West Links Issue 34 Final Website.Pub

News...Dates...Features...Preaching Plan...Contacts...Events...Updates

Jan - Mar 2020

The Circuit Office is open and Circuit Administrator: Jayne Chard available for use Always phone first before coming in to save a wasted journey. Opening Hours Lancashire West Methodist Circuit Monday 10.00am - 2.00pm Emmanuel Methodist URC, Tuesday 10.00am - 2.00pm Derby Street, Ormskirk, L39 2DE Thursday 10.00am - 2.00pm

Tel: 01695 578990 Email: [email protected]

CHURCHES ROTA FOR STAPLING WEST LINKS

The new copier in the circuit office collates West Links automatically. This is a great help and the editions just need stapling. A much quicker job! Please make a note when it is your churches turn and enlist helpers nearer the time. Thank you.

Issue 35 Apr-Jun 20 Trinity/Upholland Staple Mar 2020 Issue 36 July-Aug 20 Croston/Holmes/Tarleton Staple June 2020

Minister’s Letter Jan 2020

Rev Michael Tindsley

Dear Friends,

Happy Christmas to those of you reading this when West Links first arrives in the churches, and good wishes for 2020 to those reading as the Plan starts.

New Year is a time when people often make resolutions to change things in their lives in one way or another. For the Methodist Church the first few weeks of the New Year bring the opportunity to share in our Covenant Service and renew our commitment to God in the Covenant Prayers. Many people regard the Covenant Service and Prayer as “Jewels of Methodism” and they one of the most distinctive contributions offered to the wider Church, with Churches from other denominations increasingly holding their own versions of the Service.

During most baptism services I tend to draw the congregations Inside this issue: attention to the fact that we baptise the Child before asking the Circuit Office 2 parents to make any promises, and that this is because baptism Minister’s Letter 3-5 is a gift of God’s Grace and not dependent upon how good some- Cathy Court 6 one else is at keeping to what they promises. The Covenant Circuit Youth 7 Prayer offers similar challenges and the words we say involve us Letter from Sri Lanka 8-9 making some very big promises; I understand that there are those who avoid the Covenant Service because the promises What’s Your Story? 10 required of us are just too daunting. But the good news with the Church Contacts 11-13

Covenant, as with Baptism, is the Service is a gift to us and not a The Plan middle pages demand; it’s our response to the loving gift of God. The love Lectionary 16 which we have celebrated at Christmas and which we experience Church News 17-27 in its purest form at Easter. Diary Dates back page None of us are perfect, and if we were the Covenant Service would be a one off, but God accepts us as we are and though we may slip up on the promises we make we constantly have the opportunity to start again and gradually grow into the people God wants us to be. So let’s not be put off by the seriousness of the promises we make, but use them as a way of moving ever closer to God.

I am no longer my own but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, exalted for you, or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing: I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessèd God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

Yours in His Service

Origins of the Covenant Service – From The Methodist Website This idea of Covenant was basic to John Wesley's understanding of Christian discipleship. He saw the relationship with God in Covenant as being like a marriage between human beings (both as a community and as individuals) on the one side and God in Christ on the other (cf. Ephesians 5.21-33).

His original Covenant Prayer involved taking Christ as "my Head and Husband, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, for all times and conditions, to love, honour and obey thee before all others, and this to the death".

Wesley recognised that people needed not just to accept but also to grow in relationship with God. He therefore emphasised that God's grace and love constantly prompts and seeks to transform us, and so we should continually seek and pray to grow in holiness and love.

Over a number of years Wesley gradually saw the need for some regular ceremony which would enable people to open themselves to God more fully. He looked for some means of helping them to hear God's offer and challenge ever more deeply, and to allow God to prompt and enable them to respond.

In 1755 Wesley created a form of service adapted from the works of Joseph and Richard Alleine. These works came from the Puritan tradition of pastoral and spiritual guidance.

Wesley therefore insisted that the Covenant Service be located in a framework of pastoral care, preaching and guidance.

This framework dealt with the corporate needs of a particular society of Christian disciples, and within that with the needs of individuals within that group. It therefore linked personal devotion with corporate worship.

