Parish Church of St Luke Holmes Chapel
Serving Christ in our local community
Christmas Services at St Luke’s
Sunday 18th December
10.30am: Nativity Service with Genesis Children’s Group
7pm: Candlelit Carol Service
Christmas Eve
3pm: Crib Service and Christingle
5pm: Crib Service and Christingle
11pm: Midnight Christmas Communion
Christmas Day
9am: Christmas Morning Holy Communion
10.30am: Christmas Morning Service for all ages
Christmas Crib in St Luke’s churchyard
image of last year’s Christmas Markets courtesy of Nigel Taylor
New Church Lighting ready for the Village Christmas Markets
When St Luke’s welcomes everyone for the Christmas Services this year, there will be a new internal lighting system.
The special Christmas Services on Sunday 18th December, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day will be even more special.
Thanks to generous giving by members of the congregations, and others from the village, the church lighting has been brought into the 21st Century, with energy-efficient solutions, and features using LED and dimmable bulbs. The design, by Lighting Dynamics UK, and the work, by AJ Electrics, has been coordinated for St Luke’s by recent churchwarden Alastair Cragg.
Some of the first to see the transformation of the inside of church will be the many visitors to the Christmas Markets this Sunday 4th December.
Now everyone can come to see, and what better opportunity than one of the Carol Services, Crib/Christingle Services and other special Christmas events in St Luke’s.
It’s time to celebrate the Light coming into the darkness, with new lights!
This week at St Luke’s Church, Holmes Chapel
see also: Notices ♦ Link ♦ Daily readings
Sunday 4th December – 2nd of Advent
Readings today: Revelation 21, v1-8; Luke 21, v29-38
9 am – Holy Communion in church – traditional sung service, following Common Worship in contemporary language
10 am – Genesis meets in the Church Hall – including practicing for the Nativity presentation
10.30 am – Morning Worship in church – less formal, “no books” service with songs and hymns; followed by coffee/tea refreshments in the Church Hall
3 pm to 7pm – the newly lit church will be open for visitors during the Village Christmas Markets with a varied progamme of music to enjoy
COVID-19: continuing precautions – please respect those who feel vulnerable and wish to continue wearing a face-covering and keep social distancing when in church.
Monday 5th to Wednesday 7th December
9 am – Morning Prayer on Zoom* (Rob’s account) – a shortened version with shared Bible readings
*Note: if you are local to Holmes Chapel and would like to join one of our short Zoom Morning Prayer services, please email comms@stlukesholmeschapel.uk and we will send you the access details.
Wednesday 7th December
10.30am – Midweek Holy Communion in the Church Hall – a short unsung service to enjoy peace and seek the Lord
7.30 – 8.45pm – St Luke’s Community Choir meets in the Church Hall
Thursday 8th December
12 noon – Funeral in church of Thelma Ashmore
December 22 letter
The new internal lighting system at St Luke’s is being launched at the very time we celebrate the true light coming into the world. Consider it an enhanced celebration of Christmas.
It was several years ago that the PCC made its first attempt to renew the lighting inside the church. Our attempts to replace our previous energy-inefficient lights, more suited to lighting a driveway than a historical church, have been refused more than once by the Diocesan authorities. We have shown determination, helped by Alastair Cragg’s perseverance, and have ended up with a specification which gives us LED special features as well as a more energy-efficient system. And it emphasises some of the lovely features of our nearly 600-year-old building.
Come and see for yourself this Christmas – there will be a selection of special services for you and your friends.
Barnabus Big Give
Until 6th December donations made to Barnabus for its life-changing ‘New Home – New Life’ project will be doubled as part of the 2022 match funded Big Give Christmas Challenge.
You can donate securely here.
MU Meeting 16 Nov 22
The recent considerable rise in MU fees prompted quite a discussion. Ann Peach, from Brereton and a Trustee of MU, was able to explain where all the fees went to and how MU is in deficit by a considerable amount.
The main theme for the meeting was ‘Who has inspired you?’ and three of our members shared their personal accounts.
Warm Hub at Community Centre
The winter Warm Hub set up by the Parish Council in the HC Community Centre will be open from 1.30-3.30pm on weekdays starting on 7th Nov until March 2023.
Christian Aid Autumn Quiz
Caroline Wood, the local Christian Aid Group co-ordinator, thanks everyone who took part in this Autumn Fundraiser. The quiz sheets raised £200 and gave folks a good challenge and a lot of fun! There were 12 entries submitted that achieved full marks of 60/60...
Operation Christmas Child 2022
There was a magnificent response to the finale of the Genesis initiative for Operation Christmas Child on 30th Oct. This year over 100 shoeboxes were provided filled with Christmas gifts for children in need around the world. They are being delivered to the local collection centre in Congleton for forwarding to Samaritans Purse who arrange for their distribution to needy children around the world.
MU Meeting 19 Oct 22
The meeting included a very interesting talk by John Clowes, entitled: “Twenty years of garden design and how it happened”.
John began by telling us about his father’s interest in his childhood garden in Timperley but that his own interest and passion only began when he married and had his own home to garden.
Advent Prayer 2022
Praying Together in Advent@St Luke’s, Holmes Chapel
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O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
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Your words have I hidden in my heart,
That I should not sin against you.
The earth is the Lord’s and all that fills it,
The compass of the world and all who live in it.
For he has founded it upon the seas
And set it firm upon the rivers of the deep.
‘Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord,
Or who can rise up in his holy place?’
‘Those who have clean hands and a pure heart,
Who have not lifted their soul up to an idol,
Nor sworn an oath to a lie:
‘They shall receive a blessing from the Lord,
A just reward from the God of their salvation.
Such is the company of those who seek him,
Of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Psalm 24
Praying Together during Remembrance
O Lord, open our lips
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Let your ways be known upon earth,
Your saving power among the nations.
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Blessed Lord,
Who has caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Help us so to hear them,
To read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them,
That through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,
We may embrace and forever hold fast the hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
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 – October 2021
Our new organ was commissioned at a recital on 2nd October 2021 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!