You are here: Home · News Latest News Happy New Year from CathA Happy New Year to you all!
The beginning of 2012 and I wonder what it has in store for us.
Here in the parish I know there will be lots of new and exciting things happening along with some of the traditional, well loved and preserved events that occur year on year, but even these will take on different perspectives depending on the circumstances of the times – and that’s how it should be. Nothing stays absolutely the same because we all change, too as life moves on.
One of the new things that we shall be doing is starting a Sunday school group called “The Ark” on January 8th at 9.50am in church. This is for children aged 3yrs – 11 years and should be exciting for all the children who come. There’ll be activities, music and songs as they learn about God’s love for them and hear some of the stories about Jesus. They will also be able to share some of the things they do with all of us at the 10am service on the fourth Sunday of the month which will have a strong focus on the work of our young people in future.
Another new thing will be the 8am Holy Communion service which will start again as a regular monthly service on the second Sunday of every month starting on 8th January – Epiphany Sunday. We shall use the Book of Common Prayer at this service as we always used to. So, although this is new, it is also retaining some of the good traditions that have grown with the church over the years.
We shall be exploring new ways of drawing closer to the other Anglican churches in the area this year beginning with a meeting of our PCC with the PCC of Christ Church Davyhulme to see whether there are some things we could do well by working together. Our first meeting will be at the end of January so we shall see where that takes us. We are also hoping to repeat the very successful Festal Evensong that we held in November by bringing the five local churches together again, for our choirs to join forces and share again the experience of a larger choir to lead the worship.
The choir has been busy over the past few months and there are plans for another concert with Flixton Brass Band later in the year along with many other special musical items that we shall learn and use in our worship.
The other big plan that we have is to make a start on the next phase of the Roof Restoration. This depends on grant aid so please keep this and all our plans in your prayers. I believe that God will equip us for the tasks we have ahead and that we shall have the courage and strength to continue his work in the parish and the neighbourhood.
We are his hands at work here, so it’s up to us to pray for his love and support in all we do at St Clement’s as we venture into the unknown territory of 2012!
With every Good Wish for a Happy and Peaceful New Year!
Cath
 Christmas FairThe Christmas Fair was a great success again this year with lots of stalls and good things to buy, a café in the hall and mulled wine in the Parish Church. We raised the magnificent sum of £3.600 which will help us maintain our church and all the activities and outreach that we undertake in the community. The children certainly enjoyed meeting Father Christmas who brought with him extra helpers this year including an elf who had a great time greeting all the children before taking them through to see Father Christmas in the grotto.  Highfield Primary School Carol ServiceChildren waiting excitedly for the service to begin.  Our Christmas TreeThe candleight service at 6pm on Christmas Eve is when we officially light up the tree. At this service children create the Nativity scene in the arches of the altar and we hear again the story of the birth of Jesus and sing the carols to celebrate His coming among us. The church is always packed for this service so come early and join in our celebrations. |
