Monthly Magazine and Events

October 2011

Dear Friends

I know that many of us were able to get away over the summer.  Biddy and I spent a week in Melrose which is about halfway between Carlisle and Edinburgh.  We enjoyed walking beside the River Tweed and over the Eildon Hills.  We visited Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, and Traquair House, a stately home which no architect has ‘improved’ since 1800, not to mention the ruined medieval Morton Castle which belonged to my ancestor Sir James Douglas.  We also visited Drumlanrig Castle, also built by a Douglas and locally known as ‘the pink palace.’ In a second week, while Biddy went sun and sea bathing on a Greek island, I went to Gladstone’s residential Library to read theological books, including the Quran. We thank God for those 2 weeks.

A highlight this month will on Sunday the 9th  when  at 10.30 I invite you to take part in worship using several passages from  the King James’ Bible of 1611 in this its 400th anniversary year.  Many churches have been worshipping in this way and Bishop Chris of Bolton has been encouraging us in this diocese to take part.

Click here for Rev Nick Andrewes discussion about Intercessions, including practical and doctrinal issues. It is followed by William blake's poem, 'Another's Sorrow'. The practice to be followed at St Thomas' is as follows :
 

Intercessions at St Thomas’: A book is available on the extra lectern by the worship books’ cupboard.  A page is open for the month we are in. Please read the names and topics already listed – those for people in service and outreach, those seeking asylum, those who are ill or bereaved are listed on the weekly Notices’ sheet. Add your own.  Next month check whether  the names have been included in the Notices’ sheet. If not, add them on the new month’s page.  Andrew Dawson.

Other dates

13th, Thursday               

at 9.30 in St Thomas: all welcome to Hulme Kindergarten Harvest Thanksgiving

at 7.30 at St Mary’s, Oldham: welcome to the Licensing of the Revd Canon Phil Rawlings, until recently Rector of St Bride’s, Old Trafford, as Anglican Interfaith Officer for Oldham, by Bishop Mark

23rd, Sunday

at 3 pm in the Cathedral: ‘The Word Revealed’ in the King James Bible, Preaching, drama, etc.

30th, Sunday

at 10.30  Holy Communion at St Thomas’: The Revd Nick Andrewes presiding and preaching while I shall be at St Paul’s.

10th November

at 7.30 at West End Bowling Club: ‘Out of Africa’ Jewellery Evening, with supper.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Dawson

Christian Funerals

‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life … nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord’ – St Paul to the Christians in Rome 8, 38 – 39.

25 August                         Sylvia Vickers                                       79 years

9 September, Russian Orthodox Service conducted by Fr Andreas, Lydia Kagiura         64 years

13 September                    Gordon Emery                                      77 years

Current priorities of St Thomas’- as agreed by Church Council, September 2004

1. Evangelism/Church Growth out of love for people and because we need new members.

2. Worship, including Sunday School, Healing, Prayer and Music.

3. Witness to Asians through individual friendships and through shared work with the community.

4. Presence, that is letting people know that C of E Christians live and/or worship on the Coppice.

5. Working with St Paul’s, as we have been requested by the Diocese.