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St Elphin’s Chronicle
October 2014
Vol 126
Price 30p
St Elphin’s Church, Warrington
Photo courtesy of Charmian Berry berry415@btinternet.com
The Osiligi Troupe
of
Maasai Warriors
The Troupe’s music is incredible, mesmerising to
hear and certainly fascinating to watch. This is an
opportunity to experience and enjoy the diverse
culture of the Maasai.
An unforgettable event!! Not to be missed!!
Crafts and wares will be available for purchase
Thursday, 2nd October at 7.00 pm
Tickets: £8 adults, £6 concessions, £5 under 16s, £20 family (2+2)
Available from:
Dianne Rothwell - 01925 632974, Kathryn Hayes - 01925 656790
Gill Whitticombe - 01925 564408, Rev P Wilson - 01925 635020
or on-line: osiligi.ticketsource.co.uk
Worship in the Parish
Sundays:
8.30am
10.30am
12.30pm
6.30pm
Holy Communion
Parish Eucharist
Holy Baptism (1st & 3rd only)
Evensong
Wednesdays:
10.00am Holy Communion
Saints’ Days and other Holy Days
7.30pm Holy Communion (unless stated otherwise)
A Loop System is in operation in the Church to assist hearing aid
users. Please switch your hearing aid to the ‘T’ position for it to be
effective.
There are large print copies of the Hymn Book and the
Communion Service.
Please ask the Church Wardens or
Sidespeople if you would like a copy.
Special Services are announced through Church Notices, the Parish
Magazine and the Website as necessary.
Holy Communion is taken regularly to the Sick and Housebound by our Clergy and
Team of Licensed Eucharistic Ministers. Please inform the Clergy when
parishioners are ill, either at home or in hospital.
The Parish Staff
Rector
Reverend P D Wilson
The Rectory
129 Church Street WA1 2TL
01925-635020
email: revpdwilson@aol.com
Assistant Priest (NSM) Reverend C Waddleton
Readers
Mr R Whitticombe
3 Franklin Close
Old Hall
WA5 8QL
Mr A G Dunn
56 Orford Green
WA2 8PL
Church Wardens
Mr A Wright
5 Kinsale Drive
Locking Stumps
WA3 6LX
Miss K J Hayes
8 Charlton Street
Latchford
WA4 1LX
Organist and
Mr R N Birbeck
Choirmaster
2 Moss Road
Latchford
Websites:
St Elphin’s:
http://www.warringtonparishchurch.org
Diocesan Website:
http://www.liverpool.anglican.org
Cathedral Website:
http://www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk
0161-962-0062
01925-564408
01925-630417
01925-821048
01925-656790
01925-637712
‘A waste of time…?’
Most of us grow up thinking that we’re invincible. There’s something
deep in our human souls that tells us life is endless and that we have all
the time in the world. And of course it is! But there’s a massive
difference between the life we live now and the life we will live in
eternity. These two different parts of our life overlap, but what we do in
one part has eternal consequences in the other.
So many lives end in regret over this revelation. There are many ‘If only’s’
when it all seems too late and we realise the time we have wasted and
the opportunities we have missed. Many of us let our days pass by in
survival mode or in entertainment mode, never quite getting around to
balancing these things with the things that matter so much more.
In this life we are to plant so that God may reap the rich harvest. And in
order to sow effectively, we need to remember that the time to sow is
short. The window of opportunity for fruit-bearing is limited. Therefore,
we must make the most of the time God has given to us; to do all that
we can to make the lives of others fuller and richer by blessing and
encouraging them and revealing to them, through our own lives, the love
and grace of God.
In the grand scheme of God’s planning we’re just a small point on the
timeline. By the time we think we’ve learned everything we need to
know and feel equipped to serve, we will have but a moment left.
But God has given us such a wonderful privilege. We can accomplish in
that moment things of such eternal significance. God can change
people’s lives through us. He can shape our world, our children, our
spouses and our friends through us. He can feed the hungry, encourage
the weary, rescue the lost, heal the sick, create disciples and build his
kingdom through us. But only if we’re wise to have numbered our days
and not think that we have eternity here on earth.
