THE CLERGY LETTER
St. Peter’s Church, Salesbury
January and February 2022: Parish Letter
Dear Friends of Salesbury, Copster Green, Clayton-Le-Dale and Wilpshire,
With the start of each new year we have a natural capacity to desire new things and at St Peter’s we are greatly encouraged that new things are happening in the life and ministry of our church. We share three causes for celebration at St Peter’s in this new season of 2022:
Gateway
It is a great joy that Gateway, our junior church for 3-11 year olds, is once again meeting each Sunday at 10.30am in Salesbury school from the 16th January. In our first Church-Family Worship of 2022 we re-commissioned Gateway and prayed for God’s blessing to be upon our leaders, young people and Children as we seek to help them live each day with and for God. Our new look Church-Family Worship continues every 2nd Sunday of the month where Gateway join in our church service at 10.30am and we enjoy worshipping God together as one fellowship. Everyone is welcome to come.
New Music Director
We are delighted that we have a new Director of Music, Rupert Keeling, who is joining us from Sunday 16th January to lead our choir and congregation. We have a rich heritage of musical excellence at St Peter’s and it will be our joy to see this ministry refreshed as voices are lifted to God in praise. It will be great to hear St Peter’s fully alive in song once more, please feel welcomed to come and enjoy and join in this beautiful way of honouring Jesus.
Giving Campaign
We would like to thank everyone who generously responded to our giving campaign throughout December as we found ourselves in a financial shortfall. Thanks to your donations we have been able to meet our running costs for 2021, enabling us to enter 2022 in a more stable position. Considering how we use the good resources and gifts God has given us to bless others will be an ongoing reflection as we seek to serve this community in Christ’s name.
We pray this good news will be source of life and inspiration as we embark on another year with many uncertainties. Though we are unsure of how the pandemic will affect us all in 2022 we can be sure of God’s love through Jesus, a continual source of Good News in every season of our lives.
We would love to have you worship with us. Please see the monthly News Sheet (available on our website, Facebook page, notice board and in church) for all information about our services and events. If you would welcome our support in any way, please do get in touch.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19
Every blessing, Liz
Revd Elizabeth McLean, Vicar of Salesbury, St Peter, 01254 782886 emmclean@hotmail.co.uk
St. Peter’s Church, Salesbury
Advent & Christmas 2021: Parish Letter
Dear people of Salesbury, Copster Green, Clayton-Le-Dale and Wilpshire,
It is wonderful to be the new Vicar here at St. Peter’s, especially during this special time of Advent and Christmas. I extend a warm welcome to everyone and I hope that you will be able to join us over this next period at our Advent and Christmas services. Please do see the News Sheet (available on our website, Facebook page, notice board and in church) for all information about our events throughout the season.
Advent at St. Peter’s
In our Sunday morning worship services during Advent we are considering How we can grow together? Though nothing much is currently growing outside, inside we are each called to grow closer to God and to one another in this season. We are encouraged at this time to pray and to be expectant of God’s good plans for us through Jesus. We are also following the Blackburn Diocese daily reflection booklets, After God’s Own Heart, which you can follow online at:
www.blackburn.anglican.org/seasonal-resources or pick up your copy inside.
Christmas at St. Peter’s
We are praying that this Christmas will be one of celebration as we come together to rejoice in the beautiful news that God has come to us in his Son, Jesus and has made his home with us through the Holy Spirit. We especially hope that you can join us to sing outdoor Christmas Carols, 15th December at 6pm, beginning at the church Lychgate, moving to Showley Court and finishing at the Bonny Inn. My prayer is that in each of your homes and families you would experience the blessing of God’s loving presence this year, even as we continue to live within uncertain times.
Giving Campaign
The effects of Covid have impacted our finances at St Peter’s and with a current shortfall of £3000 to meet our running costs for this year we are asking that you would prayerfully consider making a one-off donation towards the life and ministry of our church. There are a number of ways you can give: Through our online give-a-little link at www.salesbury-stpeter.org.uk, or through in church donations which now include a facility for card payments.
Please do pray for wisdom for those of us who serve in leadership roles at St Peter’s and for us to all be good and faithful stewards of everything we have been given so that we may use it to honour God and serve this community with love.
May you be blessed by the knowledge of God’s love for you this season:
‘For nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
From Romans 8:37-39
Every blessing, Liz
Contact us:
Revd Elizabeth McLean, Vicar of Salesbury, St Peter, 01254 782886 emmclean@hotmail.co.uk
