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CHRIST CHURCH - PORT SUNLIGHT

Founded 1904

Telephone: 0151 645 3870

Issue No. 75: April & May 2016

Spring Issue Our Mission is

to offer our best to

God through

Worship,

Fellowship

and Care for the

Community

Sunday

Services Family Worship

10.30am

Afternoon Worship

3pm

ccpsurc.info

Free – please take one

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CONTENTS

3 The First Word

4 Bible Readings for Worship

6 Fond Farewell to Jean Hackett

8 Hymn

9 Value the Present

10 Membership of Christ Church

12 Christian Aid Week

13 Spring Charity Concert

14 Social and Fundraising Committee and

Cornish Cream Teas Fellowship Update

15 Christ Church Christingle Thank You

16 The Grace

16 Church Open

17 Stewards

18 Good News!

19 Christ Church Online

20 Fabric Report

21 Carers’ Meeting

21 Adult Baptism

22 Thank You from Wirral Food Bank

22 The Magazine by Post

23 Weddings

23 Baptisms

24 Funerals and Interment of Ashes

24 Appeal for Photos to Share

25 Meeting Times of Our Organizations

25 Do All The Good You Can

26 Contacts

27 Editorial Details

28 Forthcoming Services

28 The Last Word

WELCOME!

Welcome to the Spring issue of

The Magazine, from Christ Church Port Sunlight.

The Magazine is

produced six times a

year by volunteers and

is available free of

charge at the back of

church.

It is also available in

large print and in colour

on our website:

ccpsurc.info

Many thanks for all

contributions and

assistance in producing

this edition.

We hope you enjoy

reading The Magazine.

We hope you feel part

of this beautiful church.

Cover shows:

Illustration by the late

Bert Pierpoint,

originally used for a

Women’s Fellowship

leaflet. Provided by

Carol Wright

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THE FIRST WORD

Our younger son, Caleb, has just celebrated his 14th

birthday, which reminded me, unsurprisingly, of the day

he was born. Within a couple of hours of his birth I had

made 6 phone calls to share the news with a select group

of friends and colleagues. By the time I went to bed that

night I had received an email from the Church Secretary

at Upminster (one of our previous churches) to

congratulate us, she’d heard the news at the meeting of

Roding District Council that had taken place that evening!

In the 3 weeks that followed, we received over 80

congratulations cards and a number of gifts. It just shows

how news travels. Liz and I hadn’t made any other phone calls, or sent out any

birth announcements. People around Yardley Hastings and Northampton,

where we lived, around the country, and believe it or not, around the world, had

been passing on the news – ‘Have you heard? Caleb Byrne-Smith’s been born’.

It was somewhat like that on that first Easter Day. News of Jesus’ resurrection

was discovered by a select group of people and within hours the news had

travelled around the surrounding area - ‘Have you heard? Jesus has risen from

the dead’. News was obviously soon well known for when Jesus walked along

the Emmaus Road with 2 disciples they were amazed to think that he knew

nothing of the goings on in Jerusalem at that time.

What’s it like today? The Christian Church throughout the world is celebrating

the resurrection of Jesus. Most people in our country and in other parts of the

world are celebrating Easter by exchanging Easter Eggs, but how many of them

know that Easter isn’t about the beginning of Spring, but a celebration of the

rising from the dead of the Son of God? How many people will you share the

news with – ‘Have you heard? Christ has risen’.

The news of Caleb’s birth was important in our lives at the time and news

travelled fast. The news of Jesus’ resurrection was important in the lives of his

disciples 2000 years ago and news travelled fast, but it’s also important in the

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lives of all people everywhere today. Are we ensuring that the news continues

to travel fast not just over Easter, but all day every day?

Jesus’ death and resurrection was an act of ultimate love – share the news of

that love through your words and actions with everyone you meet and

communicate with.

May you know the love and joy of the resurrection this Easter.

Rev Ian Smith

BIBLE READINGS FOR WORSHIP DURING

APRIL, MAY AND EARLY JUNE

The Revised Common Lectionary is used ecumenically by many churches

world-wide for their Sunday Services. The Lectionary follows the Christian year,

beginning with Advent, and gives a series of Bible readings for each Sunday.

