Preston Guild: numerous events

1. The next Churches PROCESSION steering group will take the form of a WORKSHOP, on Sunday 10th June, 2 - 4, at Holy Family, Ingol. Come and share your ideas and progress with preparation of displays, and pick up some further tips about creation of designs. See how the story is fitting together – there are bound to be some further adjustments to ideas to achieve a unified picture, so please come with as much detail as you can about your element of the procession, including the practical side of materials, design etc, and also with an open mind to make things fit. It's a great opportunity to share ideas and learn from each other. I can't stress how important it is that the procession has a high visual impact, and presents a coherence in the way in which the elements link together to convey 'The living Christ'.

Walk the Plank will be holding further workshops too - keep an eye on the Guild website: http://www.prestonguild2012.com/?OBH=895

2. St. Anthony’s Guild Parish Open Week, 10^th to 17^th June, 2012

In accordance with the traditional Guild objective of having Churches open for a week, St. Anthony’s Fulwood are holding an open week from 10^th to 17^th June, Sunday to Sunday. The Church will be open between 2 and 4pm and between 6 and 8pm daily. The Church will be decorated for the occasion and there will be displays from the various Groups in the Parish. Do pop in and encourage others to.

On Sunday 17^thJune at 10.15am there will be a special Feast Day Mass for the Parish, in the afternoon a fantastic Field Day Event for all on St. Anthony’s Fields from 1.00pm and at 7.00pm the St. Anthony’s Singers are putting on a concert in Church – free entry.

3. Next on the schedule of 12 events is the Methodist Church Collection of Modern Christian Art, which is running from June 23 - July 18th, at St Peters Art centre, UCLan. A large number of schools are already booked to come along, and of course any church group would be more than welcome, perhaps taking the opportunity to explore the use of the visual as a focus for prayer or worship. Volunteers to guide visitors are still needed, and welcome – please contact Tony Whitman on Preston 709181 or dandtwhitman@blueyonder.co.uk 

further details at http://www.fulwoodmethodist.org.uk/events/visible%20faith/visible%20faith%201.htm

4. SERVE OUR CITY

10 – 14^thJuly; 5 days, 50 projects, 500 people, 5000 hours

There are currently 132 volunteers signed up from 17 churches across all denominations – so lots more are needed to bring this vision of serving the city to fruition. Ron Farrington (Longton Community church) has been unwell but is starting to make a recovery – and can we hold Ron in our prayers, along with Ian Clarkson at Fulwood Free Methodist who has taken on much oF the organisation. Ian’s plea is that people sign up for the project very soon as the team will be working on designating domestic & community projects from mid June and the clearer idea they have of volunteers available the better. You can sign up as individuals and as a whole church at 

http://www.hopetogether.org.uk/Groups/153796/HOPE/Be_part_of/HOPE_in_Regions/Preston/Preston.aspx

5. ECUMENICAL SERVICE, Sunday 2^nd September, 3 pm The planning is well advanced for what promises to be a unique event, introduced by ALED JONES and featuring SEVEN national church leaders – all speaking briefly on a common theme. The event will be ticketed, and the organising group will shortly announce how to acquire tickets – for the 3,500 capacity big tent on Avenham park. Although the event is free, significant costs are involved in staging it, so donations will be sought by way of a collection –envelopes will be placed on seats.

6. CHURCHES RIDE & STRIDE / Thanks-giving service at Brockholes, Saturday 8^th September 4 pm The annual “Ride and Stride” sponsored cycle ride and walk is a chance for people to raise funds for church buildings, and provides the opportunity for churches across the fylde to open their doors to visitors. This year, we are planning to combine the event with an informal act of worship on Saturday at Brockholes Nature Reserve 4 p.m., the aim of which is to mark the end of Preston Guild week and the launch of the Guild Cycle Wheel (http://www.prestonguild2012.com/resources/files/59_Guild%20Wheel%20Flyer%2010%2002%2011[1].pdf

( which takes in Brockholes in the course of its orbit around Preston) as part of the legacy of the 2012 Guild. The working title is “Celebrating Creation and Re-Creation”.

This service might attract not only church-affiliated supporters, but also those just out to give the new Guild Wheel a whirl, and help them discover along the way that they are blessed to be able to enjoy God’s Good Creation. Plenty of time to get back to town for the torchlight procession and fireworks!

A map showing churches which have been open in previous years for the Ride and Stride in the past is attached – along with a sponsor Form and initial poster. IF YOUR CHURCH COULD BE OPEN ON THAT DAY FOR VISITORS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND WE CAN ADD YOU TO THE LIST 

And finally – why not try something new, and support Christian Aid in the process…..

Register NOW for the Preston Sponsored Dragon Boat Race

21^st July 2012 – Preston Maritime Festival

Visit: www.christianaid.org.uk/dragonboat