My CMS

Joining a small group or house group was the key to me developing my faith.

I had done an initial course, caught the bug and knew I wanted to go further, but so many unanswered questions remained and I had little idea of how to move forward. I was even still unsure if I had any sustainable faith at all.

Working with a group of people who shared these perspectives made all the difference, and I have continued participating in and leading groups as the best way of sharing the journey, with all its doubts, challenges and times of joy and bewilderment.

Finding that small group that fits can be complicated as the options and variations are wide ranging. Some groups specialise in bible reading, others range across a broad selection of materials. There are groups running once and twice a month, in the daytime and the evening. Some are newer, and may be better suited to beginners, while others are more experienced and established.

When considering joining a group it is helpful to speak with the group leaders to get a sense of what makes the group tick. Most groups are happy for people to try them out. Helping to point people in the right direction is also one of the roles of the Adult Discipleship team.

If you aren’t in a group of any sort – even if you think that you don’t have time – let me encourage you. There is nothing better than a good small group when it hits its stride: life changing and faith affirming.

For more information please contact the adult discipleship team:
Mike Duncombe 07971 233328
Mike@Duncombe.org,
Tim Borthwick 07803 077302
Tim@BowdonChurch.org, or via the Parish Office.

Tim Borthwick

Although January is the official start to the year, it seems to me that September is also a month for new beginnings.

For those in education, September marks the start of the academic year, and it is also a time of seasonal change as we note the leaves turning to their autumnal colours.

For me, although I have been here for two months, September feels like the more formal start of my ministry here in Bowdon.

When we turn to the Bible, we see that new beginnings are a thing of God. God says: “See I am doing a new thing, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43.19). In the Book of Lamentations, written at the time when Jerusalem was sacked by the Babylonian Empire, God is praised for his steadfast love and mercy which is “new every morning” (Lamentations 3.22-23).

I wonder how that makes you feel? Often, when we are about to embark on something new, we feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness. God is in the business of creating, and he always has new things in store for us, both as individuals and as a community. This is because his love for us is inexhaustible and faithful. And the best way to know that love? By building up our relationship with God.

I invite you, as someone who will be experiencing some of these things for the first time myself, to use this September to take a look at our parish publications (the website, the BCN, the Parish Guide), and to consider what it is that you might come along to as a way of getting to know the God who longs to take us to new pastures.

There is plenty on offer, for people of all ages and backgrounds, so why not come and join us on this exciting adventure, and discover what God is doing in our midst. It’d be great to see you!

…you’re sure of a big surprise. For every bear that ever there was will gather there

Thursday 31 August from 3 – 5 pm

for their annual Teddy Bears’ Picnic.

Preschool children and their siblings are warmly invited to join them for a lovely afternoon involving games and crafts.

Contact: Kay Holt Admin@BowdonChurch.org or 0161 929 1537

Some of the Christian Aid Collectors (Photo: I-Lee Millward)

This year the Christian Aid week house-to-house collection in Bowdon raised a wonderful total of £6379. Gift Aid can be added to 59% of the donations and the reclaimed tax will bring our total to £7300.

This is outstanding generosity, an increase of 4% from 2016, and a testament to the hard work of our team of 45 collectors, who visited every home in the parish. There was also generous giving by members of our Bowdon church community who live outside the parish, and we held a Big Breakfast for Christian Aid week at Bowdon Church School.

Our Christian Aid collectors were commissioned in a moving service in which we considered and prayed for the plight of the refugees who have fled their homes due to conflict or famine.  The theme echoed the roots of the Christian Aid organisation set up by British churches after WWII to assist displaced people in the aftermath of the war.

Heartfelt thanks go to all our team of collectors and area organisers, and very many thanks too to all of our generous givers! Thank you for giving security and hope to those in need.

Kate Stross, Christian Aid Parish Organiser

24/7 Prayers of thanksgiving and praise (Photo: Miriam Williamson)

Thank you very much to everyone who contributed to our 24/7 prayer room in any way.

Over 80 people prayed for an hour or more (some very much more!) during the week of continuous prayer and it was a privilege to witness the space evolve as more prayers were added to the different stations.

It has been lovely to hear some of the reflections that people have shared about the prayer time. If you have any comments, feedback or suggestions please contact me or another member of the ministry team.

Catherine Cleghorn, Ordinand

 Joanna Edworthy and Nobandile Mutseyekwa from YFC

 

Last September Joanna relocated to Bowdon to spend 16 hours a week helping with our youth work, whilst also working with Trafford Youth for Christ (YFC) in local schools.

When Joanna came to our Parish she was thrown in at the deep end, as within weeks she was leading Mettle Groups (our teenage Bible study groups).

She also quickly became a beloved member of the Underground team (our Friday night youth club) and a key part of our church family, whilst also attending training events and taking a youth work qualification.

She has also volunteered with the Eden Team at the Peoples’ Church in Partington, where her Trafford Youth for Christ partner, Nobandile, is based.

Joanna will be leaving us in July, so that she can begin studying theology in Durham, and we will all miss her very much. She has helped many young people to explore and deepen their faith this year, and has worked extremely hard.

There will be a chance to say goodbye and thank you to Joanna at the 10.45 am Pet Service on 9 July in St Mary’s.

