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!

June-July Rota

Is about to be printed and an electronic copy is in the usual place

Always rushing?

From Simon Tugwell's book on prayer:

God invites us to take a holiday [vacation], to stop being God for a while, and let him be God. God is inviting us to take a break, to play truant. We can stop doing all those important things we have to do in our capacity as God, and leave it to him to be God.

I was aware this morning that Sunday lunch - which I normally cook was complicated and so planned to rush off after church to get home. For some reason I didn't and because I didn't, I discovered something - a problem - which because I waited, could be planned and managed. If I had rushed off I would have discovered the problem next Sunday when it would have been considerably more of a problem.
Then that evening, to Choral Evensong at St Michael's to hear Graham T on prayer as wasting time with God and hence my digging out of the above Tugwell quote. If we don't rush we can listen, we can think, we can pray, we can decide rather than letting events drive us.

Summer walks '08

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.

• 15 May Mike Smithers
  Ryles Arms Higher Sutton
  
• 22 May Laurie Brown
  Stanley Arms Wildboarclough
  
• 29 May Robert Marshall
  Crag car park. Wildboarclough
  
• 5 June Brian Gleaves
  The Old Park Gate Over Peover
  
• 12 June Chris Campbell-Kelly
  Royal Oak Rushton Spencer
  
• 19 June Maurice Hotchkin
  The Robin Hood Rainow
  
• 26 June Pete McKenzie
  The Ship Inn Wincle
  
• 3 July Alison McKenzie
  Horseshoe Inn Astbury
  
• 10 July Phil Marsh
  Leather Smithy Macclesfield Forest
  
• 17 July Jim Magnall
  Royal Oak Rushton Spencer
  
• 24 July Geoff Walton
  Miners Arms Adlington
  
• 31 July We hope to arrange a Car Treasure Hunt from the church car park ending at The Church House Inn at Sutton
  

I have a pdf of the leaflet - I don't want to put it on the web as it has phone numbers in it - I think there are still some left in church. If you want a copy emailed contact me (Robert Marshall)

ADCM

View from the stalls of this morning's annual district church meeting

Dave Mock and Pat Gaskell at a meeting at the end of morning service which I thought was good for sorts of reasons!

Easter!

Something I did for this morning with a few pictures from New Year.

April-May rota

A working version...is here - critiques and complaints of victimisation welcome! The final version will look prettier too!

Worship today

but where? - cartoon at ASBO Jesus

Feb-March Rota

here is an initial (draft!) pdf version with the source file - though you will need to have openoffice.org (a free download) installed to read the original source!

Seeking new vision

Graham writes:

We are looking for an outgoing and adventurous person to come and join us in our close knit staff team. You should enjoy working with others and not be afraid of change.

The job spec is available from here. Applications welcome :-)

The New Year Walk

phot0897.jpg, originally uploaded by rajmarshall.

New Years day is the occasion for the traditional New Years day walk up Shutlingsloe

The full set of photos is here on flickr