Rope Green Mission Area Newsletter

February 2020

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Dear Friend Dear friends,

Minister; Rev Denise Harding revdenise@btinternet.com

Tel 01270 666156 www.ropegreenmethodists.org

Community Lay Worker for Rope Green Mission Area Elizabeth Morris

info@ataletotell.org.uk (preferred method of communication) Tel 07541 421075 (not after 9pm please)

Rope Green Mission Area Administrator: Paul Healey ropegreensection@gmail.com

Mob 07704 879416 Tel 01270 569462

2 0 + C + M + B + 2 0

Dear friends,

Happy New Year to you all - whatever you want or need that to mean for you and your loved ones in 2020.

There is a Catholic tradition of Epiphany House Blessings where the priest visits various homes and writes in chalk above the front door or on the threshold 2 0 + C + M + B + 2 0. I first saw this some years ago in a Catholic Church, both on the door outside, but also on a door inside, which led to the home of the resident priest. It struck me that all were seeking, offering and receiving blessing without distinction. It may well be that you are a recipient this year of a chalked epiphany blessing - so called because the Wise Men were engaged on a journey towards the light that was (and still is) Jesus Christ - they encountered something and someone life changing, and offered what they had as a blessing to him. And Jesus down the generations has offered those before us, and now us, his blessing of hope and love and new beginnings.

What blessing do you seek for 2020? Is it for health, or for relationships, or for release from something troubling you? Is it for your family, your relationship with God, your personal circumstances? Let's try to take time as we approach Lent at the end of this month to ponder what blessings we seek and what ways we will commit to praying for these in the coming year. Feel free to join us for a short service on Ash Wednesday (26th February) at 11.45am at Betley Methodist Church (coffee and cakes are served 10.30 - 11.30am).

A very wise minister who I was training under some 15 years ago said during prayers of intercession words similar to these: "Lord, we offer you all these our prayers, and we pray that we may be part of the answer to some of what we have prayed for today." To that I say a hearty Amen! May each of us pray fervently, as part of a New Year and as a Lenten discipline, for blessings for all and healing for all (in whatever that needs to mean too) - and may we be empowered by the light of Christ and the power of God's Spirit to serve God in praying for God's blessings to come to all through this coming year.

I am grateful for your prayers for my family through the year that has passed, and for your support and practical help. Dad Stuart has recovered extremely well from his heart attack. Mum Janet remains living with me at the moment - it is hoped (by Mum at least) that she will return home to Haslington at some point.

She won't receive any treatment for the 3 growths found in her bowel but will continue to live each day given to her with gratitude and hope, recognising as my Mum always has, that 'there is always someone worse off'. We are glad to not have a timescale to work to, nor to have to cross days off a calendar, but to simply get on with day to day life, and to have no fear of what the future holds, and where the future will lead Mum to.

As we leave behind the year that has passed, we do not leave our memories or our loved ones behind. We travel forward carrying with us the light and love and joy of those who have guided us thus far, and grateful for those who guide us still, and we seek to be guides to others on the journey, including those we will welcome into the world in this year that is yet to be fulfilled.

May God bless you, and may you always be a blessing in God's name to others,

Den

Betley.

A very pleasing number of people filled the centre of St Margaret's Church, Betley on Thursday 12th January to say farewell to Henry Kettlewell who was known to us as both Organist and Preacher over the last 26 years in and around our Circuit. A Methodist Service was conducted by Rev Gary Windon and we thank the Organist who came from Nantwich. The congregations of Betley, Woore, Madeley and Broad Lane were well represented. Preachers Pat Maidment and Janet and Bill Field also came along. A fitting tribute to Henry. "Songs of praises, Songs of Praises, We will ever give to Thee,"

Café Church It was good to have Rev Rob Weir to lead our Cafe Church on 12th January at 2.30 pm. The theme was Telling stories and Listening to storiesand, of course, the Story of Jesus.

We thought of our Sunday School days, seventy to eighty years ago for most of us, as we sang:

“Tell me the stories of Jesus,I love to hear” and “Tell me the old, old story of Jesus and his love”

God bless. Rhoda

Shavington Methodist Church Dates for Fellowships Monday 10th Feb. House Fellowships at 48, Crewe Rd at 2pm and 7.30pm. Monday 24th Feb. House Fellowship at 2.30pm only. No evening meeting that day. Starting on Monday 2nd March, the Monday Fellowships are hoping to begin a Lent Course for 5 weekly sessions. Details will be given in the weekly Notices. All are welcome to come along to any of these meetings.

