November Newsletter
Most years Advent Sunday, which marks the start of the Church's new year, is in December but 2025 is one of those years when Advent begins in November.
November might seem a strange time to begin something new. A more logical option would be to begin the Church year with the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day, or with the resurrection of Jesus at Easter, or at the birth of the Church at Pentecost. Just how the shape of the Church year gradually evolved and took the shape that it has today could fill a whole Exploring course! 
Advent Sunday marks the beginning of a time both of preparation and of waiting. Perhaps this is a lesson we need to be regularly reminded of as church, that a time of preparation and waiting on God comes before activity not as an afterthought. There is much truth in the old saying, 'Act in haste, repent at leisure'.
Advent has been marked by Christians through the ages with the Advent prayer "Come, Lord Jesus" which is a prayer not just about waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is also a prayer for Jesus to return as Lord and Judge: to bring judgement on this present age and purge from it all that desecrates and devalues, both the good creation and the creator's image-bearer, humankind.
We wait and we pray for the day when all things are made new, and we enter not just a new Church year, but a new Creation.
In this month's newsletter:
Church Life News & Events
Worshipping
'Come and Sing' Choir
Lots of us may feel that when we sit in the congregation singing, we may hesitate at the high notes… will we reach them, or will it sound dreadful?! ‘Just go for it’ said Andrew as they rehearsed. So, buoyed by his encouragement, they did, and ‘it was just great!’ said one singer, ‘and it felt good to be worshipping God this way’. This was a feeling shared by many, for Andrew spoke delightedly of the real enthusiasm he was met with, ‘I love the organ and I just LOVE singing’ said another ‘but I can’t read music, so this is perfect’. Experienced or not, the words were clear, their spirits rose and many said they were looking forward to their next opportunity. The Come and Sing choir blossomed.
This is a group for absolutely everyone who loves to sing. And we all know how enjoying doing something together is a lovely way to build friendships. So if only the shower room has enjoyed your voice so far, do not hold back.
The choir gathers on the fourth Sunday of the month and Andrew’s view is simple – ‘Come and give it a go!'
for more information
Contact Andrew Burr via the Parish Office
Sundays at St John's, Adlington
The new pattern of weekly worship is going well, the chairs are far from empty. The Sunday attendance is just under the average (median) size for the Church of England which is brilliant for a small community. (St Peter's, it's good to remember, is in the top 5% largest.)
Worship at St John's is lead by Patrick, Sue and Avril from the Ministry Team and Arthur who is an OWL (Occasional Worship Leader; the diocesan short course that gives permission for lay congregation members to lead services once a month or so). We have been delighted too by the support from other Churches in the deanery and particularly Helen (a Licensed Lay Minister from Holy Trinity Hurdsfield) whom we look forward to inviting again in the new year.
Are you a keyboard player? Although we are blessed with a healthy congregation and a growing pool of ministry resources to sustain the pattern, we are in need of a regular keyboard player to cover the first Sunday of the month. If you are hiding your light under a bushel and sense God saying "you could do that !" do talk to Andrew Burr (Head of Music) or Patrick (Vicar).
Morning and Evening Prayer
The new pattern of daily prayer in Church and online has opened the way for a wider involvement of Church members attending in person or joining on-line.
Morning and Evening Prayer last about 20 minutes: there are Bible readings, a Psalm and Said Canticles as well as time for prayer. All are welcome to drop in either on a one-off basis or to make it part of their weekly pattern of prayer and devotion.
Monday 9.00am Morning Prayer St Peter's Rooms
4.30pm Evening Prayer St Peter's, Legh Chapel
Tuesday 9.00am Morning Prayer Zoom
4.30pm Evening Prayer St Peter's, Legh Chapel
Wednesday 9.00am Morning Prayer St Peter's, Legh Chapel
4.30pm Evening Prayer Zoom
Thursday 9.30pm Morning Prayer St John's
Service for those who Mourn
Sunday 2 November 4.30pm St Peter's
This coming Sunday we remember all those we have loved and lost and placed in God’s hands over the years. Families who have held a funeral at any of our churches in the last two years receive a personal invitation, but all are encouraged to join us at the service, complete a memorial card and light a candle of remembrance if they wish.
