ST DAVID’S WETTENHALL & ST OSWALD’S WORLESTON FEBRUARY 2016 Not what you expect on a Sunday morning at Church…… but the theme was the Wedding at Cana ! THE CROSS COUNTRY PARISHES OF ACTON, CHURCH MINSHULL, WETTENHALL & WORLESTON A letter from the Vicar Dear Friends Turning towards the Cross You have probably realised by now that this is one of those years when Easter falls so early that we move with almost indecent haste from the Christmas Season into Lent. The sudden change of mood challenges us, but this can be a strength. only one such shadow), the quick succession of the seasons can serve On 31 January we celebrated the to remind us that at its heart, last great feast of the Christmas Christmas is about Emmanuel, God Season; the Feast of the with us. The baby born to save us by Presentation of Christ in the Temple, his coming death on the cross. more popularly known as Candlemas which falls on 2 February. We For almost forty days we have remembered that forty days after worshipped adoringly at the manger. Christmas, Mary & Joseph presented We have journeyed with the wise Jesus in the Temple, as the Jewish men. We have witnessed the sheer Law required. It was during this visit panic of Mary and Joseph as they to the Temple in Jerusalem that searched for a lost 12 year old and Simeon recognised Jesus as the then shared in their incomprehension Christ and made his chilling that their son is about his Father’s prophecy that a sword would pierce business. We have witnessed Jesus’ Mary’s heart. A prophesy which baptism and his first miracle at the surely reached its awful climax as wedding in Cana. Now, as we move Mary stood at the foot of the cross. towards Lent it is time for us to do as Jesus did and turn towards the cross. Just ten days later, on 10 February, we mark the beginning of Lent on CONTENTS Ash Wednesday. It marks the start Letter………………… Page 2 of our own journey towards Good Sunday Services…….. Page 3 Friday and the cross. Wettenhall News……. Page 4-6 Recipe……. Page 7 Sometimes we can be shocked, Plough Sunday… Page 12-13 almost offended, at the speed at Worleston News…… P a g e 16 - 1 7 Lent Course…….. Page17 which Lent and Easter follow the St Oswald’s School… Page 22 Christmas Season. Yet, if we allow Contacts…………….. Page 23 the shadow of the cross to fall across Christian Aid Quiz Page 24 Christmas (and Simeon’s prophecy is 2 As we travel through the cold days of ASH WEDNESDAY late winter and early spring, the challenge to us is to travel with Jesus Wednesday 9th from the manger to the cross. For the February manger and the cross are not unrelated. They are entwined, UNITED inseparable aspects of Emmanuel, God with us in the manger and on the COMMUNION cross. Yours in the God who continues to be 10.30am Emmanuel, St Mary’s, Acton Revd Anne Sunday Worship in the Cross Country Parishes Sunday 7 February 14 Feb. comm21 28 Feb. 6 March Services Next before Lent 1 Feb. Lent 3 Mothering Lent Lent 2 (St David) Sunday Wettenhall 11am 11am 11am 11am 11am St David Morning Communion All Age Patronal All Age Prayer Service Service with Service Bp. Libby Worleston 11am 9.30am 11am 11am 11am St Oswald All Age Communion Morning United at All Age Service Prayer Wettenhall Service Acton 11am 8am 10am 8am 11am St Mary Communion Communion Messy Communion All Age 6.30pm 11am Church 11am Service Evening Morning 6.30pm United at 6.30pm Prayer Prayer Communion Wettenhall Communion 6.30pm 6.30pm Evening Evening Prayer Prayer Church 9.30am 11am 11am 11am 11am Minshull Communion Café Church Communion Messy Café Church St Bartholo (BCP) Church -mew 3 ST DAVID’S CHURCH, THANK YOU WETTENHALL A huge thank you to Michael Cookson Visit www.wettenhallchurch.org.uk who has been PCC Treasurer for many years. SIDESPERSONS Michael managed to make the job 7 Feb Mr J Hignett seem effortless and always produced 14 Feb Mrs M Sherry the accounts within days of the year 21 Feb Brownies & Guides end! His Treasurer's Reports were al- 28 Feb Mr G Tucker ways brief and to the point. We are 6th Mar Mrs M. Hollinshead indebted to him for all that he has done and hope that he has more time to CLEANING & FLOWERS spend with Sally in the future! Feb 7/14* Mrs H Wilson & Family Thanks also to Gail Ward who has tak- Feb 21*/28* Mrs S. Ward & en over as PCC Treasurer for this Mrs I Drinkall year. Mar 6*/13* Mrs M Sherry 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF RAF * Please note that Lent begins on 10th HARRIER COLLISION OVER Feb when we no longer need flowers. WETTENHALL (Although we will make an exception January 19th marked the 40th for our Patronal Festival on 28th anniversary of the mid-air collision