Right to your computer!

Finding relevant and real-life ways of connecting with the bible are important. I use a computer a lot and have my bible loaded onto a computer. Another colleague I know has his loaded onto a palm pilot so he has it easily to hand along with his phone and diary so it is mixed in with everyday life not kept separate for Sundays or special occasion reading!

By clicking on the title above 'Right to your computer' you'll be taken to Christ Notes...

Christ Notes are something you can sign up to for free and get daily or weekly chunks of the bible emailed directly to your computer in a translation of your choosing. They have a good selection from Living, New Revised, King James, Revised and more...I think it's an ordinary, practical way of weaving in bible with life and helpful for those who are into making use of 21st century technology as a tool for God in a good way.

At St. Mark's United Reformed Church including messychurch we are finding different ways to get with God's stories and stories of God's people in the bible as well as in our world locally & globally. We re-present and take part in storytelling together but it is still not something we all find easy or regularly do outside of worship gatherings on Saturdays and Sundays.

It is one of my great passions and priorities to find many and varied ways of getting with the Bible through reading, listening, remembering, re-telling, dramatising, taking part, and sharing together and separately. There are lots of questions we have about the Bible as ordinary people making church together in Wythenshawe - how was the bible put together, what didn't make it into the bible, why did some people choose certain books over others, who decided the books of the bible went in what order, why are there so many versions of the bible in English not just one we all have in common? And LOTS more!

Hopefully Vision4Life (the United Reformed Churches process of renewal and regeneration of church in the UK) will enable us to make more opportunities to explore these together and see how they make a difference to how we live, how we worship and work as a church in Wythenshawe and grow Christ's church here.

Update on St. Marks Food Project

Tom, Phil, Betty & myself and some children have been working hard at the joint allotment between Go Create (Wythenshawe Community Initiative) and St. Marks United Reformed Church Food & Allotment Project.

We have harvested some of the first rhubarb crop and shared it out incuding with Tree of Life Centre community cafe who will use it for yummy puddings!

We've also planted yellow & green courgettes, lettuce, potatoes and spring onions which seem to be settling in and growing nicely. We hope the slugs don't enjoy them too much! Tom also made up a hanging basket for cherry tomatoes which he loves!

Also at the allotments were Parklands High School who helped pick and share the rhubarb too and have taken some home to cook with their families!

There are lots of weeds but in amongst them are 4 strawberry plants surviving and even some gooseberries and blackcurrents...we'll see what comes from them later in the year.

When we cut back the weeds we were aching but it was great to meet with allotment-holders from around Woodhouse Park who are growing different things - Portugese cabbage! We're from different countries around the world and sharing knowledge about what grows well here. It is a great way to meet people, enjoy the sunshine and work together to make a difference here...highly recommended as a conversation starter!

The Spirit of Life!

'We believe in life before death'

It's the strapline of registered UK charity Christian Aid. 11th-17th May 2008 is Christian Aid Week in the UK and the people of Wythenshawe have been generous in their efforts so far. Through a civic centre bucket collection a couple of days ago a small team of volunteers raised over £636 from the general public in a day! Wonderful! It is much needed at this time with spiraling violence in Zimbabwe and aid supplies needed for Burma after the devastating cyclone last week.

Thankyou all for your Spirit of Life this Pentecost. Goodness is stronger than evil, love is stronger than hate. It is clear that the people of Wythenshawe believe in life before death for themselves and for the peoples of the world and that is a great spirit of solidarity and generosity at work amongst us; the Holy Spirit who is God.

If you have not been able to make a donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee then just click on the Spirit of Life title which will take you to the Christian Aid website where you can make an online donation to go to support those most in need at this time. Please be as generous as you are able.

Concern at Zimbabwe violence

St. Marks United Reformed Church has a big vision - a world of peace with justice through peace-building locally and internationally. Some of us have signed petitions and sent postcards and letters during the last month regarding the situation in Zimbabwe and in support and solidarity with them in their political elections, locally and nationally.

In our recent local elections in the UK we experienced calm and order in voting, counting and publishing the results. Please pray for Zimbabwe's people including the government and the opposition who have been voted in. May there be an end to violence and a transition to a new government of the people as the voters have chosen. Please share this joint statement from both the United Reformed and Methodist Churches:

The Methodist and United Reformed Churches have together voiced their concern about increasing levels of violence and political intimidation, linked to the delay in announcing the result of Zimbabwe’s presidential election.

