1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Withington Methodist News
March 2015
SUNDAY WORSHIP
1st March
10.45
Barbara Schofield
18.30
Revd Ian Hamilton
10.45
Revd Jane Wild (Holy Communion)
18.30
Revd Ian Mutton
15th March
Mothering
Sunday
10.45
Vivien Wilkinson
18.30
Liz Stuart
22nd March
Passion
10.45
Sarah Rowe (All Age Worship)
18.30
Anne Wilde
29th March
Palm Sunday
10.45
Kenneth Whittaker
18.30
Revd Jane Wild (Holy Communion)
8th March
TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE FELLOWSHIP
A warm welcome awaits you at this devotional meeting for men and women of all ages and
denominations. Please check the location with the Church Office.
COFFEE/TEA AND BISCUITS SERVED AT 10:30AM (30P)
10th March
Ann Findlow
Astley, Manchester
Vivien
17th March
Tony Longshaw
Local Preacher
Ora
24th March
Revd Susan Rowe,
Circuit Minister
Vivien
31st March
Revd Ian Mutton
Holy Week Communion
At WMC
Dear Friends
Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and good works in
preparation of the celebration of Easter. The word Lent itself is derived
from the Anglo-Saxon words lencten, meaning "Spring," and lenctentid,
which literally means not only "Springtide" but also was the word for
"March," the month in which the majority of Lent falls.
Since the earliest times of the Church, there is evidence of some kind of
Lenten preparation for Easter. Lent becomes more regularized after the
legalization of Christianity in A.D. 313. The Council of Nicea 325. One can
safely conclude that by the end of the fourth century, the 40-day period of
Easter preparation known as Lent existed, and that prayer and fasting
constituted its primary spiritual exercises.
Of course, the number "40" has always had special spiritual significance
regarding preparation. On Mount Sinai, preparing to receive the Ten
Commandments, "Moses stayed there with the Lord for 40 days and 40
nights, without eating any food or drinking any water" (Ex 34:28). Elijah
walked "40 days and 40 nights" to the mountain of the Lord, Mount Horeb
(another name for Sinai) (I Kgs 19:8). Most importantly, Jesus fasted and
prayed for "40 days and 40 nights" in the desert before He began His public
ministry (Mt 4:2).
Therefore, the long-standing idea is that we take a bit more time to pray
and focus on God in preparation for Easter.
The Methodist Church Website suggests six short prayers for the Lenten
period.
It occurred to me perhaps we might find one a day Monday to Saturday
useful each week in lent (remembering that we worship together on
Sundays).
Monday
Lord, as we enter Lent help us to draw near to you in praise, stripping away
all that distracts us from worship. Amen
Tuesday
As Jesus resisted temptation by the devil in the wilderness, help us reflect
on his faithfulness to God, his rejection of worldly values and hold these
thoughts in our hearts throughout Lent and beyond. Amen
Wednesday
Jesus, you prayed and fasted. As your disciple, teach me about spiritual
discipline in my relationship with you. Amen
Thursday
Lord may Lent be a time of inward searching that makes me more able to
look with compassion at the needs of the world. Amen
Friday
Thank you Lord for desert experiences, when being confronted with myself
makes me realise my need of you. Amen
Saturday
Lord, you have guided us through the difficult days of Lent, encouraging us
along the way. We pray as we move towards the darkest day, that you will
not forsake us but remind us of our Saviour's ultimate gift and promise of
new, abundant, eternal life for all who believe and trust in him, your
precious son, Jesus. Amen
By adding the few moment each day in addition to our normal activity to
use these prayers we pay more to attention Gods love and forgiveness.
God Bless you
Jane Wild
Prayer Pod Planning
If you are interested in helping to plan our prayer activity for Holy week
please let me know by the 1st of March so we can arrange a meeting.
Interest and good ideas are all that is required.
Prayer concerns
We have a prayer list in our notices for immediate concerns. This is a
supplementary list of people and situations we continue to hold in our
prayers.
