Torrisholme Methodist Church- we hope you find something here for you.
Easing Restrictions
Our Community
The words "Community Centre" are a significant part of the Torrisholme Methodist Church signage. The church " or "the sanctuary" is a peaceful space where anyone can sit quietly while the building is unlocked. Everyone is welcome to join us for worship or simply to sit and observe what's happening. There are services every Sunday at 10:30 am, some of which include Holy Communion , and also we have a short early Holy Communion Service at 8:30 am on 2nd Sunday each month..
The Communion Table is open to all who choose to come, if this it feels right for you, Children can take part in a simple way alongside the adults. The communion wine is non-alcoholic.
No alcohol is permitted anywhere on our premises.
Coffee, tea and biscuits are served in the Hall at about 11:45 am following the Sunday service. This is free of charge, but we welcome donations for Christian Aid. Please join us for a chat.
Almost all of our premises are available for hire. We hope our local community will see us as a resource that everyone can use. Our buildings are available to local groups and organisations needing a space that is accessible, comfortable and at a reasonable cost. Almost all of our premises is available for hire. There are ramped entrances both at the front & back of the building. There are toilets including one with wheelchair access. We have a well appointed, modern kitchen and rooms of varying size. There is a car park at the back of the building with 7 spaces, plus 2 for Blue Badge holders.
Click on "Premises" at the top of this screen for details.
We look forward to meeting you.
Mission Statement
Torrisholme Methodist Church is called by God to respond to the good news of God's love in Christ and to live out our discipleship through worship, prayer, bible study and fellowship.
Powered by God's Spirit we are committed to :-
* Being a welcoming, loving, caring and supportive community
* Exploring established and new ways of worshipping God
* Taking risks for Christ
* Providing teaching and fellowship to promote growth in faith
knowledge and love
* Enabling everyone to discover and use their gifts
* Seeking to address the needs of local, national and international communities
* Ensuring that our resources are fully used for worship, fellowship and community activities
Pastoral Letter - President & Vice President of Conference
The Revd Sonia Hicks & Mrs Barbara Easton
A pastoral letter from the President and Vice-President
following the Conference vote on Marriage and Relationships
We wished to take this opportunity to write to you after the Conference voted on the resolutions
contained in the marriage and relationships report.
We very much appreciate that these decisions will stir up many different emotions for our siblings across the Connexion. There will be some who will be deeply hurt and others who will rejoice by what has been decided.
Our Presidential theme this year is God’s Table: An Invitation for All, and God’s invitation is for every single one of us.
The Methodist Church has held tension for many years and as a Church and a family,
we must do all we can to live with contradictory convictions.
This work was first reflected on back in 1992 and we have been on this journey together since that point.
During the past years we have continued to listen to and to pray for each other and
remaining true to what God is saying to us. We must remember in all this, to continue to hold each other in prayer,
and to support each other as we find a way forward, respecting our differences.
It is perhaps helpful to remember that there are other issues, some of them discussed at the Conference,
on which we hold differing and sometimes strong opinions. We live with them and we do not allow them to impair our communion with each other. We respect each other’s consciences, we exercise judgment in when to speak
and when to be silent, and we hold one another in prayer. We do all this not for our own sake
but for the sake of Christ and the sake of the world which urgently needs to know the power of Christ’s reconciling love.
Our prayer for you, beloved siblings, is that in joy or sorrow,
in pain or excitement, we might continue to live within that reconciling love.
The Revd Sonia Hicks Mrs Barbara Easton
President of the Conference Vice-President of the Conference
Easing Restrictions and Opening Doors
WE ARE TAKING BOOKINGS
RING BERNARD ON 410409 FOR DETAILS
Saturday Prayer Group
Changes
We are celebrating that we can once again meet face to face at church on a Saturday morning.
The time is changing, by popular request from 9:30. to 10:00 a.m
We are an ecumenical group, coordinated by Linda.
Please feel free to join us in the church for half an hour of quiet prayer.
There will still be prayers posted by the Prayer Group on the Website's Worship page. These will usually be changed monthly.
There have been some changes at TMC
Notice from the stewards
Following the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 28th April and subsequent discussions
there have been a few changes:
- Rev Roy Burley began his 3 month sabbatical on Saturday May 1st. We wish Roy a time of reflection, refreshment and learning and look forward to his return at the end of July.
- Rev David Philo has charge of 5 churches whilst Roy is away: Brookhouse, Bare, TMC, Wesley & Tewitfield
- Andrew Pilling has stood down as a steward having completed 10 years, 6 of which as senior. Thanks to Andrew for all he has done.