Commenting on the precarious situation, the Revd Dr Stephen Orchard, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, said: ‘The Zimbabwe Election Commission owes it to the long-suffering people of Zimbabwe to announce the presidential result without further delay, to enable people to begin the urgent task of rebuilding their shattered lives and economy. We condemn the campaign of violence and intimidation that has been embarked upon by members of the ruling party, following the announcement of the parliamentary election results. We also believe that people who hold power in any country have a first duty to care for the poor and vulnerable rather than for themselves’.

Reflecting on the escalating humanitarian crisis, the General Secretary of the Methodist Church, the Revd David Deeks, said ‘The impact on the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans has been immense. The people of Zimbabwe appear to have voted for change and the leaders of Southern African states bear a huge responsibility to ensure that the will of the people is respected. If that doesn’t happen, the crisis in Zimbabwe could have an increasingly devastating impact on the entire region’.

The two churches expressed their solidarity and support in prayer and action with their partner churches and agencies in Zimbabwe and pledged to continue working together to achieve peace, justice and prosperity there. They illustrated the plight of Zimbabweans with statistics, including:

INFLATION In 1987 inflation averaged 11.9 percent. It surged to an official record of 100,586 percent in January 2008, but economic experts say the real rate is much higher.

LIFE EXPECTANCY Average life expectancy dropped from 63 years in 1990 to 37.3 years in 2005, according to World Bank and U.N. figures.

UNEMPLOYMENT Estimated at about 80% of the working population.

To donate towards Christian Aids emergency fund for Zimbabwe click

http://www.christianaid.org.uk/stoppoverty/powercorruption/zimbabwe/zimbabwe_elections.aspx

Please use this or Christian Aid information, particularly during the coming Christian Aid Week 2008 to highlight the situation in Zimbabwe and give generously if you are able.

Baptism Celebration

Congratulations to Allana Page who was baptised at St. Mark's United Reformed Church on Sunday 20th April! There's a new beginning for Allana and her family as they continue to settle into life in Woodhouse Park and are now part of a worldwide family - the church. At St. Mark's we believe in sharing life together and making a difference in the communities we're part of by expressing our Christian faith in relevant ways. At baptism we mark the beginning of the journey of sharing our faith in Jesus Christ with Allana and we're looking forward to learning from her about what matters to her and her family too.

Many thanks to all her family and friends who are supporting her with love and prayers and by example so that she will come to make her own Confirmation of Christian faith. Blessings to all 8 of Allana's Godparents who travelled from across the UK to be with her on her unique and special occasion. It was lovely to have so many people sign Allana's giant canvas Baptism Card - a new tradition at St. Marks for all our baptisms - it's now filled with blessings, hopes, prayers and names of many who were at the celebration.

We look forward to welcoming guests and family and friends with Allana when you are in the area again in the future and to seeing Allana and Ben again at the monthly messychurch soon.

Street Pastors in Wythenshawe in 2009?

Churches Together in Wythenshawe are looking for Christian people to become Street Pastors in Wythensawe in 2009 and commit to it in 2008! Street Pastors is the church in action on the streets. It is an inter-denominational Church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and dialogue. It was pioneered in London in January 2003 by Rev Les Isaac, Director of the Ascension Trust, and has seen some remarkable results, including drops in crime in areas where teams have been working.There will also be a Church Leaders event with Rev Les Issac in Oct 08 in Manchester, at a central venue, to learn more about Street Pastors.

A team of at least 15 people is being gathered together of Christians in Wytheshawe to begin training on 15th February 2009 and every 3rd Saturday of each month (except August 09) for 1 year. Street Pastors commit to going out on the streets in trained teams for one night a month in agreed areas.

Currently there are 39 Street Pastors in training in Manchester, including two Christians from Wythenshawe Churches, who will join new teams already established in Moss Side, Longsight and Gorton. There are also two new teams who are launching in North Manchester in May next month.

If you would like to know more about this exciting venture then visit http://www.streetpastors.co.uk/ or contact Revd Kate Gray at St. Mark's United Reformed Church in Wythenshawe.