Welcome
Welcome to the Website for Chorley and Leyland Methodist Circuit.
We are proud to be Members of the METHODIST CHURCH in Great Britain. OUR CALLING was re-affirmed in 2018 and is expressed in the following 4 areas:
Worship Learning Service Evangelism
Not only does this website inform you about who we are and what we do, it also provides links to the Lancashire District, Partner Organisations and the wider community.
We are also now on Facebook 
, click the logo to visit.
The Three Priorities of our Circuit
Early in 2017, the Leadership Team of the Circuit discerned the following as God’s Priorities for the work we are called to. They continue to inform the use of our energies and other resources.
Members of the Methodist Church are disciples of Christ and we are almost a thousand strong in the Chorley & Leyland Circuit! Together we are called to many tasks and need to be encouraged and resourced in this work. Our “Growing Leaders” course is just one way that people are being empowered, but other wider initiatives are in the pipeline.
The Circuit, with District help, are funding a 5 year appointment of a Pioneer Ministry Enabler on Buckshaw from 2018. This is an exciting new work with ecumenical partners. But we hope the creative exploration of such ministry will be catching and all our local churches will be inspired for new initiatives.
Our ongoing Schools worker project expresses our commitment to working with children. This Schools Plus Priority seeks to expand & integrate work in schools with the important children’s work in churches, including Messy Church. We aim to strengthen existing church/school links through school “Champions" & establish new links with community schools.
Year of Prayer
Why a Year of
Prayer?
The Conference has declared 2020/2021 a year of prayer so that our Church-wide commitments to evangelism, church growth, church at the margins, and pioneering and church planting will flow from a deep, contemplative orientation to God’s grace and love.
Be part
of this movement of prayer as we ask the Holy Spirit to help us be a growing,
evangelistic, inclusive, justice-seeking Church of gospel people.
Click Here to read more
Evangelism and Growth
The Methodist Church is committed to being a growing, evangelistic, inclusive, justice-seeking Church – so that new people become disciples of Jesus Christ, faith deepens for everyone, and diverse communities and churches experience transformation.
“Evangelism” comes from a biblical Greek word that literally means “good news”. All Christians – not just some – are called to listen for, speak of, and live out the good news. We all have good news to share! Watch this video to hear how different people are sharing good news from their own experience of God.
Worship Video from Sunday 20th September
Coronavirus Update
10th September 2020
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government last night provided us with further clarification on the Government
announcement this week of changes to permitted social interaction which come
into place on Monday 14 September in England. We understand that
the full regulations will be published later this week and we will update our
guidance accordingly.
In summary:
Places of Worship can remain
open for services and prayer. As before, the limit on the number
of people is determined by the risk assessment with attendees divided into
multiple groups of no more than 6 people.
Weddings and funerals are still
allowed and maximum numbers remain at 30 with people divided into
multiple groups of no more than 6.
Community Halls remain open and activities are allowed as before but within each activity, participants can be in groups that consist of no more than 6 people.
Weekly Meditation
Meditation may deepen one's experience of the presence of God, enhance self-awareness, and reduce stress and anxiety, valuable during this time of isolation.
Join a half-hour Zoom ‘guided meditation’ session, led by Peter Lumsden (local preacher in the Clitheroe circuit), every Monday evening at 7 p.m.
The sessions follow a pattern of 15 mins of spiritual reflection, combined with a focus on breathing, leading into a period of about 15 mins of silence.
Contact Peter Lumsden: pjlumsden58@gmail.com
Worship Sheets (27th September 2020)
These short acts of worship have been produced for you if you are unable to attend church. If you are well enough why not spend a few moments with God, knowing that other people are sharing this act of worship with you?
Click Here for Word copy worship sheets for 27th September
Click Here for pdf copy of worship sheet for 27th September
Click Here for Large Print pdf worship sheet for 27th September
Prayers for a New Future
by Paul Davis
September 2020
The following were prayers written for the closing of
the Lancashire Methodist District Synod in September 2020. The theme of the Synod was a new future and
gave the idea of setting sail into a new era and the green shoots of new life.
Gracious God as we leave the past help us remember how
things were,
We thought we knew how
things worked,
You showed us how small is our understanding.
We thought we knew
how to make strategy,
You showed us how limited is our grasp of your plans for
us.
We thought we were well organised,
You showed us that there is more than
ideas and meetings...... Continue
Gregorian Chant
Recently Andrew Kesiak, Community Pioneer Enabler, began preparing a Gregorian Chant service.
Whereas Gregorian Chant is communal singing and communal prayer, the current situation forces us to take a different approach to services and initiatives that, under normal circumstances, would retain their traditional character.
Please find below the video and do share with others this beautiful service.
District Sunday services October 2020, 7.00 pm
UPDATE: REGULAR ATTENDERS ONLY NEED TO REQUEST TO ATTEND AS WE HAVE ALL YOUR DETAILS.
Deadline for requests to attend is 1.00pm on Friday
The District Sunday Evening Services via Zoom are still continuing but are entering a new phase - in that we would like to invite other people to take a role in leading them in the future. Anyone who is interested in helping in this way, contact the District Office at the following email address: lancsmethodist@btinternet.com.
On Sunday 11th October we are hoping that the usual 7pm worship will be with The President of Conference, Revd Richard Teal and will be a District Harvest Celebration. When booking you only need to state your circuit and church if it is your first time of attending, otherwise, please just send an email requesting the codes.
Please contact lancashiredistrictzoom@aol.com to book your place and not the District Office email from which this message has been sent.
Please note the deadline for applying to join the weekly service is 1.00pm on Fridays. This will greatly assist the Preston Ribble Circuit with administration.
Click Here for instructions on how to use Zoom
Coronavirus Update - Property
19th May 2020
The Government launched its new strategy to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic in its document - Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy. A number of points within the plan will have an impact on churches and their properties across the Connexion. In response to this the Conference Office, Connexional Property Team and TMCP have co-ordinated their approach to develop a set of property related guidance for managing trustees. This guidance is outlined below under relevant ‘themed’ headings to help trustees find the specific guidance which is relevant to their church, or signposts to other websites for other relevant information.
Click Here to read more
DIAL-A-PRAYER
FREE phone lines for prayers and news from the Methodist Church
Listen to a prayer: 0808 281 2514
Listen to news: 0808 281 2478
Content is updated weekly on Thursday afternoon
Click Here to visit Methodist Church Website
Prayer 21 - Praying for Lancashire
From Paul Davis, 10th June 2020
It has been some weeks since I wrote Praying 21 which has been used across the District. I don’t think I am alone in finding this is probably the time to try something different. Here is a new offering to help you pray at nine pm. Keep praying 21 but if you want a new format here it is.
An Explanation:
I have a great fondness for acrostic prayers, where each line builds into something. In the prayer handbook I chose Respond here I have chosen Lancashire.
Click Here to read more
General Data Protection Regulations
The Church has always been interested in individuals in a caring, pastoral way and has sought to undertake its mission by having sufficient information available to function effectively and communicate efficiently. From the start of Methodism, John Wesley knew the value of lists!
The church, like all other bodies that hold information on people, is now required to follow regulations about how that such information is held and used. GDPR is being embraced by the church as a way to ensure the very best “good practice” as well as compliance with the law.
Click Here for more information
Cliff College
Cliff College are delighted to welcome any prospective students to come and explore our various programmes throughout the year. Our undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees are all validated by The University of Manchester.
For most of the year, visits to the college are run on a personal or small group basis on request. If you are interested in the BA Theology programme, or the new developments in the part time BA Mission and Ministry programme, the part-time MA taught programme, or any of our Research degrees, then do get in touch using the details below to arrange one of these visits. We would love to see you, introduce you to our facilities, meet staff and students, and talk through the right options for you here at Cliff.
We also run more public Taster Days across especially the undergraduate courses. Dates for these days will appear on this page when they are available.
Click Here for more information. Click Here to visit their website.