United Stockport Newsletter
September 3rd 2021
Dear Friends,
Happy New Connextional Year! This month's newsletter is going to focus on notices because there are a lot of them. Future circuit newsletters will be published on the last Friday of the month and there will be no January issue.
Have a wonderful Harvest!
Worship
Inaugural United Stockport Circuit Service
Sunday 5th September at 4pm
With Rev'd Anthony Clowes (District New Places for New People Officer)
Join with friends from across the United Stockport Circuit to celebrate the start of the new church year and the first opportunity to be together after lockdown.
Heaton Moor United Church
Stanley Rd, Stockport SK4 4HL
The service will also be live streamed for those unable to come in person.
Click here for the live stream.
Contact Sharon if you need any further information office@heatonmoorunitedchurch.org.uk
Black History Month Circuit Service
Sunday October 3rd 4pm with Rev'd Sonia Hicks (President of the Methodist Conference)
A Service of Celebration
Hazel Grove Methodist Church
Wesley Street, Hazel Grove, SK7 4JQ
You are welcome to attend in person or to join live online by clicking here.
Midweek Tuesday Service at St Mary's
We are pleased to announce that there will be a weekly service on Tuesdays from 11:15 to 11:45 at St Mary's in Stockport. The first Service will be on 14th September. Come along and join us!
St Mary's in the Marketplace
Churchgate
Stockport
SK1 1YG
Notices
Apology
The Newsletter team apologises for advertising the Sunday Zoom link in August. Weekly Zoom services have stopped. Circuit Services will now be on the First Sunday of every month and live streamed for home viewers. The link for upcoming services can be found on the homepage of the website and in the newsletter.
Local Arrangement Training - 15th September at 7:30 pm on Zoom
You will be aware that on future Preaching Plans it is the intention to include at least one ‘Local Arrangement’ service for each church. As we are now working to a two month plan for the foreseeable future, this means one Local Arrangement (LA) service every two months. Many churches find that Las are a great way to try out new things in worship, and to engage different people. There are many people who have discovered an interest in worship leading or preaching through taking part in leading LA services, although this is not their main purpose. However we recognise that it may not be an easy thing to consider, especially for those of you who have not been involved in LA services before. To that end, we will be holding a short training and familiarisation session to talk through what LA services are, and how you might go about organising them. There are lots of resources available and we will point you towards those. It will also be a chance for you to ask questions.
We hope as many of you as possible will come along to this session on Zoom which I anticipate will last no longer than one hour. Hope to see you there.
Rev'd Cathy Bird
15th September at 7:30 pm on Zoom. You can register by clicking here.
Presidential Visit 2021
The President and Vice-President of the Conference of 2021,
Revd Sonia Hicks and Mrs Barbara Easton, will be visiting the District on
Saturday 2nd to Monday 4th October 2021.
Saturday 2nd Resourcing event on theme of partnership.
Sunday 3rd Preaching at two morning services.
Afternoon: Black History Month Service, United Stockport Circuit.
Evening: Conversation and dinner with women ministers.
Monday 4th New Places for New People
Exploring pioneer ministry in the District.
September’s Eco-Tips
Selecting from the 6 R's (Refuse, Reduce, Re-use, Repair, Re-think, Recycle):
- Refuse to be conventional, wearing socks that match. Use those socks which have somehow lost their pair and make new sets of socks from the odd ones.
- Reduce your use of toothpaste, handcream, etc by cutting off the end of the tube when it nears the end of its life, so you can get to the last drop. See how many more days use you get.
- Recycle if you don’t use rechargeable batteries, recycle your batteries at most supermarkets.
You may wish to use the following prayer as you think about or carry out these activities:
“Help us remember today, as we travel down different roads, that thos earth remains precious, created in love and graced by your presence; so may we tread lightly and discover afresh the way of you kingdom. Amen” From the Methodist Prayer Handbook, 2020/2021 - The Earth is the Lord's p25
From your Circuit Eco Task Group. Please contact us if you would like to find out more about what we do, join us or become your Church's eco-contact.
