Holy Trinity, Bickerstfaffe October 2015 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15 New Revised Standard Version God of Mission, who alone brings growth to your Church, send your Holy Spirit to bring vision to our planning, wisdom to our actions, faith to our lives, hope to our communities, and love to our hearts. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Going for Growth Prayer, Diocese of Blackburn Page 2 Contact Details Website www.holytrinitybickerstaffe.co.uk. Twitter @HolyTrinityBick VICAR Reverend Captain Andrew Housley, CA 10 Church Lane, Aughton, Ormskirk L396SB. Tel: 01695 423204. Mob: 07788 256 776, E-mail: [email protected]. ASSOCIATE MINISTER Reverend Martin Adams, The Vicarage Intake Lane, Bickerstaffe, Ormskirk L39 0HW. Tel: 01695 727607. Requests for weddings and baptisms should in the first instance, be made to the Vicar at the end of the Family Service. Arrangements for funerals and interments may be made with the Vicar by telephone. CHURCH WARDENS Mrs Irene McCarthy. Taylor’s Cottage, Back Lane, L39 0EN. Tel: 01695 421800, Mob: 07818 205 597. E-mail: [email protected]. Mr Jonathan Rawlinson. Tel: 01695 728799 CHURCH WARDEN EMERITUS Mr Merrick Rimmer. Tel: 01695 727848. MAGAZINE & WEB Mrs Jo Housley (Magazine Editor) Tel: 01695 423204. E-mail: [email protected]. Mr Edward McCarthy (Webmaster) E-mail: [email protected] Mrs Hilary Rosbotham (Treasurer incl. Mag. Finance). Tel: 01695 723873. ORGANIST Mrs Vera Gregson. PCC SECRETARY Ms Anne Rosbotham-Williams. Telephone 01695 722034. READER EMERITUS Mr Colin Johnson. Mr Allan Powell. Telephone 01695 727169. SUNDAY CLUB Mrs Ann Ashburner & Mr Jon Ashburner. Telephone 01695 721795. Page 3 Letter from Andrew Housley Dear friends, Throughout the Gospels we read about Jesus’ response to the suffering he saw in people’s lives and his deep compassion. As the son of our loving God, Jesus’ compassion can not be switched on or off because it is integral to his very nature. In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians 1:3-7 we read, ‘3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.’ Jesus’ compassion for each of us grows from his deep empathy for us in our sufferings. Given that we are the body of Christ on earth, our empathy leads to compassion, and our desire to help people motivates our pastoral ministry. Leaving our politics aside, we can’t help but be moved by the plight of millions of refugees turning towards Europe, not forgetting those in refugee camps, and Syrian Christians in hiding, fearing for their lives. In a recent Churches Together in Ormskirk fraternal, the church leaders discussed how we can collectively make a response. We hope to connect Page 4 with a church in Europe which is working with refugees. I will give more information about the project when I get it. This month we are celebrating our Harvest Thanksgiving which is an opportunity to thank God for all he has blessed us with, while showing support to those who need a little help. Let us continue to share Jesus’ compassion for those who suffer and with him, develop our desire to help. Andrew Prayer Time We beseech thee, Master, to be our helper and protector. Save the afflicted among us; have mercy on the lowly; raise up the fallen; appear to the needy; heal the ungodly; restore the wanderers of thy people; feed the hungry; ransom our prisoners; raise up the sick; comfort the faint-hearted. (Clement of Rome, 1st Century) Page 5 Services in October St Michael, Holy Trinity, Aughton Bickerstaffe 4th October Trinity 18 8.15am Andrew 10.45am Andrew Green Holy Communion Holy Communion Genesis 2.18-24; Hebrews 1.1-4; 2.5-12; 10.30am Martin Mark 10.2-16 Harvest Thanksgiving 4.00pm Andrew Holy Communion 11th October Trinity 19 8.15am Martin 8am Andrew Green Holy Communion Holy Communion Amos 5.6-7,10-15; Hebrews 4.12-16; Mark 10.30am Martin 10.45am Andrew/Judith 10.17-31 Holy Communion Harvest Thanksgiving 18th October Trinity 20 8.15am Andrew 10.45am Martin/Mark Green Holy Communion Morning Prayer Isaiah 53.4-12; Hebrews 5.1-10; 10.30am