FROM THE VICAR - FR.JIM NORTON

THE STATUE OF "CHRIST THE KING" ORIGINALLY BELONGED TO BETTON CHURCH WHICH CLOSED SOME 30 YEARS AGO. THIS STATUE WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO ST.MARY'S CHURCH AT MARKET DRAYTON.

AT A RECENT "CHURCHES TOGETHER IN MARKET DRAYTON" SERVICE THE STATUE WAS PRESENTED TO THE PRIEST IN CHARGE - FR.JIM NORTON AS A GIFT FROM THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL TO CHRIST CHURCH AT LITTLE DRAYTON.

THE STATUE WAS RECENTLY PLACED IN POSITION AT CHRIST CHURCH AND A PERMANENT MEMORIAL LIGHT IS SOON TO BE PLACED AT THE FOOT OF THE STATUE IN MEMORY OF THE LATE PAUL MILFORD - A REGULAR CHURCH MEMBER OF CHRIST CHURCH.

ANY MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS STATUE IS MOST WELCOME AND CAN BE PLACED ON THE INFORMATION FORM ON THIS WEBSITE.

The 4 candles burned slowly.
Their ambiance was so soft you could hear them speak.

The first candle said, I am Peace, but these days nobody wants to keep me lit.
Then peace's flame slowly diminishes and goes out completely.

The second candle says, I am faith, but these days I am no longer indispensable.
Then faith's flame slowly diminishes and goes out completely.

Sadly the third candle spoke, I am love and I haven't the strength to stay lit any longer. People put me aside and don't understand my importance. They even forget to love those who are nearest to them.
And waiting no longer love goes out completely.

.........Suddenly.........
A child enters the room and sees the 3 candles no longer burning.
The child begins to cry, why are you not burning? You are supposed to stay lit until the end.

The 4th candle spoke gently to the little child.
Don't be afraid for I am...Hope.. And while I still burn we can re-light the other 3 candles.
With shining eyes the child took the candle of.. Hope.. and lit the other 3 candles.
With Hope no matter how bad things look and are,
Peace, Love, and Faith can shine brightly in our lives..

Prayer changes things.
It opens channels for God's blessing to irrigate the barren hearts and places of this world. Prayer allows the love and light and life of God to bring healing and deliverance, fresh hope and encouragement. However at this point, we need to remember two things. First, while prayer ultimately points to healing and life, it does not prevent suffering and death - remember how in Acts, though Peter was freed, James was killed. Second, prayer changes the people who pray, as well as those for whom they pray. For example, those first Christians who were gathered in Mary's house.

What about you and me? How persistent are we in prayer? I wonder if you have come across the following advice about persistent prayer:
When everything seems to go wrong .. just P.U.S.H!
When the job gets you down .. just P.U.S.H!
When people don't react the way you think they should .. just P.U.S.H!
When your money is gone and the bills are due .. just P.U.S.H!
When people don't understand you .. just P.U.S.H!
P.U.S.H. - stands for Pray Until Something Happens. As you and I learn to do this, then we - like those first Christians in Jerusalem - shall experience more of the liberating power of Jesus Christ. And our lives in turn will point others to the Lord who hears our prayer, and who says to each one of us: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Father Jim Norton (Priest-in Charge)
Christ Church - Little Drayton.

Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him" (Acts 12:5). From the outset, the first Christians knew what it was to be persecuted on account of their witness to Jesus Christ. As Luke's account of the spread of the Gospel unfolds in the Book of Acts, so we are told how the fledgling church faced hostility from the very beginning. First, there was the arrest and stoning of Stephen - the first Christian martyr - outside the walls of Jerusalem. This was then followed by a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem, in which Saul played a leading role. Now, in this evening's passage from Acts, we hear of more arrests - this time by King Herod - and of the execution of James the Apostle. James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, whose life and witness unto death is remembered on St James's day, which falls tomorrow. It was at this time that Peter was arrested and put in prison. We are told that "Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover" (Acts 12:4). How did the church respond to this? Luke tells us that they gathered together and prayed for Peter. "The church was earnestly praying to God for him". Not just a quick one-off 'arrow prayer'. Rather, the Christian community in Jerusalem had gathered to pray persistently for Peter's release from the chains that bound him.It would appear from Luke's account that both Peter's imprisonment, and the church's prayer, lasted for several days. On the night before his trial, the persistent prayer was wonderfully answered. An angel appeared - light shone in the darkness - chains fell off - gates opened - and Peter was free. Yet those gathered in the house of Mary, those who had prayed so persistently for Peter's release, could scarcely believe that their prayers had been so powerfully effective.