The Revised Common Lectionary uses a three-year cycle, with each year

primarily focussing on one of the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Readings from John’s Gospel are included at various points. We are currently

in Year C, and are following Luke’s Gospel.

The period between Easter and Pentecost sees the Old Testament reading

replaced by a reading from Acts, and most of the Gospel readings are taken

from John. It is my intention here at Christ Church, to use the Revised Common

Lectionary for weekly worship, usually choosing two or three passages from the

four available. As part of your own worship preparation you might find it helpful

to read all four passages. Some visiting worship leaders may, on occasion,

choose not to use the lectionary.

Rev Ian Smith

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3 April Acts 5:27-32 Psalm 118:14-29 Revelation 1:4-8 John 20:19-31 10 April Acts 9:1-20 Psalm 30:4-12 Revelation 5:11-14 John 21:1-19 17 April Acts 9:36-43 Psalm 23 Revelation 7:9-17 John 10:22-30 24 April Acts 11:1-18 Psalm 148 Revelation 21:1-6 John 13:31-35 1 May Acts 16:9-15 Psalm 67 Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 John 5:1-9

8 May - Ascension Acts 1:1-11 Psalm 47 Ephesians 1:15-23 Luke 24:44-53 15 May - Pentecost Genesis 11:1-9 Psalm 104:24-34 Acts 2:1-21 John 14:8-17, 25-27 22 May - Trinity Proverbs 8:22-31 Psalm 8 Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15 29 May 1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43 Psalm 96 Galatians 1:1-10 Luke 7:1-10 5 June 1 Kings 17:8-24 Psalm 146 Galatians 1:11-24 Luke 7:11-17

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FOND FAREWELL TO JEAN HACKETT

– OR WAS IT GLADYS? In his affectionate tribute to his late mother on the

occasion of her funeral on Tuesday 23rd

February 2016 Ian Hackett revealed to a large

congregation of family and friends that his

mother was actually christened Gladys Jean

Dixon and used the name Gladys for the first 18

years of her life. It was at a dance in the NAAFI

in December 1940 that she told her girl friends

that her name was now Jean and they were not

to call her anything else. At that dance she met

her future husband Private Harry Hackett.

Born in 1922 in the little village of Southoram in

Yorkshire Jean grew up in a world very different

from that of today – no radio, no television, no

motorways, no computers, very little mechanised transport and the prime

minister was Lloyd George. Following her father’s work Jean moved first to

Halifax and then to Ipswich. She lost her mother at the early age of 13 in 1936.

The romance with Harry blossomed early and in 1942 they were married here

in this church but they were not together for long as Harry was very soon posted

to Egypt and they did not see each other again for 3 years until August 1945.

Two children soon arrived, Ian and Marcia, and the family lived in Pool Bank in

the village with Harry working at Lever’s. As well as the children attending Christ

Church Sunday School Jean was herself active in the church being an

enthusiastic member of the Young Wives Fellowship, as it was known then, of

which she was a founding member and went on to became a Committee

Member and then Secretary. Jean and Harry became inveterate travellers

visiting many countries in Western Europe and the Americas. Despite the family

move to Bromborough in 1968 Jean retained her many links with Port Sunlight.

In 1996 Harry died but thanks to her friend Yvonne Jennings Jean was able to

maintain those links. More recently Jean was afflicted by arthritis and failing

eyesight but she still managed to volunteer for the British Heart Foundation in

Birkenhead and to visit her various family members across England and France.

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Jean spent all her working life in cake shops in Bromborough, at Gayle’s to begin

with and then at Haigh’s.

Jean’s grandson David also spoke of his grandmother. He told the congregation

how she loved people and loved talking to people, preferably over a cup of tea.

Jean had an abiding interest in the welfare of other people and only recently

allowed other people to take a similar interest in her welfare. She had a great

sense of humour and was in very good spirits right up to the final evening before

suffering a stroke which enabled her to be reunited with her beloved husband

Harry.

The funeral service was conducted by Revd Anne Bedford who said that

amongst Jean’s papers was the following short poem that Jean wanted the

congregation to hear.

Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision

But today well lived makes every day a dream of happiness

And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Jean lived well each day and always with that

hope. Anne reminded us “The God that stands

with us as we make our final human journey is

the same God who was prepared to die in love

for all humankind, a God who has entered every

struggle of our life with us and who deeply

understands the choices we have made. I am

convinced that on 4th February Jean did not

travel alone on her final journey but that God took

her hand in his and led her on into the new and

wonderful place called heaven and Jean was

able to smile.”

Reporting by Chris Maple

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HYMN (FROM REVD IAN SMITH’S INDUCTION)

I, the Lord of sea and sky,

I have heard my people cry.

All who dwell in deepest sin

My hand will save.

I who made the stars of night,

I will make their darkness bright.

Who will bear my light to them?

Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord. Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go, Lord, If you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,

I have borne my people's pain.

I have wept for love of them,

They turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone,

Give them hearts for love alone.

I will speak my word to them.

Whom shall I send?

I, the Lord of wind and flame,

I will tend the poor and lame.

I will set a feast for them,

My hand will save.

Finest bread I will provide,

Till their hearts are satisfied.

I will give my life for them.

Whom shall I send?

© Daniel L Schutte, OCP Publications. Administered in the UK by Calamus, Oak House, 70 High Street, Brandon, Suffolk IP27 0AU. Reprinted with Permission

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VALUE THE PRESENT

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with £86,400. It

carries over no balance from day to day. Every night it deletes whatever you

didn’t spend during the day. What would you do? Draw out every penny of

course.

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning it credits you

with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off whatever of this you have failed

to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. If you don’t use all that

you are given, the loss is yours. There is no going back. You must live on the

present day’s deposits, so invest them so as to gain the utmost in health,

happiness and success. The clock is running; make the most of today.

To realise the value of ONE YEAR, ask the student who failed an exam.

To realise the value of ONE MONTH, ask the mother who gave birth to a

premature baby.

To realise the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realise the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realise the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.

To realise the value of ONE SECOND, ask the person who just avoided an

accident.

To realise the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won the silver

medal at the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have, and treasure it more because you have

shared it with someone special. Remember time waits for no-one.

Yesterday is history; tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a gift; that’s why we call it the present!

Author unknown. Submitted by Rosie Potter

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MEMBERSHIP OF CHRIST CHURCH

All URC churches maintain a list of members. The information on this list is

held within the church and is not passed on to the Mersey synod or any other

body. The church is duty bound to advise the Synod of the number of members

it has once a year. The more members a church declares the more scoping of

a minister a church is given. At present if a church has around 150 members

this is normally sufficient to ensure a 100% scoping (i.e. that church does not

share their minister with another one).

Having fought for a higher scoping with regard the appointment of the Revd.

Smith, we have an obligation to maintain and grow our membership which has

just dropped below one hundred. This is what we set out as one of our goals

in the Pastoral Profile. Sadly we do lose members every year and if we are just

to maintain our membership we still need to be bring in new members.

The Elders cannot do a Caesar Augustus to ensure the details of the members

list is accurate. People do move and telephone numbers change. The Elders

are reliant on being informed of changes to these details. It follows that those

members that attend the least are also the least likely to update their details, so

if you know that someone's details have changed please take the initiative and

tell the Church Secretary or an Elder.

Why become a member of Christ Church; am I not just as welcome to worship

there if I chose to not become a member? What is in it for me? Am I just going

to become bombarded with requests for money and treated by the Church in the

same way many charities act? These are all good questions and perhaps they

need to be asked, even if they often go unspoken.

Firstly we are lucky to have many people who worship at Christ Church and who

are not members. They will always be welcome to worship there. Some of

these people have been asked to become members in the past and have

declined for a variety of reasons. Some adherents give more generously than

some members, so the intention of increasing our membership is not one of

money raising. The church could be argued to be financially stronger with more

adherents than members. The reason why membership should grow is that we

as a Christian community should seek to grow, we can talk about reaching out

to the wider community or welcoming younger people into church and doing lots

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of other good things. These things all require people to do them and the more

people there are, then the easier these things are to achieve. The greater the

pool of talent to draw on the more successful we will be. We should want to be

a part of this community and want to give to it. We all acknowledge that often

when we give willingly without expecting anything in return, that we are often

rewarded more generously.

