Building bridges between church and community

When all goes well, the tree becomes a feast of colour and life. Then there are timeswhen . . . nothing happens, or you fuse the rest of the house electrics! Christmas can bea bit like that – for everyone enjoying family fun and the best of the festival, there areplenty for whom the big switch on never happens. Our Christmas theme this year is‘Jesus, light in the darkness’. One of the prophets of long ago wrote these words aboutthe coming of Jesus: ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; thosewho lived in a land of deep darkness – on them the light has shined.’*

The apostle John begins his gospel with the announcement, ‘The true light, which en-lightens everyone, was coming into the world.’** Later in the same gospel, Johnrecords the amazing claim of Jesus, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows mewill never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’***

The light of Jesus is for everyone. His birth brings hope for the whole human race, anda real reason to celebrate. Come and join us this Christmas – we’d love to see you.

Our Carols by Candlelight service – always a highlight at Christmas – in onSunday 18th December at 6.30pm. And on Christmas Day we celebrate the birth of theChrist Child with BCP (Book of Common Prayer) Communion at 9am and ChristmasCommunion for all the family at 10.30am. You’d be most welcome to join us for any ofthese occasions. If you are looking for something a little bit different from ‘normal’church, why not give the mid-week a try on Monday 12th Decemberstarting at 3pm. More details about all of these services can be found inside In Touch.

[*Isaiah chapter 9, verse 2; ** John chapter one, verse 9; *** John chapter 8, verse 12]

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Sep 18 Katie & Luke MaidmentNov 20 Mia Salome Bachelor

Oct 14 Bernard DillonNov 11 Winifred HusseyNov 11 Ann Thompson

Sep 23 James Morrow and Sarah Heard

Nov 22 Wilfred & Sharon Smith

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These are more effective than 999 whenYou are sad, phone John 14

You have sinned, phone Psalm 51You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91People have failed you, phone Psalm 27

It feels that God is far from you, phone Psalm 139Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11

You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23You are worried, phone Matthew 8: 19-34

You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5: 15-18

You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8 : 31-39You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11: 25-30

It feels that the world is bigger than God, phone Psalm 90You need Christlike insurance, phone Romans 8: 1-30You are leaving home for a journey, phone Psalm 121

You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1

Inflation and investments are hogging your thoughts,phone Mark 10: 17-31You are depressive, phone Psalm 27

Your back account is empty, phone Psalm 37You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13It looks like people are unfriendly, phone John 15

You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126You feel the world is small compared to you, phone Psalm 19

You want to bear fruit, phone John 15Paul’s secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3: 12-17

With big opportunity/discovery, phone Isaiah 55To get along with other people, phone Romans 12

ALTERNATIVE NUMBERSFor dealing with fear, call Psalm 47

For security, call Psalm 121: 3For assurance, call Mark 8:35

For reassurance, call Psalm 145:18ALL THESE NUMBERS AMY BE PHONED DIRECTLY.

NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY.ALL LINES TO HEAVEN ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.FEED YOUR FAITH: DOUBT WILL STARVE YOU TO DEATH

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Few of us are taught how to handle our money and,in these days of credit cards and borrowing, buyingnow and paying later, it’s no wonder that so manypeople are struggling to control their finances. If thissounds like you or you would just like the opportu-nity to hear about a simple but effective moneymanagement system then why not join aCAP Money Course.

The CAP Money Course has been developed by, a national UK debt

counselling charity, who offer this facility, free,through local Christian churches, such asSt.Margaret’s.

The course is a comprehensive, yet astonishinglysimple, money management course to help you gaincontrol of your finances. It involves one 2 hour ses-sion a week for 3 consecutive weeks. The course isentirely free and will provide you with a MoneyManagement Pack and an on-line personal budget-ing tool.

The course is not just for those who are struggling.If you simply want to manage your money better,make it go further, make wiser choices about howyou use your money and plan for a brighter financialfuture then this course will really help.

