This week’s Worship
Sunday 2nd August (1st of the month)
8 am BCP HC Mawdesley
9:15 am HC Croston
11 am HC Bretherton
11 am Service of the Word Mawdesley (not normal 9:30am)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Just as we were getting back to some degree of normality with regard to our Public Worship we woke on Friday morning to hear that restrictions were being imposed in several areas of the North West to try and counter the increases in new cases of Covid-19 being recorded. The most notable change for us is that from the 8th August it will be compulsory to wear a face covering in Church as it will be in many other indoor settings open to the public. This is to mitigate the spread of the virus and to head of the much talked about 2nd peak.
But we should not be lulled into a false sense of security and we still need to head the other advice such as:
- Do not come to church if you are feeling unwell or have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms in the past seven days
- Take responsibility for your own safety and that of your household and other people by maintaining social distancing and observing all hygiene measures
- Ensure children are supervised at all times
- Stay at home as much as possible
- Work from home if you can
- Limit contact with other people
- Keep your distance from people not in your household
(2m apart where possible) - Wash your hands regularly
These additional restrictions may be frustrating as we have been enjoying the return of some our freedoms such as holidays, returning to work, and worshipping together in Church. But this last week has been a reminder to us all that this virus hasn’t gone away and with all that we have learnt and put into place over the last 4 months we are, thankfully much better placed to suppress outbreaks when they do occur locally.
But we must also remember that being allowed to gather more than one household (or support bubble) for worship is a privilege which we must not take for granted. These recent announcements are a reminder to us all that the current situation is very fragile and that we all need to continue to play our part. So we need to continue to limit, as much as possible, either unwittingly spreading the virus ourselves or becoming a contact of someone with the virus. But also we must not be over alarmed and become anxious, as we stand together with our brothers and sisters who are living with these stricter restrictions.
In our Gospel this weekend we see once again that Jesus spends so much of his time with ordinary people as we hear that he sits down on a hillside and he understands all their cares and woes. They had gathered together and sat on the grass upset at the murder of John the Baptist and Jesus himself was upset at the death of his cousin. But then he attends to their needs as he blesses and shares food with them. So we too can bring our worries and concerns to Jesus today, because Jesus offers us the same shared compassion, if we only have eyes to see that he is alongside us also.
Thank you for your understanding
as we slowly return to public worship.
A prayer for these difficult times
Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may rejoice in your comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
With love & prayers. Michael (Rector)
Tel: 01772 600548 mobile: 07960309005, email: revmwoods@gmail.com
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Sunday 9th August (2nd of the month)
9:15 am HC Croston (Also 10 am Wednesday mornings)
11 am HC Mawdesley
11 am Service of the Word Bretherton
Church opening times on Wednesdays & Sundays
Bretherton 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Croston 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Mawdesley open via the side door most days
These may change dependent upon the guidance regarding facemasks when it is issued
Coronavirus Village support groups
Croston COVID-19 Croston Village Support Group
Mawdesley Mawdesley – Coronavirus help each other out.
Bretherton Via Bretherton WI (01772 601495)
email bethertoonwi@btinternett.com
Facebook Pages
A there is worship in all our churches this weekend we will share the worship from Blackburn Diocese which is the monthly multilingual service led by Revd Sarah Gill and Bishop Julian will be preaching. The service will go live 9am on Sunday morning can be found on their YouTube Channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZ_3qPsmiiP4-StDmTXrIw
Our facebook pages are:
https://www.facebook.com/St-John-the-Baptist-Church-Bretherton-439088266487676/
https://www.facebook.com/StMichaelAllAngelsChurchCroston/
https://www.facebook.com/St-Peters-Mawdesley-w-Bispham-442669382795886/?ref=bookmarks
The3churches YouTube Channel
We now have a YouTube channel for the3churches.
