The Parish Church of St. Peter Hindley

The Season of PentecostJune 2014

10 Facts about the season of Pentecost

1. Pentecost Sunday marks the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles.

2. Pentecost Sunday occurs 50 days after Easter.

3. The Bible records the Pentecost in Acts 2:1-13.

4. Pentecost comes 10 days after the Ascension of Jesus Christ.

5. Pentecost is also known as "the birthday of the Church".

6. Pentecost fulfils Jesus' promise to send the "Counsellor" and "Spirit of Truth" in John 16-5-15.

7. Pentecost launches the large-scale spreading of the Gospel after Jesus' ascension. Acts 2:41 records that after Peter spoke to the crowd after receiving the Holy Spirit, some 3,000people were baptized.

8. The Pentecostal movement derives its name from the New Testament event in Acts 2.

9. Jews also celebrate Pentecost, but not for the same reason as Christians. The celebration by Jews of Pentecost is to observe God giving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai 50 days after the Exodus. The Pentecost in Jewish tradition takes place 50 days after Passover.

10. In Western Churches, Pentecost is usually represented with the colour red, which symbolizes the fire of the Holy Spirit.

A piece of history which has not lost its influence is the Book of Common Prayer. When the BCP was written, it was decided to retain the familiar Latin titles of psalms and canticles – the first few words of the text.

Even today, we refer to the Te Deum Laudamus – We praise Thee O God: The Venite – O come let us sing unto the Lord: even

The Benedicite – omnia opera – O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.

My theological college motto was ‘Nisi Dominus’ the title of Psalm 127 ‘Except the Lord build the house’. Ripon Hall was always considered a liberal theological college. The college buildings used to be in the centre of Oxford. Passersby could look through the windows into the great dining room and admire the silver; ornaments; furnishings and paintings. One university Don, having witnessed the whole college set up was heard to sigh “Ah! They have everything Nisi Dominus – except the Lord!”

My mind went through the list of things that have been done at St. Peter’s church over the last few years. This is an expression of our regard for God and, dare I say, that this is one of the busiest churches in the area. The danger is, wemust not become complacent and drift into Nisi Dominus – we have everything except the Lord. This is inevitable unless we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. In Matthew 21.1-13 we read of Our Lord’s comment about the lack of reverence for the Temple as a powerhouse of prayer and praise and its use to make money rather than to do God’s will. The Jews did what they thought God would like – provided it was what they wanted too. “Do you love God?” He asked. “Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of God but those who do my father’s will”. He was crucified because His teaching centred on a change of heart.

Even today, people fail to recognise the cause of the Lord’s suffering and death in their own sin and folly – unwillingness to repent: unwilling to follow God’s way: unable to receive forgiveness and absolution: Nisi Dominus – they have everything except the Lord.

There are those who have the assurance of God’s love and concern as seen in their faces and attitude: their very welcome to join the worship. These attractive Christian characteristics grow out of a right relationship with God and the proper devout use of His House of Prayer. From this loving atmosphere, there follows a mission to see people won for Christ – a mission to stem the rising tide of evil. ‘Nisi Dominus – Except the Lord build the house, their labour is but lost that build it.’ While we thank God for the many blessings we have received, we pray that all those who seek God in this place may find Him and, being filled with the Holy Spirit, become a living Temple – acceptable to Him. - George Taylor

Secondment to All Saints Hindley

I thought you might like to know how Simon and I are getting on, following our recent secondment to All Saints, Hindley.

Just to give you a bit of background: last September we were both licensed as Readers to St Peter’s, for an initial period of two years. In October we started our Post Initial Ministerial Training (called PIME). This weighty-sounding training programme has proved much less intensive than the previous two years’ study, and this year the subject matter has been bereavement and funerals. Very relevant, due to what St Peter’s has gone through. The sessions take place mainly at St James’s House, Liverpool Cathedral. At the time of writing, we have both successfully passed two of our three assignments and are just handing in our final assignment for the year. We were also at the annual Reader Training Day last November, and will be going to the Reader Summer School, which takes place during four evenings in June. We have also started attending the Wigan Reader Chapter, where Readers from the Wigan area meet up regularly, with the Reader Chaplain.

