Bowdon Church News No 738 December 2021

Christmas – it’s quite a story!

“I don’t do Church normally, but this will stay with me forever, thank you”, said a man who had been clearly moved. “It was so peaceful in there, I just knew they were at peace, and I am too now”.

Replacing for a second year our usual Choral Evensong Service in memory of loved ones, the Walk In Candle Lighting held in St Mary’s on All Souls’ Sunday last month drew in over 200 people, who were deeply moved by an atmosphere of hope, healing and peace.

The visitors lit candles which they placed around the cross, wrote prayers and messages that were attached to the prayer tree and then sat for as long as they wished with their own thoughts and prayers, while they listened to beautiful music from the choir.

I have witnessed many memorable services over my 40 years at St Mary’s, but I will never forget the privilege of being alongside people on this deeply moving and spiritual occasion.

Sue Redford

All Souls’ Sunday - Walk In Candle LightingI imagine we’re all hoping like mad that this Christmas will be very different from last year’s. Last year’s lockdowns and restrictions reduced us to Zooming our family and friends, depriving us of all the cracker-pulling and glass-clinking and “Oh, you shouldn’t haves” on opening the annual five-

pack of socks from our nearest and dearest. We so missed being with one another.

But whatever the level of disruption to our festive season this year, once again the same timeless drama will invite us into the mystery and wonder of the events which give Christmas its name.

There are so many things about the Christmas story that I love and which convey the profoundest of truths. That the first witnesses to the arrival of the most important person in the universe should be rather smelly, commonly-thought-to-be-untrustworthy, shepherds proclaims the God of the grass roots, who values the lowly as much as the high and mighty. God, it seems, is shockingly available.

That God should be conceived as a human embryo, and grow in the womb of a teenage girl, trumpets the news that God bridges the chasm between him and us, knowing that we could never leap the other way. God could not identify with us any more completely.

And whilst Mary gets all the headlines for the miracle of Jesus’ birth, it is with quiet dignity that Joseph adopts Mary’s son into his own family tree, the line of David. The prophets of old, who foretold this ancestry for the Saviour of the world, dance with joy in heaven. The pattern is set. This Son of God has come to invite the rest of us to be the recipients not just of a birth certificate in a human family, but also the adoption papers into God’s Family.

But, for me, Christmas sounds its purest, profoundest, most penetrating note in just one word; an ancient name held ready across the centuries for the one who would be born to embody it, become it and bring it fully to life: IMMANUEL. A trinity word; three words in one. God. With. Us. A stunning, provocative, game-changing, unambiguously and breathtakingly precise self-designation. God is no longer aloof, unimaginable or incomprehensible. Born as one of us, he could not have disclosed himself to us more perfectly.

However and wherever you spend your Christmas this year, why not take a moment or two to allow Christmas to draw you into its story?

Revd Ian Rumsey, Vicar

For the BCN by email, click the link on the website.www.BowdonChurch.org

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Parish and Lettings Administrator Kay Holt admin@bowdonchurch.org

Bell Ringers David White (Tower Captain) bellringers@bowdonchurch.org

BCN Editor Hilary Gartside hilarygartside@bowdonchurch.org

St Mary’s, Stamford Road, Bowdon, WA14 2TR

St Luke’s, Vicarage Lane, Bowdon, WA14 3BN

Parish Office: 0161 929 1537

Parish Missioner (Youth) Sam Wilson youth@bowdonchurch.org

Churchwardens Patricia Arrowsmith patriciaarrowsmith@bowdonchurch.org Debi Green debigreen@bowdonchurch.org John Newton johnnewton@bowdonchurch.org Jo Howling johowling@bowdonchurch.org

Parish Recorder (Donations) Kate Stross parishrecorder@bowdonchurch.org

Director of Music Michael Dow music@bowdonchurch.org

Organist and Associate Music Director Roger Bryan organist@bowdonchurch.org

Parish Office admin@bowdonchurch.org 0161 929 1537

Vicar Revd Ian Rumsey ian@bowdonchurch.org

ReadersJohn Fenton john@bowdonchurch.orgKaren Wilsonkaren@bowdonchurch.org

Parish Missioner (Zone2) Julia Dow julia@bowdonchurch.org

The humble manger (photo: Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash)

(photo: Christine Weekes)

In conversation with Julia DowJulia Dow is the sort of person who people know in different contexts. I first got to know Julia in 2013 when she came to live in Bowdon with her husband, Michael, and their three children, working first as a part-time Parish Development worker for Bowdon Parish with pre-

school and primary aged children.

