Weekly News Sheet - Sunday 6th October 2019

The Lord’s Prayer each day

Have you taken up Calum’s invitation to join him each day at midday, wherever you are and are doing, in praying The Lord’s Prayer?  Focusing on what Jesus has done for us and given to us is an effective counter to the seemingly endless negativity and divisiveness of “the news”. 

Traidcraft Stall

The stall will be open after the 10:00am Service today.  Do have a look and, hopefully, buy.  In addition to what’s on display, the Traidcraft catalogue – there’s a copy on the stall – has a wide range of products, any of which we’ll be happy to order for you.  For more information contact Tina Reid reidtina5@gmail.com

Mindful Space

Space to be still, to think, and to be.  We’ve re-launched a time for meditation.  A half hour of space and quietness which we hope will encourage and complement personal prayer life and which will cater for the experienced and the beginner, providing both guidance and space & silence.  Second & fourth Tuesdays, 7:00 – 7:30pm in St M’s,  next one 8th October.

Cake Sale

Sunday 13th October, in church hall after both Services.  Fund-raising for projects in Newala.  Cake donations very welcome – please leave in Office or Kitchen, labelled for Newala Cake Sale, from Thursday 10th; bring before Service on Sunday 13th; or contact Jill Fairhurst 0161 439 3126.

Church – Not As You Know It

Sunday 13th October, 4:00 to 6:00pm in and around St M’s.  A relaxed and ‘free-form’ two hours for families and individuals.  Food, crafts, fun and games, informal Christian content and comment; come along and join in: Building Community, Exploring Faith, and Having Fun.

Harvest Thanksgiving

Sunday 20th October.  As usual, harvest gifts will be divided between The Wellspring, Stockport and Chelwood Foodbank.  A ‘flyer’ – headed ‘Harvest’, unsurprisingly – that lists the items which Wellspring and Chelwood would be particularly grateful to have donated has been handed out; if you’ve not received a copy, please ask a sidesperson for one.

Harvest Afternoon Tea 

This annual event is for residents and staff of local care homes and the community is on Wednesday 23rd October at 3:00pm.  All the congregation is more than welcome, and please bring a friend or neighbour.  Please let the Office know if you intend to attend, for catering purposes.  Donations of cakes will also be very welcome – please bring them on or from Sunday 20th, leaving them in the Office or Kitchen, clearly labelled that they’re for the Harvest Tea. 

Christian Aid ‘Bucket Collection’

Friday 25th & Saturday 26th October 10:00am to 7:00pm.  If you would give an hour to do this either day, please contact Keith Fenwick fenwickk41@gmail.com 0161 439 2960.  Well worth the time and effort – this usually averages c. £25 / person / hour.

Taste of Tanzania Evening

Saturday 2nd Nov.  Fund-raiser for Newala projects.  All welcome; please put in diary.  More details soon.  Hamida Adkins                                             

Thank you

Further to the ‘thank you’ in last week’s SMT regarding the Quiz Evening on 21st Sept, thanks from the Newala Link Group to Georgie Elston & her family for a marvellous and very enjoyable evening.               Hamida Adkins

 Green Tips St M’s, Eco-Parish

On 26th Sept, the PCC voted for St M’s to register to be an Eco Parish; you’ll be seeing a lot more about this.  A Rocha UK is a charity that helps Christians to care for the natural world.  It runs the Eco Church award scheme, which parishes join by sending a completed Eco Church questionnaire to A Rocha; the church then works towards the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Eco Parish awards through an agenda of actions and adjustments. 

 The incentive to join the Eco Church scheme is the range of resources and information that A Rocha provides to help churches, and the focus and incentive boost given; also, the Eco awards agenda provides a check-list of things which might otherwise be overlooked.  The reward is that, communally as a church and individually as its members, we continue to take action and make progress on ‘green’ issues.  Additionally, we make a statement and provide a lead to the community around us, part of our mission and ministry as a parish church. 

 Anyone who’d like to be a member of St M’s Eco Action Group which is co-ordinating this, or would like to consider joining it, please contact Phil Wadsworth phil@uibhist.plus.com  0161 439 5496 (under-18s contact on parent’s e-mail or copied to parent).