My CMS

A few weeks ago I was invited by Bishop Libby to form part of her team for the Moving Mountains mission in Cumbria. This is part of the Archbishop of York’s commitment to engaging in mission across the whole of the northern province. And so, with over 300 others spread out across the county, we each spent some time in a particular area. Our team was based in the Cartmel peninsula, and along with the ‘home’ team- made up of ecumenical church leaders- we spent a few days going into schools, nursing homes, pubs, community centres and out in the local area, sharing the good news of God with all those we met.  It was a hugely fruitful experience for all involved, not least me; and the things that struck me most were the fact that, no matter where we went, the good news that we came to share was in fact good, and the reminder that each of us is called to proclaim this news afresh. It is so easy for us to become despondent about the bad news we hear in the press, or overwhelmed by those who tell us that Christianity is on a downward spiral.  And yet, if we look at the Easter story, what we see are men and women who are completely devastated by what has happened to this man whom they believed to be the longed-for Messiah and in whom they had placed their trust, and yet who managed to recognise him in the midst of their misery and proclaim him as their risen Lord. That should be our example and encouragement when we seek to respond to the call of God to share Jesus with those in our community, as all of us are called to do.

Jess Piper, Curate

Lent Streams – 2018

Forthcoming Events

St Luke’s Coffee Cabin   – Mondays, 10.30 am – 12 noon

Drop in for coffee or tea and a toasted teacake or croissant for £1.

Run by Bowdon Cares. St Luke’s Church.

Contact: Liz Taylor-Hayes 0161 928 8563

We may have taken a year off, but we are already raring to go. In August thousands of young people will meet in Peterborough at the East of England Showground to learn, worship and pray in tents (yes, really). There are huge main meetings every day, with the latest worship music and bands, prayer, and dynamic teaching on situations facing young people. There are also smaller seminars where you can learn about everything from God and mental health to the finer details of scripture.

In the past we’ve seen a week at Soul Survivor do amazing things for our young people, from developing their faith to simple things like helping them to use a potato peeler. The dates for this year are 18-22 August and the cost is £217, which covers transport and food as well as the ticket. There is a reduction for booking before the end of January. We are taking young people from year 8 upwards. Please contact Jo Oughton for more details, or to book: Jo@BowdonChurch.org

Servers assist the clergy at all Sunday communion services. The server at a communion service prepares the altar beforehand, performs various specific duties during the service, then clears the altar and washes and puts away the communion vessels after the service.

Anyone who is confirmed and worships regularly can become a server after being trained and commissioned by the Vicar. There is a wide age range and a flexible rota is operated to accommodate individual circumstances (including students who may only be at home during the holidays). Some servers prefer the 8 am service whilst others prefer the 10.45 am service, and this is catered for in the rota.

A very popular Christmas dinner is held each year and donations from this go towards the Parish Project.

Servers find it a great privilege to be able to assist during the service and to be there to help the priest. If you would like to become a server please do get in touch with me on 0161 980 4055.

Alec Bonson, Churchwarden and Chief Server

Editor’s note:
On 5 January, at the 33rd Servers’ Dinner, 16 people enjoyed an excellent four-course meal cooked by Helen Bonson and friends. Alec and Helen’s hard work and generosity raised £166.50 for ROC.

When our long-awaited Parish Centre was opened 11 years ago, it immediately became very popular as a venue to hire. It became clear recently that neither St Luke’s in Bowdon Vale nor the Parish Centre had kitchens up to the standard required by caterers. This has now been rectified and we are indebted to David Vanderhook at the ConClub for his advice, support and guidance and his introduction to Greg Archer from the commercial kitchen fitters, Contiquip. Both kitchens are now fully equipped with excellent equipment for catering.

With the new Parish Centre kitchen in place the revised format Wednesday Lunch Club started again on a weekly basis from 24 January at 12.30 pm. A hot two-course lunch is served with tea and coffee to follow. A minimum donation of £3.50 per person is requested. Lunch is provided by one of six teams who take turns to provide home-cooked favourites for everyone. Soft drinks are available, and you are welcome to bring your own wine or beer if you wish. We are more than happy to supply glasses.

Everyone is most welcome whether or not you attend church. The cut off time for reservations for each week is the Monday prior to the lunch; it is possible to book for several weeks in advance should you wish to do so.

To make a reservation for the Lunch Club please call in or contact the Parish Centre on 0161 929 1537 /
BCPGuest@gmail.com. If you are interested in hiring any of the three Parish Centre rooms or St Luke’s for a function, please contact the Parish Centre.

