Mottram Parish Magazine Mottram Parish Magazine November 2014

Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
Mottram Parish
Magazine
Saturday 18th October
Callum Boothroyd is licensed as Lay Reader
at Chester Cathedral by Bishop Peter
Check out our website at www.magdalenecentre.org.uk
Please support our advertisers
Tell them you saw them in the Parish Mag!
We aim to be
~ a growing fellowship of believers ~
warm in welcome ~ reverent in worship ~ gracious in witness
~ and joyfully serving God and our community ~
November 2014
Printed: 50p monthly
On-line: £3 donation yearly
Mottram
Parish
Vicar: James Halstead
The Vicarage, 30a Broadbottom Road,
Mottram, Hyde, Cheshire, SK14 6JB
01457 762268
[email protected]
www.mottramparish.org.uk
The Church of England in Mottram Parish, serving the communities of
Mottram, Broadbottom and Hattersley East
together “seeking to know Christ and to make Christ known”
OUR MAIN SUNDAY WORSHIP IS AT 10.30am
St. Michael & All Angels, Warhill, via Church Brow, Mottram
For full details of all our services, see page 13
USEFUL
CHURCH CONTACTS IN
MOTTRAM PARISH
Safeguarding Coordinator
Churchwardens
Alice Litaba 07790 765985
Claire Bibby 01457 763758
David Russell 01457 765165
(secure email: [email protected])
Assistant Curate
Children’s Work Coordinator
Andrew Knight 01457 763152
Pat Hall 01457 861827
Honorary Curate
Richard Hills 01457 763104
Organists
John Brandreth 01457 765142
Lay Readers
John Walker 01457 763292
Nigel Crookall 0161 338 6790
Allen Standeven 01457 857331
Baptisms: Pastoral Worker
Callum Boothroyd 01457 763770
Kathleen Jubb 0161 338 7546
PCC Secretary
Kate Best 01457 857248
Weddings
PCC Treasurer
Margaret Taylor 0161 494 8071
Brian Seaborn 0161 336 8089
Parish Events Coordinator
Parish Administrator
Alice Litaba 07790 765985
Tony Kershaw 01457 765350
Bellringers Captain
Friends of Mottram Parish Church
Christine Broadley 07810 560796
Kathleen Jubb 0161 338 7546
email: use the person’s name, eg. [email protected]
MAGAZINE CONTACTS
Editors: Chris & Tony Kershaw
14 Broadbottom Rd ... 01457 765350 ... [email protected]
Magazine Distribution
Magazine Advertising
Adrian Davis 01457 764727
Bryan Higgins 01457 765690
, Oldham Street, Hyde, SK14 1LJ www.lee-print.co.uk
Printed by
all your printing needs and office supplies, 0161 368 9678, [email protected]
parish contacts page
sponsored by The Shubar, Old Street, Ashton under Lyne
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
COMMUNITY CONTACTS
Mottram Primary School
01457 763368
[email protected]
Broadbottom Primary School
01457 762382
[email protected]
Arundale Primary School
01457 762328
[email protected]
Longdendale Pre-school in Mottram
07594 640487
Broadbottom Pre-school
01457 764423
Friday Playroom, Magdalene Centre
07900 582211
Mottram Guides, Brownies & Rainbows
01457 763104
Broadbottom Guides
01457 764136
Broadbottom Brownies
01457 764417
Broadbottom & Mottram Beavers+Cubs
07912 387358
Mottram Women’s Society
01457 763479
Longdendale Womens Institute
01457 763319, 01457 766517
IN
MOTTRAM PARISH
Longdendale Neighbourhood Police Team
0161 856 9493
Tameside Patrollers
0161 342 3010
Tameside Police (non emergency)
0161 872 5050 or just dial 101
Mobile Police Surgery
19th Nov, 2-4pm, Lowry Grove
27th Nov, 2-4pm, Church Brow
Tameside Council
www.tameside.gov.uk
Councillor Janet Cooper
01457 763319
Councillor Gillian Peet
07801 327894
Councillor Adam White
07861 833090
Longdendale District Assembly
0161 342 2798
Member of Parliament
Jonathan Reynolds MP, 0161 367 8077
[email protected]
Tameside Local Studies and Archives Unit
0161 342 4242
Hattersley Library, in the Hub
0161 342 2552
Support our local Community Associations:
MOTTRAM COMMUNITY CENTRE
Church Brow, Mottram
available for hire
• Two large halls, one with stage
• kitchen • soft outdoor play area
• ideal for
children’s parties,
meetings etc
Contact Janis
Bond on 01457
763504
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
BROADBOTTOM
COMMUNITY CENTRE
Need to find a venue for an event, a
party or a regular group activity?
