Reports from the Activity Groups

2.1 Shared Ministry Team
2.2 Cell Ggroups
2.3 Prayer Ministry for Healing/Wholeness
2.4 Visiting and Bereavement Care
2.5 Prayer Diary
2.6 Pathfinders, Explorers, Climbers & Scramblers
2.7 Pram Club/Stepping Stones
2.8 Mothers' Union
2.9 Women's Fellowship

3 MISSION

3.1 Brownies
3.2 Rainbows
3.3 12th Crosby Scout Group
3.4 12th Crosby Cub Scout Pack
3.5 12th Crosby Beaver Scout Colony
3.6 The Way Youth Club
3.7 St Luke's Players
3.8 St Luke's Football Club/Golf Club
3.9 Luncheon Club
3.10 World Mission: Children's Society
3.11 World Mission: CMS
3.12 World Mission: Uganda Link
3.13 World Mission: SAMS
3.14 World Mission: Toybox
3.15 World Mission: Christian Aid
3.16 World Mission: Malawi
3.17 World Mission: City of Liverpool YMCA
3.18 Evangelism - Merseyfest
3.19 St Luke's Church Hall
3.20 St Luke's History Group

4 ST LUKE'S HALSALL SCHOOL

4.1 St Luke's Halsall School

5 DEANERY SYNOD AND CHURCHES TOGETHER IN GREAT CROSBY

5.1 Sefton Deanery Synod
5.2 Churches Together in Great Crosby
5.3 Crossroads Centre

Heavenly Father enfold us in your love,
and empower us by your Spirit
that we may work
for the coming of your kingdom
and draw all people
to you through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen

Values

Our core values are fundamental to the health and growth of the church. They are the focus of what we seek in both Cell Groups and all church activities.

All Involved

God gives gifts to every person to be used in the service of others and for building up the church.

Becoming Disciples

We are always becoming and developing our full potential - we need to be open to God’s word and spirit - encouraging one anther to grow into the likeness of Christ.

Creating Community

Jesus commands us to love - this must be worked out in practice on a day to day basis - Cell Groups are the training ground for love.

Doing Evangelism

Jesus told us to GO and make disciples of all people. Our focus must be outward on mission not just inward on maintenance. Our concern is for others not just ourselves.

Encountering God

We are committed to providing opportunities for everyone to encounter God especially through Sunday worship, Cell Groups and Training Courses. We value prayer and recognise unless God builds the house we labour in vain.

1. WORSHIP

1.1 Services

St Luke’s offers a variety of different worship styles to suit a variety of people mainly on a Sunday. Increasingly Sunday is a busy day used by people to do many other things and we need to be alert to this fact and find new ways of connecting with those for whom another day of the week is preferable. In an attempt to communicate the same information across all three congregations on any Sunday we have been using the video projector to highlight it. In all of this, as with our 11 am and 6.30 pm services which are on Powerpoint, Shirley Wallin does a tremendous job and takes great pride in her work.

9.00 am Holy Communion
We use a variety of service orders from Common Worship depending on the season of the church year, we follow the lectionary readings and have 3 hymns. We have a rota of people to read the Bible, lead in prayer and carry the cross for which we are grateful. On the 1st Sunday of the month, we offer the laying on of hands for healing at the communion rail and many people are prayed for in this way. During the administration of communion, Eric and Glenys Linford have been using the video projector to display devotional images and this has been much appreciated. On the 5th Sunday of the month, we are experimenting with Common Worship morning prayer. In 2005 the average attendance was 57 adults, in 2004 it was 61 adults

11.00 am Morning Worship
On the 1st and 3rd Sundays we have all-age worship before children and adults separate for their own teaching. On the 2nd Sunday it is parade when we welcome all our uniformed organisations and on the 4th Sunday our youth band leads us in all-age worship when we stay together. On the 3rd and 5th Sundays we have communion and offer the laying on of hands at the 3rd Sunday. Attendance fluctuates depending what type of service and we need to involve more people in the running of them. We have a welcome team to greet people and make the children feel at home. In 2005 the average attendance was 107 adults and 50 children, in 2004 it was 100 adults and 55 children.