On this day we remember those who have died recently but also those we lost long ago and whose memory we still treasure. It is a special evening and many people find they gain comfort from the words and music and from the actions of contributing their loved one’s name and lighting a candle for them.
The service is followed by refreshments in St Peter’s Rooms where there will be space and time to talk and reminisce.
Worship Songs
A couple of months ago we shared some of the new worship songs that have and will be appearing in our worship. This month here are three more that were used during our recent Exploring Worship course.
He is worthy by Sovereign Grace a song we will be singing as the Sanctus in a new setting of Holy Communion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwrT6c9FxXc&list=RDxwrT6c9FxXc&start_radio=1
'Bless the Lord' by Sovereign Grace Music a wonderful psalm of praise put into contemporary words and music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4g72ZG9Ksw&list=RDe4g72ZG9Ksw&start_radio=1
'I Speak Jesus' Spring Harvest A song reminding us that our worship doesn't stop at the door when we leave Church but we take Jesus out with us to bring change and transformation in a world that needs his love and presence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFIXzONUDLU&list=RDDFIXzONUDLU&start_radio=1
Exploring
Monday Night, Explore
Our six weeks Exploring Worship came to a close with a Communion where the dozen participants helped prepare the worship by writing a psalm, prayers and a Eucharistic Prayer preface. Watch out for details of the next Exploring! These Monday night gatherings are open to everyone and are a wonderful opportunity to grow in faith and share fellowship.
Growing
Could you join the Verging Team?
Vergers pay an important role in church life particularly at weddings and funerals. They are often the first people people meet, they are the welcoming friendly face who not only gives those attending a service sheet but will also guide to the cloak room, explain where to sit and help people to feel assured and safe.
We are looking to expand the team of funeral vergers to share the load so each volunteer need only do half a dozen services a year. If you would like to know more about the role and what is required do talk to Patrick.
Young Church
Young Church provides an exciting creative opportunity for children to discover more more about Christianity in an enjoyable safe environment. There are games, crafts, stories, songs and more. Young Church takes place during 10.30am morning worship, the children go through to St Peter's Rooms early in the service and return during Communion in time to go up for a blessing.
Young Church dates for the diary:
16 November Come along and join in the fun!
Date for the diary: this year's Young Church Nativity is on 14 December.
Breakfast Church
Breakfast Church is a relaxed informal space for children and parents and guest cartoon characters to worship together.
On the breakfast menu: hot, cold and healthy options.
On the worship menu: songs and prayers accessible to all which can be used at home too. We explore our theme and bible passage together using games, crafts and interactive activities.
Breakfast Church dates for the diary: 23 November 23
Belonging
Monday Fellowship Group
Christmas Paper Crafts
Monday 10 November, 2.00pm
Jean Harter returns with her lovely Christmas paper craft afternoon. She will guide us in making festive gift tags and cards – NO previous experience is required. Why not bring a friend!
The Monday Fellowship Group (formerly Prestbury Mothers’ Union) warmly welcomes everyone from any church, or from outside the church community. We offer a short service of worship, a talk or activity, refreshments and friendship.
Future meetings in 2026:
12 January at St Peter's
9 March at St Peter’s
11 May at Prestbury Methodist Chapel
Thank you to the Churchyard Work Party
All ages of congregation turned out for a busy morning of cutting, digging, moving and tidying followed by coffee with bacon and sausage rolls courtesy of Anne and Bill in the kitchen. Don't worry if you missed out there will be another opportunity in the spring.
Christmas is coming
I know it's still (just) October and we are eight Sundays from Christmas but here are the details of the key Christmas Service dates and times, so they can go in the diary early.