Contact Mike Abrams:
t: 01457 763048
e: michaelabrams50@
gmail.com
It’s your space!
www.broadbottomvillage.com
community contacts page
sponsored by June and Rodney Lamb
Andrew Writes
REGISTERS & RECORDS
BAPTISMS
12 October 2014
Dollie Lydia Lizzie Harris
THANKSGIVINGS
21 September 2014
Evan Billington
5 October 2014
Oliver Davison
Emily-Grace Pressdee
FUNERALS
Friday 3 October 2014
Leah Webb
The Sycamores Care Home, Newton
PARISH PRAYER ROTA
Sunday 2 November 2014
Hall Close, Tollemache Road
Sunday 9 November 2014
Tollemache Close, Back Moor
Sunday 16 November 2014
Mottram Moor, Shaw Street and
William Ford House
Sunday 23 November 2014
Littlefields, Meadowcroft
Sunday 30 November 2014
Rushy Croft, Waterfoot Cottages
People are often unreasonable and
self- centred. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse
you of ulterior motives. Be kind
anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat
Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be
jealous. Be happy anyway.
page 14
sponsored by Gordon & Susan Bringhurst
FLOWERS
Would you like to pay
for the altar flowers for
a special occasion or
anniversary? Kath (765690), Judith
(762362), Sue (0161 368 2706) or
[email protected]
FLAG FLYING
Thursday 9 October 2014
In loving memory of
Doug Joy
Saturday 18 October 2014
Licensing of Callum Boothroyd
as Lay Reader
Sunday 30 November 2014
The Saltire on St.
Andrew’s day, for
Margaret Douglas and all Scots
people
Would you like the flag flying for
a special occasion or anniversary?
Contact Tony Kershaw on 01457
765350 or [email protected]
The cost is £12.
See also www.mottramparish.org.uk
– click on What’s On.
The good you do today may be
forgotten tomorrow. Do good
anyway.
Give the world the best you have and
it may never be enough. Give your
best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between
you and God. It was never between
you and them anyway.
Mother Teresa
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
Scattering the Seed
Britain’s cereal farmers
are celebrating a bumper
harvest this year following
a mild winter, a warm
summer with regular light
rain and an unseasonably dry autumn. So
it’s fitting we also had a bumper crop of
harvest celebrations at church.
Mottram and Broadbottom schools
kicked us off, with the children devising
their own Harvest Festival services and
starting our collection of donated food and
provisions. I was struck by their prayers
which focussed on those less fortunate
than themselves, who suffer from a lack
of food, fellowship and security.
Our donations were for the Carpenter’s
Arms in Ashton, an award-winning
drop-in centre for people with various
needs. The centre was the idea of retired
head-teacher and URC minister Barbara
Plenderleith who inspired us with her
story at the Harvest Afternoon Tea. The
Carpenter’s Arms provides a welcoming
place where guests can find someone to
listen without judging, receive a hot meal
and emergency supplies.
Looking further afield church members
also generously supported the “Way of
Joy” project working with Romanian
street children through our Harvest
Supper of authentic Romanian cuisine.
Similarly, remembering of God’s provision
for us, when so many go without, was
the theme of the rousing Harvest Choral
Evensong where we welcomed the choir
of St Paul’s Stalybridge.
