The Parish Church of
HOLY TRINITY, TARLETON
Parish "Webzine" November 2005

From the Rectory November 2005

Dear Friends,

If you’re anything like me, then you will not like talking about money in public. There are few things more likely to put people off coming to church than the prospect of a ‘sermon’ about finances. But like many churches in our present age we cannot afford to ignore the financial pressures facing us.

Tarleton parish, by many standards, is fortunate. Holy Trinity has had an excellent treasurer in Anne Sutton, who this autumn handed over to Jim Aldridge. Between them they have done a very professional job running our finances, for which we must all be very thankful. Also it is true to say that we do have some reserves tucked away for a rainy day, and that people are good and faithful in their regular giving. Each week the churchwardens look back through the service register in the vestry, and so far this year the weekly collections are up on previous years. However our parish share and general running costs have risen considerably in recent years, and this means that there is a certain amount of nibbling into reserves to make ends meet each year – and this year our shortfall could be as much as £10,000. Some of that can be found without eating into our capital, but I feel we need to look carefully at the situation now.

With the permission of the P.C.C. I have invited The Rev’d Peter McEvitt, a former colleague of mine who sat on the Diocesan Board of Finance, to come and help us address some of the issues. On Monday 14th November there will be a Eucharist at 7.00pm followed by the meeting. I would like to encourage as many of you as are able to attend. If we can nip this problem in the bud, then it will free us up to concentrate on the mission and pastoral ministry of Church to the wider parish.

Please give this matter some thought and prayer. And do not be tempted to despair! God is good, and we are called to place our hope and trust in him.

With prayers and best wishes,
Fr Nicholas

OUT AND ABOUT – FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Parish Visiting Team
If you know of anybody who would welcome a visit, either because they are in hospital, or because they are confined to the home for whatever reason, or because they are new to the parish, would you please fill in one of the slips at the back of the church and place it in the box or contact Fr Nicholas on 812614 or Pat Heap on 812991.

What’s On at St Mary’s
Wednesday 2nd November
All Souls Day
Requiem Eucharist
12.00 noon

Advance date for your diary
St Nicholas Coffee Morning
Tuesday December 6th
10 am
At The Rectory
By kind permission of Fr. Nicholas
Fuller details later
Books for the book stall to Sue & Ian

Candles for sale!
The church was donated several boxes of candles which are on sale for church funds.
See a selection, including Advent candles and some in Christmas colours, at the coffee and fellowship session after the 10 am Communion service on November 2nd, or at the St Nicholas Coffee Morning on 6th December.
Or ring Sue on 813267 for a personal look.

MOTHERS’ UNION: November
Our prayer group will meet on Monday 7th November in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

On Wednesday 9th November we will be hearing about the Citizens’ Advice Bureau. This meeting will be held in the Parish Room at 7.30 pm.

Our meeting on the 23rd November at 2.00 pm in the Parish Room will begin with prayers for Peace and Reconciliation which has been the MU theme this year, followed by members talking about their hobbies to the rest of the group.
Pat Heap

THE LEPROSY MISSION
I shall have a display of cards for sale on Saturday 5th November from 10 am to 12 noon at Coe Lane Farm Shop. Thanks to Christine and Ian for making this possible. Christine’s sister Jacqueline will also be displaying Tearcraft goods. We will both have catalogues to let you see the full range and order if you wish.
Even if you miss this, I still have catalogues available with all the fascinating goods and cards: catch me at church or ring me on 813267 to see a copy.
To all who have already ordered or bought – thank you from me and from those who we are helping to return to a full life after their leprosy has been cured.
Please keep dropping in your used stamps (trimmed if at all possible!) and intact postcards, and do ask me for a new L-box whenever yours is full! If you would like an L-box, please let me know.
Thank you all very much Sue Wells

Philip Marshall’s trip to Belarus – summer 2005 Full version for this Webzine

As many parents of Holy Trinity School will be aware, I spent 8 days in Belarus this summer as part of a 40 strong team from my church in Burscough. It would be a massive understatement to say that the trip was memorable.

