St Mary’s Monthly News Free or by Donation January 2017 On Sunday 8 January we will be marking the anniversary of the News from St Mary’s School Prestwich Mission Partnership. The PMP is our means to support each other and to collaborate where we can, across St Mary’s St Margaret’s, St George’s and St Gabriel’s. The clergy meet each week to pray together and to

give mutual support. This year At the beginning of the new on 8 January the clergy are going school year we welcomed Mrs to swap churches for the day and Jones as the new Head Teacher all four churches will be open for at St Mary’s School. Here she worship as usual. If you would writes about her role: like to swap churches for the day too and sample something For those who don’t already From the Parish Priest different on that day you will find know me, I’ll introduce myself: the services times for all four Happy New Year! May 2017 bring My name is Sarah Jones and I am churches on the pew sheet you deep peace and joy. New the Headteacher at St Mary’s nearer the time. beginnings and fresh starts are Primary School. I have worked in recurring themes in the Gospels. education for the past 20 years, This edition of our monthly A faith which is based on in 4 different schools. It is an newsletter includes an article resurrection life has to take honour and privilege to be a part from Sarah Jones our Head seriously the potential of all of the Prestwich local community Teacher, and she sets out some human beings to change. God and St Mary’s Parish. Since my of the plans we have made invites us into life in all fullness arrival in September, it’s been together for the year to come. and we are promised an eternal busy, busy, busy! I’ve met so The Board of Governance at St life in which our souls will many new people through school, Mary’s School has undergone continue to grow for all time. I church, the Diocese and Bury many changes in recent months. have given up making New Year’s Local Authority – It’s been a big Jackie Preston is now the resolutions as I never seem to be challenge to remember Chairperson and Louise Stubbs is able to keep them. I have lost everyone’s names. The pupils at the deputy. This term we said count of the number of times I St Mary’s have been so goodbye to Adele McKie, Clair have promised myself that I will welcoming; well- behaved and Hirst and Derek Hughes who take more exercise then I have are an absolute credit to their have stood down after many promptly sat down and started parents and teachers. They never years as Governors. We have eating chocolate until the fail to make me smile and laugh much to be thankful to them for. thought passed. Instead of on a daily basis. It has been very In their place we have two new resolutions I am going to pray clear from the outset the very Foundation Governors who throughout 2017 for one thing in strong and productive represent the church and they particular and that is for a growth relationship between St Mary’s are Alun Evans and Helen in holiness throughout our church and school. From Friday Parsons. Also Claire Robinson, parish. God has deeply blessed Eucharist at school to Sunday Associate Governor. Please us with remarkable growth in our Service and the wonderful continue to pray for the life and numbers (we are now twice the Christmas fair, the partnership mission of our school in the year size we were two years ago) but between staff, parishioners and to come. May Mary and all the in the year to come I hope and Reverend Chris provides saints pray for you in the year to pray that we will grow in depth opportunities for our pupils to come and may God deeply bless and that our souls will be drawn explore, build and strengthen you. closer to God. their faith and Christian values. With love, Chris. The support and partnership

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St Mary’s Monthly News between the church and school is Eternal God we pray your worshipped their Saviour and a vital part of the future direction blessing on all schools, and ours – the Saviour of the whole of our school. In order to build especially St Mary’s Primary world.” upon the strong Christian ethos School, that it may be a place for within school already, we will sound learning and new A Prayer for the New Year need to draw upon the expertise discovery, strengthened by your and support of Reverend Chris loving care. Grant that those and the St Mary’s Parish who teach and those who learn community. Reverend Chris and I may find you to be have already discussed some their source of all truth love; exciting possibilities for future through Jesus Christ our Lord. collaborative projects, including: Developing pupil – led worship, The Epiphany God and Father of our Lord Jesus Family Friday Eucharist, the On Sunday 8 January we Christ, whose years never fail and creation of a prayer/reflection celebrate the anniversary of the whose mercies are new each garden and the ‘Experience Prestwich Mission Partnership on returning day: let the radiance of Easter’ curriculum. If you feel that the Feast of the Epiphany. your Spirit renew our lives, you are able to contribute or Canon Steve Williams will be warming our hearts and giving support in any way to our preaching and presiding at St light to our minds; that we may initiatives – your help will be Mary’s at 1030. pass the coming year in joyful gratefully received. Please let obedience and firm faith; Reverend Chris know. I look through him who is the beginning forward to working with you all and the end, your Son, Christ our in the future and being a part of Lord. the St Mary’s family. Please say hello when you see me at Sunday service. Our next school service will be on Sunday 5th February, Thinking Anglicans is a website with Year 6. Kindest regards and for thoughtful contributions to blessings, Sarah Jones the proclamation of the gospel

