Monthly Magazine and Events March 2010Current 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.
Dear Friends 14 March is Mothering Sunday with Holy Communion (1662) at 8 am and All Age Holy Communion (2000) at 10.30. At the second Holy Communion we particularly welcome all children (of all ages!) and their mothers, and fathers. We also welcome some of the same people in their roles as members of the Mothers’ Union (including at least one father!).
As a Mothers’ Union branch (at the time I write this) we were due for the privilege of being visited by our Diocesan President, Barbara Taylor, on 25 February. I began life and have continued as a recipient of the Mothers’ Union – as the son of an Enrolling Member (as the branch leader used to be called), the grandson of a Diocesan President, a friend in two parishes and latterly with a ‘muscleman’ tie to prove it and finally at St Thomas’ a member in my own right. The Mothers’ Union gives an opportunity for fellowship in all the ups and downs of life but also mutual support in Christ as we seek to follow him in our marriages and families. This includes offering practical help to those who would welcome it, including budget holidays who otherwise would not enjoy them. It’s all too obvious both from the media and from the people we meet ourselves that all this is growing challenge at the present time. I for one value our branch and I would encourage others to join – at £13 per year, just over £1 per month – even if you cannot attend on the last Thursday of each month at 2 pm. Prayer and evidence of interest are important aswell as attendance. It would be good if I was not the only man to be a member! For a reason, read the article later in the magazine by Archbishop John Habgood, Why deliberate single parenthood is dangerous.
Our Lent Programme continues in March: Sunday,7th: The Official response, Mark 15, 6 – 20. Groups: Monday 8th,1.15 Vicarage; or Tuesday 9th, 8 pm Sunday, 14th: Mothering Sunday: as outlined in first paragraph of my letter. Despised and rejected, Mark 15, 21 – 32. Groups, Monday 15th at the Vicarage at 1.15, or Tuesday 16th at 204 Frederick Street. Sunday, 21st: Gospel reading and sermon – Despised and Rejected. End and Beginning, Mark 15, 33 – 47. Groups, Monday 22nd at the Vicarage at 1.15, Tuesday 23rd at 204 Frederick Street.
Holy Week and Easter Experience (including tableaux as in 2009) Palm Sunday, 28th: Gospel reading and sermon – End and Beginning. Tuesday, 30th, 9.30: Hulme Kindergarten Worship – all welcome. Maundy Thursday, 1st April, 7.30 pm: at St Paul’s. Good Friday, 2nd April, 10.30 am: At the Cross. Easter Eve, 3rd April, 8 pm: welcoming members of St Paul’s - Praise that God raised Jesus and Re-affirmation of Baptismal Promises. Easter Sunday, 4th April, 8 am: Holy Communion (1662). 10.30: All Age Holy Communion.
Another Event Ahead Sunday, 14th March, 7 pm at the Cathedral: ‘The Narrow Road’, a combination of theatre, meditation and corporate worship, led by Riding Lights, the Christian Theatre Company based in York and which many of us have encountered at Christ Church, Chadderton, , St John’s, Failsworth and elsewhere. Tickets from 0161 833 2220.
A few days before the time came to write this letter, I was amusing myself while washing up by listening to ‘The Archers’ (the oldest soap in the world!) on Radio 4, only to be shocked into total consciousness when one of the characters, Helen Archer, told her parents that she intended to have a baby by Artificial Insemination by Donor! Her parents were upset and argued that she hadn’t considered the implications – had she enough money, made provision for child care when she was at work? … that she was emotional after a friend had had an abortion. These arguments cut no ice with Helen. Sadly the scriptwriter made no mention of the one argument which applied precisely to the character’s situation. So for the second time in this letter I invite you to read the article printed later on which I believe does apply to the character’s situation: ‘Why deliberate single parenthood is dangerous’by Dr John Habgood, formerly Archbishop of York. Unfortunately, it is not possible to reproduce the article by Dr Habgood on the website, but I would be happy to send applicants a copy – please apply to andrewdawson51@hotmail.com
Christian Funeral ‘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 February Ian Kidder 80 years |
