Advent Group: The Heart of It All: The Bible’s Big Picture
Category: blog
Whinney Hill Pit 175th Anniversary Memorial Event
All Souls Service
Harvest 2023
Well, the weather has finally turned. The gales have brought the leaves down, and the leaves left on the trees are tinged with an autumnal hue. As we enter this new season in the calendar of the church, we press pause and take some time to reflect on the many gifts we have received, especially for the harvest which is safely gathered in. Harvest festival was one of my favourite services of the year as a child. I loved entering a church filled with colour and texture and smells of fruits and flowers. Why not come and join us at one of our Harvest Services in the parish?
Harvest services …
… will be happening in our parish this Sunday (24th September) and next Sunday, too (1st October). As we gather to give thanks, I offer you this ancient prayer written by St Boniface that seems apt in this season of thankfulness:
Eternal God, the refuge and help of all your children,
we praise you for all you have given us,
for all you have done for us,
for all that you are to us.
In our weakness, you are strength,
in our darkness, you are light,
in our sorrow, you are comfort and peace.
We cannot number your blessings,
we cannot declare your love:
For all your blessings we bless you.
May we live as in your presence,
and love the things that you love,
and serve you in our daily lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The week coming up
This Saturday it is St Michael’s Coffee Morning at Adam’s Hall in Arlecdon at 10-11:30am. It’s an opportunity to meet with friends and support your local church. There will be a craft table for those who are younger in years or young in heart! We look forward to seeing you there.
This Sunday (24th September) the Harvest services will be:
- 9:15am A Celebration of Harvest and Holy Communion at St Paul’s Frizington. Matt Stemp, our Eco Church rep, will be our preacher.
- 11:15am An All Age Harvest Sunday celebration at St Leonard’s Cleator … fun and worship for all the family.
Services next Sunday (1st October)
- 9:15am St John’s Cleator Moor: A celebration of Harvest and Holy Communion
- 11:15am St Michael’s, Arlecdon: An All Age Harvest Thanksgiving Service. This will include a short act of commemoration for Benny Walker, our generous benefactor, whose support has made possible the refurbishment of the church.
Harvest collection
In our harvest services over the next couple of weeks we would encourage you to bring along tins and dried food (long-life food) that we can take to our local Food Pantry, which supports local people facing economic challenges. In addition, we will be asking for donations for the emergency appeals launched to support communities devastated by floods and earthquake in Morocco and Libya.
Grief Talk
On the 6th October, Crosslacon Parish will be hosting a bereavement support group. Grief talk will run for six sessions fortnightly at St John’s Hall in Crossfield Road at 12:30-1:30.
It’s an opportunity to explore and reflect upon your experiences of loss in the context of a supportive space and group. If you would like to know more, including to book your place, be in touch with Rev Nicki.
Singing your faith
Our Singing your Faith workshop is taking place on Saturday 30th September … a great opportunity to learn short worship songs to enhance our worship from Wild Goose Resource Company and the Global church. Alison Adam, Iona Community member and former member of the Wild Goose team, will be leading the afternoon. Alison has led worship workshops across the world, and it’s such a great opportunity to be inspired by her passion and benefit from her experience.
Easter 2023
Events in Holy Week
Palm Sunday services, Sunday, 2nd April
- All Age Service, St John’s in the Hall at 9:15am
- Palm Sunday Holy Communion, St Michael’s at 11:15am
Experience Easter Stations, Monday to Thursday, 3rd – 6th April
During Holy Week, St Paul’s will be open for people to come and spend some time in reflection and prayer. We will place the Experience Easter Stations around the Church as visual reminders of the different parts of the story.
