Parish Social -  Friday 28th February 7.00 pm

Apologies to everyone that we’ve had to push the Social back a few weeks to 28th February. Do come and join us in our Brook St Club for our usual very enjoyable annual Parish Social. John always lays on a super buffet, your free ticket entitles you to your first drink free (the other ten you have to pay for) and there’s the usual stupid FP quiz. Children and families very welcome. See you all there, as we toast St Werburgh together. 

On the Free Table Today at the Back of Church…

There are four small Christmas Trees, free to anyone who’d like to take them. Help yourselves!

Parish Secretary Vacancy at St Clare’s Chester

4 hours per week @ £14 per hour. For further details, please see the Diocesan Website https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/ CV and covering letter should be sent to recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org by 28th Feb.

Highlight from the High School – 2025 Jubilee Year

During the Jubilee Year, the chaplain and the students at the CHS would like to hear from parishioners about ideas on how the school could bring hope to our community. Any ideas, please email Ana to gasparinia@christofidelis.org.uk. Thank you to those who already emailed fantastic ideas!

Lent Stations of the Cross: Two Spare Slots

Every Friday evening during Lent, 7.00 pm, we gather as a Parish, either in the church or remotely via zoom, for Lenten Stations or Devotions. Four of the evenings have already been taken, but there are two left if anyone in the Parish would like to lead on either. 

1. 7th March – Any volunteers?
2. 14th March – Tom and Choir
3. 21st March – FP  and Thomas Burke’s POW Paintings
4. 28th March – Ana and High School’s Living Stations
5. 4th April – Liz and Lampedusa
6. 11th April – Any volunteers?

Welcome Wednesday:  G’day, Poms and Possums!

This coming week we look forward to a talk from one of our own parishioners, Tony Barbet. Tony’s Talk is entitled, “£10 Pom Ticket and Life in Australia”. You know you’re very welcome. Do come and join us for coffee and chat beforehand. Bring your own gladdies. 

Pop-Up Pancake Parler: Tuesday 4th March 2025

5.00 - 7.30 pm at Wesley Church. Professor David Clough, University of Aberdeen, co- founder of CreatureKind, an organisation engaging Christians with farmed animal welfare. Refreshments including sweet / savoury pancakes. Book your free place by 28th Feb: buytickets.at/wesleychurchcentre/15363482 or at Wesley Office (323037) or  office@wesleychester.co.uk

First Holy Communion Parish Group

Tuesday 4th Feb 6.30 pm. Parents in Parish House and children in church. Children will need pencil cases and folders / wallets. They’ll receive their new preparation book.

Our Next Youth Mass: Sunday 2nd February, 6.00 pm

This is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, and we also commemorate the Feast Day of St Werburgh.
Everyone warmly welcome to come along. 

Lourdes Hospitality: Tuesday 11th Feb 7.00 pm

St Hugh and St John, West Timperley. 

150th Anniversary Next Meeting: 27th February

Thursday 27th February, 7.30 pm, is when we meet next: meanwhile, keep those ideas coming! Once the Group has approved an idea in principle, we want you to go away and do a feasibility study – costings, timings, who’s in charge, and any other issues we need to consider. Then, if we agree, we press the button to make it happen!  Prayer Book, Recipe Book, previous PP’s graves all well advanced on feasibility studies. How are the rest getting on? See you all on 27th, as we keep planning for an exciting 150th! 

Thanks, SVP, CT, First Forgiveness for Last Saturday

What a busy day it was! Many thanks to Louise and team, and the teachers from school, for an excellent First Forgiveness Sacrament for 38 of our children, and to Fr Neill for his assistance. Then we went straight into our hosting of the Churches Together prayer service and lunch. Thanks, Dinner Ladies, for laying on such a spread! Ands then straight over to St Mary’s Handbridge for a wonderful SVP Christmas Lunch. The highlight had to be the Karaoke, Olive from Orford belting out YMCA…  You just had to be there, folks!

Vacancy in the Diocesan Youth Mission Team

Details can be found on the Diocesan website Latest Vacancies - Diocese  Completed applications to be sent to recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org by 21/2.

February Review Month for our Parish Website

A number of special groups are working away on their pages, revising old ones and adding new ones. 
Have YOU started on YOUR pages yet?

Work on the Porch – The Finished Job!

What a transformation! All replastered and repainted now, a new Burgundy backdrop to the Crucifix and everywhere else sparkling and fresh. The old Chest of Drawers is now in the church, by the Library, giving us much more room. We hope you all like the new look. 

Repository Reopening: Preloved Sale

Sunday 2nd February the Repository reopens 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

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 all! 

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! 

Photo of the Week: Welcome Wednesdays 

The 2024 Welcome Wednesday Macmillan Coffee Morning, which raised £205 for this important charity. Thank you to Helen Teague for sending in the photo.