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
On Sunday morning Peter and Julie Fraser
of Bible Encounter returned to enchant
us with the familiar Parable of the Sower
in which Jesus explains the process of
scattering the seed of the Gospel (Luke
8:4-15). Jesus acknowledges that this is
a difficult and unpredictable process as
the word variously falls on deaf ears, fails
to take deep root in our hearts, or is
choked by the worries and temptations
of this world.
Yet the parable is really an encouragement
to us and warning against despair. As
Christians God calls us to be the ever
present farmer, residing in the field, and
continually sewing the seed, the word
of God, without which there can never
be a harvest. The parable tells us that
persistence and determination will yield
spectacular results as the Gospel takes
root in the fertile soil of open hearts.
I’m further encouraged by God’s promise
that:
“Just as rain and snow descend from the
skies and don’t go back until they’ve
watered the earth, doing their work of
making things grow and blossom, producing
seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
so will the words that come out of my
mouth not come back empty-handed”
(Isaiah 55:10-11, The Message Bible).
Like farmers, all our toil and labour
fades into the background when we
celebrate the harvest, and hear someone
has accepted Christ as Saviour.
page 1
sponsored in memory of Ernest Nash
WORSHIP DIARY
NOTICE BOARD
Prayer Group
Tuesday 4th November, 8pm
at the home of
Betty Gadd (0161 368 5131)
Trefoil Guild
3rd Thursday of every month, 7.30pm
at Mottram Community Centre
open to anyone over 18yrs who is
sympathetic to the aims of Guiding.
20th November ... Ten Pin Bowling
Broadbottom
Community Events
Saturday 29th November
Incredibly Crafty Christmas Market
at the Community Centre
WOMEN’S INSTITUTE
second Monday of every month
7.45pm at Mottram Cricket Club
10th November AGM, followed by
some shared household tips:
‘As Simple as That’
coming soon at
the Magdalene Centre
Dance Class
Thursdays at 6.30pm, starting 6th Nov
contact Sarah Richardson 01457 237912
or [email protected]
and much much more
see pages 4, 5 and 6
Walking With The Walkers
Saturday 1st November 10am
Shutlingsloe (harder)
with Andrew Knight
01457 763152
Saturday 15th November 10:30am
Mottram Metric Marathon
Part Two (easy)
with Tony and Chris 01457 765350
followed by Planning Meeting in
Church at 12.30pm
Saturday 29th November 10:30am
Taxal (easy with a climb)
with Mark and Jean
0161 368 3722
Meet at Mottram church gates
– car share if needed.
Mottram Brownies
Christmas Coffee Evening
with stalls
Wednesday 26th November 6.30–8pm
LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME
‘Henry-type’ vacuum cleaner
Free to a good home, must be
collected
contact Kate 01457 857248
Silver Reed electronic typewriter
Brand new! Free to a good home
contact David 07762 156627
Chappell overstrung Piano £300
approx 70 years old, with stool, well
maintained, regularly tuned, good
playing order, would suit a beginner
contact Jeff 01302 742539
(situated in Mottram)
page 2
sponsored by The Shubar, Old Street, Ashton under Lyne
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
Most of our sermons throughout the
autumn are based on the old testament
readings, which are mainly from:
EXODUS ...