Most of these events are compulsory, and whilst this may sound daunting, the training, events and even the continued study are deepening our understanding, and it is good to meet up with other Readers regularly and share ideas and experiences.

It was decided in March that we would be seconded to All Saints Hindley. We moved therejust before Easter, after a well-earned break, and also after spending two Sundays at local Methodist churches, were Simon was leading services and preaching. So we were with theAll Saints congregation during the difficult journey of Holy Week through to the fabulous Easter season.

We have been warmly welcomed at All Saints. The first Sunday of each month is the familyservice, and there are not just one but two Brownie packs! We had a variety of different services during Holy Week, and I led the Good Friday service. During these past few Sundays, we have enjoyed the joyful Easter liturgy at the 10.00am Eucharist, and I am looking forward to seeing how the liturgy changes as we move towards Pentecost. We have also been regular attenders, for some time now, at Café Church at St Philip’s School, Castle Hill, which takes place the last Sunday of every month at 4.30pm. This is a great time of informal worship, discussion, usually a quiz, the kids get involved, and there are sandwiches and cakes!

Our secondment to All Saints is for 18 months, and takes us to the end of the two year licensing period. After this date, we have three options: either to be relicensed to the Partnership, or to St Peter’s, or to All Saints. If the Partnership (United Parish) has come into being by then, it would include all churches in Partnership 4 (Hindley, Hindley Green, Platt Bridge, Abram and Bickershaw).

We would welcome your continued prayers and support, as we decide the next step. You are in our prayers constantly – we miss you, but we are not far away, and see many of you around and about. And we still drop in to St Peter’s from time to time, for Morning or Evening Prayer. Rachel Martin

.How To Plant Your Garden.

First, you come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.

For the garden of your daily living –

PLANT 3 ROWS OF PEAS

1. Peace of mind 2. Peace of heart 3. Peace of soul

PLANT 4 ROWS OF SQUASH

1. Squash gossip 2. Squash indifference 3. Squash grumbling 4. Squash selfishness

PLANT 4 ROWS OF LETTUCE

1. Lettuce be faithful 2. Lettuce be kind 3. Lettuce be patient 4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS COMPLETE WITHOUT TURNIP

1. Turnip for meetings 2. Turnip for service 3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN YOU MUST HAVE THYME

1. Thyme for God 2. Thyme for each other 3. Thyme for family 4. Thyme for friends

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love

There is much fruit in your garden because you reap what you sow.

At the age of 60, after nearly 40 years of marriage, Sid suddenly says to his wife Margaret, “I think we should divorce.” “Divorce?” says Margaret. “But we’ve been through everything together.

We’re a team. Remember when you had that car accident and I nursed you back to health; when you had your drink problem and I helped you get through it; then you had those business problems and I helped support you through your bankruptcy; and then last year when the house began to subside and we had to move. Not to mention all those minor illnesses I’ve nursed you through.” “ I know,” says Sid, “that’s just what I mean. I’ve finallyrealised you’re a jinx!”

A middle-aged woman wakes up in the middle of the night and discovers that her husband is not in bed with her. She puts on her dressing gown and goes downstairs to look for him. She sees the kitchen light on and finds him sitting there at the table, sobbing over a mug oftea. “Oh dear,” says the wife. “What’s the matter?” The husband looks up from his mug of tea and asks solemnly, “Do you remember 30 years ago when we were going out together when you were only 16?” The wife is moved to tears at the thought that her husband has been affected by the thought of their courting years. “Yes, I do,” she says. The husband pauses for a moment before carrying on with a quiver in his voice, “Do you remember when your dad caught us in the back seat of my Ford Escort?” Oh yes, I remember,” says the wife, sitting down in the chair beside him and taking his hand. “And do you remember,” says the husband, “when he pulled out that gun, held it to my head and said, ‘Either you marry my daughter, or I’ll make sure you go to prison for 30 years for this”. “Ohyes,” says the wife. “I remember that too. So why are you crying?” Because,” says the husband,” today’s the day I would have got out!” - C. Ramsbottom.

