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.

Following the introduction on 5th November 2020 of the Government’s new lockdown restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19, we expect the Church to remain closed for public worship services until 6th December 2020, at the earliest. 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 are looking at new ways of doing this together 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.”

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.

Christingle Service 2020

This year's Christingle Service will take place Online on 13th December 2020 at 5:00pm. For more information please contact Lucy on Mob: 07707 863901 or lucy.luckock@gmail.com.
Preview video: https://vimeo.com/454300501

Greetings from Whiston Parish Church on Advent Sunday

Jesus said: What I say to you I say to all: 'Keep awake.’ Mark 13:37

Dear Friends Download the latest information:

Notes on the Readings for 29th November 2020
Prayers for 29th November 2020
Prayers for the Nation - November 2020

Call to Prayer for the Nation - Personal Prayers

Keep awake, keep alert is the Advent message. Be ready for Christ’s coming! As we look forward to the Christmas season and make our preparations, we also need to make ourselves ready to receive him. As we do so, we share hope for a new beginning, hope that Christ will break into our lives and point us to a future with God. Advent isn’t then just about a count-down to the arrival of Jesus as a baby at Christmas, it is about looking forward to Christ’s second coming. As we gather this morning in his name we begin once again a journey towards the kingdom that Christ brings to those who open their hearts to him and who keep watch for his coming. Keep awake, keep alert!

We light a candle and say the Advent collect:

Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen

We read today’s Gospel Mark 13:24-end

We say or sing the hymn:

1)Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.	2)Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.

We Pray:

O Lord our God,
make us watchful and keep us faithful
as we await the coming of your Son our Lord;
that, when he shall appear,
he may not find us sleeping in sin
but active in his service
and joyful in his praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Church will not be open for worship this Sunday but will reopen on Sunday 6th December 2020, the second Sunday of Advent for the Parish Eucharist at 9:45 am.

We pray for the family of Derek Foster who passed away on Wednesday. Derek, together with his late wife Brenda, was very much a part of our Church fellowship and will be missed.

CALL FOR PRAYER FOR THE NATION

Bishops, Pete and Sophie, have echoed the Archbishops call to prayer and are asking the whole diocese to join in prayer every day at 6.00pm throughout the lockdown.

Call to Prayer for the Nation - Week 4

Loving God, your Son Jesus Christ came that we might have life and have it abundantly;
pour out your blessing upon our nation;
where there is illness,
bring your healing touch;
where there is fear,
strengthen us with the knowledge of your presence;
where there is uncertainty,
build us up in faith;
where there is dishonesty,
lead us into truth;
where there is discord,
may we know the harmony of your love;
this we ask in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

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

Patrick White: (Reader) {tel: 01709 370069} or {mob: 07740 941921}
Colette White: (Churchwarden) {mob: 07740 941921}
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/

Should you wish to speak to a priest, the Revd. Karen Skidmore (tel: 01709 836052) and the Revd. Sue Davies (mob: 07515 881605) are both happy to be contacted.

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