Christ Church Port Sunlight is not made up of the building or of the Elders, but

of the people who come to worship there. If you feel that this is a special place

and one you care about, then you should consider membership. The rules of

the URC place great importance on the power of the Church Meeting to make

decisions, but only those who are members are allowed to vote. We are all

finding our way and find some of the matters we are asked to discuss difficult

and challenging, but the URC expects people to think and pray about matters

and to contribute their thoughts and experiences. The Church Meeting is the

forum to make decisions. If there is a significant section of people who worship

at Christ Church not able to vote at these meetings, then we run the risk that

people will feel excluded and will not be properly represented.

I hope no one joins Christ Church just to ensure a place in the graveyard when

that time comes. Membership should mean more than a read of the

magazine. If there were 400 members but none were active, on paper it would

look a strong church, but the reality would be entirely different. Church

membership should be significant; it is a statement of where you want to go, not

of where you come from. If the ties that bind you to Christ Church are all

historical and your name is on the membership list simply because it is easier

to leave it on than take it off, then we are all being a party to some self-deception,

both as an individual and as a church. Christ Church has many friends who

wish to keep in touch but their names are better suited to the Adherents list

rather than the members one.

Pastoral care is an area the church has expressed concerns over; we need to

do better. We need to be more organised. Whilst God can accommodate

everyone's individual needs as he knows us so well, sadly the humans who try

to administer matters in the church are more than fallible. It helps if people

become members to provide better Pastoral care. The adherents list has the

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names of a whole host of different people, from members who have moved away

and never attend worship, to those who are regular worshippers. As such this

list is not of much practical use for pastoral care purposes.

As Church Secretary I ask you to spare a little time to think about what

membership of a church means to you. Do you think it comes with any

obligations on the member, or does it place just obligations on the church

community? Please give membership some thought and prayer and if possible

let an Elder know your thoughts, as the Elders are interested to hear them.

Arnie Waters

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

15th to 21st May 2016

To support Christian Aid at Christ Church we are to serve breakfast in Church

on Sunday 8th May 2016 between 9am and 10am.

This will be a breakfast consisting of fruit salad, a selection of cereals, toast with

jam & marmalade, croissants, bagels, apple and orange juice, tea and fresh

coffee.

The breakfast is free, just a donation to Christian Aid would be most

welcome. Please join us in a time of fellowship.

Thank you,

Samantha Hawkes

Please note the change of date opposite.

The Spring Charity Concert will be held on

Friday 15th April.

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SPRING CHARITY CONCERT

IN AID OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE and

CHRIST CHURCH APPEAL FUND

CHRIST CHURCH, PORT SUNLIGHT

FRIDAY, 15TH APRIL, 2016

Featuring

THE FOUR ORIGINALS

A Fabulous Group

ACCORD

The Popular Singing Group

TIM WALKER

Pianist

And

SURPRISE GUEST

Commencing at 7.30 pm Tickets £7.50

Including Refreshments

Available from Port Sunlight Museum or

Enquiries: 0151 334 4588

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SOCIAL AND FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

AND CORNISH CREAM TEAS FELLOWSHIP UPDATE

Cornish Cream Teas programme 2016 (All definite dates)

Easter Monday 28thMar 1-4pm

May Day Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May 1-4pm

Spring Bank Holiday Monday 30th May 1-4pm

Summer Bank Holiday Monday 29th August 1-4pm

Bacon or Sausage Baps days (definite dates)

Saturday 7th May 9.30am -4pm

Saturday 1st October 9.30am -4pm

(possible additions to menu - Black pudding, hot Ribena, hot chocolate

drinks)

Beetle Drives (dates to be confirmed)

Friday 15th April

Friday 28th October

Possible events – dates & details to be confirmed

Strawberry Tea - Saturday afternoon in June - subject to weddings

Harvest Supper with entertainment - Saturday 10th October

Burns Night with entertainment – Saturday 17th January 2017

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Readers with ideas, are invited to put forward suggestions for other Social and

Fundraising events, supported by their willingness to plan and participate in the

organisation of same. These can be put verbally or in writing to any of the

committee members listed below. Fundraising is an important feature of our

church life if we are to maintain our beautiful building in the condition we require

it to be in as we welcome the thousands of visitors from all over the world which

we see each year. We also need your support at the fundraising events, so

please do your best to join in this important feature of our church life.

