radcliffe, stand & farnworth united reformed...
TRANSCRIPT
Radcliffe,Stand&Farnworth
UnitedReformedChurches
Rev.NigelAdkinsonManse:[email protected]
RADCLIFFEURCBlackburnStRadcliffeM263WQSecretary: JaniceCockcroft01612803842Treasurer: NeilChadwick01617734490
58TamworthAveWhitefieldM456AUAssistant: JoanCrumpBookingSecretary: AlisonClose01617668571STANDURCStandLaneRadcliffeM261JESecretary: RenataCappelli01617246754Treasurer: MarkAscroft01617629905FARNWORTHURCAlbertRdFarnworthBL49NPSecretary: AndrewJones01204792173
[email protected]: PeterAlmond07787757574 [email protected] LesleySaunders07875603038Secretary: [email protected]
SueMetcalfe:[email protected]
01617614823
ElaineRobinson:[email protected]
01204383628
AnneKennedy:[email protected]
01617248834
PleasegiveanyitemsforthenextpublicationtoElaineRobinsonThecommunicationsteamwillthendecidewhethertheitemswillgoonline,inprintoronthenoticeboard.
Read‘ByTheWay…’online:
http://radcliffeurc.org.uk
DeadlinedatefortheJune/JulyIssue
12May
PLASTICBOTTLETOPSWearecollectinganyplasticbottletops,whichwewillsendforrecycling.ThereisaboxonthetableinthechurchentranceandtheywillbesenttoLushforrecyclingintofurnitureandbeehives.Ifyouwanttosendthemyourselforpassoninformationtoyourfriendsallyouneedtodoisputthetopsintoanenvelopeandtakeittoyourlocalpostoffice.Theaddressis:FREEPOSTLushGreenHub.
PleasejoinusforEASTERBREAKFASTSunday21Aprilat9:30amatRadcliffeURC.Everyonewelcome.
AlloutstandingmoneyfortheweekendneedstobepaidINFULLtoRenatabySunday26May.Pleaseputyourpaymentsinaclearlymarkedenvelope.Thecostfortheweekendis£145.Ifyouhavequestionsregardingtheweekend,pleasespeaktoSueorElaine.
3 LadiesFriendshipClubatRadcliffeURC2:00pm. DevelopmentOfficerAgeUK–LouisePrice.4 LentServiceatStandURC10:30am.5 FarnworthURCCoffeeMorning10am-12pm.9 RadcliffeEldersMeeting1:30pm.11 LentServiceatStandURC10:30am.11 ThursdayGroupMeetingatFarnworthURCat8:00pm. EasterEggBingo.17 LadiesFriendshipClubatRadcliffeURC2:00pm. AGMandAfternoonTea.17 MessyChurchatStandURC3:30pm-5:30pm.21 EasterBreakfastRadcliffeURCat9:30am.28 RadcliffeURCChurchMeeting12:30pm.
3 FarnworthURCCoffeeMorning10am-12pm.9 ThursdayGroupMeetingatFarnworthURCat8:00pm. Speaker:RevdNigelAdkinson.12 Radcliffe&StandJointAnniversaryServiceatRadcliffeURCat
11:00am.12 DeadlineDateforJune/Julyissueof‘BytheWay…’14 ChapelfieldSchoolatStandURC.14 RadcliffeEldersMeetingat7:00pm.26 BalanceduetodayforChurchWeekend.
“He is risen.He isnothere…..He isgoingaheadofyou intoGalileeThereyouwillseehimjustashetoldyou.Tremblingandbewilderedthewomenwentoutandfledfromthetomb.Theysaidnothingtoanyonebecausetheywereafraid.”(Mark16:6-8)
Wearebeingcalledback.Herethestorybeginsagain.Jesusiswaitingforus.Resurrectionhashappened.WeareinGalilee.Itiswherethediscipleswerefirst called, named, sent on a mission and taught by Jesus. The narrativewhichappearedtohaveendedisbeginningagain.Lifehasovercomedeath,Transformation has taken place. The story is circular, love is unbroken,wecontinuallymovefromdeathtolife.Witheach“deathtolife”experience,weare transformed if we arewilling to surrender to the love Jesus shows us,throughhisgrace.Allheasksiswetrustinhimandfollowhim
Aschurcheswehavebeenchallengedinthattrustandfollowingsincewelastvisited theEaster story.Wewerenot surewhether the Farnworthbuildingwouldbesold,wehopedso,butwewerealittleafraid.
