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The Vine
Thornton Methodist
Church Magazine
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The Vine – February and March 2015
Welcome to this edition of The Vine.
During this edition it is the season of Lent, where we set aside
time to reflect on Jesus – his life, his suffering and his sacrifice.
If you would like an article in the April/May edition of The Vine
the deadline is Friday 13th March. Please let Lesley have your
items, or you can send by email to the Church Office
info@thorntonmethodists.org.uk or they can be taken to the
church office, which is open on Fridays from 10.00 to 12 noon.
.

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PLEASE HELP US TO GET TO KNOW YOU!
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Rev Stephen Dunn
60 Victoria Road East
Thornton Cleveleys
FY5 5HQ
01253 855917
07913 442627
dunnythegeordie@hotmail.com
Dear Friends
So I’ve lived on the Fylde Coast for 16 months now, but I still
haven’t got used to the weather! Coming from Newcastle I’m
used to ‘proper’ winters; good hard frosts, and plenty of snow
and ice – so far there hasn’t been any of that! However, what
we’ve missed out on in ice and snow has been more than
made up by the wind; I’ve never known anything like it! It’s
crazy!
My acclimatisation to life and ministry in Thornton has taken
some adjustment. That said, I am more than committed to
seeing this challenge through. We closed 2014 with 2
Testimony services on 28th December. I was hugely
encouraged to hear how God has been working in your lives
across the year. You shared of how God has sustained you
through life’s struggles, and led you to mountain top highs, and
been an ever present companion during everything in between.
The final act of sharing at the 11am testimony service was a
word of encouragement for me from Hebrews 13 v 17 and
quite difficult to take (I am naturally self-deprecating) but much
appreciated, with flowers for Sarah, Christian books for me,
and most precious the assurance of love and prayers.
I was also really encouraged, (as well as a little spooked!)
when I received an anonymous Christmas card, full of
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encouraging words in very carefully printed block capitals, and
a very generous cash gift along with the much appreciated
assurance of love, support and prayers. I have no idea who
snuck up the drive and pushed it through our door, but the
kindness and generosity was heart-warming. I admit I am not
always very good at receiving gifts so thank you.
It seems to me that accepting people for who they are,
overcoming differences, encouraging, supporting, loving,
showing generosity, standing with people in the highs, lows
and all is what the Church of Jesus Christ ought to be about,
and I am pleased to say that that is what we are about at
Thornton Methodist Church. Now, not one of us are perfect,
but we are striving to be ever more like our perfect God, made
real in Jesus, made real in our lives too.
As I write we are just about to share in another 24 hours of
prayer, praying around ‘Loving God, Loving People’. This is a
slogan we are considering using as a Church Mission
Statement, it can be read in more than one way; 1. We have a
loving God, we are a loving people, 2. We love God, we love
people, perhaps you can see other implications of this phrase,
and, more importantly, put it into action.
I look forward to prayerfully discerning with you God’s future for
His Church in Thornton for 2015 and beyond, and being a part
of what He is doing here.
Yours in Christ’s service
We offer our deepest sympathy to the families of those
who have died recently, assuring them of our prayers. In
particular:
We pray for the family and friends of Thelma Bowell, a
member of Thornton Methodist Church whose funeral
took place at TMC on 9 December. We particularly
remember Sharon, Simon, Janice and Helen and their
families, and the church family in our prayers.
We pray for the family and friends of Jeff Blamires
whose funeral took place at Carleton Crematorium on 5
January. We particularly remember Julie and Gary and
their families in our prayers.
We pray for the family and friends of Dorothy Lee, a
member at Thornton Methodist Church whose funeral
took place at TMC on 14 January. We particularly
remember her daughter Ann and family, and the church
family in our prayers.
We pray for the family and friends of Muriel Thomas
whose funeral took place at Carleton Crematorium on 20
January. We particularly remember Liz, Dave and Ian and
all the family in our prayers.
We pray for the family and friends of Bessie Summerton
whose funeral took place at Carleton Crematorium on 21
January. We particularly remember Margaret and Alan
and all the family in our prayers.
Stephen
We send best wishes to Marjorie Smart
who celebrates her 90th birthday on 28th
February
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Blessed are those who die in the Lord;
for they rest from their labours
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Sunday Worship
February and March Worship at TMC
At TMC it is part of our Vision that we cater for a variety of
worship preferences, which is why we hold two services on
Sunday mornings. Our 9.30 a.m. is traditional whilst our 11
a.m. service is contemporary. At 10.30 a.m. between services
we all meet together for coffee/tea and fellowship.
