Church Newsletter Issue #91 1st March

  

Wow Whispers - Noticing the Moments

This week was a real joy as I had the privilege of leading collective worship at St Mary’s CE Primary School, Moss Side and St Margaret’s CE Primary School, Whalley Range. Across both schools we explored the themes of creativity and Lent — noticing how drawing near to God often begins with paying attention.

In one special Year 2 worship time at St Marys, I asked the children: Do you think our creativity can ever run dry, stop, or end? We were inspired by an A–Z of sea creatures song (Click here to view on YouTube), bursting with colour, imagination and wonder. I introduced the idea of a “WOW Whisper.” Every time we saw something wonderful, amazing, creative, breathtaking, awesome, magical, mega, brilliant and whizzy, the children gently whispered, “Wow.”

The classroom was captivated. The whispering became prayerful noticing.

Lent invites us to slow down and see again. Like Meriel watching a vast swirl of seagulls being fed at Hollingworth Lake this week — noticing God’s provision in creation — we too are invited to recognise abundance and give thanks.

Why not try it? Watch something beautiful. Notice something ordinary. Whisper “wow.” Or even shout it in praise.
This Lent, let’s practise some WOW Whisper moments — drawing near through gratitude and wonder.

Revd Tom

Lent and Easter: Walking the Way Together

Ash Wednesday – 18 February, 6pm
Joint service at St Edmund’s to begin Lent, with prayer, reflection, and the option of receiving ashes.

Sunday 22 March, 4pm
Grace Community Sham-E-Calvary – a creative service exploring the road to the cross through worship and storytelling.

Palm Sunday – 29 March
10.30am – Palm Sunday services at St James and St Edmund’s
3pm – Grace Community, including a joyful palm procession.

Maundy Thursday – 2 April, 6pm
Holy Communion at St James’, with the optional act of foot-washing, reflecting Jesus’ call to love and serve.

Good Friday
Churches Together Walk of Witness 10am start from St Edmund's (details to be confirmed)
1pm – Grace Community, reflecting on the Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross.

Holy Saturday
2–5pm – St Edmund’s open for prayer, led by Revd Kausar, offering quiet space to wait with God.

Easter Day
9.30am – Short Drawing Near service at St Edmund’s (20–30 minutes)
10.30am – Easter Day celebrations at St James and St Edmund’s
4pm – Grace Community Easter Celebration

Draw Near - Lent Zoom Group this Wednesday

On Wednesday evening, a small group gathered on Zoom with a beautifully attentive spirit. There was a deep sense of noticing — noticing what God has been stirring, noticing where Scripture has lingered, noticing the quiet invitations of this Lent.

Using the Church of England’s “Draw Near” material, alongside other Lent resources, people shared honestly about where they have been struck, comforted, challenged and encouraged. It wasn’t complicated or dramatic — just faithful, reflective space where God seemed gently present.

“Draw Near” invites us to open our lives more fully to God through prayer, Scripture, communion, service and witness. And that is exactly what is happening — slowly, prayerfully, together.

If you haven’t joined yet, you would be so welcome.

Come this Wednesday at 7pm on Zoom.
Pick up a booklet (available Sunday for a suggested £2 ONLY A FEW LEFT at St James). 
Download the CoE Everyday Faith App to acess the material and audio for free- CLICK HERE>> 
Bring whatever Lent resource you are using.
Make the space.
Notice what God is doing.
Draw near — together.

Zoom link - click here - starts 7pm 25th Feb 2026

A Creative Opportunity alligning with the Heart of our Approach

I’m sharing this email with you as it struck me how our intergenerational approach at church is so central to community health and wellbeing. I commend this opportunity to you as a way of learning more about how we can be intergenerational and a blessing to all. Revd Tom
 

Celebrating 30 Years of Christina Relief Uganda

You’re warmly invited to celebrate 30 years of Christian Relief Uganda (CRU) this March.

From Maria Maw’s courageous step of faith in Uganda in 1991, to the founding of CRU in 1996, thousands of lives have been changed through Maria’s Care School in Kamuli — now educating over 300 children. What began with compassion became a movement of hope.

