Church Newsletter Issue #89 15th February
Ash Wednesday – Beginning the Journey of Lent
Joint Service at St Edmund’s, 18th February at 6pm
On Ash Wednesday we begin the season of Lent together, and this year we gather as a benefice at St Edmund’s at 6pm.
Ash Wednesday marks the start of the forty days leading to Easter. The tradition of using ashes goes back many centuries in the Church. In the Bible, ashes were a sign of humility, repentance and returning to God. They remind us that we are dust — dependent on God for life — and that we are invited to turn again towards him.
For some, the use of ashes may feel like a very “Catholic” custom. Yet at its heart it is a deeply biblical and evangelical act: a visible sign of an inward decision. To receive ashes is not about ritual for its own sake. It is a simple, powerful way of saying, “Lord, I want to draw near to you. I want to walk with you through Lent.”
Ash Wednesday sets a counter-cultural tone. In a world that avoids weakness, we begin with honesty. In a culture of noise, we begin with repentance and prayer.
This joint service is a wonderful opportunity to pause, to commit ourselves afresh to Christ, and to journey together towards the cross and the hope of Easter.
You are warmly invited to come.
Revd Tom
Racial Justice Sunday: Beginning with Creation
On Racial Justice Sunday this year (8th Feb 2026), Revd Tom rooted our reflection not in reaction, but in creation. This is a summary of the sermon he shared at St Edmund's.
Genesis does not begin with fear, competition, or division. It begins with light, land and sea, plants, sun and moon, living creatures — each given space, each declared good. Before politics, before race, before history becomes complicated, Scripture introduces us to a God who creates intentionally and generously. Everything has room. Everything belongs.
That foundation matters. Much of our public conversation about race is shaped by anxiety — the fear that there is not enough, that we must protect what is ours, that belonging is limited. But the Bible begins with abundance, provision and space. Scarcity and division come later. Creation begins with generosity.
When Jesus later says, “Do not worry” and calls us to seek first the Kingdom of God, he is inviting us not to let fear shape how we see one another. Racial justice begins not with slogans, but with seeing — seeing each person as made on purpose and part of God’s good creation.
Standing with the Church of England, we affirm that racial justice matters because God’s creation matters. We commit ourselves to partnering with God in the restoration of his world.
Lent and Easter: Walking the Way Together
Ash Wednesday – 18 February, 6pm
Joint service at St Edmund’s to begin Lent, with prayer, reflection, and the option of receiving ashes.
Sunday 22 March, 4pm
Grace Community Sham-E-Calvary – a creative service exploring the road to the cross through worship and storytelling.
Palm Sunday – 29 March
10.30am – Palm Sunday services at St James and St Edmund’s
3pm – Grace Community, including a joyful palm procession.
Maundy Thursday – 2 April, 6pm
Holy Communion at St James’, with the optional act of foot-washing, reflecting Jesus’ call to love and serve.
Good Friday
Churches Together Walk of Witness 10am start from St Edmund's (details to be confirmed)
1pm – Grace Community, reflecting on the Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross.
Holy Saturday
2–5pm – St Edmund’s open for prayer, led by Revd Kausar, offering quiet space to wait with God.
Easter Day
9.30am – Short Drawing Near service at St Edmund’s (20–30 minutes)
10.30am – Easter Day celebrations at St James and St Edmund’s
4pm – Grace Community Easter Celebration
Draw Near - Lent Zoom Group
“Draw Near” is the Church of England’s theme for Lent 2026, inviting us to open our lives more fully to God through prayer, Scripture, and loving service. Each week a different contributor explores a different aspect of Christian discipleship – worshipping together, praying, exploring the Bible, sharing communion, offering service and sharing the good news with others.
By demand we have ordered some paper copies of this book. Fill in this form to request a copy.
As a benefice, we sense that drawing near to God also means opening our doors and our hearts — making space for God to shape who we are becoming and where we are being led. To support this shared journey, we will host a weekly Zoom Lent group each Wednesday at 7pm, from 25 February to 1 April (Wednesday of Holy Week).
