11 May 2025

Sunday 11th May 2025

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Sunday School Anniversary

This service will include Holy Communion

Preacher 10:30:  Rev Dr Mark Jason

Steward: Kath Bridges Organist: Jill Davenport

Welcome Steward: Lucy Bridges

Communion stewards: Ian Kitchin and Anne Peill

The flowers this week are donated by the church

 and arranged by Jill Davenport

"School Welfare Fund"

After the service on Sunday 11th and 18th May there will be a retiring collection for the school. Many Thanks. 

Dates for your diary w/c Sunday 11th May 2025

Sun May 11th.    10:30 Sunday School Anniversary

Mon May 12th    09:00-11:00. Parents and Carers

                                13:15-15:15 Taiji Qigong

Tue May 13th             09:00-09:30. Sch. Wshp. Margaret

                                10:00- 14.30 Child Minders ?

Wed May 14th 10:00 – 14:30 Child Minders ?

Thu May 15th.                  11:00 Brenda Maudsley Funeral

Fri May 16th       19:30-22:00. Acc.Camera Club

Dates for your diary w/c Sunday 18th May 2025

Mon May 19th        09:00-11:00 Parents and Carers

                              13:15-15:15 Taiji Qigong

Tue May 20th        09:00-09:30 Sch.Worship Mark

                              10:00-14:30 Child Minders ?   

Wed May 21st       10:00 – 13:00 Child Minders ?

                              14:00-17:00 Afternoon Tea/Film

Fri.  May  23rd         19:30-22:00. Acc.Camera Club

Funeral Service

The funeral service of Brenda Maudsley will take place at Rishton Methodist Church on Thursday 15th May 2025 at 11am followed by burial at Dill Hall Lane Cemetery at 12pm.

Brenda lived with her sister Margaret at 29 Willow Street, Clayton Le Moors and was part of the congregation at Barnes Square.

Brenda passed away at the Royal Blackburn Hospital on 12.04.2025 at the age of 91 years.

Katherine Knowles

We were sorry to hear that Katherine had passed away last Saturday.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Stephen, Rebecca, Amy and all the family at this sad time. Details of funeral arrangements will be available soon.

Plan dates

The preacher at 10:30 on Sunday 18th May will be:  Margaret Dugdale. 

Steward: Derek Rostron

Please note that this is a change to the plan.

Birthday Celebrations

Brian Aspden is holding an 80th birthday party on Saturday 10th May at Rishton Cricket Club.  You are all welcome to join in the celebrations from 14:30-17:00.  A buffet will be served mid-afternoon with a quiz at 15:00!

Further birthday celebrations

Alan would like you to join him at Rishton Golf Club on Sunday Afternoon 15th June ... 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm.

(Buffet at 3:00 ) It's his 90th Birthday celebration and friends at RMC are welcome to be part of them !

All he asks is that you let him know if you intend to be there so that the number attending can be passed on for catering purposes...

Gift Day

Sunday 13th July 2-4pm at The Church.

Table Top and Crafts Sale

Saturday 28th June. 10am - 2pm   If anyone would like to hire a table to sell goods tables are £10. 

If you require a table to sell goods, and the proceeds are for the Church the table will be free.

There will be a Cake Stall, Raffle, Light Lunches and Refreshments available.

For information and table bookings contact 

Sharon on tunstallsharon2@gmail.com or 07930930514.

All tables to be booked and paid in advance by cash or bank transfer by Friday 30th May.

Closing date for notices

It would be helpful if all notices for Sunday 18th May could be in by the evening of Wednesday 14th May.  Please send them to: steveruth.colling@gmail.com 07958 036736.

Christian Aid Week

Christian Aid Week 2025 is on the 11th May. We are no longer involved in house to house collections but want to still support Christian Aid. There will be collection buckets around for donations and we plan to have a bring and buy stall following the service on the 25th May when the proceeds of the tea and coffee following our service, will also go to Christian Aid.  

 Polite Notice

Please can we respect the use of the vestry on Sundays from 10.15am until 12.00pm this is to allow the Minister, Preachers and Stewards to carry out their duties. If the occupied sign is in use please do not enter or knock on the door.

Afternoon Family Fun

Following the morning service today,  May 11th (Sunday School Anniversary) there will be a family fun afternoon.  (11:30-13:30). Bring your own picnic.  Tea, coffee and juice will be provided.  There will be games and a soft archery and welly throwing competition.  (Chocolate prizes!)

Afternoon Tea & Film

Rishton Methodist Church.

Wed. 21st May 2025

Our film is  “Little Women”

A 2019 American period drama film, 

written and directed by Greta Gerwig.

It is the seventh film adaptation of the 1868 novel by Louisa May Alcott.

 It chronicles the lives of the March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—in Concord, Massachusetts, during the 19th century. It stars an ensemble cast consisting of Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, and Chris Cooper.

Share tea and a chat with friends

Children welcome with accompanying adult.

The films will start at 2pm and afternoon tea served about 4pm.   Come for both or just for tea!

No charge just donations towards

the cost of afternoon tea.

Thank you!

Members of the congregation will be pleased to note that a small group of volunteers cleared the jungle of brambles at the back George St. side of the church.  Thanks go to everyone who helped and particularly to Trevor who cleared four or five huge sacks full of waste.  You can now see the church!!!

Still a little more to clear!

AND FINALLY...( Ad. seen in  ' Science Today ' )

The June meeting of ' The Time Machine' and 'Back to the Future' enthusiasts group has been cancelled until a week before last Easter!

Prayer for the Fourth Sunday in Easter

The Bible gives us a wonderful image of God as shepherd, and in some parts of the world the enduring bond between the shepherd and his sheep has changed little since biblical times. It’s the dependence of the sheep on their shepherd for safety and sustenance that is the mirror of our relationship with God.

Good Shepherd, who leads us beside still waters and into green pastures, be close to us in

our gathering today. May we feed on your word, know your protection and be sustained by

your Spirit, this day and every day.

God of love,

you care for us as Shepherd,

leading us to fresh pasture and living water.

You care for us as Father,

drawing those you love close into your embrace.

You care for us as Saviour,

forgiving all who draw near to you in faith.

You care for us as Lord and King,

bringing us into the heart of your kingdom.

God of love,

you care for us.

What greater blessing can there be

than this? Amen

Taken from The Act of Prayer by John Birch.  Copyright via “The Worship Cloud”