OCTOBER NEWSLETTER 2024
MARK WRITES
“Rembrandt painted him, Zeffirelli filmed him, Chesterton eulogised him, Lenin died with his name on his lips… Kerouac picked him as patron of the ‘Beat’ generation…” (Ian Morgan Cron) So what is it about Francis that has so captured the imagination of generations since his birth c. 1181 in Assisi in central Italy.
He lived in a gap, the transition between two epochs of history; the middle-ages were coming to an end, but the renaissance which would herald modernity was still around the corner. His privileged, pampered and rebellious life as a young man began to pall, especially after a spell as a prisoner following a local skirmish – he returned a changed man, and after praying in a ramshackle church of St Damien he became a man with a mission. The words he heard, “Go and repair my church which you see falling down,”
“In Francis day the church was hemorrhaging credibility. It was seen as hypocritical, untrustworthy, and irrelevant, some people even wondered if it would survive.” (ibid) Sound familiar? At a time of huge cultural shift Francis galvanised thirty thousand people to, in the words of Ghandi, “Seek to be the change you wish to see in the world,” and some would go as far as to say they saved Christendom, not by criticising the institution of the church but by refusing to accept the status quo.
So, over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be celebrating both Francis and Harvest, we’ll be practically supporting both the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute at St Michael’s and the local Compassion Acts Food Pantry at Holy Trinity.
Our Start Course begins on Wednesday 30th October at 7pm in Church. It lasts for 6 weeks and will be hosted by Vicky and Julie. It will be great fun.
It’s great as a refresher or for people who wish to find our more or advance their faith, So, if you know someone who may be interested, invite them to come and see.
PRAYER HARMONY Matt 9:37 The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’
At this Harvest time, we pray for all the farmers and producers, that they may have a successful harvest time, with good weather and safety on the machinery. We pray for all the processors and distributers, shops and wholesalers, who enable us to be well fed.. We pray especially for those people who struggle to put food on the table and all the food pantries and banks who give these people a chance to stay healthy and fed. We thank you Lord, for all the churches and charities who have stepped up and fed the hungry, just as You instructed them to.
We pray for justice throughout society, not just here in Britain, but across the world. We pray for equality for women and children, for different ethnic groups, for young and old, for gay and straight, for those with disabilities, for those with mental illness. We are all the children of the same wonderful God, and our love for each other should try to match God’s love for His creation.
We will be thinking about St Francis, in the context of the created world, and so we pray for all the initiatives that are trying to correct the human mistakes around the earth. We pray for governments to take seriously the damage that we have created and help to repair it.
Bible Sunday reminds us of the essential nature of our scriptures and the solid basis to our faith that they provide and we thank God for all the translators and distributers that ensure that the Bible can be read in hundreds of languages over the world. We pray for those Christians who live in countries where, to possess a Bible, or just part of a Bible is an offence punishable by imprisonment. We pray that those societies will recognise the value and beauty of God’s world.
Ps 119:32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY - OCTOBER
6th October – Holy Trinity Harvest Parade Service 11.00am
13TH October – Celebrating Harvest at St Michael & All Angels
The choir will be performing John Rutter’s anthem ‘Look at the World’.
A highly singable and attractive piece of choral music.
St Michaels Harvest service will be at 4. 00pm. Tea at 3.00pm
Donations can be made for the fresh produce after the service and all proceeds will go to the R.A.B.I- Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute
18th October -Trafalgar Dinner Night at Holy Trinity -Parish Hall
7.00pm reception drinks for 7.30pm Dinner.
Please sign up as soon as possible on the sheet at the back of both Churches and pay £16 for your tickets available from Church Office at HT and Liz at St Michaels.
Its going to be good so why not bring a friend or neighbour..
6th October – Holy Trinity Harvest Parade Service 11am
7th October - St Michaels PCC 6.00pm- Holy Trinity PCC 7.30pm
13TH October – Celebrating Harvest at St Michael & All Angels
The choir will be performing Sir John Rutter’s anthem ‘Look at the World’.
A highly singable and attractive piece of choral music.
Should you wish to join the choir for this occasion, rehearsals will be beginning towards the end of September. Further details can be obtained from the Church Office. Many thanks Nigel.
13th October St Michaels Harvest service will be at 4. 00pm. Tea at 3.00pm
18th October -Trafalgar Dinner Night at Holy Trinity -Parish Hall
7.00pm reception drinks for 7.30pm 3 course Dinner., Wine & rum to toast Admiral Nelson.
Tickets £16 available from the Church Office from Monday 2nd October.
COMING UP IN NOVEMBER
3rd November -St Michaels Memorial Service 3.00pm
-Holy Trinity Memorial Service 5.00pm, Tea at 4.00pm
10th November -RBL Remembrance Parade Service 3.00pm Holy Trinity
17th November -Toy Parade Service 11.00pm
EVENTS IN DECEMBER
Sweet Friday – Ladies Evening
6th December in the Jubilee Hall 8pm
Canape Masterclass
Maggie’s singalong
Saturday 7th December in Church
Carols, raffle and fun in aid of Macmillan.
Bible Study
Alternative Tuesday afternoons, meeting at Elisabeth’s house. We would welcome new people to join us. You don’t have to know anything about theology!!! Call Sylvia on 07872314103
Also Sunday evening approx. every 3 weeks, again, please call Sylvia for details as the dates and venue vary.
Pizza Eaters Youth Club
Pizza Eaters will meet this Wednesday afternoon October 2nd 6.30pm to 8.00pm in Church, when we will be decorating a window for Harvest. All young people year 6 and upwards are very welcome.
It’s fun, so come along and join in. There are Pizzas of course to also enjoy so come and give it a try,
Manchester Cathedral
Sunday 20th October -2.30pm
A service for anyone who has lost a baby in pregnancy, at Birth or in early years, whither the loss was yesterday or 80 years ago. This event is also for those grieving that they have never been able to conceive.
Food Bank
Here at Compassion Acts, we would like to Thank You for supporting our charity with regular donations.
You have donated 316kg between May - August 2024.
We couldn’t do what we do without the support from the community.
Thank you again for your continued support Compassion Acts Team.
Flowers in Church
A huge thanks to all who have donated money to our flower fund.
We love our fresh flowers in Church, and these can only be provided from our flower fund, given by a few generous donations from members of our church family.
Flowers, as I’m sure you are aware, are expensive and we are lucky if they last more than a week. Please if you haven’t donated and are able to give a small amount to the office, we can continue to warmly welcome everyone with our flower arrangements. Thankyou.
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