July

Dear friends,

The church has a full calendar of saints, martyrs, apostles, poets, hymnwriters, bishops etc that the church commemorates – and most of these are brought together in a wonderful book call ‘Exciting Holiness’.

It is a wonderful resource that I use primarily on Thursday mornings, as it has within it, prayers and readings relevant to any particular saint.

On July 31st the church remembers Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

The gospels describe how Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus gave Jesus hospitality in their home at Bethany outside Jerusalem. Jesus is said to have loved all three. After Lazarus’ death, he wept and was moved by the sisters’ grief to bring Lazarus back from the dead.

Martha recognised Jesus as the Messiah, while Mary anointed his feet and, on another occasion, was commended by Jesus for her attentiveness to his teaching while Martha served at table.

Mary is traditionally taken to be an example of the contemplative life, and Martha an example of the active spiritual life.

There are many Christian homes and religious houses that model their ministry on that of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

Indeed, there is an excellent book available in church – entitled Christian Holidays. It is well worth a look. It features B and B, Self-Catering Holidays in the UK and abroad.

My favourite Retreat House is in Sheldon, Devon and is run by the ‘Society of Mary and Martha’. ‘It does exactly what it says on the tin’ to coin the advertising phrase.

Wherever you might wander during the summer months ( or has summer already gone?), have a good and enjoyable holiday.

Often, of course, we are the hosts as friends and family come and stay with us. We pray that our homes might be best remembered for the love and hospitality shown by us to those enter.

God our Father, whose Son enjoyed the love of his friends,

Mary, Martha and Lazarus, in learning, argument and hospitality:

may we so rejoice in your love that the world may come to know the depths of your wisdom, the wonder of your compassion,

who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

With every Blessing,

Graham

Readings

July 2nd 3rd after Trinity 2 Cor. 8:7-15 Mark 5:21-43

July 9th 4th after Trinity 2 Cor 12:2-10 Mark 6:1-13

July 16th 5th after Trinity Ephesians 1:3-14 Mark 6:14-29

July 23rd 6th after Trinity Ephesians 2:11-22 Mark 6:30-34

July 30th 7th after Trinity Ephesians 3:14-21 John 6:1-21

August 7th 8th after Trinity 2 Peter 1:16-19 Luke 9:28-36

Services

3^{rd Sunday after
Trinity}^{9.45am Holy Communion
& Baptism

2nd July} ^{3.00pm Evensong}

Monday 3rd July 7pm Confirmation Service - please note that it is here at St Thomas

Thursday 6th July 10.00am Holy Communion

4th Sunday after Trinity ^{9.45am Holy Communion

9th
July
3.00pm Evensong}

Thursday 13th July 10.00am Holy Communion

5th Sunday after Trinity ^{9.45am Holy Communion
& Baptism & Sunday School Prizes

16th July} ^{3.00pm Evensong}

Thursday 20th July 10.00am Holy Communion

^{6th Sunday after Trinity ^{9.45am Holy Communion

23rd July
3.00pm Evensong}

Thursday 27th
July
10.00am Holy Communion}

7th Sunday after Trinity ^{9.45am Holy Communion
& Baptism

30th July} ^{3.00pm Evensong}

Thursday 3rd August 10.00am Holy Communion

^{8th Sunday after Trinity ^{9.45am Holy Communion

6th
August
3.00pm Evensong}}

Games Night

We celebrated the Queen’s official birthday with a family games night in the school hall on Saturday 10th June - yes, we know we were actually a week early, but different diaries gave us different dates!

Anyway it turned out that it was the Duke of Edinburgh’s actual birthday and of course what Newhey does first .... the rest of the country soon follows!

The games organiser for the evening was Sandra Fell and she quickly got everyone involved with three games of Bingo. This was followed with seven games of Beetle and competitions for the children, a quiz devised by Noleen Adshead with music provided by our resident DJ, Graham.

Supper was then served - a hot beef sandwich followed by a delicious dessert.

Our thanks go to Sandra for providing the games, to Graham for the music, Samatha Lovatt for the catering, our hard working bar staff, Christine and Derek Hambler and last but certainly not least, the organiser of the evening, Jennifer Barker. Jennifer is currently circulating a simple questionnaire to enquire what kind of social events people might like to organise or would actively attend - why not make your voice heard and fill one in? .

Christian Aid

June Swift, our organiser for the Christian Aid week collection, reported to the Parochial Church Council that the collection around the parish raised the sum of Ł939 - our highest ever total.

She wished to thank all those who had kindly contributed and to our small band of distributors and collectors who went out and braved the bad weather.

Cheese & Wine

On Tuesday the 6th June we were invited to the home of Michael and Ann Worthington in Milnrow for a Cheese and Wine evening.

Available for us all to try were a large variety of different wines and various cheeses from around the world. In the garden, on this warm sunny evening, were two stalls, one selling Bric-a-Brac and the other, plants and garden equipment.

Thanks go to Ann and Michael for kindly opening up their home and organising this most enjoyable of social occasions.

Sunday School Prizegiving

On Sunday the 9th July our Sunday School children are to hold their annual picnic and barbecue after the morning Service.

Then on the 16th, during the 9.45am Family Communion Service, the children will once again be in church to be presented with their book prizes for their regular attendance at Sunday School during the past year.

Please try and attend this Service on the 16th to congratulate the children and to thank their teachers for all their hard work.

The children then break up for the summer before returning in September.

Cheese & Wine Evening

On the 14th June Michael and Ann Worthington kindly invited us into their home in Milnrow for a Cheese and Wine evening.
Everyone enjoyed a good selection of English and European cheeses and wines from around the world. Around the garden there were a variety stalls selling potted plants, bric-a-brac and a tempting supply of home made cakes.
On behalf of those present Frank Jackson thanked Ann and Michael for their hospitality and then presented Ann with a bouquet of flowers.

Dates for your 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!

Confirmation

We announced in the last magazine that this year’s confirmation was to be held at St Ann’s, Belfield.

Unfortunately their Vicar, Chris Kettley, is unwell and we were asked by the Bishop of Middleton if we could hold the Service in Newhey this year.

Arrangements have been rapidly put into place and we are pleased to be able to announce that this year’s Confirmation Service is to be held here at St Thomas’ on Monday 3rd July commencing at 7pm.

Please make this event known throughout the village and we hope that a good number of our parishioners will be able to attend this special Service.

Slide Show

A timely reminder that this coming Tuesday, the 4th July, we are to be entertained to a slide show which is to be given by local farmer, Alan Marshall. His talk will be on the Flora and Fauna of Newhey and the historic use of local herbs.

The slides are to be projected by Bryan Tenny from the Milnrow Literary and Scientific Society and will those attending please note that the show is being held in church and not in the school as previously advertised.

Further details can be obtained from Graham or Frank Jackson.

The Organists Visit and the Ashworth Brass band

Saturday the 15th July is going to be a busy day up at the church.

The Rochdale, Oldham & Tameside Organists Association have recently contacted us to ask if some of their members could come along to St Thomas’ to play the church organ at around 3pm on the Saturday afternoon. Each year they spend a day touring around and visiting a number of churches within the area. Whilst this is not a recital, I am sure that they would not mind if anyone sat in the church to appreciate their playing.

Then at 7.30pm in the evening we are eagerly looking forward to the long-awaited visit of the Ashworth Brass Band to give a summer concert within the beautiful surroundings and excellent acoustics of the church building.

Tickets for the evening concert are now on sale priced at just Ł3.50 ..... and this includes wine and shortbread refreshments at the interval.

See Frank Jackson to reserve your tickets or for further information.