A monthly round-up of news, views, events arish and services at P St. George’s, Heaviley, SK2 6NU, rapevine and St. Gabriel’s, Adswood in the G Parish of St. George, Stockport. www.stgeorgestockport.org.uk Dear Readers, We are sad, yet honoured, to include several tributes, recorded memories and obituaries, to no I HOPE you enjoyed a healthy and happy less than four lovely Christian ladies who have Christmas and New Year. While the weather has been involved at St George’s over many years. been relatively kind to us here, my heart goes out We can all learn from their devotion and service to those unfortunate enough to have had their to others. homes and businesses flooded out and who are still struggling to return to normality. I remember I read in today’s local newspaper (22nd the relatively minor panic when my electrical January) that our Bishop of Stockport, the Rt Rev. supply totally failed 18 months ago resulting in Robert Atwell, has very recently been appointed the need for a complete re-wiring of the house. It the next Bishop of Exeter. He will be the 71st was summer, so no heating problems to speak of, Bishop of the Diocese of Exeter, which but concern about the deep freezer and its comprises more than 500 parishes across Devon. contents became paramount, resulting in a long I’m sure we all wish him well in the new extension cable being plugged in to my appointment and thank him for his help and cooperative next door neighbour’s outside power guidance during his relatively short time with us. socket, trailed through the hedge and terminating The announcement was made by the Prime in my outhouse where the freezer lives. Other Minister’s office yesterday. Bishop Robert’s shorter extension leads and two-way sockets leaving service will be held at St George’s on were incorporated from there to serve the T.V Saturday 12th April 2014 at 11am. and essential lighting. Problem solved, and Owing to the changing content of members of house duly re-wired within a fortnight with only the team of Garden Gnomes, some now having a me living there to be inconvenienced. But – if mother-tongue other than English, the previous you’ve been flooded out, and possibly still are, it monthly Garden Gnomes item will will be a very different story altogether, not to understandably now appear in alternate issues of mention a ruined Christmas. the magazine commencing with the next (March) The recent funeral of local teenager, Adam issue. Pickup, at St George’s involved a congregation of To end on matters concerning the ‘home front’, about 750 and much traffic chaos on the adjacent the Christmas and New Year season has A6. I believe it was a moving service and featured two additional blessings on my family: indicative of the depth of feeling with which the formal engagement of number three human nature can react to such unfortunate grandson to his long-term lady friend, and the tragedies, giving support to the bereaved and birth of number three great-grandchild, courtesy friends. I hope that the service and the of number one granddaughter and husband. magnificent venue in which it was conducted will Blessings indeed - I count them all daily! The remain long in the memories of those present, for new mother received a copy of a poem from many of whom it was perhaps their first much-loved relatives in the U.S.A. It’s rather experience of such an event in such touching and I take the liberty of reproducing it surroundings. I also hope we are able to keep in herein on page 21. touch with, at least, the family concerned. God Bless. Sincerely yours, Mark Lane. Editor Ÿ What’s Where... P10 Organ fund update Ÿ P18-20 Obituary, tribute and Ÿ Ÿ P2 Who’s who P11 Christmas with Praise memories Ÿ P3 Clergy Letter and Play Ÿ P20 Bishops welcome Ÿ Ÿ P5 Next year the Nativity P13 Puzzles observers Ÿ Ÿ P6-7 Parish News P14 What is a rural dean? Ÿ P21 Music List 80p Ÿ Ÿ P8 Children’s Page P15 Book review Ÿ P22 St George’s Primary Ÿ Ÿ P9 Stockport Grammar P16-17 Christmas Tree School School news Festival reports Ÿ P23 Puzzle solutions/Recipe Who’s Who in the Parish of St George, Stockport Vicar of Rev. Canon Elaine Chegwin Hall Bible Study meets in church in Lent Mothers’ meet in the Parish Room, 2nd St. George’s 456 9382 Group on Wednesdays 11.15am. Union Monday of the month, 7.30pm Contact the clergy Christine Berry 01625 874546 Curate Vacant Assistant Priests Rev. Glenys Sellors Open Door in church every Wednesday 483 0359 Brownie for ages 7-10 years: meet from 7 - 7.45pm for Rev. Sandra Woodhead Guides in the Parish Room, anyone who would like 01663 765708 Thursday evenings. 