​Newsletter

MAY 2025 NEWSLETTER
Julie Writes
Dear friends,
Last month I wrote that I was looking forward to journeying with you on the way to Easter. Well, I was, but I couldn’t have been prepared for the moving experience of Holy week and the joy of Easter morning. It was wonderful! Thank you to all who were involved in any way in making our worship so varied, poignant and joyful.
May will be no quieter! There is much to do.
Firstly, we will begin what will be a thorough and lengthy task of finding a new Vicar to lead us. Although it will be a relatively small number of people who will be involved in the interviewing and appointing, the opinions of all of us is important in deciding the person we wish to appoint. We need to spend time thinking and praying about what the next chapter of Holy Trinity and St Michael and All Angels will look like. What areas we would like to see develop and the gifts and skills which will be needed by our new incumbent to lead us all to be a part that new future.
To this end the PCC have decided to invite all the members of both churches to come along to Holy Trinity’s Church Hall on Sunday 18th May for a light ‘hunger’ lunch – to raise funds for Christian Aid (see below) and afterwards to have an opportunity to pray and to put forward our thoughts which will be used to help inform the recruitment process.
Please put the date in your diary and come along. This is everyone’s opportunity to play a part in the process.
Christian Aid 11th - 17th May. The days of door-to-door collections in Christian Aid week have now gone but it remains essential that we help to support those struggling in our world. The current global financial issues which have seen many countries, including ours, cut their Aid giving, along with the ongoing ecological crisis which often affects those least able to cope with the changes, alongside wars and disasters mean the need is great. There will be envelopes in both churches so please consider donating and filling in the Gift Aid section if you are able. In addition, having had a conversation with a concerned member of our Church I have suggested a ‘Hunger Lunch’ on Sunday 18th May at 12.15pm. (see above also). I am grateful to Church warden Jan for agreeing to sort out the catering for this. It will be a simple soup and bread lunch for which you are invited to donate, maybe consider giving what you would have paid for your usual Sunday lunch. If you would like to know more about the campaign this year, please see Christian Aid’s website -  caweek.org  There is also a link there to make a direct donation if you so wish.
Pizza Eaters Wednesday 7th May -6.30pm – 8.00pm Holy Trinity Church Foyer.
Rogation Sunday 25th May
Rogation Sunday Service at 9.30am at St Michael’s. In the afternoon there will be refreshments from 2.30pm– always delicious, followed by Evensong at 4pm. A great opportunity to celebrate and thank God for our parish in the countryside and pray for the local farming community.
Finally! Thursday 29th May – Ascension Day
Joint Service of the Formby, Altcar and Hightown Anglican Churches here at Holy Trinity at 7.30pm. Please come along and bring a friend!
ECO Church and No Mow May
So, what is 'No Mow May'?
Simply put, it is an effort to allow grasses to grow undisturbed for the month of May. This means that you won't mow your lawn or maybe just an area of your lawn. Why? At the onset of the growing season, hungry and recently emerged native bees face a critical period. In urban and suburban areas, it may be challenging to locate floral resources. However, you can assist your bee neighbours in thriving by allowing your lawn to grow for a more extended period, letting the flowers blossom, which provides pollinators with nectar and pollen. Reducing the frequency of mowing your lawn establishes a natural habitat, which, in turn, can enhance the diversity and abundance of wildlife, including bees and other pollinators. As an added benefit, letting your grass grow longer can lead to needing to water your lawn less!
 
Prayer Harmony
They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.   Isaiah 2:4 
We pray for the nations of the world, for resolution of all the conflicts and oppression, all the tyrannies and injustices, as we celebrate the 80 years since VE day, giving thanks for all who gave their lives to protect the innocent. We who live in a safe environment, pray for those who live in constant fear, we who have easy access to emergency treatment, pray for those whose hospitals have been bombed to destruction. Lord have mercy.
We pray for our Catholic friends as they await the decisions about who will be the next Pope.  We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide the cardinals into deciding for a Godly and compassionate person, who will influence the world, as well as the Church, for good.
Ascension Day is this month, reminding us that Jesus is the Lord of all, ascended on high, ruling all creation as well as our hearts.
We pray for all our friends who live in Nursing Homes or are house bound because of infirmity or disease.  We pray that they will realise that they are still in our hearts, and still part of the Body of Christ, here in the church.  We ask that we be drawn to visit, showing in practical ways that they are still important and special.
The APCM is this month, we pray for each member of the PCC, and the Wardens and officials.  We give thanks for the work and ministry of those who are stepping down from office, and pray for the right people to replace them, to come forward in response to God’s call.
And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.  Micah 6:8 
 
