From the Vicarage February

As we enter into the month of February, you may find that you have already broken your New Year’s resolution (if you actually made one). Rather than getting yourself down, over a perceived lack of will power, perhaps you need to go easy on yourself. In Matthew 19: 18 we are told ‘love your neighbour as yourself.’ This verse speaks, not of arrogance, but of showing respect, not just to others, but to yourself.  

As the season of Lent approaches in March and we prepare to give something up (Norma normally chocolate, myself normally alcohol), perhaps we all need to take stock and have a good look at ourselves. Think about the positives – what you have achieved in life, what skills you have acquired and used in service to others and to God, people who you have influenced for the good as you have gone through life etc. We all have good points, and yet we can often be negative about ourselves.

So, before you start thinking about how you need to change, you may need a new perspective, to appreciate and be kind to yourself. We are all unique before God and wonderfully made by him. Therefore, when things in life go wrong, pause, reflect, learn and move on. It is only when we see ourselves differently that we will be able to see others differently, and love both ourselves and others.

Psalm 139: 14 ‘I praise you Lord, for I am wonderfully made’

God bless,     Tim and Norma

Extracts From The

Parish Magazine

Lesson Readers

If you are unavailable on your allocated date, please arrange to change with someone else.

Sidesmen Rota

Items for inclusion in the next month’s magazine should be

sent to Judith Dewdney by the 20th February.

30 Henbury Rise Henbury

Tel:-  01625 439753 email:- judith.torview@gmail.com

Pastoral Care

If you know of anyone who you think would benefit from a visit by one of our Pastoral Care Team, please contact Tim or Norma (425510), Carole (611477), Christine (511784) or Linda (424505).

Occasional Offices.

Funerals.
Judith McGovern 76 7th. January.

Elaine Brown 67 17th. January.

Peter Perry 63 8th. February.

MOTHERS’ UNION

Our first meeting of the year was slightly disappointing in numbers after so many attending in December, although this did not stop those of us who did attend having a great time making Easter bunnies, lambs and chicks which will be given to children attending Church at Easter.  I think children probably could have made a better job than some of us at reading the instructions but we got there in the end!

This month’s meeting will be our AGM which I know it puts some people off from attending but I would urge you to as hopefully there will be some good news for us all regarding our Branch.   Chris Redfern has put together a great list of speakers for us again this year and there are some exciting events to look forward to.  Hopefully the Programmes can be given out at this month’s meeting to those who have paid their yearly subscription.  If you have not paid as yet then please ensure our Treasurer Lynne Hibbert receives this as soon as possible (£27 for the year which is only £2.25 a month, less than the price of a cup of coffee in most shops!).

As this is the start of a new triennium we have a new Diocesan President Wendy Sykes who is from the Macclesfield Archdeaconry so it is good to have someone from this side, which hasn’t happened for some years.  We look forward to her leadership and I know you will give her all the support she requires.

This is quite a quiet time of the year so not too much to write about but the following poem appeared on the Mother’s Union Facebook page and I thought I would share it with you rather than ramble on about nothing!

When the carols have been stilled,
When the star-topped tree is taken down,
When family and friends are gone home,
When we are back to our schedules
THE WORK OF CHRISTMAS BEGINS
To welcome the refugee,
To heal a broken planet,
To feed the hungry,
To build bridges of trust, not walls of fear,
To share our gifts,
To seek justice and peace for all people,
To bring Christ’s light to the world.  (Michael Dougherty)

Finally, the usual plea, please do try and attend as many meetings as you can and if possible, bring along a friend or relative who may be interested in some of our topics this year.

DIARY DATES

Thursday, 14th February  – AGM

Refreshments – Judith Dewdney & Anne Brown      Raffle &Table Flowers – Judith Dewdney  

HENBURY  W.I

Our first meeting of 2019 was well attended and our speaker gave us lots of information regarding Lasting Powers of Attorney.  Many of us had already got these but it was interesting to hear all the anecdotes regarding people’s problems.

The competition was a snow scene and we had everything from a flower arrangement to a church scene.

Our next meeting is on February 5th when we will be entertained by Linda Hallett and her talk entitled ‘Indian Hill Railways and Other Things’

All visitors welcome.

Ann Cresswell

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