Church Newsletter Issue #86 January 25th
The Conversion of Paul - A New Perspective
This Sunday the Church marks the Conversion of Paul — a moment of sudden light on the Damascus Road, yet also the beginning of a much longer journey. The dramatic turning point in the life of Saul, the anti-Christian zealot, did not instantly make him the apostle Paul. Scripture reminds us that this was a beginning, not an ending. Paul himself reflects that God had been at work long before that moment: “God set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace” (Galatians 1:15). Even after his encounter with Christ, years passed before he stepped fully into his calling, learning that his mission would stretch across cultures — to Jew and Gentile alike.
This is metanoia: a journey of our minds being transformed and God giving us on new perspective to see His Kingdom. This can be a slow, faithful turning towards God’s purposes, shaped over time. The Church has celebrated this feast since the sixth century because it reminds us that God’s work in us is both decisive and patient.
That same spirit of metanoia shapes our mission today - new perspective and missional direction. We are delighted to welcome Lorraine, whom I have invited to help us extend our Tuesday café provision at St James from 11am with space for visual arts, creativity, and crafting. Lorraine runs a vibrant Paint and Praise group at the Windrush Centre, and we share a deep conviction that art and faith belong together — opening hearts, creating welcome, and offering life-giving encounters with God.
As we remember Paul’s conversion this Sunday, we are invited to reflect anew on how God continues to call, shape, and send us — sometimes in moments of clarity, often through faithful, creative partnerships.
Revd Tom
Revival We Pray in the Student World
Carol Smith invites us to come together on Friday 30 January at Kings Church Manchester, Kings House, Sidney Street, to pray intentionally and passionately for students.
This gathering is part of Do It Again, as FUSION (and others) calls the wider Church to unite in prayer for our universities. Across the UK we are seeing signs of spiritual hunger among students — lives being changed, faith rediscovered, and young people encountering Jesus with honesty and hope. Yet the pressures facing students are immense, and the need for God’s renewing work has never been greater. Come and pray. Come and contend. Come and believe for more.
Visit https://doitagainprayer.org/locations to get your FREE tickets
Celebrating Warm Welcome Week
DISCO NIGHT – 25th January 2026 - celebrating Warm Welcome Week
DJ Beatnix on the decks, music, dance & fun
Doors open 5pm–8pm, St Margaret’s Centre and Playing Fields, Brantingham Rd, Chorlton, M21 0TT
Please wear red, yellow, orange, pink or purple. Bring your own bottle. Soft drinks and snacks for sale. Age Restriction: 18+ only 📧 stmargaretscentre1@gmail.com
Register on Our Website
Please could everyone complete the registration form on our new church website CLICK HERE so that we can refresh our church database. This will allow you to share your details and give us permission to hold your information, helping us to keep our GDPR records up to date.
We want to make sure everyone is correctly listed on our new church data management system, Church Hub, which is part of the tools provided through our new website. Keeping our records accurate will help us communicate better, care well for one another, and support the life and mission of our church.
Thank you for taking a few moments to help us with this.
What's on at a Glance
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9.30am Communion at St Edmund's
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10.30am Morning Worship at St Edmund's and at St James'
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12.30pm Preaching Workshop at St Edmund's- lunch followed by a training session from 1pm.
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4pm Grace Community Urdu Church
Monday
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9.30am Prayers at St Edmund's
Tuesday
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Morning Prayer 9.30am at St James'
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Place of Welcome 10am at St James' followed by a new creativity session with Revd Tom and Lorraine (see article above)
Wednesday
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Coffee Morning 10.30am at St Edmund's
Thursday
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Grieving Together Cafe 11.30am at St James'- Grief Movie Clips Discussion
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The Chosen Bible Study - Join us on Thurs 29 Jan 7.30pm at St Ed's for Season 2, Episode 1: Thunder - Tension builds among the disciples as they wrestle with the increasing fame of Jesus in Samaria; Jesus rebukes Big James and John for their prejudice.
Malachi 3.1-5 Psalm 24.[1-6] 7-end Hebrews 2.14-end Luke 2.22-40
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9.30am Short Service of the Word at St Edmund's
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10.30am Communion at St Edmund's and Service of the Word at St James'
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4pm Grace Community Urdu Church
Advance Notices
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​​The next Mothers’ Union meeting will be on Tuesday 10 February, 6.00pm – 7.30pm at St Edmund’s. You are welcome to come along if you’re interested in becoming a member or if you just want to come to a meeting as a guest – please call Deborah on 07855 181941 if you would like to join us.
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Preaching Workshop — Feb 22nd - with lunch provided.
Keep up to date at any time by checking our calendar - click here>>
Prayer Pointers for this Week
10 prayer points shaped directly by the shared readings Jeremiah 1:4–10, Psalm 67, and Matthew 19:27–end.
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Loving God, thank you that you know us before we are born and call us by name, as you called Jeremiah.
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When we feel too young, too weak, or unready, help us trust that you equip those you send.
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Give us courage to speak your truth with humility, compassion, and hope in our communities.
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Plant your word deep within us, so that what you build may last and what must be uprooted may be released.
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May your blessing rest upon us, that your ways may be known on earth and your salvation among all peoples.
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Let our worship and witness draw others into the joy and light of your presence.
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Teach us to follow Jesus with open hands, not counting the cost but trusting your promises.
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Where we have left much behind, remind us that nothing offered to you is ever lost.
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Shape us into a people who share generously in the life of the kingdom, now and in the age to come.
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Send us out in hope, confident that you who call us are faithful and will complete your work.