JOURNAL OF BLACKBURN DIOCESE : THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN LANCASHIRE

THE

See MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2017

The See can also be found on the Diocesan Website: www.blackburn.anglican.org under News, or scan the ‘QR code’ on the back page

with your smartphone to be taken to the Diocese website page which contains the current and archive editions of The See.

A significant gathering of South Asian Christians from across Lancashire took place recently.

The South Asian Christian Convention was attended and supported by Bishop Philip and Archdeacon Mark. It is hoped the event will be the first of many.

The sermon in Blackburn Cathedral was delivered by Rev. Canon Arun John, Vicar of St James’ Blackburn, while Rev. Kamran Bhatti, Curate at The Risen Lord, Preston coordinated and led the whole gathering.

Worship in traditional South Asian style was planned and led by Rev. Victor Sohail, Curate at Great Marsden, St John while Rev. Munawar Din, Curate of Christ Church Blackburn looked after invitations. View a short video of the worship on the Diocesan YouTube channel.

The purpose of the Convention was to bring together Christians of South Asian heritage from across the region and to mark the importance of this lively community to the Church of England and the wider Church.

In his sermon, Canon Arun John said: “Today we rejoice as we celebrate our Christian faith together with the members and senior leadership of the Diocese of Blackburn.

“This is a wonderful

initiative. In the last five years we have welcomed five South Asian Priests from Indian and Pakistani backgrounds into the Diocese of Blackburn.

“We also have an enthusiastic Diocesan senior leadership who are committed to making South Asian Christians feel part of the wider Body of Christ.”

“God has called us in this country and Christians from different backgrounds must realise that we are inter-dependent. As believers coming from South Asia we are here to complement the wider church with our gifts to strengthen the Body of Christ in the County. We can’t allow ourselves to be disconnected from the Body of Christ.”

Commenting on the Convention Bishop Philip said: “I was delighted to attend and support this wonderful and uplifting event at the Cathedral.

“The Christian community from South Asia in Lancashire is a precious and important part of the life our Diocese.

“I was so impressed by their commitment to making disciples, being witnesses and growing leaders for Jesus Christ here in the County, which are the key aims of our Vision 2026.”

Archdeacon Mark added: “The Convention was a superb event and I would like to say a particular thank you to Kamran, Munawar and Victor who coordinated everything before and on the day.

“I have already expressed the hope that another convention will take place next year, as I believe it

has the potential to grow and become a really important part of the life and witness of our diocese.”

First South

Asian Christian

Convention is

big success

Rev. Munawar Din, third from left, and Rev. Kamran Bhatti, far right, join singers at the Cathedral during the Convention

Rev. Canon Arun John

A Christian theatre group formed by our Diocese and Lancashire Methodist District has taken a new play to the Edinburgh Festival, where packed houses watched most evenings of a week-long run.

The cast took to the streets of Edinburgh during the day to drum up interest and bumped into celebrities galore, including comedian Al Murray.

Home Front, Front Line was written by Rev. Canon David Banbury who is Blackburn Diocese’s Parish Mission Support Leader. It has already been seen at several venues across Lancashire before the

successful appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Home Front, Front Line is an emotionally-charged look at life in World War 2 through the eyes of a young couple (Lizzie and Tom) serving their country at home and abroad and it celebrates love, commitment and faith in the face of separation, hardship and conflict.

The same team has also produced a play that was performed at Liverpool Cathedral in September as part of a season of events celebrating the life of Captain Noel Chavasse and his brother Christopher.

Noel Chavasse is the only man to have been awarded two VCs during the first world war, the second posthumously. His brother Christopher was an army chaplain, survived the war and went on to become Bishop of Rochester.

Brothers in Arms was initially written to commemorate the centenary of WW1 and has, to date, been seen by over 2,500 people across the North West.

If you missed the Liverpool performance Brothers in Arms continues to tour our Diocese with the next performance at Higher Walton All Saints on October 22. See people and

places.

Festival trip is

great success

for Diocese

Some of the cast bumped into comedian Al Murray (second left) while drumming up business in Edinburgh!