Downs Coffee Morning. Wednesday February 19th 2019 @ 46 Park Estate, from 10 – 12 noon. There will be a Bring & Buy. Everyone is welcome. Please contact Audrey Roper for further details.

Spring ‘Eggstravaganza’ 21st March 2020, 11am to 1.30pm. - coming soon to Shavington Methodist Church, for your delight and with a flavour of Easter. We

will be offering delicious refreshments and a miscellany of stalls, including an Easter chocolate tombola, hand-made jewellery, gifts and a chance to name (and win!) our Easter teddy. We hope to see you there. Teresa Hoper, from Wells Green, will have a stall selling soft toys in aid of Girl Guiding in Australia, which has been badly affected by the devastating bush fires. If you have any soft toys, teddys etc, that she can sell please give them to me and I will pass them on to her. Thanks, Rita

Prostate Cancer – In memory of Frank Roper. I am running the London Half Marathon for Team Prostate Cancer Research. The race is on Dad’s birthday, March 1st, and I knew it was a sign from above that I had to give it a go. So if anyone can spare some money for this worthy cause please donate by giving your sponsor money to Audrey Roper (I have given her a sponsor form) or you can donate online at uk.virginmoneygiving.com and search for Ken Roper.

Many Thanks, Ken

Please send submissions for this page to Cyril Cooper by 20th of each month.

Wells Green Methodist Church

MOVIES WITH A MESSAGE: PRIDE, SUNDAY 16 FEBRUARY, AT 5.00PM

Our next film relates to the current ‘prayerful discussion’ in the Methodist Church on Marriage and Relationships. This light-hearted take on a serious subject is based on real events in 1984, when a group of gay activists from London arrived in a South Wales valley with money they had raised to support striking miners. Misgivings on both sides are gradually overcome and the pitmen seal the show of solidarity by joining their newfound comrades on a Gay Pride march in London the following year. As always, refreshments are available, in the hall at Wells Green, from 4.30 onwards.

CHRISTIAN AID SWIM, 7 MARCH, CREWE BATHS, 6.00PM It’s that time of year again and we are limbering up for this year’s sponsored swim, which will raise money for a project supporting orphans and displaced children in Kenya. The project we completed last year was signed off at £5,000, but this splendid total was matched five times over, and our fresh commitment, for a similar sum, will also be significantly multiplied once we hit the target. So do join us in the water, or out, with sponsorship and prayers, as we take the plunge to tackle poverty in one of the poorer parts of the world. Please check your church noticeboards for details and thank you for your continuing generosity. Malcolm Crook, Wells Green

Nativity/Christingle at Wells Green on Christmas Eve

CAMEO Christmas Party ‘’ It seems a long time ago.... Our last Cameo meeting of 2019, we held our Christmas Party. Everyone who was able to come along had a wonderful evening. Food fit for a queen, excellent company, a quiz provided by Brydon and soothing music in the background. In fact, the evening was simply the best.’’ Doreen Lovatt

A novel traditional and modern Nativity inside St Columba’s Catholic Cathedral in Oban - with lots of hand knitted animals to add to the image. Please chat to Ruth Parrott (Wells Green) if you feel able to knit some angels for us to give out next Christmas around our communities.

Layla Dale made some Christmas Angels and raised £100.80 for Breast Cancer Research. Well done!!

Please send submissions for this page to Pat Nott by 20th of each month

St. John’s Methodist Church, Willaston

A Time to Remember

A service was led by Rev Den on Saturday 30th November as a thanksgiving for those we have loved and lost. The service was very well attended and hearts were put on the Christmas Tree in remembrance of our loved ones, we were also invited to light a candle in their memory.

Den read out the names on the heart tags during the service and gave us all a Christmas Bauble. Refreshments were served after the service.

Christmas Fair

Our Christmas Fair was held on Saturday December 7th where we raised

over £790. Many thanks to all those who took part.

