Church Newsletter Issue #96 19th April
We Had Hoped..
Few phrases in Scripture carry such quiet sorrow as the words spoken on the Emmaus road: “We had hoped…” (Luke 24:21).
We had hoped. Three simple words that hold disappointment, grief, confusion, and longing. The disciples had hoped Jesus would redeem Israel. They had hoped the story would end differently. They had hoped for victory, clarity, and joy. Instead, they walked away from Jerusalem with heavy hearts.
Many of us know that road. We had hoped for healing. We had hoped relationships would mend. We had hoped life would be easier. We had hoped our plans would flourish. Some hopes are fulfilled; others remain fragile or unfinished.
As a church, we carry the vision Life + Hope for All. This week’s Gospel invites us to ask: what are our hopes now? What hopes have we buried? What hopes might Christ still be quietly walking beside?
The risen Jesus appears to Cleopas and his companion as a stranger. New Testament scholar Margaret Aymer notes the Greek word suggests a migrant, a resident foreigner, one from another place. Christ comes among them as the outsider. Their hope is rekindled when they welcome the stranger, invite him to stay, and share bread with him.
What if hope is often found there too — in hospitality, generosity, and making room for another?
One member of our church family is hoping to move back to Manchester and needs temporary accommodation for 1–5 months. Her hope is fragile. If anyone may be able to offer a room freely, please contact Revd Tom. It may not be possible — but perhaps together we can ask what it means to offer Life + Hope for All.
And beyond our own community, can we also offer hope to refugees, migrants, and those seeking a place to belong? How we might ask? Well a Lodging Scheme article below outlines one possible way.
For the Emmaus story does not end with dashed hopes. It ends with opened eyes, shared bread, and urgent joy. The disciples say to one another: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road?”
This Easter season, may Christ meet us on our roads of disappointment, turn our sorrow into hope, and set our hearts on fire again.
Revd Tom
Lodgings Scheme: Could You Offer a Safe Home and Fresh Hope?
Greater Together Manchester is inviting local people to consider offering a safe, friendly home to a refugee rebuilding their life in the UK.
The Lodgings Scheme is looking for householders who can provide a furnished bedroom for between 3 and 12 months, helping someone who has recently been granted refugee status take their next steps towards stability, independence, and belonging.
Hosts can receive up to £7,500 a year tax-free through the Government’s Rent a Room Scheme. More importantly, they can make a life-changing difference by offering welcome, security, and kindness at a crucial moment in someone’s journey.
Greater Together Manchester provides full support throughout the process for both host and guest, helping ensure that everyone is cared for every step of the way.
At a time when many people are seeking safety and a chance to begin again, this scheme offers a practical way to extend hospitality and compassion within our city.
If you have a spare room and would like to explore whether this could be right for you, there are several ways to find out more:
Visit the Greater Together Manchester website- https://www.greatertogethermanchester.org/lodgings-scheme
Sometimes hope begins with something as simple as an open door. Could you help someone find home again?
Serving Our Church: APCM Nominations Open + Electoral Role
The APCM dates are 26 April at St James and 3 May at St Edmund’s.
As we draw closer to our Annual Parochial Church Meetings (APCMs), nominations remain open for several important roles in the life of our churches. These include Deanery Synod representatives for St James and St Edmund’s, Joint PCC members (1 for each of our congregations plus additional 2 to cover inactive members at Grace Community due to ill health etc. Plus we elect Churchwardens representing each congregation, either through re-nomination or new nominations.
These roles are part of the Church of England’s shared and prayerful way of discerning leadership together. They help shape the worship, mission, governance, and future direction of our church communities.
Please pray about who God may be calling to serve at this time, and consider whether that may include you. Fresh voices, willing hearts, and faithful service all matter deeply as we continue to grow as communities of Life + Hope for All.
Electoral role deadline - St James passed and 19th April at St Edmund's
If you are not already on our electoral role please do make an application using these webforms below and the electoral role officer and clergy team with review your application:
St Edmund's online Electoral Role Form - Click Here>>
Celebrating Our Shared Journey: Manchester South and Stretford Deanery
Please join us for a Manchester South and Stretford Deanery celebration event. People from our parishes, chaplaincies, and schools will come together to reflect on how God is renewing lives and communities and to explore the next steps we can take together.
We’ll share our vision, hear stories of hope from our deanery, and outline the national support and investment that is strengthening our mission and ministry.
We will explore the four themes at the heart of our diocese’s strategy and how national funding will support our deanery:
· Parish Renewal
· Growing Younger
· Church Planting and Revitalisation
· Developing Missional Leaders
You’ll hear local stories of creativity, faithfulness, and discipleship - offering ideas and encouragement for your own ministry context.
The evening will be led by one of our bishops alongside members of the teams responsible for supporting the delivery of our shared vision. Through worship, prayer, and conversation, we will celebrate what God is doing, acknowledge the challenges we face, and highlight the support, resources, and investment available to help us flourish.
These gatherings are for everyone: clergy, lay leaders, members of PCCs, school staff, chaplains, volunteers, new worshippers, and anyone curious about where God might be calling us. We hope you’ll leave inspired and equipped to share this vision in your local context.
Doors open at 6.45pm for refreshments, the event will start at 7.15pm.
Book a place here>>>
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebrating-our-shared-journey-manchester-south-and-stretford-deanery-tickets-1982352111529?aff=oddtdtcreator
Intercultural Celebration at St James, Moss Side
Diane Gray-Stephenson, Racial Justice Programme Lead, recently attended the Easter Sunday service at St James Church in Moss Side and found it to be both joyful and uplifting. Diane reflects on the experience and offers an insight into the church’s approach to welcoming and incorporating the cultures of their local community:
“From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the inclusive and intercultural nature of the worship, led by Revd Tom Studman alongside the young people of the church.