6.30 pm Evening Worship
Our worship is more informal and relaxed and we nearly always have an extended worship time. On the 2nd Sunday of the month we have communion with the laying on of hands for Christian healing. We have also experimented with the occasional Iona-style service. In 2005 the average attendance was 29 adults, in 2004 it was 30 adults.

10.30 am Wednesday Holy Communion
This is according to the Book of Common Prayer and most of those attending only come to this service. It is a useful reminder that the worship of God is not just a Sunday activity and for those brought up in this tradition it is appreciated. The average attendance in 2005 was 17 adults and in 2004 it was 19 adults.
Pete Spiers

1.2 Music Fellowship

Review: Provides fellowship for those who enjoy singing, learning and practising musical items for church festivals. The group consists of church members representing all three Sunday services and members of other churches. We sang at Prom Praise at the Philharmonic Hall in June and welcomed part of the Prom Praise orchestra to church on the Sunday morning and enjoyed a wonderful barbecue afterwards. We are looking forward to going down to London to sing Prom Praise in the Royal Albert Hall (March 2006). The group started practising for the Carols by Candlelight service in early November 2005. At the Carol Service we sang a variety of carols, from traditional carols to the carols of John Rutter and June Nixon.

Bryn Jones

1.3 Bellringers

Leader: Michael Allen
Time/Place: Monday 7.30 pm & Sunday 10.30 am Church Tower
Purpose: To practise our bell ringing skills for Sunday service

Review: It’s been quite a hectic year for the Bellringers since the last report. Our five new-comers have progressed astoundingly and all are now capable of ringing for the Sunday 11 o’clock service.

Our newest venture is into learning a method, whereby all bells splice between one another without the need for instruction. I am pleased to say that all are doing excellently and it is our hope to enter our method into a striking competition this May.

Many thanks to all who enjoyed the hand bells this year, they were excellent and I was more than pleased with our progress on last year. As with anything, a lot of time and effort (the most part of four months) was put into the handbells and I’m so glad it all paid off!

In the meantime, however, we are continuing our Sunday service ringing and hope that everybody enjoys the work that we do here at the Tower. May I also take this opportunity to thank everybody involved at the Tower in the last twelve months and say that I have every confidence that the coming year will be just as successful.

Michael Allen

2. Growth and Care

2.1. Shared Ministry Team

Review: The Shared Ministry Team meets monthly and is responsible for guiding the day to day running of the parish, clarifying vision and direction, and providing mutual support in what continues to be a period of transition. The team consists of Barbara Chambers, Alan Lewney, Eric Linford, Margaret Quayle, Sandra Tickle and Shirley Wallin, who were commissioned at Liverpool Cathedral on 16th June 2003. In April 2005 Peter Owen left the team and we were joined by Pete Spiers.

During the year we have discussed priorities for St Luke’s, including Cell Groups, Giving in Grace, Team Ministry plans and Merseyfest. We helped Barbara Chambers draw up a new job description in her role as OLM and have encouraged Pete Spiers as he joined the Diocesan School of Leadership programme.

Sandra Tickle

2.2 Cell Groups

Review: What’s in a name? Whatever small groups in a church are called, whether it be house/home/fellowship/cell, they are the building blocks for St Luke’s. It is our firm belief that cell groups are fundamental to the growth of the church because so much of what is involved in the Christian life can be experienced in them. In them the 5 values of All involved, Becoming disciples, Creating community, Doing evangelism and Encountering God are lived out. We have 11 cell groups with nearly 100 people in them, one cell recently multiplied and another will do so shortly. Alan Lewney, Steve Matthews and Pete Spiers act as cell pastors and meet with the leaders of the groups on a regular basis to support and encourage. We would like to see many more people joining them and are always seeking ways of encouraging this.

Pete Spiers

2.3 Prayer Ministry for Healing/Wholeness

Review: Prayer Ministry continues to be a major part of life at St Luke’s and with this in mind I realised that I was unable to give all the time I would wish. Shirley Wallin and Linda McDowell have agreed to lead this important ministry further. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those on the Prayer Ministry team for all their support during the last fifteen years.