Once a month we hold our Tent Service at 7.00 p.m. This is a
contemporary worship service usually led by our Worship Band
and features testimony, prayer and teaching. If you have
never been to a tent service before, why not give it a try? You
would be made very welcome.
Sunday 1st February
9.30 a.m.
Rev Stephen Dunn – Holy Communion
11.00 a.m. Rev Stephen Dunn
7.00 p.m.
The Tent – Rev Paul Critchley
Sunday 8th February
9.30 a.m.
Rebekah Spinks
Worship Leader – Pam Roberts
11.00 a.m. Brian Robbins - All Age Worship
Sunday 15th February
9.30 a.m.
Rev Stephen Dunn
Worship Leader – Eileen Harper
11.00 a.m. Rev Stephen Dunn – Holy Communion
Worship Leader – David Rangeley
Sunday 22th February
9.30 a.m.
Sylvia Clark
11.00 a.m. Greg Doughty
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Sunday 1st March
9.30 a.m.
Rev Stephen Dunn
11.00 a.m. Rev Stephen Dunn – Holy Communion
7.00 p.m.
The Tent – Rev Stephen Dunn
Sunday 8th March
9.30 a.m.
Rev Stephen Dunn – Holy Communion
11.00 a.m. Rev Stephen Dunn
Sunday 15th March – Mothering Sunday
9.30 a.m.
Rev Stephen Dunn
11.00 a.m. Rev Stephen Dunn - All Age Worship and
Parade
Sunday 22nd March
9.30 a.m.
Richard Adams
11.00 a.m. Greg Doughty
Sunday 29th March – Palm Sunday
9.30 a.m.
Rebekah Spinks
11.00 a.m. Rev Bill Davies
Holding two and sometimes three services in a day requires a
lot of teamwork and support. If you feel you can help in any
way, perhaps welcoming, serving coffee, or with sound and
vision, please start off by talking to one of the stewards who
will be delighted to speak with you. Remember, the more
volunteers we have, the greater the spread of our tasks.
We particularly need more welcome stewards for the 11.00
service and a couple of people to make coffee on the first
Sunday of each month.
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Introducing your new Treasurer
Hi Everyone.
My name is Ken Holden. A fair number of you will know me but
others may not. On Wednesday 7th January I took over from
Jean Casson who has been your Treasurer for many years.
With regards to myself, I was the Church Treasurer at
Fleetwood Road Methodist Church for 2 spells in the 1990s
and early 2000s. I moved on to become Fleetwood Circuit
Treasurer around 2002 and continued in that role until late
2007. This means that, yes, I have experience of being a
Church and Circuit Treasurer but since my time in those roles
the nature and organisation of the job has changed
enormously. I have not yet had time to settle into the role
properly and it will take time. It has not helped me this week in
that I have suffered the most horrific cold, head and chest, I
have ever had and am still recovering.
26 February, 26 March, 23 April, 21 May
If you need to contact me I can be obtained on 01253-863511.
If I am not about please leave a message so that I can get
back to you.
I am looking forward to working at this role within the Church
and hope I am able to do as good a job as Jean. I thank Jean
and Bill for their work in the past and trust they have a
wonderful time in Australia from the end of January until their
return.
If you have any enquiries please contact me.
Kind Regards and God's Blessing,
Ken
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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN THORNTON
Lent service will be at
St John's Church, Little Thornton on
Sunday 22 February at 3.00 pm
INSPIRE CONFERENCE
The Lancashire Methodist District 9th annual Inspire
Conference is on Saturday 7th March at Runshaw College,
Leyland from 9.30am to 4.00pm
Loving your neighbour
who? why? how?
. Cost £15 adults and free for under 18’s
Booking forms will be available shortly or they can be
downloaded from the website www.lancashiremethodist.org.uk
PRAYER TIMES
In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house
And went off to a lonely place and prayed there.”
Roy Searle, a Baptist minister, and a member of the
Northumbria Community, told a story in one of his talks, about his
son Joshua. When Joshua was small, maybe 4 or 5, he came into
Dad’s study one day and sat down near him. Roy was hard at work
with Church business.
Looking up from his paperwork he asked Joshua what he
wanted. There was no reply. So dad asked him again; “What do you
want Josh?”
The reply came back: “Nothing.” And Joshua still sat there.
“Well, do you want to play a game?”
“No.” And Joshua still sat there.
“Do you want sweets?”
“No.” And Joshua still sat there.
“Do you want a toy?”
“No” And Joshua still sat there.