At this time, we remember the following in our prayers –
Glyn and Gay Parry, Sue Bateman and family, Revd. and Mrs. Ian Mutton and
family, Jacqueline Kirkby, David, Rachael, Anna, Sarah and Al Lowe, David
Young, Janice Clark, Michelle Shiel, Margaret and Ken Mullins, Revd. Colin
Powell, the family of Cyril Faulkner, Frank Marius, Gabriel Marius, Ros and
Bill Greenwood, Audrey, Doris Campbell, Rob and family, Mervyn Webster,
Ruth Golightly, Edmund White and family, John, Su-ing and Simon Shaw
others known to need our prayers.
Please continue to remember all those who are on our prayer list in the
weekly notices. Prayer slips are available (at the top of the stairs on
Sunday, and in the Foyer during the week) for anyone to request special
prayers for individuals and situations.
From the Editor....
A reminder to anyone who wants to contribute to the magazine, your
contributions are more than welcome and can be emailed to me on
withingtonmethodistnews@gmail.com or dropped into my 'mailbox' in
the Church Office. I will also gladly take suggestions and requests!
Contributions in by the 26th March please..
We are recording the magazine for anyone with poor eyesight, if you or
anyone else is interested in obtaining a copy please let me know – in
particular what format would be most useful. At present we have the
magazine available on tape and via mp3 on the website and are trialling a
CD version.
Recycling
We are still collecting Baby Food Pouches (such as Ella's Kitchen) and
non-savoury biscuit wrappers. The boxes are near the Church Office.
Please bring along and recycle!
The Towel and the Basin
by Revd. Ian W. Mutton
Demonax, the electric philosopher, so his biographer Lucian says, was no novice
when he entered upon his profession. ”He did not rush at it, as the saying goes,
“with unwashed feet”. Demonax was nurtured by the poets and philosophers
and trained to speak. David Smith in his book The Days of His Flesh writes:
“The Greeks had a proverb, which was apparently derived from the ritual
of the Mysteries and which, for much as the Mysteries were of Oriental
origin, must have been no less intelligible in the East than in the West.
They spoke of entering upon an understanding with unwashed feet, or in
precisely the same sense, with unwashed hands.”
The phrase means “without preparation”. When Christ took the towel and the
basin to wash His disciples’ feet, He was saying “You cannot enter the kingdom
of heaven unless you are prepared.” He impressed emphatically upon them: “If I
wash you not you have no part with me.” The towel and the basin are a
reminder that each one of us needs cleansing.
It is pride that needs to be washed away. Pride is the idolatry of self. You see this
in the disciples over who should have the chief seats when Christ came into His
kingdom. God gives to each person gifts, talents and skills. Pride claims them to
give glory to self rather than to the divine Donor. When the disciples gathered in
the upper room they all knew it was common courtesy for guests at such a meal
to have their feet washed. Everyone of the twelve expected someone to wash
their feet, each was too proud to take the towel and basin. You can just imagine
a disciple saying to himself: “Who do they think that I am that I should perform
such a menial task?” Although they knew Mary, sister of Martha, washed
Christ’s feet with her tears and anointed them with precious ointment as an act
of love for the Master, not one was prepared even to wash His feet. The towel
and the basin are a reminder that everyone needs to be cleansed from
selfishness.
Emptied of pride all need filling with humility. This is a preference to offer
submission to your Lord and your neighbour. As the apostle Paul put it a person
should “not think more highly of themselves than they ought to think” (Romans
12.3). The further from pride you are the nearer you will be to God. As ships
that are heavy laden sail lowest so the souls heavy-laden with humility are
lowly before God. The Lord Jesus was touched not when the Pharisee prayed: “I
thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, adulterers, or even as this
publican” but He was moved when a man fell on his knees, saying, “God be
merciful to me a sinner.” Christ removed His outer garment, took the towel and
basin, washing the feet of the twelve. These symbols are a call to humility.
Traditionally the Master washed the feet of Judas Iscariot first. He loved all the
twelve but He wanted to show the man from Kerioth that even though he was a
traitor He loved him still. So George W Bethane wrote:
Meek Jesus! To my soul Thy spirit lending,
Teach me to live like Thee in lowly love,
With humblest service all Thy saints befriending,
Until I serve before Thy throne above;
Yes! Serving e’en my foes, for Thou didst seek
The feet of Judas in Thy service meek.
