THE MESSENGER
News and Views from                                                                                                                   
Wheatley Lane Methodist Church
Dear Friends               

Welcome to the latest Newsletter from the Methodist Church here in Fence. Only a few short weeks from Christmas, we are now in the Season of Lent, and preparing for the great Festival of Easter.


Many people wonder, why do Christians get so excited about Easter?  Simple - Easter is the cornerstone of the Christian Faith.  We do not worship a God sealed in a dusty tomb, but a God who is alive and who changes lives!


The Bible says that if Jesus is not risen, then we are still ‘dead in our sins’ - weighed down by the burden of the things we have done wrong in the past, struggling through the present, and worried about the future.


We believe Jesus is alive today, and so we have everything to live for and look forward to.  Our past is dealt with, he guides and helps us in the present and he has promised we will never be separated from him in the future.  Come and get excited about Jesus with us this Easter - a great time for new beginnings!

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   Dear Friends,

As I write my office is basked in beautiful winter sunshine, yet the crispness of the overnight frost is still very evident. In my garden, trees are still bare, and there is little sign just yet of the first buds of spring. However, we all know that sometime soon, sometime during the next few weeks and months, the buds will appear; the daffodils and other flowers will burst through the earth; all around the Pendleside Villages, farmers’ fields will be filled with the springing and jumping of new lambs. Such is the process of transformation from death to life. Into this context comes the Christian message of Lent, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.


Lent has traditionally been a time in the church where, as we consider Jesus' journey to Jerusalem for the week before He was crucified, we reflect on our own journey of faith and our own journey through life. This is a time to reflect, to examine our lives and leave aside those things in our lives that get in the way of our relationship with God, and make our lives and others unpleasant and sometimes unhappy. Sometimes people give up things for the period of Lent, like chocolate or alcohol; others see this as a time to take something up: shopping for an elderly neighbour, a few minutes a day to pray for others or ourselves, exploring what church is like. However we respond, it’s about a time of preparation for a great event.


The great event is, of course, the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, where we recall Jesus suffering the mockery of a trial, being beaten and whipped almost to the point of death, and then being finished off by being crucified on the cross outside Jerusalem. The Christian faith teaches that in that horrific event, God not only proved how much He loved all people, but allowed His son Jesus to take on Himself the consequences for wrong doing for everyone.


The good news for all people everywhere, is that just as with creation, death gives way to new life. This is the story of Christianity, that by the power of God, Jesus, who was fully dead was raised to life once again to demonstrate that the love and power of God overcomes the consequences of our wrongdoing - even death itself. The parody of this story is repeated in every day life over and over again. Things naturally come to and end and in their doing so, they provide space and sometimes impetus for something new to come about.


In our church over the next few months we will be considering God's call and purpose for us as a church. Are we fit for purpose? Are we good at what we think we are? What are we strong at? What are we weak at? Would the village as a whole mind, or even notice if we weren't there? These are questions that cut to the heart of our being as a church and allow us to mirror the Lenten theme of self-examination and correction of our ways. We have also to face up to the fact that some things may well need to come to an end, but that is OK; it is not defeat, for the story of our faith is one of death which gives way to new life.


I hope and pray that each of us this Lenten and Easter Time will have the courage to ask ourselves hard questions about our own lives and then have the energy to make amendments, knowing in confidence that when we offer ourselves afresh to God and allow some things to die, he promises always to bring new life. Look out for the signs!

May I wish you all a blessed Easter Time.


Gareth   
CHURCH  SERVICES  IN  MARCH  &  APRIL

MARCH
2nd  Mothering Sun.9.30Rev G Higgs  - Communion

9th10.30UNITED SERVICE at St Anne’s
6.00pmRev G Higgs

16th 9.30Rev G Higgs

23rd Palm Sunday9.30Ian Wheeler

21st  Good Friday10.30Rev G Higgs

23rd Easter Sunday 8.00Rev G Higgs - Communion,  then breakfast
9.30Ian Wheeler - All age worship

30th 9.30Rev G Higgs



APRIL
6th9.30Rev R Bradley

13th 9.30Les Jackson
6.00pmIan Wheeler

20th 9.30Marjorie Coyles

27th9.30Rev G HiggsThe service will be followed 
by the  Annual Church Meeting,and everyone is encouraged to attend.                                                                                                          


return to
Our Church


* Christian Aid Week *
Begins May 11th

Seven amazing days of fundraising, campaigning and worship
It unites 300,000 people in the UK's biggest house-to-house collection.