Sunday 2 ... MOSES AND AARON BEFORE PHAROAH
8.30am
Holy Communion, Common Worship
10.30am
All Together Worship, followed by Parish Lunch
4.00pm
Choral Evensong
Sunday 9 REMEMBRANCE
8.30am
Holy Communion, Book of Common Prayer
10.30am
Holy Communion with Act of Remembrance
at St. Michael’s with Prayers for Healing
10.30am
Procession from Broadbottom Community Centre
11.00am
Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial
4.00pm
Memorial Service at St. Michael’s
Sunday 16 ... FINAL PLAGUE AND DEPARTURE
8.30am
Holy Communion, Common Worship
10.30am
Holy Communion
Sunday 23 ... GOD LEADS HIS PEOPLE
8.30am
Holy Communion, Book of Common Prayer
10.30am
Holy Communion
Sunday 30 ... THE RED SEA CROSSING
8.30am
Holy Communion, Common Worship
10.30am
Morning Praise
Every week in Mottram Church:
Fri
10am-12pm Church open: Chapel available for private prayer
Sun
10am Join us for a short time of prayer just before the service
10.30am Sunday Pre-School in church, Sunday School in school
– but come to church first (except All Together Service)
Every week in Mottram Primary School:
Wed
9.00am
Praise and Play (term time only)
Every week at St. Barnabas, Hattersley:
Wed
10.30am
shared Mid-week Communion
SUNDAY BIBLE READINGS
November 2
9
16
23
30
Exodus 6.28 - 7.13; John 14. 5-14
1 Thessalonians 4. 13-end; Matthew 25. 1-13
Exodus 11. 1-10; Matthew 26. 17-30
Exodus 13. 17-22; Luke 1. 68-79
Exodus 14
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
page 13
sponsored by Brian & Beryl Clayton
THE WORD
NOTICE BOARD
Lest We Forget
The Rev Paul Hardingham meditates on what Peace might look like…
One of the most amazing sights in
London this year has been the art
installation ‘Blood Swept Lands
and Seas of Red’ at the Tower of
London. The dry moat has been filled
with 888,246 ceramic poppies, each
representing a British or Colonial
soldier killed in the First World War
and commemorated in this centenary
year.
‘In Flanders fields, the poppies grow
between the crosses, row on row, that
mark our places; and in the sky
the larks, still bravely
singing, fly scarce heard
amongst the guns
below.’
This is the first stanza
of John McCrae’s poem,
first published in Punch
magazine in 1915.
Within months, it came
to symbolise the sacrifices
of all who were fighting in the First
World War. Today, the poppy remains
a tangible symbol of all those who
have sacrificed their lives in war. But
why do we remember?
‘They will beat their swords into
ploughshares and their spears into
pruning hooks. Nation will not take
up sword against nation, nor will
they train for war anymore.’ (Micah
4:3). Writing about 700 years before
Christ, Micah’s words have to be
seen against a background of violence
with the fall of Samaria and the
instability created by the aggression
page 12
sponsored by Kate Best
of Assyria. However, he prophesied a
future of hope, a world where nations
come together in peace instead of
war. His vision saw a time when the
arms of war would be turned into
farming tools and people would live in
peaceful community.
Our understanding of peace is more
than the avoidance of war or the
absence of conflict. It’s about building
relationships between people,
communities and nations, which
positively creates a love and
care for others founded
on justice for all.
As we remember the
sacrifice of those who
died in the First World
War, our response must
be to look practically
at how we can build
relationships of peace
and justice in our world,
starting with our own families,
colleagues and neighbourhoods.
As Micah says, ‘we will walk in the
name of the Lord our God for ever
and ever.’ (4:5). We always need God’s
presence and power to change us into
the people who have a passion for
peace and justice, and compassion for
everyone.
‘They shall grow not old as we
that are left grow old: Age shall
not weary them, nor the years
condemn. At the going down of
the sun and in the morning we
will remember them.’
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
Your contributions welcome - the deadline for the
December issue is Wednesday November 19th
New: Mobile Police Surgeries
Drop in and speak personally to
officers about any issues you have.
For times and venues, see inside back
cover of this magazine.
W OMEN ’ S S OCIETY
PCC MEETING
Thursday 13th November
the Magdalene Centre, 7.30pm
Chester Cathedral
The Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe exhibition
Tuesdays, 8.00pm at Mottram
Community Centre
4th November – The Meaning of
Flowers with Laura Greenwood
18th – Christmas Flower
Decoration with Sue Ousey
This Christmas, the Cathedral will take
visitors on an exciting journey to the
magical land of Narnia, transforming
spaces within the magnificent
building to bring C.S. Lewis’s classic
tale to life.
www.chestercathedral.com
29 November - 6 January 2014
Free admission
Every Wednesday morning
in Mottram Primary School
during school term time
starts 9am
Bible stories, games, crafts, songs,
refreshments... and lots of fun!