There would be a series of meetings about the Covenant involving sermons, explanations and exhortations. An invitation would then be issued for "those as will" to come to the Cov- enant Service. After a day's "Retreat" for people to prepare themselves in prayer, fasting, reflection and self- examination there would be the Covenant Service itself. This would be held in the context of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Wesley thought that this Sacra- ment brought into the realm of experience and made real all that was said in the Covenant. He therefore urged Methodists to pay it the highest regard, to put it at the centre of their spiritual life and to share in it frequently.

Back by popular demand!

Circuit Epiphany Carol Ser- vice

Sunday January 5th 6.30pm

At Holmes

Dear friends. My name is Cathy Court and I am blessed to have been appointed as Schools and Family Worker within your circuit. I am married to my amazing husband Mr David Court and we have five wonderful children and ten precious grandchildren. We are also blessed to be currently embracing the role of Foster Carers. David and I are active members of our own Parish community including leading Childrens Liturgy, Eucharistic Minster roles and singing in the choir. We live in Fairhaven, Lytham St Annes. We also have strong family links within the Ormskirk and Burscough area so I am absolutely delighted to be able to spend more time around such a beautiful part of Lancashire embracing God's plan. I am a qualified primary school teacher with music specialism and still currently teach part time in Preston. My Faith is at the heart of everything that I do and I hope that I will be able to be of service to you all and become a valuable part of your own Community. I am really excited to meet as many of you as I can over the coming weeks and I look forward to developing our Faith Journey together. Best Wishes, Cathy Court

Come along and join us for

Emmanuel Methodist URC Saturday 4.30pm – 6.30pm th

January 11 ‘Jesus the Teacher’ February 29th ‘Jesus the Miracle Worker’ (including a meal)

Fun for all the family! All children must be accompanied by an adult

Messy ChurchMessy @ Emmanuel CircuitYouth

Greetings from Sri Lanka! With best wishes to you all for a joyful and peaceful New Year

As I look back at 2019 I thank God for the wide variety of experiences I have had this last year. Last spring 14 students completed their training at the Theological College of Lanka and are now work- ing in Anglican and Methodist Churches throughout the island. I was able to attend six of the Methodist Induction services. As in Britain, the churches varied widely from town centres to very rural settings.

One of the recent highlights has been to see how a grant from MWiB enabled the Shalom Project to extend their work among war widows living in remote areas in the north of the island. Ten chickens on the point of lay (Well nine plus one cockerel) are given to each family with the aim of providing food for the family and some income from selling the eggs and later chicks. The women are delighted to receive them and have had instruction on how to care for them and have built the hen coops in readiness.

I am now in the last few months of my time here, I

will be sad to leave. I plan to be back at Emmanuel for Easter. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you over the coming months.

Thank you for your continuing prayerful support and your news via emails and Facebook.

Anne Baldwin Mission Partner, the Methodist Church in Britain News fromNews Baldwin Anne CircuitNews 8

Pettah, Colombo. The oldest Methodist Church in Asia

Bible manse with chapel above

Rev. Sumethra with the group The chickens are here!

Daniel February is Daniel Month

2nd February – Daniel 1:1-21 “Living a Healthy Life” 9th February – Daniel 3:1-30 “The Fiery Furnace” 16th February – Daniel 5:1-31 “Writing on the Wall” 23rd February – Daniel 6:1-28 “The Lions’ Den”

During February the Local Preachers and Worship Leaders Meeting/Circuit Meeting have decided that we will be focusing on the Book of Daniel in as many of our services as possible. It would be good if Bible Study or Fellowship groups could take a look at the passages as well, and also if we as individuals take the opportunity to focus on the selected parts of Daniel. A useful introductory guide to Daniel can be found on the Bible Society Book Club www.biblesociety.org.uk/explore-the-bible/bible-book- club/daniel/ Printed copies of this information will also be available.