These gatherings will offer space to reflect, pray, and listen together. Each week, we invite you to bring your reflections on the Draw Near material, available via the Everyday Faith app (cofe.io/DrawNear) and form above.
Plus share thoughts on any other Lent material you are using, as we notice together how God is drawing us closer and opening us towards the unfolding future of our life in Christ.
Zoom link - click here - starts 7pm 25th Feb 2026
Chibombo Peoples Climate Action
At St James, on 11th February, we were delighted to host the Friends’ Social of Chibombo People’s Climate Action, making the most of our super-fast Virgin broadband to connect live on Zoom with project leaders in Zambia. It was inspiring to hear updates from Mercy “Changu” Ngandu and the team about their reforestation work and community mobilisation. Despite devastating floods destroying crops, their resilience, faith, and climate-smart vision continue to bring hope, renewal, and practical action to Chibombo.
It is great to use our building for such community/charity connections and we spoke about a possible play emerging about the project which we hope to host in the future.
Register on Our Website
Please could everyone complete the registration form on our new church website CLICK HERE so that we can refresh our church database. This will allow you to share your details and give us permission to hold your information, helping us to keep our GDPR records up to date.
We want to make sure everyone is correctly listed on our new church data management system, Church Hub, which is part of the tools provided through our new website. Keeping our records accurate will help us communicate better, care well for one another, and support the life and mission of our church.
Thank you for taking a few moments to help us with this.
What's on at a Glance
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9.30am - Short Service of the Word at St Edmund's
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10.30am - Communion at St Edmund's and Service of the Word at St James'
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4pm - Grace Community Urdu Church
Monday
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9.30am Prayers at St Edmund's
Tuesday
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Morning Prayer 9.30am at St James'
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Place of Welcome 10am at St James' extending to a creative arty and crafty session from 11am
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New 'Chatty Cafe' at Bembe Cafe in Alexandra Park facilitated by Joy (St Edmunds congregation) and the cafe team. Join in and tackle loneliness: Tuesdays 11am-12.30pm.
Wednesday
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Coffee Morning 10.30am at St Edmund's
Thursday
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Grieving Together Cafe 11.30am at St James'
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The Chosen Bible Study - Join us on Thursday 19th February 7.30pm at St Ed's for Season 2, Episode 4: The Perfect Opportunity.
As Jesus and the disciples head to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, a new enemy follows them, while a familiar enemy awaits.
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9.30am - Short Communion Service at St Edmund's
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10.30am - Intergenerational Service at St Edmund's and Communion at St James'
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Preaching Workshop for all those preachers who did not attend the last session. 12.15 for 12.30pm at St Edmund's
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4pm - Grace Community Urdu Church
Advance Notices
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Preaching Workshop — Feb 22nd - with lunch provided.
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You're all invited to the 30th Birthday Party of Christian Relief Uganda and Maria's Care School. On Sat 28 March 6.30 to 9pm. Do join us to celebrate in songs and testimonies with good food, crafts and more!
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Manchester South & Stretford Deanery Celebration
Join Revd Tom and team on Thursday 23 April, 6.45–8.45pm at St Bride's Church, for a deanery-wide celebration hosted by the Diocese of Manchester.
An evening of worship, stories, vision, and encouragement as we explore Parish Renewal, Growing Younger, Church Planting, and Missional Leadership — and discern our next steps together.
Keep up to date at any time by checking our calendar - click here>>
Prayer Pointers for this Week
Prayer pointers based on Exodus 24.12–end, Psalm 99, and Matthew 17.1–9:
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Lord of glory, draw us into deeper encounter with you.
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Holy God, teach us reverence and awe in worship.
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Father, help us to truly listen to Jesus.
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Transform us, that your light may shine through our lives.
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Give us courage to carry mountain-top faith into daily life.
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Strengthen church leaders with wisdom and holiness.
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When we are afraid, speak your peace: “Do not be afraid.”