THE JUNE 2019 SEE BACK See MAGAZINE PAGE JOURNAL OF BLACKBURN DIOCESE : THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN LANCASHIRE The importance of Also in attendance discipleship and were the Area Deans, ‘A clear focus knowing the as well as Ruth scriptures was front Hassall and Carolyn and centre at Bishop Barton - our Director on intentional Julian’s four ‘Primary of Discipleship and Visitations’ held our new Vision across Lancashire Coordinator. Carolyn discipleship’ throughout May. Churchwarden Lyndon Archdeacon Mark, left, Wright, left, and Rev. starts officially this month. and Archdeacon Michael focus on intentional In his ‘charge’ to Philip Venables from St discipleship’ also those attending, the John’s Whittle-le-Woods Around 300-400 people turned out to each service. They heard Bishop Julian say: introduced an Bishop delivered important new some key messages in the context of where we “Discipleship is not an optional extra. It is why we have appointed a Director of Discipleship Diocesan resource; a are currently in our Vision 2026 journey as a booklet to Diocese; as well as launching a new booklet for and it is what lies at the heart of making church healthy – a crucial part of our work as we move encourage more use across the Diocese – ‘Knowing The engagement with Scriptures Better’ – which has been written as towards 2026.” the Bible and to help Bishop Julian with copies part of the ongoing ‘Bishop’s Bible Challenge’. Bishop Julian continued: “To be mature as us to become better of the new ‘Knowing the disciples of Christ we need to know the disciples. Scriptures Better’ booklet The special services are where all scriptures better, Churchwardens are formally sworn in as officers rejoice in what God Copies of ‘Knowing to allow them to fulfil this vital role. The Bishop has revealed of the Scriptures Better’ were given to everyone also commissioned, or recommissioned, new Himself through who attended the Visitations and further and existing Parish Vision Champions. them and be keen to multiple copies are also available to order from the diocesan website www.blackburn. Primary Visitations replaced, for this year only, encourage others to read the Bible for anglican.org on the Bible Challenge page under the regular Visitations led annually by The ‘News and Events’. Venerable Michael Everitt, Archdeacon of themselves. (l-r) Rev. Peter Smith, Lancaster and The Venerable Mark Ireland, During his ‘Charge’ The full ‘Charge’ from Bishop Julian at the Carol Pearson, Anne Archdeacon of Blackburn; although both Bishop Julian, as part Visitations is also available to watch on YouTube Forrest and Lorraine Archdeacons were present at all the Primary of adopting what he – visit the news pages of the Diocesan website Smith, all from St Peter’s Visitations. described as ‘a clear or search ‘Visitations2019’ on the website to Church in Chorley find it. The generations unite for worship For the very first time in this Diocese, innovative training was recently delivered to a mixed team of both adults and children to equip them to plan and lead All Age Worship, writes Mandy Stanton (Lay Leadership Officer) and Sarah Earnshaw (Diocesan Children’s Work Adviser). This was at the request of Mary Ashton (Associate Vicar) at Euxton Parish Church, who delivered some of the training alongside us. You could take advantage of the same workshop too! See details at the end of this article. The training, which took place in April, included Clockwise from top left, Sarah Earnshaw is joined by (l-r) Jemma Baumber aged 11, her sister a session unpacking ‘what is worship’ as well as Ysobel Baumber, 8 and Caitlin Lilley 11 (all from Euxton); Mandy Stanton leads the workshop at more practical elements, such as identifying Euxton Parish Hall; Rev Mary Ashton (seated front centre); Sarah Earnshaw (standing, second themes within a Bible passage and building left) and Mandy Stanton (standing, at far right) are pictured with some of the attendees at the creative sermon slots. workshop; Picture of concentration during the all age music workshop. The whole event fitted well with our Diocesan aims under ‘growing leaders’ to prioritise work It would be amazing if more parishes could to help people to try new things and grow into among children and young people to raise up a consider adopting a similar attitude and leadership in this way. new generation for Christ. approach. If any parishes are interested in exploring And doing this teaching in the context of all-age The creativity and enthusiasm of those who hosting a similar training day in order to equip worship was fantastic as we were able to see took part, as they thought about ways to plan their own team; one