SERVICES IN MAY

DateHoly Trinity
FormbySt Michael & All Angels
Altcar

Thursday
1st May7.00pm – 8.00pm
Prayer Group in the Prayer Room 

Friday
2nd May9.30am ‘The Loft ‘
Men’s Group in
The Lifeboat Pub 

Saturday
3rd May9.00 am Coffee Morning
in the Workshop 

Sunday
4th May
Easter 38.30am Holy Communion
10.00am Family Service with Communion
11.00am Short PCC Meeting
11.15am Morning Worship with Communion9.30am
Holy Communion

Monday
5th May
9.30am Cuppa & Chat & Sing along in Church
 

Wednesday
7th May11.00am Holy Communion
6.30pm -8.00pm
Pizza Eaters in the Church Foyer10.00am
Holy Communion

Thursday
8th May7.00pm Prayer Group
In the Prayer Room
2.00pm Mothers Union
In the Jubilee Hall
 

Friday
9th May9.30am ‘The Loft’
Men’s Group in
The Lifeboat Pub
 

Saturday
10th May9.00am Coffee Morning
in the Workshop
Fell Walking Club to Coniston
 

Sunday
11th May
Easter 4
 
8.30am Holy Communion
10.00am Family Worship
11.15am Morning Worship
9.30am
Holy Communion

Monday
12th May9.30am Cuppa & Chat
in the Church
9.15am Tiddler Toddlers in the Parish Hall
7.30pm APCM in Church
 
 

Wednesday
14th May11.00am Holy Communion
 
10.00am
Holy Communion

Thursday
15th May7.00pm Prayer Group
In the Prayer Room
 

Friday
16th May9.30am ‘The Loft’
Men’s Group in
the Lifeboat Pub
 

Saturday
17th May9.00am Coffee Morning
in the Workshop      

Sunday
18th May
Easter 58.30am Holy Communion
10.00am Family Service
11.15am Morning Worship
12.00am Hunger Lunch & open meeting in the Parish Hall
9.30am
Holy Communion
 
12.00pm
Hunger Lunch & open meeting in the Parish Hall

Monday
19th May
 
9.30am Cuppa & Chat
in Church
9.15am Tiddler Toddlers in the Parish Hall
 

Wednesday
21st May
11.00am Holy Communion10.00am
Holy Communion

Thursday
22nd May
7.00pm Prayer Group
In the Prayer Room
 

Friday
23rd May9.30am ‘The Loft’
Men’s Group in
The Lifeboat Pub
 

Saturday
24th May9.00am Coffee Morning
in the Workshop
 

Sunday
25th May
Easter 68.30am Holy Communion
10.00am Family Service
11.15am Morning Worship9.30am
Holy Communion
 
4.00pm
Rogation Sunday service
(Tea at 3pm)

Monday
26th May9.30am Cuppa & Chat in the Church Foyer
No Tiddler Toddlers
 

Wednesday
28h May
11.00am
Holy Communion10.00am
Holy Trinity

Thursday
29th May
Ascension Day7.30pm Joint Service for Formby, Altcar and Hightown Anglican Churches
7.30pm
Joint Service for Formby, Altcar and Hightown Anglican Churches
 

Friday
30th May9.30am ‘The Loft’
Men’s Group in
The Lifeboat Pub
 
 

Saturday
31st May9.00am Coffee morning in the Workshop
 

 
What’s Happening?
 
PCC Secretary required.
Peter Hitchcock is stepping down as PCC Secretary at the APCM on 12th May.
Please think about whether you would be willing to take on this important role and let Jenny or Julie know. We pray someone will come forward in God’s name.
Peter will work with a new PCC Secretary for however long it takes to learn the role.
 
Prayer Group
Thursdays 7pm to 8pm.now back in the prayer room as the weather is warmer call Sylvia on 07872 314103.
This is an hour of prayer, silent or spoken, when we bring before God any concerns that are on our hearts.
 
Bible Study Afternoon
Tuesday afternoons, at the home of Elizabeth Douglas. All are welcome, contact Sylvia on 07872314103 should you require a lift, or for further details.
 