The towel and the basin are a reminder to Christians that they should minister
to all, even their foes and the enemies of Christ. These symbols on the Lenten
Cross should also be a reminder that there is a right way and a wrong way of
rebuking those that err. The Saviour is most disappointed in the haughty
attitude of His disciples. He must have been watching to see who would take the
towel and basin to perform the menial task. As no one accepted responsibility
He did not enter into a bitter harangue but calmly discharged the task Himself.
He was Master and Lord, one of the twelve should have washed His feet. Having
performed the courtesy Christ remarks: “If I your Lord and Master has washed
your feet you ought also to wash one another’s feet.”
Although the Lord Jesus instituted a rite in the Last Supper it is unlikely that He
was instituting one with the feet washing. Popes, bishops, clergy, kings and
queens often perform the feet washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday. There is
evidence this ceremony developed in the Church of the West associated with
Baptism. Catechumens received baptism then received the washing of their feet
before receiving the Eucharist. This became part of the Easter Liturgy at Milan.
The point our Lord was making was that His disciples should put themselves
out in caring service for their neighbours, whatever race, creed, culture or social
standing. Christians wash the feet of their neighbours when they feed the
hungry, quench the thirsty, home the homeless, clothe the naked, visit the sick
and the prisoner. St Augustine suggests Christians wash the disciples’ feet by
their prayers of intercession.
The towel and the basin, therefore, should be a reminder to worshippers that
they should be serious in keeping a prayer list. Casual recollection of people in
need can be a common weakness. Bishop King of Lincoln gathered a
photograph of each of his clergy and their families to use day by day. Bishop
Winnington Ingram would keep letters so he had people for whom he prayed
each day before him in their handwriting. Let the Lenten Cross lead you to
prayer.

Dates for your Diary
Weekly events in our Church and Community:
Every Tuesday at 10:30am Tuesday Morning Coffee
Fellowship, see timetable on the inside cover for details.
Every Wednesday 10.30-11.00 (term time only) Tiny
Tots and Toddler time at Withington Library.
Every Wednesday 1-3pm at Withington Library, Work
Club to assist people registering for Universal Jobmatch
and searching for jobs, with help to update and upload
CVs and set up emails.
12 noon every Wednesday join us for 10 minutes of
prayer usually in the Quiet Room, or please pause
wherever you are.
Every Thursday 2pm-4pm Needles and Yarns – craft
group, come along to do some craft or learn a new one!
Other events in our Church and Community:
TraidCRAFT stall after morning worship third Sunday
of every month. There is a catalogue and order forms in
the Church Office for any orders.
Tuesday 3rd March 2pm Service at the Downing – come
and share in worship with our near neighbours.
Wednesday 4th March 10.30am Bible study group in
the Church lounge. All welcome.
Thursday 5th March 7.30pm Lent study group, all
welcome. We will look at spirituality and talk about our
faith and the Bible.
Friday 6th March 2pm Women's World Day of Prayer
Service at St Chad's (see poster later in magazine).
Wednesday 18th March 10.30am Bible study group in
the Church lounge. All welcome.
Wednesday 25th March 10.30am Bible study group
in the Church lounge. All welcome.
Thursday 26th March 7.30pm Lent study group, all
welcome. We will look at spirituality and talk about our
faith and the Bible.
Wednesday 1st April 10.30am Bible study group in the
Church lounge. All welcome.
Tuesday 14th April 2.30pm Methodist Women
in Britain – at Didsbury Methodist Church (see poster
later in magazine).
Wednesday 22nd April: Hustings! Details tbc.
Lent lunches
As many of you know, over
a number of years we have
been serving soup and
bread lunches on each
Sunday during Lent. We
will continue sharing this
time together this year.
The lunches will be offered on
successive weeks from Sunday 22nd
February – 1st March – 15th March –
22nd March – 29th March (Palm
Sunday).
There is no set charge for the
lunch but all donations will be
offered for the work of Christian
Aid.
Winter 2015
news
Email:
Web:
info@fallowfieldwithington.foodbank.org.uk
www.fallowfieldwithington.foodbank.org.uk
Christmas Collections
We received a huge number of food donations in the run up to
Christmas, so a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who responded.
