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BOWDON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL, A CHARITABLE BODY REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AND WALES WITH THE CHARITY COMMISSION—REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1133830; REGISTERED OFFICE ADDRESS: BOWDON PARISH CENTRE, STAMFORD ROAD, BOWDON, ALTRINCHAM, WA14 2TR.

No 688 May 2017

It is probably the most famous story that Jesus ever told.

A son demands from his father his share of the estate (in Jesus’ day, an insultingly shameful and selfish act), goes off on his own and loses it all in a reckless life of wasteful self-indulgence. He comes to his senses only when he has nothing else to lose, and decides to come home to throw himself on his father’s mercy.

Actually, the story isn’t original to Jesus; it was a very common morality tale told to young men to teach them respect. Of course everyone knew how the story ends. When the son returns to the family home, he discovers that the bridges have been burned. The father sends word that the son has been disowned, and sends his older brother to round up some mates to (literally) kick the lad out of the village.

Except that Jesus changed the ending. In Jesus’ version of the story, as the son shamefully staggers back to the village,

the father races out to meet him, to welcome him home and throw a lavish party to celebrate the return of the prodigal son.

Consider just how much shame, insult and rejection the father has to bear in order for there to be any chance of leaving the door open for his son to come home. To Jesus’ hearers, the father does the unthinkable

and takes upon himself the burden of guilt which rightly belongs with the son.

Things become much more personal to us when we realise Jesus wasn’t changing the ending of a well-known story simply for the fun of it. His new version helps us to understand his death and resurrection as the very means by which God the Father leaves the door open for us to return home to him, instead of abandoning us to our own fate.

So the story poses a pressing question to all of us: isn’t it time to come home?

Rev Ian Rumsey, Vicar

Vicar The Revd Ian Rumsey 0161 928 2468 Ian@BowdonChurch.orgOrdinand Catherine Cleghorn 07813 117385 Catherine@BowdonChurch.org ReaderJohn Fenton John@BowdonChurch.org Reader EmeritusAlan Marriott 0161 928 9045 YFC Gap Year PlacementJoanna Edworthy Joanna@BowdonChurch.org

Parish Development Jo Oughton Jo@BowdonChurch.org Julia Dow Julia@BowdonChurch.org Kirsten Wood Kirsten@BowdonChurch.orgChurchwardens Alec Bonson 0161 980 4055Patricia Arrowsmith 0161 928 1506Susan Redford 0161 929 1219William Tyler 0161 929 9700Director of Music Michael Dow Music@BowdonChurch.orgOrganist and Associate Music Director Roger Bryan Organist@BowdonChurch.org

Parish Recorder (Donations) Barbara Clift 0161 928 6585 ParishRecorder@BowdonChurch.orgParish and Lettings Administrator Kay Holt Admin@BowdonChurch.org 0161 929 1537BCN Editor Catherine Cleghorn BCN Assistant Editor Lesley Smith BCN Proofreading Roger Bryan

St Mary’s, Stamford Road, Bowdon, WA14 2TR St Luke’s, Vicarage Lane, Bowdon, WA14 3BA

0161 929 1537

Time to come home? Thank you, WillAt Easter, Will Sudworth changed roles in our church, leaving his part-time work here to focus on his business and helping his parents.

It has been an absolute privilege for me to grow up in a church where he has worked. Will developed the Mettle groups: bible study groups that have helped so many secondary school students to come to know the Bible in a far more intimate way. These contributed to many of us being confirmed. Will also developed Easter Holiday Club, which gives primary school children a chance to spend time hearing about and praising Jesus. The first Easter Holiday Club had a small team of around 5 leaders and 30 children, but this year there were over 100 children and a team of over 30 volunteers supporting them. Zone2, a huge source of growth and diversity for our church community, also evolved in part through the dedication and determination of Will.

These are just a few of the ways in which Will has helped our church; he also ran

the youth club Underground, helped our previous vicar Rev Roger Preece to facilitate the Message Trust in establishing Street Academy at the Parish Centre, set up the annual trip of around 30 young people to Soul Survivor and created Fusion, where members of the church who have now left school can support one another.

Will has also helped the wider community by setting up a Duke of Edinburgh scheme that has given hundreds of young people the chance to gain their DofE qualification through developing a skill, playing a sport, and volunteering. He will be continuing to lead DofE as a

volunteer.

In short, Will has vastly impacted this church, and has drawn in so many people, always going above and beyond what anyone could have expected. Will, I thank you for your wisdom, your generosity, your dedication, your kindness, and your hard work. You will be missed more than words can express. May God bless you.

Grace Johnson, Durham University

Will Sudworth with Maddi Lingard at Underground

The children and their amazing cardboard box dens at Easter Holiday “Kingdom Club” (Photo by I-Lee Millward)

A new performing arts school for children from reception to year 6 has just been launched at Bowdon Parish Centre by Sarah Mhlanga.

This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to improve their acting, singing and dancing and to experience performing at a high standard. Their creativity will be encouraged and they will grow in confidence as well as developing skills that could enable them to enter the performing arts industry.

