Services for April to June 2010

Preachers for the next three months. The 9.30 service is a traditional half hour service, whilst the 10.30 service is an hour long, and is usually livelier, with a variety of worship styles. The children join the rest of the congregation for the first part of the 10.30 service, before going to their age appropriate groups.

4th April: Easter Sunday 9.30 Rev Neil Drayton (Holy Communion), 10.30 Rev Neil Drayton (Holy Communion)

11th April: 9.30 Mrs Alison Sanders, 10.30 Mr Stuart Drayton

18th April: 9.30 Rev Neil Drayton, 10.30 Dr Brian Fisher(Parade)

25th April: 9.30 Mr David Taylor, 10.30 Mrs Elizabeth Roberts

2nd May: 9.30 Mrs Connie Smith (Holy Communion), 10.30 Mr Geoff Brown

9th May: Church Family Anniversary No 9.30 Service, 10.30 RevPatrick Rudden, (Sunday School and Shell Group) 6.00 Mr Alan Lee (Choir)

16th May: 9.30 Rev Neil Drayton, 10.30 Rev Neil Drayton(Holy Communion)

23rd May: 9.30 Miss Wendy Ross-Barker, 10.30 Mrs Alison Sanders

30th May: 9.30 Mrs Jean Gravett, 10.30 Mrs Karen Drayton

6th June: 9.30 Rev Neil Drayton (Holy Communion), Rev Neil Drayton

13th June: Methodist Homes Sunday - 9.30 Mr Geoff Brown, 10.30 Worship Leaders (Parade)

20th June: 9.30 Reve Neil Drayton, 10.30 Mrs Connie Smith

27th June: 9.30 Rev Pattrick Rudden, 10.30 Rev Patrick Rudden

Three Choirs Weekend

Over the weekend 20th-22nd March (Saturday-Monday) there were performances by three different choirs.

Liverpool Festival Choir


On Saturday, 20th March, in the church, the Liverpool Festival Choir, under the Directorship of Colin Porter and the Organist Alan Thornecroft, gave an evening of Choral Music on the theme of Passiontide and Easter. There were thirteen choir items of sacred music in all, by composers such as Maunder, Arensky, Wesley, Vivaldi, Bach and Handel; two organ recitals, as well as closing music, and two congregational hymns.

• The Way to Jerusalem ------------------------ J. Maunder
• Bow Down Thine Ear, O Lord --------------- A.S. Arensky
• Thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace --------------- S. Wesley
• O Lord Increase My Faith ------------------------ H.L. Sartin
• O Saviour of the World ------------------------ J. Goss
• Praise to Thee, Lord Jesus ------------------------ H. Schultz
• When I Survey ------------------------ Morte Cristi arr:CP
• Gloria in Excelsis Deo ------------------------ A. Vivaldi
• Mighty Glorious is God The Father --------------- J.S. Bach
• This is the Day ------------------------ J. Maunder
• Easter Song of Joy ------------------------ R. Shepherd
• And the Glory of the Lord - Messiah ---------- G.F. Handel

A collection was taken for a local charity, the Kings Cross Project - a local charity hosted by our sister church, Trinity Methodist/URC Church, which is dedicated to helping local disadvantaged families.

United Gospel Choir - Rotherham


Then on Sunday afternoon, 21st March, at Trinity Methodist/URC, the United Gospel Choir from Rotherham, under its director Chris Clayton, sang a wide selection of Gospel Songs, some well known, other less so. It was a lively, entertaining and moving occasion and we were told how the choir was founded under the influence and faith of the Director. The occasion finished with a faith tea, when we could mingle with friends old and new.

