Parish Church of St Luke Holmes Chapel
Come to Christ, Love to Learn, Learn to Love!
Services at St Luke’s Church, Holmes Chapel
see also: Diary – Link – Daily readings
Sunday 14th August – Trinity 9
Readings: Psalm 150 Matthew 21 v 8-11
9am – Holy Communion in church – traditional service in contemporary language following Common Worship with classic hymns – both bread and wine (in individual cups) are now being administered.
10.30am – Morning Worship in church – less formal “no books” service with down-to-earth Bible teaching, contemporary songs & classic hymns, followed afterwards by coffee with Rob & Jean in the vicarage garden, 74a London Road.
COVID-19 precautions: wearing a face covering in church is no longer required although many people locally are still affected by the virus. However, please respect the wishes of those who feel vulnerable and still continue to wear a face-covering and maintain social distance.
Monday 15th August – Wednesday 17th August
9am Morning Prayer by Zoom – back on again this week on the vicar’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 17th August
10.30am – Midweek Holy Communion in church – a short unsung friendly service for those with half-an-hour to enjoy peace and seek the Lord – both bread and wine (in individual cups) are now being administered.
June 22 letter
I’m giving thanks for 70 years of the gracious reign of Queen Elizabeth II, and I’m glad so many people in our nation and Commonwealth are joining the thanksgiving.
It is a unique thing to be in the generation which is marking a Platinum Jubilee. It is a more remarkable thing that we are the generation which has benefitted from her leadership as our Head of State for so long. We probably take the benefits for granted, but we shouldn’t.
May 22 Letter
We need prayer. We always need prayer.
And when all sorts of other things on which we rely are feeling less reliable, we do well to recognise that a living relationship with our Heavenly Father is more necessary than ever. We need prayer because the lifeblood of our relationship with God is prayer.
Successful Garden Treasure Trail
The Garden Treasure Trail organised by the Social Committee on Sunday afternoon 19th June between three houses and gardens was attended by about 40 people.
Strawberry Supper 14th June
The MU Strawberry Supper held in the Church Hall on Tuesday June 14th was a great success with 55 tickets sold and visitors from neighbouring MU groups.
MU 18th May 2022
Peter Cotton gave a fascinating and informative talk about Nell Gwynne to the meeting on 18th May.
Jubilee Beacon celebration 2nd June
Enthusiastic start to the Holmes Chapel Jubilee weekend as hundreds came to watch the beacon lit on St Luke’s parish church tower.
2022 Christian Aid Week – thank you!
A very big Thank You to everyone who supported us during Christian Aid Week in and around Holmes Chapel in May.
Your generous support will enable Christian Aid to bring hope and support to the most needy around the world.
Platinum Jubilee
Information about Jubilee events at St Luke’s.
Prayer for peace in Ukraine
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have encouraged the Church of England to join with the Diocese in Europe in prayer for the chaplaincy in Kyiv and the other churches that serve Ukraine.
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.
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!
Pastoral letter – November 3rd 2020
We write because the latest announcements of the authorities mean there will be no services in church for the next four weeks (and maybe more!). This is disappointing news as our regular 9am Sunday and 10.30 Wednesday small services had been going well. People were positive. Numbers were averaging 30 on Sundays and 20 on Wednesdays. We have made the most of our window of opportunity since the end of July, and thank you for your responsible participation. We will write again when we are able to re-open church services in church.
Towards normality? Your views on worship again in church
The recent relaxation of the official virus restrictions to allow some limited services to start in churches under carefully controlled conditions is very welcome but poses real problems in small churches like St Luke’s. To guide discussion at the July meeting of the Church Council about how and when to resume the limited church services now permitted, we consulted our congregations through a short questionnaire. Read more for some of the statistics and findings which led to the PCC deciding to resume limited services in St Luke’s on a trial basis in August.