WewerenotsurewhetherthecommunityworkatRadcliffewoulddevelop.We applied for an “Awards forAll” community grant, hopingwemight getsomething towards the development of the Community Café we received£10,000themaximumwecouldreceive.Butwewerealittleafraid,becausenowitmeantwehadtodosomethingtomakeithappen.
WewereunsurewhetherwewouldhavetoselltheStandchurchbuilding.Inrealityweknewwewould,becausewehadtofacethepainfultruththatveryfewpeoplesaw itasabuilding inwhichtheywishedtocomeandworship.But we were a little afraid, because we were unsure of our future and oflettinggoofourpast.
WehavelivedthestoryofEasterinveryrealwaysinthislasttwelvemonths.We have faced fear, rejection, pain, loss and much sadness. But in thiscircularstorywitheachpainfulmomentoftransitiontherehavebeensmallglimpsesoftransformation,joyandhope.Thereisstillalongwaytogo.
ButJesushasgoneaheadofustoGalilee.Thestoryisbeginningagain.Hopeis not lost but is real oncemore. Love is still transformingus, aswe shapeourselvesmorefullyintothedisciplesJesuswouldwantustobe.Butinthatshaping,wecanfeelasenseoftremblingandbewilderment.However,thereisalsosecurityandcomfortintheknowledgethattheloveofJesuswillholdusthroughthosemoments,toenableustodoevenmoreforthebuildingupofhisKingdom.
Thewayaheadremainschallenging.
Will we work hard building a relationship with the new owner of ourFarnworthbuilding?
WillwetransformandreordertheRadcliffebuildingsowecanworktowardsthedevelopmentoftheCommunityCaféandHub?
Willwe discern together that uniting Radcliffe and StandUnited Reformedchurcheswill leadtonewandabundant life, throughthepainanddeathofsomethingwehavehelddearforsolong?
Are we trembling and bewildered? Do we want to run from the tombbecauseitisalltoooverwhelmingforustograsp?
Letuspause–forthestoryisbeginningagain…andagain…andagain.Jesushasgoneaheadofus,welcomesusandencouragesus.Heshapesus tobeever greater vessels of his love.Whenwe know that love deepwithin ourownhearts,thenwehavethecouragetofacethechallenges,sharethehopethatisinusandknowthetransformingblessingsoftheEasterstory.
MayweallknowthejoyofthisEasterseasonanditsmanyblessings.
InChrist
Nigel
Jesus,TodaywepausetorememberyoursacrificialloveThatshonelightintothedarknessThatborelifefromsuchemptinessThatrevealedhopeoutofdevastationThatspoketruththroughincriminationThatreleasedfreedominspiteofimprisonmentAndbroughtusforgivenessinsteadofpunishment.Thankyouthatwecannowwalkinthelightofyourlife,Hope,truth,freedomandforgiveness,Thisdayandeveryday.Amen.“ThegreatgiftofEasterishope–ChristianhopewhichmakesushavethatconfidenceinGod,inhisultimatetriumph,andinhisgoodnessandlove,whichnothingcanshake."Basil C Hume, (1923-1999) Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster
Lord,theresurrectionofYourSonhasgivenusnewlifeandrenewedhope.HelpustoliveasnewpeopleinpursuitoftheChristianideal.Grantuswisdomtoknowwhatwemustdo,thewilltowanttodoit,thecouragetoundertakeit,theperseverancetocontinuetodoit,andthestrengthtocompleteit.Amen.
AspalestreaksofcoralopenTheclosed,dark,night-timeskies,Twowomentrudgethedustyroad
ThatleadstotheplacewhereHelies.Bringingburialspices,theyenter,
Subduedbyallthathappenedbefore.Astheynearthetombtheyremember
therockthatblocksthedoor.
Butwhentheyreachthesite,Therockstandsatoneside,
Andwithin,anangeldressedinwhiteSpeaksoftheirLordwhowascrucified.
"ThisistheplacewheretheylaidHim,ButHeisnothere.Heisnotdead.CarrythewordtoHisfriends:
HehasrisenasHesaid."
