News and Information for 17 May 2020 Easter 6
Thank You
so much to all those who have given this week and made a difference. On our JustGiving CA Page alone, we’ve raised
£435 (plus Gift Aid).
If you didn’t get a chance to give it’s not too late, simply go to: https://bit.ly/caweekstmarys
If you’d like to watch the Christian Aid Service that we hosted (virtually), please go to either our Facebook or YouTube channels.
Also, see below for details of tonight’s Quiz!
Whilst Public Worship is suspended this Blog will take the place of the Weekly Sheet
Sunday Readings and other fantastic resources can be found on the Church at Home Blog here
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This Sunday – live-streamed worship with the Revs Paul, Mike & guests. Join us on one of our channels from 10:30am
Streamed Worship this Sunday
from 10:30am
on Facebook & YouTube 
Zoom Invite
After Church Tea & Coffee & Chat
Time: 11:45 AM
Join the Zoom Refreshments and chat
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75021313429
Meeting ID: 750 2131 3429
After church Refreshments
After church tea & coffee will be on Zoom from around 11:45am – come and join us virtually, it would be lovely to see each other again.
We have now implemented a Waiting Room on Zoom for extra security.
Mark Tanner named as next Bishop of Chester
The Rt Revd Mark Tanner has been named by Downing Street as the next Bishop of Chester, succeeding the Rt Revd Dr Peter Forster who retired in September 2019.
Bishop Mark is currently the Bishop of Berwick in the Diocese of Newcastle, a post he has occupied since 2016.
“It will be hard to say goodbye to the North East,” he says, “however, Lindsay and I are really excited to return to Chester where I was ordained, and both of our children were born.”
Mark says: “It is an honour and a joy to be appointed to the Diocese of Chester at such a key time in the life of our communities, nation, and Church. In Christ, God offers a gift of hope beyond our imagining; there is no greater joy or privilege than enabling others to step into this freedom and life, whether in deeply practical service or beautiful wonder and worship. God is here for all.”
Rev Paul says
“Let’s Welcome Bishop Mark”
It is very exciting news that Bishop Mark Tanner has been appointed the new Bishop of Chester. This is wonderful news that we at St Mary’s and St Luke’s celebrate.
We would like to send Bishop Mark a warm greeting from our parish.
We are hoping to create a large collage with pictures of ourselves holding the words of celebration on.
If you are willing to take part please email Paul on revd.paul@stmaryswistaston.org.uk
He will then send you the instructions for which word you will need to hold.
We would like to send this off next week so the deadline for returned photos is 20th May 2020
An example of what we’d be looking for
Wave of Prayer :- Tuesday, 19th May at 10.40am. Members will find the service in the middle of MU Magazine, which you received a little while ago. We will be thinking of each other at home.
For the members who remember Joan Clayton, she passed away last week, please remember Maurice and the family in your prayers.
Mid day prayers and other resources can be found on the Mothers’ Union website at www.mothersunion.org
Even though our members cannot meet physically, we can meet spiritually and we will be doing this for the annual Wave of Prayer on Tuesday, 19th May at 10.40am. Of course, we are also keeping in touch and supporting each other in other ways as well.
Some members are still keeping up with the ‘blankets of hope’ for refugee children, which was an initiative started before the pandemic.
If interested, here’s the pattern: Using size 4.5mm needles, cast on 40 stitches. Work 70 rows in garter stitch (every row knit). Cast off. Easy peasy!! (If you can do basic knitting, like me!)
There are also many resources on the main Mothers’ Union page: www.mothersunion.org/resources if you are looking for something creative to do and to help others: mask strap pattern, homemade cloth face-covering pattern, scrub bag/laundry bag for scrub pattern. Also some colouring sheets.
In addition, certain elements will be centred on mobile devices and tablets and aligned to the left or right on a desktop display. You can adjust the layout for each Block at three different device widths – desktop, tablet, and mobile.
The Midweek
Get Together Wednesdays at 7.30pm
Each week Revd Mike invites you to join with him on Zoom for a get-together.
