ST LUKE’S, DEEPLISH
ST Luke’s Church, Deeplish, will hold a Morning Praise service tomorrow (Sunday) 3 at 10am, officiated by Sue Horobin.
The service is followed by tea, coffee and biscuits and a chance to chat.
Monday, Bible Study - 10.30am in the church side room. This is open to anyone who wants to find out more about the Bible in a friendly, informal setting.
Wednesday, 11am Morning Praise service in the side room of church.
Thursday, Ladies only Zumba at 10am. It costs £3 and you need to book, please contact catherine. szymanskyj2@ yourtrustrochdale.com or ring 07814 712 271.
We are a friendly group and have space for new members.we look forward to welcoming our regular members and anyone who would like to join our very friendly, caring congregation.
ST ANDREW’S, DEARNLEY
HERE is a beautiful image of our super stylish and all-marble High Altar, with its marble steps and marble sanctuary which has been covered by carpet for more than 50 years.
It was ‘discovered’ only when the carpet was lifted for repair, replacement or renovation.
It now begs the question: ‘What next ?’ for this iconic, fascinating and completely classy marble altar and chancel which forms such a striking part of what we believe is our hidden gem, a St Andrew’s edifice that is both magical in appearance and sacred and blessed in its real sense of purpose.
There are two trains of thought.
One is that it is a wonderful and thoughtprovoking feature that is in keeping with the rest of this magnificent church; the other that carpet is warmer, more hospitable, more welcoming and more in keeping with this modern age and vastly different traits to those of years ago when church life was such a straight-laced and sophisticated institution.
One man who is firmly of the opinion that the marble is magical and should be lauded at all times is Geoff
Hurst, one of our two readers and a man who says he will fight ‘tooth and nail’ for its retention. Geoff said: “We don’t know how lucky we are to have a feature like this.
“If its a throwback to times gone by so be it. In my view it’s a wonderful piece of masonry and we should thank God for the benefactors who went before us and donated to St Andrew’s something that probably came all the way from Italy and no doubt cost a small fortune.”
It is believed to have been donated by the late Isaac Kilpatrick shortly after the First World War and Geoff now intends to contact his greatgrandchildren for confirmation and for more information.
The Kilpatricks, with Isaac at the helm, ran a family business of quality stone-masonry for many years just up the road in Dearnley and the late David, Isaac’s grandson, became well known as chairman of Rochdale AFC for many years.
Those days are long gone, but the memory of Issaac, his son Frank and of his grandson David, who went to our church primary school and was in the choir as a boy, lives on and will never be forgotten. It is to David’s children that Geoff will turn for help in his quest for more information.
In the meantime, the marble has been grouted and it will be polished in time for Christmas. It would appear to be staying put, at least for the foreseeable future.
Geoff added: “I suspect it might be Carrara marble, which has been quarried since Roman times in the
mountains just outside the city of that name.
“I do know the Kilpatricks had big connections in Italy. Michelangelo did much of his sculpting with Carrara marble, including his work in the Sistine Chapel.”
As for our altar, it would probably have been brought forward off the
East wall a long time ago had that been possible. In an ideal world, clergy would celebrate the Eucharist while facing the congregation from behind the altar, but that is impossible because the altar can’t be moved for logistical reasons.
That’s why, on most Sundays, Communion is now offered on the platform at the front of the Nave with the use of a small altar which allows the Celebrant to face the people and particularly those who are to receive the Holy Sacraments.
The High Altar, sitting splendidly at the east End, is used only on special occasions - a real shame, but one understands the reasons.
ST CHAD’S AND ST MARY IN THE BAUM
ST Chad’s, on Sparrow Hill, overlooking the town centre, has been Rochdale’s Parish Church for over 800 years.
With our sister church, St Mary in the Baum, we serve the community of
Rochdale today and in the future and you are warmly welcome to join us.
Children’s activities are available during Sunday morning services and refreshments are served afterwards.
Last Saturday, to mark the 90th anniversary of Holodomor, wreaths were laid at Rochdale Memorial Gardens, followed by a Service of Commemoration at St Chad’s.
Millions of innocent Ukrainians starved to death in the Holodomor, also known as the “Great Ukrainian Famine”, a quarter of them children.
The Vicar, the Rev Anne Gilbert, welcomed the congregation to the service and introduced The Holodomor Collect.
The Rev Fr Benjamin Lysykanych led the Paraklesis - the Supplication to the Sacred Heart of Jesus – with responses from The Slava (Glory) Choir and congregation sung in Ukrainian. Olga Kurtianyk, of the Rochdale branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, spoke about Holodomor and the present conflict in Ukraine.
Members of the Association read extracts from “Mother Said Nothing”, “Beetles Above the Cherry Trees”, “Holodomor”, “Hunger is Not My Aunt”, and “Through the Eyes of a Child”. The congregation sang the hymn “The Lord’s My Shepherd” and the Area Dean, Canon Karen Smeeton, read from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, beginning: “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His power. Put on the whole armour of God”.
The Bishop of Middleton, the Rt Rev Mark Davies, said it was a privilege to worship alongside the Ukrainian community for this solemn commemoration.
The victims of war and genocide called for us to work and pray for a society where all are known and loved by God.