Committee members

Joint Convenors – Val Hall and Ken Howell

John Lindsay, Joyce Howell, Arthur Hall, Pauline Clynch, Barbara Taylor.

Ken Howell

CHRIST CHURCH CHRISTINGLE

THANK YOU

I know the Christingle service seemed a long time ago now.

Remember the family friendly quiz at the start? “how many

letters in the angelic alphabet? Answer 25, because there is

no L”! Anyway, moving on, I received 2 letters of thanks from

the 2 charities we donated to. Claire House Children’ s hospice and the Brain

Tumour Trust in memory of Annie Kell. They received £140 each. Many thanks

to all who donated and contributed in any way.

Samantha Hawkes

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THE GRACE

I have been asked to write a short piece about The Grace – particularly as we

are now saying it together before the younger members of the congregation go

into the Worship Club.

The words we know as ‘The Grace’ are taken from the final verse of 2

Corinthians (please see the back page), and are widely used at the end of

meetings and services in all Christian traditions. Over the last 20 years or so it

has become common for people to say the prayer (for that is what it is) with their

eyes open, and looking around catching the eye of others. There are some,

however, who prefer to keep their eyes closed – there is no fixed rule.

My reasoning for saying The Grace as the church moves into groups is that it

marks the transition point from worshipping all together as the Church Family.

The older members bless the younger members as they move into their groups,

and the younger members in turn bless those who remain. In some churches a

short song is sung at a similar point in their service.

Rev Ian Smith

CHURCH OPEN The intention is to open the church to the public commencing Monday 21st

March to Friday 30th September 2016 weekdays between 11am and 4pm.

The position of Stewards Co-ordinator still remains vacant in spite of repeated

requests for a volunteer to fill the post. There is also a shortage of volunteers to

steward the church. However an extra four to six volunteers would solve the

problem. This matter requires some serious thought so if you are prepared to

give just two and a half hours of your time to your Church each week during the

open season then please add your name to the STEWARDS notice displayed

on the back wall of the Church. Anyone who has not experienced stewarding in

the past but would like to volunteer, please do so, you will be most welcome.

Ted Austin

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STEWARDS

We are blessed both with a beautiful church at Christ Church and also an

attractive location. We have many treasures within the church, from the stained

glass to the organ. We are also blessed that being located within Port Sunlight

there are many people drawn to the village by its history who discover our church

by accident.

How lucky we are that people want to come into our church, we need not go out

on the street to draw them in, we can let the architecture of the building and the

plants in the graveyard do this for us. We benefit from these visitors and unlike

many other churches, we do not lock the doors to all, just to keep out the few

who may abuse the freedom to enter. We have a group of people who give of

their time week after week, to steward the building in the summer months and

let these visitors enjoy the building both inside and out.

If you doubt the value of what these stewards do, then I suggest you come into

church and see and speak to the visitors or simply read the visitors book. I know

the Treasurer will comment that we also benefit from the generosity of these

visitors. We benefit from these visitors and they benefit from the church being

open and welcoming. Like most things that are good in life, this does not

happen by chance and without effort. Our thanks is due to the volunteer

stewards and in particular to Mr Ted Austin who for the last five years has

organised the stewards. Ted declared his desire to stand down from this task

this Spring (he does plenty of other things around Christ Church), but it would

be wrong not to mark all the work and time he has contributed to the

stewards. On behalf of all the members of Christ Church I would like to say

thank you.

This work needs to go on and so if you enjoy meeting people in a friendly

atmosphere then please do consider becoming a steward. You are not left on

your own but work in groups, if you want to find out more Ted is a good place to

start, or come and sit with the stewards and see first hand what is involved.

Arnie Waters

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GOOD NEWS! “Heard the good news?”

“No, tell me.” “Well, Christ Church has changed the way it engages with the

community – you know, they’re the people we mention in our Mission

Statement.”

