October Magazine and Events
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Dates to remember 14 October, Thursday, 9.30 am: Hulme Kindergarten Harvest Thanksgiving 6 November, Saturday, am: Autumn Fair, in our school
Dear Friends Biddy and I spent an August week in and around Swaledale in North Yorkshire. It reminded us of how much farmers depend on adequate soil, dependable weather, age-old skills in dairying and shepherding. We heard about how the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes had been saved from closure, not once but twice in the last 60 years or so by local people forming a co-operative. And we were impressed by the new types of cheeses that had been developed and by the (tasty) marketing methods. So we thought about the continuing ability of the Dales’ people to change and to diversify into new trades like tourism and the arts. 150 years ago many of them had been mining lead – not any more! Now, as then, there must be a lot of anxiety and suffering in the effort to make a living in harsh conditions and unfair prices imposed by industrialists and supermarkets. But a high point was Songs of Praise (without TV) on Reeth village green with their own Brass Band. Tourists and locals together, we acknowledged God to be creator of all this. We rejoiced not only in the scenery but also in all that God and people together are doing in agriculture, tourism and art.
At Harvest Festival we have again recognised God to be the source of all that we receive from the earth and sea. We have shared some of what we receive with homeless people who look for help from the Booth Centre at the Cathedral. We are also giving to the victims of the appalling floods in Pakistan – for the details, see what I have written in ‘Crux’ the diocesan part of this magazine. It is not too late to give. Bear in mind that the U.N. have said it is a bigger disaster than the Tsunami, although it has been less sudden, more gradual and less dramatic. Whatever the truth about some Pakistani cricketers, I believe we can rely on the integrity of most Pakistani charities and it particular that of Bishop Alexander and the Lahore Diocese.
Yours sincerely Andrew
Holy Baptism ‘The promise is for you and children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call’, Acts 2, verse 39. 26 September Ross James, son of Neil and Catherine Taylor
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. 3 September Catherine Forde 13 September Joan Ainsworth aged 73 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. |