He said they were gathered in sorrowful prayer for those who lost their lives during Holodomor. “We pray they may rest in peace and be with God, who through Christ has defeated death with his resurrection.”
“Jesus Christ was the conqueror of sin who asks us to work here in Rochdale and throughout the world for a better, loving society, with loving hearts filled with the peace of the risen Christ. Remembering is central to our Christian faith. Let our remembrance stir us to look for the kingdom of Christ.”
The Bishop referred to a tiny silver box which he used to carry the sacraments and which he had received as a gift from a priest he once knew in Stoke-on-trent. He recalled the words: “For love and for friendship’s sake, remember me.” He said they were gathered that day for love and for friendship’s sake, remembering those who died at Holodomor.
A Ukrainian hymn was sung, followed by prayers of intercession and peace led by Sonia Bidny and
Olya Hiadyk. “A Prayer for Ukraine” was read by Deacon Volodymyr Dobrianskyj of the Ukrainian Autocephalus Orthodox Church and the Lord’s Prayer was sung in Ukrainian and then recited in English. The song “Ukraine, I pray for You” was then sung in
Ukrainian.
The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Mike Holly, said we must never forget Holodomor. It was so important to remember these terrible events so we could find a better way to live together.
The MP for Rochdale, Sir Tony Lloyd, referred to Holodomor as “a crime against humanity” in the 1930s and to the present war in Ukraine. Chris Clarkson, MP for Heywood and Middleton, spoke of Remembrance Day two weeks earlier.
Remembrance is concerned with both the past and the future - the dark recess of the human soul. He, too, referred to those in Ukraine fighting for freedom today.
On the Sunday before Advent, we celebrated the
Feast of Christ the King. “The year that begins with the hope of the coming Messiah ends with the proclamation of his universal sovereignty”.
At St Chad’s, the choir sang “The King of Love”, a traditional Irish melody arranged by Edward Bairstow. At both churches, Canon Roger Hill preached on the theme of kingship.
He asked: “Are we curious about our King?” Referring to our sovereign, King Charles, he said that Christ was not a king who dressed in fine robes, or lived in a palace. He is a king who rode on a donkey, who came to us in humility, who fed people on a mountainside, who invited himself to a stranger’s house for a meal, who spoke to and met with the disadvantaged and those shunned by society.
The “King of Love” bore insults and humiliation in Holy Week and on Good Friday, and wore a crown of thorns. He is long suffering and calls us to worship and service. He invites us and gives himself to us every Sunday and we, in turn, give him our loyalty.
Today (Saturday) St Chad’s holds its annual Christmas Fayre in church from 11am until 2pm.
Admission is free. Do come and enjoy yourself at this important fundraising event.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the Church calendar and of a four-week period of preparation for the birth of Christ. The Eucharist, with hymns, is at St Mary’s at 9.15am. Choral Eucharist is at St Chad’s at 11.15am. The celebrant and preacher at both services is the Vicar, the Rev Anne Gilbert.
Each Monday at St Mary’s, the Red Cross provides help for refugees from 10am until 2pm. Refreshments are available and admission is free.
On Wednesday at St Mary’s at 12.30pm, the
Toad Lane Lunchtime Concert features the Telemann Baroque Ensemble. Admission is £6.
On Thursday Morning Prayer is at St Chad’s at 10am. The Springhill Hospice “Light for Life” Carol Service is at St Chad’s at 7pm on Thursday.
Sunday next, December 10, is the second Sunday of Advent. A Carol Service is at St Mary’s at 9.15am.
Choral Matins is at St
Chad’s at 11.15am. Both services are led by Hannah Currin. At St Chad’s at 3pm, The Mayor’s Carol Service is led by the Borough Dean, the Rev Gill Barnett, assisted by the Rev Pamela Parr and Hannah Currin.
ST MARY’S, BALDERSTONE
CAN you believe it’s that time already! This Sunday we’re starting the run up to Christmas as we celebrate the first Sunday in the churches season of Advent.
Tomorrow we’ll be lighting the first candle on our advent wreath. We also have a guest preacher as we start a brand new sermon series in the psalms. Children’s Groups will be available for ages 4-11.
If you’re looking for hope, community, someone to pray with or a free cup of coffee then why not give Church a try this weekend? Our doors are open no matter your background, age or nationality. Join us from
10.30am! In the evening we’ll gather for prayer, together with Christ
Church and St Saviour’s between 6.30pm- and
7.30pm. This week’s meeting will take place at Christ Church (Block Lane, Chadderton, OL9 7QB). You have the option of joining in via zoom.
SMURFS (St Mary’s
Under Fives) meets on Tuesday afternoon 1.30pm - 3pm in the parish room. It costs £1 for one adult with child and an extra 30p each for extra children.
Our midweek Bible studies finished their current study last week and will be taking an early festive break.
The groups will return in January (watch this space for more details).
Next weekend we have a special Christmas coffee morning (9 December) and next Sunday is our all-age, ‘Dress Up Nativity.’ Shepherds and angels and kings - oh my! A Nativity for all the family. This begins at the usual time of 10.30am.
If you are interested in what’s going on at St M’s and like to know more head to our website www. stmarysbalderstone.org.uk. For further information or prayer requests, please get in touch by e-mail stmarysbalderstone@ gmail.com or see our Facebook page, https:// www.facebook.com/ saintmarysbalderstone/.