Church News – March 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Lent and getting ready
At last, Spring is coming! These past few months have been especially grey. Even when it’s not been raining, it’s been dark, grey and oppressive. Thank goodness then that we are, in theory at least, heading to brighter times. March is often described as coming in like and lion and going out like a lamb. This refers to the weather and the coming of spring but there are biblical overtones to it as well.
As this month starts, we’ll have begun our early steps in the season of Lent. A time for reflection, pausing and for some, fasting. At the end of the month it will be Palm Sunday, a time of joy and of shouting Hosanna. Of course, that only marks the start of Holy week, with its many highs and lows leading to the glorious Easter celebration. But for this month let us focus on the new season coming and the knowledge that darkness will lift.
“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” – Hal Borland
It’s a hugely important part of our Christian faith to acknowledge that hope springs eternal. I know that we all face times of challenge. Times when things seem relentlessly bleak and you may think that these times will last forever. That’s why Spring is such an important season. It’s God’s way of reminding us that light will overcome darkness and, as we’ll remember in the Easter story, for God, even death is not the end. This doesn’t mean that hard times are off limits in Spring or Summer of course but it does mean that they will not last.
Today as I write this, news has just broken of the passing of the hugely influential civil rights activist Jesse Jackson. He was a man who fought throughout his life for a brighter future and believed in the power of hope to motive his actions and the quest for justice. If you don’t have hope, you have nothing to motivate you to fight for the change that is so needed in the world. Instead, we must use the knowledge that things can change to encourage us in our darkest moments and let it fuel us to burn bright the light of God. I think, given everything, I’ll leave the last words to Jesse.
“Hope is the oxygen of the soul; breathe it deeply and pass it on.” Jesse Jackson.
God bless, James
NEWS
Looking at the calendar, March is going to be a busy month. Please think about joining us for the Bible Study for Lent which will take the theme of the film “Wicked”. James will be setting up the Zoom link for this, so please contact him for joining details.
Also, the World Day of Prayer which is being held at Old Chapel on Friday, 6th March at 7.30 pm. This year, we are following worship prepared by Christian women in Nigeria and has the title “I will give you rest, come.” I would recommend this worship to everyone. It is wonderful to know you are joining your voices with Christians all over the world.
Please don’t forget our Mothering Sunday Service on 15th March which, this year, will be led by Sr Kerry Cain.
On St David’s Day, why the leeks?
St David’s Day, and it’s time for the Welsh to wear proudly wear a leek or daffodil.
Shakespeare refers to the custom In Henry V, Act 5 Sc.1, where Gower berates Pistol for mocking at “an ancient tradition begun upon an honourable respect and worn as a memorable trophy of predeceased valour.”
According to some sources, the wearing of leeks may be based on a legend that Welsh archers fought bravely at the Battle of Crecy in a field of leeks and, as a reminder of their bravery and loyalty, the Welsh began to wear a leek in their caps every St David’s Day. The legend, true or not, could be a source of the ‘honourable respect’ which the Welsh had for their valorous archers.
We do know that David – or Dafydd – of Pembrokeshire was a monk and bishop of the 6th century. In the 12th century he was made patron of Wales, and he has the honour of being the only Welsh saint to be canonised and culted in the Western Church. Tradition has it that he was austere with himself, and generous with others – living on water and vegetables (leeks, perhaps?!) and devoting himself to works of mercy. He was much loved.
In art, St David is usually depicted in Episcopal vestments, standing on a mound with a dove at his shoulder, in memory of his share at an important Synod for the Welsh Church, the Synod of Brevi.
WHAT’S ON THIS MONTH
| SUNDAY | 1st | CHURCH ANNIVERSARY MORNING WORSHIP led by Br Bob Hopcroft | 11 am |
| Wednesday | 4th | M.W.A. Meeting in Schoolroom ‘Gravity Defied’ Bible Study on Zoom | 1.15 pm 7 pm |
| Friday | 6th | World Day of Prayer at Old Chapel Church | 7.30 pm |
| Saturday | 7th | Lancs District Council on Zoom | 9.30 am |
| SUNDAY | 8th | MORNING WORSHIP WITH HOLY COMMUNION led by Br James | 11 am |
| Monday | 9th | Church Committee on Zoom | 7.30 pm |
| SUNDAY | 15th | MOTHERING SUNDAY Morning Worship led by Sr Kerry Cain | 11am |
| SUNDAY | 22nd | MORNING WORSHIP led by Br James Congregation Council Meeting | 11 am 12.15 pm |
| SUNDAY | 29th | PALM SUNDAY PARADE AND YOUTH SERVICE led by Br James Woolford | 11 am |
| Monday + Tuesday | 30th/ 31st | Passion Week Readings in the Schoolroom | 7.30 pm |
In honour of our Mums on Mothering Sunday:
There are certain small things that you notice,
Little things you have started to do,
That prompt you to question and wonder
If the face in the mirror is you.
The realisation is dawning, As one year hurtles after another, That in word, thought and deed, In gesture and glance, You have somehow turned into your mother! A Prayer for March: Lord, In these weeks leading up to Easter, many of us spend time reflecting on what Jesus has done for us and how he can help us live our lives.
But we live in a harsh, confusing world, where traditional values are upended and we can hardly believe some of the things we hear from powerful world leaders. Truth seems to be lost in the darkness.
Lord, your word tells us that, whoever lives by the truth comes into the light.
Jesus says he is the Truth. He also says he is the Light of the world.
Help us to hold fast to these facts. Help us to remember that Jesus said that in this world we will have trouble – so we shouldn’t be surprised – but that he has overcome the world – so we should be encouraged.
Whatever is going on in the troubled world around us – we can live by the real Truth – and in the real Light – Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, who will never leave us or forsake us.
Thank you so much. In Jesus name. Amen.
Daphne Kitching