6.30 - company or a chat 8pm. Rachel Lockett 775 Michael Coupe 612 0222 Parish Office 480 2453 2755, Evonne Lomas 292 Pastoral meets every month and visits 8216 or 07956 674241 Visiting Team the sick and housebound Magazine Mark Lane 439 2282 across the parish Chancel meets on 2nd Tuesday in Michael Coupe 612 0222 Guild the month from 9.30 - St George’s 12 noon, and cares for Praise & Play meet every Monday 9 to 11am the Chancel Pastoral Worker Audrey Manzano in church. Story time at 10am. Edna Tootell 483 5753 494 7054 For 0-4’s and their carers Choir sing for services at 10.15am Janet Neilson 483 9025 Reader Michael Coupe and 6.30pm, practise in the Pat Wilke 376 2494 Emeritus 612 0222 vestry on Thursday evening John Horton 339 5031 Press Officer Mark Lane 439 2282 Director of John Horton Music 339 5031 Church meet on first Tuesday from Rainbow for ages 5-7: meet in Cleaners 9.30am to 12noon Guides the Junior Hall, Fridays Dorothy Walton 483 3088 6.15 to 7.30pm Church Steven Kelly Trisha Brown 07403 353 175 wardens 439 9458 Church Isobel Garlick 440 9272 Susan Kirkland 0785 4101918 Judith Swift Flowers Marjorie Lees 483 3676 483 8681 Scouts for ages 10½ -14. Meet in Church meet on Tuesdays from 9.30 Deputy John Hayden 483 2367 Trinity Methodist on Gardeners am to 12.30 pm Church Andrew Regan 440 0408 Wednesday evenings from 7- Wardens 9pm Bill Frith 439 3232 Cub Scouts for ages 8-10½: meet in Treasurer Stephen Jones Trinity Methodist Fridays Singing Group sings at All-Age Service 439 6690 7.15 - 8.45pm. Bill Frith about once a month Secretary Hazel Jenkins 439 3232 Everyone welcome to join Debbie Heaton 483 4643 483 4679 Coffee in the Parish Room from Bookings for Parish Office (above) or Mornings 10.30am on Wednesdays Sunday Clubs meet during the Family Parish Rooms Andrew Garlick 440 9272 Dorothy Thompson 474 7058 Eucharist at 10.15am Sue Burt: 483 6446, Fellowship meet on 2nd and 4th Debbie Heaton: 483 4643 St George’s For ages 5-11 years of Marriage, Thursdays of the month Primary School Women's from 2pm in the Parish Sunday Creche The Creche is in the Lady Head teacher Mark Quinn 480 8657 Fellowship Room Chapel Edna Tootell 483 5753 Family Eucharist The Children’s Corner is at Verger Ian Staley the back of church 456 3093 Guardians of keep the church open during Deputy Verger Nigel Collison St George the week Website submissions, updates and 477 3715 Guides for ages 10-14: meet corrections Andrew Regan 440 0408 St George’s meets in the Meeting Thursdays in the Parish [email protected] Play Group Room Monday - Friday, Rooms 7.30-9pm www.stgeorgestockport.org.uk 9 - 11.30am and 12.30 - Jane Brocklehurst 07801 843810 3pm for ages 3 years St. Gabriel’s and upwards Heather Worth 477 2388 Churchwardens Frances Farrar Joanne Shannon 07591541389 Guild of meets once a month to pray Shirley Bailey St Raphael for the sick c/o 456 8749 Regular Church Groups and Activities Olga Jones 439 6690 Secretary John Sutcliffe Beaver Scouts for ages 6-7: meet in 286 2301 Trinity Methodist Fridays 6-7pm. Linen Guild maintains the church linen Tril Sutherland 480 5397 Bill Frith 439 3232 Treasurer Pat Margetts Magazine meets monthly to plan 483 0270 Bell ringers meet in the Tower on Editorial the subsequent issue Sundays at 9.45am and Group Mark Lane 439 2282 Bookings Shirley Bailey Mondays from 7.45pm. 456 8749 Anne Mayes 485 6477 Medical raises funds to help support Bible Notes are ordered on Regular Groups and Activities Missions the Church Mission Society Reading request Praise and Play meet every Friday 9.30-11am Committee Christine Berry 01625 874546 Fellowship Ian Staley 456 3093 in church. Story time 10am. For Kathleen Heawood 01663 762402 0-4’s and their carers Marie Flint 483 2321 2 parents with their children can make even the most apprehensive person start to feel at home. Mothers’ meet in the Parish Room, 2nd Love is afforded the highest accolade in the passage from 1Corinthians 13:4-13 and it needs to be shown in concrete acts and these may make us feel a bit out of our comfort zone but we need to imagine the courage that it takes some people actually to be in a church. Our thoughts, words and deeds need to emulate the great commandment to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength and your neighbour as yourself” Matthew 22:37-40 so that we show God’s love in our interactions with others and treat them and speak to them just as we would like for ourselves.