A special mention to Radiotherapy Department at the Christie
Hospital, Hawthorne Medical Practice, and Birchfields school.
Also two very generous women, from Willoughby Avenue and
Boland Drive – you know who you are!
There was also the Tesco collection at the Burnage store. Over
three days we join with Burnage Foodbank and collect food from the shoppers. It was an
amazing period in which we witnessed many acts of generosity. One young woman
wheeled over an entire trolley of food and donated it! Once again we collected well in
excess of four tonnes of food.
One of the other reasons that the collection is so
successful is because of the faithful group of volunteers
from both Foodbanks who staff the store for three full
days. People are so much more likely to donate when
they see a friendly face handing out the shopping lists, so
a special thank you to all who came along for a two-hour
shift.
We are also grateful for the assistance and enthusiasm of the staff at Tesco’s, and the
volunteers who turned up at Union Chapel on the Sunday to sort and weigh all the food.
Cake Sale
The New Year saw our first ever Cake Sale fundraiser.
Anna Geere, who has helped out the Foodbank before,
chose to fundraise as part of a school project. With some
help from Mum, she baked and decorated dozens of
cupcakes and set up a stall at Union Chapel on a Sunday
morning. Together with her friend Jess, they managed to
sell almost every item, and in the process raise £73.80 for our project. So a big thank you
to her (and her helpers) and to the generous people who bought and enjoyed the goodies.
More Generosity
We want to say a special thank you to Everest
Pharmacy on Withington Road. One of our supporters,
Rose, approached them to see if there was anything
they could do to help. In response they have donated
an amazing amount of toiletries and health products
which we have been able to distribute to those who
need help with more than just food. It has made a real
difference, so well done to the management and staff.
Fallowfield & Withington foodbank is run in partnership with local churches
facilitated by Union Chapel Fallowfield (Baptist) | An excepted Church charity
Opening Times
Tuesday
12-2pm
St. Cuthbert's Hall
3 Palatine Road,
Withington, M20 3LH
Friday
12-2pm
Union Chapel
2b Wellington Road,
Fallowfield, M14 6EQ
How can I help?
Volunteer
Contact Colin
07739 571 991
volunteer@
fallowfieldwithington
.foodbank.org.uk
Hold Vouchers
Contact Lorna
07814 366 538
referrer@
fallowfieldwithington
.foodbank.org.uk
Give Food
Drop off at:
Union Chapel
Fallowfield
or
NatWest Bank
Withington
Winter 2015
news
Email:
Web:
info@fallowfieldwithington.foodbank.org.uk
www.fallowfieldwithington.foodbank.org.uk
How the Foodbank works
For those who have never been directly involved with our project, it may be difficult to
envisage how the Foodbank works, so here is a brief summary.
Food is
donated
Food is
sorted and
stored
Frontline
Referrers
identify people
in need
Clients
receive
emergency
food
Clients
signposted
to further
support
The first stage is perhaps the most obvious and the one that gets a lot of coverage, but the
other four are just as vital. Over the next few newsletters we will try and paint a brief
picture of the other stages. So, not in order, we’ll begin with...
Our Referrers
We will only distribute food to those clients who have been referred to us by people and
organisations who hold our referral vouchers. This means that those with the experience
and expertise are making the judgements about those who are in crisis, and will already
be working with them to resolve any issues. They will complete a voucher which gives us
all the information we need, not only to distribute the appropriate amount of food to
clients, but to record statistics which are then used at national level to highlight the
concerning growth in need for Foodbanks.
As our project continues to grow, we become increasingly dependent on the hard work of
our group of over forty or more referring partners. Without them we would not be able to
distribute the food to those in most need of it.
Some stats
 So far we have fed
636 people (370
adults and 266
children).
 Nearly 6 tonnes of
food distributed to
clients & centres.
 Over 9 tonnes
received from local
organisations,
schools and
individuals.
 Benefit delays and
changes biggest
problem, followed
by low income.
(as of 2nd Feb)
Notices
Donation focus
Toiletries
Especially toilet roles,
shower gel, deodorant.
Car drivers
Could you be on a list of
people we could call
occasionally to pick up
food donations from
around the area?
Please contact Lorna.
