February 2018 THE MAGAZINE OF THE HORWICH & TEAM CHURCHES Price 60p

IN THIS ISSUE WELCOME 1: Welcome to the new larger magazine, and Page 2: Directory the increased price. We hope that you will still find it good Page 3: Monthly Musings; Something value. Please keep sending us your articles, ideas, photos, Very Special; Grants Time events, special birthdays, anniversaries etc………… Page 4: Christmas Dinner on Jesus; FFF; Messy Church; Horwich IT IS YOUR MAGAZINE! Community Centre; WELCOME 2: Welcome to Mrs Debbie Mills, the new Headteacher Page 5: So you Want a Day Off?; at Horwich Parish Primary School. Mrs Winterwatch Café 2018 Mills writes: Page 6: Shoe Boxes 2017; Hello! My name is Mrs Mills and I am s.n.o.w.i.n.g; BRUNCH; Children’s very excited to have been appointed as Letters to God the new Head Teacher at Horwich Parish Page 7: From the Registers; Dates & Church of Primary School. Reminders for February; Rev. This is my second headship. I was Caroline’s Licencing; February lore previously the Headteacher at Kingsfold Page 8: Open Door’s 25th; Open Primary School in Penwortham. House; Lunchtime Concerts I have been made to feel very welcome Page 9: Greetings from Chennai; at Horwich Parish, thank you! “Murder is a Game”; Flying Visit Horwich Parish is a lovely school with Page 10: The National Memorial many fabulous things happening. I Arboretum; Congratulations; For intend to work hard to continue with all the positive things and, over your new Diary time, to introduce ideas that can make our school even better. I feel Page 11: Lent Services; CYFA very honoured to be joining a team of hardworking children, staff and Invite; Dementia Awareness; governors. Page 12: Slime comes to St A successful school is one that gives everyone a voice and works in Catherine’s; Festive photos partnership with parents and the community to achieve a vision for excellence. I intend to ensure Horwich Parish is a safe, happy, caring and inclusive school where children, staff, parents and visitors feel March 2018 welcomed, valued and are encouraged to succeed. Also that everyone Deadline: February 18th is treated with respect, enjoys learning and we actively work together Publication date: March 4th to be the best that we can be. As a church school God is central in everything we will do. The children CANDLEMAS 2018 will be taught to live by the Christian values and for these values to Join us at Rivington Church at 4pm permeate in every part of their lives. on Sunday 4th February for this I am confident that together we are going to achieve great things and beautiful service to celebrate Jesus’ put Horwich Parish C of E Primary School on the map as a beacon of presentation at the Temple, light for excellence. I look forward to working with you! Simeon’s holding of Jesus, calling WELCOME 3: Welcome to our Team Churches’ Youth Minister, Him the Light to the World and the Gemma Crank. Gemma starts her new role on February 1st and will have her Commissioning Service at St Elizabeth’s Church on February purification of Mary. 7th at 7.30pm. Everyone is invited to attend and welcome Gemma as Did you know—snowdrops are also ’s Bishop Mark commissions her in this exciting new role. We known as Candlemas Bells as they hope to learn more about Gemma as she visits each of the Team symbolise hope. Churches over the next few weeks. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, Church Street, Horwich BL6 6AA: SUNDAY SERVICES: THE MINISTERIAL TEAM Every Week - 08.00 Holy Communion Rector: Stephen Fletcher 468263 1st, 2nd, 4th & 5th Sundays Vicar: Michael Behrend 697162 09.15 Informal Worship (with K4C) Curates: Jo Smith 240508 10.45 Choral Service (Communion) Gill Smart 468271 3rd Sunday Associates: Peter Harley 694611 Please refer to newsletter and notices for information. Caroline Tracey 692303 Evening Services Honorary: Glenda Bush 691539 18.30 Evening Praise (1st Sunday) Colin Craston 699972 18.30 Celtic Communion (2nd Sunday) Brenda Craston 699972 18.30 GOD[Space] (3rd Sunday) David Griffiths 469621 18.30 Holy Communion (4th Sunday) Readers: Irvine Delamore 696437 Weekdays: 