For our All Age Eucharist this morning we had a real treasure trove to dig into in the form of today’s Gospel reading; Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when…
Young people from NCS spent two days with us a couple of weekends ago, attending our Summer Gala and our All Age Eucharist the following morning. They had two questions to ask people: ‘how is this church perceived in the local community’ and ‘what does coming to church mean to you’? It was a delight…
There are a few things to wrestle with in today’s readings. The old testament and gospel readings, in particular contain things with which we might want to take issue. Poor Hagar. Her story is ancient but is very relevant to our situation today: an age where millions find themselves cast out of their homes and…
I’ve been on jury service for two weeks beginning last Monday and this has been a very appropriate backdrop to this week’s parable about good,evil and judgement. Twice I have been among 16 jurors chosen to go down to a court, and then amongst the 4 who (by a random process of shuffling cards with…
The remains of an Anglo-Saxon church have been discovered on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne in Northumberland. A community excavation has uncovered a church nave, chancel and an altar base built of sandstone blocks on a ridge called the Heugh and experts think that it was part of the long lost Celtic abbey where St. Aidan raised a wooden church in A.D. 635. Accounts…
It was another enjoyable service at St. Oswald’s this morning, led by the Vicar, Rev’d Anne. Rev’d Michael preached a warm and encouraging sermon on Romans 7 vs 15-25a and Matthew 11 vs 16-19 and 25-30, which included the famous words of Jesus, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,…
Proper 8. 02.07.17 Last week’s story from the life of Abraham was difficult. This week’s is even more challenging. A story of child sacrifice, averted only at the very last minute – and this without any judgement from God that this was horrific – almost on a whim. These stories of Abraham come from…
We celebrated Fathers’ Day today with lots of fun and thought-provoking activities at our All Age Eucharist. After the welcome and a hymn the first half of our service took the form of three activities at the Sorry tabe, the Prayer Table and the Learning Table. The Sorry activity used rice (dyed purple for ‘sorry’)…
On Monday Pat and Cheryl attended a training to become a Dementia Friend 
Thanks to Blackburn with Darwen Council and Alison Critchley for organising the session. It was very informative and a worthwhile training event. Why not consider attending one yourself?
Just a note to say the Vicar has had her operation and is now on the mend. She thanks everyone for their good wishes and support.