• Shackles on my Feet
• Michael Row the Boat Ashore
• He's Got the Whole World in His Hand
• In You
• Down By the Riverside
• O Happy Day
• This Little Light of Mine
• Hide behind the Mountain
• Where you There?
• Every Move I Make
• Love Can Build a Bridge
• Down By the River to Pray
• We Bow Down

The Frodsham and District Choral Society


Finally, on Monday 22nd March, as a finale to our Guild Winter Programme, we were entertained by the Frodsham and District Choral Society with a varied programme entitled, "Do you hear the people sing?" The choir sang music by Handel, Parry, Verdi, a piece commissioned for the 800th anniversary of the Frodsham Charter, entitled "We live here still" and concluded with a medley from "Les Misérables" from which the title for the event was taken. The conductor was Howard Kane and the Accompanist, Robert Woods.

There were three solos by Paul Huntington (tenor) and three by Camille Bradford (mezo-soprano).

• Zadok the Priest ---------------- Georg Frederic Handel
• I was Glad ------------------------ Hubert H Parry
• Anvil Chorus ------------------------ Giuseppe Verdi
• Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves ----- Guiseppe Verdi
• Frodsham 800 - We live here still --- M. Baker & A. Rudd
• Les Misérables - Melody -------------Schonberg & Boublil
• 
  
• Tenor solos:


• La Donna è Mobile ------------------------ Verdi
• Overhead the Moon is Beaming ------ Romberg
• A Wandering Minstrel ------------------ Sullivan
• 
  
• Mezo-soprano solos:


• Leise, ganz liese klingt's durch den Raum -- Strauss ------- Softly, quite softly rings through the space
• Niemand liebt Dich so wie ich -- Lehar ----------------------- Nobody could love you more
• Ich Liebe dich ---------------------- Grieg - I love you

We are grateful to each of the choirs for three very different, and three very varied performances, and rejoice in the gift of music, and different tastes.

Upcoming Events

Film Night has moved to Saturdays

The next film is the Disney Animation UP! - on Saturday 27th March at 7pm.

It's free to come along, donations to cover the cost of soft drinks/tea/popcorn/snacks are very welcome.

Maundy Thursday

We will be meeting with friends from the other Methodist Churches in Widnes for a service Trinity Church, Peelhouse Lane. 7.30pm, Thursday 1st April.

Good Friday

There is a service at Farnworth at 10.30am, led by the Worship Leaders. We will share the story of the Centurion. We have been following this story since The Candlelight Carol Service in last December, and in this service, we will put the whole story together.

The Centurion's Tale - Encounters with Jesus

At 12 noon, we will meet with Christians from many other Widnes Churches for a Walk of Witness, starting at the Baptist Church on Deacon Road.



There is an afternoon of activities in the church hall from 2-4pm.
We will retell the Easter Story, and then have fun making posters and craft with an Easter theme.
This afternoon is suitable for all ages, with families especially welcome to join us.



To see photographs of last years event follow the link



http://farnworthmethodistchurch.blogspot.com/2009/04/good-friday.html




Easter Sunday
9.30am - Short service of Holy Communion

10.30am - Easter Celebration and Holy Communion

Mothering Sunday 2010

The Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and members of the Shell Group gave out flowers and cards to all the ladies at the 9.30 and 10.30 services.

Membership Service – Confirmation

At our 10.30 Sunday Morning Service on March 7^th, nine persons were accepted into membership of the Methodist Church. During this special Confirmation Service, these nine, having accepted the disciplines of the church and wishing to deepen their commitment, were blessed and welcomed into full membership by Rev Patrick Rudden, and given the Right Hand of Fellowship by one of our stewards, Gillian Beswick. The new members were (alphabetically by surname) Ruth Alison, Steven Alison, Vida Fallon, Alan Foster, Ann Oultram, Geoff Poole, Jackie Whitehead, Jan Woods and Stan Woods.

Our minister, Patrick, then preached on commitment to our Lord, using, first, the account of Nicodemus’ visit by night to speak with Jesus (John ch.3 vv.16-21) and the text (v.16) “God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” He linked this with the question Jesus put to his disciples, (Matt. Ch.16 vv.13-18) “Who do you say that I am?” and Peter’s response, (v.16) “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.”

It was a very special, moving, and well attended service in which the whole congregation celebrated Holy Communion together.