Barbara Chambers

Within the work of Christ’s salvation the healing of the sick holds a significant place and is seen as a sign of the power and truth of the Gospel in evangelism. For many Christians it takes a long time for us to mature and sometimes we get ‘stuck’ to the negative effects of the past, or maybe go round in cycles of spiritual confusion or habitual sin. The key to wholeness and freedom seems to be linked to our ability to connect with truth or as Jesus put it “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free”. Our prayer ministry team have seen this working out on the recent healing course as we, together, have addressed areas in our own lives to become more effective channels for God to work through, to the people we have the privilege to pray with. Prayer is offered at the end of every service with the laying on of hands for healing in services outlined in section 1.1. For those with deeper needs, private prayer is always available on request. We would like to offer the healing course, in the near future, to anyone who would like to take their own personal steps to freedom and wholeness in Christ.

Shirley Wallin & Linda McDowell

2.4 Visiting and Bereavement Care

We meet approx. every two months to go through the list of those recently bereaved and those whose names have been passed to us as being housebound and in need of a visit. We know that visits are always well received and appreciated by those who receive them. The church office will pass on any names of people who require a visit. Please let us know if there has been a family bereavement in which we have not been involved. This enables us to send cards and invitations to the Memorial Service at the appropriate time. Thank you to all those people at St Luke’s who take the time to visit someone. It’s a valuable ministry. If you would like to get involved please have a chat with me.

Barbara Chambers

2.5 Prayer Diary

Review: The greatest fulfilment in developing a deeper prayer life is not the miraculous answers to prayer, although they are wonderful but the difference it makes in our relationship with God. If we don’t get together to talk very much it’s as though we are casually related but when we come together a lot, carrying on substantial soul searching conversations every day we get to know God so much better. I am so glad that many people are incorporating the prayer diary into their daily devotions, last year 80 copies were printed monthly, this year we have virtually doubled this, to 150 . Just think everything that takes place, our services, groups, activities, children, youth, senior citizens, missions, school, those who are unwell, everything, is being prayed for on a daily basis by at least 150 people, that is powerful! It’s also worth remembering that everyone is welcome to come together to pray in the parish centre at 9.15 am just for half an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. I would like again to especially thank our elderly and housebound members whose prayers are invaluable to the body of Christ here at St Luke’s.

Shirley Wallin

2.6 Pathfinders, Explorers, Climbers & Scramblers

Senior Pathfinders

Leaders: Rachel Howard, Annie Spiers
Who For: Young people aged 14—18

Review: We’ve had a great year! Not only do Sundays usually overrun with discussion on the Bible and prayers for lives to change, but we have now established a youth band with about 15—20 teenagers in it. 10 of the group camped at Merseyfest for a wonderful week of practical Christian action in August with Steve and Jan Matthews. We have been ice skating and had a trip to Everton GAP group after entertaining the group here. We have done mudfighting, icebreaking and praying in Anglesey, and many helped steward at Christmas in Another Place. The youth cell which met monthly earlier in the year has recently restarted. The group ranges from 12—19 young people.

Annie Spiers

Pathfinders

Leaders: Paul Fell
Time & Place: Sunday mornings, approximately twice a month
Purpose: Hopefully to teach about Christian issues and doctrine and provide some food for thought.
Who for: 10—13 year olds

Review: I took over the group last September and generally there are about 15 youngsters in the group, and some of the senior pathfinders sometimes help out. We generally have a small activity followed by a group discussion, these are very enjoyable (for me) and hopefully all the kids learn something and also find it enjoyable.

Paul Fell

Explorers

Leaders: Liz Sandford, Kim Sonne, Julie Lloyd, Diane Kerr and Sue Kenyon.
Time/Place: 11.30 am Webster Room, Church Hall
Purpose: To help the explorers learn more about the Lord Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit.
Who for: Children between 7 - 10 years of age.

Review: Over the past year we have had an opportunity to share God’s love with the children. On the first and third Sunday in the month the children have learnt more about Jesus in an informal and relaxed atmosphere through games, quizzes, songs, Bible reading and prayer times. To help cement friendships we have several activities throughout the year with our main event being the family picnic which was again held at the Botanic Gardens in Southport. After many years helping with explorers Liz has stepped down and we thank her for all her hard work. We are always keen for more helpers to come forward so please don’t hesitate to contact any of the above.