Belarus lies West of Russia and was formerly part of the Soviet Union. It still has a strong communist influence. It has suffered terribly throughout the history, most notably during WW2 and following the Chernobyl disaster. It is now quite a poor country as it can no longer export its agricultural products as it used to.

The team from our church aimed to bring aid to various shelters and hospitals. In particular, our target was to help refurbish an orphanage in Borisov, an industrial town north of Minsk.

Thanks to the help of a local church in Borisov, we were able to achieve our objectives and much more. We spent days decorating rooms and just playing with, and hugging the children. The children were fantastic and it was very hard to leave them at the end of the week as many have uncertain futures. Some of the adults did not seem to quite know how to take these strange English people who dressed up and played wacky games. We later learnt that men rarely play with children in Belarus so not for the first time, I was considered a bit odd! Jesus does encourage us to use all our talents to reach out to others!

Help from the people of Tarleton
Following our Summer Talent Show, I was very grateful to receive £305 from parents of the School children, to take to Belarus. With this money we were able to buy lovely new shoes for the 17 children in the orphanage, as well as socks and gloves. It was fantastic to see the smiles on the faces of the children. This was probably the first time that most had been to choose a new pair of shoes. One little 5 year old, called Karina, put on and took off her shoes about 20 times in the first hour after buying them.

We also left a play parachute at the orphanage which the children loved. Trying to explain all the games to our new Belarusian friends was a little challenging though!

Money donated by the parents of the School also helped support 125 children at another orphanage in Borisov. The lady who ran this orphanage was very welcoming when she showed us around. After a while, it became clear that whilst the orphanage had done much to improve the lives of some very disturbed children, they were desperate for exercise books for the start of the new year. I was very pleased to be able to tell her that we could help her, thanks to the generosity of the parents of my school back in England.

WINSTON – THE TV STAR
You may have seen in the Ormskirk Advertiser, Southport Visitor, or the Village Visitor that our school bear, Winston, has become a celebrity in Belarus and Russia. He ended up on sky TV at a Champions League football match as was later interviewed on local TV in Belarus. He was recognised by lots of people after the broadcasts. I was lucky enough to spend time with Winston as we bumped into each other at Manchester Airport on the way to Belarus. We had a great time together. I will be putting a display of photographs up in school, to illustrate our adventures. Winston also wrote postcards to the children which has helped them with their Geography lessons. He has his own passport, swimming trunks, and sunglasses and makes friends wherever he goes. A week before going to Belarus, Winston went to South Africa and bumped into Julie Egglesden.

I spend only 8 days in Belarus but the memories will certainly last a lifetime. It reinforced my belief that we lead very privileged lives in this country. Having seen how much difference a small amount of money can make to people’s lives, it has made me even more intent to do more in future. The visit also highlighted for me, that although money can make a difference, it is love that is the greatest international currency. This was highlighted vividly by the storey of Nicoli, a 15 year old boy at the orphanage we visited. Nicoli was very pleased with his new shoes but earlier in the week he had already shared his one dream. His dream wasn’t for a play station, a quad bike or a foreign holiday. It was simply to have a family to call his own. Dreams don’t always come true but on our last day we heard that Nicoli was to realise his dream. He is now being adopted by a couple who have eight children of their own. This family have already adopted seven other children. Nicoli will remain poor but thanks to the generosity of this couple he will have a family. It is often hared to share our faith with others, particularly when they speak a different language. Whilst in Belarus, we hand our Bibles to many of the people we got to know. But more importantly, we tried hard just to be the hands and feet of Jesus and to show the love of Jesus through our actions. The fact that the TV coverage called us the “English Christians” was certainly a good advert. Many times we were asked why we had come so far to help. Perhaps the greatest tribute was paid just before we left. Our driver, a rather stern fireman, said “Thank you for bringing so much happiness to the children of my country.”

