John 14v 1 “Do not be worried and upset” Jesus told them,
“Believe in God and believe also in me”
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Gill writes…
In just a few weeks from now we will be sharing in our Harvest Thanksgiving celebrations and lunch; a time which will also see us reach the climax of our preaching series on Healing and Wholeness and a day on which we will hold our annual Memorial Service. Perhaps some of us are already wondering how all of these can possibly be linked?!
For me, of course, as someone who grew up on a farm, the celebration of another fruitful harvest was a really important part of our family and community life when I was growing up. The success or failure of the annual crops was vital to our living, but perhaps for many of us who have always lived in towns or cities, giving thanks for a harvest in which we have had absolutely no part can seem meaningless.
We live in a world where many things are instantly obtainable. We can buy now and pay later in many cases and it can, therefore, be very easy to take for granted all the wonderful things that we enjoy, never mind the bare necessities of life. So, Harvest Thanksgiving is in fact, a really important time, because it helps us to be truly thankful for “our daily bread” and for everything else that we enjoy in life which millions of people in the world only dream of! Harvest Thanksgiving also keeps us in touch with the real world and helps us to remember those farmers and labourers who work in all weathers and at all times of day and night on every day of the year to ensure that we are fed.
But Harvest Thanksgiving can have a much deeper significance than simply stirring up gratitude in us or helping us to remember the natural world. There is a principle at work at harvest time which is both simple and profound. We might call it the “seed principle” and it’s a concept that was summarised in some words which Jesus spoke – “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
This is a principle that farmers and gardeners know very well. It is only through the apparent death of the seed or the bulb through the winter that new life can come in the spring. We must sacrifice the grain this year if we want a crop next year. We see the same pattern in the butterfly, which emerges to new life through the death of the caterpillar into the chrysalis. In so many ways the world of nature demonstrates this principle over and over again – “through death to life.”
This principle reveals part of God’s pattern of working in his world and his design for our living too.
So, perhaps our focus on death and resurrection in our healing and wholeness series the week before Harvest and the holding of our Memorial Service on Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday are not such strange ideas after all!
For Jesus, the “seed principle” was expressed in his self sacrifice on the cross. It was only because of his death that his resurrection life can come to us as well. And that surely reminds us of Jesus’ teaching, that it is only by dying to self that we experience wholeness - fullness of life and eternal life.
On Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday we will focus on being a “Fruitful Community” and there will I’m sure, be much to celebrate as we reflect on the fruit that is already being harvested in our individual lives and in the life of the church as we serve the community. But may it also remind us that to continue to bear fruit we will need to continue to embody this “seed principle” – we must continue to die to self; let go of the things that we want to be and do, in order to be able to be and do what God has in mind for us.
Cover Verse
Matthew 6 v25 …I tell you not to be worried… v28 …why worry… v31…do not start worrying… v34…do not worry…
To worry (Shorter Oxford English Dictionary)
verb trans. To bite at or use the teeth on esp. repeatedly or vigorously.
verb trans. Harass, harry, attack repeatedly or persistently
verb intrans. Give way to anxiety, unease, or disquietude; allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulties or troubles.
Jesus says don’t do that. He doesn’t say don’t be sad, or don’t be concerned, or don’t be careful. Verbs are ‘doing’ words. Don’t ‘do’ worry. Jesus says not to.
Kathryn Price
Come and Worship
Sun 6th October
10.00am LeslieNewton, Musician-Cath Todd
4pm Messy Church
6.30pmChris GoddardReflective Worship
Tues 8th Oct7.00pm –ReflectiveWorship
Wed 9th Oct10.30am - Wednesday Worship
Sun 13th OctoberHarvest Thanksgiving Sunday
10.00amRev Gill NewtonHoly Communion
Organist – Richard Spurr
3.00pmMemorial Service
6.30pm Rev Gill Newton,Musicians - Worship Band
Tues15th Oct 7.00pm–Reflective Worship
Wed 16th Oct10.30am - Wednesday Worship
Sun 20th October
10.00am David Clowes,Organist – Richard Spurr
6.30pm John Ream,Musician - Pam Howie
Tues 22nd Oct7.00pm–Evening Reflective Worship
Wed 23rd Oct10.30am - Wednesday Worship
led by Rev Gill Newton with Holy Communion
Sun 27th October
10.00am John Harrington, Organist - Richard Spurr
6.30pm RevKaty ThomasHoly Communion
andprayers for Healing and Wholeness
Musicians - Worship Band
Tues 29th Oct7.00pm –Reflective Worship
Wed 30thOct10.30am - Wednesday Worship
Sun 3rd November 8.30am and 10am Rev Gill Newton
4pm Messy Church
6.30pm Kathryn Price Reflective worship
Weekday Prayers There are many opportunities to share together in prayer, in home groups, fellowship groups and other meetings.
