FAITH NEWS

ST LUKE’S, DEEPLISH

ST Luke’s Church, Deeplish will hold a Morning Praise service tomorrow (Sunday) at 10am officiated by Sue Horobin.

The service is followed by a Tear Fund lunch of homemade soup, bread, cheese, jam, tea 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 led by Sue Horobin.

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 CHAD’S AND ST MARY IN THE BAUM

LAST Saturday, on Sparrow Hill, overlooking Town Hall Square, St Chad’s hosted its first lunchtime concert of the year.

Tenor Chris Why presented a recital of Italian songs and a selection from Franz Schubert’s Winterreise, accompanied by Linda Hinchcliffe on the grand piano.

Now based in West Yorkshire, Chris first trained as a chorister at Lincoln Cathedral, before gaining a first-class degree at the University of Sheffield.

He has since sung as a lay clerk at both Wakefield and Manchester cathedrals, and nowadays gives recitals and sings with numerous ensembles, including the BBC Radio 4 Daily Service Singers.

He established and directs the Tallis Consort and has been the acting director of music at Sheffield Cathedral.

He currently teaches singing to the Wakefield Cathedral choristers.

Tomorrow (Sunday) is the Third Sunday in Lent.

The Eucharist, with hymns, is at St Mary’s at 9.15am.

The celebrant and preacher is the Vicar, the Rev Anne Gilbert.

This year marks the 830th anniversary of the first recorded Vicar of Rochdale at St Chad’s.

To celebrate this anniversary and St

Chad’s Day today (Saturday), our service of Choral Eucharist tomorrow at 11.15am will be led by the Bishop of Middleton, the Rt Rev Mark Davies.

The choir will sing the anthem “Locus iste” by Anton Bruckner. Everyone is welcome. Children’s activities are available during the service and refreshments provided afterwards.

Who, exactly, was St Chad?

Wikipedia says he was “a prominent 7th century Anglo-saxon monk who became abbot of several monasteries, Bishop of the Northumbrians and subsequently Bishop of the Mercians and

Lindsey People [Lincolnshire].

“He was credited, together with his brother, with introducing Christianity to the Mercian kingdom”.

Later canonised as a saint, he died in

Lichfield, Staffordshire, on March 2, 672 and was buried in Lichfield Cathedral, which is dedicated to him, as is the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Birmingham.

Each Monday at St Mary’s from 10am until 2pm, the Red Cross provides help for refugees. Refreshments are available and admission is free.

On Wednesday at St Mary’s at 12.30pm, the Toad Lane Lunchtime Concert features John Sabar, piano.

Admission is £6. On Thursday at St Chad’s at 10am, there is a service of Morning

Prayer.

On Friday at St Chad’s at 7.30pm, Skylight

Circus presents “Sparrow Hill - a spectacular circus show full of storytelling, tall tales, myths and mystery.”

Next Saturday, at

2.30pm and 7.30pm, there are further performances by Skylight Circus at St Chad’s.

Admission to all performances is free, but donations are welcome.

Next Sunday, March

10, is the Fourth Sunday in Lent, Mothering Sunday.

The Eucharist, with hymns, is at St Mary’s at

9.15am, when the celebrant and preacher is Canon Nick Smeeton.

Choral Matins is at St Chad’s at 11.15am, when the service is led by Hannah Currin and the preacher is the Vicar.

On Saturday, March 16, at St Chad’s from

10.30am until 2.30pm, a Fair Trade fair is held with stalls, workshops and displays.

Please come along and support Fair Trade.

On Saturday, March

23, at St Chad’s from 10am until 2.30pm, there is a “Come and Sing Stainer’s Crucifixion” with a concert at 3pm.

ST MARY’S, BALDERSTONE

WE would love YOU to join us tomorrow at

10.30am as we meet together to seek God and praise him in an abundance of different ways!

The Rev Wilkinson will be continuing the theme of generosity in our sermon series “Loving God and Loving Others” looking at Philippians, chapter 4, verses 10-20.

Light refreshments are served after the service.

Never been to a church before or have questions?

Don’t hesitate to get in touch! We would love to hear from you!

Tomorrow evening our prayer meeting takes place between

6.30pm-7.30pm at Christ

Church (Block Lane, Chadderton, OL9 7QB).

If you can’t come in person, 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.

There is a small charge of £1 for one adult with one child and an extra 30p each for extra children.

New members always welcome.

We’ve loved meeting some new friends recently and seeing some returning.

You can have a coffee, change of scenery and socialise with other parents and childminders while the children enjoy a great programme of free play, stories, songs and games. This week in craft corner we’ll be thinking about Spring.

Small Groups provide a place for us to connect with others, share life and grow in faith together.

We are currently working through the book of Hebrews - you have a chance to share your thoughts and hear what others think.

You can say anything you like or nothing at all.

There are a range of groups- Wednesday daytime meets at 10am in the church lounge. Wednesday 7.30pm at the home of a group member. Thursday evening, 7.20pm-9pm, Zoom only.

Christianity Explored continues on Zoom this week. Wednesday

7.30pm-8.45pm.

A course for anyone who would like to explore the message of Jesus for the first time or brush up on the basics.

If you are interested and missed out this time round, please contact the Rev Wilkinson or the church office to register your interest in a future course or simply find out more.

Everyone’s welcome. You’re invited, no matter your background or beliefs.

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 or please get in touch by e-mail stmarysbalderstone@ gmail.com or see our Facebook page, www. facebook.com/ saintmarysbalderstone