Sue Redford,
Churchwarden

In true St Luke’s style the kids pulled it out of the bag once again! We always have a bit of a worrying rehearsal the day before, when no one seems to have a clue what they are doing, but it never matters on the day. Mary and Joseph were perfect – Mary even got the baby Jesus out of the crib to give him a cuddle. Once we’d found a crib that is; he nearly had to sleep in a box…

Many of the characters were portrayed by children dressed as birds in this lovely version of the nativity story. All the birds had the right amount of comedic value; some of the children even knew all their lines and remembered most of the song words. The shepherds forgot to run off to Bethlehem in excitement to go to see the new baby Jesus, and decided they’d rather have an extra few minutes on the stage but it didn’t matter at all. They were extremely cute and who knew sheep could sing? I love how it all comes together so well on the day – there really is no Nativity like a St Luke’s Nativity.

Lindsay Parish

February 14 has become synonymous with Valentine’s Day, and on that day many will take the time to show their love and appreciation for their significant other. This year, in the Christian calendar, February 14 marks Ash Wednesday – the day when we are reminded that ‘from dust we came, and to dust we shall return’. At first glance, the two celebrations seem poles apart –  one focusing on the theme of love, and the other focusing predominantly on the theme of death. The more I have thought about this, however, the more I’ve realised how much the two have in common.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent – the season in which, like Jesus, we turn our face towards Jerusalem (Luke 9.51) and journey towards the cross. That’s the focus on death. And yet, by dying on the cross, Jesus also shows us what it really means to love. He says it himself: ‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’ (John 15.13). The act of looking towards the cross is something that we should seek to do daily, as reflecting on the death and resurrection of Jesus spurs us on to love others in a similar way to the way that Jesus loves us.

My challenge to you this Lent is to find new ways of daily celebrating your love for others, which is best exemplified by Jesus’ love for you. I hope that the end of the 40 days would be only the beginning, or a step along the way, of a lifetime of fulfilling the commands of God. Jesus says: ‘I give you a new commandment… just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples…’ (John 13.34-35).

Jess Piper, Curate

On 25 November a group of us from Zone 2 and St Mary’s was delighted to attend the annual Fresh Expressions conference in York, not only because York is such a beautiful city, but also because our very own Revd Canon Phil Potter was leading the event. A cold but sunny York welcomed us as we crossed the historic streets of the city to our first destination, St Michael le Belfrey church, situated next to York Minster.

We were treated to lively worship to open the event, followed by a sermon from none other than the Archbishop of York, the Most Revd Dr John Sentamu, who famously cut up his dog collar on the Andrew Marr show in 2007 in response to the political situation in Zimbabwe. It was, needless to say, a very passionate sermon focusing on St Paul and confidence in the Gospel.

This was followed by a choice of seminars to attend in various venues throughout the city. The seminars were truly engaging and we left feeling inspired to create and grow our own fresh expressions of church within our local communities.

It was an amazing day; we’re looking forward to next year!

Louise Johnson

We couldn’t have asked for a more Christmassy nativity this year. It was freezing cold and snowing outside and there was even a giant snowman directing the performance, ably assisted by Father Christmas and Wiseman 3.  The script was given a contemporary twist, the costumes were stunning, everyone remembered their lines (nearly), the singing was delightful, and if you managed to get a glimpse of the crib you’d have noticed a very content real baby cast in the leading role.

The nativity itself was combined with the main church service; this began with a piece from the trebles in the choir, and included many favourite nativity songs and carols.

Revd Ian Rumsey looked to have thoroughly enjoyed the performance. He commented: ‘My personal favourite bit was the supersonic angels.’ Cast member Robin James, aged 7, added: ‘I thought it went really well; the costumes were great, although mine was a bit baggy.’

A special mention should also go to the church orchestra led by Michael Dow, which was as outstanding as ever and included musicians of all ages from the whole church community.

All in all, it was a truly delightful nativity, and everyone should be proud of their contribution.

Karen James

Creativity of all flavours is a massive gift from God; it can enable us to understand and experience things in a different way. So, instead of giving something up for Lent, why not consider trying something different – possibly even something that you have never done before?

The Adult Discipleship Group is beginning to think ahead to Lent. Our idea is to do something creative. In a previous parish, Ian and I (plus many others) laid on a collection of workshops (‘Streams’), all with a spiritual focus/ theme, but using creativity as the vehicle. We had a menu of different activities, including photography, movement/signing, prayer walks and craft of varying descriptions. People found it really helpful and enjoyable.

Lent 2018 will be an early one, and we are planning that the workshops will take place over 4 weeks, from 26 Feb – Mar 23, so that Holy Week remains clear. The full details will be out in mid-January, in good time for people to see what is on offer and to sign up for the Stream/Streams that interest them. Please do look out for flyers and signing up sheets in all our churches then.

The precise menu isn’t yet finalised, but we hope that it will include art, psalm writing, prayer walks, Lectio Divina, Contemplative Prayer, Signing and Movement, a Book Group, Death and Resurrection in Poetry, Journaling, Food, Flowers, and other things, all with an overall theme of Resurrection/New Life.

We would love to offer some very ‘hands on’ activities as well, so if you are a photographer, card maker, textile creator, wood worker, sewer or maker in another area and would like to be involved in leading some workshops, please get in touch with me via the church office.

Colleen Rumsey