Kim Sonne

Climbers

Leaders: Jan Holmes, Karen Hignett and Sylvia Brown
Time/Place: 1st/3rd Sunday—11.30 am—Coffee Lounge
Purpose: To learn about God’s unconditional love in a fun and relaxed way.
Who for: 5—7 year olds

Review: Our aim, for this group of children is to help them to learn more about Jesus, and His love for each one of us, through stories, songs, activities, sharing experiences, and to encourage praying for one another. In July, we enjoyed a sunny afternoon at our family picnic in the Botanic Gardens in Southport. In December, our annual Christmas craft session was an all inclusive morning of sticky messy fun, which was enjoyed by all ages. The climbers and leaders continue to have lots of fun at our meetings, and thank God for His goodness.

In Jesus’ Name.
Jan Holmes, Karen Hignett and Sylvia Brown

Scramblers

Leaders: Bev Seel and Nicky Fell
Time/Place: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Sunday—11.30 am in the Church Hall
Purposes: Introducing and exploring Christianity, through song, stories, mime, role play and craft.
Who for: Pre-school children

Review: We continue to use the Scripture Union “Bubbles” resource which we have found to be versatile and easy to use. Unfortunately numbers have dropped, with there being more adults than children some weeks! However, this can give us the opportunity to “challenge” the parents/carers through the session, involving them more than usual! Despite the low numbers and young age, sessions can be very productive and parental feedback confirms positive learning. We have recently started involving the “older youth” within the sessions, which is proving to be successful and enjoyed by the Scramblers and youth alike. Another new experience is having our own budget, allowing us to improve resources.

Bev Seel

2.7 Pram Club/Stepping Stones

Leaders: Marg Davey, Bev Seel and Nicky Fell.
Kitchen Helpers: Ann Causer, Joan Sutherland, Maureen Bird, Audrey Davies
Time/Place: Church, Term Time only Tuesdays 1.30—3.00 pm approx

Review: We have been delighted this year to welcome our new Kitchen Helpers onto the team, who responded to our plea for help and are such a blessing to have with us each week. We have also welcomed many new families, as well as our ‘regulars’ and really enjoyed getting to know them, to see their friendships grow and having the chance to share about God’s love for us all, young and old alike. We’ve also been able to share with others by raising £295 which was donated to Clare House Hospice and Alder Hey Hospital and look forward to sharing more love, fun, and time with each other in the coming year.

Nicky Fell

2.8 Mothers’ Union

Leaders: Ada Letch, Audrey Hull, Rose Weaver, Barbara Naylor & Gladys Soffe.
Time/Place: First Monday in the month St Luke’s Hall 2.00 pm
Purpose: We have prayers, hymns and various speakers
Who for: Men and Women

Review: We have interesting speakers, also we have parties in July and December. Also in December, we had St Luke’s children singing carols to us and we had our Christmas dinner which everybody enjoyed. In June we go on our outing. Everybody welcome. Why not come and see what we do.

Ada Letch

2.9 Women’s Fellowship

Leaders: Viv Pierce, Pauline Jones & Committee
Time/Place: 1st Tuesday each month, St Luke’s Hall 8.00 pm
Purpose: Talks, outings, social evenings for women of any age or denomination

Review: We have had another good year with a full programme and, this year, three outings—in May we visited Bootle Town Hall where we were made really welcome by the Mayor and Mayoress and given a guided tour. In July we had a day in Chester with a superb lunch on a barge cruising along the canal . In December we visited the German Christmas market in Manchester, the weather was kind and everyone enjoyed themselves. Once again, thanks are due to John Morris, George and Paul and all the men who helped to make Bonfire Night a resounding success. Our membership continues to grow and the meetings are well attended, usually 40+. We were delighted to be able to give a total of £980 to various local charities.

