Disciple

The Newsletter of

MCC Manchester

Sunday 8th 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 second of a four week sermon series based on clips from the hit American TV series The Simpsons.  This week we focused on Homer, a man who is not overly blessed with intelligence!  His stupidity is now legendary and he can be astonishingly selfish and crass.  However, Homer, wants many of the same things we all do -  especially to feel loved.  In some episodes, where we see that he fears that his daughter or wife don't love him and we see his selfishness stripped away.  Today we saw Homer, lazy as ever,  realising that he can work from home if his weight is above a certain obese level. Despite warnings from his family he decides to eat his way out of work........We all are given gifts by God - Homer's ingenuity would fit into that category and are responsible for both using them and how we use them.  Homer misuses his gifts - which is sad and has consequences for himself and others.  We are called to both use our gifts and to use them wisely. 

Thanks.  Thank you for your generosity last week.  34 people attended last week and gave £118.50 in the collection.  This is on top of the £1200 or so a month that is given directly to our bank account via standing order.   

The World Council of Churches is asking Christians to pay for the peace of Jerusalem and suggests this prayer: 

Heavenly Father,   We give you thanks and praise for your gift to us of your only Son, Jesus - His birth in Bethlehem, His ministry throughout the Holy Land, His death on the Cross and His Resurrection and Ascension. He came to redeem this land and the world. He came as the Prince of Peace.  We give thanks to you for every church and parish around the world that is praying with us this day for peace.  The Holy City and land are much in need of peace.  In your unfathomable mystery and love for all, let the power of your Redemption and your Peace transcend all barriers of cultures and religions and fill the hearts of all who serve you here, of both peoples - Israeli and Palestinian - and of all religions.   Send  political leaders ready to dedicate their lives to a just peace for their peoples. Make them courageous enough to sign a treaty of peace that puts an end to the occupation imposed by one people on another, granting freedom to Palestinians, giving security to Israelis and freeing us all from fear. Give us leaders who understand the holiness of your city and will open it to all its inhabitants - Palestinian and Israeli - and to the world.  In the land you made holy, free all of us from the sin of hatred and killing. Free the souls and hearts of Israelis and Palestinians from this sin. Give liberation to the people of Gaza who live under unending trials and threats.   We trust in you, Heavenly Father. We believe you are good and we believe that your goodness will prevail over the evils of war and hatred in our land.  We seek your blessing especially on the children and young people, that their fear and the anxiety of conflict may be replaced with the joy and happiness of peace. We pray too for the elderly and the handicapped, for their well-being and for the contribution they can make to the future of this land.  We pray, finally, for the refugees in the various camps and abroad that they may reclaim their rights and return to their homeland.  All this we ask in Jesus' name. Amen

Social in North Wales

We are off to North Wales next weekend for a social day starting at Elen's home in Rhyl.  From there we will go and enjoy some of the beautiful places in North Wales.  For more details please see Elen. 

Prossy Starts Her Campaign to stay in the UK

Prossy fled Uganda and came to the UK 8 months ago. 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 oneâ€â„¢s former village or town to settle into a new one.  You can find out more information about Prossyâ€â„¢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 â€â€œ remember to return flyers to us and any response you get from the Immigration Minister!

Quiet and Calm Service IS CANCELLED THIS WEEK!

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.