Nine Lessons and Carols


Monday 18th December 6.30pm in Church

Our Nine Lessons and Carols Service will once again take us on the journey from God’s marvellous creation through to the birth of the Christ child.  It is always a wonderful way to start Christmas.   There will be refreshments afterwards.   Do come and bring your friend’s

Advent Course Joint with St John’s


Joint Advent course with St John’s Ellel, each Wednesday evening in Advent from 7.30pm to 9pm. 6th December it is in Forton at St James. We will be using the Archbishop of York’s Advent Book “Stick with Love”
You don’t need the book to take part but if you would like to order a copy you can get them, like most things, from ‘all good book shops’. Amazon has them on sale.

Advent Notice Sheet

Light Switch On – Friday 1st December 6.30pm in the Village
Switch on of Forton Christmas lights with the Forton Light Orchestra, Father Christmas. Rudolph hopes to be with us because he loves joining in the refreshments in the Village Hall after the switch on.
If you are able to donate cakes for the refreshments please see Margaret Humphreys, Hilda Dugdale or Jean Oliver

Men’s Breakfast – Saturday 2 December 8.30 to 9.20 in the Upper Room Slightly earlier finish to accommodate the Angel Festival…


Angel Festival – Saturday 3rd/Sunday 4th December 11-4pm
Please let Louise or Ruth know what angels you will be bringing and if you are able to help set up. If you are able to help on either day please put your name on the list at the back of church.
Please advertise it widely by taking a poster, posting on social media, telling your friends and neighbours,
bringing people along.
If you are able to provide some cakes etc for refreshments please see Susan and items for the tombola Jean

Over 50s Christmas Lunch – Tuesday 28th November 12 –3
Shireshead Cricket Club More information see Jean Oliver


Ladies Link – Wednesday 6th December 10.30 -2.30 Upper Room
Further details Jean or Hilda

Advent Course Joint with St John’s – Starts this Wednesday 29th November
The journey to reuniting the parish with St John’s Ellel is on track for just after Easter. To help us get to know some of our friends at St John’s we are having a joint Advent course each Wednesday evening in Advent from 7.30pm to 9pm They will alternate between St John’s and St James 29th Nov /13th Dec St Johns 6th/20th Dec St James. We will be using the Archbishop of York’s Advent Book “Stick with Love”
You don’t need the book to take part but if you would like to order a copy you can get them, like most things, from Amazon– other independent retailers are available. Our friends at St John’s are aware that on the 13th December many of us may be at Hay Carr.


Musical evenings
Thanks to the generosity of Kath Walling, and Katie and Matt at Hay Carr we have been invited to sing carols and share in refreshments on two dates in December.
For many years after the Carol service people congregated at Hornby Farm for refreshments. This year we are invited to sing carols and share refreshments on Sunday 10th December 4pm—6pm Just turn up or let Kath know you are coming.
Many years ago carol singing at Hay Carr was part of the December calendar at St James. Katie and Matt have invited members of the congregation, spouses, partners, husband’s/wife’s to sing carols and share refreshments on Wednesday
13th December 7 for 7.30pm
. They would like some idea of numbers so there is a list at the back of church for you to add your name and the number of your family you will be bringing with you.


Since 2017 the MU have been hosting an annual gin evening open to all, men and women. Last year was so successful some could not remember how good it had been the morning after! Keep the date Thursday 14th December 7.30pm
Upper Room It will be a night to remember ………..eventually

ANGEL FESTIVAL

We are pleased to announce that the annual Angel Festival will take place on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd December 11am-4pm each day. Entry is free with refreshments available. Look out for angels around the village.

Angel Competition for Children with prizes sponsored by Hugo’s (Ice Cream, Cafe, and Soft Play). Make a Hugo’s inspired angel, no larger than 30cm x 30cm. Paint, draw, collage, sew, 3D model or use any creative way to form your angel. Remember to put your name and contact number with your entry. Drop your entry off at the church, Hugo’s, Forton school or Forton Post Office by 4pm on Tuesday 28tyh November 2023.

You can watch our services on Facebook

Our 10am Sunday Morning Worship is broadcast live on Facebook.

You can watch live or on catch up. You can send feedback and join our growing online congregation. Further details please see our St. James Church, Shireshead, Forton Facebook page.

Nine Lessons and Carols

7pm Monday 19th December join us for our traditional Nine Lessons and Carol service.

