Kingdom Club goes Frozen

“Kingdom Club Volunteers   (Photo by I-Lee Millward)”

During Holy Week this year I had the privilege of being involved in the annual Bowdon Parish Easter Club. Over 100 children joined us each day to learn more about God, the Bible, Jesus, and how having a faith can help us to live our daily lives, happily and without fear. With the help of Disney’s Frozen, we looked at fear, strength, wisdom and love. Jonah, David and Goliath, and the wise man who built his house upon the rocks helped us to see how God speaks to us through scripture, helping us to overcome our fears, and giving us strength and wisdom.

The last day brought all those themes together when we learnt that God so loved the world that he sent his son to die for us. Who would have thought that Anna’s sacrifice for Elsa could be used to show in such a powerful way that the Easter message is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago? I loved every single millisecond of my time learning about God’s kingdom in the parish centre and I want to make a very special mention of the amazing team who made it all happen, pictured above. I think that teamwork has a very special place in God’s kingdom, as does the Cha-Cha Slide!

Kirsten Wood, Parish Development

Our new curate

“Our new curate Jess Piper with her husband Revd Calum Piper”

We are extremely excited for the arrival of Jess Piper, our new curate, who will be joining us after her ordination in July. Originally from Leicester, Jess was brought up in the Methodist Church and discovered a living faith of her own at a Christian conference in Blackpool when she was 15. She decided to study Theology at the University of Chester and was actively involved in the Christian Union and the chaplaincy team. It was through these activities that Jess became interested in Anglicanism, and she was confirmed by Bishop Keith Sinclair in the University Chapel whilst still a student.

Jess first felt that God was prompting her to consider ordination at the age of 17; this was a call that she heard again in Chester, and so after graduating she decided to spend a year as a chaplaincy assistant at Kings College, London. During this time, she felt quite strongly that God was calling her to ordained ministry, and after returning to Cheshire she pursued this more actively. She was accepted to train for ordination in 2015 and is currently finishing her MA at St Mellitus North West, in Liverpool, where Kirsten Wood and I are also studying.

Her main placement has been at Oxton St Saviour, where she worked as a parish assistant for a year before becoming an ordinand. Jess was introduced at Oxton to the ‘mixed-economy’ model of church, which she is now really passionate about. Highlights of her time in Oxton include preaching at midnight mass on Christmas Eve and launching ‘The Loft’, Oxton’s informal, café-style worship.

It was in the University Chapel in Chester that Jess first met her husband, Calum. They grew to know and love each other through their mutual involvement in the Christian activities that the University organised, and also saw each other occasionally in the Theology department. As well as studying in the same department they both felt called to ordained ministry, and have supported each other along their distinctive journeys to ordination. They were married in 2014, one month after Calum was ordained deacon in Chester Cathedral. Calum, who trained for ministry at St John’s College, Nottingham, is about to finish his curacy at Wallasey and will be ministering at St Michael’s, Bramhall.

Jess and Calum like to spend free time with their families, friends and godchildren, and their days off exploring English Heritage sites. Jess is very musical; she enjoys singing, and playing the trumpet and the drums. She also loves going to the cinema and the theatre.

Jess will be ordained deacon on 2 July in Chester Cathedral. She sees serving others as being at the heart of the role of a deacon and hopes to be able to come alongside people, support us, and reach those in our community who need to learn more of God’s love for them. We will have a chance to welcome Jess during the services on 9 July, her first Sunday with us, at a barbecue at St Luke’s on 16 July, and at a lunch in the parish centre on 23 July.

In her words: “I am really excited about ministering in a church that takes the call to be disciples seriously wherever we may find ourselves – a mixed-economy church that shows the great variety of worship styles the Anglican tradition has to offer; and the opportunity to learn and grow as an ordained minister in a new context. I am passionate about seeing communities of people, centred on Jesus, come to a fuller understanding and love of him, and equipped to do that to which God has called them.”

Catherine Cleghorn, Ordinand

 

May – June 2017 Calendar

Regular Sunday Services

As in April

 

Regular Weekday Services

 

As in April

 

Sundays in   May – June

 

 

7 May                          1st in month, 4th of Easter

 

10.45am                      Oblations: Choir         

 

14 May                        2nd in month, 5th of Easter

 

10.45am                      Christian Aid All Age Worship, St Mary’s

 

6.30pm                        Choral Evensong

Sumsion in A, Weelkes – Alleluia, I heard a voice

 

21 May                        3rd in month, 6th of Easter

 

28 May                        4th in month, 7th of Easter

 

4 June                         1st in month, Pentecost

 

10.45am                      Oblations: St Mary’s Guild

 

11 June                       2nd in month, Trinity Sunday

 