1 ST B ROADBOTTOM &
M OTTRAM S COUT G ROUP
Many thanks for all your help and the
use of the Magdalene Centre in June
for the Pamper Night for Reubens
Retreat. Thanks to the generosity
of the people of Broadbottom and
Mottram and the lovey therapists
we raised a whopping £2,100.23!!!
Jane Redshaw
Look out for the next
Pamper Night on Friday 28th Nov
Again, all proceeds will go to
Reubens Retreat.
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
are currently looking for occasional
Helpers to help out with our Cub
group which meet on
Tuesday nights 6.30–8.00pm at
the Magdalene Centre
on Mottram Road, Broadbottom.
This is to assist the Cub Leader and
Assistant Leaders and would be on
a rota basis.
As an Occasional helper you would
be required to be RCRB checked
(Old CRB Check) – this is paid for
by the Scouts.
If you are interested please contact
Martin Robson on 0161 495 4514
or 07912 387358, or cubs@
magdalenecentre.org.uk
page 3
sponsored by ‘anon‛
Jokes and Puzzles
. . . W H AT ’ S O N . . . W H AT ’ S O N . . .
100 years on or 1 year on...
9th November is Remembrance Sunday
Mottram
10.30am
Our annual act of remembrance will take place at the War
Memorial in the parish church.
Broadbottom
10.30am
Procession from the Community Centre
11.00am
Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial
Pray
Nicotine
Poster in a public
school in South
Pasadena, California:
“In the event of
atomic attack, the
rule prohibiting
prayer in school
will be temporarily
suspended.”
An elderly minister read about experiments
showing that tar and nicotine causes cancer in
mice. Deeply moved, he went down to his study at
once, and moved all of his pipe tobacco to the top
shelf, where the mice could not reach it.
Refreshments at the Community Centre
Seen it all, done it
all, can’t remember
most of it!
Memorial Service
Porridge
4.00pm
A silent order of monks had a rule that every
five years, one brother could speak and make a
request. After waiting five years, it was Brother
David’s turn, and he said “I don’t like this brand of
porridge. Can we get a new one?”.
Our annual service of thanksgiving for
the lives of loved ones who have died.
Invitations will be sent to all bereaved
families from the past year – if
you have another name to be
remembered, then add it to
the list in church, contact Tony
on 01457 765350 or email
[email protected]
Do join us for these
special services,
as we honour and
remember all those
who have died.
Exploring Groups
Exploring Groups are a new opportunity during the week to meet up, share
fellowship and discuss matters of faith in our everyday life. Using the Bible reading
from the previous Sunday’s service, there’ll be the chance to dig deeper and
explore the Bible further in a relaxed and informal setting, to help each other
figure out what it means to live as a Christian in the light of these passages.
Five years later, Brother Eric could speak, and
said “I don’t like the new porridge, can we have
the old one back?”.
Another five years passed and Brother John could
speak. “I want to leave. I can’t stand all this
bickering about the porridge!”
Sudoku
Dogs
Two drunks were
hoping to travel
on the London
Underground late
at night when they
reached the top of
the escalator and
saw the sign which
decrees: ‘Dogs
Must Be Carried’.
“Botheration,” one
of them muttered in
dismay. “Where on
earth can we find
two dogs at this time
of night?”
Maze
You won’t have to sign up for the long term and nobody will be put on the spot,
but we hope these groups will become really valuable moments for us all, to help
us grow as disciples of Jesus.
Please do consider coming along even it
sounds like something completely new to you!
Everyone welcome.
The dates and venues are listed opposite.
Contact one of the leaders if you’re interested
and for more details.
page 4
sponsored by Maurice & Jean Hughes
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
Mottram Parish Magazine
page 11
November 2014
sponsored by John in memory of Margaret & Tony Crabtree
CARTOON CORNER
page 10
sponsored by The Friends of Mottram Parish Church
also to Sous Chef Alice Litaba; the Silver Service Waiters aka thegroupwithnoname; the three Légumiers (above)
and apologies to the school for the aroma that lingered for three days!
