1

“ NORMAL TRANSMISSION WILL BE RESUMED SHORTLY”

I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in my work over the past 14 years at St Michael and All Angels Church. Its been a privilege working with everyone and making my stay here a pleasant one. I would also like to thank everyone who have supported my family, Rosie, Kris, Chloe, Angel, and Brandon over past 14 years Signing out for the last time on August 18th.

THANK YOU

MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE

PARISH CHURCH OF St MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS, RUNCORN.

www.runcornstmichaels.org.

ISSUE 125 JULY & AUGUST 2019

2

Wednesday 3rd July 10.00am Holy Communion

Sunday 7th July (3rd Sunday after Trinity) 8.30am Holy Communion 10.00am Morning Celebration 12.00noon Café Church

Wednesday 10th July 10.00am Holy Communion Sunday 14th July (Sea Sunday) 8.30am Holy Communion 10.00am Holy Communion Wednesday 17th July 10.00am Holy Communion Sunday 21st July (5th Sunday after Trinity) 8.30am Holy Communion 10.00am Holy Communion Wednesday 24th July 10.00am Holy Communion Sunday 28th July (6th Sunday after Trinity)

8.30am Holy Communion 10.00am Holy Communion Wednesday 31st July 10.00am Holy Communion

JULY CHURCH SERVICES Children are extremely welcome at all our services. Sunday Club meets in the Meeting Room during the service for all children. If you have a younger child who gets restless or cries during the service please DO NOT

WORRY—it’s only natural. There are toys for the young child in the Meeting Room.

BIBLE READINGS FOR JULY & AUGUST

Sunday 7th July Sunday 28th July Sunday 18th August Galatians 6: 7-16 Colossians 2:6-15 Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2 Luke 10: 1-11,16-20 Luke 11:1-13 Luke 12:49-56

Sunday 14th July Sunday 4th August Sunday 25th August Colossians 1:1-14 Colossians 3:1-11 Hebrews 12:18-end Luke 10:25-37 Luke 12:13-21 Luke 13:10-17

Sunday 21st July Sunday 11th August Colossians 1:15-28 Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 Luke 10:38 – end Luke 12:32-40

Places of Welcome

The Church is open every Thursday to anyone seeking to have some quiet time or to have some refreshment, 10.30am to 12.30pm. So come along.

Martha, Lazarus and Mary (John 12:1-8) Martha welcomed and worked hard And worried about so many things, Especially that Mary didn’t.

Lazarus lived again and found fame, And shared supper with the guest Who called him from the grave.

But Mary… Mary listened and sat at His feet, And filled the house with fragrance In anointing Him.

Martha served, Lazarus honoured, But with her hair and her heart Mary worshipped The Lord. By Daphne Kitching

3

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS July & August Birthdays

Congratulations to Shelagh Goffin whose birthday is on July 12th, also to Bob Browne whose birthday is on July 22nd, to Sheila

Rose whose birthday is on August 4th and to Robert Littler whose birthday is on August 5th.

19th July St Macrina the Younger – a sister in a million Do you have a sister? Is she ‘good news’ in your life? Macrina the Younger (c. 327 -79) should be the patron saint of all ‘sisters’ whose generosity helps their siblings to succeed. Macrina the Younger was the eldest of 10 children. Their father was Basil the Elder, a leader in the church in 4th century Cappadocia. When Macrina’s fiancé died when she was 12, she decided not to marry, but instead to stay home and help educate her nine brothers and sisters. Because of her self-sacrifice, they all learned to read the Bible and to have a deep faith in God. Macrina’s life was not in vain: because of her example, two of her brothers, Gregory and Basil, entered the priesthood. They went on to become famous: Gregory of Nyssa became a much-loved bishop and Basil the Great became a great theologian. Along with another priest, Gregory of Nazianzus, they became known as The Cappadocian Fathers, and played a major role in protecting the 4th century church from heresy. Yet they would never have even learned to read without Macrina. When in 379 Macrina fell ill, her brother Gregory rushed to her side. He found her lying on two planks on the floor of a small hut. Her poverty was absolute and her preparations for death complete. She prayed: ‘Thou hast freed us from the fear of death. Thou hast made the end of this life the beginning of true life...May my soul be received into the hands...’ she died at the time of Vespers and was buried amid widespread grief and lamentation.

