27th May 2018

Leesfield Parish – 27^th May 2018

Thank you to everyone who supported Christian Aid Week by collecting, donating or helping with the Big Brekkie. We raised £135 at the Big Brekkie, many thanks to the Old Original for donating the bacon, and Lees Co-op for donating the bread. We don’t have a total yet for the House-to-House collections but we’ll let you know as soon as it’s all been counted and banked.

Inclusive Church – Our churches have now been accepted as members of the Inclusive Church network. Other churches nearby which are already members of this growing network are St John, Hey, Christ Church Friezland and St James’ East Crompton. Below is the Inclusive Church Statement of Belief – in Leesfield we already welcome all people without discrimination, but by joining Inclusive Church we can make this clear to all visitors to our website and facebook pages.  

"We believe in inclusive Church - church which does not discriminate, on any level, on grounds of economic power, gender, mental health, physical ability, race or sexuality. We believe in Church which welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ; which is scripturally faithful; which seeks to proclaim the Gospel afresh for each generation; and which, in the power of the Holy Spirit, allows all people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ." 

The Bible Study group will meet on Mondays 4th & 11th June at 1.30 pm. Frank and lively discussions about Scripture and our walk with God. Each Study stands alone...so it doesn't matter if you have missed a few weeks. Please do be encouraged to come along.

Ladies of Leesfield – Coffee Morning on Saturday 2nd June from 10.30 am until 12 noon. On Thursday 14th June at 7.30 pm the ladies are holding a Fun Night in St Thomas’ Community Room, and Tea and Toast will be on Saturday 16th June from 10.30 am to 12 noon. All are most welcome to come along to these events, so please bring a friend and enjoy the company.

After the service at St Thomas’ on Sunday 17th June the ladies are hosting an event in aid of Cancer Research. Brunch items such as bacon/sausage butties and beans on toast will be on sale, and there will also be a bake sale and a raffle. The 17th June is Father’s Day as well, so why not bring your dad along for a special treat!  

Advance notice – The parish day trip to Southport will be on Saturday 14th July. The coach will leave from the corner of Spring Lane/Burton Street at around 9 am, returning from Southport about 4.30 pm. There is a list at the back of St Thomas’ so that you can add your name if you wish to come along. Please see Audrey or Roy for more details.

Items for the newsletter, website and facebook pages to Liz (lizzy.dent@googlemail.com) whenever you want to send. Lots of lovely pictures please!

Sat	02-Jun	Ladies Coffee Morning 10.30 - 12
Mon	04-Jun	Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Mon	11-Jun	Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Mon	11-Jun	Buildings Committee 7.30 pm at St Thomas'
Thur	14-Jun	Ladies of Leesfield - Fun Night, 7.30 pm at St Thomas'
Sat	16-Jun	Ladies of Leesfield Tea & Toast 10.30 - 12 at St Thomas'
Sun	17-Jun	Charity event for Cancer Research, after service at St Thomas'
Mon	18-Jun	Pastoral Team visit to Avalon Park
Mon	18-Jun	Standing Committee 7pm
Thur	21-Jun	Deanery Synod
Mon	25-Jun	Pastoral Team visit to Ashbourne House
Mon	25-Jun	St Thomas' DCC 7 pm
Wed	27-Jun	St Agnes' Open Forum 8pm
Thur	28-Jun	DMPC
Sat	30-Jun	St T Harvest Queen "at home"
Mon	02-Jul	Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Mon	02-Jul	PCC meeting at St Thomas' 7pm
Fri	06-Jul	Cheese & Wine evening at St Thomas'
Sun	08-Jul	Garden Party after service at St Thomas'
Mon	09-Jul	Pastoral Team visit to Avalon Park
Wed	11-Jul	Confirmation rehearsal 7 pm at St Thomas'
Sat	14-Jul	Parish Trip to Southport
Sun	15-Jul	Parish Confirmation Service 11 am at St Thomas'
Mon	16-Jul	Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Sat	21-Jul	Wedding Vows renewal 12.30 pm at St Agnes'

Newsletter 20th May 2018

20th May 2018

Pentecost

Parish service at St Thomas' 9.15 am

Refreshments afterwards

Assemble 10.45 am at St Thomas' for Procession of Witness at 11 am

Churches Together joint service 12 noon at St Thomas'

Then we will all join together outside Lees Library to sing a hymn before dispersing

                                                                                                                      Together Unafraid

Tuesday 22nd May marks the anniversary of the terror attack on the Manchester Arena. Commemoration services and events will be taking place in the city centre on that day, but if you are unable to get there, St Thomas' Church will be open from 7-8 pm so that you can light candles, pray or just quietly reflect. At 7.30 pm (the start of the "With One Voice" event in Manchester) a single bell will be rung 22 times, once in memory of each precious life lost. 

