BOWDON CHURCH NEWS OCTOBER 2005
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THE FOOD CHAIN
We will know from our science studies that there is a complex food chain in nature, by which each part of the natural world forms part of the food-china, from simple chemical elements in the soil which provide nutrients for plants, which in turn provide food for animals and so on up the chain to predatory animals and birds. We are increasingly aware of how easily that chain can be broken, how, for example, over-fishing can have far-reaching consequences for other marine life; how uprooting of hedgerows can leave birds vulnerable deprive insects and birds of a natural habitat and so affect other animal life.
But there is another kind of food-chain, and it is one we can easily forget or take for granted.
It’s wonderful when a member of the parish drops by at the Vicarage with a clutch of runner beans, or when a bag of tomatoes is handed to me at the Church door. I know they are fresh from someone’s allotment. This year we have been enjoying courgettes from the little patch at the bottom of our own garden. That’s about a close a connection as we can get to the earth and its gifts. But man shall live on runner-beans alone. Our shopping trolley at Tesco’s is loaded each Friday evening with produce I could never hope to provide for myself and with items not even the gifted allotment holders in Bowdon Vale can produce. Nowadays all of us are able to enjoy food from the five continents, the world on our plate. What we can forget is the complex chain of people and processes which make this possible.
At Harvest we take time to thank God for the fruits of his creation – and what some wonderful fruits there are too – and we can thank him too for the people are links in that vast chain which goes from a field on the other side of the world to our table: growers and pickers, wholesalers and distributors, to retailers and local shopkeepers. We depend on them and they on us; we and they form a wide but sometimes fragile web of interdependence. Recent events in the Gulf of the USA and on the petrol forecourts here remind us of how easily that web can be threatened or broken. A natural disaster or panic-buying and suddenly we feel very vulnerable.
Thinking of people and not just the food can give us pause to think of how this food chain works. At the very start of the chain are growers and farmers often working on the poverty line, dependent on shifts in global markets beyond their control. We can be responsible in our consumption and in our buying. There are ways to buy goods which do not exploit and there are organisations which campaign for trade justice. This Harvest-time we could offer a prayer of thanks for the blessings of God’s creation, for the food on our table, and also for those who help to put it there.
To find out more about fair-trade goods and trade justice look out for literature from Traidcraft or Christian Aid, or find them on-line:
www.traidcraft.co.uk and www.christian-aid.org.uk
All are welcome to the Harvest Thanksgiving Service on 10 October
With every blessing
[signature of KH]
Three successful and enjoyable events in September – a
Barbecue, a Bridge Drive and Car Rally, have helped to boost the Appeal Fund
and have given us all a fresh sense of enthusiasm and purpose as we begin the
autumn season. This month we look forward to the GRAND AUCTION at the Cinnamon
Club on The Firs, on 8 October. The admission price of £4 includes
refreshments. If you do not already have a catalogue there will copies
available on the door. If you would like a copy before the evening, these are
available in St Mary’s or St Luke’s or by contacting 928 5051, 941 5986 or 928 1044
Viewing of the items is from 3.30 – 5.30 on the same day.
Come along and enjoy the evening, under the hammer of two well-known local auctioneers, Patrick Cheyne and Robert Redford, enjoy bidding for what takes your fancy and help raise funds for the Parish Centre Appeal.
GRAND AUCTION
A Fund-Raising Auction in aid of
The Appeal for
Bowdon Parish Centre
Saturday 8 October
from 7.15 pm
The Cinnamon Club, The Firs, Bowdon
Viewing from 3.30 – 5.30 pm
Antiques, objets d’art, paintings, works of art,
musical instruments, ‘promises’ and more ..
for further details or for catalogue ring
(0161) 928 5051 941 5986
928 1044 928 5813
ST LUKE’S
Remember that St Luke’s Church provides a meeting place suitable for community groups, regular clubs such as aerobics or bridge, ‘one-off’ meetings, and children’s’ parties, at reasonable rates. For details of availability and rates please contact the Bookings Officer, Mr. George Bolton on 928 4929
The Church offers worship services Sunday by Sunday. On the Fourth Sunday we celebrate ‘Morning Worship’, a more informal style of service with worship songs, prayers and readings. Coffee is served after each Sunday service. A warm welcome awaits you.
THE PENNIES KEEP ROLLING IN.
Regular readers will know that as well as our major appeal for the Parish Centre the members of your Youth Groups are running the Any Penny Appeal. This is the first charity appeal to say NO to money… EXCEPT ONE PENNIES!
We need your pennies – all of which will be shared between three charities:
· Francis House Children’s Hospice
· The Georgian Social Relief Fund
· The St Mary’s Parish Centre Project
If you have any pennies, or would like to save them for the appeal, PLEASE call us, and we will get back to you quickly! Just call Austin on 9415645. One of the members of the Youth Group reports that his sister found a penny on Ben Nevis. Where’s the most unusual place you’ve found a penny? Let us know – we’d love to hear.
