Letter from our Minister 25/02/2021
25 February 2021Minister's letter
Read MoreTuesday 25th August 2020
Dear Friends,
We are in the final week of our connexional year as us Methodists run from September to August. Colleagues have moved appointments and ‘sat down’ or retired and we begin to gear up for a new year. This final week in August is often the week we are on annual leave – my previous circuit always had a summer holiday club and we went away to rest following this. I often find away from the vicarage, a busy phone and computer is a time to relax and reflect. This year I find myself experiencing my first online zoom holiday club across the circuit. It is amazing….circuit colleagues working together, meeting new children and discovering so many new skills. Who would have thought that a new weekly sentence would be ‘please don’t make a sound as I need to do some recording’ to my family. BUT I am not used to watching myself on screen telling a story…I have to turn away.
My first year with the Manchester Circuit has come to end. The Irish President of the Methodist Church preached in July 2019 at a friend’s ordination to enjoy the good and not so good adventure with God. Well this last year has been a roller coaster adventure…..four new churches, playgroups, working with amazing lay workers, new colleagues, new places, new people, new district and a regular tram commute (which I secretly love as I call for coffee on my way in to Central Hall). But there has been some not so good things – having my car surrounded by 4 men in hoodies and mugged (another huge thank you to John for running after them for my bag), a bomb threat received one December Sunday morning (a huge thanks to Hope stewards Julie & Brian for somehow helping me hold that service together) and then as I process all that and wonder how the months have passed in total survival mode – we enter a pandemic called Coronavirus. We hear the phrase ‘unprecedented times’ so often, we learn about hand washing / sanitising; social distancing at 2m and lessons in lockdown. The world stopped, planes stopped, no one left their home, wildlife appeared, the air smelt fresh, the sun shone, shone and shone some more and we all started exercising once a day. Everything closed except essential shops.
It said that the church closed – but what we discovered is that our buildings closed and the church became alive and visible in ways it never had before. We all discovered how to zoom, we began to communicate in new and different ways, we continue to learn new ways to communicate with each other and witness to Christ in the world in very different ways than before. We have begun to include people in ways we have never imagined. Our adventure with God continues as we negotiate reopening with its risk assessments and work out together how we hold on tight to Christ and carry each other together in this new way of being church.
As I begin my new connexional year, my appointment changes. Sadly I will no longer be minister at Hope and I handover to the lovely Rev Joy Rulton. Having never been involved in a building project, I have learnt so much in this year from snagging lists, accruals accounting, locating (or not) missing items and so much more. They are a wonderful community and have an amazing building and I look forward to seeing how God uses the good folk at Hope in its mission and outreach once it is able to reopen.
Lord, You make all things new
You bring hope alive in our hearts
And cause our Spirits to be born again
Thank you for this new connexional year
For all the potential it holds.
Come and kindle in us
A mighty flame
So that in our time,many will see the wonders of God
And live forever to praise Your glorious name.
With love and prayers, Sharon
Referrals are starting to come in for items from our Baby Basket.
Read MoreThirty Shoeboxes have been taken to the Teams 4U warehouse in Llay near Wrexham.
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We had lots of fun doing activities and crafts relating to Noah's Ark.
Read MoreWe delivered 30 shoeboxes to the Teams4U collection depot
Read MoreWe held our Christmas Fair today and the children were delighted to have a visit from Father Christmas.
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A decision was made at the Church Council that images of children will not be posted to the website unless written permission is given by the parent. Existing images have been removed.
Read MoreOn Sunday 4th November we held our Annual Shoebox Service.
Read MoreWhile the sun was shining this summer, Lauren and her family were keen for the Church family to share together in a barbecue.
Read MoreOnce again people gathered together for a weekend of Fellowship from churches in the Manchester Circuit
Read MoreOn Tuesday 28th November we took our thirty shoeboxes from Moston to the Teams4U collection point.
Read MoreFollowing the success of the Choir Afternoon Tea in the summer the Choir held another event to raise money for the church Renovation Fund.
Read MoreToday we learned about the Miraculous Catch.
Read MoreThe theme for this week was the wise and foolish builders.
Read MoreOver the summer holidays Moston Methodist Church has invited young people and families from the community to come along for some fun craft activities and messy play, whilst learning about different Bible stories.
Read MoreThe choir provided an Afternoon Tea for family and friends and performed a varied programme of music for everybody.
Read MoreOur All Age Worship Service looked at ‘What Is The Church?
Read More30 children and parents/carers attended the Easter holiday session organised by Rosie our Youth & Family worker.
Read MoreOn Sunday 18th December the Sunday Club led our thoughts on the real meaning of Christmas.
Read MoreOur Youth Project held a barbeque to say farewell to Annie Monaghan who after 6 years with the project has left to travel in Australia.
Read MoreRosie, our Church Family Worker led a Nature Walk and Bug Hunt around Broadhurst Park/Clough.
Read MoreThe Coffee Cake and Kids group meet every Wednesday at 12.00 - 1.30pm.
Read MoreMoston Lane Youth Project carried out their annual family fun day for the local community on Saturday 29th August 2015.
Read MoreDeacon Al Henry focussed our thoughts in a recent all age worship
Read MoreA huge thank-you to all who have supported us again this year.
Read MoreThank you so much to everybody who sponsored me and to everyone who came down to the Lowry last Saturday for my Zip Wire Challenge.
Read MoreTalk about starting with a bang ..............
Read MoreAs we celebrate our 50th Anniversary the Church opened it's doors for an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia over the last half century.
Read MoreCouncillor Paul Murphy "ceremonially" planting the bushes in the Church garden.
Read MoreAs the day for the trip approached we were getting very nervous as the weather had been atrocious with extremely heavy rainfalls.
Read MoreFollowing the Sunday morning service the congregation gathered in the Main Hall to celebrate the Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II by having a Jubilee Lunch.
Read MoreMembers of the congregation were invited to bring a favourite bible to share as we celebrated the 400th anniversary of the printing of the King James Version of the Bible.
Read MoreA very big ‘Thank-you’ to everyone who so generously supported this year’s shoe-box appeal.
Read MoreThe repair work to the worship area is now complete although redecoration has still to be done.
Read MoreMoston Day and the parade from Moston Lane School to Broadhurst Fields was held yesterday.
Read MoreThis poster was produced during our Celebration of Youth weekend.
Read MoreWe were invited by North City Library to have a stall, selling crafts and cakes, at their Summer Fete
Read MoreA truly remarkable achievement.
Read MoreOld photograph of laying the foundstion stone of Streetfold UMC.
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