The cast and crew of the show during a break from their Fringe performances

Sporting chance

to share Gospel

Do you play sport, coach sport, watch sport?

Do you use sport as part of your church outreach?

Have you ever considered how your sporting life and your Christian life could connect?

You are invited to come along to a Diocesan Sports Ministry Morning at St Cuthbert’s Fulwood on Saturday 21st October 2017 from 10.00am until 12.45pm.

Full details are on the events section of the diocesan website. There will be a keynote address from Rob Taylor, National Sport Ambassador, demonstrations of Walking Football as well as series of workshops to help you think further about how you can use sport for outreach in your parish.

Tea and coffee will be available from 9.30am, and there will be a Marketplace with information and advice from different organizations who can help you with your own Sports Ministry.

To help us with our planning, we ask that you book using the Eventbrite link accessed via the event page of www.blackburn.anglican.org

COMMENT: ARCHDEACON MICHAEL / NEWS

I remember the first time my Mum and Dad’s house was broken into.

In addition to all the mess, and sense of having the safety of home violated by an outsider, the thief unwittingly caused an argument.

My Mum’s jewellery box had been gone through and the only two items taken were a small dirty silver signet ring of my great grandfather’s and a tie-pin given to my Dad for long service at the factory where he worked.

All my Mum’s necklaces, brooches and rings in the box remained. This caused her to ask of her husband, for the first time: ‘How much did you pay for them?’

It was as if the thief had decided the jewellery that had marked special occasions was of no value. Whilst the resale value was low, the sentimental value was very high indeed, but a thief by their very nature has no regard for sentiment.

This is a truth we sadly learnt when, after my Mum had died, the house was once more broken into and the only jewellery of financial

value (wedding, engagement and eternity rings) were taken.

My Dad, six months into his bereavement, lost the precious items that spoke of their 59 years of marriage yet, as he said at the time, not the actual love that the rings represented - that lived on in his heart.

What we value defines how we see life. If everything is seen in terms of financial cost, then we lose sight of the immense value of a smile, a kind word, a sensitive gesture. We forget that it is the time spent with each other rather than the money that makes all the difference.

As Jesus said: “Where your heart is, there is your treasure.” (Matthew 6:21)

My Mum’s precious necklaces being beneath the thief’s quality threshold that first time, meant that they remained. They continued during her lifetime to remind her and my Dad of the happy occasions that they had been part of her attire.

Yes, the loss of the sentimentally valuable wedding and engagement rings so soon after her death hurt, but not as hard as her death

itself. And without her hand for them to be worn on, their value had gone down for us all.

Let’s not fall into the trap of knowing the price, but not the value.

Archdeacon Michael

Where your

heart is, there

is your treasure

Exciting changes are coming to the popular 'A Church Near You' website including the chance for parishes to use it to create their own free and bespoke website!

And clergy and laity from across our own Diocese have helped to shape the future development of the site.

Earlier this year the national Digital Communications team at Church House in London produced a report on how to get the most from the new 'A Church Near You'.

A Church Near You is the online information portal accessible to all churches across the country. It has been around for several years and many parishes from our Diocese have a presence on the site. Each church can access and edit its own page and keep it updated with the latest information.

It is a powerful tool and work in London to examine visits to the A Church Near You website in more detail has revealed it receives a huge number visitors ... all people wanting to find out what is happening at parishes local to them. It is particularly popular at Christmas and Easter.

So, it was decided recently to work to enhance the site for further increase its impact and to create new features, including adding church schools into the database and a new ‘analytics feature’ which can show parish administrators the number of page views they are getting each week.

There are two phases to the project, the first is to revamp the site and give it a fresh new look while still presenting key information about each church. The second phase will offer parishes the opportunity to use 'A Church Near You' to create their own bespoke

website.

The Digital Communications Team spoke to 1,800 people across the country – including two focus group days in our own Diocese for clergy and laity held in January and September this year - to gather insights and thoughts on how to make the service much better for a site that already receives over 13 million page views each year.

