The Parish of St Paul, Kersal Moor
and St Andrew, Carr Clough
Our aim is to KNOW God through Jesus
To GROW in faith
To SHOW God’s love in our communit
Easter Article: After the Tsunami
What must it be like to survive? To be left standing; no family, no home. No business. No work. And soon… no water, or food. To know that a mile away a nuclear reactor is spewing poisoned air. To have no control. No base from which to be yourself; nothing to offer or to trade for help.
This is how we stand before Almighty God when books are opened and we feel the word ‘repent’, and know that ‘all that I can do is nothing worth’ (King Henry V: Shakespeare). This is what we are when all that mattered – all that made us mutter – soaks into the shadows cast behind the glory of the risen Son of God.
Tragedy in this life is always present at some time, in some part of the world, to somebody who spent their time on ordinary tasks, who did no more than go about their business, with no special interest in or fear of God. Ordinary people who said to themselves “the Lord does nothing, one way or another” (Zephaniah 1:12).
Tragedy happens equally to Christians and non-Christians both. Both are undeserving, and no-one is exempted from the freedom of a broken world. But for the Christian it need not be devastation - rather opportunity to trust the Lord and, knowing the mighty acts of God in history, to act out within our history the power of the resurrection of a dead man, Jesus.
‘The Lord does nothing, one way or another’ is a thought unworthy and sterile, compounding the misery of ‘this vale of tears’. At Easter we rehearse the story of the world’s attempt to silence the Word of Life… and our Father God’s reponse: refusing to comply, and raising Him to life again. How God refused to let us close down hope and would not let the powers of evil ‘win’. For life ‘in Christ’ is not "nasty, brutish, short" (Hobbes, 1651), but rather wonderful, enloved, and very long.
So what of tragedy? It is not God who sends the earthquake and tsunami – or sends the Saviour to the cross. It is creation marred by sin that does this: but the Lord is present still, and is not bound. The Lord sends people in to help – he sends His people in to help - when people let themselves be sent.
When China was invaded by the Japanese, destroying all that Gladys Aylward had, she did not sit there, stunned and devastated. She got up and led 100 orphans over the mountains to safety. Children who thereon could never claim ‘the Lord does nothing’. It was the ‘frontline’ of her calling. What is yours? Where are you called to work out your salvation?
This Easter may you serve as you are ‘called’ to. May you live, cheerfully and with confidence, knowing the power of God ‘at work in you to will and work His good desire’(Phil 2:13). May you be at peace, and may you sing with joy however grim the world around, for our great Lord has overcome the curse of death (John 1:5), and He has made us overcomers, too (Rom12:21).
Revd Lisa
25.3.11
Pages 3,4&5
Poem
Whatever is lost – Jesus is always there,
An ever-abiding presence at your side.
Your pain and sorrow he is ready to share
And comfort you, uphold you and provide
The hope, though it be a heavy cross you bear,
So heavy a cross- yet Jesus is always there.
Whatever you long for – Jesus is ever near
To give of the inexhaustible fount of his love.
He waters the garden of every groping prayer
With showers of mercy and blessings from above.
That hope might flower though it cost a life so dear.
Yet, to him, those he loved were still more dear.
Whatever threatens – Jesus is always near;
Our Saviour, protector and friend whose matchless might
Is the power of God which made and placed you here;
And all that thwart you he will put to flight,
And make the way for you both safe and clear.
-Say only the word and his Spirit shall appear.
Stuart Lester
March 2011
6
You are invited to
An Evening with
Bishop Chris
the Bishop of Bolton.
at Claremont Tennis & Social Club
Doveleys Road Salford M6 8GN
on Monday 11th April
Doors open 7 pm for 7.30 pm start
There will be a bar.
First half will be a talk by Bishop Chris
2nd half will be Bishop Chris answering the questions we put to him.