Feeling frustrated, and by now a bit irritated at this continued
interruption to his all-important work, Roy cried: “Look Josh, what
is that you want, I’m very busy?”
And Joshua said:
“I just want to be with you.”
Roy described how - after stopping blubbing into his hankie he realised what a lesson his small son had taught him, both about his
relationship with his family, and about his relationship with God.
Simply to be with them - his family and his God - really to be with
them, in mind, body & spirit; was the most important thing he would
ever do.
The short reading from Mark’s Gospel is a beautiful and vivid
picture of a time when Jesus simply wanted to be with his Father.
You can feel in the words the wonderful, pre-dawn time as Jesus gets
up and walks out in the cool darkness, to a quiet, still place where
there are no distractions to come between him & his Father. The
reading gives us no idea of what Jesus said, even whether he said
anything at all.
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Perhaps his prayer was simply spending time aware of his
Father’s presence, revelling in Him, listening to Him and seeing his
power & beauty reflected in the wonder of the dawn.
Too often, our own prayer & worship is shot through with
busy-ness. We have to be doing, we have to be talking, we have to be
singing. We don’t often seek to ‘just be’ with our Father, simply
being still and silent, and knowing God’s constant, loving presence in
our lives and in the world around us.
If and when we do try just to be with Him, we can struggle
with the quietness, the stillness, the tension of not doing anything; or
our minds quickly become distracted by the stream of thoughts that
constantly run around in our heads.
But it’s worth persisting, in giving a little of our time and
ourselves to being with our Dad, our Abba, our Father.
ACTION FOR CHILDREN
Thank you to all the box holders for Action for
Children, a total of £290 was raised for 2014. If
you would like a box please let me know.
Also the YOYO Toddlers group raised £15 from
a cake sale which they donated to AFC.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this amount.
Shirley Eade
LADIES FELLOWSHIP
There are many ways we can do this. You may find these two
helpful:
 Simply focus on your breathing - in and out, in and out aware that God is present in each life-giving breath you take;
literally, that it is in God that you are living and moving and
having your being.
 In rhythm with your breathing, repeat a word or phrase from
scripture that especially speaks to you of your relationship with
God e.g. “Abba”, “Jesus” or “Lord”, “Abba Father”, Lord I know
you are near”.
If you prefer something more specific to help you stay focused on
God in stillness, the following is one simple suggestion.
Using the three verses of that beautiful little hymn: “Be Still & Know
That I Am God” (Singing the Faith 18), read or sing one verse at a
time, and then spend a little time with them
“Be still & know that I am God”: Relax into God’s presence, as you
would in a hug from a parent and enjoy and thank God for being right
there with you.
“I am the Lord who saves & heals”: Focus on those things that
need healing in your life, and rest in the healing presence of God’s
love and mercy.
“In you oh Lord, I put my trust”: Sense within your heart & soul
the joy, the security and the wonder of God’s endless love.
Happy New Year to all from the Ladies Fellowship. We are
looking forward to our 2015 programme and we are pleased to
see some new members to our group. We have plenty of room
for more, so if you would like to come along on a Tuesday
afternoon that would be lovely. We start at 2.00 and finish with
a cuppa and biscuits (sometimes cake) around 3.00/3.30. We
try to have a varied programme to suit all “tastes”, so please
come along and join in with us.
BOOK STALL IN THE CHURCH FOYER
Thank you to all who purchase items from our bookstall.
A reminder there are envelopes to put the money in, or if you
don’t have money can you please put an IOU and give to either
Sheena Burwell or one of the stewards.
STREETLIFE
Open day on Saturday 28th February at Streetlife, 48
Buchanan Street, Blackpool. Everyone welcome to call in
between 10.00 am to 3.00 pm.
.
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SABBATICAL
The lovely Methodist Church release ministers from normal
duties for a 3 month sabbatical after 10 years of ministry...
I've now been a minister for just over 11 years and so I'm
overdue a sabbatical. Therefore, from 11 May until 11 August I
will be around (and away) but won't be preaching or doing the
usual things of ministry, followed by a couple of weeks of
holiday. Emergency cover will be provided by the circuit staff
(details will follow) along with arrangements we make within
TMC to ensure that everything continues. I'll have more detail
for the next Vine but wanted to let you know what is
happening.
Stephen
NIMBLE FINGERS
We start with a big thank you to all who donated wool for our
hats, glove, blankets, bootees etc which have been sent to
children who are in need through International Aid (see letter
on the next page)
Alas our stock of wool is running low so once again may we
ask for any double knitting wool (in bright colours) to be
donated so we can continue to supply those in need.