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month: 09.30 Holy Communion David Hawes 693727 Youth Groups/Organisations: THE TEAM CHURCHES: Playcare: Weekdays Lisa Entwistle 01204 667606 Holy Trinity Parents & Toddlers: Mon. 09 -11am. Marlene Pritchard 01204 692699 Church Wardens: Chris Knowles 07833 290498 Jaffa Tots (3-6yrs): Sunday 09.15 Nicola Gillard 01204 227648 Grenville Hartley 279365 Jaffa Juniors (7-10yrs): Sunday 09.15 John Shawcross 01204 469355 Treasurer: Lesley Greenhalgh 693973 Jaffas (11-13yrs): Sunday 09.15 Steve Gillard 01204 227648 Secretary: Susan Kerr 692760 Beavers (Tuesday )/ Cubs (Thursday )/ Scouts (Tuesday): Rivington [email protected] Christine Bradley 01204 410811 Church Wardens: Peter Holden 01257 482451 Rainbows & Monday Brownies: Angela Alcroft [email protected] David Hawkins 07710563678 Wednesday Brownies: Katie Webster [email protected] Treasurer: David Hawkins 07710563678 Friday Guides: Kathryn Tomkinson [email protected] Secretary: Barbara Shaw 01257 480759 Holy Trinity Parish Hall booking enquiries to: St. Catherine’s Susan Preston 01204 693722 or email [email protected] Church Wardens: Ian Winnard 694005 Kath Jackson 770598 RIVINGTON PARISH CHURCH, Sheephouse Lane, Rivington, BL6 7SE: Treasurer: Andrea Shore 694613 SUNDAY SERVICES: Secretary: Pam Smith (c/oTeam Office)692252 10.45 Holy Communion 1662 St. Elizabeth’s 10.45 Family Communion (1st Sunday) Church Wardens: Sandra Almond 692749 Weekdays: Last Saturday of the month 10.30 a.m. Matins Jane Halstead 468273 Youth Groups/Organisations: Treasurer: Richard Skidmore 693415 J.A.M. (1-14yrs) [Jesus & Me] 3rd Sunday 10.30 Susan Firth 01257 480084 Secretary: vacant post BAPTISMS: Initial enquiries for baptisms to Emma Shawcross: [email protected] ST. CATHERINE’S CHURCH, Richmond Street, Horwich, BL6 5QT: WEDDINGS: Initial enquiries for weddings to SUNDAY SERVICES: Revd Caroline Tracey 01204 692303 Every Week: 08.45 Holy Communion 1662 THE TEAM OFFICE is situated in the crypt below 1st, 3rd & 4th Sundays: 10.30 Holy Communion nd St. Catherine’s Church. Open Mon to Fri: 2 Sunday: 10.30 All Age Worship 10.00 am to 12pm Tel: 01204 692252 5th Sunday: 10.30 Morning Worship th email: [email protected] Weekdays: 4 Thursday of each month: 10.30 Holy Communion Web Site: (all churches) www.bhrmp.co.uk/ Youth Groups/Organisations: Children’s Club Sunday 10.30 Michael Behrend 01204 697162 BELOW THE PIKE Tiny Tots Wed 09.15-11.15 Michael Behrend 01204 697162 BELOW THE PIKE is published by the Team Council of the Anglican Churches of Horwich and Rivington. Its aim is to link the Team Churches ST. ELIZABETH’S CHURCH, Cedar Avenue, Horwich, BL6 6EU: with each other and the wider community of SUNDAY SERVICES: Horwich. The contents are not exclusively 1st Sunday: 08.45 Holy Communion 1662 st religious, but encompass any matters of Christian 1 Sunday: 10.00 Home4All or local concern. Anyone who would like to make 2nd Sunday: 10.00 Communion4All - includes our children rd such a contribution, through the Editorial Team is 3 Sunday: 10.00 Word4You most welcome (details below). Please be aware 4th Sunday: 10.00 Communion4You—includes our children st rd that the articles printed do not necessarily reflect Weekdays: 1 & 3 Wednesday of the month: 09.30 Holy Communion the thoughts of the Editor or Editorial Team who Wednesdays: 18.30 Holy Communion are: Editor - Margaret Broadfoot Youth Groups/Organisations: 690283 or Children’s Group : 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays (going in to Communion on email: [email protected] 2nd and 4th Sundays) Jane Halstead 01204 468273 Stephen Fletcher (Rector) 468263 CYFA (14+yrs) Thursday 20.00 Gill Smart 01204 468271 nd Pam Knowles 667363 42 Bolton Beavers, Cubs & Scout Derek English 01204 469972 Gloria Long (Holy Trinity) 692035 Brownies (Monday): Beverley Gowen 01204 468581 David Griffiths (Rivington) 469621 Rainbows (Tuesday) : [email protected] Judith Whalley (St. Catherine’s) 691968 Church Hall Bookings: Jill Harley 01204 694611 [email protected] Shirley Sharples (St Elizabeth’s) 696925 2 MONTHLY MUSINGS This month is about—

