Weekly Notices

Laying on of hands and anointing: for healing of mind, body and spirit is available after 10.30 worship every Sunday in the South Transept (to the right of the pulpit).  You will not be invited to say specifically why you seek this ministry, though you are welcome to do so if you wish. You are also welcome to request prayer on behalf of someone else, in addition to or instead of yourself.

Gift Day is today. If people cannot be with us, their gift will be welcome on 29 November, but before Christmas please. If you are a taxpayer, please use a yellow Gift Aid envelope. Otherwise, preferably use your own envelope. Please think and pray about how much you should give. Some of us have smaller incomes because of the recession, others not. Some of us may know ourselves called to live more simply so that the Church of God can continue her work.

‘Out of Africa’ jewellery evening – a Social Committee initiative, supporting small-scale producers in Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Tuesday, 1 December, 7.30 pm at West End Bowling Club.

Interfaith Festival of Light to celebrate the festivals of Christmas, Diwali (Hindu), Chanukah (Jewish) and Eid-ul-Adha (Muslim). The aim is to bring people of different faiths together in this 6th annual event. A free buffet will be provided with entertainment from different faiths including Christmas Carols, dance, Nasheeds (poems) and music. In the past demand has been very high and people have been refused. Please book your place on the clipboard at the back by 22 November. On Wednesday 2 December at 6.30pm in the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Advent Quiet Morning for Rochdale Archdeaconry – the invitation of Bishop Mark.  Two short addresses and two silences concluding with Holy Communion.  9.30 – 1.30 pm, Saturday 5 December; St George’s, Oakenrod, Rochdale. Anyone either wanting or offering a lift or lifts, please talk to Andrew.

‘The Christmas Experience’ – do you remember ‘The Easter Experience’ in which a few of us constructed tableaux of scenes and some of the same people with others introduced those tableaux to Year 5 children from our school?  I heard only recently from the teacher that the children, all Muslims, talked about it for weeks! The Church Council has decided to do ‘The Christmas Experience’ which works in the same way.   We need volunteer ‘constructors’ – packs with details all at the back. Andrew has suggested sites for the tableaux.  If the constructors cannot be present on Monday, 14 December, at 1.15 – 2.45 when the children and three adults take part, they will seek to recruit hosts for their tableaux.

Carol singing: do you remember singing Christmas Carols in Spindles? This is being revived on Thursday 10th December. Andrew cannot take part, but let him know if you are interested. Dates have still to be fixed for carol singing at the Royal Oldham Hospital, and in the local care homes.

‘A History of Oldham Churches’ by John Beever. The family of Margaret Lees have given us her copy of this interesting book. Tell Andrew if you wish to borrow it from the back table.

 ‘Redeeming our Communities’: an initiative involving local churches working with neighbourhood police teams, though not as special constables or in any way like that! Events are being arranged for all the boroughs of Greater Manchester. The one in Oldham will be at 7pm on Thursday 26 November at Chadderton Congregational Church, Garforth Street.  If you can offer, or require a lift, tell Andrew.

Christmas presents with a difference: leaflets at the back from Mothers’ Union, CMS and the Boaz Trust (Christian charity working with asylum-seekers in the Greater Manchester area). If you want to place an order, take away the appropriate leaflet.

Were you too late at the Cake Stall?  You can bake your own to some of the same recipes using the ‘St Thomas’ Goodies’ small booklet – 50p at the back.

2010 Calendars with beautiful photos and Bible verses published by Word of Life are available at the back at £1.50 each, in English and many other languages – make good presents.

Festival of Christmas Trees at Holy Trinity, Bardsley, on Friday 27 November, 10 am – 6 pm; and Saturday 28^th, 10 am – 5 pm, followed by Christmas Sing-a-long at 7 pm.  Food and Christmas Shop available each day.

THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER REQUESTS

St Thomas’ income – trust God,  pray for our Treasurer and Finance & Fabric Committee. 

A priest for St Paul’s, and eventually St Thomas’

G.M. Police, church members and others – increased co-operation

Give thanks and pray for people we know in Christian service and outreach, in particular all working for Word of Life in outreach to Muslims in Oldham, Australia and elsewhere – for those writing, using and marking correspondence courses on the Christian Faith; for the witness of Scripture texts on calendars used throughout the year.

People seeking asylum: including David, Sobia, young Sara and baby Daniel William; Marta Yacob; all who support them.

Those who are unwell - especially baby Roxy Butler, Wendy Robinson, Norman and Alma Flint, Andy Sharrock and his wife Ruth caring for him, Beatrice Howard, baby Harry Pleasant, Barbara Hogg, Hilda Bateson, Helen Holt, Joanna Goforth, John Lalley, Grace Whetham, Ian Kidder, Muriel Brown, Marjorie Milner, young twins Todd & Aaron Funnell, Julie Brown, John Wrigley, Angela and Norman Taylor, Jenny Bartlett, Ronald Spivey and others whom we know.

The bereaved: especially the family and friends of Alan Whittaker.