We meet at 11.00 on Thursday so if you would like to come
and join us please do, you will be made very welcome.
Thanks again.
The Nimble Fingers Group
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. Monthly Giving: November and December 2014
Nov.
2nd
9th
16th
23rd
30th
£
£
£
£
£
342.82
444.66
317.29
345.75
506.13
Dec.
7th
14th
21st
28th
£
£
£
£
624.44
352.00
625.36
317.91
Standing Orders:
£1,785.00
£1,757.00
Total:
£3,741.65
£3,676.71
Average weekly:
£ 748.33
£ 919.17
Total income: Nov: £ 5,841.26
Total expenses: Nov: £ 6,889.21
Dec:
Dec:
£ 6,759.52
£10,724.60
Christingle £117.53 went to Streetlife
Christmas Eve £48.73 went to Comfort Zone
The coffee morning in Dec raised £285
The coffee morning in Jan raised £266
LENTEN LUNCHES
Once again, Churches Together in Thornton are arranging
Lenten Lunches on each Friday in Lent from 27 February to 27
March. A short service, starting at 12 noon, will be followed by
a simple lunch. Each of the five local churches will host one of
the Lunches.
Feb 27
March 6
March 13
March 20
March 27
St Nicholas Owen
St John's
Sacred Heart
TMC
Christ Church
COMFORT ZONE
The Monday before Christmas we served a full Christmas
dinner, with all the trimmings to 100 at our Comfort Zone
community (not bad from a domestic 4-burner cooker?) with a
Carol service while we cleared away and prepared the
puddings. Rotary arrived with wrapped presents for everyone,
Paul Maynard MP came to help, again, and brought more
presents and the Rucksack Project brought useful filled
rucksacks. The atmosphere was electric. We continued on
Christmas Eve with breakfasts as usual.
This was all done by donations of food or cash, so our thanks
to you all for your continuing support. Our stocks of food are
being eaten into - literally - so please continue to help us with
food, especially tins of minced beef, baked beans, peas (not
mushy) carrots and packets of instant mash. (We no longer
need butter tubs.)
We also need clothing:- warm coats, trousers, sweaters, socks,
good shoes and new knickers and boxer shorts.
For those sleeping rough we desperately need sleeping bags
and duvets.
We also need more volunteers!!! Do you want to come along
and see if it is for you? Just have a word with me (Gwen) and
we can arrange it.
Thank you from all at Comfort Zone
ADVANCE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Sunday 19th April – joint 10.30am service followed by Annual
General Church Meeting and bring and share lunch
Saturday 25th April – 4.00 to 6.00pm Christian Aid Quiz and
refreshments
Saturday 9th May – 10.00am to 1.00pm – Spring Fair
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TESTIMONY SUNDAY
WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
(INTERNATIONAL AND INTERDENOMINATIONAL)
How inspiring was “Testimony Sunday”.
To hear people giving testimony about what God has done or
is doing in their lives was quite emotional.
It isn’t easy to stand at the front of church and speak to the
congregation, but it was evident to me that God was there at
their sides giving the support and strength for them to speak.
How wonderful it is to share God’s love, with one another and
not just on “Testimony Sunday” but every day.
Sometimes we need the odd nudge to remind us, but our God
is so patient with us and we need to remember to be patient
with one another.
ENVELOPES - WEEKLY GIVING TO CHURCH.
New envelopes will be available Sunday 15th March and
Sunday 22nd March in the Church foyer.
If you do not give using the envelopes and would like to,
please just ask. This is a great way to give if you do not use
standing order. Alternatively, if you would like to give
using standing order, forms are available from Julie and Ken.
Tax payers can Gift Aid their
donations which greatly increases
your giving at no extra cost to you.
Remember to complete a new form
if you change address or your circumstances change and you
can no longer Gift Aid your donations. Tax certificates will be
available on request shortly after 6th April.
Thank you for your continuing support.
Julie
Gift Aid Secretary
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Jesus said to them:
Do you know what I have done to you?
Women’s World Day of Prayer is an international, interchurch,
organisation which enables us to hear the voices of women,
from a different part of the world each year, expressing their
hopes and concerns and bringing them before the rest of the
world in prayer. On Friday 6th March an estimated 3 million
people, in over 170 countries, will gather to observe the day of
prayer, using an order of service written by Christian women
from The Bahamas and translated into over 1000 different
languages and dialects. In the British Isles alone over 5,000
services will be held. The day will begin when the sun rises
over the island of Samoa, and continue until it sets off the
coast of American Samoa some 35 hours later.