A youthful figure is what you get when you ask a woman her age.All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them (Walt Disney)We make a living by what we get – we make a life by what we give (Sir Winston Churchill)You can’t control everything; you have hair to prove it!Shoes can change your life…… ask CinderellaA good friend is cheaper than therapyFriends are like bras; close to the heart and there for support. - Muriel Caldwell

A man is talking to God. "God, how long is a million years?" God answers, "To me, it's abouta minute." "God, how much is a million dollars?" "To me, it's a penny." "God, may I have a penny?" "Wait a minute."

A Sunday school teacher asked her children on the way to service, "And why is it necessaryto be quiet in church?" One little girl replied, "Because people aresleeping."

From the Church Times….The husband of an eight-month pregnant Sudanese woman sentenced to death by hanging for apostasy has appealed to save herlife, according to Reuters.

Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, a 27-year-old doctor pregnant with her second child, was convicted under the Islamic sharia law for marrying a Christian man and renouncing Islam. She was also sentenced to 100 lashes after being convicted of adultery, as her marriage was deemed invalid.

Her husband Daniel Wani, a Sudanese man with US citizenship who lives in New Hampshire, is now in Sudan trying to help his wife. "I was considered innocent and the marriage revoked — the revoking of this marriage means that my son is no longer my son and the one coming is not my son too, so this innocence means nothing and I will appeal for myself and I will appeal for my wife," he said.

"Martin [my son] and my wife, they are all in prison and she is pregnant — she could give birth at any time, from today to 1st of June," Wani continued. "I am afraid that being in prison is dangerous for her so if they would allow me to take her to the hospital that she delivered Martin in — even if it was under the watch of security guards, I would be thankful." Wani is currently banned from visiting his wife and his son in prison.

Ishag was arrested in August 2013, after her brother opened a case against her and her husband for alleged adultery.

Her brother said that she had been missing for several years and her family was shocked tofind out she was married to a Christian, as she had been brought up as a Muslim.

Amnesty International has condemned the sentence.

"Amnesty International believes that Meriam is a prisoner of conscience, convicted solely because of her religious beliefs and identity, and must be released immediately and unconditionally," said Manar Idriss, Amnesty's Sudan researcher.

The UN has also expressed its outrage.

"The imposition and enforcement of the death penalty on pregnant women or recent mothers is inherently cruel and leads to a violation of the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment," a UN member said.

Sharia law was enshrined in Sudan in 1983. The Sudan Criminal Code was amended in 1991 to make apostasy a crime punishable with death

Women’s Guild News

The 15th April was part of Holy Week and the guild ladies celebratedthe Eucharist thanks to Alan, our Priest in Charge. The week following, we closed for Easter.

On the 29th April, our special bingo evening, we extended a warm welcome to some new and some familiar faces. It was a lovely evening with lots of prizes, lots of fun and chatter. To end the session, Christine and Elaine had baked some cakes. Scrumptious! In addition, although the bingo was free, the ladies purchased raffle tickets and we managed to accumulate £60, all of which was donated to Derian House. We could not have had a better evening, thanks to all who attended to make the night such a success.

The next week our guest speaker, Mark Keegan gave us a potted history of his life so far. Mark, you should write a book! He had all the ladies holding on to his every word. Mark started with his birth in Liverpool, how he moved to Wigan as a young teenager, then through his work as a nurse, he moved to Cambridge and Luton. Eventually, Mark and Denisemoved back to be closer to family and arrived in Hindley. The warm welcome from St. Peter'schurch wardens at that time (Alan and Ken) clinched their fate! It was clear that Mark has high standards of caring/compassion and competence in his field of expertise. Mark's family,career and faith are all highly valued in his life and this is why he is able to excel in so many aspects. A very interesting evening as Mark knows we are "nosey." Thank you so much Mark.

