MAY 2018 Parish News Parish The symbols of Pentecost are those of the Holy Spirit and include flames, wind, the breath of God and a dove. Saint Peter’s Church, Heversham; Saint John’s Church, Levens and Saint Thomas’ Church, Milnthorpe, Church, and Saint Thomas’ Levens Saint John’sChurch, Heversham; Church, Saint Peter’s Pentecost is the festival when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. 1 DATE FOR YOUR DIARY Ascension Day “A Day of Encouragement” Thursday 10th May with Bishop James Newcome th Saturday 29 September Kendal Deanery marks 10 – 4 “Ascension” with at Arkholme Village Hall. a Service of Holy Communion More details in at St John’s Church, Levens June Parish News. at 7.00 pm Sunday Mornings at the Parish Churches 6th 8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP) at St Thomas’ 9.30 am Parish Communion at St Peter’s 10.00 am Parish Communion St John’s 11.00 am Parish Communion at St Thomas’ and Sunday School 13th 8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP) at St Peter’ 9.30 am Communion Praise at St Peter’s 10.00 am All Age Worship United with the Methodists (Christian Aid Week) at St John’s 11.00 am Parish Communion and Sunday School at St Thomas’ Pentecost 20th 8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP) at St Thomas’ 9.30 am Parish Communion at St Peter’s 10.00 am Parish Communion for Pentecost at St John’s 11.00 am Morning Praise at St Thomas’ and Sunday School 27th 8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP) at St Peter’s 9.30 am All Age Worship at St Peter’s 10.00 am Parish Communion at St John’s 11.00 am Parish Communion & Sunday School at St Thomas’ 2 Celebration! The month of May brings us celebration in church and in state. Christians celebrate Ascension and Pentecost, the elements of Christian faith linking life on earth and in heaven, and body and spirit. God fulfils the promise of a comforter to link mortality with eternity. State celebrates with Bank Holidays for "May Day”, and for “Spring” - a season for which we have had a long wait this year. But May 19th also sees our royal family in sharp focus as Harry and Meghan enter into marriage, making solemn vows before the Archbishop of Canterbury in the chapel of St George at Windsor. It is seen by the media as a “fresh face” for royalty, cutting away the trappings which would have brought politicians & dignitaries as official guests. We pray this day - a first step - will be just a prelude to wonderful future, fulfilling the dreams of the happy couple. The church universal grew rapidly from a small core of believers, and underwent its first transformation with the gift of the Holy Spirit whose effect, as described in Acts, was dramatic and challenging. Did the church at the time have a “profile”, a business plan, a balance sheet, a constitution? No, rather it was marked by conviction and faith. Nearly three hundred and fifty years ago, John Bunyan wrote an allegory with the title “Pilgrim’s Progress” - seen by some as the first novel written in English. Many of the sub-titles and phrases from this work have come to be part of everyday language, not least his reference to the “Slough of Despond” through which the main character, Christian, struggles to find the right steps while striving towards his goal. He is helped and challenged variously on his journey, as is the case for any pilgrim - but he does reach that goal. In a year and a half of “vacancy”, the parish life of Milnthorpe, Heversham and Levens has also been sustained by conviction and faith, by dedication and hard work, by prayer and by generosity of all kinds. Some events have already been instrumental in drawing us closer together, and at the point where a new priest- in-charge is appointed, we hope that each and every parishioner will sign up to this spirit of co-operation and unity of purpose. So when an appointment is made, we shall celebrate not an ending, but a significant step on the way to creating that link road - between earth and heaven. Peter Martin Churchwarden, St John’s Church, Levens PS On May 10th Kendal Deanery marks “Ascension” with a service of Holy Communion at 7pm at St John’s Levens; come and celebrate 3 info : Christians Together in Levens and CTiM - Christians Together in Milnthorpe & Heversham Shoppers Service the second Friday in the month Farmers’ Market Milnthorpe Christians Together in Levens: The Monday group in Levens 11th May Methodist Church from 10.15am - 10am 11.45am, with an open invitation to all to come and share together. “10 minutes service with a thought for the day” a hymn, a prayer, St John’s