It inspires hundreds of events,
brings together thousands of churches
and reaches millions of people with messages about poverty.

Christian Aid empowers people in poor communities
around the world
to change their lives.

Please support the house to house collection in Fence this year
and think about Gift-Aiding your donation,
to increase its value at no extra cost to yourself
                                       
The Web Site


<http://www.wheatleylane-methodist.co.uk>

Our website continues to be updated by Trevor
and he is always anxious for feedback.
The new addition of Gareth’s sermons podcasted seems popular.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact Trevor:
Tel:  693924        E-mail:  tssd8a@aol.com <mailto:tssd8a@aol.com>
“Happy Retirement”, Mrs Young



                  We were at the retiring celebrations for Kath Young,                                                      at school on Wednesday.

                    Wonderful !!!   What a lovely send off, and very            obvious how much she is loved by all the children. 

         It put me in mind of  when one of our grandsons was                   very much younger, and an advert for ‘Oil of Ulay’                    came on the TV.   He  looked up and said,

" Mrs Young uses that."

Grandpa asked him how he knew.

"Oh," he replied, "because when she gives us a hug
her cheeks feel so  lovely and soft"

Can there be a nicer compliment to any teacher than that?

Sally Seedall


Women’s World Day of Prayer

                  Women’s World day of Prayer
        is a worldwide movement of Christian women
who come together to observe a common day of prayer.
                         
       It is held each year on the first Friday in March.


Our speaker last year, Christine Barnes, who entertained us with a talk full of amusing anecdotes, began by telling us that she gets a ‘tingle’ down her spine, every time she thinks of ‘Women’s World day of Prayer’. It is indeed an awe inspiring thought, that as the sun rises over the Pacific islands of Tonga, women there begin their service and set off a chain of prayer and praise and worship that will cross each continent in turn, and circle the earth, until the last services of the day are held back in the Pacific on the islands of Samoa.  All this is organised so silently - without any fuss or hype - by women, for women, yet it unites Christians from over 170 countries and islands, in a bond of prayer, friendship and support.  It is truly amazing.

Do spare time to come and join us, if you can. Each year the focus shifts to a different country - we learn something about that country, and begin to understand more about the lives of the people there.  In 2008 the focus is on Guyana, and the interdenominational service entitled, “God’s Wisdom Provides New Understanding”, is written by Christian women from Guyana.

Our local service rotates around each of the seven local churches in the villages in Pendle. This year it takes place at:

St Anne’s Church, Fence, on Friday March 7th at 2- 00pm

Refreshments will be served, and all are welcome, male or female. 

If you are not able to be there, maybe you can spare a few moments to join in prayer on that afternoon, wherever you are.


                                                        Barbara, on holiday in Australia, writes:


      Yesterday I went to the church I visited earlier   in the year and it had all changed.   Last week they stripped out all the pews and are currently awaiting delivery of chairs       from  America, so temporary ones were used. They have a new vicar and are now having two services - a traditional one at 8.30 and a more vibrant one at 10.30 which I went to.  The ‘songs’ were all accompanied by a guitar and drums type band so it was pretty ear splitting, but this is obviously popular as the church was full.   They have a Sunday School of about 100 usually.  I might try the more traditional one next week if I can get up early enough. One thing which amused me - they are having an inter-church  paddle!    This involves them meeting on the beach at 7a.m. one morning, and all walking along the water’s edge together.

*   *   *   *   *
I wanted to tell you about one of the highlights of our Christmas. The Nativity Play is something of a tradition as they have live animals in it.   This plays to three packed churches on Christmas Eve afternoon and was quite something.   Joseph led Mary down the church on a real donkey and in the stable at the front were a real sheep and a goat.   But the main event was the arrival of the three kings on real camels.   Of course they had to leave them at the church door but there was a screen up in the church, and we were able to see their progress as they came along the sea front and up the main thoroughfare.   The three kings, all dressed sumptuously, were three vicars from local churches.   Do you think Gareth would like that idea?   After all this, in true Ozzie style, they had a sausage sizzler in the yard at the side of the church.

