Friday 22 July 2011

“Street Prides” across the Lancaster/Morecambe/Heysham district

Chris Drury, Pastor of Lancaster FM church, writes:

I recently met with the City Council, police etc. to discuss their programme of “Street Prides” across the Lancaster/Morecambe/Heysham district. As a result of this discussion, the following six street pride events have been agreed over the next 12-months, and I wanted to let you have these areas and dates at the earliest opportunity so you can be aware of the opportunities coming up in your community to engage alongside other agencies as salt & light.



w/c 5th September 2011: Morecambe: Edward St, New St, Union St & Chapel St

w/c 17th October 2011: Lancaster Scotforth: York Road, Wellington Road, Newsham Road & Bridge Road

w/c 5th December 2011: Carnforth: Highfield Road

w/c 20th February 2012: Morecambe: Langridge areas

w/c 16th April 2012: Lancaster Skerton: Lune St, Earl St & Derby St

w/c 4th June 2012: Morecambe: Park St, Grange St, Beech St & Newmarket St



We have found Street Prides to be an amazing opportunity to build some important kingdom relationships and by working together as churches in our communities, the doors that are opening for us as churches to have influence in our city are very encouraging; it would be great for us together to be able to put these dates in our diaries and commit to putting together a team from across the “church” in this area to volunteer and blow the socks of our community’s experience of Christians, and demonstrate that we care about them.



The council have set aside a budget to support this, and will provide all insurances and equipment for whatever work we undertake; we are also looking to identify some high profile projects in each area (for example, via Morecambe Town FC to redevelop some community focal points). Recently in Dorrington Road we provided practical care for elderly, vulnerable, single parents in the form of gardening and basic DIY, but our heart as part of churches working together in partnership is that by building community connections like this, we can then offer off of the back of these weeks on-going support and input to our communities through existing ministries such as CAP, Celebrate Recovery, Divorce Recovery, The Marriage Course, Parenting Courses, homelessness projects etc. In other words, making what we are already doing available to our communities as a “portfolio” of activities that can create stepping stones towards the church, the cross and Jesus Christ



For more information on what Street Prides are, please see http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/community-and-living/street-pride/ . The council’s stated objectives for these are to:

· Build community spirit and enable communities to set up groups and look after their own community.

· Give a general clean up and provide some maintenance.

· Involve the community and voluntary sector.

· Improve links between the community and agencies



I think these objectives are ones that we should welcome as churches, and I would love to work alongside you so that together we can be a blessing to our communities and bring real life changing hope to hurting lives – would you be willing to consider this in your church mission plans for the next 12-months?



For more information, or to arrange to meet up for a brew to discuss this further, please feel free to give me a call!



God bless



Chris Drury

chris@chrisdrury.org

Hope Lancaster

01524 841941

For more information about Hope Together, see www.hope08.churchinsight.com/

Sunday 10 July 2011

Harp Concert at St Peter's

MUSIC FROM THE BAROQUE,
CLASSICAL, AND ROMANTIC
PRESENTED BY INTERNATIONAL HARPIST
Robin Ward
Saturday 13th August 3:00pm
St. Peter’s Church
Main Street, Heysham, LA3 2RN
Tickets & Enquiries: 01524 851422
Adults £10 / Concession £8 / Under 18 Donation

www.earlyharps.com

Tuesday 5 July 2011

'Celebrating Creation' year launches in Morecambe!

The Diocese of Lancaster Faith and Justice Commission are planning 12 months of focused activity and prayer throughout Lancashire and Cumbria celebrating the richness of Creation. The year launches on September 12th in Morecambe with a prayerful short walk at sunset in the company of Bishop Campbell, and will later include events such as bird watching walks, listening to the dawn chorus, gathering food to cook and eat to-gether, mountain hikes with outdoor Masses, and lots more for all age groups at venues throughout the diocese.

PLease join us on Monday 12th September 2011
when Bishop Michael will lead a walk in Morecambe with prayer stations,
starting 6:30 pm
St Mary’s Church, Matthias Street

We will walk along the Promenade to The Stone Jetty, and we will hope for a beautiful sunset!

‘Hands Across Morecambe’ - Reaching Out Together

Members of various churches across the Morecambe area have been meeting for some time to look at how mission in Morecambe might best be enabled and facilitated. We have discussed the possibilty of holding a 'Mission Conference', but before moving forward with that we feel it is important to provide more opportunities for those from all our churches who feel motivated about mission to meet and share with each other.

We'd therefore like to invite you to

‘Hands Across Morecambe’ - Reaching Out Together

A morning
for leaders and members of churches of all traditions
to come and share resources, hopes and dreams
for reaching out to Morecambe with the love of Christ

Christ Church URC, Broadway
Saturday Sept 17th 2011
Beginning at 10:30am
ending with a simple lunch together at 12:30pm


Please let us know if you'd like to come so we have an idea of numbers for catering – contact Debbie Peatman 07806643097 debbie.peatman@ctlancashire.org.uk