There’s lots going on in the next few weeks at St John with St Mark’s and Christ Church Walmersley. So, don’t miss out!
A Buffet lunch, two Teas, a Coffee Morning, two S@S’s, Cafe Church and a very special celebration…
Our top posts
Three quarters of the way through 2019 already!
So, we thought we’d share with you our top 5 posts so far this year.
They are each very different but they are a good representation of the range that we publish. You might have missed them the first time – or you might enjoy reading them again!
Moses and the Goldfish
I am going to start my stopwatch…
I read an article recently that said in the year 2000, TV adverts had to grab a persons’ attention within 12 seconds or they weren’t effective.
By 2013 that had dropped to 8 seconds. The attention span of a goldfish is said to be 9 seconds. So, longer than humans now…
Stop the clock – 8.75 seconds. The goldfish are still with me but I’ve lost the rest of you!
The gospels
There are four gospels in the bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Three are similar to each other: Matthew, Mark and Luke. One is very different: John.
Why are there four gospels that are so different and so similar in the case of three?
Historically, this is because of cultural areas that differed and shared documents. But in terms of grace and providence, we have events that are so profound we need to be able to look at them with single lights making a blaze of light that we might understand, and trust, and believe.
Bury FC – lessons for the church?
Bill Shankly famously said “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I can assure them it is much more serious than that”
Seeing the reactions of followers of Bury FC over recent days gives credence to that point of view.
It comes home to you that football supporters do have a great sense of community, of belonging, of common identity, of being in fellowship, in a family.
St Bartholomew and the PoW
In a book written some 50 years ago, the Editor quotes a poem written on the wall of a prison cell by an English Prisoner of War. It was written before his execution. In it he unites himself to his suffering Redeemer and prays for his murderers.
This poem is all we know of that heroic martyr. We have no idea of his name or anything else about him. This is a bit like St Bartholomew. We know his name, for he is mentioned in the list of apostles in the first three gospels, but that is absolutely all we know.
September 2019 magazine
Here’s our packed September 2019 magazine.
There’s a lot going on in the Walmersley Benefice at the moment and you’ll find plenty of news about upcoming events.
There are also articles from the Walking Group, Open Group and Mothers’ Union. But there’s space too for prayer and reflection – plus some celebratory photos (including the one above with Vivienne and Barry being photo-bombed by the Bishop).