Laid-back and chilled-out!

My friend Gary, a Methodist minister in Tandragee (Northern Ireland), has just posted some photos of his harvest festival.

This particular carrot caught my eye!

The Rev’d Sue Ward, Associate Priest at St Ann’s, St James’ & St Thomas’s

Here’s Sue with Mark Davies, the Bishop of Middleton, at her licensing at St James’ Church on Sunday 18 October:

 

Milnrow “Village Treasures” Officially Opened

After two months of frantic activity and preparation, Milnrow’s new ’boutique’ has been officially opened by Keith Swift, the Mayor of Rochdale.  Sponsored by the newly-formed “Friends of Milnrow Parish”,  it’s task is four-fold: (i) to raise money to help support Milnrow Parish (church and village); (ii) to be a point of contact, a ‘presence’, on the high street; (iii) to help stem the tide of shops becoming empty in Milnrow; and (iv) to provide a service to the community. 

Photos (click to enlarge):

 

The exterior

The interior (front room)

The interior (back room)

The Mayor and Mayoress with Geoff Cowling, the shop manager

The Mayor cutting the ribbon!

The Mayoress making the first purchase…

…and the Mayor paying for the first purchase!

Mingling and chatting.

(the full size pics can be downloaded from here.)

 

You can help us firstly by donating things for sale in the shop (good things, mind—we want to maintain a high standard!), and secondly by giving your time to help staff the shop, and thirdly by becoming a ‘Friend of Milnrow Parish’, which is the umbrella charitable body that is underpinning the shop.  Becoming a ‘Friend’ will help you keep up with news of activities and events. (the membership system is not quite up and running yet—but will be soon!) as well as helping the parish.

Village Treasures is situated at 26 Dale Street, Milnrow

Opening times will be
Monday to Friday: 9.30 am to 4.00 pm
Saturdays: 9.30 am to 1.00 pm
Closed on Sundays

Any offers of help should be directed to Geoff Cowling on
01706 644343 or 07837 874663

Please do not leave any donations on the shop doorstep !

Parish Magazine for November 2009

The Parish Magazine for November is available to view or download from here.

Paper copies should be available in church on Sunday.

Parish Magazine for October 2009

The Parish Magazine for October 2009 can be viewed, or downloaded in PDF format, here.

Paper version will be in church tomorrow – Wednesday 30 September.

Apologies for much less posting on the website recently – I have a shoulder problem that sometimes makes using a keyboard difficult.  (Rochdale NHS Physios working on that!)

Flu Pandemic Status in Diocese of Manchester reduced to Amber

Hurray!  The status of the flu pandemic alert in the diocese has now been reduced to Amber, so we can return to Communion in ‘both kinds’ – wine is back!

Lay assistants should consult the new rota here.

Sunday School & Family Service Dates for rest of the year

Sunday School / Family Service dates here.

September Parish Magazine

The September edition of the Parish Magazine can now be viewed at, or downloaded (as a .pdf file), from here.

Latest on the Flu Pandemic

The lastest update from the Diocese (yesterday) can be found here.

Walls of Jericho?

 At some time between nightfall on Sunday 16 August and daybreak on Monday 17 August: 23 feet of the churchyard boundary wall alongside the footpath between Back Hursted Road and St James Street was demolished.  Anyone who heard the sound of trumpets during this time should contact the Vicar.