Church Web Site

All Saints now has a web site giving an overview of what we offer to the community.

Summer Walks!

Our summer walks take place on Thursday evenings this year, and will continue until 22nd July. We meet at 7pm prompt, on All Saints car park.
Below is a list of the leaders for each walk and the name of the pub where we have a drink after the walk. We aim to reach the pub around 9pm. anyone who cannot make the walk, but who would like to meet for a drink and a chat (and possibly chips!) is very welcome.
If there are any problems with these arrangements please contact Geoff Walton.

Date	Leader	Pub
13 May	Mike Smithers	Royal Oak, Rushton Spencer
20 May	Robert Marshall	The Crag Wildboarclough
27 May	Geoff Walton	Harrington Arms, Gawsworth
3 Jun	Chris Campbell-Kelly	The Cat and Fiddle	Note - we park there, we're drinking at the Stanley Arms!
10 Jun	Jim Magnall	Queen's Arms, Bosley
17 Jun	Maurice Hotchkin	Robin Hood, Rainow
24 Jun	Pete McKenzie	The Wizard, Alderley Edge
1 Jul	Alison McKenzie	Edgerton Arms, Astbury
8 Jul	Phil Marsh	Leather Smithy, Macclesfield Forest
15 Jul	Brian Gleaves	Old Park Gate, Over Peover
22 Jul	Laurie Brown	Miners Arms, Adlington

New for Sunday..

... all welcome!

A visitor's perspective

Here's some impressions of the All Saints community from a recent visitor - for regulars to read and also for those thinking of joining us.

I have been asked to describe All Saints from the perspective of someone new to the church, something which may be of interest to long term members and to anyone new to the area and considering this church.
My first impressions of All Saints (apart from the rather daunting look of the church from the outside) were positive. Although All Saints could be described as a broadly traditional or middle of the road Anglican Church, it isn’t stuffy or overly formal and Dave Mock (team vicar) is down to earth and approachable; his first words to me were, 'So what are you doing here then?', quickly amended to, 'It’s nice to see you here today!'
I am currently a bit between churches and am possibly looking for a new place of worship. I have visited a few churches in Macclesfield and the welcome has varied according to the church. I only went to one church where nobody spoke to me at all, even though I stayed for coffee (I’m not naming names!) and it did make me think that warmth and friendliness is not always the greatest strength of the Church of England. All Saints does score well in this respect because of the very welcoming sidespersons, a nice atmosphere during worship and the breakfast offered afterwards. The breakfast at All Saints is a definite plus, you won’t find a few rich teas on a plate but things like warm croissants, fruit bread, scones, jam, butter and fruit. It really is rather delicious.
So, warmth of welcome, food, what else...oh, yes, the preaching! I haven’t been to a church with a team ministry for nearly twenty years and thought I would prefer a church with just one vicar. It is good though to have a range of preaching. I’ve been to All Saints on four occasions and have heard Dave Mock and Rob Wardle preach. In my opinion the quality of preaching at All Saints is excellent - and I would say if I thought otherwise – all of the sermons have been interesting and accessible but also sufficiently challenging to give food for thought afterwards. I also broadly remember what all the sermons have been about so far, just don’t ask me in four months time!
One thing that can attract new people to a church is the type of events on offer apart from the Sunday service. All Saints has regular walks, and the service sheet today listed bingo, a fellowship meeting and an upcoming barn dance, BBQ and coach trip. One thing I’d like to see more of in All Saints is young families – I’m sure everyone else would as well! I did notice a reference to 'Blur and Focus' on the welcome sheet and I wondered if this was a youth group and what it involved?(ed. yes they are - there's details on one of the notice boards!)

Summer Walks - the photos

part of the party, originally uploaded by rajmarshall.

The All Saints' walks have been going for a few weeks, this is a picture taken on Thursday at Henbury Hall. More photos of the glorious evening are on my flickr pages here. I'm tagging the pictures I've taken this year and so you'll find them here. We then had a pleasant drink at the Blacksmith's Arms

Summer Walks '09

Our summer walks will take place on Thursday evening this year, and will continue each Thursday until the last walk on Thursday 24 July. We meet at 7pm prompt, on All Saints car park.
Below is a list of the leaders for each walk and the name of the pub where we have a drink after the walk! We aim to reach the pub around 9pm. anyone who cannot make the walk, but who would like to meet for a drink and a chat is very welcome.
If there are any problems with these arrangements please contact Geoff Walton.

