October 2020
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Coniston and Crake Valley News Serving the parishes of Colton, Coniston and Torver, Egton cum Newland & Lowick with Blawith October 2020 www.conistonandcrakechurches.co.uk The Coniston and Crake Valley Benefice “To Grow, Witness and Love Like Jesus” Revd Brian Streeter [email protected] 01229 861668 The Vicarage, 07505 048736 Penny Bridge. Brian works for Filling Station on Thursday LA12 7RQ Brian and Anne’s rest day is Friday RETIRED MINISTERS Revd David Bickersteth [email protected] 01229 861184 Revd Joanna Henson [email protected] 01229 861800 Revd Ian Swift [email protected] 01539 521337 Revd Harry Welch [email protected] 01229 861068 LAY MINISTERS Hazel Bowness [email protected] 01539 431869 Peter Fox [email protected] 01229 716124 Pamela Hull [email protected] 01539 441997 Linda Inman [email protected] 01539 441777 Vivienne Plummer [email protected] 01229 885636 Pam Priestley [email protected] 01229 861866 Val Towndrow [email protected] 01229 773988 Richard Wood [email protected] 01229 885253 Donald Wroe [email protected] 01229 861275 SAFEGUARDING OFFICER Juliet Caldwell [email protected] 07884 232281 ADMINISTRATOR & MAGAZINE EDITOR Marion Swift [email protected] 01229 861668 PASTORAL TEAM LEADER Barbara Watson [email protected] 01229 861638 CONISTON & TORVER ADMINISTRATOR Pat Fox [email protected] 01229 716124 CHURCHWARDENS Holy Trinity, Colton John Tarr [email protected] 01229 586174 St Luke’s, Lowick with Blawith Simon Wood [email protected] 01229 885213 Sue Wood [email protected] 01229 885213 St. Mary’s, Penny Bridge David Lancaster 01229 861632 Barbara Watson [email protected] 01229 861638 St Andrew’s, Coniston & St. Luke’s, Torver Nick Monk [email protected] 015394 41255 Linda Inman [email protected] 015394 41777 JOINT CONISTON CHURCHES CHILDREN’S & YOUTH WORKER Charlie Day [email protected] 07788187718 2 Pastoral Letter Dear Readers, There has never been a time when churches were closed in our national history. Turmoil was created during the Reformation when the Church yo-yoed during the Tudor period between Protestant, Catholic and then settling down as Anglican under Elizabeth the 1st. Then we had the Puritan era when the C of E ceased to function, but worship in our buildings continued, as it mostly did during plague and war! Today we have at least until we are all vaccinated (?) a new norm. Online services have to be the pattern in larger congregations due to social distancing with ‘live’ services for earlier or evening worship. We can manage with our smaller congregations, but only just. It is estimated by some pundits that twenty percent of church buildings may face closure as a result of the present conditions. Time will tell if such pessimism is justifiable, but clearly many small rural churches will not be sustainable without much hard work and financial support. We need remember that the Church is not a building, no matter how valued or historical. The Church is the assembly of God’s people who follow Christ. He is the head of the Church, we are His body. Scripture shows that God has always maintained a faithful remnant. Even when the prophet Elijah thought he was the last prophet in Israel, God showed him there were in fact seven thousand people who were true to the Lord and had not worshipped the foreign deity Baal. (1 Kings 19). The C of E was at a very low ebb in the eighteenth century then God raised up revival through the Wesley brothers and George Whitefield. The early twentieth century saw an amazing revival in Wales and in the late 1940’s in the Hebrides. All revivals have a number of features in common. There are spiritually hungry people who are praying and studying the Scriptures. They know what God can do and long for His visitation. Today we live in a post Christian society. Moral indifference is shown from the top down in politics and the media. The Church’s voice is drowned out by apathy and now our inability, albeit temporary, to meet closely together and fellowship, is adding to the Church’s woes. This time of year normally sees churches well attended for Harvest. We will have services at both ends of the valley, but not sadly in every church, but Harvest will be streamed for all. We must do our best. Above all are we really hungry for God? Are we praying for His Kingdom upon earth? The future of the Church is in God’s keeping, but we are his hands. Are we using them for His glory? Are we concerned to see His Church not only continue in our valley, but thrive? Yours in prayer, David 3 Churches in the Coniston and Crake Valleys St Andrew’s Church, Coniston LA21 8EN St Luke’s Church, Torver LA21 8AZ St Luke’s Church, Lowick LA12 8EE Holy Trinity