50p

October 2015 Issue No: 259

GETTING READY FOR OUR

GOLDEN JUBILEE

THE MESSENGER

The Monthly Newsletter of St Michael’s,

Plas Newton, Chester

An interesting programme of events has been worked up by the Jubilee Working

Group and PCC.

Saturday 17th (Church Hall)

from 2pm to 6.30pm -

Exhibition of photos and memorabilia

Memories : Open Mic time at 3.30pm

Children’s activity : upstairs from 4.00pm

Golden Tea party : at 4.30pm

Celebration in song with the Deo Gratias

choir : at 6.00pm

Sunday 18th (Church)

Morning worship (preacher Andy Bull) : at 10.00am

Community Hog Roast on the front lawn: at 12.30pm

(inside if wet)

Evening worship (preacher Ian Hobbs): at 6.30pm

Plus-

Mini exhibition in Kings Way Café all week

Jubilee Photo Directory

History booklet “Fifty Golden Years”

Welcome to all, past and present.

Come and invite your friends.

Confidence

in Jesus

Invitation for

everyone

Plans for the weekend of 17th

and 18th

October

“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good: his love endures for ever!”

(Psalms 106, 107, 118 & 136)

Charles II. His contribution to the Book of

Common Prayer is The General Thanksgiving

which you can find just before the Collects,

Epistles and Gospels.

Over the weekend of 17 and 18 October, we are

celebrating 50 years of life and ministry at St.

Michael’s with a full programme of events and

special services. These are set out in full in

another part of the magazine, but on the Sunday

morning, we welcome Andy Bull, Vicar of

Bredbury, who grew up here at St. Michael’s

some years ago. The same evening, we

welcome Ian Hobbs as our guest preacher. He

was curate in charge at St Michael’s from 1980

to 1984. Finally, on the evening of 25 October,

we are delighted to welcome Bishop Keith to

St. Michael’s. He will encourage us and challenge

us as we face the next 50 years.

October also sees the return of one of our

Mission Partners, Iris Ho. Iris arrives home on

19 October and will be living in Vicars Cross. It

is more than three years since Iris left us, and it

will be good to see her and learn more of her

language progress and plans for the future.

A busy month, then! Busyness of course, is not

the same as fruitfulness. But if we celebrate

with our focus on the Lord of the Church, we will

be encouraged and challenged afresh as we

recall all that God has done, continues to do, and

calls us to do in the future here at St Michael’s.

Rob

Dear Friends

It might be getting colder, and the nights are

drawing in, but OCTOBER at St. Michael’s is

FULL of events and celebrations. It’s almost

TOO much to bear in one month, but let me try

and whet your appetite.

We give God thanks for the Harvest on 4

October. This is a very old event in England,

with lots of contemporary applications and

challenges. We will gather for All Age Worship

at 10am when our speaker will be Martin Jones.

It will be a great opportunity to bring a friend,

and refreshments will be served after the service

as usual. In the evening at 6.30pm, we will be

involving different members of the congregation

in a “Harvest Songs of Praise” service. Again, it

will be relaxed and informal, a good opportunity

to invite someone to come with you and the

goodness of God will be proclaimed faithfully and

clearly.

On Sunday, 11 October, at 6.30pm we worship

the living Lord using the words of the 1662 Book

of Common Prayer, with traditional hymns

played on the organ by our friend, Dennis Jones.

Our guest speaker is Fane Conant, who was

formerly Vicar of Kelsall. Fane is a gifted

evangelist, but he also has an intriguing link to

the Book of Common Prayer through a relative

from centuries ago! Edward Reynolds was the

Bishop of Norwich from 1660 (two years before

the Prayer Book was written) until he died in

1676, and his daughter married a Conant. They

were Fane’s grandparents 8 generations ago. As

well as being a Bishop, he was made chaplain to

THE

VICAR

WRITES

MY LIFE AND MY FAITH

This month’s ‘My Life and my Faith’ features

Margaret Barker, who grew up in what is now

South Manchester but was then leafy

Cheshire.

Margaret Goulding, daughter

of Arthur and Ada lived in

Heald Green (just down the

road from this writer!) and life

centred around St Catherine’s

Church, the church she was

eventually to be married in.