Christmas Eve – Crib service 5pm bring a football scarf or scarf

Midnight Mass – 11:30pm

Christmas Day – 10am bring a present

A reflection on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and accession of King Charles III

Through all the changing scenes of life, In trouble and in joy.
The praises of our God shall still my heart and tongue employ. Brady and Tate1699
This seventeenth century hymn says much about our journey through life. This hymn like many others we rarely hear, was sung week in week out in the parish churches of the land for almost 200 years. Whilst it did make the cut and was included by Horrobin and Leavers in Mission Praise I suspect it is for many simply ‘old fashioned’.
Over the last 70 years of the reign of Elizabeth the second many of the things people stood for and believed in have become to be seen as old fashioned values. When she became Queen we lived in a world in which we gave our life today. Life was for giving and not long before she came to the throne many had given the ultimate sacrifice for others.
For over 300 years, week in week out, people came to church to hear in the Book of Common Prayer communion service the comfortable words, “So God loved the world, that he gave his onlybegotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.
By the 1960’s people were beginning to blame the Book of Common Prayer for declining numbers in our churches and by modernising we would fill them again. The language of Milton and Shakespeare was no longer deemed appropriate But it was not just language the focus of our lives changed from giving to one of self in which each individual life is to be lived to the full at all costs.
That little girl Lilibet could not have known how the changing scenes of life would change her life.
The abdication of her uncle Edward changed her life beyond measure On her 21st birthday in Cape Town she issued that much quoted promise – “I declare that my whole life, whether long or short, shall be devoted to your service” The word service is hardly ever heard these days.
When I was singing that hymn as boy in church and school, I had no idea how the world and the church would change in my lifetime or how I would be changed. That will be true for many of you.
On Thursday tea time our world changed for many of us when HM Queen Elizabeth slipped from this life into paradise – to the room prepared for her The Queen had served us for 70 years. For most people she is all they have known 48 Years ago this month I went to Bede College Durham to read Mathematics and as some of you
have heard me say the moto of Bede College is ‘Eadem mutata resurgo’ … the same, though changed, I rise again. The monarchy did not die it rose again – “the Queen is dead long live the King”. As she left this world Charles rose to be our new King.
“Heaven is not the place we go to when life is ended; it is the place we go to so that new life can begin. The evening of this world is followed by morning in the next.”
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his compassion never fails, every morning it is renewed.
God and the Monarchy are a constant an unfailing presence in the lives of this nation The Queen embraced her destiny with dignity, duty, determination and in service of God. The best legacy of the second Elizabethan era would be for us all to follow in the example she set throughout her life If we can do that, the memory of our late Queen will not just live on in our hearts but in a world which values all people no matter what creed or race a world in which we live out the last commandment of God’s son to his disciples to “love one another as I have loved you”.
As we mourn her passing “Christ is that Morning Star which, when the night of this age is past, brings to his saints the promised light of life and opens everlasting Day.”

Book of Condolence

There is a Book of Condolence in church if you would like to sign it.  Church is open 10-4 everyday until after the funeral

We are all saddened by the news that Queen Elizabeth died at Balmoral.  Her service, commitment, dedication and Christian witness, over the last 70 years has been an example to us all.  For many people, including me, she has been a constant example of holy living throughout our lives.  Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.  St James will be open for private prayer 10am-4pm every day until the funeral on the 19th 

As many of you know I will be away for the next fortnight (from Sunday afternoon) initially to marry my nephew in Portugal and then having a holiday to mark my retirement from my day job.  In the light of today’s announcements, I can’t help feeling this is the worst timing in the world but there is nothing I can do to change that. 

This Sunday  morning, (11th Sept)  we will focus our 10am service on giving thanks for service and dedication and in particular the life of the Queen.  We will also offer prayers for our new monarch King Charles. 

Please encourage people in the village to come along to mark the passing of a monarch whose promise and commitment was an example to us all and pray for Charles as he tries to walk in his mother’s footsteps in a world in which service has so often been overwhelmed by self.  

Some dates for your diary 

Friday 30th September  5-7pm and Saturday 1st October 10.30am to 12 noon   Collection of Harvest gifts at the Bowling hut in the village.  All the gifts will be blessed at the Harvest Festival Service on Sunday 2nd October 10 am 

You can also leave food at School or the Post Office in Hollins Lane 

Sunday 2nd October 6,30pm   Harvest Festival Evensong 

Sunday 6th November   10am Special Service to remember all those we have loved on this earth who are no longer with us .  If you would like somebody remembered by name please put them on the list in church or email  vicar@stjameschurchforton.org  

We are having our annual Shoe Box appeal.  Boxes are available in Church or at the Post Office in Hollins Lane.  They need to ne returned to Church by 13th November. 

Village Remembrance Service  This will be in the Village Hall at 10.20am on Sunday 13th November  

Just in case you are looking further forward  the Forton Christmas Lights witch on will be at 6.30pm  2nd December 

Best wishes,  

Peter 

St. James, Shireshead

Weekly Communion Service, all welcome.

We meet every Sunday at 10am. St James church is located on Whinney Brow Lane, Forton just off the A6. We are a village church serving the rural parish of Forton and Shireshead.

We run a modest foodbank. We run several groups including a Sunday School, Mother’s Union and Men’s Breakfast. Our choir joins up with other choral groups for larger celebrations. The village of Forton is growing and residents old and new will find an open door and a warm welcome.

For those unable to attend, weekly services are live streamed on our Facebook page. Seach StJames, church, Forton or follow the link https://www.facebook.com/groups/stjameschurchforton/

Parish Mission Statement

Growing in faith and love
Engaging with our community
Guided by the power of the Holy Spirit

We look forward to seeing you soon.