Churches Together in Saddleworth
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DELPH PARISH FREE NEWS (donations welcome) December 2016/January 2017 The Magazine of St. Thomas’ Friarmere, Delph Part of the Saddleworth Team Ministry Diary for December Diary for January Saturday 3rd December Sunday 1st January Christmas Fair and Santa’s Grotto. 10.30 am Joint Team Sevice at 11am-3pm St Mary’s Primary School, Friezland Greenfield Sunday 8th January Sunday 4th December 10.30 am Holy Communion 8:00 am Holy Communion 10:30 am Morning Praise Monday 9th January 2:00 pm CTiS Carols Round the Tree 10am - Noon Coffee Stop Outside the Conservative Tuesday 10th January Club, Uppermill 7.45 pm PCC meeting Monday 5th December Sunday 15th January Coffee Stop St Thomas’ Church Hall 10am - Noon 8.00 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Morning Praise Café Style Church Christmas 6:30 pm Holy Communion 2pm - 3pm St Chad's Parish Centre, Station Road, Uppermill, OL3 6HQ Monday 16th January 10am - Noon Coffee Stop Sunday 11th December St Thomas’ Hall 10:30 am Holy Communion Monday 12th December Sunday 22nd January 10.30 am Churches Together Service 10am - Noon Coffee Stop St Thomas’ Church Hall Monday 23rd January Sunday 18th December 10am - Noon Coffee Stop St Thomas’ Church Hall 8:00 am Holy Communion 10:30 am Morning Praise Sunday 29th January 6:30 pm Carols 10:30 am All Age Communion Monday 19th December Monday 30th January 10am - Noon Coffee Stop 10am - Noon Coffee Stop St Thomas’ Church Hall Christmas Eve Saturday 24th December 11:30 pm Holy Communion Christmas Day Sunday 25th December 10:30 am All Age Communion A Letter to the Churches the Bible- all build up the picture of of Saddleworth something amazing about to happen. The windows open up a new world of Advent calendars always God engaging with his people in a most pose something of a difficulty at this unexpected way. The windows speak of time of year.; choosing between the ones endless possibilities beyond our imagin- ing. with snowmen/ Spider-Man/ Peppa Pig - complete with chocolates behind each The birth of Jesus opens a fresh window window, or the ‘religious’ ones onto life. Christianity is an incarnational (presuming you can actually find one) religion; it is about how God is to be without chocolates – which for small found in human flesh; in the vulnerable, children certainly do not have the same the small, the insignificant and the weak; appeal. the stranger, the refugee, the poor, the When Fairtrade Divine Chocolate calen- powerless. God opens our eyes to see dars first appeared therefore some years not just shepherds, angels, wise men and ago with chocolates AND the Christmas a baby in the straw, but to see and share story we were much relieved – as were in the generous love of God to succes- sive generations. our children who had become resigned to having boring ‘chocolate free’ calen- Jesus is God with us. In him we see dars forever. God. As we open the windows and let There is something wonderful about Christ in may he find his home in our Advent and the anticipation of Christ- lives this Christmas that we might look mas with the gradual opening of the for him and find him in others. windows as the Christmas story unfolds, A very happy and holy Christmas to you all. and the Child in the manger as the grand finale. Stars, bells, animals, angels, holly, Sharon robins - and maybe a few words from Things That Christians Should Do Love one another (John 13:34; 15:12; 1Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9; 1Peter 1:22; John 3:18) Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18; Hebrews 10:24) Live in harmony with one another Romans 12 :16 Teach one another Colossians 3:16 Forgive one another Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another Ephesians 4:32 Confess your sins to one another James 5:16 Accept one another Romans 15:7 From A Basket of Gems compiled by Mark Stibbe 2009 INCLUSIVE CHURCH: making it “unsafe for people who are gay”. The story of the journey made by Revd. Nick Bundock and his The Coroner’s hearing in December 2014 makes it very clear that “her sexu- congregation: ality and her perception of faith were at “When I look back I do so with horror odds with one another and had become at what a spineless and passively homo- a chasm too wide to cross”. phobic priest I have been” Since then the church has had to take Nick, the vicar of St. James and Em- on board this very subject of manuel, Didsbury, shares this story in “inclusivity” and has lost some mem- the bers during the process, but has gained