This cheerful little girl really

enjoyed her school, Etchells

Primary, Cheadle and

continued to enjoy her

education at secondary school

with Geography being her

particular love. At the age of

fifteen, Margaret left school and moved into

the world of finance. Her first job was in the

actuarial department of the Refuge Assurance

office in Manchester. Six years later she

moved to the accounts department of

Reynolds Chains where she worked on the

latest electronic accounting machines,

forerunners of the early computers.

In her early twenties, Margaret met John who

lived not too far away in Knutsford. Friendship

grew into affection, then love and marriage.

Their faith was very important to them and

they worshipped regularly at each other’s

churches. They married on February 7th in

1959 at Margaret’s church. They lived briefly

in Knutsford but John’s work soon brought

them to Plas Newton Lane and they have lived

in the same house ever since, some 56 years.

In the first years they worshipped at Hoole but

as soon as a congregation started meeting at

Plas Newton they joined in. They attended the

opening and dedication of the new Church Hall

in 1965 and have worshipped there ever since.

They would say that the friendships they made

then have proved to be lifelong

– a gift from God. Worship is at

the centre of their life and will

remain there for ever.

Soon the family grew as Alison

came along in 1966 and Paul

rapidly followed in 1968. As a

family they loved to get away

for holidays. They really

enjoyed being under canvas at

the church camps and for main

holidays staying in cottages in

or around the Lleyn Peninsula

which is still their favourite

area.

When the children were old enough to go to

school, Margaret started working at Woodfield

Infant School (sadly now gone) as a mid-day

assistant with the reception children. She also

got involved with school trips, residential visits

and other activities. She stayed there for 30

years and retired when 67. However the

school couldn’t cope without her and they

talked her into returning for another three

years!

To close, a few words from the lady herself-

“My faith is central to my life and the close

friendship of the Church family has carried me

through all the good times and the difficult

times, in particular, when John had recent

medical problems. The certainty that God has

made a place for us with Him ensures I can

carry on from day to day, living in Him.”

Garry Scargill

Margaret’s Journey from Heald Green to Plas Newton

TWO WORLD FIRSTS

Ken Lewis and his co-author Trevor Dennis held

a launch of their book “The Circle of Peace” in

St Michael’s in early

September before a full

house. Many people

came from our own

church as well as many

local churches, including

the Cathedral where

Trevor Dennis had been

a Residentary Canon for

many years.

The book appears to be unique in that a

practising Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and a

Theologian have co-written a book on this

important subject in the field of mental health.

This was the first “First”. Ken and Trevor

explained how the book had found its origins in

a fortuitous discussion whilst they were

together on a church visit to Russia back in

2009. They went on to illustrate the thrust of

the book in a stimulating and entertaining

presentation, involving Ken expanding on the

acrostic P-E-A-C-E, and Trevor

applying Peace to a personal story.

There followed a dramatic

presentation entitled Re-Dressed

(by Les Ellison and very movingly

acted by him and Julie). This was

the second “First”.

The programme also contained

some brilliant live input from an ad

hoc jazz band of local ‘home’

musicians “The Depression Session”, whose

vigorous input included foot-tapping versions of

“What a friend we have in Jesus” and “Amazing

Grace”.

This memorable evening began with the Town

Crier, and ended with a signing session as book

purchasers fittingly sought to have their copies

autographed.

An unusual book launch at St Michael’s

THE CIRCLE OF PEACE : AN ANTIDOTE TO DISTRESS

A résumé of the book

Many of us go into each new day with a vague sense of apprehension. Worry, depression, low

self-esteem or a sense of hopelessness prevent our lives being all they could be. How, we

wonder, may we move into the freedom and peace that Christ holds out to us?

This reassuring book, full of engaging stories, has been written by a

chartered psychologist and a priest with a distinguished teaching and

pastoral ministry. Through practical exercises, The Circle of Peace

enables us to understand where the discomfort we feel may originate;

it encourages us to alleviate our pain by being courageous enough to

experiment with small but beneficial changes. Above all, this

compassionate book communicates the healing truth that encountering

the love of God frees us to love our neighbours and ourselves as we

should – in the full enjoyment of God’s exhilarating company.