We must number our days, making the very best of the time God has
granted us, not wasting that precious time but using it wisely to love,
cherish, honour and bless one another.
Lord, ‘Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of
wisdom…’ (Psalm 90:12). Wise words indeed.
With every blessing this October
Paul
Rector of Warrington, St Elphin’s
Special Services in October/November
Sunday 5th October at 11.00am
The Annual Service of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment
Preacher: The Venerable Peter Bradley, Archdeacon of Warrington
Please note the Parish Eucharist will be at 6.30pm
Sunday 12th October at 10.30am
The last service of our organist Mr R Birbeck
Sunday 2nd November Patronal and Dedication Festival
8.30am
Eucharist
10.30am
Festival Eucharist
6.30pm
Service of Commemoration for families and friends
of those whose funerals have taken place during the
past year
Monday 3rd November at 7.30 pm
All Souls Eucharist to remember departed relatives and friends.
(Please give names to be read out at this service by 28th October.
In writing please)
Thursday 6th November at 7.00pm
Confirmation Service
The Right Reverend Cyril Bishop, Assistant Bishop of Liverpool will
confirm the candidates and preach
A new Bible Study Course on Paul’s letters
to the Ephesians and Galatians will
commence on Thursday 11th September for
6 weeks in the Community Centre
excluding 2nd October(Maasai Warriors in
Church). For more details please speak to
Geoff Dunn. All are welcome.
Autumn Fayre and Grand Raffle
Saturday 1st November, 11.00am to 4.00pm
This is our main fund raiser and we rely on a good result to help
pay our Parish Share Contributions to the Diocese.
Our helpers work very hard throughout the year and deserve our
support.
Please come to support this Annual Parish Event
Items for the stalls are always welcome and can be left at the back
of Church clearly labelled:
Gift Stall
Items for Mrs Irene Fryar
Men’s Group
Books
Ladies Group
Items for the Tombola and cake stall
Chocolate Tombola Sweets and Chocolates for Karen Wilson
Grand Raffle
1st Prize £100; 2nd Prize £50 plus many other prizes.
Tickets now available in Church
If you wish to donate a prize, please speak to Kathryn Hayes or Ray
Whitticombe.
Quiz Night
In St Elphin’s Community Centre
Friday 17th October 2014
at 8.00pm
Tables of 4
£3.50 each including refreshments
Bring your own drink
St Elphin’s Ladies Group
Dates for your diary
Wednesday 15th October
Craft Night with Karen Whitticombe in the Community Centre
Wednesday 5th November
Dr Zsigmond talks to us about his escape from Hungary
Wednesday 19th November
Crystal Hand Bellringers – this meeting will take place in the
Community Centre
Thursday 27th November
Christmas Fayre with the Brownies and Guides
Wednesday 3rd December
Christmas Lunch – names to Margaret as soon as possible please
Pause for Thought…with Norma Fox
‘You give little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself
that you truly give.’
Kahlil Gibran
It was a late summer afternoon, I had decided to take a little time to myself
and sit in the garden and read. It was so peaceful, and for a while I was lost
in my book until the twittering of the birds drew my attention, they were
squabbling and pushing each other in order to gain the best advantage in the
stone bird-bath that I had refilled only that morning. They paid no attention
to me as they flapped about before sharing the seeds I had placed on the
bird table nearby.
As I glanced around the garden taking in the colour and brilliance of flowers
and the soft green fronds of the ferns I became aware of this gift of beauty
given by our Creative God.
I lost interest in my book as I let my mind fill with thoughts of the brilliance
of people that surrounded my life, the kindness of neighbours, the caring of
friends, and the loving of family: ways of giving of themselves to me and for
me to share with others for it is in the giving and receiving and sharing that
creates harmony and love in our world.