6.30pm                        Choral Evensong

Noble in B minor, Tchaikovsky – Holy, holy, holy

 

Streets we pray for:

 

7 May         Pinewood, Edgemoor, and Bucklow View

14 May       Green Walk, Green Courts, Consort Place, Bickham House

21 May       Dunham Road, Farm Walk, Charcoal Rd, Dunham Massey Hall

28 May       Members of the congregation living outside the Parish

4 June       The Firs, Heathfield Flats, Woodridings Flats, Ivanhurst Flats, Westholme

                   Flats, Elcho Road and Catherine Road

11 June     Richmond Road, Richmond Green and Richmond Hill
 

 

Forthcoming Church Events:

 

St Luke’ Coffee Cabin

Mondays from 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

 

Men’s BreakfastSaturday 13 May, 8 – 9.30 amA full English breakfast cooked and served.Richard Nosowski will compare Comprehensive and Grammar School education, drawing on his own extensive experience.Bowdon Parish Centre. All men welcome.RSVP: Will Blanksby MensBreakfast@BowdonChurch.org
Afternoon Tea and Conversation

Tuesday 16 May, 2 – 3.30 pm

An afternoon get-together serving tea, coffee, juice and cakes in a happy atmosphere, with a chance for everyone to talk and catch up.

Bowdon Parish Centre. All welcome.

Contact: Kaye Gardner 0161 928 1158

 

Ascension Day Morning Service

Thursday 25 May, 7 am

A short service at the top of St Mary’s tower followed by breakfast in the Parish Centre.

Meet at the back of church.

 

24/7 Prayer Space for Thy Kingdom Come
Friday 26 May – Friday 2 June

Thy Kingdom Come is an international prayer movement that encourages people to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for the spread of Christianity. We are going to have a week of continuous prayer in St Mary’s.

Contact: Catherine Cleghorn if you have any questions or would like to help.

 

St Mary’s Choir Concert

Saturday 17 June, 7.30 pm

The choir will sing Mozart’s Requiem and other sacred music.

St Mary’s Church.

Tickets: Adults £8, Children £2 from the Parish Office, Dawsons Altrincham, Sealpoint Hale or tickets@bowdonfestival.co.uk

 

Ladies’ Continental Breakfast

The next Breakfast will be on 17 September.
Contact: Sue Coles LCB@BowdonChurch.org

 

Noticeboard

 

Eugene Halliday Association

Sunday 14 May, 2.15 pm

“The Child Within”, a talk by Margaret Littler

Entrance: £6 including refreshments

St Luke’s Church

 

Bowdon NSPCC Open Gardens

Sunday 18 June, 2 – 5 pm

Visit a delightful selection of Bowdon gardens within walking distance of each other in South Road, West Road and East Downs Road There will be a plant stall, a grand raffle, and a hanging basket demonstration. You can start your tour at one of two entrance points: corner of South Rd and West Rd (WA14 2LB) or corner of South Rd and East Downs Rd (WA14 2LJ)
Suggested Entrance: Adults £7, Children £3 (inc. tea & cake)
Contact: Emma Smyth 0161 928 8971, smyths@southroad.org

Bowdon Youth Festival

We are delighted to have been selected as one of the three charities that will be supported by the Bowdon Vale Co-op store for the next 6-months.  If you are a member of the Co-op and live nearby, would you please consider selecting us as the charity you support for the next 6 months? You will benefit too as every time someone buys a Co-op branded item of food 5p is credited to the person’s Co-op account and 1p is donated to their chosen charity. If you need more details, or to join the Co-op please visit the store and talk to the staff there.

 

Alison Nicholson

We were sorry to learn of Alison’s death, at the age of 55. Joyce Ankers has written a brief obituary that can be found on the Parish website.

 

Volunteers needed for the Coffee Cabin

Would you be able to help out with the Coffee Cabin on a Monday morning from 9.30 am to 12 noon perhaps once a month? The purpose of the Coffee Cabin is to create a happy, friendly atmosphere for people to enjoy having a chat and getting to know others and we need more people to help serve refreshments and to introduce people to each other. If you feel you can spend time helping us, we would be very appreciative.

Contact: Linda Woods 0161 928 6179 or Judith Robertson Judith@BowdonChurch.org

Registers

 

Funerals:  Christine Barrat, Deirdre Birkett

 

Baptisms:  Jago Huey Dundas and Leni Rey Dundas

Everyone needs a safe place to call home

Christian Aid Week, 14 – 20 May

Christian Aid was founded to help refugees scattered over Europe at the end of the Second World War. Christians refused to stand by while those displaced by the war continued to suffer in refugee camps.