Across the 3 weeks you will:Understand your financial position

management

your income

ing

sion for expensive times like Christ-mas and holidays

costs

of debt and the anxieties surrounding money

St. Margaret’s Church has 3 qualified CAP MoneyCoaches who will be running a course of this natureon Thursday evenings during February and March2012. Please look out for further information. Ad-vance registration is essential and delegates mustundertake to attend all three sessions of the course.If you would like to know more and/or enrol on thecourse then contact:Ian Thompson - Rector

Tel No: 0161-432-1844Email:iandthompson@talktalk.net

This is a simple money management course which works.Please take this opportunity to give yourself a belatedChristmas present and a brighter financial future.

SmilingSmiling is infectious,you catch it like the flu.When someone smiled atme today,I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner,and someone saw my grin.When he smiled I realised,I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile,then I realised its worth.A single smile, just likemine,could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin,don't leave it undetected.Let's start an epidemicquick,and get Burnage infected !

SmilingSmiling is infectious,you catch it like the flu.When someone smiled atme today,I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner,and someone saw my grin.When he smiled I realised,I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile,then I realised its worth.A single smile, just likemine,could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin,don't leave it undetected.Let's start an epidemicquick, and getBurnage infected !

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Can you find all the names of the characters from the Christmas story?

JESUS ANGELS

HEROD MARY

JOSEPH SHEPHERDS

INNKEEPER WISEMEN

E S I U F T O M B E Z N E M E RJ E S U S D R E H P E H S Z P KP Z Q N O Y D W E S A T O E Q BY P W R G S A R I P N G S Q F LH Z E W M U H P E S O J H M T AM H E A S L R C S L E G N A T NO L R T A Q F G B R G M S R A OS E C Z F C T A T M M E E Y E XO H R V H R G R E P E E K N N IY G Y N I W L N I S B O T N E JO E E A M N E F S Y V A O P I LI Q S S E K L P T I H M Z N N AR R Q C A E U E T O V C N F A BE T N O S O N X E R R I I E E SM P T S S E Z S F S E V S E R NO I Y A A K N D O F S T R U Y I

JANUARY 01/1/12 Hilbre Rd.

08/1/12 Acorn Close

15/1/12 Alexandra Drive & Roseleigh Ave

22/1/12 Pearn Rd, & Pearn Ave

29/1/12 Shawbrook Rd

FEBRUARY5/2/12 Burnage Lane (Milwain Rd to Mauldeth Rd)12/2/12 Burnage Lane (Mauldeth Rd to Errwood Roundabout)19/2/12 Kingsway (West side) Westcroft Road to Mauldeth Road.26/2/12 Southbank Road, Southlea Road (to the railway line) and Kingsway Crescent

MARCH04/3/12 Woodbray Ave., Briarfield Road (to the railway line) Northbank Gardens and Burnbray Ave.11/3/12 Mauldeth Road, Kingsway to Burnage Lane18/3/12 Brookthorpe Ave; and St Margaret’s Ave25/3/12 Rosevale Avenue, Holcombe and Hovington Gds;

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Curate’s corner . . .

The days are getting shorter and shorter and,after some unusually mild weather, it has nowturned colder – a reminder to us all that wereally are now in the season of winter.

For many people this is a dark, cold, and oftendifficult time of year. But at St Margaret’s weare getting ready now to celebrate the coming oflight into the darkness, as we remember onceagain, how God came to live among us as Jesus,the light of the world. Sometimes it can reallyhelp to step aside from the busyness for a while,from the commercial pressures to buy and eatmore and more, and to take some time out tohear again the nativity story and to sing the old,familiar carols.

There are lots of opportunities to celebrate thereal meaning of Christmas that all too easily getsburied under the presents, the tinsel, the turkeyand the Christmas pudding. At St Margaret’s,you can enjoy Carols by Candlelight (Sunday 18December, 6.30pm), Carols round the tree(Tuesday 20 December, 3.00 pm), and Christmasservices on Christmas Day. There are also lotsof opportunities to celebrate Christmas with

our brothers and sisters in the otherchurches in Burnage (see the list printed atthe back of this copy of In-Touch).

This year, for the first time, we will also becelebrating Christmas at our monthly

.