“O, Yes. How’s that then?”

“The church has embraced Social Media.”

“Social Media? What’s that about?”

“It’s about Facebook and Twitter. You must have heard of them.”

“Yes, I have. But wait a minute, it’s going to be very confusing,

surely? We already have The Magazine, the Weekly Bulletin

and our own Website. People won’t know where to turn. And I

don’t have a Facebook or Twitter account so it’s no use to

me.”

”I can understand your concerns but don’t worry. We’re creating a new

website which can handle all this. On the new website you will see

everything, it will all be there before your eyes. And I haven’t

mentioned that it will all be easy to read on tablets (such as iPads) and

even Smart Phones. That’s something our old website can’t do. O,

Yes. By using Social Media anyone out there will be able to write

comments. We’ve never had feedback before so this could be very

interesting.”

” Well, that sounds OK.”

“One more thing. We’ll have a Church Calendar too, so you won’t have

to go down to look in the Diary in the Church Vestry to find out what’s

going on. We’ll still have that, of course, at least for the present.”

“That sounds great but how will I find the new website?”

“You won’t have to change anything. The www.ccpssurc.info link you

use now will automatically take you to the new website once it is

there.”

“So when is all this going to happen?”

“Quite soon, certainly in time to include an item in the next issue of

The Magazine.”

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“Wow! I can hardly wait. It’s a bit like counting the days to

Christmas, isn’t it?”

“That’s a great way of putting it. That’s the time we are used to looking

forward to good news.”

“Yes, indeed!”

Peter Humphreys

CHRIST CHURCH ONLINE

The Elders had been asked to consider the possibility of opening Facebook and Twitter accounts for Christ Church. A small group of interested parties was invited to a meeting in the church vestry on 18th February. After detailed discussion on what might be involved the group was able to put forward a proposal to the Elders that we proceed. The Elders duly gave their approval at its March meeting and a working party was formed.

It was agreed that at the same time as launching Facebook and Twitter, the website should also be updated as it provides the central hub of information for the church and could include feeds from both Facebook and Twitter.

Under the chairmanship of our Minister, Revd Ian Smith, the working group met on 3rd March to see a demonstration of the proposed new website and to plan the way forward.

The working group group comprises our Webmaster Peter Humphreys, Magazine Editor Jan Burrell (who is responsible for the Twitter account), Weddings Administrator Rachael Hardcastle (responsible for the Facebook account) and Elders Lisa Scott and Samantha Hawkes. The Twitter and Facebook pages have been launched and development of the new website is in progress with a planned launch date before the next publication of the Magazine. So here is a challenge! Please have a look at our new pages for Facebook and Twitter (@ccpsurc) and engage with us by sharing, liking and retweeting what you find. Peter Humphreys and Lisa Scott

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FABRIC REPORT

Church

Following on from the periodic inspection and testing of electrical installations in

the Church Hall a similar exercise of the installations within Christ Church has

also been completed. Whilst the overall assessment of the installations was

recorded as ‘unsatisfactory’, there are no items which require urgent attention.

Fifteen observations which recommend further improvement or investigation

were noted and recorded.

Organ Basement

TIMBERWISE, a company who specialise in the eradication of woodworm,

amongst other things, were requested to visit Christ Church in order to inspect

and advise on the reported infestation found in certain areas of structure within

the organ basement. As a consequence, recommendations were made to spray

the whole area of the overhead timber structure with an appropriate insecticide

used for this purpose. Church members spent two days covering and sealing

the four large organ bellows, de-humidifier and every electrical installation within

the basement as a requisite and prior to the commencement of spraying. The

work was successfully completed during February.

Boiler Room Basement

As mentioned in the last issue No. 74 of The Magazine, this area is sorely in

need of a serious clearance of discarded material and broken furniture all of

which create a potential fire hazard. The intention is to address the situation by

arranging a day to clear this area when the weather begins to improve.

Volunteers are requested to assist in this task so please keep this in mind

and respond as you are able. Thank you in anticipation.

