Dialstone Lane News

Recent Services at Dialstone Lane:

18th October - thank you to Keith Tonge, who led us that day.

• Keith chose Psalm 96, which opens: "O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous works among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods."
• We were reminded of Hymn 107 ("I sing the almighty power of God"), Hymn 137 "New every morning is the love, our wakening and uprising prove" and Hymn 287 ("When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride."
• The reading was Matthew 22 verses 15-22 ("Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?).
• Keith closed the prayers of intercession with "We pray for our churches, and for ourselves, that we may live, give and share in your name and to your glory. Amen."

25th October - Thank you to Liz Delafield and Stewart Blackledge, who led us in two services on that day. 

• The opening prayers reminded us of "God the Source, the Sharer, and the Shaper, Who was, and is, and will be as long as the Story of Love is told."
• We heard two Bible readings: Genesis 1:20-25 ("God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.") and John 14 v1, where Jesus comforts his disciples, saying “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”
• We were reminded in Hymn 116 "Sing for God’s glory that colours the dawn of creation", Hymn 729 “Touch the earth lightly” and Hymn 99 "All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing, alleluia, alleluia!"
• In our prayers of intercession, we were encouraged to "bring to God what no one else need hear: not for God to ‘hear’ but to remind ourselves that God knows and understands."
   

Thank you to our musicians who played the tunes of all the hymns mentioned.

Services for November

Please click here for details of Services during November

Loan of Hymn and Methodist Service Books

Particularly for those who find it hard to access worship at Dialstone or through the zoom services we would be happy to loan out hymn books and/or Methodist Service books if you feel they might be useful aids to worshipping at home. Please get in touch with Catriona Stoker as Co-ordinating Steward in the first instance if this would be a help to you, Tel 0161 487 2010.

A Message from our Treasurer

I have prepared the year end accounts for Dialstone Lane and the good news is that despite the loss in rental income we have made just a small loss for the year.
I do think next year will be more of a challenge from a finance point of view as we will have little rental income and no Christmas Fair. The church does have reserves and there is no danger that we will close from a financial point of view this year. Obviously it would be better if we didn’t have to use our reserves for our day to day expenditure.
I would like to thank everyone who has continued to give to the church during this difficult time. People have been very generous. Many people now give by standing order and this has been a big help as it’s not been easy banking cash.

Please can you prayerfully consider what you give to the church. I know these are not easy times for many but if you can increase your giving that would be a big help to our finances. Also if you would like to give by standing order or bank transfer please contact me by telephone 419 9595 or email jane_hollins@hotmail.co.uk and I will give you the details
Thank you.

Jane (Treasurer)

Poppies
We have poppies available in the church foyer, both Lynda’s handmade ones and some from the British Legion. Please make sure to observe social distancing whilst obtaining yours. All proceeds will go to the British Legion.

United Christian Broadcasters

United Christian Broadcasters issue a quarterly booklet, “Word for Today”, used by some of us at Church.
Even today, in the midst of this crisis, UCB offers us an amazing opportunity to hear the Gospel, delve deeper into God’s Word and develop a personal relationship with Jesus.
The next booklet is due out in the New Year, but orders must be in soon. If anyone would like to order a copy, please contact me by Sunday 15^th November. People usually give a donation towards the booklets.

Sue Judson, Tel 0161 487 2297

Toys and Gifts

A reminder that we are collecting new toys and toiletries, selection boxes and chocolates/sweets as well as gifts of money for children in need over the next three Sundays (Nov 1^st to15th). They will go to both Wood Street Mission which serves the whole of Greater Manchester and to children known to Stockport Children’s Services in our local area. There will be a table in the lobby available for gifts from November 1st so that all groups will have the opportunity to contribute. If you are unable to come to church for any reason, please let us know and we will arrange to collect any donations from you at home.

In addition, Wood Street has the means to make virtual gifts through their website: https://www.woodstreetmission.org.uk/support-us/donate-money/
Thank you.

Gill Ramsbottom - Tel 0161 483 8812 or Catriona Stoker - Tel 0161 487 2010

Lavender Bags

Sadly, we have no Christmas Fair this year at Dialstone, but the lavender has continued growing and so I plan to make some lavender bags, as have been sold at previous years at the fair. They will be available from Monday November 9th for a minimum donation of £1 each. This will be in aid of Church funds. Please let me know if you want to buy any and we can arrange the practicalities.

Catriona Stoker – 0161 487 2010

Knitted Christmas Decorations/Stocking Fillers

Sheila Hulme and her group of knitters have been busy and have knitted angels, clowns, penguins, Father Christmas and choir boys for you to buy at £1 in aid of Church funds. They will be available in the foyer after services soon. Please remember to observe social distancing making your selection. There will also be a special guest appearance at the Traidcraft Pop-up Shop outlined below.

