In the next week or two...

M.A.N. (Men’s Adventure Network) on Monday 13 October, a bunch of blokes meeting to talk about the important things of life and faith over a pint, 8.15 pm at the Navigation Pub. Any bloke is welcome.

tbc pop group is visiting All Saints’ Church, from 6:30 pm to 8 pm on Friday 17 October; contact Dan Williams or Phil Alston.

Marple Bible Society invites you to a concert by the North Shropshire Methodist Youth Choir, 7:30 pm on Saturday 18 October at Marple Methodist Church; donations for the work of the Bible Society.

Churches Together Justice & Peace Group is holding an evening event on How To Shop Ethically, 7.30 pm on Monday 20 October at St Mary’s Hall, Marple Bridge.

The Trustees of CHARIS Marple invite you to a Celebration of Thanksgiving, a farewell service for Andy Settle on Wednesday 22 October from 7 pm to 9 pm at All Saints’ Church.

All Saints’ Praise, 7.30 pm to 9.45 pm on 30 October at Manchester Cathedral with guest speaker Rev Erick Delve; entrance free. See the notice board in All Saints’ link corridor.

Roger Preece’s induction as Vicar of St Mary’s Church, Bowden will take place on Wednesday 10 December.

See also St Paul’s Harvest Festival.

Start!

All Saints’ Church on Monday evenings on 6, 13, 20 October and 3, 10 and 17 November at 8 pm.

Discovering Christianity in six small-group sessions.

Life! What is it like? Some say it's a dream, others call it a joke. Some describe it as a puzzle, and a lucky few enjoy the life of Riley.

Or you could picture it like a seaside theme park featuring:

• a roller-coaster - full of ups and downs

• a merry-go-round - always spinning, going nowhere

• a stick of candyfloss - looks great, but doesn't add up to much

• a view from a deckchair as you watch the world go by

If you've got questions about life and the Christian faith and are looking for answers, then why not make a Start!

Start! is a six-session course designed to help people discover the basics of the Christian faith.

Normally run in groups of six to ten people, each session involves watching a couple of short DVD programmes, followed by time to talk, listen and ask questions. Sessions last roughly eighty minutes.

It costs nothing, the course is free.

Contact the Church Office or Lis Wilson 0161 427 1255 for more information or to take part.

All Saints’ Walking Group

There will be a walk on Saturday 11 October from Hathersage to Stanage Edge and Higger Tor, a distance of about 7½ miles with an ascent of 1200 ft. Meet the All Saints’ Church car park at 9.30 am. Come prepared for wet conditions and bring a packed lunch.

Contact Shelagh Stokes 0161 427 7563 or Brenda Beardwood 0161 449 9816.

Gift Day 2008

Harvest is traditionally the time when God's people have brought a special offering to God, in addition to their regular gifts, as a token of their gratitude to Him for His generosity and provision. We have chosen this season to advertise this year's Gift Day that will take place on Sunday 19 October.

We like to use this offering to invest in God's work beyond our own church and community. This year everything that is given will be shared equally between two projects, The Potter’s Village and Reflex Prison Ministry.

The Potter’s Village

This children's project in Kisoro, SW Uganda, has emerged from the vision and ministry of Jenny Green, one of our Mission partners. The centre for abandoned babies has already saved the lives of several children and the project provides an environment in which babies, destitute children and pregnant teenagers can receive practical and medical help, encounter God, and be equipped for life.

Current urgent needs, in addition to the ongoing cost of childcare include:

• Proper laundry facilities

• Salary for an administrator

• A vehicle for the project's use

Further details can be found on the project website and we are very much looking forward to the visit of Jenny Green to Marple on Sunday 12 October.

Reflex Prison Ministry

This partnership between Youth for Christ and The Message Trust is an exciting outreach into local prisons in the North West of England. Reflex teams are involved in evangelism, discipleship, creative arts and restorative justice programmes with some of the most broken and hopeless young people in our area. They have many stunning stories to tell of young people who have found new life and new hope through these programmes and whose lives have been completely transformed through an encounter with God.

Several members of our own church are involved in prison ministry with the Reflex teams and regularly help out with leading worship and helping with the Sycamore Tree restorative justice courses. Coming into contact with young people who might otherwise be 'unreachable' the scope of the ministry is held back only through lack of finance. Supporting Reflex is one way of enabling many of the least and the lost to find new life and new dignity in Christ, and to re-enter society with a new sense of purpose and determination to live differently.