The Academy has a Christian ethos and will hold two shows annually. These will be contemporary and original productions of Bible stories; the first will be based on the story of Esther.

Sarah is an experienced primary and secondary school teacher who taught Drama and English at Stockport Grammar School. She was heavily involved in productions at the school as assistant director and dance tutor. Sarah currently runs a popular

dance school at the Fuse in Partington for primary aged children and leads the children’s work at Ivy Fuse Church. She is the daughter of Debra and Frank Green; Debra is the founder of the UK-wide charity Redeeming Our Communities and Sarah works with them on many projects. Sarah and her husband Jabulani have

two children: Josiah, who attends Bowdon Church School, and Mimi, who will start in reception in September.

The sessions, which began on Tuesday 25 April, run 3.30 - 5.30 pm on Tuesdays in the Parish Centre.

Registration will be 3.30 - 3.45 pm and children are still welcome to join after the first week. The cost for each session will be £10, but please do contact Sarah in confidence if there are financial difficulties. There is also the option for pre-school aged children, reception and year 1 to stay for an hour for £5.

For more information, please contact Sarah on SarahMhlanga@roc.uk.com /

07818 426931 or through the Parish Office.

Industry Drama Academy

Sarah, Josiah and Mimi (Photo by Jabulani Mhlanga)

Ascension Day Morning Service

Thursday 25 May, 7 am

A unique short service at the top of St Mary’s bell tower.

Experience the incredible early morning views, followed by

breakfast together.

Forthcoming Church EventsSt Luke’s Coffee CabinMondays from 10.30 am - 12 noonDrop in for coffee or tea and a toasted teacake or croissant for £1.Run by Bowdon Cares. St Luke’s Church. Contact: Liz Taylor-Hayes 0161 928 8563

Men’s BreakfastSaturday 13 May, 8 - 9.30 amA full English breakfast cooked and served.Richard Nosowski will compare comprehensive and grammar school education, drawing on his own extensive experience.Bowdon Parish Centre. All men welcome.RSVP: Will Blanksby MensBreakfast@BowdonChurch.org

Afternoon Tea and ConversationTuesday 16 May, 2 - 3.30 pmAn afternoon get-together serving tea, coffee, juice and cakes in a happy atmosphere, with a chance for everyone to talk and catch up.Bowdon Parish Centre. Contact: Kaye Gardner 0161 928 1158

Ascension Day Morning ServiceThursday 25 May, 7 amA short service at the top of St Mary’s tower followed by breakfast in the Parish Centre.Meet at the back of St Mary’s church.

24/7 Prayer Space for Thy Kingdom ComeFriday 26 May - Friday 2 JuneThy Kingdom Come is an international prayer movement that encourages people to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for the spread of Christianity. We are going to have a week of continuous prayer in St Mary’s. Contact: Catherine Cleghorn if you have any questions or would like to help. Catherine@BowdonChurch.org

St Mary’s Choir ConcertSaturday 17 June, 7.30 pmThe choir will sing Mozart’s Requiem and other sacred music.St Mary’s Church.Tickets: Adults £8, Children £2 from the Parish Office, Dawsons in Altrincham, Sealpoint in Hale or tickets@bowdonfestival.co.uk

Ladies’ Continental BreakfastThe next breakfast will be on 17 September.Contact: Sue Coles LCB@BowdonChurch.org

Each week we pray for people living in the Parish

Wk/begin We pray for: 7 May Pinewood, Edgemoor, and Bucklow View14 May Green Walk, Green Courts, Consort Place, Bickham House21 May Dunham Road, Farm Walk, Charcoal Road, Dunham Massey Hall28 May Members of the congregation living outside the Parish4 June The Firs, Heathfield Flats, Woodridings Flats, Ivanhurst Flats, Westholme Flats, Elcho Road and Catherine Road11 June Richmond Road, Richmond Green and Richmond Hill

Designed by Will Sudworth. Printed by County Print, Altrincham, 0161 928 5333

Regular Weekday ServicesSt Mary’s

8.30 am

11.30 am

8.00 pm

Morning Prayer

Holy Communion (BCP)

Silent Meditation

Every weekday

Every Wednesday

Every Wednesday

1.30 pm First Steps, Parish Centre Every Thursday

St Luke’s

7.00 am Morning Prayer Every Tuesday

BCP: Book of Common Prayer (1662) CW: Common Worship (2000) SW: Service of the Word (2000)

Sundays in May - June

7 May 1st in month, 4th of Easter

10.45 am Oblations: Choir

14 May 2nd in month, 5th of Easter

10.45 am Christian Aid All Age Worship, St Mary’s

6.30 pmChoral Evensong Sumsion in A Weelkes – Alleluia, I heard a voice

21 May 3rd in month, 6th of Easter

28 May 4th in month, 7th of Easter

4 June 1st in month, Pentecost

10.45 am Oblations: St Mary’s Guild

11 June 2nd in month, Trinity Sunday

6.30 pm Choral Evensong Noble in B minor, Tchaikovsky – Holy, holy, holy

Regular Sunday Worship(purple boxes)

