Dear member of the All Saints family,
What an exciting week as we look forward to Craig’s Induction on Sunday evening! The service is one where Craig is given authority to lead the church and given the task of pastoral care for us as his flock and the people of Hoole. He is also given physical possession of the church and is placed in his seat, symbolic of his new responsibility to pray for the congregation, lead us in worship and encourage us in our witness to Christ.
In addition, the service is one in which we can welcome Craig and Gemma into All Saints. So, please pray that the service will be one which confirms for Craig God’s commission for All Saints and his future ministry. Also, that we would make him, Gemma and the family very welcome.
Do have a look at the message from a couple of weeks ago which described the various activities in the service and their symbolism – many are quite different to what we are used to. And I also believe that we have a bell! Many thanks to the bell ringers. Please pray for all the practicalities that they run smoothly as it is a complex service.
Practically, we have a good number of guests attending including Bishop Mark and Archdeacon Mike Gilbertson, Pete Rugen from St Michaels who is overseeing the service, Helen Edwards our patron, other clergy from the Deanery, representatives from the Diocese and other denominations. We also have the Lord Mayor and Chris Matheson, our MP. In addition, we have Craig and Gemma’s family and special guests and a good number from Widnes. Do please make them all welcome. We will have all seats allocated to specific individuals in the church, and many of us will be in the hall, with the service broadcast to there. Please come to the Hoole Road entrance and you will be given directions as to where to go.
We now are full for spaces in the church and hall, but the service will be available online as usual. The church car park will only be available to those who have a disabled badge or who have poor mobility: please park on Hoole Road or preferably on Canadian Avenue. Thanks.
Due to moving around, we will have a change to our normal statement on being visible online. This now becomes: ‘We will be live-streaming this Induction Service. The video cameras may show anyone who is in the church – the cameras are at the back of the church. If for any reason you would prefer that you do not appear on the broadcast service, please ask to be moved to a seat in the church hall (which is attached to the church): the service is being broadcast there.’
Julie Tynegate has organised refreshments after the service – thanks to the many I understand have been baking cakes! A good number of helpers are placing these in boxes which will be served to you along with a drink to avoid queues at the hatches.
Assuming that the weather allows, there will be a couple of gazebos set up outside on the grass next to the car park to allow people to congregate outside if you prefer.
In other notices, we are arranging a ‘Meet Craig and Gemma’ event after the 10:45 service on October 17th. Please see the notice by Rachel Collier, who has kindly offered to organise the event, for details and put this in your diaries.
We do apologise for the late notice that Sunday Club was not going to take place last week; we will let you know shortly what the plans are going forward for this work as we seek to help the children understand what God has said in the bible and encourage them in their walk with Him.
Finally, this is the final message from the Wardens in the interregnum. There are so many people that we would like to thank for their hard work in serving us all in the church through the vacancy and in addition all those involved in so many ways in the recruitment process for Craig. We have come through a time of lockdown and gradual easing of restrictions making many changes to way we have run services, which has led to much work by those involved. So, many thanks to everyone. Also, John and I would like to say thank you to all the support we have received personally, it has been a big help.
‘As we rejoice in the gift of your presence among us
let the light of your love always shine in our hearts,
and your spirit ever renew our lives
and your praises ever be on our lips’
Praise the Lord!
With best wishes and blessings,
Andy Creeth and John Chester, Churchwardens