What’s Your Story? March 1st 6.30pm @ Burscough An Evening of Praise and Sharing of our Stories

What’sYour Story 10

11 ChurchContacts

Visiting Preachers Jackie Ascroft Joe Ascroft Emma Birkbeck Clifford Hill [email protected] Janet Maggs Revd David Reynolds 01704 821684 Anne Wallbank [email protected] Revd Gordon Wareing [email protected] 01704 233530 Lynne Watson 01772 743032

Worship Leaders Mr Derek Ashcroft [Trin] [email protected]……...……………. 01695 726494 Mrs Barbara Davies [Burs] [email protected]……………………. 01704 892995 Mr Mark Guénault [Orm] [email protected]…………………………... 07884 440309 Mr Tom Gregson [Tarl]…… [email protected]…..……………… 01704 509321 Mr Rob Langdon [Orm] [email protected].………………….…….. 01695 558192 Mrs Jane Langdon [Orm] [email protected]……………..….. 01695 558192 Mrs Anne Merrills [Holm] [email protected]...……………..…… 01772 812414 Mrs Barbara Meynell [Holm]………………………………………………………..….. 01772 812620 Mr Mark Taylor [Orm] [email protected]………………….. 01695 722854 Mr Tony Trenear [Burs] [email protected]……………..…….... 01704 894195

Circuit Stewards Mrs Linda Wedge [email protected].………..……………………. 01695 622414 Mr Derek Ashcroft [email protected]…...….……………... 01695 726494 Mrs Lorraine Howarth [email protected]………………….... 01257 369973 Mrs Dilys Lightfoot [email protected]……………………….... 01772 601622 Mr Malcolm Roxburgh [email protected]…………………...……. 01695 422013

Circuit Treasurer c/o Emmanuel Methodist/URC, Derby Street, Ormskirk L39 2DE [email protected]

Circuit Administrator/Circuit Office Mrs Jayne Chard Emmanuel Methodist/URC, Derby Street, Ormskirk L39 2DE 01695 578990

[email protected]

CircuitContacts 12

Liverpool District 18/19 Lancashire West Circuit Plan Jan – Mar 2020

Revd Margaret E. Banks [email protected]……….. 01695 575178 Revd Sylvia V. I. Jacquest… [email protected]…………….... 01695 573689 Revd Dr Geoffrey Farthing [email protected]…….…………….. 01704 895033

Rev Barrie Morris 01695 581960

1953 Mrs Monica Rhead + 1969 Mr Albert Kendall + 1970 Mr Roy Cumberlidge + 1979 Mr Andrew Richardson [email protected]………..……………………. 01704 893921 1983 Mr Malcolm Roxburgh [email protected]……………………….. 01695 422013 1985 Dr J Malcolm Abbott …………………………………………………………... 01695 572587 1992 Mrs Liz Morris…………………………………………………………..…….….…….k01695 581960 1993 Mrs Jenny Ashcroft ……………………………………………………………. 01695 726494 2000 Dr Julian Butcher ……………………………………………………………. 2001 Mrs Merle Farthing [email protected]……………….……….. 01704 895033 2007 Mrs Helen Hindle [email protected]………….…………. 01772 815738

On Trial Mr David Allen [email protected].……….…………. 01704 822652 Mrs Janet Walton [email protected]...……………..………… 01704 894961

On Note Mr Jonathan Richardson [email protected] Mr James Philpott

CircuitContacts

January February March th th th th nd th th rd st th th nd th 5 12 19 26 2 9 16 23 1 8 15 22 29 Lent 1 Lent 2 Lent 3 Mothering Sun Lent 5 Burscough Orrell Lane 10.00 M Tindsley J Richardson M Farthing M Roxburgh J Ashcroft M Tindsley G Farthing S A Richardson G Wareing M Tindsley S o/a M Tindsley S Foster Cov All Age All Age What’s Your All Age HP, CMP, STF, 6.30 Story ? 6.30 Church at the Centre 11.00 R Preston R Preston M Roxburgh R Preston R Preston R Preston R Preston J Ashcroft R Preston R Preston R Preston R Preston M Farthing Northway Covenant HON US Croston Westhead Rd 10.30 S Foster J Maggs S Guénault R Hope S J Richardson A Richardson S Guénault M Banks S M Tindsley J Walton S Foster S S Guénault D Reynolds Cov All Age All Age All Age HP, MP, JP, STF, Holmes Park Lane 10.30 E Morris S Foster R Preston o/a B Morris C Hill S Foster S G Wareing E Birkbeck S Foster S M Farthing L Watson M Banks HP, MP, JP, Cov All Age 6.30 Epiphany CS A Richardson ------S Guénault A Wallbank M Tindsley S Jackie Ascroft R Hope Burscough Joe Ascroft J Butcher M Tindsley S Foster S