Viv Pierce

3. Mission

3.1 Brownies

23rd Crosby St Luke’s Brownies

Leaders: Ann Causer, Paula Webster & Nina Causer
Time/Place: 6.15 pm Monday evenings in Church Hall

Review: Yet another year has flown by, with not enough time to do all we had planned. We did our annual trip to watch St Luke’s panto and what a great night this was. Finally Snowy got her wish and we went to Southport fair to do our circus skills badge, it was great fun with no broken bones. Pack Holiday theme was Disney Land. We had a smashing time with a water fight on Saturday afternoon, the leaders being soaked by 18 Brownies (revenge is wet). A BBQ was held at the end of summer, which was our way of saying a big thank you to our ‘Wise Owl’ Mrs Bradley. We owe her a great debt of gratitude.

September saw the arrival of Barn Owl, Miss Stubbs and what a ‘crafty’ lady she is. We managed to fit in a few badges and plenty of crafts this year and my thanks must go to all our leaders, who make Brownies so much fun.

Mrs A Causer, Brown Owl

2nd Crosby St Luke’s Brownies

Leaders: Julie Perry Brown Owl, Elizabeth Perry, TawnyOwl
Time/Place: 6.15 pm Monday evenings

Review: As new leaders we are learning with the Brownies and joining in the fun and excitement. We’ve had our first outing to the St Luke’s panto (thoroughly enjoyable), made chocolate apples, learnt to make Christmas crafts together etc. Since September the pack has doubled in size from 8 to 16 Brownies and we are looking forward to our 1st enrolment.

Julie Perry

3.2 Rainbows

2nd Crosby Rainbow Guides

Leaders: Julie Lloyd, Lisa Collins, Sharon Campbell, Beckie Eustace
Time/Place: Monday 5.00—6.00 pm—Church Hall
Purpose: Junior Age Guiding Group
Who for: 5—7 year olds

Review: We have enjoyed meeting every week making lots of things to take home. We have lots of visitors, one visitor Mrs Coates came to talk about Operation Christmas Child. We also enjoyed a trip to see Cinderella at St Luke’s Church Hall. This spring we are looking forward to Mr Moore visiting to talk about the National Trust. We also say a special goodbye to Jane Murrow, Pam Clayton, Jane Nurney and Lottie Harriman.

23rd Crosby Rainbow Guides

No report

3.3 12th Crosby Scout Group

No report

3.4 12th Crosby Cub Scout Pack

No report

3.5 12th Crosby Beaver Scout Colony

Leader: Carole Parry, Jane Fell, Linda Henders and Paul Parry.
Time/Place: Monday 6.15—7.15 pm Crosby 12th Scout Hut, Endbutt Lane, Crosby.
Purpose Joining together in activities and games.
Who for: Boys age 6—8 years

Review: The past year we have done more badge work, the boys gaining their faith badge. We also had our Christmas party. Returning after Christmas we are now trying to achieve our friendship badge and our musicians badge by making some musical instruments out of junk. We also have been to the St Luke’s pantomime which we all thoroughly enjoyed.

Carole Parry

3.6 The Way Youth Club

Leaders: Tim Causer, Chris Houghton, Ann Somers, Jan Sumner, Diane McMaster
Time/Place: Thursday 7.30—9.00 pm Term Time Church Hall
Purpose: Safe meeting place for 11-14 year olds to enjoy activities together.
Who for: School Years 7—9

Review: Although numbers remain steady, these will increase with yr 6 intake after Easter. To enable us to supervise the increased number (approx 60) safely, we will need extra helpers. If there is anyone who would like to help on a regular basis please see either Tim Causer or myself.

Chris Houghton

3.7 St Luke’s Players

Director: Brian Murrow
Time/Venue: 8.00 pm in Church Hall September to February
Purpose: Amateur drama group

Review: St Luke’s Players is an amateur drama group staging an annual pantomime every February. Although our core members are parishioners of St Luke’s Church, we welcome newcomers from further afield. This February the group performed their interpretation of Cinderella in front of approximately 1000 people over five performances. The usual characters were joined by a group of strange ‘village people’, four temperamental chefs, government ministers that Tony Blair would have struggled to control and a fairy godmother in white Wellingtons! Cinderella got her prince, who was charming and the ugly sisters...well, they took ugly to a new dimension!We were blessed this year with five young actors from Sacred Heart Catholic College. Their enthusiasm blended well with the experience of older members and our excellent dancers and support staff. £2000 was raised for our charities, YMCA and Liverpool Women’s Hospital Neonatal ward.

