This page contains news items from Churches in the District over the past 12 months (see the home page for forthcoming events.)
New items for addition are welcomed: please e-mail from here.
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Sunday 25th June:Revd. Dr. Peter Sharp, previously minister at Cheadle Hulme URC, was inducted as minister of Penrith and Penruddock in Cumbria District.
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Congratulations Marion! 2nd June 10am - 4th June 10.05am: Revd. Marion Tugwood created a new world for the longest unscripted sermon - 48 hours 5 minutes!
Thank you everyone who turned up to support her and be a part of the congregation at Providence, Mellor Road, New Mills. It was serious preaching, not time filling.
Donations to the project will all be gratefully received. The next phase is to refurbish Providence's halls, so that the youth project can develop further and the young people have a safe space in which to play ball games etc. The preach was really to publicise that aspect of what they are trying to do.
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Marion in full flow with only 20 hours to go. |
9th April, 2006: The last service was held at Chorlton Road, South West Manchester Group of Churches, on Palm Sunday.
They are now in discussions over selling the building.
Chorlton Road, Hulme and the United People's Church have decided to become a single church called Trinity Community Church. |
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2nd April:
another retirement
- Revd. David Jenkins from Wilmslow URC.
We wish him a long and happy retirement in Marple. |  |
Building Trust, Demolishing Hate
Revd Bob Day reports that this was the subject of a recent Faith Network for Mancheseter (fn4m) study evening. This new network is open to all members of any faith community, or none, who would like to be involved in the following aims:
To provide a forum for members of different faith communities across Manchester to meet together.
To provide ways to explore a variety of issues that are relevant for members of different faith communities in Manchester.
To involve faith groups across Manchester in ideas aimed at the regeneration of local communities
To facilitate greater understanding and more dialogue between different faith communities and the members of these groups.
For more details of the meeting or fn4m contact Revd. Bob Day: 0161 428 7001or bday@fish.co.uk
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MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY: 'The Messenger', Christ Church, Reddish, reported that the member organisations met on 31st January to celebrate the success of the 2005 campaign, and to stress that campaigning on trade, debt and aid will continue into 2006.
2005 was an amazing year: postcard campaigns, rallies at the G8 summit amd lobbying at Westminster influenced political decisions that will change lives all over the world. As a result of this year of campaigning, nineteen countries have received further debt reduction, and G8 leaders agreed an extra £50 billion of aid for Africa. |
February 28: The District Meeting concluded with a short service during which the new President, Mr Keith Whiting from Tintwistle URC, was inducted.
Welcome to Keith, and many thanks to Paul Brewerton for looking after us during the first year of our existence as a new district. |
February farewells - 19th and 26th February:
Revd. Tony Wilkinson retired from the Macclesfield and Bollington churches with his last service in Macclesfield URC on 19th February. He will be spending a well earned retirement in Clitheroe. More details of his retirement weekend are given at http://www.macclesfieldurc.fsnet.co.uk/retirement.html
Revd. Neil Riches will have his farewell service at the evening service at Parrs Wood Road at 6.30pm on 26th February, after a church family tea at 4.30pm. He will be moving from Christ Church, South Manchester, and taking up an exciting challenge at Carrs Lane, Birmingham.
They go their different ways with our best wishes. |
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February 18th: Goyt Valley Pastorate URC had a Murder Mystery Meal in their New Mills Church which was obviously enjoyed by all - good food, and fun. The church alterations made it perfect for that sort of evening. Sounds like a good idea worth spreading round! |
A new 'links' page has been started for links to church-initiated projects in the South District, and for weblogs in the District.
The latest addition is the blog of The Tree of Life Centre at Mark's URC in Wythenshawe. |
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A new page 'Being a minister' is an article taken from a District newsletter. |
Dear Friends,
'Bridging the Gap in the URC' is a selection of stories and experiences which people have shared with us from around our churches. It was issued in booklet form at the 2005 Assembly. it is now on the National URC website at www.urc.org.uk/our%5Fwork/committees/Life%5Fwitness/ We thought you might be able to use them in your newsletters and bulletins as examples of some of the many streams of new life bubbling through our United Reformed Churches. (it includes one from St Marks's Wythenshawe). Let us know what you think of them. Have you any stories of your own which we might be able to use in this way?
John W Steele
Secretary, Life & Witness
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Alternative Christmas Services
(This is taken from the Heald Green February 2006 Newsletter)
You may remember that REAL CHRISTMAS was the title given to an initiative organised by GMR radio on the Sunday before Christmas. An ecumenical service was broadcast at 6pm and the Churches Together in Heald Green organised services at six venues. Our church made arrangements with the Griffin pub where we were warmly welcomed by the landlady and many regulars. There was considerable enthusiasm when it came to joining in with traditional carols and the final one was sung around the tree.
Prayerpoint cards were enclosed with every carolsheet and by the end of the service six had been handed in requesting prayers. The cards also proved a way for two gentlemen to approach us and talk about recent bereavements. Overheard at the end, two lads who had been in to watch football earlier and not joined in the carol singing, picked up a prayercard and began discussing together the purpose of prayer and whether they believed in God. It was and inspiring and humbling experience and we shall look for other ways of reaching out to our community.