CONGRATULATIONS to

CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS to to

Jim & Shelagh Goffin Brian & Rosemary Lunt whose Wedding Anniversary whose Wedding Anniversary is on July 6th is on August 16th to to

Peter & Elsie Ackerley Bob & Helen Browne whose Wedding Anniversary whose Wedding Anniversary is on July 25th is on August 18th to

Walter & Noreen Yule

whose Wedding Anniversary, is on 30th July

Have dog, will walk! If you own a dog, you won’t be surprised to learn you are far more likely to go out walking than your neighbour who doesn’t have a dog. (Especially on rainy winter days!) Now the University of Liverpool has found that 87.3 per cent of us who own dogs exercise for 150 minutes a week, compared with 62.7 of us without dogs. Overall, dog owners are four times more likely to achieve the NHS weekly recommendations for exercise.

Fewer of us give to charity

We are giving less time and money to charity than we were two years ago. That is the finding of a recent survey by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). It found that the proportion of those of us giving money or sponsoring someone has dropped from 69 per cent in 2016 to 65 percent in 2018. The trend has been described as ‘worrying’ by the CAF. It comes as figures show that our trust in charities has fallen (from 51 to 48 per cent). Oxfam and Save the Children both attracted negative media coverage after staff were accused of sexual misconduct, while other charities have been accused of chasing vulnerable people. CAF said that charities now have the challenge of finding ways “to inspire people to give and demonstrate that their money is making a difference.”

FESTIVAL OF LOCAL ARTS

Between Monday 5th to Saturday 10th August 2019 we are holding a ‘Festival of Local Arts’ at St Michael’s Church from 2.00pm-8.00pm. There will be things to see and do like Cake Decorating, Card Making, there will be performances every day, art displays. So why not come along with the whole family and make it a highlight for August. Admission is £3. All the proceeds will be split between VML and St Michael’s Church.

4

CHURCH SERVICES FOR AUGUST

Sunday 4th August (7th Sunday after Trinity) Sunday 18th August (9th Sunday after Trinity)8.30am Holy Communion 8.30am Holy Communion 10.00am Morning Celebration 10.00am Holy Communion 12.00noon Café Church Wednesday 21st August Wednesday 7th August 10.00am Holy Communion 10.00am Holy Communion Sunday 25th August (10th Sunday after Trinity)Sunday 11th August (8th Sunday after Trinity) 8.30am Holy Communion 8.30am Holy Communion 10.00am Holy Communion 10.00am Holy Communion Wednesday 28th August Wednesday 14th August 10.00am Holy Communion 10.00am Holy Communion

The Beatitudes: ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness’ ‘You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.’ (Augustine).

We all have deep longings in our lives that we seek to satisfy, however Jesus points out that we can only be truly satisfied by God Himself: ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’ (Matthew 5:6). The words hunger and thirst are strong words referring to a truly desperate for righteousness. But what does this mean?

Longing for right relationship with God: It means putting God at the centre of all we are and do and trusting Him with the whole of our lives. It’s a response to Jesus’ death on the cross, rather than anything we can do for God: ‘This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.’ (Romans 3:22).

Longing for right living for God: A righteous or holy life is one that is righteous 24 hours a day. It’s an integrated Christian life lived out of our ongoing relationship with God, affecting everything we do, say or think.

Longing for right relationship with others: God’s righteousness will influence how we relate to others in the community, so that all our relationships are loving and just e.g. at work, with family, friends or neighbours.

When we are really desperate Jesus says that God will fill us and our desire for righteousness will be satisfied. The problem is that often we are not desperate enough! We don’t want to let go the deep desires that get in the way of God.