Graeme Kenyon, Secretary

3.8 St Luke’s Football Club/Golf Club

Team: Mark Sonne, Graeme Fell, Paul Roocroft (Jnr)
Time/Place: Saturday afternoon 1.00—1.30pm until 5.00—6.00 pm
Who for: Men aged 18+

Review: Established for 12 years, the team play on a friendly circuit visiting teams from Chester, Crewe, North Wales and the Wirral as well as local Liverpool based teams. Since inception there has been a decline in the number of players who attend St Luke’s although the Christian ethic still permeates the team. Anyone interested in participating, please contact any of the above.

Mark Sonne

3.9 Luncheon Club

Team: Edith Walker & Elaine Mayers
Time/Place: 9.30 am—12.15 pm. Christ Church Waterloo
Purpose: To help with Pensioners’ Club

Review: We have had another successful and enjoyable year cooking a meal monthly for the Senior Citizens at Christ Church, Waterloo. Mrs Jennie Williams, who originated this scheme some 40 years ago has now, not surprisingly and very deservedly, retired and so we are now self-sufficient. We are most grateful to all those who help so willingly each month but we would greatly appreciate any new helpers who feel they could join us.

Edith Walker & Elaine Mayers

WORLD MISSION

3.10 Children’s Society

Link Person: Audrey Hull

Review: Over the past year the Society has been engaged in “Safe and Sound” project, looking after vulnerable children. Again our three Christingles were successful raising £1207, also 30 new people have taken out home collection boxes.

Audrey Hull

3.11 CMS (Church Mission Society)

Link Persons: Gillian Court (until Nov 2005) now Jane Nurney

Review: 2005 was a year of changes for St Luke’s and CMS links. Geoff and Gill Kimber returned to the UK in July for six months, during this time they visited their link churches. On Sunday 23rd October they visited St Luke’s preaching at the 9.00 am and 11.00 am services, after which there was a buffet lunch and a ‘Question time with the Kimbers’ during which they related some of their experiences on living, working and worshiping in Romania. They felt especially welcomed by St Luke’s and are very grateful for all the support—financial and prayer given to them. They returned to Romania in January. Jane Nurney has taken on the role of link person for St Luke’s.

Gillian Court

3.12 Uganda, Bunyoro-Kitara Diocese, our link diocese

Link Person: John Morris

Review: The Diocese of Bun Kit (Bunyoro Kitara) our link diocese continues to struggle on, in spite of lack of paid work and all the other difficulties they endure as part of their daily lives but their faith in the Lord and belief that He will provide for them is beyond challenge. They firmly believe it is the Lord that sends us to help them. Through your generosity we are still able to support the Diocese Training Centre in Hoima, feeding and helping the students as they train for Readership, which very often means doing the work of a Pastor in some of the more remote villages.

We assist the Planning department of the Diocese to look after and care for the orphans living out in the community and in The Mustard Seed Orphanage (where no matter how full, no child is ever turned away) with basic clothes, school books, pencils and food, in addition to the highlight of their year—the Christmas Party, 38 orphans four years ago, last year over 300 queued for hours to get into the party. The Hospital Ministry is ongoing, working with the sick in terrible conditions, equipped most of the time with prayer alone, which is often enough. Ox Plough and Goat projects grow in strength to the benefit of all the people. Crossroads Hoima is resting at the moment waiting for more funding. Bishop Nathan sends his thanks and blessings to which may I add my own, for your love for those of God’s children who are less fortunate than others.

John Morris

3.13 SAMS (South American Mission Society)

Link person: Joyce Fell

Review: Alejandro Mesco is the Pastor of San Lucas Church in Arequipa. He also oversees the successful running of the San Jose Children’s Home and the Day Nursery. Alejandro has a great burden too for the people of the Colca Canyon where a piece of land has been bought to build the San Felipe Mission. In September, the Harvest collection was given to SAMS and a very successful Quiz night in October raised £592. The Christmas card giving was £82 and the recent cake sale raised £55.20 plus £70 given in donations. Thank you so much to all who so kindly gave their time and money to help raise these generous amounts.

