Web page designed for interoperability
Conforms to World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards
Life in our ‘New Church’
Just a few words from this month’s Editor about first impressions of life in our new church building.
John, Sue and Brian had briefed us the week before – the building wasn’t quite ready, the New Church Building Group weren’t quite ready, we (the congregation) weren’t quite ready BUT we did it!! Well, really without the hard work and dedication of all the members of the building group, we wouldn’t have made it, and I would like to say a huge THANK YOU to them all.
Sunday 13th April saw our first services in there, and what a delight! So light and airy, so much space. We had been given updates on progress but actually seeing the finished thing was wonderful. I wouldn’t like to count the number of ‘WOWs’ as people came in and see so many smiling faces. Where shall I sit, which side of the Church?? So many decisions to make, but actually at the 9:30 service on 13th April there were no seats left and it was sit where you could!
For all of us, it seems to have been a long time coming but the wait was worth it. With our continued support and with the continued help of God, we will get our church chairs in the near future, we will get some new altar furniture, we will be able to finish off the work at St Francis’ House and we will be able to repay the loans.
The OUTREACH GROUP will hold its first meeting at St. Francis House on Thursday, 8th May 2008, at 7.30pm.
A warm welcome is extended to anyone who feels that they can contribute ideas, priorities or person power.
Contacts:
Jon Beddington
Mike Williams
Tickets are £10 (available here in All Saints’)
Donations to our Top Up Appeal for the new church continue to come in thanks to the generosity of many individuals and congregations.
The total so far raised by the appeal (including Gift Aid receipts) was £13,300 as of end of April!
A Service of Welcome to Bishop Chris (Edmondson), Bishop of Bolton, will be held on Monday 12th May 2008, at 7.30 p.m. in Bury Parish Church.
All welcome.
Do you need a room for a meeting, party or event?
Would any of the rooms at St Francis’ do?
For prices etc contact the Bookings Secretary, Deirdre Watson
Note: There has been some misunderstanding about booking rooms. The calendar which is on display is an indication of what is going to take place. Those who wish to book a room for any activity should contact Deirdre Watson and should not write anything on the calendar (leave that to Deirdre). Deirdre thanks you for your help and co-operation.
Stuart writes:
Some years ago our Son Chris and I did a 46 miles long sponsored walk that ended in Lincoln. I clearly remember arriving in the city and standing at the foot of the steep hill – incidentally, called “Steep Hill”- that leads up to the Cathedral where the walk was to end.
It had been a long slog to get there and we were not a little weary! At one level we felt that we had arrived as we stood at the foot of that hill. But we also realised that we had some way to go before the walk was complete. Yet, being so near and despite the steep incline of the path ahead, it was with renewed enthusiasm and energy that we strode to our final goal.
As we walked we had grown increasingly weary and even tempted to give up. But the sight of the magnificent Cathedral on its hill ahead of us – even if, at times, it did not seem to get any closer! – kept us going.
Those of us who have been closely involved in the building of our new All Saints Church might, like myself, see a close similarity between the journey we have been on together and that sponsored walk.
The final parallel I would draw is that, although we are now worshipping in the new church, it is a bit like being on the very last leg of the walk. We are almost there, but there are still some crucial and potentially difficult last steps to take (concerning raising the shortfall and acquiring basic furniture and fittings.)
And yet, like me, do you keep kicking yourself to make sure that you are not dreaming and that we really are now in our new church? And this, I hope, fills us all with a renewed enthusiasm and energy to complete our journey.
Over these next few weeks we shall grow in familiarity with the new church and increasingly feel “at home” in it. As I said at our recent Annual Meeting, now we must “soak the walls in prayer and make them reverberate with our hymns... make it a place where all can encounter God and receive his healing and life–giving touch... and ensure that the joy and the laughter we share radiates into the homes and streets of the parish.”
Before you do anything else make the following entry in your diary: Sunday 22nd June, 6.30 pm: The Consecration of the new All Saints Parish Church by Nigel, Bishop of Manchester.
Stuart Millington
This takes the form of quiet prayer for between 30 and 45 minutes. We meet on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7.30 p.m. in Church. This month it will be on Monday 19th May.
If you would like to share in this meeting you are welcome to do so. And if there is any special intention for which you would like prayer to be offered then please make it known.
Leader: Mike Williams
The Archdeacon’s Visitation arranged for 20th May has been cancelled. (This is to make space for Bishop Chris’s Services of Welcome.) Our wardens have a list of alternative Visitations in the archdeaconry for those wishing to attend one.
The next issue of The Noticeboard will be available on Sunday 25th May. It will be prepared by Steven Gratton – material or suggestions should be given or e–mailed to Steven by Sunday 18th May.
Web page designed for interoperability
Conforms to World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards