Rev Elder Diane Fisher – visiting MCC Manchester – 27th to 28th February 2010

We are delighted to announce that one of our elders, the Rev Diane Fisher, will be with us over the weekend of 27th and 28th February.

Diane is a Canadian who pastored one of our churches in Canada before being elected as a District Co-ordinator (under our previous structure).  She served our churches in Canada and the North East of America.  When we changed our structure she was elected to be an elder for roughly the same area in North America and also for Eastern Europe.  Following the redundancies of two elders last year, Diane was asked to work with the churches in our Region.

Diane will be holding a meeting for the northern British MCCs on Saturday 27th from 3pm to discuss new structural proposals for how the wider denomination (not local churches) are organised and we hope to be joined by fellow MCCers from our churches in Glasgow, Newcastle and Birmingham.

All are welcome to this meeting and we will provide more details as soon as we have them.

On Sunday 28th Diane will be preaching for us.  Please note the date in your diaries.

Two church members receive awards from T3SC

Ian Gregory (left) and Philip Jones (right) receive Certificates of Significant Contribution for the work of the Proud Tameside LGBT Network at the AGM of the Tameside 3rd Sector Coalition.

Two of our members, Ian Gregory and Philip Jones, Vice Chair and Chair respectively of the Proud Tameside LGBT Network, were honoured to receive certificates recognising the significant contribution of the Proud Tameside LGBT Network to the local community at the Annual General Meeting of Tameside 3rd Sector Coalition on 14th October 2009.

The group also featured in T3SC’s Annual Review for 2008-9 and was regularly mentioned in various presentations about the year’s activities.

It was truly rewarding to see the Group affirmed in this way and the Proud Tameside members hope it will strengthen their activities for future years.

Prayers requested

Andy says: “Thank you for praying for my friend Elaine; her mum is still critically ill but her own personal health is improving.”  

We’re also asked to pray for Ross, a friend of Stephen Harte (one of our further flung members) in Edinburgh.  Ross has his Viva (oral exam) on his PhD in financial mathematics on Thursday.

Sponsor Duncan on his 12km walk for Oxfam on 5th April 2009

Duncan is taking part in a sponsored 12km walk for Oxfam in Tatton Park on Sunday 5 April, starting at 10.00am. Its aim is to raise money for a classroom.   Please don’t be shy in offering Duncan money for this!

Outstanding Service Award 2007 – John Foulds

It was with great pleasure that the Board of Directors, at this evening’s Annual General Meeting, awarded the Outstanding Service Award for 2007 to John Foulds in recognition of his quiet yet highly appreciated work across a wide range of ministry areas.

On many occasions, John has shown himself to be a safe and willing pair of hands whenever something needed doing. He has been a supportive and listening ear for many who have shared their concerns with him, while he himself has been struggling with the pain of leaving behind a life which was bringing him to his knees, both physically and spiritually. John came to us needing much love, and has responded by showing much love to others.

And so, while the award in previous years has generally been given in recognition of particular notable projects or achievements, the Board were delighted this year to acknowledge the many ordinary yet important ways in which John builds up our church as a place where the love of Jesus is to be encountered. And we regard these gifts as worthy of celebration.

People News – 17th June 2007

Nola and Davinia celebrate their Civil Partnership on Saturday 23rd June followed by a service of blessing in church at 3.30pm which Andy will be taking. Be sure to pass on your congratulations!

Jenny-Anne and Elen will be staffing a stall at the Sparkle celebrations for TG folk in Manchester next weekend, and our service on Sunday 24th will have a Sparkle theme!

Eddie is moving to Cambridge where he has a new job and a new house. He moves in the next couple of weeks.

Please pray for

• Neil as he negotiates with his new school around the possibility of a part time job,
• for Masoud, and Hermione his solicitor, as a fresh asylum application is made for him,
• for the civil servants dealing with Farzad’s claim,
• and all who work at the Immigration Aid Unit.