- Sue Spencer and Sister Vivien Ward have joined the Stewards Team, Sue will be acting Senior Steward for 1 year
- Mervyn Catterall will be the person to contact to book your place at the Sunday morning Service: email: mervyncatterall@hotmail.co.uk or phone: 01524 418348
**** **** ****
Covid-19 Guidance & Reminders:
- Should you wish to come please ring Mervyn 418348. Numbers are limited so we will work on a first come basis. IT IS IMPORTANT TO BOOK. You may not be admitted unless you have a reservation.
- Remember to stay socially distanced and follow the guidance of the Welcome Stewards to ensure that it is as safe as possible for everyone. Face masks are a requirement at all times.
- Any responses eg the Lord’s Prayer can be spoken behind the face mask
- Handshaking, hugging and kissing,and mixing closely with others are not allowed.
- There will be no refreshments
- a one-way system will operate in at the usual door
- There will be a collection, but not by passing around a plate; it will be there as you enter the church.
- If you feel unwell in any way please do not come into church.and let Andrew on 409455 to let us know; we be thinking of you in our prayers
- Please arrive no earlier than 10.15 am ; wait socially distanced outside the main entrance, distanced, there is a hand gel dispenser which you need to use before entering.
- A stewards will show you to a seat.
- After the service, wait for a steward to assist you in leaving. via emergency door only.
- On leaving, please immediately move well away from the door
- Anyone needing assistance (there is a step) from a Steward, please wait patiently.
- If you have any questions, please contact Andrew Pillingor any of the stewards.
- Remember to wrap up warmly; All the doors and windows will be kept open in accordance with Government Guidlines
*********
Future Services will be led by:
23 May Rev David Philo
30 May Susan Wilson
6th June Rev Andrew Champley
13th June Sandra Lucas
20th June Sister Vivien
27th June Rev David Philo.
Notices
Safe Guarding and DBS Clearance
You can find the Practice Guidance on Carrying Out Disclosure and Barring (DBS) Checks as part of Safer Recruitment (January 2018 )
by clicking this link:
https://www.methodist.org.uk/media/7253/safer-recruitment-guidance-january-2018.pdf
OR
by going to the Safeguarding page on this site.
Message from the Superintendent Minister
10 Mar 2021,
circuit@northlancsmethodist.org.uk
TO: Local Church Contacts, Local Preachers, Worship Leaders, Supernumeraries, Ministers,
(NB Please pass this information on to those who are not on email)
Friends across the Circuit,
The vaccine is being rolled-out and the Covid situation is beginning to improve
and so the Government are beginning to allow gatherings to occur.
As such, the Lancashire Resilience Forum (who have been overseeing the Covid situation in our county
- providing guidance and enforcement) have indicated that communal worship is able to resume.
In the Circuit, we are planning that worship in our church buildings can resume from Holy Week onwards (29th March) providing that:
- the Government guidelines and the Lancashire Resilience Forum guidelines continue to permit us to do so;
- the Church Stewards are agreed that re-opening the building is the right course of action (they remain responsible, with the Church Council, for the safety of all those who attend worship);
- guidelines continue to be followed meticulously:
- capacity is limited - as identified in the specific church risk-assessment;
- facemasks are to be worn by everyone throughout worship (except for those exempt from wearing masks), those leading worship or reading may remove their masks while speaking; (Note. Face-shields are insufficient)
- social distancing must be observed at all times;
- no singing (see below);
- no refreshments;
- the Covid risk-assessment for the specific building has been completed and signed-off by the Circuit;
- the Covid risk-assessment for the specific building has been revisited by the Stewards (or an appointed person) to check that everything is still in place as necessary to remain Covid-secure at the point of re-opening;
- the building re-opening checklist for the specific building is revisited by the Stewards (or an appointed person) to check that everything is still in place as necessary at the point of re-opening;
Outdoor Worship
Open air worship around the Cross on Good Friday or Easter Day should not occur as the size of gathering would exceed the government guidelines (Rule of 6 or two households outdoors).
Circuit Preaching Plan
At this stage, we are not appointing preachers to lead worship in buildings, any worship should be organised locally - by a Local Preacher, Supernumerary or Worship Leader from that congregation, or by your Minister.
We are hoping to produce a Circuit Preaching Plan for June (possibly for a month at a time) - this will be confirmed after Easter and will be dependent upon the Covid situation and the Government's 'Road Map' dates remaining as planned.