If one does no good, gives no happiness, goes out to no-one, what is the
point of living at all. We have but one life and one choice to make it count
for something. We are free to choose what that something is, and the
something I have chosen is my faith. My faith demands – this is not optional
– that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I
can with whatever I have to make a difference, sharing God’s love.
We’ve all heard of the Dead Sea, how did it get its name? Why is it dead?who killed it. Well in a way it killed itself. There’s a steady flow of water
going into it from the River Jordan, but it gives nothing back. The water just
stays there till it evaporates. So there has been a steady build- up of salts
and minerals until the sea could no longer support life. You could almost say
it died of stinginess. If it had given as much as it received the Dead Sea could
be alive and well today!
The same thing could happen to us if all we cared about was what we
received. It’s only by passing on our gifts that we keep our hearts and souls
places worth living in.
‘Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken
together and running over, will be poured into your lap’
(Luke 6:38)
Church Opening 2014
The regular Summer Opening days have now come to an end. We
have had visits from people from abroad, all parts of the United
Kingdom and local people. They have all appreciated the welcome
they have received and the information they have been given as well
as the opportunity for peace and stillness.
The opening has been enhanced this year by our detailed exhibition
to commemorate the First World War. Many thanks to Dianne and
Kathryn for their work in arranging this.
The PCC thank all who have helped.
This year special thanks must go to Bob our co-ordinator. He has
performed this role for many years and kept it going like a well
oiled machine.
We now need a new co-ordinator from 2015. If you think you are
the person who could do this, please speak to the Rector or
Churchwardens.
The Church is open all through the year on Saturdays from 9.30am
to 11.00am and groups can be shown round by arrangement at any
time.
Retirement of Mr R Birbeck
It is well known that Bob is retiring in October as organist at St
Elphin’s and his last service will be at the Parish Eucharist on Sunday
12th October at 10.30am.
All are welcome at this Service.
Bob’s wonderful talent, his dedication and service to this Church
and many local organisations have been appreciated by all.
We wish him well in his retirement and hope he will keep in touch
with people and events in the Parish.
Last year we contributed the majority of our Harvest Produce to
the local Food Bank and we have received a request from them
again this year for our help.
We hope to do this when we have made up parcels for those
parishioners on our Harvest List.
Items can be taken to the Food Bank Warehouse between 4.00and
7.00pm and we include a list of those currently required including
non-food items. The address is Tanning Court, off Mersey Street,
(behind Home Base) WA1 2HF.
Most Urgent Items
Other food items
Toiletries
Sponge puddings
Tinned Custard
Cartons of Fruit Juice
Cream crackers
Savoury biscuits
Evaporated/condensed milk
UHT milk (semi or full)
Rice
Sugar
Coffee
Jam
pasta’n’sauce
dried, ready meals
Baby Milk 1, 2 and 3
Noodles
Savoury Rice
Tinned Vegetables
Tinned Tomatoes
Tinned Spaghetti
Tinned Meats
Jelly/Angel Delight
Tinned Rice Pudding
Instant Mash
Tinned fruit
Baked beans
Soup
Tea bags
Breakfast cereals
Pasta and sauces
Sweet biscuits
Toilet paper
Deodorant
Body Wash
Shampoo
Razors
Shaving Foam
Feminine products
Washing up Liquid
Washing Powder
Cleaning Products
Nappies all sizes
Please help us to support Warrington people in need by donating
any of the items from this list.
3 Peaks on 2 Wheels Challenge
Team Daisy started their challenge on the 9th August with the
ascent of Ben Nevis and completed it on the 17th August by
climbing Snowdon. Between these dates they cycled over 500 miles
and climbed 6000 feet! The total raised so far is over £6,000 and
money is still coming in. All involved are very grateful to those who
sponsored this worthwhile cause so generously.
It had been arranged that Daisy would meet them at the top of
Snowdon via the Snowdon Mountain Railway; a wheelchair access
carriage had been booked. Sadly she was rushed to hospital half way
through the challenge so this was not to be. Team Daisy, however,
decided to pay her a visit in the High Dependency Unit at Wigan
Infirmary; just a slight detour during the Lancaster to Chester stage.