Thank You to Andrew Knight for a brilliant Harvest Supper and inspiring talk.
. . . W H AT ’ S O N . . . . W H AT ’ S O N . . .
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
Next
Parish
Lunch
Sunday 2nd
November
in Mottram
Primary
School
Straight after
our 10.30am
service in
church
bring some
food to share,
and stay
behind to eat
and chat
For more
information,
contact Kathleen
on 0161 368
7546
Monday Afternoons 2:00 - 3:30 pm with Allen Standeven
(01457 857331) at 21 Tollemache Road, Mottram, SK14 6LL
Tuesday Evenings 8:00 - 9:30 pm with Andrew Knight
(01457 763152) and Callum Boothroyd at 59 Lower Market
Street, Broadbottom, SK14 6AA
Wednesday Evenings 8:00 - 9:30 pm with John and Joan Walker
(01457 763292) at 2 Hill View, Matley, Stalybridge, SK15 2TH
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
Next
Pub Night
Friday 7th
November at
the Royal Oak
in Glossop
7.30pm for
8.00pm
Thai Banquet
approx £15
per head
For more
information,
contact Allen on
01457 857331
page 5
sponsored by Peter and Jean Hey
. . . W H AT ’ S O N . . . W H AT ’ S O N . . .
10am –12.30pm on 20th December
at the Magdalene Centre
Children!
A fun morning of the Christmas
Story with crafts, games and food.
Parents!
Leave your children with us,
and have a couple of hours to
yourselves whilst you sort those
last minute preparations! (Children
under primary school age must be
accompanied.)
Volunteers!
We’re looking for people to help us
– don’t panic, we’ll be OK for all the
stuff at the front, but we need extra
hands (refreshments, crafts etc), so
we can accommodate the maximum
possible number of children.
So if you’re child-free, please
come and help make this a great
party for the children and a
welcome break for the parents!
Contact James 01457 762268 or
Pat 01457 861827 or
[email protected]
for more details.
Operation Christmas Child
Reminder:
DROP OFF YOUR SHOEBOX
at church before 16th
November.
 medium sized shoebox and wrap
SHOEBOX Find an empty
box and lid separately.
BOY OR GIRL? Decide if your
gift is for a Boy or a Girl and the
age category: 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14. Cut
out the appropriate boy/girl label from
one of the leaflets. Mark the correct
age category and stick the label to the
top of your shoebox.
FILL WITH GIFTS Fill your
shoebox with a variety of new
gifts that will bring delight to a child.
See gift suggestions on the leaflet or
have a go at making your own.
Remember to pray for the child
who will receive your shoebox gift.
For more information, pick up a
leaflet in church, or contact Margaret
Taylor on 0161 494 8071 or shoebox@
mottramparish.org.uk, or visit www.
samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/
operation-christmas-child


!
More dates for your diary....
Saturday 29th November, 7.30pm
at the Magdalene Centre
Saturday 6th December, 11am–3pm
Parish Advent Dinner
Parish Christmas Fair
What are you looking forward to…?
Fine Food. Good Conversation.
Profound Thought...
at the Magdalene Centre
Lots of stalls for Christmas Gifts,
Refreshments and much Ho Ho Ho
Look out for more publicity during November
page 6
sponsored by Alf & Sue Wilkinson
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
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Praise and Play: for pre-school children, every Wednesday morning in Mottram School
during school term time: starts 9am. Bible stories, games, crafts, songs, and lots of fun.
Come and join us!
Open the Book
Christmas Party!
PARENT & CHILD
www.parishpump.co.uk
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
page 9
sponsored by Flo Adams and Janette Baxter
SUPPORTING MISSION
Let’s Pray
Let’s Pray!
A relaxed & informal evening for the
whole church family
Praying for ourselves,
the church & the world
Nobody put on the spot - come to
encourage one another, listen & join in!!
November 16th, 7pm at the Vicarage
‘Habari’ from Tanzania
Habari means ‘hello’ in Swahili.