Further notes:
- As far as singing is concerned, the advice from Abdul Razaq, Interim Consultant in Public Health, states that, "Communal singing should not take place. This applies even if social distancing is being observed or face coverings are used." He refers to the national guidance from HM Government, which has not changed since 4th July 2020.
- Funerals continue to be permitted in our buildings with limited attendance. Currently limited to 30 + those who are "working" i.e. Minister, stewards and organist. Funeral teas will be allowed no earlier than 12th April, limited to 15.
- Weddings (plus receptions) currently are scheduled to restart no earlier than 12th April, which are limited to 15, the limit will be raised no earlier than 17th May to 30 (again + those who are "working").
- Baptisms will be allowed no earlier than 17th May, and will limited to 30 people present (again + those who are "working").
- Online worship via Zoom will continue for the foreseeable future.
- Paper based worship resources will continue to be available to those who are unable to access Zoom or attend worship at a building.
Reminder - following a spate of church break-ins, Rev Roy Burley sent a poster about 'no valuables being kept on premises’ - it might be wise to display the poster outside your building.
Conclusion - Journeying onward
We continue to live in challenging times and although restrictions may begin to ease, it is likely that life will continue to be unpredictable for the foreseeable future. We have been warned that restrictions may well return at some point later in the year. While we live in challenging and uncertain times, we continue to worship the God who remains with us ‘even though we walk in the darkest valley’ Psalm 23.
As we begin to meet face-to-face for worship we will encounter new challenges; we will experience sadness because some friends are no longer with us (through death or increased frailty); some activities are not yet permitted (singing, refreshments); some people are living with anxiety and will be very cautious about having interactions with other people. But the God who we worship is leading us to the promised land - it won’t be the land of Egypt which we have left behind where we experienced slavery and oppression, it will be a new place with new opportunities and experiences we have not yet imagined. Some of us will find the new land scary and uncomfortable, we will long for the old days, the comfort of the familiar, but God is calling us to move forward in mission and ministry in the new environment in which we find ourselves and we will need to support those who are finding it difficult to adjust. We need to carry our experiences of the last year with us into the future and identify the key things that we have learnt so that we step into the new land better equipped to continue the task of building the Kingdom of God in our midst. We will need to identify the new ways that God is calling us to serve our communities in the new context we find ourselves in. We journey onward to a land which provides us with a new spiritual home in which we continue to grow in our understanding of God, and of our relationship with God and with our neighbours - May Christ continue to be our guide.
Grace and peace,
Steve
Rev Steve Charman
Superintendent Minister
North Lancashire Methodist Circuit
Home - 01524-33327
Notices
Traidcraft
Ring 417662 to order your fair trade goods
Circuit Notices 5th March
There is a lot of information and notices on our
North Lancashire Circuit website.
Please click on this link to learn more.:
National Restrictions- from Rev Roy Burley
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6TH January 2020
Dear friends
You will have at least heard that we are now in Tier 5, in essence, we are in a national lockdown.
What that means for us as a Church is that, although Government guidelines indicate that,
"You can attend places of worship for a service. However, you must not mingle
with anyone outside of your household or support bubble. You should maintain strict social distancing at all times."
This means that the Government guidance hasn't changed since we were in Tier 3, however, you will know that Steve Charman has already made it known that preachers will not be sent to Churches during the January period, last night, the Prime Minister indicated that schools will remain shut until at least after the February half term, therefore, it is my assessment that the earliest we will be able to return to a service in our buildings will be Sunday 28th February, with a possible new plan for 7th March which will be the 3rd Sunday in Lent. What it means for us is that, when people say to us, "It's okay for you, you can go to Church, but I can't go to the gym!" We are able to respond, "Yes, we can go to Church, but to protect the vulnerable within our fellowship, we have decided to remain online."
As far as funerals are concerned, they remain unchanged, with a maximum of 30 people
(not including those who are working) in attendance, with the usual social distancing rules applying.
Weddings have changed, although the number has remained the same with six in attendance (not including those who are working), the guidance says that,
"These should only take place in exceptional circumstances, for example, an urgent marriage where one of those getting married is seriously ill and not expected to recover, or is to undergo debilitating treatment or life-changing surgery."
Again, it is my assessment that there will be no weddings taking place until at least March, and even then, it is my assessment that we will be back into a lower Tier system, with still a maximum of six in attendance.