Fallowfield & Withington foodbank is run in partnership with local churches
facilitated by Union Chapel Fallowfield (Baptist) | An excepted Church charity
Bible Society Appeal
Lent is a time for giving up, but this year we
challenge you to just give.
51.2 million people are currently forcibly displaced
worldwide. That’s roughly equivalent to the
population of England. They have left behind their
homes, possessions and families in order to escape
terror in their homeland.
For us, giving up is a fun challenge, but for them it’s
a reality of everyday life. Refugees around the
world are asking for Bibles and basic supplies.
Bible Society is working tirelessly to provide them.
Will you give to those who have given up so much
already?
We challenge you to raise £40 in the 40 days of
Lent.
Do something different this Lent, don’t give up, just
give.
Sign up to get involved and receive fundraising
ideas and encouragement plus progress updates.
See more at:
www.biblesociety.org.uk/about-biblesociety/appeals/dont-give-up-just-give
#dontgiveupjustgive
A prayer of confession for use in Lent
We confess
that we live in a world in which joy provokes indignation,
a world in which violence erupts quickly,
where truth is often stifled by lies
and justice is silenced.
We confess
that our communities do not always welcome the stranger
or make a place for everyone.
We confess
that within ourselves
generous love and fearful hate are both real.
We are sorry for our own sins
and for the sinfulness of the world in which we participate and which
we shape.
We ask your forgiveness.
We long for the grace to forgive those who sin against us,
and for the courage to forgive ourselves and to begin life anew.
Christ, who walked in the empty wilderness and met honestly with
God,
who entered the busy city in peace and in joy,
and forgave even your tormentors,
bring your gifts to our hearts that, forgiven and free, we may cry
'Hosanna' with integrity of heart.
In your name we pray. Amen
Jesus came to welcome and to forgive,
to bring new life and the joy of the kingdom.
Let us receive these gifts with gladness! Amen.
Methodist
Women in
Britain
“Springtime”
Tuesday, 14 April
2.30. p.m.
th
at
Didsbury Methodist Church
Wilmslow Road, M20 5LR
(at Sandhurst Road)
Speakers:
MAUREEN & MICHAEL HAWKSWORTH
“OUR WORK IN NEPAL”
REFRESHMENTS AND “EMMANUEL CRAFTS” STALL
ALL WELCOME; COME AND BRING A FRIEND.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT VIVIEN WILKINSON TEL: 445
7161
St Chad’s Parish Church
Mauldeth Road, Ladybarn
2.00 p.m.
SPEAKER: DR HELEN REID
Withington Methodist Church
439 Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester, M20 4AN
Office Tel: 0161 445 0804
email: wmcoffice@btconnect.com
Minister: Reverend Jane Wild
Tel: 0161 445 3539
Editor: Giselle du Toit
withingtonmethodistnews@gmail.com
www.withingtonmethodistchurch.com
Sunday Services
Morning Worship* and Junior Church: 10:45 am
Evening Worship*: 6:30 pm
*for Holy Communion see inside cover
Regular Activities
Monday-Friday Morning Coffee – 10:00am - 12 noon
Monday
Monday Monkeys – 10:00am - 11:30am
Tuesday
Tuesday Tots – 10:00am - 12 noon
Tuesday morning coffee fellowship see inside cover
Wednesday
Rainbows – 5:30 - 6:30pm
Brownies – 6:30 - 8:00pm
Thursday
Needles & Yarns craft group – 2-4pm
Friday
Men's Club – 2:00 - 4:30pm
Saturday
Contact Centre – 2:30 - 4:30pm
About Withington Methodist Church
We are a community of people who meet to worship God every Sunday morning and
evening (see inside cover for details). Our services are open to all. At our morning service,
we have both a crèche and Junior Church available for children ('All Age Worship' will
only have the crèche as older children are welcomed into the main service).
During the week we have various other activities & organisations meeting at our
premises. We have two toddler groups a week and are open weekday mornings for
anyone to have a coffee and a chat. Our craft group meets on Thursday afternoons for
anyone who wants to bring a craft or learn a new one.
We have various rooms available for hire for anything from a once off hourly basis to a
long term let, please speak to the Church Office for details, or email
withingtonmethodistnews@gmail.com.