Once again our healing team from Kirkby came together for another day retreat, and this year decided to stay a little closer to home and pay a visit to Loyola Hall in Rainford.  The hall, which is run by Jesuit Order, has beautiful gardens and an air of peace and quietness.

After a very welcome cup of tea or coffee, we were introduced to the Rev. John Roberts who had so kindly come along to co-ordinate the day for us, which began with a short service of worship before getting down to the real business of the day.
We were then spilt into small groups of 4 or 5 people and each group were given a passage from the Bible to read, discuss and discover what we had learnt about the Ministry of Healing from the one we had read.  Food for thought as we had to report back!!  We then separated and were left to find a quiet lonely spot out in the beautiful gardens in which we had to think and pray about what we really wanted the lord to do for us as an individual!  Not a difficult task as one could almost feel his presence and know he was listening in such peaceful surroundings.

However, the body as well as the soul had to be fed!  Back to the house for a shared lunch or a visit to the book shop to either read, buy or just browse.  Lunch over we settled down once more to listen to what the Rev. Roberts had to tell us about the true meaning of a Healing Ministry.  After which we wandered out into the gardens once more to enjoy the lovely sunshine with which the Lord had blessed us.

Our thoughts and prayers for this session was to ask ourselves “where does our own individual church need healing” a question of many aspects and many varied answers.  Returning to ‘base’ once again we came together as a team for our closing service of worship and as we joined in communion at the end of our retreat we were left with an inner peace and tranquility.
The fellowship we had shared and what we had learned as a healing team will go with us on our homeward journey and will, hopefully extend into our work as a Healing Ministry.

Our thanks to both Rev. Andy and to Rev. John for their input and organisation and for such a peaceful day of retreat.

During the day Jill Ridgeway was also inspired to write the following:

How can I forgive?
For the wrong I feel you’ve done.

How can I forgive?
For the hurt taht still goes on.

How can I forgive?
When my heart’s still filled with pain.

How can I forgive?
While my tears still fall like rain.

How can I forgive?
Tho time has long since gone.

How can I forgive?
I don’t want this to go on.

How can I forgive?
And mean it from my heart.

How can I forgive?
We’ve drifted miles apart.

How can I forgive?
If you are not still there.

How can I forgive?
Just take it to God in prayer!

From left to right: Liam Fogarty (Chairman), Flo Clucas (Lib Dem), David Dunne (Conservative), George Howarth (Labour), Anthony Rundle (UKIP).

St Chad’s played host to an election debate on Friday 30th April in which four prospective parliamentary candidates subjected themselves to questions from the public.

The evening was supported by the Kirkby churches of all denominations and was a great way for residents to listen and decide about which way to vote.

It was a brave decision by the candidates to enter into this sort of debate and all four did so wholeheartedly.  The debate helped bring democracy alive in the town.  It is not the churches’ place to tell people which way to vote, but all of us want to encourage residents to weigh up their options and to cast a vote.

Liam Fogarty has good experience of how to hold the ring in political cut and thrust from his time with the BBC and he did so expertly here.  Debate was lively both on the platform and from the floor.  It could have descended into a shouting match but never did.  Despite one or two technical difficulties for which St Chad’s apologises, the evening went as hoped and is a model for future elections, local and national.

There are five candidates standing in Knowsley.  National church advice is that it would be in contradiction to our charitable objects as a church to provide a platform for the British National Party and it was for this reason that only four candidates were invited to take part in this event. Click here for links to that advice (pdf file, opens in a new window).

About 120 residents attended to hear the candidates speak.

Chairman Liam Fogarty.

……………….ENDS………………

Meeting with Mgr Guido Marini, the Master of Pontifical Ceremonies, above St Peter's Square. From left to right: Fr Philip Moger, Revd Anne Dawtry, Very Revd David Richardson, Revd Tim Lomax, Dana Delap, Very Revd Rogers Govander, Revd Paul Thomas, Gill Ambrose, Revd Canon David Kennedy, Rt Revd Graham Kings, Revd Professor Paul Bradshaw, Revd Canon Gilly Myers, Revd Peter Moger, Rt Revd Bob Patterson, Revd Anders Bergquist, Rt Revd Stephen Platten, Revd Simon Jones, Revd Gary Waddington, Mgr Guido Marini, Revd Canon Carl Turner, Sue Moore, Fr Paul Gunter, Mgr Mark Langham, myself (expertly pressing the button on my camera was Revd Rhiannon Jones)

It was my privilege, as a member of the Church of England’s Liturgical Commission, to attend a series of meetings in Rome at the end of April.  This included some of the regular domestic business to resource worship in the Church of England as well as dialogue with counterparts in the Vatican.

Members of the Liturgical Commission were treated to some of Rome’s most spectacular sights, including visits to the catacombs underneath the tombs of the Popes in the basement of St Peter’s Basilica, a rooftop view of St Peter’s Square from underneath the Papal Apartments and the city-scape from the rooftop garden of the UK Ambassador’s residence.

The visit demonstrated the trust and respect that is held of one another as members of two different churches.  There is a great deal that is held in common both in belief and practice.

Perhaps the most stark difference that emerged through our discussions about worship was in the importance attached to cultural context.  In the Vatican the aspiration of universal practice was stressed; that is to say the hope that worship would be as uniform as possible throughout the world.  And indeed part of the job of the leaders we met was to promote that.  In the Anglican Communion local context is allowed to strongly shape how the Church worships.  So patterns of worship for the Church in Nigeria carry recognisably African references that are not present in the Church of England.