Joyce Fell

3.14 Toybox

Link Person: Janette Burridge

Review: Toybox Charity month this year was October. A craft sale was held on the first two Sundays of October. We had a wonderful response and raised £369.08. This year’s Christmas envelope giving was also in support of Toybox and this was also very well supported. In June, Merchant Taylors presented ‘Images of Liverpool’, the funds raised from this were split between Toybox, CMS and Merchants selected charity. I would like to thank everyone for your support over the last 12 months and ask you to remember the Toybox Charity in your prayers.

J Burridge

3.15 Christian Aid

Secretary: Vacant
Purpose: Local street collections for Christian Aid week.

Review: The role of link person with Christian Aid is currently vacant, and we urgently need someone to co-ordinate the collection for the week of 14th—20th May 2006. Thanks are due to John Pulman who has carried out this role for many years and to all those who help with the collection. More collectors would be very welcome to enable us to collect from all the roads in our area. In 2005 our Christian Aid collection raised £1123.48 (net of gift aided donations).

Sandra Tickle

3.16 Malawi

Link Person: Glenys & Eric Linford

Review: The year began with official opening of the extension to the Children’s ward of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Blantyre, immediately followed by a celebration for Liz Molyneux’s 60th birthday. Two quotations from Liz::-
“I never cease to be amazed at people’s generosity and God’s provision.”
“You would be aghast at how much basic medicines and stuff we are having to buy to keep the ship afloat. What you provide is quite beyond thanks.”

Eric Linford

3.17 City of Liverpool YMCA

Link Person: Jeff and Hope Calvert

Review: Sincere thanks to everyone at St Luke’s for their continuing support during 2005/6, especially your prayers. January 2006 has been a landmark date in the long history of Liverpool YMCA—we sold our present building and (in spite of many objections) finally obtained planning permission for a new ‘purpose-built’ facility (still within the city centre) at Leeds Street. Our new building should be ready by June 2007 and will better enable us to meet the needs of homeless and disadvantaged young people, and the community we serve.

As in previous years, the donations of toiletries during December enabled us to ensure that each of our 115 residents received at least one Christmas present; though for most of them the biggest present is to know that someone, somewhere, really does care.

Please continue to remember us in your prayers during 2006 as we meet the challenge of building a new ‘home’ to cater for 70 homeless young people. The plan is to have 40 en-suite units with communal areas and 30 self-contained units with kitchen, living and dining space—a vast improvement on our present building.

Our prayers have been answered, thanks be to God; and now we invite Him to join us at the new site because. “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain”. (Psalm 127 : 1)

Jeff Calvert

3.18 Evangelism: Merseyfest: 14—21 August 2005

Leaders: Steve & Jan Matthews

Review: We did it! 9 young people from our church got the opportunity to serve their own area and grew to know each other more. And through the morning sessions of teaching and worship, they grew in their love for God too. Coronation Park was one of 170 projects which took place across our region. Nearly 1,800 delegates from Merseyside, the rest of the UK and from many other countries, joined with volunteers to make a difference to local communities. In Coronation Park over 450 kids signed up for sports taster sessions. Hundreds more enjoyed puppet shows, story telling and face-painting. There were displays from Red Cross, fire safety and others.

St Luke’s contributed in many ways. 70 volunteers from across the congregations helped with sports, painting railings, serving refreshments, and cleaning up Claremont Road. God answered prayer in great ways—from getting us the right team to postponing the forecast bad weather! This was an excellent opportunity to ‘be Jesus’ in our community.

It was appreciated by our partners too—the bursar of St Mary’s school wrote that ‘there has been a much better environment and this has been in evidence by the increased number of people on Claremont Road as we have observed on our closed circuit television cameras’.

Steve & Jan Matthews

3.19 St Luke’s Church Hall

Review: The Church Hall continues to be a very popular central venue, especially for children’s parties. The public generally appreciate the service we offer. This service is supported by John Somers who keeps the hall clean and the maintenance team who support us in maintaining the hall in good condition.