Count Your Blessings

You can 'count your blessings' and make a vital difference for vulnerable and neglected children with the Action for Children Lent calendar.
Starting on Ash Wednesday, you can work your way through each day, with prompts for donating a small amount of money according to how much you are blessed. For example, the first day asks you to donate 10p for each pancake you and your family ate on Shrove Tuesday!
All the ideas highlight how much we take for granted - things that thousands of children do not have.

To download a 'Count Your Blessings' Calender click here
http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/uploads/media/43/9096.pdf

Four Circuit Assembly

On the afternoon of Sunday 31^st January, there was a meeting of four Methodist circuits at Farnworth; the Widnes, Warrington, St.Helens and Prescot, and Ashton in Makerfield Circuits. They were invited to consider the proposals for the unification of our circuits and the practical implications. It is estimated that there were about 100 people there. The afternoon started with a presentation on the areas and circuits involved. We were then invited to add our comments to lists that had been pre-considered in the areas of Prayer, Worship, Staffing, Property and Finance, as well as “Any Other”. Then a faith tea was shared which incorporated an informal Eucharist.

A single report on the afternoon is not possible, since there were so many differing responses. In the main, certain points came through. I have solicited the views of a number of those present, all of who are very active and involved, and I append their comments to give a flavour of the response. (Brian Fisher)

Responses

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“… The atmosphere over the faith tea and Eucharist was, to me, beautiful. As I moved around I could hear comments about the initial part of the afternoon which were largely negative, they felt that we needed to know about activities, not buildings….. There were seeds of hope, at least people are now talking.”

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“My view of the ‘formal’ meeting is that some people were unsure of the future and spoke with concern about becoming ‘too big’. This was tempered by others speaking about the Lord’s will in all we do. The time of the faith tea was more relaxed. There seems a nucleus of people not averse to change who are willing to allow God to lead us. This makes me view the future with anticipation and excitement.”

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“…. Content of the first half was very poor and of little relevance. Those attending wanted to discuss more down to earth matters. It was boring, disappointing and poorly presented. The first half was a lost opportunity and many people went home at that point. The faith tea and sacrament did give a chance for discussion.”

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“When we are constantly told, and often do not need reminding, that the church is the people, why did we get a parade of buildings and no reference at all to activities? This from our leaders! Some left after the presentation, and I personally heard a few venting their frustration. The fellowship I shared at the table with a mixed group, none of whom I knew previously, was in marked contrast. They were concerned, they did not know the way forward, they needed leadership. It is extremely difficult, but that is what leaders are for.”

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The publicity did not explain the afternoon and many had come for a service or a general discussion. I feel that many of the nearly 100 who were present will not want to come to another meeting. ….. The presentation was based on property and although we are to reorganise for mission there was no mention of people either inside or outside the church….. The video may have been all right in a small room, although the colour of the print meant that the words were almost impossible to read. In a large hall, particularly from the back, the maps etc could not be deciphered…. I am sorry to be so negative, but I feel that the afternoon was a wasted opportunity. The best part was the faith tea and the informal communion. It gave an opportunity to talk to those from other circuits. Unfortunately many had gone before the tea and sadly missed this part of the afternoon.

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“Shared meal and Eucharist were good, but the Powerpoint presentation was a waste of time. We hadn’t come to see a lot of church buildings but wanted to know what mission and outreach is going on, so that we could learn and pool resources. There are still many who don’t know what is going on, or why, but no opportunity was taken to explain the driving thought behind the process.”

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District Cub Health and Fitness Day

The Cubs had a really busy day - being active and learning about Healthy Easting.

Guild Pantomime

Members of the Guild and friends performing Aladin

Haiti Appeal

Over the last two Sundays many members of the congregation have given to the Haiti appeal through envelopes in the pews.

If you haven't yet made a donation you can do so at church on Sunday, or alternatively you can follow this link to give through the Methodist Church Fund for World Mission.

Not the only methodist blog...

You can follow the President and Vice President of Conference on their travels around the UK and the World on their blog here

http://www.methodist-presandvp.blogspot.com/

January Ramble