Using this feedback, the designs are now complete and signed off, and the work of building the site is well underway for a launch in November 2017. Key new features for phase one include:

Churches will be able to add extra information to events and services, such as a location other than the church, times, accessibility and contact details. This will enable churches to showcase (for example) one-off services out in the community or parish away days outside the church building.

Space to include information about the facilities the church has, from a post office to foodbank or Alpha.

Churches will be able to see the number of page views their profile gets each week, month and year thanks to a new analytics feature the for the site administrators.

Users will not only be able to search for their nearest church – and now Church of England school – but they are also able to filter the search to show results that include key features and facilities they are looking for or need, such as accessibility, car parking or service type.

In phase two, churches will be able to turn their simple page into a full church website –

even having the option of using a unique URL, or the URL of their current website. From the launch in November, profiles will already

begin to look far more like a website, with editors able to add pages, images and customise the tiles on their profile.

If you have any questions about the project, you can email direct to enquiry@churchofengland.org.

If your church is not already on A Church Near You, it’s really simple to do so – just go to the current site www.achurchnearyou.com and click on the register button and follow instructions.

The focus groups of clergy and laity from across the Diocese also gave excellent feedback in January to help shape plans for the new Diocesan website which went live at www.blackburn.anglican.org over the summer. The second focus group sessions in September were also a chance to ask for feedback on the site now it has launched. Feedback was very positive and a number of excellent suggestions were also made for further enhancement of the site which we are now looking into.

It’s all change

for ‘A Church

Near You’

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Forthcoming events

There is still time to book on a fantastic communications and marketing advice day which takes place on October 7 at the Diocesan Offices, Clayton House, Walker Business Park, Blackburn BB1 2QE from 10.30am until 3.30pm. Entitled ‘Get Your Church Noticed’, Ronnie Semley, our Diocesan Communications Manager, will be joined by his colleague, Neil Pugmire, the Communications Manager for Portsmouth Diocese to give some practical, common sense ideas for promoting your church, its mission work and activities in your immediate local area. More information and book on the Diocesan website (www.blackburn.anglican.org) events calendar or email karen.ashcroft@blackburn. anglican.org.

On October 18, as part of the Spirituality Programme, Archdeacon Mark will lead a ‘Reading Day’ for clergy, starting and finishing with prayers. Reading Days are free and refreshments are provided but please bring your own lunch. For further information and to book, please contact the Abbey office on 01254 828400 or email office@whalleyabbey.org

An Organ Recital in aid of church funds takes place at St Andrew’s Church, Liverpool Road, Longton, Preston PR4 5AA. Friday 20 October, 7.30pm. Organist is Sean Montgomery. Tickets: £6.50 including refreshments. Contacts for tickets, tel: 01772 611974 / 613435 or email: joan.doerich@ gmail.com.

Afternoon Tea with Music from America presented by St Leonard’s Gilbert and Sullivan Singers at St Aidan’s Church Hall, Station Road, Bamber Bridge PR5 6GN on Sunday 8 October. Songs begin 2.30pm prompt to 4pm. Tickets £3.50 and includes tea and cakes. Please telephone Linda on 01772 339381 or Patricia on 01772 330707 for more details or to buy tickets.

St Silas' Church, Preston New Road, Blackburn, BB2 6JP presents The Lomax Brothers in concert on Saturday 21 October at 7.30pm. A repertoire spanning several decades with popular and classic music, from Jerry Lee Lewis to Michael Buble. Tickets £10 for (under-16s free) contact Ruth on 01254 262324, Carole on 01254 54991 or Jean on 07935 498060 or by emailing stsilasorganfund@ email.com

St Andrew’s Church is having a Barn Dance in aid of Church Funds. St Andrew’s Church Hall, Liverpool Road, Longton, Preston PR4 5AA. Saturday 14 October, 7pm to 11pm. Dancing to the ‘Still Reeling’ Ceilidh and Barn Dance Band. Hot pot or butter pie and apple pie supper included. Tickets: Adult £10, Children under 16: £5. Licensed Bar. Contacts for tickets, tel: 01772 611974 / 613435 or email: joan.doerich@gmail.com

