Church News – September 2025

1 September 2025 Church Newsletter

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I have just returned from three nights at Greenbelt Festival and so I thought I’d share something of my experience and why it is such a special place to be.

Greenbelt is a festival which was founded in 1974 and was set up with the Christian faith at its heart but it is more than just a space for Christians. It is a place for everyone who cares about the planet and all that is on it. Here, around 12,000 people gathered together to listen to talks, watch theatre, listen to music, engage in crafts and share in fellowship and love. It is the most inclusive place I’ve ever been to and that is why it is so special to me.

This year was my fourth time visiting but the first time I’d taken Edward for the full festival (he had attended for one day about four years ago). The theme of this year was Hope in the Making and in a time where there is much to worry about it was great to hear about the many ways we can find hope and be part of the solution to bring hope into people’s lives. Some of the highlights of the festival for me included watching a powerful two actor play about the Hiroshima bombing, listening to John Bell from the Iona community talk about subversive ways to speak truth in a world where truth is hard to find, dancing and singing to Sea Shanties curtesy of The Longest Johns and joining in with the singing for the hugely popular beer and hymns event. But the absolute high point came on the Sunday morning.”

(Picture: Edward at the Jesus Arms)

Whilst Greenbelt is open to people of all faiths and none, it remains, at it’s heart, a Christian event and so on Sunday morning at 10am we gathered to celebrate communion. The festival is open to local residents and people who live nearby to attend the service, and, as you can purchase single day ticket and Sunday is the most popular day, it was estimated that around 14-15,000 people were there for the service. Here, we heard words from the first woman to be ordained in the Anglican church and we were privileged to also be joined by a female ordained minister from Palestine who led us in prayer. As we worshipped I took a number of looks around and saw people from all walks of life, people with punk rock hair, purple hair, no hair, people of all sexualities and all genders. people young and old, able bodied and disabled. We were all gathered together in the Spirit of hope. And it struck me, this is what the kingdom of God will look like.

For anyone who wants to know more then please just ask and if it’s peaked your interest in coming along speak to me as I will definitely be going again next year. And no, you don’t have to camp in a tent to enjoy it.

God bless, James

NEWS

Another school year has begun and we send love and our very best wishes all our young people who may be facing challenges as they start a new term or school. Special congratulations to Jacob and Megan Rigney on their wonderful exam results.

Please spare a thought to our brothers and sisters who are struggling at the moment. We are grateful that Br Peter continues to improve after his heart surgery, and Br Bob Hopcroft is listening to medical advice and limiting the amount of work he is undertaking. We continue to pray for Srs Dorothy, Margaret and Kate who continue their battles and to anyone else who has a particular need at the moment.

We are pleased to note that James, Annette, Edward and Charlotte have now moved into their new home— 45 Fairfield Square. M43 6AE

BIBLE STUDY

The Bible study is due to start again on September 16. The numbers were quite low in the summer and we need to have a core group to make it viable so could you let Sue or James know whether you would like to join us. I plan to look at St Peter‘s letters next term and will produce notes so that you can be prepared beforehand if you want to. It’s lovely when others contribute their thoughts but you don’t have to, you’re very welcome to just come and listen.

By Julie Andrews

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September is the time of year when we get back to our routines after the summer break. As whole-life disciples (lit: learners) we are all called to learn from Jesus and live like Him. God wants us to make a difference in our workplaces and schools, and with family and friends. As Paul writes:

‘And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.’ (Colossians 3:17).

‘WHATEVER you do’: God is at work in every aspect of our lives. He can use whatever we do to make a difference to those around. Do we believe this? Our lives shouldn’t be like an orange, segmented into the sacred and secular, but more like an apple, in which all of our lives are available to Him.

‘Whatever YOU do’: God wants to use us to share God’s love as we serve others around us, wherever we spend time. We can trust Him for the resources we need hour by hour, day by day, year by year. What do we need from Him?

‘Whatever you DO’: We work for God alone, in responding to God’s love for us. How does this perspective make a difference when what we do is hard, unrewarding, or even unappreciated by others?

A man standing on a train platform was asked one day: ‘Who are you?’ He replied, ‘I am a Christian thinly disguised as an accountant.’ If we were asked the same question ourselves, how would we respond? As disciples of Jesus Christ, our identity is rooted in God and His call upon our lives. For each of us, September means learning from Jesus about how we might live for Him in the different places we find ourselves.

Prayer for September 2025

Heavenly Father, September is the month of new starts for so many. New starts can be exciting, but they can also be daunting. We don’t always know what to expect and sometimes we feel as if we are on our own in a strange new place, or situation.

Help us to know that, as your people, we are never alone. You promised, through Jesus, to be with us always and You gave us Your Holy Spirit to empower us.

In some ways every day is a new start – a new gift from You. As we unwrap the gift of each new day, this September, en-courage us to receive it confidently and expectantly.

Help us to know that we can do all things, through Christ Jesus, who strengthens us. We can! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

By Daphne Kitching

		WHAT’S ON IN SEPTEMBER
SUNDAY	7th	MORNING WORSHIP led by Sr Sue Selby	11 a.m.
Wednesday	10th	M.W.A. meeting in the Schoolroom	1.15 p.m.
SUNDAY	14th	MORNING WORSHIP WITH HOLY COMMUNION led by Br James Woolford	11 a.m.
Monday	15th	Church Committee meets on Zoom	7 p.m.
Tuesday	16th	Bible Study	7 p.m.
SUNDAY	21st	MORNING WORSHIP led by Sr Kerry Cain	11 a.m.
SUNDAY	28th	HARVEST FESTIVAL, PARADE AND YOUTH SERVICE led by Sr Gillian Taylor	11 a.m.