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December 2016
Our verse of the year:
God is our refuge and strength.
Psalm 46 Verse 1
What’s On
This interesting article appeared in the Church of England “InReview” December 2016
Renewal and Reform To church or not to church…
I used to help coach a junior cricket team. We weren’t the world’s greatest or best
coached. Practices were on a Friday evening and matches were on a Sunday morning.
I would go on a Friday but not to the matches on a Sunday, at least not until after church.
One year I decided that I was going to go to the matches instead. But I couldn’t settle. I felt
I was somehow in the wrong place. This wasn’t what I should be doing on a Sunday morning.
I didn’t want the feeling of people wondering where I was, whether I was committed to
church, why I was making such an ‘odd’ choice. After that summer I reverted to my previous
pattern – coaching on Fridays, church on Sundays. We still didn’t win many games.
I look back on that time and wonder – what was the right thing to do? Should I have been
making a kind of Eric Liddell point about the importance of church and faith; or should I
have been where they were, as a Christian presence in that team? But I suspect that I never
extricated myself from the trap of making some kind of sacred and secular distinction – that
church was sacred and cricket is secular, and that sacred always trumps secular.
I think there is a mood within the church just now to think afresh on these kinds of things,
working on the understanding that God is involved in and through our whole life. Looking
back the thing that would have made all the difference would have been to hear someone
in church, ideally during a service, talking about how they are trying to see God at work not
just in church, home, school or work but about God being at work in the recreational
spaces, the social spaces, the ‘trivial’ spaces, the ‘metime’ (hate that phrase) spaces.
These are times and places of huge and important connection. Why do we assume that
these are outside God’s, and probably more particularly, the church’s interest? Why did I
never fully make the connection that the cricket field was also a mission field, that for that
time and for those seasons that was where God had put me?
If we are to respond to our Archbishops’ challenge to re-evangelise the nation there aren’t
private spheres or spaces beyond the reach of God or interest of the church. I’m absolutely
not denigrating church in any way or the importance of regular nourishing and sustaining
worship as central to who we are in Christ. But I am reflecting that there was an
opportunity to help a group of lads begin to glimpse how wide and long and high and deep is
the love of Christ – but I was in church instead. Tricky.
Mike Eastwood, Director of Renewal & Reform To church or not to church...
@RenewalReformfacebook.com/
Worship Times:
Sunday 9.30 am Sunday Service Thursday 10 am Eucharist
Christmas Eve 5pm Scratch Nativity
Christmas Day 10am Team Christmas Day Service
First contact minister:
Revd. Darren McIndoe 01782 818673 or 07886 502307 [email protected]
Church Warden: Les Davis 01782 281371
Luncheon club takes place every Tuesday from 12.30 to 2pm.
The Church is open for prayer, companionship, and craft on Wednes-days from 11am until 1pm
Thursdays after the Eucharist, the community of St. Chad prayer group meets from 11am until 12.30pm led by Gloria
Every Friday 9am until 12.30pm. Open Door group. Everyone is wel-come to drop in for a chat and a cuppa.
Christmas Carol Service at Camoys Court
Sunday 4th December there will be a Carol Service 3pm until 4pm at Camoys Court. Songs of Praise usually takes place at Camoys Court on the last Sunday of every month. Everyone welcome.
Carol Service Sunday 18th December at 6pm for Christ Church and St Paul’s to be held at St Paul’s, Middleport. Everyone welcome.
Christmas Eve Services
2pm Christingle to be held at St Paul’s
5pm Scratch Nativity at Christchurch
Christmas Day Service for Hanley Team Ministry 10am
Worship times:
Sunday 11 am Sunday Service.
Sunday 18th December 6pm Carol Service
Wednesday 7th and 21st
Saturday 24th December 3pm Christmas Eve Crib Service
Saturday 24th December 11.30pm Midnight Mass
Contact ministers Revd. Sally Smith 01782 266066
Church Wardens Norman and June Tatton 01782 657060
Prayer Gathering. Please join us for prayer before the
Sunday service at 10.45 a.m. Contact Mary (271262) with
prayer requests.
