Church News – November 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Amazing Grace,

How sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me,

I once was lost,

But now I’m found,

Was blind, but now I see.

Last month I spoke about my love of singing. It was resting on my mind as I awaited surgery to remove half of my thyroid, which presented a risk of damage to my vocal cords. It is now three weeks since my operation and it has certainly been an experience that has taught me a lot.

Firstly a lesson in thankfulness: I am so incredibly grateful to the staff at Salford Royal for their excellent care and kindness. I was very anxious about it all but they had a warmth, mixed with humour, that really helped. I am also incredibly grateful for the support I have received from you all. Your prayers and messages of support where all gratefully received. And finally, in the spirit of thankfulness, I’m so blessed that I have Annette, who has had to support me both physically and mentally. This leads me to the second thing I’ve learnt.

I’m not a very patient patient. I knew recovery would be a slow process and I am still not 100%. I have found resting and increasing things gradually to be really frustrating at times. You’d think that with 28 years of living with a chronic illness I’d have become used to it but it has been a time of learning about healing both inside and out.

Finally, I have learnt about my priorities and what makes me happy. The verse I included at the start of my letter today was the first thing I tried to sing after my operation. It was about a week afterwards and I just needed to know I could still pitch a tune. It’s a hymn of hope and comfort so it seemed an apt choice. I was relieved when I could.  My voice was far from it’s best but it gave me hope. My voice is now much stronger and I know it’ll take time to get its full strength back but I have resolved to look after it better and to use it more. The thought of losing something so precious makes you realise how important it is for me.

I’m looking forward to returning to you, albeit carefully and gradually, but I’m grateful to God for the hope of a full recovery and a life lived in song.

God bless, James

NEWS

With Christmas fast approaching, we have plenty to occupy our minds, and as usual, the highlight of November is our Christmas Fayre which this year, will be held on Saturday 15th at 2 p.m.  We are hoping for another successful day and we would ask that you publicise this event with our family and friends.  Please tell them that this year, the upstairs room will be specially for the young people, although everyone will be welcome.  There will be games, items to buy and a visit from Father Christmas. 

From the four Scouts who applied, we are very honoured to advise that Tilly has been chosen to represent the UK at the International Jamboree in Poland in 2027.     She will be selling sweets to fundraise for her trip, at the Christmas Fayre, so please be sure to visit her stall. 

On the 9th, we have our usual Remembrance Day Service and I would like to remind you that this service starts at 10.50 a.m to allow us to be settled before the 2 minutes’ silence at 11 o’clock.

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‘Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don’t like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that’ (Bill Shankley). When you replace the word ‘football’ with ‘mission’, this quote still has something to say! The apostle Andrew (we remember him on 30th November) demonstrates what the mission of the Church is all about (John 1:35-42). It’s not unlike following your favourite football team!

When we support a football team, we make sure that we know all about them! When Andrew and his friend heard about Jesus, they wanted to find out more: ‘Look, the Lamb of God.’ (John the Baptist, v35). The first stage of mission is finding out more about Jesus, the One who enables us to be friends of God through His death and resurrection.

Secondly, when supporting a football team, we will spend time watching their games. Andrew asked, ‘where are you staying?’ and Jesus replied, ‘Come and you will see’ (v39). Andrew spent the rest of the day talking and listening to Jesus. As a result of this time, he had something to share. How much time do we spend with Jesus, reading His word and praying?

When our team wins, we want to share the good news! After meeting Jesus, Andrew’s first action was to tell his brother Peter: ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ)’ (v41). Are we willing to tell others about Him too? Sharing with family and close friends can sometimes be harder than talking with strangers. However, we don’t need to follow a football team to engage in mission. It’s all about being excited to share Jesus with those we meet day by day.

‘Mission is seeing what God is doing and joining in’ (Rowan Williams).

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WHAT’S ON IN NOVEMBER 2025
SUNDAY	2nd	MORNING WORSHIP led by Sr Kerry Cain	11 a.m.
Monday	3rd	Church Committee Meeting on Zoom	7.30 p.m.
Wednesday	5th	M.W.A. in the Schoolroom	1.15 p.m.
SUNDAY	9th	REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP with HOLY COMMUNION  led by Br James	10.50 a.m
SATURDAY	15th	CHRISTMAS FAYRE	From 2 pm
SUNDAY	16th	MORNING WORSHIP led by Sr Penny Weir	11 a.m.
SUNDAY	23rd	MORNING WORSHIP led by Br James	11 a.m.
Thursday	27th	Thursday Group Advent Service at Fairfield	7.30 p.m.
SUNDAY	30th	TIN AND TOY SERVICE led by Sr Susan Flint with special guest, Mr Michael Evans of Wood Street Mission.	11 a.m.

Please note that Br Peter Gubi is starting a Bible Study based on the Advent story. These will be on Zoom, with the first session starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday 18th November. If you would like to be added to the invitation, please contact our Secretary, Sue on 07772 705 364 or sue.selby49@outlook.com

Prayer for November 2025

Heavenly Father,

Here we are in November – the month of short, dark days. A dreary, difficult month, unless you have a birthday! Lord, it seems as if the world in permanently in November at the moment. So much is so difficult for so many people, through no fault of their own. And it seems to go on and on.

Lord, would You bring your healing light into the world’s darkness. Bring transformation, compassion and a softening into the hearts of those with responsibility for the conflict and the suffering, that they might work for peace for all people. We know that nothing is impossible for you, Lord, so we pray in faith – and in the name of Jesus.

Amen. By Daphne Kitching