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

Christmas

A Happy Christmas from the fellowship at All Saints!

The Bishop pays a call

Way back in 2006 the Bishop of Chester booked a morning service with us for Advent Sunday 2007 - and that was today. He also found we had a baptism this morning with a sizable extra party but he coped very well with us as we are..photo is of him at coffee afterwards.

Bit of a rota

In view of my - currently chaotic schedule - here is part of the Dec-Jan rota

well it should give you opportunity to swap away from dates!
And here is a slighly more complete pdf version with the source file - though you will need to have openoffice.org (a free download) installed to read the original source!
The pdf link is now a complete rota and unless anyone spots something(!) will go to print!

Two links

Firstly a tribute to Anita Roddick on the Sojourner's blog telling of her rediscovery of faith through Greenbelt.
And an interview from the Church Times with Ray Gaston - I (Robert) used to be a lay reader at this church - though it wasn't quite as radical then!

Another rota

Again a draft is here for comment!

August-Sept Rota

A draft of the next rota is available for comment!

White Nancy

Having beaten my camera into submission here is a picture from last night's walk:
I'm putting all the Summer walks photos here on my home webserver - be kind to it!

New Rota

A new rota is available - only in draft at the moment - from here

Summer Walks '07

The Summer walks start on Tuesday - they are usually on Thursday evenings - but as the first one coincides with Ascension Day, that one has been moved slightly! The schedule looks like this -

• 15 May - Ryles Arms, Higher Sutton
  
• 24 May - Royal Oak, Rushton Spencer
  
• 31 May - Holly Bush, Bollington
  
• 7 June - The Old Park Gate, Over Peover
  
• 14 June - Stanley Arms, Wildboarclough
  
• 21 June - Rising Sun, Rainow
  
• 28 June - Ship Inn, Wincle
  
• 5 July - Horseshoe Inn, Astbury
  
• 12 July - Leather Smithy, Macclesfield Forest
  
• 19 July - Royal Oak, Rushton Spencer
  
• 26 JUly - Miners Arms, Adlington
  

You might think from the above that these are visits to pubs - but we do have a walk first. Meet up at the All Saints' Car Park at 7pm (that's generally a leaving time!)
I'll try to get around to editing this and adding some links to the various pub web sites!

Fifth Sunday

We try to do something different on the 5th Sunday of the month - when it happens. Today we had a Songs of Praise with Hymns introduced by 'ordinary' members of the congregation. Nothing ordinary in what they said - plenty of food for thought for the week.
On Friday (11th) we have a combined quiz night social with St Albans at their church hall at 7:30 - entry £3 - all welcome!

Good Friday Walk

This year we went on a circular walk around Goostrey, ending with a service in the village hall. Photo album of my pictures is here

Lent 1

The team rector, Graham Turner was with us:

Lent is like turning off the tap to external things

and

We don't need all that acclaim if we know who really are.

from Graham Turner's talk on Sunday morning - which can be listened to here.
The list for the Good Friday walk is up on the notice board - please sign it!

Feb 18th

We started this Morning Worship by celebrating an important birthday for one of our churchwardens. We were then encouraged to attend the team Lent Groups which start on Tuesday 27th Feb 6th March to give us a focus as be begin a period of interregnum. Chris (Campbell-Kelly) led the service including a short meditation with a pause and a piece of music for us to develop our own thoughts.

We are made in the image of God and that is expressed in how we live.

Chris (Gleaves) then spoke - the last in our current stewardship series about the importance of financial giving and its need to be at least proportionate to our income (if not tithing).

A leaving lunch

after seven years we said goodbye to Rod with our best wishes for his future ministry and happy memories of and Lynne's time amongst us. I'm sure this picture would benefit from a good caption (that's Rod on the right). More photos are here Unfortunately my camera misbehaved on some that had to be junked.

Easter Gardens

Alleluia! Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Easter Gardens 06 005
Originally uploaded by roddoulton.

On Easter Sunday All Saints Church Macclesfield celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Members of the congregation brought some Easter Gardens which were greatly appreciated by everyone. Follow the photo for more pictures of the other Easter Gardens.

Good Friday

Good Friday 06 009
Originally uploaded by roddoulton.

On Good Friday members of All Saints Church Macclesfield went on their annual walk followed by a picnic tea and a short service to reflect on the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Follow the photo for more pictures of Good Friday.

Lent Banner

Lent Banner Link
Originally uploaded by roddoulton.

THAT NAIL

Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.

Your hands are the hands of a baby as they stroke the face of your Mother Mary,
Your hands learnt the trade of a carpenter.

Bang, bang, bang on that nail.

Your hands are the hands that raised Lazarus from the tomb,
Your hands lifted Jairus’s daughter from her sick bed.

Bang, bang, bang on that nail.

Your hands are the hands that took 5 loaves and 2 fishes and fed the 5000,
Your hands blessed the children when they gathered round to listen to you.

Bang, bang, bang on that nail.

Your hands are the hands that held Peter when he took his eyes off you while walking on the water,
Your hands caught fish with Peter, James and Andrew.

Bang, bang, bang on that nail.

Your hands are the hands that drove the moneylenders out of your Father’s house,
Your hands rolled the spit in the sand and placed it on the blind mans eyes.

Bang, bang, bang on that nail.

Your hands are the hands that wiped the tears from your face when you cried for Jerusalem.
Your hands were placed together when you prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and said “Your will be done not mine, Father”.

Bang, bang, bang on that nail

Your hands are the hands that tied the apron, took the towel, the bowl of water and washed the feet of the Disciples,
Your hand dipped the bread in the oil and gave it to Judas Iscariot and you said, “Go do what you have to”.

Bang, bang, bang on that nail.

Your hands are the hands that took the bread, broke it and you said, “This is my body broken for you”.
Your hands took the cup and you said “This is my blood shed for you”.

Bang, bang, bang on that nail.

Your hands are the hands that held onto the donkey as your road into Jerusalem to the shouts of Hosanna, Hosanna to the Son of David.
Your hands were still when the crowd shouted Crucify, Crucify.

Bang, bang, bang on that nail.

Your hands were stretched and held down on the cross as I bang, bang, banged on that nail.

Father, forgive me for I know not what I do.


Joy Kewney………………….Lent 2006