Blackburn Cathedral Gift Shop is launching a new range of giftware on Monday 23 October at 6pm. Dalit supplies beautifully packaged beeswax candles, soaps, spices and other gifts made by the Dalit (or Untouchable) people of India. Please come and experience these products and hear the fascinating story behind the charity which benefits from all sales. Light refreshments will be served. For further information, email shop@blackburncathedral.co.uk

Enjoy the Friday lunchtime Recital on 6 October at St George the Martyr, Preston PR1 2NP. The Turquoise Duo: (Daniel Rodriguez Hart, piano and Clara Lafuente, oboe). This event forms part of Preston Arts' Week. Doors open 11am and recital starts 12.30pm, lasts about 50 minutes. Tickets on door £7 (including refreshments beforehand).

ResoundWorship new album ‘Songs for Sundays’ will be presented as a live performance at St Cuthbert’s Church, Lytham Road, Fulwood PR2 3HQ on Sunday 8 October 2017 at 7.30pm. This is a free performance, a collection will be taken up for

ResoundWorship. Further information on www.resoundworship.org

Higher Walton All Saints, Blackburn Road, PR5 4DB. On Sunday 22 October from 7pm, Brothers in Arms, a special multimedia event commemorating the 100th Anniversary of World War One. Featuring film, music, drama, images and readings, Brothers in Arms tells the amazing story of the Chavasse twins, Noel and Christopher. The venue is in the church. Free admission but donations welcome to the charity Help for Heroes. Refreshments will be provided at the end of the presentation. Stephen Houghton 01254 851202.

The Church Pastoral Aid Society is holding a ‘PCC Tonight’ training evening in Sale, Greater Manchester, on October 4 from 7.45-9.45pm which

is open to all North West parishes. Venue is Ashton-on-Mersey St Mary Magdalene, Sale, M33 6GD and the event is suitable for all PCC members. It is a fun, informative evening which will help you to clarify the purpose and place of your PCC and explore some common issues. You will also be introduced to material you can use to help shape the life of your PCC back at church. Cost: £12 for the first booking, £3 for each additional member of your PCC. Find out more and book your place(s) at www.cpas.org.uk/pcc

This Harvest why not ‘Share The Orange’ in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK and encourage people to donate to a worthwhile charity? The size of a diseased brain of a person living with a dementia disease weighs about that of an orange. Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading dementia research charity - funding over £33 million our scientists’ ground-breaking work focuses on prevention, treatment, and cure. In the UK, more than 850,000 people are currently living with dementia. The ultimate aim is to defeat dementia and therefore any donation that you could make would be very much appreciated. Visit www.alzheimersresearchuk. org/orange to find out more and make a donation.

Everyone from across the Diocese is invited to join church leaders from across Lancashire to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation at 2pm on Thursday October 19 in Blackburn Cathedral. Speaking at the event will be the National Ecumenical Officer for the Catholic Bishops' Conference in England and Wales alongside the Vice President of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in England. Responses and reflections will be given by our own Bishop Julian; The Chair of the Lancashire Methodist District and the Moderator of the URC NW Synod.

With Faith in Mind: A series of events by Churches Together in Lancashire in partnership with MIND to explore mental health and specifically how churches and other faith groups can support their local communities. Tuesday 10th October 12.00 – 3.00pm St Thomas Garstang; Thursday 12th October 12 – 3pm Burnley and Pendle Faith Centre and Friday 13th October 12 – 3pm St Paul, North Shore. For more information and to book visit the events pages of the Diocesan website www.blackburn.anglican.org

Situations vacant or wanted

St Paul's Parish Church, Low Moor, Clitheroe require an organist to play on Sunday mornings (Hymns Old and New). Small choir, fine two manual Binns organ, regularly maintained. Remuneration to be discussed with our churchwardens, Diane Steer on 01200 424997 or Johanna Smith on 01200 424935, but generally in line with RSCM rates.

Clergy updates

The Revd David Noblet, Chaplain (half-time) at HMP Kirkham and HMYOI Lancaster Farms has been appointed Chaplain (half time) of HMP Kirkham and HMP Lancaster Farms.