Joyful,astonished,afraidtobelieve,Foramoment,theystandparalyzed.
ThentheyrushtoreportwhattheangelsaidAstheglorioussunisontherise.
MargaretWideyke
AprilServices2019
DATE RADCLIFFEURC 11:00am
STANDURC 9:30am
FARNWORTHURC 10:45am
April7 AdrianYapp
RevNAdkinson
April14 RevNAdkinson ServiceofHolyCommunion
MrAdrianYapp
April18 RevNAdkinson MaundyThursdayCommunionatFarnworthat7pm
April19 RevNAdkinson
GoodFridayServiceatStandat10.30am
April21 EasterBreakfastatRadcliffeat9.30am RevNAdkinson
JointPastorateEasterCommunionServiceatRadcliffeat11am
April28 RevNAdkinson
ChurchMeetingat12.30pm
MrBarryBradshaw
MayServices2019
DATE RADCLIFFEURC 11:00am
STANDURC 9:30am
FARNWORTHURC 10:45am
May5
RevRichardBradley
RevNAdkinson
May12
RevNAdkinson JointAnniversary&Communion.
MrMarkBates
May19
PeterFielden
RevNAdkinson
May26 RevNAdkinson
RevNAdkinson BreakfastService 9.30atStand
MrAaronShaw
June2 CathHilton
RevNAdkinson
Untilfurthernotice,StandURC&RadcliffeURCwillhaveJointServicesat11:00amatRadcliffeURCunlessotherwisestated Also ‘ThursdaysatStandURC’Aninformaltimeofbiblicalreflectionandprayer10.30amforhalfanhourfollowedbylightrefreshmentsRadcliffe&StandJointAnniversaryServiceisonSunday12May11:00amatRadcliffeURC.PleasenotethatthereisNoAnniversaryLunchfollowingthisservice.
DorothyCliftonDorothy’sfuneralservicewasheldatRadcliffeURCon13thFebruary.Amemberofthechurchforanumberofyears,Dorothywillberememberedparticularlyforherwonderfulsewingskills.ShemadeQueen’sdressesfortheannualWhitWalksformanyyears.ShehadfondmemoriesofherserviceintheLandArmyinWalesandwouldtalkaboutthisregularly.ForanumberofyearsshewasamemberoftheChristmasFairCommitteeatRadcliffeandofferedasupportiveroleinthisannualevent.WeofferoursympathytoherdaughterBarbaraandfamilyinthepassingofadearmother,motherinlaw,grandmotherandgreatgrandmother.
BarbaraOgdenFamilyandmanyfriendsgatheredatStandURCon19thFebruarytorememberBarbara’slifewithloveandaffection.ArealcharacteroftheChapelfieldcommunitywerecalledmuchofBarbara’slifethroughfunandlaughter.WorkinginlocalshopsbothinSuthersStreetandonStandLaneatthenewsagentstherewerenotmanypeopleBarbaradidnotknow.BarbarawasaloyalanddevotedmemberandElderatStand.ShewillbesadlymissedandweofferourloveandsympathytoherhusbandKen,daughter’sLesleyandGillianandsonGarethandthewiderfamilyalso.
WesleyHaltonFamilyandfriendsgatheredatOverdaleCrematoriumon6thMarchtorememberWesley’slifewithloveandthanksgiving.FormanyyearsWesleywasconnectedwiththefellowshipatFarnworth.HisparentswereregularattendersandhisfatherwasChurchSecretary.Wesley’sworkinglifewaspredominantlyasaCountryParkRangeratMosesGate.Hewasinstrumentalinanationalstudyofthehabitatand
migrationofMuteSwans.Werememberhisfamilyatthistime,hiselderlymotherGladysanddaughterandpartnerGailandPeterandhistwograndchildren.LilyHardyFriendsofLilygatheredtorememberherlifeatRadcliffeCrematoriumon15thMarch.FormanyyearsassociatedwithStandURC,shehadmanyfriendsthroughthechurchandherloveofbowling.PredeceasedbyherhusbandBert,shereceivedmuchloveandcareinherlateryearsfromafriendandneighbourMaria.WegivethanksforLily’slifeandforallshecontributedtohercommunityandchurch.
Maythesoulsofthefaithfuldeparted,throughthemercyofGod,restinpeace.Amen.