Parish Church of St Luke Holmes Chapel
Serving Christ in our local community
Coming week at St Luke’s
Sunday 29th January – Epiphany 4
Readings: 2 Samuel 7:11b-16 Matthew 1: 5-6
9.00 am – Holy Communion in church – a traditional service in contemporary language with hymns
10.00am – Genesis meets in the Church Hall – focus on King David
10.30 am – Holy Communion in church – a less formal, “no books” service, with songs and hymns, followed by coffee and tea in the Church Hall
Monday 30th Jan to Wednesday 1st February
9.00 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 1st February
10.30 am – Midweek Communion – a short peaceful service of Holy Communion
7.30pm – 9pm – St Luke’s Community Choir meets in the Church Hall
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.
Surplus pew runners
Around 25 pre-loved pew runners – free to a good home!
MU Meeting 14 Dec 22
We had a lovely meeting this month – John Murfin gave us an interesting talk about bell-ringing and handbells and we finished by singing carols.
Children’s Society
Personal collecting boxes: please bring your box to church for opening and counting during January 2023.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Well-being and the COVID-19 pandemic
The coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis means life has changed for all of us. It may cause us to feel anxious, stressed, worried, sad, bored, lonely, or frustrated.
If you’re finding things hard emotionally right now, you’re not alone.