The Revd Helen Catherine Scamman, SSM Associate Priest of Lancaster St Thomas, has been appointed Associate Vicar (0.25 time) of Lancaster St Thomas, and was licensed by the Bishop of Blackburn on 29 August 2017 at 12noon at Bishop’s House Chapel.

The Revd Canon Timothy William Lipscomb, Vicar of Preston St John and St George the Martyr, will retire on 31 October 2017. Father Timothy will become a Canon Emeritus following his retirement.

The Revd Andrew John Earl, the Revd Peter Rawling Nunn and the Revd Christopher Eigil Halliwell have been granted the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate in the Diocese.

Profits from The Meaningful Treat Pack, a new resource designed to help with mission work on and around the eve of All Saints (Hallowe’en), will help support the new ‘Jesus

Light' at Blackpool illuminations. The Jesus light was first turned on in Easter this year by Bishop Geoff before his retirement and will be seen by an estimated 52 million people over its 15-year lifespan. The dynamic new display is 15ft tall by 10ft wide and shows a dark Good Friday cross which transforms into a resurrection scene.

The dynamic new display replaces a similar one that was a well-known fixture on the promenade but was destroyed in a severe storm a few years ago.

David Marshall, from The Meaningful Chocolate Company, said: “We think the Jesus light is a great idea and think it’s great that our Meaningful Treat Packs will support an idea which helps Jesus shine in the darkness.”

For more on The Meaningful Treat Pack visit www.realhalloween.org

The historic Whalley Abbey, the Diocesan Retreat and Conference Centre, was host to two successful

Family Days recently.

Organised by the Children’s Team from the Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education (BDBE) the theme was ‘God’s Wonderful World’ as families from across the County were invited to experience, explore and encounter God in new, interesting and fun ways. Pictured with some parents are a group of little novice monks!

Inside the Abbey, which is the Diocesan Retreat and Conference Centre, families crafted a stained-glass world and all manner of animals in masks and artwork.

There was a walk around the Abbey ruins, with the children and some adults dressed as Cistercian monks, to explore the daily life of a monk.

NEWS News? Feedback? thesee@blackburn.anglican.org

Deadline

for

the

November

edition

is

October 3,

2017

Helpful information about 'The See'

Want to submit an article or event for inclusion in The See? Check the deadline on the left and email thesee@blackburn.anglican.org

We'll always do our best to feature what we receive.

For the online archive; more information about deadlines and how to submit articles, visit the website www.blackburn.anglican.org (search 'The See') or just scan the QR code on the right.

Sight loss problems? Access the online version of the latest issue on the website and adjust the page size as required using the + and - buttons on the right of the screen, or hold down the keyboard 'Ctrl' button and press the + or - key to adjust as required.

The See is edited by Diocesan Communications Manager Ronnie Semley.

For new orders of ‘The See; or to change delivery address or quantities received contact Karen Ashcroft on karen.ashcroft@blackburn.anglican.org or 01254 503070.

More than one thousand children in Blackburn and Darwen received a daily free lunchbox during the summer holidays thanks to the efforts of a team of community organisations in the area.

The local Christian community, including Methodists and Anglicans, worked together to support the scheme under the umbrella of Kingdom Outreach. This is a Christian charity providing practical support and solutions to those in need regardless of age, race, gender and religion which aims to encourage personal worth and empower people to make better life choices.

Volunteers from Kingdom Outreach were also joined by Blackburn with Darwen Council, Children’s’ Centres, Great Places and Together Lancashire to deliver the scheme.

Bishop Julian said: “Our Diocesan Vision 2026 is about healthy churches transforming communities and there can be no better community initiative than this one which provided a square meal for a young person who may go hungry without during the school holidays. I congratulate everyone who was involved."

Gillian Beeley Together Lancashire Development Coordinator for East Lancashire, added: “This is the first year that the project has run and the team is delighted that so many partners have come forward to help. It takes a village to bring up a child – and that is exactly what is happening here in Blackburn with Darwen!

