Church Newsletter Issue #93 15th March

  

How dry does the valley of your life feel right now?

In Ezekiel 37, the prophet stands in a valley of dry bones—lifeless, scattered, beyond hope. It is an image not only of personal despair, but of a people and a nation worn down by loss, exile, and uncertainty. It is not hard to recognise echoes of this in our own time: a world marked by war, grief, and striving; a nation carrying quiet weariness beneath the surface.

And yet, God asks a question: “Can these bones live?”

In John 11, Martha stands in her own valley of grief. Her brother has died. Still, she clings to hope: “I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” But Jesus draws her deeper. Resurrection is not only a future event—it is a present reality in him: “I am the resurrection and the life… Do you believe this?”

This week, as many marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year—a celebration of new life, light, and renewal—we held in prayer Persian communities across the world, especially those longing for peace and freedom. Even in the midst of struggle, signs of new life emerge.

Into dry bones and grieving hearts, God breathes again.

So the question remains, personal and urgent:

Do you believe in the resurrection?

Revd Tom

Serving Our Church: APCM Nominations Open + Electoral Role

As we prepare for our Annual Parochial Church Meetings (APCMs), nominations are now invited 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 (one place to be filled for each of our four congregations, including St James), and churchwardens representing each congregation, either through re-nomination or new nominations.

The APCM dates are 26 April at St James and 3 May at St Edmund’s.

These roles are part of the Church of England’s shared and democratic way of discerning leadership together. Please pray about who God may be calling, and consider whether you might serve. Your voice and gifts matter as we shape the future of our church communities together.

If you are not aleady on our electoral role please do make an application using these webforms below and the electorla role officer and clergy team with review your application:

St James online Electoral Role Form - Click Here>>

St Edmund's online Electoral Role Form - Click Here>>

Lent and Easter: Walking the Way Together

Click here to view all our Lent and Easter services 

Grace Community Sham-E-Calvary – A Creative Journey to the Cross

Sunday 22 March, 4pm

You are warmly invited to a special Grace Community Sham-E-Calvary service as we begin to turn our hearts toward Holy Week together.

Through vibrant worship, storytelling, music, and reflection, we will explore the road that leads to the cross and the love of Christ revealed there. This service is designed to be interactive, thoughtful, and accessible for all ages, creating space to listen, reflect, and encounter the story of Jesus in fresh ways.

This is not just for Grace Community. Members of St Edmund’s and St James’ congregations are warmly encouraged to join us at 4pm as we gather as one church family during this Lenten season.

Come and walk the road to the cross together.

Good Friday Walk of Witness 

Churches Together in Whalley Range, Moss Side and Hulme warmly invites you and all your church congregation to join our Good Friday Walk of Witness in Alexandra Park.
We will begin inside the Claremont Road – Alexandra Road South gate entrance and walk together through the park. Along the way we will stop at several points to hear the Passion story, pray, and sing together. The stopping points are shown on the event poster map (download here>>).
This route is different from previous years, designed to make the walk safe and accessible for everyone and to add variety to our traditions. Please do come and join us as we walk, reflect on the cross, and enjoy fellowship together this Good Friday. We aim to gather back at St Edmunds, Whalley Range for a short concluding service at 11am ish.

Life Giving Fellowship

You are warmly invited to join our Lent reflection on Zoom this Wednesday at 7pm.
Download the CoE Everyday Faith App to use 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 - 3 more weeks to go.

A Musical Night Out?

 

Celebrating 30 Years of Christina Relief Uganda

Don’t forget to save the date! We are getting closer to a wonderful evening celebrating 30 years of Christian Relief Uganda (CRU).

What began with Maria Maw’s step of faith in Uganda in 1991, and the founding of CRU in 1996, has grown into a life-changing ministry. Maria’s Care School in Kamuli now educates more than 300 children, bringing hope and opportunity to many families.

Come and give thanks for all God has done over three decades.

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

Enjoy authentic Ugandan food, vibrant music from a Manchester Ugandan choir and drummers, inspiring stories, and a joyful time of thanksgiving.

Please add it to your diary and bring a friend for this special celebration.

Booking:
Julie Parker
📧 julie@mwfnorthwest.org.uk
📱 07732 556381

Let’s gather together to celebrate 30 years of hope, faith, and transformed lives.

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

22nd March - 5th Sunday of Lent

Ezekiel 37.1-14, Psalm 130 and John 11.1-45

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

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 10.30am at St Edmund's
• '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 19th March 7.30pm at St Ed's for Season 2, Episode 8:  "Beyond Mountains". While Jesus and Matthew prepare the content of the sermon, the disciples spread the word while fighting amongst themselves; a high-ranking Sanhedrin member is shocked by Shmuel's reports; thousands arrive for the sermon, including familiar faces.

29th March - Palm Sunday - Morning Worship

Liturgy of the Palms: Matthew 21.1–11 Liturgy of the Passion: Isaiah 50.4–9a and Matthew 27.11–54 These are the set readings but the team will finally agree on Tuesday this week.

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

 

Advance Notices

• Revd Peter Matthews is being licensed as full-time Area Dean for Manchester South and Stretford Deanery at 3pm on Sunday 22nd March at the wonderful St Wilfrid's Church, Northenden.
• The next Deanery Synod meeting is on Wednesday 25 March at Christ Church, Darley Ave, West Didsbury, M20 2ZD.
  The meeting will start promptly at 7.30pm.
  There will be a Eucharist at 6.30pm to which all Synod members are welcome. This will be followed by refreshments from 7.00pm.
• Life + Hope Joint Service of our St James' and St Edmund's morning congregations on 5th Sunday - March 29th March. The Service will be at St Edmund's and there will, be no service at St James'. 
• 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.
• The APCM dates are 26 April at St James and 3 May at St Edmund’s.
• 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!
• 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. 

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

 

Prayer Pointers for this Week

Prayer pointers to help you pray shaped by Ezekiel 37, Psalm 130, and John 11:

1. From dryness to life
   Lord, breathe your Spirit into the dry places of our lives and restore hope where we feel empty.
2. Honest lament
   Out of the depths we cry to you—meet us in our grief, fear, and waiting.
3. Listening for your voice
   Help us hear your word that calls life out of death and hope out of despair.
4. Faith in the waiting
   Like Martha, strengthen our trust in your promises, even before we see the outcome.
5. Jesus weeps with us
   Thank you, Lord, that you share in our sorrow—draw near to all who mourn today.
6. Resurrection power now
   Bring new life into situations that seem beyond repair—in us, our communities, and our nation.
7. A world in need of hope
   We pray for places of conflict and suffering—breathe peace, renewal, and resurrection life across the nations.

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.