Disciple

The Newsletter of

MCC Manchester

Sunday 11th May 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 Pentecost.  We recalled the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first disciples filling them with power to spread the gospel, and looked at how those disciples were transformed, freed from fear and sent out on mission.  We too have this same Holy Spirit working in our lives freeing us from all that we fear, filing us with energy to spread the gospel and transforming us into the people God wants us to be.    

Sacred Space Service on Tuesday

Our fortnightly Sacred Space service takes place on Tuesday at 8pm in the social room - access via the side door on Anson Road.  There is a common theme to each of the four types of Sacred Space Service: time for quiet reflection, gentle music, prayers led gently, a time to pause, meditate and enjoy God's presence, all providing a form of worship different to what we offer on Sunday afternoons.  We change the format of the service sometimes offering Holy Communion, sometimes sacramental anointing, sometimes a reflection and, like this week, a time of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.  We have a short time for refreshments afterwards too. 

MCC Bournemouth

Hosted our moderator, the Rev Elder Nancy Wilson and had 44 people for an uplifting service where Nancy preached and was treated to MCC worship at its best.  She also spent time with Dwayne and with the Board of MCCB and was greatly impressed by their energy, enthusiasm and strategic vision for the future ministry of their congregation.  We will be seeing Dwayne again for our Pride service on the August bank holiday weekend as he is coming to work with us on the stall over the weekend and preach for us at our Sunday service. 

Social

We are off to Tai Pan for a Chinese meal after worship on 25^th May - the next Bank holiday weekend.  This restaurant offers a set meal for around £15 which has more choices the more people opt for it.  We will be ordering the set meal  - and getting drinks at the bar to keep the bill simple.  If you wish to come please let Elen know - or drop Andy an email. 

Film Club

22 people came to our first film afternoon at the police college yesterday.  We watched Cecil B DeMille's 10 Commandments, which despite being rather long, had amazing scenes from an age before computer generated graphics.  The scenes, in particular of the Jews leaving Egypt and crossing the Red Sea must have taken some organisation to film!  The cost of £10 covered the hire of the room and a marvellous hot buffet.  We hope to offer a similar afternoon in the Summer, possibly a sing along Sound of Music.  We will keep you informed. 

Regional Conference

Every other year we have a conference for all our congregations in our region - which covers Western Europe and Africa.  The conference will be held in Birmingham this year between 6^th and 9^th of November.  No further details are yet available - despite requests for this info.  If you wish to go you may find it more cost effective to book into the Travelodges in the centre of Birmingham  the conference will take place in a URC church in the city centre. 

Sexuality Course in Manchester

After Regional Conference we are hosting the "Introduction to Sexuality Studies" course here in Manchester.  Andy will be teaching this along with Jane Clarke from MCC Glasgow.  The course looks at many different areas of human sexuality, how we integrate our sexuality with our Christian faith, and is a useful course for anyone who is involved in any form of ministry in MCC - those who befriend, those who listen to others as well as those who may like to preach or train for ordained ministry.  The cost is just £100 on a non-residential basis, or £235 for residential.  The class runs from after worship on Sunday 9^th until Thursday 13^th.   Booking forms on our website - we are expecting four or five from MCC Manchester and a total enrolment of around 20 people. For more details speak to Andy.