FOR A GOOD START TO THE DAY! FEBRUARY By Vicky Holden

It is a truth universally acknowledged that having breakfast is a good way to start the day, providing sustenance and energy for the tasks ahead. Also important for our daily strength is time spent with God. One of the ways to do this is to use a form of Morning Prayer. On the website there is a daily service in either traditional or contemporary language. Or for something completely different, in a Celtic tradition, these are prayers from the Northumbria Community’s Morning Prayer. You can find out more on their website - www.northumbriacommunity.org Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right. Or: May the peace of the Lord Christ go with me wherever He may send me. May He guide me through the wilderness, protect me through the storm. May He bring me home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown me. May He bring me home rejoicing once again into my doors. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

If Morning Prayer isn’t something you have thought of before, perhaps you could try using it during Lent, on your own or even joining with others to say it together. Vicky Holden

Vicky is ALM for Worship and Prayer at Rivington Church and on the subject of Morning Prayer extends this invitation - There is a short service of Matins at Rivington on the last Saturday of the month at 10.30am, followed by coffee and biscuits. Come and join us! We'd love to see you.

SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL Doreen and I have 3 children, Jill, John and Liz. Liz, our youngest, has 2 children, Lauren age 23 and Ellis age 19. They both adored their Grandma Doreen and with me were devastated at Doreen’s death. When it came to buying their Mum a Christmas present they found out that they could purchase a numbered star and give it a name, so they bought one for Liz and named it Doreen Tomkinson. What a marvellous, loving gesture this was even though it brought us all to tears. And every time we look up to the skies, day or night time, we now have our own star looking down at us! I thank the Lord for this wonderful gift. Wilf Tomkinson

CALLING HORWICH’S VOLUNTARY GROUPS AND ORGANISATIONS It’s that time again! Horwich Council Community Grants – closing date 27th February for consideration in March. £100 - £300. Forms from Horwich Community Centre or Horwich Library or contact the Town Clerk on telephone 01204 691090 or email: [email protected]

3 CHRISTMAS DINNER ON JESUS - THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

An amazing 1,275 hampers were put together and delivered by our amazing volunteers. The hampers provided Christmas dinners and treats for 4,110 people in the borough of Bolton. This was all done thanks to the generosity of the people of Bolton, churches, schools, businesses and organisations. WOW! More than 100 volunteers were involved in the sorting and packing alone. Our Team Churches in Horwich and Rivington rallied round with our donation of After Dinner Mints for 1,000 of the hampers. Laura Bagley of Urban Outreach thanks us for our wonderful support. Well done everyone! I wonder what it’ll be this year—we’ve done cranberry sauce now after dinner mints so what next, any guesses?!

