This week’s Online Worship
Sunday 15th November – 2nd Sunday before Advent
(3rd of the Month)
9:00 am Diocesan Worship
from Wesham led by the Revd Anne Beverley.
10:00 am the3churches Sunday Holy Communion
Our 3 churches are now closed for Public Worship but open
on Sundays and Wednesday’s for private prayer
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
The nights are really drawing in now and we have the typical weather for November, damp and windy blowing the last leaves from the trees that have been quite spectacular this year. November is indeed a time of change, the United States of America are looking forward to a change of president, we have seen changes in the backroom staff at 10 Downing Street and we are coming up to the big change of Brexit and what that will finally mean for us all. We are desperately looking for change with regard to this Covid -19 crisis and there is some good news the infection rates across most of Lancashire seem to be dropping slowly but consistently. But there are still a few areas where the rates are very high. Earlier this week we also heard about the successful trials for the first vaccine, there is even talk of immunisation beginning in early December, it was good to hear some positive news for a change. However there is still such a long way to go and a lot of work for our local doctors and nurses to plan for the delivery of this massive immunisation programme.
So whilst there is some light at the end of this dark Covid tunnel there is still a long way to go so we must all remain vigilant and try our best to support those around us.
I hope you can take some comfort from the knowledge that God understands how difficult this life can be for us, God knows through the experience of Jesus the suffering and difficulties we have to face. But God is also alongside us guiding and supporting us every step of the way. As St. Paul says in Sundays first reading we ‘are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.’ Paul also offers us some good advice when he urges us to ‘encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.’ From what I can see we are doing that, but we need to keep on doing that each and every day, it will be a long hard slog for us all, but we are not alone, we have the strength and power of Christ to support us. Christ is our leader who wants us all to follow his example and learn from him as an apprentice learns from a master. May his example of leadership help us all to live lives that influence others, may we all be gracious and generous towards others, especially any who are struggling in these difficult and challenging times.
With love & prayers. Michael (Rector)
Tel: 01772 600548 mobile:07960309005, email: revmwoods@gmail.com
Resources – 2nd Sunday before Advent
1) The 3 bible readings set for this week.
2) Prayer and worship at home for the 2nd Sunday before advent
Marking Remembrance Sunday 2020 during Covid-19 Restrictions
Thank you to everyone who helped mark Remembrance Sunday 2020 across our three villages. The war memorials looked splendid and even more so when people had laid their wreaths or placed their crosses. Please do not forget the ongoing work of the Royal British Legion.
https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate
Church opening times on Wednesdays & Sundays
Bretherton 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Croston 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Mawdesley 10:15 am – 4:15 pm
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 & YouTube Online Worship
There is no public worship in any of our churches this weekend and online this week’s Diocesan worship, which was filmed before lockdown, comes from Wesham and is led by the Revd Anne Beverley.
It can be found on the Diocesan YouTube Site from 9am on Sunday:
https://www.youtube.com/user/blackburndiocese/videos
In addition there will be worship from Blackburn Cathedral, also from 9am on Sunday on their YouTube channel.
Our online worship will be from St. John the Baptist Bretherton and will be available from 10 am on Sunday via our YouTube or facebook pages:
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
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 from the Anglican Communion is led by Bishop Anthony Poggo, the service includes a sermon from Sheran Harper, President of the Mother’s Union, and includes reflections on how communities in different parts of the world support one another.
Follow along with the order of service at cofe.io/ACService.
https://www.facebook.com/thechurchofengland or
https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online
This resource may be helpful for those who are unable to return to church services at the moment, or for anyone who is feeling isolated or lonely and who doesn’t have access to the internet.
There are also the daily prayer resources on the Church of England Website where you can download apps at:
https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayer/subscribe-our-prayer-podcasts
Please do continue to support the Food Banks
All the food brought into the3Chuches is taken to the ecumenical food bank in Skemersdale, supported by the Trussell Trust.
Our congregations are smaller, but still so many people have made the effort to support the important work of the food banks. MANY THANKS.
Sadly, this will soon be distributed – so please keep donating whatever, whenever you can – things look like getting worse in the next few weeks…
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 – please bring to church
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 on the plate or in weekly planned giving envelopes.
As our Churches once again close this will affect us greatly at what is traditionally a busy couple of months in the build up to Christmas.
Any donations you could make will be greatly received and one off 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 greatly help support our regular income.
The Collect
Heavenly Lord, you long for the world’s salvation: stir us from apathy, restrain us from excess and revive in us new hope that all creation will one day be healed in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
First Reading
A challenging message from the prophet. We must listen to God, trust him and repent of our sins. We are to discern God’s will for our lives. The day of judgement is coming. Zephaniah 1.7,12-18
Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is at hand; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will he do harm.’ Their wealth shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them. The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. I will bring such distress upon people that they shall walk like the blind; because they have sinned against the LORD, their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath; in the fire of his passion the whole earth shall be consumed; for a full, a terrible end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.
Second Reading
Paul offers a string of metaphors highlighting our need to stay attentive to the Lord and his return. He also says that we should encourage one another.
1 Thessalonians 5.1-11
Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
The Gospel
God gives us everything we need to face the challenges ahead. It is our challenge to use well what God has graciously given to us.
Matthew 25.14-30
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘The kingdom of heaven is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”’
Prayer after Communion
Gracious Lord, in this holy sacrament you give substance to our hope: bring us at the last to that fullness of life for which we long; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen
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