The theme of the service is taken from St John’s Gospel,
chapter 13 verses 1- 17, ‘Jesus said to them: “Do you know
what I have done to you?”’ and it challenges us to demonstrate
the same radical, unconditional love for others that Jesus
showed when he washed the feet of his disciples.
The Bahamas consists of over 700 islands, scattered over
100,000 square miles in the Atlantic Ocean, only a small
proportion of which are inhabited. It refers to itself as a ‘family
of islands’ and in the service the needs of the smallest islands
are given as much prominence as those of the larger ones.
Everyone is welcome to attend the service, men, women –
people of all ages.
For further information and resources, please see the WWDP
website: www.wwdp.org.uk
This year the service is at Sacred Heart Catholic Church,
Heys Street, Thornton at the earlier time of 2.00 pm on 6
March
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Meeting Together: People to Contact
DATES
FOR
YOUR
DIARY
SUNDAY
Young Church
Monday 2 Feb
7.30 pm
Wednesday 4 Feb 7.30 pm
Saturday 21 Feb 9.00 am
Children’s Team meeting
Leadership Team meeting
Philippi Trust training
session
Coffee Morning with Fair
Trade Stall and Children’s
activities
Monthly lunch
Ladies’ night at Mimmos
Women’s World Day of
Prayer at Sacred Heart
Philippi Trust training
Session
Inspire Conference at
Runshaw College
Finance Team meeting
Leadership Team meeting
Coffee Morning and
Children’s Activities
Monthly Thursday lunch
Philippi Trust training
session
10.00 am
Thursday 26 Feb
Thursday 5 Mar
Friday 6 Mar
12.30 pm
7.30 pm
2.00 pm
Saturday 7 Mar
9.00 am
9.30 am
Wednesday 11 Mar 7.00 pm
Monday 16 Mar
7.30 pm
Saturday 21 Mar 10.00 am
Thursday 26 Mar
Saturday 28 Mar
12.30 pm
9.00 am
Mettle (Year
10+)
MONDAY
Quiet time of
Prayer
Scruffy Club
Cool Club for
Kids
TUESDAY
Ladies
Fellowship
Kristina Wilson
07974 152092
19.00
James & Kristina
Wilson
07967 044327
13.30Brian Robbins
15.30
873625
17.15
Kristina Wilson
07974 152092
18.15
Rachel Kearton
07763 065997
14.00
Sylvia Clark
857754
Prayer Meeting
19.00Brian Robbins
19.30
873625
WEDNESDAY
Ladies Bible
Study
THURSDAY
19.30
Jenny Whiteside
07525 346922
Café
09.30
Pat Gregory
823814
Nimble Fingers
11.00
Pat Gregory
823814
Choir Practice
11.00
Sylvia Clark
857754
Monthly Lunch
12.30
Jenny Whiteside
07525 346922
Board Mates
14.00
Pat Gregory
823814
09.45
Alison Stevenson
826931
19.00
Alan Whiteside
07538 700234
08.00
Doug Harper
825871
FRIDAY
YOYO Parent &
Toddler
Family Fridays
SATURDAY
Men’s Breakfast
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11.00
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CHURCH OFFICE
07967 497617
(Open Fridays 10 am to 12 noon)
info@thorntonmethodists.org.uk
ALPHA COURSE
Eileen Harper
CHILDREN’S TEAM LEADER Kristina Wilson
07979 648348
07974152092
CLEANING
Doreen Faragher
868712
FINANCE TEAM LEADER
Brian Watkins
851301
MEMORIAL BOOK
Margaret Daniel
826183
John Byrne Dip. F.D.
John Byrne Jnr. Dip. F.D.
Angela Byrne
NOTICES/COMMUNICATIONS Lesley Butterworth
821957
(by 5pm Thursday)
07759498938
info@thorntonmethodists.org.uk
NURTURE
Eileen Harper
07979 648348
PARENTING COURSES
Wendy Reeds
594335
PASTORAL
Sylvia Clark
857754
PRAYER
Brian Robbins
873625
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
Mansel Jones
886749
ROOM BOOKINGS
Lesley Butterworth 07927 912218
room bookings phone
bookings@thorntonmethodists.org.uk
SENIOR STEWARD
Sheena Hendrie
868635
TREASURER
Ken Holden
863511
WORSHIP
Rev Stephen Dunn
855917
YOUTH TEAM LEADER
c/o Rev S Dunn
855917
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Pastoral Visitor’s name …………………………………………
My telephone number is ……………………………………….
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