[Published by SPCK: 2015 (ISBN 978 0281 072118) £10.99]

Can I commend to you two “Chester Bible Focus”

evenings on 6 and 7 October (7.30pm at All Saints,

Hoole), when the speaker, Wallace Benn, will

address issues of Church

Leadership from Acts 20 and

Hebrews 13? In one of his

books, Wallace addresses

critical questions for any church

today; “What kind of leaders

does our Lord and Master want in

His church? His priorities should

be ours, not the latest fashion, or

old tradition, or the pressing expectations of 21st

century people.”

Wallace was Ordained in Chester Cathedral in

1972 and served as Curate at St. Mark’s, New

Ferry and St. Mary’s, Cheadle before becoming

Vicar of Audley, near Stoke and Harold Wood in

Essex. He was made Bishop of Lewes in the

Diocese of Chichester in 1997 and served there

until his recent retirement.

He is President of the Church of England

Evangelical Council, and founding Chairman of

the “Bible by the Beach” Convention in

Sussex. He is a well-known and enthusiastic

Bible teacher, and is involved in events like

Chester Bible Focus on a regular basis. His

research interests include the work of the 17th

century Bishop Usher.

Wallace is married to Lindsay and they have

two children and one grandchild. Outside

Bible teaching, Wallace enjoys supporting the

Ireland Rugby Union team and watching

motor racing. He will lead four sessions about

“Church Leadership” from Acts 20 and

Hebrews 13. Good leaders are vital in a church

in danger of drifting. But what sort of leaders

should they be? And what sort of church

leadership actually builds the church? Everyone

is warmly invited to come and benefit from what

will be two challenging and encouraging

evenings.

*Rob says, “ And I can vouch for Wally (as he is

familiarly known): he was my best man when

Esther and I were married at St Mark’s, New

Ferry in 1982.”

A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED CHESTER BIBLE FOCUS

50 YEAR MEMORIES

As a young couple with no children, the Blackmores arrived in

Kingsway West in late 1964. The first church person to greet us was

Joe Burrows the curate, who warmly invited us to All Saints, and

then, shortly after, equally warmly, invited us to help in the Sunday

School (Christine) and Pathfinders (David). Christine took up a

teaching job at Woodfield School in the weekdays, and on Sundays she began to teach at the

Sunday School which had just started up. David took on the older group of six (mostly boys) who

formed the first Pathfinder class, which took place in the dining room of Pinetops, on Coniston

Road.

But memories don’t work for us for the grand opening in October 1965 of the Dual-Purpose

Church Hall, All Saints, Newton, as the church was called, quite a mouthful! Christine’s excuse

was that she had by this point a new-born babe in arms, our first son James (now, yes, just 50

years old himself). So she has no recollections at all. As for David, being unaware of the mid

October date, he had organised the young Pathfinders to go on a day-out to a big teenage

celebration event in Manchester that same afternoon: no contest for them!

So while between us we can remember all sorts of people and events over the next 50 years, we

draw a complete blank on the big opening day of our church. Sorry about that!

Rob Peters specially recommends* the next speaker

The big news is that the Café is, from early

September, open again on Saturday mornings.

The computers are getting regular use.

Other news is that there are still job

opportunities available for volunteers (see or

chat to Tina 07866 058181).

A nice memorial plaque has just appeared on

the bench opposite the Council drop-in office, to

honour the memory of Steven Jones. Steve was

well-known in our café, but died earlier this

year.

THE KINGS WAY CAFÉ NEWS

ST MICHAEL’S NEWS

Our newest Church Warden

We are delighted to

record the appointment

of Liz Jones as our

Church Warden to work

alongside Judith Green.

She was elected by a

Special Church meeting

after morning service on

Sunday 2 August. And

then on 29th August she

was formally admitted to

the office in a meeting with the Rural Dean (as

the Archdeacon was on sabbatical). Welcome

Liz, and we look forward to your term of office.

PreSchool Manager vacancy

A qualified and enthusiastic person is needed

to manage our Pre-School as Ali Jones moves

on at the year end. We are looking for

someone with qualifications and experience of

working with children in an early-age setting.

