Disciple

The Newsletter of

MCC Manchester

Sunday 1st June 2008

Welcome to this newsletter and to the ministry of MCC Manchester.  If this is your first contact with us, know that you are welcome.  You can take part in our ministry through attending our worship services or mid week meetings, or by using the various resources on our website.  You can keep in touch with us in person, by email, or by text.  It is our prayer that our people grow as committed disciples of the Lord Jesus. 

Today's Service marked the start of a four week sermon series based on clips from the hit American TV series The Simpsons.  The Simpsons is a satire on modern American family life, they care for each other but are dysfunctional, they are always fighting but, at the same time love each other deeply.  Today we looked at the family and how they try to muck in and bear each others' burdens when Homer looses his job.  The Church is also a family with both good and bad points, often dysfunctional but always trying to care for each other and always trying to do the right thing. 

Thanks.  Thank you for your generosity last week.  37 people attended last week and gave £131.00 in the collection.  We also received £120 in our second collection for Nokuthula in South Africa.    This is on top of the £1200 or so a month that is given directly to our bank account via standing order. 

We Welcome Denise McDowell the director of the Immigration Aid Unit (www.gmiau.org) tonight.  She is here to collect the £800 we raised for the Unit during our Lenten Smartie tube fundraiser.  We also give a small monthly donation to the Unit out of our general funds.  All the money we give goes to their Legal Welfare Fund which provides legal representation and advice to people who do not qualify for legal aid.  You can read on their website about the type of cases they take on - go to the "success story" page. 

More About Asylum  What happens when you meet someone who has fled their country to seek refuge in the UK? What happens when that person becomes your friend and needs your help? Drawn from real life conversations, Asylum Dialogues explores the everyday encounters between asylum seekers and British people, encouraging us to challenge our own preconceptions. June 17 - Liverpool @ Quakers Meeting House, 22 School Lane, L1 3BT @ 6:30 for 7pm. Tickets £5 on the door. To book email: liverpool@iceandfire.co.uk

Prossy Starts Her Campaign to stay in the UK

Over recent weeks we have been blessed to get to know Prossy who is from Uganda.  She fled to the UK 8 months ago and whilst the Home Office accept she is lesbian and has endured horrific treatment they seem to think it would be safe to return to another town in Uganda where she is not known.  This ignores the fact that homosexuality is illegal all over Uganda, the press conduct witch-hunts for gays and lesbians and one needs a reference from one's former village or town to settle into a new one.  We know the huge difference that Moses' campaign made to him and helped get his eventual successful decision to stay in the UK.  You can find out more information about Prossy's campaign on our website.   Please sign the petition, take a copy and get your friends to sign, take a flyer and give to friends or work colleagues so they can get involved - remember to return flyers to us and any response you get from your MP or the Immigration Minister!

Emmaus Group This Week

Our mid week group, Emmaus, meets at Margaret and Gwen's home in Altrincham from 7.30 on Thursday this week.  Email Andy for more details. 

Sexuality Studies Course

We now have 15 people from all over the UK coming to the Sexuality Studies course at Sedgley Park in November (9^th - 13^th).  The course will look at various aspects of human sexuality and pastoral responses to them.  Worship each day will integrate the themes we are learning and it is a wonderful course for anyone who wants to know more about the integration of spirituality and sexuality, those who do any form of lay pastoral work in church and those who may be considering training for ordination.  The cost is £235 residential or £100 non-residential.  Food costs are not included but the canteen at the centre is subsidised.  More details on our website.  We are expecting four or five people from MCCM - so if you want to come you will know some of the participants already!  Andy will be teaching the course along with Jane Clarke from MCC Glasgow.