Third Sunday before Advent (6 November) 201

Laying on of hands, with or without anointing and prayer for healing of spirit, emotions and body are available in the South Transept (to the right of the pulpit) immediately after 10.30am Sunday Worship, on request to any of the following: Andrew or Biddy Dawson, Kathy or Graham Lees, Alf Wild or Barbara Duxbury. If possible ask someone other than Graham or Andrew, as they are the least likely to be available. The person you approach will ask another member of the Healing Team to join you both in the South Transept for ministry.

Authorised Lay Ministers were featured in the October ‘Crux’. They can be workshop leaders, Parish Visitors, or Children’s Ministers. Training involves a 6 month course on some evenings in the week and one Saturday. The course is funded by the Diocese. Candidates must be nominated by the local Church Council and selected by the Discipleship and Ministry Training Department. Further information in October Crux or from Andrew. You might like to suggest the name of a suitable person to Andrew? We will need at least one ALM when Andrew retires. Applications must be made by 30 November.

Two loudspeakers (low impedance) which were in the chancel but removed as unsuitable are available free to anyone who wants them.

Meaningful chocolate tree decorations: £3.50 for a box containing a Christmas Story card, sticker set and six handwrapped quality Fairtrade chocolate tree decorations. Most of the UK’s 20 million Christmas trees have nothing Christian hanging on them. Over £25,000 was given to charity by the same manufacturer out of the profit made from the sale of the ‘Real Easter Egg’. Order form at the back – please order by 16 November.

Following Bible Sunday on 23 October: remember the variety of booklets available to help with personal Bible reading. Try one, or any. At the back.

‘Good News for Muslims’ is a booklet all about the beliefs of Islam, their history and customs. Pick up a copy from the back.

Advice on employing personal care assistants: see brochure at the back entitled ‘Personal Care Assistants, Brokerage and Payroll Service.

Werneth Together Clean-up: 7-14 November. Details on blue sheets at the back.

Drivers needed to move homeless male asylum-seekers from Manchester city centre to various churches hosting night shelters from November to April, at 9pm on Mondays to Thursdays. If you can volunteer on a regular basis, e-mail Suzannah on nightshelter@boaztrust.org.uk.

Word of Life Australia October/November prayer letter is at the back.

Captain John O’Neill, Church Army, a former member of St Thomas’, heads the Lisburn Centre of Mission in Ulster. He shares the gospel with children through puppets, storytelling, circus skills and music. He asks for prayer that they gain a deeper understanding of God’s love and the relevance of the Bible.

   THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER REQUESTS  

† Church Council – meeting on Monday

† Jewellery evening – on Thursday

† Opening of St Thomas School extension – on Friday

† ‘Ignite’ – on Saturday

† Pray for all who need to make a will

† People connected with our church engaged in outreach at home and abroad: especially Joe and Denny Fleming at the Christian Medical Centre in Vellore, India. Following pancreatitis, Denny now has a chronic lung infection, but is managing to do most of her medical work and Christian teaching.

† Refugees and people seeking asylum: Give thanks that Andy, Azam, Marzia and baby Danny have refugee status. Pray for them as they change their income and housing arrangements. Pray for others still seeking asylum: David, Sobia, young Sara and Daniel William; Hawani; Maryam; Alireza; Azra; Nilou; Mahtab; Ali; Shabnam; Hooman; Masood; Afsana; Haleh; Mohammed; Arash, Vali those taking part in Baptism Preparation and/or home group.

† Those who are unwell: give thanks for progress in Joan Finlayson and Mavis Booth. Continue to pray for them, and for Ivy Reynolds, young Harry Pleasant, Jenny Bartlett, Comal Sankaran, Norman and Alma Flint, Andy and Ruth Sharrock, Beatrice Howard, young Aaron Funnell, Raymond Scott, Alan Broome, Enid Gregson, Dinah McLeod, Ron Spivey, Tom Parkinson, Chris Buckley, Carl Withers, the victims of famine in East Africa, and others whom we know.

† The bereaved: in particular the families and friends of David Barnett, Jack Greenhalgh, Ethel Barrett and those who have died of starvation in East Africa.