These meetings were particularly timely as the Holy Father prepares to visit the UK in September.  There is a widespread hope across the Church of England that his visit inspires many more to think an reflect on the Christian faith whether expressed in Roman, Anglican or other church tradition.

The privilege of being up close at a Papal Audience.

The crowds who come to hear the Holy Father in St Peter's Square every Wednesday morning.

Thought to be one of the earliest depictions of Jesus, this mosaic is on the ceiling of a catacomb deep beneath St Peter's Basilica in Rome.

ENDS…………….

Questions of Faith

Why is there so much suffering?

What happens when we die?

Is there a God?

Who exactly was Jesus?

And what does Church offer me in my life?

Questions of Faith is an opportunity to explore the big questions of life – the really big ones, that everyone thinks about, but often don’t get discussed. In a relaxed, friendly and welcoming environment, where no-one’s opinion is wrong, no question is too daft to ask, and where you absolutely won’t get preached at, come along to explore the really big questions that we all face – Questions of Faith.

Starting Sunday, 21st February, 2010, at 6:30pm at the Rectory, Old Hall Lane, Kirkby, or ring Tim Stratford on 0151 547 2155 for more information.

The Empty Cross at Dawn

Holy Week begins with our usual Palm Sunday celebrations in the four churches on Sunday morning, St. Mark’s and St. Martin’s at 9:30am, and St. Andrew’s and St. Chad’s at 11am.

Holy Week Meditations are all at 7:30pm as follows:

Monday at St. Chad’s

Tuesday at St. Mark’s

Wednesday at St. Andrew’s

Maundy Thursday Passover Meal and Vigil are at St. Andrew’s at 7pm

Good Friday begins with the children’s workshops at 9:30am and 11:30am, followed by the Hour at the Cross at St. Mark’s at 2:30pm.

In the evening, there is an Ecumenical Service at St. Andrew’s at 7pm.

On Easter Eve (Saturday 3rd April), there is a Vigil Service at St. Chad’s at 8pm.

And Easter Day is celebrated in all four churches at their usual times, St Martin’s and St. Mark’s at 9:30am, and St. Chad’s and St. Andrew’s at 11am.

Candles lit in prayer

As the church spends its traditional period preparing for Easter, we are running a Lent Course looking at prayer in various forms.

We begin on Ash Wednesday, with the Imposition of Ashes, at 7:30pm at St. Mark’s.

We then go on to explore some different forms of prayer on Wednesday evenings, all at 7:30pm, as follows:

Wednesday 24th February: Liturgical Prayer (St Chad’s)

Wednesday 3rd March: Taize Prayer (St. Andrew’s)

Wednesday 10th March: Ignatian Prayer (St. Andrew’s)

Wednesday 17th March: Prayer Stations (St. Mark’s)

Wednesday 24th March: Prayer and Touch (St. Chad’s)

View of the church from the sanctuary

The slow and gradual work of improving and up-grading St Chad’s Church continued through 2009.  Towards the end of the year the new red carpet appeared as one of the most obvious changes.  Underneath the floor was levelled and at the back of the church the tiled section was fixed and relaid.

This has helped to make the church one of the most beautiful and inspirational spaces in Kirkby.  Improvements to the church grounds and entrance undertaken in previous years are now matched by the interior. If you haven’t visited recently then come along for worship on a Sunday morning at 11.00 and find out why.

Throughout the year St Chad’s is also used for a great many weddings and baptisms, family celebrations and funerals, as well as Sunday worship.  People choose the church because it is a place that stands for spiritual values, for the things of the heart like hope and love.  Members of St Chad’s hope that bringing out the beauty of the building helps to inspire and encourage those who gather in the church for these occasions.

The first part of the concert was a selection of Christmas music that brought some cheer and light for a cold and dark winter time.  The second part introduced some Christmas Carols that celebrated the birth of Jesus – a light to lighten the darkness of our own hearts and society.

The Kirkby Christmas Concert is a real spectacle to see and delight to hear in the inspiring surroundings of St Chad’s Church.

We hope to develop the community festival feel of this event further in future years and any suggestions are welcome of further talent in Kirkby that could be on show.

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The Bishop of Liverpool in Centre 63 pictured with - From left to right: Paul Griffiths, Jeane Lowe, Charlotte Purcell, Jenna Lamb, Ann Brown, Billy Waldron, Frank Reppion and Tim Stratford; Front Row: Keira Higham, Kyle Higham, Kelly Anderson, Brandon Anderson and Cheryl Clarke.

The Bishop of Liverpool, Rt Revd James Jones, visited Centre 63 today.  Centre 63 is described by the Diocese of Liverpool as a groundbreaking project for young people in Kirkby and Knowsley.

He met with young people who have benefited from the Youth Enquiry Service (YES), toured the building and sat down to discuss strategies for improving people’s lives in Kirkby with members of staff and the Centre 63 Board.

Bishop James was clearly impressed by what he saw and heard and is set to become a Patron of the Charity.  Funding valuable work like that of Centre 63 in the voluntary sector is  becoming increasingly difficult during these times of economic hardship, yet the work is more necessary than ever.  Centre 63 depends on a mixture of funding from charitable trusts and from the public purse.  With this mixed funding it is able to provide a service in Kirkby that the local authority might not otherwise be able to.  It is also able to make use of its grassroots nature and its premises independent of any authority figures to make its services accessible to those who are put off by more formal settings.  These things were commended by the Bishop and continue to be welcomed by many local people.