Click here to listen to Simon Sullivan on the work of this project.

One World Market

Marple United Reformed Church, Hibbert Lane is holding a fundraising event on Saturday 18 October from 10 am to 12 noon in support of Feed The Minds selling charity Christmas cards and gifts, and collecting old tools for Tools for Self Reliance and old mobile phones for recycling.

Coffee and lunch served, £5.50 (adult), £3 (child).

October GLOOT

The October Edition Of GLOOT - the free ads paper where everything is free - will be out on 19 October so please have a rootle around to find any items that you want to advertise in it. If you do have any suitable GLOOT offers or wants please send them in by Tuesday 14 October. Email your item or service wanted or offered to the Church Office or to penny @ ribskill.co.uk.

Remember GLOOT reaches out into our community in many ways and is an easy way to start talking to folk so please help to make the October edition a fruitful one. If you’ve never seen a copy of GLOOT before please take a copy of September GLOOT away with you – there are spare copies of the September GLOOT outside All Saints’ Church office

Contact Penny Ribbeck 0161 427 1393 or 07811 566647.

God’s Garage

God's Garage is a small emerging church community for people who have felt let down by traditional church structures, and those who don't feel like they fit within traditional church environments. The group is aimed at, but not exclusively for, people who have been involved in gang cultures, particularly those who have been involved in motorcycle clubs.

It meets every Tuesday at Vernon Mill in Stockport and is having an open day on Sunday 19 October between 2 pm and 5 pm; free coffee, tea and home-made cakes are available.

All are welcome to come and see what we do, meet some of the people who belong and find out how you can support us. See God’s Garage or speak to either Howie Pickering 07739 188001 or Jon Duncan-Rees 07917 730868.

Open House

You are invited to an Open House at the home of Jo and Barry Lovell, 10 Vernon Drive, Rose Hill, Marple on Wednesday 22 October between 12 noon and 7 pm.

Heather Thorpe will also be with us and will have her large and wonderful range of Phoenix Cards available for purchase. Jo and Barry will have a selection of "Heavenly Gifts" items available. Free tea, coffee, biscuits, fun and chat will be included. 15% of all sales will go to the Potter’s Village project.

Contact Barry or Jo Lovell 0161 449 8463.

TGIF quiz

Teams of four compete for prizes in the TGIF Quiz at All Saints’ Church on Friday 24 October starting at 8 pm. Tickets (£5) from In the Greenwood, 16 Market Street or the Church Office include a pizza supper - bring your own bottle. Proceeds to Find a Cure for Martha and the Potter’s Village in Uganda.

Café theology

Would you enjoy sitting discussing theology over a cup of coffee? The interns do this each week on a Wednesday afternoon from 1.30 pm in All Saints’ Prayer Room, and would like to invite anyone else interested in doing so to join us.

Contact Liz Shercliff 0161 449 0890.

Shoebox appeal

You may like to make up a box with your cell group, or how about inviting your neighbours around to put one together over a cuppa and chat? Maybe you don’t want to fill a shoebox yourself but would like to donate some small gifts for the appeal, still take a leaflet so you know what is needed and put the items in a bag to leave by the office.

We’re not sure yet where the local depot is for sorting the boxes, but they are usually in great need of volunteer help and it’s great fun helping.

Contact Sheila Holt 01663 766046 (evenings) at the beginning of November for more details.

A short DVD is also available (no videos this year).

Please bring your filled shoeboxes back to All Saints’ Church by 12 November.

Women’s Breakfast

Saturday 8 November 9.30 to 11.30 am

Come and enjoy a fabulous continental breakfast with real coffee and great company at the Romiley Life Centre for only £2.50.

You will also have the chance to think and talk with others about our habitual ways of reacting to one another that we wouldn't mind changing. Overreacting and flying off the handle; being over-sensitive with a tendency to take things personally; minimising and suppressing negative feelings - you name it - we do it. For tickets and more information contact Nadine Parkinson 0161 449 0950 or nadine.parkinson @ ntlworld.com.

