CCW News: Our Weekly Christ Church Woodford News Update
10th May 2021
Next Church ‘Pub Quiz’: Tomorrow - Tuesday 11th May at 7.30pm
One of the good things that has come out of the ‘lockdown’ has been the development of our Church ‘Pub Quiz.’ Once a month we come together on Zoom and join a team for a series of rounds of general knowledge questions. I’m grateful to Graham Meare who started these up, and has now been joined by Stephen Holbrook as a fellow ‘Quiz Master.’ Normally these happen on the first Tuesday of the month, but in May (because of our APCM) it will be on tomorrow, the 11th, at 7.30pm. A Zoom link will be sent out tomorrow, but please put the date in your diary… and start brushing up on your general knowledge!
Annual Parochial Church Meeting: Report from Tuesday 4th May at 7pm
Last Tuesday, 4th May, we had our Annual Meeting (held on Zoom) and I’m very pleased to say that Elaine Stott is carrying on as a Churchwarden, and it’s great news that Jean Copner is now ‘in post’ with her. Jean replaces David Jones, who after many years of hard-working, faithful service, has retired from the role. We will be thanking David more fully in due course, but we are so grateful to him for all he has (and continues) to do. We also want to assure Jean of our prayers as she takes on the Churchwarden role for the first time.
Our PCC team continues on, generally, as before but I’m pleased to say that Mark Duckworth has re-joined us as a member. It’s great to have him back.
The yearly report (compiled by our PCC Secretary, Janet Brown - and our thanks to her for this, and for all she continues to do) is attached to this email.
Ascension Day Service: this Thursday, 13th May, at 7.30pm (on Zoom)
This year’s Ascension Day service will be by Zoom, and I will be sending out a link later this week.
Christian Aid Week: 10-16 May 2021: From our local representatives, Chris & Vicky Ackers
Normally at this time of year, volunteers from the churches in Bramhall and Woodford would be visiting houses to deliver and then collect Christian Aid envelopes. However, because of the widespread restrictions due to the pandemic, this year will be different – but the need is just the same.
This year, Christian Aid is asking us to consider making a donation in a different way:
· There is a “Just giving” web site where we can make an on-line debit/credit card, or PayPal, donation. If we wish, and where appropriate, we can also tick to enable Christian Aid to benefit from Gift Aid, whereby the Government contributes an additional 25% of our donation:
https://www.justgiving.com/Bramhall-and-Woodford-Christian-Aid
· If we would prefer to donate directly then the alternative on-line route, by debit/credit card or PayPal, is at this link: www.christian-aid.org.uk and click “donate”- Use our reference; OR35675 - Bramhall & Woodford Christian Aid Group
· We can give by telephone, by calling 0207 523 2269 and quoting reference; OR35675
· Donations by cheques are also possible – made payable to Bramhall & Woodford Council of Churches Christian Aid A/C’ and post or deliver them by hand to Bramhall Methodist Church, 23 Bramhall Lane South, Bramhall, Stockport, SK7 1AL.
· Finally there is an e-envelope which is easy to use to make a donation and can be emailed to friends and other contacts.
https://envelope.christianaid.org.uk/envelope/christ-church-woodford?channel=copy
Our local Christian Aid churches of Bramhall Methodist Church, St. Michael and All Angels Church and the United Reform Church (and Christ Church Woodford too) would like to thank us all for our continuing support.
For further information, please see the Christian Aid document attached to this email.
Sunday at Church: Sunday 9th May 2021: Record attendance with Commissioning of PCC
9.30am Service in our building and 11am Zoom Service: [My sermon is attached]
We had record attendance in our building yesterday – Elaine managed to fit 40 of us safely in. And it was lovely to Commission the new Churchwardens, PCC and Sidespersons. Following that part of the service, we had Communion. Janet Brown read for us, David Rabone led us in our prayers, and Roger played the hymn ‘We have a gospel to proclaim.’
In our sermon, we started looking together at a new book of the Bible for us, Colossians (a letter written by Paul in about AD60 to the Christians living in the city of Colossae). As we made a start, we thought about 6 people who are key to understanding the letter; Paul, Timothy, Epaphras, the ‘false teachers,’ the Christians living in Colossae and the Lord Jesus Christ (who is at the centre of it all).
Our Zoom service continues to ‘hold up’ well with 18 of us coming together yesterday via the internet. The service there being followed, as ever, by our optional ‘break out rooms’ where we are able to chat together.
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As you can tell, Elaine Stott is doing a superb job at managing to get in as many people as safely possible into our building, and we are grateful to her for that. Don’t forget that pre-booking (for ‘Track and Trace’ and ‘pew allocation’ purposes) is necessary by calling Elaine who can explain to you how we are making things work in these challenging times (0161 439 5728).
In terms of the Zoom service - if you are interested in joining us, please let me know.
Next Sunday’s passage: We’ll be returning to with Colossians 1:1-8.
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