13th May 2018

Leesfield Parish – 13^th May 2018

Christian Aid Week begins today – We will be collecting from  House-to-House in Lees, and need volunteers to help with this. If you could spare a couple of hours this week to deliver envelopes and return a couple of days later to collect them please contact Liz or Paul. The more volunteers we have, the more money we can collect! Envelopes will also be available in both churches for your donations.

Also during Christian Aid Week we are again hosting a Big Brekkie from 9 to 11 am on Thursday 17th May in St Thomas’ Community Room. Tickets cost £5 (£2 for children), for bacon butties or beans on toast and unlimited tea, coffee, toast & jam, and are on sale now.

The Bible Study group will meet tomorrow, Monday 14th May at 1.30 pm. Frank and lively discussions about Scripture and our walk with God. Each Study stands alone...so it doesn't matter if you have missed a few weeks. Please do be encouraged to come along.

On Saturday 19th May the Ladies of Leesfield are having their monthly Tea and Toast morning at St Thomas’ from 10.30 am to 12 noon. All are most welcome to come along.

Also on Saturday the 19th Rose Queen Ella and her retinue are hosting a Royal Wedding Tea Party at St Agnes’. The event will run from 11 am to 5 pm, with lots of fun activities for children all day, and the wedding itself will be shown live on a big screen. Tickets cost £5 per adult (including afternoon tea, a glass of fizz to toast the happy couple & unlimited tea/coffee), £3.50 per child, (including lunchbox, non-alcoholic fizz & unlimited cordial). Other refreshments will be on sale throughout the day. Buy your tickets now from the Rose Queen and retinue mums to avoid disappointment, as space is limited.

Next Sunday, 20th May, is Whit Sunday. As usual there will be no service at St Agnes’ and no Sunday School at either church. There will be a Parish Eucharist, 9.15 am at St Thomas’, followed by coffee so that you won’t need to go home before we assemble for the Whit Walk. For safety reasons, the Procession of Witness will not start from Ashbourne House, and we will all meet at St Thomas’ for a prompt 11 am start to our walk around Lees before returning to church for the Churches Together joint service at 12 noon. The service will take a slightly different form this year, and immediately afterwards the congregations from all the churches will walk together to the library where we will sing a hymn before going our own separate ways.

The following evening, 21st May is the Archdeacon’s Visitation, 7.30 pm at St James’ Church, East Crompton. This is where the Churchwardens are sworn in, and PCC members and sidespeople are also encouraged to attend.

Advance notice – The parish day trip to Southport will be on Saturday 14th July. There is a list at the back of St Thomas’ so that you can add your name if you wish to come along. More details next week.

Please send your articles for the next edition of the Parish Magazine to Paul (paulmdent@gmail.com) today. Items for the newsletter, website and facebook pages to Liz (lizzy.dent@googlemail.com) whenever you want to send. Lots of lovely pictures please!

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Sun	13-May	Christian Aid Week starts
Mon	14-May	Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Wed	16-May	DMPC - 7.30 pm at St Thomas' Moorside
Thur	17-May	Christian Aid Big Brekkie - 9 am St Thomas' Community Room
Sat	19-May	Ladies of Leesfield Tea & Toast 10.30 - 12 at St Thomas'
Sat	19-May	Royal Wedding Afternoon Tea at St Agnes' 11 am onwards
Sun	20-May	Whit Sunday - parish service at St Thomas' 9.15 am, Whit walks
		Churches Together joint service 12 noon at St Thomas'
Mon	21-May	Archdeacon's Visitation - 7.30 pm at St James' East Crompton
Fri	25-May	Whit Friday
Mon	28-May	Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Sat	02-Jun	Ladies Coffee Morning 10.30 - 12
Mon	04-Jun	Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Mon	11-Jun	Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Mon	11-Jun	Buildings Committee 7.30 pm at St Thomas'
Thur	14-Jun	Ladies of Leesfield - Fun Night, 7.30 pm at St Thomas'
Sat	16-Jun	Ladies of Leesfield Tea & Toast 10.30 - 12 at St Thomas'
Sun	17-Jun	Charity event for Cancer Research, after service at St Thomas'
Mon	18-Jun	Standing Committee 7pm
Thur	21-Jun	Deanery Synod