Annual Mission Appeal This Weekend

We are delighted to welcome Fr David Goodill OP to preach the Annual Mission Appeal. Fr David is a Dominican from Blackfriars, Oxford. He will preach at all Masses. I know we will give him a very warm welcome and support the Mission Appeal as generously as we always do.

Anniversaries List

Every few years, we revisit our Sick List and check that all the names on it need to be on it. We might need to do the same with our Anniversaries List, which obviously grows every year. Would it be sensible to limit it to the past ten years? We put the names on automatically, from our Deaths Registers, whereas names on the Sick List have to be requested by the individual concerned or their next of kin. What do you all think? Would a ten-year cut off for Anniversaries be sensible, or shall we keep it as it is, accepting that it will keep growing every year?

 
Readers Review Sessions

There are two reviews scheduled: Tuesday 28th January at 7.00 pm and Thursday 6th Feb at 10.00 am. Please will all readers, including at Rowton, email Marian (marian.mccarthy@btinternet.com) as soon as possible with the date that you plan to attend this mandatory review session.

 
What’s Trending on Welcome Wednesdays?

An enthusiastic response last week to our launch and brainstorming of our Anniversary Recipe Book plus a whole range of ideas to mark St Werburgh’s 150th Anniversary Year. This coming Wednesday, 22nd January, we welcome Kay Stonely and Sara Jarman from the Energy Team of Chester Citizens Advice. They will give us a presentation on “Saving Energy and Keeping Warm” at 10.45. and there will be opportunity for questions. A “warm” welcome (geddit?) awaits you, so please do come along to the Day Chapel (Side entrance).

 
Repository Reopening: Preloved Sale

On Sunday 2nd February the Repository will reopen with our popular Sale of Pre-loved and donated items. We are always grateful for the support generated by the sale of these items and further donated items will be most welcome.  Please leave at the Repository table.

 Advent Singers Concert – Friday 21st February

Our good friends will be making another welcome visit here on Friday 21st February at 7.00, under their Director, Stewart Smith. It’s a Charity Concert in aid of Parkinson’s Research UK, and is full of wonderful Popular Choral Classics, from Sixteenth Century Motets to Twentieth Century Songs from the Shows. Some very talented youngsters will also be performing, Henry with Bach unaccompanied Viola, and Adam with the Saint-Saens Clarinet Sonata. Something for everyone!

 
Update on Parish Building and Maintenance Projects

Work on the Porch is going very well and will probably take about another ten days: stripping down the old, damaged plaster, replastering, painting and renovating all the woodwork. While the work is on, the Porch will be out Monday-Friday, entrance to the church being by the side door along the passageway near the Organ. Also in hand are servicing all the radiators in  church, many not working or working noisily. Plus a major survey and cleaning of all our guttering and downpipes. For a church of our size and age, the work never stops.
 

 
Recycling of Old Lectionaries and Hymn Books Rack

With the introduction of the new Lectionaries last Advent, we now need to dispose appropriately of the old ones. The Diocese is helping with all the hundreds of “Parish Mass Books”, six books, two for each year of the three-year cycle. We haven’t used these for some years, except in Holy Week, so time for a clear-out. Would anyone like the old bookcase on wheels in which the current ones used to be stored?

 February Review Month for our Parish Website

Great work already underway, on the common parts, and a number of special groups working away on their pages, revising old ones and adding new ones. Have YOU started on YOUR pages yet?

 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

• County-Wide Christian Unity Service on Sunday 19th January 2025  at Hoole URC, 3.00 pm. Christleton,
• Churches Together visit each other’s Churches:
• Monday 20th January: Waverton Evangelical – 12,00
• Tuesday 21st January: Rowton Methodists - 12.00
• Wednesday 22nd January: St Peter’s – 12.00
• Thursday 23rd January: St James – 12.00
• Friday 24th January : Christleton Methodists – 12.00
• Saturday 25th January: St Werburgh’s – 12.00

Crib Collection for Caritas: £390-00

Many thanks for your very generous response. Together with the donation for the fieldscope, that means Dominique will be sending a super £650 to our Diocesan Social Work Agency. Thanks, everyone!

Parish Council Meeting: Minutes

Now on the website, and soon on Notice Boards.

150th Anniversary Launch Meeting: Thurs 23/1, 7.15

Everyone warmly welcome to our Launch Meeting on Thursday: those who’d like to be on the Planning Committee, and those who have a specific idea to share. 2025 is the 150th Anniversary of our present church. There will be some big events, but we are also asking each Parish Group to come up with ideas of how they would like to celebrate. So, get your thinking caps on, and the more ideas you can come up with, the more delighted the whole Parish will be.

Healing Mass: Sunday 9th February at 2.30 pm

Building on the success of our very good first Healing Mass last year, we are planning a second, a joint initiative between the SVP and the Parish Liturgy Group. Its theme will be “Come to me, all you who are overburdened, and I will give you rest”, and a flyer is now out, giving further details. Book the date!

 SVP Festive Lunch: Saturday 25th January

You are cordially invited to this annual event at St Mary’s Handbridge. If you’d like to come, please contact Marco (bububaba05@icloud.com) or Fran (07990-524-780) by 20th January. See you all there!  

Safeguarding Training

Excellent session last Tuesday, led by Liz and Chris. 15 group leaders and interested parishioners turned up, and we will be repeating it later on for those who couldn’t come on Tuesday. Really crucial work.

 

Photo of the Week: Flags of All Nations

Brought to the Altar as part of a recent Youth Mass.