14 April 2008
Wardens Letter for May 08 Magazine
This letter appears in our May magazine
Well, Lent and Easter came and went!
The Lent groups looking at the Lords Prayer were well attended and the course was well received. Feedback has been very positive.
The Easter services were well attended too and the church looked wonderful. Canon Trevor Dennis gasped when he walked into church through the west door and just stood and admired for a few moments. Many thanks to all involved not only in making the church look so beautiful and welcoming but to all who helped make Easter happen.
We would also like to thank all those who are helping make this interregnum run so smoothly. Many people are doing all sorts of extra things and are taking on heavier workloads. Some jobs are more up front and on show but there are many which are less noticeable – Many thanks to you all.
We have had many very positive and encouraging comments from visiting clergy about St Cross for example, I like coming here because you do things so nicely, and You are so well organised and (specially for the servers and the laundry angel) The linen and vessels are all so nice and clean and well laundered Also comments on our Celtic Eucharist, and how special that service is as well as There must be clergy queuing up to come here as everything is done for you, they even mark the pages of the hymns in the vicars hymn book and I always feel so welcome here This is really wonderful and so encouraging. Thank you all for the parts you play in being church here at St Cross and making our visiting clergy feel so at home.
As we are now some months into the vacancy, and as no names have been forthcoming we have been encouraged by the Archdeacon to advertise the post. We will therefore be putting together an advert to go into the Church Times as soon as possible.
We had an excellent working party on Saturday 8th March when all sorts of jobs were done from dusting and polishing to gardening and clearing out gutters and even a bit of scrubbing was seen to be done by one of our former wardens who was showing one of the new wardens how to do it! There was also a case of a certain someone doing a bit of mopping and getting a bit carried away with the bubbles! A lot was achieved and as well as sharing the work, we were able to share in good fellowship and fun sustained by a refreshment angel who kept us going with drinks and biscuits!
The 13th April was a busy day with our annual meeting followed by a shared lunch over the middle of the day and the Deanery Songs of Praise at St Philips Alderley Edge in the evening where St Cross was extremely well represented. The Rural Dean said that it was a dream come true as the church was full.
The Archdeacons visitation this year will at 7.30pm be on May 8th at St Marys Rostherne. Wardens, Deputy Wardens, and Sidespersons, are all encouraged to attend.
Revd Robert Atwell is to be the new Bishop of Stockport. His consecration will be at York Minster at 11am Tuesday 24th June 2008, tickets are required and are available from the Diocesan office ( write to Ann Finlay Church House, Lower Lane, Aldford, Chester CH3 6HP or email ann.finlay@chester.anglican.org )
The welcome and installation will be in Chester Cathedral at a special service of Holy Communion at 6pm on Sunday 29th June 2008. Tickets are not required but it is hoped that every parish can be represented. As Robert is to be our new Suffragan, it would be good to send a welcoming party from St Cross. We will not therefore have an evening service at St Cross that evening, instead we encourage you to go to the cathedral to greet our new bishop.
Posted by Alice Brown