Listen now

Here’s our June 28th newsletter. Following the recent government announcement, we will be opening our churches for public worship shortly, subject to PCC decision this week. Most of us will be a little heavier and a little hairier than when we last met together!

The hope is that St John with St Mark will resume services on Sunday 12th July at 11 am. Christ Church Walmersley will start again at 10 am on the same day.

Private prayer

In the meantime, our churches are open for individual prayer. St John with St Mark is open each Wednesday, from 10 am to 11 am, and on Sundays between 10 am and 12 noon.

Christ Church Walmersley is open at the same time each Sunday – and each Thursday from 10 am to 11 am. Please be aware of the health and hygiene protocols and maintain social distancing at all times.

If you need to contact the Vicar, Dave Thompson: Phone 0161 797 7652 or e-mail:  dvjt@outlook.com

Prayer for the current pandemic:

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy, in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort, knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer

The Vicar says Morning Prayer at 9.30 am and Evening Prayer at 5.00 pm on a daily basis. By also saying prayers at this time we are uniting together.

Please remember in your prayers:

The World – The global efforts in tackling the Coronavirus pandemic.

This Country – Businesses and those in the hospitality industry hoping to reopen this week and for their staff and customers.

This Benefice – The retired Clergy in our Benefice; For Ralph, Keith and Don.

This Church – The PCC meeting on Monday to discuss the reopening of the Church and Church Hall.

The Sick – Geoffrey Lay, Joan Hartley, Miriam Hamilton, Margaret Watson, Dorothy Howarth and Julie Cooper.

Notices and updates

Sunday@Seven – our monthly service will be Zoomed this Sunday night at 7.00 pm. The theme is ‘A Gospel to Proclaim’. Please get in touch via the Contact page if you want to join.

Individual Private Prayer continues in both our church and Christ Church this week. Please note that, for safe hygiene reasons, Church bibles, prayer books and worship items will not be available. So, if you wish to use these as part of your individual quiet time, then you should bring your own. We need non-vulnerable volunteers to keep the Church open at these times and to clean the church between openings. If you would like to be involved, please contact the Vicar.

The Parish Office: is open, with the necessary social distancing! Enquiries about future baptisms or weddings, marriage banns or any other matter, should be made at St John with St Mark Church Hall, any Wednesday between 6.30 pm – 7.00 pm.

Giving: Please ensure you continue to contribute to our church funds at this time. Envelopes should be kept safe and given when able to do so. If you would like to consider donating by Standing Order, then our bank is: Barclays; Sort Code: 20-16-08; Account No: 20774774; Account name: St. John with St. Mark PCC. Please contact Ian or June Banks for more information.

Plants for sale in aid of church funds. We were unable to hold our Summer Fair recently. However, the plants are still available to purchase from Rosemarie and Stuart Ashworth. Please use our contact page to find out more.

Clergy in the Manchester Diocese got on-line this week for a virtual conference. Follow this link to see reflections from some of them about what they’ve learned during the pandemic.

And finally…

The July 2020 issue of the Benefice magazine will be distributed to the congregation and will also be made available online. In the meantime, please enjoy this June 28th Newsletter.

TAKE CARE, STAY SAFE & GOD BLESS YOU

Many thanks to Ekrulila for the cover photo which you can find on Unsplash