Date	Leader	Pub
14/May	Mike Smithers	Ryles Arms, Higher Sutton
21/May	Robert Marshall	The Wizard Alderley Edge	Note change of pub!
28/May	Geoff Walton	Blacksmiths Arms	Meet at 6:40!
04/Jun	Brian Gleaves	Old Park Gate Over Peover
11/Jun	Jim Magnall	Royal Oak, Rushton Spencer
18/Jun	Maurice Hotchkin	Robin Hood, Rainow
25/Jun	Pete McKenzie	Ship Inn, Wincle
02/Jul	Alison McKenzie	Horseshoe Inn, Astbury
09/Jul	Phil Marsh	Leather Smithy, Macclesfield Forest
16/Jul	Chris Campbell-Kelly	Harrington Arms, Gawsworth	List says Bosley...
23/Jul	Laurie Brown	Miners Arms, Adlington
30/Jul	Car Treasure Hunt	Church House Sutton	We hope to arrange this

Service times

After some discussion the church has decided to change the service time from 10:30 to 9:30 and yesterday was the first day of the new era. It was good to sit down afterwards with a croissant/roll without having to worry about rushing back for lunch! The new time enables Dave to be there, if required, any Sunday. Hopefully it will give us opportunities too!

Habemus Vicar

Welcoming Dave, originally uploaded by rajmarshall.

(we have a vicar!)
A picture of Chris welcoming, on our behalf, Dave Mock on his first official Sunday! Another picture on flickr.

Christmas

A couple of pictures from the All Saints Christmas preparations:
and from carol singing this evening:

Services are

• Wed 24th 11:30pm Midnight Communion
• Christmas Day 10:30am Family Communion
• 28th 11am Team Service at St Michael's
• and a New Years eve party (on 31st Dec!) at 8pm

Dec-Jan rota

I've just started on the next two months rota and my current state of working is downloadable from here. I'll have it maybe more complete tomorrow in church but at the moment it is in a fairly good state of completeness!

An angel

inside Lastingham church, originally uploaded by rajmarshall.

I spoke a little about this from our recent walk in N Yorks on Sunday, (and have blogged elsewhere), but let me make this visible here too. The thoughts of the previous post linger here as well.

SERVE Afghanistan

Those who go to All Saints will know that an ex-member of the church is currently in Kabul with SERVE. After the murder of Gayle Williams we have received the following message which may be helpful:

We know that some of you have already seen on the news that one of our team mates and friends, Gayle Williams, was shot dead this morning as she walked to work at the SERVE office. We want to let you know that we are all safe, so please do not worry for our safety. We ask for your prayers for Gayle's family in England and South Africa, and your prayers for everybody here as we deal with this loss.

Psalm 23 'Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil....'

I've removed some detail and the names for their protection. For your prayers

Oct-Nov rota

I've just started on the next two months rota and my current state of working is downloadable from here. As that page says some of the sub rotas are just straight copies of the current one until I get around to inserting the proper data!
Update: I think it is now more or less complete - corrections welcome in all columns!

The choir

Chris spoke this morning on building one's relationship with God, in good and bad times.
She used this part of 'The Choir' (and the scene before it!)

Holiday Club 2008

Andy closing the Holiday club, originally uploaded by rajmarshall.

Again with the Rhema theatre group - based around the theme of Moses. Here's Andy Bull thanking everyone

DCC

Church committees often seem boring, but on Tuesday we'll be meeting to discuss important issues of staffing across the team. Do pray for the DCC members as they think over these difficult issues!

The Car Rally

As mentioned a bit back, we are holding a car rally this Thursday. We'll be ending up at a local hostelry. If you don't have transport - turn up anyway as there are spare spaces in cars. First departure will be from the church car park at 6:45!

Aug-Sept Rota

Is going to be printed soon and an electronic copy of the draft is in the usual place

Hope 08

Litterpickers, originally uploaded by rajmarshall.

We've been litter picking in Macclesfield for Hope08. Festival, service and funday tomorrow...no service in church - everyone at West Park. Then (this morning) on to the St Albans coffee morning to raise money for this years trip to Lourdes. Couple more pictures on my flickr pages.

Summer walks '08 (again)

The first walk has taken place and I'll be recording photos of the walks I attend, on my flickr pages, in an album here. This week's will not be as advertised (time change too!) - contact me for details!