Compline, Monday to Wednesday, 3rd – 5th April
Compline is a simple quiet service, traditionally said at the end of the day. We begin Holy Week with three services of compline in St Paul’s and St Leonard’s:
- Holy Week Compline on Monday 3rd April at 6:30pm in St Paul’s (John 12:1-11)
- Holy Week Compline on Tuesday 4th April at 6:30pm in St Leonard’s (John 12:20-36)
- Holy Week Compline on Wednesday 5th April at 6:30pm in St Paul’s (john 13: 21-32)
Agape meal followed by a service of Tenebrae, Maundy Thursday, 6th April
At 6pm on Maundy Thursday, there will be an agape meal followed by a Tenebrae service at St Paul’s. Tenebrae is a service of readings, which begins in the light and ends in the darkness. After hearing the passion narrative, we leave the church in silence.
Good Friday, 7th April
From 10:30 till 12:00 there will be a Family Easter Experience Event at St Michael’s Arlecdon. As well as the traditional Easter Egg Treasure Hunt, egg dumping and Easter crafts, there will be an opportunity to reflect and learn more about the Easter story.
We will be holding a quiet reflective service on Good Friday afternoon from 2-3 at St John’s in the Hall. This service, traditionally known as the Hour at the Cross, will be a service of readings, music and silence.
Easter Sunrise Service, Easter Sunday, 9th April
Please join us for our Easter Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday from 6 to 7:30am. We will meet at Black How car park before walking to the top of Dent to greet the Easter Sunrise. There will be a short service of celebration. Hot cross buns will be served, but please do bring your own hot drink. Do let Rev. Nicki know if you are intending to come.
Other Easter Sunday services, 9th April
- 9:15am: Holy Communion at St Paul’s
- 11:15am: Holy Communion at St Leonard’s
The Living Room
The Living room is a social gathering that takes place on Friday afternoons from 2-4pm in St John’s in the Hall on Crossfield Road at Cleator Moor.
Most of all, it’s a place to come and meet with others, relax and have a craic: treat it as your own living room!
On occasion, we have folks who come along to share a passion or an interest. Sometimes, we have different agencies attending to offer advice and assistance in various areas.
The Health and Wellbeing Coaches are present at most sessions and available to offer advice and assistance. At the end of each session there is an optional time for reflection and prayer.
It’s a friendly group, and you would be assured of a warm welcome. Why not give us a try? Contact Rev Nicki if you would like to know more about it.
St Paul’s Eco Churchyard Project
Last year a group from the community got together to discuss how we could tend our much loved graveyard in St Paul’s Frizington so that it provided a welcoming habitat for wildlife whilst offering a welcoming space to folks in our community who like to spend time in this special place. We began in early Spring by planting trees donated by Woodland Trust, helped by our Tree Specialist Simon Ray, members of our Phoenix Youth Group, Skills for You, and children from our local schools as well as members of our community.
Later on that season, supported by Cumbria Wildlife trust, we took part in the get Cumbria Buzzing project. Children and families from across the parish took part in planting wildflower plug plants, making bug hotels and bird feeders.
In October this year, due to funding from Cumbria Community foundation, we were able to sow a substantial part of the unused part of our graveyard with wildflower seed. The whole community pitched into give us a hand…Phoenix youth centre, Frizington Primary, St Joseph’s Primary, children and families from across the parish.
In the meantime, warm and dry inside, women from our Knitting nature group created an amazing knitted nature display to festoon the railings of our church. And they are busy creating another community art project which we are calling @Stitching the Seasons.’ Once completed, this will be displayed in our church building for all to enjoy.
Why not get involved in tending this amazing space entrusted to our care…so that all species can thrive and flourish! We hope to have green gym days early next year. Our next project is to create a pollinator garden of rest.
Warm Spots in Crosslacon Parish
We are all very conscious of the costs of putting the heating on in our homes during this season of escalating prices. So, if you are feeling the chill, and the squeeze on your budget, why not come along and join us at one of our weekly events in the parish? You would be assured of a warm welcome, a hot drink, and a good craic!
- Mondays, 1-3pm at St Paul’s Frizington: Craft and chat … no need to be crafty … all are welcome for a chat and a hot drink.
- Wednesdays, 10-12 at Jubilee Rooms in Cleator: Social Club … chat, craft, and games.
- Fridays, 2-4pm, The Living Room at St John’s in the Hall, Crossfield Road, Cleator Moor.
An Engaging Faith Community 