February
NO EVENTS
February Newsletter
Chatburn Churches Together
Christ Church, Chatburn,
Chatburn Methodist Church
Newsletter for
February 2005
Priest-in-charge/Editor: Revd Rodney Nicholson,
tel. (01200) 458019Methodist Minister: Revd Stephen Foster, tel (458010)Viewpoint
EARLY last month the parish hall at one of my other churches, Low Moor, was broken into and part of the premises ransacked. An appalling sight greeted those who discovered the damage on Sunday morning, January 9th. Fortunately, a team from the church and the playgroup got to work with a will, so that it was business as usual the next morning, although there was redecoration to be done and a window and door to be renewed.
The Clitheroe Advertiser helpfully gave front page coverage to a piece which I wrote about the intrusion, with the result that the following day the names of the offenders were known. The Cub leader and I met with the five young people, who seemed genuinely sorry, and their parents, who were most angry and upset about the incident. The boys readily agreed to pay some money and do some work in recompense. We for our part said that the church would not prefer charges, although the boys would have to make a statement to the police officer handling the case, and receive a telling-off from him.
A few people said that we should have had the offenders prosecuted "to teach them a lesson". We, however, accepted that they probably had not set out that evening to do what they did but that, through drink, things had got out of hand. Contrary to what some people said, the boys have taken their remedial work seriously, clearing an overgrown section of the parish hall grounds and helping to make a "conservation station" for the Cubs in recompense for the Cubs’ craft work which they had destroyed. The conservation area will include certain plants and, we hope, attract bird life. We hope that they will take pride in what they achieve.
Without minimising their acts of damage, we spoke to the boys courteously, believing that everyone deserves to be spoken to with respect. Angry or condescending words do not help situations. Most people respond to being treated with kindness. After all, we believe in a God who never gives up on us but is always ready to forgive and let the past be the past. Whether it’s the shameful treatment meted out to the Jews throughout history, and supremely in the holocaust, or the enmities in Iraq or South Africa or Rwanda, or the unloving things which supposed Christians have said and done to one another, there just has to be forgiveness in place of hatred, co-operation in place of living separate lives and the hope and determination that things can change.
Our parish hall damage, which upset some others more than it upset me, was small beer compared to the tragedy of the tsunami and other world issues, although on a local level it was wrong and inexcusable. I did, however, feel that how we as a church dealt with it spoke volumes about the sincerity of our belief that people can change. There’s no point in talking and singing in general terms about love but failing to treat in a Christian way some young people on our doorstep. We are the people of faith and hope, and this must be seen in the things we do. Our God is a God of graciousness, and he calls us to bring grace and light into the world which he so greatly loves.Rodney Nicholson
Services in February
Venues for 8.30am Holy CommunionFebruary 6th Chatburn February 13th Downham
February 20th Chatburn February 27th Downham
March 6th Chatburn March 13th DownhamChatburn Methodist Church – preachers at 10am Morning Service
February 6th Mr P. Howard
February 13th Mrs. C. Croydon
February 20th Revd G. Peddie
February 27th United Service at Christ Church at 10.30amChrist Church main morning service at 11am (except for 27th)
February 6th Morning Prayer (1662 service)
February 13th Parish Communion: Revd Alan Reid
February 20th Morning Prayer
February 27th at 10.30am United Family Service
March 6th Mothering Sunday family service and BaptismWednesdays in Lent
February 9th Ash Wednesday: 7.30pm United Holy Communion at Christ Church
February 16th and subsequent Wednesdays, up to and including March 16th: United Short Lenten Series at the Methodist Church, with light refreshments. Don’t miss this chance of having a spiritual "top-up" during the special season of Lent. If we took Lent as seriously as the Muslims take Ramadan, we would notice the difference in our lives.Men’s Fellowship
THE Men’s Fellowship meets on Friday February 11th for another indoor bowling evening at Hyndburn sports centre, leaving from the post office at 7.30pm. All are welcome.Sidespeople wanted
CHRIST Church could do with one or two more to act as sidespeople on Sunday mornings - welcoming worshippers/giving out books etc. Please ask Ena Douglas (441624) for details.Brass cleaning
MORE help is also needed with cleaning the brasses in church. Again, please contact Ena if you could help.Heartfelt thanks
ENA Douglas thanks Matt of Quarry Farm Court for his help and attentiveness which led to the recovery of her handbag and its contents which had been stolen a few evenings ago. He found the items on the field.Prayer in Chatburn
A group of local Christians meets every Monday at 7.30pm at 6 Mount Pleasant, Chatburn to pray for the needs of the local community, for world-wide problems and for the Church
Any who would like a prayer for any matter are welcome to ring David or Sue Tattersall on (01200) 441691 or myself on 458019 or deliver a request to 6 Mount Pleasant. All are welcome at the group.Generous response
to Tsunami appeal£201 was collected at Christ Church and, at the school, £135 through a non-uniform day. Many individuals will also have given at collection points in Clitheroe or by post/telephone/internet.Candlelight Supper
THE traditional candlelight lasagne supper at Low Moor hall, attended by some from Chatburn, raised £573 for The Children’s Society. Over 70 people attended the event which included entertainment by the handbell group.Church is open and prayed in
WE are trying to keep Christ Church open for at least part of the day, though not every day. People visit churches for various reasons: out of curiosity or historical interest, to be alone and quiet, to pray, and it is good that visitors do not meet with a firmly locked door. A locked door can suggest an unwelcoming God which of course is the opposite of how God is. He welcomes us with open arms. Nevertheless, there is a risk to a church being open, though I believe it is a risk worth taking. The more that local people pop into church, however, the less likely it is that anyone of ill intent can do damage without being noticed. Please help, if you can, to guard our parish church by popping in once or twice during the week.Prayers
NORMALLY there will be prayers in church on Monday at 9.30am and Thursday at 9.50am and 5pm, lasting about 15 minutes. Do feel welcome to come any time.At Chatburn Methodist Church
THE Women’s Fellowship meets on alternate Wednesdays at 2.30pm. On February 9th Mr Davies speaks about "Gracie Fields" and on the 23rd Mrs Hilary Shaw speaks about "The Refuge".THE Luncheon Club meets on Wednesdays February 2nd and 16th from 12 to 2pm.THE C.A.B. meets on Thursday 17th from 2 to 3.30pmLent Lunchtimes in Clitheroe
THE Archdeacon of Blackburn gives a series of five talks starting on Tuesday February 22nd from 12.40 to 1.15pm in St Michael’s & St John’s centre. A Bread and cheese lunch (£1.25) is available from 12pmNarrow escape for Val
VAL Parker, a member of Chatburn Methodist Church, who formerly lived in Beech Grove, had a lucky escape from the flood on Friday January 7th. She was returning home to Grindleton when crossing the river she drove into deeper water than her car could cope with. The road, which dips down at that point, was submerged in the rising waters of the river.