Again, my assessment is that the rules will not change much before March, worship will remain on line, websites and Zoom,, details of which can be obtained via Jo or individual church websites. All meetings therefore, should be done via Zoom which, we understand, will exclude a number of people who do not have access to the technology, but at present that is the only way we can go. When I see updates from the Methodist Church, I will pass on the salient points to you all.
For safety reasons for yourself and others, it is essential that folks who come into a Church building (at present only for funerals), wear masks at all times, they may be removed if you are speaking from the front, but they should be worn again once you are away from the pulpit or lectern, and especially when you are proceeding out of Church again.
This applies to everyone.
*
The one piece of good news is that a vaccine is being rolled out, including in our region,
the Cavalry is on the horizon, but we must be patient until it is safe for us to meet again in person.
Finally, remember what Steve keeps reminding us, "The Church is not shut, the buildings may be closed, but the Church (i.e. you and me) is still open to worship God."
With every blessing
Roy, Circuit Covid Coordinator
Accessing Our Building During the Pandemic
REMEMBER TO KEEP TO THE GUIDELINES
If you have reason to enter any part of the Building at Norwood Drive, PLEASE REMEMBER that certain procedures must be followed:
- Please wear a face covering
- You should sign in on arrival
- You should sign out on departure
- You should endeavour to clean and sanitise your hands and clean and sanitise anything that you may have touched.
Although the virus will die if any surface is left long enough, you have no way of knowing whether someone else has recently been in before you or will follow in soon after you.leave. Therefore please be vigilant at all times.
You will find a document with full guidance on the REPORTS AND POLICIES page
2/12/2020
Lancaster Donor Centre wWe are working with the rest of the NHS to keep supplying lifesaving blood to hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic and we need people to keep donating as normal. We have extra safety measures in place and every precaution is being taken to eliminate the risk of covid-19 transmission at our blood donation sessions. Having an appointment to give blood is classed as essential travel.
NorthNHS Blood & Transplant
Mobile - 07385387758Twitter @GiveBloodNHS
Facebook givebloodnhsVisit www.blood.co.uk .
Website Changes - Choose Either Lockdown or Free Flight
Your Website needs you
Events and activities are going to be minimal for a while and we are going to do things in a different ways. This will not happen unless we find new ways to keep ourselves in the loop. I NEED YOU to let me have materials to put on here and in the OUTLOOK Magazine. Requests and offers for help will appear here.
Photos and Shared Memories
There is a Photo Album" page have you any old photos or current ones that would be interesting? I'll need permission of subjects.The history page has very little on it. Let me have any stories of our church that you know. We have had some wonderful people in the past and even today. You may have a knowledge of our past that would interest or entertain.
How to find the information on different pages
RESPONSE TO A REQUEST
RESPONSE TO A REQUEST
RESPONSE TO A REQUEST
Thanks for the suggestion that notification of changes to the website are flagged on the Home Page.... so that you don't have to search the whole site to find the new posts.
From now, there will be less detail on this page; new posts and directions to their whereabouts will be listed here for at least a week or until additional notices displace them. I shall try to change the picture for relevant sections to draw further attention to changes
Safeguarding
RESPONSE TO A REQUEST
RESPONSE TO A REQUEST
This page holds the contact details of our Safeguarding Officer, safeguarding guidance and policies. Training events will also be posted there
Contact us
RESPONSE TO A REQUEST
Contact us
Watch this space for new posts This is where we post contact details for the minister & for room bookings.
Alison, our Church Administrator,
has a new email address
admin@torrisholmemethodist.net
you can also ring her:
01524 409194
People
More- Photo Album
Premises
This page gives information about activities that members of our church are involved with.
Latest post:
LENT FORFEITS AND
KNITTING FOR NEXT CHRISTMAS
Premises
More- Photo Album
Premises
All details of our premises here will be of interest to people interested in hiring any part of our premises.
Property Committee notices may be posted there too.
To comply with government advice regarding Corona virus we are not taking bookings.
More- Photo Album
More- Photo Album
More- Photo Album
There is little posted here at the moment. Please offer any photographs of activities and events to Sue: bjcdfs@gmail.com
If people ar the subject of the picture, please ask their permission before sending to Sue.
More- History
More- Reports & Policies
More- Photo Album
We are waiting for more historical information.
Do you know any interesting stories or facts?
More- Links with Others
More- Reports & Policies
More- Reports & Policies
Links to other organisations and websites
More- Reports & Policies
More- Reports & Policies
More- Reports & Policies
WAY FORWARD
The Power Point Presentation
and full Workshop have been added to this page 17/02/2020