Pantonic All Star Steel Orchestra

Norbury Church Men’s Society present the Pantonic All Star Steel Orchestra in concert in aid of Tree House, Stepping Hill Hospital, 7.30 pm on Saturday 8 November at Norbury Parish Church.

Tickets £4.50 from Norbury Church Office 0161 483 6325 or Mr G Egginton, 30 Dean Lane, Hazel Grove.

18+ cell group

The 18+ group can usually be found in one of Marple's fine drinking establishments contributing to the economy and thinking big thoughts out loud. They are a cell group - think Dead Poets' Society but with bibles - who love to meet together and enjoy themselves.

They believe that most people want to know if there is more to life than 70-odd years of ups and downs... if you're lucky. Their big questions are “do we believe in God”, “does He believe in us” and if so, “what difference does it make to our lives?” Join them for half a shandy and a chin-wag sometime.

Contact Andy Patrick 07878 912053 or Chris Nield 07941 043206.

Wondering how and where to serve god?

One of our core values is that we are all involved in the life and ministry of the church. For various reasons you may be wondering how and where at this time you should be serving God. Maybe you want to get more involved in the life of the church; maybe you sense God is leading you into something new; or maybe you want to review the areas in which you are currently involved.

On three Sunday evenings (2, 9 and 16 November) between 7 and 9 pm we will be running the SHAPE course in the church hall, starting with worship in church at 6.30 pm. This will be an opportunity to explore how and where you might serve God at this time. If you have done the course before you may enjoy a fresh look at the material.

Contact Nadine Parkinson 0161 449 0950 or Joan Brown 0161 427 8757 to find out more.

Churches Together Autumn Gathering

Mellor Parish Hall, 7:45 pm on Wednesday 19 November

We invite people from all our churches to come together in worship, to hear about the work of Churches Together in Marple and District (CTIMAD) and to share in our vision for the future. The evening will include reports from various groups with coffee and cake.

Contact Marian Thompson 0161 427 7254.

The pastoral fund, the credit crunch and rising bills

From Bruce Perrin

“If you help the poor you are lending to the Lord.” Proverbs 19:17

As you will have seen on the news over the past few months, and noticed in your own bills, the cost of living and borrowing money is rising sharply at the moment. For some people in the church, as well as many outside it, this has already led to some significant difficulties, and things are likely to get worse before they get better.

All Saints’ Church has a pastoral fund which is used at the discretion of the ministers to assist people in need, giving bursaries for specific needs, providing food and clothing or assistance in paying bills, showing God's love in practical ways. Each year a percentage of the church’s income is put into the pastoral fund but the fund is also open to specific donations from members of the congregation and, simply put, the more money we have in the fund, the more people we can help.

We, as members of the body of Christ, are called to give generously to those in need. One of the hallmarks of the early church in Acts 2 was that 'people sold their property and possessions and shared their money with those in need' (v45). Could I invite you to consider whether you are in a position to contribute to this fund, to help others in our community that are struggling at present? And if you are struggling, please do let us know, so that we can see what we can do to help you.

Worship Central UK Tour 2008

24 October, World Harvest BC, Salford Quays, M50 2GF

A night of worship and teaching to empower the local church hosted by Tim Hughes and Al Gordon. Doors open at 6.30 pm for 7.30 pm start. Tickets £5 from Worship Central.

M.A.N. {Men’s Adventure Network}

Adventuring in Faith, Life, and the World

M.A.N. on Mondays

Second Monday of the month (except February and May) in the Navigation at 8:15 pm.

Date		Theme
8 September		Nooma - kickball
13 October		David and Bathsheba – don’t stand alone
10 November		My life
8 December		Nooma – Noise

Contact Bill Riley 0161 427 6306, slim @ smackdown777.freeserve.co.uk, or Bruce Perrin 07914 211376, Bruce.Perrin7 @ ntlworld.com.

M.A.N’s other events

Date		Activity
29 November		Men’s Breakfast at Marple Golf Club £6.50 Too old to be a professional footballer

Contact Marcus Naidoo 07739 257816, Marcus @ marlinwebservices.com or Bruce Perrin 07914 211376, Bruce.Perrin7 @ ntlworld.com.

See also M.A.N.’s focus and activity schedule 08/09.

See also

St Paul’s coming events

Mid-week meetings

Walking Group website