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.
Warm Hubs
For Information on Grants Click Here
Interest in offering ‘warm spaces’ as a response to the cost-of-living
crisis is increasing. In the past few days, more and more locations have signed
up with the Warm Welcome Campaign.
The campaign was started by the ChurchWorks Commission working with key
partners to support and champion the community response to the cost-of-living
crisis. Already over 3,000 organisations have registered their premises,
generating an easy-to-navigate map of locations. Churches Together in
Lancashire is encouraging all churches who provide any sort of public provision
to register their details at the warmwelcome.uk site – it’s a very simple
process.
The site has a list of resources that might be useful, such as food safety
guidance and working with volunteers. Some denominations (Methodist, URC) are
offering small grants to locations who register. If developing some
provision is new for your church, there was an excellent webinar on Warm Spaces
run by colleagues from the Methodist church earlier this month which can be
viewed Here. Based on experience, this provides a lot of
really good ideas and information that you need to think about when considering
getting involved.
Another long-standing
scheme is called Places of Welcome, a network of local community groups,
especially churches, providing places where all people feel safe to connect,
belong and contribute.
Mike Hart and Peter Lumsden
Churches Together in Lancashire Working Group on Social Justice
All We Can Lent Devotional 2023
‘…be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God.’
Join All We Can and our global movement this Lent, and hear the voices of our partners and communities alongside insights from NGOs. Sessions are led by Gary Hopkins, the President and Vice-President of Conference, the Joint Public Issues Team, and the Evangelism and Growth Team.
Click Here to download the resource
NW Regional Review Report
Proposed Amalgamation to form a new District in the North West Consultation
with Circuit Meetings and Synods
The Bolton and Rochdale, Cumbria, Lancashire and Liverpool Districts have proposed amalgamating to form a single district from 1 September 2024. In January 2023 the Methodist Council approved the necessary process under Standing Order 401, including that there should be a formal consultation with the circuit meetings and the synods of the four districts, with the intention of bringing the proposal to the Methodist Conference of 2023.
Cont.../ Appendix 2
All We Can Lent Devotional Emails 2023
Sign up and be transformed with digital access to our FREE lent devotional for 2023.
Click Here to sign up now
Lay Employee Recharge
Cumbria and Lancashire District event
26th April 2023, 9.30 am - 12.30 pm
Online Event
Booking can be made by clicking on the links in the flyer Here.
Contact Kristie for more information evek@methodistchurch.org.uk
Grants to Support Community Organisations During Cost of Living Crisis
Grants of up to £2,000 are available to support local charities,
community groups and other not-for-profit organisations across the UK following
increases in their rent, utility bills and food costs as a result of the cost
of living crisis. The funding is being made available through the Asda
Foundation's Cost of Living Grant to help organisations keep their buildings
open, and/or to continue to support those most impacted through the provision
of meals, community cafes, food parcels, delivered meals, and soup kitchens
etc. Funds can be spent from September 2022 to February 2023. Applications can
be made through each local Asda store's Community Champion from the 19th
September 2022. The application window will remain open until the budget cap
has been reached.
Click Here for details on how to apply
United in Prayer for Ukraine
The 24th of February 2023 will be the one year
anniversary of the war in Ukraine. We have seen how the invasion by Russian
forces is destroying the homes and the freedom of Ukrainian people to lead
their own lives.
We are inviting churches and
denominations across Britain and Ireland to join together in an act
of witness to pray for Ukraine on Sunday 26th of
February 2023, for an end to the conflict and for all those affected by the terrible
impact of war.
This act of witness will stand in solidarity with national services being
organised with Churches Together in
Britain & Ireland, Churches
Together in England and the
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on the 24th of February. This
ecumenical service will have voices from across the UK, including our Ukrainian
community.
I
would like to invite your churches and networks to
take part in a moment of prayer either in your Sunday worship or in your
community. If you had an opportunity
to share this information through your communications, I’d be very grateful.