St Peter's
Date
|
Time
|
Service
|
Sunday Nov 30th
|
4.30pm
|
Advent Carols & Readings
|
Sunday Dec 7th
|
5.30pm
|
Street Party Carols
|
Sunday Dec 14th
|
10.30am
|
Young Church Nativity
|
Sunday Dec 21st
|
6.00pm
|
Nine Lessons & Carols
|
Wednesday Dec 24th
|
3.00pm
|
Carols Around the Crib 1
|
Wednesday Dec 24th
|
5.00pm
|
Carols around the Crib 2
|
Wednesday Dec 24th
|
11.30pm
|
First Communion of Christmas
|
Thursday Dec 25th
|
10.30am
|
Christmas Day, Family Communion
|
|
|
|
|
St John's
Sunday Dec 14th
|
11.00am
|
Brass Band Carols
|
Sunday Dec 21st
|
11.00am
|
Community Carols
|
Wednesday Dec 24th
|
4.00pm
|
Nine Lessons and Carols
|
|
Thursday Dec 25th |
10.00am |
Christmas Communion |
Diary Dates November
Saturday 1st Holy Gardeners at 10.00am and Litter Pickers' refreshments at 11.30am, Memorial Service 1.00pm
Sunday 2nd
Monday 3rd
Tuesday 4th Re-play 7.00pm
Wednesday 5th Bell ringers 8.00pm
Thursday 6th Holy Dusters 9.30am,
Friday 7th Choir practice 7.30pm
Saturday 8th
Sunday 9th
Monday 10th Monday Fellowship Group at 2.00pm
Tuesday 11th 9.00am to 3.00pm Our West Doors are open for Armistice Day
11.00am two minutes silence
Re-play 7.00pm
Wednesday 12th Bell ringers 8.00pm
Thursday 13th Pram Service 10.15am, Holy Dusters 11.15am,
Friday 14th Choir Practice 7.30pm
Saturday 15th Wedding Surgery 10.30am
Sunday 16th
Monday 17th
Tuesday 18th Waterhouse Foundation Trustees 10.30am, Re-play in Church 7.00pm
Wednesday 19th Bell ringers 8.00pm
Thursday 20th Holy Dusters 9.30am
Friday 21st Choir Practice 7.30pm
Saturday 22nd
Sunday 23rd
Monday 24th
Tuesday 25th Re-play 7.00pm
Wednesday 26th Bell ringers 8.00pm, Prestbury United Charity AGM 7.00pm
Thursday 27th Pram Service 10.15am Holy Dusters 11.15am
Friday 28th Choir Practice 7.30pm
Saturday 29th
Sunday 29th
Monday 30th
PARISH Sunday Worship
We are one Church, with six congregations and four venues to help which service is where they are colour coded by Venue:
St Peter's Church, St John's Church, Norman Chapel, St Peter's Rooms
|
|
8.30am
St Peter's |
10.30am
St Peter's |
11.00am
St John's |
4.30pm
St Peter's |
Nov
2nd
|
Holy
Communion
|
Holy Communion
Behold the Lamb
|
Morning
Worship |
Service for
those who
mourn
|
Nov
9th
|
Holy
Communion
|
Remembrance Service
|
Holy
Communion |
Cathedral
Evensong
|
Nov
16th
|
Holy
Communion
|
Holy
Communion
with Young Church
|
Morning
Worship |
Cathedral
Evensong
|
Nov
23rd
|
Holy
Communion |
9.15am
Breakfast Church
for families
Holy
Communion
Come and Sing Choir |
Morning
Worship |
Celtic
Evening Prayer
Norman Chapel
|
Nov
30th
|
Holy
Communion |
Holy
Communion
|
Shared lunch
|
Advent carols and readings
|
Every Wednesday 10.30am Holy Communion St Peter's
Followed by coffee and biscuits
Prayer
Prayer Diary
We regularly pray for those in need of physical healing and restoration but those wrestling with mental health issues often go unnoticed. There are some prayer resources for those wrestling with, or praying for those they know and love with mental health challenges.
Psalm Prayers
1 Restless with grief and fear,
the abandoned turn to you:
in every hour of trial,
good Lord, deliver us,
O God most holy, God most strong,
whose wisdom is the cross of Christ.
