All Souls - Remembrance

This weekend there was a wealth of death related activity, most of it the ghoulish scare fest type.
But beyond giggling witches begging tricks or treats Autumn also brings another centuries old tradition - the festival of All Souls.
Unlike Halloween, All Souls doesn't portray death as unreal or scary but rather an inevitable part of life's cycle that will affect us all sooner or later.
Our own simple moving act of remembrance at St John the Baptist, focused on the expression of continuing life - the love that helps life go on after our world comes crashing down around our ears when someone we love dies .
I saw awkward gestures from men facing the need to express love physically to a parent - the reaching of a hand, or just a shared look; and I saw children instinctively understanding the rightness of offering simple comfort - a girl of seven or eight trying to stretch her small arms wide enough to reach around her weeping Grandma.
What I took away from the service most of all though was the simple realisation that this final element of life, hard though it is to bear, is a shared one.
In our own packed church I was surprised how many families I knew as neighbours or nodding acquaintances, but who I hadn't realised had been touched by loss. This is a cultural tradition to do with death that reflects its natural place in life - though tough to deal with - rather than the unreal and horrific depictions of Halloween.

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Licensing of Paul Monk

Tonight at Holy Trinity Church Waterhead, Bishop Mark licensed Revd Paul Monk as Team vicar in the Medlock Head Team, with responsiblity for St Barnabas Clarksfield and Holy Trinity Waterhead. With Bishop Mark, Revd Paul and Father Richard are the Church Wardens from the team, together with the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the County, Mrs Ann Sykes, and The Mayor and The Mayoress of Oldham

We all pray for a successful ministry for Paul, and welcome him and his family into ours.

Bishop's Certificate in Children's Ministry

Susan Banks, Denise Elstub, Julie Bowler, Kate Butterworth, Sarah Fletcher, Alison Oldham Angela Reed, Tanya Vickerstaff, Tracy Acton on photo

Barbara Ballantyne, Debbi Glover, Debra Yates not on photo

Saturday 26th September at Manchester Cathedral receiving the Bishop's Certificate in Children's Ministry (Level One)

Harvest Supper

Last Saturday we held a Faith Harvest Supper with line dancing for beginners. Some beginners found the moves more difficult than others.

A "good ol' boy" taking a drink from his hip flask (I was told it contained Vimto)

For some, jelly bean dominos was more interesting.

Confirmation

At last!

Jason Booth is the last of this year's Confirmation candidates who has had difficulty getting to a Confirmation Service due to work commitments. Here he is seen with Bishop Mark following his Confirmation last Sunday at Christ Church Denshaw.

Curry Night

On Saturday we held a curry night in the Church Hall. The excellent curry from a local restaurant was accompanied by slides from India with Indian music. After we had eaten we were entertained by one of Father Richard's super slide shows with commentary, so athough he was in Madagascar on holiday he was with us in spirit. True to the theme of the evening the slide show was of Father Richard's trip to Rajastan. There was a good number of people for the event as can be seen, with additional enertainment for the younger people. Many thanks to those who organised the event and to those who came. A thouroughly enjoyable evening of fellowship that also raised some money for the vestry roof fund.

Ride and Stride

The Ride and Stride on on Saturday 12th September was a great success, raising well over £100 for the Greater Manchester Churches Preservation Society and St John's Church.

You can see the intrepid riders here about to set off on the epic journey on the morning of a treacherously warm and sunny September day.

The Church itself was open to Riders and Striders from other Churches and visitors included runners, cyclists and even a horse.

Thanks to everyone who helped out, whether walking, riding or serving refreshments in Church. The event was a great success, we hope to see even more people next year!