Over recent months we have message. Thinking The Epiphany is sometimes Anglicans aims to proclaim a welcomed a number of new known as The Manifestation of members to the governing body tolerant, progressive and Christ to the Gentiles. This compassionate Christian of our parish school, and bade emphasises that, from the farewell to some long serving spirituality, in which justice is moment of Christ’s birth, the central to the proclamation of members who have stood down. good news of Jesus is for all. We welcome Helen Parsons, Alun the good news of the kingdom of Bishop Lancelot Andrewes God. Thinking Anglicans takes Evans and Claire Robinson who preached this in 1620: are joining the Board of the form of ‘blogs’ in which “There came from the East wise writers place their thoughts on Governance. Very many thanks men – Gentiles – and that go to Derek Hughes, Claire Hirst the website for all to read - most concerns us, for so are we. of the writers are active and Adele McKie who have stood Christ’s birth is made manifest to down from the Board. Special Anglicans. Thinking Anglicans is a them by the star of heaven. It is place for a tolerant, thoughtful thanks go to Adele who has the Gentile’s star, and so ours served faithfully as Chair of the and understanding exploration of too. We may set our course by it, Christian faith. Explore the site at Board. Jackie Preston has to seek and find, and worship him recently been appointed Chair www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk as well as they. The wise men are and we wish her well in that new come and we with them. Not role and ministry. Please only in their own names, but in continue to pray for the life of ours did they make their entry – our parish school: came and sought and found and The Parish of St Mary the Virgin, Prestwich www.stmarysprestwich.org Page 2

St Mary’s Monthly News

Diary Dates Sunday 29 January – Celebration of Candlemas Sunday 8 January – Feast of the Epiphany & Sunday 5 February – Year 6 join us at 1030 Celebration of the Prestwich Mission Partnership – Sunday 26 February – The new , Rt Canon Steve Williams presiding at St Mary’s at 1030. Revd , presiding at the 1030 Eucharist. Sunday 22 January – The Wednesday 1 March – Ash Wednesday presiding at the 1030 Eucharist.

Mother Teresa Charles Gore, Bishop and his connection with the Anti Corn “The fruit of silence is prayer. Founder of the Community of the Law League, and the prominent The fruit of prayer is faith. Resurrection, who died in 1932. part for which, for many years, The fruit of faith is love. Born in 1835 he became one of he took in local and general The fruit of love is service.” the most influential of Anglican politics in Manchester. His Theologians. He was concerned impressive monument is situated to bring Christian principles to in our Churchyard and is Listed bear on social issues and was Grade 2* It was sculpted by John renowned for his preaching. In Thomas and cost approximately the 1890s he was the founder of £3000 at the time. It comprises a the Community of the panelled pedestal of granite set Resurrection which later settled upon a large, square plinth, and at Mirfield in West Yorkshire, and was originally enclosed by railings from 1902 he was successively which were removed as part of , the war effort during World War Birmingham and Oxford. 2. The monument is made of Sicilian marble with niches to From the writings of Mother each of the 4 faces. These Teresa, who was declared a Saint contain life-sized female figures of the Church last year. in classical dress.The north face

