Update from Richard

Dear Friends

Thank you for your immensely generous support for the Harvest Appeal. This is a wonderful testament to the generosity of people in Burscough, especially in these challenging times, to honour Christ’s command to love God and to love our neighbour through the provision of three wells and attendants for villages in Ethiopia through WaterAid. We are very grateful for the active participation of Burscough Village, Lordsgate and St John’s schools in this project.

As part of our ongoing commitment to develop as a church, I am pleased to advise you that, as promised earlier in the year, the nave ceiling has been insulated. This will help to reduce heat loss, improving comfort in the church at a time when heating costs continue to rise. Thank you for your continued care to ensure that the church is warm and inviting.

Following damage caused by three attempted thefts from the vestry roof over the summer, the PCC have authorised improvements in security. Following advice from the Police, Diocese and our insurance company, the PCC have also authorised the installation of a new alarm system to protect the roof. The anticipated £3,000 cost, financed from reserves, will assist our insurance coverage and will, we pray, deter any potential thefts and the resulting huge cost of repairing the roof.

In the church yard, additional space for the burial of ashes will be created shortly. Improvements have also been made to the plumbing in the church hall following some leaks in the ceiling. Work continues on the proposed redevelopment of the church hall. I look forward to sharing more news in due course.

Finally, as communicated at the last APCM and earlier in the year, I am delighted to advise that sight lines to assist worship will be improved from Sunday 23rd October.

After extensive research and the approval of the PCC, Diocese and English Heritage, two monitor screens will be installed under each gallery together with a monitor facing the dais and a new projector and video camera will also be installed. These will be located underneath the gallery above the centre entrance doors. The new projector provides a clearer image in all light conditions. The video camera will improve visibility and engagement with what takes place on the dais. What’s more, for example, we will now be able record baptism services and give a copy to the family as part of their welcome. All equipment was trialled before order. The full cost of this enhancement was met though an anonymous gift that was given expressly for this project. What an amazing answer to our prayers of the last 24 months.

Whilst the costs of stewardship of our 19th and 20th century buildings are increasingly high, we have the opportunity to develop these assets for ministry in the 21st century to all in our parish. The temporary installation of chairs in the church is benefitting many aspects of ministry such Cafe Church, Engage and the growing mid-week youth ministry in the church. For example, the flexibility of the space helps to meet the requirements of the many teenagers who meet at FROG on a Wednesday night in church while the group of JCs meet in the church hall. The church pews continue to be safely stored on the stage in the church hall.

There are many encouragements in our shared ministry. As a church, we continue to prayerfully seek to discern and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for your continued support as we seek to honour God by stepping out in faith responsibly and confidently to proclaim the good news of Jesus and grow as community of disciples.

In His Love

Richard (Vicar)

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