This was a complete surprise for Daisy and her mummy and daddy
and hopefully helped to boost morale and speed her discharge.
Originally we hoped to cover the cost of Daisy’s lengthy stay in the
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital last winter – around £2,300.
Thanks to the generosity of so many people, we will now be able to
sponsor a room, in Daisy’s name, at Ronald McDonald House in
Manchester – for 3 years!! This is a tremendous achievement for all
involved. Friends from St Elphin’s raised over £300!
Many thanks, from Daisy and family.
St Elphin’s 50/50 Club
The results of the September draw are as follows:
1st
Julie Seymourson
2nd
Nell Flanagan
3rd
Don Ross
4th
Ken Foot
£145.00 went to church funds
The next draw will take place on Sunday 26th October and
payments must be made by Sunday 19th to be included in the draw.
Any payments made after that date will be assumed to be for the
following month. Any cheques should be made payable to ‘St
Elphin's 50/50 Club’.
New members are always welcome. You could be in line for a prize
and money is raised every month for church funds.
Remember, you've got to be in it to win it.
Many thanks to everyone who contributed to The Gaza appeal
which raised £200.00.
Margaret
Advance Notice
The Christian Aid Autumn Fayre will take place at Bold Street
Methodist Church on Saturday November 8th, 10.30am – 1.30pm.
All are welcome.
October 2014
Make us generous Lord; generous with our time; our talents and
our money. For all these come from you in order that we may use
them in your service. God made enough food for everyone to
share. May we be part of the solution to end hunger in the world
and look for opportunities in our communities to help families
struggling to cope. We thank God for the many food sharing
schemes and ask him to bless this important work.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 8th October 7.30pm in St
Elphin’s school, when will have a review of the year, welcome our
newest member and say a farewell to Bob Birbeck, who has played
at our meetings for many years. All members are asked to bring a
plate of food to share.
Baptisms in October
19th Mary Egerton & Olive Burgess
Tea / Coffee Rota
12th Julie & Linda
19th Julie & Linda
26th Wendy
Wendy Bailey (on behalf of the branch)
Readers and Prayer Rota for October
8.30am
Reader
10.30am
Prayers
10.30am
Reader
6.30pm
Reader
5th
Kathryn H
Paul Wilson (6.30)
12th
Pauline B
Neil Walsh
Thelma Walsh
19th
Dianne R
Lee Marsh
Albert Froggatt PW
26th
Sylvia W
Thelma Walsh
Beryl Dell
Sylvia Wright
GW & DR
DR & GW
Communicants and Collections
Week ending
August 24th
Communicants
70
Collections
647.16
August 31st
86
769.45
September 7th
86
819.35
September 14th
78
616.10
Donations:
General Fund
In memory of Mary Whitfield from Barbara & George
Molyneaux and family
In memory of Mary Whitfield from Margaret Fairbrother
30.00
5.00
Fabric Fund
In loving memory of a much loved uncle, Sydney
Warburton from Barb, Jimmy and Family
10.00
Nave Altar
From Bob Birbeck, in gratitude for a life-time’s organ
playing
2500.00
Choir dates in October
Sunday 5th
Regimental Sunday
11.00am
Sunday 12th
Parish Eucharist
RNB Final Service
10.30am
Parish Registers for September
Holy Baptism
September 7th
Mark Jason Hatchman
Alexis Emma Hatchman
Laila Macie Stringer
Jak William Stringer
Nathan Paul Hadden
Megan Eva Edge
Millie-Mai Rose Spencer
September 21st
Abigail Eva Jay Bennett
Noah Hunter Harding
Olivia Rose Hitchen
Anthony Trevor Harding
Lyla Pearl Louisa Simmonds
Brayden Lyle Simmonds
George Wayne David Simmonds
Holy Matrimony in September
