I am always happy to celebrate the fruitfulness of God’s creation at Harvest Festival, and to include our calling to care responsibly for the world in which we have been placed. Harvest Festival at St Luke’s is on 4th October…………….
When Jesus called his friend Simon a new name, Peter, or Rocky, he also said ‘on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not overpower it’. Jesus wanted his disciples to build his church. He saw church as a group of people who would be added to. Building houses seems to be a constant theme in our part of the world. Building the church of God is the permanent theme of Jesus’ call to his people.
It is time for holidays and rest and refreshment. But any good holiday is helped by the expectation of good things when we return. A time away is sweeter if we know there is something worth looking forward to when our normal pattern of life resumes. So it is that we announce our plans to do The Romans Course at St Luke’s this Autumn.
Trinity Sunday is 31st May this year, and we will mark it, because it is more important than ever that people understand why we worship the one true God in three persons. The Holy Trinity is the fulness of God. This may be a challenge to wrap your mind around. But there are different ways of getting there.
This year has been a very encouraging time for our fellowship groups. In January we did a Questionnaire, to help us make plans and see who might be interested in joining a new group. In February and March we started four new groups. In April, I called a meeting of Fellowship Group Leaders, as for the first time we had enough leaders to merit a meeting. It was a very positive time which started with lists of who was in each of our groups. Eighty One people! Our Small Group numbers have doubled in 6 months.
The first Easter is the biggest moment in the work which Jesus came to do. On the cross where he was executed, Jesus’ final words were ‘It is finished’. His work was complete. His death on the cross had clinched it.
That is why Easter is the time when Christians have the most to celebrate. Jesus completed what he came to do. At the age of 33, he had fulfilled the plan which he received from his Heavenly Father.
A few months before, once Jesus’ followers had come to the point where they correctly acknowledged who he was, this plan was clearly outlined. So after Peter said ‘You are the Christ – God’s King’, Jesus said it is time to tell you the plan.
In January 2026 St Luke’s had a Questionnaire on Small Groups.
The results have encouraged us to try four new groups, one already started and the others starting in Lent. One of the new groups will be a Church Book Group.
Meeting every 6 weeks (about twice a term) on Weds. evenings the Book Group will seek to encourage the reading of Christian books, and some Bible books, and maybe some thoughtful articles.
Have you ever written a poem or a song? Maybe to express your joy at a wonderful turn of events. Maybe to express your sorrow at time of grief. I have heard many poems read out at funerals by grateful daughters, sons, or (more likely) grandchildren. They want to express their heartfelt thoughts at such a life-changing moment…….
November is the month of the year when we remember the importance of death and dying in our national life and in our local parish.
In the parish, we recognise the need of many of us to recognise the great value of loved ones who have died. On Sunday 2nd November at 4pm in St Luke’s Church, we hold a helpful straightforward service to remember….
With the nation, we gather on Remembrance Sunday 9th November in St Luke’s at 10am to recognise the great value of sacrifice given and loss endured by those who contributed to the war effort in WWII and in armed conflicts and terrorist acts since then….
October is a special month for the life of St Luke’s Church. As well as the Harvest Festival on Sunday 5th October (with services at 9 and 10.30am), on Sunday 19th, we will have our Confirmation Service conducted by the Bishop of Stockport, Sam Corley, in St Luke’s (10am).