Church Newsletter Issue #118 18th October 2026
🌾 Harvest Generosity – Thank You!
Over 250 meals for local families facing hardship
Following our Harvest celebrations, we have received a wonderful message of thanks from Manchester South Central Foodbank.
At St Edmund's, our congregation donated an amazing 93.7kg of food and £40, helping to provide over 250 meals for local families experiencing hardship.
These gifts will make a real difference to people facing hunger and financial difficulties across Hulme, Moss Side, Whalley Range and Old Trafford.
Heidi, from Manchester South Central Foodbank, wrote:
"Thank you so much for choosing to support our families this Harvest and for all your help with organising the collection.
The amazing generosity of your church community will enable us to continue providing emergency food parcels to our families facing hunger and hardship this winter."
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed, helped organise our collections and joined us in celebrating Harvest across our churches.
Harvest reminds us that God's generosity is something we receive, celebrate and share. Through these simple gifts, we continue to offer Life + Hope for All, making a practical difference in our local communities.
Thank you for your generosity! News next week on how St James' harvest donation blessed the local community via a different route than the Foodbank.
🕯️ Remembering Those We Love – A Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving
Sunday 1 November | 4.00pm | St James' Church, Moss Side
Grief is part of the story of love. When someone we love dies, their absence can be felt in familiar places, treasured memories and the ordinary moments of life.
On Sunday 1 November at 4.00pm, we invite you to join us for a special Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving.
Through music, readings, prayers and the lighting of candles, we will remember those we love who have died, give thanks for their lives and find comfort in being together.
Whether your loss is recent or many years ago, you are warmly welcome. Please invite family, friends or anyone who might appreciate this opportunity to remember.
Would you like a loved one remembered by name?
Please complete the Google Form below to share the names of those you would like remembered during our service.
Together, we will make space for remembrance, thanksgiving and the hope we find in God's enduring love.
Click here to fill in the Google form to share a name or help one another to do this>>
Mission Update – Kaleem & Azra
Sharing Faith, Friendship and the Love of Jesus
We are encouraged by the latest newsletter from Kaleem and Azra, our mission partners supported through Pioneers.
Their summer has been filled with opportunities to share the Gospel through friendship, hospitality, prayer and everyday conversations. During July and August, they welcomed international students into their home, sharing meals, worship and discussions about faith. One Japanese student became particularly interested in Jesus and made a profession of faith before returning home.
Azra continues to support women through Bible studies, friendship and prayer. Their newsletter shares a particularly moving story of a Kurdish friend, known to them for many years, who has experienced serious illness. Through faithful friendship and prayer, she has recently experienced improvements in her health and a powerful spiritual encounter during worship.
Their high street book table also continues to provide opportunities for people to explore Christianity and receive Scripture.
Please pray for Kaleem and Azra, for those exploring faith, and for their ongoing ministry.
For a full copy of their newsletter, please ask Revd Tom.
Message from Mothers’ Union - Come Dine with Us
We have a date for our Mothers’ Union Come Dine with Us
Sunday Lunch Fundraiser - 29 November at St Edmund’s Church 1pm,after the joint service.
Join us for a homemade 3-course meal, cooked and served at St Edmund’s by our Mothers’ Union members
To book your seat at the table contact:
St James' – Jessica/Madhuri/Barbara
St Edmund’s – Lyn/Deborah/Carol B
Or write your name on the list circulating at both churches
Tickets are £7 per person or £15 per family (2 adults and up to three children up
to 13yrs)
We’ll enjoy food and fellowship and hope to get a top score from everyone!!
Finding Joy – Lay Leadership Conference
All lay leaders are warmly invited to the next Manchester South and Stretford Deanery Lay Leadership Conference, hosted at St James, Moss Side, on Saturday 24 October, 10am–1pm.
This is for everyone who contributes to the life of their church—not only licensed or authorised ministers. The morning will offer worship, fellowship and encouragement, with guest speakers The Ven Karen Best, Archdeacon of Manchester, and Dr Adesola Akala, Lay Ministry Officer.
Together we’ll explore “Finding Joy”, giving thanks for the many ways lay people serve across our churches and discovering practical resources to help sustain joy in Christian ministry.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Register for the Lay Leadership Conference>>
Leading Our Church into Growth - Let's Pray Together
Following our recent Leading your Church into Growth (LyCiG) conference, we want to invite everyone across St James' and St Edmund's to take a simple but important step together: to begin praying intentionally for the growth of our churches.
We were reminded at the conference that growth begins with prayer. As we seek to become healthier, growing churches where people encounter Jesus, deepen their faith and discover their place in God's mission, we need to place prayer at the heart of everything we do.
We invite you to make this LyCiG prayer part of your daily prayers, whether at home, in church, in small groups or whenever we gather together.
Our LyCiG Prayer
God of mission,
Who alone brings growth to your Church,
Send your Holy Spirit to give
Vision to our planning,
Wisdom to our actions,
Joy to our worship,
And power to our witness.
Help our church to grow in numbers,
In spiritual commitment to you,
And in service to our local community,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
As we continue exploring what God is calling us towards, let's begin together in prayer, trusting the Holy Spirit to lead us.
Is Confirmation Your Next Step? Let us know...
We are exploring the possibility of holding a Confirmation Service in 2027 and would love to hear from anyone interested.
Confirmation is an opportunity to affirm your Christian faith, receive prayer from a bishop and take another step in following Jesus.
It's for young people and adults of all ages! There will be opportunities to explore faith, ask questions and prepare together.
No commitment at this stage! We simply need to know who might be interested.
Please speak to Tom, Kausar, Elizabeth or Solomon this week so we can begin making plans.
What's on at a Glance
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Readings: Exodus 33.12-End, Psalm 99*, Matthew 22.15-22.
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9.30am - Short 20-30min Service of the Word at St Edmund's
10.30am - Communion at St Edmunds' and Service of the Word - Lay Led at St James'.
1-4pm - Dwell @ the Well
4pm - Grace Community |
Monday
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Morning Prayer - 9.30am 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'
Wednesday
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St Edmund's Coffee Morning - All welcome for coffee and chat every Wednesday morning from 10.30 to 12.00 at St Edmund's. Do come along and say hello.
Advance notice for two upcoming sessions of Coffee Morning.
Wednesday 28 October - hyacinth bulb planting
Wednesday 11 November - exercise with Diane
Thursday
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Grieving Together Cafe: 11.30am at St James' - Join us as we support one another on our grief journeys
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The Chosen at St Edmund's 7.15pm to continue watching The Chosen.
Friday
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Happy Cats toddler group meets Friday mornings at St Edmund's from 10am.
Saturday
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Readings: Nehemiah 8.1–4a [5–6] 8–12, Psalm 119.9–16, Matthew 24.30–35
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9.30am - Short 20-30min Communion Service at St Edmund's
10.30am - Intergenerational/Youth Service - Coordinated by Julie at St Edmund's, Communion at St James
4pm - Grace Community |
Advance Dates
Service Rotas
Please note a few tweaks will be made to these rota but this is always going to be the live new rota link.
Links to:
St Edmund's Next Rota - Sept 26-Jan 27>>
St James' Next Rota - Sept 26 - Jan 27>>