This article first appeared in the July 2020 issue of the parish magazine. Here it is again for you to reflect on:
For many, lockdown has been an incredibly difficult time of worry, isolation, ill-health, boredom and captivity. It has been tough, and will continue to be so for many months to come.
For others it has offered opportunities and blessings. I am fortunate to be in this group … More Lockdown Blessings
Good morning and welcome to our service of holy communion for Sunday 23 July. Rev Sue will preach and preside. Neither Tom-the-Organist nor Tom-the-Pianist is available, and the choir is on it’s summer break, so Carol P leads us singing a Capella, beginning with the hymn “Lord of all hopefulness”: … More Weeds among the wheat
Moses sees the bush that looked to be burning and blazing but it was not being consumed, God calls to Moses into that sacred space and tells him he wants to go and free his people from Egypt. I think this is one of those iconic bible stories and it gives me a shiver every time I read it … More Ordinary doing the Extraordinary
If you read the stories of the Old Testament, you’ll find that all human life is there. People do not generally come across as saintly, never doing wrong, and the story of Jacob’s family is no exception … More A tale of sibling rivalry
Mary, Mary, quite contrary how does your garden grow? I am sure we all know how this nursery rhyme goes and as every gardener knows, it’s all about the soil. Without good soil, worked with compost, water and tender care, seeds will not flourish … More Good Soil
It is a deeply rooted part of the British psyche to avoid talking of our own mortality, let alone how we would prefer our loved ones to mark our passing.
But is that wise? At a time when our nearest and dearest are experiencing huge emotional turmoil, why would we think they would just know what to do for us? … More Make Your Wishes Known
Once upon a time in a faraway land… some of my favourite words in the world because, I don’t know about you but I love stories, especially the old fairytales. When me and my niece do some colouring we get my tablet out and always put a story on to listen to, Little Red Ridding Hood is a particular favourite … More We’re all stories in the end
Good morning and welcome to our service of holy communion on which we celebrate our patron saint, Margaret of Antioch. Rev Sue will preside and ALM Carol O will preach. We begin with the hymn “O worship the Lord … More St Margaret’s Day
Members of the transforming prayer community commit to praying three prayers each day. The Lord’s Prayer, which is fundamental in expressing our Christian Faith, the prayer of Thanksgiving and Hope which reminds us that we are called to serve, and a prayer for our own parish. The prayers are set out below, together with a monthly cycle for prayer. Many of you will be prayed for at least 3 times each month. Everyone is prayed for at least once! If you would like to include any other group or category, let us know … More Transforming Prayer Community
Last month saw the coronation of King Charles III in Westminster Abbey – over 70 years since the last time such an event happened on our shores. The music was fabulous, and got me thinking about coronation anthems, old and new. I decided to write a short series of articles about music to be crowned to … More Zadok the Priest – G F Handel (1685-1759)
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 