St Luke's Christmas Fayre is taking place on Saturday 3rd De-
cember starting at 10am—12 noon. There are plenty of things to
try and to buy: Tombola, Raffles, Coffee and cakes, stalls galore
including Books, Games, Bric-a-Brac, Gifts and Toys. All welcome.
Carol Service—Sunday 18th December at 6pm
Crib Service—Christmas Eve 24th December 3pm
Midnight Mass—Christmas Eve 24th December 11.30pm
Thanks to everyone who has supported St Luke's coffee mornings in
2016 whether by hosting, providing items for sale or for our raffles or
by coming along and sharing in a time of fellowship. St Luke's first
coffee morning for 2017 will be Saturday 4th February from 10-11.30
am
Worship times: Sunday 11 am Sunday Service with Sunday School Sunday 4th December 11am Christingle Eucharist for all the family Sunday 11th 4pm Carol Service
Christmas Eve—Messy Church Crib Service 5pm
Every Thursday at 5.45pm. Evening prayer.
BETA Bible Study group is taking a break during
December but will restart on Monday 9th January
from 7.30pm—9pm at St Matthew’s. If you haven’t
been before, come along and share in studying
God’s word and everyone is truly welcome!
Table Top Sale on Saturday 3rd December 1pm—4pm £5 per ta-ble. Contact Chris Turner to book a table. 07814817736
*WANTED: Clean bric-a-brac and jewellery please.*
Sunday 11th December 4 pm. Carol Service with Wetley Rocks Male Voice Choir. Mulled wine and mince pies after the service
First contact minister Revd Sally Smith 01782 266066
Church Wardens Brenda Hughes 01782 212198
Les Cooke 01782 851184
Christmas Eve- Messy Church Crib service 5 p.m.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Dec 4th at 11am —St Matthew’s All Age Eucharist/Christingle
Dec 10th 12noon—St Mark’s Sanctus Christmas Special with Baptism
Dec 11th at 4pm—St Matthew’s Carol Service
Dec 14th at 6pm—St Mark’s Carol Service for the business community
Dec 17th at 7.30pm —Holy Trinity Carol Service
Dec 18th at 6pm—Carol Service at St Paul’s including Christ-church
Dec 18th at 6pm—Carol Service at St Luke’s
CHRISTMAS EVE
December 24th
2pm at St. Paul’s—Christingle
3pm at St Luke’s—Crib Service
5pm at St Matthew’s—Crib Service
5pm at Christchurch—Scratch Nativity
9.30pm at Holy Trinity—First Mass of Christmas
11.30pm at St Mark’s—Midnight Mass
CHRISTMAS DAY
Hanley Team Ministry Christmas Day Service 10am at Christchurch
MESSY CHURCH
The Loving Father speaks,
a lost flock gathers
at the fringe fold;
playful, busy,
bouncing and buzzing,
fresh-faced and messy,
happy lambs.
The Good Shepherd draws
His own, pen-ward,
ewes and grand-ewes,
an occasional ram,
gleaned from the edges, Shepherd-enfolded
with the lambs.
The Holy Spirit moves:
there’s food for sharing,
food for thought,
worshipful caring,
stories and songs
for a new congregation
from the street.
A poem about Messy Church
by Graham Foxley
Many thanks for all of the shoeboxes collected this year—so far we know that 52 were filled.
If you, or anyone you know, would like to speak to a member of the staff team, or would like someone to visit them, please let us know.
Yoga with Angela Kimberley on Tuesday evenings 6-7.30pm £5 per session. Contact Angela on 01782 859514 or 07887 878028
Worship times: Sunday 9.30 am Sunday Service Thursday 9 am Morning Prayer
Thursday 1st and 15th Midweek Service
Saturday 17th December 7.30pm Carol Service
Christmas Eve 9.30pm First Mass of Christmas
Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer followed by cheese and wine on Sun-day 4th December at 6pm.
Northwood Daycare Centre Service 11am on Monday 5th De-cember.