Each week there will be something different including a Bible Book Club, a Prayer Meeting, a topical chat or a discussion. Details will be posted on our Facebook Page on the Monday of each week. All you need to do is click on the link below to register.
This week 20 May:
Worship and Bible Study. We will have some worship and take a look at 1 Peter. If you get a chance to read the book before that would be great, if you’re short of time, just read 1.1–13; 2.1–12; 3.1–9
Please register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckdu-vrzwjGNZEib-6ycPykLTr_Kjou6oX
Limited Access to Church Buildings following the House of Bishops Statement of 5 May
Very limited access allowed to church buildings is now possible for activities such as pre-recording or streaming of services or private prayer, by ministers in their own parishes, so long as the necessary hygiene and social distancing precautions are taken.
Please note that in each parish there should be only one person appointed for this purpose, although they may be accompanied by others from their own household. Multiple people are strongly discouraged from accessing the space, even if this is done one at a time.
Please note that church buildings remain closed to the public. When a minister is in the church building to pray or pre-record or live-stream worship, the doors should remain locked. The guidance still excludes the possibility of church services, including occasional offices such as baptisms, weddings and funerals.
In the meantime, I have been checking all the buildings twice a week and for insurance purposes, I have been taking photos of them, here is a selection of them – you can click on them to see the bigger image.
Revd Mike, Rector
Funerals this past week
Pamela Gilbert
Funerals still to take place during May
Joyce Dentith
Also sadly Joan Clayton passed away recently, our thoughts and prayers are with Maurice and his family at this sad time.
Please keep their families in your prayers
There is a Christian Aid Quiz this evening on Zoom hosted by Malcolm Crook of Wells Green Methodist Church. All welcome.
You are welcome to join in our Christian Aid Quiz via Zoom taking place on Saturday 16th May 2020 at 19.00.
This is the link you need to join, click on it and you shouldn’t need to enter the Meeting ID or password but you will need to enter yours or your team’s name.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87198225577?pwd=VU1TMUt1aS9jeVkvQkxZRFNDdlVKQT09
Meeting ID: 871 9822 5577 Password: 632675
Daily Hope
THE Archbishop of Canterbury has launched a free telephone line, Daily Hope, to give more people access to worship, prayer, and reflections while churches are closed.
Daily Hope has been available since Sunday and runs for 24 hours a day. It provides Church of England prayers, hymns, and reflections for those who dial in. The number is 0800 8048044.
St Paul’s Pantry News
Trust you are all keeping well, here’s our monthly data for you to share with your congregations.
We fed 294 people in April with 2,646 meals and had 2,139.79kgs of food donated. Compare this to last year we fed 125 people with 1,125 meals and had 1,760.78kgs of food donated.
We are steadily busy and are able to meet requests for food. Our shortages include tins of potatoes, vegetables, fruit, sandwich meats, meat pies, custard, rice pudding, pasta, long grain rice and sugar.
If you are able to bring items to our rear gates, we are open Mon- Fri 10-3. (Closed Friday 8th May) If you’re unable to drop off, we able to collect by ringing our office 01270 586186 option 1.
Please continue to hold us up in prayer whether in your Zoom services or in private prayer, we need them!
Take care
Cheryl Wykes & Tracey Humphries If you can’t get to the Foodbank you can help financially here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/StPauls
Our Magazine has now moved online for the foreseeable future and you can access it HERE or at any time via the front page of our website
Our May Magazine is now available!
Please send any articles of interest for the May edition to editor@magazine.stmaryswistaston.blog
The Wistaston Village Fete for 2020 has, unsurprisingly, been cancelled for this year. More details will appear on the Community Council’s Facebook in due course.
More info here: https://www.facebook.com/wistaston/
To keep in touch with the church, it’s news and updates and be kept informed of resources which you can use at home for prayer and worship, then please join our Prayer & Communication email list via this link: http://eepurl.com/gbKZ5b
Church Staff & Office