Two exciting services planned

Following on from our extremely well received All Saints and Remembrance services, we have two exciting services planned for Sunday Novemner 15th.

Kicking us off at 9.30 am we have a Songs of Praise service, but this will be a Songs of Praise with a twist. We'll be looking at stories behind the hymns - and learning more about the authors, and how the hymns came to be written. It promises to be a fascinating insight into well known hymns, with insipiration and encouragement as we sing some our favourites.

Join us for Songs of Praise at 9.30 Morning Worship!

Then at 11.00 we have a Cafe Church service in the Hall. With a blend of worship music, creative discussion and shared learning, we will be examining one of the most interesting and challenging parts of Mark's Gospel, the story of the Rich Young Ruler. There will be lashings of tea and coffee plus we will have bacon butties available for £1 (all proceeds to the new 'Moses Basket' group)

Cafe Church will also be our monthly Gathering Communion - and we will be sharing in a simple act of breaking of bread around the tables! It's all shaping up to be a wonderfully innovative and stimulating occasion. Join us any time from 10.45 onwards (please note that the usual 'between service' coffee will not be happening on this Sunday.

All Saints Memorial

We are making a special push this year with our All Saints Worship, since the actual day of All Saints - November 1st - falls on a Sunday.

Once again, we are hosting our ever-popular and moving Act of Memorial during the All Saints Day Communion Service at 9.30 am. We are inviting all of those who have been recently bereaved. There will be lovely music, carefully chosen words and, of course, the act of Memorial itself, when people will be invited to light candles in memory of their loved ones.

I would like to extend a warm invitation to everyone to this special occasion, which will be very much our main service of the day this week. There will also be The Gathering at 11.00, when we will be having a relaxed time of worship, testimony and teaching called 'Saints Alive'

Exciting new link up with Bolton

In major news, it has been announced that we are to enter into an exciting and creative new partnership with our neighbouring parish of St James and St Chrysostoms Bolton.

Here is the official announcement from the Bishop, as read in St Cuthberts on October 4th

Bishop David is pleased to announce that after consultation, he has invited the Reverend Paul Walker to become the priest-in-charge of St James Bolton, whilst continuing as the vicar of St Cuthbert, Wrose. 

This will mean changes for both churches and the Bishop sympathises with those who fear that sharing a minister may hold back the mission and minisry of the church. However, it need not be so.  The Bishop asks   the two churches to plan together how this shared ministry will work and also to develop new opportunities for the  churches to support one another in mission. 

It is expected that Paul will take up this appointment early in the New Year.

On Sunday October 11th I will be devoting the 'sermon slot' in both morning services to a fuller explanation of this new arrangement, together with some initial thoughts as to how this might work out in the future.

You can also find out a bit more about St James by visiting the church website.

Get Started with Start!

Start! is a 6 week course which covers the very basics of the Christian faith. Presented by Robin Gamble, it is a lively mix of video clips, interactive discussion, fun exercises, vox pops and bite-sized chunks of teaching.

Suitable for people who are just finding their way into church, maybe through baptism or a wedding - or those just curious to find out what Christianity is about, the course has proved extremely popular and helpful in churches up and down the country.

We've got a Start! Course just about the kick off - it all gets started on Sunday October 11th. We meet from 6.30 until just before 8.00 pm (it will actually last about an hour and a quarter) at the Bold Privateer on Wrose Road. The bar will be open and we'll provide nibbles!

Come and join us!

Harvest Festival is coming

Harvest Festival this year is on Sunday September 27th. This year we are 'going trad' - and asking for Harvest gifts of fruit, vegatables, baking or other food produce. These will be distributed around the parish to various people who we feel would appreciate a blessing via a Harvest parcel.

It will also be 'Back to Church Sunday' the annual initiative to invite people back who maybe haven't been for a while. Our two services on Harvest Sunday will have a particular 'outward looking' focus - well known songs and hymns and plenty of traditional Harvest cheer.

This is the run down for the day

9.30 HARVEST COMMUNION A traditional Harvest service with well-loved hymns, a sermon, and the Common Worship Harvest liturgy. A great re-introduction for those used to Church of England Worship.