Samson and Zeph say that they had
an amazing time, when they came to
the UK to talk to us about prayer and
revival. Many seeds were sewn, doors
opened and new relationships built.
Tanzania (UK) Trust are now looking
to raise money for the Health Centre in
Dodoma.
“We have a vision of working under the
local Doctor and the local church and
supporting them in building the health
centre, which will eventually be selfsustaining. We hope that this will serve
the local community in meeting their
desperate health needs for good medical
care, especially in chronic conditions,
and in receiving good medication.”
You could help by: volunteering for
the April 2015 trip if you are a doctor
or a nurse and also thinking if you
could suggest any Trusts/ fund raising
opportunities/ ideas for fund-raising for
the Health Centre, which they are in
such desperate need for. Please include
these plans in your prayers.
Contact: [email protected],
07854 688373 or www.tanzaniauk.org.uk
Be part of God’s answer!
page 8
sponsored by Julie & Allen Standeven
Prayer of the Month
In this time of autumn fruitfulness,
may we be fruitful when we speak
to others. As the autumn shades
reveal your glory, may we share
your love with those we meet. Now
that the harvest is gathered in, may
we gather and bring our family,
friends and neighbours into your
presence and saving power.
In this time of remembrance, we
pause in our life’s journey, to give
thanks for those who have passed to
your nearer presence, especially the
Saints and Martyrs whose lives are
an example to us.
We remember too those who we have
loved and are with us no more, but
have influenced us for good. As year
succeeds year, we thank you for our
lives, for the good times and the bad,
thankful that we can trust You to
be alongside us in the good times
and to carry us in the bad times.
This year especially, we remember
those who have given their lives for
our freedom in the Great War of
1914 -1918, and also in subsequent
conflicts to our present time.
In joyful expectation of your coming
into our world we pray –
Maranatha! – Come Lord
Jesus!
.
Amen
Amazing Graces
For God who gives us our daily bread
A thankful song we raise.
And pray that he who sends us food
May fill our hearts with praise.
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
IN
ROMANIA
Harvest Supper at the Magdalene Centre, 11th October
It’s the smell that hits you first, two streets away: the arresting aroma of
overflowing drains and rotting rubbish.
Turning a corner, looming up ahead is what the
locals call ‘The Phantom Block’ - one of many ruined
apartment buildings, with shattered windows,
no doors and a sign proclaiming its proposed
demolition. Long since stripped of essential supplies,
it’s a network of dark, smoke filled, sewage strewn
corridors and exposed staircases - hidden lives in
cramped, cold rooms - home to around thirty families.
Without fixed addresses or birth certificates, the children are ‘shadow people’
with no legal status or access to state benefits, education or healthcare, trapped
in a cycle of poverty.
Twelve years ago these children came to the attention of local Christian
Valentine. Filled with compassion and inspired by reading Isaiah 58, he set up
a basic feeding centre to give the children regular hot meals, clean water and
medical aid.
A small church arose there which thrives today
heading up what became the “Way of Joy” project,
supported by the UK charity People Against
Poverty. Last year alone The Way of Joy gained
legal identities for 10 families, vaccinated 150
children, provided over 10,000 hot meals, built 3
new homes, supported hospital treatment for 29
people, gave 255 children medical treatment, and
took 150 children away on an amazing summer Bible camp in the countryside.
This servanthood has drawn many, with remarkable zeal for the Gospel. Many
are finding hope, love and faith, and disciples are being nurtured and baptised.
Over the past five years it’s been my profound privilege and delight to work with
the project, helping to raise awareness and organise their summer camps.
Many of their inspiring stories of hope were shared at our October Harvest
Supper, where 50 people enjoyed a traditional Romanian meal of ciorba (soup),
Tocană vânătoresc (Hunter’s Stew), varza (cabbage) and Tarta de
cireş (cherry tart). The event raised an outstanding £534 for the
work, which will make such a difference to many families.
Thank You for your generosity!
Andrew Knight
For more info: www.peopleagainstpoverty.com
Mottram Parish Magazine
November 2014
page 7
sponsored by Jean Cox