News of the Family
Baptisms
We celebrated the baptism of Grace Jones daughter of Nicky and Chris and sister of Edward on 8th September
Thanks
Thank you everybody who made my 80th birthday such a memorable event. I’m sorry for any omissions because I was quite overwhelmed by all your cards and good wishes. I am very grateful to the Nevins for putting on a “do” for me and to all of you who came. I am also grateful to Ros and John Lathbury for bringing Oates as my guest of honour. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Guide Dogs for the Blind. I sent them the magnificent sum of £230.
Like royalty, that was my “official” birthday. When I was asked what I was going to wear I quoted Jenny Joseph’s poem “when I am an old woman I shall wear purple with a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me”. There is something about running a stick along the railings but I promised not to do that to Jean’s gates! I had a purple out fit and managed to borrow the red hat.
My ‘real’ birthday was the following Saturday and I was dined twice. thank you Pam and Pauline.
Then I went to “my” hotel in Scotland. My favourite meal awaited me plus a “wee dram”. On the following Saturday they staged a party for me complete with a cake with 8 candles brought in by all the staff on duty. I managed to blow them all out in one breath. During the rest of my stay I enjoyed several gifts of typical Highland hospitality” so the celebrations have lasted for quite some time.
So, once again, thank you very much all of you. Ros Brown
Ben, Emma, Gideon and Gamaliel Coe would like to thank the Church Family for their loving care over the loss of Ben’s Mum, Jay. The flowers, visits, cards and messages were all greatly appreciated.
Alison, Malcolm, Rachel and Peter Gunnwould like to thank everyone for all the support, love, and prayers received following the death of Alison's Dad, Doug Whalley. We are so grateful too for all the visits, cards, cakes and meals which help so much at this time. Thank you too for all the support at the funeral and the help offered by so many people. We are blessed to be a part of such a wonderful church family and have felt surrounded and strengthened by God's love
Maggie and Mike Thompson would like to thank everyone for the love and care shown to us through flowers, cards and messages following the death of Mike’s sister Hazel Harrison.
We are sad to hear of the death of Gordon Paul
Gordon and his family were members of this church for many years and he was active in many of our organisations within our church during that time. He moved away a few years ago to live with his daughter in Kings Lynn and he died suddenly on 16th September. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
In our prayers
Weremember in our prayers those who have been in hospital during the last month and those who are very poorly. We continue to pray for those who are listed in our prayer book –
Diane Parker, Sheila and Peter Cresswell, Ethel Beresford, Stu and Sue Burnet,The Gunn Family, Jean Dodgson
Service of Thanksgiving
and Remembrance
On Sunday, 13th Octoberat3pm
a Memorial service will be held here.
The families of all those whose funeral services have beenconducted here over the last three years will be invited. In addition the families of all those whose funeral services have been conducted elsewhere by our Minister will also be invited.
However, this service is open to all those who wish to have the opportunity to remember loved ones who have died, so please do feel free to join us on this occasion if it would be helpful for you.
In Memory of Douglas Whalley 6.3.32 – 26.8.2013
Doug was born and brought up in Nelson. He attended school at NelsonGrammar School and afterwards qualified as a civil engineer. For his first job he worked at NelsonTown Hall as borough surveyor.
It was at ScotlandRoadMethodistChurch that he met Eileen who eventually became his wife. They later moved to C.H.M.C. where they were both prominent members of the choir and in 1963 their family was complete when their beautiful baby girl, Alison, was born.
Doug had an exceptional singing voice so he joined the St. Georges
singers at Poynton, while Eileen became a member of the Ladybrook choir. They both regularly enjoyed attending each others performances.
Holidays were a high point in Doug’s life. He loved the hills and lakes of the Lake District and enjoyed the majesty of the mountains in Switzerland. Here he indulged his passion and gift for photography. He was a member of Lancashire Cricket Club and spent many happy hours at Old Trafford too.
In 1991 Doug retired as principal Engineer of Highways and Transportation. He had more time then to enjoy his hobbies, family life and the grandchildren, Rachel and Peter. He was also a very valuable member of the church Contact group where he served on the committee as treasurer. Sadly when Eileen died in 2006 life was never the same again but he continued to keep everything immaculate and in good order as it always had been.
Doug was a true gentleman with a ready smile and a gentle sense of humour. As his Pastoral visitor it was a privilege to visit him and latterly to share in his memories and to hear of the joy his family gave him. He will be greatly missed within our church family and our thoughts and prayers are with his whole family at this time.