‘It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are far too easily pleased.’ (C S Lewis).

One in four people in debt were born into money struggles A recent report by Christians Against Poverty (CAP), called Changing Perceptions has revealed that the financial problems of parents can have a profound effect on their children’s future relationship with money. More than one in four of CAP’s current clients grew up in a household badly affected by debt. It seems that money worries are an ‘intergenerational anxiety’. The report says that the impact that parental debt has on children “is far reaching, from taking a toll on their emotional wellbeing, to parents being unable to provide adequate food or clothing and feeling that their debt was affecting their children’s future life chances. Where parents are struggling to provide for their children, feelings of guilt and shame are particularly acute." Chief Executive Matt Barlow said: "When you've grown up with debt as the backdrop, it takes a huge leap of imagination to believe that life can be different. There's also no one to show you the right way to prioritise, plan ahead or even talk about finances. "Low income is the most common reason for personal debt. The average household annual income is £12,361 and a third of those being helped are living on less than £10,000 per household, per year.

5

The story behind the hymn: Thou art worthy Thou art worthy, Thou art worthy, Thou art worthy, O Lord. Thou art worthy to receive glory, Glory and honour and power. For Thou hast created, hast all things created, For Thou hast created all things. And for Thy pleasure they are created; Thou art worthy, O Lord. By Pauline Mills, 1883 All sons occasionally say things that surprise their mothers, but few do it in front of entire congregations. But that is what happened to Pauline Mills, one Sunday evening back in 1883, when she visited her son’s Foursquare church in Hillsboro Oregon. For her son, Pastor Dick Mills, had that morning promised the congregation that his mother would write them a hymn on any Bible verse of their choosing. He had simply forgotten to tell his mother about it before she arrived with him for the evening service. But Pauline Mills rose to the challenge of Revelation 4:11. She was used to the unexpected (having raised six children) and used to crowds (being a regular speaker for women’s groups). Above all, she was used to music, having already written 300 songs. And so, when the service ended at 10pm that evening, she presented her hymn to the congregation, complete with music, which she said that the Lord had given to her. Thou Art Worthy was warmly received by the Foursquare congregation, but that was just the beginning. Soon the little hymn was spreading from church to church, until today it is much loved and sung right around the world.

What a cup of coffee can do for the elderly Here is a curious thing: even just one cup of coffee a day can reduce the risk of an elderly person falling – by up to a third. A recent study of thousands of older patients from the UK and Spain has found that even small amounts of cof-fee are enough to make them steadier on their feet. That is good news for many elderly folk, as about one in three people over 65 will have at least one fall a year, and half will fall frequently. This is because older people can suffer balance problems, weaker muscles, dementia or low blood pressure. The study was done at a university in Madrid. All in all, it costs the NHS £2.3billion a year to treat and care for elderly patients who suffer a fall.

Justine’s Skydive

I completed my tandem skydive to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society on 9th June at Black Nights Parachute Centre in Lancaster. I jumped from 15000 feet (which is the highest you can jump from in the UK) freefalling for 60 seconds before my canopy opened. It was nerve-wracking, but an amazing once in a lifetime experience. I’d would like to thank everyone who so kindly and generously donated, allowing me to raise £1380 in memory of my dad Ian. Many thanks,

Please remember the following people in your prayers who have been married at St Michael’s in July

July 6th Gary Dillion & Chloe Walker

6

A Concert of Summer Songs On Friday 28th June, a Concert of Summer Songs was organised by Vincent Whitehead to raise vital funds for St Michael’s Church. Taking part was Tim Asbridge (Tenor), who is our organist and Charlotte Dacia (Soprano) one of our congregation sang excellent songs to the audience of 70 people, and also we had an excellent pianist, Robert to accompany Tim. Prior to the concert, we had been selling tickets for a Grand Draw to be drawn at the concert, again this was to raise vital funds for church. A BIG THANK YOU goes to Vince Whitehead (organising the concert), Brian Lunt (organising and printing the tickets for the draw), June Betton and Family (organising the refreshments on the night) and last but not last to Tim, Charlotte and Robert for an excellent night music. We raised the grand total of £1075 for Church Funds. Here are some photographs of the night.