GETTING CRAFTY
Calling all you ‘crafty’ people. I know how many talented people we have living in Bowdon. Whether your skills lie in painting, embroidery, dried flower arranging or any of the numerous other craft activities, your talents can be put to even better use by donating an item to the Autumn Fair. All proceeds from the fair go to the current Church Project. This year we are supporting the Melanesian Brothers, contributing towards their training costs in Chester.
If you have a crafty talent and wish to donate an item to the craft stall please call Christine McMurray 929 6849
HARVEST APPEAL
This year the Parish is supporting the Harvest Appeal by the Bishop of Chester and the Diocese. At the services on Harvest Sunday there will be the opportunity to make an offering to this appeal. It is being run through Christian Aid and the Mothers Union as well as the Diocese, and is focussing on the plight of suffers of AIDS/HIV in Africa.
LUNCH CLUB
This month the Wednesday Lunch Club opens for the new season. Serving soup, sandwiches and coffee from midday each Wednesday in Stamford Cottage, the ‘Club’ is a popular venue, not just as a place to eat a good lunch, but to meet up with others and enjoy a chat. It is a ‘club’ in a very loose sense of the word. All are welcome, so why not drop in and sample the food and the friendship. Stamford Cottage (opposite the Griffin) from 5 October.
REMEMBERING LOVED ONES
The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, or ‘All Souls’ will be celebrated at 6.30 pm on Sunday 30 October. The liturgy will include Fauré’s Requiem – as an act of worship, not a concert – with readings and prayers. If you wish the name of a loved one to be remembered in the prayers of the Church, there is a sheet on which to enter names, on the ‘Prayer Table’ in St Mary’s. All are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served after the service.
Thanks go to those who have organised the fund-raising events of the past month. The Family Barbecue raised over £740, the Bridge Afternoon over £935 and the Classic and Sports Car Run over £550.
If you have ideas for a fund-raising event for the Parish Centre please contact me on 928 2468 or the Appeal Secretary, Sue Sinagola, on 928 3082. We welcome ideas but of course we will need to coordinate the events.
St Luke the Evangelist
To St Luke,
a gentile, we owe the beautifully written Gospel of Luke, and the Book of Acts.
He was a Greek physician, a disciple of St Paul, a companion on some of his
missionary journeys, and an inspired writer. Luke's gospel focuses on the
compassion of Christ. His gospel contains some of the most moving parables,
such as the Good Samaritan and Prodigal Son. This, with his emphasis on
poverty, prayer and purity of heart, make up much of his appeal to the Gentles,
for whom he wrote. Women figure more prominently in Luke's gospel than any
other: look out for the extended story of
the Virgin Birth, and stories of Mary, Elizabeth, and the woman who was a sinner.
In Acts, Luke is remarkably good at linking sacred and profane history, as subsequent archaeology has shown. A principal theme of his Acts is how the early Christians moved away from Jerusalem into the pagan world, and especially on to Rome.
Luke is the patron saint of doctors, surgeons and artists (due to his picturesque style of writing). His symbol is an ox, sometimes explained by reference to the sacrifice in the Temple at the beginning of his Gospel.
St Luke’s Day in the Church’s calendar is on 18 October. There will be an evening service at St Luke’s Church on Sunday 16 October at 6.30 pm to celebrate the saint and to give thanks for the life of the Church in Bowdon Vale. St Mary’s choir will be sharing in the service and the congregation of St Mary’s are invited to join with that of St Luke’s in this annual celebration. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served after the service.
Evening Worship at St Luke’s: Sunday 16 October at 6.30 pm.
TRAFFORD METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL CARETAKER / SITE MANAGER Bowdon
C.E. (aided) Primary School, Grange
Road, Bowdon, Cheshire WA14 3EX Tel: 0161
928 8907 Email bowdoncs.admin@trafford.gov.uk Basic
Contract – 36.25 hours (additional hours available) NJC Grade
Pts 6 – 9 £5.97 – £6.55 per hour To start as soon as possible. An enthusiastic person is required for this post to work under the
direction of the headteacher. The postholder will be responsible for duties relating to the school
premises including security, health and safety, minor repairs and
maintenance, the school cleaning programme and key-holding. Working hours
will be Monday to Friday with occasional weekend call-outs and some
unsociable hours on an agreed basis. Application
forms, job descriptions and a person specification are available from the
school. Tel: 0161
928 8907 Fax: 0161 928 4881
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Level of remuneration dependant on experience and
skills.
Closing date: Friday 14th November 2005
Further general information is available on our school
Website www.bowdoncs.co.uk
If you would like to know more about the Parish Centre and the building project
and wish to help in any way, please ring 928 2468.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE APPEAL
BULLETIN BOARD
Bowdon History Society
Monday 17th October at 7.30 pm at Bowdon Downs Church.
AGM followed by a talk by Dr Mike Nevell on “Archaeological Work in Warburton Village”.
The Sixty Club
Monday 3rd October 7.30 pm for 8 pm at the Cinnamon Club.
Speaker Major Colin Robins on
“Lord Nelson, the Battle of Trafalgar and Life in the Royal Navy Under Sail”.
Enquiries to Dr B Shaw 928 3699.