FAMILY FAITH AND FOOTBALL—all age free pre match event at MESSY CHURCH 2pm in the Reflections Restaurant, Open to all for family fun with food Whites Hotel, Macron Stadium. and chat at St Elizabeth’s Church Booking essential: Hall (behind the Church) on Cedar [email protected] Avenue, Horwich. From 4pm on It provides a football focus with Saturday 24th February. It includes expert panellists and fun activities a light meal. 10th February—Football Memorabilia For information contact Jane Thompson on 468541

HORWICH COMMUNITY CENTRE Beaumont Road, Horwich

MOVIE MATINEE—1st Monday of each month: 5th February will feature the new Disney Beauty and the Beast (2017) starring Emma Watson. Films start at 2.30p.m. free entry, £3.00 for refreshments.

TOTS AND TOAST— From 9.00a.m. – 11.00a.m. every Friday and it is only priced at £1 per child with unlimited tea and coffee and toast with butter, jam or both at just 10p a slice. We have lots of children’s toys out to play with and it’s nice sometimes for mums and dads, grannies and grandads to be able to have a natter while they are looking after their little ones.

SPECIAL EVENT FOR HALF-TERM! Come on you kids, have a break from technology and see if you can beat Mum, Dad , Granny or Grandpa at the games they used to play! Or compete against your friends! A selection of board games to have a go at from 1pm to 3pm on Tuesday 20th February. Suitable for over 3years old It is £2 per child, no fee for adults but 50p a brew should they want one. All children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Various events at the Centre are available through the week daytimes and evenings For more information contact the Community Centre by phone 01204 668157 or visit: https://www.horwich.gov.uk/community_centre.html

4 SO YOU WANT A DAY OFF?

So you want a day off? Let's take a look at what you are asking for: There are 365 days per year available for work. There are 52 weeks per year in which you already have 2 days off per week, leaving 261 days available for work. Since you spend 16 hours each day away from work, you have used up 170 days, leaving only 91 days available. You spend 30 minutes each day on coffee breaks which counts for 23 days each year, leaving only 68 days available. With a 1 hour lunch each day, you use up another 46 days, leaving only 22 days available for work. You normally spend 2 days per year on sick leave. This leaves you only 20 days per year available for work. We are off 5 Bank Holidays per year, so your available working time is down to 15 days. We generously give 14 days vacation per year which leaves only 1 day available for work. There's no way I'll let you take that day off!

Memo from The Boss ( who has an interesting take on maths!)

WINTER WATCH CAFÉ 2018 - ”There but for the Grace of God Go I”

“Coming here keeps me out of trouble. It’s decent food. Normally I would be drinking on the streets. It’s good to know there is somewhere to go.” So said someone attending the Winterwatch café - a project run by Urban Outreach, which is a Christian Charity providing a person-centred approach to support the most disadvantaged, vulnerable and complex adults and young people in Bolton. Established in 1990 their aim is to be the most dependable and inspirational provider of support and care in the town, and each year they recruit and train 150 volunteers from across the churches of Bolton to run the café including a team of volunteer cooks who prepare the delicious meals. Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday night from January until the end of March, 60-90 people including men and women, older people, prison leavers, homeless, rough sleepers, drug misusers, young people, and people with mental health problems, queue up at the Urban Restore Centre in Pool Street to have a substantial three course meal, often a shower but always a warm welcome from volunteers. The food needed to run Winter Watch is provided largely by schools and churches through harvest festivals and other events, as well as regular food collections. The Winter Watch Café also provides people with a warm place to be, clothing, washing facilities, health and housing advice, occasional sessions by hairdressers and a chiropodist. When I retired from full time ordained ministry I decided to volunteer for Winter Watch on a Sunday evening- so that after working a shift until 12.30am I could then have a lie in on Monday morning! As I was to find out, living rough can become the norm for some people. Usually a set of tragic circumstances including problems with benefit cuts, has forced them on to the street and keeps them there. They like to wander around certain areas which become familiar to them so that they know where to bed down in undergrowth, old buildings, or doorways and where to beg for money, food or alcohol. They become alienated from people and the agencies that could possibly help them. Some rough sleepers have chaotic, abusive, anti-social behaviour and this makes accommodating them in local communities difficult. In many ways volunteering was a life changing Christian experience for me. As I worked to provide for and listen to people from across the social spectrum on the very margins of society, I understood afresh John Wesley’s words “There but for the grace of God go I.” David Griffiths 5 A CHRISTMAS SHOE BOX UPDATE, FIGURES AND THANK YOU!

