In between Harvest and Advent we have a number of services all around the act of Remembrance: whether that’s remembering personally those that we have loved and lost over the years, or nationally, as we collectively remember those whose lives were lost in wars in the past, but also those whose lives are affected by wars of the present.We started this season with our Wave of Light, Baby Loss Service. It was the first time that we had done this service, and it won’t be our last. It was a service marked by simplicity, as we gathered to mark the loss of too many lives lost too soon.This was then followed by our Memorial Service; An opportunity to remember those whom we have loved and lost over the years. We read out names and lit a candle in memory of people whom regardless of how long ago they died, still leave a indentation in our lives.Finally, we came to our Remembrance Sunday Service today. Here we took our gaze beyond those whom we know, to remember lives given in wars both in the past, and also around the world today. It was wonderful to be join by Edward Moorhouse who played the Last Post and Reveille with poignancy and skill, and equally wonderful to be joined by our uniformed groups as well – they did themselves very, very proud! Our Junior Church went and explored the theme of Remembrance with activities led by Dee and Nick – it’s always wonderful to see how thoughtful our young people are, as well as how creative!All this was brought to an end with sausage and bacon sandwiches – just what we needed as the heaven opened and the rain began again!
It’s a strange time of the year – in September it’s a new start and everyone is gearing up for the new academic year, but in the background, Christmas conversation are already well underway,Over these past couple of week, our plans are firming up (we’ve even put up our Christmas Event page on here!), practicalities are being sorted, Christmas Tree ordered, and things are beginning (thankfully!) to fall into place.But one thing that means that Christmas really is ready to go is when you see all our wonderful volunteers from Knit & Natter & Mother’s Union starting to bag up the 500 handknitted Christmas Decorations ready to get scattered all over all the Parish. They look just stunning! They are so well done, and each comes in a little bag to keep them dry, with a wee card telling you where they are from!We’re aiming to scatter them around the Parish in late November, so watch this space!Meanwhile, here are some of the wonderful ladies who have spent literally most of this year knitting them!
Friday began with our School Services. We started off at 8am collecting all the generous donations, and then welcome EYFS and Happy Kids Nursery into church to think about what food goes into a Pumpkin Soup. This involved searching for different vegetables, and when a big enough pumpkin couldn’t be found, our Ordinand (Trainee Vicar) Josie went and found something much bigger much to everyone’s delight!Then in the afternoon, it was onto our services for KS1 & KS2 where we welcomed Chris Hewitt from the Dunham Apple Barn to talk about what Harvest meant for him. He had us back to the spring dreaming of stunning apple orchards! Lots more fun was had, Harvest songs were sung and a troop of happy kids headed off to enjoy their weekend!But the Harvest vibes didn’t stop there!On Saturday evening we enjoyed our Harvest Supper and Beetle Drive. With members from across the community, we experienced one the best organised Beetle Drives going, with lots of cheers and competitive personalities being released…..! Then we enjoyed a well earnt Hot Pot before playing more games before we headed off for some much needed sleep.But the Harvest Vibes continued!Our services on Sunday morning were full of Harvest fun – from children’s talks to an interview with a local farmer Caroline Royle as she talked about the joys and challenges she and her family face as they farm their Shorthorn cows. More donations were given, and to cap it off, we headed off for a well earnt bacon butty.But there was one last Harvest Vibe to go!The wonderful weekend was brought to a close with a very special Christening. The church was full of family and friends, and the young girl was full of laughter – in fact, we decided that we could have baptised her again and again, so much did she seem to enjoy it!So it was with lots of laughter and celebration that we brought our weekend to an end – the perfect way to finish a great few days!
Josie has spend the last year working in a church in Macclesfield as a Community Engagement Intern where she spent her days working with people on the local estate; loving them and looking at ways the church could support the greater needs of the area.Josie has a heart for people; to love them well and, in turn see how the church as a whole can get involved in supporting them wherever they can.We’re delighted that she will be joining us with her husband Isaac who has a background living in a religious community in Leicester and currently works at a crematorium in Northwich where they have just moved.She is really looking forward to meeting you all and getting involved with all that St George’s has to offer as she trains here for the next three years! And indeed, she is already praying for is all as she gets ready to start!We’ll be welcoming Josie too on Sunday 10th September—come and say hello!
