News

WEEK BEGINNING 12th October 2025 

Worship

St James’ will have an All Age Service of the Word on Sunday at 9.30am, led by Steph Gregory

The link for the Church of England online service is below 

https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/church-online/weekly-online-services

There will be a Taizé Service for Harvest on Sunday 12th October at 6.00PM at St Katharine’s Church, Blackrod.  More details to follow, but please put it in your diary.

Parkside Male Voice Choir Concert

Please see the flyer for the concert which will take place on 11th October 2025 at St James' Church, see flyer below

Fairtrade  Fortnight

It is Fairtrade Fortnight Mon 22nd Sept -Sun 4th Oct.  This year they are focusing on Tea. There are many types of Fairtrade tea available in the shops so please look out for them &try them. The purchase of Fairtrade items goes towards helping poorer farm workers & their families to lead heathy lives & to provide an education for their children.

There is a Quiz Sheet at the back of church ..try it & see how much you know ( or don’t know) about Tea !     

Harvest

Next Sunday 12th October is our Harvest Thanksgiving service where we give thanks for all the gifts God has given us. We in turn to show our thankfulness bring gifts of foodstuffs which is then given to Urban Outreach who distribute them to those in need throughout the Bolton area. Dry goods tins & packets are the most useful. Let’s remember those less fortunate than ourselves & bring our gifts next Sunday.

Ignite Youth and Catalyst Youth 

Please join us for Ignite Youth if you are in Year 6 or above on Saturday 18 October  700pm - 8.30pm

An evening of fun, food and activities for all, at St John's Wingates Church 

RSVP:  igniteyouthwesthoughton@gmail.com

Future dates:  15th November & 13th December

Also if you are in Year 6 or above why not come to Catalyst Youth, an afternoon with youth from across West Bolton churches.

Sunday 19th October from 4.00pm to 5.30pm.  A great afternoon of games, pizza and worship focusing on Justice. 

at Lostock Church

RSVP:  igniteyouthwesthoughton@gmail.com

Beanie Hats

It is now officially Autumn & will soon be time to send Beanie Hats for Operation Christmas Child so they can send them to children in less fortunate areas of the world.   So we are asking if you can kindly knit some Beanie Hats by the middle of November !    If you haven’t a pattern ( it’s easy!), there will be some on the notice at the back of church. 

St Bartholomew’s anniversary events

It's also the 30th anniversary of the opening of the new St Bartholomew's church this year at the end of October, so St Bart’s are planning some events for the weekend of 25th / 26th October and the 30th anniversary of the opening organ recital on Saturday 22nd November at 2:00pm [free recital with refreshments], more details over the next few weeks. We'll send out more details in the next few weeks.

J.E.T Charity Concert for Gemma's Journey

J.E.T Charity Concert for Gemma's Journey

Date/Time:  Saturday 17 October at 7.30pm (doors open 7pm)

Tickets:  £10 (Carr’s pasties included)

Bring your own bottle and glasses

Raffle too!

Contact:  Email jetband.westhoughton@gmail.com or call 07793140078 

Link to Go Fund Me page with more about Gemma's Journey:   Fundraiser by Paula Small : Support Gemma's Journey! Help to pay for cancer treatment.

Secondary School Admission Forms

If you are a parent who has a supplementary form for a child's admission to a SECONDARY school in 2026 that you need a member of the clergy to complete, here is what you need to do.

Please put the form(s) in an envelope and hand to a member of the clergy or a church warden at any church within the team.  Make sure that your telephone number is included somewhere so that we can ring you when the form is ready to collect. If you have any attendance cards, usually issued at St Thomas Church, please include a copy of the card(s) in the envelope.  It is a tremendous help, if you can get the envelopes to us by 5th October 2025.

Don't worry if you don't hear from us immediately.  We tend to wait until we have all the forms, then ask the various churches to supply the data for all the children, and then complete.  You will have the forms back in plenty of time for the deadlines set by the secondary schools.  Please note, we complete Primary School Supplementary forms in December / January so please don't hand these forms in yet.

Team Retreat

The date has now been set for next year’s retreat at Foxhill as 15th to 17th May 2026. More details will follow.

Study Group

Our regular Study group will meet on 28th September, 19th October and 9th November 

Supporting St James’ for the Future

Ealier in the year we spoke about how we support our church in the future, if you were not at the service, we would ask you to please have a look at this video, it essentially says the same things spoken about last Sunday:

St James' Stewardship Video

If anyone would like to pay by standing order in future, our bank details on bottom of back page of the pewsheet each week and are:

If you would like to pay by standing order in future or learn more about Gift Aiding any giving, please email us stjamescofedaisyhill@gmail.com.

Reengage Social Group 

The charity Reengage is hosting monthly social groups at the John Holt Community Centre.  It will be held on the last Wednesday of each month 12:30-2:30. The group aims to bring friendship and companionship to older adults in the community.

Each month there will be mixed games including indoor bowls, skittles and cards. There are complimentary hot drinks, and biscuits, and plenty of time to socialise and meet new friends. The group is friendly and led by our wonderful volunteers who take time to chat with the attendees. 

Please see flyer below for more details.

TALKIN' TABLES - Conquering Loneliness one Table at a Time!

We now have two groups in the area:

St John’s Wingates Church on a Wednesday from 10.30am - 11.30am.

Thyme for Tea, 96 Church Street, Westhoughton BL5 3RZ, on a Tuesday from 10am - 11am.

Everyone is welcome and it's free.  For more information, please visit talkintables.co.uk

Thyme to Grieve 

Jane who has been running the talking tables at Thyme for Tea, as a new initiative for the recently bereaved

 called Thyme to grieve.  It is held at:

Thyme for Tea, 96 Church Street, Westhoughton BL5 3RZ.

IGNITE YOUTH (The new name for Team Youth Church)

Young people from across the team in Year 6 and above are welcome to attend this event which is held monthly at St John's Church on a Saturday evening. Those children who are thinking about being Confirmed in the autumn this year are especially invited and strongly encouraged to come. (Ignite Youth meetings will form part of the preparation for Confirmation.)

If you would like to know more about IGNITE YOUTH or to book your place, please email parishteammusic@gmail.com