Agnes Law

3.20 St Luke’s History Group

Leaders: Hugh Hollinghurst & Peter Owen
Time & Place: Annual General Meeting first Monday in February, others as required.
Purpose: To add to the archives as necessary and make them more accessible.

Review: The work of the group has seen further results in the history of St Michael’s Church which Hugh wrote and Peter edited, owing much to their experience in producing the history of St Luke’s. It is hoped that there might be further combined work. A photographic record of the church’s activities is being compiled. A small number of copies of the history, continues to be sold, each adding to church funds. The trial transcription of the registers onto computer and a thought-a-day calendar along the lines of the one produced in 1935 have had to be put on hold. The group has examined the records of the Barrington family who used to live at 14 Rothesay Drive and are trying to contact surviving relatives.

Hugh Hollinghurst

4. St Luke’s Halsall School

4.1 St Luke’s CE Halsall Primary School

Headteacher: Sue Kerwin
Purpose: Education – children 3 – 11 years of age

Review: The school is central to the mission of the Church and is strengthening its links this year through contact with the PCC, working together to enhance the provision for spiritual development. The school currently has 260 children on roll, 132 KS2 (junior), 69 KS1 (infants), and 60 Foundation (Nursery & Reception). St Luke’s Halsall offers an excellent education, a stimulating learning environment and an ethos steeped in the gospel values of love, understanding, joy and optimism. Each child is valued for their intrinsic worth and encouraged to be the very best they can.

Since I arrived in September I have been very warmly welcomed and now feel completely at home. Staff and children have encouraged and supported me and I have been heartened by the welcome from the whole parish community.

In an exciting era for education we will be focussing on the Every Child Matters agenda and ensuring our curriculum meets the particular needs of our local community. A ten year strategic plan is being developed in partnership with governors, staff, children and the Church and we look forward to an exhilarating and successful future.

Sue Kerwin, Headteacher

Deanery Synod and Churches Together in Great Crosby

5.1 Sefton Deanery Synod

St Luke’s members for 2005/2008
Lay: Gillian Court, Lester Davey, Peter Naylor, Peter Owen, one vacancy.
Clergy: Rev Pete Spiers, Rev Barbara Chambers
Time/Place: We visit the eleven parishes of the Deanery in turn. There were four meetings in 2005.
Who for: Although only members can vote, everybody is welcome to attend meetings.

Review: In 2005 the Synod had presentations on Human Sexuality and the Church, Israel/Palestine, Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery, and Christianity and Islam. Synod also received reports from its members on General Synod, Diocesan Synod, various diocesan committees and boards, St Michael’s High School board of governors.

Peter Owen

5.2 Churches Together in Crosby

Review: Three members from each church, SS Peter & Paul’s, St Luke’s, St Helen’s, Moor Lane Methodist, All Saints, form the Council, plus clergy and co-opted members and meet four times per year to plan and discuss events which will take place each year, then publicise them to encourage everyone to take part. “Christmas in another Place” was a good example of doing things together.

Other churches together events—The Good Friday service in the village—2005 Pilgrimage to Canterbury and 2006 to Iona—Lent talks held in St Helen’s, March 8, 15, 22 and 29th—Christmas and Easter leaflets delivered by members of each church and one of the churches organise the crib in the village.

Crossroads is staffed by Churches Together and ideally anyone moving into one of the roads in Crosby is welcomed in by Churches Together. Every Thursday at 9.45 am we meet on a rota basis at one of the churches for prayer. (see news sheet for venue). The Chairperson for 2006 is Peter Spiers and Council reps for St Luke’s are Linda Moore, Pam Stubbs and Ray Terry.

Hazel Large

5.3 Crossroads Centre

Review: We have had an increasingly busy year and have welcomed several new volunteers. The young people working for the Duke of Edinburgh award continue to be our mainstay on Saturdays and St Mary’s College sixth form do an excellent job for a couple of hours on Fridays. We are still however in urgent need of volunteers, especially over the lunchtime period. The lighting should be improved very soon and some more changes are being considered. Meanwhile we continue to offer a friendly service in a pleasant environment.

Viv Pierce

this page was last modified on 3 March 2007