s, Rufford
Saturday 9th HERITAGE WEEKEND
& Sunday 10th 10 am to 4 pm St Mary’s open
Sunday 10th Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
8.00 am Eucharist
10.15 am Sunday School resumes
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST
Tuesday 12th 6.50 pm Choir Practice
Wednesday 13th 10.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
7.30 pm MU: Parish Room:
Norma Roberts on Life in Australia
Thursday 14th Holy Cross Day
7.30 pm Eucharist
Friday 15th 12.15 pm Eucharist
Sunday 17th Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
8.00 am Eucharist
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST
Family Treasure Hunt
Monday 18th 7.00 pm Eucharist
7.30 pm PCC: Parish Room
Tuesday 19th 6.50 pm Choir Practice
Wednesday 20th 10.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
Thursday 21st St Matthew
7.30 pm Eucharist
Friday 22nd 12.15 pm Eucharist
Church open for decoration 1 pm on and Saturday
Sunday
24th Harvest Festival
8.00 am Eucharist
10.30 am CHURCH FAMILY EUCHARIST
6.30 pm Sung Evensong
Monday 25th 10.00 am MU and other volunteers pack the
harvest gifts for the housebound
Tuesday 26th 6.50 pm Choir practice
Wednesday 27th 10.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
1.00 pm MU Lunch: Parish Room
2.00 pm Irene Thomas, MU Deanery Literary representative
Friday 29th St Michael and All Angels
12.15 pm Eucharist
October
Sunday 1st Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
8.00 am Eucharist
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST
Monday 2nd 2.00 pm MU Prayer Group
Tuesday 3rd 10.00 am Eucharist: Oakgate Close
6.50 pm Choir practice
Wednesday 4th 10.00 am Holy Communion (BCP),
+ coffee & chat
Friday 6th 12.15 pm Eucharist
Sunday 8th Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
8.00 am Eucharist
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST
Further forward in October
Friday 20th Harvest Supper and Quiz