“The service was rooted in Evangelical traditions, and was presented in a way that felt engaging, accessible, and full of life. The creative singing of the Gloria was particularly powerful and uplifting, capturing the joy and celebration of Easter in a way that stayed with me.
“The sermon was deeply moving. Tom shared replica pieces representing the thirty pieces of silver given to Judas as part of the agreement to betray Jesus. This visual and tactile element encouraged deep reflection on betrayal, forgiveness, and the radical hope found in the resurrection. The service concluded beautifully with a song presented by the Marathi community in their own language, telling the story of Jesus’ resurrection and his call to the disciples to go out and spread the good news.
“What stood out most strongly throughout the service was the real sense of community. It did not seem to matter whether you were a regular worshipper, someone who came along occasionally, visited during the week, or offered your time and skills freely – everyone was welcomed and valued. The church’s commitment to care, hospitality, and pastoral support was evident in every aspect of the service, and it was a privilege to be part of such a community on Easter Sunday.”
Register and help us celebrate who is part of our church family
Please could everyone complete the registration form on our new church website (CLICK HERE), as not everyone is registered yet. Our ChurchHubb website is now the best way for us to keep an accurate and up-to-date record of contact details for our church family.
By sharing your details, you help us build a clear understanding of who is part of our church community and how we can best communicate, care for, and support one another. It also helps us keep our GDPR records up to date on our ChurchHubb system.
Please do complete the online form, or ask one of the Churchwardens for a paper copy. Thank you for helping us strengthen the life and mission of our church.
Iona's Bring and Share Farewell Gathering - 19th April at St James' from 12 noon
Come and celebrate Iona's, our ordinands time with us in the benefice as she prepares to start her curacy at Sacred Trinity in the summer. Bring and Share meal after the morning service at St James on Sunday 19th April. Please do come and support! Iona has been a huge blessing to us and we want to say a proper farewell. Iona will be at St Edmund's on 12th April for those who cannot make the 19th. This also marks the start of our new Cafe Church provision until 3pm or so.
Miles for Maria - Sponsored Walk
On Saturday 16th May, to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Christian Relief Uganda, we’ll be walking 30 km (19 miles) from Marple to Macclesfield and back along the canal and on the Middlewood Way in honour of Macclesfield lady Maria Maw MBE, founder of Maria’s Care. Save the date and come and join us for 30 km or whatever distance you can manage! We’ll be leaving from Rose Hill Station in Marple at 8.30 am. For more info please contact Meriel Carboni on 07816225239.
If you would like to support the Walk, you can donate on the CRU Just Giving page at:
https://www.justgiving.com/christianreliefuganda/Donate/
What's on at a Glance
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Acts 2.14a, 36-41, Psalm 116.1-3, 10-end and Luke 24.13-35
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9.30am - Service of the Word
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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 - Communion
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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'
Wednesday
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No Coffee Morning until Wed 15th April
Thursday
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Grieving Together Cafe
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Chosen Bible Study- Join us on Thursday 16th April 7.30pm at St Ed's for The Chosen Season 3, Episode 2: "Two by Two". Jesus is a problem for the Romans. With pilgrims from everywhere setting up a tent city at the gates of Capernaum to see Jesus, tensions rise. Jesus officially sends the twelve apostles on an exciting but dangerous mission, causing Little James to ask why he hasn't been healed.
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Acts 2.42-end, Psalm 23 and John 10.1-10
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9.30am - Early Communion Service at St Edmunds
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10.30am - Communion at St James' and Intergenerational Worship at St Edmund's
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4pm - Grace Community Urdu Church - Communion
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Advance Notices
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Safeguarding Training and DBS checks - 30th April 6pm-7.30pm at St James'. All roles within a parish are required to complete the Basic Awareness and the Foundation online courses, e.g all Sunday School Teachers, messy church helpers, Churchwardens, vergers, ALMs, PCC members etc
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Manchester South & Stretford Deanery Celebration - Join Revd Tom and team on Thursday 23 April, 6.45–8.45pm at St Bride's Church, for a deanery-wide celebration hosted by the Diocese of Manchester. An evening of worship, stories, vision, and encouragement as we explore Parish Renewal, Growing Younger, Church Planting, and Missional Leadership — and discern our next steps together.
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The APCM dates are 26 April at St James and 3 May at St Edmund’s.
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Life+Hope Worship Night – Saturday 9th May 7pm to 9pm
Join us for an evening of just worship. Life + Hope at St James' church are excited to host Nelson Street Church worship team for their “Sound and Spirit” worship event.
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Iona's last Sunday with us 19th April - join us at St James after the 10.30am service for a celebration and Cafe Church until 4pm. More details coming soon.
Prayer Pointers- based on Acts 2.14a, 36-41, Psalm 116.1-3, 10-end and Luke 24.13-35
Risen Hope – Pray that where people say “we had hoped,” Christ would meet them afresh and renew faith, courage, and joy.
Burning Hearts – Pray that our hearts would burn within us as we hear Scripture opened and encounter Jesus today.
Welcome to the Stranger – Pray that we would recognise Christ in the outsider, the newcomer, and those in need of hospitality.
Response to the Gospel – Pray for open hearts, as at Pentecost, that many would turn to Christ and receive new life.
Thankful Living – “What shall I return to the Lord?” Pray that we may respond to God’s goodness with worship, generosity, and service.
Life + Hope for All – Pray that our churches may be places of welcome, healing, belonging, and hope for every generation and nation.
Those in Need Today – Pray for any with fragile hopes: the lonely, displaced, grieving, or anxious, that they may find help, shelter, and peace.