Pizza Eaters
Pizza Eaters’ will be meeting on Wednesday 7th May from 6.30pm -8.00pm, in the Church foyer/mezzanine. All young people of year 6 and older are very welcome, including friends who have little or no connection with Church.
Sylvia can give you more details. Call her on 07872 314103
 
Sunday Breakfasts Dates
Dates will be as follows:
Sunday 29th June, Sunday 31st August, Sunday 26th October,
No breakfast in December as too close to Christmas.
 
Hunger Lunch 18th May and open meeting
Sign up sheet is at the back of Church, so we have an idea of numbers.
As Julie has mentioned in her article, the open meeting is very important for you to help decide the future of Holy Trinity & St Michael’s churches.
 
Workshop Saturday Coffee Morning Crisis
After over 20 years we are in urgent need of volunteer help on a Saturday morning from 9.00am to 12.00 noon, to serve tea, coffee and bacon butties. However, much time you can spare would be amazing. Should we be unable to enlist help, we will have to close the Saturday mornings that Holy Trinity run. It will be possible to have a rota if more people are able to offer help. Please speak to Jan or call her on 01704 872071
 
Myanmar Collection
Thank you to all who gave to support the Myanmar disaster. The total raised was £296.85
A very worthy cause.
 
From Liverpool Cathedral
Hellos Sculpture finishes 9th May 25
Get ready to bask in the brilliance of Helios, the awe-inspiring illuminated sculpture of the Sun, premiering at Liverpool Cathedral until  Friday 9th May. Experience the Sun Like Never Before… Luke Jerram’s Helios at Liverpool Cathedral.
 
March Diocesan Meeting
Jenny writes as your Diocesan representative.
Diocesan Synod met on Saturday 29th March in the Lady Chapel of Liverpool Cathedral. Members welcomed Bishop Ruth and Sharon Parr our new Diocesan Secretary as well as hearing updates and debating a range of matters including circumstances surrounding the retirement of the Bishop of Liverpool; our approach to the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB) and discussed launching a review of the Parish Share system.
Click here to read more about March's Diocesan Synod. It’s worth a read.
 
 
Bishop Bev is to be Made an Hon Asst Bishop at St Asaph at the Chrism Mass on Maundy Thursday
Bishop Bev has written:  "I am humbled and deeply grateful to Bishop Gregory and colleagues in St Asaph for their warm welcome, love and affirmation.   St Asaph has opened the door upon a new vista and I look forward with hope to a restored and renewed ministry in the Province of the Church in Wales.  The Chrism Mass is a poignant reminder for all in Christian ministry of the very essence of our calling and vocation and of our re-covenanting with the God who has lived among us in our Lord Jesus Christ, who by his Cross and Passion, has redeemed the world.  I pray this will be a time of blessing and renewal for all Christ’s Church.  
I remain Bishop of Warrington as I continue to wait and push for a proper resolution to my unhappy situation. Today, it is 574 days since I exercised an episcopal ministry. It feels interminable - as I imagine it does for you.  Thank you for your kind support, resilience and patience. 
Please continue to pray for me - as I pray for you."
Posted in Bishop Ruth Worsley, Diocese News, Directions, Lifecall
 

4th Formby Squirrel Drey is opening 
Wednesday 4th June 2025 4.30 to 5.30pm
Then every week during Term time
,Holy Trinity L37 3HA
Contact : John Carr-SGL@4th Formby.org.uk 
Squirrels are the youngest section of the Scout movement, age 4-6 years old

Take on the Abseil Challenge at Liverpool Cathedral
This summer, you or your community group can take part in the exciting Liverpool Cathedral Abseil Challenge – all while raising funds for your church, school, or another cause close to your heart.
Abseils will take place on Fridays in July – the 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th. Each day runs from 8am to between 6:30pm and 8pm, depending on bookings. Slots are available every 6 minutes, with two people abseiling at a time. Anyone taking part for a good cause is charged £76 per place but any thrill seekers (i.e. taking part for fun!) is charged £100. Anyone who is fundraising for a church / faith group / school within the Diocese gets a 15% discount and so will be charged £64.60 per place.
 
You can sign up in one of two ways:

• As an individual, fundraising for a chosen cause

• As a group, where your church or school, books several places and fills them independently

• The day is a lively one, with music, an MC (master of ceremonies), and plenty of encouragement from supporters throughout.

For any questions about the event or how to sign up, contact alex.baker@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.
To register directly, email fundraising@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.
You can read more about this even there.
 
Churches Together in Formby, Altcar & Hightown
St Stephen's Church 
Pause for Hope 
Sunday 11th May at 4pm
A special service of hope for all those affected by cancer 
All are very welcome