Come and celebrate God’s faithfulness over three decades!

📅 Saturday 28th March
⏰ 6.30–9.00pm
📍 St Edmund’s Church, Whalley Range

Enjoy authentic Ugandan food, a Manchester Ugandan choir and drummers, powerful stories, and heartfelt thanksgiving.

Make it a date in your diary now — and bring a friend!

Please book with Julie Parker
📧 julie@mwfnorthwest.org.uk
📱 07732 556381

Let’s celebrate 30 years of hope together!

Have you registered on our website yet to update our contact records?

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

This Sunday - 1st March - The Second Sunday of Lent
Genesis 12. 1-4a, Psalm 121 and John 3.1-7.

• 9.30am - Short Service at St Edmund's
• 10.30am - Communion at St Edmund's and Service of the Word at St James'
• 4pm - Grace Community Urdu Church

Monday

• 9.30am Prayers at St Edmund's

Tuesday 

• Morning Prayer 9.30am at St James'
• Place of Welcome 10am at St James' extending to a creative arty and crafty session from 11am
• New 'Chatty Cafe' at Bembe Cafe in Alexandra Park facilitated by Joy (St Edmunds congregation) and the cafe team. Join in and tackle loneliness: Tuesdays 11am-12.30pm.

Wednesday

• Coffee Morning on Wednesday 4th March will be at the Limelight Cafe on Shrewsbury Street from 10.30-12.00 and NOT at St Edmund's. Please speak to Janet, Jackie or Chris for more information.
• 'Draw Near' lent Group Zoom 7pm - Zoom Link here

Thursday

• Grieving Together Cafe 11.30am at St James'
• The Chosen Bible Study - Join us on Thursday 5th March 7.30pm at St Ed's for Season 2, Episode 6:  "Unlawful". Mary Magdalene reverts to her old habits. Simon and Matthew bring her home. Jesus heals a withered hand and His disciples pluck wheat on the Sabbath. Pharisees accuse them and Jesus pronounces that He is Lord of Sabbath.

Next Sunday - 8th March - The Third Sunday of Lent
Exodus 17.1-7, Psalm 95 and John 4.5-42

• 9.30am - Short Communion Service at St Edmund's
• 10.30am - Intergenerational Service at St Edmund's and Communion at St James'
• 4pm - Grace Community Urdu Church

Advance Notices

• 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.
• Sound and Spirit – Saturday 25th April at St James' @ 7pm
  In partnership with Nelson Street Worship Ministry Team, this evening is being intentionally sown into the life of our churches.
  Sound and Spirit is designed to strengthen our worshipping community, deepen spiritual life, and encourage creative engagement in worship. Nelson Street’s role is not to replace what we already have, but to invest in, support and revitalise our existing teams — sharing skills, encouragement and fresh energy.
  This is about growing what God is already doing among us.
• 30th Birthday Party of Christian Relief Uganda and Maria's Care School.
  You are invited on Sat 28 March 6.30 to 9pm. Do join us to celebrate in songs and testimonies with good food, crafts and more!

Keep up to date at any time by checking our calendar - click here>>

 

Prayer Pointers for this Week

Prayer pointers prayer pointers shaped by Genesis 12:1–4a, Psalm 121, and John 3:1–7:

1. Lord, give us Abraham’s courage — when you say “Go,” help us to trust you beyond comfort, familiarity and certainty.
2. Form us as a blessing — as you promised Abraham, make our churches and homes places through which your blessing flows to others.
3. Lift our eyes to you — like the psalmist, teach us to look to the hills and remember that our help comes from you, Maker of heaven and earth.
4. Guard and keep us — watch over our coming and going, our families, our communities, and all who feel vulnerable or anxious.
5. Give us new birth — as Jesus told Nicodemus, breathe your Spirit into us again; renew what feels tired or routine.
6. Move us from curiosity to commitment — where we come with questions in the night, lead us into courageous faith in the light.
7. Make us people of the Spirit — not relying on human strength alone, but born from above, guided and sustained by your living presence.

Prayer Request: Enter the name of the person you would like us to pray for in our weekly prayers. Make sure the person is happy you share their name.