Dear Friends

I wrote in the last magazine about the small groups we were about to launch in September for study, prayer, care and witness. These have now begun and I’m pleased to say that for the first week’s session we had 14 people attending across our three groups. If you have not yet signed up to attend your local group and would like to do so, please sign the list on the noticeboard at the back of church or have a word with Keith and Ali White (group north of Whittle Brook), Joan Rotheram and Janet Kerswell (for group between Whittle Brook and Liverpool Road), or David and Janet Tanner (for group between Liverpool Road and Warrington Road). If you live outside of the parish, either sign at the bottom of the list on the noticeboard or have a word with me, and I will allocate you to your nearest group.

In September, we also launched Messy Church at St.Mary’s. Messy Church is a form of church suitable for all ages, particularly for those with children, involving crafts (which can be messy!), worship and food. We had 16 people – helpers and attendees – at the first session and had a great time, thinking about the nature of God’s world. As one young person put it, “I would come again, even without the food!” For further information, please click here.

We also restarted the Alpha course in September with 10 people – helpers and guests – attending. I am delighted that people want to explore (or explore again) the basics of the Christian faith, and I can think of no better way of doing that than by attending the course. As people attending previous courses have said, “I feel really glad to have attended the Alpha course, thank you for inviting me!” and “Doing the course has made me rethink a lot of things in my life, and is impacting how I would deal with certain situations”.

This month we celebrate Harvest at St.Mary’s on Sunday 1st October at both our services. I’m very pleased that our cubs and scouts will be helping me once again with our 10am All Age Worship. Donations of tinned goods for Warrington Foodbank will be gratefully received on the day or drop off beforehand if you can’t come then. For a list of what they would particularly like help with, please visit their Donate Food page. Toiletries are also welcome.

Also this month, the PCC will be having an away morning on Saturday 7th October in order to think and pray further about the possibilities of Fit for Mission and becoming part of a larger parish. Do please pray for them as they come to make a decision about this at their November meeting. There will also be a Fit for Mission Fair on Wednesday 11th October between 7-9 pm at The Gateway on Sankey Street in the town centre (opposite the Town Hall). Do drop in at any time to learn more about Fit for Mission – there will be a variety of stalls present.

Finally, in November, there will be our annual memorial service on Sunday 5th at 3 pm. We will be inviting the families of those we have taken funerals and interments for this past year, but anyone is invited to attend to remember a loved one who has died at any time. Then on Saturday 18 November at 12 noon, it will be our Christmas Fair. Do come along to grab some Christmas presents and enjoy all the fun of the fair!

Best wishes

Jeremy Tear

Pioneer Team Rector