Rev Lindsay Kemp, Sue Beatty, Eddie Partington, Liz Delafield, Stewart Blackledge, Andrew Stunnell, Catriona Stoker. Our contact details are in the Circuit Directory.
UN Climate change conference Cop 26
Hello friends,
You probably already know that, in early November, Glasgow will be hosting the UN Climate change conference Cop 26. It is of vital importance that the global community fulfil their obligations in the Paris agreement and take decisive action at this conference. Christian Aid are telling us that the Climate crisis is already having a devastating impact on some of the world's poorest communities. Wouldn't it be great if, on arriving in the UK, the delegates found a place buzzing with a desire for change and action? Protecting the flourishing of creation is a vital part of our Christian discipleship and churches are urged to be part of building a movement for action as we work towards this vital conference. This link to the Joint Public issues team tells you more. http://www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/cop26/
Stewart and I are both planning to talk about this at all the forthcoming services for which we are planned. That means that Dialstone Lane, Davenport, Jubilee and Romiley will be hearing about this from us. It would be great if others wanted to do this too. We are happy to share any resources.
Grace and Peace,
Elizabeth Delafield.
Cop26 relay walk
The Cop26 relay walk will go from Chapel en le Frith to Romiley and Romiley to Heaton Moor, Stockport on 8th and 9th September. Then out from Heaton Moor to Mossley on 13th September. It's a great opportunity to walk together, be a host or volunteer with your parish. More information here and for other areas in England. P.S. You don't have to be young, or Christian to take part!
https://www.yccn.uk/?fbclid=IwAR3PGOrZJGGq99xSNqypgt8VxCyV4wDsAjYeG90bbpxlk7uz8enfI4L1Eic
Week Of Prayer for our Planet
Join in with the Week of Prayer for Our Planet from 26th September — 2nd October 2021, in person and online.
Visit — https://www.gmct.org.uk/wopfop for more information.
Seven ecumenical prayer services expressing our concerns and hopes at a time of climate and ecological crisis and in the lead up to the CoP 26 meeting in Glasgow.
From churches across Greater Manchester and streamed live.
Launched with an outdoor service from St Michael & All Angels, Bramhall at 3pm on Sunday, then each evening at 7:30pm.
North West Learning Network Courses
Bullying & Harassment
3rd & 4th November, over two mornings. Please book by 20th October via email:
Worship Leading & Preaching
20th September taster session 19:30-21:00 on Zoom..
Please book via email: NWMannNetwork@gmail.com
VOICE in Stockport
My name is Abbi McKenzie and I work for a Christian charity called Voice. We seek to help young people grow in their Christian faith and be a voice in the world for God through the use of contemporary Christian worship music. This includes a variety of projects, such as a collective youth choir and orchestra (school years 7-13) with groups across the North West, junior choir groups (school years 3-6), a songwriting course called Creative Artists and residentials. We have released several albums that can be found on Spotify/iTunes/Soundcloud through our website. You can find out more in this video - https://youtu.be/Bv3OGa2Amx0.
We are starting junior and youth Voice groups in partnership with Coach House Church, Stockport, and would like to share this information with all children and young people who may be interested. The groups will be fortnightly from 6:15-7:30pm for juniors and 7:30-9:00pm on Tuesdays, starting on 21st September.
Please contact me at abbi@voicemusic.org.uk if you would like any more information, as I am happy to answer any questions that you might have. Alternatively, you can visit our website, www.voicemusic.org.uk. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Abbi McKenzie
Circuit Prayer
Let’s continue to say this prayer together when we can, at 11am on a Sunday morning. This way we stay connected in a very really and tangible way with all those who are not yet able to come back to church. You can also read more about each church on the Circuit Website www.stockportcircuit.org.uk
God of Love and Life, we pray to you this morning for the life the United Stockport Methodist Circuit, for our sisters and brothers who belong to:
We worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. We ask that this time of crisis might pass and that those who suffer might find comfort and strength within the knowledge of your grace, revealed through the kindness and compassion of the people of God. Eternal God, through the self-offering of your Son you have filled our lives with your presence. Help us in our sufferings and trials. Fill us with hope and strengthen us in our weakness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.