Mid-week activities
Cell groups
A number of cell groups started in September last year. These are groups that meet in people’s homes, providing an opportunity for pastoral care, nurturing, and outreach. Though the format varies there is generally time for fellowship, bible study and prayer. Each group is encouraged to develop prayer links with our overseas missionaries and support a staff member. They are also encouraged to pray for their local area and school. Ian Parkinson, the vicar, has oversight of these groups and meets regularly with the cell group leaders.
Contact the Church Office
See also Anglican Cell Church Network.
Listen to Tony Hardy’s talks on Cell Church.
Alpha courses
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Alpha is an informal 10-week course (7-week course at St Paul’s) which aims to provide a place for people with questions about spiritual things to take a fresh look at those big questions in the light of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Alpha is for everyone. It particularly caters for:
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Looking at such topics as How can we experience God? What lies beyond death? How can I learn to pray? How can I get to grips with the Bible? each Alpha meeting begins with a simple buffet meal, followed by a talk and discussion over coffee. The course is quite free (though donations are invited to cover the cost of the meal each week) and very informal.
Alpha is for:
Anyone interested in finding out more about the Christian faith. People of all ages are welcome
Learning and laughter. It is possible to learn about the Christian faith and have fun at the same time
People meeting together. An opportunity to get to know each other and to make new friends
Helping one another. The small groups give you a chance to discuss issues raised during the talks
Ask anything. Alpha is a place where no question is regarded as too simple or too hostile
Contact the Church Office if you are interested.
See uk.alpha.org for details of the national organisation.
Opportunities to pray together
At All Saints’ we believe, along with John Wesley, that “God does nothing but in answer to prayer.” For this reason, we reckon that praying for the needs of our church and community and praying for the advance of God’s Kingdom and the growth of the Gospel are key priorities. There are a number of ways in which church members gather together for this purpose but there are also daily gatherings for prayer to which anyone is welcome.
The All Saints’ Staff Team meets each day during the week, other than Friday, to pray together at the following times (all in the Prayer Room at the back of the church):
Monday, 9 am to 9.30 am
Tuesday, 9 am to 9.30 am
Wednesday, 12 noon to 12.30 pm
Thursday, 7 to 7.45 am
These gatherings are open to everyone in the church family and we’d love to see more people coming along as we read Scripture, worship and pray together for the different mission and ministry activities in the life of the church.
Intercessors
Along with the regular prayer meetings, a group of intercessors commit themselves to pray for specific needs.
Contact Jill Taylor 
0161
427 8753
Art group
An art group takes place at the All Saint's centre each Monday and is open to anybody who is either experienced or fancies trying his or her hand at painting. There are two sessions:
Monday afternoon, 1.30 to 3.30 pm
Monday evening, 7.30 to 9.30 pm
The afternoon group is usually attended by up to 15 people at present, with 25 to 30 attending in the evening. The group is led by Arthur Pateman who is a fairly well-known local artist, and he is helped by Maggie and Eric Britten in the evening.
Arthur also runs a day of Painting with Prayer event each year at Whalley Hall.
Contact Arthur Pateman 0161
456 8993
Mothers’ Union
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Monthly meetings are held at 2 pm in All Saints’ church lounge, usually on the third Tuesday of the month, see Mother’s Union for the Mothers’ Union prayer, the purpose of the Mothers’ Union and for this year’s programme. |
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Contact Joan Andrew 0161
427 4628.
All Saints’ Mothers’ Union Prayer Group meets at 2 pm on the first Tuesday of the month at the home of Mrs Margaret Taylor, 20 Churchill Crescent, Marple.
See also www.mothersunionchester.co.uk
12.45 Lunch
A lunch is held six times a year on the second Thursday of the month with a visiting speaker. All ages are welcome and a crèche is available.
See 12.45 Lunch programme for this year’s programme.
Bell ringing
A team of ringers practise in All Saints’ Bell Tower each week on Monday evening at 8 pm.
Contact Pam Andrew 0161
427 4094
Flower arranging
Volunteers work each week to arrange flowers in church on a rota system.
Contact Muriel Parker 0161
427 2796
Church cleaning
Volunteer teams work each Friday afternoon to clean the church.
Contact Ena Thorpe 0161
449 9453
Walking group
The walking group meets on Saturday mornings every few weeks.
Contact Shelagh Stokes 0161
427 7563 or Brian Beardwood
0161 449 9816.
See also