Andrew Mark 10.35-45 Parish Praise 4.00pm Martin Holy Communion 25th October Bible Sunday 8.15am Martin 10.45am Martin Green Holy Communion Holy Communion Isaiah 55:1-11 2 Timothy 3.14-4.5 10.30am Sylvia John 5.36b-47 Holy Communion Page 6 Worship and Learning 4th October: The ideal and the real Mark 10.2-16: Summary * Some Pharisees test Jesus on the teaching about divorce. * Jesus honours the ideal of marriage and the equality of both partners. * Belonging to the kingdom of God involves child-like acceptance. A personal prayer Lord, life is not always the way I thought it would be; not always the way I planned it. Things have happened along the way, and I’ve had to deal with them, adjust somehow, and carry on. I haven’t always got it right. You hold out to me, Lord, a vision of how things should be, and it doesn’t fit with what is. I struggle with this, Lord. Help me to do the best I can; to make the best of it all, the best that I possibly can. Amen. 11th October: A challenging perspective Mark 10.17-31: Summary * A rich man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. * Jesus challenges him to sell all his possessions. * A ridiculous image is used as an illustration. * Following Jesus involves sacrifice. Page 7 A personal prayer I sometimes think I live my life in a bubble; I float along, thinking I am doing all right. I live by the rules of man and God, and I am quite pleased with myself. Teach me what I need to know, Lord, even if it means bursting my bubble. Amen. 18th October: Service and suffering Mark 10.35-45: Summary * Disciples James and John ask for a position of importance. * Jesus hints at his cup of suffering. * Humility and service are more important than greatness. A personal prayer It’s not easy being your disciple, Lord: not many today see you as I do, exalted, honoured, triumphant; not many see your Church that way. It’s hardly a status symbol to be a Christian, Lord. But that’s not what it’s about, is it? You came to serve, and in that serving, you suffered. Forgive me for complaining when people scoff, and teach me how to serve so that people will see through me, to you. Amen. Page 8 25th October: Mercy on the margins Mark 10.46-52: Summary * Blind Bartimaeus calls out to Jesus and asks for mercy. * He is ordered by the crowd to be quiet. * Bartimaeus responds to Jesus' call. * He is healed by Jesus and follows him. A personal prayer Lord Jesus, sometimes I don’t know how to pray. Mainly, I’m concerned to ask for what I want; a list of things I think I need. But you know best what I need. I make my trifling confessions, nothing much, an unkind word, a good deed left undone, but I only scratch the surface of my deep wretchedness. Lord, come, meet me in my need. I call out to you, simply: ‘Have mercy!’ Amen. © ROOTS for Churches Ltd 2002-2015. Reproduced with permission. www.rootsontheweb.com Benefice News Communion in the Community The Holy Communion Services in Stockley Crescent, St Michael’s Hall and Bickerstaffe School are a wonderful opportunity for outreach. Please invite friends!! “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Page 9 Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26 * Stockley Crescent 6th October at 1pm; * St Michael’s Hall 14th (with soup), 28th October at 11am; * Bickerstaffe School 24th October 2.40pm. Book Club At our last meeting, we reviewed the book ‘Ove’ by Fredrik Backman - it was brilliant and comes highly recommended. Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 18th November at the Derby Arms. The book will be ‘Dark Eden’ by Chris Beckett: "After 163 years and six generations of incestuous inbreeding, the Family is riddled with deformity and feeblemindedness. Your culture is a infantile stew of half-remembered fact and devolved ritual that stifles innovation and punishes independent thought. You are John Redlantern. You will break the laws of Eden, shatter the Family and change history." A social science fiction, an Eden that is far from paradise. '... a superior piece of theologically nuanced science fiction..