holds the figure "Industry" Our Bishops depicted with a wheel, the west face has "Commerce" shown with bales of cotton, the east face has "Charity" depicted with babes in arms and the south face Information on the life of the contains the figure"Integrity". Community of the Resurrection If you wish to view this significant today can be found at monument, it is situated just On 22 January we welcome www.mirfieldcommunity.org.uk: beyond the church tower at the Bishop Mark Davies (Bishop of “We live together as brothers in top of the slope leading down to Middleton) to St Mary’s and on Christ, rooted in the Anglican Clough Drive. 26 February Bishop Mark tradition and formed in the

Ashcroft, the new Bishop of monastic round of prayer, Bolton, will join us at our 1030 worship and ministry. We Eucharist. Read more about the welcome others to come, see, Bishops of the Diocese of learn and share.” The The Prayer Tree in the Wilton Manchester (pictured above) on Community symbol is pictured Chapel at St Mary’s is a focus for the diocesan website at: above. prayer. Please feel encouraged www.manchester.anglican.org/bishop to leave a prayer on the tree at Church Yard News any of our services – you can also Saints of January John Brooks died in Cheetham light a candle as a sign of your On 17 January the Church of Hill in October 1849. This prayer. England calendar remembers gentleman was well known for

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St Mary’s Monthly News

Regular worship at St Mary’s Sunday Gospel Readings God is with us wherever we go

Mark Russell, Chief Executive of 1 January the Church Army, reflects on the 0800 Luke 2: 15-21 enduring love and care of God: 1030 Luke 2: 15-21 “Anything is possible with God. 8 January He is amazing, wonderful, loving 0800 Matthew 2: 1-12 and he is for us. God holds us in 1030 Matthew 2: 1-12 the palm of his hand and shelters Sunday 15 January us with his arm. We are not 0800 Eucharist 0800 John 2: 1-11 alone, we are loved, we are held, 1030 Sung Eucharist 1030 John 1: 29-42 we are accompanied on our Tuesday 22 January journey. Sometimes we don’t 0730 Morning Prayer* 0800 Matthew 8: 1-13 notice Jesus walking alongside Wednesday 1030 Matthew 4: 12-23 us, but he is always there”. 0730 Morning Prayer* 29 January Church Army is an Anglican 1000 Eucharist 0800 Luke 2: 22-40 mission organisation. More Thursday 1030 Luke 2: 22-40 information can be found at 0730 Eucharist* www.churcharmy.org 1000 Pre-School Praise We welcome contributions to St Friday Mary’s Monthly News by email to 0730 Morning Prayer* [email protected] 0915 Eucharist in St Mary’s School Giving to St Mary’s God calls us into a life of love and Services marked * take place in the Oratory at the Rectory, Church Lane. abundant blessings. Giving and our use of money are important spiritual issues. We invite you to Web: www.stmarysprestwich.org consider how God is calling you Twitter: @stmaryprestwich to make an appropriate level of E: [email protected] giving towards the life of the Post: St Mary the Virgin, Church parish. Our giving is a key part of Lane, M25 1AN living out our faith. Parish Priest: Chris Wedge telephone 0161 773 2912 Church Wardens: Stewart Barnet telephone 07950 354445; Julia Dutton telephone 07931 293470 Children are a valued part of our community. Junior Church meets on Sunday at 1030. The St Mary’s parish prayer Prestwich Mission Partnership Loving Father, we pray your Youth Group meets on Sunday at blessing on our parish. Help us to 1830. The 22nd Prestwich Scout have hearts open to your Holy Group meets on weekday Spirit. Give us the courage to evenings. Pre-School Praise is on follow the way of Christ. Thursdays at 1000. We enjoy a To find out more, please contact Strengthen us to be faithful in close relationship with our Parish Adele McKie 0161 773 9544. prayer and loving service. Help School. More information at: www.stmarysprestwich.org/church-groups. us to play our part in building up your Kingdom here and now.

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