Parish Church of St Luke Holmes Chapel
Come to Christ, Love to Learn, Learn to Love!Back to church – September!!
Sunday 26th: Trinity 17
We continue our worship together in church today at the new times of 9am and 10.30am. Please do come and join us!
The bible readings today are:
Philippians 2:12-18 Matthew 5:13-16
9.00am: Holy Communion in church
a restricted service (consecrated bread only) led by our vicar, Canon Rob McLaren.
10.30am: Morning Worship in church
a service for all ages with lively fellowship, down-to-earth Bible teaching, contemporary songs and classic hymns, followed by refreshments in the Church Hall.
Our new organ and console are in the final stage of tuning and so aren’t yet in use.
It’s no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering, but for everyone’s safety we suggest you do so when singing and maintain seating distancing and other COVID-19 precautions during services.
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Our vicar, Canon Rob, recorded a special short video to mark Back to Church September and introduce the new series of readings from the letter to the Philippians
If you missed any of the earlier video addresses, you can find them here.
Coming week at St Luke’s:
The church building is open again but still on a limited basis for the final tuning work on our new organ.
Monday 27th to Wednesday 29th September:
9am on Zoom* – short Morning Prayer on Zoom on Rob McLaren’s account*
Wednesday 29th September:
10.30am – mid-week Holy Communion in church
a restricted service (consecrated bread only) led by Canon Rob.
We suggest you continue to wear a face covering and comply with social-distancing and other COVID-19 precautions during services.
Saturday 2nd October:
7.30pm – recital by Prof. Ian Tracey of Liverpool Cathedral, celebrating the installation of our new organ (tickets £10 details opposite)
*Note: our short Zoom service of Morning Prayer continues at 9am on Monday to Wednesday. Zoom will also be used for some small church meetings and study groups.
Please contact comms@stlukesholmeschapel.uk with your phone number if you are local to St Luke’s and would like to join in.
Bible Readings: Sept. 27th - Oct. 3rd
Monday 27th Sept. Psalm 71; 2 Chronicles 9:1-12; Mark 14:1-11
Tuesday 28th Sept. Psalm 73; 2 Chronicles 10:1-11:4; Mark 14:12-25
Wednesday 29th Sept. Psalm 75; 2 Chronicles 12:1-end; Mark 14:26-42
Thursday 30th Sept. Psalm 78:1-39; 2 Chronicles 13:1-14:1; Mark 14:43-52
Friday 1st Oct. Psalm 55; 2 Chronicles 14:2-end; Mark 14:53-65
Saturday 2nd Oct. Psalms 76,79; 1 Chronicles 15:1-15; Mark 14:66-end
Sunday 3rd Oct. 2 Cor. 8:7-12 Luke 2:21-24
August 2021 letter
Dear friends,
It is time for plans to come to fruition.
For a while we have been seeking to replace our church organ, previously characterised by the diocesan advisor as ‘not worth maintaining or repairing’. Since October 2020 we have so happily seen the Organ & Lighting Appeal receive donations from many supporters, such that we now have enough for the Organ side of the work. In late July, our previous organ was dismantled and removed from church. This month our specialist contractors, Cartwrights will be building the replacement organ and installing the new console.
While the work is being done, the church will need to be closed. From Friday 6th August to Friday 27th August our church services will be held in the church hall.
Celebrating lives together in a post-pandemic world
We’re finally on the verge of being able to move forward with our new normal, but we will never forget the moments with loved ones that were lost, or the opportunity to say a proper goodbye.
This element of the pandemic weighed on me the most during lockdown, which is why I’m pleased to be able to offer you the chance to properly commemorate the life of your loved one alongside your friends and family.
Good news – our new Bishops
It was announced from 10 Downing Street on 27th May that HM The Queen has confirmed the nomination of The Venerable Julie Conalty (currently Archdeacon of Tonbridge) to be the next Bishop of Birkenhead, and the Revd Canon Sam Corley (currently Rector of Leeds Minster) to be the next Bishop of Stockport, of Birkenhead.
Easter Flowers
Easter Flowers at St Luke's A special thank you to Anne Lane and her team of flower arrangers who made sure that the church looked so colourful for Eastertide.
Restricted services in church resumed at St Luke’s
We are very pleased to announce that limited services of communal worship have restarted at St Luke’s Holmes Chapel. There is now a restricted service of Holy Communion at 9.00am on Sundays and at 10.30am on Wednesdays, subject to the usual COVID-19 conditions of social distancing, wearing face covering etc.
Genesis 21 – what is Easter about?
See this latest song/video setting out in simple terms the importance of the Easter message, and share it with your friends. Help them get a feel for the real meaning of Easter.
St Luke’s Magazine available in print again
St Luke's Church Magazine - print version Following the anticipated relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, we are pleased to announce that we expect to be able to deliver printed copies of the Church Magazine to our subscribers again starting with the April 2021 issue....
Praying together at Ascension & Pentecost
O God, make speed to save us;
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Send your Holy Spirit upon us,
And clothe your people with power from on high. Alleluia.
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Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits;
Who forgives all your sins And heals all your infirmities;
Who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with faithful love and compassion;
Who satisfies you with good things, So that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
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.
Remembrance in Holmes Chapel 2020
Due to the current coronavirus restrictions, sadly the usual Remembrance Sunday Parade through the village couldn't take place. However, there was a socially distanced, wreath laying ceremony at the cenotaph in St Luke's churchyard, for a small number of invited...
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.