Please feel free to bring a friend
PilgrimTravel (UK) Ltd
A personal invitation to join
a pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Led by Revd Lisa Battye
Dec 1st - 8th , 2011
£1169.00
(Including fuel surcharges, flight taxes
and APD @ 21/01/10)
Book with Brenda, 07769673305
or
7
Dates for your Diary in April
Tonight -Sun 10th, 6pm, Flourish Celebration Service (Circuit Praise) – St Paul’s.
Monday, 11th “An Evening with Bishop Chris”, 7 for 7.30pm start, at Claremont Tennis and Social Club (See full page advert for details.)
Thu 14th, 8pm, St Andrew’s Ladies’ Circle, - Bingo
(Thu 28th, speaker: Leita Donn).
Thu 14th, starts 6.30pm – 8pm, Espresso Church in Costa Coffee, Longfield Precinct. (2nd Thu in the month) Interesting speaker, coffee & conversation in a relaxed environment.
For Holy Week and Easter Services see insert.
Wed 20th, Parish Passover Meal, 6.45 for 7pm in Social Area, St Paul’s. To book see Maureen (792 4873) by 17th April. Minimum donation £3.
*If you are going to Spring Harvest you need to book before you go!!
Thurs 21st, St Paul’s School Easter Service, 2.15 pm, St Paul’s Church
Easter Bank Holiday Mon 25th, Ramble from Rivington. Meet at Rainsough Community Centre 9.15 for 9.30am. More details from Judith or Rick (0753 927 5834).
Wed 27th, 11.30am, Luncheon Club, in St Paul’s Social Area
Fri 29th, Royal Wedding ‘Street Party’ at St Paul’s Church. We will be open from 10.30am, the ceremony is at 11am. We will show the wedding on 2 big screens in Worship Area followed by a bring and share ‘street party’ style lunch in the Social Area. People are encouraged to wear their best patriotic or red/white/blue clothes if they wish. Volunteers are needed to help set up the building from 9.30am, and wash and / or clear up too. If anyone has any ideas on how to add to/improve the event please contact Justine (0161 792 6782). Anyone willing to assist in any way is welcome.
8
Future Events
Bank Holiday Mon 2nd May, there will be a ramble . For details see Judith or Rick (0753 927 5834; )
Tue 10th May, 7pm, St Paul’s Spring Fair
Sat 14th May, Salford Deanery Rogationtide Walk, departs from St Thomas, Ford Lane, at 9am. Visit 15 churches on an 18 mile walk. More details on noticeboard.
Sun 15th May, Gift Day, St Paul’s.
May 15th – 21st Christian Aid Week.
Wed 18th May, 6.15pm, Public Meeting at Butterstile School – to learn more about credit unions. See full page article .
Sun 22nd May, Deanery Confirmation will be at 6pm, St Luke’s, Weaste - corner of Liverpool St / Derby Rd Salford M6 5YD.
Advance Notice:
Barry Woodward evening in St Paul’s, Sat 17th Sept. For more details visit www.salfordstories.com
9
The Imagine Project – what it means for you.
I've been asking the following questions of people in my work with the Imagine Project. They are key questions for anyone who wants to grasp and live out what it means to be a whole-life, full-time, every-place, sold-out, missional disciple of Jesus. It's amazing how the spiritual temperature in the place goes up when you go round a room asking these questions and people begin to see that the witness of the 'scattered church' in the seemingly ordinary tasks of everyday life is actually immense.
I'd love to hear YOUR answers. I think this may be the great untold story of the church. Instead of simply looking for a wave of revival in the future, we need to ride the wave of God's loving involvement with his world right now.
So, please, give it a few minutes prayerful thought and let me hear your answers.
I suspect we might begin to see some patterns of what God is doing nationally and internationally in and through the lives of his people. And I'm sure we'll be challenged to whole-life discipleship.
Where's your frontline?
In other words, where do you spend most of your time?
That's theWHEREof missional discipleship - realising that your mission-field is right where you are.
What's God doing there?
This one tends to stop people in their tracks, and their initial response is often negative. But when they think about it - when they start looking for God - some interesting insights begin to emerge.
That's theWOW!of missional discipleship - realising that God is already at work right where you are.
