Intro
Happy Easter
An Easter Message from our Superintendet Minister
Dear friends,
If I could meet up with you in person, I would greet you with a big smile and say “hello” and “how nice it is to see you”. We would chat over a cup of tea or coffee and tell each other stories of how we are managed during lockdown!
The time will come when we will be able to move to living a more ‘normal’ life, like a tortoise coming out of hibernation, we will begin to enjoy being with each other again.
This whole experience that we are living through is very challenging and life changing. We would never have imagined that we would not be able to visit or hug our loved ones, or attend worship, sing hymns and share in Holy Communion. When loved ones have died, we have not had the chance to say good bye in the ways we would have liked.
As we move forward, I think we will not take things for granted, as we may have done in the past.
The future is always uncertain, but it is in God who we put our trust. This has always been the case, even for the disciples of Jesus.
I wonder how the followers of Jesus felt when Jesus died on the Cross? They would have felt completely devastated and faced a very uncertain future. Yet, they supported each other, prayed and continued to trust in God, even though their hearts were breaking.
In John’s Gospel we have that lovely account when Mary visited the tomb of Jesus, she is overcome with grief and probably anger when she suspects that the body of Jesus has been stolen. Mary is so distressed that she mistook Jesus for the gardener and did not recognise him until he said ‘Mary’ and she was overcome with joy as she realised it was Jesus.
We continue to put our trust in Jesus, he comes to us and calls us by our name and offers us comfort and hope. Listen for him calling you and be comforted and filled with joy, as Mary was.
Take care and may God’s blessings be upon you.
Yours in Christ
Revd Ruth Jackson
Fundraising
You can now support Wardle Village Church on #easyfundraising! When you sign up as a supporter, 4,000 shops and sites will donate for free, every time you shop online. This includes all the big names like eBay, John Lewis & Partners, Argos, ASOS, Expedia, M&S, Just Eat and many more!
www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/wardlevillagechurch
Following a meeting of the Joint Council we have decided to reopen Wardle Village Church for public worship. Our first service will be on Easter Sunday at 11.30am.
Due to Covid restrictions there are limited spaces and the Service will last about 30-40 minutes.
Booking is essential.
Contact Dena on 07736 645 202 or via email denaemm62@gmail.com before 5pm on the Saturday before you wish to join us.
Prayer group
Over the past few months, a group of us have been meeting as a prayer group on the second Tuesday of each month. As this will not be happening, perhaps at 10.00am on the second Tuesday of each month as many of us as can, pray for each other and the challenges that are now before us.
Wardle is a Local Ecumenical Partnership between Wardle Methodist Church and the Parish of Wardle and Smallbridge. Wardle Village Church has been a local Ecumenical Partnership since 1993, and its fully integrated congregation shares both Methodist and Anglican worship. We play a full part in both the Rochdale and Littleborough Methodist Circuit and District and the Rochdale Deanery and Diocese of Manchester.
Our purpose is to offer meaningful worship; (both traditional and modern) to encourage members to grow in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to be the body of Christ, witnessing to his love and grace in the area we serve.
Ministers
Rev Rachel Battershell
Vicar
Tel: 01706 378466
Rev Anne Gilbert
Anglican Curate
Tel: 346774
Diocese of Manchester Website
www.manchester.anglican.org.uk
Rev. Ruth Jackson
Superintendent Methodist Minister
01706 551686
Methodist Church Website