Green Sheet – 28th March 2021

Cheshire South Circuit – Audlem Mission Area

www.audlemmethodistchurch.org.uk

(Minister: Rev Robin Fox. Tel: 01270 812820 email: minister@audlemmethodistchurch.org.uk)
Newsletter for Audlem, Hankelow & Hatherton Methodist Churches
For the week commencing 28th March 2021

Dear friends

We are happy to announce that a service will be held in our church on Easter Morning, Sunday April 4th 2021 at 11.30am. It has now been decided that services will continue in church each subsequent Sunday morning at 11.30am

• Mike Valentine will lead the service on Easter Sunday
• The preachers for following Sundays will be announced in due course.
• Numbers are limited to accommodate social distancing so booking a place is essential.
• Please book your place by midday on Fridays
• To book, contact Fran Hughes either by email to moose_t@btinternet.com or phone 01270 812038.

Please note:

Masks are to be worn in the church at all times. Sanitisers will be used.

There will be no hymn singing.

After the service (duration approx 40mins) people must leave – no coffee/chat.

Social distancing maintained throughout.

The zoom service will still be available commencing at 10.30am.

The Hankelow & Hatherton Church Council have agreed to hold a Covid secure service on Easter Sunday at Hankelow at 3pm on the 4th April. It will be taken by Robin. People need to book a place beforehand with Val Morrey 01270 811930 or Roger Millns on 07807402348.

Hatherton Chapel

The Primitive Methodist Chapel at Hatherton was built in 1850 at the end of a terrace of houses within a rural community on Crewe Road, Hatherton and has been a strong source of Christian witness for 170 years.

The Church Council, at its meeting on 7th March 2021, paid tribute to Sylvia Rhoden, who lived next door to the chapel, for her stewardship and commitment to the chapel and the local Christian community for over 60 years. Many church anniversaries, harvest festivals and Christmas services have been enjoyed there over the years, organised by Sylvia, including by many members from Hankelow and Audlem.

Following the sad death of Sylvia, the church steward and organist, in the summer of 2020, the remaining members of Hatherton agreed at the Church Council meeting that the closure of the building was now inevitable. A recommendation was made and accepted at the Circuit Meeting on the 11th March, 2021 that the building should be sold.

At the Circuit Meeting, Superintendent Minister, Rev'd Rob Hilton, also paid tribute to Sylvia and the other members for their long stewardship and the warm welcome he always received when he went there to preach. He led the Circuit meeting in a time of prayer and thanksgiving. A thanksgiving service will be organised at Hatherton Chapel later this year when it is safe to do so.

From Janet Furber: I would like to add that I attended Hatherton Crewe Road Sunday school, (as it was then called due to Hatherton Wesley being just along the road), along with my two sisters. We used to walk from Hunsterson on a Sunday afternoon and I have memories of taking our youngest sister in her pushchair as she became old enough to join us.

There were a number of local families who also attended and Sylvia was our teacher. I remember many Sunday school anniversaries, when Sylvia invited in Mr Harding from Shavington, and I think his sisters, to conduct and encourage us to sing, accompanied on the harmonium by Mrs Barclay.

Church Notecards

The notecards, designed by Sarah Parton, have sold well so far with over half of them sold. If you would like to buy some contact Julia on 01270 811761 or 07950 774997 to order. Price £5 for 1 pack or £9 for 2 packs. All proceeds to church funds.

Cheshire South Circuit

Cheshire South Circuit invites you to a webinar to introduce their vision for implementing a Faithful and Fruitful Future. This PowerPoint presentation is led by our superintendent Rev Rob Hilton and other members of the Circuit and aims to:

Consider where people and churches feel they are as we look to coming out of lockdown.

Share some case studies of churches that have created new opportunities for mission

Introduce a process to guide us through this time of transition

Offer resources and help

Everyone who wants to be part of the future of Methodism in the Cheshire South Circuit is invited to attend. Please contact Daniel, the Circuit administrator, for the zoom link on 1108info.cheshiresouth@gmail.com or 07598 580541.

The presentation lasts for 90 minutes and the next session on zoom is Wednesday 21 April at 7pm. More dates will be arranged over the coming months and the presentation will be repeated at face to face meetings over the summer when restrictions have been lifted. We hope to see you soon. A Mission in Love Unites Us

The Methodist Church free phone service for news and prayer. The news option looks around the Connection at what's happening and the prayer line is a prayer from particular Methodists.

Listen to a prayer: 0808 281 2514

Listen to news: 0808 281 2478 Content is updated weekly on Thursday evening.

A VERY TOPICAL COMMENT

Why don't local councils teach the men who lay tarmac to recognise a pot hole? They could save a lot of money by not having to send someone round first to mark where they are !

JUST A REMINDER that the clocks change this weekend

EASTER GREETINGS
Spring has brought white daisies

To lie upon the lawn:

The Master's feet will walk there

When it is Easter Morn.

Spring has brought sweet violets

To scent the morning air,

And daffodils' gold trumpets

To sound a gay fanfare.

Spring has brought wild songsters

To sing their joyous part.

But I alone can bring Him

My truly, thankful heart.

(Kindly submitted by Doris Tucker in the Nantwich newsletter)\

The next newsletter will be Sunday 11 April Please send any items for the newsletter to Janet Furber email: r.furber@btinternet.com or telephone 01270 811598 by 5pm on Fridays.