The Messenger Parish Magazine of St Michael and All Angels, Middlewich with St John the Evangelist, Byley The New Archdeacon of Macclesfield! February 2011 50p Service plan for February 2011 Tuesday 1st February Healing Service 9.30am Thursday 3rd February Communion 9.30am 6th February– Fifth Sunday before Lent 8.00am Middlewich Communion 9.15am Middlewich Communion 11.00am Middlewich Communion 11.am Byley Morning Prayer 6.30pm Middlewich Evening Praise Tuesday 8th February Healing Service 9.30am Thursday 10th February Communion 9.30am 13th February– Fourth Sunday before Lent 9.15am Middlewich Communion 11.00am Middlewich Morning Praise 11.am Byley Communion 2.30pm Middlewich Baptism 6.30pm Middlewich Evensong 20th February– Third Sunday before Lent 9.15am Middlewich Communion 11.00am Middlewich All Age Service 11.am Byley Morning Prayer 6.30pm Middlewich Evening Praise Tuesday 22nd February Healing Service 9.30am Thursday 24th February Communion 9.30am 27th February– Second Sunday before Lent 9.15am Middlewich Communion 11.00am Middlewich Morning Praise 11.am Byley Communion 2.30pm Middlewich Baptism 6.30pm Middlewich Bereavement Service 6.30pm Middlewich,No.28 Church at 28 2 A letter from the Churchwardens We are entering a new and exciting phase for St Michael & All Angels, Middlewich and St John the Evangelist, Byley. Candidates were interviewed at the end of January and verbal updates will continue to be given by the parish representatives. The time before our new incumbent is appointed provides new opportunities for all members of our congregations to strengthen relationships with the staff team (churchwardens, clergy, director of music and family work, readers, pastoral workers, office manager, PCC Chairman) and vice versa. Paul’s letter to the Romans emphasises how important each person’s God given gifts are to building up God’s Church. Romans 12 verses 4 – 8 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do so cheerfully. To continue to build up God’s Church and spread the Gospel throughout our communities we must realise that all gifts and abilities come from God; understand that not everyone has the same gifts know who we are and what we do best encourage each other and dedicate our gifts to God’s service. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men . Ephesians 6 verse 7 Linda, Steve, Fiona St Michael and All Angels Middlewich Bruce and Alan St John the Evangelist, Byley 3 Ian’s Leaving Party Everyone was invited to a leaving party in church before the candlelight service. Everyone brought food, and there was a sumptuous feast. Mulled wine was dispensed, and there was lots of time to chat. Ian was presented with some gifts-a very special memory book, a picture of St, Michael’s (for his collection, to go with the one of St John’s from Byley), a triptych of Jesus laughing, and funds to buy some garden furniture. Ian told us how he had very nearly not come to Middlewich, but had never regretted taking that fateful step. We wish Ian, Sue and the boys every happiness in their new life, but we’ll miss them! Apology We apologise that in the November’s edition of "The Messenger" we printed an article about the new Notice Board that now sits on Hightown at the bottom of Queen Street. This may have been misleading. In particular we would like to acknowledge with grateful thanks the most generous gift that made the new Notice Board possible. The board was provided by Will Moreton and family in memory of Isabel and Bert Moreton who for many years played a key role in the life of the Church. We would publicly want to acknowledge how special it is to celebrate the life of a couple who gave generously to the Church in their lifetime and how wonderful it is that their family want to remember them in this way. Once again we apologise for any hurt that may have been caused by anything that was said or unsaid in our last article. St Michael’s is a properly registered charity, number 1127335 4 St Michael’s Financial Position In the December Messenger we said that we would be reviewing the financial position once the results for 2010 were known. The PCC met on 10th January and reviewed the preliminary results for the year: the good news is that the deficit we forecast in October has been halved – partly from reduced costs and partly from increased giving - but we still have to subsidise the day to day operation of the church from reserves to the tune of about £10,000, which is not sustainable. About 50 people indicated in the October questionnaire that they would be doing something positive to increase their giving, and of those about half have done so. Some said that they would do so from a later date, and we are looking forward to seeing all the pledges put in place. We are not out of the wood yet, and the PCC will be keeping the situation under review. Please continue to pray with us about this situation, and become part of the solution if you are able to. Our aim is to break even by the end of 2011. The leadership of St Michael’s wants very much to see our ministry and the church itself expand over the next few years – but we can’t do so without a sound financial basis. Mike Reed Stuart Barber PCC Vice Chairman Treasurer HOMECOMING (A theatre trip to Derby) The journey we all make to find ourselves A One Act Play written and performed by Russ Parker featuring songs from Phil Baggaley & Band. Friday 18th February 2011 Derby Theatre (Studio) 8.00pm Tickets £10.00 each Tickets available Tel:01332 345936 or 01332 550488 If interested please speak to Merle Ikin (01606 832596)or Elaine Reynolds (01606 832596) 5 Flood! You will probably know that on 28th December the water meter at Number 28 burst as a result of the very cold weather resulting in water flowing from the back door to the front door and out into the street for several hours. The po- lice rang Ian – no one had told them that he’d left – so he and a hardy band of volunteers (thank you everyone!) spent several hours drying the place out. United Utilities responded quickly and replaced the meter the same day. With the aid of dehumidifiers and the central heating over the next couple of weeks the drying job was completed and the building is being used as nor- mal. Fortunately the damage was restricted to the ground floor. However, quite a lot of the flooring has been damaged: some carpets and vinyl flooring will have to be replaced; the woodblock floor requires partial relaying and then sanding and re varnishing and several of the skirting boards need to be re- placed. The good news is that we are insured for all but £50 of the damage, and we now know that there is one more vulnerable place which needs to be protected next year. Mike Reed Church @ 28 Church@28 is a new and experimental Sunday evening service which aims to provide a friendly, informal and welcoming environment for both regular Church members and also those attending Church for the first time. At the time of writing, the scheduled services are 30th January and 27th February at Number 28, starting at 6:30pm and lasting no more than one hour. The service will contain elements including music, prayer, Bible teaching, inter- view slot and a review of the newspapers! All are welcome – if you are reading this article then it very much includes you! Robert Reed is organising the service and can be contacted on 07834 287905 6 Missions and Charities In 2009, we met for the first time a target the PCC had set some years earlier to give 10% of our ‘voluntary income’ – the income the parish receives from you and me – to missions and charities. Despite the financial situation, the PCC decided to continue this policy in 2010, and would like to do the same in 2011. In addition to this, we have also raised money for other charities such as the Children’s Society and the Missionary Aviation Fellowship. We have however realised that what we do is not well publicised within the church, and in particular that we have not communicated much about the work of the individual charities, and have resolved to improve the situation during 2011. The PCC have chosen four charities for 2011. These are: St Luke’s Hospice Save the Family Christ for all in Andhra Pradesh South American Missionary Society During the first three months of 2011 we will be concentrating on St Luke’s Hospice, and the following three months will belong to Save the Family. Ian challenged us in December to find a ‘champion’ for each charity who can help promote the work they do. We have someone to lead on the first two, but are still looking for people to take on Christ for All and SAMS .