current issue of “Crux” magazine and it others, which can be seen in the is a “wake-up” call to all of us. worship of the church, which has become “more vibrant and alive”. To explain: Lizzie Lowe, a fourteen-year -old member of his church took her This is their PCC’s statement of inclu- own life on September 10 2014, while sion: her parents were at a film club run by a “We believe in an inclusive Church – a group from the church. Lizzie Lowe church which does not discriminate on was gay, although neither her family or any level, including: economic power, her church knew this, as she was still gender, mental health, mental ability, exploring her sexuality and her percep- physical ability, race or sexuality. tion if faith, “convinced that God We believe in a Church which couldn’t love her the way she was”. welcomes, accepts and serves all people The effects of Lizzie’s death on the in the name of Jesus Christ; which is members of St. James and Emmanuel scripturally faithful, which seeks to church have been revolutionary. Nick proclaim the Gospel afresh for each continues, that, prior to Lizzie’s death, generation; and which, in the power of the church had studiously avoided the the Holy Spirit, allows all people to topic of homosexuality “in order to grasp how wide and long and high and preserve the peace”. He writes that, by deep is the love of Jesus Christ.” ignoring this very issue, the church is taking up the position of exclusivity, Margaret Robson. Reflections There is no better proof of friendship than to help our friends with their burdens. Augustine I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow. Woodrow Wilson (US President 1913-1921) Sharp words make more wounds than surgeons can heal. Anon Welcome to St. Thomas’s Church St Thomas’s is dedicated to these Delph, principles: in the Saddleworth Team We worship the living God. We are the family of God. A church is not a building – it’s the We enjoy our family life and we people who meet there. You are very support each other as brothers and welcome to our church and we would sisters do. like to welcome you into our church We are committed to the spiritual family. growth of each individual. We understand that it can feel strange We seek to show Christ’s love to when everything is new and you are not the people of Delph and Saddleworth sure “who is who” or quite what is going and seek to draw others into on! Hopefully this will fill you in on the his kingdom. necessary information. Mid-week Home Groups Please make yourself known to us if we A number of Bible study groups are held haven’t already met you and if you in people’s homes during the week, most would like further information on any of in the evenings and some during the day. the activities, please don’t hesitate to One of the best ways to get involved and contact the vicar or the two church war- to get to know others is by going to one dens, - their addresses are in this maga- of these groups. If you are interested zine. please have a word with the vicar. Weekly Eucharist Services across the Team Monday: 12 noon at St. Mary, Greenfield Tuesday: 9.30 am at Christ Church, Friezland/ Parish Centre, Uppermill Thursday: 9.30 am at Holt Trinity, Dobcross 7.30 pm at Christ Church, Friezland Friday: 10.00 am at St. Anne’s, Lydgate Oldham Unity There is also has need for the following: Please remember that, as a Team, we hold-alls, back packs, suitcases and have agreed to collect food on a weekly men's shoes. basis for the Asylum Seekers in Oldham. If you have any of these, surplus to your We ask you to help provide pasta, cook- needs, please bring them to St Thomas’ ing oil, rice, tuna in oil and tinned toma- church. toes. Richard Lambert ` Churches Together in Saddleworth Carols Round The Tree Open Air Christmas Carol Service with Delph Band Sunday December 4 th 2016 Outside Uppermill Conservative Club at 2.00pm Useful Contact Details Team Rector: Flowers in church Revd Canon Sharon Jones Sheila Beresford 01457 874 759 Tel 07738966271 Child Protection [email protected] Richard Lait 01457 829 799 Team Vicar: Magazine Revd John Rosedale Geoffrey Dent 01457 874 027 1 Cobler’s Hill, Delph OL3 5HT Margaret Robson 01457 870 823 Tel: 01457 874209 Janet Callander 01457 877 220 team [email protected] [email protected] Weekly News Sheet Jacqui Rosedale 01457 874209 Team Missioner: PCC Members Revd Hilary Edgerton Churchwardens: 16 Sykes Close, Greenfield OL3 7PT Judith Killion and Bill Maxwell Tel :01457 871 704 Deanery Synod Reps: [email protected] Geoffrey Dent, Richard Lait and Gillian Team Office: Clark.