11.00 HARVEST FAMILY WORSHIP A service for all ages, with lively singing, puppets, fun and activities. This will also be a Parade Service for Uniformed Groups. A great service for people less used to coming along to Church - very friendly, and lasting less than one hour.

We hope to welcome you on Harvest Sunday, whether a regular, a visitor, a guest or someone coming 'Back to Church'...

While the vicars away.. the admin will play?

Well, not really, but I am going to have a play with the website :)    Over the next week I will be making changes to the church website, adding and moving pages & generally having a shuffle about.    I will also be wandering around church, camera in hand, to update some of the pictures of our PCC, Church Wardens and Ministry and Mission Teams.    

I would love to hear from you regards things you would like to see on the website, whether you are a regular attender of the church, or someone further afield, who likes to see what we are up to here in Wrose.

Church Hall Floor takes shape

The Church Maintenance crew are currently working very hard to install a new floor in the Church Hall. Well done to the team for the progress made so far! Apologies if I forget any names, but so far I have spotted Steve, Graham, George, Steve B, Stewart, Robert, Tony, Clive and Dave over there. There have also been a steady stream of people coming to make drinks or prepare food. Thanks to everyone, you are doing a great job!

Here are a few pictures of the ongoing work.

Summer at St Cuthberts

God's not on holiday ... we aren't at St Cuthberts either!

Although there will be an inevitable slow down over the Summer, there is still plenty to look forward to during August at St Cuthberts. All of our regular services, small groups, childrens groups and so on will be continuing through the summer period, so there's no need to stop coming along to things unless you happen to be away from the area on holiday!

We have a couple of special things to mention. Firstly, the Gathering will be operating under a chilled out cafe format during August. This is partly because the Hall might well be unavailable for coffee for the first couple of Sundays and it will be better to have coffee in the Church. But it also presents an opportunity to have a more relaxed style of worship. The series on Mark's Gospel continues, together with our worship led by the worship group - although the cafe format perhaps gives us the chance to try one or two different things as well!

On three of the Sundays we will be having an optional 'after church' activity - basically as a 'getting to know you' exercise. This kicks off on Sunday August 2nd with a meal at the George and Dragon (2 for 1) followed by a short walk along the Canal. Let us know if you want to come!

Finally, the Sanctuary area of the Church will be revamped on an experiemental basis over the Summer. There will be a range of prayer stations provided and the seating will be re-organized into something more relaxed. Why not come along for Wednesday Communion (9.30 am) or any of the other special activities that will be announced via the weekly sheet.

Swine Flu and Communion

You may have heard recent press coverage about the response of the churches to the current Swine Flu outbreak.

As a result of this rapidly spreading infection, the Bishop of Bradford and the Archbishops have issued advice to parishes which we are now implementing at St Cuthberts. Principally this means the suspension of the common cup at Holy Communion. Where possible (for example at small midweek services) we shall offer communion wafers that have been 'intincted' with wine - but for main Sunday services this is not practical and we shall take communion in 'one kind'. As an additional measure, the sharing of the Peace will not be taking place during services. You are also asked to stay at home and not come to church if you think that you are suffering from the swine flu.

I have to say that I'm not at all convinced that these measures will make much difference in the likely spread of swine flu. However, we are part of the wider Church of England and as such will be heeding the advice offered. For those who want to see the actual letter that we have received it printed here.

All-Age Extravaganza - Sunday 19th july 2009

The 11.00 service will be one of our All Age events - and will be a lively mix of songs, stories, activities and fun.

Also don't miss our fabulous puppet group - they are supposed to be for the kids, but adults like them just as much!

Immediately following the service we'll having a FREE Barbeque outside the Church (or in the Hall if wet) so do stick around and have lunch with us. There will be a Bouncy Castle for the kids, face painting and children's games on the front lawn outside Church. It should be a whole lot of fun!

We want as many people as possible to come along on Sunday. It's fun for all ages, from babies upwards! Don't worry if you haven't been for a while, you will be more than welcome to come along and enjoy the day. Feel free to bring friends, neighbours, whoever you like.... just come!

Hope to see you there!