St Peter's Church, Darwen, Lancashire

16/06/2026

Today's Readings:
Psalms 48 & 52;
Judges 4:1-23;
Luke 13:10-21.
Richard, Bishop Of Chichester, 1253.
Joseph Butler, Bishop Of Durham, 1752.

16/06/2026

Good morning this Tuesday morning. This morning I am leading assembly at St Peter's, we are thinking about the Beautiful gate as Peter and John heal a lame man. At 12.30pm we will celebrate the life of James 'JIM' Arthur at his funeral. Please hold Dawn and the family and friends of7 Jim in your prayers this day. There is NO BIBLE STUDY today.
Today the church remembers Richard, Bishop of Chichester. 1253
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_of_Chichester
And also Joseph Butler, Bishop of Durham. Joseph Butler (1692–1752), Bishop of Durham, was one of the most formidable moral philosophers and theologians of the 18th century. His work shaped Anglican thought, influenced political and ethical theory, and remains a cornerstone of English moral philosophy.
A quote from Joseph Butler
Compassion is a call, a demand of nature, to relieve the unhappy as hunger is a natural call for food. Blessings, Alison.

Richard of Chichester (c. 1197 – 3 April 1253), also known as Richard de Wych, is a saint (canonized 1262) of the Catholic and Anglican churches who was the Christian Bishop of Chichester from 1244 to 1253.

15/06/2026

Let us pray...

15/06/2026

Good morning on this Monday morning, the beginning of another week. Food Share are in church this evening preparing meals for those in need. We give thanks for the volunteers and the work which they do.
Today the church remembers Evelyn Underhill, spiritual writer.
Evelyn Underhill (1875–1941) was a novelist, poet, retreat leader, and theologian whose work helped make mystical theology intellectually respectable in the modern era.
She began as an agnostic drawn to Neoplatonism, later becoming deeply committed to Christianity and eventually a leading Anglo‑Catholic voice.
Her spiritual development was shaped profoundly by Baron Friedrich von Hügel, who guided her toward a more Christ‑centred and practical spirituality
A quote from Evelyn
We mostly spend [our] lives conjugating three verbs: to Want, to Have, and to Do... forgetting that none of these verbs have any ultimate significance, except so far as they are transcended by and included in , the fundamental verb, to Be.
TO BE - Blessings, Alison.

14/06/2026

Today has been a very busy day in church. We baptised 4 people. Agnes, Don, Siggy, and Dee. And we welcomed Bishop Joe into church to confirm 6 candidates. It has been a joyful day. Congratulations to everyone today. And a massive thank you to everyone who helped and made today extra special.

14/06/2026

Good morning. It is confirmation day for Dee, Mark, Matthew, Curtis, Matthan and Max at 4pm today, please hold them in your prayers this day. It is Baptism day for Agnes, Don, and Siddy. It is Baptism Preparation day and also Morning prayer and our Eucharist. We hope to see you at some part of this day.
Psalm 100
O be joyful in the Lord, all the earth; ♦︎
serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with a song.
Know that the Lord is God; ♦︎
it is he that has made us and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise; ♦︎
give thanks to him and bless his name.
For the Lord is gracious; his steadfast love is everlasting, ♦︎
and his faithfulness endures from generation to generation.
A fitting Psalm for this day. Blessings, Alison.

13/06/2026

Good morning on this Saturday morning, I hope you are all well and have special days planned today. Tomorrow is a busy day! Remember oiur confirmation service at 4pm, and at 12pm we will baptise Agnes and her two daughters Siddy and Don. AS well as all that usually takes place on a Sunday. We hope to see you there!
Psalm 16: 1-7
Preserve me, O God, for in you have I taken refuge; ♦︎
I have said to the Lord, ‘You are my lord,
all my good depends on you.’
All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, ♦︎
upon those who are noble in heart.
Though the idols are legion
that many run after, ♦︎
their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,
neither make mention of their names upon my lips.
The Lord himself is my portion and my cup; ♦︎
in your hands alone is my fortune.
My share has fallen in a fair land; ♦︎
indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel, ♦︎
and in the night watches he instructs my heart.
I have set the Lord always before me; ♦︎
he is at my right hand; I shall not fall.
A lovely last verse to keep with us today. Blessings, Alison.

12/06/2026

Good morning, it is Friday. The weekend is nearly upon us. Please remember that on Sunday at 4pm Bishop Joe (Bishop of Burnley) will join us to confirm six people; Dee, Mark, Matthew, Max, Curtis, and Mathan. Please hold these in your prayers as they prepare for their special day.
Psalm 27: 8-16
Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation
with great gladness; ♦︎
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hear my voice, O Lord, when I call; ♦︎
have mercy upon me and answer me.
My heart tells of your word, ‘Seek my face.’ ♦︎
Your face, Lord, will I seek.
Hide not your face from me, ♦︎
nor cast your servant away in displeasure.
You have been my helper; ♦︎
leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
Though my father and my mother forsake me, ♦︎
the Lord will take me up.
Teach me your way, O Lord; ♦︎
lead me on a level path,
because of those who lie in wait for me.
Deliver me not into the will of my adversaries, ♦︎
for false witnesses have risen up against me,
and those who breathe out violence.
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord ♦︎
in the land of the living.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPeiwHhNOGo&list=RDpPeiwHhNOGo&start_radio=1
Blessings, Alison.

Provided to YouTube by TaizéI Am Sure I Shall See the Goodness of...

11/06/2026

On this day the church remembers Barnabas, the apostle. Let us pray...

11/06/2026

Good morning and happy Thursday. Today at 6.30pm we have Bible Study in church, all are welcome. Today the church remembers Barnabas the Apostle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnabas
Barnabas means son of encouragement. Perhaps today we can encourage somebody in some way.
Psalm 112
Alleluia.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord ♦︎
and have great delight in his commandments.
Their descendants will be mighty in the land, ♦︎
a generation of the faithful that will be blest.
Wealth and riches will be in their house, ♦︎
and their righteousness endures for ever.
Light shines in the darkness for the upright; ♦︎
gracious and full of compassion are the righteous.
It goes well with those who are generous in lending ♦︎
and order their affairs with justice,
For they will never be shaken; ♦︎
the righteous will be held in everlasting remembrance.
They will not be afraid of any evil tidings; ♦︎
their heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Their heart is sustained and will not fear, ♦︎
until they see the downfall of their foes.
They have given freely to the poor;
their righteousness stands fast for ever; ♦︎
their head will be exalted with honour.
The wicked shall see it and be angry;
they shall gnash their teeth in despair; ♦︎
the desire of the wicked shall perish.
When you read this Psalm which words speak to you today? Blessings, Alison.

Barnabas (/ˈbɑːrnəbəs/; Ancient Greek: Βαρναβᾶς; Syriac: ܒܪܢܒܐ), born Joseph (Ἰωσήφ) or Joses (Ἰωσής),[1] was a prominent Christian disciple, identified as an apostle in Acts 14:14.[2] According to Acts 4:36, he was a Cypriot Levite. He undertook missionary journeys as...