Here are the winners of the ‘St Michael’s Grand Draw’ 1st Prize: Margaret Batters 6th Prize: B.Bazley 2nd Prize: Joanna Mainwaring 7th Prize: June Betton 3rd Prize: Marjorie Kenwright 8th Prize: Clive Booth 4th Prize: Julia Holt 9th Prize: Trevor Mainwaring 5th Prize: Geoff Ashworth 10th Prize: Anthony Batters We would like to thank everyone who bought tickets and donated the prizes for the Grand Draw.

We welcomed the following into the Church Family through Baptism

We welcomed eight children: Barbara Julia Krawczynski, Tyler Owen Leadbetter (12th May), Hollie Louise Smith, Oscar Michael Walker (26th May), Teddy Green, Louis James Stephen Houghton (9th June), Evie-Marie Oates, Joshua Paul Howard (30th June), Please pray for Barbara, Tyler, Hollie, Oscar, Teddy,

Louis, Evie-Marie and Joshua, that they may grow up to love and follow Christ. Please pray for their parents and Godparents, and pray that they may seek to know Christ and to worship regularly.

Cash is giving way to cards

Nowadays, one in ten of us is using cash only once a month. That is a 60 per cent rise in the use of our cards in just a year, according to a recent report. But UK Finance, a trade association, reports that overall, we still used cash for about 28 per cent of our payments last year. So, when bank branches and cashpoints close, it heightens concern among consumers’ rights campaigners. People obviously want – and need - continued access to cash. Meanwhile, debit cards have become our most frequently used method of payment. They overtook cash in 2017, and last year we used them for 38 per cent of our payments.

7

17th August Jeanne Delanoue – care for the poor

Some people are pushy and a bit grasping. They get on your nerves. Pray that they go on to find God’s will for their lives, for then all that pushiness is put to good use. Take Jeanne Delanoue. She was born at Saumur in 1666, and grew up small, authoritarian, and quite frankly, a bit of a bossy-boots. When she took charge of the family shop, which sold drapery and pious articles, she was known to be a bit greedy. Then, when she was 26, she met two Christians, including the Abe Genetau and a visionary called Francoise Suchet. The encounter changed her life. Jeanne gave most of her goods away to the poor and transformed the caves and cellars of her home by the River Loire into a guest-house for the homeless. An earthquake in 1703 destroyed the caves, but it took more than that to stop Jeanne. She founded the Sisters of Providence, with the help of two other young women, kept helping the poor of her town. When famine hit in 1709, she and her two friends cared for 100 desperate people in Providence House. Jeanne was always a driven lady; she rose at 3am and spent her days looking after the distressed, the abandoned, single mothers and prostitutes. Her work was deeply appreciated by the town, especially during the years of war and hunger. By the time she died in 1736, Jeanne - perhaps always a bit pushy! - had founded and inspired 12 communities.

Plastic, plastic everywhere Did you know that you are eating plastic? On average, each one of us now ingests about five grams of plastic each week – or the equivalent of eating a credit card. Such is the rather startling news from WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature). Research at the University of Newcastle in Australia has found that we are consuming up to 102,000 tiny pieces of plastic less than 1mm – around 250 grams – each year. Nearly 90 per cent of that is coming from our water, both bottled and tap. Other foods with high plas-tic levels are shellfish, beer and salt. Alec Taylor, Head of Marine Policy at WWF, said, “Plastic is polluting our planet… and now we know it’s also polluting our own bodies.” The long-term effects of plastic ingestion on the human body are not yet known. In the meantime, Britain has taken 15 billion plastic bags out of circulation, and recently banned microbeads in cosmetics. The Government is also considering a deposit return scheme for plastic bottles. At present, Britons use 7.7billion single-use plastic water bottles a year, less than half of which are recycled. This means that 16 million bottles are binned every day in the UK.

