August 2006

Thursday 3rd August            10am Holy Communion

8th Sunday after Trinity   ^{9.45am Holy Communion
6th August                          3.00pm Evensong}

10th Sunday after Trinity 9.45am Holy Communion
20th August                 Rev’d Sue Ward
                                                     ^{3.00pm Evensong}

During August, Graham is taking a well earned break from taking the Sunday Services and we welcome the Reverend Sue Ward, who is with us on the 20th August and the 3rd of September with our usual start time of 9.45am.

On the 27th August our Celebrant is to be our next door neighbour, Reverend David Sharples, however because he has to go on to another church, please note that the service will start at 9.30am ...... 9.30am on the 27th

Dear friends,

The success of a school, and the success of individual children at schools are measured by educational achievement.

League tables are compiled from the yearly examination results as a means of comparing the ‘success’ of a school with other schools.

This year St Thomas School has had outstanding educational examination results, of which children, parents, staff and governors are rightly very proud.

The reasons that children thrive at a school are manifold, but I am convinced that a significant contribution is that of a positive faith culture which nurtures basic Christian values.

This year, the Governing Body of the school decided to present Certificates of Achievement to every child in Year 6 ie those leaving the school for Secondary Education. The purpose of the Certificates was to acknowledge not just Academic excellence , but excellence in other important character-building areas.

On Monday, July 17th Mr Martin and myself presented the certificates to the children on behalf of the School Governors. I will not mention any child by name, but I do want to share with you, a selection of their impressive achievements..

…for believing in ones ability… for reaching ones potential… for being a positive role model… for valuing others… representing the school at sport with a great sense of fairness… for a mature attitude… for hard work… for excellent manners.. for creative thought… for enthusiasm in all aspects of school life.

The above sentiments are wonderfully expressed in a prayer by Frank Colquhoun –

With every Blessing,

Graham

Readings

August 6th              8th after Trinity             2 Peter 1:16-19                            Luke 9 :28-36

Flora & Fauna of Newhey

On Tuesday the 4th July, we were entertained to a slide show in church given by local farmer, Alan Marshall. He showed us a variety of slides of local plants and flowers describing their uses, both past and present.

He told us the Latin names for each plant (remarkably without the aid of any notes!) and Alan’s dry sense of humour made the evening extremely enjoyable.

The slides were projected by Bryan Tenny from the Milnrow Literary and Scientific Society and everyone who attended came away with a new found knowledge of our local habitat.

How Time Flies
I knelt to pray but not for long, I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work for bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer, and jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done my soul could rest at ease.
All day long I had no time to spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends, they'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do, that was my constant cry,
No time to give to those in need but at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord, I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book; it was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said "Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down........ But never found the time".

Visiting Groups

We have welcomed a couple of visiting groups to our church during July.

On Saturday the 15th fourteen members of the Rochdale, Oldham & Tameside Organists Association came along to play the church organ as part of a day spent touring around to visit a number of churches within the area.

Then on Monday the 24th the bells rang out across the village as a group of visiting ringers managed to overcome the extreme heat in the tower on one of the hottest days of the year to successfully ring the ‘Yorkshire’ peal in a time of two hours and thirty two minutes. We offer them our congratulations.

Parish Prayers

And on the seventh day God finished the work he had done and rested.

Holidays

Our Prayers

Lord of all life, bless, and refresh, the members of our church and parish, who are enjoying the rest and refreshment of their holidays at this time.
Grant that, free from their daily tasks, they will have time for laughter and fun, and that their holiday will bring them to appreciate the beauty and majesty of the world you have created and all the good gifts that we enjoy.
May their holidays be beneficial to them and their families, restoring them in mind, body and spirit, and strengthening them when they return.

Father, we thank you for all the good gifts that surround us, the sun that warms us and brightens our days; the seaside and fresh invigorating air to breath; the countryside in all its beauty; gardens with flowers, vegetables and fruit; our hobbies, music and books; our homes our family and friends.

For all these things and all your blessings which give us joy, we give you thanks and praise.

Parish Concerns

* Our children during the long school holiday

* Our friends and neighbours on holiday

* The safety of our home and belongings while we are away.

Wider Concerns

* We pray for the safety of all who travel by land, sea or air.

* For holiday resorts, hotels, guest houses, B&B, and holiday camps.

* For those who are unable to go on holiday.

Village Fair & Tidying Up Saturday

Remember in the July issue of the magazine when I printed the following dates for people to put in their diary "On Thursday 20th July everyone is invited to a Village Fair Meeting in church at 7.30pm and on Saturday 5th August we need your help when we tidy up the church and graveyard - 10am until 2pm - please be there!"

Well I and quite a few other people completely forgot all about the Village Fair meeting!!

The meeting went ahead with lots of positive suggestions made and a further meeting has been arranged for Thursday 14th September in school at 7.30pm

So memo to me (and you!), please put the following dates in your diary NOW!!!

Saturday 5th August - tidying up around the church and churchyard.

Thur/Fri/Sat/Sun, 7th- 10th September are the Heritage Open Days

Thursday 14th September - a Village Fair Meeting in school at 7.30

Ashworth Brass Band

Saturday the 15th July saw the long awaited return visit of the Ashworth Brass Band to give one of their popular Summer Concerts within the beautiful surroundings of our church.

The superb acoustics of the building added to the enjoyment of their performance which had a little something for everyone. Their varied repertoire included trombone and cornet solos, traditional Whit Friday marches, popular hymn tunes and some songs from recent musicals, films and shows.

There was time at the interval for socialising over a glass of wine and shortbread biscuits.

At the end of the performance, the vote of thanks was given by Garth Fell and a bottle of wine was presented to the band’s conductor, Mr Stan Sheasby by Frank Jackson.

Confirmation 

This year’s Confirmation Service was held here at St Thomas’ on Monday the 3rd of July.

Arrangements for this Service had to be made at relatively short notice and our thanks go to all those who assisted in any way.

Around 35 candidates from the churches of St Anne, Belfield, St James, Milnrow and of course our own church were Confirmed by the Bishop of Middleton.