that could also be opened the children working in collaboration with the worship which people of all ages can join in, was up to neighbouring parishes, it would be great adults as they brought a fresh perspective to the really exciting. to hear from you. Contact Mandy Stanton in the training that is missing in an all-adult team. Gradually the church is taking on board the idea first instance by emailing mandy.stanton@ The youngest child who participated in the that vocation isn’t confined to a particular sort blackburn.anglican.org training was aged 9 and it’s wonderful that the of person or a particular role. This article, with more pictures, is also church is willing to invest and encourage these God can call all sorts of people, young and old, young people by offering them this available on the Diocesan website to do His work and sometimes that starts with www.blackburn. anglican.org responsibility. very small steps. It’s a huge privilege to be able The See can also be found on the Diocesan Website: www.blackburn.anglican.org under News, or scan the ‘QR code’ on the back page with your smartphone to be taken to the Diocese website page which contains the current and archive editions of The See. COMMENT: BISHOP JILL / NEWS Whit Sunday or Pentecost has a long Lancaster I often pray for myself, for the tradition in Lancashire. I remember the people I meet and for Lancashire: The Holy Spirit excitement of dressing up in a white ‘Come Holy Spirit’. will guide you dress on ‘Walking Day’ and parading On our last evening at the Bishop’s through the streets behind a Sunday Leadership Team residential in May, we into all truth School banner in Over Hulton, Bolton, played a game called “Two truths and a where I grew up. lie”. I confess, for me, it was all about the It turns out, Bishop Julian was the worst white dress. Nothing about Pentecost or liar on the team! Everyone guessed his the Holy Spirit. lie. I had yet to discover the Holy Spirit. I had By coincidence, the same day we had heard about God the Father and Jesus at done a Lectio Divina on John 16. (A church, but the Holy Spirit was Lectio Divina is when you read the Bible somewhat more elusive. slowly and see what words strike you). This is in his nature: one of his roles is to Normally, in a group there’s a scattering bring glory to Jesus, like a spotlight. from across the text. Remarkably, most When I was 11, a youth leader on a of the team chose John 16.13: “When summer camp said, ‘Don’t just read the the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide Bible like it’s a normal book, ask the Holy you into all the truth.” Spirit to open your eyes’. I did. The Spirit reveals the truth. We can fear It was as if Jesus walked off the page of the truth - uncomfortable, inconvenient, And with Vision 2026, we are praying for the Bible and into my life. But this was painful truth - but Jesus teaches ‘the ‘healthy churches’ to be ‘transforming just the start of being filled with the Holy truth sets you free’ (John 8.32). communities’. Spirit. And as I read more as a teenager, I While we sweep things under the carpet, became intrigued by what the Bible says This Pentecost may the dear Holy Spirit bottle up pain, tell ourselves to ‘just get blow where He wills with His truth and about Him, and started asking for Him to on with it’, it only gets worse not better. come. set many free. Leave the rot and it spreads. You can’t Bishop Jill One year into being the Bishop of catch health, but you can catch sickness. ‘Ask and you will receive’ said Jesus. This harvest, therefore, to send out workers into Lent the vocations team took these words to his harvest field’.” Vocations team heart and put them into action. Nick explained: “This verse inspires a prayer I In April Nick McKee, pictured, who is the pray each day, that the Lord would release is delighted with Director of Vocations, called a ‘day of fasting men and women into all kinds of vocations and prayer’ for all the members of the within his Church and I simply asked the answered prayers vocations teams in the diocese. vocations team members to join me in that The team fasted from 6am through to 6pm prayer for our day of fasting and prayer. and took the opportunity to devote “We prayed wherever we were, in the midst themselves to simply asking God to release of our daily lives, that God would raise up the more vocations to lay and ordained ministry lay and ordained leaders we all know His within our diocese. Church needs.” The results were immediate and wonderful! And the results? Within 48 hours of the Nick said: “Lent is a great time to fast and prayer day Nick received five new vocational pray, to refocus on God’s plans and purposes.