Whatever your age and situation, we do inviteyou to come along and join in as we celebrateonce again the wonderful story of Christmas.There will be lots of crafts and otheractivities connected to the nativity story – Isee stars and angels, shepherds, sheep, andwise men, a tiny baby lying in a manger. Evenif it’s years and years since you last held apaintbrush or glued some creation together,come and have a go this Christmas. Bringyour children, your grandchildren or others(with their parents’ permission). You canenjoy the creative hour, and then 20 minutesin church to remember again the Christmasstory, sing some carols, and then enjoy aChristmas meal together.

We don’t charge for – it’s allfree. Do come and celebrate with us.Everyone is very welcome! If you want toknow more, ring 0161 445 8874 or email:caroline.throup@ntlworld.com.I’m also usually to be found in the ParishCentre at St Margaret’s on Tuesday andFriday mornings.

May today there be peace within.May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to

you.May you be confident knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praiseand love.

It is there for each and every one of us.(Saint Theresa is known as the Saint of the Little Ways, meaning she believed in doing the little things in life well and with great love)

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We’ve had a year off! But you’ll be glad toknow that Love Burnage is back again in2011 – bigger and better than ever before.

2012 promises to be a special year in lots ofways. It is of course Olympic Year with theGames hosted this time round by London.The countdown continues and the excitementgrows!

It is also the year our Queen celebrates herDiamond Jubilee, a tremendous landmark inher long and happy reign. There are going tobe lots of events organised in the comingmonths to help celebrate this special occa-sion.

Last but not least, it is the centenary year forGirl Guiding at St Margaret’s Church. In Octo-ber next year, we will be celebrating 100years of Brownies, Guides (and now Rain-bows) at this church.

The Love Burnage Big family Fun day onSaturday, 16th June 2012 (2-5pm) will reflectall of these significant events in some way.Make sure the date it in your diary so youdon’t miss it!

here are the usual attractions like face paint-ing, beat-the-goalie, coconut shy, bouncy cas-tles, climbing wall, and so on. Food will alsoo doubt feature. New for this year will besomething called ‘Q-Ball Crazy’ which we

hope will fit with the Olympic theme. There willbe a variety of musical contributions including(we hope!) choirs from Green End and theAcacias primary schools, the Steel Band fromGreen End, and Trinity High Schools BigBand. An art project is also planned for differ-ent community groups to join in with

We hope you’ll come and enjoy the day. It’sour way of saying that we love Burnage, and,more importantly, God does too. So why notcome along and join in the fun! You won’t bedisappointed, I’m sure.

George will be joining us again atLove Burnage this year, along with his‘handler’ Dave Glover.

They will be visiting several of the localprimary schools – including Green End,Ladybarn and the Acacias – to take part inschool assemblies and some classes.He will also be visiting the Rainbows, Brown-ies and Guides and Boys Club at StMargaret’s during the week before the LoveBurnage fun day. And, of course, he will bearound the site during the fun day itself talkingto the children - and to the grown ups too!On Sunday morning, 17th June, George andDave will also be taking part in a special LoveBurnage service in church, to which you areinvited. This is an all-age service for all thefamily and will be suitable for children of allages. Plan to join us if you can.

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Messy Church Christmas Mon 12th December 3.30pmCarols round the tree, Tuesday 20th Dec 3pm

Carols by Candlelight Service, Sunday 18th December, 6.30pmBook of Common Prayer Communion, Sunday 25th December 9.am

Christmas Day Family Communion, Sunday 25th December, 10.30am

Christmas Eve Mass, Saturday 24th December 6pm and 8pmChristmas Day Mass, Sunday 25th December 10 am

Carol Service, Sunday December 11th, 6.30pmChristingle Service, Tues 13th December 6.45pm

Midnight Communion Saturday, 24th December 11.30pm

Christingle Service, Monday 12th December 5.30pmCarol Service, Sunday 18th December, 6.30pm

Christmas Day Service, Sunday, 25th December 10.30am

Carol Service, Sunday, 18h December, 3pmChristmas Eve Midnight Mass, Saturday 24th Dec 11.30pm

Christmas Day Holy Communion (BCP) Sunday 25th December, 8.30 amChristmas Carols and Communion, Sunday 25th December 10.30am

Carol Service, Sunday 18th December 4pm

Got a problem?Like someone to talk to?

In spiritual help or advice?For pastoral help and support,

telephone our Helpline and someone will get back to you

Total confidence guaranteed

Building bridges between church and community