Church News – November 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters
Time is a funny thing. Today, as I sit down to write this article, I am reflecting with thanksgiving the life of my mum for who it is her 80th birthday. In some ways it doesn’t feel that long ago when I was using her as a pillow while recovering from meningitis and learning to live with CFS and yet it also feels like a lifetime ago. She has been an ever present in my life and a constant support but also so much has changed in that time as well. Even the great timelord Doctor Who struggled to explain it, once remarking that, ““People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to evict, but actually, from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it’s more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly,timey-wimey… stuff.
As a result of the varied nature of time and of life itself it is a comfort to know those things that keep you anchored to the present but hopeful for the future because nothing lasts forever. Well…not quite.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
I love this quote from St Paul. He too was facing an uncertain time in a very uncertain world but he knew that whatever happened, however crazy things might look and however cruelly the hands of time might tick, nothing could separate us from God. God has always promised
that they will be with us. I know that sometimes we might not feel it, we might look around and desperately search and wonder where God is and it is often only with hindsight we see that God was there in the faces and the actions of those who walked the dffiicult road alongside us. Today I give thanks for my mum and the way she has displayed the
love of God in my life. I’m sure that you will have people in your lives that have reflected the love of God and so today, as we reflect on time and our lives I want to invite you to give thanks to God for those who have been there for you in the good and bad times. I’m going to leave you with that well known and beautiful poem ‘Footsteps’ written by Mary Stevenson.
One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, One belonging to me and one to my Lord. After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints. This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. “Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You’d walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you. Never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you.”
God bless, James
NEWS
Please make a big note in your calendars and diaries to come along to our Christmas Fayre on 14th of this month. This event is one of the highlights of our year and we would love to see you.
Please don’t forget our Tin and Toy Service at the end of the month. As usual, we are asking for NEW toys which will be donated to the Wood Street Mission in Manchester.
It is also Remembrance Sunday on 8th of this month – please note the earlier start time for the service. This is so that we will all be present in time for the 2 minutes’ silence at 11 am. Please wear a poppy if you can to remember all the men and women from WW1 onwards who have given their lives so that we might live in freedom and without fear.
STAR MOUNTAIN
Star Mountain is situated in Palestine and is a rehabilitation school and home run by the Moravian Church for children with various special needs. They have for many years benefitted from the care given by the workers but at the beginning of October, we were informed that some Israeli settlers had broken into the grounds of the home, destroying fences and so this is no longer a safe haven for the children and staff. It is estimated that 150,000 Euros are needed to repair the damage. This is such a large amount, that we are being asked if we can play our part, even in a small way, to helping to raise funds. Please give if you are able, using the link below.
| SUNDAY 1st | MORNING WORSHIP WITH LOVEFEAST led by Sr Gillian Taylor | 11 am |
| Wednesday 4th | MORAVIAN WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION MEETING | 1.15 pm |
| SUNDAY 8th | REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP WITH HOLY COMMUNION led by Br James Woolford | 11 am |
| Monday 9th | Church Committee meeting on Zoom | 7.30 pm |
| SATURDAY 14th | CHRISTMAS FAYRE IN CHURCH | 2.30 pm |
| SUNDAY 15th | MORNING WORSHIP led by Sr Glenys Marshall | 11 am |
| SUNDAY 22nd | MORNING WORSHIP led by Br James Woolford | 11 an |
| SUNDAY 29th | TIN AND TOY SERVICE / FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT YOUTH AND PARADE SERVICE led by Sr Sue Selby | 11 am |
Prayer for November 2026
Dear Lord, At this dark and dismal time, when the year is closing down and our lives get busier and the world more confusing, we can sometimes become discouraged and low in spirits.
Help us to adjust our perspective, to turn and look up, to focus afresh on You, to remember that Your name is above all names, above discouragement, above despair, above confusion.
Help us to be thankful for each day that You have made, recognising each one as a gift from You, to be treasured and lived fruitfully.
May we welcome Your powerful, healing light into our hearts and lives – Your light, which no darkness can dim. Help us to remember your words,
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Help us to follow you and walk in the light, this November and always. In your name, Amen
By Daphne Kitching