Holmeswood Holmeswood Rd 10.30 B Morris M Tindsley G Farthing o/a G Farthing M Abbott o/a M Tindsley S A Richardson G Wareing M Tindsley o/a M Tindsley S HP, CMP, STF, Cov 6.30 Mawdesley Four Lane Ends 10.30 G Wareing G Farthing A Richardson S Foster o/s J Walton M Abbott S Foster S M Roxburgh J Maggs R Hope S Foster S A Richardson HP, MP, JP, Cov

Ormskirk Derby St 10.30 M Roxburgh S Guénault M Tindsley S Guénault M Abbott PS S Guénault S o/a S Guénault S Guénault M Roxburgh G Farthing S J Ashcroft S Guénault HP, CMP, STF Cov S PS 6.30 Holmes M Tindsley S Foster M Tindsley S R Hope S Foster S Guénault S M Tindsley Burscough S Foster M Tindsley S Foster M Tindsley Tarleton Church Rd 10.30 M Abbott G Wareing S Foster M Tindsley E Morris S Foster M Farthing o/a S Foster M Abbott J Richardson M Roxburgh G Farthing HP, MP, Cov

Trinity High Street 11.00 @ Church at R Hope D Reynolds G Wareing M Tindsley R Hope S o/a M Roxburgh E Morris J Ashcroft o/a R Hope S R Preston STF, the Centre Café Café

Up Holland Alma Hill 11.00 R Hope J Walton R Hope M Banks R Hope S G Farthing M Tindsley R Hope B Morris R Hope S o/a G Wareing R Hope STF LP Cov US 2.30

MP –Mission Praise Combined CMP – Complete Mission Praise S – Holy Communion CS – Carol Service HP – Hymns and Psalms STF – Singing the Faith P – Parade Service Cov – Covenant Service HON – Hymns Old and New JP – Junior Praise LP – Let’s Praise O/A - Own Arrangement

Trinity High Street 11.00 @ Church at R Hope D Reynolds G Wareing M Tindsley R Hope S o/a M Roxburgh E Morris J Ashcroft o/a R Hope S R Preston STF, the Centre Café Café

Up Holland Alma Hill 11.00 R Hope J Walton R Hope M Banks R Hope S G Farthing M Tindsley R Hope B Morris R Hope S o/a G Wareing R Hope STF LP Cov US 2.30

Epiphany First Psalm Second Gospel Year A reading reading Christmas 2 Jeremiah Psalm Ephesians John 1:(1-9), 10- January 5, 2020 31:7-14 147:12- 1:3-14 18 20 Epiphany Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm Ephesians Matthew 2:1-12 January 6, 72:1-7, 3:1-12 10-14 Ordinary 1 Isaiah 42:1-9 Psalm 29 Acts 10:34- Matthew 3:13-17 January 12, 43 Ordinary 2 Isaiah 49:1-7 Psalm 1 Corinthians John 1:29-42 January 19, 40:1-11 1:1-9 Ordinary 3 Isaiah 9:1-4 Psalm 1 Corinthians Matthew 4:12-23 January 26, 27:1, 4-9 1:10-18 Ordinary 4 Micah 6:1-8 Psalm 15 1 Corinthians Matthew 5:1-12 February 2, 1:18-31 Ordinary 5 Isaiah 58:1- Psalm 1 Corinthians Matthew 5:13-20 February 9, 9a (9b-12) 112:1-9 2:1-12 (13-16 Ordinary 6 Deuterono- Psalm 1 Corinthians Matthew 5:21-37 February 16, my 30:15-20 119:1-8 3:1-9 Last before Exodus Psalm 2 2 Peter 1:16- Matthew 17:1-9 Lent 24:12-18 21

February 23 First Sunday in Genesis Psalm 32 Romans 5:12 Matthew 4:1-11

Lent 2:15-17; 3:1- -19 March 1 7 Second Sun- Genesis Psalm Romans 4:1- John 3:1-17 day in Lent 12:1-4a 121 5, 13-17 March 8, Third Sunday Exodus 17:1 Psalm 95 Romans 5:1- John 4:5-42 in Lent -7 11 March 15, 2020 Fourth Sunday 1 Samuel Psalm 23 Ephesians John 9:1-41 in Lent 16:1-13 5:8-14 March 22, 2020 Fifth Sunday in Ezekiel 37:1- Psalm Romans 8:6- John 11:1-45 Lent 14 130 11 March 29, 2020

Lectionary Readings Lectionary

Services around the circuit including

Tarleton, Holmes, Hesketh Bank, Holmeswood & Rufford villages.