PRAYER CHANGES THINGS.....

"This is how all will know you for My disciples: by your love for one another," Jesus said (John. 13:35). If we come to Church only to acknowledge before one another that we have been doing God's Will, that is a sure sign that our God-given power to live the Christian life is withering. When we begin to congratulate ourselves on doing God's Will, that is a sure sign that we are not! When we begin to think we've done enough, that is a sure sign that we have stopped doing at all.
Fr.Jim.

Life Events
The Church of England offers care, literally, from the cradle to the grave; and has a range of pastoral services to make key moments in your life.

Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child

The Service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child is not part of Christian Initiation but is often used by parents in place of baptism. This service can take place as a private or public celebration of a birth or adoption; and can take place at home or at church. The service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child can be a preliminary to baptism; an alternative to infant baptism; or simply an opportunity for parents to recognise that something wonderful has happened for which they wish to give thanks to God

Marriage

The Christian church believes that marriage is a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman; and that sex is at its best when reserved exclusively as an expression of love within a marriage. There are many different choices available for couples considering marriage. And its not just the choice between a civil wedding or a church wedding. If you chose a civil wedding you can get married in the local authority's register office or in hotels, stately homes, and even football stadiums.

The church offers more than just a venue for a wedding; it offers practical care and concern for the whole of your married life together. And there are many options you can chose within a Church wedding to make the start of your married life a very special day. If you chose a civil wedding the Church, in some circumstances, offers a service of blessing.

In 2004 in the Diocese of Lichfield, 2,350 couples were married in our churches; while 140 couples had services of blessings for their civil marriage.

Funerals

Death is the only guaranteed certainty about life. It is something that can happen when you are young or old; it can be expected or sudden; it can be a tragedy or a release. Nobody knows for certain what happens when you die, but Christians believe that God's love and power extend over all creation. Every life, including our own, is precious to God. Christians have always believed that there is hope in death as in life, and that there is new life in Christ over death. Even those who share such faith find that there is a real sense of loss at the death of a loved one. We will each have had our own experiences of their life and death, with different memories and different feelings of love, grief and respect. The funeral service is an occasion to express our faith and our feelings as we say farewell, to acknowledge our loss and our sorrow, and to reflect on our own mortality. The church offers funeral services as a way of providing support and consolation to those who mourn.

Prayer and Thanksgiving for life events

Your local church can help you to mark other significant life events with prayer or thanksgiving.

Are you moving to a new house?

Why not invite your local vicar to bless your new home? It can be a private simple affair, or you can invite your relatives, friends and your new neighbours; you can even have the prayers said as part of a housewarming party.

Are you, or somebody you know, ill?

Prayers are said in all of our churches every week for those who are ill. If you would like to be prayed for yourself, or would like a friend or relative to be prayed for, please contact your local vicar. We have chaplains working in all our major hospitals as part of the multi-faith chaplaincy teams. Regular church services are held in the hospital chapels and the chaplains are able to visit you on your ward if you would like.

Do you know somebody in prison?

There are Church of England clergy in all our local prisons and youth offending institutions. Jesus said he had come to set prisoners free. Rest assured that chaplains have no intention of opening the doors to set the prisoners free! But they do work to bring spiritual freedom to those they serve. Regular services are held in the prison chapels and they are available to talk to prisoners and to provide a caring listening ear.

Whatever you are facing; the church is here for you!

Every house, in every street in every district, village, town or city is part of a Church of England parish; this means that there is a local church serving you and your community. The clergy can only do so much; but the ministry of the church is shared by all its members. Do please join us at Christ Church you will be most welcome!