May 2005 Dear Friends, This month we celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon all the believers in Jerusalem and it is often regarded as the birthday of the Church. What we often fail to realise is that the Holy Spirit is God's gift
to every believer and to the Church as a whole to empower and equip
us for ministry. Yours sincerely in Jesus' Name, Malcolm Convery
RESULTS OF ELECTIONS The Churchwardens to serve the Parish of Onchan for the forthcoming year are- Mr Peter George CORY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL Mr Gordon Astill, Mrs Carol Bairstow, Mrs Christine Sanders, and
Mrs Valerie Watterson Our GUEST PREACHERS this month are: May 8th 6.30 pm Eric Quirk (Braddan) In addition Ian Smith the Northern Team Leader of CMS will be giving an illustrated talk in the Parish Hall on Monday 16th May at 7.45 pm entitled: A Case of Confidence (Stories of Christians who live in the Bible Lands today). This will be followed by a finger buffet. ALL WELCOME (N.B. CMS AGM precedes this meeting) This is an opportunity to learn about our brothers and sisters in Christ living as minority groups in a difficult part of the world and this will help to inform our prayers for them. NEW DAYLIGHT BIBLE READING NOTES The next issue of the New Daylight Bible Reading notes for May-August, 2005 are now available at the back of Church priced £3.15. Using daily bible reading notes can give structure to our bible reading, and encourage us to look at books of the bible we may otherwise avoid. The commentary accompanying each reading helps us to look afresh at readings we have become familiar with and perhaps give us a different perspective. As well as bible readings and commentaries from a variety of contributors, there is also a magazine section including articles, book extracts and reviews. If you are going away this summer, New Daylight will enable you to carry on with daily bible readings without taking along your bible. So why not give them a go – you never know what God might be waiting to tell you! THANKS WILF but thankfully not goodbye! MOTHERS' UNION The afternoon group met on two occasions in April, the first to hear Mr Derek Winterbottom speak about the Governors of the Isle of Man. The ladies where joined by Canon Stella Vernon our Provincial President who had just arrived to take part in our Festival Service the next day. Our next meeting was both highly entertaining and informative – Mrs Alison Foster showed us how to 'Praise Him on the Tambourine' with two of our members learning to use the tambourine. The evening group had as their guest this month Mrs Valerie Convery who spoke about her life in a talk entitled "If Teacups could Talk". It was good to see so many ladies from both groups at our annual Festival Service and enjoying fellowship, friendship and food together at the end of the afternoon. LADIES FELLOWSHIP Over twenty members met at Ballannette on the evening of 20th April and some (not so energetic members) enjoyed a stroll around the lakes whilst the others had a more energetic walk around the nature reserve. Barbara Clague then welcomed us into her beautiful home for a wonderful supper of sandwiches, cakes & biscuits and a very welcomed cup of tea. Our next meeting on the 4th May is our AGM and members are asked to bring along something for the buffet supper which will follow the meeting. PCC News in brief from the meeting on Thursday 10th March, 2005. The Vicar opened the meeting by welcoming everyone, with a bible reading and prayers. Absent members had given their apologies and the last meeting minutes been approved. Dates notified from correspondence were Sunday Afternoon Civic Sunday 22nd May, 2005 and the village fair Saturday 9th July Trafalgar Fair at the Stadium. Peter Cory took us through a presentation of accounts for the year, before they are presented at the AGM – they were approved. Issues for the PCC Away Day were discussed and approved the Vicars booklet but it was felt that as there were quite a few members missing a full PCC discussion would be held at a later date. We approved new sites for new notice boards for outside the Church. Nigel gave a report on our Church Buildings – the one project that
will affect everyone is the Church entrance is converting to a disabled
access and work starts 23rd May all being well. PCC members approved to sponsor Carol Bairstow who embarks on her reader’s course next September (2 year course). Rogation Sunday is the 1st May, and the Choir will give a concert in Church during the Flower Festival on Monday 4th July. A Church picnic will be held on Sunday 15th May after the Sunday School Anniversary on the Church green. The Vicar left the meeting as we had some finances to approve which Nigel and Peter took us through. It was a very congenial meeting and finished by all saying The Grace
together. CHRISTIAN AID Just one week each year, perhaps only a few hours of your life over a couple of evenings. So, could you find the time to join our collection effort? Could you smile, perhaps offer a friendly word and say "thank you" on behalf of Christian Aid? Last year, St. Peter's collectors visited three-quarters of the homes in our area of Onchan, with tremendous results. Since then, some of us have become unwell and others have moved away, although three replacements have joined us, to take over a few roads. As I write, we've volunteers to visit half of the homes. So, we need lots more help and I'll be 'recruiting' in Church on
Sundays Our presence on Onchan doorsteps is just one small example of St. Peter's Christian Outreach, both here and abroad. We're collecting for a specific Manx-funded project to provide wells, clean water, sanitation and hygiene training in ten drought-affected Ethiopian mountain villages, where cholera and fatal diarrhoea are rife and soil erosion brings yet more problems. Christian Aid will be working on-site near Lalibela, in partnership with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Eric Foster, Christian Aid Co-ordinator SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY & PRIZE GIVING Prizes to be presented by Mrs Macfadyen ALL AGE WORSHIP SERVICE WHEN: An Evening of Flower Arranging by Mr David Rushton of Peel St. Peter's Parish Church Wednesday 18th May, 2005 Tickets £5 (includes wine/nibbles) FROM THE REGISTERS BAPTISMS Amber Elizabeth Kevan, WEDDINGS Nairn Watt & April Benson Funerals Ian Oliver Edge, Pamela King, OFFERTORY The offertory for March totalled £10,494.52 and was made up of £7,062.37 pledged giving and £3,432.15 of loose plate giving which included £1,380.71 Easter Offertory. Thank you. |