Now the leader of Zone2, Julia ensures that everyone who crosses the threshold of the Parish Centre on a Sunday morning - however tentatively - is made most welcome. Her view is that it is not for us to judge other people on their journeys of faith which, after all, develop at different rates. In fact, success should not be measured in terms of whether you get someone through the door of a church or not. She also sees it as part of her role to create space for other members of Zone2 to use their gifts and skills from which she readily admits she can learn.

During the week Julia works part-time as a GP at a practice in Brinnington, Stockport, where levels of social and economic deprivation are extremely high. With the arrival of the pandemic, most consultations switched to telephone rather than video or email as many of Julia’s patients do not possess a Smartphone. This has worked very well as patients often find it more convenient to

speak to a doctor or nurse on the phone, as they do not have to spend money on bus fares etc or have to allow a lot of time to get to the surgery, Close contact, however, has been retained with patients whose mental and physical health have suffered badly from the effects of the pandemic, and whenever necessary patients are seen face-to-face. With a strong team spirit at the surgery, morale is high, with daily Zoom meetings for all the doctors.

Julia also works as a GP at some of the men’s Category C prisons in Greater Manchester. Although the pandemic has increased levels of boredom among prisoners because they have not been able to do their jobs or attend education programmes within the prison, the prisons have at least become less violent places as inmates are mixing less. The mental health of anxious or nervous prisoners has improved as they are less afraid of the more violent prisoners.

Julia definitely sees common ground – a link - between the three groups of people with whom she works. She points out that the prisoners she treats were victims before they became perpetrators, and that we are all human beings - with all our faults. She points out that people from Brinnington or Bowdon or who are serving prison sentences are not so different from each other. We are all loved by God and we should, above all, treat each other with humility and without judgment.

Hilary Gartside

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year You are warmly invited to join us to celebratef

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Julia with Bruno Dow (photo: Michael Dow)

In their RE lessons last half term, students in Year 6 at Bowdon Church School considered how Jesus is Good News for Christians. Their teacher, Assistant Head Mrs Thompson, explained that the children - divided into small groups - worked their way through the alphabet, attempting to think up as many imaginative, colourful metaphors as they could. The end result – a collaborative effort– was “Love Jesus Love Life”, which is going to adorn the wall in one of the school’s large spaces.

I am delighted that we have been given the opportunity to print the poem here.

Hilary Gartside

Love Jesus Love Life

St Mary’s

8 am Holy Communion (BCP)5, 12, 19

December and Christmas Day

10 am Holy Communion5, 19, 26 December

Nativity Service in the Parish Centre TE 12 December

3 pm Christingle* (ticket only) 23 December

5 pm Christingle* (ticket only) Christmas Eve

11.15 pm Midnight Communion Christmas Eve

10.30 am Christmas Day Service for whole Parish Christmas Day

6.30 pm Evensong 5 December

Advent Choral Evensong 12 December

Nine Lessons and Carols* (ticket only) 19 December

Bowdon Parish Worship - December 2021

Please see attached postcard for details of services on 28 November and 2 January.

St Luke’s

10 am Holy Communion 5, 12 December

4 pm St Luke’s Nativity and Christingle* (ticket only) 19 December

Zone2

10 am

Zone2, which offers a more informal, contemporary service for adults and young people, meets in the Parish Centre

5, 19 December

Nativity Service in the Parish Centre

12 December

Designed by Ben Dean. Printed by Chapel Press, Stockport 0161 406 9495

An A-Z of Jesus by Bowdon Church SchoolJesus is Air; we need him to breathe,

And an Anchor stabilising us when we’re in choppy seas.He’s a Beacon too; illuminating the way,

And a Blanket as well, warming us on a cold day. Jesus is a Caretaker, looking after us like Mr G,

And a Dictionary, giving us the right words when we speak. He’s a Dove - he is peace - and an Eagle, soaring high,

He is an Eraser, rubbing out mistakes and not asking why. Jesus is Frosting; he makes life much sweeter,

He is the original GOAT* and definitely a keeper!Jesus is Glasses; he helps us to see,

He is Google too, providing wisdom for free. Jesus is Home, where we feel safe and secure.