*   *   *   *   *
I have now given up on the more modern, very noisy, service and am quite happily attending the quieter one at 8.30 in the morning. Their Alpha Course starts in a few weeks but I haven't heard anything about Easter services yet so don't know if they do anything special.
Australia Day on the 26th January was a glorious day.   We walked up to the Heads where we could see all the shipping going in and out of Sydney harbour and watched as the many hundreds of boats, small and large, all decked up for the occasion, were sailing around.   It really is a glorious sight.    
                 Best Wishes to everyone at Wheatley Lane            Barbara
*  *  *  *  *
Best Wishes, Barbara, from all here at
Wheatley Lane Church, UK,

We wish all at your Church in Australia
A Happy and Blessed Easter.



Kanlungan  Sa  Er-Ma

WHAT is it ?     WHERE is it ?           WHY is it ?

 Esther, Frank and their two children are at present living in the Philippines. On home visits they tell us of the unbelievable poverty and destitution of some of the people there - particularly the women and children. Esther and Frank support ‘Kanlungan Sa Er-Ma’, a non-profit, Christ centred, child caring agency; Esther works as a volunteer to help the organisation in a practical way, wherever she can.
(‘Kanlungan’ means refuge, and ‘Erma’ indicates that it works in the Ermite and Malate areas of Manila.)

 On  'Missions Sunday' in February, our Church agreed to try to provide financial help for this agency,  and Esther assures us that she will be on hand to see that the money is well spent where it is most needed, and also keep us informed. 

You may remember that around 300,000 women every year are
sold into prostitution in the Philippines - this agency cares for some of the children who are the direct product of this abuse and are abandoned to live on the streets of Manila.

Without help, these children have no hope of a decent future. They become prostituted young girls and boys, adolescent drugs and substance abusers, street families, trafficked victims, and abandoned and orphaned 6 -18 year old boys and girls. 

Kanlungan seeks to care for and nurture these children, giving them a chance of a decent life and hope of becoming responsible citizens, through: on-street food and medical care from Christian outreach workers; drop-in centres to support families; residential care for protection; education and training to restore self esteem and provide the means of earning a living.       BUT it all costs money!
Not much by our standards; so If you feel moved to help these children and aid Esther and her fellow workers to achieve so much more, a commitment of just few pounds a month will make a huge difference; or leave a donation  …… at our Church, or at 469 or 445  WL. Rd.  Thank you for taking time to read this.  Gerry, our Missions Co-ordinator will be pleased to help you or give you more information. 
Tel: 01282  614794,     or   e-mail: gerry.pegg@btinternet.com <mailto:gerry.pegg@btinternet.com>
12

Make time for The Passion!

This coming Holy Week, do tune in to watch a major forthcoming BBC television series - The Passion.  Praised by numerous church leaders, it is expected to make a huge national impact over the Easter season - drawing more than ten million viewers.

The series, which starts on Palm Sunday 16th March, will be scheduled in peak time on BBC1.  It tells the story of the last week of Jesus’ life, his trial and crucifixion.  The last episode, to be broadcast on Easter Sunday 23rd March, dramatises his post-resurrection appearances. 

The Passion has been made by award-winning drama producer Nigel Stafford-Clark, who was responsible for Bleak House and Warriors.  The cast includes Cold Feet star James Nesbitt as Pilate and East Enders actor Paul Nicholls as Judas Iscariot.  The relatively unknown Joseph Mawle, who at 33 is the same age as Jesus during the events of the Passion, plays the part of Jesus. 

The Churches’ Media Council encourages Christians to seize this “golden opportunity to contribute to a contemporary public discussion about Jesus.” The group has launched a website to provide resources and more information about the series.  Visit www.churchesmediacouncil.org.uk/passion.  Guidelines on the site encourage the Christian community to welcome the retelling of the stories for a new generation, but to treat it as drama first rather than theology. 

Andrew Graystone, Director of the Churches’ Media Council, was profoundly moved by early versions of the series.  “This is an extremely vivid piece of drama.  You feel you are right there, in amongst the Passover crowds, alongside the disciples as Jesus comes out with these simple but earth-shattering messages.  And then of course, he’s taken away and makes the ultimate sacrifice, and like the disciples, you’re left to decide what you are going to do about it.”