Hi, Our shoe boxes were loaded onto the container lorry on 1st December for their journey to Romania via Tunbridge Wells.

The final figures were: We processed 7,279 shoe boxes. We packed 7,269 of these boxes in 730 cartons and loaded them on the lorry for Romania. That left 10 assorted shoe boxes which David Hawes took to the depot .

I know that some of you like to know how many boxes we receive for each category, so here are this year's figures with the 2016 figures in brackets for comparison: BOYS GIRLS 2-4 7% (6%) 2-4 10% (9%) 5-9 24% (25%) 5-9 30% (33%) 10-14 13% (12%) 10-14 16% (15%)

Thanks to you all for your help this year. One of the great things about the shoebox campaign is that so many people share their time and their many varied talents so that children such as those in Romania can have a present at Christmas time. God bless, Eric (Ed.’s note: Eric Kent, from Horwich Evangelical Church , is the Co-ordinator in Horwich for Operation Christmas Child so our thanks go to Eric for all his hard work as well)

S-N-O-W-I-N-G HOLY TRINITY NAMIBIA COMMITTEE INVITE YOU One snowy morning, Jane awoke to find TO OUR THIRD that her bedroom window was misty with condensation. She drew the word ANNUAL BRUNCH "SNOWING" on it with her finger. Then she crossed out one letter, turning it into SATURDAY 17TH FEBRUARY another English word. She continued this 9.30am to 12pm way, removing one letter at a time, until there was just one letter remaining, which In the Parish Hall, Church Street, Horwich is itself a word. What words did Jane make, and in what order? (Answer on Page 12) A GREAT WAY TO BANISH THE GREY CHILDREN’S LETTERS TO GOD FEBRUARY DAYS—COME INTO THE WARMTH FOR A WIDE CHOICE “Dear God, yesterday I had pizza for lunch FROM TEA AND TOAST TO A FULL and spagetie and meat bulls for dinner. ENGLISH! What did you have? Anne-Marie” “Dear God, we got a lot of religion in our Prices depend on items ordered. house so don’t worry about us. Teddy” Bring all the family and forget about the cooking “Dear God, I’m doing the best I can. Frank” and washing up!

6 FROM THE REGISTERS

BAPTISMS & THANKSGIVINGS We welcome to the family of the Church: 26th November Olivia Faye Treppas 26th November Isaac Jacob Crompton 10th December Cleo Fitzgerald 7th January Arlo Wolfe Charnley 7th January Isabella Rose Barker 14th January Phoebe Amanda Sharp

WEDDINGS We wish joy and happiness to: 25th November Andrew Palmer and Hayley Ashton

FUNERALS We offer love and sympathy to the relatives and friends of: th 11 December Kathleen Wignall 12th December Renee Handley 13th December David Hodgkinson 15th December Elizabeth (Betty) Gillham 19th December Annie Jenkinson 21st December Barbara Haslam 22nd December Edith Pierce 29th December Martin Ormrod 5th January Christopher Greenfield