Ted Austin

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CARERS’ MEETING

The Carers’ Meeting is held at 12 noon every third Tuesday in the month at

Christ Church Community Centre, Kings Road, Higher Bebington. A sandwich

lunch is provided free of charge. If you are a Carer then do come and join us –

you will be made very welcome.

Tuesday 16th February 2016

After lunch the speaker for the meeting was Jules Prestland GIFT NETWORK

Coordinator based in Clatterbridge. Jules explained to the meeting that the role

of coordinater is to let the people of Wirral know that there is help for those who

are unable to communicate or find the help they need when they don't know

which way to turn when they are troubled or in need. The aim of the Gift Network

is to encourage people to talk to their neighbours and share and support one

another.

To contact Jules you can call her on 0151 842 7175 or mobile 07841 921979

email: j.prestland@archfutures.com

Or contact Mr John Roberts - Carers Group Christ Church Carers Group on

0151 343 0664, email: strebor53@btinternet.com

Carol Wright

Carers contact, Christ Church Port Sunlight

ADULT BAPTISM

Baptism is a very important service in the URC. It marks the joining of a Christian

fellowship. The URC believes that the help and support of a wider church is

important to support people through their Christian life. If there are adults who

have never been baptised, this is not something to be embarrassed about. If

you wish to be baptised at Christ Church or learn more about this then you are

most welcome to ask the Elders.

Arnie Waters

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THANK YOU FROM WIRRAL FOOD BANK

The collection during a minister’s

induction service is donated to a

charity or good cause of choice by

the minister. Our minister Ian

requested the collection amounting

to £459.71 to be donated to Wirral

food bank. They were grateful for the

donation and have given us a

certificate of thanks, which is

displayed on the notice board at the

back of church.

Samantha Hawkes

THE MAGAZINE BY POST

If you would like to receive a copy of The Magazine regularly by post, please send:

your name, address, postcode and a contact phone number or email address

plus a cheque for £4.00 for four remaining issues in 2016, made payable to Christ Church Port Sunlight to:

Magazine Subscriptions 31 Boundary Road Port Sunlight Wirral CH62 5ER (Please do not send coins by post).

OR

Put the correct amount of cash (or

cheque) in a sealed envelope,

addressed to ‘Magazine

Subscriptions’ and hand in to a

Church Elder or Steward.

23

WEDDINGS

Please uphold in prayer the following couples, as they begin their married lives

together:

February

Angela JONES and Shah KANWAL

Hannah DULSON and James McKEEVER

March

Carole O'SHEA and Simon PATON

Laura FARRELL and Zayd HOWELLS

BAPTISMS

The following children were baptized recently at Christ Church. We remember

the parents, god-parents and the children themselves in our prayers.

February

Jacob Bleu Hayes

Dominic Ethan Moss

Jasmine Mae Pope

Joshua Andrew Simms

March

Theo Davies

Spencer Harvey

24

FUNERALS AND INTERMENT OF ASHES

In our prayers we give thanks for these folk and remember their loved ones in

their grief that they may know the peace of God.

February

Ron CARROLL 79 years

Mary ROBERTS 94 years

Jean HACKETT 93 years

March

Ivy OLSSON 91 years

APPEAL FOR PHOTOS TO SHARE

In the next edition of The Magazine there will be a piece about George

Wotton and other stalwarts of Christ Church, written by Chris Maple. If you

have any photos of the following men which you would be happy to share,

please let Jan Burrell know:

George Wotton, Jim Adam, Harry Brown, Les Cannell, Jack Coates, Barrie

Cremin, Tom Clark, Alan Dodd, Fred Goodger, Stan Griffiths, Ron Griffiths,

Harry Potter, Arthur Smethurst, Reg Smith, Tom Venables, William Widders

Chris has also promised a future article on female stalwarts!

25

MEETING TIMES OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS

The Bellringers’ practice is held every Wednesday at 7.30pm in the Bell

Tower.

The Handbell Ringers’ practice is held every Tuesday at 7.15pm in Church.

Boys’ Brigade meets in the BB Headquarters (BB HQ) in Bath Street.

• Company Section meets every Friday at 6.15pm

• Anchor Boys meet every Thursday at 6pm

• Junior Section meets every Wednesday at 6.15pm

The Choir practises every Thursday at 6.30pm in Church.

