Crosscrake and Preston Patrick churches

A warm welcome

to Crosscrake, Preston Patrick and Natland parishes. Each has its own PCC and church services and a team

ministry of Natland, Crosscrake, Old Hutton and Kendal Parish church is beginning to emerge. How about the Deanery getting together to organise joint pilgrimages and similar events within the scope of this most historical Christian area, where following Jesus has been of paramount importance for many throughout the centuries. I was confirmed at Dorchester Abbey in 1982 and I regularly remember having highlights of joint services on the 5th Sunday of the month, and these would have special attributes -choirs, special events at the hosting church and many from a lot of widespread churches could come together. This is the sort of thing that would strengthen the Deanery and make a broad fellowship of our churches. It's just that within our every day ministries, which can be often quite hard, it would be good to get a spiritual uplift from the church organising at least something within the Kendal area. I mean who were the most famous Christians in Cumbria of note who we should be discussing/praying with ? I think we've all had enough of Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth ! (WGazette).

One way to do it would be to organise a walk to Levens Hall (weren't there some ecclesiastical connections in the late 1500s?) down the Footpath through Levens Park, over Sedgwick Bridge, on to the caravan park and then along the Canal from Hawes Bridge Natland to Kendal. A walk for charity, a walk for kids and dogs A walk for

everybody in the Deanery and beyond. Eat the packed lunch with prayers half way round, preferably in August when we may get some good weather, and have a church service at the end of the walk in Kendal Parish church-or is it too small for us all? Maybe have the dogs in church during the service? And then disperse, spiritually satisfied at walking with so many people and the uplifting service with a packed church - I mean very packed !

The history of each parish is included on the site and you can have a virtual tour round each church. In this

website of the joint parishes you can read about our life, work and worship, as well as the history of Stainton's Mills and the surrounding area.

The success of this website continues, where we had 83 hits in one day in September 2002. Many visits from

Universities from all over the world come onto this site and indulge in the richness of the history of this area. These are exciting times for us in these parishes with so much change in the world and the challenges that face us. We look forward to many more visits to this site from you in the future.

We continue to be very thankful for the Rev'd Terry Wilcock and his wife Ruth - Curate in Charge of the parish of Crosscrake. We want him to stay wish him and his wife a continued very happy time with us, and we are very grateful to have them both. For contacts with the church on most matters you can

contact him via the vicarage or alternatively you can contact the church wardens: their addresses and phone

numbers can be found in the front of the parish magazine or alternatively you could find them at the back of the our church.

Holy Land prayers for peace

A pilgrimage to the Holy Land, led by BBC Radio 4 Thought for the Day presenter Revd Rob Marshall, including important visits to Christian communities, will take place next November (16th-25th) and is already attracting pilgrims from all over the country and local pilgrims are welcome.

The nine day tour starts at London's Heathrow Airport and will take in many of the sites associated with the life of Jesus based both in the Galilee and Jerusalem regions.

Rob Marshall is an experienced pilgrimage leader, writer and broadcaster and is also a priest at St Mary Abbots, Kensington.

After visiting the Lakeside churches around the Sea of Galilee the pilgrims will hear at first hand about what life is like for the Christian community in Nazareth by visiting the Anglican parish there, before going south to Jerusalem for a five day visit.

"A highlight will undoubtedly a pilgrimage to Bethlehem where we will see how the Palestinian Christian community is struggling to survive but with remarkable stoicism - and always offering a warm welcome," said Marshall this week.

Brochures are available on 0845 610 6447.

For further information please contact Rene on 0845 601 6447

rene@lightline.org.uk www.lightline.org.uk

Open Invitation to all Young People

Every year the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham holds a Youth Pilgrimage for young people aged 11 and above. It is a very special few days which comprises worship, prayer, Bible study, fellowship and fun.

While it takes place at an ancient site of pilgrimage, it aims to be a shamelessly contemporary youth event which helps young people to find and live out their faith in the modern world.

The worship makes use of state of the art technology and the music and dance is led by CJM, an incredibly creative group of musicians and liturgists. Bishop Lindsay Urwin leads the teaching ministry. The worship is catholic in feel and focuses strongly on the Eucharist.

If you would like to find out more about the Pilgrimage in 2008, please visit www.megabite2008.org where you can also download a booking form.