REV. CAROLINE’S LICENCING DATES & REMINDERS FOR FEBRUARY 4th February: Candlemas at Rivington Church 4pm You are invited to attend Holy Trinity's 5th February: Movie Matinee,Horwich Community Centre Choral Communion at 10.45am on February 11th for the licencing of 2.30pm (see page 4) Reverend Caroline Tracey by the 7th February: Youth Minister Commissioning Service at St Bishop of Bolton, Mark Ashcroft. Elizabeth’s Church at 7.30pm (see front page) 11th February: Rev Tracey licencing service (see left) 14th February: Ash Wednesday Communion Service at Holy Trinity 7.30pm 17th February: Family Brunch in Parish Hall, Church St. 9.30am to 12pm (see page 6) 19th February: Lent Services start—see page 11 for details FEBRUARY WEATHER LORE 20th February: Board Games afternoonHorwich If Candlemas be fair and Community Centre 1-3pm (see page 4) clear, there'll be two winters in 21st February: BEER&CHAT at Blackedge Brewery Bar, the year. Hampson Street 7.30pm (see page 10) 22nd February: GIRLS+TALK at Il Toro 8pm (see page10) Winter either bites with its teeth 24th February: Messy Church at St Elizabeth’s 4pm (see or lashes with its tail. page 4) A wet February, a wet Spring 27th February: 2nd Lent Service (see page 11)

7 OPEN DOOR’S 25TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS! Cynthia Pearcy writes: “We had a lovely evening of fellowship, and it was good to welcome some former members too. Mary Yates , Doreen Carey, Audrey Dewell, and I are the grinning persons standing around the table. Mary ordered the cake for us, Audrey and Doreen are Speakers' secretaries, and I am joint Chairman with Margaret Fairclough, who wasn't able to be with us on the night as she is in Africa.” Please note from February our meetings will be starting at 7.30p.m.

FOLLOWING ON FROM OPEN DOOR HERE IS AN OPEN HOUSE The 55th series of St Andrew INVITATION! & St George’s United OPEN HOUSE Reformed Church Lunchtime Concerts

Starting at 12.40 pm till 1.45 pm for a very reasonable entrance fee of £4.00. A light lunch of sandwiches, cakes, tea and coffee