St Mary’s 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)

9.30 am Matins (BCP)

10.45 am

Holy Communion (CW)

Holy Communion (BCP)

All Age Worship followed by Communion

6.30 pm

Evensong (BCP)

Choral Evensong (BCP)

Sacred Space

Parish Centre

10.45 amZone2 (SW) and Kids’ Church

St Luke’s

9.30 am

Holy Communion (CW)Kids’ Church

All Age Worship

Eugene Halliday AssociationSunday 14 May, 2.15 pm “The Child Within”, a talk by Margaret Littler Entrance: £6 including refreshments St Luke’s Church

Bowdon NSPCC Open GardensSunday 18 June, 2 – 5 pmVisit a delightful selection of Bowdon gardens within walking distance of each other in South Road, West Road and East Downs Road. There will be a plant stall, a grand raffle, and a hanging basket demonstration. Start your tour at one of two entrance points: corner of South Road and West Road (WA14 2LB) or corner of South Road and East Downs Road (WA14 2LJ)Entrance: Adults £7, Children £3 (inc. tea & cake) Contact: Emma Smyth 0161 928 8971, smyths@southroad.org

Bowdon Youth FestivalWe are delighted to be one of three selected charities to be supported by the Bowdon Vale Co-op store for the next six months. If you are a member of the Co-op and live nearby, would you please consider selecting us as the charity you support for the next six months? You will benefit too, as every time someone buys a Co-op branded item of food 5p is credited to the person’s Co-op account and 1p is donated to their chosen charity. For more details, or to join the Co-op, please visit the store.

Alison NicholsonWe were sorry to learn of Alison’s death at the age of 55. Joyce Ankers has written an obituary that can be found on our website www.BowdonChurch.org

Volunteers needed for the Coffee CabinWould you be able to help out with the Coffee Cabin on a Monday morning from 9.30 am to 12 noon perhaps once a month? The Coffee Cabin creates a happy and friendly atmosphere for people to enjoy having a chat and getting to know others. We need more people to help serve refreshments and to introduce people to each other. Contact: Linda Woods 0161 928 6179 or Judith Robertson Judith@BowdonChurch.org

Noticeboard

The Bowdon Cares Afternoon Tea at St Luke’s on Fri 21 April (Photos by Catherine Cleghorn and Geoff Hayes)

Funerals: We commend to God: Christine Barrat, Deirdre Birkett

Baptisms: We welcome into God’s family:Jago Huey Dundas and Leni Rey Dundas

Registers

Christian Aid was founded to help refugees scattered over Europe at the end of the Second World War. Christians refused to stand by while those displaced by the war continued to suffer in refugee camps.

The first house to house collection of Christian Aid week was organised 60 years ago, and this year, as then, our focus is on the displaced. Christian Aid continues to support people in need, of every faith or none, working through partners to assist those displaced by war, to respond to other humanitarian crises and to help people in some of the world’s poorest communities to build sustainable lives.

Last year, St. Mary’s and St. Luke’s and 20,000 other churches across the country helped to raise £10m during Christian Aid Week. This year we want to go even further.

During Christian Aid week, we will deliver Christian Aid envelopes to every home in the parish. By giving, you will be helping to improve the lives of people in many parts of the world. We aim to collect all the envelopes, but if yours isn’t collected and you want to donate, please bring the envelope to the Parish Centre next to St Mary’s church. In addition, if you can Gift Aid your donation, its value will be increased by 25% at no cost to you.

Please give generously. Thank you for your support.

Kate Stross, Parish Co-ordinator for Christian Aid

Christian Aid Week 14-20 May Everyone needs a safe place to call home

Fresh from appearing as Mrs Hammond, the Headmistress in the latest series of Channel 4 sitcom Catastrophe, actress Serena Evans presented over forty young people with their Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Silver Awards on Sunday 12 March in St Mary’s Church.

Best known for her classic role as Police Sergeant Patricia Dawkins in The Thin Blue Line, Serena congratulated the young people for pushing through the pain of heavy rucksacks, long distances, disgruntled teammates and hours of volunteering to

achieve their awards. She continued by sharing a few of her own tips on how to conquer a fear of public speaking.

Over forty DofE Bronze Awards were also presented by Trafford Council Leader and local councillor Sean Anstee, before DofE’s Steph Ashcroft provided Gold Badges to Florence Avis and Jordan Amir-Hekmat, so that they could wear them on their visit to St James’s Palace later this year.

YouTube singer songwriter Izzie Naylor performed during the award presentations.

Lisa Brown, Bowdon’s DofE Award Organiser, explained afterwards: “Our young people have really earnt their certificates. Nationally, only 52% finish DofE, yet over 97% of last year’s Bronze Award intake and 75% of the Silver Award intake received their awards today”.

Bowdon’s DofE Centre will be inviting applications in October for their next intake.

Will Sudworth, Bowdon Parish DofE Manager

Not at all a Catastrophe

DofE Gold Award achievers Florence Avis and Jordan Amir-Hekmat (Photo by Clive Goodall)