Alternatively, you could contact Sheila so she can bag some up for you in advance. She would be particularly pleased to hear from you if you have some other outlet you could take them to for sale. Additionally, if you have any clean duvets or pillows that you are disposing of, she would be keen to hear from you as she can use the inner wadding as the stuffing for the knitted items.
Contact Sheila Hulme on 0161 456 7600

Books

The weather is stopping us display our second hand books for anyone to help themselves. If you would like me to bring some books to your doorstep, please just let me know what subjects you like (e.g. crime fiction / sport / cooking) and I will happily drop a few off.

Andy Stoker 0161-487-2010

Traidcraft

In the last couple of years, I have run a Traidcraft pop up shop in November at Dialstone Lane Methodist Church. I would like to repeat this slightly differently this year. I can’t serve refreshments and may have to ask people to wait in the lobby if social distancing can’t be ensured in the church.

Nice though it is to see items in the catalogue or on-line, it’s often better still to see things “in the flesh” - but probably not touch them this year – sorry. There will be a good range of crafts, cards and foods available, including your Christmas favourites. I also have some craft items from previous catalogues.

Opening hours:
10.00 – 12.00 and 2.00-4.00 on Wednesday 18^th and Thursday 19^th November

All welcome with face masks; hand sanitiser available. There will be a one-way system in operation for your safety. Contactless payment available, cheques and cash also accepted.

The knitted decorations made by Sheila and friends as outlined above will also be available.
Catriona Stoker, Traidcraft Rep

St George’s Christmas Tree Festival 2020

Thursday 26th - Sunday 29th November (online)
Friday 27th and Saturday 28th November (hopefully in church)

• Friday 27th November                        12.00 to 8.00 pm
• Saturday 28th November                   10.00 to 6.00 pm

This is the email that came in September with an invitation to decorate a tree for the Festival this year:

“In this time of great uncertainty, we are planning this year's Christmas Tree Festival at St. George's. We know it can't be the very busy event that we have had for the past 13 years, but we are hoping to be able to make an event which people will be able to visit for at least one day if not two, with the usual visit of a distanced Father Christmas. We would also like to put the festival online so that people who are still unable to come out, will be able to enjoy the trees in their own home.

To make everything safer we will limit the number of trees to 50 which is just over half the number we had last year and so enable social distancing as people go round.

As we plan to put the whole event on our web site / facebook page once your tree is up, we will invite you to be videoed and explain the theme or reason behind your tree. This is the moment to showcase your society, organisation or business so that everyone watching will hear about you.

Online visitors will be given an opportunity to donate online.

Although this year’s Christmas Tree Festival cannot take its usual form, we feel it is very important to continue this much valued community event as best we can”. 
As a member of the Stockport Fair Trade Group I have arranged to do a “Fair Trade Christmas” tree at the Christmas Tree Festival this year. Sadly, we are unable to hold our annual Fair Trade Christmas Fair at the Guildhall so we will highlight the products of the regular participants in that.

I’ll publicise the details for booking in or viewing the festival on-line once I know them!

Catriona Stoker

Acts 435 latest news

In these complicated times, if it is necessary to replace a washing machine or a microwave the difficulty for us is usually where and how to purchase it or how to get it installed. I imagine the cost incurred is not insurmountable, that we have an emergency fund or a relative who would help us out.

The people who Acts 435 help have no way of getting the items we class as essentials. At the moment on their website (acts435.org.uk) there are requests from a family with an unsafe cooker, an asylum seeker who needs a small fridge and a single gentleman who needs a washing machine, among many others. They all only have Acts 435 to turn to for help and this Christian charity needs our help to help them.

Along with requests there are messages of thanks. One young mum saying ‘Thank you so much for bringing some joy into their lives’. There is a sense of wonder that they have been helped by strangers who have been motivated by the words of Jesus – ‘the believers shared everything they had, bringing the money to the apostles to be distributed to anyone as had need’- Acts 4:35

At the moment we can only help as individuals but my hope is eventually we as a church can offer help to those in need in our community.

If you would like any more information please give me a call on 0161 258 8743

Susan Conlon

Food Bank

Now we are back in church (admittedly on a limited basis) and are becoming very aware of the impact of the tier 3 lockdown on many local families, it seems a good time to ask for donations of goods/cash for Stockport food bank. If you have any gifts please leave them in the usual spot in the church foyer and we will get them to the Hazel Grove centre. 

From the web site , the following information  is available:

URGENTLY NEEDED FOOD ITEMS ARE:

Please do not donate any items containing ALCOHOL.

Thanks in advance for any contributions you are able to make.

Margaret and Dave