We have a number of resources that we would invite you to use on the 24th of
February 2023,
including a prayer and a placard which you can use to share your moment of
solidarity on social media. You can also use the hashtag: #WePrayForUkraine in
any social media posts. You
can download your resources here: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/pray/prayer-ukraine#
Together
as Christians in these islands and with our sisters and brothers in the
churches of Ukraine, we pray for an end to the conflict and for peace in our
world.
For more information visit our website: Ukraine - Christian Aid.
Talking Climate Justice - Lent Discussion Guide
This Lent reflect on the transformative nature of our faith and seeking justice. In this 6 week Talking Climate Justice small group discussion guide you’ll explore Lenten themes (repentance, sacrifice, redemption, reparation and restoration) to help you grapple with the realities of the climate crisis.
Each week you’ll explore a new theme with bible readings, stories and prayers to stir up ideas of how you and your church can act together for climate justice.
Perfect for small/home groups and flexible for Lenten lunches and café church.
Click Here to download the Resource
Methodists in Ukraine
Rev'd Phil Gough held an interview/conversation on 24th
February 2023, on the one year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The
conversation is with Rev'd Volodymyr Prokip, Methodist Minister in Lviv,
Ukraine. We have heard from Volodymyr a few times throughout this last year,
about the situation in his country and the ministry of the Methodist Church in
Lviv, as in other places throughout Ukraine.
It's a wide-ranging conversation, lasting 35
minutes, and ending with a time of prayer for each other and each other's
situations.
It stands as a helpful reflection upon the last
year in Ukraine, and the response to the crisis, especially from within the UK.
3Generate 2022
We are excited to be able to share the 3Generate After Movie with you!
Over 2000 people gathered at the NEC in Birmingham for 3Generate back at the
end of September. Children, young people, their leaders plus an incredible
delivery team (that’s you!) and contributors made the Methodist children and
youth assembly happen.
Through the course of those 48 hours there were a range of ways to Tune In to
God, worship, explore and talk about faith, join in with creative activities,
get sporty and exercise, learn more about the issues children and young people
care about as well as hearing their voice. We packed a lot into a short space
of time and we hope you enjoyed being a part of it!
Watch all the highlights to find out more about the memorable time everyone
spent together.
We hope everyone finds it as inspiring and uplifting as we do – join us as we
start looking forward to 3Generate 2023
(6th - 8th October at the NEC, Birmingham) and pray for
wonderful spirit-filled time together!
Orthodox Church
For those who may know of Ukranian Orthodox faithful searching for an Orthodox church, there are two churches in Preston - Greek and Romanian - and several in Manchester.
Here are two flyers one in Ukranian and one in English with more details
Godly Play Bus Project
OUR PROJECT NEEDS MORE DRIVER
The Godly Play Bus Project is supported by the
Lancashire District.
Following a very successful week in a school, we would like to make the Godly
Play Bus available to more venues across our District and beyond, sharing the
gospel of God’s love in schools and communities. To do this, we need more
drivers.
Could you offer your time and skills to part of our team?
If you have a clean driving licence (issued before 1999), aged under 75
years and are able to commit to offering a few hours of your time per month, to
drive the bus from Freckleton to the required venue and back, we would love to
hear from you! No passengers are
taken on the bus.
Driving instruction will be provided on the bus!
For more information and details of what the role entails, please contact:
Deacon Kim Gabbatiss - 01772 635858, or kim.gabbatiss@methodist.org.uk
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 - 5th March 2023
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
Monday 6th March 2023
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
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
Natasha's Law
The Food Information (Amendment)
(England) Regulations 2019 (known as “Natasha's Law”) came into
effect from 1 October 2021 in England and Wales.
Natasha’s Law is named in memory of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse who died in July 2016 following an allergic reaction to a prepacked sandwich bought from Pret-A-Manger. This law makes provision to ensure all food businesses provide full ingredient lists and allergen labelling on foods that are pre-packed for sale on their premises. These types of packaged foods were not caught by the pre-existing legislation.
Click Here to read more
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.