Parish Church of St Luke Holmes Chapel
Come to Christ, Love to Learn, Learn to Love!
Services this week at St Luke’s – Holmes Chapel
see also Diary
Sunday 16th January – Epiphany 2
9am Holy Communion in church – a service in contemporary language following Common Worship with thoughtful sermon and classic hymns
Readings:
Luke 2: 41-52
10.30am Morning Worship in church – a service for all ages with lively fellowship, down-to-earth Bible teaching, contemporary songs & classic hymns.
Monday 17th and Wednesday 19th January
9am Morning Prayer by Zoom* – a shortened version with shared bible readings
Wednesday 19th January
10.30am Midweek Holy Communion – a quieter, shorter, friendly service for those with half-an-hour to enjoy peace and seek the Lord – for Covid reasons only consecrated bread is received.
Thursday 20th January
11.30am Funeral of Margaret Thornhill – followed by a private burial
PLEASE NOTE IT IS STILL A LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO WEAR A FACE COVERING WHEN YOU ARE IN CHURCH.
For everyone’s safety, please comply with this requirement (including when singing) and also continue to follow other COVID-19 precautions when in church as advised by Church Officers.
*Note: If you are local to Holmes Chapel and would like to join one of our short Zoom Morning Prayer services at 9am Monday to Wednesday, please email comms@stlukesholmeschapel.uk and we will send you the access details.
Bible readings 17th – 23rd January:
Mon 17th Jan: Psalms 98,99,101; Genesis 6:11-7:10; Matt. 24:1-14
Tues 18th Jan: Psalm 103; Genesis 7:11-end; Matt. 24:15-28
Wed 19th Jan: Psalms 110,111,112; Genesis 8:1-14; Matt. 24:29-end
Thurs 20th Jan: Psalm 76; Genesis 8:15-9:7; Matt. 25:1-13
Fri 21st Jan: Psalm 139; Genesis 9:8-19; Matt. 25:14-30
Sat 22nd Jan: Psalms 120,121,122; Genesis 11:1-9; Matt. 25:31-end
Sun 23rd Jan: Matt. 3:13-17
January 2022
Youngsters are some of those whose lives have been disrupted most unhelpfully over the last two years, so this month we are doing a project to help the children of Holmes Chapel catch up a bit.
In a time when children may have missed out on out-of-school visits, we can offer a convenient near-to-school visit to see an exhibition which tours the nation. Thanks to the Knitted Bible, provided by an enterprising and ordinary church in Hartlepool, there is an opportunity for all of the children in both primary schools in the village. Every class can take its turn to visit their parish church for 45 minutes.
December 2021
How can we reach the new generations with the good news of salvation? God had the answer to that question when he sent his only Son into the world as a baby growing in Mary’s tummy. Start young.
This Advent we are hearing from the first chapter of the New Testament in our Sunday teaching. Matthew’s gospel surprises many modern readers by starting with a big family tree or, more accurately, the main suspects in a male line stretching from Abraham to Jesus.
We don’t understand the significance of Jesus’ coming to earth unless we know the main line of the Old Testament. Once we have worked our way from Adam to Abraham to David to the exile to the birth of Jesus, then we have the best chance of receiving the good news of God’s salvation…….
Knitted Bible
Knitted Bible, a child-friendly exhibition which tours the nation, is in Holmes Chapel for a week at the end of January and will be open for viewing by local primary school children and parishioners. It was developed by a team of knitters from an enterprising and ordinary church in Hartlepool and provides 35 scenes from the Bible with colourful backdrops and knitted figures. These simple images will help both children and adults to imagine some of the key events of the Old Testament and New Testament.
Bible Reading Fellowship 2022
Time to renew or start your 2022 New Daylight notes from the BRF in its centenary year to help with your daily Bible reading and prayer.
Genesis Jan 2022
Welcome back to Genesis after the Christmas break and a happy New Year to you all. We hope you were able to enjoy the festive season and that your family and friends stayed well. We feel very fortunate to have been able to share the Genesis nativity, ‘The Star that couldn’t twinkle’ with the congregation in Church in late December. With many schools having to cancel nativities or restrict viewings we know you appreciated the opportunity to
see your child/children at St Luke’s.
Christmas Market & Fair 2021
The Village Christmas Market & Fair returned to Holmes Chapel on Sunday 5th December after a gap of two years.
This year it was larger than ever with 40+ festive stalls, some together with a stage near Barclays Bank in The Square – London Road (specially closed for the afternoon!!) with other stalls in the Scout Hut.
Praying together – Epiphany 22
Praying Together @St Luke’s, Holmes Chapel after the Epiphany 2022.
O Lord, open our lips and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
From the rising of the sun to its setting your glory is proclaimed in all the world.
Epiphany Collect:
O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:
Mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith, may at last behold your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen
Praying Together
When sickness is near:
you can view or download this prayersheet here
God of compassion, be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.
In their loneliness, be their consolation;
in their anxiety, be their hope;
in their darkness, be their light;
through him who suffered alone on the cross, but reigns with you in glory,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Merciful God, we entrust to your tender care those who are ill or in pain,
knowing that whenever danger threatens your everlasting arms are there to hold them safe.
Comfort and heal them, and restore them to health and strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
For hospital staff and medical researchers
Gracious God,
give skill, sympathy and resilience to all who are caring for the sick,
and your wisdom to those searching for a cure. Strengthen them with your Spirit,
that through their work many will be restored to health;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
From one who is ill or isolated
O God, help me to trust you,
help me to know that you are with me, help me to believe that nothing can separate me from your love
revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Recital on our new organ – 2nd October
Our new organ was commissioned at a recital on 2nd October by the acclaimed organist Ian Tracey, Organist Titulaire at Liverpool Cathedral.
Thanks to the generosity of many we have now been able to welcome our new organ into the church—and it is clear that it will be of great benefit to our worship.
Ian treated the audience to a superb programme of music chosen by him to demonstrate our organ’s capabilities. His wonderful musicianship and his interesting and engaging comments about the music and the organ itself made it an evening to remember.
Daily Hope Line 0800 804 8044
Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line. A Church of England initiative in partnership with CONNECTIONS at Holy Trinity Claygate, and Faith in Later Life The line –...
New history of St Luke’s
Take up of the newly published History of St Luke’s has been excellent. More copies have now been printed.
Please contact Peter Cotton by email: papscotton@sky.com or phone 01477 537491 to make sure of your copy!