Church of England announces up to £155m investment in mission and ministry Up to £155 million of additional investment may be spent over the next three years by the Church of England. The funds will aim to increase the number of people coming forward to train for the priesthood, support cathedrals, and help disadvantaged areas. These spending plans for 2020 to 2022 will help build on the significant progress already made by the Renewal and Reform programme. The proposals include the Church of England’s drive to recruit 50% more candidates for ordination, the programme of Strategic Development Funding for major growth programmes in the dioceses, and the expansion of the Church’s programme of digital outreach. Over the past two years there has been a 23% increase in the number of people starting training for ordination to the priesthood and the Church of England has embarked on a major programme to spread the Christian message in the digital sphere. The proposals include: Investment in recruiting and training new ministers – helping dioceses to meet the Church-wide goal of increasing the number of ordinands by 50%; and providing funds towards the costs of an increased number of curates; Supporting dioceses in making strategic investment in change programmes designed to grow worshipping communities. The continuation of specific funding to help dioceses to support mission in communities where income levels are low, places of greatest financial need. The proposed plans include up to £155m to be made available for additional distributions in 2020-22 to support ministry growth including funds for: Up to £63m for Ministry growth to meet the full additional costs of training ordinands. Up to £45m of diocesan sustainability funding, mainly focused on providing funding for dioceses with financial difficulties. Up to £20m for a social impact investment programme. Up to £10m to help develop cathedrals’ financial sustainability. Cathedral attendance

8

Activities at St Michael’s Church

St Michael’s Maintenance Appeal Committee Tea & Toast in the Meeting Room Next Tea & Toast is on 6th July & 3rd August @ 10.00am to 12.00 noon Admission: £2.00

Crafters Group Crafters Group meets in the Meeting Room every Tuesday from 10.00am to 12noon. Everyone is welcome, including new members

Art Club Next meeting of the Art Club is on Saturday 27th July 10.00am-12.00noon. And future dates are 24th August & 28th September. Please come along and learn how to paint and draw. We might find another Van Gogh.

VML Wellbeing An informal group that meets on a Thursday afternoon in the Meeting Room from 1.00pm-3.00pm doing crafts, having a natter and learning new songs. Also Mondays VML’s Little Treasures Tots Group from 9.00am-10.30am. In term time

VML Wellbeing Group VML runs a Toddlers Group in the Meeting Room. So if you know anyone who wants to join please contact Robbie Littler on 07718133018

Informal Service for

all ages

Coffee Tea Cake Music

Discussion Prayer Crafts

You are invited to our Café Church

Service at St Michael

and All Angels

Church, Greenway Road

Runcorn

Sunday 4th August

& 1st September

12.00noon to

1.30pm

Café Church

Taste and

See

Another up coming shows at the Brindley for VML. Go along and support the show.

9

CR

OS

SW

OR

D C

HA

LL

EN

GE

See h

ow

yo

u g

et on

with

this cro

sswo

rd. T

here is n

o p

rize, b

ut w

ho

ever g

ets it ba

ck to

the E

dito

r by

Au

gust 2

2n

d w

ill b

e entered

on

a R

oll o

f Ho

no

ur in

the n

ext ed

ition

of

Gr

ow

ing

To

ge

the

r.