Access the videos by searching for ‘the3churches youtube’ on your search engine or the3churches directly on YouTube or follow the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdXC7P9kQ3xEk_kKf5JZE-A
The Church of England posts on Facebook and YouTube a national service of worship every Sunday at 9 am this week’s service is coming from Walsingham! It coincides with the start of the Youth Pilgrimage (3-7 August) the service, led by Fr Kevin Smith, includes a special homily from the Bishop of Burnley, Philip North.
https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online
Please continue to support the Food Banks
Please to continue to support our foodbanks being as generous as you can be with your donations they are much appreciated by the foodbanks and especially by the growing number of people who depend upon their support.
We need all the usual tins & packets, but the Food Bank is very short of
Cereals & cereal bars
Little bags of sugar (500g)
Instant mash
Tinned carrots
Laundry tablets/pods
In Croston Please leave your donations at either 19, Highfield Rd or 32, Westhead Rd, or bring to church.
In Bretherton – The box will remain at the gate, 154 South Road.
Thank you to everyone for your support to date!
In Mawdesley – we have been giving donations of money rather than food which gives the foodbank flexibility to buy what they need at specific times. Any donations can be dropped at Church or Robin Hood Cottage, Bluestone Lane, Mawdesley, L40 2RG (opposite Nook Lane), cheques should be made payable to ‘Ormskirk Food Bank’ these will then be delivered to the Food bank on a regular basis. Eggs are also available from Robin Hood Cottage (thanks to Rosemary & the hens of course)
Thank you to everyone who has been supporting our local food banks and all the other good causes at this time.
Could you make a donation to support Church?
All our churches rely upon the generous donations of our parishioners to provide the financial support that both maintain our buildings and provide care and support to all those in the local community. Although some use standing orders or other methods of online giving, many donors use cash, either in the plate or in weekly planned giving envelopes.
As good stewards, although at present we are unable to meet together in our church buildings, but we are still the church and together we share the privilege and responsibility of ensuring that the ministry can go on and we can continue to be a symbol of God’s presence in our local communities.
Even though the doors of our buildings are now open again we cannot yet take collections of money. Donations or regular giving can be made by using ‘Online banking’ facilities, the bank details you will require to do this are given below for each church:
Bretherton – St. John the Baptist
St. Johns Bretherton PCC Account, No: 10031333, Sort code: 16 17 41
Croston – St. Michael & All Angels
St. Michaels PCC Account, No. 11215462, Sort Code 16-17-41
Also if you have no facility to pay electronically, envelopes can be dropped off with our Treasurer Derek Alty, 12 Lostock Road, Croston.
Mawdesley w Bispham St. Peter
Mawdesley PCC Account, No 87032805, Sort code 60 24 02.
If you decide to make a donation electronically you may be given the opportunity to set up a standing order, which will be far easier for us ensuring that we will have a more regular income.
Join us in personal daily prayer using the resources on the Church of England Website at:
https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayer
Or you can download the ‘Daily Prayer’ App to your phone or tablet.
The Collect
Almighty Lord and everlasting God, we beseech you to direct, sanctify and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of your laws and the works of your commandments; that through your most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
First Reading
The prophet encourages Israel that God has not forgotten them: even though they are in exile, God will restore them.
Isaiah 55:1-5
The LORD says this: Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.
See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
Second Reading
Paul stated that the Law cannot make people right with God. Most of his fellow Jews did not agree and Paul expresses great distress that so many of his own people have rejected the salvation available through Christ.
Romans 9:1-5
I am speaking the truth in Christ – I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit – I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
The Gospel
Upon receiving the news that his cousin, John the Baptist, has been beheaded on Herod’s orders, Jesus seeks to be alone. However, the crowds do not leave him in peace for long.
Matthew 14:13-21
When Jesus heard that Herod had beheaded John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’ And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’
Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Prayer after Communion
Strengthen for service, Lord, the hands that have taken holy things; may the ears which have heard your word be deaf to clamour and dispute; may the tongues which have sung your praise be free from deceit; may the eyes which have seen the tokens of your love shine with the light of hope; and may the bodies which have been fed with your body be refreshed with the fullness of your life; glory to you for ever. Amen
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