Church, Colton LA12 8HF Church of St Mary the Virgin, Penny Bridge LA12 7RQ Tottlebank Baptist Church, Colton LA12 8HY Welcomes you to our Sunday services from 10.30 to 11.30am followed by refreshments, and midweek prayer meetings on Wednesdays at 7.30pm. Our moderator is Rev. Andrew Dodd. For further information contact Chris and Margaret Hamps, [email protected] Coniston Methodist Church, Coniston LA21 8HH The Sunday morning service is at 11.00am and a warm welcome awaits you. For further information contact Joyce Holland on 015394 41594. St Francis of Assisi Church of the Sacred Heart, Coniston LA21 8AW Mass is held on Saturdays at 6.00pm. For further information contact Father Matthew Jacob on 01229 779673. Coniston Christian Fellowship LA21 8AL During the month of October we will not be meeting on Sunday morning. For more information, including the venue, please contact Alex and Ruth Stewart on 015394 49539. See our website for more details www.conistonchristianfellowship.co.uk CORONAVIRUS, COVID-19 UPDATE The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt. Revd. James Newcome, has written to all clergy and chaplains to advise that the suspension of public worship has been lifted in the Diocese of Carlisle. Please refer to the benefice website for the latest information on the provision of worship and the associated risk assessments, and note that face masks must be worn Soultime Christian Meditation Anxiety, Sleep Help & Bible "Soultime is a beautiful, quiet and accessible way of drawing close to God in Jesus day by day. I warmly recommend it to you.” Archbishop Justin Welby 4 Church Services and Rotas for October 2020 4th Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity Holy Trinity Colton 9.30am Morning Worship Donald Wroe St. Luke Torver 10.30am Zoom Service Rev Brian Streeter St. Luke Lowick 10.30am Zoom Service Rev Brian Streeter St. Andrew Coniston 10.30am Zoom Service Rev Brian Streeter St. Mary Penny Bridge 10.30am Zoom Service Rev Brian Streeter _____________________________________ 11th Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity St. Luke Torver 9.00am Holy Communion Rev Brian Streeter St. Luke Lowick 10.30am Zoom Service Pamela Hull Holy Trinity Colton 10.30am Zoom Service Pamela Hull St. Mary Penny Bridge 10.30am Zoom Service Pamela Hull St. Andrew Coniston 11.00am Zoom Service Pamela Hull __ 18th Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity St. Luke Torver No Service St. Luke Lowick No Service Holy Trinity Colton No Service St. Andrew Coniston No Service St. Mary Penny Bridge 11.00am Holy Communion Rev David Bickersteth _____________________________________________________________________ 25th Last Sunday after Trinity St. Luke Torver 10.30am Zoom Service Pamela Hull St. Luke Lowick 10.30am Zoom Service Pamela Hull Holy Trinity Colton 10.30am Zoom Service Pamela Hull St. Mary Penny Bridge 10.30am Zoom Service Pamela Hull St. Andrew Coniston 11.00am Holy Communion by Peter Fox Extension 5 Parish Prayer Diary October 2020 1st: As we enter this glorious month of golden October, spend some time recalling the blessings you have received from our Creator God, and name them, one by one. 2nd: Pray for those involved in Brexit negotiations 3rd: Pray for tonight’s Open Doors’ online event Standing Strong; that as the worldwide fellowship pray and worship together, the courageous faith of Christians who are persecuted for following Jesus will strengthen all who own Jesus as Lord. 4th: Sunday, the first day of the week Our Father God has made us for Himself and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in Him; may He pour His love into our hearts and draw us to Himself, bringing us at last to His heavenly city where we shall see Him face to face. (Wow!) 5th: Pray for our farming community as they complete the harvest, prepare farm and livestock for the winter ahead and prepare the land for next year’s crops. 6th: Pray for Church leaders in Syria as they balance the need to follow Covid-19 restrictions whilst meeting the spiritual and financial needs of people in their care. 7th: Pray for children who have dyslexia, that early diagnosis and support will enable each child to reach their full potential. 8th: Pray for those who have lost their jobs because of Brexit or the pandemic, especially those finding the system of financial help to be bewildering or complex. 9th: Pray for couples choosing to solemnise their marriage in the Christian church, for their preparations and God’s blessing on their union day and future together as a new family unit in the community. 10th: On World Mental Health Day, pray for charities that provide vital help and support to people daily enduring debilitating mental distress.