Doug loved bluebells and when ever I see a bluebell I shall remember him and thank God for his friendship.
Barbara Clarke
Monday, September 02, 2013
CHELWOOD FOODBANK UPDATE
The foodbank continues to become busier and busier. Thank you for all that you do for us and the hungry people in our borough.
Volunteers Required
We have organised a week long collection at Sainsburys in Cheadle and Stockport and need as many volunteers as possible. If you would be willing to volunteer to do an hour or two then please could they get in touch with the Cheadlke Hulme Methodist church office
Harvest
As Harvest Time approaches we are thinking again of the foodbank. We are always grateful for any donations of food that people bring us but it would be particularly helpful if we had specific donations of items that are always in great demand.
Cheadle Hulme Methodist Church has been asked to focus on tinned meat and fish.
New Distribution Centre
We have opened a new Distribution centre at Rev320, 22 St. Petersgate, Stockport on Friday afternoons 2.00 - 4.30pm. This is mainly to assist the clients from Stockport Local Assistence Scheme as it is much closer to their office at Fred Perry House. It has been open for several weeks now and has already become the busiest slot of the whole week with an average of 10 to 15 clients a week.
New Storage Facility
The 'Big Yellow Storage Company' have generously offered the foodbank some free storage at their Stockport depot which will be used by the foodbank for storing excess food.
Chelwood Foodbank is now independent.
Chelwood Foodbank is now no longer part of the Trussell Trust and is being rebranded as ChelwoodFoodbankPlus - this means that we are completely independent and are under no restrictions to the area that we cover. Have a look at our new website :
Loaves & Fishes
This is our regular Sunday evening soup kitchen that we run in the centre of Stockport opposite Wellspring. We provide hot food, cold food, hot drinks and soft drinks to homeless people as well as providing sleeping bags and warm clothing especially during the winter months. We are regularly feeding 30+ people and are looking for a more permanent home as the colder months arrive. If you would like to volunteer for this project then please come along at 6.15pm any Sunday to meet the team or give us a ring on the office number.
Finances
As we have to rely totally on donations and gifts I have taken the opportunity to enclose a standing order form which can be given to anyone who is interested in supporting the foodbank financially.
A copy of this form can be collected from CHMC office.
Many thanks for your generous support - we could not function without your help.
Steve Hough, MinisterChelwoodBaptistChurch.
Aluminium
The outlet taking our aluminium foil has now been discontinued.
Unless anyone knows of any other local charity taking foil please recycle this in your own brown bin.
Peter Crummett
Operation Christmas Child – Shoebox Appeal
Leaflets for the shoebox appeal are now available
Please note that this year the donation has been increased to
£3 per box.
If you are filling a box yourself please check the leaflet for suitable items, taking into account those items which are not allowed.
Network will again be filling boxes on 28th October and would welcome your contributions if you are not able to complete a box yourself. Items/donations towards costs can be given to me or any of the committee members.
Many thanks to all who contribute in any way
Margaret Pattie Network Secretary.
Cheadle Hulme Churches together
In October there will be 2 meetings of Churches Together in Cheadle Hulme.
On 3rd October at 7.30pm in SwannLaneURCChurch. It will start with refreshments and is open to all members of every church. After this will be the business meeting where the group considering Worship and Prayer will present their findings for us to discuss. We will also discuss the arrangements for the “week of prayer for Christian Unity concluding with a Saturday Service of shared music for prayer and praise”. I am the representative for our church and would welcome advice and ideas from our congregation. Please come to this meeting and maybe you could volunteer to help plan.
The usual prayer meeting for the people of Cheadle Hulme is on 8th October at 2pm at Emmanuel Church. I hope some of you will join me and feel free to join in our prayers either aloud or silently. There will also be a time of refreshments and fellowship.
When I was head of Kingsway a Sixth Former at the height of the recent Irish troubles, after stating she was an atheist, challenged me as to why Christians “who are supposed to worship the same God are fighting each other.” I muttered some platitudes and changed the subject having been almost reduced to silence and until I retired I “Ceased to meet” claiming I was too busy. Then my mother bullied me into taking her to a MethodistChurch. We were made so welcome at C.H.M.C. that I am still with you. I bought a copy of John Wesley sermons for £1 in which he has much to say about disagreements between Christians which can be summed up as “agree where you can, and where you cannot, agree to differ and let it rest” I concluded that what was good enough for John Wesley was good enough for me and that where we could put on a united front to influence the world we should. This explains my enthusiasm for the work of Churches together and I invite others to join me as I am not so young now. I find the members of the other churches very friendly and kind and have formed some good friendships. Ros Brown