FUND RAISING
Christmas Cards
We have some (not that many!) cards featruing a view of St. Mary’s Tower in floodlight. They are obtainable from:- St, Mary’s Church
St Luke’s Church
Alexia Hine
Margarette Murdie 928 0188
Helgasons Chemist, Bowdon Vale
Richards Fruit Shop, Park Road, Hale
Michael Peckett, Hairdresser, Hale
Price £5 per pack of 10. Proceeds to ‘Building For Bowdon’.
REGISTERS
Baptism We welcome into God’s Church family
Natalie Davies Adam Prichard Alexander Jones Imogen Birtinshaw
Calendar for October
Morning Prayer is said in St. Mary’s at 8.45 am
Monday to Friday. Entry through the vestry door.
2 Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
(First Sunday in October)
8 am Holy Communion.
9.30 am St. Luke’s Holy Communion.
10.35 am Trekkers.
10.45 am Holy Communion, (Order One).
Oblations: Guild of Servers.
followed by coffee at the back of the church.
6.30 pm Evening Prayer. (BCP).
5 (Wed) 11.30 am Holy Communion.
12 noon Lunch Club.
7.30 pm PCC Meeting in the Johnson Hall.
6 (Thu) 10 am St. Luke’s, Holy Communion , with Mothers’ Union.
10.30 Coffee drop-in at St. Luke’s.
8 (Sat) 7.15 pm AUCTION at The Cinnamon Club for the Parish Centre Appeal
9 Harvest Thanksgiving
Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
(Second Sunday in October)
8 am Holy Communion.
9.30 am St. Luke’s Holy Communion.
10.45 am Family Service for Harvest.
followed by coffee at the back of the church.
6.30 pm Choral Evensong.
10 (Mon) 2.30 pm Bible Reading Fellowship meeting at 34 Bow Green Road.
12 (Wed) 11.30 am Holy Communion.
12 noon Lunch Club.
8 pm A Service of Healing.
16 Twenty First Sunday after Trinity
(Third Sunday in October)
8 am Holy Communion.
9.30 am Said Matins.
9.30 am St. Luke’s Holy Communion.
10.35 am Trekkers.
10.45 am Holy Communion, (Order One).
followed by coffee at the back of the church.
6.30 pm Evening Prayer at St. Luke’s.
(No service at St. Mary’s).
19 (Wed) 11.30 am Holy Communion.
12 noon Lunch Club.
20 (Thu) 2 pm First Steps. Harvest.
23 Last Sunday after Trinity
(Fourth Sunday in October)
8 am Holy Communion.
9.30 am St. Luke’s Morning Worship.
10.35 am Trekkers.
10.45 am Holy Communion, (BCP).
followed by coffee at the back of the church.
6.30 pm Evening Praise.
26 (Wed) 11.30 am Holy Communion.
12 noon Lunch Club.
2.15 pm St. Mary’s Mothers’ Union. Methodist Speaker at the Methodist Hall.
29 (Sat) 10.30 am St. Mary’s Mothers’ Union and Methodist Ladies’ Fellowship. Shared Coffee Morning at St. Luke’s Hall.
30 Fourth Sunday before Advent
All Saints Day
(Fifth Sunday in October)
8 am Holy Communion.
9.30 am St. Luke’s Holy Communion.
10.35 am Trekkers.
10.45 am Holy Communion, (Order One).
Oblations: Visiting Group.
followed by coffee at the back of the church.
6.30 pm Evening Service for All Souls’ Day .
November
2 (Wed) 11.30 am Holy Communion.
3 (Thu) 10 am St. Luke’s, Holy Communion, with Mothers’ Union.
10.30 Coffee drop-in at St. Luke’s.
6 Third Sunday before Advent
(First Sunday in November)
8 am Holy Communion.
9.30 am St. Luke’s Holy Communion.
10.35 am Trekkers.
10.45 am Holy Communion, (Order One).
Oblations: Welcomers.
followed by coffee at the back of the church.
6.30 pm Evening Prayer. (BCP).
9 (Wed) 11.30 am Holy Communion.
12 noon Lunch Club.
8 pm A Service of Healing.
10 (Thu) 11 am St. Mary’s Guild meeting at St. Luke’s followed by lunch.
13 Second Sunday before Advent
(Second Sunday in November)
8 am Holy Communion.
9.30 am St. Luke’s Holy Communion.
10.45 am Service of Remembrance
followed by coffee at the back of the church.
6.30 pm Choral Evensong.
Each week we pray for people living in the Parish.
|
Wk/begin |
We pray for those living in |
|
2 Oct |
Stamford Road. |
|
9 Oct |
Chesham Place, Garner Close and Hollywood. |
|
16 Oct |
Heald Road, Heald Close and Heald Drive. |
|
23 Oct |
West Road, South Road, Belfield House and Handsworth. |
|
30 Oct |
East Downs Road, Langham Mount and High Lawn. |
|
6 Nov |
The Springs, Talbot Road and Gaddum Road. |
|
13 Nov |
The Lowes, Little Meadow and Churchfields. |
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