The Elders meet every 1st Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm in the BB HQ

Men’s Fellowship meets every Wednesday at 2pm in the Church Hall

Open House meets every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the Church Hall

DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can

As long as ever you can.

John Wesley 1703-1791

26

CONTACTS * = Serving Elder

Christ Church URC

Church Drive, Port Sunlight, Wirral, CH62 5EF

Minister Revd Ian Smith

minister@ccpsurc.info

Baptismal Secretary Sue Frowe baptisms@ccpsurc.info

Bereavement Pastoral Care Assistant and Funeral Coordinator

*Maureen Jones

Boys’ Brigade Captain / Hall Lettings / Housekeeper

*Val Hall

Carers’ contact Carol Wright

Church Secretary *Arnie Waters sec@ccpsurc.info

Church Treasurer *John Lindsay treasurer@ccpsurc.info

Fabric Committee Convenor Vacant

Flowers / Church Bookings June Berry

Magazine editor Jan Burrell / Rosie Potter magazine@ccpsurc.info

Men’s Fellowship Leader David Peacock

Organist & Choirmaster Jonathan Bowden organist@ccpsurc.info choir@ccpsurc.info

Pulpit Supply / Elders’ Rota Vacant

Readers’ Rota Sue Frowe

Serving Elder *Ted Austin

Serving Elder *Shelly Hayes

Serving Elder *Brian Jones

Serving Elder *Lisa Scott

Serving Elder *Val Young

Social and Fundraising Convenor Ken Howell

Stewards’ Rota Vacant

Sunday Worship Club Leader *Samantha Hawkes

swc@ccpsurc.info

Synod Representative Vacant

27

Tower Captain(Bellringers) /Church Webmaster

Peter Humphreys bells@ccpsurc.info web@ccpsurc.info

Weddings and Funerals Administrator Rachael Hardcastle weddings@ccpsurc.info

Weekly Bulletin Editor *Jim Tesseyman bulletin@ccpsurc.info

Editorial Team: Jan Burrell and Rosie Potter

Items for the next issue should be handed in as soon as possible, and

NO LATER THAN Sunday 8th May.

Articles, letters, requests etc. may be emailed to magazine@ccpsurc.info

or handed in to a church elder.

The Magazine is also available, in colour, on our website at http://www.ccpsurc.info/

We regret that we cannot include adverts or any promotional material for

events not associated with Christ Church Port Sunlight.

Hymns reproduced under CCLI Licence Number 214840

Opinions do not necessarily reflect the official policy of Christ Church URC

Port Sunlight or the United Reformed Church

28

FORTHCOMING SERVICES

April Services Friday

1 10:00 am Revd Richard Hambly Friday Communion Service

Sunday 3 10:30 am Revd Peter Beaman Morning Service

3 3:00 pm Revd Ian Smith Afternoon Service

Sunday 10 10:30 am Olive Burns Morning Service

10 3:00 pm John Lindsay Afternoon Service

Sunday 17 10:30 am Revd Ian Smith Morning Service

17 2:00 pm Revd Ian Smith Baptism

17 3:00 pm Revd Ian Smith Afternoon Service Communion

Sunday 24 10:30 am Olive Burns Morning Service

24 2:00 pm St George’s Day Scout service

May Services Sunday

1 10:30 am Revd Ian Smith Morning Service Communion

1 3:00 pm Revd Ian Smith Afternoon Service

Friday 6 10:00 am Revd Ian Smith Friday Communion Service

Sunday 8 10:30 am Revd Ian Smith Morning Service

8 3:00 pm John Lindsay Afternoon Service

Sunday 15 10:30 am Revd Ian Smith Morning Service

15 2:00 pm Revd Ian Smith Baptism

15 3:00 pm Revd Ian Smith Afternoon Service Communion

Sunday 22 10:30 am Barrie Bradburn Morning Service

22 3:00 pm John Lindsay Afternoon Service

Sunday 29 10:30 am Revd Ian Smith Morning Service

29 3:00 pm Revd Ian Smith Afternoon Service

THE LAST WORD – 2 Corinthians 13:14

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the

fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.