6th
Neil Patrick Lawrinson and Sarah Louise Taylor
13th
Robert Daniel Herbert and Georgia Bailey
20th
Edward James Howell Bryers and Clare Dixon
Christian Burial & Cremation in September
5th
Barbara Moran
Age 62
8th
Mary Elizabeth Teresa Whitfield
Age 90
11th
Henry Worsley
Age 94
16th
Beryl Mooney
Age 76
22nd
Minnie Loake
Age 91
23rd
John McConnell
Age 79
29th
Frances Lillian Graves
Age 81
Lest we Forget
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
23rd October 1914
Private Herbert Singleton Gardner
Age 20
25th October 1914
Private Arnold Edgar Taberham
Age 32
Social and Group Activities
Tuesday
6.30-7.30pm
Wednesday
6.45pm
7.30pm
7.30pm
Thursday
6.30pm
7.30pm
Kids Club (term time only) – Elmwood Avenue
United Reformed Church
St John’s Brownies – Scout HQ, Vale Owen Road
Mothers’ Union – St Elphin’s School (2nd only)
St Elphin’s Ladies Group (1st & 3rd only) meet in
the Community House next door to St Elphin’s
Community Centre
St Elphin’s Brownies – St Elphin’s School
St Elphin’s Guides – St Elphin’s School
Men’s Group (1st only)
Friday
6.30-7.30pm
Beavers - (Boys/Girls aged 6 – 8)
6.30 – 8.00pm Cubs - (Boys/Girls aged 8 - 10)
6.45 – 9.00pm Scouts - (Boys/Girls aged 10 - 14)
At Howley Fairfield Neighbourhood Project,
Fairfield Street. For more details contact Debbie
(Group Scout Leader) on 07804 267310
All members of the Church and local community are welcome to
come and join with us in these and any occasional activities which
are announced in Church or advertised on the Church Notice
Board.
School
St Elphin’s (Fairfield) CE Primary School
Head Teacher:
Bookings:
Mrs Mary Cummings
635143
made with the Head Teacher
St Elphin’s Junior Church
Sundays at 10.30am in the Choir Vestry
Occasional Services
Holy Baptism
1st and 3rd Sundays in the month at 12.30pm
Arrangements to be made with the Rector or Church Wardens
Holy Matrimony and Banns
Arrangements to be made with the Rector or Church Wardens
Funerals
Arrangements are usually made with the Rector by the Funeral
Director who has been engaged.
The Church Wardens hold a surgery in Church on Saturdays from
10.00am to 11.00am for Applications for Baptism, Holy Matrimony
and Banns.
The Clergy are available at any time in cases of emergency.
Readers are encouraged to support our Sponsors
who have given generously towards our costs.
For that Special Occasion
The Winmarleigh Rooms
Large and small licensed Function Rooms available for:
Wedding Receptions, Christenings, Birthdays etc
For further information and bookings please contact:
The Winmarleigh Rooms, Winmarleigh Street, Warrington
01925 651468 Email: enquiry@winmarleighrooms.co.uk
Bewsey Road, Warrington, WA2 7LW
01925 445555
Michelle & Co
Ladies and Gents Hairdressing
4a Bold Street, Warrington
01925 630714
Knox & Son Ltd
Independent Family Funeral Directors
• 24 Hour Personal Care • Private Chapels of Rest
• Pre-Paid Funeral Plans • Horse Drawn Hearse Available
• Religious and Non Religious Ceremonies
43-45 Orford Road, Warrington
01925 633388
Proprietor Betty Mercer
Manager Harry Taylor
Shelley’s
Restaurant & Coffee Shop
8 Bold Street, Warrington
01925 654000
Cheshire Funeral Services
Park View Funeral Home
57 Gorsey Lane, Warrington
01925 571048
‘Caring for our Community’
Hospice Shops
Birchwood
Bridge Foot (Furniture)
Golden Square
Hood Manor
Latchford Village
Longford Street, Warrington
Lymm
Stockton Heath
01925 825561
01925 650800
01925 575780
01925 629494
01925 415414
01925 411626
01925 758057
01925 602932
Readers are encouraged to support our Sponsors
who have given generously towards our costs.