Revd. Christopher Humble
Circuit Superintendent
Christmas might seem a long time ago to many. Most of you will have taken down your decorations, but I note some places keep a little on show until Candlemas on 2 Feb. For example, Cornerstone has a Christmas wreath donated by Ukrainian Christians, who of course keep Christmas in the Orthodox tradition on 7 January. Christians of the Anglican and Roman Catholic tradition keep Epiphany as a season right up to Candlemas on 2nd Feb, and some churches will still have the crib on show with the wise men offering their gifts. The Presentation or Candlemas, so called because it was known as the Mass of Candles in ancient times when the events of forty days after the birth of Jesus were remembered, of how Mary and Joseph went to the Temple to present their son to the Lord. Known by various titles the Presentation, the Purification of Mary and Candlemas the gospel account of the events centre around Simeon and Anna encountered the Christ child. Simeon declared the Christ-child as a “light for the nations” (Luke 2. 22-40). These words of Simeone form the basis of the canticle Nunc Dimittis. At Candlemass Candles were blessed in ancient times as a reminder that Christ the light of the world was with us in our ordinary, everyday lives, shining as light in the darkness. The themes of how manifest Christ is to all the world are important themes about the mission of the Church. We are called to shine with his light.
There is good news in the Circuit. Recently the Circuit made two appointments, namely a Youth Worker and a Children’s & Families worker to work across the Circuit. We hope the successful candidates will be in post shortly, subject to satisfactory references and DBS checks etc. (I won’t release their names until everything is in hand). We also hope to agree a role description for the Circuit Administrator/ Manager and put that out as and advert as we seek to move forward as a Circuit.
Talking of Circuit I am invited to remind you that we have a number of Circuit Services in different forms. We have a Circuit Service of Holy Communion every third Sunday of the month at 9am at PPW. The Second Sunday evening of the month is a Circuit Service at Liverpool Road at 6.30pm and these are valued by those who regularly attend them, but there is always room for others to join. All services across the circuit are open for anyone to attend, of course, you are not restricted to attending the one where your membership is held!
Our Circuit morning service this quarter is on 22 Feb at Ainsdale and Ernie Grimshaw will be heading up that service as I will be on holiday. We had expected being in Scotland but my father in law’s death on 30 Dec has altered our plans. Thankyou to all who have sent sympathy cards and greetings, flowers for Judith (primarily), these are greatly appreciated. We still have the task of clearing her father’s house of items. Thanks to those who stepped in to take various services whilst I needed to be away. I am most grateful to other members of the Circuit team who step up when need arises.
In the latest round of Stationing Matching we were not successful in obtaining a match. The process is not over yet, but it looks increasingly less likely that we might have a replacement for Patrick when he sits down in the Summer. We need to get working on a Plan B for how the Circuit would function if I was the only full-time presbyter with the continuing part time roles of Ernie Grimshaw, Sheila Prest & Rachel Bray together with supernumeraries. Thoughts will then soon move to planning for 2027 in terms of stationing!
So, February is here, as we journey into the second month of a new year. Ash Wednesday falls on 18 February which marks the start of Lent. There will be a Circuit Service in the evening at PPW at 7.30pm. All will be very Welcome. So, I wonder how you might be planning on keeping the days of Lent? Have you a pattern for prayer, reflection and Bible study or joining a group to talk about faith?
I wish you a thoughtful Lent as we share again in that journey our Lord took of wrestling with the big questions of existence.
With prayerful good wishes,
Christopher Humble