As part of her Gap Year she has been fundraising for YFC and, despite already having raised £2,500, she still has £500 to raise. If you would like to help her with this, please visit this webpage:

https://yfc.uk/joannaedworthy

Jo Oughton, Parish Development

Taizé candles in St Mary’s (Photo: Catherine Cleghorn)

 

On the last Sunday of each month at 6.30pm we hold a Sacred Space service. This service uses liturgy from the Iona Community and songs and hymns chosen and accompanied by our talented Sasha Johnson Manning.

We are shortly going to alter the liturgy for this service slightly, and will also be encouraging the congregation to share in prayers of intercession and to lead a reflection in place of a sermon if they feel able to do so.

On occasion we have held a Taizé service instead – a form of worship used by many denominations. During this service we sing very simple repetitive songs set to beautiful music and spend 10 to 15 minutes in silent prayer.

The Taizé service is generally candle-lit to encourage the feeling of stillness and to remind us that Jesus is the light in our lives.

Sacred Space has been growing in popularity and so has our Taizé service. Having taken feedback, we have decided to run our Taizé service every other month.

The services tend to finish by 7.20pm and we hope that you will leave feeling the peace of God within you for the new week ahead.

Karen Wilson

Jordan Amir-Hekmat with John Suchet at Buckingham Palace in May, having achieved his Gold Award with Bowdon DofE

 

You’ll probably be receiving your Bowdon Church News just before the start of this year’s Wimbledon tournament.

More than 13 million of us tuned in last year to watch Andy Murray storm to victory against Milos Raonic in the Men’s Final.

We were all probably cheering equally wildly the year before when Heather Watson, who was unseeded, took the seemingly invincible Serena Williams to the brink of defeat.

I suspect that those who watch professional sport have one of two reactions. Either we sit there in open-mouthed astonishment at the incredible skill on display, or we watch these amazing athletes perform at an incredibly high level with what seems like such ease, and think: “Well, it’s only hitting a ball over the net. It can’t be that difficult. Given a bit of practice I could probably do that.”

One of the things that I’m grateful for in the Gospel stories about Jesus’ disciples is the searing honesty with which the tales of their regular failure to live up to Jesus’ standards are told. When Peter thinks that he can play at Andy Murray levels and walk on water like Jesus, he quickly realises that it’s not as easy as it looks.

The brothers John and James boldly declare that they are just as committed to God’s cause as Jesus, but when they see on the cross the depth of sacrifice demanded to fulfil God’s purposes, they scarper in fear like all the rest.

These stories are told precisely in order to alert us to the vast gap between the life of grace, generosity and love that Jesus lived and our feeble attempts to do likewise. But we are also given them to urge us to turn to the same Jesus, who promises to draw alongside anyone who asks him to accompany them, and is uniquely qualified to help us to live a more God-honouring life.

If we want to improve our game, Jesus is the best life coach there is.

Ian Rumsey, Vicar of Bowdon

The choir of St Mary’s will be holding a concert on 17 June at 7.30 pm in the church. We will be singing Mozart’s Requiem and a variety of choral pieces. Mozart was a well-known composer from the 18th century, in the classical period. Mozart’s Requiem is an exciting piece of music set to the standard Requiem words. Although it was mainly written by him, one of his students completed it, as Mozart died before he could finish it.

All of the other music that we will be singing is from the Anglican choral tradition, including some pieces by Stanford. We will be singing a few pieces by him: Beati Quorum Via, which is a calm and reflective piece, contrasted by his Te Deum and Jubilate, which are very joyful and uplifting pieces. There will be a range of music, all of which is really good. We would be delighted if you could come as I’m sure you would enjoy the music. Refreshments will be available during the interval.

Proceeds will be used to purchase new music for the choir and to support Bowdon Youth Festival.

Catherine Read, aged 15

 

 

 “Christine Barrat (Photo: Sasha Johnson Manning)”

My mother Christine loved St. Mary’s.  She loved the whole Bowdon church community and always hoped that all would be well with everyone, and that all who came would feel welcome.

After a long and happy career as a music teacher at Withington Girls’ School, during which time she inspired and encouraged countless girls in their music-making, she gained A-levels, a degree in Psychology and diplomas in counselling.

Mum put her qualifications to good use by counselling students and the bereaved, and working as a Samaritan.

She took the plight of others to heart and would support them in her quietly wise way.

She was one of the creators of the Visiting Group, which continues to offer comfort and support to many.

In recent years she began what is now called ‘Afternoon Tea and Conversation’, which encourages companionship and enables new friendships to grow.

Mum took on her role as churchwarden with tireless vigour, using her wit and wisdom in equal measure. She was very pleased that she could give something back to the church that had given her so much joy.

One of her greatest loves was the choir – both as a singer and then as its most loyal supporter. She would rarely miss any choral service, even when she was unwell, and she took particular delight in the progress of the younger singers. Music transcended the tribulations of life for her, and she strongly believed that the cultivation of music in an individual would afford them an invaluable life-tool.

My mother was a good and faithful servant to Bowdon and I like to think that she’s in the heavenly choir, beaming.

Sasha Johnson Manning