Tarleton and District Group, All are invited the Service for 2020 on Friday March 6th at 7.30pm.

To be held at Hesketh Bank Methodist Church, Chapel Road, Hesketh Bank PR4 6RY. All are Welcome. Mawdesley & CrostonMawdesley Methodist

Burscough Methodist Café Church In the hall 1st Wednesday every Month

Informal worship in a relaxed atmosphere

January - No Café Church ****** Wednesday 12th February 2020 at 7.00pm

******

Wednesday 4th March 2020 at 7.00pm

Everyone Welcome Burscough Methodist Burscough ChurchNews 18

Monday Munch - Lunch Club

Burscough Methodist Church Hall. Please join us for food and fellowship on the

Second Monday of the month 12.00 - 2.00pm

13th January 2020 10th February 2020 9th March 2020

Donations towards the cost of food most welcome.

Please contact Janet if you have any special dietary

requirements or require further information. Tel 01704 894961 Burscough Methodist Burscough ChurchNews 19

On Tuesday February 11th Trinity Methodist, Croston will begin monthly Messy Church sessions from 4.30 – 6.00pm.

Messy Church: · is a way of being church for families involving fun · is found across the world · values are about being Christ-centred, for all ages, based on creativity, hospitality and celebration · Sessions typically include a welcome, a long creative time to explore the biblical theme through getting messy; a short celebration time involving story, prayer, song, games and similar; and a sit-down meal together at tables. It's a church for people at all stages of their faith journey and of any age.

Everyone is welcome across the circuit, but children must be

accompanied by an adult.

Tuesday February 11th 4.30 - 6.00pm

Tuesday March 10th 4.30 - 6.00pm

for further details, please contact Rev Sue at : [email protected] or 07468 518260 If you are interested in volunteering to join our Croston teams organizing arts and crafts, games and sports, or catering, please also contact Sue. Thank you Trinity, Croston Methodist, ChurchNews 20

Faith and Fellowship

Our fellowship groups will continue in 2020. Rev Stephen will lead sessions at Emmanuel at 1.30pm and Rebecca and Julian Butcher will lead sessions in their home at 8.00pm.

These will begin on January 9th and 23rd

All are welcome and we encourage everyone to attend these informal sessions that give us the opportunity to explore our faith through scripture and discussion. Emmanuel Methodist URC, Ormskirk URC, Methodist Emmanuel ChurchNews 21

In Holmes Chapel

Holmes Methodist Methodist Holmes ChurchNews 22

Toddler Group at Up Holland Methodist Church

Mondays 10.00am - 12 noon.

With free refreshments Up Holland Methodist Up Holland ChurchNews 24

Up Holland Methodist Up Holland ChurchNews 25

TrinitySkelmersdale URC, Methodist ChurchNews 26

25th Jan

29th Feb

28th Mar

Bacon butties, cake, coffee and tea

Trinity Skelmersdale URC, Methodist ChurchNews 27

January MAR Sun 5 │ 6.30pm Sun 1 │ 6.30pm Holmes Methodist Burscough Methodist Church Epiphany Carol Service What’s Your Story?

Sat 11 │ 4.30pm-6.30pm Wed 4 │ 7.00pm Emmanuel, Ormskirk Burscough Methodist Hall Messy Church Café Church

Fri 6 │ Services around the Circuit FEBRUARY Women’s World Day of Prayer Tues 11 │ 4.30pm - 6.00pm Croston Methodist Mon 9 │ 7.30pm Messy Church Holmes Methodist Circuit Meeting

Wed 12 │ 7.00pm Tues 10 │ 4.30pm - 6.00pm Burscough Methodist Hall Croston Methodist Café Church - Messy Church

Wed 12 │ 7.30pm Burscough Methodist Finance & Property Meeting

Mon 17 │ West Links deadline for articles to be submitted

Sat 29 │ 4.30pm-6.30pm Emmanuel, Ormskirk Messy Church