PUZZLE

PAGE

June Crossword answer

ROLL OF HONOUR

Congratulations to

Jim & Shelagh Goffin, Stan & Wendy Sefton

on completing the June

crossword

Down 1 ‘For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find — for your souls’ (Matthew 11:29) (4) 2 Where Peter was when he denied Christ three times (Luke 22:55) (9) 3 Remarkable early 20th-century Indian evangelist, a convert from Hinduism, — Sundar Singh (5) 4 ‘Now the king had put the officer on whose — — leaned in charge of the gate’ (2 Kings 7:17) (3,2) 5 and 8 Across The Lover describes this facial feature of the Beloved thus: ‘Your — is like the tower of Lebanon looking towards — ’ (Song of Songs 7:4) (4,8) 6 ‘Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled — your waist’ (Ephesians 6:14) (5) 10 Trout (anag.) (5) 11 Easily frightened (1 Thessalonians 5:14) (5) 12 The ability to perceive (Ecclesiastes 10:3) (5) 13 One of the clans descended from Benjamin (Numbers 26:38) (9) 14 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who — bread into the bowl with me”’ (Mark 14:20) (4) 15 Resound (Zephaniah 2:14) (4) 18 Traditional seat of the Dalai Lama (5) 20 Precise (John 4:53) (5) 21 Build (Ezekiel 4:2) (5) 22 Beat harshly (Acts 22:25) (4) 23 Darius, who succeeded Belshazzar as king of the Babylonians, was one (Daniel 5:31) (4)

Across 1 ‘I pray that out of his glorious — he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being’ (Ephesians 3:16) (6) 4 ‘Saul’s father Kish and — father Ner were sons of Abiel’ (1 Samuel 14:51) (6) 7 ‘Praise the Lord, O my — ’ (Psalm 103:1) (4) 8 See 5 Down 9 Laws (1 Kings 11:33) (8) 13 ‘Who of you by worrying can — a single hour to his life?’ (Luke 12:25) (3) 16 Artistry (Exodus 31:5) (13) 17 ‘Your young men will see visions, your — men will dream dreams’ (Acts 2:17) (3) 19 How David described his Lord (Psalm 19:14) (8) 24 ‘If this city is built and its — — restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates’ (Ezra 4:16) (5,3) 25 ‘The holy Scriptures, which are able to make you — for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus’ (2 Timothy 3:15) (4) 26 Intended destination of arrows (Lamentations 3:12) (6) 27 Eve hit (anag.) (6)

10

INFORMATION

Vicar Revd Vicki Schofield

The Vicarage 145 Greenway Road,

Runcorn WA7 4NR

01928 500993 e-mail: vicki_schofield@hotmail.com

After the 18th August, Vicki will retire as our Vicar, any enquires to the

Churchwardens please. See below for details

Churchwardens Colin Keam 01928 576293

Rosemary Lunt 01928 569863 e-mail: warden@runcornstmichaels.org.uk

If you want to book a wedding, baptism or funeral

please phone this number 07722470940

and ask for Robbie

Please remember the following people in your prayers throughout this month.

Romy & Linda Tiongco José Colley

Brian Tudor Peggy Hase

Graham & Nicola Aylett Keith Lowe

Liz Adams Margery Kenwright

Norah Gamon

If you would like us to pray for someone close to you please let the Vicar know. Or if you would like the Pastoral Care Team to visit someone at home don’t hesitate to let them know.

….and the recently bereaved, especially any

families known to you

Evelyn Jones James Dundon Keith Niblett

Please Pray

ARTICLES

News or articles for the next edition of Growing Together should be given to Colin Keam by August 22nd. I am looking for articles for the newsletter like people’s Birthdays, Wedding Anniversaries, praying for people who are sick or in hospital or any interesting or funny anecdotes. THANK YOU

All Saints Parish Church Runcorn

Bell Restoration Appeal

The bellringers of Runcorn are appealing for your help in the full restoration of the eight 1851-cast bells.

The overhaul will cost around £75,000.

The ringers have already raised (and spent!) nearly £2000 on new pulleys, but this will only help in the short term. The

bells will fall silent in just a few years if they are not rehung by specialists, so your support would be much appreciated.

Contact Us If you would like more information or to make a donation, please contact either: Rich Westman (Ringing Master): 27 Dale Street, Runcorn, WA7 5PF rich.westman@gmail.com, Bill Allman (Tower Captain) 10 Curzon Street, Runcorn, WA7 4PG

(Please make cheques payable to Runcorn Parish Bell Ringers)

Or "Like" us on Facebook

at www.facebook.com/runcornrestoration