News

WEEK BEGINNING 13th October 2024 

Worship

We will have an All Age Service of the Word and Harvest Festival at 9.30 AM at St James, it will be led by Steph Gregory, please bring any items you wish to donate, all will go to Urban Outreach.  

There will be a service of Holy Communion  at 9.30 AM at St Johns’ Wingates and also at 11.00 AM at St Bartholomew’s, Westhoughton

The link for the Church of England online service is below 

https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/church-online/weekly-online-services

We will be having our annual All Souls Service, which this year will be held on Sunday 27th October 2024 at 6.00PM.  There will be sheets in church from tomorrow for you to list anyone you wish to be remembered at that service, and an opportunity at the service to come up and light a candle should you wish to as a remembrance.

Quiz Night - NEW DATE

Tickets will be on sale tomorrow for the quiz night, which will be held on Friday 1st November 2024 at the Football club, Tickets £7.50, including a pasty and pea supper.  Numbers are limited so make sure you snap up your ticket as soon as you can!

School Admission Forms

If you have Secondary School supplementary forms for school admissions, please put them in an envelope with your name and telephone number and details of which churches you have attended, and hand them to a Church Warden or a member of the clergy team.  If you can hand the form in by Sunday 13th October that will give plenty of time for us to do the necessary counts.  Once completed they will be returned to you.  

Team Retreat

The 2025 team retreat will take place at Foxhill on the weekend of 16th to 18th May 2025.  Please keep the date, more details to follow.

Study Group

Dates for the next few study groups are:

20th Oct

10th Nov

15th Dec

All at 6.00PM, at my house in over Hulton, everyone is welcome

Licensing Services

We are pleased to announce that the date for the licensing of Malcolm Wearing as Team Vicar (Self Supporting Minister) in Blackrod, Daisy Hill, Westhoughton & Wingates Team Ministry, will take place on Tuesday 29th October 2024, 7:00pm at St James’ Daisy Hill, Bishop Matthew will lead the service.  

Farewell to Rev'd Andy Jones

At the end of October, we say farewell to our Curate Andy as he leaves us to take up his new post as Team Rector of the Seven Saints Team in New Bury, Farnworth and Great Lever. We are sad to see him go and thank him for all his dedicated service in our team.  His warmth, creativity and energy will be greatly missed.  We also say a fond farewell to Katie and Harry and thank them for all they have given and shared with us.

At Andy's request, there will be no formal farewell service, but he will be around at services and events up to the 24th October if you wish to say goodbye personally.  Andy writes, 'I would like to send my gratitude and thanks to the church family who have allowed me to walk with them in Christ.  I will hold you in my prayers as I journey on.'

Andy will be licenced as Team Rector in his new post on Wednesday 27th November at 7.30 pm at St George with St James, New Bury.  Please pray for Andy, Katie and Harry at this time of endings and new beginnings.  

Dates for the diary

Church Quiz Night – At Daisy Hill football club, on Friday 1st November 2024, more details above

Coach Trip to Chester - There will be a coach Trip to Chester on Saturday 23rd November 2024, cost will be £15 Per person

Christmas Fair (NEW DATE) – Due to a clash of previous date with a large fair in Westhoughton, our Christmas Fair is moving to Saturday 7th December 2024

Family Film Night – St James Church and St James School PTFA are to organise a family film night ion 14th December 2024, more details to follow

Beanie Hats

You may remember that Operation Christmas Child is part of Samaritan’s Purse which is a Christian relief & development  organization which works to proclaim & demonstrate the love of God to children & families in need especially in Africa Asia & Eastern Europe.  So now is the time to start knitting  Beanie Hats as our contribution to the Shoe Boxes which are sent for Christmas. 

Please can you help by knitting some ( the pattern is easy ! ). They are needed by the middle of November so they can reach the children by Christmas.  Patterns are on the notice board at the back of Church. Please help as all are greatly appreciated.  

Reengange social group 

The charity Reengage is hosting monthly social groups at the John Holt Community Centre.  It will be held on the last Wednesday of each month 12:30-2:30. The group aims to bring friendship and companionship to older adults in the community.

Each month there will be mixed games including indoor bowls, skittles and cards. There are complimentary hot drinks, and biscuits, and plenty of time to socialise and meet new friends. The group is friendly and led by our wonderful volunteers who take time to chat with the attendees. 

Please see flyer below for more details

TALKIN' TABLES - Conquering Loneliness one Table at a Time!

Another new group is opening, this time at St John's Wingates  The two events each week will be:

The group at St John’s Wingates is on a Wednesday from 10.30AM to 11.30 AM, starting next Wednesday (10th January).

The other group  meets every Tuesday from 10 am to 11 am at Thyme for Tea, 96 Church Street, Westhoughton BL5 3RZ.  

Everyone is welcome and it's free.  For more information, please visit www.talkintables.co.uk

IGNITE YOUTH (The new name for Team Youth Church)

Young people from across the team in Year 6 and above are welcome to attend this event which is held monthly at St John's Church on a Saturday evening. Those children who are thinking about being Confirmed in the autumn this year are especially invited and strongly encouraged to come. (Ignite Youth meetings will form part of the preparation for Confirmation.)

If you would like to know more about IGNITE YOUTH or to book your place, please email parishteammusic@gmail.com