He is Inviting and Inclusive; his love is 100% pure. Jesus is a woolly Jumper, comforting and cosy,

He is the Key to happiness and making life rosy. Jesus is a Lifeguard, watching out for us all day,

And a Lightbulb, indicating the right way. Jesus is a Miracle Worker, he performed great deeds,

He is a Never-Give-Upper, who plucks out life’s weeds. Jesus is the Nucleus, the centre of everything,

He is an Oak tree, standing strong against any wind. Jesus is an Oasis, quenching our spiritual thirst,

He is a Parachute, ensuring we don’t crash down to earth. Jesus is a Promise Keeper; upon whom we can always rely,

He is Quintessential, the most perfect ever guy! Jesus is Quartz, ubiquitous and strong,

He is the ultimate Resource, teaching right from wrong. Jesus is a Raft, a human life-saver,

He is the Salt of life, giving it flavour. He is a Therapist, supporting us when our emotional batteries are low,

He is an Umbrella, keeping us dry when life rains on us so.Jesus is Vegetables, we need Him for good health,

He is Water too, and gives us spiritual Wealth. Jesus is an X-ray - he knows us to the core,

He is Yeast, making us grow and be strong ever more. Jesus is Yin & Yang; he balances out life’s wobbles,

He is Yesterday, today and tomorrow. Jesus is a Zebra Crossing; with him there is never strife.

And finally, Jesus is the Zest - we love Jesus and we love life!*GOAT = Greatest Of All Time

The light of the worldThe Dutch artist Gerrit van Honthorst (1592-1656) painted his “Adoration of the Shepherds” in 1623 after visiting Italy where he was influenced by the Italian painter Caravaggio. Honthorst’s painting is remarkable in the use of light: the faces of the simple shepherds and Mary are bathed in light which comes from the crib itself. Indeed, the Baby Jesus is the source of that light, for he is The Light of the World.

This month we will use lights to remember the Nativity. In secular settings people will use them to decorate their homes and Christmas trees; in church we will use candlelight effectively in the Nine Lessons and Carols and Christingle services. These celebrations will be so poignant this year after all we have been through.

These are troubled times with the pandemic, climate change and the suffering of people in Afghanistan, Sudan and Myanmar in the forefront of our news. But the Light of the World is still with us to sustain us and give us courage to face the future.

Read: John 1 :1-14Rodney Jones

(photo: Sharonglasgow.com)

A heartfelt thank youThe letter printed below originally reached me during the summer, addressed to the Editor of the BCN, and readers might recall that it then appeared in the July/ August BCN, which was only produced online. As it was not, however, seen by many people, I am taking the liberty of including it in this edition. As you will see, it is not signed but I am sure speaks for all the regular attendees of the Coffee Cabin, which prior to the pandemic had been running for over five years.

“On behalf of the members of the Coffee Cabin, held at St Luke’s church hall on Monday mornings, I would like to give our heartfelt thanks for all the kindness shown to us during the months of lockdown and isolation.

‘Thank you’ Linda, Judith, Christine and Jean and all the others who have shown us such consideration.

We have been given seeds and bulbs to plant, a lovely Christmas parcel each and some scrumptious cakes, groceries from anonymous donors and fruit and veg. from the Church School.

All these things have been received with grateful thanks and

we look forward to us all getting together soon over our cups of coffee, sadly without our dear friend Mavis Weetman.

Once again thank you for all your love and kindness.

Yours faithfully

A grateful member of the Coffee Cabin.”

Rainy Days And Mondays The person who wrote the above letter clearly gets a lot out of the Coffee Cabin and missed it during lockdown. If, like 1970s pop icon Karen Carpenter, rainy days and Mondays really get you down, why not come along to the Coffee Cabin, which meets at St Luke’s Church on Vicarage Lane on Mondays from 10.30 am until 12 noon. The weekly raffle can be a bit dodgy, but you will get a lovely cup of tea or coffee (plus refills) and a toasted tea cake or croissant for just £1. You will receive a lovely welcome and will have the opportunity to make new friends if you wish, or just to meet up with old ones. Hilary Gartside

Christmas is coming!Bowdon Cares will be holding their annual Christmas event on Friday, 10 December. The venue will be St Luke’s Church, Vicarage Lane, Bowdon. Further information and tickets will be available shortly.

(This is the information as it stands at the time of going to press. HJG)

*Although Covid restrictions were relaxed nationally over the summer, at Bowdon Parish we are conscious of the need to protect more vulnerable or nervous members of our Church family and the wider community. For this reason we invite you to wear a face mask in our three places of worship – St Mary’s, St Luke’s and the Parish Centre. For the same reason, on account of their popularity, the events above which are marked with an asterisk are ticket only for which pre-booking is required, by contacting the Parish Office on 0161 929 1537 or by emailing admin@bowdonchurch.org Thank you.

The Reverse Advent Calendar is happening again this year! All donations will go to the Hope Centre in Partington. Copies of the calendar will be able to be collected from the Parish Office the first week of the month.