Christmas Carol Service

This was held on Sunday December 16th and the service was led by Mrs Jeanette Smith. The church was packed and we raised £57.75 towards

Hope House. After the service refreshments were served.

New Fellowship Group

This will be held on January 21st 2-4pm, everyone is welcome to join us for favourite hymn singing and refreshments.

ABC

We have three very new members who have joined us on a Thursday morning, Sebastian and Molly, born within a day of each other seven weeks ago and both live in Wistaston Road and a welcome sister for

Bowey, Robin who was born on Christmas Day.

Tea Club

Tea Club will resume on Monday January 27th with the welcome return of Margaret Penaluna from her 6 week stay in New Zealand.

Please send submissions for this page to Marg Trott by 20th of each month

LMA shared news and activities.

Thank you so so much for your generosity in December - because of it (alongside £450 from Shavington Methodist Church Benevolent Fund - from their own fundraising efforts, and - generous £150 cash donation too) Rev Den was able to take out 10 large food boxes shared between 3 families, and give them £200 each. The families were overwhelmed with gratitude for the love given in practical action - they say thanks to all of you! You are amazing - Rev Den says thank you too!

Edwin Furber A goodly number of friends and family gathered at the end of January to mark the 90th birthday of Chorlton’s Edwin Furber. We wish him well for the next decade (!) and send our love to him and Joan and the family.

Newsletter

At the recent LMA Stewards meeting I informed the Stewards that I wished to relinquish the role of compiling and printing the Newsletter. I have been doing this since Steve left, this is the 35 edition I have done. I know that in the Methodist Church we have a rule that you normally hold the post for 6 years (!!!) but I feel that it is time for a change. There maybe someone out there who has ideas to freshen it up and would like to have a go, but doesn’t want to say in case they upset me. Well now is your chance. After much discussion the meeting agreed that we should also look at changing the format and go to a quarterly print, in line with the Circuit Plan and reflect more about what we have planned for the next quarter for our Churches. We are looking at ideas for the new version and more will be forthcoming in the next month’s editions. The first quarterly edition will be published in June, which will also be the last one that I compile to enable the new “editor/compiler” time to start the new Methodist year in September. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed, to Den, to Pat Nott & Marg Trott for chivvying people at Wells Green and Willaston and Sue Smith and Rhoda Farrington for contributions and news. Without everyone’s articles we would just have the front page! It does not necessarily have to be just one person who does both parts of the role, compile & print. Please feel free to contact me if you think that this is a job you feel drawn to take on. Regards, Cyril. 07777 641164

Diary Dates

Sat 1st Feb 10.00-12.00 Coffee Morning @ Shavington Sun 16th Feb 17.00 Movies with a Message: Pride @ Wells Green Refreshments from 16.30 Sat 22nd Feb 10.30-12.30 Messy Church @ Shavington Wed 26th Feb 11.45 Ash Wednesday Service @ Betley Coffee & Cake from 10.30 Sat 7th March 18.00-20.00 Christian Aid Swim @ Crewe Lifestyle Centre Sat 21st March 11.00 -13.30 Spring Eggstravaganza @Shavington

Spirit of God

Spirit of God, come, live in me. Fill my mind and set me free.

Guard my heart against all fear. Help me live a good life here.

When I’m tired, make me strong. Fill my heart with love’s sweet song. When I’m anxious, make me bold.

Take away the doubts I hold.

When I’m all alone in grief, Give me courage and belief. When I think of all that’s past,

Help me treasure things that last.

When I miss the ones I’ve lost, comfort me, O Holy Ghost. When I’m feeling all alone,

assure me of my heavenly home. Jottings/Spirit of God Item submitted by Keith Edward Wyatt

Please keep an eye on local notice sheets for details of other regular activities, fellowship groups and prayer meetings

Details of Sunday services can be found on the plan.

TAKE THE PLUNGE TO END POVERTY

Crewe Sponsored Swim Crewe Lifestyle Centre, Moss Square,CW1 2BB Time: 6-8pm Saturday 7 March 2020

REGISTER NOW and make a splash to end poverty. Individual and team registration available. Visit: christianaid.org/swim Email: m.h.crook@keele.ac.uk Tel: 01270 662077 or Text: 07531 016 723