What part do you have to play in what God's doing?
That's theWORKof missional discipleship - realising that it's not all about what you do, but that you do have a part to play right where you are
Pages 10&11
‘Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream’ Amos 5: 24
In times of recession debt is an ever greater threat... Debt cripples people, especially when it carries exploitative interest rates. Christians are called to help lift yokes of economic injustice which cripples people spiritually. Credit Unions are an ethical alternative to banks, owned by the members, with interest rates capped by law; they are also a great way to gain skills, challenge unemployment and build communities. Some Churches, not just individuals, are now banking with Credit Unions.
Everyone is invited to a Public Meeting at Butterstile School on Wednesday 18th May – 6.15pm – to learn more about credit unions and how they could benefit this area. For more details ask Revd Catherine, 0161 773 9859 OR 07711 611201 OR
12
Simnel Cake
Simnel cake was once made to mark Mothering Sunday, as it was on this day that the devout parishioners went to the Mother Church of the parish, or the Cathedral of the diocese, to make their offerings. Sometime during the seventeenth century the day became the festival of human motherhood when the whole family met together and apprentices and servants were given the day off – probably the only holiday in the year – and took flowers gathered from the hedgerows and, sometimes the gift of a simnel cake to their mothers from their employers.
‘I’ll to thee a Simnell bring
‘Gainst thou go’st a mothering,
So that, when she blesseth thee,
Half that blessing thou’lt give to me.’
Robert Herrick 1648
Simnel cakes had been known from mediaeval times and the word simnel probably derived from the latin word ‘simila’, meaning fine, wheaten flour from which the cakes were made. There were local specialities and Shrewsbury, Devizes and Bury made large quantities to their own special recipes and shapes – all were very rich with ingredients similar to those in Christmas cakes. It was the Shewsbury version that became widespread. The fourth Sunday in Lent is still known as Simnel Sunday in some areas.
Simnel cakes are now also eaten at Easter when eleven balls of marzipan are placed around the top layer to represent the eleven true disciples but the really good cake has a layer of delicious sticky marzipan in the centre.
13
The Bible – what it is and what’s in it.
This year Spring Harvest has the theme “Route 66”.
It’s all about the Bible and what it contains.
The Bible is a whole library in itself, consisting of 66 books split into two sections, the Old Testament (before Jesus) and the New Testament (about Jesus and early Christianity).
Like any library it has all kinds of writing in its books – poetry, narrative, histories, prayers, songs, letters, information, stories, instructions, myths, words of wisdom……………
It also has lots of different characters - kings, queens, teachers, prophets, lepers, beggars, soldiers, priests, good and bad fathers, eunuchs, mothers, prostitutes, devils, angels and of course…………..…God.
It has lots of different themes, too - love, hate, faith, greed, friendship, sex, trust, hope, despair, redemption, and salvation to name but a few!!
We know roughly when the Bible was written, the earliest parts possibly dating from about thousand years BC to the most recent parts written about 120 years after Christ’s death.
But what we don’t know is who wrote much of it.
We know that there are many different authors, most of them men, and nearly all of them Jewish (Luke was a Gentile) and we know who wrote some of it, like the letters in the New Testament, but much of the Old Testament remains anonymous.
The first five books of the Old Testament, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are known as the Five Books of Moses, or the Torah. They are traditionally thought to have been written by Moses, but modern scholars have proposed that there were four or five authors.
To investigate this, let’s take a look at the creation stories in Genesis. Read from 1:1 – 2:4, then from 2:4 – 2:25. There are two distinct stories, both explaining the creation of the world and humankind – if there was only one author why tell the story twice?
Now look at the story of Noah (Genesis, Chapters 6–9) and there are two different stories there as well. One version states that God told Noah to take two of all the animals, birds and reptiles, (6:19) whereas the other says God asked Noah to take in seven pairs of each clean animal (7:2). Noah enters the ark twice, once in 7:7 and again in 7:13, and there is some confusion as to whether he sends out a raven or a dove.