On the 13th May, Martin Pendlebury, our Tower Captain, spoke to us on campanology. Martin had so much information on our bells, it was difficult to take it all in, but here goes! The eight bells at St. Peter's were made in 1866 and hung in February 1867. At the opening session, the bells were rung throughout the day by two teams of ringers. The first team was from St. Mary's Parish Church. By 1880, the first register was kept listing the names of the ringers. Familiar names kept cropping up in the registers. In 1935 the bells were extensively renovated. Martin became a bell ringer in 1983 and has been our Captain since 1988.

The smallest bell is a treble and weighs 3cwt; the largest is a tenor and weighs 13cwt, both are in the key of F. The bells are pulled so that they turn 450 degrees at roughly 30 miles per hour. The bell ropes are so strong they can pull an eight and a half ton bus. Recently new ropes were purchased for £1468. Each bell has a number and the conductor shouts the changes. The bell tunes are called methods, and Martin showed us what a method looked likeon paper. Personally, I think it would have been easier to read Chinese!

Martin gave a lovely evening, lots of information sprinkled with his sense of humour. Words like, stay, slider, gudgeon and headstock slip off our tongues, just like true bell ringers. Thank you Martin, we really enjoyed the session.

We have arranged a day trip on Tuesday the 22nd July, and would like to invite any ladies to join us. The day starts from Hindley market square at 10am and will consist of a coach drive to Castlefield, Manchester. Here we will transfer to a luxury ferry boat (either the Lowry or the Pankhurst). We will cruise along the Bridgewater canal to the Lowry, enjoying a main course of lunch on route. We will have some free time at the Lowry before returning on the ferry for desert and the cruise back to our coach. Depending on traffic we should arrive back at the market square for 5.30pm. The emphasis on the day is pure leisure and relaxation, good food and just the right amount of retail therapy. This is what dreams are made of!

We are hoping there is sufficient interest to hire a large coach which will be easier to step on and off. There is a gradual slope or steps that are used to reach the ferry at Castlefield, and there is crew assistance to board the ferry, which is easier than getting onto the coach. The cost of the day will about £28. For more information or to book a place contact Enid on 253361 or Sue on 257755 or approach any other committee member.

We are also planning an evening trip to Blackpool on Tuesday the 30th September. Leaving Hindley market square at about 5.30pm, we will have a late tea of fish and chip at Cleveley's Kitchen in Bispham, then travel back through the illuminations. There will be more details inthe next magazine.

A warm welcome awaits any ladies who would like to join us on Tuesday evenings. We have guest speakers most nights and we are interested in a wide variety of topics. For more information contact Eileen (our secretary) on 256905, or look in the church porch for our list of up and coming events, or check out the web site on www.stpeters-church-hindley.org.ukMay God's blessing be with you all.Sue Bray

Some useful tips……A youthful figure is what you get when you ask a woman her age.All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them (Walt Disney)We make a living by what we get – we make a life by what we give (Sir Winston Churchill)You can’t control everything; you have hair to prove it!Shoes can change your life…… ask CinderellaA good friend is cheaper than therapyFriends are like Bras; close to the heart and there for supportThanks to Muriel Caldwell

Acknowledgement for a job well done from one of our magazine adverts:Martin Lewis from Handyman Services has just completed my bathroom (bath out, walk-in shower in) plus full bathroom tiled, new cupboard door, plus new door.Thank you Martin for an excellent job.Kath Naughton

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - WORDSEARCH

Book of Remembrance for June

1st Isaac Fletcher Taylor 19741st Alan Fairchild 20033rd Edith Entwistle 19984th John Aldred Davies 19965th Ann Boardman 19846th Ida Daley 2001 7th Squire Greenalgh 1995

