Parish Newsletter

Our Next Youth Mass

Sunday 28^th January at 6.00 pm, with our youngsters taking as many parts as possible, and accompanying the singing of a couple of hymns.

Do come along and support them!

 

Forthcoming Funerals in Church

• Cath Marshall – Friday 2^nd February, 12.00 noon
• John Wade – Friday 9^th February, 11.30 am
• Christopher Boultwood – Tues 13^th Feb, 12.00 noon

May They All Rest in Peace.

 

Ash Wednesday – 14^th February – and Lent

Not a Holyday of Obligation, but three Masses on that day, at all of which Ashes are distributed: 7.30 am, 12.15 pm and 7.30 pm. Lenten Devotions or Stations as usual every Friday evening at 7.00 pm.

Please note the time of Lenten Devotions – 7.00 pm – not the 7.30 we put in last week’s Newsletter.

 

Lenten Holy Hour: Sunday 3^rd March, 3.00 pm

Many of you have asked when our Holy Hours are coming back again: the answer is Sunday 3^rd March!

 

Posters and Flyers for Church?

If you have any events you want advertising in church via posters or flyers, please place them in the top left hand drawer of the chest in the porch.

 

Calling All Mrs Mopps!

Our wonderful army of church cleaners would welcome a few more recruits, once a month for just an hour, the fourth Wednesday morning in each month. Can you help out? If so, please email Lyn on rich_lyn@hotmail.co.uk

 

Young Artists – Get Those Paints Out Again!

You did us proud on the Welcome Posters. Now we want you to put your wonderful artistic minds to an Easter Card. Once again, incredible prizes!

 

Welcome Wednesday Welcomes Marie Cunniffe

This week, Marie is going to give us a Flower Arranging demonstration at 11.00 am. But we start at 10.00 am with our usual games, knit and natter, and learning to crochet – the hoops will be on the lawn, but please bring your own mallets and balls.

 

Synod Update Meeting Last Wednesday

Many thanks to Anne Proctor for leading an excellent session bringing us all up to date on the Synod, and how it relates to our own Parish Renewal Programme.

 

Anyone Know a Tame Plumber?

Couple of small jobs needed in the house, if anyone can recommend a good local contact.

 

St Werburgh’s Feast Day: 3^rd February

That’s a Saturday this year: so, we’ll keep it as the Sunday Feast on 4^th February, and also on the Monday, when a number of our High School pupils will be joining us. Can we give them a really warm welcome? And don’t forget the Social on Friday 9^th. Free tickets available today. Your first drink is free: the next ten you have to pay for…

 

Church Library Open Morning – Monday 29^th Jan

9.30-11.30 am. With Lent just around the corner, come and borrow from the large selection of books on Prayer, Meditation and Reflection.

 

Next Hospital Mass: Thursday 1^st Feb, 12.15 pm

In the Countess of Chester Hospital Chapel with Fr Bernard Forshaw. For all the staff, patients, patient families, volunteers and parishioners of our area. If you are able to attend, we would love to welcome you once a month to our hospital chapel.

 

Chester Male Voice Concert Here - Sat 17^th Feb

7.30 pm, under the direction of our Musical Director Joe Mann and accompanied by our Principal Accompanist Helen Jackson. Whilst singing traditional pieces we have undergone a modernisation of our repertoire and look forward to a wonderful evening, sharing a  wide range of music. The choir's Motto is to Sing, Inspire and Support and as well as supporting each other we nominate two charities each year and last year we raised money for Kids Bank and Share Shop, two local charities, who carry out vital work in the area. We look forward to welcoming new members, and sing in St. Columba's Church Hall in Plas Newton Lane each Sunday 7.00-9.15 pm.

 

Finance Committee Meeting

Monday 29^th January, reviewing our nine-month financial statement. Great thanks to the Gnomes of Zurich (remember them?) for their work here.

 

Renewal Steering Group Strategy Meeting

Thursday evening, 1^st Feb, to plan the second half of our great project, February–July 2024.

 

Friday Evening Devotions During Lent

Six Fridays in Lent, and if anyone would like to lead either a Stations of the Cross or a Lenten Devotions, for 45 minutes of so, we would love to hear from you. The Chrism Mass this year is at St Michael’s Woodchurch, Birkenhead, on Wednesday 27^th March at 7.00 pm, so we’ll be organising a minibus / small coach for all those interested.

 

Lourdes by Jumbulance

A Jumbulance is literally a Jumbo-Ambulance. It has seven beds on board, spacious seating, an accessible toilet and kitchen. We can take very sick or disabled pilgrims including those needing palliative care including cancer, MND, MS, stroke, etc. We stay in a four-star hotel with excellent facilities to care for them and recruit a team of nurses and helpers to do so. 30^th May - 8^th June and 15^th-24^th August. The cost is £1,095; nurses and young helpers under 25 in FTE, pay half. www.across.org.uk/?s=AJ Contact Tony Murphy on 07881-656-974 or tonymurphy2002@yahoo.co.uk

 

Suggestions for Parish Outings?

Keep them coming in  – some great ones so far!

 

Retreat Day on Prayer

Shrewsbury Diocese Team for Evangelisation and Mission will be running a Retreat Day on Prayer for parishes in the Chester area on Saturday 3^rd February, 10.00 am-3.00 pm, St Columba’s Parish Hall. See the Flyers at the back of the Church.

All welcome - bring a packed lunch.

 

Photo of the Week: R.S. Thomas Poem

Inscribed on Welsh Slate in the Church at St Hywyn on the Lleyn Peninsula, where he ministered as a Priest 1967-78. Thanks, Michael,  for sending it in!