Personally, I gained a huge amount from this trip. As the Bible says.. you always receive back more than you give. “Will I go back?” I certainly hope so.

Philip Marshall
(Teacher at Tarleton Holy Trinity CE Primary School)

Social Committee news
Thank you to everyone who supported the Walking Treasure Hunt and the Harvest Quiz Night. Both events were well supported with great competition for the booby prizes on both occasions!!
The response was very encouraging with comments that next year was being looked forward to already!
They were also very successful financially in that we were able to add over £600 to the fund for the provision of a permanent disabled access to Church.
Thank you again.

CHRISTIAN AID
Our final result from the collection in May was £1412.66 – up nearly £170 from last year.

Thank you all

For your diary
CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT
in aid of the NSPCC
Friday 16th December
7.30 in church
The Galloway Choir
And Children from Holy Trinity C of E School
Tickets available later

NEW YEAR WALK
Tuesday 2nd January
Meet in Croston at the village centre car park
Lunch at The Original Farmers Arms Eccleston
This is a rerun of a walk we haven’t done for some years.
Out across the mossland between Croston and Bretherton. Back along the Yarrow

The Mission Action Plan Prayer
God of new beginnings, we pray that you will transform your church as you renew us by your love.
Give us vision for the journey that we may travel light, and live increasingly by faith.
Inspire, enliven and empower us, so that along the Way we may be sustained by the life of Christ in ourselves, in one another, and in the world. Amen

Diocesan Choir Event
Members of our choir will be singing at: -
CHORAL EVENING SERVICE for Remembrance
Sunday 13th November at Broughton, St John the Baptist
Evensong from 6.30 to 7.30 pm All welcome

Male voices wanted! See Fr Tom

Write your own captions

Seen on the way to Sollom
WORKFORCE
IN ROAD
SLOW

Sign at Sollom
BARN CONVERSION
TWO SEMI-DETACHED UNITS
ONLY ONE LEFT

Message on the front of a card:
WEDDING
REGRETS

From the book of corny fundraising slogans …
“There’s good news and bad news ….
The good news is that we have all the money we need.
The bad news is that it’s still in your pockets.”

Not quite what he meant?
The Treasurer was addressing his Australian parish stewardship meeting:
“I’ve upped my pledge. Up yours!”

ROTAS & TEAMS
The FLOWER ARRANGING ROTA is full!
But some rotas and teams still have vacancies:-
COFFEE ROTAS CLEANING ROTAS
SOCIAL TEAM CHOIR CHILDREN CHOIR MEN
The following rotas are already oversubscribed:-
ADMIRING THE FLOWERS
DRINKING THE COFFEE
EATING THE BUFFET or HOTPOT
LOOKING FOR THE BIT THE CLEANERS MISSED
ASKING WHO CHOSE THAT HYMN
With apologies to Dave Walker and the Church Times
for pinching the idea and localising it

SEEN IN ONE ISSUE OF THE CHURCH TIMES

The Bishops of the Church in Wales are launching a Rule of life for all members. It will involve daily prayer and Bible reading, discerning God’s presence in daily life, and stewardship.

On Prayer:
OFFER MORE THAN THE DREGS OF TIME. It should be the widow’s mite, not the rich people’s surplus.
“Prayer needs the time we insist we haven’t got. We need time apart simply to wait on God .. and to know ourselves to be utterly loved by him.”
“Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:31)

On our reaction to community and politics:-
“We could emulate the discipline of the Iona Community, whose members carry out occasional audits of their personal lifestyle: not only how they earn money, but how they dispose of it.”
IS THE LORD TRYING TO TELL US SOMETHING?