A new fellowship group begins on Tuesday 20th February. may be purchased from 11.45 am. 'Open House' will take place between 12.30 pm and 3.00 pm every The next concerts will take place Tuesday. Everyone is welcome so bring a friend along. Thursdays: February 1st (Alice A light lunch will be provided at 12.30 pm followed by a short Bible Kirkman, Harpist); February 8th study. The afternoon will continue with a time of discussion and prayer (Elizabeth Heyes-Lundie, Violin/ accompanied by tea/coffee and biscuits. Viola); February 15th (Svetlana Don't worry if you are unable to stop for the entire afternoon. Arrive Mochalova, Cello & Slava and leave whenever you wish - even if it's only for 15 minutes. Sidorenko, Piano ). The Church entrance is on St Venue: 4 Evanstone Close, Horwich, Bolton BL6 5SQ George’s Road, Bolton round the Contact: Rev. Caroline Tracey - Tel. (01204) 692303 corner from Justicia, the Fair Trade shop. 8 GREETINGS FROM CHENNAI Christ ChurCh Players ‘ 24/12/17 2018 production Dear All, What a Joy to speak again with everyone through this E-mail on the Christmas eve. I'm having a good time with my family and fellowships in Chennai. Also enjoying my work life because we have Bible Studies happening “Murder is a GaMe” daily in the office fellowship during th our lunch time (1.30 - 2.30 PM) 7 – 10 February 7.30pm God is helping me everyday to know more about His everlasting Agape at the Christ Church Centre Love and especially during this (behind the church), Christmas season. Markland Hill, BOLTON I believe everything is going fine in your lives and in the Church. I do For tickets please phone: follow the Church updates in the 01204 778998 Below the Pike E-magazine and facebook page. I miss the Christmas CATCH UP TIME WITH THE EVER BUSY pudding but Briyani (Indian meal) helps me to manage however.. HATTONS! Hahahh. I used to remember the last year Christmas celebrations in the Holy Tim and Kate made a rare visit to Trinity and I always praise God for this new fellowship in my life. Horwich recently and filled us in with I take an immense pleasure to send my warm wishes and greetings of all their news. Tim is applying to Christmas from India. Kindly share my wishes to the Church fellowship become an evangelist but there have as well. Luke.2:8-14(11) " Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born been delays—please pray for him. He to you. He Is the Messiah, the Lord." IMMANUEL - GOD WITH US ! is also doing serious runs for charity With Love, Sam and has started a charity swimming Many of you will remember Sam Aswin who spent a year working in team! Kate meanwhile has been doing Horwich, attending Holy Trinity, but he attended many ecumenical her own Church Army fundraising services and events as well. He took part in everything that was offered to widen his Christian and life experience. Our good wishes swim—”30 bays in 30 days!”. She is and blessings go to Sam and his family in Chennai, India busy with Messy Church, running a weekly toddler group with Tim (they Tim and Kate with provide the music on ukulele and Rev Stephen at bass!). All this along with her usual Jenny Dagnall’s on ministry . Kate asks for our prayers for their recent flying all those ‘trapped’ on the islands due visit from to low incomes , and for all those Guernsey to applying for work licences. Also please Horwich. Jenny pray for Wilf who has problems at the very kindly moment. Their one regret on being on provided a base, Guernsey is the difficulty getting to lunch and a drop visit grandson Harvey and other in for anyone able family members. God bless and best to pop in and see wishes for all the Hatton family for them. 2018 9 THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM The Arboretum, situated five miles north of Lichfield, Staffordshire, was visited by a party from Rivington during the summer of 2017 and was successful enough to warrant a further visit next year. If you have never been, it is well worthwhile making an effort to go and I guarantee you will not be disappointed. I admit to having a special connection to the place as my wife is one of the original plot-holders of 31 trees, dedicated to her father and his regiment in the Indian Army in the days before 1947, by the Bishop of Lichfield in 1989. The site covers 150 acres and contains more than 300 military and civilian memorials encompassing formal gardens, wildflower meadows and more than 40,000 maturing trees. The Millenium Chapel, where a short daily service including a two minute silence is held at 11am every day of the year, is an appropriate place to start your visit which can include either a visit to the restaurant for lunch and afternoon tea or maybe light refreshments in the coffee shop. There is no entrance fee but beware of the gift shop….. There is so much to see with a fair amount of walking but the legs may be spared by taking a trip on the land train to enjoy a 50 minute tour with an experienced guide. It is almost impossible to see everything in one day, but I would strongly recommend that you visit the following before setting off home : The Armed Forces Memorial: This records the names of the 16,000 men and women of the British Armed Forces who have been killed since the end of World War 2 and, in recognition of the importance of Armistice Day, a gap has been left in the two southern walls of the monument which allows a ray of sunlight to penetrate to its heart onto the central bronze wreath on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of each year. The Far East Section: A Memorial Building contains not only the list of all those who died, but also the name and rank of all British servicemen who suffered in the Japanese Prisoner of War camps The building is in the Far East Prisoner of War Grove where most of the trees are dedicated to British prisoners from all three Services The Merchant Navy Convoy Wood: This consists of 2,536 trees dedicated to that number of ships lost in the war and the 31,900 seafarers who perished in them. It also includes a Memorial to the estimated 4,500 people who perished in the troopship Lancastria during the evacuation off the French Coast in 1940. This remains Britain’s worst maritime disaster Shot At Dawn: This remembers the 300 soldiers, many of them volunteers and some underage, who were shot for desertion or cowardice. Many were suffering from post traumatic stress disorder – not recognised as a medical condition until 1980. The moving memorial, situated appropriately at the eastern end of the Arboretum where dawn strikes first, consists of posts dedicated to each man shot with six trees facing them representing the firing squad. Each post is named and in front of them is a white statue of a blindfolded soldier awaiting his fate. The Arboretum really is worth a visit – it is food for thought and of great educational value. Les Povey

CONGRATULATIONS: Les is a valued member of Rivington Church and helps out in the Team Office. He will be 90 years of age on 22nd February—we offer him Happy Birthday and very best wishes for 2018.