2 Free us, God of mercy,
from all that keeps us from you;
relieve the misery of the anxious and the ashamed
and fill us with the hope of peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
3 Open our ears, glorious Lord Christ,
to hear the music of your voice
above the chaos of this world;
open our eyes to see the vision of your glory,
for you are our King, now and for ever.
4 Lord Jesus Christ,
when scorn and shame besiege us
and hope is veiled in grief,
hold us in your wounded hands
and make your face shine on us again,
for you are our Lord and God.
5 O Christ, Son of the living God,
help us when we are too cast down to pray,
and grant that we may trust you all our days,
for you are with us in our living and our dying,
Jesus, Lord and God.
6 In the darkness of unknowing,
when your love seems absent,
draw near to us, O God,
in Christ forsaken,
in Christ risen,
our Redeemer and our Lord.
7 Lord, in all times of fear and dread,
grant that we may so cast our burdens upon you,
that you may bear us on the holy wings of the Spirit
to the stronghold of your peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Those who are sick
Steve Murphy
Chris Sealy
Les Manchester
Kerry
Community News
Core Pantry and the Co op
The CoRe Pantry, which we started on the Upton Estate, is celebrating after being nominated a local partner charity by the Co-op Community Fund. The Pantry is helping to feed over 220 vulnerable local families in Upton, mainly from surplus donated food, and is also a free community cafe offering cookery lessons, consumer advice and other free services to members. It costs over £50,000 per year to run, much of which is raised through corporate donations. The Co-op will give us £500 initially, plus another £50 if 10 new members sign up, and vote for us during November on the Co-op members app.
Next year we will be partnered with various local Co-op stores and will receive a share of their Community Fund.
The amount will depend on how much revenue the stores make and how often their customers vote for us as their favourite local charity. Please think of us when you are visiting the local Co-op during the next year, and as the old adage goes: Vote Early, Vote Often!
Mike Waters
Armistice Day
On Tuesday 11 November the Armistice Day is remembered. The West Doors of Church, usually used for funerals, will be open from 9.00am to 3.00pm enabling the village to look into the War Memorial. At 11.00am the Royal British Legion will be gathering outside for the two minutes' silence and all are welcome to join them.
We have reached that point in time when the start of the first world war is longer ago from today than the Battle of Trafalgar was from the start of WW1. Few today mark Trafalgar Day, and no longer are many Vicars paid for preaching a Trafalgar Day sermon! The danger is that Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday may equally become forgotten, the silence broken by speeding cars, conversations and the business of work.
I will be at Diocesan conference at that time and will be marking the two minute silence there, will you be marking it where you are?
Patrick
Martyn Donaldson Music Trust presents
Macclesfield Methodist Church Saturday 22 November 7.30pm
Macclesfield Methodist Community Choir and the Occasional Musicians (leader Nicola Bright) present a choral and orchestral concert. The concert opener is C.V Stanford’s glorious hymn of praise in his setting of the Te Deum. Next is the sublime Clarinet Concerto K622 with former MDMT music volunteer Chris Walters as soloist. After the Interval a quartet of soloists sing Mendelssohn’s ‘O come all ye that thirsteth’ from his oratorio Elijah and the concert ends with Mozart’s Solemn Vespers of Confession K339 which are not solemn nor vespers nor confessions but in fact setting of Psalms 110-114 and ending with the Magnificat! Mozart at his choral best!
Tickets £10 adults, children £5 from 01625433187 / 01625615298
Closing Thoughts
‘Blessed is the one who waits
in the traveller’s heart for his turning’
(from The Book of Mercy by Leonard Cohen)
The one who waits
Who waits unseen unknown
while I enumerate my wrongs
Who holds out unrequited arms
and, drawing in my empty soul,
fills it with sacred songs
I, never certain where or how
my journey may be going
just that my longed-for destination
lies hidden from my knowing
I ache for mercy yet cannot see
or touch you in my yearning
but you know my heart and how it’s lost
and wait there for my turning.
Newsletter Information
Church or community news to be included in the newsletter needs to be sent to the Parish Office or Vicarage by the last Tuesday of the month.