The car would not move and Val stayed in the vehicle. Fortunately, a Mr Frank Baines from Bolton-by-Bowland was on hand, having been in a nearby house, and telephoned the fire service. The firefighters came, attached a life jacket and rope to her and then walked her to safety. It was a frightening experience because the strong current could have swept Val, if she had tried to walk through it, deeper into the Ribble. Mr Baines was most helpful and returned on Sunday to see if Val was all right.Bishop John enjoys his visit
THE Bishop of Burnley, Bishop John greatly enjoyed his day in Chatburn, Downham and Low Moor on January 12th. In Chatburn school, Nicholas Moorhouse (10) of Ribble Lane was only the second child in all the schools, which the Bishop had visited, to know the stone which he wears on his ring—amethyst because its purple colour is a reminder of the passion of Christ. Nicholas knew because he makes a hobby of collecting gems.
Bishop John also visited the Manor House and three homes/business premises in the village, before spending an hour in Downham where he had never been before. After evening prayer with me in church and a meal at our home, he addressed PCC members and others from the three parishes at an evening meeting in the school, inviting questions. All were attracted by the bishop’s warmth and interest in people. He has an easy manner but is also a deeply spiritual person. His visit was a really happy experience.Welcome into the world
CONGRATULATIONS to Steven and Jill Hitchon on the birth of Benjamin James in early December. Jill is, of course, Roy and Daphne Porter’s daughter. Congratulations also to Ena Douglas’s son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Elizabeth Rawson on the birth of Daniel Barrington on January 31st.We had a great time on Education Sunday
Education Sunday can sound a bit formal and heavy but our family service on January 23rd was a joyous celebration in music, readings, a short talk and an activity of the opportun-ities which schools, not least Christ Church school, offer. We had good support from children and parents, gave thanks for two babies, Niamh Waterfield, daughter of Neil and Joanne of Victoria Avenue and Molly Hargreaves of Clithe-roe, daughter of Caroline and Andrew, and grand-daughter of Rodney and Barbara Booth of Darkwood Crescent.People remembered
TWO former members of the parish died just before Christmas, whose funeral services took place in Christ Church on December 29th: Tom Holgate and Ronald Davies. Tom (83) ran the family haulage business in what is now Crowtrees Gardens but lived latterly in Clitheroe. Ronald (91)and Edith, who outlives him, have been long standing members of Christ Church for many years. They lived in Worston from the early 1940s to 1963, when they moved to Waddington. A man of many skills and interests, Ronald coped bravely with the effects of a stroke 22 years ago, still doing the Daily Telegraph crossword every day. Edith is now settling into the Manor House. Nancy Goode (80), sister of Edwina Tomlinson, who moved to Kidderminster after her marriage to Bill in 1945 died on December 30th and had her service in church here. A former member of Chatburn church, where she was baptised and confirmed, Nancy worked hard all her life and was much loved by her family.It’s all go at Christ Church school
AS well as raising money for the Tsunami appeal, Christ Church children have also shown their overseas awareness by being one of 2000 schools producing a section of a special tapestry for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next year.
On the academic front, Booster groups will soon be starting in year 6 in good time for the national tests in May. We also report that Joshua Picot won a Relay Reading award.
Caretaker Rodney Booth marks 25 years at the school this month. Well done and many thanks, Rodney.Kathryn enjoys Christ Church
school kitchenKATHRYN Witts is enjoying her first term as cook at Christ Church School, where she has two sons as pupils: Kaigan 10) and Callum (6). Blackpool born Kathryn got her love of cooking from her dad, but only recently has made meals for a living. For nine years she lived in Munich, Germany where her husband, Shaun, was employed with British Aerospace. Callum was born there and both boys attended the International School.
Returning to Britain the family chose to live in Clitheroe because of their love of the countryside and the outdoors. Kathryn spent days in the Ribble Valley when she was a child and now her sons go to the Pendle Ski club. After settling at Clitheroe last August, she trained in the kitchen of St James’ School and then applied for the vacancy at Chatburn. They looked at several schools for their children and chose Christ Church because of the friendly and positive atmosphere. Inevitably, settling in to a new school takes a little time particularly for an older child, with new friendships to be made in place of previous ones, but Kaigan and Callum are both happy here
Maybe Kathryn will introduce the odd German touch to Chatburn’s cuisine! As it is, the school greatly appreciates the good meals which she is producing.
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