Christian Aid Week 10th - 16th May 2015

Churches Together in Heswall

supporting Christian Aid Week 10th - 16th May 2015

A chance to work alongside other Christians

On Sunday 10th May there will be a service led by the Friends at Heswall Methodist Church at 6.30pm as the week begins. House to House collection should be completed by 16th May.

Afraid, alone, in pain

Be the answer to Loko’s prayer this Christian Aid Week.

This Christian Aid Week, you can help transform the lives of women like Loko.

From 10-16 May, churches the length and breadth of Britain and Ireland will come together to pray, campaign and raise money to improve the lives of people like Loko.

Every year, 100,000 volunteers demonstrate God’s love for the poor by taking part in house-to-house collections for Christian Aid.

This fantastic witness is a chance to take the mission of the church into your community.

Loko’s choice in life is simple: ‘If I can’t collect firewood, my children will die.’

Four times a week, in a remote corner of Ethiopia, Loko makes a back-breaking eight-hour trip to gather wood. It’s a task she dreads, but she steels herself to do it because if she doesn’t her children will starve.

She prays to God as she walks. ‘I ask him to change my life and lead us out of this,’ she says.

Just £5 could give Loko a loan to start her own business buying and selling tea and coffee, freeing her from her desperate task and allowing her to spend more time caring for her family.

Find out how you can play your part at www.caweek.org




UK registered charity no. 1105851 Company no. 5171525 Scot charity no. SC039150 NI charity no. XR94639 Company no. NI059154 ROI charity no. CHY 6998 Company no. 426928 . The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. Christian Aid is a key member of ACT Alliance. © Christian Aid November 2014 15-J3099. Photo: Christian Aid/Andrew Testa/Panos

Churches Together in Heswall - Good Friday Walk of Witness

Churches Together in Heswall





Good Friday

Walk of Witness

 

Starting from Our Lady and Saint John at 9.30

The walk will process in silence led by the cross and the Churches Together banner through Heswall, pausing for prayer and hymns at each church en route accompanied by Port Sunlight Silver Band. It will end outside Linghams Bookshop with a hymn and reading from Heswall URC

At 10.30 there will be a family service at Heswall URC organised by St Peter’s Church,  followed by refreshments arranged by the URC.

TTIP [Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership]

Few people are aware of the existence of the current negotiations between the EU and the USA. There are alarming reports about some of the hidden terms of this proposed trade agreement, which are said to be a threat to both UK citizens and to those in poorer countries. Wirral Trade Justice has prepared a draft letter to be sent to MP's/MEP's pointing out some of the concerns and asking where they stand on TTIP. Copies of this draft letter are available at the back of church. Postal addresses can be found at ww.europarl.org.uk/en/your_meps.html.

Fr. John Seddon, Merseyside County Scout Chaplain sadly passed away

Fr. John Seddon, the Merseyside County Scout Chaplain has sadly passed away. Fr. John supported all scout groups and led many initiatives within scouting.  He will sadly be missed

 Fr John will be received at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King on Thursday 5th March at 7pm. This will be followed by a short service led by Bishop Tom Williams.  As there are extremely large numbers expected at the funeral mass, the Thursday night service has been arranged so that those unable to attend the Friday mass can pay their respects.  The funeral mass itself will take place on Friday 6th March at 11am at the Cathedral, led by Archbishop McMahon, followed by  internment at SS Peter and Paul RC Church cemetery in Crosby.

Scout Uniform is welcomed by all those wishing to attend either service.  It may also be nice for those Scouting friends to assemble together in the Cathedral to participate in both acts of worship and celebration for John.

Ecumenical Lenten Course @ The Beacon Cafe, Heswall

This Lent an ecumenical course will be running at the Beacon Cafe with the first one scheduled for Wednesday, 25 February between 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm and on the four Wednesdays following in March.

We will be using Praise Him to allow us to explore five songs of praise in the New Testament. Exploring these songs we shall discover what they tell us about God and Jesus and we shall also reflect on what they tell us about us and our faith.

This course has been put together by Dr Paula Gooder, who is Theologian-in -residence for the Bible Society, a Reader in the Church of England and a member of General Synod. Dr Gooder is assisted by Archbishop Justin Welby, Sister Wendy Beckett and actor David Suchet CBE. Methodist Moira Sleight provides the Closing Reflection at the end of each session.

The course comprises of five stand alone sessions (so it doesn’t matter if you miss one):

1. Gratitude (Ephesians 1.3-14)

2. Image of God (Colossians 1.15-20) - Lead by Canon Coonan

3. Humility (Philippians 2.5-11)

4. New birth (1 Peter 1.3-12)

5. Word made flesh (John 1.1-14)

Canon Coonan will be leading the York Conversation on Wednesday 2^nd March on Jesus as the Image of God, an opportunity to reflect, pray and discuss with our fellow Christians in Lent

Mary TV

Hi my names Steve burke I am in holy family parish Pensby. On a pilgrimage to Medjugorje last year I gave my testimony to Mary TV. On a pilgrimage a year or two before Jennie Ray  a well none member of Our lady and St John gave hers also to Mary TV. Jennie and her husband have since moved down south.

Mary TV now has archives for people to look back for folks to view. Testimonies can be inspiring to others and my wife and I watch it once a week as these recording go out on the internet weekly as pilgrims are asked to give their conversion stories.

Mary TV is run by a very blest couple from America, they have 8/or 9 children some I think work out in the TV station in Medjugorje Bosnia that is totally funded by donations from the English speaking pilgrims that have been there.

This weeks no 153 tells the story is from seven  or more years back of how they hoping to get  the project off the ground its about 50 min long but it explains the amazing story and history of this confessional of the world with over 3omillion souls from all four corners of the world  over the last 33 years going there.  I was converted from an atheist RC but atheist there on my first visit aged 46 I have been 13 times. Jennie and her husband spend 2/3 weeks there every year.

Go to www.marytv.tv  then go to Fruits of Medjugorje Archive then the play list:

012 Jennie Ray
135 Steve Burke
153 History
I thought that with it being lent it would be something for people to ponder and a soul from each parish is a good balance. Plus a good few from both parish have been together including Deacon Jeff from Pensby.

God Bless.

Volunteer at The Beacon

What is the Beacon?

A Coffee Shop in Heswall supporting Fairtrade!!

No . . . its so much more than that . . . it is the Church active within the local community. It offers a warm welcome, friendship and pastoral support and care for everyone who comes through the door.

It is run by a wonderful team of volunteers both from within and without the Methodist Church who willingly give of their time throughout the year.  All the profits go to charity.  It has raised many thousands of pounds which has enabled us to support people at home and abroad who are so much less fortunate than ourselves.

 

  

We are in need of a few more volunteers to join the team and would especially like to make this a more ecumenical coffee shop involving as many of the Churches in Heswall as possible.   Maybe your children have now gone to school, or you have recently retired, or are looking for something new to be involved with.   If you can offer the most precious gift you have, your time, for just a few hours a week, a month, whatever you can spare, we would love to hear from you to discuss this further.  

Thank you. Marjorie Griffiths 348 4969