The first house to house collection of Christian Aid week was organised 60 years ago, and this year, as then, our focus is on the displaced. Christian Aid continues to support people in need, of every faith or none, working through partners to assist those displaced by war, to respond to other humanitarian crises and to help people in some of the world’s poorest communities to build sustainable lives.

Last year, St. Mary’s and St. Luke’s and 20,000 other churches across the country helped to raise £10m during Christian Aid Week. This year we want to go even further.

During Christian Aid week, we will deliver Christian Aid envelopes to every home in the parish. By giving, you will be helping to improve the lives of people in many parts of the world. We aim to collect all the envelopes, but if yours isn’t collected and you want to donate, please bring the envelope to the Parish Centre next to St Mary’s church. In addition, if you can Gift Aid your donation, its value will be increased by 25% at no cost to you.

Please give generously. Thank you for your support.

 

Kate Stross, Parish Co-ordinator for Christian Aid

 

 

 

Not at all a Catastrophe

DofE Gold Award achievers Florence Avis and Jordan Amir-Hekmat (Photo by Clive Goodall)

Fresh from appearing as Mrs Hammond, the Headmistress in the latest series of Channel 4 sitcom Catastrophe, actress Serena Evans presented over forty young people with their Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Silver Awards on Sunday 12 March in St Mary’s Church.

Best known for her classic role as Police Sergeant Patricia Dawkins in The Thin Blue Line, Serena congratulated the young people for pushing through the pain of heavy rucksacks, long distances, disgruntled teammates and hours of volunteering to achieve their awards. She continued by sharing a few of her own tips on how to conquer a fear of public speaking.

Over forty DofE Bronze Awards were also presented by Trafford Council Leader and local councillor Sean Anstee, before DofE’s Steph Ashcroft provided Gold Badges to Florence Avis and Jordan Amir-Hekmat, so that they could wear them on their visit to St James’s Palace later this year.

YouTube singer songwriter Izzie Naylor performed during the award presentations.

Lisa Brown, Bowdon’s DofE Award Organiser, explained afterwards: “Our young people have really earnt their certificates. Nationally, only 52% finish DofE, yet over 97% of last year’s Bronze Award intake and 75% of the Silver Award intake received their awards today”.

Bowdon’s DofE Centre will be inviting applications in October for their next intake.

Will Sudworth, Bowdon DofE Manager

 

Industry Drama Academy

Sarah, Josiah and Mimi (Photo by Jabulani Mhlanga)

A new performing arts school for children from reception to year 6 has just been launched at Bowdon Parish Centre by Sarah Mhlanga.

This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to improve their acting, singing and dancing and to experience performing at a high standard. Their creativity will be encouraged and they will grow in confidence as well as developing skills that could enable them to enter the performing arts industry.

The Academy has a Christian ethos and will hold two shows annually. These will be contemporary and original productions of Bible stories; the first will be based on the story of Esther.

Sarah is an experienced primary and secondary school teacher who taught Drama and English at Stockport Grammar School. She was heavily involved in productions at the school as assistant director and dance tutor. Sarah currently runs a popular dance school at the Fuse in Partington for primary aged children and leads the children’s work at Ivy Fuse Church. She is the daughter of Debra and Frank Green; Debra is the founder of the UK-wide charity Redeeming Our Communities and Sarah works with them on many projects. Sarah and her husband Jabulani have two children: Josiah, who attends Bowdon Church School, and Mimi, who will start in reception in September.

The sessions, which began on Tuesday 25 April, run 3.30 – 5.30 pm on Tuesdays in the Parish Centre.

Registration will be 3.30 – 3.45 pm and children are still welcome to join after the first week. The cost for each session will be £10, but please do contact Sarah in confidence if there are financial difficulties. There is also the option for pre-school aged children, reception and year 1 to stay for an hour for £5.

For more information, please contact Sarah on SarahMhlanga@roc.uk.com / 07818 426931 or through the Parish Office.

Thank you Will!

Will Sudworth with Maddi Lingard at Underground

 

At Easter, Will Sudworth changed roles in our church, leaving his part-time work here to focus on his business and helping his parents.

It has been an absolute privilege for me to grow up in a church where he has worked. Will developed the Mettle groups: bible study groups that have helped so many secondary school students to come to know the Bible in a far more intimate way. These contributed to many of us being confirmed. Will also developed Easter Holiday Club, which gives primary school children a chance to spend time hearing about and praising Jesus. The first Easter Holiday Club had a small team of around 5 leaders and 30 children, but this year there were over 100 children and a team of over 30 volunteers supporting them. Zone2, a huge source of growth and diversity for our church community, also evolved in part through the dedication and determination of Will.

These are just a few of the ways in which Will has helped our church; he also ran the youth club Underground, helped our previous vicar Rev Roger Preece to facilitate the Message Trust in establishing Street Academy at the Parish Centre, set up the annual trip of around 30 young people to Soul Survivor and created Fusion, where members of the church who have now left school can support one another.