Some of us went to CafeUnity, where every seat was taken, and the carols sung with gusto. Everyone enjoyed the experience, and the coffee and mince pies afterwards, and went home feeling that away from all the tinsel and commercialism, this was indeed a way to a Real Christmas in the 21st century. |
Members of the congregation of Macclesfield URC took part in their annual carol-singing on the church steps on Saturday 17th December.They collected £95 in one hour for Shelter, before retiring to consume coffee and mince pies.
In addition a new venture was the sale of a Christmas CD of carols and readings made by church members. Copies were given to the housebound as a Christmas gift, and also sold at £1 to members, raising a further £75 for Shelter. A version of this can be accessed from www.macclesfieldurc.fsnet.co.uk
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Thursday November 4th: Gatley URC FURY group had a great time fundraising for 'Children in Need' by having fireworks, a chip supper, and a sleep over in the church. They told the BBC who asked to come and film them waking up which they duly did and it was broadcast on the local news before the CIN programme. After they got dressed they held a coffee morning which was well supported by church members and a total of £550.00 was raised.
But it doesn't end there ! The BBC invited them to the local part of the CIN programme at Cineworld Ashton Under Lyne and the kids were filmed with their cheque and Josh Wade was briefly interviewed. Many local people saw the programme and commented on what a positive image it gave the Church.
Further pictures feature in the f2 section of the January edition of Reform.
Congratulations to the young people of Gatley URC and many thanks to Gary Wade for this article.
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An interesting new venture has been started by Stuart Radcliffe, the student minister at Sale and Ashton URCs. This is a weblog at www.sashcommunity.blogspot.com . The idea of the blog site is to provide an additional way for the churches to communicate and share ideas and views with each other and the wider church.
Just heard (10/11/05) that Revd Kate Gray of St Marks's, Wythenshaw, also has another at http://www.breadbreaker.blogspot.com/
Whilst talking about blogs, have you seen Lawrence Moore's (Windermere Centre Director) at www.wolsblog.blogspot.com ? This has some thought provoking articles.
There is now a new 'links' page for these and other District initiatives.
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Congratulations to Cheadle Hulme URC on the 25th anniversary of the building of their current sanctuary. And also to Bernie and Alison Stevens, Drs Stephen and Karen Huang on visiting the Mae Gone orphanage in the North Thailand Highlands that CH support. CHURC NEWS reports that they gave a wonderful presentation on the anniversary weekend. |
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A new pastorate has been formed in Altrincham following the merger of Trinity Bowden, Trinity Hale and Woodlands churches. It is the Altrincham United Reformed Church, worshipping in the Trinity Hale and Woodlands Timperley churches. Revd. Brian Jolly (formerly at The Heatons) and he and the existing minister, Revd David Westhead, were inducted to the new church on 19th November. Trinity Bowden has closed as a URC church. |
Sunday 23rd October: Wilmslow URC had a Service of Celebration following a major refurbishment of their Worship Area. The church was full and well attended by members, friends and the District.
Revd. David Jenkins and six members of the church participated, as did the choir and soloist.
Pews and balconies in the transepts had been removed, giving a much lighter and more welcoming atmosphere. This should now allow alternative uses of the worship area.
Congratulations to the church and the members who organised the fundraising, and the building work.
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Friday 14th October: a Social Evening was held at St Peter's House , Oxford Road, Manchester for Taiwanese Students and those interested in hosting students. This was the first event in the academic year. They shared a meal and an exchange of information on British and Taiwanese cultures.
There are over 200 Taiwanese students, the majority of whom are post graduates studying in Manchester, and they are looking for church members who would be prepared to offer occasional hospitality.
Please contact Angela Bogg if you would like to help.
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Thursday October 13th: 'The Hangout' (behind Providence URC, Mellor Road, New Mills, SK22 4DP) - a drop in for 11-16 year olds run by volunteers - held an Open Afternoon, supported by locals and a number of people from the District. The Hangout has registered over 160 young people, many of whom come regularly. They offer an after school drop-in, snacks and activities.
Well done Providence and the Goyt Pastorate.
Details from Jane Forshaw, Volunteer Co-ordinator. |
From 'Newsround' - the monthly magazine of the South West Manchester Group:- We are delighted to say that following an almost unanimous vote from all the Churches, Revd. Edith Dawson (a Baptist minister) has accepted our call and she joined the Group on October 2nd. She and her husband will be living in the manse at 8 Waltham Road.
(Other ministers in the Group are Revd. Sarah Brewerton, Revd. Bob Day, and Revd. John Piper). |
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Marie Trubic has been appointed as Ecumenical Church Related Community Worker with Churches Acting Together in Wythenshawe. Her commissioning service was on 4th September at Brownley Green Baptist Church. This is the first venture of this kind and we are excited about the post and its potential for the communities in Wythenshawe. |
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