The Shack

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The Shack by William P Young is a story about Mack, a man whose daughter is kidnapped and brutally murdered. A few years after the murder Mack receives an invitation from God to meet Him at the shack where they found his daughter's bloody clothes. Mack goes and works through the emaning of suffering as he spends the weekend with the Trinity.

Just makes me feel good....

Prayers for June 2011

Please pray for.....

1. Those affected by the Tornado's in US
2. Persecuted Christians in Orissa India, China, Iraq and Iran
3. The violence against Christians in Egypt
4. Those thinking of abortion or have gone through a termination
5. Those thinking of ending their own lives in Switzerland
6. Those looking towards priesthood
7. Churches working together in Christ
8. Encouragement and courage at All Saints
9. The ministry of our ministers in the community
10. Ourselves - to show others the good news

Party in the Park

I often think about how churches can work together. How about a "Party in the Park"

CTiS has a tradition of events but seldom teh churches are actually working together. Recently Week of Christian Unity has been supported by all the Churches and prayer events put on over the week. The CTiS Lent course another example of the churches working together to host a number of events over the week. Each church well two of them so far are getting together for Songs of Praise.

It is hard to find a balance between what we should be doing a s a church and what we should be doing as Churches Together in Stretford.

I would really like to see all churches in Stretford using gifts from each church to host a "Party in the Park" linking in to an event with the Church - Pentecost, Ascension day etc where all the churches can take part in an open air service. Lots of fun for the public, gospel music, crafts, stalls, bouncy castle, refreshments.

Something to think about?
Similar link - Stratford Mission

Looking Forward....

Two years we have now had a new priest. They say the first 12 months the new priest stands back and see what happens. Month 13 onwards they start to change things. Unfortunately we haven't seen anything, the church seems to have stood still. No one has done anything, numbers are down, PCC membership is down, social events are down. It sounds very disturbing but on the other hand although we have spent a couple of years in the wilderness it looks like now we are finding our way.

Several new initiatives have started, Men and Womens fellowship groups, the youth have been re-connected and enjoyed an evening together. These are mustard seeds, sown and now need nurturing. We have several other activities that will also help to bring the congregation together - an evening of bowls and fellowship, group prayers where we can hope to provide support and encouragement to others.

Prayers:
Dear Lord,
We pray for our church family here at All Saints, give us courage and strength to seek your mission in our community, we have to do your work to see your presence, if we do not get involved we cannot have our hearts and eyes opened.

Lord in your Mercy - Hear our Prayer

Heavenly Father,
guide us as we encourage each other in words and deed, help us not to loose sight when things fail or go wrong, how can we find the right path if you don't show us.

Lord in your Mercy - Hear our Prayer

Heavenly Father,
As we begin to sow these seeds, scatter them on good ground so that they may provide a strong foundation for the future.

Lord in your Mercy - Hear our Prayer

Vistors from Leipzig

May 19th - 23rd 2011

This year a group from Leipzig is coming to Stretford hosted by CTiS.

Activities include:

Bettle Drive with Sausages and Mash.
Visit to Coventry Cathedral
Sunday Worship
Choir Concert
Visit to Manchester Cathedral and City Centre
Visit to Old Trafford

I hope they all have a great time - sorry can't be there this year.

Looking forward to two years time when Stretford will visit Leipzig.

Osama Bin Laden's Death

last night I heard of Osama Bin Laden's death and i was left feeling rather uncomfortable. I saw the jubilation of the people outside the Whitehouse. I understood what they thought but I felt uncomfortable celebrating a death in this way. Clearly I didn't know how to feel....
I had conversations with friends and they were also jubilant but when they realised what they were doing they also felt uncomfortable. What is the Christian response? Can we forgive Bin Laden?

If God loves everyone, does God love Bin Laden????

Busy

Hi it's been a while, sort of busy.

Something I read....

"God's presence cannot be separated from His mission. If we want His presence we must be involved in His work"

AS Mens Fellowship

A mens fellowship evening for all at All Saints:

Around food we can discuss what is affecting us in our lives.
Guest Speaker - Brian Cork, encouraging a mens group within your church.

A good evening for those that attended.

Empty Shelves Due to Snow

How we take things for granted......

'Tis the Season

.....for mission work. There is no better time to share the gospel than during the Christmas season. People are more receptive because the Spirit is strong, everyone is kind and cheerful, and there is a lot of focus on Christ. Invite friends and family to:

Attend a Church Service during Advent
Watch a Christmas Video
Watch The Nativity
Go Carol Singing
Write letters
Send Care Packages
Read the Bible (one of the Gospels)
Share your testimony with others
Volunteer to help homeless

More TV Vicar

Revd. Peter Owen Jones presenter of Extreme Pilgrim, Around The World In Eighty Faiths and How To Live A Simple Life speaks candidly about life in front of the camera, the new spiritual ethic and how it really feels to spend time alone in a cave in the desert. His message is both challenging and uplifting and presents a very different view on how society needs to change and why.

Sale Waterside, cost £15
Booking via; http://www.watersideartscentre.co.uk/Dec.asp or 0161 912 5616

Plight of Pakistan

The worst floods in Pakistan's history continue to cause chaos and suffering. The area affected is vast, over 600 miles from north Pakistan down to Sindh in the south.

Donate here: http://www.wer-uk.org/donate/donate-to-pakistan

It's been a while but.......

I saw this on the TV last night.

Tormented Lives;

In a revealing and moving documentary, disability rights campaigner and confidante of the late Princess Diana, Rosa Monckton, exposes the reality of life for people with learning disabilities facing hate crime.

With daily headline-grabbing accounts of attacks on disabled people that have even led to murder and suicide, Rosa admits she is deeply concerned about the future that awaits her own teenage daughter, Domenica, who has Down's syndrome. What will life be like for her once Rosa and her husband Dominic Lawson are no longer around to protect her?

In this, Rosa's second documentary, we see people literally driven from their homes, individuals facing abuse and daily torment just because they have a disability. Rosa meets families under siege in their own homes, and shows how the authorities often fail to respond effectively to the abuse they face. And she tries to help one tormented man, Christopher, in his battle to live independently as a respected and useful member of society.

In the two years up until the end of March 2009, 576 peopleulting in a co were prosecuted for disability hate crimes with 76% of the completed cases resnviction.

Have a look - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00vhls2

Pray every day and do not lose heart.

Moira's Sermon Script Sunday 17th Oct 2010

http://www.allsaintsstretford.org.uk/worship/service-notes-october-2010.php