Archdeacon Mark was one of many people who helped pack lunches as part of the scheme.

He said: “It was great to be able to get involved in packing the lunches recently and I saw at first hand the dedication of all the people involved. It was an example of churches serving their communities and showing the love of Christ in a very practical way."

Dedicated team

makes lunches

for youngsters

An African celebration Thousands of primary school children from Lancashire came together over the summer for a huge stadium worship event. Some 4,000 children and adults from schools throughout the County were invited to the home of Blackburn Rovers, Ewood Park, for St James’ Lower Darwen’s South African Cross Culture Event – organised in conjunction with the Diocesan Board of Education. They were welcomed by Bishop Philip, pictured having fun alongside some of the kids with a giant football! The Bishop encouraged the thousands in the stadium to always embrace difference … while tearing open his shirt to reveal his true colours, as an Arsenal fan! The spectacular event involved music; worship; puppetry; an appearance by Christian storyteller Bob Hartman and an alternative take on the famous Good Samaritan story involving rival Blackburn FC and Burnley FC fans! The get-together was part of ‘Mission Possible’, a week of mission events and celebrations organised by St James.

On behalf of the Archdeacons I would like to say a huge thank you to those churchwardens and PCCs who completed this year's Articles of Enquiry, writes Dave Champness, Vision Coordinator.

Whilst completing the questions can often be perceived to be a chore the answers are helping the Bishop's Leadership Team to gain valuable insight in to how parishes are progressing with the Vision priorities of making disciples, being witnesses and growing leaders.

It was encouraging to learn that 82% of parishes were planning to hold at least one intentionally missional activity (being witnesses) in 2017 while 100% of respondents had at least three lay people involved in leading services (growing leaders)

A quarter of parishes had at least one adult confirmation candidate in 2016 (making disciples) and two thirds have a Mission/Vision Action Plan that is reviewed regularly.

Whilst media headlines in early September

focussed on a recent survey suggesting that 53% of the population had 'no religion' it was encouraging to see that a third of our parishes recorded an increase in regular weekly attendance in 2016 over 2015.

It does mean that there is decline elsewhere; but if we all take it upon ourselves to pray for, and make connections with, friends, family, neighbours and colleagues and then deliberately invite them to hear the message of God's saving grace and to experience Him through the sacraments, then I believe, with God’s blessing, we will see an increasingly positive change in the statistics.

Our job as individuals is to provide the opportunities for God to 'do His stuff. The role of the Bishop's Leadership Team is to support you as clergy and laity living and worshipping in each of our 235 parochial contexts; large and small, urban and rural, wealthy and financially struggling, in the 'cure of [the 1.2million Lancashire] souls.

And please do let me know if you have ideas as to how the Bishop's Leadership Team can effectively support your mission by emailing dave.champness@ blackburn.anglican. org

You can see who all the members of the Bishop’s Leadership Team are in the ‘About Us’ section on our new Diocesan website.

Enquiry responses

help shape our

future progress

Work with children by Church of England parishes throughout Lancashire will be celebrated and recognised by a special service in Fulwood in early October.

The Blackburn Diocesan Children’s Workers’ Celebration Service takes place on Tuesday October 3 at St Cuthbert’s Church, Lytham Road, Fulwood, PR2 3AP, starting at 7.30pm.

Sarah Earnshaw, organiser of the service, said: “This is a joyful service of celebration, for anyone involved in children’s ministry in parishes throughout the diocese. Everyone who works in children’s ministry is welcome.”

Bishop Philip will speak to the congregation and will present a number of Bishop’s Certificates in Children’s Ministry.

Long service awards will also be presented for those people who have served children’s’ ministry for a considerable time; people nominated by their parishes.

A special award will be made to Alison Newsham, who has served St Cuthbert’s Lytham for eight years as a children’s worker. Another special award will go to St Lawrence’s, Morecambe in recognition of 25 years running an annual holiday club for young people.

The service will feature worship, prayer, and a specific commissioning liturgy.

More details on children@blackburn.anglican.org or call 01254 503405.

Children’s work is

centre stage