Church Newsletter Issue #98 3rd May
St Edmund's APCM with our Grace Community brothers and sisters
As we come to the conclusion of our APCM season this Sunday at St Edmund’s, we do so not simply to complete a process, but to mark a moment of grace—pausing to notice the faithfulness of God among us.
Across our churches, this year’s APCMs have reminded us that church life is not just reports and roles, but stories. Stories of welcome, growth, service, and quiet faithfulness. We have seen community deepened, new connections formed, and ministries continue to take root. So much of the Kingdom is built through ordinary, faithful acts—often unseen, yet deeply significant.
This week’s readings give us a powerful lens for the future. In Acts, Stephen stands with courage and vision, even in the face of great challenge—his eyes fixed on Jesus. In the Psalm, we hear words of deep trust: “Into your hands I commit my spirit.” And in John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks directly to our hearts: “Do not let your hearts be troubled… trust in God; trust also in me.”
This is the invitation before us.
As we step into a new year of ministry, we are called to be a people of hopeful growth—not driven by anxiety or scarcity, but rooted in trust in Christ. A people who are open to vocation: to serving, leading, praying, welcoming, building, and imagining new possibilities for God’s mission among us.
There are still opportunities to serve and we encourage everyone to prayerfully consider how God might be calling you to play your part.
So come this Sunday:
Come with gratitude for all that has been.
Come with honesty about where we are.
Come with hope for all that could be.
Above all, come trusting in Jesus—the one who holds our past, walks with us in the present, and leads us into the future.
Together, we continue to live out our vision: Life + Hope for All.
Revd Tom
Serving Our Church: APCM Nominations Open + Electoral Role
The APCM 3rd May at St Edmund’s.
Following a joyful and well-attended APCM at St James, we give thanks for all that God is doing among us and for the spirit of encouragement, unity, and shared purpose that marked the meeting.
We are pleased to announce that Sanket and Barry have been appointed as Churchwardens at St James, offering faithful leadership and care for the life of the church in the year ahead. We also celebrate Hyacinth and Pam, who have been elected as Deanery Synod representatives, serving as an important link between our parish and the wider diocese.
As we now look ahead to the APCM at St Edmund’s this Sunday, there are still important roles to be filled. In particular, there remain 4 lay vacancies on the Joint PCC (JPCC). 3 for Grace Community and 1 for St Edmunds morning congregation. These positions play a vital role in shaping the shared mission, governance, and future direction of both St James and St Edmund’s.
APCMs are not simply meetings—they are part of our shared, prayerful discernment of leadership in the Church. Please do be praying for St Edmund’s as we gather this Sunday, and consider whether God may be calling you to serve.
Fresh voices, willing hearts, and faithful service all matter deeply as we continue to grow together as communities of Life + Hope for All.
Justice and Dignity
Our church stands with Christian families in Pakistan who often live with deep fear for their daughters’ safety. Many parents feel vulnerable and unheard when facing cases involving forced conversions and child marriage, especially with limited access to timely protection and justice. As a faith community, we are called to pray, support, and advocate for stronger safeguards and fair enforcement. We remember these families before God, asking for courage, protection, and lasting change.
Revd Kausar
​Sound and Spirit at Life + Hope Café
Join us for an evening of simply worship. Life + Hope at St James Church is excited to host the worship team from Nelson Street Church as they bless us through their Sound and Spirit worship event. This is a 'sowing into' project that will strengthen our confidence, develop new leaders as we all get inspired, and grow vibrant worship for all ages
This will be a night to seek God’s presence, lift our voices in praise, go deeper in faith, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit together. Whether you love sung worship, need space to pray, or simply want to encounter God afresh, you are warmly invited.
Come expectant for a powerful evening of worship, unity, and hope.
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.
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 7.55-end, Psalm 31.1-5, 15-16 and John 14.1-14
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9.30am - 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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NO GRACE COMMUNITY SERVICE JOIN US AT 10.30AM
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Monday- Bank Holiday
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9.30am Prayers at St Edmund's - subject to Bank Holiday availability
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3pm-4pm Classical Music performance at the Claremont pub - all welcome.
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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Coffee Morning at St Edmund's 10.30am
Thursday
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Grieving Together Cafe 11.30am at St James'
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Chosen Bible Study- 7.30pm at St Ed's for The Chosen - Season 3 Episode 4: Clean, Part 1: Two by two, the disciples carry out Jesus’ mission to heal, cast out demons, and preach his words. But upon returning, they struggle with understanding what happened while Simon and Eden struggle to reconnect.
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Acts 17.22-31, Psalm 66.7-18, John 14.15-21
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9.30am - Service of the Word at St Edmund's
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10.30am - Intergenerational Worship at St Edmund's and Communion at St James'
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4pm - Grace Community Urdu Church - Communion
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Advance Notices
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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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14th May - Mission Community Ascension Day Service at Christ Church, Monton Street, Moss Side. father Richard invites us all to come and worship at Christ Church 6.30pm (timing TBC). Area Dean Peter Matthews will be preaching.
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23rd May Cricket Match - see below and get in touch with Malik to register.
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Iona's Ordination: June 28th 10.30am at Manchester Cathedral.
Prayer Pointers- based on Acts 7.55–end, Psalm 31.1–5, 15–16, John 14.1–14
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Eyes Fixed on Jesus
Pray for the grace to see Jesus clearly in every circumstance, as Stephen did—lifting our eyes beyond fear, distraction, or uncertainty.
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Courage in Witness
Ask for boldness to live and speak our faith with humility and courage, even when it is costly or counter-cultural.
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A Spirit of Forgiveness
Pray for hearts that can forgive deeply, releasing bitterness and reflecting Christ’s mercy: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
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Trust in God’s Hands
Echo the psalmist’s prayer: “Into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Bring before God your worries, future, and all that feels uncertain.
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Confidence in God’s Faithfulness
Pray for a renewed trust that our times are in God’s hands—that he is present in every season and situation of life.
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Peace in Troubled Hearts
Hear Jesus’ words: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
Pray for peace where there is anxiety, fear, or unrest—in your life and in our church community.
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Faith to Ask in Jesus’ Name
Pray with expectancy, trusting Jesus’ promise to be at work through us. Ask boldly for growth, renewal, and deeper faith as we step into the year ahead.