Whiston Parish Church, St Mary Magdalene; Whiston, Rotherham

Welcome

Welcome to the official website of Whiston Parish Church. Situated in the heart of the community, St Mary Magdalene is the parish church serving Whiston Village and the surrounding areas.

On 5th January 2021 the Government introduced new national lockdown restrictions to limit the spread of COVID -19. Although the Government chose not to suspend public worship in England at the present time (and although we have been operating with a robust risk assessment), the Parochial Church Council (PCC) feels that the safety of each one of us is of paramount importance in view of the high risk of transmission of the new variant of the virus. Because of these factors, the PCC has taken the decision to close the church for public worship services for the foreseeable future. Public worship will restart at the earliest possible opportunity.

It is, however, still possible for funeral services to be conducted in church.

Our worship of God and our care for each other continues but cannot be done in this building. Instead we will provide alternate ways of doing this together through the Weekly Bulletin; by making email and phone contact with those who may require additional support; through our Facebook page and by sharing a range of online prayer and worship resources. Details of these and contact details for the Churchwardens and Readers can be found further down the page.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength . . . Love your neighbour as yourself.
There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

Guidelines for Church for Services

Dear Friends Download the latest information:
Guidelines for Funerals

Dear Friends, Please find attached the current set of Guidelines for the conduct of church services at Whiston Parish Church. Although the church is currently closed for public worship, funeral can still take place in church using these guidelines.

Greetings from Whiston Parish Church on the Second Sunday of Lent

‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34

Dear Friends Download the latest information:
Prayers for 28th February 2021
Opportunities for Worship and Other Resources for 28th February 2021
Covenant Sermon - Dr Bill Goodman

It is easy just to follow, but Jesus is saying that following him is not an easy journey but one that requires effort. Most of us have found these times of restrictions doubly difficult in that we have not been able to join together in worship or receive the sacraments which sustain us on our journey of faith. We have had to adjust as we try to stay on the way that Jesus is showing us.

Just as we accept the difficulties of lockdown in order to regain the freedom we once knew, before the virus, so do we as followers of Jesus have to face up to the challenges which following him brings, in the hope of being with him for ever. Let us persevere on the way as we go through Lent and look to the freedom that the new life of Easter brings.

We join together in worship as we light a candle and come into God’s presence.

We say the prayer for today:
Almighty God,
by the prayer and discipline of Lent
may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings,
and by following in his Way
come to share in his glory;
through Jesus Christ.
Amen

We read today’s gospel: Mark 8:31-end

We say or sing: ♫ 𝅘𝅥 𝅘𝅥𝅮

1) O Jesus, I have promised To serve Thee to the end; Be Thou forever near me, My Master and my Friend; I shall not fear the battle If Thou art by my side, Nor wander from the pathway If Thou wilt be my Guide.	2) Oh, let me hear Thee speaking, In accents clear and still, Above the storms of passion, The murmurs of self-will; Oh, speak to reassure me, To hasten, or control; Oh, speak, and make me listen, Thou Guardian of my soul.
3) Oh, let me see Thy footmarks, And in them plant mine own; My hope to follow duly Is in Thy strength alone. Oh, guide me, call me, draw me, Uphold me to the end; And then in heaven receive me, My Saviour and my Friend.

We pray:
Almighty God,
you see that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves:
keep us both outwardly in our bodies,
and inwardly in our souls;
that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body,
and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Ken Tupling

Ken’s funeral will take place in church on Monday, 1st March 2021 at 1.30pm and attendance is by invitation only as numbers in church are limited to 30. The service will be followed by burial in the churchyard at which only Margaret, Andrew and Christopher will be present.

In order to avoid a large gathering outside church Margaret has asked that all those who mourn Ken should NOT come to the church or to the churchyard but light a candle at 1.30pm in their own homes. Furthermore, the service will be streamed live via Facebook (you do not need a Facebook account to watch live streams so anyone can tune in). The link to go to on the day is www.facebook.com/WhistonParishChurch

Rev. Toby will start the stream 10 minutes before the funeral begins so people have time to tune in. The video will be saved and will be available on YouTube as a recording later in the day: www.youtube.com/channel/UCkDlxtXU_J-LL6erBeOV4NA (or search for Whiston Parish Church in the YouTube search bar).
Donations in Ken’s memory are invited for Whiston Parish Church and/or the National Kidney Federation c/o J. Parkinson and Sons, Oil Mill Fold, Westgate, Rotherham S60 1BB

Lights for Christ

Lent Course The first part of the course took place last Wednesday evening by Zoom; led by our Oversight Ministers, Karen and Toby. There are four more sessions on Wednesdays at 7.00pm. If you would still like the material or the link for the next session of the course, please ring Patrick. It is possible to do the course on your own.

Sermon Instead of the usual notes on the readings, you will find a sermon written specially for us by the Rev. Dr Bill Goodman who would have preached this Sunday had church been open. Bill preached and presided at the Parish Eucharist in the Autumn. He is Assistant Principal of St Peter’s College, the Diocesan Training Centre and has compiled the Lent course, Lights for Christ, which we are using. The sermon explores the theme of covenant based on this Sunday’s readings but connecting with readings throughout Lent.

Star Fish Gang at 9.30am & Youth Zone in the evening are meeting this Sunday by Zoom. For further information contact Lucy on {07707 863901}.

World Day of Prayer - Friday, 5th March 2021

This year the annual Service in Rotherham will not be taking place, but you can join in a 30-minute service online prepared by the women of Vanuatu on the website: www.wwdp.org.uk. There are also a few order of service booklets available if you would like to be part of this women-led, global, ecumenical movement. Contact Colette if you would like one or require further info.

Giving

We look forward to resuming worship in our church, but for the moment If you have giving envelopes please continue to send in one of them with a cheque for the total amount made payable to Whiston Parish Church, Please no coins or notes!

Post to: Mr Alan Teale, 27 Howarth Crescent, Moorgate; Rotherham, S60 3BW

If payment through the bank would be easier, these are the details:

RBS The Parochial Church Council of Whiston St Mary Magdalene
A/C No. 15374552 Sort Code: 16.00.07

If anyone would also like to donate to the running costs of the church, this would also be most welcome. The continued generosity of our congregation is a blessing for us all.

Please contact any of us if you need to talk or simply to have a chat.

Rev. Karen Skidmore – Priest in Charge: {tel: 01709 836052} Rev. Toby Gibbons – Associate Priest: {mob: 07507 524699}
Patrick White: (Reader) {tel: 01709 370069} or {mob: 07740 941921} Colette White: (Churchwarden) {mob: 07712 674675} Alan Bradbury: (Assistant Churchwarden) {mob: 07711 691594}	Jan Teale: (Reader) {mob: 07745 560580} Alan Teale: (Churchwarden) {mob: 07803 021201}

Email: whistonparishchurch@gmail.com
Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WhistonParishChurch/

Take care of each other and remember God is good.

We serve the areas of:

Whiston Village
Grange Estate
Duke-of-Norfolk Estate
Upper Whiston
Morthen
Outlying Areas

Baptisms and Weddings

Church Life

Welcome to Whiston Parish Church

St Mary Magdalene