Will has also helped the wider community by setting up a Duke of Edinburgh scheme that has given hundreds of young people the chance to gain their DofE qualification through developing a skill, playing a sport, and volunteering. He will be continuing to lead DofE as a volunteer.

In short, Will has vastly impacted this church, and has drawn in so many people, always going above and beyond what anyone could have expected. Will, I thank you for your wisdom, your generosity, your dedication, your kindness, and your hard work. You will be missed more than words can express. May God bless you.

 

Grace Johnson, Durham University

Time to come home?

The children and their amazing cardboard box dens at Easter Holiday “Kingdom Club” (Photo by I-Lee Millward)

 

It is probably the most famous story that Jesus ever told.

A son demands from his father his share of the estate (in Jesus’ day, an insultingly shameful and selfish act), goes off on his own and loses it all in a reckless life of wasteful self-indulgence. He comes to his senses only when he has nothing else to lose, and decides to come home to throw himself on his father’s mercy.

Actually, the story isn’t original to Jesus; it was a very common morality tale told to young men to teach them respect. Of course everyone knew how the story ends. When the son returns to the family home, he discovers that the bridges have been burned. The father sends word that the son has been disowned, and sends his older brother to round up some mates to (literally) kick the lad out of the village.

Except that Jesus changed the ending. In Jesus’ version of the story, as the son shamefully staggers back to the village, the father races out to meet him, to welcome him home and throw a lavish party to celebrate the return of the prodigal son.

Consider just how much shame, insult and rejection the father has to bear in order for there to be any chance of leaving the door open for his son to come home. To Jesus’ hearers, the father does the unthinkable and takes upon himself the burden of guilt which rightly belongs with the son.

Things become much more personal to us when we realise Jesus wasn’t changing the ending of a well-known story simply for the fun of it. His new version helps us to understand his death and resurrection as the very means by which God the Father leaves the door open for us to return home to him, instead of abandoning us to our own fate.

So the story poses a pressing question to all of us: isn’t it time to come home?

Rev Ian Rumsey, Vicar

April/May Calendar

Streets we pray for:

 

2 Apr              Huxley Terrace, Vale View, Brick Kiln Row, Edale Close and Priory Court

9 Apr               Primrose Cottages, Primrose Bank, Robinsway and Bailey Walk

16 Apr             Vale Road, Ledward Lane and Ashworth Close

23 Apr             Apsley Grove, Apsley Close

30 Apr             Park Road

7 May              Pinewood, Edgemoor, and Bucklow View

 

 

Forthcoming Church Events:

 

St Luke’s Coffee Cabin

Mondays from 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.

Closed Easter Monday 17 April and Bank Holiday 1 May

Contact: Liz Taylor-Hayes 0161 928 8563

 

Men’s Breakfast

Saturday 8 April, 8 – 9.30 am

A full English breakfast cooked and served.

Bowdon Parish Centre. All men welcome.

RSVP: Will Blanksby MensBreakfast@BowdonChurch.org

 

Afternoon Tea and Conversation

Tuesday 18 April, 2 – 3.30 pm

An afternoon get-together serving tea, coffee, juice and cakes in a happy atmosphere, with a chance for everyone to talk and catch up.

Bowdon Parish Centre. Contact: Kaye Gardner 0161 928 1158

 

Bowdon Cruise docks for ‘Spring Fever’ Afternoon Tea

Friday 21 April, 2.30 – 4 pm

St Luke’s Church. Free entry by ticket only.

Contact: Judith Robertson Judith@BowdonChurch.org or 929 1537

 

Ladies’ Continental Breakfast

Saturday 22 April, 9 – 10.30 am

Ambi Naylor, ‘Women in the Early Church’.

Bowdon Parish Centre. All ladies welcome.

Contact: Sue Coles LCB@BowdonChurch.org

God with Us: The meaning of the cross and the resurrection – Then and now

 

In another short book from the pen of Rowan Williams, the foundations of the Christian faith are re-commended again at Easter. The Cross and the Resurrection are placed once more at the centre of life’s most fundamental questions about meaning, God’s character revealed in his Son and the transformation of things by his act of rescue and redemption. Rowan Williams speaks and writes with dignity, intelligence, humour and a sympathetic understanding of those who struggle with these essential beliefs; sacrifice then and now, the evidence for the resurrection, and the possibilities and meaning that both these pivotal events provide to our world. Williams leaves us more persuaded and spellbound by God’s involvement in our world at this moment in world history. Another book that will deepen faith, bring hope and keep us faithful at this season of Lent. Available on Amazon.

 

John Fenton, Reader