PARISH DIARY for November
NORMAL SUNDAY SERVICES
8.00 am Holy Communion, 10.15 am Sunday School and Crèche 10.30 am SUNG EUCHARIST
(3rd Sunday, FAMILY PARISH COMMUNION)
DAILY OFFICE Monday to Friday, Daily Offices in Church.
Morning Prayer 8.30 am (Wednesday 9.30 am)
Evening Prayer - see notice on board at rear of church
Please feel free to join the Rector at any of these services

CLOCKS BACK!!!
Sunday 30th October ALL SAINTS SUNDAY
8.00 am Holy Communion
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST
6.30 pm Festival Sung Evensong

NOVEMBER
Tuesday 1st 10.00 am Eucharist: Oakgate Close
6.30 pm Choir Practice (adults 6.50)
Wednesday 2nd ALL SOULS
10.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
followed by coffee and fellowship, and the sale of candles.
12 noon Requiem Eucharist at St Mary’s
7.30 pm JOINT CLUSTER EUCHARIST
with Archdeacon John at All Saint’s, Hesketh Bank
Saturday 5th 10 am to 12 noon: Leprosy Mission and Tearcraft cards and goods for sale at the Coe Lane Farm Shop
Sunday 6th Third Sunday before Advent
8.00 am Holy Communion
10.15 pm Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST
Monday 7th 2.00 pm MU Prayer Group:
Blessed Sacrament Chapel
Tuesday 8th 6.30 pm Choir Practice (adults 6.50)
Wednesday 9th 10.00 am Holy Communion: (BCP)
7.30 pm MU: Parish Room: CAB
Sunday 13th November Remembrance Sunday
8.00 am Holy Communion
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am JOINT REMEMBRANCE SERVICE
with the Reading of the Names, and The Silence, & laying of the Wreathes.
Followed by Sung Eucharist
Monday 14th 7.00 pm Eucharist
7.30 pm Special PCC: Stewardship
Tuesday 15th 6.30 pm Choir Practice (adults 6.50)
Wednesday 16th 10.00 am Holy Communion: (BCP)
Sunday 20th Christ the King
8.00 am Holy Communion
10.30 am CHURCH FAMILY COMMUNION
Monday 21st 7.00 pm Eucharist
7.30 pm PCC
Tuesday 22nd 6.30 pm Choir Practice (adults 6.50)
Wednesday 23rd 10.00 am Holy Communion: (BCP)
2.00 pm MU: Parish Room Prayers for Peace and Reconciliation: then Hobbies

Sunday 27th ADVENT SUNDAY
8.00 am Holy Communion
10.15 am Sunday School
10.30 am PARISH EUCHARIST
Tuesday 29th 6.30 pm Choir Practice (adults 6.50)
Wednesday 30th 10.00 am St Andrew
Holy Communion: (BCP)

DECEMBER
Sunday 4th Second Sunday of Advent
8.00 am Holy Communion
10.30 am CHURCH FAMILY EUCHARIST
with Offerings of Toys and Gifts & Sunday School Presentation
Monday 5th 2.00 pm MU Prayer Group:
Blessed Sacrament Chapel
6.45 pm District Cub Carol Service

Highlights in Advent and on to Christmas and New Year

December
Tuesday 6th St Nicholas Day
10.00 am Coffee Morning at the Rectory

Sunday 11th 6.30 pm Village Carol Service
Wednesday 14th 1.30 pm Mere Brow School Nativity
Friday 16th 7.30 pm NSPCC Carol Concert
Saturday 17th Ecumenical Carol Service, Mark Square

Sunday 18th 6.30 pm Nine Lessons and Carols
Tuesday 20th 7.30 pm Tarleton High School Carol Service

Saturday 24th CHRISTMAS EVE
4.00 pm Crib Service with Children’s Nativity and Christingle
11.30 pm MIDNIGHT MASS
Sunday 25th CHRISTMAS DAY
8.00 am Eucharist
10.30 am Sung Eucharist

Wednesday 28th Holy Innocents
10.00 am Eucharist (BCP)

Sunday January 1st 2006 The Naming of Jesus
8.00 am Eucharist
10.30 am Sung Eucharist
Monday 2nd 10.30 am Informal Walking Group see above