over February!) the parish. The two young pilots, James Downey and John Roberts both died in the accident. The widow of James CONGRATULATIONS Downey has been in touch expressing .Dr Christine Howard! her desire to visit the parish again in Christine has passed her PhD in bio- order to mark the occasion and to pass logical sciences on the abundance of on, her and her families, best wishes to European breeding birds: present and the people of Wettenhall. future. Apparently birds are a good Along with her family, she marked the natural environmental indicator. date by taking flowers to the cemetery After many years of hard work study- at RAF Wittering. ing we wish Christine well as she Our thoughts and prayers are with both passes on her knowledge to others at families at this time. conferences around the world. MORE BIRTHDAY CONGRATULATIONS! Maddison Warrington There are some special 'O' Nathan Moss birthday celebrations this month! Niamh Ward Congratulations to Anne Brooks, Cate Gregory & David Drinkall. We hope you all have a lovely 4 WELL DONE! Darnhall Brownies, Guides and church members sang their hearts out on an even- ing of Carolling in aid of the Salvation Army. An amazing total of £191 was raised for the local branch. Grateful thanks to all who supported in refreshments, chauf- feuring and donating to such a worthy cause. Carols continued on the Sunday before Christmas at the annual Carol Service which concluded with delicious mulled wine and warm mince pies. Christmas Eve saw a packed church of angels, shepherds, wise men, stars and of course, Mary, Joseph and the donkey, on their way to Bethlehem. Finally the waiting was over and the present opening was enjoyed by children and adults alike at the Family Eucharist on Christmas Day. We were all reminded of the greatest gift ever given to the world - Emmanuel, God with us. ST.DAVID'S PATRONAL FESTIVAL A warm welcome is extended to everyone in the United Benefice to share in the celebration of St. David's Day. This year we are celebrating on Sunday 28th February at 11.00am and we are particularly looking forward to a visit by the Rt. Reverend Libby Lane, Bishop of Stockport. This service is always a joyful reminder of our connection to St. David and a chance to raise the roof in singing some of our favourite Welsh hymn tunes. Refreshments, as usual will follow., COFFEE & CAKE AT ST DAVID’S The next meetings will take place on Thursday February 4th and on March 3rd from 10am-12noon. Everyone is welcome to drop in! 5 Calveley School Report Calveley Eco Committee got the opportunity to visit Tesco in Crewe in order to learn more about food miles, food waste and recycling with the Farm to Fork project. Nine children, accompanied by Mrs Huntbach, Mrs Edge and Mrs Sloyan, were treated to a look around the bakery where they were able to design their own ‘Hedgehog’ bread. This was to be baked for them later. The children were then taken on a tour of the recycling areas. (continued on next page) 6 RECIPE CRUSTLESS SAVOURY TART Ingredients: 1 teaspoon parsley or mixed herbs 4oz/110g chopped ham or cooked 1/2 teaspoon salt bacon 1/2 teaspoon pepper 4oz/110g grated cheese (strong cheddar) Method: 1 large chopped onion Mix all ingredients thoroughly. 2 eggs Pour into greased pie dish. Bake at 1 cup of milk 180C or 350F or gas mark 4 for 35 1 heaped tablespoon plain flour minutes. 1 teaspoon dried mustard ASH WEDNESDAY Wednesday 9th February UNITED COMMUNION 10.30am at St Mary’s, Acton ( Report continued from previous page) They were shown how Tesco separates materials for disposal. Some of their food waste now gets donated to local charities, homeless shelters or people in need. Finally, they walked around the fruit and vegetable aisles looking at food packaging to see how far some of our food has travelled. The morning finished with a question and answer session, healthy snack and a certificate. (But one question remains -) How many seeds does a strawberry have? 7 8 WETTENHALL COUNTRYSIDE MAINTENANCE Your local family business DOMESTIC Driveways & patios built & repaired Steam clean makes the above safe Landscaping & Fencing EQUESTRIAN Ménages, Fencing, Muck stores & Stables All built & repaired Muck heaps removed All field work considered AGRICULTURE Tractor & man, JCB site master for hire All agricultural work considered We move heaven & earth to help For advice or a free quote call: Pete on 01270 528244/07960223920 Or Dave on 07815200913 9 ALWRIGHT GRANTS BUTCHERS CARPENTER & JOINER Based in Nantwich All types of Carpentry (Within Minshull Nurseries) Doors, Windows, Flooring, Repairs, Kitchens, Wardrobes A fine range of quality meats.