Northwood Day Centre Christmas Service. In addition to the normal monthly service, there will be a Carol Service on Mon-day 19th December at 11am. For further information, have a word with Mary Chanot
Carol Service on Saturday 17th December at 7.30pm. Mince pies and mulled wine.
Christmas Eve 9.30pm First Mass of Christmas
Cash Bingo on Monday 5th and 19th December. Eyes down 7.30pm.
General knowledge quiz with Christmas theme on Saturday 10th December at 7.30pm.
NORTHWOOD PARISH HALL
First contact minister Revd. Sally Smith 01782 266066 Church Wardens Paul Sherratt 01782 868157 Glenys Paterson 07790 842430
Church Wardens Mark Sherratt 07968 300484 Lynne Ball 07954372391 First Contact Minister Rev’d Sally Smith 01782 266066 [email protected]
Worship times: Sunday 10 am Sunday Service with Sunday School Wednesday 9 am Morning Prayer For other Christmas services please see below
Every Monday Open Door 9.00am until 12.30pm. Community Breakfast for all
Bible Study at St. Mark ’s every Tuesday 5pm—7pm
Every Wednesday 10.30am until 12.30pm Sanctus Drop In, supporting asylum seekers and refugees.
Staffordshire SANDS Annual Service. 2pm on Saturday 3rd December. A time of re-membering and reflection for families who have lost a child before or during the first year of life. Everyone is welcome to this service, however long ago your loss occurred.
Stoke on Trent Male Voice Choir with the Sanctus Choir! 7.30pm on Saturday 3rd December. FREE—or pay what you can.
Baptism prep group after 10am service on Sunday 4th December
Tuesday 6th December - Eucharist at Etruria Locks 10am—all welcome.
Wednesday 8th 10am Etruscan School Christingle at St Mark’s
Tuesday 13th 3pm Messy Christmas at St Mark’s School
Wednesday 14th 3pm Carols around the tree at St Mark’s School
Wednesday 14th 6pm Ministry of Work Carol Service at St Mark’s
Wednesday 21st 12.30pm Crib Service at St Mark’s
Saturday 24th 11.30pm Midnight Mass at St Mark’s
Christmas Day—Sanctus Christmas Lunch at the YMCA
Saturday December 10th 12.00 - 2.00pm
SANCTUS ON SATURDAY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL WITH BAPTISM and we may be filmed by Songs of Praise—all welcome.
WHAT’S ON— content is always needed for this magazine. Please keep me updat-
ed with any changes or events etc. Thank you Linda [email protected]
SUNDAY READINGS FOR NOVEMBER 2016
CLERGY CONTACT DETAILS
Team Vicar Revd. Sally Smith (Diocesan Advisor for vulnerable adults) Day Off Friday 35, Harding Road, Hanley ST1 3BQ Phone 01782 266066 email [email protected]
Team Vicar Rev’d Darren McIndoe 16 Heyburn Crescent ST6 4DL Day Off Saturday Phone 01782 818673 mobile 07886502307 email [email protected]
Parish Creative Missioner Frank McGregor Phone 07952 318685 email [email protected]
Assistant Curate Revd. Karen Petherick 80, Birches Head Road, ST1 6LQ Phone 01782 865240 Day off Saturday
Assistant Curate Revd. Shelley Billington Phone 07411 992565 e mail [email protected] Day off Monday Readers: Roy Smith, Marg Collin, Kath Boyce Local Lay Minister for Pastoral Care Mary Chanot What’s On editor Linda Collas 07598320786 [email protected]
web address http://hanleyteamministry.btck.co.uk
DATE FIRST SECOND THIRD 4th Isaiah 11:1-10 Romans 15:4-13 Matthew 3:1-12
11th Isaiah 35:1-10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11
18th Isaiah 7:10-16 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-25
25th Isaiah 52:7-10 Hebrews 1:1-4[5-12] John 1:1-14
Reduced Services during the Interregnum.
Unfortunately it has not been possible to maintain all of the midweek services during this period and some changes have also had to be made to Sunday ser-vices.
There may be further changes over the coming months but we will ensure there is always a Sunday and midweek Eucharist within the team although it may not be in the church you usually attend.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to pray for the vacancy to be filled.