FOR YOR NEW 2018 DIARY ……….. GIRLS +TALK, last Thursday of every month. Meeting at Il Toro from 8pm. Call Jo on 01204 240508 for more details. BEER&CHAT, third Wednesday of every month. Meeting at Blackedge Brewery Bar from 7.30pm. Call Gill on 07967585670 for more details.

10 ASH WEDNESDAY COMMUNION SERVICE WILL BE HELD on 14th FEBRUARY AT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH 7.30pm ALL WELCOME

Churches Together In Horwich and Rivington Lent Meetings 2018 Life Source Learning to deepen our prayer life.

Monday 19th February—St Elizabeth’s (Cedar Avenue) Source of life - prayer as relationship THE HILLS ARE ALIVE Speaker: Jennifer McKenzie WITH HORWICH

CYFA! Tuesday 27th February—St Mary’s ( New Road) Are you age 14 or Source of joy - prayer as enjoying God over? Would you like Speaker: Linda Gillett the opportunity to make new friends Wednesday 7th March – Holy Trinity Church (Church Street) and share fun, food Source of light - prayer as listening and fellowship with Speaker: David Griffiths them? CYFA meets on th Thursday 30 March – St. John’s Church (Victoria Road) Thursday evenings at Source of wholeness - prayer as honesty St Elizabeth’s Church, Cedar Avenue, Speaker: Michael Behrend

Horwich from th Friday 7 April – New Chapel (New Chapel Lane) 8.00—9.30pm Source of love - prayer as care You will be very Speaker: Stephen Fletcher welcome and please bring a friend if you All meetings start at 7.30pm All welcome want. For more information DEMENTIA AWARENESS TRAINING ring Andy on: 07552 765769 The Pastoral committee at Holy Trinity are having a training session about Dementia awareness on Monday 26th February at 7.00pm in church. or Gill on 01204 If you are interested please contact Susan Kerr on 01204 692760 468271 Go on—give it a try!! 11 SLIME COMES TO ST CATHERINE’S! Hello again everybody! Today I would like to let you know all about the 2017 Church Fair. Church fairs are held up and down the country every year and bring the community together in support of their local Church. In his great festive novel, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens wrote about the happy mood which shop owners and customers feel around this special time of the year. He said: “The brightness of the shops where holly sprigs and berries crackled in the lamp-heat of the windows, made pale faces ruddy as they passed. Poulterers' and grocers' trades became a splendid joke: a glorious pageant, with which it was next to impossible to believe that such dull principles as bargain and sale had anything to do.” With just a few tweaks, the same could be said of this year’s Christmas Fair at St Catherine’s! It was a complete success as we raised a considerable amount of money for the church. I say “we” because I had a stall there myself, making and selling Slime! It was great to have Leah McKnight with me as well; she was a great help. As you may know, children everywhere are obsessed with a new craze called “Slime”! Slime is made by mixing just the right amounts of special ingredients which results in a stretchy and squidgy textured product. Leah and I sold many bags throughout the day. (See photo above) There were of course many other wonderful stalls there and I’d like to thank all of them for volunteering to raise even more money for our church. Special thanks go to Suzanne Walker for organising and promoting this terrific event. The greatest thanks of all, however, go to the people who came to the fair, bought gifts, food and joined in with the games. I hope everyone had a great day, I certainly did! See you at this year’s fair… Cadence

OTHER CHRISTMAS EVENTS REMEMBERED…….. St Catherine’s Nativity Holy Trinity’s Festive Market Kitchen Staff (photo © Kian at The Advertiser)

DON’T FORGET—If you’ve any photos, jokes,

Answer to riddle on Page 6:

snowing; sowing; owing; wing; win; in; I in; win; wing; owing; sowing; snowing; riddles, snippets, wise words etc please send

them in!!

With many thanks to Boss Direct Ltd of Bolton for their excellent service & the quality and printing of this magazine 12