Rochdale Faith News: Saturday, February 4

St Andrew’s, Dearnley

St Andrew’s is more than just a Church.

It is home to many within the local community and we are proud to say that all are welcome without fear of discrimination or prejudice. Our doors are open for more than just Church services, offering a centre for friendship groups such as Girl Guides, Brownies, Rainbows and many more.

Please go to our St Andrew’s website for all the information you need about services, about funerals, weddings, Holy Baptisms etc, about the hire of our parish room or ring Rev Rachel Battershell, church warden Janice Perkins or church warden Christine Longhurst on 07748113121, 07730367919 or 07766404282 respectively.

Our link parish is that of St Mary Magdalene, Omboloka, Namibia. We have had a couple of trips out there in recent years; we mention them regularly in our services and pray for them; and we have a section of notice board in the parish room dedicated exclusively to news and pictures from our West African friends in Omboloka.

How interesting, therefore, that we learn of Bishop David Walker’s visit to Namibia during his recent Sabbatical. The Bishop of Manchester, writing in the latest edition of the diocesan magazine, ‘Crux’, said: “Our international links remind us that we are part of both the world-wide Anglican Communion and the wider Christian family.

“It was very moving to spend time in Namibia, celebrating the consecration  of Bishop Patrick and then journeying around the diocese. The challenges of being bishop to a population similar to ours, but spread over an area the size of France, are huge.

“They value the parish links  that already exist with places from Horwich to Saddleworth (including St Andrew’s, Dearnley). It would be good to see more of us building a link so that every Namibian parish has a partner.”

It isn’t every day we get messages from on high and we strongly recommend a read of the current Crux, which carries the strap line: ‘Church for a different world.’

Bishop David concluded: “It encourages me to hear how things have progressed without me, but it’d also good to be back and with you all on the next steps of our journey to be a Church for a different world.”

St Luke’s Church, Deeplish

St Luke’s Church, Deeplish will hold a Service of the Word service on February 5 at 10am.

Monday, February 6: Bible Study, 10.30 am in the church side room. This is open to anyone who wants to find out more about the Bible in a friendly, informal setting. We are continuing our Advent course, you can still take part if your missed last week.

Wednesday, February 8: 11am, Morning Praise service. We are no longer holding this on Zoom, it will be in the side room of church.

Wednesday, February 8: 2pm Board Games Club. Several board games will be out as well as Scrabble.

If you don’t know how to play Scrabble but would like to learn or you are an experienced player who want to have a couple of hours of friendly social chat and a game of scrabble come along. No need to book, just turn up.

Thursday, February 9: 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.

Hebron Pentecostal Church

This week February 5-12 2023

Sunday

• 9.45am: Pre-prayer meeting
• 10am - 10.20am: Enjoy a free cup of tea, coffee and snack before the service.
• 10.30am: Morning service
• 12.30pm: Café open for lunch
• 1pm: Nepalese fellowship

Monday

Free Community Meals: Every Monday during the months of January and February we are offering free meals to our community. The meals are served at 6pm.

Places are limited, please book via the church website. Online booking times are open from Tuesday 8am and close Friday at 6pm. You can also call Julie on 07988 875571.

Tuesday and Thursday Warm Spaces

Hebron is also open for a Warm Spaces, if you are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and want a little company in a warm friendly environment, then you are welcome. Tuesdays, 10am-3pm. Thursdays, 9.30am 2.30pm.

Free tea and coffee will be available for you. No need to book just come along.

Friday

• 10-11am: Breakfast Club
• 5pm: Kids Club
• 6.30pm: Prayer meeting
• 7pm: Youth Group

Sunday, February 19 Pancake Sunday, after the morning service.

If you would like to book onto any of our events or just need a little more info, then please contact us on 01706-630197 or email info@hebronrochdale.co.uk or visit the website.

Hebron Pentecostal Church, Howard Street, Rochdale OL12 6LB

Love and serve God, Love, and serve people, Share God with people.

St Chad’s and St Mary in the Baum

For over 800 years, St Chad’s, on Sparrow Hill, overlooking the town centre, has been Rochdale’s Parish Church.

With our sister church, St Mary in the Baum, we provide mainly traditional forms of Anglican worship, and you are warmly welcome to join us on Sundays and during the week.  Children’s activities are available during the Sunday services and refreshments are served afterwards.

Tomorrow, Sunday, February 5, is the 3rd Sunday before Lent. The Eucharist, with hymns, is at St Mary’s at 9.15am.

Choral Eucharist is at St Chad’s at 11.15am, when the choir will sing the anthem Kindle a Light (Fleming) or Teach me O Lord (Attwood). At both services the celebrant is the Vicar, the Rev Anne Gilbert, and the preacher Fr Darren Quinlan.

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 next, February 8, at St Mary’s at 12.30pm, the Toad Lane Lunchtime Concert features Voci Voices, with Elizabeth Ambrose and Margaret Ferguson, sopranos; Eric Cymbir, tenor; David Cane, baritone; and Jonathan Ellis, piano. Admission is £6.

