Parish Newsletter

A very successful process, for which thanks due to everyone. 134 people voted, either on-line or on paper, and a total of 95 different parishioners received at least one vote. We’ve contacted those who received most votes to ask them if they would be willing to stand and delighted that the “top three” all said yes! The first time this has ever happened in my experience of over thirty years of this system. It’s a tribute to the success of our Parish Renewal Programme and how extraordinarily you have all supported it. The “top three”, and therefore the three new members  of our Parish Council are Tina Bainbridge, Steve Tierney and Gerry Tighe. I can’t imagine three better choices: but, more importantly than my feelings, three who clearly enjoy the confidence of you, the parishioners of St Werburgh’s. Thanks, everyone!

Sunday 16th June 10.00-16.00 in Chester City centre. Information, entertainment and fun for all the family; including 20 Partner stalls in Town Hall Square, Stunt Bike displays and dance workshops in Exchange Square, entertainment in Storyhouse and bike maintenance demonstrations in the Market. Part of the Chester Green Weekend. Why not take a look at our website for more details https://atfest.uk/  

Have you considered a vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood? For more information see our website at shrewsburyvocations.org

If you’d like to explore God’s call for your life and learn about other opportunities for discernment, email the diocesan vocations director at vocationsdirector@dioceseofshrewsbury.org

National Office for Vocation is at www.ukvocation.org  and www.ukpriest.org 

The tables have all found good homes so now we’re looking for homes for the grey chairs that used to be in the Day Chapel. One’s at the back of church for you to have a look at. They’re stackable, and so let us know if you’d like any or all of them.

Would you like to join the Church cleaning rota on a Wednesday morning, one week in four, for an hour and a half? If so, email Father Paul. And is anyone available on a Monday morning, again one week in four, to help with counting the collection and going to the bank ? Email if you can help out.

You’ll have noticed that the sound system in church has been upgraded and new microphones installed. Not cheap, as you can imagine, but we hope it helps. However, there’s a Circle in Hell reserved for anyone who continues to mutter…

Head them “Newsletter”!

Total of £4,355.32 for 2023, made up from your red box donations. Thank you so much.  If anyone would like a red box please contact our Red Box secretary, Bernie, on 340768.

Next one: Monday 2nd September.

St Werburgh’s Altar Servers: Now Hiring!

Boys and Girls over the age of 8 who have received their First Holy Communion especially for 10.45. Full training  will be given. Please contact Gerry, James  or Sam on a Sunday for an Application Form. 

Further details on 319350.

Frances writes: “I am hoping to arrange bucket collections, roughly every two months and need more volunteers. If you have a few hours to spare and would be happy to volunteer, please email me at: frances.douglas2@btinternet.com

Interviews Next Week

Thanks to Gerry and Tony, St Werburgh’s welcomed 14 visitors last Friday afternoon. You are welcome to come and join them throughout June/July. We’ll also need Stewards for the whole week, 23rd - 28th June.

Liverpool Empire on Friday 4th October at 7.30 pm. Tickets are £38.50 each and coach transport to and from Chester would be approximately £12 a head, depending on numbers. If you’d like to join us on the trip, please sign the form at the back of church. 

Many thanks to Mary Briody for hosting last month. The next two will be July and August, with two of our great Country Cousins: Mike and Liz’s out in Clotton for July; and then in August at John Petterson’s, at the Farm in Great Barrow. Hopefully, both can be out of doors. For John’s, do bring your gum boots as he’ll need you to do a little mucking out beforehand…

Next meeting will be Wednesday 19th June at 6.00 pm. 

Wednesday 26th June at 2.00 pm, an occasion not to be missed. Part of Chester History Festival, church will be open for wizziters each afternoon from Friday 21st to Friday 28th June, except for Saturday 22nd. New laminated sheets on Parish History have been produced, so do come along and bring your friends. 

Bingo at 10.30 am, with Bernice as Caller. But I’d no idea she was coming dressed as Carmen Miranda! (The cherries were delicious…)

Departing Waverton 09.10, Peacock 09.15, St John’s 09.25 and Red Lion Handbridge 09.30. Please sign list to tell us which one you’d like to be picked up at. 

If you are responsible for any Parish Activity, please get your dates to us asap. Thanks!

The oldest part of the University, dating back to 1839 when it opened as an Anglican Teacher Training College, and still beautifully unchanged.