They must have had at least some supervisory

experience as well as an active Christian faith.

Application forms are available from Jackie

Hockley in the Church Office (tel 315129). The

closing date for applications is 13th October.

Patches and Zenaida news

Patches’ licensing in Ferndown, on 1st

September, did not take place as planned due

to a technical problem with his work permit. At

the time of going to press there is no new

news from Patches and Zenaida. They remain

in Ferndown, waiting to discover what happens

next.

Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan (a young member of St. Michael’s)

begins a course of Applied Theology at

Moorlands College, Christchurch, Dorset, this

term. He will be based largely on the Isle of

Man, where he has been working for the past

two years, and will be travelling to Dorset for

several weeks for intense study each year. We

hope to interview Jonathan at a morning

service early in November.

Church @ Prayer

We meet for prayer at Church (not café) at

8pm on Wednesday, 14 October (the date was

changed because of Chester Bible Focus the

previous week).

Clocks

British Summer Time ends this month and

clocks should be put BACK one hour before

going to bed on Saturday night, 24 October.

Clergy duty

Rob will be off duty from 26 October until 4

November

PCC

The PCC met on Monday 21st September.

There were reports on Children and Youth

work and one from the Fabric committee. The

question of Safeguarding was also discussed. A

full report of the meeting can be found in the

minutes on the noticeboard in the hall.

From the Registers

Baptisms

Hallie Rebecca and Theo Archie Pearson,

of Ann Close, Ellesmere Port, baptised 26

July.

Daniel Karl McLeod, of Thirlmere Road,

baptised 16 August.

Jake Isaac Alexander Davies, of Craithie

Road, baptised 6 September.

We welcome these young ones in the

name of Christ

Sun (4) TRINITY 18 - HARVEST

8.00am Holy Communion

10.00am All Age Harvest

Service

- Martin Jones

6.30pm “Songs of Praise”

for Harvest

- Rob Peters & the

Congregation

Tue (6) 7.30pm Chester Bible

Focus

Wed (7) 7.30pm with Wallace Benn

(All Saints, Hoole)

Sun (11) TRINITY 19

10.00am Holy Communion

- Alison Linfield

6.30pm Evening Service

(Prayer Book)

– Fane Conant

Tue (13) 11.00am Standing

Committee Meeting

Wed (14) 8.00pm Church @ Prayer

(Café)

Thu (15) 9.30am Vicar and Wardens

Meeting

Sat (17) 8.00am PCC Prayer

Breakfast

2pm onwards 50th Anniversary

Celebrations

Sun (18) TRINITY 20 –

50th ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY

8.00am Holy Communion

10.00am Morning Service

– Andy Bull, guest

speaker

12.30pm Hog Roast on the

church front grass

6.30pm Evening

Celebration Service

-Ian Hobbs

Mon (19) am Iris Ho returns to

Chester from

Central Asia

7.30pm PCC Meeting

Sun (25) Last Sunday after TRINITY

10.00am Morning Service

and Baptisms

- David Blackmore

6.30pm Holy Communion

– with Bishop Keith

VICAR: Rev Canon Rob Peters 319677

St Michael’s Vicarage

22 Plas Newton Lane

Newton, Chester, CH2 1PA

Email: rob.peters@tiscali.co.uk

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATOR:

Andy McConville 07813 874849

WARDENS:

Judith Green 372162

Liz Jones 325322

DEPUTY WARDENS:

Graham Cooper 316746

Estelle Byrne 341774

PCC SECRETARY:

Alison Pantony 380962

TREASURER:

Mary Webster 343981

HALL BOOKINGS:

Mary Webster 343981

CHURCH MAGAZINE: David Blackmore 323494

CHURCH OFFICE: 315129

BOOK KEEPER:

Fiona Prichard (Mon & Tues) 344276

Email: finance.stmichaels@gmail.com

CHURCH SECRETARY:

Jackie Hockley (Thurs & Fri) 347860

Email: office@stmichaelschester.com

Open for enquiries: Mon & Tues 9.30am –3.00pm Thur & Fri 10.00am—5.30pm

WEBSITE: www.stmichaelschester.com

FOR YOUR INFORMATION ...

DIARY DATES – OCTOBER