On Thursday next, February 9, at St Chad’s, Morning Prayer is at 10am. A Place of Welcome is from 10.30am until noon, with coffee, cake and fellowship. Admission is free.

On Saturday next, February 11, St Chad’s has a Lunchtime Concert at noon, featuring Isabel Williamson, cello, and Jonathan Ellis, piano. There is music by Brahms, Kodaly and Arvo Part. Admission is £6 including light refreshments from 11.30am.

Sunday next, February 12, is the 2nd Sunday before Lent. The Eucharist, with hymns, is at St Mary’s at 9.15am, when the celebrant is the Rev Natty Gray.

Choral Mattins is at St Chad’s at 11.15am, when the anthem is O God thy goodness reaches to the Heavens (Beethoven). The service is led by Hannah Currin. The preacher at both services is Pamela Parr.

The Asian Christian Fellowship meets at St Chad’s each Sunday at 1pm.

Greenhill Methodist

Sunday, February 5, 10.30am. The service will be led by Mr David Hollows. Everyone welcome.

Greenhill is a small, friendly church where everyone is made welcome at our regular Sunday morning services. We hold traditional services throughout the Christian calendar as well as social events (usually held on a Saturday) when everyone is invited.

There are rooms for hire including a large hall, a stage and a fully equipped kitchen. Ideal for children’s birthday parties. Tel 07907 762 368 to enquire.
See our Facebook page for more information.

St Mary’s, Balderstone

This morning is our men’s breakfast from 9am-11am.

A full cooked breakfast (free), a short Bible talk and a time of fellowship.
All men are welcome to come and join in. Our Holy Communion service starts at 10.30am tomorrow.

We’ll be continuing our ‘Foundations for Life’ sermon series and Rev Ben Wilkinson will be exploring the topic of ‘what does it means to be male and female?’

We’ll be looking at Genesis chapter one verses twenty-six to thirty-one and 1 Timothy chapter two verses eight to fifteen. Sunday school will be available.

Light refreshments are served in the parish room after the service. If you are visiting, do join us for a chat.

Tomorrow evening is our weekly prayer gathering, together with Christ Church and St Saviour’s between 6.30pm-7.30pm. This week we are hosting and we’d love you to join us as we pray for each other, Rochdale and the world. If you can’t be there in person Zoom details are available, please contact us via Facebook or see one of the wardens.

SMurFs (St Mary’s Under Fives) meets on Tuesday afternoon 1.30pm-3pm in the parish room. New members are always welcome. There is a small charge of £1 for one adult with one child and an extra 30p each for extra children.

Midweek Bible Studies are looking at the book of 2 Peter. They meet on Wednesday evening, 7.20pm-9pm, in the building or via Zoom or Thursday evening, 7.20pm-9pm, Zoom only. All are welcome.

It doesn’t matter if you haven’t been before or have never tried a group like this before. Just come along or join in on Zoom. It’s a welcoming, open and friendly environment and there’s no pressure or follow-up!

For further information please get in touch by email stmarysbalderstone@gmail.com or Facebook.

The Benefice of Littleborough

The Third Sunday before Lent.

Sunday, February 5: 9am is Holy Communion at St. Barnabas, Shore, 10.15am is Holy Communion at Holy Trinity, 11.30am is Holy Communion at St James, Calderbrook. Please come along and join us.

You will be warmly welcomed. Refreshments available.

Palm Crosses: As we begin our preparations for Ash Wednesday and Lent, please could we ask you to return last year’s Palm Crosses over the next couple of weeks, so that we can prepare this year’s Ash.

Confirmation 2023: If you are interested in being confirmed later this year, then please let Fr.Ian know. Contacts below.

For any further information please visit the website. We are also on Facebook at The Benefice of Littleborough and on Twitter at: @cofelittleboro1. Contact tel no. 01706 375 322 and leave a message.

Rochdale Unitarian Church

Here is February's news and events from Clover Street Unitarians.

All our Sunday gatherings begin at 10.30am and are followed by a time for refreshments and fellowship. Everyone most welcome to join us, just as you are.

On February 5, we extend a warm welcome to Chris Newsam, a visiting worship leader from the Manchester District Association.

On February 12, worship will be led by our interfaith minister Rev Abi Elliott-McGuffie.

There will be a special event on February 19, as Clover Street welcomes Rev Sue Woolley, current President of our General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches in the UK. We are honoured to be hosting Rev Woolley at Rochdale and a light lunch is to follow the service from noon.

On February 26, Rev Abi Elliott-McGuffie leads our worship to see out the month.

Our special event in February is the launch of a new series of Music Nights for 2023. First off, we play host to acclaimed accordionist Thom Hardaker on Friday, February 24 from 7.30pm - a show not to be missed! For further information, please visit our Facebook page at @RochdaleUnitarians or leave a message on 01706 648 461.

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