Disciple

The Newsletter of

MCC Manchester

Sunday 6th January 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 festival of the Epiphany and the end of the Christmas season.  We reflected through music, song, word and image on the visit of the Magi to Jesus and also of Herod and his dreadful reaction to a perceived threat to his power. 

This and That  Quest, the group for lesbian and gay Catholics, are holding an afternoon on prayer led by a local Priest on 2^nd Feb at 2.30 in the Friends meeting house. All female friends of Quest, including non-members are warmly welcome.   In May 2008, The Lesbian and Gay Foundation will hold Manchester’s first ever ‘Walk Against Homophobia’ in conjunction with ‘International Day Against Homophobia’ on the 17th May 2008’. If you would like to be on the planning committee of this unique event please call Emma Peate 0161 235 8012 and join the Lesbian and Gay Foundation in 'Ending Homophobia and Empowering People.'  Queer Up North are launching an appeal to encourage Arts Council England to reconsider their decision to cut it's funding, and continue supporting Queer Up North. An appeal against the funding cut will be submitted to Arts Council on January 15th, with the appeal considered on January 25th 2008.  The Lesbian and Gay Foundation in Manchester are to hold a film showing event on January 27 to remember those who were killed during the 20th century holocaust, specifically the gay minority.  Paragraph 175, is a documentary detailing the accounts and memories of gay survivors of the Nazi oppression and will start at 7pm, followed by a discussion and memorial service. To reserve a seat please phone 0161 235 8006.  We are off for a meal after worship next Sunday to Cromer restaurant in Chorlton.  Please let Jenny-Anne and Elen know you are coming.  We are having a special guest preacher on Sunday 4^th February, Hermione McEwen from the Immigration Aid Unit.  We will be raising funds for the Unit again during Lent this year – we have given over £900 to them so far – and Hermione will be speaking about the work of the Unit and where our funds go.  Please make sure you are here to listen to Hermione who is an excellent speaker. 

Thanks.  Thank you for your generosity last week.    24 people worshipped with us and the collection was £72.  This is on top of the £1500 or so a month that is given directly to our bank account via standing order.   Over 81 people attended worship with us during December!  This doesn’t include the 140 people who attended the Carol Service at the police college that Andy took nor the 110 people that came to a wedding in December! 

Congregational Survey  Over the next few weeks we will be conducting a congregational survey in worship.  We want everyone who comes to us to take part in this survey – whether you are here each week or just once a month, or even less.  We would like your feedback if this is your first visit or your 101^st!  The Board will be using the information collected to help plan for our year ahead. 

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