September

Services for September 2006

12^{th Sunday after
Trinity}^{9.45am Holy Communion

3rd
September
Celebrant – Rev’d Sue Ward}

^{No Evensong Service}

^{Thursday 7th
September
10.00am Holy Communion}

^{13th Sunday after Trinity HERITAGE
OPEN WEEKEND

10th September}^{9.45am Holy Communion}

^{3.00pm Evensong}

^{Thursday 14th September 10.00am Holy Communion}

^{14th Sunday after Trinity ^{9.45am Holy Communion & Baptism

17th
September}
^{3.00pm Evensong}

Thursday 21st
September
10.00am Holy Communion
15th Sunday after Trinity
BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY

24th September ^{9.45am Holy Communion}}

^{3.00pm Evensong}

^{Thursday 28th
September
10.00am Holy Communion}

^{Friday 29th
September
2pm St Thomas School} ^{Harvest
Service}

^{16th Sunday after Trinity
HARVEST FESTIVAL

1st October}^{9.45am Holy Communion}

^{3.00pm Evensong}

Dear friends,

You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian!!

You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian!!

I can pray wherever and whenever I like, God will still hear me!!

Them that go to church are no better than me!!

Those are just three remarks that are said to me fairly often – and who can argue against them? - the statements are all valid. I rejoice that there are plenty of Christians in the parish who pray and value everyone equally.

BUT, and it is a big BUT - Christians are called to worship as an expression of their love of God.

The early Christians established a pattern of worship that had at its heart, the breaking of bread together, and also included readings and prayers. Their worship was recognised as a response to God and they sought His power and guidance which they knew was necessary for their fellowship and the building up of the church.

(You can read about this in the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2 verses 42 to 47)

The Diocese of Manchester has designated Sunday 24^{th
September 2006 as BACK TO CHURCH Sunday, and St Thomas’ Parish wants very much
to be a part of this initiative.

If there is one thing we all have in common it is this – we all know someone

who used to attend worship here at St Thomas’ Church but does no longer.}

Through this letter, I invite you to join us on Sunday 24th at our morning worship. If you are already a regular worshipper, would you extend my invitation to any of your family, friends and neighbours – and if they say YES, please offer to bring them and be alongside them.

Please know that a loving and warm welcome awaits you ( and not just on the 24th!)

With every Blessing,

Graham

Open Weekend

Once again, along with quite a number of other properties in and around the Rochdale area, we are taking part in the Civic Trust’s Heritage Open weekend which this year is being held from 7th - 10th September.

Over that weekend many historic and interesting properties in towns and villages all over the country are to open their doors and welcome any visitors who would like to come to look around.

When we thankfully secured the much-needed grant towards the building renovations it was part of our commitment to English Heritage that the building would be open to the public on a number of days throughout the year. As part of this commitment the church will open from 10am until 4pm on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday and after the Sunday morning Service until 4pm.

Volunteers are needed to be available to show people around between these hours - if you can spare a little of your time to help out then please speak to John Smith as soon as possible so that a rota can be compiled.

Bellringers
Our dedicated team of bellringers under the leadership of the Tower Captain, Helen Rigby, are looking to recruit and train more ringers.

If you would like to ‘have a go’ or to find out just what ringing entails then she asks that you come along to one of the practice nights which are held on Tuesday evenings commencing at 7.45pm.

Readings

September 3rd 12th after Trinity James 1 :17-27 Mark 7:1-8

September 10th             13th after Trinity                 James 2 :1-10,14-17                  Mark 7:24-37

September 17th             14th after Trinity                 James 3 :1-12                            Mark 8:27-38

September 24th             15th after Trinity                 James 3 :13-4:3,7-8a                Mark 9:30-37

October 1st                    Harvest Festival                 1Timothy 6 :6-10                       Matthew 6:25-33

Harvest

Our Harvest Festival is being held on the first Sunday in October - hence the reminder now as the next magazine will only come out on that particular Sunday.

(So put it in your diary - now!)

The weekend starts with the St Thomas’ day school Harvest Service at 2pm on Friday the 29th September to which everyone is invited to attend.

Then our main Service is being held at 9.45am on Sunday 3rd October when gifts of fruit, produce and flowers will be received. These gifts will then be distributed around the parish and to the nursing homes on Monday 4th.

During September we will be compiling and updating the list of those who are to receive a parcel - so that we don’t miss anyone out, if you know of anyone whose name should go on the list, please either add it to the list or contact Gillian Smith for further information.

Picnic in the Park

The Manchester Diocesan Mothers’ Union are organising a Family Fun Day in Heaton Park on Saturday 16th September from 12 noon until 4pm and everybody is welcome.

Musical entertainment will include a Brass Band and a Marching Band plus there will be Morris Dancers, Urban Gypsies and various other entertainments and displays.

Stalls include Projects, face-painting, Soft Toy Tombola, Biscuit decorating, Chocolate tombola, children’s games, House of Colour and The Body Shop.

Entrance is FREE so bring along a picnic or you can buy food in the café.

Village Fair

An important Village Fair Meeting is being held in the school on Thursday the 14th September in school at 7.30pm.

The purpose of this meeting is to finalise what stalls we are to have and also to decide on their exact location within the school. It is therefore important that a representative from each stall attends and we would welcome anyone who is willing and available to help out on the day.

The Village Fair itself is to be held on Saturday 25th November from 10.30am until 2pm - please make a note of this date in your diary ..............and I must not forget to remind you that you can now purchase..........

Village Fair Coupons - lots of them !

Yes that’s right - I keep forgetting to tell you!!!!!

You can now spread the cost of the day by buying a range of coupons in advance that can be spent at the Village Fair. In past years these have been found to be a great idea especially as they come in a number of different denominations and are ideal to give to your children so that they can easily choose how to spend them.

These coupons can be obtained from Sandra Fell or June Swift each Sunday morning after the Service.

Back to Church Sunday

Back to Church Sunday is just around the corner, Sunday September 24th in fact!

As Graham has mentioned in his letter, this is the day to take the opportunity to invite someone who has, for some reason, not recently or ever attended church. If everyone who attended each Sunday brought just one person then our congregation would double - it’s marvellous what education does for you!!!

Your personal invitation might be just what they were waiting for, so go on - give it a go .

Value for Money

We noted that this year a good number of the church magazines in the surrounding parishes produced a July/August combined magazine.

No luxuries such as time off and holidays for our dedicated, hard working editorial staff - the editor is a real slave driver ....... twelve issues we promised and twelve issues we will produce!!

Parish Prayers

Peace be on this house and all who dwell in it. John 16:13

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the times when we can relax, take off our shoes and rest in our own home.
Time to be still, relax our mind, think slowly, reflect and pray.
We ask your blessing on our relaxed hours at home, that they may equip us better for our daily work and duties.
We ask your blessing, on our hobbies and pleasures, books and music, home life and social life, good neighbours and friends.
We thank you for your gifts of laughter and fun.
Keep us open to fresh avenues of creativity and service and may we be ever mindful of what we can do for others in our spare time.
O Lord, when we are desperately busy, help us to recognise that leisure times are important and necessary.
Teach us to use what relaxation time we have, to give our minds and bodies a much needed break, and for the benefit of all our family, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Parish Concerns
Our Mobile Library and Milnrow and Rochdale Libraries.
For the home life of Newhey people and their circle of friends,
That our children may use their leisure time creatively and responsibly.

Wider Concerns
Our weekends, evenings and holidays,
All arts and leisure courses and pursuits,
Bless those who are suffering from anxiety, overwork and stress,
Open us to fresh avenues of service within our church and in society.