Earthquake appeal

Earthquake appeal

The devastation and casualties of the terrible earthquakes in Syria and Turkey continue to increase and relief aid and support for the injured and survivors are still urgently needed.

Thank you to everyone who has already given to the relief efforts in Turkey and Syria by whatever means. The Earthquake Appeal bucket at the back of church for cash donations has raised over £400 for Barnabas Aid which has local links to help affected Christian communities in remote areas and the Community Choir has donated £100 to the British Red Cross relief efforts.

February 2023 letter

February 2023 letter

We are people living in a culture which is hampered by the over-influence of feelings…….

Making decisions based on feelings usually ends up with us choosing the easy way out. In these ways, following our present feelings is often not good for our long term welfare……

The Apostle Paul said: ‘For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do…’ (Romans 7:18,19). He framed this in the middle of a clear analysis that we humans are too influenced by our sinful nature. And even when we know the right thing we ought to do, we end up being influenced away from that, and towards the bad thing we know we ought to avoid. We have a bias: our sinful nature tends to compromise our good intentions, and indulge our worse side.

That is one of the reasons we need Lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday 22nd February. We use the 7 weeks of Lent to train ourselves in this important thing: not letting our feelings win the day!

Christian Aid Lent 2023

Christian Aid Lent 2023

For the first time since the Pandemic, the HC Christian Aid Group is pleased to run Lent lunches in St Luke’s Church Hall to raise funds to help those in great need around the world.

The Lent lunches will be served in the Church Hall on Friday 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th March only, from 12 noon until 1.00pm at a cost of £5 per head, payable at the door.

Each of the lunches will be followed by a Music Recital in St Luke’s Church, starting at 1.15pm. Admission is free but donations to Christian Aid can be made at the church.

Genesis update – Jan 2023

Genesis update – Jan 2023

Thank you for all your support and encouragement with the Christmas services which were so well received.

Genesis meets on Sundays normally at 10am in the Church Hall continuing until 10.45am. We then join the congregation in the church service to share our learning with them, for prayers, a short sermon and for singing. The service finishes around 11.15am so we can all leave together to enjoy fellowship over a drink and biscuit back in the Church Hall.

The Spring term programme up to Easter is shown below.

MU Epiphany service 2023

It was lovely to see about 28 members, including several from Sandbach Heath and Brereton, turn up on a very cold, snowy day for our Epiphany service and party on Wed 18th Jan.

Canon Rob conducted a Communion Service for us, and reminded us of the importance of Epiphany. After the service he enrolled his mother, Margaret McLaren, as a member of
the Mothers’ Union.

Nativity Service 2022

Nativity Service 2022

A big thank you to our 18 children from Genesis for bringing the Nativity to life for us and for helping us focus on the true meaning of Christmas in our service in St Luke’s church last December.

Christingle and Crib services 2022

Christingle and Crib services 2022

Thank you to everyone who helped make the two Christingle and Crib services on Christmas Eve such a success as St Luke’s shone in candlelight.

Each service was supported by over 200 people and over £450 was raised for the work of the Children’s Society.

Praying together – Epiphany

Praying Together @St Luke’s, Holmes Chapel during Epiphany

O Lord, open our lips and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
From the rising of the sun to its setting your glory is proclaimed in all the world.

Epiphany Collect:
O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:
Mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith, may at last behold your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen

January 2023 letter

January 2023 letter

Happy new year!

It helps us to split up time. We have a new month and a new year because it helps us to mark the passing of time. Our memories are helped by the framework of months and years. And our appreciation of longer history is helped by markers as well.

Our knowledge of English history is helped if we have a memory of the Kings and Queens which name the eras of history…….

The same is true of the Bible. The Old Testament is largely a narrative which covers events over the two thousand years before Christ was born…….