9th Fred Tindall 197310th Edith Jane Taylor 195810th Peter Taylor 199812th Thomas Hitchen 198312th James Ramsbottom 199613th Henrietta Thwaites 198814th Annie Sherrington 197415th Frank Johnson 2010

From The Churchwardens

Earlier this month myself and Fred and the PCC met with Archdeacon Peter andMargaret Sherwin to discuss the Partnership and how it was to continue.Unfortunately as it stands Alan B our priest in charge is working hard to cover usand All Saints. This is a difficult task and things need to change how this is tohappen is still being discussed and we will meet as a PCC to discuss how wewould like to take it forward. If any of the congregation have any ideas or anythingthey would like us to take to the PCC please let us know.Shortly work will begin (or as you read this should have begun) on updating andchanging the “faulty” sound system to one that means you can hear all that isgoing on.

Lindsay and Fred

16th Harold Wilkinson 199317th Emma Watkiss 198318th Herbert Smith 197819th Nellie Lennie 198821st Kenneth Gough 200422nd Peter Catterall 198722nd Christine Everett 200123rd Doris Hitchen 199023rd Clara Smith 196623rd Muriel Dawes 199424th Linda Marion Jones 198525th Ronald John Bradshaw 198025th Elizabeth Grundy 198828th Clifford Seddon 200630th Jack Davies 2005

St. Peter’s Creche and Sunday School -

We are looking for Christian

to help, on a rota system, with our Crèche and Sunday School on 3Sundays per month 10.45am – 12.00 pm.

All helpers will be DBS checked.For more information contact Sue Bray on 257755

Together Everyone Achieves more

St. Peter’s is blessed with several teams of hardworking folk who come together to serve in various capacities – to the Glory of God. One of our teams is The Friday Lunch Team (above) who work so hard to provide the verypopular lunches as part of our outreach to the community. Thank you Team.

We are also blessed by the hard work of Joan and Peter Ellwood who make a great team in keeping the plants in the church grounds under control. Many thanks to them both. More teams to follow in further editions.

More teamwork at St. Peter’s‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’

Thursdays are very special days at St. Peter’s. It’s the day when the vegetables are prepared for Friday lunches and when the church is kept clean and tidy.

We thank God for these faithful people as they serve Godin this way.

8th Wigan Boys Brigade

NewsletterMay 2014

Join us on Facebook at St Peters Boys Brigade - 8th Wigan.Follow us on twitter @8thWiganBB

Sunday 8th June – Walking DayPlease meet at Hindley Business Centre at 1.40pm

Saturday 21st June – District Fun Day, Kirkham The Battalion is providing a bus to this event. We will be leaving at approx. 9am and arriving home at approx. 5pm. If you wish your boy to attend this event could you please let any officer know as soon as possible.

Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th October 2014 – Camp – Junior and Company SectionsWe are once again going to the District training Centre in Kirkham for our annual camp. Letters are soon to be circulated regarding this. Priority as usual will be given to those with the most Church Parade attendance. If you receive a letter please could you return asap, so that plans can be made.

On the weekend of 9th to 11th of May Josh Pendlebury, Josh Banks and James Marshall took part in there silver Duke of Edinburgh award expedition in Rivington. They were joined by Alexander Wilson Leonardand William Marshall who were completing a practice run for their Bronze award. This weekend was very successful and was enjoyed by all.

We are once again collecting Sainsbury’s active kids vouchers, which enable us to get much needed equipment. We would be very grateful for your help in collecting as many as possible. A box will be in the pavilion each Thursday nightor alternatively these can be passed on to any officer

Meeting times are as follows:Anchor Boys 5.45pm to 6.45pm, Junior Section 6.45pm to 7.45pm, Company Section 7.45pm to 9.30pm. Please could you ensure that Boys arrive just before the start and that someone is there to collect them as when they leave the main hall we are unable to supervise them