Church, Levens in St Thomas’ Church Tuesday - Thursday 8.15 am Morning Prayer If there is no formal Morning Prayer on any occasion you are welcome to visit the prayer chapel and use M:Oasis Methodists in Milnthorpe the books there at any time. M:Hub, Beetham Road Second Wednesday each month, 13 May - Coffee, Cake & Bible - 9th May 6.30 pm 3.00pm - Penny Severn Prayers for Healing service 20 May - Sunday Gathering - 10.30am - Andrew Skinner These may be subject to change, 27 May - Coffee, Cake & Bible - please check noticeboards and 3.00pm - Penny Severn Weekly Notes. Kent Estuary Catholic Churches - Levens Methodist Church May Milnthorpe - Arnside - Grange 10.30 am unless stated otherwise Fr. Philip Smith, 015395 32731 6th. Mr K Huddleston 13th. United Service at Christ the King RC Church St John’s 10am Haverflatts Lane , Milnthorpe 20th. Revd David Stretton. Sunday Mass 10.30 am. Sacrament Service. Confessions: Saturday 10.30 -11 am 27th. Irene McKay or on request 4 Saint John’s Church: Levens Levens community website where church items are also advertised: www.levens.org.uk Prayer Cycle. St John’s Annual Meeting We invite you to join us in praying for re-elected Peter Martin and Jean our village; for those who live in it, Hayton as churchwardens; for details those who work in it, and those who of the new PCC please see the visit. In May we pray for Underhill, noticeboard in St John’s. The Annual Whitbarrow Grove, Nethercroft. Reports received by the meeting covered the church’s work through the year and included an update on Care in the Community Project the proposed Mission Community of Have you been wondering what is the Kent Estuary. happening with this? Well it has changed its name! It is now to be Christian Aid Week 13-19th May called the Levens Good Neighbour The achievements of our- Scheme. We are thrilled that 40+ hardworking collectors throughout people have come forward as this week are greatly valued. Any volunteers, and we are now working help from new volunteers in this hard to resolve important issues important work would be much around insurance, funding etc. appreciated. Liz Addison, 60638 We'll be in touch again soon. Messy Together For all families with children from new-borns up to the end of primary school - storytime, art and craft, action rhymes, singing, refreshments - 4pm Sunday May 27th St John’s Church Spring Fair in St John's for about an hour. Saturday 28th April, New members always welcome! in Levens Institute Levens Village Open Gardens. 10 am to noon With much regret, it has been Cake stall, plant stall, raffle, tombola decided that this event cannot run this year after all. We hope to All Welcome reinstate it next year. Thank you for supporting the Men in Lycra ( cycling team) coffee St John’s Church Flowers - May morning fundraising for the Brathay 6th Mrs M Ritchie Trust in their work for young people. 13th Mrs S Smith £680 was raised; a Cycle round the 20 Pentecost Lakes is planned for this summer. 27th Mrs S Bagot 5 Saint Thomas’ Church: Milnthorpe where all are St Thomas’ Church Milnthorpe welcome Children’s Sunday School meets most Sundays during the 11am service St Thomas’ Church Info: Margaret (64134), Milnthorpe Liz (62377), Sarah (63401) Proposed improvements Thursday 17th May to community facilities Communion Service 2pm The community facilities in the Church (Book of Common Prayer) Centre at the west end of St Thomas’ Church were opened in 1982 and are at St Thomas’ Church now in need of updating & improving. followed by tea Initial plans will be available to view at in the Church Centre manned exhibition to be held in the All most welcome Church on: Friday 4 May from 9am to midday th Sunday 6 May from 2pm to 5pm Friday 11 May 10 – 11.30 am Coffee Morning & Cake Stall Monday 7 May from 6pm to 9pm run by Mothers’ Union at St Thomas’ Church Centre Please come along to take a look at what is proposed and let us have your comments so that the final plans best meet the needs of our community. 6 Saint Peter’s Church: Heversham WEBSITE : www.stpetersheversham.org QUARTER PEAL Christian Aid week 13th - 19th May OF BELLS will be rung from 11 am There will be no door to door collecting on Saturday 19th May at of envelopes in Milnthorpe and St Peter’s Church by the Heversham this year, but we hope you bellringers and guests, continue to give to for the marriage of Christian Aid generously. Prince Harry to Meghan Markle in Windsor. There will be a few roads where envelopes will be Also congratulations to the Bride distributed with and Groom to be married at instructions on how St Peter’s Church on the same day.